ar!" came a cry from the doorway.
Radnor ran in and grabbed Garson's arm.
"Garson, you're going to kill him," Radnor fearfully yelled. "Stop, I'm here," he said in a softer tone. "It's me, brother, I'm here."
The men watched as the second boy spoke quietly to the first to calm him.
Garson's breathing was fast and hard as he glared down at Cian's bloodied body. The only proof of life was the bloody bubbles from his nose with each shallow breath.
Captain Darragh looked at the smaller boy and back at Garson as he dropped the flog. When Garson looked up at Captain Darragh, he swallowed hard at the brief terror that filled him. Blood from Cian had sprayed across Garson's face, making his blue eye bluer and his white eye ghastlier.
He listened as the two men beside him mumbled about superstitious nonsense and knew at that moment he couldn't let Garson leave his ship. He wanted the power that boy possessed. He couldn't lose the brother, either, because it seemed he was the only one who could tame the devil.
"Take him t' the doctor," Captain Darragh ordered the two crewmen.
They fearfully looked up at Garson still standing over Cian's body. Radnor pulled Garson away and they rushed to take Cian from the room.
Captain Darragh sighed as he shut his door. He sat behind his desk and poured a mug of rum. He motioned for the two to take a seat across from him as he drank down the burning liquid.
"Garson?" asked Radnor as they sat down. "Are you all right?"
Garson took another deep breath and tried to find his voice. He couldn't stop shaking. He breathed in again and grabbed a hold of Radnor's hand as it was placed over his own.
"I'm sorry," he whispered in a trembling voice.
"I'm here now," Radnor told him.
He pulled a rag from his pocket and did his best to clean the blood from Garson's face, neck, and hands.
"You shouldn't have come out," Garson told him in a quiet voice. "I never would've given you up. You should've stayed put."
His voice was returning as he felt the need to protect his brother.
"And let you face them alone?" Radnor asked in wonder. "I'll never let you get hurt for me again, Gar. Whatever happens, we'll be together."
Captain Darragh leaned back in his chair as he listened with interest. The brutal beast of a boy from moments before was a trembling mess of emotions as his brother tended to him.
"You lads have had a life worth tellin' tales about, haven't ye," Captain Darragh remarked.
Radnor looked over at the captain and nodded. "Yes, sir. Sir, my brother didn't mean to do that. He's not like this at home. Not with our mother and not even with our father until ..."
Not knowing Garson had told them what he had done, Radnor closed his mouth and went back to looking after Garson.
"That was when he killed yer father, yeah?" asked Captain Darragh, ignoring the shocked expression when Radnor learned he knew. "Tell me about it," he said, "but first, what's yer name, lad?"
"Radnor, sir," he answered when Garson nodded that it was all right. "I'm thirteen. My brother, Garson, is fourteen. He'll be fifteen soon.
We're sorry for sneaking aboard and stealing your food and these clothes. We left home sooner than we planned. Mother made us pack only a few things so we could hide better and sent us off before anyone found out what Garson had done. They would surely burn him for doing the devil's bidding.
Everyone knew our father had something wrong with him, and he wasn't a good man, even without that head problem. They hated Gar more for that eye.
Father wanted to kill him when he was born, but Mother and Father O'Brien stopped him by promising to do an exorcism. When Father found out the priest had been lying and didn't even believe the eye was evil, he killed him.
The next priest was like our father. He even burned Gar over the heart with his crucifix. He would set it into the fire and then press it into him with tongs, like you do sheep with a branding iron. He told Father he had to beat the devil out. Mother said praying was better, but Father beat her for coddling Gar.
We lived like this all our lives until that last day. Father was going to cut out Garson's eye with a knife, but Mother came in from her garden and stopped him. He was going to kill her and then both of us. Garson had no other choice. He protected our mother and killed father. Hit him so hard, he broke his neck.
Mother made us leave. We promised to find someplace safe and return for her as soon as we can. That's when we found your ship, sir.
See, Garson and I had thought of going to the Black Forest so no one can find us. When we saw your ship and heard you speaking to someone about the name, we thought it was a sign from God ... or someone. I'm sorry, sir.
That's the whole truth. I swear it."
Captain Darragh's shoulders slumped as he listened to Radnor's story. He shook his head in pity.
"How long ye been on yer own?" he asked in a kinder voice.
They'd begun to remind him of his own sons he'd left behind with their mother. He knew he'd kill any man that would dare do to them even half of what he'd just heard.
"We left home about ... What's it been, Gar? A month ago?" asked Radnor as he looked at Garson.
"It took us more than two weeks to get to that port, then a week here on this ship," Garson answered, straightening in his chair as he regained his composure. "I'd say a few days here and there that we lost track of during storms and dark days in caves trying to hide from bandits. We've been gone from there at least a month."
Captain Darragh rubbed his chin in thought.
"Take off yer tunic," he ordered Garson.
Garson and Radnor looked at one another in worry.
"Lad, if yer wantin' to get back to yer dear sweet mother 'n fulfill whatever promises ye made 'er, ye'll do as I say from now on. Remove that tunic," Captain Darragh demanded.
With a deep breath to calm his nerves, Garson obeyed. Captain Darragh watched as Garson's chest came into view and he shook his head harder. He stared at the multiple burns in the shape of a cross and suddenly longed to kill that priest.
"My god almighty," he said in a soft, troubled voice.
"Mother said since Father had hair, Garson will grow some to cover it up," Radnor replied to the captain's concerned expression.
"Hair don't grow on scars, my boy," Captain Darragh replied. "If he grows it thick enough around 'em, it could cover 'em up. Not so much if it were me," he said with a chuckle. He opened his tunic enough that they could see his chest was smooth. "My kin don't grow hair. 'least not here!" he laughed with a slap to his chest.
Garson and Radnor looked at each other again with a grin as his humor seemed to lighten the air.
"Listen," Captain Darragh said with hard slap on the desk, "yer needin' safe passage somewhere. I'm always in need of a few extra crew.
Cian was right about not extendin' courtesy to stowaways. My ship ain't a ferry. In yer case, though, I'm willin' to make a compromise.
I'll drop ye off where yer needin' to go, or at least as close as we come. While yer here, ye pull yer weight and then some. Ye work just as hard or harder than my crew. If we go t' war, ye go t' war with us. I expect ye t' fight with this crew like they're yer family to defend this ship.
Ye respect me. Ye do as I tell ya when I tell ya. Ye follow the rules of the ship and sea. Ye follow my rules above all else. Do I make myself clear?"
Garson and Radnor nodded, grateful for the offer.
"What about that man Garson beat?" wondered Radnor in worry. "What will happen?"
"The crew'll want him punished fer that all right," Captain Darragh replied. "As the captain, I say what that punishment is. I don't feel right about floggin' him or you.
Pirates understand a good fight. When Cian comes to, I'll have him agree to let it go as a fair brawl between a pair of crewmates. Ye should avoid him, though. He holds grudges 'n he has a lot of friends on this ship. I'll intervene before anything gets too rough, but I'm not yer mum or yer nursemaid. Fourteen 'n thirteen only means somethin' on land. Out here, yer men 'n will be treated as such."
He stood and they stood with him.
"I'll introduce ye to the crew 'n have someone I can trust show ye where ye can sleep 'n clean up 'n find new clothes," he told them as he walked around his desk. "Call me Darragh unless we're on the main deck or I'm givin' orders."
He stood before them and rested each of his hands on each of their shoulders. "Welcome aboard the Black Wood, lads. We're gonna have a helluva time!"
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