butt upon the desk.
“The trial of Miss Tessa Monroe officially commences. Miss Monroe is hereby accused of the murder of Thomas Wrack. Who be the accusers?”
The majority of pirates raised their hands above their heads, cheering and hollering.
The captain stared directly at me with his grotesque eyes. “Looks like majority rules. Any last words?”
My last words? Had I just been found guilty? This was insane. I hadn’t even heard the full accusation nor had the chance to defend myself. This was my life! Not some silly pastime for bored pirates. My face flushed hot.
“That was it?” I cried, standing abruptly, not caring that I was challenging the captain. Nicholas was convinced that this trial was a show of authority to remind the crewmen of their station, but this…this trial did none of that. And now I was convinced that my punishment would be the captain’s message to the crew.
The little composure I had was dismantled. There was no way that manners or proper display of behavior would hold any sway upon these madmen. Something inside me snapped. “That’s what you call a trial ? Wrack—” the name felt dirty in my mouth “—was not even murdered. Give me your reasons. Let me defend myself!” I looked into the crowd surrounding me, hoping to find a shred of sympathy.
The captain bellowed a laugh and struck the pistol butt against the desk again.
“She’s a right funny lass, ain’t she, boys?”
A wave of cackles rippled through the onlookers.
“Sit down, Miss Monroe. We are all gentleman here,” he gestured to the audience of pirates who chuckled raucously. “We be more than happy to give you the trial you ask for.”
I sat down nervously. Was this all just a mockery to them? Would my arguing prove to be a foolish move?
I looked across the sea of faces and finally saw Nicholas. He was on the forecastle deck leaning casually against the foremast, surrounded by a thicket of dirty men. Our eyes met, but his gaze was less than generous. There was no reassurance there. I remembered our last encounter on this deck, surrounded by the same pirates. Nicholas had betrayed me then. Would it be any different today?
“Of ye who have accused this pretty little thing, what reasons do ye hold to?”
“She had the motive!” a faceless voice called out.
“She broke Wrack’s nose!”
I twirled around with each flying comment, trying to locate my accusers, but the allegations came from all sides.
“She killed Wrack in his hammock!”
“She’s a witch!”
This was outrageous. Forcing myself to look into the captain’s blood-red eyes I said, “You have no proof!”
“Just like all women, they always want more,” the captain snickered, eliciting lewd chuckles from the crowd. “Tell me exactly what it is that ye be wanting from us lot o’ pirates.” He seemed entertained but I sensed a real threat under the carefree demeanor.
I thought as quickly as I could. Everything I said would be taken quite literally or twisted back on me. I needed to be clever in my requests, making sure to protect myself in every way. “First, I demand to know what charges are against me. Second, I demand the right to refute any charges or comment made. Third, I demand that honest testimony and real proof be presented to the court. No opinions, no assumptions.”
“Is that all, miss?”
I hoped it was. “Yes.”
Captain Black stood and leaned over his desk sneering at me, “Miss Monroe, you are hereby charged with the murder of Mr. Thomas Wrack. Do ye plead guilty or innocent?”
“Wrack was not murdered,” I shot back.
“Can you prove that with honest testimony or real proof?” he asked sarcastically.
“Sir, you told me yourself this morning in the quartermaster’s cabin that Mr. Wrack died of a sudden fever. Unless you claim that you lied, I use your word as honest testimony and proof that Mr. Wrack was not murdered by anyone.”
He exhaled sharply through his nose.
I smiled smugly.
“’Tis
“The trial of Miss Tessa Monroe officially commences. Miss Monroe is hereby accused of the murder of Thomas Wrack. Who be the accusers?”
The majority of pirates raised their hands above their heads, cheering and hollering.
The captain stared directly at me with his grotesque eyes. “Looks like majority rules. Any last words?”
My last words? Had I just been found guilty? This was insane. I hadn’t even heard the full accusation nor had the chance to defend myself. This was my life! Not some silly pastime for bored pirates. My face flushed hot.
“That was it?” I cried, standing abruptly, not caring that I was challenging the captain. Nicholas was convinced that this trial was a show of authority to remind the crewmen of their station, but this…this trial did none of that. And now I was convinced that my punishment would be the captain’s message to the crew.
The little composure I had was dismantled. There was no way that manners or proper display of behavior would hold any sway upon these madmen. Something inside me snapped. “That’s what you call a trial ? Wrack—” the name felt dirty in my mouth “—was not even murdered. Give me your reasons. Let me defend myself!” I looked into the crowd surrounding me, hoping to find a shred of sympathy.
The captain bellowed a laugh and struck the pistol butt against the desk again.
“She’s a right funny lass, ain’t she, boys?”
A wave of cackles rippled through the onlookers.
“Sit down, Miss Monroe. We are all gentleman here,” he gestured to the audience of pirates who chuckled raucously. “We be more than happy to give you the trial you ask for.”
I sat down nervously. Was this all just a mockery to them? Would my arguing prove to be a foolish move?
I looked across the sea of faces and finally saw Nicholas. He was on the forecastle deck leaning casually against the foremast, surrounded by a thicket of dirty men. Our eyes met, but his gaze was less than generous. There was no reassurance there. I remembered our last encounter on this deck, surrounded by the same pirates. Nicholas had betrayed me then. Would it be any different today?
“Of ye who have accused this pretty little thing, what reasons do ye hold to?”
“She had the motive!” a faceless voice called out.
“She broke Wrack’s nose!”
I twirled around with each flying comment, trying to locate my accusers, but the allegations came from all sides.
“She killed Wrack in his hammock!”
“She’s a witch!”
This was outrageous. Forcing myself to look into the captain’s blood-red eyes I said, “You have no proof!”
“Just like all women, they always want more,” the captain snickered, eliciting lewd chuckles from the crowd. “Tell me exactly what it is that ye be wanting from us lot o’ pirates.” He seemed entertained but I sensed a real threat under the carefree demeanor.
I thought as quickly as I could. Everything I said would be taken quite literally or twisted back on me. I needed to be clever in my requests, making sure to protect myself in every way. “First, I demand to know what charges are against me. Second, I demand the right to refute any charges or comment made. Third, I demand that honest testimony and real proof be presented to the court. No opinions, no assumptions.”
“Is that all, miss?”
I hoped it was. “Yes.”
Captain Black stood and leaned over his desk sneering at me, “Miss Monroe, you are hereby charged with the murder of Mr. Thomas Wrack. Do ye plead guilty or innocent?”
“Wrack was not murdered,” I shot back.
“Can you prove that with honest testimony or real proof?” he asked sarcastically.
“Sir, you told me yourself this morning in the quartermaster’s cabin that Mr. Wrack died of a sudden fever. Unless you claim that you lied, I use your word as honest testimony and proof that Mr. Wrack was not murdered by anyone.”
He exhaled sharply through his nose.
I smiled smugly.
“’Tis
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