A short rap at the door pulled their attention away from each other, and Theo opened the door. “We’re approaching land, Captain,” he said.
Ace jumped to her feet and retrieved her weapons. Zander followed suit, trailing Ace and Theo to the deck.
Porto, Portugal was nothing but a spot of land in the distance, but the crew were rushing about excitedly as they made their approach. Zander busied himself helping as Ace took her place at the helm, his own excitement growing. As the coast came into view, Zander saw pristine white beaches and sun-bleached buildings with rooftops the color of autumn leaves. The city was a sprawling thing. Zander could feel the buzz of it from here, alive with the promise of something new.
The sloop glided through the water purposefully toward a dock at the city’s edge that appeared to be private. Beyond it was a grand house surrounded by trees. As they approached the dock, a man flanked by servants—or bodyguards—exited the home and walked toward them down a long dirt path. He had dark hair, a thick mustache, and he wore a rich orange coat and shorts.
As he walked onto the dock to receive them, Zander could more clearly see the exuberant smile on his face.
“And how are you treating my sloop?” he hollered up at Ace, his voice deep and rich.
“You mean my sloop,” Ace corrected him, hauling herself over the railing to land squarely in front of him on the dock.
“Yes, yes, you’re right,” he said with laughter in his voice. “Yours, fair and square. The deal of a century!” He laughed heartily at some joke Zander wasn’t privy to, and the two of them grasped each other’s hands warmly. “Ah, it’s good to see you Aracely,” he said, softer now. “You look well.”
“As do you, Abilio,” Ace said. “Okay if I dock here for a few days?”
“As long as you want,” Abilio said. “My beach is yours. It’s the least I can do for you. Just as long as your crew keeps their trouble further from shore.” He eyed the crew behind her, busily preparing to leave the sloop behind.
“Of course,” Ace responded. “They know the rules. You won’t see nor smell pirate for the next four days.”
Abilio nodded, his eyes surveying the boat appreciatively.
“Well, when you’re settled here, come inside for some lunch,” he said. “I’ll have places set for the three of you.” He gestured toward Theo and Yarrow, who waved in his direction.
“Make it four,” Ace said.
Half an hour later, the crew had all set off into Porto and The Valerian was being looked after by Abilio’s staff. Zander followed Ace, Theo, and Yarrow up the cobblestone walkway toward Abilio’s home, where a servant was waiting to open the door for them. Inside, a long mahogany table held five settings and a veritable feast. The scent of piri piri peppers, garlic, and warm bread made Zander’s mouth water.
Ace, Theo, and Yarrow didn’t hesitate to make themselves comfortable at the table. Theo even propped his feet up on the empty chair next to him, stretching luxuriously. Yarrow leveled an incredulous look at him that made him laugh, and the sound summoned Abilio from an adjacent room.
Zander waited to sit until Abilio approached, taking the opportunity to shake his hand before joining his friends at the table.
“And who is this?” Abilio said as he grasped Zander’s hand. “A new member of the inner circle?”
“I’m Zander,” he responded. “It’s very nice to meet you. Thank you for the warm welcome.”
“Wonderful to meet you, Zander,” Abilio said, gesturing for him to sit as he took his own seat at the head of the table. “Any friend of Aracely’s is welcome in my home.”
“How is it you know each other?” Zander asked, sitting next to Ace, who already had her plate full of food and was eagerly tucking in.
“I’ve known Aracely since she was this tall,” Abilio said, holding his hand about three feet off the ground. “Her parents were friends of mine, and business associates.”
“What is it you do?” Zander asked, curious to know what afforded such splendor, and how Ace’s parents were involved.
Abilio shrugged, but he smiled at the other three pirates as if he had a secret. “Oh, some of this, some of that,” he said. “But it was tobacco that brought Chandace and Nicolas into my life.” He looked from Zander to Ace now, smiling fondly. “Your parents always brought me the best tobacco, and the best stories!” He laughed. “They had more fun together than any couple I’ve ever known. It was a shame when they retired.”
“Aye,” Ace agreed. “It was. But they continued having fun, I assure you. It was just…” Ace waved her hands in the air, looking for the word. “…more socially acceptable fun.”
Abilio laughed at that and lifted his glass in salute.
“I never thought I’d see you again after your parents sold me that sloop,” Abilio said.
He turned to Zander again.
“She showed up at my front door one day with nothing but the clothes on her back and the most beautiful piece of treasure I’d ever seen.” He spread his hands apart slightly, as if imagining the treasure in his hands. “A dagger, its hilt covered in the most perfect emeralds you’ve ever seen, and a matching sheath. It was a weapon of such beauty and craftsmanship, I knew right away it was more valuable than anything I owned. And do you know what she wanted in exchange?”
Zander shook his head. “What was it?” he asked.
Abilio pointed his finger toward the back of the house and the bay beyond it.
“Nothing but that old boat,” he answered, slapping his knee with the other hand as if it was the funniest thing in the world.
Ace rolled her eyes, but the hint of a smile remained on her face as she interrupted his story. “That boat, and your secrecy,” she reminded him.
“Yes, yes,” Abilio said. “Of course, my darling! I assume your secrets are safe in present company?” He eyed Zander warily now, apparently wondering if he’d made a mistake.
Ace squeezed Zander’s hand over the table.
“They are,” she said.
Abilio smiled fondly at the gesture before he continued.
“I had to practically force her to take supplies with her, and a bit of gold. ‘There must be something else you want!’ I told her. ‘I can’t let you leave with nothing but a hunk of wood and some rations after what you’ve brought me!’ She thought for a moment and finally said, ‘It would seem I’m without a blade now, Abilio. How about that one?’ And she pointed to that ivory cutlass you see on her hip, once displayed over my desk. ‘A blade for a blade,’ she said. As if we were even.”
Ace smiled at him and drained her cup. “We are even, Abilio,” she said as she set it back down.
Abilio shook his head in response. “We’ll never be even, little Aracely. We’re family.”
