in which maggie kicks back and relaxes

The Black Lightning sailed into Port Doras under a bright blue sky, much to the relief of the her captain, who was tired of the clouds and rain. Maggie sent a ransom note to the local representative of the king of Tanne, which he could send on to the captured lord's family or pay himself. She would not negotiate and said so.

Abna split the combined plunder and distributed shares to all the pirates, the women and men who had set sail from Port Doras months ago as well as the newly joined men from the captured merchant ship and the freed slaves. (Several of the freed slaves had succumbed to the flu - not so mild after all - and had been wrapped in sheets and given open water burials, as was the pirate's way. The priest had even spoken a few words for each funeral.) Maggie was surprised that a number of the freed slaves wished to take up piracy rather than attempt to return home or even make new lives on the islands. But perhaps she should not have been so surprised - after having been captured and sold like cattle, after having been robbed of their freedom, it was natural that they would choose a life in which they answered to no one and had a full voice in where they went and what they did.

( There was no message from Bernade at Maggie's favorite inn )

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