No Quarter: Dominium - Volume 5

By MJL Evans and GM O'Connor

Released for the first time with illustrations!

Ye All Are Warned – be gone if you abhor sex, foul language, crude humor, and beaky parrots.

1689 Port Royal, Jamaica. Atia Crisp and her sister Livia are shipwrecked and sold into slavery. They are separated and Atia is used as a pawn in a deadly card game at the Swiftsure Tavern until she is liberated by sugar merchant Capitaine la Roche. They take refuge at Cherry Red's Boutique (brothel) and meet up with allies including the medication loving Dr. Strangewayes.

Capitaine la Roche (also known as the pirate, Gator Gar), has a past stained with blood and grief. La Roche works with a network of friends and allies including local strumpet, Cherry Banks, Theodore Binge the card shark and the kindly, Dr. Strangewayes. Soon after Atia and la Roche are ushered away to safety after a mysterious outbreak of scarlet fever wreaks havoc on the city.

Within the luxuriant tropical confines of Dr. Strangewayes's plantation at the foothills of the Blue Mountains, bonds of friendship are formed and the fierce love between Atia and Capitaine la Roche becomes absolute.

However, nowhere is safe as spies seek out both Atia and la Roche for the bounties on their heads.

Neither of them can escape the shadows of their former lives. Their journey leads them to an inevitable conflict that threatens their world, but inches them closer towards freedom.

• Language: English
• Publisher: MJL Evans
• Release date: Aug 17, 2015
• ISBN: 9780994022387

MJL Evans

MJL Evans is an Indie Author/Publisher and co-author of the 6-part series, No Quarter: Dominium. Future endeavours include co-authoring the books No Quarter: WENCH and No Quarter: The Dirge. She also hopes to have her books translated in various languages including French.MJL Evans is also a writer of romance and relationship articles featured in publications like Monday Magazine in November 2004 and again in February 2006, she writes fiction, historical fiction, erotica and humour. Published in the November 2014 issue of Flash Fiction Magazine, Red Dragon is vibrant piece of micro-fiction that delves into Victoria BC in the 1860s, when it was the opium capital of the New World.A native of Victoria, British Columbia, MJL Evans studied English at Victoria School of Writing and Camosun College. Not only is she passionate about her written expression, she is enthusiastic about her visual art masterpieces she has created over the past 20 years and has over 60 paintings to her credit. MJL Evans is also a lover of film, independent, foreign, and cult. Her favorites include: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Nymphomaniac, Secret Window, The Brood, Le Pacte des loups, Mesrine: L'Instinct De Mort and many others.

Book preview

No Quarter - Dominium

Volume 5

By MJL Evans and GM O’Connor

NO QUARTER SERIES COPYRIGHT @ 2014

No Quarter: Dominium COPYRIGHT @ 2015 MJL Evans and GM O’Connor

ISBN: 978-0-9940223-8-7

Artwork: GM O’Connor

E-Book Production: MJL Evans

All rights are reserved to the authors. No part of this ebook may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Dragons and Dungeons

Moonlight penetrated the fog which lay thick over the sea surface, concealing Arrow’s presence. The frigate was slowly being towed by longboats into Antonio Bay. Ginger, Bleedin Art’s first mate, peered at the sea through a spyglass. He was hunting Plutus, a Mediterranean galley captained by an African giant, Mandingo.

There she is. Ginger grinned.

The vessel was dark and deserted, like a ghost ship resting in the depths of the misty bay.

Sleeping like a baby. If everything went well, he’d have wealthy pockets by the end of the day. He signaled the six longboats to get into position. Turn us to starboard and ready to light the torches. Pirates ready to disembark.

Suddenly a drumbeat sounded, echoing across the water. It was followed by chanting. Lamps sparked to life on the galley and it stirred like a beast. The vessel’s sixty oars emerged from the hull, manned by over two hundred slaves, rowing in perfect unison towards Arrow.

Ginger dropped his spyglass. Battle stations. Get her lined up!

Spider cranked the wheel. Hard to starboard. Ready to fire on the lee!

The crew scrambled with the ropes.

Why aren’t we turning? the gunner yelled. Line her up.

Fire! Ginger hollered and the pirates aimed their muskets and swivel cannons.

A flicker of fear sparked in Spider’s eyes as a dragon’s head lit up at the bow of the vessel. What is it?

Ginger gasped. It’s a bloody fire-ship, it is!

Oh, shit! Spider knit his brow at the scorching gold flames.

Ginger almost fell over the rail as he leaned over to wave down the longboats. Abandon the longboats. Now!

The galley aimed the dragon head downwards. From its mouth spewed a jet of slick bright-orange flame. Antonio Bay lit up as the longboats were devoured by fire. Charred men flung themselves into the water only to continue burning as the oil clung to their flesh – dissolving it.

Spider rallied the crew on deck to ready their muskets.

Fire! Ginger ordered and a barrage of gunfire flew towards the enemy. Only two crewmen fell. The galley hoisted a red flag: no quarter. The banner glowed like an omen of death as the sun rose.

Ginger could only watch as the dragon aimed at the frigate. A collection of fierce Barbary Janissaries stood on deck. Rumors fueled Captain Mandingo’s reputation for sheer cruelty and mercilessness; he stood on the deck like a king, seven and half feet tall, dressed in red and gold silk, wearing gold chains, brandishing an axe and two Nimcha swords.

Abandon ship, Ginger shouted and leapt off the quarterdeck with Spider close behind.

The dragon’s breath assaulted Arrow with an all-consuming blaze that sent remaining crew hurtling to the sea. Once the fire reached the gunpowder barrels, the whole ship exploded into a massive fireball, mushrooming up into the sky.

Port Royal’s inner harbor drew an early morning crowd. People swarmed to the causeway at the news that Relentless and Incorrigible were returning with the French brig La Lune. La Lune’s patched yellow sails glowed in the sunrise and her crew was shackled and lined up on the deck to be ridiculed and taunted by spectators. People jeered, pelting the crew with rotten food and empty bottles. The brig was dragged along to Fort Carlisle to be confiscated, while the crew faced immediate incarceration.

Outside the King’s House, Acting Lieutenant Governor Piper and Magistrate Mold prepared for a ceremony.

This is what the city needed, Piper remarked, pleased with the turnout. Let’s make this a speedy conviction. An hour later, a crowd gathered in the garden to welcome Captain Longstaff and his crew.

Welcome, Port Royal’s pirate hunters, Piper exclaimed.

The crowd clapped and whistled.

Law and order under the Whigs. Piper basked in public approval for several moments before something occurred to him and he turned to Mold. How come none of them are wearing wigs?

Mold’s head jerked. Aw, fuck!

Piper scowled. They may as well have shown up in their nightshirts. How were they to uphold the image of the Orange Party without wigs? He hoped no one else would notice.

After the ceremony, Piper and Mold were driven to Marshallsea Prison to check on La Lune’s crew.

After descending the stone steps of the prison, they followed a lengthy corridor with glowing torches and old English tapestries on the walls. Screams thundered, followed by the sizzle of a branding iron and more shrieks. The pair passed by cages with floor spikes and impaling devices that left nothing to the imagination. In the far corner stood the pride and joy of the dungeon, a custom-designed metal cabinet lined with spikes fashioned in the likeness of Queen Elizabeth I.

The old iron maiden never looked better. Piper admired his wig in the polished surface.

Yes, indeed. Mold nodded as they passed an old version of the Royal Banner comprised of lush red tapestry with three embroidered gold lions.

Piper paused to admire it. That’s when they knew how to design a banner.

It gives the place a homely feeling.

Guards marched by, dragging a prisoner by the armpits. Bloody and beaten, he was luxuriating in blissful unconsciousness as his body was dumped in a vacant cell. The bars slammed and the door was locked and bolted. The guards saluted and marched away to interrogate another prisoner.

Piper and Mold paused next to a holding cell where Lieutenant Thorne interrogated a prisoner.

Is this one Gator Gar? Piper asked.

He claims he is, but Captain Longstaff identified him as one of the Picard brothers, Your Acting Lordship.

Mold glowered. And what have we learned so far?

Well, they’re not pirates.

How do you know? Piper eyed the prisoner, who was strapped tightly to a wooden chair. Blood streamed down the side of le Picard’s head. His clothes had been shredded and the skin beneath had shallow cuts, which were wet with a recent treatment of saltwater.

The crew are all green. None of them have any scars and the darkie’s got a lock box key, Thorne explained.

So? Mold shrugged.

Locks ain’t permitted on pirate ships. It’s against the code.

What about the sword of Don Juan Pérez de Guzmán?

Nowhere to be found, Thorne said.

Piper roughly lifted le Picard’s head with a handkerchief. And this bloody fool says he’s Gator Gar? Obviously covering for the real one.

Thorne readied another cup of brackish water and doused the open wounds on the prisoner’s chest and legs. Where is he? He brandished a broadside.

Le Picard’s face filled with defiance.

Piper removed a leather whip from a bucket of salt water and whacked the insolent Frenchman. So which one are you, then? The youngest, I presume. The little brother who never amounted to anything.

The crewman Delacroix confirmed he’s not the Capitaine. We have a sworn statement, Thorne said. Don’t blame him, though. He’s a right bloody mess.

So, where’s the log book, Picard? Piper demanded.

Le Picard remained silent.

Mold folded his arms. I think he needs more salt.

Which wound?

All of them, Piper said coolly. You will talk, Picard. Sooner is in your best interest. We play rough from here.

I think I’m going to enjoy this much more than you are. Thorne lashed le Picard’s raw knees, rubbing salt into them.

Le Picard’s screams sounded down the hallways, filling every room of the prison.

Liabilities and Bribes

It was morning at Fort Carlisle. After the raising of the new English flag, Constable Blower completed his duties by unlocking the gunpowder shed. All rundlets accounted for, he exited, straightening his clothes and tucking in his shirt. He had to appear his best; there was an execution to attend. Goblet had given him orders to do away with Violante Hayze. A smirk of satisfaction filled Blower’s face as he collected his guards. They marched to the infirmary, where they were met by two militiamen manning the entrance.

Violante Hayze is to be hanged immediately. Open up! Blower insisted.

One militiaman turned to his colleague. Go get Colonel Beckford.

Blower unrolled a scroll. By order of Judge Goblet himself, this must be done with all haste.

Aye, but Colonel Beckford said no one gets in but him.

You’ll learn who your betters are. Stand aside! Blower demanded.

The militiaman opened the gate slowly and halted, pointing down the hall. Blower turned to see Beckford and Captain Richard Longstaff march down the corridor.

Constable Blower, Beckford began.

"I have signed