No Quarter: Wenches - Volume 2

By MJL Evans and GM O'Connor

Released for the first time with illustrations!

Series Description:

Ye be warned - this series contains sexual situations, drug usage, foul language, crude humor, and beaky parrots.

In 1689, Atia Crisp finds herself imprisoned in the wickedest city on earth, Port Royal, Jamaica, while the refugees from Strangewayes’s plantation in the Blue Mountains are on the run and seeking a new home, deep in the Caribbean. Captain Jean-Paul la Roche must get them to safety and find a way to liberate the woman he loves while waging a war against the English with the pirate Laurens de Graaf.

While besieged people suffer and starve, a group of women form a secret and illegal society deep from within the bowels of the city called: WENCH. A network that deals with smugglers, merchants, cutthroats and thieves. Dragged into the struggle for supremacy of the Caribbean, the women are divided and find themselves engulfed in bloodshed. The pirates of Port Royal and former enemies may be their only hope of escape.

Hell hath no fury like a cross wench!

• Language: English
• Publisher: MJL Evans
• Release date: Sep 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9780994874498

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 - Wenches

Volume 2

By MJL Evans and GM O’Connor

NO QUARTER SERIES COPYRIGHT @ 2014

No Quarter: Wenches COPYRIGHT @ 2016 MJL Evans and GM O’Connor

ISBN: 978-0-9948744-9-8

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.

Bermuda Triangle

Choppy waves slammed into the armored brigantine Blessed William, and more water seeped in. Dr. Sander Strangewayes secured the ropes that kept a tarp suspended from the ceiling of his bunk. He stored his medical books and personal effects high up to keep them from spoiling.

It had been more than a month since he’d been pressed into service under Lieutenant William Kidd. Unable to adapt to life aboard ship, dark circles were forming under his eyes. He missed Port Royal, his plantation, and his cat. So far, the journey led him around the Bahamas, and now they were en route to Bermuda.

The doctor ventured to the main deck, where Kidd and his second mate, Robert Culliford, Cully, trained their telescopes to a wall of mist.

Up here, if ya please, Doctor. Join us on the command deck, Kidd said.

Must I? This air plays havoc with my joints.

That was not a request.

Strangewayes complied, securing his hat. Guess I’ll have to dry and re-roll them later.

Kidd thrust a telescope into his hand. You have keen sight, be on the lookout, we missed Bermuda.

Why don’t you just head west?

You don’t get it it’s the triangle, Cully said. If a ship misses Bermuda, it’s never seen again.

The doctor’s eyebrow furled. And you truly believe that?

I’ve lost many good friends in the triangle so don’t mock it. Kidd’s jaw clenched. Ships truly disappear here with no wreckage and no traces.

I imagine those numbers increase during hurricane season. Strangewayes examined the looming dark clouds. Which is right about now, I think?

That it is, Doctor. Focus on your task. Your sector is starboard bow, now keep lookout.

They pointed their telescopes out, searching.

I thought we were going to Nevis anyway, Strangewayes added.

Murk engulfed the vessel and rain pelted down.

Signal! the lookout called from the crow’s nest. Aft quarter, a ship.

Through spindrift and gloom, a galiot with a mahogany hull and red sails stalked them.

Kidd’s mouth was ajar. It’s Thomas Paine! His men erupted into cheers. "Bring us about, Mr. Culliford! Follow Rascal to Bermuda."

Crewmen worked the lines and the helmsman spun the wheel.

Cully turned to Kidd. You almost led us into the triangle.

I’ll lead ya to hell if need be, Cully. Kidd scowled.

May I go below and tend my joints, Captain? Strangewayes pressed.

Kidd waved him off.

Strangewayes followed the staircase down to the cabin. Superstitious fools. He knocked on the doorframe.

By late afternoon, they arrived in Bermuda and took their ease at Sandys, a beachside tavern which neighbored a drawbridge connecting the island. The doctor trailed Kidd and Major Paine across a stone floor to a corner where barrels formed a table. Strangewayes paused, admiring a large mounted fish with a long needle-like nose, which hung above the staircase.

Join us at the officer’s table, Doctor, Kidd said.

I didn’t know I was an officer.

"Yer chief surgeon of His Majesty’s armored brigantine, Blessed William. A legal privateer in the service of King William."

They ordered ales and Bermuda fish chowder, seasoned with black rum and sherry pepper sauce.

Cully leaned on the barrels, sweat and rum seeping through his pores. Yer getting clever with yer letter of marque. Make ya high society now, does it? Have the doctor sit with ya a spell so you can look like you belong with the gentlemen.

You started early. Kidd’s wild eyes fixed on his cutlass.

Cully’s face went blank. I’m on land, right?

Kidd indicated the crew’s table. You ought to go sit with the men.

Sit with the men, the real men?

Kidd cocked his pistol. Get him outta my face or I’ll kill him.

Quartermaster Bill Mason grabbed Cully by the shirt and dragged him away, mumbling incoherently.

Thanks, Billy, Kidd said.

Strangewayes sat down between Kidd and Major Paine.

Where is the fleet? Kidd began.

They’ll be here in two days. Ships from Barbados, the Bahamas, and everything they have left from the Leeward Islands. Not a match for what the French have waiting for us, Paine said.

Strangewayes’s eyes teared up after taking his first mouthful of the fish chowder. And what, dare I ask, have the French got waiting for us?

Paine drank from a tankard. Du Casse has a dozen ships of the line and a hundred escorts. And, fifteen hundred Freebooters on the island with hostages.

Mason returned to the table with a fresh drink.

We haven’t a chance to take on their fleet. We’ll pick our targets. We’ll hit them and run. Let them give chase while we get at them when they’re not looking, Kidd said.

Codrington expects to take back St. Kitts. We’ll need more men, Mason said.

That’s what pirates are for, Billy. Kidd indicated to Strangewayes. Yer goin’ into war, Doctor, I hope you have the belly for it.

He served on my boat as surgeon and saved many lives, Paine said.

When Oliver Cromwell was in diapers, Strangewayes said. The first time.

Kidd drank. Come now, Doctor, it’s like riding a horse.

Strangewayes fiddled with his hands. Yes, it hurts like hell when you fall and you’re likely to break your neck and die.

The alternative is Davy Jones’s Locker, Doctor. You’re not to fall into government hands.

Well, since you put it that way. Strangewayes put down his spoon. There are some people I’d like to contact.

Not possible, Paine said.

May I ask for news of my friends?

Some survived and fled with the Capitaine. The rest were headed for a Port Royal cell or dead.

You were there?

I was.

Can you tell me anything at all? Carlena, Gladstone?

Paine stared at the barrel tops. Carlena was shot I heard, though still running. Some fled into the hills. And a blond girl was killed, a friend of yours.

Strangewayes slid his hand over his mouth. Lilly.

Aylett? Paine asked.

Yes, known as Lilly Waters, but yes.

Gladstone was with the Capitaine last I saw. I know nothing of anyone else.

Strangewayes shrank back in his seat. But I was under protection from the Brethren of the Coast.

You brought this on. All of it. The Brethren warned you. The French warned you. Even the Maroons warned you. You saved my life twice. I’m returning the favor. You’ll stay on with Kidd as surgeon.

Strangewayes was silent a moment. For how long?

Some questions are best not asked, Doctor, Kidd said.

Truth be told, until I can no longer protect you.

Excuse me. The doctor rose, wiping his eye. I must go powder my nose.

Don’t do anything we’ll both regret, Paine advised.

Strangewayes retreated to a curtained area that housed a chamber pot. He took out a small box filled with shimmering white powder. After loading a tiny silver spoon, he snorted some into each nostril. An involuntary shudder crawled up his back. Oh, where does Laurens find this stuff?

He sniffed hard and paced. Oh, Carlena, what have I done? Please be well. Now, if Carlena got away to the north she would have met up with the Capitaine. He would be able to contact Alban Jones for a ride. All I have to do is get to Antonio Bay and his men will lead me to them. Now, to find a ship out of here.

Strangewayes peeked through the curtain to find Paine and Kidd standing less than a foot away.

Or you can consider yourself confined to quarters, Kidd said.

Box in hand, Strangewayes ran in the opposite direction, leaving a white cloud trail of coca leaf powder. He burst through the side door, plowing down patrons. At top speed, he reached the brick drawbridge. When he met the wood planks at its center, he leaned over the edge, hovering twenty feet above the water. One more step and I’ll jump!

Paine gave a stern stare. Doubtful with the box.

That ain’t regular snuff, is it? Kidd asked.

Nay, Paine said.

If you have any mercy, Thomas, take my life.

You sail with Captain Kidd, that’s yer lot for now, mate.

Or, you could leave me here and say I fell off? Upside down, the doctor suggested.

Time to board, Doctor. Kidd whistled, and his men apprehended him.

Can I keep the box?

I’ll be keeping it in a safe place. Kidd gave Paine a doubtful look. I trust the man can operate?

Aye. Keep him away from that box, mind ya.

I gathered that. Can he amputate?

Aye, maybe not as fast as MacAskill, but he’ll do.

Where’d Gator Gar go with the doctor’s flock? Kidd asked.

Southwest, they say, into the Mouth of the Bull.

Then they stand a fair chance. I wouldn’t want to go looking for them down there.

Strong-armed aboard the Blessed William, the doctor was thrown into his bunk. He pulled himself up on his feet using the hammock ropes. Pondering his options, he wondered how far he could swim. He withdrew a silver snuffbox from his pocket. Shimmering white powder was inside. A good doctor always comes prepared.

Miles Gladstone placed three bright red hibiscus flowers on a grave marked Carlena. He wiped his eyes with his sleeve as the funeral-goers dispersed. Behind him stood bungalows and storehouses. Sérénité was well on its way to being home to the survivors