Blood by Name, Blood by Deed by Joshua Begley

Pirate Duel by WouterBruneel on DeviantArt

There. Richard saw it, the key to victory. War erupted around him as his crew fought the mutineers, but his attention stayed fixed on his first mate.

“You’re too gray, too weak to be captain anymore, Blood.”

Richard smiled and concentrated on his footing. The ship pitched and yawed on the waves. Blood and body parts rolled on the deck. One false step and it was all over.

The first mate went into his pattern, two feints and a slash. Richard stepped into the slash and ran the mutineer through.

“Blood by name, blood by deed, Captain.”

“Aye,” Richard said.

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‘Til Death Do Us Part by Naomi Butterfield

Chains by MikaZZZ on DeviantArt.com

“So calling me the ball and chain rings true!”

McGrath bellowed his anguish. “Why, Mary?”

Her cutlass sang into its sheath. “I’m a better leader than you and you know it. You stopped listening, McGrath!”

He lunged forward, but the shackle held and he fell.

She knelt. “To the plank? Or would you prefer I made this quick?” He made a grab for his knife. She had it faster, opened his jugular, his gurgled expiration.

“Quick, then.” She palmed his eyes closed. “Him spat from the sea, his salt to return. Ashes to silt.” She sniffed. “I’ll miss ya, Love.”

The Garrulous Privateer by Glenn Romanek

Out to Sea by Sandora on DeviantArt.com

“Die, villain, die! Die by my trusty buccaneering blade! HA! HA! HA! Lost your head, huh? Ha! Ha! Ha! Now YOU, Blackbeard, scum of the Spanish Main. Swish! Swish! Ha! Ha! Lost your beard, huh? Now your toupee! Ha, ha. One swish. Blacky, dear Blacky, thy slow antique broadsword down stroke matches not my lightning Damascus steel beauty booty. Now, Blacky, prepare thy self for the devil’s realm. With a refrain I forget I– THRUST HOME! Damn. So-o-o … YOU, thee, thou art THE JOLLY DODGER! Off with thy mask, Jolly. Off with it! Zounds! Errol Flynn!”