Seven Parts Dangerous (Seven Isles, #1)

Chapter 1: Honor Amongst Thieves

"Draigan Loch had become tired of his life, or so the legends claimed. An aristocratic childhood taught him many things, such as how to sway a crowd with his words, or which fork to use with which meal. But such a world was not one that Draigan felt he belonged. He yearned for the blueness beyond the high walls of the city, where freedom and adventure awaited him. For years Draigan searched for a way to make his wishes come true. And, eventually, he found all that he desired, and more, in her.

She was, of course, a ship. A mighty galleon carved from pure mahogany by the finest of craftsmen, and a name that warmed the heart upon uttering it. The Lonely Sail. Or was it The Rampant Seal? Anyway, after setting eyes on her, Draigan knew that he would someday make that ship his.

And so he did.

Under the cover of night, Draigan shred his noble title, and stole the vessel right from under everyone's noses. By the time anyone was the wiser; Draigan was halfway across the Kiern Sea, with not only the King's prized ship, but also the entire city's treasury.

Draigan's name soon became infamous across the Seven Isles. He pillaged from every village and vessel that he came across, defeated creatures from your worst nightmares, and discovered unknown lands of mystery and exploit. Soon Draigan had accumulated his wealth to such a point that he could comfortably buy out all seven islands-and then some.

But all he ever wanted was the sea, and as he grew older and weaker, Draigan finally found it time to reset. So he buried his treasure on an impenetrable island, and dared any pirate who thought himself worthy to try and find it. For the next thirty years, many brave fools tried their hand at uncovering what came to be known as "The Legendary Lost Treasure of Draigan Loch", but all had failed.

All, that is, save one.

A woman by the name of Siobhan Greenfield, and her beauteous brig, The Seven Parts Dangerous. A woman who would go where no man has ever gone before, and who would take the treasure for her own. Historical. Brilliant. Perfect.

Me."

As she concluded her story, Siobhan Greenfield surveyed her crew with excited anticipation. She expected to see expressions of awe, desire-even fear. Instead, everyone was staring at her as if she'd swallowed too much sea water again. Siobhan sighed.

"Everyone knows that the treasure ain't real," a man amongst the crowd called out. "He was just some poor scum who wanted an adventure and drowned at the bottom of the ocean for it."

The crew parted to reveal Ellis, who was leaning against the mast with a smug smirk on his face.

"Uh no. My poor, misinformed deckhand. The legend is real," Siobhan said firmly. She scanned her crew once more, a slow grin spreading across her face. "And today, my friends, we are going to make the treasure ours!"

Nobody said anything. Ellis snickered.

"I said," she repeated with a meaningful glare, "that today we are going to make Loch's treasure ours."

This time, her words were followed by enthusiastic cheering.

Pleased, Siobhan turned away and looked out towards Berker Bay. From this distance, she could make out the entire waterfront. The navy's warships were docked at the peer, their nation flags snapping in the wind. A confrontation in the Poppard Strait had drawn out the largest of the naval ships, but those that remained still posed a challenge.

The country of Clawmatoe was known for having the largest navy of all the seven islands-and a fierce hatred of pirates to boot. Bodies of convicted felons hung high above the cliffs to ward off their brethren, and downed vessels by the shore caused strange rifts in the surface of the water. To attempt to pillage from Clawmatoe-particularly from Berker Bay, the capital of its defences-was more or less an act of suicide.