The Buccaneers' Code Read Free

Blacktooth ended my career, I’ve been eager to return the favor.”
    â€œSo have I,” Flintlock boomed. “I was a loyal pirate for nearly fifteen years, but it only took one mishap for Blacktooth to turn me out of the League for good.”
    The gargoyle hopped in from the hall. “What was the mishap?” he asked.
    â€œI was a human cannonball.” Flintlock sighed. “I got stuck in my cannon.”
    Hilary turned to Worthington, who had come to stand in the doorway. “Did Blacktooth dismiss you, too?”
    â€œHe did,” said Worthington, “not more than a month ago. I was training as a pirate’s apprentice, and he told me there wasn’t any place in the League for a navigator who couldn’t navigate.” She scowled. “We always got where we were going eventually .”
    All three pirates shook their heads.
    â€œIt’s a good thing the Terror gathered us here,” said Flintlock. “When we’re done with Blacktooth, he’ll be nothing but knucklebones.”
    â€œKnucklebones!” said the parrot.
    â€œSo, Terror,” said Partridge, “when do we start?”
    Hilary scuffed her boots across her mother’s goodcarpet. All three of the pirates seemed so hopeful, so certain that she could help them. “I’m afraid we’re not starting anything,” she said. “I’m not going to challenge Captain Blacktooth.”
    The pirates’ faces crumpled. Even the kings and queens on the playing cards looked more dejected than usual. “You’ve changed your plans, then?” Flintlock asked.
    â€œI never had any plans to begin with!” said Hilary. “I don’t know where the Gazette got that notice. Hardly anything it says is true.”
    Worthington looked puzzled. “Do you mean to say that Blacktooth isn’t a villain?”
    â€œWell, no,” said Hilary, “that’s not what I mean at all. He wants all the kingdom’s magic for himself, and he’s been completely dishonorable about trying to get his hands on it.”
    â€œBut you still think he should be in charge of the League?”
    â€œOf course not!” said Hilary. “He should be locked up in the Royal Dungeons!”
    Flintlock scratched his chin. “In that case, Terror,” he said slowly, “why aren’t you challenging him?”
    Hilary frowned. “I may want Blacktooth gone,” she said, “but that doesn’t mean I should be the one to replace him. It would be ridiculous! I don’t know a thing about leading an entire league of—”
    â€œPirates!” said her mother.
    Mrs. Westfield stood at the parlor door, with one hand braced against the door frame to keep herself from fainting on the spot. Partridge, Flintlock, and Worthington all offered their own hands for her to shake, but she simply looked from one pirate to the next.
    â€œHilary, dear,” she said, “when I told you that I wished you would be a bit more sociable, this was not precisely what I meant.” She looked down at the blue carpet, which was sprinkled with clots of mud from someone’s boots, and her face paled. “If only you’d let me know that you were hosting tea for a band of pirates, I could have suggested a more suitable location.”
    â€œPirates?” said Partridge. “I, for one, am a High Society gentleman!”
    â€œKnucklebones!” said his parrot.
    â€œI’m so sorry, Mother.” Hilary moved to Mrs. Westfield’s side. “These guests arrived unexpectedly, and—well—I didn’t want to be an ungracious hostess.”
    Mrs. Westfield’s color improved considerably.
    â€œBut they’re just about to leave. I’m afraid there was a misunderstanding, and I’m not the scallywag they meant to visit after all.”
    All three pirates looked thoroughly downcast at this, and Partridge’s lower lip began to