A Siren’s Wake - The Tale of Captain Redmane

The refitted sloop casts off into the favorable tide. Two carriage guns sit secured low and forward, a second flintlock rests at Captain Redmane's belt, and the marked route lies beneath the deck's travel chest.

Mateo Vargas remains aboard, bent over the charts, while the broad-shouldered shipwright supervises four yard hands at the lines. The flagship, scrivener, cooper, and merchants stay behind in the yard and at the quay.

The shipwright watches the lean crew haul the last spring line aboard. Beyond the harbor mouth, a patrol cutter crosses the bright water, its sails turning slowly toward the channel.

The tide carries the sloop toward the harbor mouth. Vargas keeps one finger on the marked passage, the privateer studies the patrol, and the crew waits for Captain Redmane's direction.

Captain Redmane puts the sloop’s helm hard over, keeping the captured banner streaming as the favorable tide draws her toward the channel. The lean crew trim sail and haul lines in disciplined silence.

Reads Naval Tactics turns the headland, shoals, and patrol cutter into a single moving chart. She takes the deeper water beneath the cutter’s quarter, using the tide to slide across its wake.

A gust tears the wanted poster from beneath the travel chest, its exposed likeness catching against the tiller. For one sharp instant it fouls her view, but she pins it down and keeps the helm steady.

Redmane eases the helm by degrees, letting the sloop’s current carry her between the pale shoals. The patrol cutter turns too late, its guns bearing harmlessly away as the captured colors pass unchallenged.

The sloop clears the channel into open water, banner flying and hull answering the helm. Behind her, the cutter shrinks against the bright harbor while the silver tender’s route lies open ahead.