Their blades connected with a sharp ringing. Vane pivoted on one foot, and as quick as Low had been to raise his pistol, the shot went wide of its target, shattering a lamp on the other side of the room. With the sound of that shot still echoing in his ears, Charles engaged the other pirate captain once more, his face stony and silent.

"What, all out of clever parley already?" Low brayed in his face. "I'd heard you were as dumb as you were ugly, but I hadn't expected you to prove it!"

Even under the best of circumstances, Vane was not one of quipping as he fought, and if his silence enraged Low to the point of getting sloppy, so much the better. As it was, he was slowly forcing Ned up the stairs with his assault.