Chapter 7
Captain Drakon’s first few years leading The Dragon had been extraordinarily successful: whether because of the tattoo or by virtue of his wise decisions regarding which of the ships they encountered to pirate and his understanding and where and when to attack. By the end of the first year he and the crew had amassed quite a fortune. Their wealth was acquired not only in the gold, silver, and precious gems they seized—such treasures were not often encountered—but also in the trade goods they stole: bolts of cloth, tanned animal skins, spices, sugar, dyes, cocoa, tobacco, cotton, tools, weapons, and wood. While other pirates scoffed at such booty, Thor recognized which of these goods had the most value and established clandestine contacts with merchants in the islands willing to
