Stede knows full well what Ed is capable of. He’s seen it for himself, on those ‘how to be a pirate’ demonstration raids. He just hadn’t ever seriously considered Ed turning that cruelty on him and his crew. He should have known, though. Should have thought ahead. Not even the weirdly sweet idea of a bread crumb trail out at sea can cut entirely through his dread and overpowering guilt as he imagines the fate of his crew.

He’d done this to them sure as Edward had. He’d sealed their fate with his own selfishness.

“You didn’t.” It’s a flimsy denial, and one he clearly doesn’t believe, more a plea than a statement. He’s staring at Ed, horrified as he slowly stands up. “Tell me you didn’t. Lucius—he’s just a boy, Edward!” His voice gets louder from the start to the end of that sentence, so that he’s near shouting when he’s finished.

“And you threw him overboard?”