As often as Stede has come up against that truth since he set out on a life of piracy, it stings so much more coming from Ed. He’d always seen good in what Stede was doing. He’d always seen something worthy. Now he’s talking down to him like every other run-of-the-mill pirate Stede has come across. The anger propels him forward, overtaking even the crushing guilt for a moment.

“That doesn’t make it alright! And it wasn’t like it was some other pirate crew, or even the Navy—it was you. They trusted you! I trusted you!”

And Edward trusted you, an helpful little voice in his mind reminds him. And where did that get him?