Intervention

He sat there, kicked back in his chair, feet crossed on the table, every little bit taking a drink from the rum cradled in his lap, watching. A smile flickered at the corners of his mouth as he observed the ruckus across the barroom. He had to give the man credit for sure; he was giving a fine account of himself against the three currently crossing blades with him. And despite his scruffily drunken appearance was showing only a hint of unsteadiness in his bearing, and quite a bit of grace, skill, and sureness, with not a hint of fear, doubt, or hesitation to be seen. The man's eyes and countenance displayed naught but complete confidence in his ability to win this fight. Of course Jack would have expected no less from this particular man, would have been sorely disappointed if the man had acted any different. And he had to admit the man's performance stoked his ego a bit, made all the times he had outwitted or danced just outside this man's reach that much more vainglorious. Aye, he had to admit he couldn't have a better antagonist if he'd chosen him personally. It was too bad he'd come across the man fallen to these depths though. Sort of took some of the edge off of his ego stoking, although it was clear the man still held quite a bit of his former irritating pluck and bloody uppity attitude.

As she returned from the bar with more drinks AnnaMaria nodded toward the altercation and huffed, "Are ya gonna sit here all day and watch that?"

Jack looked over at her with a wink and a smile as he took the mug she was holding out to him, "Don't hardly think it'd be gonna take all day Anna luv."

Gibbs took another of the mugs, and with a greedy look at the mug and a brief tip of the mug toward the fight added, "He'd be right bout that Anna, peers it's about over 'n those scalawags 'r gonna find out why it'd be bad luck ta challenge someone ya got not the slightest idea of who'd they'd be 'r which side o good their skills with a sword might happen ta be leanin toward."

With another huff and a glare at both the men sitting there she settled down at the table and began on her own mug of rum.

xxx

James had managed to disarm one of his attackers, and in the doing of same, inflict a wound that, though not all that grave, was enough to give the man second thoughts about engaging further in the fray. Now he had only to dispatch the other two and he could hopefully return to his rum, if it hadn't been purloined by one of the many other disreputable occupants of the tavern as had happened the last time he had been engaged in such a manner. And blast and bugger if it had, he'd just ordered it and had taken naught but one swallow of it before being accosted by these blackguards, the bloody thing had still been full and already paid for. He quickly gave the table he had been occupying a glance, and seeing the mug still sitting there waiting for him stepped up his attack. Suddenly something cracked against the back of his head and the next moment he found himself on hands and knees on the floor trying to shake off the daze enveloping his senses as he blurrily watched his sword skitter across the tavern floor. A moment after that one of his attackers kick him sharply in the ribs half doubling him up and almost causing him to loose his balance and land over on his side. With a string of curses he tried to get to his feet but once again was kicked, in the stomach this time, and with enough force it raised him a bit off the ground and knocked his breath from him. That kick was swiftly followed by one to his backside that sent him sprawling full out on the floor. He could hear rapid footsteps approaching as he lay there with his eyes clenched shut in pain. The rest of the patrons of the tavern must be going to join in now, now that he was weaponless and in such a vulnerable position. Well if that was what was to be he would not go quietly. He marshaled every bit of his will power and reserve to launch what ever form of defense he could as he felt a rough hand grab him by the arm and pull him up off the floor. He started to struggle as best he could, tried to fight his way free of the restraining hand when a rather gruff voice, a voice he was sure he should know from somewhere, spoke close to his ear and put a moments pause to his struggle, "Easy there lad, jest belay all that 'n we'll get ya out o here, 'n hopefully we'll all still be in one piece when we do." As his arm was draped over the speaker's shoulder he tried to focus his eyes and look over at the man supporting him. "I should know you from somewhere should I not?" James said, his voice barely above a whisper.

The man smiled a bit as he answered, "Aye, served under ya when ya first come ta the Caribe."

James closed his eyes once more as he tried to make sense of the man's words and put a name to the face. Before he was able to even begin such ponderings however his eyes snapped open and a curse left his lips as another familiar voice broke into his revere, this voice took only a second to put a name and face to.

"Sparrow!" James spat out as his eyes fell on the man standing slightly to the side and in front of him.

Jack cast a brief smile in his direction, "Ah, glad ta see ya've not been grossly 'n hideously disordered bodily in any visibly judge-able manner what would make ya fully uncomprehendin of the situation we happen ta be in at the moment Commodore, make it easier ta haul yer arse out o here 'n rescue ya so to speak if yer able ta help a little in the transport ya see."

"What makes you think I would consider having my arse hauled out of here by a Pirate and transported off to anywhere a more agreeable state of affairs than my previous situation?"

"Just a thought Commodore." Jack said, then without waiting for a reply turned his attention back to speak to the dozen or so men with blades raised threateningly standing between them and the way out.

With a wide smile and a flop of his hands as he rocked back and forth on his heels Jack said, "Now I'm sure we can come to an accord without any more violence Gents."

One of the men at the front of the group moved forward a step or two, "We owe 'im just what 'e was getting, been nothing but trouble fer all o us since showin up 'ere. Most of us 'r carryin scars of some sort caused by 'im. 'sides there'd only be three o you against all o us."

The men around him shook their swords and shouted in agreement.

Jack didn't waste a moment in replying, "Ah, but despite your astounding bit of calculationary arithmetical supposition I am about to offer you an accord you would be computorially inept to decline. Savvy?"

As the men's blades lowered a bit and they stared at Jack a little blankly he pulled a pouch from his pocket and dangled it in front of them, "Enough coin to make you very content, and very drunk I might add, for the foreseeable future, or at least the next week gentlemen, and I take this misbegotten yeasty codpiece off yer hands. Wot say you to that gents?"

As they looked back and forth at each other trying to decide what to do Jack tossed the pouch at the nearest one and called back to Gibbs, "Time to go!" and they made a hurried exit from the tavern.

To Be Continued

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