Chapter One

On the top deck of the H.M.S. Courageous stood the slight figures of two girls. The younger of the two had brown hair that hung in loose curls around her freckled face and large, mousey eyes that stared up at her companion. The other girl had hair as dark as a raven's wing and stood almost a head taller than her friend. She stared out at the fog that covered the sea for miles, forcing the sailors to hang lanterns from all sides of the ship.

"Jessie," the brown-haired girl murmured, "Sing me that song you were humming the day before last."

Jessie's lips curved into a small smile. "It's pirate song, Elizabeth." Her accent was coarser than the other's, though her voice was melodious. "You want me to sing a pirate song? What would you father think?"

Now Elizabeth smiled brightly. "He won't mind if I am the one who asked you. Please, Jessie." She pleaded with her eyes and pouted her lip.

Jessie relented and sang very softly, so softly, Elizabeth had to lean closer to hear the words.

"The King and his men stole the Queen from her bed,

And bound her in her bones.

The seas be ours, and by the powers,

Where we will, we'll roam

Yo ho, all together, hoist the colours high.

Heave ho, thieves and beggars,

Never shall we die."

"Quiet, missy!"

A rough hand suddenly grasped Jessie's shoulder. Elizabeth jumped and turned quickly, only to find herself staring into the face of one of the sailors, Gibbs. His weather beaten face was lined and leathery, and his eyes beady and squinted from long hours in the bright sun. Jessie, who showed no sign of alarm, gazed at the man from over her shoulder.

"Cursed pirates sail these waters," Gibbs continued, peering over their heads at the dark waves ahead. "You want to bring down the lot of them upon us?"

"Mr. Gibbs, that will do."

Left tenant Norrington strode forward. Gibbs straightened quickly and explained, "The young girl be singin' about pirates! Tis bad luck to be singin' about them in this miserable fog, mark my words."

Norrington smirked. "Consider them marked. On your way."

Gibbs walked away huffily, muttering to himself about the ill luck associated with bringing women aboard a ship, even if they were only miniature ones. The two dangers to the ship's safety watched him pull a flask from his shirt and take a swig.

"I think it would be exciting to meet a pirate," Elizabeth stated.

"Think again, Miss Swan," Norrington retorted. "Violent, bloodthirsty crew, the lot of them. Ask Miss Jessie. She would know best. I intend to see that every man who sails under the Jolly Roger gets what he deserves." He looked down at Elizabeth. "A short drop and a sudden stop."

Confused, Elizabeth frowned and glanced at Jessie.

"They're hanged, Lizzie." Jessie's voice held a trace of bitterness, causing Norrington to eye her.

Elizabeth gasped, horrified.

A man, who had watched all of this in silence, stepped forward. He was middle aged, but his face was already lined. His powdered wig fell gracefully over his slumped shoulders, and his heeled shoes clomped on the deck as he walked.

"Left tenant Norrington, I appreciate your fervor, but I'm worried about the effects this topic could have on my daughters."

"My apologies, Governor Swan." Norrington bowed stiffly at the waist, then turned. "Miss Jessie, might I have a word with you?"

The girl nodded and took the arm he offered. They strolled off together down the deck, Jessie's dark green dress swishing softly.

"I couldn't help but hear a hint of anger when you told Miss Swan the fate of a pirate," Norrington commented, watching the girl's face closely. "Was I correct?"

Her face remained impassive. "It was not directed at you, James, but at the way you described them. Pirates, I mean. You said they were all violent and bloodthirsty."

"And so they are. I have yet to meet one pirate who wouldn't kill and plunder."

"They could say the same of you and the rest of the royal navy, I should think. I doubt a pirate could claim he had come across a British naval officer who was willing to sit and have tea with him."

Surprised, Norrington stopped. "Are you defending those brutes?" he asked incredulously.

The girl continued to stare off into the distance, and when she spoke, he wondered if her thoughts were still with the ship. "Defending? Never. I hardly believe that every pirate is a good and upstanding man. But I can't say that all of them are cruel and horrifying, either. There must be some who are nothing more than pleasure or adventure seekers, and they still are lumped in with all of the other bad ones. That is all."

"Perhaps, Jessie, perhaps. You astonish me, however. After your experience and what they did to your brother, that is not the answer I expected from you."

Jessie started to speak, but Elizabeth's voice interrupted her.

"A boy! Look, there's a boy in the water!"

Norrington, Jessie, and several others rushed to the side of the ship. A large piece of wood floated by them with a boy of about twelve lying on it. Jessie saw his eyes were closed and his clothes were soaked.

"Man overboard!" Norrington shouted. The girls heard him call out orders to the sailors and watched as a lifeboat was lowered into the water. The sailors rowed to the flotsam and pulled the boy into the boat. Behind the girls, the ship's doctor waited patiently.

Governor Swan gently led the two away from the sailors as they handed the limp figure up to the doctor. "I want you girls to wait with me," he said quietly. Elizabeth nodded, but Jessie protested.

"There is nothing I will see that will frighten me, Governor. The boy is unconscious and in shock, but he is not injured."

The governor sighed. "Very well, then. Elizabeth, you may go with Jessie if you wish. Take care of him. I shall have him placed in your charge." Elizabeth nodded and followed Jessie apprehensively.

Jessie slipped through the small crowd of men who gathered around the boy. He had been laid on a small table on his back. His eyes were still closed. She heard the doctor comment to Norrington.

"The boy is unconscious and in shock, Left tenant, but he is not injured. He also seems to be exhausted, though I won't know for sure until he wakes."

A sudden stir from the men caused everyone to turn. From the ship, they all saw a blazing inferno and the wreckage of what had been a merchant vessel. Debris floated past them, and Jessie caught sight of a lady's parasol.

Gibbs swore under his breath. The governor and Norrington glared at him. "Everyone's thinkin' it, I'm just sayin' it," he muttered. "Pirates."

Governor Swan chuckled nervously. "Nonsense, this was probably just an accident."

Jessie returned to the boy. His dark hair was sticking to his forehead. Gently, she brushed it away.

The boy woke with a start and clutched her wrist tightly. Elizabeth gasped and shrank back. He breathed hard and stared wildly at them.

"It's ok," Jessie whispered calmly. "You're safe now. My name is Jessie, and she is Elizabeth Swan."

His grip loosened. "Will Turner," he panted.

She smiled. "We are going to look after you, Will."

He blinked and then fell back to the table, insensible once more. Elizabeth crept forward to Jessie's side. She frowned.

"What are you afraid of, little mouse? He won't hurt you. He says his name is Will Turner. There's nothing scary about that."

Elizabeth made no answer. Jessie studied his face.

"Will Turner," she said to herself. "I think I know that name." She peered out into the fog, thinking. Then she blinked. A little cry escaped her, and she quickly covered her mouth.

Through the mist, a flag had appeared. Black and ragged it was, with a white skull and cross bones in its center. The masts of the ship emerged with torn sails made from dark material. Then it vanished.

Elizabeth came to her side. "What's the matter, Jessie? You are terribly pale."

"The Black Pearl," she murmured. "That was the Black Pearl."