Chapter 1
What once was a bustling town, filled with life, excitement, and joy, Singapore had reached rock bottom. Soldiers of the East India Trading Company were on constant patrol. In a pirate land such as this, nobody dare set foot outside or step out of what had become the norm: Silence and darkness, on land and in the waterways.
"The king, and his men, stole the queen from her bed," sang a single silent voice in the night, "and bound her in her bones," A small boat was rowed by two figures in the water, "the seas be ours and by the powers, where we will, we'll roam." While one of them had a hat to conceal their face, the other was cloaked entirely, a small hunch on their back. Looking up, being mindful of the soldiers she had passed, Elizabeth continued singing through the waters.
"This had better bloody work." Came the comment from the girl behind her. She had a part in planning this, but majority of the ideas belonged to Barbossa. A fact that she was not all comfortable with, but still willing to be a part of. Elizabeth made no response, but kept singing. A troupe of soldiers crossed over them on a bridge, making the girl hold her breath and keep her head down.
"... The bell has been raised from its watery grave," Elizabeth continued to sing, "can you hear its sepulchral tone? A call to all, pay heed the squall, and turn your sails toward home!" They reached a dock before a dead end in the water. Elizabeth climbed out to tie the boat off. As soon as that was done, the girl climbed out as well.
"Yo ho, all together, hoist the colors high. Yo ho, thieves-" Elizabeth sang
"Thieves and beggars, never say we die." Interrupted Tai Huang as he came from out of the shadows. He stared at the girls, the younger one trembling slightly.
"A dangerous song to be singing," Tai Huang said, "for anyone ignorant of its meaning. Particularly a woman and a slave, particularly a woman and a slave alone." The two were surrounded by more men like Tai Huang.
"What makes you think she's alone?" Came Barbossa's voice as he walked down the stone steps to them.
"You protect them?" Tai Huang asked, turning his back to the girls. Elizabeth ran forward and put a knife to Tai Huang's neck, the men all drew their own pistols, aiming them at the girls. The younger didn't do anything though.
"And what makes you think we need protecting?" Elizabeth asked
"Your master's expectin' us." Barbossa said, "An unexpected death would cast a slight pall on our meetin'." Elizabeth let go of Tai Huang. The sound of marching soldiers reached their ears. They escaped under a bridge where a secret passage was opened for them. As they walked through the streets of Singapore, the girl grabbed and held Barbossa's arm.
"He won't recognize ye." Barbossa commented quietly
"Are you sure?" She asked, looking up at him, her brown eyes piercing the black.
"Have you heard anything from Will?" Elizabeth asked.
"I trust young Turner to acquire the charts, and you to remember your place in the presence of Captain Sao Feng." Barbossa said, then turning to the girl, "The both of you."
"Is he that terrifying?" Elizabeth asked. The girl nodded.
"Aye." She said
"He's much like myself, but absent by merciful nature and sense of fair play." Barbossa remarked
"Exactly." the girl commented dryly. They stopped before a large door. Tai Huang knocked and a peep hole was pulled open.
"Hoi." He said. The hole closed, the door opened, and the three strangers and Tai Huang and his crew entered. Tai Huang stood in front of the entryway.
"My master wishes visitors to have no weapons when meeting. Remove, please." he said
"If Sao Feng insists," Barbossa said before taking his pistols and sword and putting them on a table by the entrance. Elizabeth made to move pass Tai Huang, but he held his hand up to stop her.
"You think because she is a woman we would not suspect her of treachery?" he asked
"Well, when you put it that way." Barbossa smiled
"Remove, please." Tai Huang said. Elizabeth looked appalled at first, but then begrudgingly took off her outer coat to reveal the multitude of guns and bombs on the leather harness she wore underneath. The pile or armaments was increased tenfold with the weaponry she had hidden. When it seemed like she had everything, Elizabeth paused and reached behind her, pulling an incredibly large gun out from seemingly nowhere. Barbossa looked behind her to see where it came from. They were all about to go into the building further, when Tai Huang held up his hand once more.
"Remove," he repeated, "please." He smiled slyly as he looked at the appalled Elizabeth. The girl did not look at the scene before her, but cast her gaze around the room they were in. She had never been there and found the place interesting, considering it was the dwelling of a Pirate Lord. She looked back and Elizabeth was not wearing any pants. She moved to walk forward.
"Remove, please." Tai Huang said, stopping her.
"She is my servant and slave. I can assure you, nothing is hidden with her." Barbossa said. Tai Huang walked up to her and walked around her. He clutched her hood and pulled it back, strands of blonde hair falling in her face. Her eyes were clenched shut in fear of being recognized. She slowly opened them when no alarm was called.
"What is her name?" Tai Huang asked curiously.
"Her name be Silver. She rarely speaks and relies on me." Barbossa explained. Tai Huang continued to study her. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a messy bun, but a lot of strands were hanging by her face.
"Hm." Tai Huang said, turning from them, "This way." He walked forward and the three were lead into the bathhouse. Elizabeth was fidgeting with her clothes, uncomfortable with the situation. The girl strode next to Barbossa looking at the people in their baths. A man with mushrooms growing on his face turned to look at the newcomers. The girl gasped and grabbed onto Barbossa's arm.
They reached the end of the house and stood before a man fully with his back turned to them, a girl on each side of him. He turned to the group and the girl gulped. Barbossa and the girl began bowing, motioning for Elizabeth to do the same.
"Captain Barbossa," Sao Feng, the pirate Lord of Singapore, said. "Welcome to Singapore." he turned to one of his servant girls. "More steam." She bowed before pulling on a rope.