"I got the Wench back, Bill," the man with raven black hair told the other.
"Really, Jack, how could you retrieve something torched to the bottom of the sea?"
"I have my ways." Jack shook his hand in the air as if to dismiss the topic. "But that's not why I'm here."
"Why is it, then?" Bill was growing impatient.
"To offer you a spot on my ship during my-our journey to freedom of the seven seas," the man replied with a twinkle in his eyes. Bill chuckled.
"How?" he demanded scornfully. "The East India Trading Company isn't exactly happy with you. Just because you summoned your ship back from Hell doesn't mean all's right with them!"
"Aye, but it doesn't have to be! We don't have to listen to anyone. We can take what we want, do what we want. Total freedom." Bill's eyes widened in realization.
"Are you suggesting we could be…" Jack looked around, nodded, and leaned in closer to utter a single word that lingered on his tongue.
"Pirates!"