Chapter 1 – A Letter between Criminals

"Damn," I said, now age sixteen and dragging my first mate out of a tavern called the Swan and Boar. "You've seriously got to stop getting drunk almost every night! If you get too drunk you could give away our real identities and then we'd be hung from the gallows."

A few other crew members emerged from the darkness: Jed, the muscle of my crew, Jonathan, who often got himself in trouble for no apparent reason and Noah, who was one of the youngest ever on board, at the age of fourteen. Younger then anyone else, as I had said that no one under the age of fifteen could be a crew member I made an exception for this little blonde boy though, as he had the true heart of a pirate and reminded me of my brother at his age.

They grabbed him by the legs and shoulders, carrying him off to the ship, with me leading them. The sight of a drunk man being carried off wasn't an unusual sight in a town ruled by alcohol and bar fights, also known as my where I've lived for my childhood.

The ship was docked only a few paces away down by the water's edge. The other crew members saw us approaching and lowered a board onto the beach for us to climb up. It was somewhat difficult for everyone to get up, as walking while carrying a drunk friend isn't the easiest of tasks. Lucky I had Jed helping me.

That evening, a meeting with the crew was called for on the deck at supper. Poorly made tables were pulled up along with wooden stools. The crew constantly told me that I didn't need to sit on such a poorly made stool and to bring up my captain's chair, but time and time again I refused to do so: it made me feel superior to the crew, and I felt like they were family and equal to me.

"Alright" I said loud enough so the crew could hear. "Does anyone know why we're here at this meeting tonight?"

Noah raised his hand high into the air. "Because of those wanted posters we saw at our last couple of stops?"

"Right. Those are the reasons that we've been so careful hiding our identities. Our troubles are twice as much, as now our names are known on this island, and also that the English government is using money to reward anyone that delivers a pirate to them so they can hang 'em by the necks like geese ready to be roasted."

Jed blurted out. "Well, we sure ain't going to be swinging in the breeze. We have one of the quickest ships on the sea, next to the Black Pearl and Flying Dutchman." Most of the crew nodded in agreement with him.

"True." I said. "But that means nothing now. Heard some drunks in that bar that said that a man named Captain Norrington has made a deal with Davy Jones himself."

A look or fear crept onto Noah and a few other's faces. "D...does that mean we're as good as dead, Captain Ruthford?"

I sighed. "For the last time, don't call me that. I don't want to be considered higher then my crew. Got it? The only time you call me that is if we meet up with any other pirates or are called on by the Brethren Court…"

There was a loud screech as a white bird dotted with black specks all over it's feathers dove down from out of nowhere. It was our messenger bird, Ini-Herit which means "he who brings back the distant one". A suitable name for him, as it was this bird that bought back the cook, Nyasar, after we thought him to be dead after falling out of a window in the galley. We worried for days about him, as he was a valued member of the crew not only because he provided with warm meals mostly every night but also because he had the sharpest eyes of any pirate I've ever met.

A piece of paper was tied around the bird's leg, with a crimson seal on it with a kind of picture on it that looked Oriental and of a swan.

"Sumbhajee" I mumbled under my breath as a removed the paper from Ini-Herit's left leg.

It read:

Dear Captain Maria Ruthford,

You have been called upon by Captain Elizabeth Swann, pirate lord of the South China Sea and current Pirate King, to serve under her for the time being. She has recognized your superior skill as a captain despite your young age, and values such strong leadership in those your gender.

Should you accept her invitation, she shall send you a second letter stating when and where you and the captain will meet. Other pirate lords will be with her, myself included, so give them your full respect. Be prepared to fight at any given moment: you never know if our enemies (Norrington, Davy Jones himself, etc.) are following our moves.

Sincerely,

Sri Sumbhajee, pirate lord of the Indian Ocean

Jonathan asked. "Who's it from, Maria?"

"Can't tell you. Private business." I replied simply. But I can say this: get your best clothes and be on your toes. We're off to see the King."