Chapter One

15 months earlier

The haze of slumber gradually lifted, giving way to the sounds of life, of a community - the occasional bark of dogs, the playful laughter of children and language – conversational and commanding, exotic and native to him. Silver languidly opened his eyes to the ceiling above, an intricate weaving of hundreds of straws, then realized what he hadn't moments earlier, that there was no debilitating ache in his leg, reminding him of the wound that refused to grow silent. The fever that had broken hours ago, no longer lingered, leaving him rested and energized, when what smelled like – grilled fish with a fusion of spice and herb roasted potatoes, drifted to him, invading his senses.

His stomach growled in response, driving him to turn his head, following the tantalizing scent when he spotted her – his warden, now his hostess – Madi Scott, standing at the table, setting a plate down then adding a beverage in a cup. He observed the elegance in her movement, and admired the beauty in everything about her – the flawlessness of her dark skin, the delicate youthfulness of her features and the wondrous styling of her hair. She was exquisite. He reverently mused. Silver drew a deep breath, every part of him warming at the sight of her, his heart stirred by the memory of her words "maybe to go to such a place one needs another, to hold the tether and to find a way out" as well as her compassion and wisdom in supporting him through the anguish in the treatment of his infected wound.

"Did you rest well?" Madi calmly asked as she turned her eyes to him, catching him unawares.

"Yes." Silver quietly replied, his breath quickening at the gentleness in her stare.

"Should you be hungry, I brought food." She said upon returning her attention to the table and further adjusting the items she'd just set upon it.

"Thank you. I am." He admitted, his stomach ferociously growling again, prompting him to slowly leave the cot on which he lay.

"Do you need…"

"No. I'll manage." Silver interjected, stopping Madi mid step as she moved towards him. He effortlessly stood from the cot, balancing himself with the pillar nearby, and instantly felt a sharp pain at the stub of his leg. He grimaced, which deepened Madi's concerned, sparking her desire to go to him, but she remained where she stood, watching him in awe, amazed at the strength of his fortitude. Silver grabbed the wooden stick that Fremah had suggested he use to get around, at least until his wounded leg quieted down. He deftly hopped across the room, making his way to the table, where he successfully pulled out a chair and sat down, letting his injured leg, which was again free of the terrible pain that had raged moments before, rest to the side. His eyes immediately went to the plate before him, his mouth watering at it's delicious contents. It had been a while since he'd had a decent meal and his gut became more ravenous at the sight of the glorious food that awaited him. Silver was just about to dig in, hardly able to pace himself to not gorge a large bite, when he looked up to see that Madi was making her way towards the entrance of the hut.

"Wait." He exclaimed. Madi stopped and turned her full attention back to him, her hands folded and resting in front of her, a questioning expression on her face.

"Join me." He softly requested, his gaze bound to hers, rousing a fervor in the air, yielding a quickening to their breaths.

"I have already dined." She quietly answered.

"It does not seem right for me to dine at your table without you being here to join me." He voiced.

Madi felt flushed, her heart slamming in her chest, beating at a heighten pace under the scrutiny of his intense gaze. The invitation he'd presented, excited her, as did he. For he – John Silver, was an intriguing man, unlike any she'd ever met. She'd encountered white men before, many of whom had been disposed of when they'd somehow come to discover the Island. However, this man, John Silver, was different. She mused, again noting his fetching dark locks, curly and long, the way his beard handsomely framed his lips and face, and the striking blue of his eyes, while recalling his strength when confessing his concern over the darkness of Captain Flint, and his humility when he'd been nearly broken with pain from his injury, allowing her to see his feverish leg, to help him. Nonetheless, he was a pirate. She reminded herself, even as admiration for him washed over her. What would her mother think? What would her people think? If she granted his request? She didn't allow the thought to fester, but speaking not a word, she made her way to the nearby counter and poured herself a cup of water, then walked to the table and took a seat, where she kept her eyes down, focused on the cup her hands were wrapped around.

"Thank you, for aiding me." Silver quietly uttered. Madi lifted her eyes to his and was moved by the warmth in his stare. She slightly nodded her head, acknowledging his gratitude, took a sip of water then spoke.

"How did it happen?" She cautiously asked. "Your leg?"

Silver allowed the food for which he'd just devoured to melt in his mouth, savoring its taste, while he contemplated her question.

"It is a long sorted tale…involving Spanish soldiers, Pirates…and stolen treasure." He replied, his tone reflecting a dark pain that was still fresh as his mind revisited that time of not long past that was ripe with peril, violence and betrayal.

"I am sorry. I did not mean to stir any unpleasant memories." Madi apologized. For a moment Silver held her gaze, heartened by her sincerity that kindled a sense of calm within him, when her eyes fell away, inciting him to say more.

"In Charlestown…our ship was captured by a rival pirate." He said, drawing Madi's eyes back to him as his mind drifted further into the memory of that time, to all that had transpired, which had yielded that horrifying moment. He then explained the complicated truth of shifting alliances, how and why Captain Vane had come for the Man O' War and why after capturing it he didn't leave Charlestown and chose to stay and save Flint from being hanged for piracy. "when Vane went ashore to extricate Flint, a member of his crew went rogue, because I would not deliver what he wanted…Flint's crew to support his plan to flee back to Nassau…he…crushed my leg with an axe…leaving it damaged beyond repair." He revealed, his voice strong with emotion as he dropped his eyes. Madi tried to process all that he'd revealed, the complexity and darkness of all that had gone on, but with all that he'd said, she felt his anguish, the memory of what she knew had to be a terrible experience. She wanted to reach out to him, to comfort him with her touch, but stopped herself with words.

"I cannot imagine how difficult that must've been." She compassionately stated.

"It was…devastating." Silver confessed what he hadn't to anyone else, lifting his eyes back to hers. "But…being accountable for my crew, tending to them, aided tremendously in my recovery."

"It is remarkable how much strength can be gained from aiding one's people." She commented aloud, reflecting on past times when delivering care to her people provided her strength and recollecting his earlier declaration of holding his "world together with both hands" with tending to his crew being at its core.

"It is." Silver silently agreed as he maintained her kindred stare, seized by the tenderness it provoked, when his stomach suddenly roared again, prompting him to continuously sate the deficiency that was still his mostly empty belly. "How's your father?" He then asked with care, after consuming more of his meal, his thoughts settling on Mr. Scott as she again looked down and he noted her expression shifting into melancholy.

"The healing ritual is complete." She replied. "But there has been little improvement to his condition."

"Can more be done?" Silver inquired and she drew a deep breath, the pain she felt for an instant crippling her strength, touching something deep within him, before she regained her composure and answered.

"No." She said, meeting his gaze.

"I'm sorry this has happened to him." He seriously uttered as she lowered her eyes once more, nodding in acceptance of his sympathy. "Your father is a good man."

"You know him well?" She asked, lifting surprised eyes back to him. She'd heard of Captain Flint, of his ruthlessness. For her mother, had spoken of him many times when relaying the work of her father. Therefore, it was logical to conclude that the Captain knew something of who her father was, but Madi had heard nothing of John Silver, and thus was astonished to hear that the man may indeed know something about her father.

"For a short while, we sailed on the same boat, and were generally of the same crew." He answered.

"What was that like? Sailing with him?" Madi curiously asked.

"It wasn't what you might expect." Silver said. "We, for a while, sailed on the same ship, but we were not always of the same mind. There was no discord between us, just diverging views."

"What about?"

"At the time, my ambition lay solely in retrieving the treasure we were all seeking. Your father aimed for the same goal. However, the preservation of Nassau, was at the source of his intent. It is clear now, why that was." He stated and for an instant, became lost in the innocence of her brown gaze. He then went on to tell her of various instances on the boat when her father's intellect and skill had been of great value in completing critical tasks and keeping the men amenable. "There was much respect for him. There still is." He'd finished and watched in wonderment as she demurely lowered her eyes and a small smile faintly graced her lips. With Mr. Scott spending a substantial amount of time living in Nassau, she must've shared very little time with him. Silver deduced. And thus, had few opportunities to know him beyond the illusive King who aided in supplying their livelihood and ensuring their protection from afar.

It must be of great comfort to know more of who he was. Silver gathered from her response of muted content, upon hearing accounts of her father's life. Pleasance woke within him, rousing him to gently smile at the gladness he found in easing her worry, displacing it with happiness, even if only for a short while. It was worth it to see what he'd only seen once before, a hint of a smile on her face.

Silver returned his attention to his plate, devouring more of the succulent fish and herb roasted potatoes, then commented on its deliciousness and how it was far superior to anything he'd ever tried to prepare.

"You cook?" Madi had responded with a shock that harbored a glint of amusement.

"That's how I got my start with Flint's crew. I didn't know a thing about cooking though, but said I did to ensure my survival." He confessed. "Of course I was immediately tasked with preparing a meal and completely blundered it." He added.

"How so?" She asked, completely fascinated with his revelation.

"I cooked a pig, that turned out not to be cooked at all. It was quite the disaster, for me and the men." He explained with mirth, remembering how many of the crew got the squirts, which resulted in some wanting to deal him a beating.

"Were you able to rectify the situation?"

"With Flint's aid, my second attempt went far better."

"I imagine your meals were more agreeable after the lesson from Captain Flint?"

"Better, but I was hardly an expert at cooking after one lesson." He declared and then continued his account of other cooking adventures in the mist of pirate conflicts and stolen treasure, further intriguing Madi with a narrative of his experiences as he came to be more enraptured by the innocence in her inquisitiveness and astuteness of her mind.