'Where will you be taking me first?' Maud was sitting next to Captain Flint in a longboat, heading to Nassau's shores. Flint had been very quiet ever since that little speech he gave to his men a day ago, before they arrived in Nassau.

'Nowhere. I'm simply giving the men some rest before we set out to find the ship that holds the log.' Maud looked down at her hands in her lap for a second.

'So what about Mr Price?' she asked. All Flint could do was sigh. 'If you allow him to enter those beaches, to lure your men into conversations in the deepest corners of the tavern with the pleasure of a few drops, what do you think will happen? He'll get the votes he needs to depose you.'

'That happened before. The man's name was Singleton.' He looked her in the eyes, as he hadn't done for long.

'The first time I saw you, you already had the blood of one of my enemies on your hands, or, on your mouth, quite literally. I believe I can trust you to find a way to help me out while I settle some business in the main land.'

'He tried to rape and murder me and that's the only reason for why I did what I did. Don't get me wrong, I, as much as you, have the greatest interest for you to keep your captaincy but you mustn't overestimate me.'

'You'll find a way.'

'Will I? Or will Mr Gates?' The tiniest grin appeared on Flint's face. 'Go with him to see Miss Guthrie. Watch and learn.' Maud gave a small and sophisticated nod, after which Flint already lent her his hand to help her up from the longboat bench, and after he'd gotten out, he lent her an arm around the waist to get out of the boat, while she lifted up her skirts in the process.

'When will you be back?' Maud asked, before Flint could get away to a horse without saying anything. 'Tomorrow.' The look she gave him, made him know that she wasn't stupid enough not to think. Even though she did not know who Mrs Barlow was, and didn't know her name, she knew of her existence well before Flint ever told her about Miranda. Her cleverness was what aided him in pursuing certain ships, but at times like these, he'd wish she hadn't been just this clever.

'Alright.' Maud replied softly, Flint gave her a nod and walked out before her to the nearest horse stable. He was off on a horse he found quickly, while Maud turned to face the sea, waiting for the next longboat to come around that carried Mr Gates. He arrived shortly, already realising why Maud had stayed put, while Captain Flint had already left.

'So he's finally found the courage to let you go free, has he?' There was a small grin on his face.

'I don't suppose so,' Maud replied. 'You are to watch over me and take me to Miss Guthrie.'

'I'd already hoped so. I need someone to support me or I might swoon by the sight of her face when I ask her for the money to bribe some voters.' A soft smile appeared on Maud's face, and then Mr Gates gave her a soft pat on the shoulder, to order her to follow him to Miss Guthrie's tavern. She followed him to there, and all the way in as he approached Mr Scott.

'I need a moment with your boss.' Mr Gates said. Maud remained quiet, knowing that she should probably let Mr Gates do all the talking. She had only been here a couple of times before, and only been in Miss Guthrie's office twice.

'Not a good time.' Scott replied, and exactly at that moment, Maud could hear glass shatter as Miss Guthrie's doors opened. 'Get the fuck out.' Followed by Miss Guthrie, a man walked out trying to go unnoticed, but Eleanor had more to say to it.

'If you want to run at first sight of trouble, be my guest but don't expect me to fucking help you.' Once the man had exited the building, Guthrie turned to everyone inside the brothel.

'And that goes for all of you! If you want to hunt, my door is open. But if the mere whiff of the navy is too much for you, then God bless and get the fuck out.' She turned around to enter her office again, but was interrupted by a man's voice in the crowd.

'Fuck yourself, cunt.' Slowly, Eleanor turned back around, as the crowd let out some 'ooh's.

'Did you just tell me to go fuck myself?' Maud had no idea where this was going, but was starting to get nervous of the tenseness in the room, because everyone remained quiet as Eleanor approached the man's table.

'Mr Scott, who is this man?' 'Mr Sanderson,' Scott replied. 'He's with Captain Burges of the Trinity.'

'How much was their last haul?' 'Nearly a thousand in profit, best tally in months.' Eleanor looked at Mr Sanderson, and then grabbed his cup from him, which she filled with more rum. 'Well… Mr Sanderson, pleased to be in your company. Do you know why?' She put the bottle down again, and then looked at him intensely.

'Because you're an earner. Shall I tell you what happens when I stand near an earner?' The man seemed ever so curious. 'My pussy gets wet.' Maud just sighed at that. 'In which case, I will go fuck myself.' she finished, dipping her hands in his newly filled cup. Everybody laughed and cheered for her as she, again, attempted to enter her office, but was this time interrupted by Mr Gates.

'Mistress Guthrie.' She turned around, but grinned slightly. 'Now what the fuck do you want?'

'I'm having some trouble keeping the men off Captain Flint, I was hoping you could help me.' Eleanor's eyes found Maud. 'So why are you with him?' she asked, not at all trying to sound hostile. 'I believe Captain Flint was hoping I could convince you to help him out. Something about five million Spanish pieces of eight.' At least this convinced Eleanor to let them into her office. Having Mr Scott close the door behind the four of them, she opened the windows on the opposite side of the room.

'I wish you'd get control of your men. They're coming here spouting off that they've seen his Majesty's navy out there, and I've got three crews pulling orders because they haven't got enough balls to get back in the water.'

'I'll make sure that I keep that in mind ma'am but right now the Scarborough is the least of our concern.' Mr Gates went to sit down himself, and offered Maud a chair as well, which she took gladly. 'We have an agitator.' Eleanor looked confused. 'What the fuck does that mean?' 'A challenger for captaincy of the Walrus. I expect him to call a vote soon. I'll expect him to be close.' Eleanor sighed a little.

'Flint has got morale problems, what do you want me to do about it?' 'I need money. To show up support.' Mr Scott seemed confused by that. 'You want a loan?'

'Flint has made you more money than any other captain here.' 'Not lately, he hasn't.'

'Yeah, well that will change. But mark my words, without that money the most valuable captain on the island will be out of a job tomorrow. Think of it as an investment in the future.'

'You steal cargo at the end of a slaughter. We sell that cargo to markets that would never have you. When you are strong you are a necessary equal, when you are not strong you are likely soon to be dead. But what you are not ever… is a sound investment.' Mr Scott pleaded.

Eleanor seemed to think, but then finally decided to add Maud, who'd been listening quietly all along, to the conversation.

'Five million Spanish pieces of eight?' she asked. 'L'Urca de Lima.' Maud replied. 'We've obtained a log on our last hunt that will lead us to a ship that holds the log of this Spanish treasure galleon. If we get to it, and take it… that will be more money than all that Captain Flint has delivered you in the past combined. Me, Mr Gates and Captain Flint are the only ones who know about the log, because if the beach catches a word of this, everyone will soon be out to hunt for that log, which would diminish our chance in obtaining it. Mr Price, the agitator, does not know about the log. If Captain Flint is casted off his position, the prize will be lost and returned to Spain.' she explained after that.

Eleanor seemed to understand immediately. 'How much would you need?' she asked, turning back to Mr Gates. He shrugged. 'A thousand pieces of eight? Give or take…' Eleanor thought about that again, clearly having a few second thoughts, but then reached for her feather and dipped it in ink, after which she noted the expense, and handed the paper over to Mr Gates.

'Take this to Vergil. He'll see that you get what you need.' 'Thank you ma'am.' Mr Gates replied, to which Eleanor gave a confiding nod, while Mr Gates got up, followed by Maud.

'Thank you, Miss Guthrie.' she said, lifting up her skirts as she followed Mr Gates out the door.

'So what do we do now?' Maud asked once the door had closed back behind them. Mr Gates turned around to face her, a small smile appearing on his face.

'I will go out, see my men and bribe them into voting for a captain that hasn't had the money to pay them in quite some months. I would guess you're hungry and thirsty and would like to have a walk on the island.' She was silent for a second.

'Would you let me?' she then asked quietly, but Mr Gates could only laugh at that. 'It pains me that you think I don't trust you not to catch the next ship to London, even if there were one in this pirate bay, which there isn't. I know where your loyalty lies. It might not be with me or the crew but it is with Flint.' She looked down at the ground but smiled softly as well.

'Now, off with you. Go find yourself some fruit to put your teeth in, and be back at the tavern at dusk.'


A/N: Hi there! I rushed a little bit to write this chapter, as I am going on a vacation to Croatia and Bosnia tomorrow early in the morning ('hey ho and up he rises'). I hope you liked it none the less, and I would love to hear what you think of it, so please leave a review and until next time!