The barmaid dusted off the red coat of the English pirate who fashions to call himself privateer.
"Are there any movements lately?" The English privateer whispered into the ear of the barmaid.
"I heard that a Treasure Galleon is due to travel back to Spain but the escort is El Aventador. Are you prepared Mr. Kirkland?" The barmaid teasingly replied.
"Of course, of course I am. Especially if it is that accursed ship..." A smirk formed on the lips of the English privateer as he finished his sentence.
"Good luck then Mr. Arthur Kirkland." The barmaid said and left the spot where she was intimately close with the Englishman.
Arthur Kirkland owned one of the finest ships in the Caribbean – The Fallen Angel, a Ship of the Line with more than enough crew to man it. The privateer would never disclose how he was able to acquire such ship but anyone who knew that the ship was his, was wise enough to steer clear.
Currently, the ship was docked at Port Royal. Port Royal was bustling with different shipments to and fro for England. There were also shady businesses going on under the nose of the governor, not that it mattered.
These were menial matters for Arthur. He was currently employed by the English Crown with a Letter of Marque to the enemies of the crown.
Once he was outside of the pub, he decided to go to the shipyard and check the repairs of The Fallen Angel.
Every time that the ship would dock, the Captain would dock near a shipyard and have the ship checked. Arthur didn't want to risk any chances that during a battle the ship would suddenly crumble, not that it would happen anyhow.
The captain had been reconsidering hiring a carpenter and sail-maker on the ship so that he wouldn't have to be consistently visiting a shipyard unless it was necessary.
"Good day Mr. Kirkland. Your ship is in excellent condition. The sails have been changed and the wood has been treated with copper plating." A middle-aged man spoke,
"Wonderful." The privateer smiled and eyed his ship. A memory flashed at him at how he had acquired such a wonderful ship.
"Here is the payment. A thousand gold pieces as you have demanded. I expect that this transaction be kept a secret, yes?" Arthur turned back to the middle-aged man.
"Yes, yes. As you say, Mr. Kirkland." The middle-aged man all too happily accepted the pouch of gold.
"I will be sailing later today or early tomorrow morning. Until then, I trust you will keep my ship in good hands."
The words of Arthur Kirkland were not a request but a command. Arthur was never the man who accepted failures.
The man before him only nodded.
The privateer's coat swished and he straightened his hat. The heat of the sun didn't affect the Englishman as he walked into another pub, where he found his quartermaster.
"Captain!" The quartermaster greeted the Englishman.
"The ship's repairs are going well and I have great news." Arthur allowed himself to smile.
The quartermaster ordered a glass of rum and the bartender immediately shoved a young boy with the order to the table.
"What do you mean great news Captain?" The quartermaster asked curiously, watching his boss drinking the liquor in one gulp.
"We have a large ship to plunder any time soon." A cunning smile emerged from the lips of the privateer.
The sun was slowly setting outside and any wise man wouldn't want to stay outside during dark hours. The pub was slowly getting filled by sailors and the like.
At this point, Arthur Kirkland was not too happy to be staying any longer in the place. The English privateer didn't enjoy being recognized by other people.
"I'll leave the hiring of the crew to you and the usual activities." Arthur said and his quartermaster was more than happy to oblige and replied with, Aye, aye Sir!
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.
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The Spanish crown had the most numerous colonies in the New World and a portion of the colonies that stretched far and wide was prominently known as the Spanish Main.
Ships carrying the Spanish flag sailed through the seas and Capitàn Antonio Fernandez y Carriedo inwardly smiled. Once the ship docks he would be receiving the official letter from the Crown and the letter of recommendation.
The captain had heard the distinct shout of the helmsman signaling that the ship is nearing the shores of Gibraltar. Antonio wore his finely made coat and hat and set out of his cabin. His crew had busily followed the orders of the quartermaster to ensure safe docking.
"Capitàn, Gibraltar is close..." The quartermaster spoke to the captain, who proudly stood side by side with the quartermaster and the ship's pilot.
"Yes... very near indeed..." The conquistador kept his excitement and he had to properly extradite the crew members whom he no longer needed the services with before the ship's next sail.
As for the moment, Antonio would allow the crew a little freedom to roam around the port of Gibraltar which could be one of his greatest mistakes.