Chapter Four

Dawn When The Ships Launch

x\X\x

When I came to, I felt refreshed in a way. Sure my head pounded slightly and thirst burned my throat but I didn't feel completely drained of energy. I was lying down on a self-made cot with a hard pillow supporting my head. Beside me a dirty glass was filled to the brim with water. Propping myself up I readily drank it down before letting out a loud sigh, my throat soothed. I ran a hand over my hair to make sure that all loose pieces were hidden before checking my bandaging around my bust keeping my chest flat.

"You're finally awake." The velvet voice of Captain Mason stated.

"You're back?" I groaned.

"Hardy-har-har. Clever Mr Ben." The sarcasm dripping from the Captain's words was almost tangible. "But you are now a part of my crew and your humour is not appreciated."

"Who was joking?"

Mason just raised an eyebrow before pulling over a wooden stool and sitting down upon it. "I have some questions I need to ask you before you can actually be a part of my crew Ben. Firstly what is your family name and why have I never heard of you before?"

"My last name is Smith Captain and I prefer to stay unknown in case word got back to my home port where my old family lives. They do not know about my life of piracy." I lied easily to the Captain, taking a common last name and a story common amongst many pirates, Edward Mason being one of them.

The Captain nodded. "Why were you on the Vendetta?"

"I wasn't about to let the ship be burned. She's one of the greatest ships to sail these seas, almost unbeatable and completely beautiful." The lust in my voice was obvious.

Mason nodded. "So how did you plan on sailing it? It takes at least a crew of three to move it and a dozen more to sail it."

I was going to open the sails while there was wind coming from the west, I would be able to steer it into the Caraway Current which would bypass this island. I figured that it would become stranded onto land. In other words, I'd say it was similar to how your crew managed it."

"That would've taken a lot of work."

"Like I said before, I wasn't about to let that ship be turned to ash."

Again the Captain nodded. "You speak well for a pirate." He commented, scrutinising me.

"So do you Captain." Mason seemed taken aback but otherwise said nothing more. He stood up and slid the stool back to its place beside the door to the wooden hut. "Just one last question Mr Smith, what is your relation to Commodore James Track?" I was thrown, I did not remember mentioning the man but there was a good chance I head uttered it in my sleep.

"The bastard is Commodore now?" Captain Mason said nothing. I just sighed. "I want that lowlife dead at my feet by my hands." I growled.

"Why?"

I looked Mason in the eye. "For revenge of course. Why else?"

"Then it seems we have something in common."

I just nodded and stood up. "Does this make me apart of your crew now?"

"I suppose it does. We are leaving at dawn, you best be well fed and ready to go by then." I only just realised the sky outside had begun to lighten.

"Dawn? What for?"

"You say you have lived this life for years, than you know all the oceans secrets, well, then surely you must know the Pirate Council is gathering?"

All blood drained from my face, very rarely was a council called, there were eight pirate captains who gathered to unite against whatever threat was forming. The last time had been the East Indian Trading company which resulted in the death of more than half of the Eight. Their successors were the eight now. Each represented part of the ocean. I began to feel light headed then, Charlie had once been a member of the Council. '...I pass on everything that belongs to me, to you. You are the next in line to take this ship and also my place amongst the men of the sea...'

"Shit!"I cursed out loud. I was, by the Pirate Code, the final member of the Council of Eight.

Mason, mistaking my outburst just smirked. "Prepare yourself Mr Smith, this is going to be long, exhausting journey and one that you will regret coming on."

The Captain left me only to my thoughts. I was filled with panic. I needed a crew, and a ship. It seemed that my revenge was to be put aside. I promised my father that I would continue his legacy and that was what I would do.

Slowly a plan began to form in my mind as I left to find food to prepare myself for the long journey that was to come.

The Dauntless was a beautiful ship, made of redwood oak and sandalwood. The bow was strong and the figurehead was a wooden built mermaid whose tail was painted an ocean green colour and her hair a caramel shade. The sails were now a cream colour, once white but stained over the years.

"Beautiful ain't she." Came the drawl of the Blonde man I had met on the Vendetta. Jasper, his name was. I turned to properly examine the man. He was tall and well built with sun bleached hair that hung in curls around his face. He wasn't as tanned as Edward or many of the other crew members but still had a touch of bronze. His eyes were a startling blue, reminding me briefly of Mike, my tormentor.

"The Vendetta is better." I grumbled.

Jasper just laughed and nodded. "To each his own I guess."

I raised an eyebrow at his choice of words but otherwise said nothing. "I'm sorry about the head thing, you know, but you were actual beating the Captain an all and I couldn't let that happen. Don't tell capt'n that but yee knows it's true."

Jasper continued to ramble on but I just brushed him aside. "It's a pirate's life, I shouldn't expect any less."

"Jasper Whitlock." Jasper held out his hand which I shook.

"Ben Smith." Whitlock just nodded before heading onboard the Dauntless.

The sun was just rising above the water when the Ship began sailing away. Mason was steering while Jasper stood beside him checking maps and wind conditions. Below on deck many of the crew were cleaning, some practised their fighting and some just worked the ropes. I was in the birds nest keeping an eye out for any ships that may come by.

The burly man, Emmett who had been with Jasper on the Vendetta was now sharpening all weapons on the Dauntless and Seth was retying some ropes.

Overall it seemed just like any pirate ship, but even from my place far above the water, I could feel the tension and fear that many of the men oozed. I turned my back to the North and lifted the telescope to look to the South. Faintly, I could see the shrinking outline of The Island.