Chapter 4: Old Friends
Blackbeard dragged Percy out of the room with him in hand. They exited through a window in the darkness of Kronos's quarters. Luke and Ethan scurried out of there like a couple of cockroaches exposed to light. They said nothing to Percy. Nothing like we'll rescue you or any of that. They simply abandoned him.
"Some friends you have." Blackbeard mocked.
Percy glared at the pirate. All he wanted to do is get enough gold so his mother and Tyson can leave that shack and leave that drunkard Smelly Gabe. He didn't plan on being captured by a pirate that was probably going to kill him or torture him. His fingers curled into fists behind his back, and he bit down hard on the rag around his mouth, anything to do to express his frustration.
"So when are we going to toss him overboard, sir?" one of his followers asked.
"No, let's feed him to rapid animals in the wilds!" another one yelled.
"Let's tie weights to his legs and watch him drown!" one suggested.
Percy didn't like any of those ideas.
"Yeah, it's what this privateer deserves!" a follower cheered.
Everyone started cheering at the thought of Percy's brutal death. It's been barely one week and Percy's already going to die at the hands of pirates. Will his mother be ashamed of him? He should've stayed home and shouldn't have gone through with this stupid, reckless idea. But it was too late to go back now.
"Shut your trap lads!" Blackbeard shouted at his crewmen. "We're going to do none of that ya hear? I have other plans for 'im."
Percy decided now was a good time to panic.
"Stop thrashing, fool!" Blackbeard barked at Percy "Don't do anything stupid ya hear? Underwood! I want ye to look after this fellow and when you git to me ship take him to my quarters." Blackbeard commanded one of his crewmen.
"Might I ask why sir?" Underwood itched his chin. He looked around Percy's age, maybe older. He had curly light brown hair and a goatee. He limped a lot since one of his feet was nothing but a wooden peg. He looked worn and torn, been through more battles than Percy has probably.
"Uh, ye can ask but I ain't gonna tell ya." Blackbeard said. "Just look after 'im, I'm gonna hunt down Backbiter and tell him I killed his Helmsman." It was official. Blackbeard wanted Percy alone so he could murder him. But then why wouldn't Blackbeard just kill him now? Did he want to make sure there was no evidence of Percy when he was dead? But wouldn't he want Percy's body to prove to Luke that he killed him? Why was he even planning on how to perform his murder?
"Best wishes then." Underwood smirked.
"Come boys!" Blackbeard motioned to a few of his men and they ran off into the depths of the city. That just left Grover beside Percy and a couple of crewmen. Percy bet if he could reach his sword, he might be able to take them on.
"Name's Grover. And yours?" Grover introduced after a couple of paces.
Percy stayed silent, like he wanted to make friends with the crew that was about to kill him.
"You know, I think it's better you got away from Backbiter and his crew. They're a cruel bunch."
Who's cruel? The captain giving Percy food and shelter or the infamous captain that is going to kill him?
"You really are dense aren't you?" Grover studied Percy.
Dense? What did he mean by that?
"You glare at me with such anger when we're not really your enemies."
Not your enemies? Then why is Percy tied up? Just then, Percy heard screaming and explosions. It was coming towards the docks Percy came from with The Princess Andromeda.
"Bet that's Blackbeard." Grover mumbled. "Better hurry the ship now. Come on!" Grover seized Percy's elbow and made him run to nearby docks. They ran through many rushing people and panicked guards. They eventually got to a dock by a small house. The ship anchored there was bigger than Luke's. It was no doubt Blackbeard's ship.
"Now, let's get you to Blackbeard's quarters before he gets here." Grover pushed Percy onto the plank leading to the huge galleon.
"Ye can go now, Underwood." Blackbeard opened the door to his ship's quarters. Grover's been nonstop talking to Percy about his adventures on the Queen Anne's Revenge. Percy was somewhat glad someone interrupted him even if that person was about to kill him.
"Yes sir." Grover walked to the main deck and before he could say anything else, Blackbeard slammed the door.
Blackbeard started smiling like a drunken man "My god, Percy! I haven't seen you since you were in diapers!"
Percy arched an eyebrow. He's met Blackbeard before?
"Here," Blackbeard walked over at untied his gag and the rope on his wrists. "I stopped by your village because I promised your father I would take you under me wing when you were old enough but your mum told me you ran off with some privateers. They weren't some petty ones either, they were the real deal. Your mum told me you ran off with Backbiter's crew!"
"Wait, what?" Percy was beyond confused. His father's promise? Under Blackbeard's wing? Mum was chatting with the Blackbeard?
"Let me explain." Blackbeard said. "I'm Edward Thatch. Your father was me mentor in becoming a pirate. Yes, your father was a legend of the seas, could be a god, he loved the sea so much! He met me and my buddy, Hornigold when we was petty privateers. He met me by the docks and promised me a life worth livin'. He showed me the ropes of becoming one and how to take the lead. I owe your father a lot. He retired when he met your mother and they had ya. I wonder why he never married Sally though. Anyways, when I visited him now and then he told me to look fer ya to teach you how to become a pirate when you're sixteen."
"My father was a pirate?"
"Yes, he was a captain too. Captain Poseidon, they called him. No one knows his real name though he just called himself Poseidon for show."
Percy did not know how to take this. If Blackbeard was telling the truth then why is his mother living in a dirty shack? Aren't pirates supposed to have loads of money? This did not add up. And why would his father make Blackbeard promise him to look after Percy when there's Tyson too?
"Why did you leave the island in the first place?" Blackbeard asked. "Your mother is worried sick bout ya."
"I did it because we're poor and she needed the money. And honestly, I hated living in that stinkhole with Gabe and rats." Percy shuffled his feet.
"You sound like my friend Kenway." Blackbeard chuckled. "Ya gave up a lot to go with Backbiter and his crew didn't ya? You left your family to get some plunder and what they do? Stabbed ya in the back!"
"Pirates are scoundrels too." Percy commented.
"Aye, they are." Blackbeard made his way to his desk were a bottle of whiskey was. "But at least with pirates, ya know who your true friends are."
"Why are you being so nice to me? I hear that—"
"What you hear are just rumors boy! I need to strike fear into my enemies, Jackson. I also made a promise to your father, a man I respect more than God. I made a promise that I would make you a captain! A captain more feared than me! You said you want gold Jackson, well you came to the right career. I will teach how to steal, skive, and make you enemies shutter in fear."
"All I want is gold so my Mum can ditch Gabe and she never has to worry ever again."
"Why stop there, Jackson? Why does anyone have to be poor? Why does anyone have to worry about a gold coin? Can't men be free of worries? Free of stress? Free to live like God made them to be?" Blackbeard argued. "We must be free, Jackson! This is what pirates fight for."
"As much as that sounds great, it will probably never happen. The privileged have too much of a hold of this world."
"Then help the pirates. Become a good asset to this cause."
Percy really didn't have much of a choice. If this led to gold then he was in. "Well, my father did make you promise to teach me the ropes right?"
"That's the spirit, boy!" Blackbeard chuckled and poured some whiskey into a chipped glass and shoved it at Percy. "Here, Jackson. It'll grow some hair on your chest. After that, we'll get ya in a proper getup."
"What's wrong with my clothes now?"
"Shouts too much 'part of the crew', ya need something that gives ya individuality to be a captain."
Percy decided he was going to need some whiskey in his system for this. Percy drank right out of the bottle and finished it flat. He needed all he could for what was to come.
Percy really had no interest in becoming a captain. Ever since he learned from Blackbeard that his mother was worried about him, he wanted to return home right away. His great plan failed and the only thing stopping him to return to a haven was the walk of shame. If he returned, Tyson might not look up to him the same way again. His mother would think his ideas only bring disappoint. But he would be safe and with the two people he loves more than the entire world.
"What about Tyson? Did you see him too? Did he say anything?" Percy asked Blackbeard while he was shuffling through his pile of stolen clothes.
"Tyson? Who's—" Blackbeard thought for a minute "Oh, that tall guy with one eye? Sally said he was out when I got there. So no, I didn't see 'im or hear from 'im."
"Oh…" Percy really wanted to know if he was okay.
"I would suggest writing them a letter but I don't think you can read or write."
Percy shook his head "I have trouble reading and writing the King's English."
"Bet half the crew—including me— has that problem too. Maybe one day you can recruit someone on yer crew that does but until then, let's focus on the training." Blackbeard threw a pile of clothes to Percy and told him to put them on. Percy hastily threw on the clothes while Blackbeard was out and about on deck, commanding his crew around.
It was pretty nice clothing probably stolen off a rich government official. Percy put on a navy blue long coat that had gold stripes at the collar and in the inside of the coat as well. When he rolled up his sleeves, gold stripes appeared that matched his collar and buttons. He attached a leather belt around his waist that had a gold belt buckle. Also, a short strip, matching the belt, was worn diagonally to hold Percy's sword and possibly other loops were for pistols and other cutlasses and daggers. A light blue sash was beneath the leather holster so it didn't dig into Percy's skin. He slipped on a pair of brown boots over his trousers and put on a tri-cornered hat that matched the boots. Percy guessed now he looked like a captain.
Percy stepped out of Blackbeard's quarters with no too much certainty. The whole crew wanted him dead besides Grover. He expected them to be outraged by the special treatment to a stranger. Actually, he was outraged too that Blackbeard, famous for his psychotic and cruel behavior, to be the opposite. It wasn't like Percy was complaining or anything but it was odd. What are the odds of your father being the mentor of an all-time famous cruel pirate captain? Slim to none. But when he stepped out, the crew did not treat him with disrespect. They looked at him at awe actually like he was a god or something.
"Ah, there's me boy!" Blackbeard smiled as Percy climbed the stairs of the quarter deck.
"Wow, you don't look like a poor peasant anymore." Grover remarked.
Percy did not find that funny "Thanks."
Blackbeard chuckled "Ya look like a captain and we're gonna make you one!"
And since that day Percy has been learning from Blackbeard. Some of it was useful but Blackbeard's notoriety for cruelty was showing. He showed Percy how to torture a captive. A lot of it gruesome but if Percy needed to know something from his enemies, it was useful for breaking them despite the fact his mother would be ashamed if she knew Percy was learning this. He learned to explore dark caverns for treasure, wrestle foreign ships for plunder, and most of all, how to defend himself. Over the years, he became good friends with Grover and Blackbeard. He was such good friends with Blackbeard that Percy started calling him 'Edward'.
They had a mentor-student relationship. Edward taught him all the ropes until Percy could stand on his own. The only problem was now that Percy needed a crew. Edward volunteered for Percy to stay on his ship until he found a good size crew. But before Percy could do that he wanted to search for his father even though Edward had no idea where he was. Percy needed answers that Edward couldn't answer. He needed explanations but what he found was deadly to know.