Part I, Chapter 5 (b)
"Jaysus! Impressive, Kidd," Edward praised his partner in crime from beside the Jackdaw's wheel, "Ya operate the Jackdaw so craftily! Then ya speak bloody Spanish!"
Mary stepped casually towards the helm as she tilted her head back and side to side, cracking her neck, "I make do, mate."
Edward chuckled, "Why not sink them, though?" he gazed back towards the sail-less brig, Spaniards inside either dead or scampering about, panicking.
"They'll get assistance from their amigos in time; this area's brimmin' with Spanish vessels. An' this ain't some'n they'd ferget soon- their stories of 'ow fearsom the Jackdaw is'll spread like a disease. I'm merely doin' yer reputation a favour."
"Fair enough, mate. I only hope the means through which my reputation spreads isn't like that of syphilis," he elbowed her playfully.
She raised an eyebrow, "But it'd be honoring to 'ave yer name cried while climaxin'."
"Aye, but after the fun comes suffering."
"All the more my point stands! Those who hear o' Edward Kenway'd be in fear, jus' as those with the disease are haunted."
He scoffed, "It was a hogwash metaphor, but I suppose we made some sense of it. Now where to, Captain?"
"What do ye think, Kenway? Where, rather? It's yer choice."
"I say let's have another go in battle," then he shouted to the crew, "What's our view on more coin, lads?"
"HYAA!"
So they plundered another brig, this exploit equally thrilling as their last, and sailed away with thousands of reales worth of supplies and rum. After taking time to keep the Jackdaw ship-shape, they were off for more, Edward taking the helm.
"What's that ship doing stationed like so?" Edward wondered aloud.
"Where, capn?" asked Adéwale.
"Starboard."
Mary, on Edward's left, looked past the blonde, and narrowed her eyes, "Oi, Edward. 'And me the spyglass." With it, she peered at the brig, "It's bloody Vane!" Smiling, she lowered the device.
Edward recalled welcoming the other pirate to Nassau some months back, "Ah, I forgot to mention. Aye, he's here. That's the Ranger, is it? We'll grant him a visit." He shouted to the crew, "Awright lads! We're to go starboard to the brig! She's a friendly!"
Mary seemed particularly delighted, "Been some years since we've 'appened 'pon one 'nother!"
As they neared Vane's Ranger, the pirates aboard the Jackdaw saw and heard increasingly clearer that Vane and Rackham were arguing vivaciously. Rackham, holding up a bottle of rum and a pistol, was running away from the other man while Vane gave chase. There was broken glass littering the deck. What few crewmen Vane managed were either passed out on deck or making merry below. On second thought, it wasn't far-fetched to imagine that those below deck were passed out as well, or that there weren't any crewmen below at all.
The Jackdaw pulled in beside the Ranger. Edward heard Mary next to him inhale sharply, and he imagined her tensing up. He steered the wheel to steady the ship, "Kidd? What's got-?" he looked at her direction to see nothing. Instead he heard the rope-swing snap in the other direction.
Mary was perched on one of the long pieces of wood going across the mast, and she shouted down, "Oi Vane! 'Eld up, are ye? What'n bloody 'ell is the flamboyant one up to?"
"Kidd?! That you?" Vane yelled as he dodged the bottle Rackham threw at him, "Get out 'ere from wherever you're cooped up and help me put down this shite sailor!"
"Gotcha, mate," she leapt as Rackham passed underneath and knocked him out with a blow.
"If it ain't James Kidd!" Vane slowed his pace and rested against the side of the boat, huffing, "Agh… Wretched arse." He nudged his foot against unconscious Rackham in the belly, cracking a few toes.
Edward arrived at the scene in a half-jog, "What's come about here, Vane?"
"Agh. The drunk-as-shite li'l clod took the last of the rum. He's already gagged all over my deck enough times!" A piece of glass shattered underneath where he stepped.
"An' he flung 'bout the rest o' the bottles?" asked Kidd.
Vane shook his head, "That was me."
Rackham groaned, wakening, "Shite, Charlie," he spit out blood as he got on his knees and elbows, the bubbly red liquid splattering the wood of the ship. "Oh.. O-oi. Who? Who they 'gain?" He eyed Edward and Mary.
Edward answered, "Kenway, mate. From back in Nassau?" He walked over and pulled the man up onto his feet, "The lad's a Mr. James Kidd."
"Right" Mary nodded to the drunkard.
Vane quickly looked at her and commented, "There's some'n a bit off 'bout that voice o' yours, Jim. Still hasn't d'veloped, eh? How old are ya anyway?"
Edward quickly shifted his gaze to her, Aye- just how old are you?
"Old 'nuff to shame ye both with me skill an' finesse," she crossed her arms and tilted her head away from him, which Edward was realizing was her signatures style, "So who's the rat?" She regarded Rackham.
The man himself stumbled towards her, but was restrained by Edward, "Only the 'Calico' Jack Rackham!" He fell to his knees again.
They all heard the glass shattering beneath him. They all heard him yelp.
Vane scoffed, "Bloody shite. I'll take 'im. You both go on with your day- I'll be seeing you before long, I'm certain. Up we go!" He linked his arms around Rackham's waist and hauled him up.
Edward and Mary, unsure whether or not to intervene, watched Vane half-carry and half-drag the man towards the captain's cabin. "Whuh?" Vane grunted, "Think I can't 'andle the clod? Once he's able to stand- when he's both sober and patched up- he's scrubbing my deck!"
"An' ake care not to dirty the wounds! Infection is misery," Mary kicked aside a bloodied shard of glass, "Ah- an' 'ave yer crew do some scrubbin' meanwhile, eh, Capn Vane? B'fore ye find yerself playin' nurse too often!"
"Bugger off, mum," Vane grumbled, "But ya know, Kidd, I do miss that cheek of yours."
"Call it 'cheekiness', man! Don't mislead Kenway to thinkin' ye miss me mouth- gets jealous, does he!" *
The reckless men disappeared into the cabin, and Edward's and Mary's eyes followed the blood trail at the threshold of the cabin back to the space right below them, then up at one another.
"That's that," Mary shrugged and stepped next to the plank going between the Ranger and the Jackdaw, "C'mon."
Edward wondered, "Does he know about you?" She knew what he meant by that.
"Nah," she lowered her voice to a whisper as Edward stood next to her, "An' he thinks I'm kiddin' when I say such things like ye bein' a jealous lover o' mine."
"And you're sure Vane's lent an ear to ya regarding this mess on his deck?" asked Edward as they stepped onto the wood.
She answered, "Either way, I'll make sure o' it."
Adéwale laughed as he welcomed the two back, "T'was quite de show, Capn."
"Agreed. Let's resume our voyage, then." They made their way towards the helm.
"Pardon, Capn," Adé started, "De crew has taken to dividing de recently acquired valuables amongst demselves. It may take time to prepah."
"Awright, then. Send word out when we're set."
Waiting for the crew to finish their preparations, Edward undid his hairtie and ran his fingers through the loosened blonde locks, some of the strands framing his face. He looked to where Mary leaned against edge of the sterncastle, and he caught her gazing blankly at him. Oh. That pleases her?
She smirked knowingly and turned away. Alright then. I won't tie it up for the rest of the day.He also smiled and turned around to face the wheel. But he was surprised to see Adéwale already at the wheel, looking at him as well.
"I will cry out when we encounter an enemy ship whose cargo we could put to use," Adé nodded, "Take it easy with Mastuh Kidd in the meantime, Kenway."
They both looked at her, resting her arms on the wood as the ship began to move forward. Edward glanced back at Adé, who was now looking forward and ordering the crew to give him some sail. As he approached Mary, he wondered if Adé knew her secret.
They watched the Ranger shrink as they gained distance, and when it appeared to be the size of a mere model ship, Mary spoke, "Bloody 'ell, Edward. Vane's found 'imself a strange mate."
"Aye. Mates," he leaned in and whispered flirtatiously, "Like we are. But, ya know, they don't relish each other as wedo-"
"Ye know what I mean, Kenway." she smirked and lightheartedly shoved him away, peeking back to see if Adé noticed their teasing.
Edward chuckled, "From what I've heard, Kidd, Rackham has spent half of his adulthood pissed."
The next day, it was Edward's turn to sail Mary's vessel. Her schooner, which she fondly called the Matador, donned a twin-tailed siren as a figurehead. Fitting, thought Edward. Her hair spilled over her breasts and her head was decorated with a rather humble crown, a star in the center of the coronet.**
"The Matador?"
"It don't sound quite so adventurous like the Ranger er fearsome as the Revenge, prolly due to bein' Spanish. But I was hopin' to 'ave meanin' an' depth in the name. I was considerin' other ones."
"And what were these other names?"
"Nightmare, Exodus, the Drake, the Kelpie, an' the Vapor, to name a few."
"Viper?"
"Vapor. Like mist?"
Edward shook his head, unbelieving, "Jaysus, what sort of names are these, mate?"
"Like I said- meanin'. All of 'em are from myth er they refer to concepts 'at relate to me," she considered them all again, "But Drake was tribute to Sir Francis Drake."
"Awright, the Exodus is the only other of them that sounds imposing," he still wasn't sure about the quality of the proposed names, "And just what does Kelpie mean?"
"It's a horse-like creature o' the water. Flauntin' a silky mane, it'd lure folks an' offer rides on its back. Then it'd drag 'em to the bottom o' lakes. Once ye accept a ride from it, don' expect to get off. It's a silly name fer a deadly bein'."
"Ah, like a Ceffyl Dŵr?"
"Pardon?" Kehfill Doohr? Careful Door?
"The Welsh tell of a water beast like your Kelpie. Kelpie sounds rather delicate for a name, mate. But its legend says otherwise."
"Aye. Sorry it ain't a name so fearsome as El Impoluto."
"Aye, the legend of a vessel," he nodded, "El Impoluto… Shite. What's it mean again?"
"Flawless. Pure. Immaculate," she grinned, "Virgin. The meanin's aren't nearly as imposin' as its sound."
Edward chucked, "And what does Matador mean?"
"Could be taken to mean killer, or deadly. But most usually think of 'em bullfighers."
"Well, it fits ya, and it does sound mean. Now imagine ya bullfighting, Mary."
She chuckled back, but hushed her voice to a murmur, "It's Kidd 'round 'ere, mate."
He gawked, scanning the ignorant crewmen busy about the deck, "Jaysus! Even aboard your own?"
"Aye. Since ya know things 'at me crew don't, take 'at to mean that yer one to trust with this bit o' knowledge."
"Fine by me, mate," Edward agreed, "Now let's get her in action."
"Eager now, are ye? A'ight, we'll bullfight, so to say. Now, remember, this ain't like yer brig. Built more fer speed, mm? But when managed properly, she's a wrecker. So focus more on dodgin'. I suggest ye practice on a wee gunboat b'fore settlin' on a frigate."
"Aye, but I'll go for a schooner."
"Fair 'nuff. Jus' keep in mind yer steerin' mah wheel."
Not long, they encountered a schooner. Edward felt the urge to ram the other ship, but he resisted, keeping in mind that without a ram, he'd only damage to the Matador. The enemy then damaged a portion of their hull, but the temporary captain held his ground.
"Remember what she's built fer," Mary suggested.
"Speed, right? I got this."
And he did; he circled the waters, landed a few hits with the cannons, then went back to circling. The other schooner also began circling. WIth the two ships dancing around each other, cannons weren't as effective.
Edward rarely used the fire barrels on the Jackdaw, but he realized that they would be invaluable now- using them would make this battle twice as easily, and they would finish them in half the time.
"We need more men working the barrels!" Edward yelled out to the crew. Immediately, several of them rushed towards the stern.
He set up a minefield of fire barrels in the water, and navigated his own work, dodging barrels already set up in order to place more. The enemy schooner, less aware of the locations of the barrels, ran into a good few of them. Edward ordered the ones it skimmed to be shot from the swivel guns, so that the barrels were still dealing some damage.
"Good judgment, mate," Mary complimented, "She'll go down in no time. I'll help with reloadin'."
However, the enemies got better at avoiding the barrels, and they were able to use their cannons against the Matador.
Actually, let's escape this hellhole. Edward steered them away from the network of fire barrels. "Ready the cannons!" Once the two ships were lined up properly, he ordered them to be fired, which dealt a good amount of damage to the other schooner. They were almost through.
Then Mary reappeared beside him, "Shite! See there?!" There was a pirate hunter brig approaching. Fast.
"Aye! Uh…," Edward started steering them away they both tried to think up a strategy. They were fine enough to finish off the schooner, but with the added brig…
A few mortars from the brig sprayed around them.
"Kenway!" Mary yelled. Some burning shrapnel landed no more than a schooner's length away from them.
"Aye. Aye! Take cover, lads!"
"Get the hell 'way from 'ere! Fire back at the brig-"
"I can handle this! Just leave me be!" He headed towards the schooner, still surrounded by a few fire barrels.
She pounded her fists down at the rail in frustration, "Change course, Edward! Change yer bloody course before it's too late!"
He remained silent, and concentrated on a way to survive. Then he started turning the wheel rigorously, "Ya lot up front! Focus your cannons on their barrels and fire on my call!"
With a few shots from the front cannons, the schooner was down. But Edward and company were still heading towards it.
"We'll swiftly make a few repairs, restock, the like," he told Mary.
Seeing as how Edward could easily make his way around the fire barrels he released earlier, and seeing as how the need for repairs outweighed the need to dodge mortar from the faraway brig, she agreed, "A'ight. Best t'hustle, then. Couple minutes at most."
But as they pulled next to the defeated schooner and withdrew their sails, the brig withdrew their sails also.
"Wha' in 'ell is wrong with 'em?" Mary pointed out.
"They're just… letting us go? While we loot the schooner? Strange," Edward agreed, "Why not strike us down while we're sitting ducks?" ***
"So gentleman-like," she joked, "Means we've more time to make repairs!"
So they took their time making those aboard the other schooner surrender, and they made sure to get as much loot as they could. Even as they were finishing up repairs, the brig simply bobbed up and down in the sea.
"I'm actually becoming unsettled," Edward remarked, "What are they plotting?"
"I'm no less stumped, mate," replied Mary.
Once they released their sails again, the pirate hunters finally let theirs down as well.
"Ah! 'Ere we are. It's more comfortin' 'at they're behavin' normally once again," she smirked, "Now take 'er down."
"Let's."
He maneuvered to a blind spot behind the brig, and ordered the side cannons to be fired. That caused some damage, but Edward could tell it would take several tries to completely cripple her. He then made his way to the bow of the opposing ship.
What?, wondered Mary. "Ah, I think I got what yer plannin'. Why not get yer swivels goin' at the cannons while 'em hunters're stallin' with loadin'?"
"Swell idea, Kidd. Ya heard her, mate?" Edward yelled at the direction of the sailor manning the swivel gun.
He widened his eyes perplexedly, "What? Who?"
"You. Ya heard himmate? Aim to disable them cannons!" "Her mate" might as well sound like "him mate."
Mary scoffed quietly, amused.
The sailor turned back at once, "Aye, Capn!" He got a few of the cannons, along with some pirate hunters in the lower decks.
"Jaysus! How much ya want for me to get him on my crew, Kidd?"
Turning at the bow of the Spanish brig, he ordered some barrels to be dropped off. Then came the heavy shot.
"Take cover, lads! And grab onto… anything!" As they were blasted by the other ship, Edward turned the wheel sharply to get to their blind spot. He ordered for cannon fire as he got them closer to the brig's side to release heavy shot.
But the cannon fire blew up some explosives right at the base of the brig's mast.
In a few moments, the mast splintered loudly. It gradually toppled over, straight on top of Edward. Mary made her way the halyard before Edward could even shout "full bloody sail."
Toppling into the sea and just out of the schooner's way, it sprinkled the Matador's deck with water.
The crew cheered, while Edward and Mary laughed hard. They were soon gripping their sides, and she went over to the helm and commended his work, "Fine effort, mate. Sturdy teamwork there. I'm proud of ye," she offered a hand, arm-wrestling style, as a sign of congratulations, "Less take from 'em, shall we?"
Edward took it with his own hand and was rather satisfied with himself.
The day after, the two friends combed Nassau for treasures hidden throughout the city and its outskirts. Mary even helped Edward with a map that led to a brimming chest buried in the area; they split the Reales while Edward kept the diagram of grey sails. In the end, Edward wound up learning more about the pirate republic's territory within a day alongside Mary than he would have within a month on his own.
The sun quickly traveled from east to west, and before they knew it, Edward and Mary looked up to find pink and orange streaks in the sky in place of blue and white ones. They decided it was time to spend what they had gathered.
On the main street of the city, Edward purchased a set of pistols, and ordered an upgrade to his cannons that would be completed overnight. Mary ordered some reinforcements to the hull of her schooner, and bought ink for writing- most likely for reporting to Ah Tabai, Edward thought. They both restocked on ammunition for their ships and weapons. Then the two quickly stopped by Old Avery's for a bottle of rum on-the-go. Bottles in hand, they descended the stairs.
"The barmaid seemed rather fixed on ya," Edward playfully told Mary.
"The redhead? Aye, an eyeful she was. Also appears to 'ave a sort o' strength people tend to miss. She gives off 'at look," she appeared to be seriously admiring the girl before eyeing Edward, "Pity I've got someone already," she smirked.
She reached over to clink her bottle with his, and took a swig. Edward raised an eyebrow at her response, "You're… keen on misses, so to say?"
"Eh. Per'aps t'was the lack o' men who go 'by the hour,' but I can do with beddin' lasses, aye," she took another swig as they reached the ground.
"Then should I also be wary of some lass stealing ya away from me, then?" Edward half-joked, "And don't those ya bed become aware of your secret?"
She paused briefly, "Now, I didn't go to 'em houses as Kidd. I've me ways. In the end, it don't ma'er- s'been a long while since I've gone to one. Also, worry 'bout yerself gettin' captivated by some other lass b'fore frettin' o'er me," she snickered, "I'll ask ye now, 'ow 'bout that: ever stuffed yerself in another lad, Edward?"
He made a face before exclaiming, "Oi!" as he felt a tugging on the back of his coat. What the-?
He turned around and looked downward to meet the eyes of a wide-eyed boy in a tricorn hat.
"'Eyo!"
Edward leaned away, bewildered. Did I do something wrong?
Mary responded for him, "Did ye need some'n, lad?"
Edward looked gratefully at his friend.
The boy glanced at the blonde and back at Mary, then back to the blonde, then back at Mary. His eyes widened even more, as if he realized something. He looked upward again.
"Oi, Mr. Pirate," he addressed Edward, "Is the pirate miss your beloved?"
The two stiffened. Edward spoke up, "Kidd, a lass? He may be underdeveloped-" while Mary knelt, puffed out her binded chest, and spoke to the boy firmly, cutting off Edward, "Actually, lad, I'm jus' like you- only per'aps ten years er so older. Me voice still needs to deepen. But I'm a man awright- jus' look at the muscle I be buildin' up!" She held up her arm, flexed, and pat her biceps.
"Actually a boy, are you?" the boy's eyes gleamed, "If a lad with a shrill voice can become a pirate, then so can I! I can't wait! I'll have one of those feather hats like Mr. Blackbeard! I'll even name my ship Polly!"
Mary smiled slyly at the boy's skewed view of pirates, and Edward couldn't help but grin at the two "lads."
A woman appeared from aside, and took the boy's hand, "My apologies for disturbin' you both. Lionel, this little imp o' mine, had run to you rather rough-lookin' gents when my back was turned. But when I started over 'ere, I realized you two were rather …hearted pirates. Lionel's obsessed with 'em pirates- won't stop yappin'!"
"His father one of us?" Edward speculated.
"Oh, aye! He's out there sailin' under some captain. Us two've been distanced for a few years or so now, however."
"Under whom does he serve?" asked Mary, standing up.
"Under a Captain Kenway, last I heard."
"Aye?" Edward inquired, intrigued, "What is this Kenway like?"
The woman raised an eyebrow, perhaps thinking Edward was getting off topic, "Ya haven't heard of 'im? They say he's made for fame among pirates: powerful, smart, charming… but greedy."
Edward took a few seconds to think over this developing reputation. Mary stepped in, filling in again for his silence, "Kenway? I'm familiar with 'im. Could get in touch with 'im with ease. What's the chap's name?"
"Lionel."
"The father, I mean."
"Ah. Tobias. But you don't have to involve yourself with our personal matters, lad," in spite of this, it seemed as though she actually wanted Mary to be involved.
"Ain't a problem, miss. I've first 'and experience of bein' fatherless meself. It'd be splendid if he an' Lionel were to be reunited," she nodded an acknowledgement to Lionel, "I'll pass it on to Kenway soon as I can."
The woman smiled at Mary's compassion, "Aye. For Lionel's sake, at least, it would be nice to be in touch with Toby again. Even if we did part ways on unpleasant terms-."
The little lion jumped around frantically, the woman's arm twisting accordingly as she maintained her grasp on his hand, "I get to see Pa again?!"
Mary crossed her arms and grinned, "I'll see what I can do, at least. 'Ow's 'at, lad?"
"Bloody amazing, pirate boy!" still clutching his mother's hand, he stepped forward and hug her legs.
His mother didn't much mind his potty mouth or touchy behavior towards the armed pirates- rather, she smiled, "I'd very much appreciate it, Mr. Kidd," the smile turned sad, "But now I must go and finish my errands. Thank you both for inspirin' Lionel. I wish you and your friend a wonderful time with your piratin' business."
The pirates bade farewell to the woman and the child.
"I hated it when people cooed at an' belittled me when I was 'at age," Mary wondered aloud, as they waved goodbye to the two, "Oi, talk to this Tobias o' yers, Edward."
"Eh. What have I to lose?" Edward shrugged, his eyes easing, "And about children being belittled, I agree. Ya should meet my parents. They'd go on about their issues, yet not give a rat's arse about mine. Like what happened with the ducks at the pond by our farm."
"Oh? Do tell."
Their walk led them through the swamps just west of Nassau. As they worked their way around the marshes, crocodiles eyed them anxiously.
"It was rather fun, Edward," she told him, "Plunderin', runnin' into ol' mates, trekkin' through Nassau, runnin' into li'l lads who see right through ye… Ge'in to see yer reactions was all the more a reason to enjoy it."
Edward took that to mean that it was his presence that made her time in Nassau so pleasant. "It's a jolly holiday with ya, Mary," Edward smirked, "It's grand saying your real name."
They crossed a tumbled tree trunk over the water, over to a cattail-filled island. Having reached a dead end in their stroll, the two spun to face back. But they didn't move just yet. Edward saw that Mary was still smiling casually, and he grinned back.
Edward used eagle vision to briefly survey their surroundings. Making sure no people were in the vicinity, he reached for Mary's shoulders to get her to face him.
Reading longing in her eyes, Edward shut his own, and pulled in for a kiss.
His lips met flat skin. Definitely not lips. Opening his eyes, he found he was kissing Mary's cheek, and he withdrew. Her smile was still there, though diminished slightly, and she was staring somewhere past Edward.
Then she met his gaze, "I bet a question tuggin' on yer mind is when next ye'll see me?"
Edward, now a bit glum, nodded. Was something wrong?
She smiled, although uneasily, "I've a treat fer ye in Havana. Be there by the end o' June if ye want in," she winked, and unsheathed her sword.
Edward unsheathed both of his blades, and turned, expecting a crocodile or perhaps a Templar out for Mary. He wasn't let down.
He reached down and let the crocodile bite down a sword instead of a leg, then skewered its head with his other cutlass. Mary stepped in to behead it swiftly, "Hopefully it suffered only briefly," she flicked out a hidden blade and sliced a portion of the hide, "Three blades surpass two, even, eh? I bet ye could put the rest o' this to use. Shame to kill a thing without a purpose, innit?"
Edward smirked, "Aye." He eyed the bloodied wristblade that vanished back into its vambrace.
"I'll see ye, Edward," she matched his coy smile. With that, she clambered onto a fallen tree trunk and scuttled away.
He already longed for the company of his quirky friend as he decided he could use the crocodile hide to craft a pistol holster.
What could she possibly have in store for Edward? You'll find out next time on Buried Treasure!
* I was trying to make a joke. Vane missing Kidd's cheek could either mean that he misses her wit, or that they used to… "fool around"… back in the day- do "oral" deeds so to say ;) - and that he would like to fool around again. Mary's just cleverly clearing up the ambiguity. I could have also gone further with the joke and mentioned how "mouth" and "lip" can also mean "cheekiness" or "sass." But I didn't.
** Sound familiar? Look at your cup next time you go get some coffee.
*** I'm making fun of how, in the game, other ships don't attack you while you're plundering, even if you're in the middle of a heated battle.