Chapter Seven: Loosing the Arrow
I yawned as I walked amongst the deck, pulling my hood down from the heat. As I walked down below deck, I saw Kengnok up already, moving barrels of gunpowder.
"Morning Captain."
"Morning Quarter-Master." I said, taking a bottle of rum from one of the crew, fast asleep. "Did you sleep at all?"
"Aye sir." I scratched my stubble, wondering whether he was lying or not. "How's the crew?"
"Rested and content sir." I nodded.
"Wake them up, we set sail today.
I was above deck when I heard the thunderous steps that told me the crew was up. They came up on deck, fixing the lines.
"Weigh anchor! Loose the main sail, half at the fore!" I ordered as I walked up to the wheel, where Vega was standing already. "Enjoying your new profession?"
"Oui sir." She smiled at me. "Never thought I'd actually get here."
"We're not there yet - we need more of a crew." I muttered, walking down the steps and into my cabin.
I was pulling on my sword belts and fixing my guns to my holsters when Kengnok came in.
"Kengnok, I'd prefer it if you knocked."
"Sorry sir. We're coming up on a convoy."
"Colours?" I stood up from my desk.
"English." I grinned.
"Perfect. Hoist the colours, take us in close." He nodded. I followed him out onto the deck, walking up to the helm.
"Vega," Esmerelda looked over to me, "Bring us up to port - I want to be right next to them." She nodded, turning the ship towards them. I took out my spyglass, looking through to see them - they didn't know we were pirates yet, but they would soon, as soon as they saw us. I bit my lip, looking up at the sails, then back to the ship.
"Rosa!" I called, having her come up beside me. "Fix a pair of cannons to the bow."
"What? we don't nearly have enough men to handle them and keep the speed-"
"We do." I nodded, looking at the convoy. "Do as I say." She nodded.
"Aye sir."
Within a moment, two chase cannons were on deck in front of me. Both were loaded with chain shot, being aimed by two men each. I pulled up my hood, jumping up on the railing and grabbing a line to keep myself steady. The Convoy loosed their sails, turning to starboard, away from us.
"Take her up to flank! All hands on deck!" I ordered, hearing the men shout and heave the ropes. I walked past the flurry of hands and was back at the helm. "Tack through the wind."
"Tack?" She asked.
"Give it here." I muttered, taking her place at the helm, and began zigzagging, coaxing more of the wind in the sails, catching up to the convoy. I gave her back the wheel.
"Ready the grappling hooks!" I shouted to my crew, pulling up the white hood. Gun shots rang out, and a sailor beside me was knocked onto the floor, grabbing his shoulder. I looked up to see a scout in the crows nest, loading a musket. I turned back to Vega. "Bring us alongside!" She nodded, straining the sails to make us sail almost directly beside them.
"Rosa, give me a musket!" I shouted. She did so, and I walked up to the mast, grabbing the hook and kicking the weight so I went shooting up into the nest. I pointed the musket at the scout just as he finished reloading and pulled the trigger, shooting him directly in the throat. He fell backwards, musket still in hand.
A bullet streaked into the mast beside me, and I looked over to see another scout, frantically reloading. I ran forwards, jumping onto a line beside me and swinging across the sea, over the gun shots of soldiers and my pirates. I landed in a crouch, a hand on the floor to steady myself.
The first man came towards me, sword held high. I caught his wrist and wrenched the blade from him, throwing him onto the deck. I turned around, deflecting a stab at my stomach and wrapping a hand around his neck as I impaled him with the sword, leaving it there. A man ran through the smoke of musket fire at me, but I pulled out a pistol, shooting him in the chest. I then used my other pistol to fire, lining it alongside my other to aim. I dropped my pistols and drew both of my cutlasses, walking through the smoke as my crew swung aboard, Rosa leading them. She landed on top of a soldier, taking out a pair of daggers, and stabbing them into his collarbones. She got up immediately, ducking under a the swing of an axe and jabbing a dagger into the bottom of their jaw.
I grinned to myself as I walked through the war-torn deck. Vega was now knocked onto the deck, but she quickly pulled out a pistol, shooting the soldier in front of her. I gave her a hand, pulling her up as I walked up the steps to the helm. An officer I recognized stood there, a rapier in hand.
"Fucking pirates." He snarled at me. I could only grin in response. I had always hated him. I drew my swords, pointing one at him. He took the a gentleman's dueling position.
I attacked first, swinging one sword above my head, then the other from the side, overwhelming him. I leant my shoulder back, avoiding his stab, then batting it away. I deflected another stab, kicking him hard in the thigh before slashing my sword across his chest. He dropped his rapier and fell backwards, more damaged from his own shock than the scratches I had given him. He pulled a pistol out at me, pulling the trigger hastily. Nothing happened - it wasn't loaded. He began to try to load the pistol, trying to find a bullet in his pouch. I kicked the pistol out of his hand, letting one sword point directly at his throat.
I looked around - all the soldiers were no cowering, a few of my own crew walking up to the helm towards us.
"Fortunately for you," I said, pulling down my hood, "I offer quarter." His terror-stricken face changed to one of rage.s
"Tallon!" He shouted angrily. "I should've known the devil wouldn't house you in hell!" I grinned at my crew. "Allow me to introduce Captain Smythe. Of the King's Royal Navy..." the crew growled. "So what are we to do with him lads? Give him a dinghy to captain? Let him swim to the nearest isle?" They chuckled at my suggestions.
"By God Tallon, I'll see you at the Gallows for this!"
"Aye, you will..." I laughed. "It worked out very well the first time didn't it?" He cursed silently.
"You should've died in that storm." I grinned.
"You should've been a better captain." I looked over to the crew. "Allow the rest of the crew quarter - do what you will with him."
I walked down the stairs and into the captains cabin, looking around at the series of logs and scrolls of papers. I opened the most recent one, looking through the latest cargo check - ninety barrels of rum... a hundred pounds of sugar... They had some twenty guns aboard too. I smiled at the check, closing the log.
My eye glanced over the desk, and I noticed something - a map. I looked over it, examining the markings on it. He was sailing towards an island called 'Mantanzas'. I rubbed my chin in thought. It seemed there was a plantation there... and they were due to sell some cargo. I looked over the other areas of the map, including a location on an island south-west of Havana. I examined the scribbled triangle that was placed over the location. However, my pondering was interrupted.
"Sir?"
"Knock, Kengnok."
"Sorry sir. The ship is ours. What will we do with the survivors?"
"Lock them in their brig." He nodded. I tossed the log over to him. "Take everything they have, including the guns." I ordered, walking out of the cabin wit the map., and back towards my own ship, where I sat in the cabin, examining the scribbled locations.
After we set sail again, I walked out from my cabin, examining the new crewmen there. Half of them I didn't recognize.
"Kengnok!" I called over to my Quarter-Master. "Who are our new friends?"
"Sailors from the convoy sir." He informed me. "Wanted a change of occupation." I weighed up the decisions in my head - I was, after all, a former sailor, just like them. But, did I trust them? Definitely not. I bit my lip, then finally responded. "Tell me next time." And with that, I was up at the helm, talking with Esmerelda about our next location.
"Aye sir?"
"I want you to sail south-west..." I began to order her. My eyes were steadily fixed on the plantation in the distance. I couldn't help but smirk to myself - this was only the beginning of a very profitable career.
Hope you guys enjoyed it! I've got everyone I need for the Arrow's crew. I can only accept other pirates who will meet Tallon on his adventures. So - fill out the form, but also tell me what type ship they sail on and what that ship is called.
NOTES: I need some more guys on here - typical sailing types. Also, tell me what you want to see more of - naval battles, storms, adventures in cities, adventures on jungle-type islands, Mayan ruins, Underwater wrecks, Harpooning, other pirates...
Also, I want to know if you want this to tie into the Assassins/Templar war. Anyway - until next time! Read and review! (Also, I want to hear what you guys think of Tallon and The Arrow)