Wondering Boots
The village, in Port Royal was one of the busiest of all of the English settlements, and had become the centre of operations for the Caribbean trade. Not only was it well guarded by the Royal Navy and one of its bases, but it also held much of the trade that was transported by the East India Trading Company. Merchants and tradesmen came and went with all of the glorious ships. More and more would arrive day and night making the docks at Port Royal loud and noisy all the time. The village, and main street had also become very populated. Many trades people had set up shop along this street to make and sell their goods to the passing travellers. Inns and bubs had also began to spring up along the street for the weary travellers. It was a hub of activity.
As dusk was settling once again around Port Royal, yet another, large, old ship had come to rest at the docks. It was a familiar ship, one that travelled between Port Royal and London on a regular basis. It had finally come to the end of this journey, coming to rest alone side the Blue Moon.
This merchant vessel, know as the Aristotle, was bringing with it many supplies for the navy situated in Port Royal. New uniforms, guns, cannons and other essential equipment only available through London, as it was navel issue, had arrived along with a few little surprises. Well aged wines as well as silks, linens and other fine materials that had been imported from all over the world. Also aboard this ship was some old antique furniture being brought in for the new house of the Governors daughter. Family air looms and items of large sentimental value had finally made the trek from London to Port Royal where the young Elizabeth Swann had decided she would like to remain. Port Royal had become a special place for her and she enjoyed the freedom of the city, away from the city. The ship also brought with it a few unexpected visitors. It was still quite easy for people to hide on ships and was a way of transportation for criminal and refugees.
Bill Turner walked down the gangplank of the great merchant ship and set foot once again on the familiar dock of Port Royal. The looks of the docks were the same, it was the boats and the village that had changed. To the other side sat a beautiful new ship, clearly a baby to the seas and yet she would be wonderful to sail. He admired the new ship, wide eyed and filled with awe as the crew bustled about preparing to leave. The city at the ends of the docks didn't seem to be the quiet familiar place he had once known it to be. It was busy and loud. The main street was filled with horse drawn carriage and men, women and children all going about in a frenzy of motion. The silent ships seemed more inviting all of a sudden.
It had been a great long time since the Pirate Bill had set foot in Port Royal and it had been an even longer time since he had be reported dead. He had returned only once after the cures to the shores of Port Royal only to see if Jack could be found. It had not happened and he found neither his friend or his son when he returned to London. But now he was back and with a great lust for a new adventure. He knew that soon he would see and be reunited with his son. It was only a matter of time. And yet something had stopped him. Had the adventure seemed to great? Or was it really true that he himself was to old for this kind of adventure. A twinge of doubt stuck Bill, his heart fell. Port Royal was a large city now, it would be harder to find his boy here and it was clearly obvious that a pirate, such as Jack, would not risk a visit to Port Royal.
The carriage sped quickly along the streets of Port Royal. Dust flew up from the feet of the horse making clouds along the dirt roads. The market place in down town Port Royal was a buzz with life, even for the evening hour. Children played along the streets and outside the open doors of the shops and the pubs. Travellers of all kinds filled the market place and ran about busily. Destiny watched attentively as they travelled along. She could remember everything and anything she saw and it would clearly be of use to her if she was ever to return to Port Royal. She made note of the important places, the armoury, the winery, and the trading post, any of the places that, as a pirate, were a must to know how to find. The city was heavily guarded, that is the military presence in the city was very great. This didn't mean that there would be any trouble for a modern pirate such as herself. She laughed as she watched the marine men exchange words with pushy navel officers. They arrived quickly at the docks and the foot man helped her down from the carriage one final time.
"Please deliver this to Mr. William Turner as soon as you can," she said politely to the footman, "the Governor has told you to do anything I ask, isn't that correct?" she asked him smiling sweetly.
"Yes Madame," he answered holding the letter in his hands.
"Good, don't look at the letter and before returning to the Governors home, find Mr. Turner and give him this letter. Do not let anyone see you, it is very important. I am his cousin, but I fear he is not aware of such a fact. Please, will you be able to do a girl this small favour?" she asked as she batted her eyes and looked seductively at the young hired hand.
"Of course my lady, right away," he said as his cheeks turned red.
"Thank you kind sir," She smile and kissed his cheek.
The footman nearly tripped over his own two feet as he turned, still smiling stupidly, back to his place. The driver shook his head as he watched the young man climb back into his seat. Destiny watched as the foot man instructed the driver to travel toward the new Turner home. The driver looked down strangely at the girl who still stood in the street. Destiny waved gracefully up at the two men. She battered her eyes again and blew them a kiss. The drivers face also turned crimson in colour as all the blood rushed to his cheeks. The carriage sped off into the setting sun. Destiny whipped her lips with the back of her hand and grimaced.
She stood for a minute at the foot of one of the docks. Her ship was off at a far end of the Port and she would have to walk to it. But it looked so beautiful amidst the other ships. She was happy to see how natural it looked among them. It bobbed in the ocean, in perfect union, with the rest of the wiser, older ships. They seemed the chatter back and forth to each other. The sounds of the ships moving parts were dull and soft but could still be heard above the happy conversations of the workers. She set off slowly down the beach toward the dock where her ship rested. A song rose from the ships as she walked along. An old marine chant known by most well weathered sailors. It seemed to rise from all of the ships and Destiny couldn't contain herself. She hummed along sweetly as she walked. It was a familiar toon and a comfort to her ears. She was herself a well weathered sailor and knew, very well, the ways of the ships and the sea. She slipped into her new position as captain, knowing she was born to take on such a role.
The Breeze was soft in the setting sun around Port Royal. Bill, walked along the length of the great new ship watching her bob in the water and listening to the sounds she made in the breeze. The wind hit her sails, softly, whispering, melodically to the sky and the sea. Rigging clanged and jingled as the crew readied the ship again for its departure, percussive and metronomic were the motions and the sounds. The sailors sang old sea tunes of adventure and misfortunes. The water curled and bubbled around the hulls. Excitement seemed to build in a crescendo as the ship swayed to her own music. She was her own orchestra and chorus, the music of the great waters and of the secrets that she possessed.
She was leaving, Bill watched as he reached the gangplank and looked up to the movement of the crew. He had come to Port Royal in search of his past and here before him stood the present and the future. A ship as grand as that of the Black Pearl, back in her days of youth and he wondered, what would things be like should he see the Pearl again. But here before him, a cross roads of sorts. To his left the city of Port Royal, the possibility of being reunited with what he had lost and yet the fear of his capture and punishment for his crimes as a pirate. Was the chance, in such a populated place, worth it to find what he had lost? And if he found it would his son even care to know him? He remembers William's promise to set him free from Davy Jones, and this he had done, but would he, now that the adventure was over, really care to know an old man who was never around her him? To his Right, however, was adventure, danger, youth and spirit. Something he had been longing for in his years of hiding. The times of living as if he were dead and a mere memory. How could he not take the chance?
His hand reached out, against his own will, and grabbed hold of the rope railing that lead down to the dock from the main deck. She called to him, like haunting songs on the breeze. The symphony of a pirate ship. It had to be a pirate ship, could a vessel of any other splendour be for anything but a person of true spirit and adventure. A creature, as mythical as those of the great monsters of the sea. Nothing could be this magnificent and this captivating and be that of a merchant. This grand ship cried, silently, the words of the pirates code. She was herself build under it and the construction and the colours of the ship could only be recognised by a pirate. Even the ships guardian perched at the bow, arms outstretched to the horizon and the moon. A maiden more beautiful and robed as a Greek goddess. Could she be anything but a pirates angel?
His mind turned circles as he feet hit the bottom of the gangplank. Could he force himself to stay behind? He could not, the pirates code flowed to thick in his veins, he realised it now. Could he for a minute be left behind? Never again, he would be brave once more, and loyal to the captain of this vessel. He simply had to board her and regain what he had lost by his denial of Jack. This was a way for him to reclaim his name as a pirate. The sea was speaking to him, here and now, by placing him within the presents of a great ship. Perhaps he would be surprised, a ship of the magnitude could not be captained by many, this was a specific kind of pirate. I pirate who loved one kind of ship and had his ship been taken from him, this young beauty of the sea could be captained by no one other than Captain Jack. He had convinced himself, his old friend would be aboard and he would be forgiven and the adventures would begin again where they left off.
Bill, had then and there, turned his back on his past. A past that he had so long ignore, what was there to gain in finding it and if he stayed to search for it would the past want him to find it? His mind was made up, he sept quicker up the gangplank toward the deck of the new vessel, a vessel that seduced him. A ship that had convinced him, silently that his past at sea was waiting to become his future.
"Move one more sept toward that ship and I will lop your head off right here and right now," A voice said as arms grabbed Bill around the neck and the chest, "what business have you, old man boarding my ship?" the voice hissed into his ear. The arms were strong and slender. The sweet smell of floral perfume rose from this arm, that with a blade as cold as ice threatened his life.
"I wish to speak with the captain my lady, I meant no harm by it," he choked as the grip became tighter and the knife pressed deeper.
"Are you deaf, I said it was my ship, so talk," She growled, "or perhaps your superstitions tell you otherwise. Yes, the captain is a woman. A creature of the sea and the sky. I am a siren and a martyr," she said and released him shoving him hard up the Gangplank, "board the ship," she said harshly and he tumbled over the lip of the deck. Falling down and was greeted by the points of many swords.
"Please, I only wish for passage, and employment aboard this ship," he said throwing his hands into the air as he stared fearfully at the misfit crew dressed in sailors uniforms.
"Employment, old man," Destiny hissed as he kept his back to her. His eyes fell on Rusin who had descended, dressed as a captain of a merchant vessel.
"Please Captain have pity on an old pirates," Bill begged to Rusin as he too drew his sword.
"You plead to the wrong person," Rusin laughed, and the rest of the crew laughed as well, "turn and face the greatest captain to sail the sea," he added.
Bill turned slowly to the beautifully dressed Destiny, her hair slightly falling from the once tight curls atop her head. She held a pistol pointed directly at his head as the man finally turned to look at her. He felt to his knees before her.
Destiny's heart sank as she looked upon the man and recognised the face.
"Please Captain I did not know, I am an old pirate, I am not accustom to the new ways," He said his eyes never leaving Destiny's feet, "I ask only for Parler."
"You are lucky, old man, that the pirates code is still used," Rusin chuckled, "or I would suspect our great Captain Destiny would through you to the sharks."
"Or lash you to the bottom of the boat," said another crew member.
"Or chop you up limb for limb," shouted two more.
"Or tie a cannon to your boots," Destiny said as the mans eyes grew wider and wider, "Lower your weapons, bring him to my cabin," she ordered and the man was seized with violent shakes of fear
The crew members looked stunned. Was their captain really what she told them she was not. A real woman, soft and fragile, not the siren, the terror that she portrayed? Had she really taken pity on this man, who trespassed on her new ship and who was he to think that he could?
"Do it now, you lot of filthy dogs or I'll lock you all in the brig with this man," she yelled fire in her eyes, "together, in a single sell!"
Swords clattered, fear was struck into the hearts of all of the crew and yet they could not move their feet. The weapons were stored but they remained in the tight circle around the old man. All men staring in awe at the anger and the fire in the eyes of their, normally composed captain. She had the true temper of a Sparrow.
"What are you waiting for, he has asked for Parler and that he will get," She yelled after a moment of watching them stair. She pulled her pistol up from where it had been aimed, the top of Bill's head, and pointed across at her crew, "lets get moving on I will waste five bullets on five of you, who are soon the meet Davey Jones if you don't move, NOW!" she yelled.
Two men took hold of Bill, one on either side of him and hoisted him onto his feet. Roughly the led him across the deck to the captains cabin.
"Lock him inside, I'll decide what to do with him later," Destiny yelled. She watched as the man was dragged, violently toward her cabin. He was thrown inside and the door was slammed and locked behind him. She could hear him bang his feet against the solid wood of the door. The men came back and stood before her, "don't just stand there, get back to work!" she said forcefully to the two of them and they scattered out onto the open deck of the ship. The only person that remained at her side was Rusin, "take me below," she said.
"All is well and retrieved, that you had instructed as needed. Ammunition and more weapons are stores in the holds," Rusin said as they walked slowly toward the opening that led down into the darkness.
"And as for Privateering?" she asked with a slight smirk.
"Pillage we did not, to many people and the sun was high and the streets were crowded. Plunder is a different story. You have employed a good lot of pick pockets," Rusin said with a laugh.
"Excellent," Destiny smiled as she hiked up the skirt of her gown and pulled a large bag of coins from beneath it, "I couldn't resist myself. What else would you expect from a pirate in the Governors house?" she laughed and passed the bag off to Rusin. They headed off into the belly of the ship, down to inspect the days work and to blow off some steam before heading back to her duties as captain.
