Chapter X: Gambles With Wolves
Now that evening had swept the land, a youth slipped into the tavern at Tortuga, made a signal to a group of men in a discreet section of the bar and made way towards them. Kestrel, her long hair stuffed mercilessly into a buccaneer's hat; wearing a large trenchcoat that flattened out her figure; sat amongst the men dealing out cards and rolling dice.
"Back again, lad?" one of the elders said. "Weren't so fortunate last night, you sure you be wanting to risk your wealth today as well?"
The girl in disguise nodded.
"Changes in the winds are a good sign," she answered huskily. "I'll go in for the next deal."
A couple of the other seedier players sniggered, believing themselves to have found another sap to gain profit from. But the winds were changing for them too. Kestrel was learning.
Three hours after reaching Tortuga found Crystal without her fellow shipmate, swigging back her sixth mug of ale. She looked about the room in search of the next victim that would meet with her. Her attention was caught as a young figure entered the tavern. Maybe that one will do... she thought a moment. She watched, slightly intrigued as this figure walked over to a group of men who appeared to be playing a card game and sat down with them.
Hmmm...I haven't played a good game of cards in a while... she thought as she rose from her seat. Her mug of ale resting gently in her hand, she made her way over to the table.
"Well my, my, my...what do we have here?" she asked, her voice almost a purr as she leaned seductively on the shoulder of a large pirate.
"Would anyone mind if a little lady like myself played?" As if to emphasize her point, Crystal reached into her shirt and pulled a coin sack from the depths of her cleavage. It jingled merrily as she gently swung it back and forth. "So what do y'all say?" she asked, casting a wink to the young man who had just joined the group, but as she looked closer, Crystal was startled slightly.
That was no young man...that was a woman.
Kestrel's eyes glimmered, knowing that a fellow woman had recognised her for what she was. This stranger was attempting something she hadn't tried for years. To play as herself. A few of the men sniggered at Crystal's question. Others went quiet at the sight of the jangling purse. As though to settle the matter, Kestrel put on her best male voice and said: "I doubt it would do any harm to let the lady play. That is, if she can handle the rules, the speed...and the drink."
Crystal laughed lightly as she spilled a few gold coins into her hand, and then stuffed the purse back into her shirt as she took a seat. She smirked around at the crowd, grabbing the hat off of the pirate next to her and gently placing in on her head.
"Well kittens, speed and drink are my specialties," she said with a grin as she placed her coins in neat piles in front of her. "Though in my honest and humble opinion...rules are made to be broken."
Picking up one of the shiny pieces of metal, she placed it in the middle of the table. Once again her eyes scanned the group.
"So...are any of you boys man enough to take on a woman?"
Watching as the dealer tentatively placed cards around the table for who wanted to be in, Kestrel nodded when a facedown card was offered.
She held the card close to her chest, glancing briefly at it. Then she looked at Crystal.
"We're playin' BlackSparrow. Most places in the world it's your average Blackjack, but for commonly known reasons we altered the name a little. It's bad luck to call it by its usual name around these parts, at least during the game."
Asked what she would do after her first card, she did the only logical thing to do when you only have one starting card.
"Twist," she said to the dealer, and received her card.
Five, and an eight...
Before the next person in line could call on what they would do next, Kestrel hissed in a sudden pain. Her cards scattered as she clutched her hand. A few of the players gawped at her, not simply because of her obvious suffering but the fact the 'young man' had made a very girlish sound. One reached out and snatched off her hat before she could do anything.
"He's a GIRL!" he roared with laughter. Then he caught sight of one of the other players. The other man was trembling. "Wot you lookin' so funny about?"
The frightened pirate gibbered and pointed at Kestrel's hand. In its centre was a dirty black circle.
Kestrel gasped, snatched her hat, and bolted for the door.
Mr Redbloom burst into the tavern with a frightful noise, bashing the door into an old sailor's face and tripping up a fleeing 'young man' as he passed. He had run all the way from Oaxacoco's hut and was tired, desperate and panicked. He stumbled forward into the bar giving no heed to the other patrons or workers. He bumped a few as he searched the tavern head to toe. After finding no success he resorted to communication:
"Ladies, gentlemen and undesirables," he shouted, waving his cane aloft. "I am looking for a man. Goes by the name of Jack Staroh. He's a captain, I think....Well!?"
From the tavern floor, Kestrel blinked stars from her eyes and looked up at the eccentric that had laid her flat. Despite the slight problem of several occupants in the bar knowing her gender as well as her ailment, she frowned at Redbloom's question.
"Don't you mean Sparrow?" she asked.
Albannon heard a small squeak from behind him. He turned and faced the young fellow whom he had struck only to find it was no fellow at all.
"What...hmmm...Sparrow? Maybe... it makes little difference. Staroh, Sorrow, Sparrow - all the same to me!" he blundered before grabbing a lit cigar off a nearby patron. "Well, young lady, have you see the lad then...hmmm?"
After picking herself and her hat up from the floor, Kestrel cringed at the man's use of volume. "Maybe," she answered. "I dunno. One pirate's as foul as another in my books. Might've seen him around though. God knows I've 'eard of him but I wouldn't be sure of being able to discern him from another. Unless you can describe him to me." She cast a sidelong glance at the mark on her palm as though she needed to be sure if it was still there.
Mr Redbloom puffed upon his cigar, expelling it in the girl's face. He chuckled to himself. What an odd lady.
"It is rare I meet a woman dressed as a man...it's an odd thing." He looked deeply at her. She had a good hat. I have an idea. He leant in close tapped her hat and said: "Would you like to help me, my lady...to find this Jack? There would be treasure... and a part of something special. I need a crew and I don't want the usual kind of men...as a cross-dresser you would fit in well."
He poked her sharply with his cane, flicking ash upon her coat. She's a quiet sort...but then again I hate talkies...those babbling imbeciles! He pulled a ridiculous gurn and tugged his beard in a threatening manner, hoping to impress or terrify the girl. Alas for our poor friend he fell painfully upon the floor catching a splinter in his ear.
"Aaaarg!"
He rubbed his ear for a moment, and then remembered what he was doing and hoped the girl had not stopped listening. He lifted himself and extracted the large wooden needle from his poor ear. He looked straight at the girl, tears of pain running down his cheeks and he said: "Well young lady, what do you make of it...hmmm? Will you join me? I heartily recommend that you do. I am a man beyond comparison. Most intelligent, brilliant too."
Kestrel scowled at the strange man. "Contrary to your beliefs, dressing up as a man ain't something I do out of pleasure but more out of necessity. Mostly I despise your kind, despite the irritating manner in which I can be drawn to them, and I only dress likewise to be treated as equal."
She gritted her teeth at the sight of his tears. It was annoyingly pitiable.
"If I weren't in a hurry to get out of this dratted pirate town, should you be able to provide me with a better cause with better pay than my usual job, I'd 'ave half a mind to walk out this moment. I'll have no funny business and I want to know your intentions. If I agree, I'll go take a long leave from the Rose and pack my bags. I'd also be obliged if you'd 'elp me with a problem of me own too."
She had a peculiar way of talking. It was mostly a common tongue but with a few more eloquent words, and the odd bit of French-like intonation thrown in.
Initially aghast at the girl's plucky response, Mr Redbloom was struck silent for a moment. But alas the peace was not to last long. Albannon had leant on a table to take in the hearty reply and had caught himself another splinter (what a surprise). Curses! he thought before screaming aloud. He was not sure what the girl thought of him; though little did he care...he needed her alliance and quick. He retrieved his cigar, which had propelled to the floor in the commotion, slapped it into his mouth...and looked upon the lady.
"Hmm, well, I suppose so. Though I did not wish to cast offence. I was merely pointing out that your current attire and situation makes you far more worthy a person than the rest of this dreary rabble, within or without the bar...do you follow? I'm sure I can help you, though I am currently engaged in finding this Smarrow fellow, then I need to find my treasure…but I am sure we can fit in your requirements. This is all rather complex. Oh, and I hope you are not averted to stealing a ship. This Jack fellow has left me in the lurch a little...and he was such a nice man. I am sure we'll find him. So what do you say young lady...are you in?"
Kestrel shrugged.
"I'd say it's probably expected of a pirate to take a ship from another pirate. I shall meet you at the docks, in X days, after I've dealt with my affairs."
She tipped her hat at him and exited the tavern, not quite knowing what had made her agree to this arrangement.
Mr Albannon was slyly pleased with the girl's response. It was a long while since he had been accused of being a pirate. Bandit or cad maybe...but pirate! His life had taken an exciting turn. He smiled gleefully to himself. Things were looking up - he just wished he hadn't planned such an unfortunate job for such an agreeable young lady. Maybe he would sort something out, perhaps someone else slimmer and more nimble could be found.
I would benefit from a crew...perhaps two is enough? He sincerely hoped Oxo hadn't fallen into any trouble. He had seen a spark of excitement in this Jack fellow and wanted to give him something for his troubles (besides the treasure at the end). He knew, as Oaxacoco did, that the natives around the city would perhaps not open the doors and welcome them with open arms, especially when the very prize he sought was now an object of their fanatical worship. Ah well, he thought. Natives are Oxo's job. He looked gently around, observing the common muck dancing and shouting around the bar. Do they really have nothing better to do? He chuckled and crossed to the bar, ordered a bottle of rum and bought a box of cigars off the man in the corner.
As he left he took one last look at the bar.
Goodbye forever…
But somehow he knew he would be driven back to this dreary rat-hole.
A/N: 'X days'? Did I really write that? Severe apologies for my bad creation of Kestrel. You may notice that her accent and mannerisms change at least four times throughout Sparrow's Folly. In a vain attempt to stop her being so dull or like every other girl in the RPG she exploded into too much.