If I could sum up the last 3 years that have passed in 3 words, I would say "chaotic," growth, and foundation. No words can express how sorry I am to take so long with this series. I am still determined to see it through, no matter how long it takes me.
I will be giving weekly updates with posts on every Monday. However, I do need everyone to be my accountability partner. I don't know how many of you are reading, and I don't know if Nautia is starting to grow on you, but if she becomes a positive influence, then I will continue to share her with the world. Please enjoy this next chapter. 4,000 words to make up for my absences.
All copyrights reserved to Ted Elliot & Terry Rossio ©, except my added characters & plot.
Chapter 10
Jim hobbled over to the railing as his cane stuck the deck and set his green eyes on the Dauntless. Although the situation had made him more uneasy, it gave him something else to focus on. It was no secret to the crew that his ailment had taken its toll. His eyes had become more sunken, and his chiseled face had all but lost its usual luster. His strength was failing him-to add more to his shame and malcontent—and he was forced to use this repulsive, walking stick that had been acquired from some count, or another (naturally his sister's idea). As first mate, this unnerved him, to say the least; especially when it came to commanding the crew in his sister's absence. Cornelius had become more confrontational when it came to taking orders. When their current situation had been plotted out, the quartermaster had tried every avenue and argument to talk them out of it.
Too risky, he had said.
We have our gold, what need do we have of Sparrow if we have his compass? What do we owe him? Not even worth the salt that falls off of our boots.
He had never liked Cornelius, even as a boy; and Jim usually never trusted anyone he didn't like. Particularly, he never trusted men that lusted after Nautia. That much was evident with the elder man, and Jim could see the growing frustration as Cornelius' feelings were never returned. It was the way he talked about Jack Sparrow, and the way he sneered whenever she would stare off in thought at the mention of his name. It was all a big… cluster; and one Jim didn't have the energy to straighten out.
It didn't help that sleep was practically impossible in the past couple of weeks. He worried that he had begun to hallucinate as a consequence. Every night since they had stormed the caves of Isla de Muerta, he had heard the chains rattle. And every night—heart racing- he would light his lantern to find nothing but the dancing shadows of the light, and the oversized, black dog twitching in its sleep by his side. He couldn't place the sudden protectiveness Mutt had with him, but it annoyed him to no end. It had been bad enough that his sister had been watching him, like an overprotective mother eyes her first-born's every movement. But to have a dog of all things; his pride had taken blow after blow these days. Even worse, she had even hired Ana-Maria as an aid.
It wasn't her that bothered him as much as his physical decline. Oddly enough, she gave him energy with her presence; and he welcomed it gladly. As if his mind had conjured her from thin air, she had appeared by his side, looking to where his eyes had been focused.
"If she pulls this off, there'll be no livin' with her," Ana-Maria joked.
Jim chuckled and sent a look to his companion.
"Seeing as she's the captain of the Coventina, there's no living with her already."
She laughed, and how genuine it was. As a stern woman, he hadn't really known her to laugh often, so he welcomed the melodic inflections of her voice. Then the silence came, and he loved it as much as he loved her laughter. It comforted him to be able to share a quiet moment with someone who had nothing to hide behind idle talk, and nothing that ever left her mouth was ever idle.
"So the stories then…?" she looked at him.
He looked her in the eye and gave her a stern nod.
"All true, no matter how exaggerated they sound."
"Then that sword she carries is a living legend."
"She doesn't."
Ana-Maria whipped around with mouth gaped and eyes wide. Jim chuckled at her expression and shook his head.
"It's not what you think. The blade of the Under World; forged in the fires of Hades himself. Any man that so much as lay a finger on the blade, his life is stripped away in a breath. She refuses to carry it."
Ana-Maria nodded. No one with good sense would walk around carrying a weapon like that. Nautia was a great leader, and Ana-Maria had never known her to be much of a killer. A force to be reckoned with, yes. Murderer? No. If anyone wielded, they would intend to kill.
"To be honest, I never understood how she managed to take it," said Jim.
"What do you mean?"
They turned to face each other, but Jim's gaze had become reflective and grim.
"You see, when we went looking for it, we found an oracle. She told us of the legend. It is said that no living man can wield it…"
Ana-Maria stared wide-eyed, and then shook her head.
"She did the impossible."
"We thought it metaphorical, but quickly threw away that idea. She took a fool's chance, and came out the victor, but even then we didn't have answers. She never bothered looking for them anyway."
She raised her brow. "Did you?"
He nodded. Now she was a tad bit curious.
"And?"
"I did find something," he admitted. "Tales of legendary warriors dying and being brought back to life by the drink of the gods. By ambrosia."
She stared at him. After dealing with Barbossa's undead crew, she knew better than to question the realness of the supernatural. She had begun to fear the worse about her female captain.
"You mean to say-?"
"No." Jim had a feeling about where her thoughts were, and he wanted to put them to rest immediately.
"No, I don't know that my sister has ever been taken by death. But she has seen death, and has escaped its clutches time and time again."
The silence differed now, and he had turned his gaze back to the Dauntless and away from the wary eyes of Ana-Maria.
"She has a habit of that, don't she?" Ana asked. "Taking a fool's chance."
Jim nodded. He knew it has become more of her character than a bad habit, at this point.
"It doesn't matter now," he said. "All that matters is that we trust her to pull through again..."
"Jack, I need you to trust me on this."
Jack glared at the mahogany captain as his hands were bound tightly by two larger members of the crew. It seemed as though he was looking through her, and that unnerved her greatly.
"Poor choice of words for a deceptive little minx," he seethed as he struggled against his bonds.
Nautia flinched at his tone, but quickly morphed her features to appear indifferent. She waived an airy hand at him.
"You'll get your gold, and your chance at a jest to the good commodore. That will make us 'bout even."
"Hardly," he scoffed.
Before she could retort, a pair of hurried boots thundered down the steps. Two heads of ginger rushed into her vision.
"Cap-n, we have-"
"-Some difficulties-"
"-And that would be an understatement-"
"-Seeing as it involves the transaction-"
"Enough!" Nautia interrupted the pair and rushed past them to the main deck.
"Nate!" Jim's voice sounded over the deck as soon as her bushy coils had appeared.
Without so much as thinking, Nautia swiftly made her way over to her brother, taking the spyglass from his hand to inspect the danger.
"They're moving in closer," he said, standing to her right.
A noise like a growl trembled through her throat. She closed the spy glass and looked to her brother, who looked at her knowingly.
"The red coats don't want to take the risk. I don't think we ought to either," Cornelius appeared behind them.
"I think we're a bit tired of your opinions, Quartermaster," Jim retorted. Cornelius glared at Jim, but said nothing.
Jim locked his eyes to Nautia once again, and she continued to transmit her thoughts silently.
"Damn them to hell!" Ana-Maria cursed. "If we sit here and do nothin', they'll kill us all."
"They don't suspect anythin' yet, but they just might," Cornelius answered gruffly.
Nautia and Jim had not spoken, but only continued to communicate as brother and sister know how.
"Cap'n," Cornelius interjected, "Perhaps its best that we let them come and take Sparrow themselves—"
"Lower the long boat," Nautia and Jim had spoken at the same time.
"Cap'n?"
"Nautia?"
A bark sounded between the siblings and made them both jump. Mutt stood with his tongue hanging, and placed himself almost protectively in front of Jim, who had ignored the beast.
"You heard her, quartermaster," said Jim, standing a bit taller as he squared with Cornelius. She hadn't noticed the exchange.
"Bring Sparrow now!" Nautia bellowed over the deck. Her loud cry produced swift movement as the two larger members dragged him roughly by his arms.
"Easy, mate!" Jack protested.
"Lower the longboat!" Jim commanded, following her stride.
"You're both daft!" Ana-Maria shouted, following them.
"Ah," Jack mused, as he glared at Ana-Maria, "so you're the traitorous—"
Nautia had moved herself between them and spoke in a hushed tone to the now fuming woman.
"Should something go wrong, I need you to act accordingly. Understand?"
Ana-Maria said nothing, but pursed her lips as she only gave the captain a blank stare.
"My brother trusts you, so I do too."
Ana-Maria looked to Jim who only nodded in affirmation, and then looked back to his sister.
"I'll give the signal once we're in the clear," Nautia continued. "We'll come back, and clear off before they arrive. Should anything go wrong do NOT fire off or come back for us."
Ana-Maria started to protest before Nautia held up a hand, "You will make haste for the nearest port and then wait for us there."
There was a long pause before Ana-Maria finally nodded.
"This woman will act in my place until this deal is done," Nautia commanded. "You will give her the same respect you have given me."
Pleased with the chorus of "Aye Cap'n" that came from the crew, she followed her brother into the long boat with Cornelius, Au'Kai, the two members that escorted Jack, and two more trustworthy men.
As the boat lowered, Jim reached below their little seats and started to throw articles of clothing at his sister. Nautia caught them with ease, and began to wrestle with her coiled tresses as she tightened a large black scarf around them. Jack spoke as his adversary pulled on her boots.
"If I may point out the obvious to your bold approach-"
She interrupted: "I don't recall giving you permission to speak, but by all means, continue on."
Jack glared at her but continued.
"This isn't going to work," he said pointedly.
"It may not, but we'll work with it the best way we know how," Jim interjected, leaning his cane over his shoulder.
Jack turned his eyes from Nautia and looked at Jim skeptically.
"An' how's that?"
"Improvisation!"
Jack turned to where Nautia sat and did a double take. Instead of the busty, wild haired woman he knew; there sat, instead, what looked like a bare-foot, adolescent boy with his hair carefully tucked away beneath a head wrap. She looked nearly bald with the tricorn hat sitting atop.
"Those clothes don't suit you 'tall love," said Jack, amused. There was a slight twinkle of mischief in his eye, and Nautia grinned.
Cornelius, who had his back turned to the group, looked over his shoulder and glared at Jack.
"Perhaps we ought to limit his speech, Cap'n," he seethed.
"I believe the captain can issue an order for herself, Cornelius," Jim glowered.
Nautia looked on curiously between the two and decided to interrupt any increasing tension.
"Remember, once they have Jack, we leave quietly. Give them no reason to suspect that we are anything more than silk traders in passing."
"As thrilling as this really is, I'm not entirely settled with being captive on said commodore's ship," said Jack.
"You won't be; not for long," she replied assuredly.
"And how do you expect me to break free of these bonds without leverage?"
"You broke free of your bonds 10 minutes ago, waiting for the opportune moment." She gave him a knowing look.
His look of shock was instantly replaced by a smirk.
"We know each other entirely too well, love-"
"Regrettably," Cornelius muttered as he moved to adjust Jack's restraints.
"—but I find myself being cheated of my opportune moment."
"Leave it be, quartermaster!"
Cornelius, disgruntled, turned his attention back to the Dauntless.
"And your opportune moment comes once they place you in the brig-"
"I think our personal definitions of 'opportune' differ drastically, love."
"—where you will find all of your effects carefully placed, and your beloved Pearl will come to your rescue by the time you succeed in your endeavors."
Jack eyed her and furrowed his brows. Nautia, blank faced, yanked out a leather knot that was tied around her belt, and waved his black compass in front of his face.
He made to reach for it, but she quickly held it back.
"They have to think you don't have anything first," Jim said as his eyes followed the movement aboard the galleon. They were still a couple-hundred yards out.
Jack's eyes did not waver from her icy spheres.
"How is it that the Pearl knows of our present endeavor?"
"Let's just say it's all a matter of brilliant planning," Nautia beamed as she tucked the compass away.
"Or madness," her brother snorted.
Jack studied her for a moment.
"What exactly are you after, love?"
Nautia remained silent.
"Here we go," Jim said as he prepped his cane and looked at Nautia. "You know what to do."
She nodded, and silently began to slip a gag over Jack's mouthed. He flinched slightly but calmed when she whispered "Trust me," in his ear. The accidental graze of her lips over his right ear had been enough to distract him as he tasted the dusty cloth.
Cornelius had turned around and caught the moment only to watch it pass. He turned back to face the red coats, and said nothing.
Nautia patted down the daggers tucked in her sash, along with Jack's pistol and his cutlass. She gave a curt nod to her brother and dove under the warm waters.
Jack gave Jim a questioning look to which he simply nodded in reassurance.
"Let's go."
The larger members moved in symmetrical rhythm and pushed the group toward the Dauntless.
"Nothing can go wrong," thought Jim. "Nothing can go wrong."
"Commodore, sir! You need to see this!" a sailor cried out, holding out his spyglass for his commander.
James Norrington looked up from his charts and made haste to grab the spyglass. His calculating face contorted in confusion and a hint of suspicion at the approaching long-boat.
"There are six men aboard."
He paused from the spy glass, and raised it again. His eyes hadn't played tricks on him after all.
"And they've got Sparrow."
Lieutenant Gillette stood by his commander and looked from his own spyglass.
"Quite the entourage for one man," he mused. "They don't seem to take any chances with Sparrow."
"Neither should we, Gillette," Norrington replied.
His subordinate, recognizing the annoyance in his tone, nodded compliantly. Gillette then walked off to prepare their sailors for any potential mischief.
A couple of sailors carried a table from the Captain's quarters, followed by a young, squeamish midshipman who cradled a booklet of loose parchment and adjusted his crooked glasses. Red-coats stood in rigid formation, encircling the ship with their bayonets pointed toward the sky. Unbeknownst to them, someone had slipped aboard and strolled into the commodore's quarters, and shut the door behind them.
Nautia could only hope that no one noticed the trail of wet footprints she left behind, but she was not unaccustomed to the way time worked in her favor. With Jack being the center of attention, she had fifteen minutes, at best, before she could be discovered. Plenty of time she figured. It didn't take her long to find the navigational charts she needed.
This was a grand flagship, so naturally, pride was best displayed using historical artifacts that had been collected, as defined by the King's, and his lawmakers,' standards. They were the biggest pirates, in her opinion. Not the greatest pirates, but certainly the biggest when it came to a lack of morals and numbers of people. What else could you call it when a country invades, takes the land and resources of so-called "savages," distribute it worldwide for profit, and claim it as territory? Piracy, if there ever was a truer definition. But let them tell you what a pirate was, and they'll show you a man or woman at the end of a rope in a cold breeze.
After securing the charts, she continued to slink about the room. Her fingers worked delicately as she began to look through drawers and wardrobes to make sure she missed nothing.
She stood up slowly walked around the room, and looked at high and low shelves of various figurines.
"Where are you, my lovely?" she hummed.
Boot thundered on the deck, and she quickly dove behind the desk. She stayed silent for a moment, as the loud, but synchronized movements continued to thunder across the deck. Nautia breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that the red coats had just been conducting facing movements.
"They must be getting ready to board the ship," she thought.
She climbed out from under the desk and continued her search through the trinkets and statuettes, and quickly reminded herself that these men were organized. If she wanted to find it, all she had to do was find the rest.
"Focus, Nautia," she scolded herself. They couldn't afford for anything to go wrong today. Her eyes scanned the shelves again and desks again. She scanned the room, turning and pivoting, until her eyes landed on a single key, carefully tucked underneath a thick book. Naturally, it was on the uppermost shelf of the book case. For someone of short stature, such as herself, this would prove to be a bit difficult. Moving any piece of furniture could give away signs that the room was tampered with. She hopped with her right arm stretched upward, and her fingers barely grazed the shelf. She hopped again, and skimmed the key, making it move slightly. Beyond frustrated, pressed for time, she was out of breath after jumping 5 times in a row.
"I don't think I have a choice," she scowled.
Nautia looked around on the floor at droplets of water that had started to pool around her feet and grimaced. This would be even more of a mess if she didn't move quickly. She gripped a shelf and tugged lightly, testing the sturdiness of the book case. It didn't rock forward as she expected. She gripped tighter and began to pull herself up. The case gave a dangerously loud creak, and she winced, heart pounding.
"Quickly," she whispered.
In a swift movement, she hopped up on her leg, swiped the key, and dropped back down low. The case rocked a few moments, and her eye caught a small vase that was treacherously tipping too forward for her liking. It fell forward and off the shelf. She dove forward, and landed hard on her chest, her left hand barely gripping the fallen vase. She released a shaky breath.
"Hopefully no one heard that," she thought.
She tucked the vase under the desk and slipped the newly acquired key into her right breast pocket.
Nautia peaked out of the window she would climb out of to find that Jim and the others were being raised up in their long boat.
"I need to move quickly."
"All hands, on deck!" a man bellowed.
Now was her opportune moment to make a move. All the guards would be on the main deck, and, with no prisoner to guard, the brig would be empty. She quickly climbed out of the window, hanging on to the ledge. Her arms and fingers burned as she used her strength to maneuver around the bend. She sighted the next ledge, just next to the long boat that had just been raised. One wrong move, and she'd give them all away by taking a loud plunge into the water below. With one deep breath, she bent her legs, and pushed off toward the next ledge. Her heart jumped up into her throat for a moment, as she missed the ledge with her left hand. With fast thinking, she gripped the rope hanging just below with her right hand. The sudden stop yanked her right arm and slammed her against the side of the ship. Nautia held her breath and listened for any sort of sound that would show that she had been given away. She gazed upward, waiting for anyone to appear. No one did.
The loud commanding voice had reached her ears first. "Gentlemen, I'd like to welcome you aboard the Dauntless. Though I must say…"
Nautia didn't have much time left to listen on. She slid down the rope, carefully lowering herself until she was just above the lower gun port. With much difficulty, she moved the cannon back with a great shove with her legs. With legs first, she slid into the gun port and crouched low.
As she anticipated, everyone was on the main deck. All eyes were on Jack, and they weren't going to let him slip away so easily. She prepped her dagger for any scuffles and made her way to the brig. She gazed around every so often. The ship was huge, that much was clear. More room, more supplies were only a few of the features. Being a flag ship, the Dauntless had some perks. However, what it makes up for in size, it lacks in speed. That was the burden of all galleons, such as this one, and that made it less appealing to commandeer.
She turned down another corner, crouching low and ducking between barrels and posts until she came to the brig. It was a pathetic stand-alone cage, barely large enough to fit a lone cow, or a smaller horse. It was tall, like the book shelf she had seen in the commander's quarters, with only a few feet in length. After giving one more cautious glance-around, Nautia took the key to small iron key-hole and turned. It clicked and gave a small creak as she propped the heavy door open. She pulled out the items she had hidden beneath her coat: Jack's hat, his cutlass, his pistol, and the little key she had acquired. She hid the items in the darkest corner of the brig, just behind a keg of gun powder, and quickly closed the iron gate.
This had all been too easy. By now, they would have begun to exchange the gold for Jack, and she would need to make it off the ship quickly.
The resounding click of a pistol caused her good feeling to quickly dissipate. Slowly, she raised her hands high, and turned to face two bayonets, and some humble looking young lads.
"We've been waiting for you…"