Entry 9

Peter

"Do you really tink he's going to show?"

I eyed at Mercer from the corner of my eye, nettled to have been forced to loiter about the filthy streets of Singapore since a few, very long hours ago, although after arriving I'd been able to spend my time in peace within East India's base of operations, while our men had been scouting the streets for days in search of the hideout of the Pirate Lord Sao Feng who was known to take residence in this city. Coming up with nothing aside for a few secret warehouses of stolen Company merchandise and a couple o' minor arrests of some insignifanct members of Feng's organisation who hadn't been in possession of any useful intel concerning the location of their leader's current abode. Therefore like back at Tortuga us to have been now forced to disembark and to go wait to get a glimpse of the spy uncle Cutler had placed within Feng's organisation about two months prior as previously agreed oan in a secret correspondance with the man.

This notorious Chinese pirate we were hoping to catch, who apparently hold one of the highly regarded chairs in the secret counsil of pirates we'd come to know as Brethren, apparently dominated the local trade and this very city with its netherworld he kept under tight wraps for the Company highly present at this city due to my uncle's influence not to stumble upon and enable his arrest. Commanding a high number of pirate ships and provig himself as one of the linchpins still holding up the grumpling brethren of the pirates with his power and influence amongst their circles. The very purpose of our presence here in this faraway country indeed being to gain information from my uncle's inside man in Feng's ranks, and have him reveal the location of the pirate's lair, in which he'd enclosed himself after going into hiding since the arrival of East India Trading Company and the beginning of its oceans wide hunt for pirates. So that we could inprison him, and get us one step closer in uncovering all the members of the Brethren Court and extinguish the threat of them uniting against the Company by crushing each and every one of them along with their status within the ranks of the buccaneers. Proving that these "Lords" were no more mighty than any other mere pirate we'd so far condemend to the noose….The finding of Feng however not being the only reason my uncle had sent me here with Mercer, along with a dispatch of Company soldiers only loyal to me recently acquired power and station as Commodore.

"Steng asserted to come bearing news…When he would meet us and where wasn't discussed nor agreed on", Mercer replied, scanning the passerbys and the rest of the crowd for the familiar looking man we'd been expecting to make an appearance for some time now. Me simply snorting at his response, turning up me nose for the sickening smell of rot fish and humidity which didn't leave you alone anywhere you went in this accursed part of the world, cursing at the warmth that seeped through my clothes and caused them stick to my always clammy skin. In a way the climate feeling even hotter than the scalding heat of the Caribbean, since I was constantly sweating like crazy after arriving to this country.

"Or he's revealed himself and is curretly laying dead in some damp ditch of human excrement, dead and branded as a Company lapdog", I retorted, sighing. "Where did you even come upon the man? Surely it would've served the Company better to send a trained operative to infiltarte Feng's organiation instead of a tender-foot rapscallion."

"Like you perhaps, sir?" Mercer queried, in obvious mock as after locking brief gazes with me he measured me in amusement. Not believing me to be capable of such a task, me simply flashing him a cocky grin.

"I wouldn't have refused. At least I would've gotten the job done one way or another."

"It is not an easy feat to uncover secrets in a place that has been built in preserving them from outsiders. Feng is a careful man and doesn't trust almost anyone within his organisation, which makes collecting useful information more than difficult."

"And yet I don't see you reveling over the fact that my uncle had to send us here to do the spy's job for him, since he's been slower than usual on the intake of any notable tidings."

Mercer was quiet for a while before answered to my previous question, his eyes still observing the townspeople bustling around us, who instead paid no attention to us. Our plain clothes not differing from the attire of the rest of the common folk here, not anyone having an inkling us to be agents of the East India.

"He was caught during the sinking of one of the ships belonging to the fleet of Madame Ching", Mercer elaborated, ignoring my disdain, but from the way he refused to meet my eye I knew him to be simply keeping himself composed. Trying his hardest to be reverent. "The Company gave him a choice between betraying his kind by working for us or the gallows, and pitiable sod or not he made the right decision."

"And lot has placing him in Feng's vicinity availed us", I stated, matching Mercer's stare as narrowed my eyes unimpressed, folding my arms. "He hasn't delivered much during his time as Company informant, and I'm surprised you haven't gotten one of your other goons to kill him already for his iniffeciency. Why don't I do the job for you once he finally drags his arse over here to deliver the usual big, steaming heap of nothing to us again?"

At this Mercer scowled, frowning. "He claimed to have some information concerning Jack Sparrow's crew…as well as your sister, sir."

I was surprised, lifting my jaw intrigued. "Well? Are they really here then?"

"The spy overheard a messanger to come seek audience from Sao Feng, requesting a meeting to be held between Feng and the people this envoy was delivering a message for. He is to meet us here and reveal the details, as well as the other information he's come to uncover since our last contact. Most likely the man was sent on behalf of Sparrow or his crew."

"And what did he say about Miranda?" I asked, noo frowning in slight wonder. "Did he say to have seen her as well?"

"A few days ago he spotted a total of three people sniffing around Feng's hideout, on several occasions, efter making some inquiries learning them to have been gathering information concerning Feng and his headquarters…One of whom was a woman matching the description of your sister, sir, along with two men whom we can safely assume to be Turner and the third gentlemen you yourself saw in their company upon meeting them at Isla Cruces."

"Edward McConaughey…" I mused, tasting the name for awhile, it however not bringing anything to me mind other than the image of the mysterious Englishman from the back of my mind. "Does the Company know anything about him aside for his name?"

"He's an impostor. A criminal who's been running from the law ever since evading execution by having his wife set him free from prison. Several years ago he was interrogated by the Company to reveal crucial details concerning people the Company had been after for over a decade, but upon refusing to talk he was imprisoned for inquisition. However escaping not but a couple of months later, and hasn't been heard ever since…"

"…Until suddenly surfacing again by partnering up with Will and Miranda", I filled in his sentence, bemused above anything. "What on earth is she doing with a criminal like him? Her blind loyalty to Will I can understand for her to have followed him all the way here, but to rub elbows with that McConaughey character…What are they even doing here, conducting inquiries about Feng and his organisation?"

"It seems they've been here for some time…Doing what our man couldn't shed a light on, but the rest of Sparrow's crew were spotted arriving to the city this morning after our sources confirmed them to have attempted to deceive our spies about their true heading after disembarking from Cuba before their trail led here, however vanishing again without a trace before we could act on capturing them. But it would be ill-adviced not to presume them to be here for the same purpose as Turner, purpose that regards Sao Feng and this apparent secret meeting they're wishing to have with him. The messanger seen entering and leaving Feng's hideout was after all one of Sparrow's men."

"Whatever is going on, it is surely getting interesting", I remarked, smirking a bit before then tilted my head at the older man by my side questionably. "So your scouts have heard no rumors about what they're planning on doing here, nor had any sightings of Sparrow's crewmen since their first appearance, or any of their Captain?"

"No, sir."

I made a thoughtful nod, mulling over these in fact quite enticing nuggets of information that although didn't enlighten us much about the plan Sparrow's men seemed to have in motion here in Singapore. Me assuming them to be alone, since not a single one of the Company spies working as the eyes and ears of this city hadn't caught a glimpse of their Captain, who presumably was currently rotting away at the bottom of the sea. Nevertheless as I revised our current standing in regards to our own ongoing operation, I soon broke into a satisfied smile. Watching the rain drops fall from the ridge of the canopy under we were standing until faced Mercer, raising challenging eyebrows at him for his wonder.

"Whatever they have up in their sleeve by deciding to act upon here right under our noses shall be intriguing indeed to ascertain…and the little we know about their plans is sure to still work in our favor, no? And since we know them to be meeting with Feng tonight, don't you think us to be entitled to welcome them to Singapore with a little surpise of our own? But to do that we now only need to know where that cowardly rat of a pirate lord is hiding…"

Mercer's lips spread intae an anticipatory smile as he instantly caught my drift, after seeing him nod compliantly me returning his stare with one more grin before concentrated on taking in the faces of the passing people. After a brief moment of surveying the area indeed happening to spot a rather suspicious looking man crouching behind a stack of boxes and bags of fruit, me measuring him for a bit and after taking in his odd, jittery behavior nodding towards him. Without a doubt that nervous wreck being our man.

"Your boy is finally gracing us with his presence."

As Mercer blended in with the passing crowd to sneak over to the turned up spy, I stayed put. Simply observing their exchange from other side of the street with occasional glances made their way, suddenly my eyes fixating onto the nearby market as I imagined to spot a familiar looking woman heading towards the brothel, haled by a man. However bypassing it as the figment of my imagination, gazing back towards the conversing pair on my right. After a moment of heated discussion and delivery of threaths on Mercer's part, since the much more fidgety appearing Steng required some further encouragement to continue his faithful service, me watching Mercer to put away the knife he'd briefly pressed againt the frightened scrawny pirate's neck 'n' hand a small pouch of money over to him. Steng making a brisk nod before was as swift to disappear as had appeared, me stepping out of the canopy and starting to walk along the street, towards our own headquarters. Keeping my head down and keeping up a steady pace for a couple of streets and a half, until Mercer once more joined me from one of the side alleys. Me this time glancing up to him expectant.

"Midnight, tonight. The meeting between Sparrow's crew and Sao Feng is taking place at the bath house next to the brothel, that the pirate is apparently using as his hideout and current base of operations."

"And the place the meeting is held in?"

"Apparently anyone who is escorted there isn't allowed to meet Feng while armed, hence getting deprived all of their weapons upon entering. Only Feng's guards positioned by the entryway are armed, where the rest of the men inside shall be weaponless."

"Then we act", I answered, turning a corner as leveled a serious look to his direction. "Send a couple of men to scout the bath house to pinpoint any weaknesses in its defense, so that we can infiltrate and organize our troops to be ready to attack the meeting by the time Sparrow's men including Sao Feng have arrived. You shall make sure our soldiers take out the guards keeping an eye on the location, have the men surround the meeting place, and when the time is right ambush all of the pirates inside before they know to suspect their privy rendezvous to have been breached…You better hope that traitor of yours remains fateful to the Company and won't warn Feng's men till we've managed to waylay them."

"And you, sir?" Mercer inquired, matching my stare with slightly irritated expression to be ever so ordered around. "What shall you be doing?"

I said nothing as smirked at him, glancing down at my plain attire as quirked my eyebrows, stopping to knock on the door of our own secret hideout. Gazing to the grey, rainy sky upon waiting for the soldiers inside to open the door for us. Replying with a question as flashed the man the kind of cheeky smirk I'd already learned to know to aggravate him most.

"Did that pirate ever tell you anything about the secret passages leading inside the hideout?"

Miranda

I woke to th' seductive aroma o' rose oil 'n' a cavalcade o' other lovely scents that irritated me nose, efter comin' to me lettin' oot a long breath. Feelin' slight throbbin' at th' back o' me heid as shifted it to th' side, in fact th' pain o' it feeling mair dominant than th' smartin' o' me knuckles, as me foggy mind reeled back to th' skirmish at th' temple me fathomin' nae to have gravely broken th' bones o' me haun other than a few o' wee ones. Efter layin' still for a moment tryin' to determine where I was, reckonin' nae to have been at least thrown intae th' dungeon or any other place lik' that, since naw cell was this comfortable to lay in. Only bein' able to assume to be in a bed efter I turned oan me side 'n' sank a wee intae th' soft underlay, feelin' th' luxorious sheets under me palms as opened me eyes, sittin' up. For me brief confusion but eventual horror discoverin' to be in a large, beautifully furnished room wi' silks 'n' decorative paintings covering th' walls. Th' kind which William 'n' I'd passed thro' dozens during oor search aroond th' brothel, kind in which th' prostitutes o' th' bordello lived 'n' prepared 'emselves for th' clients. Due to th' shock o' that revelation me takin' in a panicked breath in dismay as gazed aroond me, spottin' th' group o' fifteen women loungin' at th other side o' th' living quarters. Majority o' 'em keekin' Asian, but a few o' 'em seemed to be o'other descent, such as European 'n' a couple o' 'em keeked to be African. All o' 'em levelin' curious glances to me direction, or simply mindin' their ain business (taken that seein' a freish lass to be brought to a place lik' this unconscious 'n' utterly unaware what was goin' oan must've nae either been at all surprisin' to 'em) 'n' only eyein' at 'emselves from their large beauty mirrors while fixin' up their make-up or hair. Me bein' able to quickly ignore th' see thro', doonright voluptous choice o' their attire by lettin' me widened eyes to round th' room 'n' th' coupons o' th' prostitutes wance mair afore I took a keek at meself.

I heard a chink o' pearls hittin' against one another 'til was even further bemused by th' claes I was wearin', me hauns risin' to touch th' voluminous coiffure 'n' th' large hairpins keepin' th' stylized curls in place as I took in th' thin, light pink garment which left wey too much exposed, reachin' even higher than me previous gown. By th' size o' it me realizin' it to but barely cover me bum wi' briefly heated cheeks, th' sheer layers o' white 'n' light purple fabric adornin' th' short dress nae helpin' to conceal me figure nor legs even it reached as far as me ankles 'n' covered me arms. Bound wi' a pink colored sash to me waist, that only emphasized its narowness as much as th' width o' me hip. Me blinkin' at th' sight o' me half exposed chest abashed, which th' under dress was too scant to cover as much as I would've wanted it to. It provin' useless for me to try to pull th' gown higher as I stumbled to me feet, resultin' it only to rise a bit too much from th' hem as weel. As I noo let oot a shocked breath 'n' earned some giggles from me fellow women observin' me from th' other side o' th' room, I raised me arm. Th' wide sleeve slidin' doon 'n' enablin' me to notice to nae have a single body hair left there, nae any much as almost anywhere else as I then keeked at me legs 'n' other arm, me skin that had lotus flowers 'n' even a picture o' a full sized dragon painted oan it reekin' o' lavender 'n' th' stench o' rose oil that had practically stuck to th' room itself. Me blinkin', afore me eyes landed ontae th' empty beauty table close by. Me dashin' ower it to take a seat ontae th' low stool placed in front o' it, takin' a guid keek at meself from th' mirror 'n' findin' meself to have been fully transformed intae one o' th' women o' this establishment from me painted lips, powdered coupon, indecently dressed up 'n' throughoot shaved body to me hair that as previously noted had been combed intae one o' those bizarre styles I'd seen th' Madam wear. Two hairpins equally beautiful lik' hers stickin' oot o' th' creation, enbellished wi' rows o' hangin' string o' pearls. Me shakin' me heid at me reflection stupefied, however as me reason was able to take ower me surprise understandin' th' pirates to have naturally assumed me to have been a runaway prostitute upoan apperhendin' me wi' me brother 'n' William, hence takin' me 'ere. But th' gey thought o' me imprisoned two companions caused me to be filled wi' panic again, me risin' 'n' daunerin' aboot th' room. Tryin' to find an exit.

Me hert heavy for concern I dreaded what Feng's men might've done to 'em, rememberin' mair than weel Edward's tale aboot th' dismissed pirate who'd been driven oot o' Feng's organisation 'n' had his haun cut aff efter bein' caught stealin' from th' Pirate Lord. But somehow I was convinced that William 'n' Edward wouldn't get awa' as easy as losin' an arm since th' Charts we'd attempted to steal were far mair valuable to th' pirate than a wee amount o' occasionally pilfered coins, for this sole reason me hert stairtin' to race in all th' while increasin' horror as I tried nae to think aboot what had happened to th' two men efter oor capture. Havin' to figure oot a wey to escape this ostensible prison upoan findin' all o' th' three slidin' doors leadin' ootside to be guarded by couple o' Feng's men, naw other entyweys offerin' me salvation either, me in th' end stoppin' in middle o' th' room in desparation. Distressed, noo turnin' towards th' women in fear o' noticin' to be trapped, unable to leave 'n' go find me companions 'n' learn their fate meself.

"How can I get oot o' 'ere?" I asked breathlessly, pleadin' th' women to help me as approached 'em. Appealin' to their compassionate side as locked gazes wi' several o' 'em (although deep within that ever annoyin' but most o' th' time correct voice o' reason reminded me o' th' likelie fact that they wouldn't care less aboot me distress when I'd awready been "sold" to th' brothel 'n' hence doomed to share their fate naw matter what I did or said in protest). "I need to get oot. I cannot stay 'ere, so tell me how to escape, please!"

Some o' th' women apparently understood at least part o' what I'd said, but only laughed at me hysterics 'n' paid naw attention to me further. Some o' 'em only wavin' their hauns 'n' probably tellin' me to calm doon 'n' accept that I was noo one o' 'em 'n' wouldn't be goin' anywhere, continuin' to brush their perfect black tresses where th' rest o' th' prostitutes only gouped at me in utter bafflement. Me thefeore nae receivin' any kind o' aid in me predicament nor advice how to flee this hoose o' horrors, especially efter offerin' to pay 'em for a helpin' haun 'n' fumblin' me belt for th' money pouch, rememberin' to have been stripped o' mair than me ain claes 'n' therefore to be in naw possession o' me funds or mair begrudglingly me haircomb, Th' women therefore losin' all interest in me 'n' in fleeting defeat I released a vexed breath upoan to have lost th' last lifeline I'd had to get oot o' this pressing situation. Me neist tryin' to gather me thoughts 'n' make meself forget th' naggin' feelin' at th' pit o' me stomach that caused me to fear for th' worst, imagine th' worst possible case o' scenarios that could've followed th' incident back at th' temple. Me closin' me eyes as sank back doon ontae th' bed I'd awoken in, lettin' me jaw drop 'n' while stairted to come up wi' a draft o' a possible plan to get oot o' this maist current blight all by meself (tracin' th' flower patterin' o' me under dress ), me train o' thought was however cut by th' sound o' one o' th' doors slidin' open. Me whole body stiffenin' as I turned me heid towards th' second door oan me left, frownin' slightly as watched who else than th' Madam o' th' bordello dauner in, closely followed by th' same consignee from afore, who daunered straight towards me. One o' th' lasses comin' right ower wance th' toaty woman snapped 'er fingers, to command th' lass to lit 'er pipe for 'er.

I gouped back at th' woman, rightfully intimidated 'n' scared, nae sure what she was up to as she didn't display any emotion oan 'er coupon when she simply eyed at me in silence. Efter a curt moment 'er however stairtin' to talk, addressin' me personally although lik' afore I couldn't understand a word that came oot o' 'er geggy. Th' streenge language soundin' even mair bizarre when th' words were dropped from 'er lips swiftly 'n' sharply, me only blinkin' at 'er oblivious 'til for me utter surprise she suddenly slapped me. Me aun risin' to touch th' lower part o' me cheek in shock (as th' only thing I could recall to have made me deserve that was th' fact that I'd deceived th' woman to have 'er let us inside Feng's heidquarters), me meetin' th' woman's gaze again but she then said nothin'. Graspin' me jaw shortly to see would 'er hit eventually leave a bruise, 'n' apparently convinced o' th' opposite she then beckoned towards th' consignee wi' 'er pipe. As I shot even further addled keek at th' woman wance he grabbed me 'n' pulled me to me feet th' Madam yankin' oot a pouch o' money from 'er bodice. Levelin' a content, wide smile at me as jiggled it in front o' me visage afore wi'oot a word mair I was neist hauled across th' room 'n' all th' wey to th' open doorwey. Me demands to ken where I was taken fallin' oan deaf ears as nae th' Madam nor th' man draggin' me forward by his side said a word to respond, me trip bein' nevertheless rather short as efter but a couple o' minutes o' amblin' along th' brothel's corridors we arrived to another room. Th' consignee openin' th' slidin' door 'n' takin' me inside, nae givin' me time to take in me surroundings as neist flung me ontae th' bed that awaited there, 'n' one quick glance at th' place later it noo didn't take a lot o' intellect to deduce why I was there for. As th' man returned to th' only exit 'n' proceeded to close it me exclaimin' for 'im to stop, nae to leave me there. Th' door however slidin' shut 'n' I was wance mair a prisoner as a couple o' guards arrived to stand watch ootside, naw wey oot. Left to wait for…me client.

'N' true enough, I hardly had wrapped me brain aroond this terrifyin' realization afore I could hear footsteps closin' in to th' room I was currently in. Gaspin' me hastenin' oot o' th' bed, keekin' to me right 'n' realizin' th' abjacent room to be as weel in use wi' its ain guards maist likely stationed ootside o' it. Me noo seekin' anythin' to use to strike at th' person who would enter thro' th' door behind me, but findin' nothin'. Nae any statues, nor even candholders or somethin' lik' that found in th' room, which I then noticed to be but a basic bedroom wi' a single chair 'n' a foldin' screen occupyin' th' space. Although I had naw tendencies to violence by nature, hatin' to admit that noo I simply had to use me wit to save meself. Swallowin' hard 'n' tryin' to settle me racin' hert as retreated to th' back o' th' room, claspin' anxious hauns aroond th' sheer fabric o' me attire as noo heard th' footsteps stop precisely behind th' entrance, two male voices exchangin' a few words wi' one another afore I saw th' shadows o' th' guards to move aside. Havin' naw place to hide me simply standin' still 'n' beholdin' th' john who'd paid for me services to enter, findin' meself to goup intae th' lustful eyes o' rather handsome keekin' man (but that didn't advocate 'im in any wey in me eyes, mind ye). Th' arrived man takin' me in swiftly, visibly satisfied wi' what he'd been promised, as slid th' door shut. Noddin' towards me hair, causin' me close to even scowl for irritation, although initially I was but afraid o' th' situation 'n' o' 'im when I felt so helpless standin' there pretty much at his mercy.

"Real blonde…Pays much money."

"Ye think?" I whispered under me breath, frownin' stoogied at his amused tone 'n' strangled soundin' English words that had came oot emphasized, referrin' to god kens what I didn't even want to imagine that statement to have encased. Me then briefly recollectin' th' thickness o' th' money pouch I'd seen in Madam's person, 'n' reckoned 'er to have had naw time to tattoo th' requisite mark o' a prostitute oan me neck upoan turnin' me capture intae instant profit by sellin' me for th' first customer since I was such a "rarity" wi' me blonde locks (nevertheless easily seein' why, as almost every woman I'd met in 'ere that day had been blessed wi' dark hair, which was th' apparent natural color o' those o' Asian descent, makin' me one o' th' maist unfortunate exceptions). Me however returnin' me coupon back to guarded as watched th' man to measure me lik' definin' th' quality o' a cutlet for a while afore he stairted to strip 'imself o' unnecessities, me wishin' 'im to be ne'er done removin' his weapons 'n' excessive clothing, but bit by bit he was ready to take what he'd paid for. Me flinchin' awa' as saw 'im take th' first step towards me, a couple mair 'n' I slipped aroond 'im to th' other side o' th' room. Dreadin' for those arms that stretched towards me in need I maist certainly didn't share, upoan seein' me reluctance th' man breakin' intae a slight laughter by regardin' me disinclined behavior as timidity o' a first timer he must've been informed me to be (naw doubt as a warnin' to expect some fight). Me lettin' oot a panicked breath as watched 'im remove his shirt while daunerin' closer, durin' which time I'd awready sneaked behind 'im 'n' hopped ontae th' bed. Wance mair th' buccaneer readin' intae th' situation wrongly, tiltin' his heid at me 'n' said somethin', me only replyin' by frownin' at his suggestive gestures in grave distaste afore momentarily herteaned I dashed ower to his posessions 'n' snatched a pistol from his heavily packed belt. Luckily for me findin' it to be loaded wi' powder 'n' only thing it required for me to threaten 'im was to pull back th' hammer, this time th' miscreant understandin' me perfectly.

I couldn't help me haun fidgetin' while keepin' th' pistol pointed at th' man, nae kennin' could I in fact muster enough courage to fire it, but should th' brute take even a single step closer we would both find oot. Me matchin' his goup momentarily serious, warnin' 'im nae to approach 'til he flashed me an annoyed keek back 'n' this time tipped his heid to th' side in clear anger. Done playin', although I saw his resolve thro' his hardened eyes 'n' set jaw muscles that told o' rage 'n' bettered th' positionin' o' th' only thing that kept me safe from his intentions for noo, me however provin' nae confident enough to be th' victor o' this standaff that lasted but a few seconds. Th' man releasin' a frustrated grunt as he charged at me in a hertbeat, me but blinkin' me eyes afore he'd grabbed th' pistol 'n' th' startled rush o' adrenaline caused me to squeeze th' trigger by accident. Th' shot naturally missin' 'n' sinkin' intae th' wood o' th' ceilin' as I was quickly apprehended, though I tried to fling an elbow at th' man wance th' rendered useless pistol fell from me grasp, he simply restrained me wi' his strong arms 'n' but a couple o' forceful wrenches later I discovered meself to be pinned ontae th' bed. Me furious jerks or kicks nae helpin' to release me as th' man hooked his legs ower mine 'n' leant doon wi' all his strength to subdue me. Makin' it futile for me to waste me ain energy in tryin' to move his heavy limbs rivetin' me under 'im, me strugglin' in his unfazed grip as cried oot in protest when wi'oot a delay he proceeded wi' what he'd been promised. Swiftly stairtin' to unfasten th' layers o' silk draped aroond me, me widened eyes dartin' everywhere in feverish search o' a wey to save meself from his advances. Filled wi' fear similar I'd felt when Taran had taken a pass at me back in that stable at Port Royal, but this time th' feeling wasn't simple fear o' ne'er to have experienced intimacy but much worse, only amplified by th' hertwrenchin' disgust 'n' terror o' bein' violated by this sordid man wi' no compliance whatsoever given by me.

I did a decent job in resistin' his every daring touch aspirin' to get their wey wi' me, allowin' me fists 'n' wringglin' legs to signify I wasn't goin' to surrender to 'im lik' any other terrified lass would've done in such frustratingly desperate situation lik' this. Me however ignorin' me ain sentiments o' despair as tried to propel th' swine aff o' me, efter a brief scuffle wi' th' john wance he tried to keep me from writhin', me finally managin' to slide meself closer to th' bed's edge. When th' beads o' me hairpiece swung ontae me coupon in th' heat o' th' ruckus me freein' a haun from th' man's grip by bashin' a knee painfully to his hip, causin' 'im to give in juist long enough for me to jerk one o' me hairpins from me hair. In a flash pressin' th' sharp tip directly above one o' th' vital points Edward had instructed to be one o' th' maist vurnerable places to strike a man, th' client immediately freezin' upon feelin' th' deadly steel push intae th' soft spot o' his flesh. Me castin' a glare at 'im as wi' one mair jab o' th' needle thin tip finally managed to drive 'im awa', his arms risin' tardily as a sign o' surrender as this time I took hold o' his neck upon risin' to me knees 'n' confronted 'im. Nae leavin' it uclear that I was this time mair than prepared to impale 'im if he moved a single muscle, however only me kennin' nae to be maist likely capable o' that, where me narrowed eyes were enough to convince th' man wance he locked equally serious gazes wi' me.

"Move 'n' this shall sting ye lik' a pig ye are", I snapped, slowly risin' oan me feet while kept th' hairpin pressed against th' base o' his neck. Th' man scowlin' back at me wi' murderous intent that shook his body wi' ire, which I nevertheless matched wi' me hateful goup 'n' a threatenin' pressure added to th' pin wance he twitched forward. Makin' 'im bleed a wee 'n' scared by this th' client thought better o' it 'n' did stay still when I retreated, blinkin' unsurely, nae efter all findin' but a fraction o' that courageous, tough woman (lik' I viewed Elizabeth to have become during 'er ain plunge intae pirate life) from within meself that could've handled me assaulter wi' calm mind 'n' steady haun. Me lettin' oot a nervous breath as finally dared to draw me weapon from th' man' throat, ascendin' to th' floor, afore glanced towards th' guarded door. Oot o' all ideas o' escape I came up then none resultin' in me flight nae endin' in those guards catchin' me afore I could get but a few steps oot o' this room.

However as I was busy considerin' me options, th' man (noo freed from under th' threat o' th' hairpin burstin' 'im open) took this momentary slip in me caution as his chance to act. Me seein' from th' corner o'me eye 'im to charge towards me, 'n' turned upoan havin' naw time to defend meself as he'd knocked th' hairpin from me haun efter curtly bendin' doon to retrieve one o' his knives. Me castin' a frightful keek doon at th' blade that was makin' its wey oan me throat to return th' favor o' me previous attack as his haun grabbed me wrist 'n' dragged me closer. Th' momentum o' me backwards vaultin' body 'n' his advancin' one though workin' in me favor, as although he simply slapped me strikin' free arm awa' wi' ease he didn't notice to have accidentally stepped ontae th' trail o' me cover dress. Me neither takin' notice o' it afore it had taken care o' th' problem for me, juist as th' client was aboot to threaten me wi' th' weapon 'im slippin' to th' slick fabric 'n' tumblin' doon. Naturally bringin' me to an as abrupt halt 'n' I fell right along wi' 'im, th' knife slidin' from th' taken aback buccaneer's fingers 'n' skiddin' far awa' from 'im as we crashed ontae th floor. Th' surprised holler o' th' man gettin' cut wance he happened to hit his heid efter collapsin' oan top o' me, th' unexpected blow leavin' 'im unconscious, efter releasin'a shocked breath 'n' dartin' me jumpy eyes to his immobile form layin' oan top o' me me instead closin' me eyes in relief. As I then heard th' guards to be finally alerted o' th' increaed commotion inside me searchin' th' room swiftly, locatin' th' fallen pistol to be buried under th' tangled sheets wance th' slidin' doors opened 'n' th' pirates arrived to th' scene. Th' other guard turnin' ower th' unconscious man where th' second took in th' signs o' struggle in th' room which had led to th' attack o' th' client, luckily 'em nae payin' attention to me in a few seconds I needed to rise to me feet 'n' sneak ower to th' bedside. To take th' pistol, juist as th' pirates turned their harsh eyes ower to me efter discoverin' nae to be able to wake th' man, demandin' an explanation.

As intended they stopped oan their tracks wance I revealed th' pistol from behind me back (only hopin' 'em nae to put th' two 'n' two together efter undoubtedly hearin' th' earlier shot 'n' hence figurin' th' pistol to be unloaded), me however nae needin' to relay oan their belief o' probably gettin' shot if they attacked, as I acted oot o' instinct. Leapin' forth afore th' men had time to prepare, whackin' th' pistol as hard as I could oan th' heid o' th' closer miscreant afore vaulted ower to th' second guard 'n' bumped 'im towards th' wall. Th' man's eyes widenin' for astonishment as he stumbled backwards, th' pistol strikin' yet again 'n' renderin' 'im uconcsious as weel, but in me eager desire to flee I for wance wasn't th' least bit concerned aboot inflictin' harm to others. These brutes lik' th' despicable client afore 'em deservin' an aching bump oan their heids, as th' pirate fell from straight legs he plunged right thro' th' thin paper o' th' wall separatin' th' two abjacent rooms from another. Me quick thinkin' offerin' me th' needed distraction as th' prostitute entertainin' 'er ain client released a terrified scream efter witnessin' th' picaroon fall intae their room, wakin' th' interest o' th' guards positioned ootside o' it 'n' lik' th' two others also rushed inside to see what th' racket was aboot. Wance I saw their shadows move from th' corridor all th' wey inside me headin' for th' door. Lettin' oot an irritated groan as th' cover dress' hem stopped me from escapin', rippin' apart, still stuck under th' unconscious client's body 'n' chagrined I tore th' fine fabric completely in furstration. Th' undeeded hindrance noo gone 'n' wi'oot a moment o' dawlin' further me neist runnin' to th' door 'n' makin' me wey to th' noo completely empty corridor, although wance again unaware o' what me current location within th' brothel exactly was, keepin' oan scurryin' along th' itinenaries 'til th' harried beatin' o' me hert steadied 'n' I was able to take a breather. Still maistly because upoan turnin th' latest corner I had to hide behind one o' th' tapestries when a group o' Feng's men appeared from one o' th' secret passages, passin' me wi'oot complications, 'n' as I peeked at th' symbol carved neist to th' doorwey I realized it to lead to th' bath hoose. Where William 'n' Edward were most likely kept inprisoned.

Th' thought o' me still missin' companions drove me to immediately leave me hidin' 'n' march ower to th' door wance th' pirates had left me sight, for me utmost digruntlement me however discoverin' it to be surprisigly locked, 'n' th' irked rattlin' o' th' door didn't help nor make it budge. Hence unable to take that route me bein' forced to follow along th' corridor I'd previously chosen in me directionless run aboot th' premises, sighin' deep at th' possibility o' me endin' up adrift in this place in me yet anothor haphazard search for th' right path which would lead me to me brother 'n' William. Me dire need to find 'em alive 'n' weel nae easin' me ever increasin' fear o' bein' lost as I continued to dauner along th' corridors that followed efter one another. Nevertheless me nae havin' to dauner aboot within th' buildin' much longer, as soon I fortunately came upoan a gateway lik' passage. Th' in use premises 'n' quarters o' th' brothel left behind some time ago afore I'd even noticed 'n' efter havin' no other choice but to venture across th' largest o' th' passageweys so far, me arrivin' to a freish hall. But this one was greatly different for me surprise, at th' other side o' th' twin doors openin' a scenery o' a similar landing roundin' th' space that was held up by dozens o' pillars, but th' rivetin' focus o' it was governed by an exquisite garden which spread throughoot th' hall under an open sky.

I took a brief moment to admire th' beauty o' th' unexpected plantings I'd come upon from flowers to simple Asian styled statues litterin' th' garden, takin' in th' stylized ponds that dominated th' hert o' it 'n' its corners (water lilies o' th' same color that were painted oan me skin coverin' th' surface o' th' water, 'n' as I peered ower th' banister even in th' fallen twilight I could see fishes swin under 'em wance th' light o' th' moon reflected from their scales, even a few birds loungin' amonsgt th' plants or wadin' in th' shallow water). Me eyes neist risin' to goup at th' darkened sky above, canopies built to shield th' landings in case o' rain, a group o' lanterns hanging from their ridges lit 'n' lightin' th' whole space. Th' decorative design naturally also continuin' in th' structures o' this open hall 'n' bein' equally outstandin' in th' wee, angular multi-roof spires o' th' dark, tiled ceilin' o' th' canopies as weel as in th' three arches that towered over th' garden. Supported by th' walls o' th' hall 'n' th' set o' four long, but thinner columns which each had their footing within one o' th' ponds. Everythin' covered wi' similar type o' engravings 'n' pictures o' Chinese gods 'n' painted wi' luscious colors o' red 'n' gold, as me eyes wandered aboot th' hall 'em suddenly fixatin' ontae th' center o' th' opposite wall, where a streenge abberance to th' prevailin' harmony o' th' garden lied. Th' landing leadin' up to an enclosed space placed right in middle o' it, under one o' th' two highest peaks carfted precisely across from one another, 'n' as I keeked doon I saw this odd space secluded from th' rest o' th' hall to reach all th' wey doon, in two separate floors, passagweys also leadin' up to th' mysterious spot from both sides. 'N' I should've nae been surprised to notice four guards to have been placed to sit in front o' th' doors leadin' within', each carryin' a ring wi' too many identical keys in 'em to count, added to th' fact that th' only window I saw to offer a peek intae that room 'n' what it was hidin' was barred wi' no ledge leadin' to it, provin' it nae to be juist any room. As I pressed against th' column oan me right to remain hidden in th' dark 'n' leant forward daringly, peerin' towards th' window 'n' past th' ornamental pattering o' th' see thro' engravings, me eyes widened at th' sight o' a familiar map I spotted to have been placed near it.

The Mao Kun map. It was there, right behind that window at th' other side o' th' garden, behind locked doors each guarded by an armed pirate. This realization however instantly fillin' me but wi' confusion as I clearly remembered th' Charts to have been returned back to their original place at th' virtine up in th' temple efter th' capture o' William, Edward 'n' me, 'n' that they definitely hadn't been moved to a mair secure location…But it was exactly that thought that then caused me to think, efter a moment o' deliberation me realizin' why there appeared to be two copies o' th' Navigational Charts aboot, undertandin' why it had seemed so odd to me Feng to store such an important object right in th' open wi' no precautions, accessible to anyone in th' mind o' thievin' lik' us. Th' reason behind such carelessness bein' that th' map we'd attempted to steal must've been a worthless copy, made to keek lik' th' original, where th' real Charts were kept safe behind a lock 'n' key. Wee smile risin' oan me lips then as I fathomed Sao Feng to be indeed as careful man as rumors said 'im to be…But unfortunately for 'im, I'd stumbled right upoan his ploy. 'N' although me hert was harrowed by fear ower William 'n' Edward, this was too guid o' an opportunity to squander since th' Charts were th' gey reason they'd been imprisoned, 'n' if I managed to get to th' real ones 'n' steal 'em as intended, I would be then free to find 'em 'n' oor mission would be efter all fulfilled successfully. But it was easier said than done…

I almost immediately discovered that me only wey to th' Charts was thro' th' air, as I was certainly goin' to be noticed if I went as far as sneaked ower to any o' th' guards 'n' would openly steal th' keys from 'em, 'n' I couldn't approach th' cache thro' th' garden since I couldn't see a passagewey thro' which I could get to th' lower floor. Those plans therefore as guid as nothin' me castin' me extremely reluctant eyes up to th' vault, which in theory could be used to climb ower th' garden lik' th' beams back in th' th' temple. In th' end nae figurin' oot a better wey to get to th' apparent clandestine storage otherwise undetected wi' a heavy sigh me takin' in me surroundings. Efter assessin' th' distance atween th' arch 'n' th' window I needed to lower meself to wance at th' other side, standin' 'n' pullin' th' last hairpin from me locks to use it to cut thro' th' curtain that framed th' large tapesty hanging oan th' wall to have a long strip o' it left in me haun. Me neist duckin' behind th' railing as removed th' remains o' me cover dress, while driven by th' surfaced recollection o' Elizabeth 'n' me escape from th' Dauntless employin' th' same, awready functional noted tactic by tyin' it together wi' th' curtain afore rolled th' makeshift cord aroond me neck, sneakin' to th' tapestry again 'n' used it to climb up th' wall 'n' all th' wey to th' vault. Refusin' to stop to think what I was actually doin' as then craned forward to gain a hold o' th' arch, leapin' ower to it afore threaded me fingers thro' th' holes in th' engraved wood. Grabbin' ontae anythin' I came across as flung meself fully to hang from everythin' but th' sturdy vault.

Graspin' ontae th' vault convulsively, efter me stomach had turned ower in dread, I commenced th' death defyin' journey across th' room. Concentratin' solely ontae holdin' oan 'n' nae sparin' a single thought for th' possibility o' fallin', which however proved challengin' wance th' varnished, slippery wood didn't always offer th' ideal grip 'n' I at times came to a flounderin' stop as one o' me hauns detached from th' arch 'n' I made a frightenin' swing doonward. Me keekin' everywhere but doon as again reminded meself to have done this afore, that this wasn't in any wey worse from th' stunts I'd so far participated for th' sake o' this bloody venture 'n' th' accursed Charts (as in all honesty I still hadn't quite gotten used to piratin' yet nor th' acts it entailed, or rather me forever disagreein' stomach hadn't…). Although afore it had seemed lik' a great idea to climb ower to th' storage in secret, as I noo inched forward wi' unsteady movements I found meself second guessin' me sanity wance mair to have ever agreed to somethin' lik' this, but afore could decide upoan th' fact found meself to have reached th' vault's end. Th' last o' me scare precedin' a rush o' relief, as when me haun slipped again 'n' I lost me balance unprepared me back hit against th' cache's wall. Efter gettin' ower th' fright me gazin' doon to see th' window directly below me.

Wance again encouraged by th' fact o' to have gotten this far wi'oot dyin' (still), I laboriously hauled meself oan top o' th' arch 'til removed th' bundle o' tied silk from me neck 'n' attached it to th' vault wi' a strong reef knot I took pride in to have perfected while in Edward's service. Tuggin' at it to make sure it wouldn't fail me noo that it would have to carry me whole weight, still rather suspicious aboot th' strength o' th' fabric me however releasin' a sigh afore rested for a moment. Pleadin' for me so far kind fortune to protect me further as I then sat up 'n' made sure th' length o' th' cord would be enough to reach th' window, wance proven correct wi' me previous calculations me droppin' meself ower th' vault. Usin' th' gained speed to swing meself to th' window, witholdin' a scream as me gut lik' afore expressed its protests by churnin' in terror. Smile o' delight makin' an appearane oan me lips however as I succeeded, me flingin' forth an arm to hold ontae th' window's engraved surface, but efter wrigglin' it for a bit even forcefully for me distress I realized that nae to be enough to get past it. Wi' a chagrined 'n' partly scared breath me kickin' meself apart from th' wall 'n' swung back, makin' a couple o' turns in th' wey 'n' th'strain squeezin' th' silky rope caused me hauns to slip as me mostly bare legs couldn't hold ontae th' lucid fabric properly, wi' a barely hold back yelp me focusin' oan keepin' me eyes fixated ontae th' window. Juist afore rammin' against th' wall me hoistin' me feet up 'n' landin' 'em against it, only prayin' th' guards nae to hear th' crash as th' stylized bars indeed broke. Me hastily preventin' meself from makin' yet another swing backwards by latchin' me feet behind th' window frame, efter a freish heavy breath stairtin' to pull meself closer to th' window till I could take a hold o' th' frame wi' me haun, wance safely sittin' astride oan th' windowsill me securin' me escape route by tyin' th' end o' th' cord to one o' th' toaty spikes o' th' canopy's edge. Givin' it a disagreeable keek wance was standin' inside th' storage afore turnin' towards th' items stored there.

Sao Feng had apparently placed but mere replicas oan display at th' temple, as th' storage noo seemed much larger than from ootside, 'n' it was filled to every crevice wi' exactly th' same objects 'n' artwork I'd seen ('n' destroyed) there. Me eyes however nae this time lingerin' oan th' shiny jewels, th' enticin' sight o' gold 'n' other invaluable treasures as me gaze instantly sought oot th' Charts. Finally that for a while hold back smile risin' as I found it to be indeed th' right one, th' one 'n' only we'd been efter, me nae even needin' to keek at th' map itself as th' much mair worn 'n' older keekin' container I was currently holdin' in me hauns seemed mair legimite than th' in perfect condition bein' container left as a red-herring at th' temple. Me openin' it to check th' Charts, indeed dicoverin' 'em to be th' real deal, only because this map seemed even less detailed 'n' inexplicable than th' forged one…if that makes sense.

Sighin' in indifference I then returned th' Charts back intae their weathered dwelling place 'n' hung it oan me back, efter castin' a fleeting keek towards th' window me however then turnin' towards th' door. Creepin' ower to it 'n' peekin' thro' th' slits o' th' gap left oan it at th' guard sittin' juist ootside. Decidin' against th' mair than dangerous exit when I in fact had a safer option in mind noo that I was awready inside, one obstacle hence surpassed 'n' offerin me an upperhand, me searchin' th' storage for a suitable means to wake his interest. However juist as I reached forward to knock th' suitable tiger statue aff its pedestool, me eyes findin' a porcelain basin which hold miscallenous objects within it. Indeed belonging to th' women o' th' brothel as oan top o' th' whole heap rested me haircomb. This time gentle smile risin' oa me lips as I was quick to confiscate it 'n' return it to its original spot in me hair, glad that I hadn't lost it for guid efter deprived o' all me belongings earlier in th' evening. Efter allowin' me fingers to linger oan th' flat, but a bit rough at times surface o' it wi' a relieved hert I proceeded wi' me plan. Droppin' th' statue, th' magnificent crackin' sound as it broke intae pieces soundin' in th' air 'n' causin' th' pirate to jump to his feet. Me awaitin' patiently for 'im to find th' right key afore I heard 'im push it intae th' lock, as th' door swung inward me slammin' it straight against th' unsuspectin' buccaneer. As expected 'im collapsin' to th' floor completely oot o' it efter silence descended 'n' I allowed th' door to open again, me levelin' a content keek doon at th' guard afore took notice o' his jacket. Nae believein' me actual luck as knelt doon to remove it from th' man wi' a slight laugh, drapin' it ower me arm afore took his keys 'n' pushed his feet inside th' cache. Lockin' 'im in. Weel, th' Charts were guid enoug spoil to take along, but it seemed also Edward wouldn't have to leave 'ere empty handed…

I raced across th' landing, headin' for th' entrance, but was stopped oan me tracks by a horrendous racket that abruptly erupted from somewhere close by. Th' echoin' but obviously dulled sounds o' men screamin', swords clashin' 'n' several muskets firin' at th' same time gettin' muddled intae one loud tumult I could only deduce as a battle that had broken oot somewhere within Feng's heidquarters. As I listened to th' clatter o' weapons 'n' angered hollers emanatain' from somewhere nae all that far awa' me thoughts instantly returnin' back to Barbossa, Elizabeth 'n' Jack's crew. As I hadn't been aware o' th' other half o' oor plan at any time (in which exact wey they'd been set to delude Feng 'n' acquire us a ship from 'im), or nae either sure could th' culprit's o' this sudden commotion be 'em, I still found it highly unlikely that such an approach o' stairtin' a fight at th' hert o' Feng's organisation would've benefitted 'em in gettin' th' Pirate Lord to agree to grant us one o' his vessels. Still as I had no idea what was happening within th' buildin' me simply continuin' me run forward, momentarily startled by a cry I then heard from behind me back. Tellin' me th' second guard to have noticed me, th' loud jingle o' keys reachin' to me lugs as I came to a stop at th' moment o' choosin' th' landin' oan me right, till I turned towards th' door I'd spotted to loom behind another tapestry.

Efter sweepin' th' tapestry oot o' th' wey 'n' seein' th' familiar mark o' th' bathoose beside it, I hurried to open it. Juist as th' guard managed to get to th' other side o' th' storage me leapin' inside 'n' usin' th' hairpin to jam th' lock o' th' door, wance th' pirate reached it 'n' commenced to bang oan it me bein' awready long gone. Hurtlin' across th' room I'd arrived to, clear scent o' moist, rotten wood owertakin' me senses for a bit as I kept oan runnin' deeper within th' finally located bath hoose, sight o' several tubs 'n' vast spaces preserved for th' sole purpose o' bathin' passin' me vision as I was immediately surprised by th' dissarray that had taken ower th' establishment. Amongst th' heavy steam fillin' th' rooms that seeped under me claes 'n' intae me scalp, drenchin' me all ower in an instant (or so it felt) me seein' people to be runnin' aboot in utter mayhem. Sao Feng's men 'n' customers alike, for me followin' dismay me eyes neist catchin' glimpses o' dark uniforms o' East India Trading Company as I came to a curt stop, avoidin' th' armed pirates 'n' fleein' civilians who all were clearly in a hurry to get oot o' th' buildin'. Th' scene that unfolded in front o' me eyes then nae makin' any mair sense 'n' me brain conjured up an assumption o' th' Company soldiers to have had th' excellent timing o' raidin' Feng's hideoot juist as we'd infiltrated there in oor ain business. However nae havin' time to distract meself wi' such at th' moment trivial facts me waitin' for a moment afore took advantage o' th' ensued commotion, avoidin' th' clashin' pirates 'n' marines as dashed foth, keepin' to th' edges o' th' room to slowly make me wey towards one o' th' passages openin' at th' other side. Goin' to th' opposite direction o' th' fleein' people, huggin' th' Navigatioal Charts to me chest as tried to stay shrouded by th' runnin' townspeople, to keep th' map hidden from th' buccaneers swarmin' aroond me (who although distarcated by th' East India soldiers could've still taken notice o' th' oot o' place prostitute carryin' one o' their Captain's maist valued treasures). Only hopin' to find me wey to William 'n' Edward afore it was too late. However nae gettin' too far afore I suddeny found meself to have arrived to a room crawlin' wi' Company soldiers, lik' th' other civilians 'n' pirates currently there havin' no other choice but to turn oan me heels 'n' flee wance th' marines started to chase efter us. Efter running along th' fleeing men who clearly kenned which wey to go to escape th' ammunitions 'n' blades o' th' soldiers me soon discovering meself to have abruptly exited th' bath hoose, me eyein' at th' street that opened in front o' me in protest as that wasn't where I had wanted to go, 'til was forced to jump to th' side nae to get trampled by th' people stumblin' oot o' th' establishment in panic.

All thought o' returnin' back inside was swiftly discarded as almost immediately efter th' greatest throng o' people had passed 'n' I attempted to re-enter, I was met wi' a familiar face. Th' same man who'd sought me services back at th' brothel comin' to an equally astonished halt at th' doostep, magnificent bruise adornin' his foreheid. Efter a slight cringe by th' sight o' th' glower he leveled at me me only retreatin' wance he jogged doon th' few steps to get to me, bein' left wi' no other choice than to continue me escape me followin' th' example o' th' other people hurtlin' to all directions aroond me 'n' ran awa'. Havin' no means to defend meself against th' grudge driven buccaneer noo that I had naw weapons in me person 'n' had left even me hair pin back inside th' hideoot, th' Charts in truth doin' wee to protect me against that broad sword I'd juist witnessed 'im to draw. Only hopin' to be able to lose th' trailin' miscreant in th' crowd as sprinted across th' street, all th' while holdin' th' map container oan dear life. It perhaps provin' useful to at least use as a means o' leverage should that brute catch up to me 'n' try to finish what he'd started. Which I hoped nae to happen 'n' that efter some time runnin' I would be able to lose 'im in th' surroundin' mayhem.

~ Earlier ~

Silence had descended into the room as the pirates and the foreign guests alike waited for the Pirate Lord of Singapore to give his response to the proposal of lending a ship and a crew to the not so long ago arrived Captain Barbossa and his charming companion Miss Swann. The Chinese pirate considering the man's words and seemed to weigh them, as if assessing their credibility before his face was taken over by an expression that feigned surprise, although once he'd first learned of their desire to seek audience from him yesterday he'd indeed been taken aback upon to have not met this particular fellow memebr of the Brethren Court in years. Barbossa and Elizabeth standing in front of him now exchanging a subtle glance as they followed the man to scratch his scalp with his long nails in deep thought, briefly matching Barbossa's stare as inclined his head remarkably.

"It's an odd coinsidence", Sao Feng finally spoke, breaking the prolonged silence after releasing a thoughtful humm, about to face one of the men lingering oan his right side until Elizabeth cut into the conversation that so far had went on without her previous input. The young woman peeking behind the tall pirate Captain and his long feathered hat as raised hopeful eyes up to Sao Feng.

"Because you happen to have a ship and a crew you don't need?"

"No."

Both Barbossa's and Elizabeth's faces dropped slightly for confusion after the former had turned around slightly to cast an incredulous look at the woman behind him once she'd went against his earlier request to remain quiet while at the presence of Sao Feng. Them next watching the Pirate Lord to turn his back to them and walk over to an old, short man who'd gone totally unnoticed by the two by standing farther away from the ledge the esteemed Captain had stood on while receiving his guests. Barbossa holding back a sigh of frustration but masked his honest surprise behind a composed mien once he witnessed Sao Feng to retrieve a long, familiar looking container from the man before waving at it at him and Elizabeth. The Chinese pirate's by this time hard irises drilling into them when his following words proved their previous presumptions about Will, Miranda, Edward and their mission to have been too optimistic. Their host's assertive tone signaling him to have seen through them the minute they stepped through those doors inside the bath house.

"…Because earlier this day, not far from here, thieves broke into my most revered uncle's temple and tried to make off with these…The Navigational Charts. The route to the Farthest Gate."

Elizabeth wasn't fully able to withold her shock as she followed Sao Feng to throw the Charts to Tai Huang, the crewman who'd let her and Barbossa enter the meeting place. Her narrowing her mometarily widened eyes due to the curt, signifact look given to her by Barbossa which ordered her to calm her senses. Elizabeth therefore trying to appear as if nothing was awry, however unable to look at the Pirate Lord as the man approached Barbossa again. Raising curious eyebrows as addressed him, although neither him or Elizabeth having to say anything to confirm what he already knew as the truth, since the mentioned coincidence of them arriving to his doorstep the same day three foreigners had been caught trying to steal his most valuable possession was too convenient. Not to mention with a request that only implicated these thieves to have not infiltrated his hideout simply to steal the Charts to sell them.

"Wouldn't it be amazing if this venture of yours took you to the world beyond this one?" he asked, staring at Barbossa who shook his head at his remark with a polite smile, appearing ignorant to the accusation hidden under the pirate's words.

" It would strain credulity at that."

Anger was written all over Sao Feng's face as he backed up from Barbossa, his own false smile dying on his lips as after keeping his irises locked with Barbossa's sincere ones the Pirate Lord turned to his left to give a nod to a couple of his men on the sidelines. Elizabeth and Barbossa's eyes following his gaze to see how the said crewmen were standing at the both sides of a high tub filled with water, for their brief bafflement supporting a wooden beam between them, until the regrettable purpose of it was revealed to them once the pirates hauled the beam up. Revealing drenched Will and Edward who'd been tied up to the pole from their wrists, Elizabeth stiffening in terror where Barbossa hold back a new sigh as they observed the two men to despeately gasp for air after remaining submerged in the water for who knew how long before their companions' arrival. Will in fact accidentally bumping his head against Edward's upon flinging it backwards, earning an annoyed kick to his shin for it, until both of them were busy catching their breaths after minutes of enduring the burning in their lungs while deprived of all air. The curt wonder of Elizabeth's about not seeing Miranda to be with them nor anywhere in the room however getting forgotten when Sao Feng strode ower to the captured men. Her locking brief gazes with dumbfounded Will, the dismay of seeing him tied up almost causing her to run over to free him, but she didn't budge. Knowing them to be standing at all times thinner ice, and should she or Barbossa give any expression to know these "thieves" in any way, their plan would be even further doomed since the acquiring of the Charts hadn't apparently gone exactly as planned.

"These are the thieves!" Sao Feng announced, eyeing at his serene looking guests carefully before glanced over at Edward, who'd naturally been bound his back to Will, currently facing the damp, fungus infested wall. The Pirate Lord now striding forth and turning the taller man's head around forcefully so that he also was able to cast a grim look towards the visibly petrified pirate Captain and Elizabeth. "Are their faces familiar to you?"

Sao Feng's eyes narrowed dangerously as of course Elizabeth and Barbossa simply shook their heads in denial, after seeing the captured men not to offer a single telltaling indication oan their faces or eyes to either know the other two which would've advocated his beliefs, he revealed a wooden stake from his belt. Seeing the woman to jolt as he took hold of the younger man's hair and hauled him closer, exhibiting his weapon at the two spectators.

"Then I guess, they have no further need for them."

Elizabeth's exclaim of protest saved Will from having the deadly point of the stake rammed into his face, Edward turning his head towards the people in the room at the sound of Will's relieved sigh. Once successfully uncovered his visitors as liars he'd known them to be from the start Sao Feng returned the stake back into his belt as his grim eyes returned to stare at Barbossa and Elizabeth after dark smile had spread on his lips.

"You come into my city…and you betray my hospitality."

"Sao Feng I assure you, I had no idea…"

"That they would get caught!"

Any further disclaims of Barbossa were cut by the rage infused interruption of Sao Feng who'd stridden forth to stand right in front of him, urging his men to rise from their seats and take hold of their weapons as another silence fell over the room. Sao Feng scowling at the deceptive pirate Captain for a moment before continued.

"You intend to attempt the voyage to Davy Jones' Locker. But I cannot help but wonder…why?"

Barbossa returned Sao Feng's stare after preveting Elizabeth from following after the man who was returning back to his spot on the ledge, his expression equally grim this time around as suddely he dug out a large coin and threw it to the Pirate Lord. The peculiar, but also prominent echo coming from it causing the pirate to match Barbossa's stare taken aback as it supported his following response.

"The song has been sung. The time is upon us. We must convene the Brethren Court…As one of the Pirate Lords you must honor the call."

"More steam", Sao Feng snapped to one of hs bodyguards standing by his side. Once she pulled the lever and nothing happened the Pirate Lord's jaw muscles tightened as he whipped around to look at the woman in irritation. Repeating the order, before faced Barbossa again who joined him on the ledge. "There's a price on all our heads...It is true. And it seems the only way a pirate can can turn profit anymore…is by betraying other pirates."

Sao Feng halted to level a hateful glare at Will and Edward, Will matching his stare unfazed where Edward couldn't help but roll his eyes behind his back. Still not being able to believe to have let his sister to come along this dead duck mission and drag him right along with her. And here they were, tied up together and held hostage by the very man who was supposed to play into their general sceheme instead of balancing their lives on the edge of his blade at the moment…

"We must put our differences aside. Wait for the signal. The First Brtehren Court gave us rule of the seas. But now that rule is being challenged by Lord Cutler Beckett", Barbossa replied, Sao Feng turning around to face him unimpressed.

"Against East India Trading Company, what value is the Brethren Court?" he challenged, incredulous. "What can any of us do?"

"You can fight!"

All pairs of eyes now turned to Elizabeth who slapped a restraining hand of one of Sao Feng's crewmen off her shoulder before marched over to the Pirate Lord, facing the supposedly threatening man she'd been warned about with but a confident mien. Not afraid to speak the words that had formed on her tongue during her incredulous intake of the Pirate Lord's reluctance to join them.

"You are Sao Feng, the Pirate Lord of Singapore! You command in an age of piracy where bold Captains sail free waters. Where waves aren't measured in feet, but as increments of fear, and those who pass the test become legend…Would you have that era come to an end on your watch? The most notorious pirates from around the world are uniting against our enemy, and yet you sit here, covering in your bathwater!"

Elizabeth flinched uncomfortably as without saying a word Sao Feng stepped down from the ledge to get closer to her, his eyes riveted to her and she momentarily lost her determination upon following the man to start to circle her. Will leveling a reserved look over to the duo as he noticed how Elizabeth's courage to speak against him clearly impressed the Pirate Lord and caused him to gauge at her with a new regard, but which didn't make him any more compliant.

"Elizabeth Swann…there is more to you than meets the eye, isn't there? And the eye does not go wanting."

Edward sighed in frustration as at the sound of the Pirate Lord's last comment Will reacted by struggling against their mutual bonds, which they both had learned to be impossible to be freed from with mere willpower after getting trussed with the damn cords in the first place before the beginning of the meeting. As every move the younger man made affected him as well Edward bumping his back against Will's to tell him to stay still, the conversation continuing with Feng not showing any more initiative to place his faith onto the Brethren and instead brought up the conveniently dropped topic from earlier as walked away from baffled Elizabeth and pointed a finger at Barbossa.

"But I cannot help but notice you have failed to answer my question…What is it you seek in Davy Jones' Locker?"

"Jack Sparrow. He's one of the Pirate Lords", Will stated, finally exposing their true reasons to be there.

"Not that it would be obvious to anyone who meets the man", Edward murmured under his breath in disbelief, also having a hard time believing the sod Sparrow to be such an important person to be required to be brought back from death itself according to that little he'd gotten to know him. His remark nevertheless causing Will even to let out a low, grim laugh, but his previous revelation had totally opposite effect on Sao Feng. His already smouldering anger turning to rage as he leveled a flaming glare to the direction of his two bodyguards who giggled at the sound of his old time foe's name. Dragging a hand over his bare head as his enraged eyes next swept the floor, the unspeakable rancor of his voice making it clear him not to think so warmly of Jack, which might've not been a surprise taken that the pirate in question had a talent of making enemies as easily as others made friends. However to everyone present in the room currently witnessing Sao Feng's reaction to the news it going without saying that now if ever he was most definitely against their venture, that look he then directed at Will slimming their already deteriorated chances to get through to the Pirate Lord to nonexistent.

"The only reason I would want Jack Sparrow returned from the land of dead…is so I could sent him back myself!"

The men now closest to the seething Pirate Lord cowered back in slight fear as he expressed the depth of his hatred by kicking down an assembly of bathing tools, especially a certain gaunt pirate standing by the nearest pillar cringing as far from the frightening Pirate Lord as was able. Trying his hardest not to catch his ardent eye, his back halfly turned to the man who was alerted by the striding steps of Barbossa and turned around, matching the pirate Captain's earnest stare.

"Jack Sparrow holds one of the Nine Pieces of Eight. He failed to pass it along to a successor before he died, so we must go and get him back", Barbossa apprised, reminding the impetuous Chinese Captain of the perhaps regrettable from his standpoint, but undownable reality considering the bigger picture, since due to the regulations of the Code all Pieces of Eight had to be presented at the gathering of the Pirate Lords or the Brethren couldn't be mustered. Sao Feng's anger abating only a bit at the face of this verity until it was ignited yet again once his eyes finally looked away from Barbossa and happened to land onto the back of the scrawny pirate. To witness how the requisite tattoo all of his men were obliged to bear on their skin had started to smear in the hot dampness of the room, Will frowning at the sight of the fury that flashed across his features as he now narrowed his eyes. Flaring up completely.

"So, you admit you have deceived me…Weapons!"

Each and every one of Sao Feng's men, those standing within the room or even those who'd so far only soaked in the filthy baths observing the situation like entertainment performed as pastime over dinner, took up a weapon at the sound of their Captain's command. Will, Elizabeth and Barbossa glancing at the armed pirates momentarily stupefied, where Edward tried to crane his neck enough to gain even a slight glipse of what was happening behind his back after hearing the significant clamor of several blades scraping against their scabbards. However knowing them to be pretty much done for at this point since they were blatantly outnumbered, and Will and himself would be the first ones to die as sitting ducks they were…Fleeting silence taking over the ensued pause until Barbossa spoke up, raising conciliatory arms.

"Sao Feng, I assure you, our intentions are strictly honorable…"

Edward frowned as new set of sounds of swords being drawn reached his ears, him nudging the younger man to tell him what was going on, but Will didn't hear him as he was too busy staring at Elizabeth and Barbossa in bewilderment after witnessing the weapons that had flown from below the floor through the slits in the floorboards out of the blue. Now wielded by the said pair who as apparently beforehand planned had caught them totally unsurprised, casting glances all over the room at the equally dazed buccaneers including Sao Feng who'd made sure his guests to have come to the meeting unarmed by commanding his First Mate to relieve them from all of their weapons in case of an outcome such as this. The moment of dismay however being brief as Barbossa let out a slight laugh at the contradiction that this turn of events had to his previous assertion, Sao Feng nevertheless baffling his visitors further by leaping over to the bony pirate and drew his own sword, placing the blade ower the startled man's throat as locked gazes with Barbossa.

"Drop your weapons, or I kill the man!"

"Kill him, he's not our man", Barbossa revealed, for the great surprise of the Pirate Lord and his men, Sao Feng glancing down at the exposed traitor at his mercy until it was Will who voiced out the glaring question that was currently circling in all of the heads of those standing stupefied within the room. One man standing in the back corner of the meeting place at this time raising his jaw, who'd so far minded his own business in silence, only watching the events to unfold from under the brim of his wide hat that had continuosly hid his face and prevented any of the pirates closest to him questioning his extraneous presence, although his attire nor anything about him made him look out of place amongst Sao Feng's brutes. This mysterious figure now detaching itself from the corner at he'd remained during the ongoing conversation, his hard eyes focusing onto talking Will and the two Pirate Lords standing in middle of the room as his hand slipped under his jacket, to rest onto the hilt of his rapier. Pulling it out silently.

"If he's not with you and he's not with us…" Will questioned, like his companions glancing about the cluster of men around them in suspicion. Wonder, the unawareness about the identity and the employer of the discovered spy nonplussing him as greatly as the others. Frowning at the dismay of it that his companions and him seemed not to be the only ones who'd taken this chance to infiltrate Feng's ranks for ambitions of their own… "Then who's he with?"

The whole room gasped for surprise as abruptly the air was pierced by a cry of pain, two more following once all attention was focused to one of the nearby corners close to the ledge. Will narrowing his eyes even further stunned as he and the others watched three of Sao Feng's crewmen to fall to the mucky floor. Fourth pirate getting his throat slit by the swift slash of a rapier and falling head first into one of the empty tubs as his killer stepped forth, Will and Elizabeth's eyes widening for shock as they followed this mystery man to kick one of the buccaneers into the unprepared arms of his comrades before threw away his hat. Uncovering his face, Will stiffening in utmost astonishment and overwhelming shock as he found himself staring at not dead but very much alive Peter. Without however casting a single glance back at him Peter then fixating his own gaze to Sao Feng before hoisted his blade high above his head, drawing a pistol that was pointed at the Chinese pirate.

"Marines, attack!"

Scottish vocabulary:

Pronouns etc:

o'= of, th'= the, 'em= them, oor= our, 'n'= and, intae= into, 'er= her, 'im= him, me = my, nae = not

Recurrent & other words:

maw= mum/mother, hoose = house, afore= before, stoogied = bored, hert= heart, aye= yes, ne'er= never, wee= small/little, awready= already, ken= know, efter= after, doon= down, as weel= as well, goup= stare, wance again/mair= once again/more, 'til= until, likelie= probably, keek= look, ower= over, claes=clothes, aboot= about, streenge= strange, wey= way, haun= hand, ain= own, oot= out, neist= next, lik'= like, gey/pure= very, stairt= start, heid= head, awa'= away, wey= way, wi'oot= without, o' coorse= of course, dauner= walk, freish= new, wi'= with, juist= just, thro'= through, ne'er= never, geggy= mouth, lugs= ears, naw= no, coupon= face, face= expression, 'ere= here, goup=stare, luv= love, aff= off, atween = between