Disclaimer: I don't own anything that belongs to the Mouse. Sad isn't it?

When allegiance asks the questions

Old freedom twists and turns

And chokes on codes of honour

On the sword of no return

-

And it's the curse of the traveller

The curse of the traveller

Got a hold of me

And it won't let you be

-

Curse of the Traveller-Chris Rea

Chapter 35

Allegiance

As the sun turned a deeper shade of orange and the water reflected in flashes of oranges and pinks inside of the cave the deck of The Hazard looked as spotless as if the ship had just been baptized. If not for the darker spots on the wood, where blood had been spilt, one would think it was this particular vessel's first day on the waters. Captain Isaac Drake had been very specific on his orders.

The deck had to be spotless; nothing short of perfection would do tonight. Devon deserved perfection. Well, as much perfection as he could possibly offer. She'd been through enough lately, she deserved a bit of silver lining, he mused.

He knew Devon really didn't care much for ceremony or tidiness. He grinned to himself, he knew her well enough by now. She'd be perfectly happy to just waltz into his chambers, grab his quill and sign where her signature was needed and that would be the end of it. There was no need for embellishments for as long as Devon was concerned. Well, that might be her opinion and she was entitled to her own view, of course.

But tonight he wouldn't stand for that. Not on this night. It was – after all - his ship and so long as he was Captain and for as long as she served under his command, perfection was what she would get. On deck of The Hazard all of the preparations had been made. The deck was mopped, ropes had been stacked tidily, and all the male members of the Hazard's crew were on pins and needles. The ship's Captain Isaac Drake paced his quarters in anticipation of what was going to take place that evening.

His emotions were mixed. At one side he was concerned for Stevens' well-being and on the other side he was glad and proud that he could finally offer Devon the promotion he knew she deserved. But mostly he was so glad she was back with them. As angry as she could make him at times; the ship and the crew weren't the same without her. The only thing that had him worried - besides the condition Stevens was in - was that, if she did fill the position of first mate, they would be forced to work together closely. Devon would have to become his right hand. His brows furrowed as he took a sip from his whiskey. That might become a problem in the future, he thought. As good a pirate she might be, he knew she was also headstrong and opinionated. She was passionate about things she thought mattered and she had a bit of a short fuse. He remembered the times he had tremendous trouble getting her to take his orders, because she didn't agree. But luckily he himself had a calm nature, so he wouldn't get drawn into one of her tantrums very easily. But, he sighed, that was something he could worry about in the future. Right now she needed to take her pledge and mark and then a celebration was what this crew needed after all these months filled with worry. He finished his whiskey in one long swig, adjusted his collar in the mirror, and stepped outside of his quarters. His eyes roamed the deck for Devon and when he saw her on his right he smiled.

Devon was dressed in full attire. She had rimmed her eyes with kohl and her dark curly hair was tied back in a loose ponytail with a strap of leather. She was fully armed and had found another vest to wear. It wasn't made of leather, since Jack had torn her favourite leather one to shreds on the night he had saved her life. Or to be more specific; her favourite black leather vest had been cut into pieces on the night he had saved her life... again, she corrected herself

The vest she wore on this special night was made of black velvet although it had seen better days. The lining was frayed and the seams were a bit torn. Yet, the fabric was such high quality that -to a pirate girl - it still looked respectable and Devon was proud she could wear it.

She had dug it up in the trunk in her cabin. It had been her fathers, so it was a little too big for her, but with two belts tied around her waist it would do just fine. She could still smell her father on the vest trough the stale smell the fabric held from being stored away for so long. Maybe she was just being sentimental, but for some strange reason, it eased her nerves a little bit.

She looked to her side and her eyes met Drake's and he winked at her. Devon gave her Captain one of her famous smiles, despite how she felt inside. When he saw her smile he smiled in return and then he addressed the crowd. 'Your attention please gents!' Isaac Drake shouted as the crew of the Hazard assembled themselves a bit more orderly on the deck. Devon looked around and she saw all her mates standing in front of her. Everyone, but Stevens, was present. Her eyes met DaCosta's for a brief moment and he smiled at her. Ye're such a sweet boy. She thought when she noticed the anticipation that was etched on his face. Ye're sweet, but a bit too sweet for my likin'. I'm no good fer ye boy… find yerself a sweet lass to come home to.

'We are gathered here tonight to initiate Miss. Devon Duville in the position of first mate' He glanced at Devon who stood beside him. She still looked a bit nervous to him. Devon fidgeted with the buckle on one of her belts and she hated the fact that she couldn't fully hide her anxiety.

Bullet, her little black and whit French Bulldog, was sitting right beside her; next to her boots. Loyal as always. Devon felt uncomfortable to look at her crewmates at this moment. After all, her future career was in their grimy hands. She was afraid they might have changed their minds overnight. To calm her nerves a bit more, she fidgeted with the 'bracelet' Jack had given her. She felt the tress of his hair with her fingertips and gooseflesh started forming on her arms. She swallowed down the lump in her throat. Although she thought she had made the right decision she missed him already. Sentimental goose!

The voice of her Captain broke her trail of thoughts. 'All apposed raise thy hands' Drake demanded. Devon closed her eyes and held her breath. For a few moments the deck was eerily silent and one could have heard a needle drop on the planks. The only sound Devon could hear was her own heartbeat and it pounded so loudly she was afraid everyone aboard The Hazard could hear it.

After Drake asked the question not a single hand rose and Drake smiled contently. The ballot vote had already told him every mate had faith in Devon's qualities, but he had to ask officially and there still was a chance – slim as it was – that some of his men had changed their minds overnight. As unusual for a woman it was to work on a ship, it was even more remarkable when said woman became first mate. But Devon had proven her salt from day one and she had never given anyone any reason to doubt her ability.

'All in favor raise thy hands' he continued he added a bit more emotion to this second question since he already knew the answer.

'Very well then' he said looking at the hands of all his men raised and waving in the air 'It's settled. Devon Duville, do ye accept the position offered to you and the duties and responsibilities that come with it?'

Devon finally opened her eyes again and saw hands drop and a couple of dozen eyes stare at her expectantly.

'Aye. I do', was her solemn reply. Several cheers were heard, but before the crew could applaud Drake turned to his men.

'Silence!!' he shouted. When the commotion on deck continued he barked 'Silence men!! I want silence from you!'

When the men finally silenced he motioned DaCosta to come closer to him. The assistant gunner approached Devon and his Captain carrying the chest. The chest every crewmember aboard The Hazard had seen when they came aboard the ship. For some of the men it had been years since they had seen the chest. For DaCosta it had been 3 years. It weighed heavy in his hands, but he felt proud that his Captain had chosen him to hand the chest to him on Devon's ceremony. His hands trembled as he handed the box over to Drake.

Devon looked at her Captain as he took out the parchment from the richly ornate chest DaCosta had handed him. She had only once seen that chest before and that was when she had signed on to the Hazards crew all those years back. She knew all the articles by heart and she knew she wanted this position even more than she had wanted to become a crew member on this ship.

'Since you already know the articles I just need you to mark them, Devon' Drake said, knowing he was right about her. When she came aboard she had known everything there was to know about the code. When he had inquired as to how she got her knowledge she had told him she'd studied the code. Now that he came to think about it, that was rather odd. Why didn't he question her further back then? He wondered. It had been almost a decade ago since he signed her on and now was the moment he questioned the fact that she knew so much… he looked at her and when she looked up to him her blue eyes broke him out of his reverie. He shook his head; he needed to concentrate on the task ahead. 'So, Miss Duville' he asked seriously. 'Do ye mark all the articles listed?'

'Aye, I do' Devon replied. 'Although I don't rightly know why ye stand on ceremony when ye already know I'll accept, Captain'

'I shall need silence from you know Miss Duville. I want this ceremony to go according to the Code, therefore you shall speak only when I need you to, do I make myself clear!' Drake snapped.

Devon winced at Drakes outburst. 'Crystal clear, Sir!'

'Good. Hand me the log, Mr. Cooper' Drake spoke, holding out the parchment with the Code so Cooper could exchange it with the log.

Martin Cooper appeared with the Captain's log and as he handed it to Drake, he looked at Devon, trying to console her, but Devon averted her eyes to the floorboards instead.

'Again I ask you Miss Duville: Do you pledge allegiance to my flag, the Code as you know it and mark all articles listed?'

'Aye, sir, I do'

'Splendid. Then by the powers vested in me as Captain of The Hazard, I hereby name Miss Devon Duville first mate aboard The Hazard. This however will not affect her position as Master Gunner aboard this fine vessel. Do you accept these terms Miss Duville?'

Devon smiled 'Ye know my answer Sir'

'Do it properly Duville. Do you accept the terms, benefits, obligations and limitations that come with this job?'

Devon sighed 'Aye, Sir. I accept!'

'Let us proceed to the final act, Mr. Cooper'

Martin Cooper nodded curtly and took the silver needle from the chest. He held it above the flame of the candle DaCosta had lit at the beginning of the ceremony. When it seemed the right moment, he removed the needle tip from the flame and cooled it in the basin with seawater Drake held. At the same moment DaCosta blew out the flame and placed the candle next to the chest. Cooper then took Devon's right hand in his own, took her index finger and pricked it with the needle. A tiny droplet of crimson formed on the tip of her finger and it glistened in the shimmering glow of the setting sun.

Devon looked at her Captain and then pressed her index finger next to her name on the ledger in the log. It was on a different page now, she noticed, right underneath Stevens' fingerprint and signature. 'First Mate'. She added more pressure to her finger and then redrew her hand. She put her finger in her mouth to stop the bleeding and when she tasted the coppery taste of her blood she couldn't help but think about Jack again. He'd made her blood boil again today and despite her feelings for him, she knew she'd done the right thing. Or at least she kept telling herself that.

'Gents meet your new First Mate' Drake said proudly as he turned Devon around by putting his arm around her shoulders and finally all the men let out their cheers.

'I need you to sign it in my quarters later. In proper blue ink that is' Drake said as he handed the still open log back to DaCosta. 'Place it in my quarters on my desk if you will Mr. DaCosta'

'Aye Sir' the latter spoke as he turned to the Captains chambers.

'Open the barrels!!' Drake shouted and even more cheers arose from the crew.

Devon cocked an eyebrow 'The Barrels Sir? Ye think it wise ta open the barrels when we sail out tomorrow?'

Drake smiled in return 'Not the rum barrels, Duville. Grog.'

'Oh' she pouted obviously disappointed as she saw her crewmates raise their tin cups. 'Grog… jus' grog…'

'Grog indeed Duville. But it would have been rum at any other time'

'Now that's a solace. Initiate me 'gain when we e'er dock at Tortuga. So I can thoroughly enjoy meself' she snorted.

Drake shook his blonde wigged head and laughed, patting her on her shoulders 'You are without a doubt one o' the strangest women I've ever met, but I consider meself the luckiest Captain ta sail the seven seas, havin' you aboard'

Devon smiled in return; hearing her Captain say these words meant so much to her and it made her heart swell with pride.

'And ye should', came Jacks garbled voice from behind them. Devon winced as she heard him come closer. 'If she weren't this loyal ta you 'n yer ship, I'd 'ave shanghaied her over ta the Pearl in the blink of an eye'

'Good thing she knows where she stands then, eh Jack?' Drake retorted. He couldn't help but feel a sting at his old friends' words.

'Good for you, yes!' Jack sneered raising his cup to his lips. 'Congratulations, Duville! Cheers to ye! And my sincere congratulations to you Captain Drake'

When Jack looked over the rim of his cup, Devon was nowhere to be found.

TBC

A note from me:

I know it took me ages to post this chapter and I bow my head in shame. I was stuck in a major case of writers block and it took forever to start writing again. I am currently wrecking my brain over the next chapter, since it contains a rather difficult scene to write. I've already re-written it several times, but it's still not ready to be posted. I'll do my best to get it uploaded as soon as I can, but I could use a little encouragement... I'll reply to all the reviewers of this chapter once I get your reviews. On the last chapter I've had some eye-opening positive critisism and now I know what I need to focus and work on. I really took that advice to heart. I hope he/she knows who I'm talking about! You're review was greatly appreciated. All your reviews are by the way.. so keep them coming if only to let me know you are still interested in reading this tale...

Love you all,

Angela