Chapter 54 – The Journey
Cole woke at dawn, just as the witch had known she would. Bruxa sat at her bedside as Cole's eyes opened slowly. She glanced around the room trying to shake the fogginess from her mind. Everything was blurry and it didn't help that the only light in the room was a single candle. There were heavy curtains hanging on the wall, but Cole wondered if there was even a window beneath them. It would be of no surprise if the curtain was just there to make her think there was a way out of the prison other than the heavy door that she was sure was locked tight.
As though she could hear Cole's thoughts, the scary woman rose and went to draw the curtains. Light did not pour into the room and Cole worried for a moment that she'd been right. When the woman moved though, Cole could see the faint pink glow of dawn. She sighed with relief. She watched the woman come back to her side and smile.
"You asked me two questions," the woman said, her voice was deep and hoarse making her sound ancient.
"Where am I and where's Jack?" Cole reminded her. She was no longer wishing to hurt the old woman. There was something familiar and kind about her. Perhaps Cole had been wrong to think she was imprisoned. Maybe this woman was just trying to help her.
"You are in Madeira," Bruxa answered. Cole looked at her blankly, so Bruxa said, "It's an island." As though that would explain everything. "Joshamee Gibbs was born on this island. Pardal was born out of this island as well."
"Gibbs was born here? What is Pardal?"
"Pardal is Sparrow in my language."
"Jack Sparrow was born here?" Cole asked in disbelief.
"In a manner of speaking, yes. He was created here. By Prince Jonathan," Bruxa explained.
"Who are you?"
"I raised Jonathan from a babe. His mother died and he was placed in my care. I raised him as my own son along with my true son, Joshamee."
That explained a lot. Cole now saw the slight resemblance the woman had to Gibbs. "So you helped Jonathan become a pirate," Cole said slowly, as she began to understand.
"Aye. He needed an outlet for his wild spirit. An outlet that did not interfere with his life as a prince or his father's reputation. A secret identity, if you will. To answer your second question, Pardal is here on the island. He is safe and healing from his wounds."
"I need to see him," Cole stated determinedly as she threw her legs over the edge of the bed. It was then that she realized she was naked. She pulled the sheet up to her chest and started to stand up.
"Not yet Pomba," Bruxa said, effortlessly pushing her back on the bed. "You need to heal first. You are ill. Luckily Pardal Pequeno is strong." The old woman touched Cole's stomach and grinned. "He will be a fine boy, like his father."
"How do you know it is a boy?"
"I know," Bruxa said and continued to smile. "You will see your love in six days. We have a lot of work to do before then."
"What sort of work?" Cole asked, confused.
"You need to regain your strength, put some color back into your skin, and be beautiful before you reunite with Pardal. We will start with a little bit of walking. Try to stand."
Cole stood. She was slightly wobbly on her feet, but she did not stumble.
"Good, now take a few steps," the woman instructed. "Call me Bruxa," she said as though she knew that Cole had just been wondering what the woman's name was.
Cole stepped with one foot, then stepped with the other then tripped on the sheet she was clutching tightly to her naked body.
Bruxa caught her before she fell and gently pried the sheet from Cole's clenched fists. "No need for that," she said, tossing the sheet back on the bed. "It's just us girls in here after all. Try again."
Cole did and to her surprise she could walk quite easily. It did not take long however before she was wheezing and had to sit down as a cough wracked her body. Bruxa sat patiently at her side until the cough had subsided. "I feel so weak," Cole confessed.
"You caught yourself quite a cold running around Britain in the snow and ice trying to save Pardal. You are a brave woman though some might call you stupid for risking your child's life like that. I would not call you stupid," Bruxa added quickly. "You saved Pardal's life, and I think without him, you would have not the strength to bear his child. You have endured much misery in the time you were apart from your love, but I tell you now that you will be reunited and happy once again. I cannot promise that you will be together forever, but you have a sweet life ahead of you. It will make up for your suffering," Bruxa reassured her. "Now, we must make you beautiful, for our time runs short."
Cole thought six days would be an eternity to be away from Jack, but then she realized they had been living apart much longer than that. Six days wouldn't kill her, hopefully.
OOOOO
"What mischief has your son gotten into, Bruxa?" Jack asked in between mouthfuls of food. "I haven't seen him in two days."
"He's gone for a horse ride," Bruxa answered flippantly.
"May I inquire as to where?" Jack asked, but he realized he didn't really care. All he wanted to do was finish eating, try to sneak into Cole's room, then fall into bed.
Bruxa shrugged. Jack rose from the table, clearing his dishes. He then headed down the hallway to his room. "Think not of disturbing Pomba," Bruxa advised.
"How does she fare?" Jack asked, looking longingly towards Cole's room.
"She remains the same," Bruxa answered solemnly. She hated lying to Pardal, but it would all work out in the end. Of that, she was sure. "Good night, Pardal."
Jack swallowed hard, trying to keep tears at bay. He must be tired, because he suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to weep. "Good night, Bruxa." He trudged to his room, and without removing his clothes collapsed on the bed and fell into a fitful sleep.
OOOOO
The woman was not her usual chatty self, Gibbs discovered as horses lumbered along slowly. In fact, no one in the group spoke much. They all seemed tired and haggard, and they had every right to be in such condition. They had been through hell and back, but they were still hanging on.
"Have you had any word?" one of the old men asked. There was no need for Gibbs to ask what he was talking about.
"No," Gibbs replied, this time he didn't need to lie. He had no idea how Cole was faring as his mother was keeping her hidden from the world.
"How could you stand not knowing?" the woman asked with a sniffle. She looked miserable, with her beautiful eyes full of tears and her expression morose.
"I thought you might show up," he lied (in reality, he hadn't even considered the possiblity that they would come to Madeira). "And I had to watch the Pearl," he answered, as though it explained everything.
"No one's watching her now," the girl pointed out. Gibbs didn't know how to answer, so he didn't.
"How did you find us?" Gibbs asked the captain.
"We saw you leave. It didn't take too long to gather a crew for The Runaway Princess. It was not long before we lost The Black Pearl though. She is mighty fast ship. It was pure luck running into her like we did.," the captain answered.
"It was fate," the girl answered hauntingly.
"Aye, it was probably that," the captain agreed. The group fell back into silence and the horses plodded on.
