Chapter 13
Even though he knew that it had been his idea from the moment that he had seen the 'commodore', Jack didn't trust James much yet and it was worse if he thought on the new governor.
However, for the moment, he would keep his ship hidden where it was for maybe two days… If there weren't news, he would leave and continue his search for the Fountain of Youth… Or the Pearl… Or both. He wasn't that sure on that part.
"But, if he doesn't come back, I have no idea of how I'm supposed to 'lose my freedom'..." he muttered to himself.
Before going back to the Ranger, Jack passed by some shops to buy some paint to redecorate the ship and, after buying them and take some coins carefully from a few rich persons, he went to the hiding on his boat and climbed up. Gibbs, as many other times, was there to welcome him and asked him where the 'commodore' was.
"Norrington has received an invitation from the governor and he's goin' to stay with him until further notice." he responded.
"What about us then, captain?" Gibbs asked.
"We'll wait for two days, if nothin' out of the ordinary happens." he answered "But be ready in any case."
"Aye, I'll warn the crew." he nodded and then he seemed to just realize of what Jack was carrying "What's that, captain?"
"Ah." Jack smiled "I think that this ship needs a new style, mister Gibbs."
The crew was even happier of doing something that had nothing to do with stealing or preparing the ship and, as they painted the principal colors of the ship (Jack had decided that a dark blue would make a good impression if things turned out according to plan), Jack had been thinking in a name for the ship… He couldn't make it look as a pirate but neither could be a proper name for naval business, since he wasn't sure how things would turn out.
"Oh, I've got it!" Jack said, happy "Eh, Gibbs, what do ye think about the Nereid's Storm?"
"I think it sounds good, captain!" this one replied from the other side.
Jack flashed him a smile at that and continued with the work, which it was able to be completed after a few hours. For the rest of the day, the crew spent it eating and resting, although they did ask their captain how long they would stay there, to which he had replied almost the same as he had said to Gibbs... That the next day, they would probably know if they would stay for real or if they would leave.
Despite his own doubts, the crew actually took it quite well, although it most likely had to do with the fact that they had received a good sum of money and that they had surely been informed by Gibbs of some parts of his intentions.
Since nothing would happen until the next day, Jack decided to retire to his cabin and get some sleep. Before going to bed, he took one of his bottles, drank some rum (it wouldn't hurt to drink just a little), and then he went to sleep.
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Some anxious knocks woke him up and he groaned against the bed. The person behind the door knocked again and Jack got up, opening the door.
"What's wrong, mister Gibbs?" he sputtered a bit, still sleep.
"I'm sorry, captain, but Norrington is here and he told me to wake you up." he said.
"Tell him to wait a few minutes." he answered and closed the door before the other could answer him to that.
After fixing his hair and clothes, he decided to get out of the cabin and made his way to James, who was on a side of the deck in better clothes and his dark hair neatly groomed. This one, who had been looking out to sea, turned around when he heard him and went to greet him, with some papers in hand. Jack raised an eyebrow at that but didn't comment.
"... Captain Sparrow." James said once he was in front of him.
Jack looked at him, surprise clear in his eyes… The tone James had used was not mocking or even disrespectful and he wondered if he should see that he was hearing correctly.
Since some of his crew were out there and he hadn't decided risking and saying the other's last name, he opted for the name, despite the other's formality.
"Mister James, how good to see you." he said, keeping his speech correctly "What can I help you with?"
"Could we speak in private?" he asked. Jack bit his lip a bit, but nodded and headed to his cabin, only closing once James was inside. This one managed to smile a little, putting some papers in the table "I was able to obtain this from the governor. It's not the complete one yet, but it works for now."
Jack glanced at it briefly before going to open it, knife in hand to break the seal, and read the contents of the letter. His dark eyes quickly scanned the conditions, which appeared to be short: Show the ship he owned, his crew, and swear to abide by the laws while he was working to figure out that business. In return, he and his crew could be in Port Royal and would be protected by the Navy and paid for any legal business they did well on their ship or in others.
It was a good deal, he couldn't deny it. But he was somewhat worried about the 'legal' business the governor might be referring to.
"Can I decide the legal business?" he asked, as if he was curious.
James frowned "I have no idea, but I don't see why that would be important for you."
"See, that's where you're wrong. I would prefer to avoid a business in particular… The rest I don't care in the slightest." he replied with a small smirk.
James sighed "You could have said so yesterday… But I'm sure that we can talk with the governor of that." Jack raised an eyebrow and James shook his head "You've already redecorated the ship and the governor already knows about your… presence."
Jack pouted a little, but seemed to agree since he caught the attention of the entire crew, telling them to wash up a bit and look more decent, as they were going into port. They were somewhat surprised, but were quick to do what he had asked. Once done, they put inside the boat James had used, raised the anchor, and prepared the ship to come out of hiding, with Jack at the helm.
Even though it was obvious that it was not the Pearl and that, according to Jack, the ship didn't seem to like him at all, it was quite fast and, although James hated to admit it, Jack was an incredibly good sailor and had good control of the ship without even trying.
Of course, when they entered the docks at a place that was empty, they were immediately met by the governor, who seemed impatient. A few steps behind, there were some lieutenants, someone who was obviously the Commodore and another who had to be the Admiral.
Jack winced at the sight of all these people and played around with the compass cord between his fingers. He turned to look at James for a moment.
"Since I haven't signed yet, how about you go down and convince him to get on my new ship?" he whispered, glancing at the others a bit fearfully.
James raised an eyebrow, somewhat amused by that, but still stepped down and greeted the governor with a handshake.
Although Jack couldn't hear them, he could imagine James arguing a bit with the lieutenants and the other two about having the governor come up. In the end, two lieutenants, the admiral, James, and the governor boarded the ship. Jack allowed himself a small smile and bowed slightly.
"Welcome to the Nereid's Storm, gentlemen." he winked a bit to the governor "We should discuss our business in my cabin, governor. The rest is welcome to stay on deck."
"Do you really expect us to leave the governor alone with someone like you?" the admiral huffed.
Jack smirked and pointed to James "He can go in, if that is alright with you, admiral."
This one scoffed, staring at James for a second like he was a rat he had to get rid of, but didn't comment, as the governor agreed to the terms. Jack seemed pleased about the matter and led them into his cabin, turning to Gibbs a bit before entering.
"Don't take your eye off them and be careful, hm?" he whispered, to which Gibbs nodded.
Once he closed the door, he greeted the governor as cheerfully as he could despite the nerves in his stomach. Jack was able, as many times, to praise and flatter him so that, when he commented the only business that he refused to do himself on his ship or on another, the governor would be quite interested in agreeing to that and, modifying the temporary pardon, Jack, in the end, signed it.
'I feel like I'm signing my own death warrant... You're probably happy seeing this, Calypso.' he sighed 'Let's hope the governor is as nice as he seems…'
The governor was incredibly cheerful once that was done, although the same couldn't be said for the admiral, the commodore, and the lieutenants, who seemed suspicious.
After Jack explained his agreement to his crew and told them the benefits, he got off the ship, and paid the harbormaster under the watchful eyes of the others.
If they only knew how much of that money had been stolen some time in his past…
The crew were quite glad to disappear from sight, promising the captain that they would behave while they were there and Jack followed James, as the Governor had insisted around three times for him to go to a party for a retired captain.
"I hope that there will be drinks on this party." he was able to mention to James, who had been unusually quiet since the talk with the governor.
"... Why not slave trade?"
And it seemed James hadn't left the cabin yet, as it was obvious that he had been thinking about the subject for a while. Jack grimaced, snorting, and he rubbed his wrist unconsciously.
"Because I don't like it. That's it. Can we talk about other things, like drinks, games or even politics?"
"It's just… Strange, I guess." he sighed a bit, but Jack's movement hadn't escaped his eyes. He decided to drop it and change the subject "If there's drink, please, control yourself."
"It's as if you didn't know me at all, mister Norrington." he joked, smiling a bit.
James shook his head at that but once they were in front of the current governor's mansion, he prayed that the other would behave appropriately.
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As they walked, the governor could feel someone staring at him from behind and he sighed just a little, pausing a short moment for the commodore to catch up with him.
"You don't agree with my decision." the governor stated.
"Forgive me for not trusting in someone that was declared a traitor and in other that is obviously a pirate." this one huffed.
"You could trust me a bit, mister Douglas… I take my decisions with a clear head and I know what I'm doing, despite what you might think." he shrugged.
"Now you treat me as mister Douglas?" The commodore raised an eyebrow "I might trust you, I simply don't do the same with them… They can't be telling the truth."
"Maybe not completely, I agree with that. But they aren't lying about some of the things and I'll need them both on my side." he said "After all, we can't afford to have more enemies… The king wants to declare war on Spain and I think we'll have enough with them if that happens."
"And?" the commodore asked.
"What do you mean by 'and'?"
"You want something more… You can't just want them for a war with a bloody country."
"All in due time, dear friend. Everything in due time."
The commodore shook his head "I just hope you know what you're doing."