To Spill Blood On The Moon
Chapter 2
Buckley awoke to the sound of the sea, the waves lapping gently against the side of the ship. The sunrise was streaming in through the porthole and straight into her eyes, so she rose quickly to escape the glare. Dressing, she climbed the stairs up to deck and took a breath of the salty air before speaking in her Celtic lilt.
"Smith! I'm off t' see Turner. Yeh look after me ship, savvy?"
The First Mate saluted Buckley, and set the ship's boy to swabbing the decks. Buckley grinned, and sent a rather drunken salute back, taking a swig of run from her hip flask. After breathing in the sea air once more, she walked to the port side, slipped down a rope and onto the dock. Strolling amongst the early-rising townspeople towards the Blacksmith's, she was reminded of yesterday's conversation that followed the story.
"What happened to the treasure? Did the Pearl's crew take it?"
Buckley had shaken her head. "Nay. Me father was no' an idiot. 'e stole t' key from Barbossa moment 'e laid eyes on't. Treasure's still there – Barbossa 'ad t' map, so I've never made it t' island." She smiled, and drummed her fingers against the table. "Mark me words, Turner. I'll find it, one o' these days."
He paused, visibly contemplating something. "I think I know where the map is," he said slowly, and made to continue, but was interrupted by Elizabeth's entry. She informed him that it was time they left for dinner with her father, and Turner could do nothing but comply. "Tomorrow morning," he said. "I can get you this map…if you'll let me sail again, just one more time."
Buckley smirked. Perhaps the pirate in dear Mr. Turner was not so far buried as he thought. Buckley had a feeling that young wife of his might not take to well to his going to sea, though, and insist on coming. Well, if she was going to, then she could jolly well help around the ship. They needed a cook, Buckley remembered, so that would do the girl nicely. If she'd comply, of course. But then, her crew would get annoyed
Buckley rapped on the Blacksmith's door again, before politely barging in.
"Mornin' Turner," she greeted the young man, who was sharpening another blade. "Miss Elizabeth," she added, spotting the woman nearby. Then she noticed another person in the room, standing in the shadow of the corner, and stepped towards it. "Come, mysterious shadow, reveal yerself, before I reveal ye." She placed a hand on her sword as emphasis, and smiled wickedly.
Out of the shadows stepped a pirate, dressed similarly to her (though a little more grandeur was to his taste, Buckley noticed), with dark eyes that seemed to stare right through her. He stepped in front of her, one eyebrow raised, and chuckled.
"They'll let anyone bear the mark of a pirate these days."
Afterwards Buckley couldn't decide whether it was the fact that he was punched, or the fact that a female pirate punched him, that was worse. Having given him a nice bruise to go with his smirk, she folded her arms over her chest.
"Me name is Captain Anna Buckley, and should yeh ever forget 't I'll give you a broken arm t' match yer nose." She turned her back on him and walked over to Will. "Well, Turner? Where's me map?"
He smirked and pointed to the crumpled heap of pirate on the floor. "It's right there. Arrived in port this morning."
She raised an eyebrow and moved for her sword again. "Don't mess w' me, Turner. Me map. Where is't? I said I'd take ye, if yeh gave me map back. Where it be, Turner?"
"I told you. He's got it."
The pirate, now standing, snorted. "What, Will? I ain't got your map, mate." He turned towards Buckley, and bowed, offering his hand. "Captain Jack Sparrow, at yer service. Please accept me apologies for my…rash behaviour."
Buckley drew her sword suddenly, and stepped back. "Turner, I give ye credit. Yeh've made some friends in high places." She smirked. "Or should I say low?"
Will smiled. "Do you believe me now, Anna? That he has your map?"
She nodded, although reluctantly. "Aye. It be t' Pearl that has me map." Sighing, she re-sheathed her sword. "Unfortunately for Sparrow, he be having no clue what we're talkin' about." She smiled, and took a swig from a flask at her hip.
Sparrow smiled and folded his arms. "Is there treasure?"
Buckley ignored him and turned to Will. "Are yeh coming, Turner? And yer misses, o' course?"
Will frowned. "What, now?" He glanced at Elizabeth. "But…we've not told Jack what we're looking for."
Buckley sneered. "If he has any sense he'll keep 'is mouth shut 'n come quiet like so I can get me map back. I'm not bein' outsmarted by t' Pearl again." She fiddled with a chain at her neck. "Me father wouldn't want't."
"Now wait just a minute," Sparrow said, stepping between Will and Buckley. "What map, what treasure, and what outsmarting is going on here?"
"Eight years ago, there were a deal made between the Pearl and the Crafty Barnacle – may she rest 'n peace. T' thankfully deceased Captain Barbossa an' Captain Robert Buckley had an accord, they would split t' treasure, fifty-fifty." She paused to glare at Sparrow. "Yeh can guess what happened. Me father stole back the key from Barbossa, but t' map was lost. Just after, me father's ship was wrecked jus' off Tortuga. T' Scarlet Luna was built by me uncle, as me birthday present."
"Ahh, good old Barbossa," nodded Sparrow. "I ain't heard of no map, darlin'. But I promise…" he stepped closer to her, and his mouth twitched into a smile. "I'll have a really good look for it."
Buckley sneered and wrinkled her nose at his close proximity, but nodded. "Pack yer bags, Turner," she said, turning to Will. "You too, Miss Elizabeth. Me ship is the fourth along in the dock. Yeh've got an hour."
With that she turned on her heal and strode out the door, glad to be free of Captain Jack Sparrow and his cocky smile.
--
Will and Elizabeth walked towards the Scarlet Luna forty minutes later, Sparrow not far behind them. The ship was a grand one – white oak, navy blue trimming and silver fastenings. On deck, a bunch of sweaty sailors were preparing the ship to leave Port Royal. Buckley was stood at the helm, running her hand across the steering wheel and smiling.
"Boatswain! Finished mendin' that jib yet?"
A sailor waved a triangular sail at her, and she nodded. "Aye, Cap'n. Will yeh be wantin' it up the foremast now?"
Buckley walked down the stairs, kicking a lazy shipmate on her way and addressing the sailor again. "Aye. Up yeh go." She gave him a foot up to the cordage and continued walking amongst her crew.
"Buckley!" Will called, from the docks. She jumped down next to the bollard and began to untie the ropes.
"On board with yeh. We be stoppin' at Tortuga first, pick up supplies." She reluctantly turned to Sparrow and spoke to him. "Yeh can meet up wi' us there, Sparrow."
He snorted, but turned to go back to his ship. "Yes, ma'am," he muttered as he walked off. Buckley ignored him and continued to untie the hawser from the bollards. Once she was done, and the Turners were on the ship, she clambered up after them and called to the crew.
"Weigh in t' anchor, chaps, and go large." She took the wheel again and winked at Elizabeth, who was grinning. "Never ask a man t' do a woman's job." Once they were away and stable, Buckley gave the helm to her First Mate and took Will and Elizabeth into the Captain's quarters. Sitting them down in front of her desk, she put her feet up and tossed her hat onto the sideboard. "Turner…" she began, glancing at him. "I want t' know how tis that a reputable blacksmith like yerself comes inter contact wi' a pirate like Jack Sparrow."
Elizabeth coughed. "I believe it's Captain Jack Sparrow."
"Whatever 't be," Buckley said, waving her hand. "Yeh've had run-ins with pirates before."
Will nodded. "He saved Elizabeth's life, he saved hers, we saved each other a few times. He's a good man, Buckley."
"Well 'scuse me if ah'm less than willin' to be acceptin' that." She sighed. "Yeh seem to know him well enough, anyways. Ah'm putting yeh in charge o' him, Turner. Don' be lettin' 'im steal me treasure."
"About this treasure," Elizabeth interjected. "Will we be getting any, being as we bought you the map?"
Buckley smiled. "Aye, yeh bought me t' map, but yeh also bought me Sparrow. Ah'll be givin' yeh a small percentage, o' course."
Elizabeth nodded, and returned the smile. She opened her mouth to say something, but stopped when First Mate Smith burst through the door.
"Smith! Ain't yeh head o' knockin'?"
The First Mate mumbled an apology and stepped into the room. "Beggin' yer pardon, Cap'n, but we have ourselves a hostage." Buckley stood up and followed him out of the room, Will and Elizabeth close behind.
Standing, surrounded by crew, his hands bound together, was Captain Jack Sparrow. A bruise was spreading across his cheek and his nose was bleeding. "Mornin', Captain Buckley. I've got yer map. Unfortunately, I seem to have found myself without a ship."
Buckley sighed. "Welcome to the Scarlet Luna¸ Sparrow. Let him go. He's wi' us."