Passage to St. Kitts
Chapter 15
Will had managed to convince Elizabeth to stay below with Gwen until the battle was over, but it had taken some doing. Two of the Pearl's crewmen were stationed by the door of the Captain's cabin with orders to defend the women at all costs. The crewmen knew that if the women were injured, killed or captured, it would be over their own dead bodies. If the Spanish didn't kill them, they'd be killed by their own Captain.
The Pearl shuddered as her cannons fired. Jack was at the helm now, with Gibbs and Will hovering anxiously nearby. The distance was closing rapidly. Even without the telescope it was possible to see the word 'Aldonza' blazoned on the Spaniard's side. Each ship had taken some damage from the cannon fire, but as yet neither was incapacitated. "Aim the cannon higher," bellowed Jack. "Take out the rigging. Chain shot!" The next time the guns fired, the chain shot ripped through the sails and the rigging. None of the masts fell, but the sails were rendered useless. "Gibbs, take the helm and get us alongside!" Jack commanded, hurrying down the stairs to the main deck, followed closely by Will. "Don't fire again!" Jack shouted. "We don't want to sink her! Prepare to board!" Amid pistol and rifle fire, the Pearl crewmembers took up grappling hooks, and pulled the two ships together. They swarmed over the rail, swords and pistols ready.
Jack and Will were two of the first over the rail, shoulder to shoulder. The Spanish sailors were decent swordsmen, but they were no match for either the practiced art of Will's fencing, or the erratic brilliance of Jack's blade. The group surrounding these two shortly consisted of disarmed men who had cried quarter, and those still bodies of the sailors who hadn't. Annamaria found Joseph at her elbow as she fought her way from the rail to the mainmast. He had never before fought in earnest, but the lessons he'd had from Will had not been in vain. Joseph would not have been a match for an expert, but he was able to hold his own with the rank sailors. Annamaria, with her years of experience was the better swordsman, and her practiced eye picked out the best of each group they encountered, leaving Joseph to deal with the others.
Finding a clear path to the quarterdeck, Jack sprinted forward, slashing occasionally with his sword as he went. Natalez saw him coming, and drew his pistol, but the shot went wide. Jack's sword point was soon at the Spanish Captain's throat. "Cry quarter." Jack suggested with a grin, "and order your men to surrender."
Natalez hesitated for a moment, but then snarled "Quarter." Jack lowered his sword slightly, and Natalez turned to bellow orders for his men to drop their weapons. "Thank you, Captain!" Jack said cheerfully. "Annamaria!" he shouted, "Round up all hands, and check the brig! I want all captives alive!" He turned back to Natalez. "I hope for your sake, Captain, that Commodore Norrington is still aboard your ship and in good health."
--
Norrington and Antonia listened tensely to the battle above them. They could hear shouting, but aside from the Spanish spoken by the crew of the Aldonza, they were unable to determine what language the attackers were using.
A loud shout was heard, and the sounds of the battle began to die. "Captain Natalez just ordered his men to surrender," Antonia translated. "The pirates, or whoever, must have defeated them."
Norrington leaned as far forward as he could. "We'll know who they are momentarily."
Not more than ten minutes later, footsteps pounded on the stairs and two figures appeared. "Annamaria!" gasped Norrington. "Thank God it's you!"
Annamaria stopped so abruptly that Joseph nearly ran into her. Could this disheveled dark haired man with two weeks worth of beard be the elegant James Norrington? "Good Lord, Commodore, I scarcely recognized you! I don't believe I've ever seen you without your wig, much less a beard." She lifted the keys she'd taken from the Captain's cabin and unlocked the door.
Norrington shoved the door open and indicated the other cell. "The lady is with me, Miss Simone. If you'd be so kind?"
Annamaria obligingly unlocked Antonia's cell as well. "As far as that, you can take it up with Captain Sparrow. He'll want a ransom for her, you know."
"I'll pay it if necessary," Norrington replied. Taking Antonia's hand, he led her up the stairs and onto the main deck.
The Spanish sailors had been herded into a group at one end of the main deck, guarded by several of the Pearl's crew. Natalez, disarmed, was standing between two other crewmen. Will and Cotton were guarding Tomas and Lucia Valera. "Commodore!" called Jack as Norrington and Antonia appeared on deck. "I'm devilish glad to see you. Gillette yammered my ear off until I agreed to search for you. Though I must say, "he continued, looking Norrington up and down, "I've never seen you so bedraggled."
"I'm so pleased to see you, Sparrow, that I'm going to ignore that comment," replied Norrington, his cool manner perfectly in place. "You said you'd seen Gillette?"
"Aye," said Jack. "Picked up two boatloads of the Defender's crew and dropped them off in St. Thomas." He eyed Antonia appreciatively. "Pray introduce me to the lady."
"Of course. Captain Jack Sparrow, please allow me to introduce Miss Antonia de Salazar. Miss de Salazar is under my protection, Sparrow."
Jack made an elaborate bow and kissed Antonia's hand. "Charmed to meet you, Miss de Salazar."
Lucia Valera could stand it no more. "She is nothing but a worthless slut!" she burst out.
Jack straightened with an affronted look. "What?"
Norrington's cool gaze became flinty as he looked at the older woman. "Senora, I advise you to keep your tongue in your head."
Tomas started forward, stopped only by Will's hand clamping on his shoulder. "What right do you have to speak so to my wife?"
Norrington turned to Jack and bowed slightly. "Captain Sparrow, I crave your indulgence for a moment." Walking deliberately toward Tomas, he raised his fist and struck the man solidly in the mouth. "I demand satisfaction for your brutal treatment of Miss de Salazar."
The watching privateers gaped in amazement. Will recovered first. "I see you are not wearing your sword, sir," he said with a slight bow, drawing his own weapon. "If you would like to borrow mine, you will find the balance to be very similar."
"Thank you, Mr. Turner, I accept your offer." Norrington hefted the blade. "What say you, Valera? Are you man enough to meet me, or do you reserve your violence for young girls only?"
"Give me a sword!" rasped Tomas. Cotton picked up one of the discarded Spanish weapons and handed it, hilt first to the man.
Will picked up another discarded weapon and held it between the combatants. "Everyone, step back!" he ordered. "Gentlemen, are you ready?" Receiving two nods, he said, "Begin then," and stepped back himself.
Annamaria took Antonia's arm and drew her back out of the way. "He has two cracked ribs!" whispered Antonia anxiously.
"He'll be all right," Annamaria said, hoping it was true. "Is that man the one who did this to your back?"
"Yes," she answered.
Annamaria shot a knowing look at Joseph. He too recognized the signs of a brutal beating, and he slipped unobtrusively over to whisper to Jack. Jack's eyes widened and he glanced at Antonia's back as well. Then his eyes narrowed again, turning nearly as flinty as Norrington's. "Bloody hell," he whispered back, "Nothing I hate more than a man who beats up on defenseless women." Raising his voice he called, "Feel free to kill him, Norrington! Some men aren't worth ransoming!"
Indeed it seemed as though that was Norrington's plan. His swordplay was neat, precise and extremely competent. Tomas was forced back step-by-step until he was nearly against the rail. With a vicious slash, Norrington cut Tomas's arm to the bone, and his sword clattered to the deck. For a long moment, Norrington stood poised, his sword at Tomas's throat. Then he flicked the point twice, drawing two vertical lines in the man's right cheek, disengaged and strode away.
Will threw his hands up in disgust. "Is everyone going to start marking their opponents now?"
Norrington carefully wiped Will's blade on a piece of cloth, then slid the sword back into it's scabbard and handed it to the exasperated blacksmith. "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Turner." Walking over to Antonia, he bowed and offered his hand. "Allow me to escort you over to the Black Pearl, Miss de Salazar."
Jack rolled his eyes.
Chapter 15
Will had managed to convince Elizabeth to stay below with Gwen until the battle was over, but it had taken some doing. Two of the Pearl's crewmen were stationed by the door of the Captain's cabin with orders to defend the women at all costs. The crewmen knew that if the women were injured, killed or captured, it would be over their own dead bodies. If the Spanish didn't kill them, they'd be killed by their own Captain.
The Pearl shuddered as her cannons fired. Jack was at the helm now, with Gibbs and Will hovering anxiously nearby. The distance was closing rapidly. Even without the telescope it was possible to see the word 'Aldonza' blazoned on the Spaniard's side. Each ship had taken some damage from the cannon fire, but as yet neither was incapacitated. "Aim the cannon higher," bellowed Jack. "Take out the rigging. Chain shot!" The next time the guns fired, the chain shot ripped through the sails and the rigging. None of the masts fell, but the sails were rendered useless. "Gibbs, take the helm and get us alongside!" Jack commanded, hurrying down the stairs to the main deck, followed closely by Will. "Don't fire again!" Jack shouted. "We don't want to sink her! Prepare to board!" Amid pistol and rifle fire, the Pearl crewmembers took up grappling hooks, and pulled the two ships together. They swarmed over the rail, swords and pistols ready.
Jack and Will were two of the first over the rail, shoulder to shoulder. The Spanish sailors were decent swordsmen, but they were no match for either the practiced art of Will's fencing, or the erratic brilliance of Jack's blade. The group surrounding these two shortly consisted of disarmed men who had cried quarter, and those still bodies of the sailors who hadn't. Annamaria found Joseph at her elbow as she fought her way from the rail to the mainmast. He had never before fought in earnest, but the lessons he'd had from Will had not been in vain. Joseph would not have been a match for an expert, but he was able to hold his own with the rank sailors. Annamaria, with her years of experience was the better swordsman, and her practiced eye picked out the best of each group they encountered, leaving Joseph to deal with the others.
Finding a clear path to the quarterdeck, Jack sprinted forward, slashing occasionally with his sword as he went. Natalez saw him coming, and drew his pistol, but the shot went wide. Jack's sword point was soon at the Spanish Captain's throat. "Cry quarter." Jack suggested with a grin, "and order your men to surrender."
Natalez hesitated for a moment, but then snarled "Quarter." Jack lowered his sword slightly, and Natalez turned to bellow orders for his men to drop their weapons. "Thank you, Captain!" Jack said cheerfully. "Annamaria!" he shouted, "Round up all hands, and check the brig! I want all captives alive!" He turned back to Natalez. "I hope for your sake, Captain, that Commodore Norrington is still aboard your ship and in good health."
--
Norrington and Antonia listened tensely to the battle above them. They could hear shouting, but aside from the Spanish spoken by the crew of the Aldonza, they were unable to determine what language the attackers were using.
A loud shout was heard, and the sounds of the battle began to die. "Captain Natalez just ordered his men to surrender," Antonia translated. "The pirates, or whoever, must have defeated them."
Norrington leaned as far forward as he could. "We'll know who they are momentarily."
Not more than ten minutes later, footsteps pounded on the stairs and two figures appeared. "Annamaria!" gasped Norrington. "Thank God it's you!"
Annamaria stopped so abruptly that Joseph nearly ran into her. Could this disheveled dark haired man with two weeks worth of beard be the elegant James Norrington? "Good Lord, Commodore, I scarcely recognized you! I don't believe I've ever seen you without your wig, much less a beard." She lifted the keys she'd taken from the Captain's cabin and unlocked the door.
Norrington shoved the door open and indicated the other cell. "The lady is with me, Miss Simone. If you'd be so kind?"
Annamaria obligingly unlocked Antonia's cell as well. "As far as that, you can take it up with Captain Sparrow. He'll want a ransom for her, you know."
"I'll pay it if necessary," Norrington replied. Taking Antonia's hand, he led her up the stairs and onto the main deck.
The Spanish sailors had been herded into a group at one end of the main deck, guarded by several of the Pearl's crew. Natalez, disarmed, was standing between two other crewmen. Will and Cotton were guarding Tomas and Lucia Valera. "Commodore!" called Jack as Norrington and Antonia appeared on deck. "I'm devilish glad to see you. Gillette yammered my ear off until I agreed to search for you. Though I must say, "he continued, looking Norrington up and down, "I've never seen you so bedraggled."
"I'm so pleased to see you, Sparrow, that I'm going to ignore that comment," replied Norrington, his cool manner perfectly in place. "You said you'd seen Gillette?"
"Aye," said Jack. "Picked up two boatloads of the Defender's crew and dropped them off in St. Thomas." He eyed Antonia appreciatively. "Pray introduce me to the lady."
"Of course. Captain Jack Sparrow, please allow me to introduce Miss Antonia de Salazar. Miss de Salazar is under my protection, Sparrow."
Jack made an elaborate bow and kissed Antonia's hand. "Charmed to meet you, Miss de Salazar."
Lucia Valera could stand it no more. "She is nothing but a worthless slut!" she burst out.
Jack straightened with an affronted look. "What?"
Norrington's cool gaze became flinty as he looked at the older woman. "Senora, I advise you to keep your tongue in your head."
Tomas started forward, stopped only by Will's hand clamping on his shoulder. "What right do you have to speak so to my wife?"
Norrington turned to Jack and bowed slightly. "Captain Sparrow, I crave your indulgence for a moment." Walking deliberately toward Tomas, he raised his fist and struck the man solidly in the mouth. "I demand satisfaction for your brutal treatment of Miss de Salazar."
The watching privateers gaped in amazement. Will recovered first. "I see you are not wearing your sword, sir," he said with a slight bow, drawing his own weapon. "If you would like to borrow mine, you will find the balance to be very similar."
"Thank you, Mr. Turner, I accept your offer." Norrington hefted the blade. "What say you, Valera? Are you man enough to meet me, or do you reserve your violence for young girls only?"
"Give me a sword!" rasped Tomas. Cotton picked up one of the discarded Spanish weapons and handed it, hilt first to the man.
Will picked up another discarded weapon and held it between the combatants. "Everyone, step back!" he ordered. "Gentlemen, are you ready?" Receiving two nods, he said, "Begin then," and stepped back himself.
Annamaria took Antonia's arm and drew her back out of the way. "He has two cracked ribs!" whispered Antonia anxiously.
"He'll be all right," Annamaria said, hoping it was true. "Is that man the one who did this to your back?"
"Yes," she answered.
Annamaria shot a knowing look at Joseph. He too recognized the signs of a brutal beating, and he slipped unobtrusively over to whisper to Jack. Jack's eyes widened and he glanced at Antonia's back as well. Then his eyes narrowed again, turning nearly as flinty as Norrington's. "Bloody hell," he whispered back, "Nothing I hate more than a man who beats up on defenseless women." Raising his voice he called, "Feel free to kill him, Norrington! Some men aren't worth ransoming!"
Indeed it seemed as though that was Norrington's plan. His swordplay was neat, precise and extremely competent. Tomas was forced back step-by-step until he was nearly against the rail. With a vicious slash, Norrington cut Tomas's arm to the bone, and his sword clattered to the deck. For a long moment, Norrington stood poised, his sword at Tomas's throat. Then he flicked the point twice, drawing two vertical lines in the man's right cheek, disengaged and strode away.
Will threw his hands up in disgust. "Is everyone going to start marking their opponents now?"
Norrington carefully wiped Will's blade on a piece of cloth, then slid the sword back into it's scabbard and handed it to the exasperated blacksmith. "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Turner." Walking over to Antonia, he bowed and offered his hand. "Allow me to escort you over to the Black Pearl, Miss de Salazar."
Jack rolled his eyes.