Revenge of the Fox

Chapter 3

As Will and Jack approached Antonia's room, they saw the footman Will had sent to fetch Norrington hovering indecisively in the hall.

"You know Joseph, don't you?" Jack asked. When the man nodded, Jack continued. "Good. Find him and tell him I want he and Annamaria up here as soon as possible."

As the man hurried off, Will pushed open the door of the room and entered, followed by Jack. When the Governor saw them he exclaimed. "What in heavens name is going on!" Norrington, in faultless dress uniform stood tightlipped nearby. Lt. Markson stood next to him, looking anxious.

Jack thrust the letter at Norrington. "Read it aloud," he said.

Norrington took the letter warily and unfolded it. "My dear Captain Sparrow," he read. "I'm sure you're surprised to hear from me, as it has been a very long time. However, it appears it is time for our paths to cross again. I've taken the liberty of taking your wife with me to guard against any rash action on your part. As I have issues with both Commodore Norrington and William Turner, I have taken their women along as well. The ladies will not be harmed if you follow my instructions to the letter. You are expected in Tortuga within the week. Set sail on the Black Pearl, with Norrington and Turner aboard. Make sure the Commodore understands that I will not tolerate interference by the Royal fleet. Go to the Salty Dog tavern in Tortuga and ask at the bar for Johnson. More instructions will be forthcoming then. If you fail to do this, I will no longer guarantee the safety of Mrs. Sparrow, Mrs. Turner and Miss Swann. Yours devotedly, Reynard the Fox."

Norrington lowered the letter and looked at Jack. "Who," he asked, his voice icy, "is Reynard the Fox?"

Jack was stalking up and down the room, apparently unable to stand still. "His full name is Reynard Barbossa. Does that help you place him?"

"Barbossa?" Will asked.

"Yes, his elder brother was good old Captain Barbossa, who we liberated from his living death curse a few years back." Jack stopped pacing for a moment and looked at Will. "He sailed with me on the Pearl for a while back before the mutiny. He left the ship before Barbossa took it over. I always thought he was hedging his bets in case it hadn't succeeded. Cold bastard. Selfish as they come. Arrogant as all hell." He began pacing again. "From what I heard, he sailed on the Pearl when Barbossa was Captain on and off. He hasn't been in the Caribbean for the last few years as far as I know." He stopped again and looked at Norrington. "The issues he mentions are probably the death of his brother and the fact that you hung the rest of the crew. I'm his primary target because I'm the one who shot Barbossa, but taking revenge on you and Will is something he probably finds amusing."

Will spoke up. "They probably got in here by climbing up the trellis on the balcony. The vines on it are broken."

Norrington nodded curtly. "Markson, take some men and see if there is a trail that can be followed. Before you do that, find Gillette. Tell him I want the harbor sealed. No ships are to sail out without being thoroughly searched."

"Yes sir," Markson said, and left quickly. A moment later the door opened again, admitting the footman, Joseph and Ellen, Antonia's maid.

"Captain," said Joseph. "We cannot find Annamaria." There was a growing fear in Joseph's dark eyes. "What is happening?"

Ellen spoke up timidly. "Mrs. Turner sent me to fetch Mrs. Sparrow up here, sir. Miss Simone accompanied her."

Will closed his eyes and leaned back against the wall. "So he's taken Annamaria too."

"Joseph," said Jack, putting his hands on Joseph's shoulders. "It seems that Miss Swan, Mrs. Turner, Gwen and Annamaria have been kidnapped. We're going to go after them as soon as we can get the Pearl ready to sail. Gibbs is staying at the Pelican down by the docks. Go there and tell him I need the Pearl ready to make way by nightfall. He'll need your help. Go."

Will stepped forward and looked Joseph in the eye. "We'll find them, Joseph. Depend on it."

Joseph took a deep breath. "Aye, sir. We will." He nodded to the Governor and the Commodore, turned and left.

"Norrington," Jack said. "I'll expect you aboard in time to catch the evening tide. Don't wear your uniform, it wouldn't be safe in Tortuga." Norrington nodded curtly.

Governor Swann spoke up, addressing the footman. "We'll have to get rid of all the guests downstairs. As soon as they're gone, please assemble the entire staff. Perhaps someone saw something that will prove useful."

"I'll help you usher everyone out, sir." Will said to Governor Swann. The two headed for the door. "Though I cannot imagine what we're going to say."

--

The room was small, barely big enough for the large bed in the center of it. Elizabeth sat on the bed distastefully. It was draped with a tacky looking red satin coverlet that was none too clean. The four women had been shoved into this little room moments ago, and their bonds were cut. Reynard stood by the door gazing at her mockingly. "I'm sure this isn't the sort of accommodation you are accustomed to, Mrs. Turner, however it will do for the moment. You will stay here until dark. There is no point in screaming, no one will heed you in this place." As if to add color to his words, there was a high pitched shriek from the room next door, along with the rhythmic creaking from an overused bed.

"We're in a brothel, then?" Gwen asked conversationally, massaging her wrists.

"That's correct, Mrs. Sparrow. As you can see there are no windows, and there will be a guard outside this door at all times until it is time to depart."

"May I inquire as to our destination?"

"No, Mrs. Sparrow, you may not. If you ladies are obedient and well behaved you will not be harmed."

Annamaria looked at him coldly. "You expect us to believe that, you bastard?"

Reynard raised his eyebrows. "Of course, Miss Simone. I have no interest in hurting women. If your husbands and lovers do what they are told, there will be no reason to harm you. However," he leaned closer to Annamaria, "of the ladies present, you are the most expendable one, so I advise you to keep a civil tongue in your heard." With a sardonic smirk, he opened the door and exited. A moment later they distinctly heard the sound of a bolt sliding home.

"Well. Here we are." Gwen looked around at the others. "Is everyone all right, no one is hurt?"

"Antonia?" Elizabeth went over to her.

Antonia raised her head. Her elaborate hairstyle was a wreck and her face was tear stained, but she took a deep breath and made an effort to compose herself. "Well this is one hell of a wedding day, wouldn't you say?"

"You'll have another wedding day, Tonia, as soon as we're found," said Elizabeth. "Don't think for a moment that the Commodore won't tear this island apart looking for you."

Antonia smiled. "I know he will. And whatever stones he doesn't overturn, Will, Joseph and Jack will see to."

Gwen smiled encouragingly. "That's right. All we need to do is stay alert and do what we can to help find us." She turned to Annamaria, "And you, Anna, have to keep control of your temper. Don't goad him into hurting you."

"I know, I'm just so furious!" Annamaria answered. "I can't believe I was captured like that. I can't believe I was so stupid!"

"Anna, you didn't have any choice," said Elizabeth. "It's got nothing to do with stupidity. If you had tried to fight, that would have been stupid."

"So stop berating yourself over getting caught, and let's spend our energy figuring out how to get out of this mess," said Gwen.

--

Markson and the two soldiers he'd scrounged up from the wedding guests followed the trail into the woods. The kidnappers hadn't been able to be all that stealthy. From the looks of the footprints, the women were being carried. Encouraged, he ran faster along the path. Abruptly, however, the trail ended. There were signs of a wagon that had been waiting beside the road. However, once the wagon had pulled onto the road, the tracks were lost amid a multitude of similar tracks. The road, Markson knew, led to the rougher section of Port Royal near the waterfront. We'll do a house-to- house search if we have to, he thought grimly.