Revenge of the Fox
Chapter 4
**Author's note** After seeing the deleted scenes of the POTC DVD, I realize that Norrington actually DOES have a first name. So I replaced everywhere I used the name 'Roger' with the name 'James' both in this and my last story (Passage to St. Kitts). If I messed up and forgot one, please let me know!
Norrington had himself rowed out to the Black Pearl an hour before the evening tide. A rope ladder was flung down to him, so he slung his duffel bag over his shoulder and climbed up. Once on deck, he leaned back over, uttered a few curt orders to his rowers, and turned to search out Captain Sparrow. He found Jack in the Captain's cabin, going over lists of supplies with Gibbs. Jack looked up. "I see you found something else to wear," he said, nodding toward Norrington's buckskin breeches, plain blue coat and the plain black tricorn that sat on Norrington's own dark hair.
"I did," said Norrington dryly. "The garrison of Fort Charles is doing a house to house search of the waterfront area. So far however, nothing has turned up."
Jack nodded. "I don't expect it to. Reynard isn't going to be caught over something as obvious as that."
"You think he's left the island?"
"Aye. Not sure how he's managed it, but he won't be caught here." Jack folded his arms and cocked his head back. "I'm in need of a second mate for this trip, Norrington. Are ye interested? It'll give you something to do besides worrying."
"Yes, thank you, Captain. I'll do it."
"Good. You're assigned the cabin Miss Swann stayed in during our little trip last year. Your first watch is at dawn. Gibbs will rouse you." Norrington nodded and turned to go. "Oh, mate, hold on a minute." Jack turned to Gibbs. "That'll be all for now. I'll be up on deck shortly."
"Aye, Cap'n," Gibbs said as he exited.
When the two men were alone, Jack turned back to Norrington. "There's only one Captain aboard the Black Pearl, Commodore, and that's me. If you have any questions or problems with how I run my ship, I'll be happy to discuss them with you, but in private only. In public, you say 'Aye, Captain' and do what you're told. Savvy?"
Norrington looked at Jack for a moment then spoke. "Understood. To do otherwise would be too confusing for your crew. However, know this, Sparrow. My primary concern is the safe recovery of the ladies. I know you. You're going to try and wiggle your way though this situation with your own hide and your ship intact. If these goals don't conflict then we have no problem. However, if they do, I won't hesitate for a moment to sacrifice you and your precious Black Pearl."
Jack was silent for a moment before he spoke. "Believe it or not, Norrington, I have no problem with that. If I sacrificed my Gwen for the sake of my ship I'd never be able to look meself in the eye again. Keep this in mind too, mate. Reynard isn't looking for money. He wants revenge. That means my blood, and likely yours and young Will's as well. If it comes to that, I'll expect you to abandon me on the instant and get the ladies away however you can."
"Do you really expect him to return the women if we do whatever it is he wants?"
Jack regarded Norrington levelly. "No," he said with finality. "All four of them are young and good looking. Antonia and Elizabeth especially so. All four would fetch a pretty penny in the fleshpots of any city. He wouldn't dare sell them in the Caribbean, but in Europe, India or North Africa? No, he won't return them."
"So he intends to lead us to our deaths, then keep the women anyway?"
Jack nodded. "You've got it Commodore. Charming fellow, eh?"
"Very."
"So you see, mate, this is where we're at. I'm going to try to wiggle through the situation, as you put it, with my skin and my ship intact. I'm also going to try to keep your skin and Will's skin in one piece as well. But it isn't going to be easy, and I'm not counting on it. The chain of command is from me, to you, to Will. Do we understand each other?"
"Aye, Captain," said Norrington with a quirk of his eyebrow. "We understand each other."
--
The women looked up as the door opened. Reynard entered and tossed an armload of garments on the bed. "The gowns you're wearing are too conspicuous. I trust you'll find these a reasonable fit. Here's some food as well," he added as another man brought in a tray. "Eat up. We'll be leaving in approximately thirty minutes." The second man set the tray down on the bed, and they both left, the bolt shooting home a moment later.
Elizabeth picked up the top garment, a battered gray skirt. "Well, I suppose these will be more practical."
"I don't suppose there are any breeches," said Annamaria without much hope, sorting through the garments.
"I have an idea," said Gwen. "Antonia, you don't mind sacrificing your wedding gown, do you?"
Antonia shrugged. "It's already ruined whatever you do," she said, indicating the pulls in the delicate fabric from the rough wood of the wagon. "What did you have in mind?
--
Thirty minutes later, Reynard unlocked the door and looked inside. "Good, they're asleep." The drugs he'd laced the food with had done their job. The ladies had stripped off their fancy gowns and donned the simple clothing he'd brought. A pile of brightly color silk and satin lay on the foot of the bed. Reynard nodded in satisfaction and gestured for his men to enter. "You know what to do. Split up and meet me at the ship in three days. If any of you fail me, I'll skin you alive." As the men carried the unconscious women from the room, Reynard scooped up the pile of discarded gowns and walked out. He didn't notice the small scrap of white satin tied around the leg of the bed.
Chapter 4
**Author's note** After seeing the deleted scenes of the POTC DVD, I realize that Norrington actually DOES have a first name. So I replaced everywhere I used the name 'Roger' with the name 'James' both in this and my last story (Passage to St. Kitts). If I messed up and forgot one, please let me know!
Norrington had himself rowed out to the Black Pearl an hour before the evening tide. A rope ladder was flung down to him, so he slung his duffel bag over his shoulder and climbed up. Once on deck, he leaned back over, uttered a few curt orders to his rowers, and turned to search out Captain Sparrow. He found Jack in the Captain's cabin, going over lists of supplies with Gibbs. Jack looked up. "I see you found something else to wear," he said, nodding toward Norrington's buckskin breeches, plain blue coat and the plain black tricorn that sat on Norrington's own dark hair.
"I did," said Norrington dryly. "The garrison of Fort Charles is doing a house to house search of the waterfront area. So far however, nothing has turned up."
Jack nodded. "I don't expect it to. Reynard isn't going to be caught over something as obvious as that."
"You think he's left the island?"
"Aye. Not sure how he's managed it, but he won't be caught here." Jack folded his arms and cocked his head back. "I'm in need of a second mate for this trip, Norrington. Are ye interested? It'll give you something to do besides worrying."
"Yes, thank you, Captain. I'll do it."
"Good. You're assigned the cabin Miss Swann stayed in during our little trip last year. Your first watch is at dawn. Gibbs will rouse you." Norrington nodded and turned to go. "Oh, mate, hold on a minute." Jack turned to Gibbs. "That'll be all for now. I'll be up on deck shortly."
"Aye, Cap'n," Gibbs said as he exited.
When the two men were alone, Jack turned back to Norrington. "There's only one Captain aboard the Black Pearl, Commodore, and that's me. If you have any questions or problems with how I run my ship, I'll be happy to discuss them with you, but in private only. In public, you say 'Aye, Captain' and do what you're told. Savvy?"
Norrington looked at Jack for a moment then spoke. "Understood. To do otherwise would be too confusing for your crew. However, know this, Sparrow. My primary concern is the safe recovery of the ladies. I know you. You're going to try and wiggle your way though this situation with your own hide and your ship intact. If these goals don't conflict then we have no problem. However, if they do, I won't hesitate for a moment to sacrifice you and your precious Black Pearl."
Jack was silent for a moment before he spoke. "Believe it or not, Norrington, I have no problem with that. If I sacrificed my Gwen for the sake of my ship I'd never be able to look meself in the eye again. Keep this in mind too, mate. Reynard isn't looking for money. He wants revenge. That means my blood, and likely yours and young Will's as well. If it comes to that, I'll expect you to abandon me on the instant and get the ladies away however you can."
"Do you really expect him to return the women if we do whatever it is he wants?"
Jack regarded Norrington levelly. "No," he said with finality. "All four of them are young and good looking. Antonia and Elizabeth especially so. All four would fetch a pretty penny in the fleshpots of any city. He wouldn't dare sell them in the Caribbean, but in Europe, India or North Africa? No, he won't return them."
"So he intends to lead us to our deaths, then keep the women anyway?"
Jack nodded. "You've got it Commodore. Charming fellow, eh?"
"Very."
"So you see, mate, this is where we're at. I'm going to try to wiggle through the situation, as you put it, with my skin and my ship intact. I'm also going to try to keep your skin and Will's skin in one piece as well. But it isn't going to be easy, and I'm not counting on it. The chain of command is from me, to you, to Will. Do we understand each other?"
"Aye, Captain," said Norrington with a quirk of his eyebrow. "We understand each other."
--
The women looked up as the door opened. Reynard entered and tossed an armload of garments on the bed. "The gowns you're wearing are too conspicuous. I trust you'll find these a reasonable fit. Here's some food as well," he added as another man brought in a tray. "Eat up. We'll be leaving in approximately thirty minutes." The second man set the tray down on the bed, and they both left, the bolt shooting home a moment later.
Elizabeth picked up the top garment, a battered gray skirt. "Well, I suppose these will be more practical."
"I don't suppose there are any breeches," said Annamaria without much hope, sorting through the garments.
"I have an idea," said Gwen. "Antonia, you don't mind sacrificing your wedding gown, do you?"
Antonia shrugged. "It's already ruined whatever you do," she said, indicating the pulls in the delicate fabric from the rough wood of the wagon. "What did you have in mind?
--
Thirty minutes later, Reynard unlocked the door and looked inside. "Good, they're asleep." The drugs he'd laced the food with had done their job. The ladies had stripped off their fancy gowns and donned the simple clothing he'd brought. A pile of brightly color silk and satin lay on the foot of the bed. Reynard nodded in satisfaction and gestured for his men to enter. "You know what to do. Split up and meet me at the ship in three days. If any of you fail me, I'll skin you alive." As the men carried the unconscious women from the room, Reynard scooped up the pile of discarded gowns and walked out. He didn't notice the small scrap of white satin tied around the leg of the bed.
