Revenge of the Fox
Chapter 29
Stealthily, the small boat approached the Vixen. Will, Jack and Norrington could see the bonfire on the beach. Most of the crew was probably there – drinking, most likely. There should be few men aboard the Vixen tonight. When they got close, they carefully shipped the oars and tied the boat to a ring on the hull. Jack lightly tossed a small grappling hook over the rail, and after pausing to be sure no one heard, they climbed up – one after the other. Landing lightly on the deck, Jack stood stock still for a moment, listening hard. He heard nothing but the voices and the laughter of the crew on the beach. Catching Will's eye, he jerked his head aft, to where the Captain's cabin must be. They'd start the search there.
--
Moodily, Reynard stalked up from the galley. He'd forgotten that he'd given the cook leave to go ashore, and he'd been forced to go rummage through the galley himself to find something to eat. The piece of bread and cheese he'd found, while adequate to fill his stomach, wasn't quite what he'd had in mind. There were probably less than a half dozen men aboard. Everyone else was on the beach. He felt restless for some reason; a growing unease that wouldn't allow him to be still. He wasn't sure what the problem was, but there was something, something... Listening intently, he tried to pinpoint the cause of his unease. Was that a footfall? With a slight frown, Reynard stole forward silently. Who would be on deck? Cautiously he crept closer. Three shadows moved softly along the rail. The one in front stopped and turned toward the one behind him. When his head turned, a braid swung around, and a coin woven into it glinted slightly in the moonlight. Reynard's eyes narrowed. Sparrow! He was here already! Silently, Reynard stepped back into the shadows and retreated below. He'd need reinforcements.
--
They'd reached the Captain's cabin without incident. No one was there. "Perhaps he's ashore with the crew," Will hissed into Jack's ear.
"Perhaps," Jack murmured. Crossing swiftly to the desk, he started leafing through papers. A quick search revealed nothing of any interest. "Let's try the other cabins and the brig," he said softly. "Gwen may still be aboard."
Norrington was reaching for the doorknob when it suddenly swung open. "Good evening, gentlemen," drawled Reynard. He stood in the doorway, holding Gwen in front of him, a knife poised at her throat.
Jack recovered quickly. His eyes flicked briefly to Gwen's and then to Reynard's. "Interesting little chase you sent us on, mate. I give you high marks for originality."
"Thank you. From you that is a high compliment." Reynard gestured briefly with the knife. "Why don't you just lay your weapons on the desk, Sparrow? Tell your friends to do likewise."
Jack stood still. His gaze flicked again to Gwen's face. Her face was paler than usual, her lips pressed together. She said nothing. "You don't dare kill her, Reynard. You've lost your bargaining point if you do."
Reynard casually drew the knife along Gwen's collarbone, making a shallow cut perhaps three inches long. Her swift indrawn breath was heard, but she still said nothing. Blood began to trickle down her chest before soaking into the bodice of her gown. "No, I won't kill her. But how long can you stand to watch her bleed?" He moved the knife to another area of her neck. "Shall we try that again?"
With a jerk, Jack plucked his pistol from his sash and dropped it onto the desk, then pulled off his sword belt and let it clatter down as well. Although he said nothing, his eyes burned with fury. Will and Norrington pulled out pistols and swords as well, and laid them on the desk.
"Good," said Reynard. With a nod he summoned the two men behind him into the room. "Check them for other weapons," he ordered. "And bind their hands." Jack stood rigidly, but unresisting as the sailors tied his hands behind his back, checked his clothing, and pulled a knife out of his boot to place on the table with the rest. Will and Norrington exchanged looks, but they likewise did not resist. Reynard removed his knife from Gwen's neck and pushed her toward a chair. Pale but composed, she sat, completely ignoring the cut on her neck, still bleeding sluggishly.
Jack, moving as casually as if he didn't have his arms bound behind him, hooked his foot around a chair and dragged it back from the table. He sat, leaned back and set his feet on the table, as was his habit, ignoring the awkwardness created by his bound hands. "Can't say it's pleasant to see you again, Reynard. You always were a annoying little bastard, and you don't seem to have changed much."
Reynard smiled slightly and ignored the insult. His gaze turned toward Will's face. "You must be Will Turner, whom I have heard so much about."
Will nodded slightly in acknowledgement. "You've heard good things, I hope."
Reynard turned to Norrington. "And you are Commodore Norrington. I must say, even out of uniform you have the look of a military man." Norrington nodded coolly, without speaking. Reynard turned back to Jack. "Where's the Pearl, Sparrow?"
Jack grinned wickedly. "Blocking you in this little cove, mate, guns at the ready. Where did you think?"
Gwen sat with her eyes downcast, seemingly indifferent to what was happening in the room. Inwardly, however, her mind was racing. As casual as he seemed, Gwen knew Jack's mind was racing as well, analyzing the situation; coming up with schemes and plans. Could she help him? Reynard wasn't paying any attention to her, and neither were the other two sailors who were currently standing by the door, pistols in hand. The desk that had the weapons on it was across the room from her. She didn't think she could manage to get over there. In fact, she didn't think she could even rise without calling attention to herself. She scanned the cabin for anything that might help, but she couldn't think of anything. Unless.....
--
"It's been nearly three hours!" Elizabeth said, anxiously pacing up and down the main deck. "Something is wrong, I just know it!"
"The question is, what can we do about it?" Antonia asked.
"Most of the crew seems to be on the beach. There probably aren't more than a few men on the Vixen." Annamaria said.
Markson spoke up. "If Reynard has captured them he won't waste much time in gathering the crew back up. He knows Captain Sparrow's reputation."
"We don't have enough men aboard to attack," Annamaria fretted. "I wonder if it's possible to get another man aboard that ship,"
"Reynard must know that the Black Pearl is out here, Anna," Antonia put in. "Any stranger he sees he'll automatically suspect is from the Pearl."
"Would he suspect a woman?" Jeannine spoke up.
"It wouldn't work, Jeannine," said Elizabeth. "He thinks the three of us are in Nassau."
"But he doesn't know me," Jeannine pointed out. The others turned to stare at her. "He's never seen me and he certainly doesn't know that you rescued me from the Golden Mermaid. He wouldn't suspect that I'm associated with the Black Pearl at all."
"Miss St. Cyr," began Markson, "I can't allow.."
"You're not responsible for me, Lieutenant," Jeannine said dismissively.
"Jeannine," said Antonia, "We can't ask you to put yourself in danger. If you're caught, think of what might happen to you."
"I know, Antonia. That brothel might seem a haven compared to what might happen to me."
"Then why?"
Ignoring the question, Jeannine turned to Annamaria. "Miss Simone, if Captain Sparrow doesn't return, what do you plan to do?"
Anna frowned. "Come up with a way to get them back."
"You wouldn't weigh anchor and just sail off then?"
Her frown deepened. "No."
Jeannine turned back to Antonia. "If we fight and lose then I'm no better off, Tonia," she said unemotionally. "Therefore it behooves me to do what I can to ensure that we win. Besides," she said simply. "I owe you."
"Jeannine," protested Elizabeth.
Jeannine turned to Annamaria again. "I'm right," she said, "and you know it."
Anna nodded slowly. "Aye. I do."
Markson spoke again. "She's not going alone. Reynard doesn't know me either."
"Aye, but he may shoot you outright."
"I'll take that chance," Markson replied grimly.
--
Chapter 29
Stealthily, the small boat approached the Vixen. Will, Jack and Norrington could see the bonfire on the beach. Most of the crew was probably there – drinking, most likely. There should be few men aboard the Vixen tonight. When they got close, they carefully shipped the oars and tied the boat to a ring on the hull. Jack lightly tossed a small grappling hook over the rail, and after pausing to be sure no one heard, they climbed up – one after the other. Landing lightly on the deck, Jack stood stock still for a moment, listening hard. He heard nothing but the voices and the laughter of the crew on the beach. Catching Will's eye, he jerked his head aft, to where the Captain's cabin must be. They'd start the search there.
--
Moodily, Reynard stalked up from the galley. He'd forgotten that he'd given the cook leave to go ashore, and he'd been forced to go rummage through the galley himself to find something to eat. The piece of bread and cheese he'd found, while adequate to fill his stomach, wasn't quite what he'd had in mind. There were probably less than a half dozen men aboard. Everyone else was on the beach. He felt restless for some reason; a growing unease that wouldn't allow him to be still. He wasn't sure what the problem was, but there was something, something... Listening intently, he tried to pinpoint the cause of his unease. Was that a footfall? With a slight frown, Reynard stole forward silently. Who would be on deck? Cautiously he crept closer. Three shadows moved softly along the rail. The one in front stopped and turned toward the one behind him. When his head turned, a braid swung around, and a coin woven into it glinted slightly in the moonlight. Reynard's eyes narrowed. Sparrow! He was here already! Silently, Reynard stepped back into the shadows and retreated below. He'd need reinforcements.
--
They'd reached the Captain's cabin without incident. No one was there. "Perhaps he's ashore with the crew," Will hissed into Jack's ear.
"Perhaps," Jack murmured. Crossing swiftly to the desk, he started leafing through papers. A quick search revealed nothing of any interest. "Let's try the other cabins and the brig," he said softly. "Gwen may still be aboard."
Norrington was reaching for the doorknob when it suddenly swung open. "Good evening, gentlemen," drawled Reynard. He stood in the doorway, holding Gwen in front of him, a knife poised at her throat.
Jack recovered quickly. His eyes flicked briefly to Gwen's and then to Reynard's. "Interesting little chase you sent us on, mate. I give you high marks for originality."
"Thank you. From you that is a high compliment." Reynard gestured briefly with the knife. "Why don't you just lay your weapons on the desk, Sparrow? Tell your friends to do likewise."
Jack stood still. His gaze flicked again to Gwen's face. Her face was paler than usual, her lips pressed together. She said nothing. "You don't dare kill her, Reynard. You've lost your bargaining point if you do."
Reynard casually drew the knife along Gwen's collarbone, making a shallow cut perhaps three inches long. Her swift indrawn breath was heard, but she still said nothing. Blood began to trickle down her chest before soaking into the bodice of her gown. "No, I won't kill her. But how long can you stand to watch her bleed?" He moved the knife to another area of her neck. "Shall we try that again?"
With a jerk, Jack plucked his pistol from his sash and dropped it onto the desk, then pulled off his sword belt and let it clatter down as well. Although he said nothing, his eyes burned with fury. Will and Norrington pulled out pistols and swords as well, and laid them on the desk.
"Good," said Reynard. With a nod he summoned the two men behind him into the room. "Check them for other weapons," he ordered. "And bind their hands." Jack stood rigidly, but unresisting as the sailors tied his hands behind his back, checked his clothing, and pulled a knife out of his boot to place on the table with the rest. Will and Norrington exchanged looks, but they likewise did not resist. Reynard removed his knife from Gwen's neck and pushed her toward a chair. Pale but composed, she sat, completely ignoring the cut on her neck, still bleeding sluggishly.
Jack, moving as casually as if he didn't have his arms bound behind him, hooked his foot around a chair and dragged it back from the table. He sat, leaned back and set his feet on the table, as was his habit, ignoring the awkwardness created by his bound hands. "Can't say it's pleasant to see you again, Reynard. You always were a annoying little bastard, and you don't seem to have changed much."
Reynard smiled slightly and ignored the insult. His gaze turned toward Will's face. "You must be Will Turner, whom I have heard so much about."
Will nodded slightly in acknowledgement. "You've heard good things, I hope."
Reynard turned to Norrington. "And you are Commodore Norrington. I must say, even out of uniform you have the look of a military man." Norrington nodded coolly, without speaking. Reynard turned back to Jack. "Where's the Pearl, Sparrow?"
Jack grinned wickedly. "Blocking you in this little cove, mate, guns at the ready. Where did you think?"
Gwen sat with her eyes downcast, seemingly indifferent to what was happening in the room. Inwardly, however, her mind was racing. As casual as he seemed, Gwen knew Jack's mind was racing as well, analyzing the situation; coming up with schemes and plans. Could she help him? Reynard wasn't paying any attention to her, and neither were the other two sailors who were currently standing by the door, pistols in hand. The desk that had the weapons on it was across the room from her. She didn't think she could manage to get over there. In fact, she didn't think she could even rise without calling attention to herself. She scanned the cabin for anything that might help, but she couldn't think of anything. Unless.....
--
"It's been nearly three hours!" Elizabeth said, anxiously pacing up and down the main deck. "Something is wrong, I just know it!"
"The question is, what can we do about it?" Antonia asked.
"Most of the crew seems to be on the beach. There probably aren't more than a few men on the Vixen." Annamaria said.
Markson spoke up. "If Reynard has captured them he won't waste much time in gathering the crew back up. He knows Captain Sparrow's reputation."
"We don't have enough men aboard to attack," Annamaria fretted. "I wonder if it's possible to get another man aboard that ship,"
"Reynard must know that the Black Pearl is out here, Anna," Antonia put in. "Any stranger he sees he'll automatically suspect is from the Pearl."
"Would he suspect a woman?" Jeannine spoke up.
"It wouldn't work, Jeannine," said Elizabeth. "He thinks the three of us are in Nassau."
"But he doesn't know me," Jeannine pointed out. The others turned to stare at her. "He's never seen me and he certainly doesn't know that you rescued me from the Golden Mermaid. He wouldn't suspect that I'm associated with the Black Pearl at all."
"Miss St. Cyr," began Markson, "I can't allow.."
"You're not responsible for me, Lieutenant," Jeannine said dismissively.
"Jeannine," said Antonia, "We can't ask you to put yourself in danger. If you're caught, think of what might happen to you."
"I know, Antonia. That brothel might seem a haven compared to what might happen to me."
"Then why?"
Ignoring the question, Jeannine turned to Annamaria. "Miss Simone, if Captain Sparrow doesn't return, what do you plan to do?"
Anna frowned. "Come up with a way to get them back."
"You wouldn't weigh anchor and just sail off then?"
Her frown deepened. "No."
Jeannine turned back to Antonia. "If we fight and lose then I'm no better off, Tonia," she said unemotionally. "Therefore it behooves me to do what I can to ensure that we win. Besides," she said simply. "I owe you."
"Jeannine," protested Elizabeth.
Jeannine turned to Annamaria again. "I'm right," she said, "and you know it."
Anna nodded slowly. "Aye. I do."
Markson spoke again. "She's not going alone. Reynard doesn't know me either."
"Aye, but he may shoot you outright."
"I'll take that chance," Markson replied grimly.
--
