The Revenge of Captain Dagger
My mother was killed when I was twelve years old. She was betrayed. I was too young to do anything about it then but I'm older now. Old enough to take back what she lost, old enough to make the traitor pay. I will avenge her death and claim what is rightfully mine. This I so swear.
The atmosphere in the bar was not what most would exactly call pleasant but it suited Brie's mood perfectly. The stench of stale beer, sweat, and urine was so thick as to be visible and the air was murky with filth. Whores and prostitutes ran about squealing, lust-filled men chasing after them, while others lay about, sprawled in drunken stupors. Loud voices and bawdy laughter sounded out from every part of the room. It was hardly the place for a noble woman but Lady Brianna of Cortelina was no ordinary noble. She sat in breeches and a tunic with a mug half full of frothy ale in her hand. To the casual observer, she looked no different than any other boy in his late teens.
"My, en't you a fine lookin' lad. What'd'ya say to a night o' company. I could teach you a thin' o' two I bet you never knew 'afore. You'd be an attentive pupil, I can tell."
The whore's slurred, whining voice came from somewhere to Brie's left.
"Not int'rested, but I appreciate your concern for my education."
Brie didn't turn to look at the whore. She didn't have to; they were all alike with their rouged lips, reddened cheeks, tight corsets, and heaving bosoms. The whore pouted and with a flounce of her skirts, she left to go make her offer to someone more responsive.
"Smart choice lad. You don't wanna get mixed up with 'er. Too slappy that one is. Always slappin' a fellow for no reason. Well, no good reason anyway."
The speaker winced and rubbed his cheek. He had long dark hair and dark eyes. Various beads and other paraphernalia were knotted into his matted hair. He was more than a little drunk. Before Brie could cut him off, he launched into a slurred, unintelligible monologue. She sighed and waited for him to wind down so she could leave. The night had been a complete waste of time. Rumors of the Black Pearl's docking had neither been confirmed nor contested and she was no closer to fulfilling her vow than the night before.
"...Full o' daring, dashin' he is. No lady can resist his charm..."
The man's voice droned on and on, his hands flailing about elaborating his tale. Some men were mean drunks, becoming violent, some were weeping drunks, sobbing and blubbering when intoxicated. This man was clearly a quirky drunk, Brie decided, with peculiar affectations and bizarre mannerisms. Finally after what seemed like eternity, he concluded his speech.
"...An' that m'lad is why Cap'n Jack Sparrow is unquestionably, withou' question the greates' pirate in the Caribbean."
Brie turned sharply towards the drunken man.
"Jack Sparrow?! Jack Sparrow of the Black Pearl?! What do you know about Jack Sparrow?! Tell me Man!" she said urgently.
But the man was already passed out, his tankard tipping into Brie's lap. She uttered a few choice curses as she mopped up the ale. Looking down distastefully at the unconscious man slumped on the bar beside her, she poked him sharply a few times. The only response was a loud and steady snore. Brie rolled her eyes and let out a resigned sigh. The odd-looking man did seem to have information she so badly wanted. Hooking her arms beneath his armpits, she dragged him off the stool. Brie grunted with the effort of keeping him from hitting the ground. He was much more solid than he looked and as heavy as a sack full of bricks. With much swearing and grumbling, she dragged him a full ten feet before stopping to take a break. She wiped her brow with her sleeve as droplets of sweat fell to the floor. Hoisting him up again, she resumed her slow and painful journey toward the door.
The night breeze was a sharp relief after the sultry air of the bar and Brie shivered slightly as the cool draft seeped through her thin shirt. Thrusting the man's inert body against an empty wagon, she sat back on the cobblestone street inspecting him for the first time. He was younger than he acted—probably only in his early thirties—and his clothing had no more than the usual amount of grime encrusted on it. They were well made and he was armed with a good sword and pistol. Through his open mouth she could see several gold-plated teeth. On the whole he seemed quite prosperous. That fact coupled with the adoring way he had referred to Jack Sparrow, Brie concluded that he was probably a pirate. Possibly even on the Black Pearl herself, Brie thought with excitement. She settled back and keeping an eye on the motionless form of the man, Brie thought once again about her plans for revenge.
Killing the accursed so-called 'Captain' Jack Sparrow would only be the beginning. He was considered the greatest pirate alive. Ha! Hadn't she been taught by one ten times the pirate than he? Sparrow wasn't worthy of being successor to legendary pirate Ari Saber. Once she took the Pearl from him, there would be no doubt of that. Then armed with Ari's ship, she could set about avenging Ari's death.