"Sir, Santa Marta!" Red Roof shouted from behind the closed door to Catherine's cabin.
Will nearly fell from the chair he'd been lounging-sleeping in-as his legs suddenly hit the floor after Red Roof's unexpected and quite loud announcement.
"Sir?"
"I'll be right there!" Will loudly replied, standing slowly, stretching abused and stiff muscles.
It was while he rolled his shoulders to help ease the tension of being slumped forward in such an awkward position while sleeping in the chair, that he spied something odd.
The sunlight streaming in from the windows lit the room in a golden hue. But it was something that was sparkling a brilliant, vibrant red that caught his eye as the sun poured inside.
"Bloody hell," he lowly exclaimed after walking across the room, kneeling at the end of the large dining table. Bringing his hand closer after picking up the small item, Will looked positively shocked.
For between his fingertips rested a jewel that would fetch a handsome price in any market from the Caribbean to the Carolinas-a facetted ruby. Before his mind could quite wrap around this unexpected find, from the corner of his eye he spotted another sparkling gem just discarded near Catherine's bunk.
Before it was over, there were five small, but brilliant rubies grasped within his fist. Walking back across the cabin, stealing a quick look at Catherine who was still sleeping, he quickly lit the candle upon the desk, hoping to view his find more closely.
It was then he noticed the faint film upon each ruby and the subtle aroma of wine that drifted lazily about his palm.
"Bastard..."
"What?" Catherine sleepily asked, slowly trying to adjust her eyes to the sunlight while looking about for Will.
Will's mind was reeling with possibilities and probabilities as he quickly closed his hand, hiding the rubies from the woman's view. "You're awake. Are you feeling well?"
Slowly pushing herself to a sitting position and wincing at the movement, Catherine suddenly realized that she was stripped down to her thin cotton shift. Normally at such a situation she'd have been distressed and quickly covered herself, but at the moment, any sudden movement or thought for that matter seemed to send her head spinning and her stomach to lurch. So she just sat there.
"I think I'm all right. Barely, but I'm feeling better than last night..."
"Try three nights back," he corrected, still clutching his find in his hand but casually folding his arms before his chest while walking towards the disheveled woman.
The look of disbelief upon Catherine's face would have made him grin under normal circumstances. However, now he didn't know what to think of her, let alone what he'd just found. There were too many questions and none of the answers he was coming up with were any good. Especially if what he suspected were true.
Pushing her hair from her face, the blonde shook her head in disbelief. "This has never happened before, I've always been fine with sea travel...I don't understand?"
"Could just be nerves, women are prone to..."
He didn't finish the sentence for the glare she shot him. "I am not some weak, mindless creature who...who...faints, or some such rot, at the way the wind blows," she sternly exclaimed, pushing herself off the bunk. But standing was a little tricky in her weakened condition and as he stepped forward trying to catch her, she shrugged his touch off and instead, leaned heavily against the nearby table.
"Fine, fall flat upon your face and see if I help," he said with annoyance, brushing by her, heading to the door.
Taking a deep breath to calm her anger, Catherine felt ashamed. "Will, I'm sorry. It's just that so much of my life has been spent being crushed beneath a man's boot heel that...well, I'm sorry. You went out of your way to watch over me while I was feeling ill and...you and the others didn't have to do that. Thank you."
Feeling slightly taken aback, Will was even more confused in his musings than before. Surely if this woman was holding such a secret she'd not be opening up in such a manner. Bowing, the dark-haired man took a long look at the woman and eyed her curiously. "You're most welcome," he finally said, noticing how she seemed to squirm under his sight.
"We've arrived in Santa Marta for repairs, the storm did some damage but it's fixable. It may cost a bit..." he watched as her nose wrinkled at the words. "...But it can be done here. They are known to be the best."
Catherine slowly nodded her head while looking to be worried. "Fine, I'll find a way to pay for repairs," she agreed, seemingly still preoccupied with her thoughts.
"Good then, I'll go into town and get things started," Will suggested, opening the door. "Miss Kent...Catherine, how did you like the wine Red Roof brought you the other day?"
Stopping her silent musing, the blonde-haired woman furrowed her brow in surprise at the odd question. "The other morning? Oh! Red Roof didn't bring me wine with my morning meal, it was not but water."
"Then the wine upon the floor..."
"That? That was brought later by Ark. He told me it was from my husband's private stock and that you had suggested he bring it," she answered, noticing how his eyes darkened. "It was quite good the little I had of it. I'm afraid with the way the boat was rocking, it spilled. Is there something wrong?"
Will Turner felt the web he was stepping into close even tighter about his body as turn after turn presented something new. As well as something to make him reconsider the thought before. "No, nothing is wrong...just curious. Ark you say?"
"Yes, it surprised me, I must admit," she spoke up, chewing on her inner cheek for saying such aloud.
"Why?"
"Because...because I thought you knew he just doesn't seem to be...I can't explain it. The man just seems to be acting the part; I've seen the way he glares at me when he thinks I'm not looking. I've also seen the way he looks at you...I'm just being paranoid, I suppose. He was my husband's quartermaster for many years..."
With that last remark, Catherine stopped her words as what Will had said to her a few days earlier hit her in the chest as well as if he'd used his fist. "Nevermind...I'm just being foolish," she quickly amended.
Will stood there unsure of what to say for her words, then her emotions hit him full on and he was even more confused as to his earlier suspicions of what Miss Catherine Kent-Hyde was on about.
"I'll be leaving shortly for port to find someone to help repair the ship of the things which we cannot. They'll be expecting payment..."
"...That will be taken care of," Catherine interrupted, looking worried once more.
"Might I suggest you stay down below and rest," he began, quickly holding up his hand to stop her objections, making sure it was his free hand. The rubies were now warm in his palm and biting into his skin for he held them so tight. "You can barely keep yourself aright. A good meal, some sleep, and tomorrow, you can go with me into Santa Marta if you wish."
Furrowing her brow, the woman had to agree. She'd not make it very far in her weakened state. But she did know for fact, she had to go into the town as soon as possible, there was something she had to quickly take care of or they'd never make it to the Isle of Kinset with their intended cargo. They'd come too far to have things fall apart and that was the last thing Catherine Kent wished.
"Agreed," she whispered, slumping into a nearby chair at the table.
"Good, I'll have Stout bring you something to eat and keep you company," Will insisted.
"Mr. Turner, I do not need a nanny. I give you my word I will not leave this ship...steal this ship...sink this ship, or whatever it is you're afraid of me doing to you."
Deep brown eyes narrowed slightly. "I worry for your safety, not mine. There are many things aboard a ship that a lady of your nature could find dangerous," he tried to convince, keeping the truth to himself, especially now.
With a huff, Catherine cocked her head to the side and reluctantly agreed. "As you wish...this time. But sooner or later I want the truth...the entire truth," she challenged.
"As well myself, dear lady. As well myself," he uttered, closing the door behind him, leaving the woman to ponder if she'd correctly read the double meaning in his words.
~~*~~
Securing the services of a shipwright and his men to repair the ship was easy enough. Jack Sparrow had taught Will quite a bit over time, and one was to know the names of those who were skilled and those who were trustworthy. If not, buy their trust, Jack had once said. But at the moment, Will didn't have the funds for buying loyalty, he settled for skill and a cranky shipwright.
But it was also that shipwright who had informed the young captain that there had been sightings of the 'Black Pearl' just off the channel, about two days back.
Will Turner knew that could only mean one thing. Jack Sparrow was in the vicinity. And where Jack Sparrow was, trouble soon followed, but Will wasn't going to miss a chance to catch up to the scoundrel. It had been far too long since the two had met-no, that wasn't completely true. In fact, it was at Elizabeth's funeral, where Jack had watched silently from afar since there was still a price upon his head by the Crown.
Being as it was still barely past noon, there was only one place where Captain Jack Sparrow would be found, the wildest, raunchiest, loudest pub on the island. Will Turner figured from the raucous laughter emanating from the tavern at the end of the row, that 'The Red Rose' was the place to find the pirate.
His assumption was proven correct as a blur of dark hair, hat, beads, and dark clothes came hurtling out of the tavern door only to land at his feet with a loud groan of pain.
"Bloody bastards, they wouldn't know what pot to piss in if..."shirking his hat on, then looking up to see why the blazing sun was slowly blotted out, Jack Sparrow smiled his golden smile-literally. "Will? Will Turner? Is this an illusion or are you just blocking the light?"
Will reached down to help hoist the other to his feet and unexpectedly received a gruff hug from the dark haired pirate with coal etched eyes. "It's me, Jack," Will assured as the other stepped away, straightening his hat once more.
"Figured you'd live on that rock and not come down till I blasted the damnable cliff from beneath your feet," Jack remarked with a flourish of his hand and a quick glance to the other's feet and then grinned broadly.
"You're not a lad no more. You've tossed away the silk stockings for boots now. You are a pirate for sure, so you feel you've earned your boots...good lad," Jack acknowledged, leaning forward and placing his hand on Will's shoulder.
In a low whisper, Jack Sparrow began. "The ladies love the boots...remember that," he emphasized with a wave of his hand and a cock of the brow, quickly followed by a quirky brow furrow. "...And the lads too as well..." he added as second thought, pushing away as Will wasn't quite sure what to say.
"I'll keep that in mind if...I'll remember that," Will stumbled. "So what brings you to Santa Marta? Thought you swore to never return."
"Buy me a drink and I'll tell you my tale," Jack suggested, quickly turning and heading down the dusty street. His eyes firmly planted upon the small pub at the opposite end.
~~*~~
"...You have what?" Will asked, trying to fathom what he had just been told.
Jack sighed with disdain. "I have a ship full of shite. The 'Pearl' is full of guano. Nobody onboard can stand the stench so we dropped anchor outside the nearest port..."
"Which is why you're now in Santa Marta after swearing off to never return," the other finished, hiding his smile behind his tankard as he took a sip of ale.
Pointing a finger at Will, Jack then shook his head in the negative. "No, not quite. I swore off Santa Marta after Marguerite threatened to hack off the boys..."
Will's eyes widened as he choked on the mouthful of ale. "...The..."
"... 'The' boys," Jack emphasized, nodding towards his crotch.
Squinching his nose at the thought, while wheezing to get his breath back, Will winced-as best he could under the circumstances. "I...see...did you...deserve it?" he choked out.
Placing a finger to his chin, Jack contemplated the question. "Possibly deserved that threat," he acknowledged with a groan, then picking up his tankard, downed the ale in one long gulp.
Taking a deep breath, finally managing to breathe without coughing, Will Turner then asked about the ship. "What about the 'Black Pearl'? Just how did it get filled with guano?"
"Haven't you heard, there's a lucrative business in shite. Just that nobody told us how bad the stench would be."
"Come on, Jack, since when have you ever taken on cargo as a legitimate run?"
Rolling his eyes, then banging his tankard against the wooden plank table trying to get the serving wench's attention for another round, Jack smiled. "Was a slight miscalculation. I thought the ship carried rum and such...I just overheard the wrong conversation and visited the incorrect bloody ship. But I think I've got a buyer for all that shite."
"I would hope so," Will agreed. "Just what ship were you trying to plunder?"
Waving his hands madly about to quiet the boy, Jack glowered at him. "Don't use that term in mixed company," he warned, noting the pirates and legitimate ship's crews about. Granted, they were divided as if told to sit that way.
"Funny name...Englado...Ingla...Gloria..."
"Engloria?" Will supplied, earning him a jubilant nod of the head from Jack as he pointed in the younger man's direction.
"Engloria, that is it," he agreed, watching as Will frowned. "Is she of any meaning to you?"
Will raked a hand through his hair as the serving wench refilled their tankards. "How would you like a tour of the ship? I'm the captain," he revealed as Jack couldn't help but laugh.
"Hellfire, this 'is' good," Sparrow chuckled, tilting his full tankard in a salute to the other man.
~~*~~
Will nearly fell from the chair he'd been lounging-sleeping in-as his legs suddenly hit the floor after Red Roof's unexpected and quite loud announcement.
"Sir?"
"I'll be right there!" Will loudly replied, standing slowly, stretching abused and stiff muscles.
It was while he rolled his shoulders to help ease the tension of being slumped forward in such an awkward position while sleeping in the chair, that he spied something odd.
The sunlight streaming in from the windows lit the room in a golden hue. But it was something that was sparkling a brilliant, vibrant red that caught his eye as the sun poured inside.
"Bloody hell," he lowly exclaimed after walking across the room, kneeling at the end of the large dining table. Bringing his hand closer after picking up the small item, Will looked positively shocked.
For between his fingertips rested a jewel that would fetch a handsome price in any market from the Caribbean to the Carolinas-a facetted ruby. Before his mind could quite wrap around this unexpected find, from the corner of his eye he spotted another sparkling gem just discarded near Catherine's bunk.
Before it was over, there were five small, but brilliant rubies grasped within his fist. Walking back across the cabin, stealing a quick look at Catherine who was still sleeping, he quickly lit the candle upon the desk, hoping to view his find more closely.
It was then he noticed the faint film upon each ruby and the subtle aroma of wine that drifted lazily about his palm.
"Bastard..."
"What?" Catherine sleepily asked, slowly trying to adjust her eyes to the sunlight while looking about for Will.
Will's mind was reeling with possibilities and probabilities as he quickly closed his hand, hiding the rubies from the woman's view. "You're awake. Are you feeling well?"
Slowly pushing herself to a sitting position and wincing at the movement, Catherine suddenly realized that she was stripped down to her thin cotton shift. Normally at such a situation she'd have been distressed and quickly covered herself, but at the moment, any sudden movement or thought for that matter seemed to send her head spinning and her stomach to lurch. So she just sat there.
"I think I'm all right. Barely, but I'm feeling better than last night..."
"Try three nights back," he corrected, still clutching his find in his hand but casually folding his arms before his chest while walking towards the disheveled woman.
The look of disbelief upon Catherine's face would have made him grin under normal circumstances. However, now he didn't know what to think of her, let alone what he'd just found. There were too many questions and none of the answers he was coming up with were any good. Especially if what he suspected were true.
Pushing her hair from her face, the blonde shook her head in disbelief. "This has never happened before, I've always been fine with sea travel...I don't understand?"
"Could just be nerves, women are prone to..."
He didn't finish the sentence for the glare she shot him. "I am not some weak, mindless creature who...who...faints, or some such rot, at the way the wind blows," she sternly exclaimed, pushing herself off the bunk. But standing was a little tricky in her weakened condition and as he stepped forward trying to catch her, she shrugged his touch off and instead, leaned heavily against the nearby table.
"Fine, fall flat upon your face and see if I help," he said with annoyance, brushing by her, heading to the door.
Taking a deep breath to calm her anger, Catherine felt ashamed. "Will, I'm sorry. It's just that so much of my life has been spent being crushed beneath a man's boot heel that...well, I'm sorry. You went out of your way to watch over me while I was feeling ill and...you and the others didn't have to do that. Thank you."
Feeling slightly taken aback, Will was even more confused in his musings than before. Surely if this woman was holding such a secret she'd not be opening up in such a manner. Bowing, the dark-haired man took a long look at the woman and eyed her curiously. "You're most welcome," he finally said, noticing how she seemed to squirm under his sight.
"We've arrived in Santa Marta for repairs, the storm did some damage but it's fixable. It may cost a bit..." he watched as her nose wrinkled at the words. "...But it can be done here. They are known to be the best."
Catherine slowly nodded her head while looking to be worried. "Fine, I'll find a way to pay for repairs," she agreed, seemingly still preoccupied with her thoughts.
"Good then, I'll go into town and get things started," Will suggested, opening the door. "Miss Kent...Catherine, how did you like the wine Red Roof brought you the other day?"
Stopping her silent musing, the blonde-haired woman furrowed her brow in surprise at the odd question. "The other morning? Oh! Red Roof didn't bring me wine with my morning meal, it was not but water."
"Then the wine upon the floor..."
"That? That was brought later by Ark. He told me it was from my husband's private stock and that you had suggested he bring it," she answered, noticing how his eyes darkened. "It was quite good the little I had of it. I'm afraid with the way the boat was rocking, it spilled. Is there something wrong?"
Will Turner felt the web he was stepping into close even tighter about his body as turn after turn presented something new. As well as something to make him reconsider the thought before. "No, nothing is wrong...just curious. Ark you say?"
"Yes, it surprised me, I must admit," she spoke up, chewing on her inner cheek for saying such aloud.
"Why?"
"Because...because I thought you knew he just doesn't seem to be...I can't explain it. The man just seems to be acting the part; I've seen the way he glares at me when he thinks I'm not looking. I've also seen the way he looks at you...I'm just being paranoid, I suppose. He was my husband's quartermaster for many years..."
With that last remark, Catherine stopped her words as what Will had said to her a few days earlier hit her in the chest as well as if he'd used his fist. "Nevermind...I'm just being foolish," she quickly amended.
Will stood there unsure of what to say for her words, then her emotions hit him full on and he was even more confused as to his earlier suspicions of what Miss Catherine Kent-Hyde was on about.
"I'll be leaving shortly for port to find someone to help repair the ship of the things which we cannot. They'll be expecting payment..."
"...That will be taken care of," Catherine interrupted, looking worried once more.
"Might I suggest you stay down below and rest," he began, quickly holding up his hand to stop her objections, making sure it was his free hand. The rubies were now warm in his palm and biting into his skin for he held them so tight. "You can barely keep yourself aright. A good meal, some sleep, and tomorrow, you can go with me into Santa Marta if you wish."
Furrowing her brow, the woman had to agree. She'd not make it very far in her weakened state. But she did know for fact, she had to go into the town as soon as possible, there was something she had to quickly take care of or they'd never make it to the Isle of Kinset with their intended cargo. They'd come too far to have things fall apart and that was the last thing Catherine Kent wished.
"Agreed," she whispered, slumping into a nearby chair at the table.
"Good, I'll have Stout bring you something to eat and keep you company," Will insisted.
"Mr. Turner, I do not need a nanny. I give you my word I will not leave this ship...steal this ship...sink this ship, or whatever it is you're afraid of me doing to you."
Deep brown eyes narrowed slightly. "I worry for your safety, not mine. There are many things aboard a ship that a lady of your nature could find dangerous," he tried to convince, keeping the truth to himself, especially now.
With a huff, Catherine cocked her head to the side and reluctantly agreed. "As you wish...this time. But sooner or later I want the truth...the entire truth," she challenged.
"As well myself, dear lady. As well myself," he uttered, closing the door behind him, leaving the woman to ponder if she'd correctly read the double meaning in his words.
~~*~~
Securing the services of a shipwright and his men to repair the ship was easy enough. Jack Sparrow had taught Will quite a bit over time, and one was to know the names of those who were skilled and those who were trustworthy. If not, buy their trust, Jack had once said. But at the moment, Will didn't have the funds for buying loyalty, he settled for skill and a cranky shipwright.
But it was also that shipwright who had informed the young captain that there had been sightings of the 'Black Pearl' just off the channel, about two days back.
Will Turner knew that could only mean one thing. Jack Sparrow was in the vicinity. And where Jack Sparrow was, trouble soon followed, but Will wasn't going to miss a chance to catch up to the scoundrel. It had been far too long since the two had met-no, that wasn't completely true. In fact, it was at Elizabeth's funeral, where Jack had watched silently from afar since there was still a price upon his head by the Crown.
Being as it was still barely past noon, there was only one place where Captain Jack Sparrow would be found, the wildest, raunchiest, loudest pub on the island. Will Turner figured from the raucous laughter emanating from the tavern at the end of the row, that 'The Red Rose' was the place to find the pirate.
His assumption was proven correct as a blur of dark hair, hat, beads, and dark clothes came hurtling out of the tavern door only to land at his feet with a loud groan of pain.
"Bloody bastards, they wouldn't know what pot to piss in if..."shirking his hat on, then looking up to see why the blazing sun was slowly blotted out, Jack Sparrow smiled his golden smile-literally. "Will? Will Turner? Is this an illusion or are you just blocking the light?"
Will reached down to help hoist the other to his feet and unexpectedly received a gruff hug from the dark haired pirate with coal etched eyes. "It's me, Jack," Will assured as the other stepped away, straightening his hat once more.
"Figured you'd live on that rock and not come down till I blasted the damnable cliff from beneath your feet," Jack remarked with a flourish of his hand and a quick glance to the other's feet and then grinned broadly.
"You're not a lad no more. You've tossed away the silk stockings for boots now. You are a pirate for sure, so you feel you've earned your boots...good lad," Jack acknowledged, leaning forward and placing his hand on Will's shoulder.
In a low whisper, Jack Sparrow began. "The ladies love the boots...remember that," he emphasized with a wave of his hand and a cock of the brow, quickly followed by a quirky brow furrow. "...And the lads too as well..." he added as second thought, pushing away as Will wasn't quite sure what to say.
"I'll keep that in mind if...I'll remember that," Will stumbled. "So what brings you to Santa Marta? Thought you swore to never return."
"Buy me a drink and I'll tell you my tale," Jack suggested, quickly turning and heading down the dusty street. His eyes firmly planted upon the small pub at the opposite end.
~~*~~
"...You have what?" Will asked, trying to fathom what he had just been told.
Jack sighed with disdain. "I have a ship full of shite. The 'Pearl' is full of guano. Nobody onboard can stand the stench so we dropped anchor outside the nearest port..."
"Which is why you're now in Santa Marta after swearing off to never return," the other finished, hiding his smile behind his tankard as he took a sip of ale.
Pointing a finger at Will, Jack then shook his head in the negative. "No, not quite. I swore off Santa Marta after Marguerite threatened to hack off the boys..."
Will's eyes widened as he choked on the mouthful of ale. "...The..."
"... 'The' boys," Jack emphasized, nodding towards his crotch.
Squinching his nose at the thought, while wheezing to get his breath back, Will winced-as best he could under the circumstances. "I...see...did you...deserve it?" he choked out.
Placing a finger to his chin, Jack contemplated the question. "Possibly deserved that threat," he acknowledged with a groan, then picking up his tankard, downed the ale in one long gulp.
Taking a deep breath, finally managing to breathe without coughing, Will Turner then asked about the ship. "What about the 'Black Pearl'? Just how did it get filled with guano?"
"Haven't you heard, there's a lucrative business in shite. Just that nobody told us how bad the stench would be."
"Come on, Jack, since when have you ever taken on cargo as a legitimate run?"
Rolling his eyes, then banging his tankard against the wooden plank table trying to get the serving wench's attention for another round, Jack smiled. "Was a slight miscalculation. I thought the ship carried rum and such...I just overheard the wrong conversation and visited the incorrect bloody ship. But I think I've got a buyer for all that shite."
"I would hope so," Will agreed. "Just what ship were you trying to plunder?"
Waving his hands madly about to quiet the boy, Jack glowered at him. "Don't use that term in mixed company," he warned, noting the pirates and legitimate ship's crews about. Granted, they were divided as if told to sit that way.
"Funny name...Englado...Ingla...Gloria..."
"Engloria?" Will supplied, earning him a jubilant nod of the head from Jack as he pointed in the younger man's direction.
"Engloria, that is it," he agreed, watching as Will frowned. "Is she of any meaning to you?"
Will raked a hand through his hair as the serving wench refilled their tankards. "How would you like a tour of the ship? I'm the captain," he revealed as Jack couldn't help but laugh.
"Hellfire, this 'is' good," Sparrow chuckled, tilting his full tankard in a salute to the other man.
~~*~~