Before The Dawn
Chapter XII: Of Wind and Cards
By FalconWing
Captain Gillette sat in the main cabin of the Dauntless with Governor Swann hovering fretfully at his elbow. While Weatherby made no attempt to hide his anxiety, Gillette was making every effort to keep his own under wraps. It could do no good for morale of the men under his temporary command to see him unsure and uneasy. Especially when aforementioned morale was already at a low.
They were currently floating about fifty miles off the coast of Cuba and he didn't like it. It was bad enough that they were no longer in British territory but to be dead in the water…that was a hundred times – hell, a thousand times – worse.
He was worried, the Governor was worried, the crew's spirits were about as lifted as a pirate waiting to be hanged and they were still no closer to finding the villains that had kidnapped half of their port's nobility. If there was any way that things could possibly get any worse then Gillette would swallow his pride and do a jig on the foredeck. That said, at least they were alive, though by the speed by which their rations were disappearing, that wouldn't be much longer.
"There must be something we can do. All the while we sit here doing nothing, my daughter and countless others are being held captive and without doubt being maltreated too."
Gillette almost sighed at the Governor's words. True, the man was agitated at the moment – one could almost go so far as to say he was emotionally unstable – but if he had to explain to him one more time that for the time being they were stuck, he was fairly sure he would throttle the closest available object. And he really didn't want a first-hand experience of what happened to Captains who assaulted a resident Governor.
"I'm afraid there isn't, Governor. Without the wind, all we can do is sit and pray. I would recommend target practice, but we don't have enough shot to carry that sort of task out. The Dauntless has no sweeps and, even if she did, we have not the crew to man the number that would be needed to move such a ship as this. She is far too large."
He paid the man no more heed as he returned to poring over the map before him. They had been bound for Tortuga bay, though they were not so foolhardy as to attempt to dock. The pirates who swarmed over the place would not take kindly to Navy men. That was likely the general direction to which the hostage takers had headed. After all, where else but a pirate haven could a pirate crew not expect to be welcomed with handcuffs, a cell for the night and a noose in the morning?
From the moment they had weighed anchor, the wind had not been particularly favorable. It had been about six hours into their voyage that the wind had without warning dropped altogether, leaving their sails drooping suddenly with no wind to fill them.
That had been almost five days ago now and there had been not a breath of wind since. The journey to Tortuga should have taken, under normal circumstances, a little over a day.
A slight movement beside him made him look to his left. Weatherby was looking absently towards the far wall, at a painting of a fully-rigged ship under full sail, though it was by all means uncertain that he even saw it. "Oh, Governor Swann. I was unaware that you were still here," Weatherby startled and turned so he continued. "Are you sure you would not rather make yourself comfortable in your quarters? I do have some work to complete."
The man's eyes narrowed slightly, as though he were trying to work out if he was being impertinent. But Gillette had been careful with his phrasing. He could afford to be insolent to many a person, but Governor Swann was not one of them.
Finding nothing incriminating in neither words nor tone, the Governor relaxed, though only minutely. Gillette knew that the man did not like him. Not many people did. People often found him smug and overbearing and general avoided him. He didn't mind though. Those who did circumvent his company were generally people whose company he wouldn't tolerate anyway.
"I have spent the last few days in my rooms, but if indeed you do have work to do then I shall-"
A small jerk of the floor beneath their feet and a simultaneous slamming of the doors made both men to look up startled as a sailor burst into the room. Gillette couldn't believe it! The audacity of the man!
But without giving Gillette a chance to deliver a sharp reprimand, the man broke into an excited announcement, interspersed only by short sharp breaths to regain oxygen for his deprived lungs. "Sir, it's the wind. It looks like its starting to pick up again. The sails are beginning to fill and it looks as though we may be on the move at any moment."
– – – – –
The alcohol was flowing freely the night on the Jolly Roger the night after their first raid.
In truth it was their third raid but no one liked to dwell on their mishaps, least of all a pirate crew. The first two attacks on merchantmen had not gone smoothly.
The first time, they had not even managed to board. After a few exchanges of cannon fire, the other ship had turned and fled and the crew of the Jolly had been slow to react, allowing their prey to flee to safety. The second time was one that had never been mentioned since. They had beaten the other ship and even managed to board. But the other crew had charged out surprisingly strong and despite Jack's efforts to reorganize, the fight had turned messy. After losing four crewmen, the order to fall back to the Jolly had ended the clash and they had made a hasty retreat back over the horizon.
Today however, everything had gone smoothly. Jack's extra practice sessions had improved both their aim with the cannons and their hand to hand combat aboard ship. The wind had been on their side and they had made use of the maneuverability. Boarding had been a breeze and the new way of working with each other soon paid out as they fought the other sailors into submission.
They had been transporting a wide variety of riches to Port-au-Prince, including gold, jewels and much to everyone's delight, rum. Though none of their crew could speak English, they understood what it meant when pirates held a sword to their neck.
And so Jack sat with his feet propped on the table, taking liberal gulps out of the large mug he held in his hand. He glanced at his own cards occupying his other hand and then returned to regarding his opposition. The round had been going well and so far Jack was winning, though Big Dan was close behind. Now, with the folding of all the other contenders, it was just Jack and Dan remaining yet again.
The other man's expression was unreadable as he leaned forward and pushed more coins into the middle of the table. "I'll up it by twenty gold pieces."
The men sitting around the table drew in a collective breath – that made it thirty pieces – but Jack only let a small smile grace his lips. By God, but the man showed no emotion whatsoever. He could be bluffing for all Jack knew (a large bluff that's for sure, but he'd seen men do bigger).
He leaned forward and pushed more of his own coins to the centre of the table before settling back again. "There's your thirty and I'd like to see you." The tension mounted and Dan leant forward placing his cards face up on the bench. All faces swiveled to see Jack's reaction to the full house of Queens and Kings that stared solemnly at the ceiling.
Jack emptied his mug with a swig and put it on the floor next to his chair. Then he swung his legs down and sat forward, placing his cards on the table with a victorious grin. Four aces and a ten secured the round.
There were whoops and shouts as he emerged the winner. In the past week alone, he had gained a lot more respect from the rest of the crew, though he still didn't like or trust any of them further than he could throw them – they had been perfectly capable of kidnapping a dozen people and killing another.
Crewmembers approached him and awarded him with a clap on the back before drifting away, entertainment over. Dan got up and shook his hand good naturedly. "Congratulations Jack. Ye're a good player. I'll 'ave to wait 'till next time to give ye a good beatin' aye?"
Jack grinned. "And what makes you think you'll beat me then, aye?" Dan just chuckled and Jack started to separate the pot back into its original portions.
"What are ye doin'?" Big Dan was giving him a puzzled look and Jack frowned.
"Getting it back, ready to give it back to everyone. Its part of the code. No gaming for money with either dice or cards." But Dan continued to cast him a perplexed look so he sighed and stated simply "Just don't worry. In short, you all get your original money back."
There was certainly no argument to this and he proceeded to find the remainder of the players and return their money. All accepted with many a confused expression but without complaint. Once finished, he got himself another pint of rum and sat down to enjoy it.
He couldn't help but notice that Clavell had been watching him the entire time.
– – – – –
Clavell watched Daniels hand money back to people with a profound sense of mystification and disbelief. He had heard the man say something about the Code to Big Dan but that didn't mean anything to him. Who would give away money?
There was something about Daniels that wasn't right. He couldn't get the feeling out of head that there was something major that he was missing out on. Something obvious and just out reach.
And he couldn't help the feeling that Daniels was not all he said he was.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
I know it's shorter than the last two but please don't kill me – I was in a rush. Instead of inflicting any bodily harm upon me, reviews will do. Your thoughts on anything you liked, didn't like or thought needed improvement or adjustments are welcomed with open arms. Any reviewers will be loved ad infinitum.
Reviewer's Thanks
Heldin: Thank you for reviewing and it's good to know that my only readers aren't only those who review. And I think he's too smart for that too. I don't see Jack as someone who drinks all the time. Rather I believe he only drank that much on the island because, let's face it he thought he was going to die.
Shei1dmaidenofrohan: Thanks for reviewing and pointing out that typo. If fixed it now.
OpraNoodlemantra: Lol! It is the funniest name ever! You must be a really big Johnny fan to look for the name of one of his cameo characters in the credits. Thanks for being a loyal reviewer.
Beregond'sGirl: (Feeling warm and fuzzy?) Lol. Thanks for going back and reviewing chapter 10 as well. Much appreciated. I'm afraid I don't have the recipe – it'll be on the net somewhere 'cause there are all sorts of plants you can use aren't there? About the beta reading…that would be great though I usually don't finish the chapter until generally a few hours before I have to post it for it to be updated on the database so I don't know how that would work. What do you think?
The Phantom: I'm glad that you like the way I take my time. I was worried people may think it was going too slow and nothing's happening. I've changed the niggles you found so thanks for those and of course all your wonderful comments – you really know how to make a girl feel appreciated.
Crazydominodragongirl: Let's just say that while Clavell isn't a blind idiot, he's not very smart or onto it either, k? And it was certainly an enlightening experience reading how you got your name and I'm sure it's one no one else would ever dream of using with numbers on the end as the reasons you chose it likely wouldn't be significant to them; different value sets and all that. Well done for your originality in thinking up a name.
Savvyness: You'll just have to wait and see. And thanks for the review.
Missa5: Ooh yay, a new reader. Have you been reading it long or just started? Thanks for reviewing.
BM Originally: They will play a main part though maybe not a huge as Jack's. Thank you for your nice remarks. Very much cherished.
Peachfreak: Oh dear. You laughing like me? Please, no. I think the world can only handle one laugher like me. Lol.
Alaawya: you should know what it means. Lol. Thanks for reviewing.
Love y'all…
FalconWing.
