author's note: One morning I woke up and had 13 new reviews! Thanks a lot Cayenne Pepper Powder and welcome to my obsession. Glad you warmed up to Rowan Scarlett. I hope you like the new chapter.
Ellennar: So you're beginning to like Marris. That's good. I think there will be more about him.
13. The calm before the storm
Miguel Alfonso de Santiago turned up his nose as he walked through Cayona's dock area, wishing he'd taken the carriage. Despite all the years he knew that part of town, he'd never get used to the incredible stench. Also he'd never understand what made it so attractive to grown-up men to wallow in the filth like pigs, even if said men were stranded outsiders of society. He didn't grudge them the fun they had with cheap booze and whores, and if they absolutely needed a public screw it was up to them as well. But why didn't they know when to stop? Why did they always have to fall asleep in their own vomit? That was the most disgusting thing to him. Yet all sailors, villains, pirates and adventurers of the Caribbean got shiny eyes whenever the name 'Tortuga' was mentioned, and almost everyone had a story of his stay in the most lawless harbour to tell; a story that probably ended in vomit.
The Spaniard took a deep breath when he finally reached the quay and a fresh breeze blew from the sea, driving away the bad smell. His heart leapt at the sight of the two dark ships that were moored there; the imposing, majestic shape of the Black Pearl with all her beautiful wooden carvings and next to her lay her little sister, the more slender and less extravagant decorated Jewel Star.
With a smile on his face he entered the Jewel and headed for the captain's cabin in order to look for Rowan Scarlett. But even before he could walk down the companions way, a voice called him back.
"She's not in there."
He turned around to see Marris sitting on a coil of ropes, idly polishing his cutlass.
"Ah, so where's she?"
Marris pointed his head at the Black Pearl when he saw Santiago pulling a face. He sighed, slightly annoyed but most of all unnerved. "Nah, not again. Listen mate, I've already spent hours setting Anamaria straight that she's only in love with the idea of loving the famous Captain Jack Sparrow, since a woman who- because of a lack of arguments- continuously slaps the guy she thinks she loves can't possibly love him dearly, and therefore she's not the right one for that man; especially if said man is Jack Sparrow."
"Did she get what you're talking about, lad?" Santiago asked ironically, raising a bewildered brow at the blonde pirate.
"Well, she slapped me. Guess she likes me a lot." He grinned at the thought of the fierce Mulatto woman, but only a second later his eyes narrowed. "That's not the point. The point is that I'm getting sick and tired of it. Damned, am I the only one to see clearly what's obvious? This is a pirate love-story, mad, wild, and maybe even self-destructive. But can you keep an untameable animal in a golden cage, bearing to see it die like a flower fading in the shade? Can you tame the wind or burn the devil? You can't. So do me a favour and leave them alone since there's nothing you can do about it."
"You're being very cryptic this morning- or should I call it philosophical? Anyway, I promise to keep your words in mind but I really have to talk to Rowan now. Am I right to assume that she's aboard the Black Pearl with Jack?"
Marris rolled his eyes. Just what had he been talking about the whole time? Of course Rowan was with Jack! He sighed. "Well if ye gotta go 'n disturb them better make a detour through the galley and take a pot of tea along. Ye know what she's like early in the morning."
The Spaniard looked sceptically at the sky; the sun was already at its zenith. But then he just shrugged. Maybe he was too old to remember what it was like to be young and in love, therefore Marris may be right. Ah, Marris was definitely right. That blonde fuzzy-head had a certain talent to see more than meets the eyes, a very rare gift. If only he wouldn't be so slackly in nature, too cheeky to take anything serious and always ready to crack a joke… then he'd even be able to become a magician… Alas, though he might be an undiscovered talent he surely lacked patience, concentration and most of all respect for that secret knowledge…
It was the same secret knowledge that welcomed Santiago when he set foot on the dark planks of the Black Pearl, because these planks literally breathed with magic. It was the magic he'd used to give Jack a safe refuge, a swimming, impregnable fortress, and the fastest ship in the Caribbean. Yet that daft fool didn't even know where he got the Pearl from…
Should I've wrapped a red ribbon around her hull like a birthday present, including a card that read 'all the best to you', signed with my name? He wouldn't have appreciated it anyway. After all, he didn't wish me to interfere in his life anymore, not after Panama and certainly not after the mutiny. He made that unmistakably clear… The Spaniard sighed… It still hurts, and I'll never forget the harsh words he shouted at me when I finally found him, partying with the rum runners. He was so completely out of his own then, drunk and probably stuffed with all kinds of drugs. Maybe he has learned his lesson now, maybe he has changed in the meantime- or maybe I've never really figured him out. Who knows?
"Don Miguel, are you alright?"
"Mr. Gibbs! Nice to meet you." Santiago replied politely but suddenly he felt rather stupid. After all, he'd just walked aboard the most famous pirate vessel, carrying a tray with two steaming mugs of tea in his hands and looking for Rowan as if he was her cabin boy. He- a cursed, 246 years old magician. It seems no matter how old you are you can still manage to look ridiculous. He cleared his throat. "Well, I was obviously a bit lost in my thoughts. Actually I'm looking for Captain Scarlett. I was told she's here."
Gibbs made a sign to avoid evil and pointed to the captain's cabin. "Aye, she's in there, alas. Please forgive me for speaking so freely but if you ask me it's frightful bad luck to have one woman aboard and now we have two." He took a gulp from his little silvern flask he always carried along to underline that this was really too much for him.
Santiago just nodded and continued his way, hindered by no one. The few man on guard let him pass since they already knew him; after all, he'd been the one who'd repaired the Pearl when help was bitterly needed.
Then he entered Jack's cabin and immediately felt like an intruder when he saw Jack and Rowan in such an intimate embrace, her red hair mingling with his dark strands and dreadlocks. They smiled in their sleep; it was a relaxed smile that Santiago had never ever seen on Jack's face and which he'd long missed on Rowan's. Now he understood what Marris had already seen long before he could see it. They were a lovely couple- in their very own pirate ways though, but that still didn't alter the fact. He had to come to terms with it because he couldn't tear them apart as well as he couldn't burn the devil and hope to win…
A clicking sound interrupted his thoughts and only a second later a cocked and loaded pistol aimed at him.
"Ah, you know you can't shoot me, lad." He said matter-of-factly.
"Alf!" Jack yelped, definitely astonished to see the Spaniard. At once he lowered his pistol, breathing a sigh of relief that there was no attack, no mutiny- just Alf paying him a visit and bringing him… tea?
"Aye, it's me. And since you know now that it's me, would you please spare me this sight and cover yourself?"
Captain Jack Sparrow gazed down at himself, not knowing what should be wrong with the sight of a perfect body. Then he noticed that he was totally naked and quickly wrapped a sheet around his hips, grinning sheepishly at the Spaniard.
Meanwhile Rowan stirred in her sleep, instinctively reaching out one hand for a mug of tea but after she'd slurped some she pulled the sheets up over her head again.
"What d'ye want?" She grumbled sleepily and obviously not very pleased to see Santiago.
"Well, I have to talk to you, my dear girl."
"Go away. I'm tired."
Santiago didn't go away; he knew how she was like when waking up. Silent he watched her having another sip of tea and this time her eyes were open but unfriendly narrowed. He sighed. "You were quite in a rush yesterday- which I can understand of course- but there are still a few things we have to talk about. We need a plan to stop the evil things that are happening here."
"Ye want me to think of a plan? Now?" Rowan turned around and hid her head under the pillows, definitely not in the mood for evil magicians and even more evil goddesses.
"No, not now. I just want you to come to my house in- let's say in two hours." He looked at Jack. "Of course you're also welcome since you're already too deeply involved."
"Ah, are ye just saying that Captain Jack Sparrow has been so daft to take that damned chalice from Isla de Muerta, therefore he's gotta pay for it and fix the whole bloody mess?" Jack asked suspiciously.
"Well, that's a tempting thought indeed but unfortunately even the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow isn't a match for a magician like Ratbone." Santiago patted the pirate's shoulder comfortingly. "No, my lad. I've no intention to feed you to Ratbone since I've got other plans for you. See you in two hours."
"He really knows how to spoil my day." Rowan moaned after Santiago had left the cabin.
"Well, at least he didn't shout at me that I should keep my fingers off you. Also, I'm apparently welcome in his house again- dunno how that's gonna end but I'd say that's a good start." Jack sniffed at the tea, not knowing if he should really drink something that obviously lacked any rum. He decided against and slipped under the sheets again, nibbling at Rowan's neck. That was definitely a better taste. "After all, we've got two hours left." he purred in her ear.
"You're late."
"Aye." Rowan didn't try to talk her way out of it nor look guilty since she would have failed anyway. In fact, she didn't even give a damn if she was in time or not. What matters time when you make love? She had every right to get a bit of distraction, forgetting Nirrti, magic, Ratbone, the chalice… and Jack was very talented in distracting her. He made her feel wanted, attractive and desirable, maybe even loved though he'd probably never say that. He wasn't like Tyagraja who'd written poems or played a song on his sitar for her; Jack said all he couldn't speak out with his dark brown eyes.
Although she hadn't been in the mood to tell him about Nirrti- mayhap she'd never have the nerve to tell him- she had wondered why he didn't pester her with questions. Last night he'd been so eager to find out what's wrong with her, but today? Not a single word. First, she had thought he simply didn't care, that last night had been last night and today was just another day. But not Jack; Captain Jack Sparrow wasn't a man to forget things that easily, so the only reason he didn't ask was that he already knew. Realizing that had hit her like a bolt from the blue.
She still remembered how infuriated, hurt and betrayed she had felt when Jack told her that Marris was to blame. Well, of course he hadn't literally said that Marris was to blame but that's what it had meant to her. Of all people, her best friend had stabbed her in the back. Then, after a while and a few comforting, calming kisses later, she had realized that she was wrong. Probably she'd never ever have the guts to put in words what had happened in Madras, therefore it would always be between her and Jack. Thus, Marris had done her a favour…
"Rowan, dear, are you still with us?" Santiago asked and made her wince since she hadn't listened to him at all.
"What?"
"I've said we have to destroy that statue of Nirrti before Ratbone can lay hands on it, do you agree?"
"Aye." Nirrti, Nirrti, NIRRTI … that damned name echoed in her ears with every pulse of her heart, getting louder each time like the sound of the drums on that crematorium ground.
"Listen luv," Jack reached her a glass of wine. "it seems that I'm the one who'd messed things up so I'm gonna be the one who's gotta fix them again. Savvy? So I'll sail to the Isla de Muerta, find that statue and destroy it. What d'ye say?"
"Well Jack, that's a fair offer and I wish it would be that easy but…"
"Bah!" Rowan snorted, interrupting Santiago. "How could you even consider that? Do you two really think I'm a frightened, easy to intimidate girl that needs to be pampered?"
"No, no, I haven't said that, luv." Jack hurried to hush her with a little kiss. "I just thought there might be no need to confront you with that nasty Nirrti Goddess again."
"I'm not scared of a statue- savvy, sweetheart?"
"Of course ye're not scared, ye only scare others… um, I mean ye gotta consider that others might be scared about ye because ye're such a beautiful, courageous woman- sometimes even a bit too courageous and quite rash when it comes down fighting…"
"What are ye trying to tell me now? That you worry about me or that you fear I'd do something stupid?"
Jack dramatically rolled his eyes before he gazed back at her, hands lifted in an attempt to underline his next words but then he decided better not to answer. Instead he put an arm around her shoulder, hugging her tightly. "Ah, I just love it when ye call me sweetheart."
She drank a sip of wine and glanced flirtatiously across the brim of her glass, fluttering her long, dark lashes at him. "Is it so?"
There was a drop of wine on her lips he just had to kiss away before she could lick it off and he did that thoroughly. Apparently both of them had forgotten- or chosen to ignore- that they were not alone in this room. It was then that Santiago audibly cleared his throat.
"Well, it's nice to see that you enjoy yourselves here but…" He thumped on the table, rebuking them strictly. "… we're not here to enjoy ourselves. Good Lord, you can paw one another as much as you like after we're done with more important things. So keep your fingers to yourselves now because that is a very serious matter. You're absolutely not aware with whom we have to deal, kids. Ratbone's an old and mighty magician; he's very dangerous…"
"Gosh, I still can't believe we're talking about the same little creep. Thought he's just a boot-licking, mentally retarded hunchback." Rowan giggled, though she knew it better. After all, she had seen him in Port Royal; she had seen the aura of gloomy power around him. Yet that was something she didn't want to think about now.
"Lemme guess- Ratbone's not even his real name, aye? I mean, a mighty, old and dangerous magician can't possibly be called Ratbone. "
"Of course not. His real name's forgotten but as a magician he was once known by the name of Anirvan, the undying. That was before he'd eaten a human brain to gain even more power. Now he's not only a magician but also a Rakshasa…"
"What's a Raskas… Rashaksa… Rakshasa?" Jack interjected curiously.
"A Rakshasa is a Vedan night-demon that usually lingers around at crematorium grounds…"
"So to say a lovely companion to her Maliciousness, Nirrti." Rowan sounded rather cool but that was only pretended. Nirrti, Nirrti, NIRRTI… she dug her fingers into Jack's hand and felt at once more confident. Gently he brushed a wisp of hair from her face, suspecting very well what she was going through at the moment but still fascinated by that unusual color. Lost in thoughts he winded the strand round his index finger.
Instead of giving him a rap on the knuckles- like she would have done only a week ago- she just smiled now and snuggled up to him, playing with these two stupid braids that Jack calls a beard. Soon they'd start kissing again, Santiago interpreted the glances they exchanged, and he was slowly losing patience with them. Had he ever thought that they were a lovely couple? Well, maybe they were when asleep but awake they were simply unbearable.
"Stop that now!" The Spaniard barked. Though he didn't grudge them their happiness he was really pissed off with all that bill and coo because they seemed to forget more significant things. "Blast, that's really an important and very serious matter! Ratbone could tear out your hearts and have them raw for breakfast if he wants to, so stop behaving like infatuated kids."
"Thought he prefers brains." Rowan dared to say yet she fell silent when Santiago shot her an unnerving look. For a moment it appeared to her as if he would like to do some really nasty things himself.
Jack couldn't help but interrupt once more. "Yeah and why didn't he just bash in my head, steal my compass and eat my brain? Or eat my brain first before stealing the compass?"
Santiago rolled his eyes. "Brats! I wish I'd knew since I don't understand that either. Maybe he thought eating your brain would only make him sick. But, actually there's only one logical explanation- he's not in total control of his powers yet after Khadim had sent him into a magical sleep for centuries…"
"Who's Khadim?" Jack and Rowan asked in unison.
"You really drive me nuts! Why can't you just shut up and listen to what I have to say without interrupting me all the time? Do I have to put a silence spell upon you? I promise that I'll tell you all you need to know if you'd only let me finish." Santiago paused for an instant, awaiting a response but the two pirates only nodded, obviously not very keen to get spellbound. A wry smile curled up the corner of his mouth. "Well then, let me tell you a story of two friends that had started their career as magicians together until they reached a crossroad and each of them chose a different way; one decided to walk the path of light and the other that of darkness. Over the years, Khadim and Anirvan became bitter enemies. Anirvan lusted for power, and power he gained by worshipping Nirrti, the Vedan Goddess of Darkness and Destruction who had vanished from people's mind such a long time ago. In a vision she told him to eat a human brain in order to transform him into a Rakshasa, a mighty demon and her loyal companion; thus he did. Then, he created the Chalice of Doom… But Khadim thwarted his plans of setting Nirrti free. They fought a long, fierce battle and after all's said and done the Rakshasa Anirvan was put under a magical sleep somewhere high in the mountains of the Himalayas. It's not known why Khadim neither killed him nor destroyed the Chalice of Doom, maybe that simply wasn't within his powers. But it is known that he hid the chalice at a safe place where no one could ever find it, and it is also known that he used a magical compass to get there. Alas, soon after he had returned from his voyage Khadim got killed by some ordinary thugs and from that day on the compass was reported missing. So, what I really want to knows is how you came by that compass, Jack."
"Well, I didn't kill him- if that's what ye mean." Jack defended himself defiantly.
The Spaniard shook his head before hiding it in his hands, chuckling silently. Then he looked at the pirate again. "Oh boy, either you're really much too full of yourself or the daftest fool I've ever met. Khadim got killed about four-hundred years ago so it's very unlikely you had your dirty hands in that affair."
"Ah, that's good."
"So how did you come by that compass?"
"Well… um, it was after Singapore. A great place, by the way- just like heaven on earth for a man…"
"Please spare me these details. Singapore's just like Tortuga, a run-down disgrace swarming with worn-out faces and lacking any culture at all. Or do you really want to call the ill reputed brothels there places of cultural interest?" Of course that was only meant as a rhetorical question which any decent person wouldn't even think answering. Alas, Captain Jack Sparrow wasn't what one would call a decent man because he was in fact a pirate, and pirates usually got other priorities right. Therefore, ill reputed brothels definitely were places of interest to him and he could probably even see a cultural aspect in that; Santiago saw it in his eyes and impatiently cut him short before Jack could even open his mouth. "No, don't answer. Just tell me about the compass."
Jack shrugged. After exchanging glances with Rowan he cringed and came to the conclusion that Alf was right, maybe it was really better not to mention Singapore's famous brothels when she was around. Well, she had taken it with a kind of sophisticated humor, just raising a brow when he had indicated what he'd almost done last night and he didn't want to push it too far now. Quickly he leaned over to give her a brief kiss before Alf could attract his attention again.
"Well then, after Singapore I raided the Gulf of Bengal for a while and- without boasting- I could keep up easily with the local pirates. Soon my name was as infamous there as it was in the Caribbean so there were of course many envious persons and one of them must have betrayed me to the East India Company…"
"Jack, the legend of how the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow escaped from under the eyes of seven agents of the East India Company and nevertheless got marked with a pirate brand is already known; so there's no need to tell that story again." Santiago sighed, impatiently trying to suppress his continuously increasing impatience. "All I want to know is how. you. got. that. compass?"
"Ah that! Well, actually I bought it at a market in Bombay. An old Indian woman sold it to me, said it's a magical compass granting me fortune and fame…" Jack fell silent, grimacing at the thought of what he had gotten instead. Losing his Black Pearl to Barbossa wasn't what he'd call fortune and fame, and during these lonely ten years there had been many moments when he'd damned himself for buying a compass that doesn't point north.
"That's interesting." Santiago mused as he patted Jack's shoulder like praising a good boy. "So you've bought that compass of an old Indian Gypsy woman."
The pirate just made a mumbling sound that could be interpreted as approval and it was also quite obvious that he'd like to change the subject now- or better, leave the room. He didn't even want to know what Alf was thinking up in his 246-years-old-magician-mind at the moment since that meant trouble anyway. Apparently they were just about to set sails for Isla de Muerta and destroy that statue of Nirrti before a magician turned demon could lay hands on it. He was right.
"Jack, you'll lead us to Isla de Muerta. Prepare to sail before sunrise."
"Captain." Jack stressed, beginning to get sick and tired of being treated like a child.
"No, no. There's no need to call me captain." Santiago replied lost in thoughts. "I'll travel as a passenger aboard the Jewel Star."
Jack gasped audibly while Rowan started to giggle, which reminded him that there seemed to be no need of her accompanying them into unknown dangers, and he'd liked to keep her out of any danger if possible. Yet he didn't even dare to mention that because he already knew that she hated being treat like a child just as much as he did, so of course she would accompany them. Remember never ever to fall in love again with such a stubborn, vivaciously, proud, beautifully insane woman who doesn't give a damn 'bout me worries for her, he told himself, completely ignoring the simple fact that he'd fallen in love with her mainly because of that. Also, he'd almost forgotten that she could take care of herself on her own very well, so he cracked a smile now, remembering how she'd beaten up Commodore Norrington once before things went dreadfully wrong. If she was as good with her sword as her footwork was, he should stop worrying…
Some people might say that taking a hot bath on a warm Caribbean evening is absurd, a decadent waste of time and almost indecent. These people surely lacked any sense of sensuality, Rowan thought while she slid into the scented water, stretched out her limbs and sighed with pleasure. Or maybe it was the sensual feeling itself some people had problems with and seeing Santiago's bathroom might have confirmed their theory of heathen traditions because it was a luxurious dream of Arabian Nights. The tub- if you really want to call that little pool a tub- was in the middle of the room under a star-painted cupola carried by four marble columns. It was installed in a raised area to which three steps led covered in blue white tiles as the rest of the room was. Candles were lit everywhere and the damp air smelled of exotic spices like sandalwood. You could think whatever you want of Santiago but the man definitely knew about lifestyle. Of course he'd traveled far and he had adopted many attitudes of other cultures than the Christians where it was still a widespread belief that water- if hot or not- did harm the health. Therefore some narrow-minded members of high-society rather shrouded themselves in heavy clouds of perfumes before they'd ever dip a toe into a bathtub.
Rowan shuddered at that thought but then she stopped thinking and just enjoyed the hot, scented water caressing her body like a lover's touch, feeling completely relaxed from head to toe. For a short moment her mind was caught in a sweet void of sleepy laziness… until the door opened…
She sat up, wiping sweat and water off her face, prepared to shout some nasty words at the intruder. Then she saw that the intruder was Jack and relaxed again. "Ah, it's only you."
"Aye. Me." A smile curled up his lips when he saw her sunk neck-deep in warm water and though he tried hard not to stare at her too obviously, he failed.
"Why are ye staring at me? Never seen a woman taking a bath?"
Jack shrugged. He'd never spent that much time with a woman before and Tortugan whores weren't very famous for being clean, so he had in fact never seen a woman taking a bath. It was a lovely sight but also a very intimate moment that he almost felt he was disturbing here. "Um… d'ye want me to leave?"
"No. Come here." Rowan splashed around the water to make it unmistakably clear where she wanted him. He raised his brows in anticipation.
Of course he didn't have to be told twice when a lovely woman begged for his company, nevertheless Jack took his time. First he threw a cautious glance at the corridor outside, then he closed the door and locked it carefully. After all, he was in Alf's house and the last thing he had in mind was to infuriate a 246-year-old magician- or better said to infuriate him even more than he had already done.
"Just wanted to make sure we remain undisturbed, savvy?"
"And I almost thought you're scared of water- strictly speaking of taking a bath." Rowan teased him by splashing some water in his direction.
"Luv, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow. I fear nothing." He boasted and started to undress. Then he sat down at the edge of the pool, smiling cheekily at her while he dipped his fingers into the scented waters and sniffed at them before he nodded his head in approval. "That'll do. It wouldn't be good for my reputation if I smelled like a bouquet of flowers afterwards, aye?"
"You are scared of taking a bath." Rowan claimed and grabbed his arm; now she was smiling cheekily.
"I'm not!" Jack yelled as he fell into the pool with a big splash, a flood of water slopping over its sides. Snorting he shook his soaking wet hair and the pearls in his dreadlocks jingled. He tried to get hold of Rowan. "Blast! If ye'd told me right from the beginning how keen youare to take a bath with me instead of telling me that I needed one it would have saved us a lot of trouble."
She needed a moment to figure out what he was about but then her eyes narrowed. "I definitely wasn't keen to take a bath with ye when we met for the first time! Damned, I really hate it when ye're so…"
"Irresistible." He cut her short, circling dripping arms around her neck. "Irresistible is the word you're looking for."
Well, she'd had other words in mind yet he had the better arguments, and his breath-taking kiss was a damned good argument. More water slopped over the edge of the tub as she fit herself upon him with parted legs.
"Luv, are ye trying to seduce an innocent pirate?"
Rowan laughed. "I guess insatiable is the word you're looking for." She could clearly feel his desire for her, begging for entry which she willingly granted inch by delicious inch. Yet she still had to tease him a bit. "Besides, we could stop it if the innocent pirate in you feels abused."
"NO!" Jack grabbed her hard, filling her to the core and as an answer she locked her legs behind his back. They both chuckled as another wave of water splashed over the edges of the pool. "But we're gonna flood Alf's house if we continue." he murmured.
"So what?"
Later Jack held Rowan idly in his arms and he enjoyed that moment of intimacy as much as the relaxing feeling of warm water caressing his skin. Against the usual opinion that pirates in general are scared of water he didn't mind taking a bath- especially not if that ended in a sensual affair with a very unusual woman- and he didn't even fear for his reputation if he was clean. Yet one of the reasons for not taking a bath more often was definitely the lack of opportunities on high seas where fresh water was rare, secondly the lack of such a lovely company like Rowan Scarlett, but most of all it was for his own safety. After all, a naked pirate in a bathtub was actually very vulnerable, specially if said pirate was the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow who'd lived though a mutiny and was wanted dead or alive by the Royal Navy.
It was Rowan who ended their comfortable togetherness by reminding him of the uncomfortable world outside this bathtub; a world crowded with wicked magicians and evil goddesses.
"We should see to it that our ships are ready to set sail at sunrise..."
"Not now. The Pearl's always ready to set sail." Jack moaned and tried to silence her with a kiss. But since they'd been lying in waters mixed with scented oils she could easily slip from his hands, looking at him seriously.
"And we have to gather our crews from the various taverns."
He sighed. "Or we could just take whoever's available to man the Pearl. Besides, ye know that ye don't have to come to the Isla de Muerta with us, luv. Alf and I can cope on our own."
"Ha! Ye'd rather kill each other!" Rowan snorted. If the bath hadn't soothed her mind as well as her body she would be much more annoyed now, guessing right that this was just another attempt to tread her like… like a woman. She bit back any harsh remarks that were on the tip of her tongue and decided to be patient with him. "Jack, I know that you only want to keep me out of danger and I really appreciate that, but I didn't become a pirate captain just because of my look. I learned all I needed to know starting from the bottom, and I always had to be better than any man to prove myself, to gain their respect. It was a hard time. Though in the end it was my crew's decision that I should be their captain because they've started to trust me- even if I'm just a woman. I'm sick and tired of struggling with prejudices all the time so please give me a break and try to trust me as well. Besides, neither you nor Santiago are able to find that statue of Nirrti since I'm the only one who ever saw her."
"At the crematorium ground in Madras…" Jack whispered knowingly, remembering what Marris had told him and wondering what might have happened to Tyagraja since Marris had failed to mention that.
"Aye, at the crematorium ground in Madras." She got out of the tub and wrapped herself in a large towel, shivering a bit at that thought. It was obvious that she didn't want to talk about that anymore. She gave him a wry smile before leaving the room. "See you at the docks."
Jack collected his clothes, wishing he hadn't dropped them that close to the pool since they were wet as the rest of the bathroom was. He poured the water out of his boots and crept out of the room barefoot, hoping that he didn't meet anyone of Alf's household when he stumbled into Alf himself. The Spaniard stared at him from head to toe, an ironic smile on his lips.
"Good Lord, Jack! You look almost clean! Could it be that you've actually taken a bath? And forgotten to take off your clothes?"
Jack smirked but didn't give any answer. Instead he hurried to get away from Alf before the Spaniard could see the bathroom and figure out what had happened there.