Morning came with no sign of the mysterious ship, but Jack continued to swear that it was coming close. Anna Maria had been tearing maps and screaming madly about chasing wild fantasies, but it was more than obvious she trusted her captain still and she continued to carry his courses. Elizabeth had long grown cold and pale, even with the young and eager Lory to fetch her what ever she pleased. She remained covered in a heavy tarp, slightly scowled eyes drawn shut as she hid beneath the thick wrap. Will was the only thing keeping her warm, for the chill of doubt had settled beneath the coarse sheet; but as he continued to hold her still with nothing but the slight tracing of curls at her temples by his fingertips, she was able to sleep sweetly. The sun rolled over the frosty air and offered new hope, for the mist was parting. Jack shielded his lined eyes to the horizon to see the shape of another craft.
Lory suddenly called out from the nest, slithering down the rigging with a smooth leap. The crew assembled around the mighty mast as he landed softly and out of breath. "Look far west! A ship in the distance!" The captain strode to the stern to see a shadow, hazy and faint, but still present. Will woke his bride and slowly rose as she stumbled to her feet.
"The colors," Jack demanded of the boy, his own eyes not as sharp as some. Lory focused on the fluttering banner raised high above the other ship. Will frantically looked from his captain to the young assistant.
"Black, sir, and red." Jack began to pace, his fingers once again folded over his mumbling lips.
"Black and red…black and red…"
"Captain," Will asked, Elizabeth yawning and at his side but aware of the discovery. "Do you know who it is?" Jack remained in a frozen frown as he tried to make out the shadows shifting on the other craft. "Captain!" Will shoved his way through the crew for better view on the west end. His heart paused.
"See that brand, lad?" Jack mumbled, raising a shifting finger to the side of the ship. Will nodded slowly as his throat grew tight. The light was rising over the distant boards revealed a coal black mural drawn across the side. It was a near perfect image of a coin Will had been given years and years ago. A coin that stood for creatures that could not die and a battle that had changed all three of their lives forever. Elizabeth's voice could be heard in the back, ordering that she be allowed to see the thieves of her son as well. As soon as she saw the ship, slowly drifting nearer, her eyes widened and she grabbed onto her husband's coat as if she were to faint once again. "And all of this was just for rum." Will faced his captain in question, but Jack dismissed his own comment with a brief wave. "Lass, we're heading straight for it," Jack called to his navigator.
"I know," she feverishly yelled back.
"No, it's a good thing!" Jack rambled while gallantly striding to his rightful place at the spokes. "We're boarding them whether they've got Jack or not—it's the beauty of being a pirate, you don't have to ask simple questions like 'may we board your ship' or 'do you have the lad's son'; it's more of a 'here we are, give us your helm' sort of arrangement."
"There's no need to ask such things," Elizabeth answered darkly, "they have my son, I can feel it."
"Well then," Jack smiled, "if Miss Turner says they have her boy, I shall not argue." The crew, strangely silent since the sighting of the ship, glanced at each other in confusion of what to do. Lory merely gulped. Elizabeth saw them standing and stormed from Will's side.
"You heard the captain! We're boarding that ship!" In seconds they began to gather arms and chant. She rolled her eyes and faced the ship once again. "Bloody idiot pirates."