Andy

"Don't think you are faster. Know you are." Will instructed carefully, watching his young, eager student with a careful eye.

The small boy followed his master's instructions and made a swifter movement…one fast enough to block a clout or disable a man, when necessary. He'd been given in-home lessons by Will Turner for the last two months, and already his swordsmanship had greatly improved.

"Sir, there's a messenger for you waiting in the library." A maid interrupted the session.

"Who's the message from?"

"I asked them that myself, but all they would say was 'really bad eggs'. Do you know what that means?" She inquired, puzzlement upon her pale face, whipping away a strand of chestnut hair which had fallen across her face.

Will did. He'd been trying to rid the ordeal of The Black Pearl from his mind for three years, yet still it persisted. "Yes." Then he mindlessly added "Only too well."

"What was that sir?" The confused maid inquired.

"Nothing. Never mind it." Will rushed, passing the woman to reach the exquisite library. He somewhat envied his student and the boy's family. There house was one of the finest in the town, and was magnificent in every sense.

He then dismissed his student for the day, turning his head and promising to continue the next. But he would not carry on the following day… or the one after that, as he wasn't yet aware.

At first glance, Will could have sworn that he saw Jack, the pirate he knew three years earlier, waiting in the library, head tipped so that his face was in shadow. "What are you doing here, Jack? Can you even conceive of what would happen if you were seen here?"

"If I were seen, it would be of no matter, for I, as you may have hypothesized by my voice, am not Jack." I replied, raising my head.

Indeed, as soon as my head was raised and unveiled by shadows, I looked nothing like Captain Jack Sparrow, with the exceptions of my hair, apparel, and approximate height.

"Of course not, I see now…" He paused, stunned at the initial resemblance between myself and the Captain. "Please accept my apologies."

With nothing more than a nod of my head, I did as he asked before delivering the message. "The Black Pearl's crew sends me with this one request of you. 'Come.'"

"Come?"

"Yes, 'Come'. That is all I've been sent with."

It took a while for things to register in Will's mind. At first, he thought 'come where?' Then he realized the true meaning. He was being asked to return to The Black Pearl. "Do you know how long for, or why?"

"Indefinitely, and yes, but I am required not to answer any questions-"

The man interrupted me. "You just did."

"-of particular nature." I finished.

"Do you know Jack Sparrow?"

"That is called 'changing the subject', and what did I just say about questions?"

Will came across the room so that he was directly in front of me and his dark eyes were locked onto mine. "Just answer me. Do you know Jack Sparrow?"

I took a small step forward and looked up at him, keeping eye contact. "I had better; he is my brother…and he prefers 'Captain' Jack Sparrow."

"What?" My words had quite obviously been unexpected ones to him.

"Are you looking for me to repeat the 'brother' part, or the 'Captain' part?" I did not have the time to repeat myself, and was growing impatient.

He retorted, "I heard all you said; it's just…" Will Turner's speech trailed off to nothing. He really was a man of few words, as my brother had described.

"Didn't you know? Or has Jack failed to mention the small detail that he has a sister, as usual?"

He smiled slightly and shook his head. "It never came up, no."

Sometimes I grow disillusioned with my brother for neglecting to tell anyone that I exist. But at the moment, I had worse situations to deal with. "We must leave immediately. That is… if you shall join me to The Pearl."

I could tell that it was a difficult choice for him to make, but in the end, his decision was one I'd expected…. "I shall, on one condition."

"Name it." I cocked my head thoughtfully. Only after I spoke the words did I realize what I might have gotten my brother and his crew into. His request could be anything.

Noting my sudden questioning of my response, the blacksmith spoke quickly. "I stay no longer than needed. As soon as I've listened to Jack and his crew I can go." His words were peculiarly hastened.

I relaxed a bit. "Of course. You may leave whenever you choose…or not come at all."

"Thank you." He paused as if considering something. "Could we go to my house so that I might pack some things before leaving?"

"If you like, but it would cost time, and we are short on that as it is."

"What do you mean?"

So he hadn't heard…

I said "Nothing." I lied.