Sorry for the delay people, I've been busy - not too far to go now :(
The posse pinned themselves against the wall, dark shadows being the only thing that stood between them and certain detainment if the guards had spotted them.
"Ana-Maria you go first but be quick with the gag, one little whimper from him and that'll be it for all of us, Go now" Jack ordered in a hushed voice while he slowly sidled with the most careful steps; every small rattle that came from his brace of pistols made his heart thump all the louder.
The Jamaican pulled off her scarf and stretched it in her hands, nodding at Jack's command she turned to the oblivious lieutenant and waited until the guards walked back to the far end of the grove. Then like a masterful predator she began stalking Anthony Roivas and pounced on him: Taking seconds to slip the makeshift gag between his teeth before dragging him behind a wall. Jack Sparrow, Joshamee Gibbs and Ben Crawley followed her. Gibbs threw the officer on the ground and restrained him, to which Roivas started to fight back: Squirming and kicking and trying to make as much noise as he could.
"Stop your whining you yellow-bellied runt – worst excuse for a seaman I've ever known…I used to work for your side, they must be quite incompetent now letting a man like you have a rank of…Lieutenant?" Gibbs croaked in amusement as he squinted down at the tiny pins that separated crew from Officers of The King.
"Odd things are happening to the world Jack to let this scoundrel have such high-brow responsibility"
"That is not my concern, the only thing that matters to me is Ruby-Rose" Jack answered, watching quietly as Gibbs stepped behind the captive and waited. Jack paused for a while hoping that the officer would not be missed too much as the pirates began their escape plan, he nodded once and in compliance Gibbs pistol-whipped Roivas on the head, he fell to the ground.
"All we have to do now is find the barracks – Hurry!" The Captain commanded Gibbs and Crawley were left to drag the unconscious officer as Ana-Maria scouted the grounds for a building that resembled a jail. After a few minutes she caught sight of three tiny windows with bars on them. Jack leaned over to where she was pointing then grabbed her arm as the group sprinted for cover.
Anthony Roivas woke to the sound of waves crashing against the rocks; he could feel the warm trickle of blood pouring from his left temple. Realising he was bound and gagged when he tried to move his arm. Sighing with regret over his incompetence he tried to sit up against the rock he was lying against eyes flaring with rage when he recognised the Jamaican girl who gazed at him.
"So you're finally awake, if we knew you would be out for this long we would have left you alone"
All Anthony could do was wriggle as he tried to string a sentence over the gag in his mouth, Ana-Maria could barely make the words out chuckling softly as they were not the nicest of phrases.
"Now, now Lieutenant you are not in any real danger; my friends and I just need some guidance from you"
"You will tell us which cell that Ruby-Rose is being held in, we're not here to make a ransom because frankly mate you're just not worth it …Now where is she?" Jack demanded as he pointed his sword towards the captive, it was an empty threat but one that never failed him.
Anthony looked around him, astounded to find a 3ft cannon placed beside him. The terrain of the coastline was rocky and uneven it was not the best place for ramblers let alone a cannon: It dawned on him how much determination lay in the pirates' minds, he gazed up at the Captain who had yet to reveal himself to him once Jack did Roivas took a deep breath – At last the two love rivals were met face to face.
"Make one whimper or yelp and I will cut your tongue out" Gibbs warned, again another empty threat; Joshamee Gibbs was not a man of malicious character – Only fighting when he had to and even though he did enjoy the confrontation between the Interceptor and The Black Pearl manned by Barbossa he relished in myth-making rather than anything else.
"So the ghost is made flesh at last; I underestimated you Captain Sparrow I was not expecting you for a few days at least" Anthony growled defiantly.
"The most generous gift any enemy can offer me: Constant underestimation...You know who I am sir?"
"Aye that I do, there is no need for an introduction Jack you have your father's eyes, same annoyingly boisterous manner too"
"I may take that as a compliment sir, so I ask again where is Ruby-Rose?"
Instead of replying immediately the officer took his time with the deliberation: Calmly looking up at the stars and feeling his jealousy rising, he had lost a great deal to the man that stood before him and was adamant to relinquish some of the things that were stolen – Namely his pride and reputation.
Tell me Captain – Does Olivia still enjoy a quiet starlit sky, a glass of sherry beside a cosy fire, keep her hair up in that beautiful ruby pin of hers?"
The group turned to Jack with puzzled stares with only Ana-Maria silently urging him not to take the bait. Jack's eyes widened as the rule keeping Ruby-Rose the Pirate Princess and Olivia Arlington the woman separate was being trampled on, he did not need nor want to imagine how intimate the officer and the pirate princess became. Despite his temperament being tested he did not fall for the trap instead a wry smile beamed on his face and he raised the sword closer to the goading rival.
"Listen up lieutenant and listen well I am far too preoccupied to deal with your little games, all you need is to tell me is which one of those grim huts has Ruby-Rose been incarcerated in…and then we'll leave you on your way" Jack answered gruffly, he was annoyed but repressed his fury to lessen the impact of the thinly-disguised insult.
"Most of the cells have been occupied for three days but with such a high-profile criminal in our custody Ruby-Rose takes precedence, she is being kept in the third cell down – she hangs at dawn" Anthony explained, trailing off with fear and sadness in his voice.
"Right let's do this, three hours to sun-up let's get Ruby-Rose and get out of here" Jack remarked fearlessly
"…Much obliged to ye" Gibbs remarked before knocking the hapless officer out again.
Crawley and Gibbs started to push the cannon towards the prison wall and stopped 40 or 50 yards away, panting heavily as it took them over an hour to haul the gun off of The Oracle
Within the cell in question Ruby-Rose oblivious to her imminent rescue had begun to slip in and out of consciousness, she had never experience and injury before and she knew many people who had been branded by the East India Trade Company but it was a subject hardly ever discussed. But even after all the hours that had passed she was marked she knew that something was wrong. The young Captain could not bring herself to look at the burn and made a bandage out of rags to cover the scorched flesh, she was shaking with fever and the undergarments were now blackened with dirt and sweat. Through it all she continued to say her father's name before drifting off again, wandering back to the world of dreams she heard a thunder then a long enduring whistle that began to get louder and louder. With her eyes closed she focused on the sound, then within seconds her eyes shot open and she dived off the bed and pinned herself against the bars. The wall exploded behind her and debris struck the iron bars and all across her back, she was physically weak but managed to smile as she heard Jack's voice, she groaned as two strong arms dragged her to her feet.
"Come along Ruby-Rose no time to dawdle" Jack plead as he took her hand and led her out of the cell and raced across the hillside and back through the town.
Ruby-Rose was barely coherent to what was happening, the automation of running was making her more ill, with her hand still clasped in Jack's she collapsed on the ground hard. Jack knelt in front of her and began to pick her up again he saw her pale face soaked in sweat her eyes were weary, he gasped in fear and he felt her shaking. He realised her feet were bare and that her modesty was covered up by nothing more than her corset and long petticoat.
"Olivia w-what happened what's wrong love?" He stammered as he stroked her face and rubbed her skin to encourage some body warmth it was only then did he notice the brown rag tied over her wrist. He touched it with his fingers and raised an angry scowl to God; Jack's worst fears had been realised.
"Don't Jack, I'm afraid I bit off more than I could chew this time around I'm no legendary pirate" She sobbed, Jack's heart broke as the fear and shame of Ruby-Rose's cowardice watered with her tears. He wiped them away with his fingers and placed his hands over her cold cheeks and kissed her gently before picking her up in his arms.
"You are the best of them; The Pirate Princess of Crimson Cloth, Poseidon's sacred Flower and don't you ever forget it" He whispered kissing her forehead before making haste back to their ships.