Chapter 26 – Prisoner Transport and Delivery
March 25, 1660

I spent the rest of the night on watch and pacing the rails for any signs of danger. Something had changed, something large and likely magical, but I had no idea what and it freaked Ariel out as well which added to my stress. Still, as I tolled the bell for midnight I refused to stand down my post and kept going, much as I had done many a night driving long haul and began employing a few tricks as I passed the night.

One thing I began to do was plan my future, more importantly, what I was going to do with forty plus women who were, to use a more polite term, working girls. Worse, I had six additional women who seemed to lack in nautical knowledge and would need to stash somewhere that wasn't my ship. I couldn't leave them behind now, wanting and needing to get them back to port so they could get on with their lives. I figured I'd likely let them post their letters but keep them with me, letting them work aboard the Scarlet Wench much like Ella to earn their keep until they heard back and then sending them on to their future.

But, as I thought over Monica a thought hit me. She was a poor Irish girl lured to a strange land with the promise of a husband, but what if there was no husband? I didn't know more about her situation than what she'd told me, but historical cues weren't kind in this situation, especially given she lacked shoes. If she had a husband, I'd congratulate her and send her on her way but if she didn't, the only choice she had was to see if her parents could afford to bring her home which again, I doubted they could do.

Standing on the forecastle, I knew there were two choices in her future, maybe three. One, she left to go either to her husband or to home, either way sending her happily on her way to a happier future. Two was bleeker, she had been lied to and I'd be forced to find a niche to fill her into until she managed to find a husband. I really wanted her to be happy, but if all else failed the only thing left would be to lump her in with Clarion's band and break her of her innocence, something I didn't want to do or see done.

As the day broke new and bright, I rounded up the crew and bid farewell to the girls as we pulled away from the dock and headed straight for Saint Eustatius. The trip back took longer as the wind wasn't on our side, but Timon's ship full of soldiers plodded along dutifully with Hook in the hold. When land came in sight, I donned my newly repaired uniform jacket Ella had repaired and took my post by the helm as Ariel piloted us into port.

As we arrived at dock, there was a full company of soldiers waiting in neat rows, Governor Fitzherbert at the lead. Timon, per my earlier order, had Hook ready to disembark when we docked, and I led the pirate straight to the governor.

"Governor Fitzherbert," I said as I gestured to a slightly disheveled Hook. "I present to you my prisoner, the infamous pirate James Hook."

"Well done, Colonel Hunt," Eugene said as he looked the pirate over. "Admiral Bodinson, take charge of this prisoner and lock him away."

"Aye sir," a gray haired admiral said as he stepped forward. Hook was led away with a full company of soldiers trailing behind, the soldiers I had brought disembarking with the rest.

"And these?" Eugene asked me as he looked at the few pirates still alive.

"What remains of his crew after a vicious boarding action, sir," I told him and Eugene nodded, his eyes going up at seeing my patched jacket.

"Your promotion and bounty is well earned," Eugene told me as he looked at the brig of war. "And a proper ship for such a warrior as yourself."

"Thank you, governor," I told him as he turned back to me. "I assume Hook will be given trial soon?"

"He'll be hanged on the morrow," Eugene told me as he turned and began to limp back to his carriage. I followed along to continue our conversation, wanting to learn a few particulars. "His trial was held in absentia so his guilt is already determined. All that's left is a long drop with a sudden stop."

"For him, it's well earned," I told him simply, not wanting to get into his abduction of women for personal pleasure. "Has there been any word on the new governor?"

"There has," Eugene told me as he stopped by his carriage. "Mayor Agnarr Arendelle has been selected to be the new governor. I'll assume you'll want to stay for the hanging, then I'll have you leave to retrieve the governor and take him and his family to Saint Martin."

"Aye, governor," I told him, accepting his mission.

"I suppose you'll also wanting to sell the Buxom Wench to consolidate your fleet?" he said as he eye fell to the Royal Sloop. "I can't imagine you wanting to sell a powerful warship."

"Aye, governor, I do," I said with a smile as I looked at the Buxom Wench. "She's a fine ship and any man would be proud to captain her, but you are right. The Scarlet Wench is a powerful warship, one I intend to use much to our enemies dismay."

"Then you'll be glad to receive my offer of five hundred gold for it," he offered and I felt my heart skip. It was definitely a sum for a single ship.

"Then it's a deal," I said as Eugene and I shook hands.

"And be at the mansion tonight about seven," Eugene said as he climbed into his carriage. "My wife expects you for dinner."

"As she wishes," I said as the carriage pulled away and I returned to the ships, Timon and the others already transferring their personal chests to the brig.

"Timon, a word," I called to stop the spare man from disappearing into the berthing deck. Timon set his chest down and waited as I approached.

"Sir," he said as he offered a salute.

"As an officer of the Wench you may claim a room at the stern if you so wish," I offered the man. He smiled, sighing as he looked at Pumbaa who was slowly making his way down the stairs.

"If it's alright, sir, I'll bunk with the sailors still," he countered. "Pumbaa has been a long time friend and I...I don't want to leave him."

"Officer's choice," I said as we shook hands. "The private cabin is ever open."

"Thank you sir," Timon said as he picked up his chest and made his way below.

I spent the next hour transferring the remaining food stock along with shot and powder to the Scarlet Wench, replenishing our own stores before discharging the crew. I was about to follow them when Simmons arrived with the gold for the Buxom Wench, adding that to the coffers that were now secured in my personal cabin under lock and key, along with the seventy thousand gold I had never told the crew about to prevent it being pilfered.

After that I took some doubloons my private collection, having refilled it after paying for all of the Buxom Wench's upgrades out of pocket, and headed out myself to the local shoemaker and had a pair of black leather boots ordered, my own shoes wearing thin after months of hard use and not being new when I landed on the Badger. The shoemaker promised to have them delivered by tomorrow evening, so I paid and left after he drew out and measured my feet on paper. I'd only heard the process done once before in a book about the old frontier days, and while I would normally stay and watched wanted to buy some materials to replenish my wardrobe that was getting tore up and wore out.

In the store I bought sewing supplies and materials to make some silk shirts, cotton pants and socks, a long scarlet velvet vest to wear when not representing the king or his interests and also to help represent the 'scarlet' in my new ship name though I had noticed a few sailors eyeing the spot where the ship's figurehead was supposed to be. I figured the only holdup was a lack of skill but that could change at any time.

After getting a replacement uniform jacket from the local tailor, I headed back to the Wench where I found Monica leaning on the rail near the forecastle watching the people pass by the docks. She helped me get my newly bought materials into my cabin, her eyes going up at the scarlet velvet material.

"Such a bright color," she told me as she fingered it.

"I intend to make a vest of it," I told her as I opened the wardrobe to bring out Hook's long vest. "Something like this."

"Lovely," Monica said as she looked it over, her eyes then going to the scarlet overcoat. "May I?"

"Go ahead," I said as she brought the overcoat out and inspected it. "Have you given any thought to using this?"

"It's too tight in the shoulders," I told her as she looked at the interior of it.

"Aye," she said sadly. "Not enough material to let it out some either."

"So, I'll make one that fits and not steal clothes from a pirate," I told her as she put it away.

"At least you have clothes," Monica said as she eyed some of Hook's other clothes.

"Didn't they tell you about the slop chest?" I asked her and she looked shocked. "It's full of clothes for anyone who needs them, though they all tend to be the shirts and pants of men."

"I prefer a dress," she said as she shook her head sadly. "Me ma would tan me hide to be caught dead wearin' men's clothes."

"I'll see what I can do," I told her as we left my cabin. "Material itself isn't that expensive, though it takes skilled fingers to turn it into something wearable."

"Skilled fingers I have," she told me as she stretched her lace shawl out. "This took me half a year to knit an' me ma was astonished I had it so fast."

"And your lace covering?" I asked her and she smiled.

"Three months," she said proudly. "Ma said it was vanity. I told her if I didna make somethin' last winter I'd be gone daffy by spring."

"Any brothers or sisters?" I asked her and she nodded.

"Two younger sisters," she told me as she went into her room to change but I could hear her through the door. "The captain of the ship I was on said he might know of some other guys who would marry a girl sight unseen if they were interested."

"Did they say yes?" I asked her and there was a pause.

"No," she finally said as she stepped out, her outer lace dress still loose as she situated it on her shoulders. "Deidra is in love with a potato farmer's son and Orla is still too young yet."

"Ever think what you will do if your husband isn't waiting for you?" I asked her and she looked panicked as she tied her lace sash around her waist.

"Ye think I mighta been tricked?" she said finally as she stood there.

"It's been known to happen," I told her. "A captain will gather several women together and take them with a minimal of payment or say he'll get paid by the husband upon delivery."

"What happens to the girls?" she said quickly, shock showing her face as it paled of color.

"Sold, either as maids or to brothels," I said as she sat numbly to the table. "Those that don't...submit...to their new masters are beaten until they do, even if they have to beat them to death."

"Brothel," she said, seemingly hung on that one word, tears in her eyes as she turned to me. "Does that mean..."

"Yeah," I told her and she began to cry. I moved to give her a reassuring hug as I knelt beside her and let her cry on my shoulder as she let her fears out.

"He seemed so nice," she said as she bawled.

"He had other women, didn't he?" I asked her, feeling her nod as she sobbed.

"Nine," she told me. "We were all supposed to get married when we got to Limon."

"I hope I'm wrong and there's a life for you in Limon," I told her as we hugged it out but her sobs seemed neverending. "If all else fails, there's a life for you here."

"I just donnae know what to do here," she wailed.

"We'll train you for something," I told her as I held her. "Just like Ella."

"Really?" she asked me and I nodded, knowing she could feel it.

We hugged it out for awhile before I got Monica to calm down from her breakdown. After that she went back to her quarters to get some rest, which I think was cover for her to go cry alone for awhile. I let her go, but the question about her future still hung heavy in the air as the new information painted a dark future for her. It made me question what I would do with her, but I knew my options were limited to adding her to the roster much like Ella or giving her over to Clarion.

Shaking my head as I went into my cabin to clean up and change jackets, I decided to put the question off until I knew for certain what was going to happen. Tonight I had a meeting with Eugene and Rapunzel which was bound to be awkward as hell given the state of things at our last parting. Still, I cleaned myself up and donned the fresh jacket before adding the appropriate accouterments of my station and heading out for the governor's mansion.

Arriving at the mansion, any ideas of a quiet meal went out the window as I saw a full gala-like event underway, almost as if I were late to the party. Simmons was still waiting by the door, but the moment he noticed me he rang a gong and I had a feeling as if I were the subject of a poorly thought out surprise party.

Entering the mansion, there was no dark room waiting for me but a line of officers, all at attention. At the head of the line was Eugene and Rapunzel, as if waiting for me as a drum began to roll. Knowing I was due a promotion, I figured this was a ceremony for it and began to walk the corridor and hoping I didn't screw it up.

"Owen Hunt," Eugene said as I stopped in front of him. "Today it is my honor and privilege to promote you to the rank of admiral."

"If you would bow," Rapunzel said as she stepped forward, a tricorn with a medallion in her hand which she settled on my head.

"Rise, Admiral Hunt, for I have one final gift due to your recent bravery," he said as servant brought a large wooden box. The governor opened the box to reveal an ornate silver rapier and scabbard set, which he removed and offered hilt first to me. Taking that as a sign, I pulled the sword free of its scabbard, holding it up and inspecting the nearly three foot weapon. At Eugene's smile, I halted as the scabbard was passed to Rapunzel who then hung the scabbard from my baldric. When Eugene nodded, I then replaced the rapier in the scabbard where it slid home and clicked as everyone cheered.

After that the party was in full swing where again Rapunzel and I cut a good rug on the floor as Eugene looked on as his leg still wasn't healed enough to dance. I harbored no ideas of sleeping with Rapunzel again, even as the night wore on, but the smile on my face was real as the harpsichord was again brought out.

"What shall you play for us tonight?" Rapunzel asked as she hung on to Eugene's arm.

"Something happy, I hope," Eugene mused. "That last song brought tears to my eyes."

"Then I'm glad I was able to convey the emotion of the song," I said as I sat to the harpsichord. "Happy, you said governor? Let's try this."

I began to hit a C chord on the piano with my right hand, repeating it like a metronome until the eighth time where I began to sing Bette Middler's 'The Rose.' It wasn't exactly happy, not really, the story a reminder that love is eternal and should always be experienced rather than live a life alone. It was well received, Rapunzel herself glowing as she and Eugene shared a long look at each other.

"Encore!" people shouted as the clapping died down. I smiled, feeling a bit mischevious as I layed it on thick to the lovebirds and began to play Garth Brook's 'If Tomorrow Never Comes' as well, a song where a guy admits that he watches his lover sleeping and asks the question that if he died in the night, would she ever doubt his love and that to counter that he makes sure that every day he tells her how much he loves her.

"I said happy!" Eugene shouted as I finished the song. With a laugh I began playing another similar song, this one by Randy Travis called 'Deeper Than The Holler' while changing the lyrics to erase any modern ideas they wouldn't understand like 'Broadway shows' became 'Venetian shows' as Venice was for many years the epitomy of culture in Europe though I never changed the word holler itself as that was just where I was raised.

"Try something sad," Rapunzel said once I had finished. I smiled mirthfully as a song came to mind that fit the theme I was running with as I played Celine Dion's 'My Heart Will Always Go On,' though the chord change and energy required for the emotion really drained me as I finished the finale.

"How many songs do you know?" Rapunzel asked as I shuttered the lid on the harpsichord to signal I was done for the night. It also seemed to signal the party was over, everyone drifting away to disappear into the night.

"Thousands," I told her, remembering my own personal playlist numbered around two thousand on my USB chip that I always kept inserted into my rig's radio. I knew each one by its intro and was able to jump in and sing any of them at a moments notice though there were a few that really stretched my vocal chords like Dolly Parton's 'I Will Always Love You,' though I was still able to hit the high note if only in chord harmony because I was a guy singing in tenor and not an alto like most professional singers. I could however sing the entire bass to tenor scale without problem much like Tim Faust.

"How did you learn all of it?" she asked me and I smiled at that.

"I've been a traveler for years and I have a good affinity for music," I told her somewhat honestly. Listening to the radio was all I had to do as a truck driver. "In my life I've heard hundreds of bards and other singers and some of their music I can easily remember."

"Wow," Rapunzel said as we all moved to a different room to leave the large dance room behind before settling into a quiet study where wine was poured by our hostess before she sat on Eugene's lap.

"A toast," Eugene said as he raised his glass. "To the end of piracy."

"Here here," I said as I raised my glass briefly before drinking.

"So, how did the battle with Hook go?" Eugene asked as he sat his glass aside.

"Swimmingly," I told him. "Thanks to a good tip I was able to dictate the rules of the engagement to some degree, forcing Hook to fight as he wouldn't be able to run though he did try."

"Oh," Eugene said as he lowered his head and listened as I recounted the battle for him.

"In the end, he surrendered when we slaughtered his men and the soldiers stood ready to obliterate him," I told him.

"And this tip?" Rapunzel asked me. "Where did you get it."

"Hook had his own pirate village called Neverland," I told them. "It sits on an island southwest of here and is populated by women he's abducted from various plundered ships."

"Where are they now?" she asked me pointedly and I sighed.

"Still there," I said, then held up a hand. "I've already asked if they wanted to leave but they weren't ready at the time as they are waiting for a crop to grow enough to be harvested. I've already promised them I'd return and supplied them with food enough to last until then."

"Good," Rapunzel said as she bowed her head. "I didn't want them to be forgotten."

"Do they have any plans for when they get here?" Eugene asked me.

"I've offered them the use of my land to grow their crops on as Hook has them all addicted to its effects for the time being which they accepted," I told hem and Rapunzel's mouth fell open in horror. "Other than that, they don't seem to have a life left in them and have expressed no desire to try and find their kin."

"It's like that poor girl, isn't it?" Rapunzel asked me.

"Fairly certain," I replied. "Maybe not quite as dead on the inside, but tarnished never-the-less. It's the six Hook had just captured that have any desire to be with kin as they seem to have been left...physically...untouched by the pirates, though three seem hollow."

"There's no telling what horrors they've seen," Rapunzel agreed as she downed her glass in one gulp.

"Have they at least posted letters home?" Eugene asked me and I nodded.

"As soon as we hit port," I told him. "I paid for their delivery myself. Until then, the women have elected to stay with me under my care and protection."

"Thank you for looking out for them," Rapunzel told me with a warm smile.

"Speaking of," Eugene said as he had Rapunzel stand so he could get up. He went to his desk and fetched a roll of leather he handed to me. "Deed to your land."

"Ah, thank you governor," I said as I tucked it under an arm before finishing my wine and standing myself.

"Well, see you tomorrow," Rapunzel said as she grabbed Eugene's arm and began to lead him out of the study and I gave them a mirthful smile at seeing Rapunzel's gaze. It seemed she really did get turned on by a good piece.

Taking the deed to my land, I headed back to the Wench where it was nice and quiet as I proceeded up the ramp, but I could hear the faint whines of a woman in the middle of lovemaking as I came down the stairs into the officers area. Quietly moving through the officer's area, I checked the doors to find it was the one furthest from my cabin and was supposed to be unoccupied which got me curious.

Cracking the door just a hair, I found it was Aladdin and Jasmine going at it, both nude and the Arabic beauty's large chest bouncing happily with each thrust. I closed the door quietly and left them to it, figuring I should make one of them an officer at the next opportunity but realized I had a snag. Of the two, Jasmine was always the dominant and though Aladdin wasn't spineless, his life on the street made him more pliable to stay out of trouble.

Of course, Jasmine's main use was as a lookout, something even young Melody or Ella could do, or as a lightbulb lit over my head; Monica who desperately wanted to do something to contribute. Of course, she couldn't do it in a dress, everything under it would be on display meaning she'd need to don pants, and that was hoping she wasn't afraid of heights.

There was one way to find out, and that was to take her up the rigging and see how far she could go. The only question after that was, how far would I make it? I hated getting over fifteen feet up, the height of the tallest load plus me on my hands and knees as I crawled along the top.

I guess tomorrow would tell that particular tale.