Chapter Six
"Keilani," the woman introduced herself back. "I've heard from a dear friend that you make some of the best swords around, I was hoping to view the quality myself, and perhaps purchase one."
"I don't recognize you from around town, that must have been quite the praise to send you here," the young man commented.
"Well, we ended up coming to this city anyway, so I figured while I'm here I may as well check it out for myself," Keilani explained honestly.
"Who's the sword for? Husband, brother…? Their size really determines the length of blade," the blacksmith explained pulling a selection of styles out.
Keilani smiled, "It's for myself."
"Really? It's not often you find women who fight," Turner expressed, altering the selection of blades he pulled out.
"The seas a dangerous place if you don't," Keilani explained, "A good blade and steady pistol can save your life."
The man grimaced, clearly remembering some past events, "Believe me, I've learned that well enough. But it can lead to some great things as well."
"Ah, yes. Congratulations on your wedding by the way," Keilani grinned at the mans shocked expression.
"How did you know about that?" he asked suspiciously.
The woman held up her hands innocently. "My friend told me all about your little adventure. He's about yay tall," here she held her hand up to show the rough height, "hair like mine, chaos follows him like so many lost kittens."
"How do you know," here the man lowered his voice so as not to be overheard, "Captain Jack?"
"We go way back, I helped him out when he, uh misplaced his ship. Trade supplies sometimes. Ocean gypsies aren't picky about where they get their goods," Keilani grinned widely as she perused the selection of blades the smith had laid out. Eventually she picked out one done in the navel cutlass style, with a slight curve.
"How 'bout a quick spar?" questioned Keilani
"That depends, do you fight like your friend?" asked the blacksmith, half jokingly.
"Only in real life," the woman answered with a smile.
Deciding that he had enough time to spare for a quick round at least, Will Turner agreed and the two began their match. Will tended to attack head on, focusing on his target, while Keilani used her smaller size to dance out the way and preferred to try to get behind her opponent. Still, the blades clashed enough times and Will's greater physical strength would push Keilani back. She would respond by suddenly moving out of the way and again trying to maneuver behind him. The man quickly learned to turn as he stumbled forward to prevent this. After perhaps 20 minutes, which was actually a good deal of time for a typically sparring match, the two decided that it had been long enough.
"You're pretty good," commented the smith.
"I've had enough practice, but continuing like that I think you would have won this one," admitted the blue-eyed woman. "But I am definitely getting this blade, I like it."
She handed over the required money and, after some more idle small talk, left the shop.
Eventually Keilani returned to the ship with a handful of the others, and allowed those who had remained behind to take their leave. The remaining crew spent their time making repairs and cleaning until night fell and the rest returned to the ship.
The next morning came early, and with it the navy soldiers returned, along with a good number of their fellows from the fort. With them they brought various goods needed for ocean travel, foods and drinking waters and preservatives, and many brought other goods as well, cloths and leathers, all materials that were welcomed.
As the ships crew and the navy soldiers hurriedly went about the familiar task of readying a ship for sail, the three officers who had been stuck on the Rambler came down searching for the captain. When they found Keilani, they informed her that governor wished to speak with her, much to the young captain's surprise. They led her to a carriage and Keilani suspiciously eyed the horses as she entered the carriage.
After the relatively short journey they stopped at a large mansion and disembarked. The two lieutenants waited outside, while a butler allowed the commodore and the ships captain inside the cool building. They were led to an office with an elaborate desk and shelves filled with numerous books. In front of the desk stood a large man, not obese but larger, wearing elegant and fashionable clothing and a long grey wig.
"Ah, hello," greeted the men jovially, acting as though he was unsure weather to shake the woman's hand as he would a male captain, or to give a proper half bow as one would to a woman.
"Governor Swann," returned commodore Norrington.
"And this must be the that Keilani, captain of the ship who helped you. What a surprise to see a woman captaining a ship," Swann commented.
"Indeed I am," the woman confirmed, "Although I can not help but wonder as to my reason for being here?"
"Yes, well, I wanted to thank you for finding and returning our men, and would not mind hearing from you the story from your side," the governor explained.
"Finding them was merely a matter of luck," Keilani admitted honestly, "but once I realized who it was, of course I had to help them return. After they helped me return to my family some time ago, it only seemed right to return that."
"I remember reading that report. Spanish, wasn't it?" the governor questioned, mostly rhetorically.
"Yes," the woman confirmed, before starting her story of finding the shipwrecked crew.
It did not take long for the story to be told, there was little in difference to the report submitted by the commodore. Once the story was done the governor thanked the young captain for her time, and again expressed his gratitude at the return of the surviving members of the navy. After the social niceties were completed, Keilani was again escorted back to her ship where the preparations were almost finished.
The crew of the Rambler remained at Port Royale for a further two days, before voyaging out into the open sea again.
