this whirlwind pace will continue to the end, posting time wise.
what I have planned for our characters is going to be intense as it picks up the pace with the game story.
once more, please let me know what you think.
listen to C7osure by Lil Nas X.
- g.
The morning the Jackdaw slid into the Nassau port, was nary a moment too soon.
On her very last drop of patience, Liete was begrudged to say that she missed the island she'd made her home just a few months prior.
As they'd slid into to the bay, Drew at her side, she was itching to see Thatch who Kenway had mentioned was in Nassau with Benjamin Hornigold once more trying to build at their pirate republic.
With the months now on the water & the nearly instant turn around once reaching Kingston, Liete was feeling a sense of insecurity that she'd never felt. Anger, despair, but it had never turned to the creeping dark tendrils that had begun to run against her back whenever she turned around.
It gave credence to the warnings that Kenway kept giving, and even Drew had begun to stay with her at all times Edward wasn't. Before leaving Kingston Drew left her in Ade's watch, before running off to return with a mountain in tow.
That mountain was in fact a dog, one with jowls that hung low from its face, with drool seemingly hanging from its face at all moments. It's brown and black melded fur was thick and springy and although akin to a mountain, came to Drew's hip which was saying something.
"Miss Liete, 'is name be Gerald. May look to be 'a evil 'un but he wouldn' hurt a soul."
The dog had lumbered onto the ship, looked at each man about, and flopped next to where she'd stood as if they'd been old friends.
Ade had given the dog a disgusted look and grumbled that Kenway would toss the cur the moment he returned from meeting with Kidd.
Sure enough, once the captain had come home, He took one look at the dog at her side & had agreed to the dog coming with them on their journey.
It was just one more pair of eyes to watch her as Gerald clearly didn't like any man aside from Drew. Even Kenway, who was sure Gerald was a Mastiff, could hardly get close to Liete unless she gave the dog a pat to let him know it was fine first.
Over the course of the weeks they'd sailed, stopping for the odd replenishment to stock, she'd been watched nearly every moment.
It was probably the very thing that brought on the anxiety that now seemed to nudge its way into the valleys of her mind. Under constant watch, whether it be by the working men, Drew, Kenway, Ade… She felt once again caged.
Caged by her very name.
It angered her, causing her to pace at all hour, poor Gerald after some time just laying to the floor and watching her with his eyes.
She'd made her own freedom, she made her own choices for what felt like a fleeting moment, and here she was a prisoner of her own name once again. She wished now more than ever she could strip her name from her, like one does clothes and get rid of everything that came with it.
Ade's words had not helped much to quell the fire within her as well.
That her name potentially held sway to some of Kenway's infatuation of her.
It gave her pause and another new trouble that came to mind. Having to take into account peoples words and thoughts, without having the knowledge if they were born in truth or not.
He spoke his truth, does that mean it is THE truth or semblance of it?
All these things weighed heavy on her mind, & brought about the madness she'd not dwelled in for some time now.
Her mind had begun to whisper again, of anger & resentment towards men and their ilk. However a woman's life & purpose was at the mercy of their ever changing wants.
So upon the view of familiar land, she'd nearly given a desperate whoop of sheer relief. Instead she stood steadfast, as the anchor was dropped and the ship shuddered as it caught on the reef & sand below near to the shore of Nassau in quiet expectation.
If she jumped from the railing, could she reach land & run without any of them catching her ever again?
Drew moved from her side to help hoist their row boat up and prep for the first round of departures. Liete didn't care a heep who was supposed to be first off, that'd be her no matter any man's demand.
Drew, who may have been simple, was no fool. He'd watched the transition in Liete with quiet issue.
He knew she was uncomfortable, she'd watched everyone with feral eyes and although she may not have growled Gerald sure did that for her. She'd forgone most of the food aboard as well & it had given her a bit of a green hue.
Even his captain, who had taken on a form of his own angst & wasn't the nice to be around, didn't seem able to shake her out of the fog that had taken over.
As he helped Liete & Gerald into the row boat and they were lowered to the water, Kenway swung into the boat at the last moment. He sat with his back to Drew, as he obscured Liete facing her. Drew pulled his lips into a think line and made himself busy with rowing towards the shore, making a show as to now be deemed an ease dropper.
"Liete, I do mean to stay here on and off awhile. Plan, switch out crew members, & try to glean a bit more information. I mean to also assist Teach & Hornigold as they've asked me to meet with them about our pirate republic."
"You tell me this as a warning?" Her words were hushed, as her breathlessness caught up with her as she stared to land with fervor.
"We have nay spoke of lodgings. To be honest with you, I'm a little worried as to what to do. If I ask to purchase lodgings & share them with you, is that to forward of me? Will it be taken as if I am to own you once more?" He spoke softly, as one does in a church or a cemetery as if some form of ghost where just about to erupt.
Liete turned her head from her fixed stare to shore, and slid her eyes over Kenway's own. His expression was earnest & calm. He was trying to make amends to how he'd done things before it seemed, he wanted to speak on things rather than leave them at unspoken expectancies.
Would a selfish man even ask?, Her mind whispered in hope as she rested her hands into her lap & rolled her shoulders as the row boat slid closer to the shore.
"I respect the request. I'm trying to understand where we are going… but for now, until such a place is purchased, I'll remain in my own home. Which you of course are welcome to join. Until you find us a place…"
Her last words sent a light into Kenway's eye she had not seen since Kingston.
Just as she'd been on edge, so had he. Without being able to relax it had made him snarky, often snapping at his crew or just brooding as he stood at the helm looking to the horizon.
He'd also been unsure what next step to make.
Soon all of the West Indies would know of Liete with the way people talked, who knew what would happen then. If what Torres said was all truth, Templars may also make moves to come find her.
He needed to find the Observatory now more than ever & he needed to make sure the pirate republic was strong. Strong enough to shield them lest king and country… and Templars came for them.
He was but one man, it sent a drop of ice into his blood to think that two of the strongest forces in his known world wanted Liete… She'd be a prisoner on an island unknown to anyone and anything.
Had he brought this upon her, by being selfish and wanting her with him?
He could not shake these troubled thoughts as the row boat hit the sand with a clunk forcing him to push them to the back of his mind once more until he could convince himself he was over thinking.
Liete broke away from Drew who'd insisted that he'd be fine pulling her chest from the Jackdaw and prepping their home for use once more, heading straight to the Old Avery Tavern.
Gerald trotted by her side, his jowls nearly to the ground as he walked with his mouth open tongue lolling out as he panted in happiness. Most likely about being on dry land again, she mused.
Kenway after scouring the shanty home to make sure no one or thing had moved in while they'd been absent, he'd headed back to the Jackdaw to review the final splits with Adewale. They'd made a pretty penny on loot from Kington & he wanted to make sure each man was given a fair share before he began to replace the crew bit by bit. He nary wanted disgruntled crew left to their devices in Nassau, but to be dismissed with quite a bit of coin in their pocket with many a pirate ship about, it'd make it an easier endeavor.
He doubted it would be hard to replace the crew once more, one the Jackdaw's reputation had begun its round as one to bring fortune & adventure to any man fit to sail with her. Secondly, Kenway had once built a crew from men indebted to him, saving them from irons, even the damned noose. It was precisely his thought he'd do so once more.
It may take him a few days, but the sooner done, the better it'd be for them all.
Now that they were on land, Kenway was far more at ease, and with a stern command to Drew & Gerald, which made Drew laugh uproariously as Liete hid a smile herself, had gone with little after thought to return later on.
Liete had little convincing to do with Drew who seemed over the moon that Liete's spirits had seemed to be lifted in some way.
She'd tucked one of Edward's pistols he'd left her with into a pocket sewn into one of her skirts, as well as a pocket knife, before tsking to Gerald who'd made his bed at the foot of the stairs when she'd ascended them to the shanty prior.
She made her way around the market place, and just at the church and its graveyard, when she heard voices in song with instruments strumming in a joyful tune.
"When he was apprenticed in London, he came to see his dear
The candles were all burning, the moon shone bright and clear
He knocked upon my window to ease my out of my pain
I rose up to let him in, and then barred the door again"
The song brought her a sense of joyous calm, as she rounded the hill from the church to enter through the back of the Avery tavern near where the bartender served drinks to those standing near & handing off mugs & glasses to a very pretty bar maid she'd not seen before.
Where Liete's hair was auburn & wavy, the woman's was nearly fire red & straight. Flowers adorned either side of the women's head tucking the hair out of her face as she worked, with thin pink lips and skirts on one side up past her thigh, Liete was not surprised that those without women of their own on their laps watched her over their grog.
Pulling her eyes away from the barmaid, she searched the rest of the louts until she found the face of Teach, realizing in that moment that she had missed the man. Missed his quiet teaching & calm he'd brought to her home. His watchful eye was unlike that of Kenway, who did so with some possession behind it. He simply watched with patience and affection.
The eyes that looked up to her now… they held anger. Hurt.
Raising one eyebrow, Liete found herself at a loss.
It was not the reaction she'd expected.
Sitting with two other men, Teach pulled his eyes away from her to look down into his rum flip. Deciding within a moment that was cowardly, he looked up once more clearing his throat to his constituents.
Where he was adorned in all black, still fine trim, but now adorned with three large pistols across his chest & a beard long enough to reach them, the men opposite him were practically peacocks.
One man decked in light brown leather, trimmed in gold & red, with a deep red sash wrapped about his waste similar in fashion to Kenway's way of wearing. His dirty blonde hair reached his shoulders with large gold hoops adorning one ear.
The other wore a cape of dark blue, with black jacket & emerald green sash to his waste. He was older than the other two with black hair, a moustache & stubble on his chin all peppered with greying specks.
They looked, atleast to Liete, a caliber of pirate cut above the rest. Similar to Kenway & Thatch. Pirate royalty of some sort.
Not one to let men's fragile emotions stop her, Liete moved through the comfortably full tavern towards the slightly lower tavern level where the men sat.
A slow hush soaked into the men about, to be replaced with shifted eyes and new whispers. It didn't do a thing to still her, it had the opposite effect as she nearly shivered in pleasure at the renewed reverence that followed her.
These eyes, she relished.
Fear was intoxicating, when you were the one at its expense.
"I like well your behavior and this I often say
I cannot rest contented when you are far away
The roads they are so muddy, we cannot walk about
So roll me in your arms, Love, and blow the candles out"
As she came upon the table, Teach's acquaintances having taken notice of the quiet around them, turned their heads to find a woman of medium height, in a modest dress of died cotton, wavy auburn curls done up with a head wrap that only just contained them, lips of the same color & curves that would make any man's mouth water.
It was the eyes of silver that seemed to twist and turn within their very setting that nearly made both men lean back. As it was the one with the gold & red trimmed clothes dropped his rams horn cup to the table from greater height then he meant. It sent a few droplets to splatter to the table but mercifully stayed upright even as the noise of the fall made nearly all the men about flinch.
Liete's grin was wicked, as she placed a palm to the table and dragged her eyes over Teach who now looked to her again with anger.
"Master Teach, You're looking less than pleased to see me. Sha'lll I leave and come forward again to give you time to proper school that look meant for me?"
The men's mouths dropped so suddenly, Liete nearly heard a crack from each of their jaws. Teach of course didn't falter a lick, simply raised his glass to his mouth taking a long drout.
Looking to their friend, the men found him as silent as they'd ever seen the man especially in the make of such words from a women. Looking to each other, no further clarity gained for the either of them.
Turning to the men now, her eyes pinning each of them like an arrow to a board.
"Boys, I need a word with your comrade here, do you mind giving us a moment Mr…" Her words were cool and authoritative and instantly put them two at a scramble to stand up and vacate.
Both babbling slightly, pulling their hats from atop their heads, moved as quickly from the bench opposite their comrade they left to her devices.
"Alonzo Batilla Miss."
"Olivier Levasseur Madam."
French, she mused from their accents. Not many of them had warranted patronage in Nassau but they'd always held manners above most she'd found.
Gifting them with a smile before swinging to sit opposite her query, she dismissed them with a flourish of her hand and wrist. It was one that anyone familiar with the ton, would spot royal breeding in a moment, and was lost on most poorly pirates.
"I won't keep Monsieur Thatch long, you may have what is left of him shortly."
The two French men absolutely floored, moved to the furthest end of the open air tavern, pulling two chairs together as they mumbled to each other, eyes trained to the temptress that'd dismissed them like common peasants.
Gerald flopped nearly underneath the table, as Liete folded her hands sitting primly as she stared at the agitated older man waiting for him to utter a word.
Instead, the man downed the remainder of his drink, slammed it down to the table before barking to the rest of the patrons.
"Look to yer own cups lads, before I put a bullet 'tween each o' yer eyes."
Immediately the chatter began again in forced earnest, music continuing with flourish.
"And if we prove successful, Love, I'll name it after thee
I'll treat it neat and kiss it sweet and daft it on my knee
When your three years are over, your time it will be out
And I will pay my debt to you by blowing the candles out"
Settling back into his seat, Teach sighed and finally met her eyes head on as he crossed arms. He still didn't speak to her, but she had time. Liete's interest hadn't been this piqued in quite some time, and although she might have taken offence at the anger he held towards her, she was more inquisitive to see what she'd done to the man who had only ever taken the jabs she'd made his way with a grain of salt.
"Here I've come home from adventuring & not a friendly visage in sight. I thought I'd come to speak with a friend, and I find here a demon bent on boring holes in my head. Shall I fetch a chicken & give it a good pluck to roast over me as you are clearly intent on starting a fire with my head." Her words were playful, and she could see they only stoked the flames within his glare, but it did the trick as he snorted & leaned forward growling.
"You think to be friends with me? You'd lower yourself, nay deign to speak to such a lowly person as myself, Miss Beckford?"
Liete stilled as a sense of realization trickled into her stomach.
Teach nearly grinded his teeth at her reaction to speaking the name she'd kept hidden from him. Not a single drop of surprise, just cool reception as she picked up one of the glasses left behind by Batilla & Levasseur looking inside with a grimace before placing it back down.
It should anger him more that she gave more expression to the drink then she did to something that weighed so heavily on him, but he knew it was her way.
When the news had reached him of Liete's lineage, he couldn't help the hurt that had come to him with each thought. This woman, who he'd helped, mentored & brought back from the brink of mental exhaustion, could not find it fit to tell him the truth of her?
It had pained him more, because for one of the first times in his adventures on the high seas, he felt a lesser man. It was the same feeling that had made him curse the royals, His King, for thinking themselves better than the working man.
Was he not worthy of knowing in her eyes?
He thought himself a good man, apart from his occasional killing of course, but he had never thought of himself as lowly.
Her name, and the realization that she came from one of the most influential and rich families in nearly the world… a feeling of betrayal had nestled into his mind.
Of course he had also known she was a lady, but he thought her some ones wife run off from her plantation master husband in look for adventure & a way to escape abuse of some form… Not running from England aristocracy itself.
Liete let the name float between them for a few moments before leaning forward onto her forearms before grinning at him.
"Oh come now Teach-"
"Blackbeard. Thatch."
Her barked at her now, fine. If he were to play dog, then she could just as well.
"Small Beard, Grey Beard. It is but a name, just as you mean to change your own. If you are not Teach, then I am not Beckford. My name is Liete, & I missed your company while I was away. Is that not enough?"
Happening quick as a flash, the man stood & had made it to the stairway leading out of the verandah before she could even blink. As the tip of the feathers from his hat disappeared, Liete would never even chased after Kenway, stood and tore after the man.
Her madness had kept everyone at arms length, but he'd been her friend. He'd met her head on, and had been a calm and helping hand since the night he'd consoled her sobbing at the bow of his ship sailing from Great Inagua.
She didn't want to lose that, and it would occur to her later that her earlier thoughts of using her thoughts to guide rather control may have been the beginning to the realization that she had these thoughts because she cared for those now around her. It was something hard to fathom, and would take some time for that to really make its impact.
For now, she followed after Thatch who although a bit taller than her, seemed to have the legs of a giant, being nearly down the street and at the edge of the swamp before she had even made it to the bottom of the stairs.
The high sun of the day beat on her back as Liete gained ground on him just as he came to stop at a small circlet of foliage between the town and swamp where often Drew had come to hunt for rabbit.
Not willing to give the man any satisfaction that she'd hustled, Liete hid her slight catch in her breath as she pulled alongside him. He reached up to pull his hat from his head, freeing the dark tendril to frame his face.
Liete placed her palms to her hip as she turned her body to face the man, her back towards the swamp area the heat beginning to make her skin warm under the direct sun.
"Now we both look like fools, you for running off & me for following. Can we stop running in circles and you stop this nonsense about my name." Her tone was matter fact, as she looked into his dark hazel eyes to see if he'd run off his anger.
Instead she found something else, and just as he'd moved in the tavern, quick as a musket shot, Teach reached forward, his right hand finding her left cheek pulling her face forward just as he stepped to meet his action.
His lips were soft, his breath full of whiskey, and his touch rough as he caught Liete's own with a kiss warmed by the Nassau sun, pregnant with unspoken words.