Edward knew a thing or two about an island at conflict.
Residing in a tent near the harbour, word of the warrant for Charles Vane had spread like wild fire, as well as the reward for turning him in, which of course was a sure way to sway a man with no other value to do anything at the right price.
He might have returned to his ship last night, but Edward was glad that he had not, because although he'd told Charles of the waste his time spent on Nassau was, he didn't want the pleasure of telling the lad he told him so when dead.
He always respected Charles for hearing another's word and deciding for himself to heed it or not.
Therefore, Edward could not scorn him for avoiding this circumstance he'd himself saw as inevitable, and would instead get him out of it.
Hauled up in the fortress, it was only a matter of time before the young pirate made his escape. Quick and sure, with a strong hold over his wits, he will make it far enough on his own, but surely there are those who knew that also, and would wait for him near the water, where fortunately Edward was.
True, Edward did not owe the boy anything, but there was once where he had let someone down before, and he was not willing to do so again.
A week for Elizabeth was a rich grander than gold and come the second, the songs she sang ventured beyond the confines of her bedroom and Edward's ear, down to the bottom floor, entertaining listeners with her chipper mood.
As long as Teach was around, no one dared to make a move on her, or the madam demand her otherwise, and it was strange that by belonging to another, it was her liberation rather than restraint. A chance for Elizabeth to spread her wings a little and breath, knowing that these days she was a woman of her own means, even if it meant Edward had to give coin for her company that would despite it be hers to give freely to him, just so that when he left again, there was no grudge to hold against her, that would remove Elizabeth of her position that offered shelter and food.
However, sometimes she wasn't afraid to admit, it has come to her in a form of a dream, where she would be standing on the deck of a ship, believing she could do so much more besides selling her body.
Elizabeth fancied herself capable of swinging a sword and using her mind to slip the noose and dodge a bullet. Somewhere in her veins, there must be a drop of pirate blood in her, considering where she was conceived and born.
Was she refusing her true nature by remaining bound to one spot?
It was an interesting question, one that she has tried to ignore to avoid wallowing in pity, since the emotion did not suite her, and yet; if it weren't for her wonder over it, she might never forgive Edward for leaving her.
After all, a pirate without sailing was a bird without its wings.
Elizabeth had been stripped of her wings, but at least she could still sing. Edward without his…
The idea of freedom would be torn away from the world also.
By his own power, the sae was his and where Edward Teach will roam; he'll roam.
And she would forever be proud of him to have the strength and spirit to do just that; even if his wilfulness caused her to take constant peaks out at the harbour to make certain his ship was still there.
…or risked danger.
It was no secret that the one they called Blackbeard sailed the faster ship among all captains in Nassau, and it just happened that on his return, a meeting was called to address allegations over a pillaged ship, which a fellow Captain Rogers claimed should have been his.
According to him, it was clear he was making chase after a French vessel, with his colours on show, when Edward appeared on the horizon. But with the faster ship and a favourable wind, Blackbeard unfairly stole what Rogers claimed should have been his own spoils, and since his reputation earned Teach the favourable outcome, arguments have erupted between them both, as well as their crew.
Feuds were not resolved by words; and if Edward were any other man, some form of punishment might have been dealt, and now Blackbeard and Rogers were rivals, and they strike in any way that they can, in order to bring the other down.
It was a fortunate thing that Elizabeth happened on the view outside her window when she did, because if she hadn't, then she would not have noticed the fierce armed group marching towards the brothel.
This Rogers; Elizabeth recognized him as Maggie's regular, the two of them lounging together on the sofa bed when Edward had first returned to her. If she had known the quarrel then, she might have questioned his daggering gaze and the way Maggie had whispered her sister's name in his ear, but having been a little preoccupied, the tense moment he brewed about him faded until this moment, and Elizabeth realized that Rogers knew about her and Edward's story if Maggie maintained her gossiping character as she was known for.
Edward took from Rogers; and so Rogers shall take from him, and a favoured whore in an unprotected brothel seemed the perfect target.
Elizabeth was a clever woman and it did not take her long to deduce this plan that would risk her the torment which Rogers evil glare promised. She was swift, acting on instinct to remove the precious gift she would not want broken, and storing it in her hideaway under the floorboards, a place that was known only to Edward.
A crash and a few startled screams lessened Elizabeth's time to escape, and while on the second floor, she had only one option now the front door was lost to her.
Opening her blessed window, it was luck that it led out onto a balcony and from her fingers, Elizabeth dangled from it at an impressive height, but she'd take the drop over what Rogers had in store any day.
Elizabeth let go, as soon as a second door slammed forcefully open to cover her cry at the impact of the ground below her, and while she ran without looking back, the two crews men Rogers order to wait outside Elizabeth's door were not needed, when the captain discovered the room empty.