My talk with the charming pirate ended rather abruptly when a shot rang out in the darkened spaces of the tavern. I looked to the other side of the tavern to see a man lying on the floor grabbing his shoulder. Across from him sat a dark and very evil looking man with a smoking flint lock pistol in his hand. It took only a few moments for me to realize that the poor man shot was a sailor aboard The Wonder. Robert Lambert was a quiet man that minded his own business on the ship and never gave anyone a spot of trouble.
I couldn't imagine anyone wanting to hurt him or what purpose it could serve. He was a poor sailor and as the crew was not paid until the return to London, he could not have had much money on him. As I watched, the violent stranger leaned forward and began speaking to Robert. As Roberts' eyes grew bigger with every word, I knew then that I had to leave and hopefully I would find help for poor Robert. When I turned to leave my seat, I felt a pair of eyes watching me. It was the charmer, looking at me intently, as if I knew something of great importance to him. With a quick smile flashed his way, I slipped out of my seat and through a back door without looking back.
Immediately, I noticed that while the rain had stopped, there were fires and smoke in the distance towards the docks. I ran through the streets back toward the docks and as I got closer I heard more shots firing in the distance. I have been in fights before, but never with pirates, and I had a feeling that was exactly what was happening. We were under attack by pirates.
I pride myself on being a patient man, good to my men, and a decent man of business. However one thing I have never been able to tolerate is disloyalty and disobedience. I don't hesitate to put my men who display both undesirable qualities, back into proper place. Unfortunately, from time to time, one of my more valuable workers falls short of usefulness. Mr. Lambert was one such worker; quick to follow orders, always faithful and reliant, until today. I ask for the whereabouts of a Lord's charge and due to a new found code of ethics, he fails to deliver.
Having spies in almost every port of most major nations has many advantages, especially for finding and robbing merchant ships coming in and out of port. But I have found that if one is lucky or perhaps well informed, it is quite possible to find a wealthy person to ransom off. I give as little information as possible, have my more trusted associates find expendable fools to do the dirty work and then sit back and wait. It's always too easy to get them to pay up, but it's also too easy to have the country's navy breathing down my neck. Which is why I don't commit kidnappings very often; lucrative but risky.
When word reached my ears, that Lord Ascot was having his young ward sailing for business proposals, I didn't pay much mind. Lords, Dukes and the like were always sending workers to do their work overseas. However, my associate assured me that this was a lady of upstanding pedigree being sent. That's quite interesting, certainly, and very profitable. The charge of a Lord and the daughter of a Lord herself, she would most assuredly fetch a pretty price.
A knock on my cabin door came, and in stepped my First Mate, Mr. Thomas. Ah, Mr. Thomas. My most trusted man. His steel gaze alone has made grown men piss themselves. Things always got done quickly when I left him in charge, at least most of the time.
"Captain Durnhelm? We found Mr. Lambert in a tavern in town. He keeps insisting that he doesn't know where Lady Kingsley can be found. Mr. Erikson was nowhere to be found either. We think they may have run off together. Whether or not Mr. Lambert told the Lady of your plans, we don't know. I don't think so anyway." I really wish Thomas would learn to speak more quietly. His booming voice had to carry throughout the entire ship.
"Mr. Thomas. I expected to have Lady Kingsley in my possession by nightfall. It's nightfall, I am half way through my bedtime cup of tea, and there is no Lady onboard my ship. No woman at all to be exact. What's the problem? Her ship is in Port and unless she remained behind in China, which is not likely, she should be here. So, why isn't she here?" I motioned for Thomas to have a seat and waited for him to explain. This had to be good. A whole ship razed to the sea floor for one woman and all for nothing, so far.
"We attacked the ship as you asked and we looked for not only Lady Kingsley, but Mr. Lambert as well. The crew wasn't very skilled in the fight, but that Captain Wallace was a well trained fighter, put up a good fight and took out three of our men before Hover managed to help get him thrown over the side of the ship. We searched the ship and took what little they had. Found the Lady's room, but only found some cloths and souvenirs. Took everything like you said and interrogated the crew but we didn't get anywhere. They swore that they didn't know where the Lady was or the First Mate for that matter, but they were likely together."
So the Lady was not only missing on board the ship, but she also may very well have a bodyguard. Things were not going as planned. I can't stand it when things don't go according to plan, but one must learn to roll with the punches.
"Where is Mr. Lambert now? I assume you brought him with you, no?"
"I had Hanks and Gavin bring him back to the ship and put him in the brig. The medics should be putting him back together now. I took a look around the tavern but all I saw there, were some bar maids. We're still looking for them." Thomas leaned back in his chair with a thoughtful look. Sometimes I was actually grateful that I couldn't read minds. His had to be a frightful place.
"Thomas," I got up and walked around my desk to stand behind his large form,
"Bring Lambert to me. I want to know what happened and where my prize is. She could not have just vanished in a single night by herself, or with one man and no ship. Then I want you to get back out there and find her. If you can't find her, try to find the First Mate and get something out of him."
After gulping down the rest of my tea, Thomas got up and left without another word.
Hello again, everyone! Thank you L van Am for your review! It is greatly apreciated : ) If my going back and forth between points of view without breaks or any way of letting you know, confuses you, please say so.
Also I apologize for any mistakes that you find. I don't have a beta so any mistakes are mine. I go over my stories 3 or 4 times to check for mistakes but I don't always catch them. Sorry! I cannot promise that I'll be consistant with the chapters, but at least you know I haven't forgotten about the story. Enjoy!