After a hot meal and a few drinks, I had dried off well enough to get a good nights' sleep. After the shooting in the tavern though, I had decided to check on my ship and crew first. It wasn't so farfetched that trouble on one ship could make its way to another. That was usually how other pirates got involved in each others' fights…well pirates got involved in fights for any reason. But keepin' my ship solid and outta trouble was reason enough for me to fight.
On my way out the back, I took a glance at the seat where the young Lady had been sittin'. My heart went out to her and her troubles. Bein' a pirate Lord means bein' hard and at times bein' ruthless, and as the Keeper of the Code, I had to be the hardest of um' all. But even I have a soft spot in my heart and soul that get's touched every now and then, especially around women and little ones. And she was pretty much stuck in the middle; a child in the body of a young woman.
I left the loud tavern behind me and began makin' my way to the ship. I noticed people make their way in and out of the ships and dock, while the smoke and fires in the distance cleared and the sounds of gunfire gave way to the sounds of yelling and then silence. As long as the code wasn't bein' disregarded and my ship was left alone, I didn't care. Or maybe I did. Lookin' ahead, not 10 feet from me, stood a familiar face I didn't ever think I would see again.
"Black? Ha! Black 'The Venom' Wallace! Ha!" He had a large grin on his face, was bleedin' all over from his shoulder and a bloody cutlass still in hand. Behind him was the meekest little whelp walkin' that I had ever seen in Black's presence.
Black laughed and wrapped me in a big bear hug all but squeezin' the life from me. But friendship and loyalty like his were very hard to come by, so I let it go happily.
"Hehe, Captain Edward Teague! What a pleasure to see you again. It has been far too long!" He laughed and clasped my shoulder as he spoke.
"Ten years now Black, four since I had any word from you. Is that you causin' all that ruckus?
"Only the first three shots, but they started it."
Sure they did. "Didn't you quit all this to become an honest merchant ship captain? I mean, you might have trouble keepin' clients if you're shootin' at um' Black." I almost laughed myself to death at the indignant look on his face when I said that.
"I know it! Well I know it now anyways. I mean I've been at this for 10 years now. I figured it out after a year or two. But never mind me. Have you seen a…"
Suddenly, Black was stopped by the sound of an explosion. We turned toward the explosion to see loads of people running every which way, screaming and yelling, and large fires burning in the background.
"Has that got something to do with your ship Black?"
"Most likely." He gave a frustrated sigh and rubbed a hand down his face.
"I just hope my crew's alright."
More people started comin' up the street's that now started to clear as Black and I began makin' our way toward the trouble.
Once I had slipped out of the back of the Tavern I had made up my mind to make my way to the ship to find help for Robert. But once I heard the gunshots so close to the Wonder, I knew that finding help for Robert was not likely to happen any time soon. But as I tried to think of something that I could do to help Robert and the rest of the crew, a strong hand grabbed me from behind. I gave the stranger a hard elbow to the gut and just as I turned around to give them a right hook, I saw dear Latham hunched over, but as usual with a smile on his face.
"Nice elbow to the gut Alice. We'll have to work on more fightin' techniques and strength, but that'll do. And I really don't think we should go down to the ship now. There's a lot of trouble down there."
I was so happy to see Latham, I threw my arms around him, and was swept up into the air.
"Latham, I'm so happy to see you! I was waiting for you in the tavern, but Robert was there too and someone shot him! I left to get help but what happened to the ship?"
Latham pulled me into a dark ally behind barrels and crates and put a finger to his lips.
"Listen Alice, I saw the fires out by the ship when I got out of the privy. When I made my way to the ship, I saw a dozen of some very mean looking and very well armed strangers boarding The Wonder and a few of our men being thrown over board. We need to keep away from that mess, you especially, until it dies down a bit. I don't see any navy men around, so we're not likely to get any help any time soon, and I don't know where the Captain is."
I had known Latham for a good while now, and he always had a smile on his face and good humor, even when times were hard. I had never seen him like this. He looked so serious and worried, for the first time looking older than his years. He had no sparkle or warmth in his blue eyes, and small wrinkles started appearing around his usually smiling mouth, now turned into a line of concern.
"Latham, we have to do something. We can't just sit here and let them die!" I knew that our chances of getting out of this in good condition was slim, and that left me feeling so frustrated and helpless, that good men could be hurt or dying and there was nothing I could do to help them.
I felt bad for Latham too. He was the First Mate of The Wonder and it was his duty to take care of the ship, and this had to be harder for him than anything, the helplessness.
"Alice, what would you have me do? We have no weapons, you're still learning to fight even if we did have weapons, the Navy isn't here and we have no help whatsoever. So what would you have us do? And I have a feeling that these are gentlemen of fortune and more likely would not think anything of selling a lovely young woman like yourself on the market. So I would very much like to keep you out of their sights." My heart dropped at those last words.
I had always felt so safe and confident sailing overseas. I had slayed a Jabawocky for pity's sake! I had always thought myself strong and capable, but Latham's words hit home that I was still just one woman and in this world there were far more freighting things to face than just lightning breathing dragons. I was vulnerable too.
Latham's face softened as he reached up to ruffle my hair. "Come on Alice. We may not be able to fight off all of them, but maybe we can help Robert."
I was grateful for that at least and nodded to follow. We made our way through the back streets towards the tavern, where Latham motioned to the top of the building before picking me up and all but throwing me to the top of the roof.
"Latham," I was struggling to help Latham pull himself up. "What are we doing on the roof a building away from the tavern?"
He laid down and crawled his way to the side of the building and pointed his way toward the front of the tavern.
Looking downward I could see three large brutish looking men gaurding the front of the tavern. I recognized the larger of the three men as the one who had shot Robert!
"Latham, that large dark man in the middle, he's the one who shot Robert! But those two men with him now are not the same men from earlier."
Latham nodded, "I know it. Those two men with him now, are two of the men I saw on The Wonder."
The big leader left the two men at the front of the tavern and left toward the town center. His face looked absolutely enraged. Perhaps Robert managed to escape him and some how get away. But where was he now?
I heard a small chuckle coming from Latham, who was naturally laughing as usual. He looked excited for the first time since this whole mess had started.
"Alright, here's my idea. We don't know how many people they have with them, but I'm willing to bet that those two fools down there, won't stay long if they're on fire."
"Latham, how in the world do you intend to set them on fire?" He turned and moved away, making his way back down to the ground. I had no idea what he intended to do until he came back up, a few moments later with two sticks of dynamite in his hand.
"Where the hell did you get those from?" He just smiled and winked and we both laughed as we lit the wicks and threw our lovely gifts to our new found friends.