Face hidden by the shadow cast from a dark hat, and the dimness of the unlit inn, the stranger took a rickety seat by a scarred uneven table. Jack could tell by the man's limberness that he was no old sea-dog: so who was he? The Captain of the Black Pearl scanned the room, looking for a means of escape. He had no doubt the heavy iron door which they had just unceremoniously entered from had been locked and barred.
"You need not bother," The man chuckled as he leant back arrogantly on his stool. "The only people in this homely little inn are you, your friends and little old me." His white teeth gleamed untrustingly through the shadows the covered his face. Jack, Will and Alex alike looked sceptical and unconvinced of the stranger's statement. "Would I lie to you?" He asked them innocently. Alex felt the hair on the back of her neck prickle. He was lying. The stranger wasn't the only source of ill-will in the dingy stale old bar, and Alex wasn't the only one who could feel the foul stench of menace, fetidly swirling through the heavy air of the tavern.
As if noticing Alex's discomfort, the man smiled more broadly and gestured for them to join him. "Take a seat." He motioned condescendingly, directing his comment at Alex.
"On principle, I don't take liars at their word, nor face value." Alex replied shortly, rudely refusing the intimidating stranger's falsely-polite offer. Jack saw the man's smile tighten slightly. Faster than lightening, the man pulled out a gold inlayed pistol from his belt and levelled it at Alex. Taking a step back in alarm, Alex stiffened as she felt a hand as strong and as cold as iron clamp around her neck. The hostile stranger leaned back in his seat in contentment once again, his smile hitched back in place.
"So maybe I lied." He smirked, "Take a seat." It was a demand now, not a request.
"No." Will replied stubbornly. He was cut short as Alex gave a sharp intake of breath. Jack and Will turned hastily to see Alex being lifted off the ground by the hand still clamped tightly around the back of her neck. As the owner of the giant hand stepped out of the shadows for a better grasp on the squirming Alex, Will's eyes widened in shock and recognition. The giant hand - that had firm purchase around Alex's neck – was in direct proportion to the rest of it's body; the man stood almost seven feet tall. He was, in every sense of the word, a giant. The same giant that Jack had refused to hire at the docks at the beginning of their journey. The same giant who resented that a woman was allowed a position on the Black Pearl, when he was not. Who could easily reveal Alex for what she was, or snap her neck in two if he so felt the need. The giant Will had sworn he would protect Alex from, but here she was, dangling two feet off the ground in a strangle-hold, her life awaiting the command of the dark stranger perched so jauntily on a seat in front of them.
"Put Alex down!" Will demanded.
"I'll not ask you again; take a seat." The man snapped, "You are in no position to be making demands; consequently it is within your best interests and your comrades if you seat yourself." Will cast a glance at Alex. She was resolutely not making a sound, but Will could see her eyes were wide in fear and pain. Will hurriedly took a seat next to Jack.
"Release him." The man told the giant sharply.
"We have unfinished business." The giant growled, but revealed nothing about Alex's true gender.
"Settle your spats later." The stranger demanded. The giant stormed over to Will and Jack and dropped Alex bodily back down in an available chair. Alex massaged her neck, glowering at the stranger and the giant, who had once more retreated into the shadows, probably awaiting further orders from his master.
The stranger carried on as if nothing had happened, "Gents, may I introduce to you Montana, the finest crew member I have ever had the fortune of employing. All thanks to you, Cap'an Jack." The stranger tipped his hat to Jack mockingly. Jack merely regarded the man with his eyes dark and unreadable.
"Aye, that's the rube." Jack replied calmly after a moment. Silence filled the room for several minutes.
"So tell me what it is that you're after." Jack finally inquired civilly.
"Why, I'm here as a loyal comrade, to warn a fellow comrade." The man replied incredulously, like kidnapping people to have a chat with them was an every day occurrence.
Jack propped his booted feet up on the table.
"So what's in the wind?" He asked nonchalantly.
Oh, I am evil. Muahahaha: still not mention of the stranger's identity, but at least someone's been revealed. Next chapter: the stranger and his purpose.
Jacquelyn Sparrow– I can't find your story. Are you writing under a different username, or maybe I'm just technologically illiterate. And no Jack death, you insecure people. Not yet, anyway.
DCoD – Was it who you thought it would be?
FastFuriousChick – yay! You're not mad at me! I was worried you would think… I dunno, that I'm slack and lazy or something…like that…I guess…
Pebbles1234 – Your reviews maketh me blusheth, as usual.
Willowred – Many thanks:)
Cuilean uasal – perhaps you're not looking for the baddie in the right places ;) Or should I say the wrong places, as that's where baddies generally hang out