Victoria crouched, as she counted the amount of men on deck. There were three missing, and she could here at least two sets of feet moving nearby. The time had arrived. She took a deep breath, and reminded herself that she would be alright. If not, then what do I have to loose?
"Good morning, gentlemen." She said brightly, as she stood up on top of the Captain's cabin. Instantly, the crew drew their swords, and some loaded pistols.
"Hold yer fire," The captain said, stepping forward,
"Yes, by all means do." Victoria said, "Of course, if you don't you'll be no worse off than me. The instant I drop this… the entire ship will go up."
"And so will you, if you try to destroy this ship." The captain said, his eyes never leaving the bomb she held in her hand. Victoria tossed it between her hands, and then held it up again.
"I don't think so." Victoria said, demurely, "You see, I believe that the Black Pearl is out of range of the blast. And if I dive off before the ship explodes, I might just make it. Unlike you." The captain knew she had him cornered.
"Then name your terms, Miss Henson. What would you have us do? Release the crew?" Victoria looked at him sceptically,
"Oh no," She said, "By all means, leave the crew where they are. You see, I only have two terms… I live…" She spotted the crew of the Pearl emerging from all different areas of the ship, and smiled. Keeping eye contact with the captain, she deterred the pirates attention from the Pearl's crew. In one movement, they leapt forward, easily taking out one pirate each, catching them unawares. Victoria's grin increased. "…And you die."
Both crews gave a cry and were instantly engaged in a battle, this time in favour of the Pearl. There were a very small number of the opposing crew, and there were becoming less of them by the minute. Victoria leapt forward, drawing her sword, and was slashing at the captain relentlessly. Then, suddenly the captain stopped, a strange look on his face. Seconds later, Victoria saw the tip of a sword protrude through his chest. The captain dropped, and she found herself staring directly into the eyes of a pirate. And it was not one she recognised. His bloodied blade glistened,
"Nice plan, Miss Flint." He said. Savannah's eyes narrowed, and her head cocked to one side. She spun and took out the pirate attacking Ana, who had not been winning the fight. Soon after, the fight was won, and among the bodies, the only ones left standing were the crew of the Pearl, and the boy who had killed the captain.
"What's with the boy?" Gibbs asked Savannah, sheathing his sword, and panting out of breath.
"That's exactly what he is just about to tell us." Savannah said, not breaking eye contact with the boy.
"My name is Jeremy Conch," He said, "I joined this crew to help you out… if you needed it… but it seems you didn't." Savannah wasn't convinced.
"I'm not in the mood to trust people I don't know, Master Conch," She said. Ana stepped up beside her.
"Neither am I." Savannah nodded to her right side where Ana was,
"And seeing as Ana Maria here is acting Captain of the Black Pearl, I don't think you'd like to upset her." Ana stood beside her, realising that herself and Savannah had just changed from being threatening to each other, to being an incredibly intimidating threat to others. The boy was obviously trying not to be worried, but both women saw him flinch.
"I have proof of my words," He said, producing a letter which he handed to Savannah,
"This lad is more sensible than most. He can be trusted. Elena." Savannah looked up sharply, "What connection have you with My daughter?" But before the boy could answer the entire crew, (bar Marti) did a double take.
"Since when did you have a daughter?!" Clay bluntly spoke up, a horrified look on his face. Savannah sighed,
"Yes, yes, I have a daughter. I have had one for ten years Mister Clay, it is just a part of my life I do not speak about much." Conch was amused by the situation, and he nodded at the piece of paper.
"There's more, isn't there Savannah?" Savannah sighed impatiently and read the rest of the letter,
"PS, My mathematics tutor is very handsome. You would like him." Savannah smiled grimly,
"Oh, she's your daughter alright." Will spoke up. Savannah glared at him.
"What connection do you have with Elena?" She asked Conch again, "And why are you here?"
"I told you, to help you on your voyage, and I met Elena while in France. Very charmin' little girl, and very much like yourself. She is shortly to leave the city of Quimperlé for yet another destination, is she not?" Savannah raised her eyebrows at the boy, and tucked the letter into her pocket.
"A friend to her or not, I am the only person who knows where Elena will be going this year, and that will not be changing." Will watched Savannah's confident image disappear, and become replaced by an over protective mother. "Ana Maria, I suggest we take your crew back to the Black Pearl."
"Will, Elizabeth, Marti, go back to the ship and secure it, the rest of you, salvage all that you can from this one, and meet back as soon as possible. We've already wasted enough time." There were several 'aye sirs' and the crew dispersed. Ana pointed to the boy,
"What happens to you is Savannah's choice. Either way, I don't care what happens to y'." Savannah rolled her eyes.
"Get on the Pearl. If Elena says you are trustworthy, then you must be. She may be young, but she is not stupid." Savannah and Ana followed the boy back to the Pearl.
"Well, that was an unexpected piece of news." Elizabeth said, as she and Will released the Pearl from the grasp of the Blue Eagle. Marti shrugged,
"I knew." She said. "Elena is a cute kid. Very like her mother. She be very smart." Elizabeth checked behind her,
"I must admit, I didn't see Savannah as the settling down with a family type." Marti nodded in agreement.
"She's not. Elena is in France, like they just said. Savannah never ever mentions her, or even tells people her name."
"Why?" Elizabeth asked, "She seemed very concerned about her, why would she want to forget she has a daughter?"
"She doesn't," Marti said, when they had finished. She moved closer to Elizabeth, purely out of habit from keeping quiet about Elena Flint. "She loves her daughter very much. And that is why she never speaks of her. It's for her own protection. You have to understand, there are a lot of people who Captain Flint, the original Cap'n Flint, did not get on with. There are many who would like to see Savannah, and Elena dead. Savannah knows how too take care of herself, and Elena is learning to as well."
"In France?" Elizabeth asked, "Surely it would be better for the child to live with her mother." She took a flask from her hip, and took a swig of water.
"Elena is getting an education. Just as I did." Savannah interrupted them, "She will not learn everything, but she will learn parts of everything. I have found that those parts are enough. And they leave room for more information. She will learn how to survive." Savannah kept walking with Ana Maria.
"Have y' noticed how Savannah seems to know everything? She's got so many personas that I've lost count. She's learnt the important bits about just about every place in the world, so if someone questions her story, she can back it up." Elizabeth looked impressed,
"Then it is clear that her way of life has worked. She has not been caught so far." Marti laughed,
"No she hasn't. But Sarah Knight has, Josephine Clark has, Ruby Wentworth… and now Victoria Henson. Of course, it is very rare that even those women are made a public name because of her favourite saying." Elizabeth looked wary,
"Do I want to know?"
"It's the Flint family motto," Marti said, "Dead men tell no tales."
"I thought pirates liked being known." The look on Marti's face showed that she was one of those pirates.
"Savannah Flint does not care about being famous. She cares about being alive." Elizabeth suddenly realised the difference between Savannah and the other pirates she had met. Jack had always stayed alive by accident. Marti bounced through life as if it was a game. But Savannah was professional, she was quick, she was smart, and she didn't leave anything to chance. "Given y' somethin' t' think about, haven't I?" Marti asked, grinning. Elizabeth snapped out of her daydream, and smiled,
"I don't think it's very wise to think about Savannah at all." She said,
"Very wise." Marti said, "We don't want to have any tales to be able to tell."