I'm so glad you guys like my story! I'm surprised by all the positive feedback I'm getting. Enjoy this chapter. I may update later today if I get time, but defiantly tomorrow.

Yes, there is some French in this story… I'm still learning it, so if you do know French please excuse my bad grammar, etc.

Lady Ano

Chapter 3

It had happened right after she woke up. Greenbeard, the navigator, was relieved from the helm and sitting and playing liars dice with Maccus and Palifico. She leaned against the wall and watched them play. She was enjoying it when the Captain approached. All the commotion stopped as the men looked at him. Davy made a grim smile before instructing the group.
"There's been a shipwreck boys!" he roared. Coley wouldn't help but notice he had said 'boys' and not recognize that she was a girl. "I want the lot of you over there to loot the ship." He went to turn, but stopped. He looked at Coley. "That includes you, Miss Peyton."

The eight or so gathered around the game got up and began to walk towards the port side. Coley quickly followed. She placed the top of her hand on her cutlass attached to her left hip. Clanker let out a small laugh and instructed her to follow him. Coley didn't understand, but he took her hand. She found the gesture strange and his hand cold. Before she could interject he dragged her into the side of the Dutchman. She came out of the wall of another ship, which was in wrecks. Tattered sails flapped and pieces of the ship were floating around the area.

Coley was disoriented from the strange experience, and she looked at Clanker for an answer. He laughed and walked away.

Most of the ship was still intact so she descended the stairs to look for anything. She came across a few locked chests. She sighed as she realized how boring it was to walk around this dilapidated ship.

After a while of searching she returned to the top of the deck and it struck her: They are looking for survivors. Coley looked in horror at the line up before her. Good sailors, good men were being killed off like they were pieces of meat. The man that had captured her the first day with the bonefish sword placed his hand on her shoulder and got her to move forward, inching her closer to what was happening. He looked down at her, and she searched his face. It showed no emotion. She stepping sideways and shrugged her shoulder until his hand fell off. Coley turned her attention to her captain. He stood before four men, who all were bloodied and in horrible shape.

Davy nodded and walked away. One of the men was yelling at Davy in French. He was offering him something in his quarters if he was let free. But Davy didn't speak French. Coley did.

"Wait!" She screamed, running forward. "He has an offer for you!" She stopped suddenly as her captain turned around to face her.

"And how am I supposed to bargain with those who do not know my tongue?" He hissed down to her.

"I… I speak French…" She trailed off. She was born and raised in France and English was her second language.

"Do ye now?" He asked in a masked tone. "Well then, what does this man have for me?" He asked, his curiosity now spiked. Coley turned away from him and knelt before the man. He was in tatters and shaking. His long blonde hair was stringing to his face and the tips were dripping onto the board of the ship.

"Qu'avez-vous besoin?" What do you need? Coley asked to him. The man took in a shaky breath before responding.

"Rien... Mais j'offre l'information." Nothing, but I offer information. Coley nodded and turned towards her captain.

"He offers us information." She stated simply.

"About…?" He questioned. She turned back to the man.

"Informations sur ce qui?" Information on what?

"Un navire. Un avec le butin vous voudrez. Il a trésor et le beaucoup de canons et de poudre." A ship. One with spoils you will want. It has treasure and a lot of cannons and powder. Coley didn't understand why they would want cannons and powder, but she re-laid this information to her captain. He nodded.

"Drill the man for information on where it is located, and then put him in a long boat with some provisions. Miss Peyton, when you arrive back on the Dutchman I want you in my cabin." And with that he turned and walked into the mast and was gone.

Coley did as she was instructed and was dragged back onto the Dutchman by Clanker.

"Ye best be getting' to the Captains quarters." He pointed in a general direction and left her to find it. She nodded and gulped as she began to walk towards where he had pointed.

After several minutes of searching she finally found the door. She stood before it, drilling holes into it with her eyes. She looked down and took a deep breath. Here we go… He lifted her hand but hesitated. Will he be mad at me for negotiating with the man? She thought. Knock, knock, knock…

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Authors note: I know this doesn't seem like a bad position, but it will evolve into one. Chapters still pretty short, but will get longer as I get deeper into plot line. It's early and I'm too lazy to re-read this, so sorry if there are mistakes.