Chapter 9: Unexpected Visitors

"That went better than I'd hoped it would," Jack said once they'd reached the shallow depression where the stream ran. The party moved to the middle of the shallow water where the bottom was rocky and anyone looking for their tracks would have a hard time finding them.

"Aye," Barbossa agreed. "More profitable too."

"I thought that bugger were goin' to soil 'imself," Pintel chuckled as they made their way toward their horses. They were to meet up with Ragetti, Aaftab, and 'Umniya near the rise they'd used to spy on the homestead. If all had gone right the three would have lit the fires and ridden off well before the guards from Tamir's house got there.

"How did you know they would go like that, Captain Sparrow?" Aasim asked.

Sparrow's gold teeth flashed in a quick smile. "They get bored sittin' all the time. Guards I mean. So when something happens they all want to show how useful they are. I knew they'd leave a few behind so we went in fast and dealt with them."

"I'll say this for you, Jack," Barbossa said. "Yer clever when it comes to things like raids."

"Thank you, Hector," Jack was pleased by the unexpected compliment. Lately his first mate had been somewhat less than deferential.

They found the horses half a mile down stream and mounted up. They rode off in a wide arc heading first to the east and gradually turning north and then bearing west. Up ahead they could see a small light as if from a campfire. Jack held up his hand and drew them to a halt.

"Wha's wrong, Cap'n?" Pintel asked straining his eyes to see the fire.

"We told them not to light a fire," Barbossa answered for Jack.

"We didn't want to give away our location," Jack said. His eyes were darting about and the fingers on his upraised hand twitched nervously. It reminded Pintel of a fox scenting a hound.

'Umniya tossed another stick onto the fire and looked around into the night. She thought she should be more nervous but at the moment she was half scared and half excited. She had lived her life as the possession of one man or another and in all of those years she had told many tales of adventure. Now she was living one. It was more tiring than she had hoped but she was having fun. She'd seen men die and nearly been killed herself during the fight in the garden but still this was far more interesting than the usual spats and intrigues among the women.

Aaftab and the skinny one called Ragetti both sipped tea 'Umniya had prepared. They were looking sullen. Neither made any move to help her as she went about the fire poking the coals and generally fretting while they waited for their four companions to return. She was worried about both Hector and Aasim. She had once loved Hector and Aasim had been her most loyal bodyguard and friend for five years. She prayed that they would return. What would happen if they did not? A slight shudder ran through her. As she straightened to find her seat again the sound of horses came from the east. A few minutes later two mounted figures and two riderless horses came into the ring of firelight. Hector and the one called Pintel dismounted and made their way to the fire.

"Aaftab, I thought Jack told you no fires. No lights on a night like this," Barbossa said eyeing the pirate.

"We got cold waiting, Mr. Barbossa." Aaftab said. He did not rise as usual. Ragetti also stayed seated. "Where's the captain?"

"He fell when we got into the courtyard," Barbossa's voice held a note of sadness. "Aasim got it as we were leaving. We didn't get the box."

'Umniya stared at Barbossa with shock. "Aasim is dead?"

"He is, lass," Barbossa said gently. "I'm sorry."

"And no falcon then." Aaftab said louder than he needed to.

"No," Barbossa shook his head.

"Then my master will have to pay for it after all." said a voice from up the slope in the darkness. Barbossa's hand flashed to his blade but the sound of muskets cocking stopped him.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Barbossa," Aaftab said. He held his hands out to show the cord bound around his wrists. Ragetti did the same.

"Who is it that's addressing me?" Barbossa demanded.

"You may call me Sir Walter. My master is Sir Henry Lyle," A tall man said as he stepped into the light at the edge of the camp. His jacket was slung around his shoulders and a bandage showed on his broad chest. His left arm was in a sling. He held a large pistol in his other hand.

"So it's you we cut up on the road earlier," Barbossa said. His eyes flicked to the darkness behind the knight. "And it's yer master what made a bargain with Tamir for the falcon."

"Sir Henry has been after the falcon for more than two years now. Tamir felt sure that he could get it." Sir Walter said as he came in closer to the pirates. "I'll trouble you to drop your weapons. My men are surrounding you. I doubt that Tamir's guards will see the fire from the other side of the hill but they would certainly hear gunfire."

"We haven't got the falcon. Ye've no need to keep us," Barbossa told him. He was naturally inclined to hold onto his weapons as long as he could.

"No actual need. No," Sir Walter replied. "But there is the matter of you shooting me and killing several of my men."

"And what would ye have done to us if we hadn't surprised you?"

"Mr. Barbossa, you know we would have killed you," the knight said with a hard smile. "Dead men are so much easier to search. Drop your weapons now or I'll take my chances with Tamir's guards."

"I think I'll be hanging on to mine but I recommend ye to be droppin' yers," Barbossa drawled.

"Haurocks, fire," Sir Walter gave the order casually as though he were doing nothing more important than ordering a glass of wine. His smile stayed on his face for a moment but faded when no shot came. "Haurocks?"

"Was that 'is name?" the voice from the dark was silky smooth and playfully sinister. A gleam of gold reflected firelight. "He won't be taking anymore orders in this world, mate."

Sir Walter turned and discovered Captain Jack Sparrow standing close behind him. Out of the darkness a huge man suddenly loomed and Aasim appeared with his right hand red and glistening with blood. The big eunuch reached out with his dagger and wiped the blade clean on the knight's sleeve.

"Master Pintel, put the fire out," Jack purred. "I have some questions to ask our guest."