As always thanks to my two wonderful reviewers, Lightwolfheart and Rwy'n-Y-Blaidd-Drwg! You guys are amazing. :) Enjoy the chapter!
Chapter Nine: Tension
The tavern was dark and smoky. The few lanterns that hung to light the place had smoke and grime stained panes, revealing little light. It was scarcely populated except for two men that sat in a corner. One was tall and large, missing his right eye with a large scar that ran the length of his face. His weather-beaten face was illuminated as he sat under a grimy lantern. His companion donned a large black hat that covered his face in shadows and a large overcoat. The two drank out of large mugs and spoke in muted whispers, despite the fact that the only others in the tavern were the few barmaids and the owner.
"I ran by Harlow yesterday morning. He's been making deals with Captain Sparrow again." The one with the scar and missing eye said in a deep, husky voice.
"In return for what?" The other asked.
"He wouldn't give specifics, said to meddle in my own business —but Webber, what does Jack ever want?"
The other man, Webber, gave a flash of gold teeth. "Gold," he stated.
"Aye," the other replied with a mischievous smile.
"An' what does Harlow want?" Webber asked, leaning closer.
"Revenge," Adger stated vaguely. Webber waited for him to elucidate. "Ever heard of a man named Clarke?"
"Ever' pirate has. What's yer point?" Webber was growing impatient with the other pirate captain.
"I managed to gather that Jack was to frame Clarke for the murder of the governor of Port Veridian."
"What's the governor got to do with it? Why wouldn't he just kill—"
"—irrelevant," Adger interrupted. "The point is we can gain from this…" He trailed off. "I went and snooped around for rumors and more information at the Port and heard about a girl who is suspected to be involved." He paused. "Collins said he saw Yate's crew with a girl in Tortuga." Adger waited for Webber to put the pieces together.
"So you want us to take the girl and accuse her, then let Clarke go?" Webber wasn't convinced. "I know Sparrow has wronged us both, but I'd rather see Clarke go."
"No, that's not what I'm proposing at all." Captain Adger said with a snort. "We take the girl and Sparrow at the same time, and convince the Navy they were in on it with Clarke. We dispose of them all at the same time, and Harlow will give us the gold that was reserved for Sparrow."
Captain Webber stared at him for a moment, thinking the plan over. "And we'll split the gold, fifty, fifty?" He asked slowly.
"Sixty, forty." Adger argued. "I thought up the idea, I deserve more credit."
Captain Webber stared at the tall, dark pirate and stuck out his hand. Adger took it and the two men shook. "Then we have an accord."
x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x
The Black Pearl had been sailing on smooth waters for the last few days without much event. Kate continued her sword fight lessons with Captain Jack Sparrow and she gradually began to grow better, but nowhere near a good match for the captain or anyone else on the crew.
Kate was currently doing dishes in the galley after breakfast. Bigs had gone to do some other chores that Wesley had assigned him, leaving the pile of dishes for Kate to do. With no other distractions, Kate was left alone with her thoughts.
The past few days, she had grown comfortable aboard the vessel, and she no longer felt like a hostage, despite the fact that she still didn't have all the answers that she wanted. But, she reasoned, she just needed to wait. Yes, with time, she would receive answers. While she technically was still considered a hostage, she felt like more of the crew, and the pirates who had intimidated her so much before, now were just her friends. Even the ones she was merely acquainted with, such as Tucker and his posse, gave her no trouble.
And the captain, while he had infuriated her so much in the beginning after he had taken her life away from her in a single day, became her friend, and was now giving her a new life instead.
Kate sighed and wiped the dish she had been drying onto a stack of clean plates. This had all been too much to think about over dishes. She looked up, giving her arms a rest as she leaned against the counter and could see a few pirates, one looked like Simon, hurry past. A few steps behind was Captain Jack.
Kate quickly made up her mind that she wanted to speak with the captain.
"Jack!" She hollered, dropping her rag and rushing out into the hallway. He paused for a moment, and then looked back at the pirates in front of him who were already climbing the stairs.
"You'll have to walk with me." He said, continuing in his pace.
"Not too long ago, Jack, I said that you ruined my life." Kate stated. "I didn't mean it."
Jack's eyebrows shot up, and then his dark eyes looked straight at hers, unwavering. "I'm pretty sure you meant it." He started up the stairs, breaking his gaze. Kate quickly followed.
"Okay," Kate conceded, "I meant it then, but now I don't. I don't feel that way anymore at all." Kate tried to keep up with his long strides. "While you definitely turned my life upside down, it's not necessarily a bad thing. I'm glad that it happened actually." Kate could barely keep up with the pirate captain and wanted to get this off her chest, but he acted as if he didn't want to hear any of it. She scrambled up the ladder to the main deck after him. "Jack! Will you stop—I'm trying to talk to you!" She raised her voice and finally was able to catch his arm and make him stop.
Though he faced her, Jack avoided Kate's gaze. "I just wanted to say—"
"Captain Sparrow." A deep voice rumbled. Kate was unable to finish what she had wanted to say for a while now. Her mouth was set in a straight line, aggravated, turning to see who had interrupted them. A tall pirate with a large, flourishing and obnoxious gray hat stood before her. "Ah, and I see you have someone with you."
"Captain Adger." Jack whirled around and seemed surprised to see the other captain. He did not introduce Kate to the man, nor did he look happy to see him. "I didn't agree to do the trade through you. I said Harlow himself, and no one else." He paused, looking around. The crew of the Black Pearl had stopped their chores, interested in the newcomers. "Now get off my ship."
"Now, now, Sparrow," Captain Adger held his hands up. "You must listen to what I have to say at least."
Jack folded his arms, his mouth set and his eyes glowering at the easy-going captain in front of him.
Adger, somehow, took that as a sign to continue. "They know you did it."
Jack's arms fell to his side and for a moment he looked alarm. He glanced sideways at Kate and then looked back at Adger, standing up straight. "We'll discuss this in my cabin." He said, turning on his heel, not waiting for the other captain to follow.
The two emerged into Jack's cabin. "Take a seat," Jack said coldly.
Adger walked around the captain's cabin a moment before sitting down. "You're just the same, Jack." Captain Adger commented.
"Captain Sparrow," Jack corrected.
Adger smirked but did not say anything else.
"What do ye want?" Jack said.
Adger's smirk fell from his face and he leaned forward. "The Royal Navy has Albert Willows' murder pinned on a commoner in the village."
Jack narrowed his eyes. "What are you talking about?"
Adger grinned. "There's no use denying that you know what I'm talking about. You killed the governor Sparrow."
Jack merely shrugged. "So what, I killed him. They would've hung me before I shot the governor. I'm a pirate." He set his forearm on the table, where the 'P' was branded onto his arm.
"Don't take me for a fool, Jack." Adger paid no attention to his arm. "We both know you were framing Clarke."
Jack was silent for a moment, studying the dark pirate before him. "This is none of your business either way." Jack replied darkly. "Like I said, what do you want?"
Adger shook his head. "I don't want anything. It's Harlow you want to watch for. He sent me to tell you. The deal's off."
Jack stood up. "I'm headed to Port Manning to speak with Harlow himself. He did not send you." He headed to the cabin door and held it open for Adger. "Now get off my ship like I told ye before. Or I'll have my men escort you." His eyes glittered.
But Adger did not stand. He turned to look at Jack and then turned to face forwards again. "I did not say I was done."
Jack remained where he was, the door still cocked open.
Realizing that Jack would not discuss the topic further, Adger stood. "Well, you won't need to keep the girl anymore." He faced him.
Jack's eyebrows lowered. "I don't know what you mean."
"The girl on your ship is the barmaid at the tavern that Willows' was shot behind." He stated. "They've pinned the murder on someone else, so she need not be a burden anymore.
Jack fumed inside. He did not need such a lowly pirate such as Adger to barge aboard his ship, uninvited, and tell him how to run things. And, pirates did not meddle in each other's business. "She is our cook, not some barmaid." Jack gave Adger a shove out of his cabin. Adger whirled back around with his sword raised in the air, but Jack was fast and pulled out his sword in time to block the blow.
"Get him off my ship." Jack spat. Wesley and Tucker each grabbed Adger by his shoulders and pulled him away from their captain, leading him towards his own ship. Adger shoved both pirates off of his arms and sheathed his sword. He quickly crossed the gangplank, and when he was on his own ship, he turned back and called, "Don't tell me I didn't warn you to avoid Harlow, Sparrow!"
Jack glowered, turning on his heel and heading back into his cabin, slamming the door behind him.
Kate jumped at the noise, wondering what the other pirate captain could have said to make him so angry. The only other time Kate had seen him so angry was the night he captured her; when he was angry at her. Kate decided to let the captain be and returned to the pile of dishes that still waited cleaning in the galley. Her words of reconciliation would have to wait.
x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x
Kate set the last cup in the cupboard and breathed a sigh of relief. It had been a week since the meeting with Captain Adger, and the Black Pearlcontinued in its heading north.
It was after breakfast again, and the mounds of dishes had been cleaned and put away in their rightful spot, ready to be taken out and dirtied for the next meal. Bigs was able to help Kate this time and it had not taken as long to finish the chore.
"How did you ever do all of this by yourself?" Kate wondered aloud to Bigs.
Bigs smiled and shook his head. "I dunno, but I did and you better not be leaving anytime soon or I'll quit!" Kate laughed. She grabbed a knife and began to cut a potato. It was Stew Saturday, and the broth was already simmering on the stove.
Unbeknownst to Kate, Brandon had slipped into the galley and the red-headed pirate picked up a carrot and took a bite out of it. Kate started at the noise and turned quickly. She smiled when she saw Brandon. "Yes? What is it that you want?" She grinned.
Brandon frowned. "What? I can't just come down here to talk to you?"
"Well did you…?" Kate asked.
Brandon narrowed his eyes at her and took another bite of the carrot. "Irrelevant!" He said with his mouth full. He swallowed and said, "Jack wants another lesson."
Kate sighed. "Again? We've already had one today!" She complained. The sword fighting lessons always left Kate feeling tired for the rest of the day. She didn't want to imagine what two in one day would make her feel like. Her arms started to ache just at the thought of it.
Kate motioned to Bigs that she had to leave and followed Brandon out of the galley and up towards the main deck. "You've been getting better," Brandon said encouragingly.
"Yes, but I'm still not good." Kate replied. "I'm not down about my skill; I'm down because I'm tired."
Brandon nodded, but did not comment as they reached the main deck. "Here's my sword," he handed her his sword, as she still did not have one of her own, whether that was because Jack didn't have another one (which is hard to believe—pirates) or that Jack did not think she was ready.
"Keep your sword, Brandon." Jack said, glancing up to see him give her his sword. Kate raised her eyebrows and handed the sword back to Brandon.
"C'mere, Kate," Jack said. Only a few words had been exchanged between Kate and Jack. She wasn't sure why but if she could have only one guess, she figured it had something to do with the formidable Captain Adger and his meeting with her captain. She had missed his company, she realized.
He was sitting on a crate and was polishing a sword, not seeming to pay her any attention. Kate headed towards the captain. He looked up and held the sword out for her to take, flipping it easily in his hand so the hilt pointed towards her. "It's yours now." He said simply, standing and taking out his own from his belt. "I finally got around to finding you one of my old ones."
Kate looked at the sword and felt a small little thrill run through her, knowing that this was her own. She knew that right now she couldn't do a lot of damage, but maybe one day, eventually, she would be as good as the other pirates on the ship.
Jack just stood there for a moment, looking Kate over, and a small grin started to spread across his face.
"What?" Kate asked, wondering why he was looking at her like that.
"You just look like a pirate is all." He replied.
Kate didn't know what to say to that, so she just simply smiled. "Thanks, I suppose."
After that, there wasn't any more time for talk as Jack seemed adamant that Kate learn how to sword fight—and well. Most of the other lessons that they had had leaned towards Kate trying to attack Jack, always with extremely little success. Jack had always slowed down his moves so Kate could keep up, but today he was showing no sympathy.
"If we were ever to get into a fight, it would be more important for you to learn how to defend yourself first. If you can't defend yourself, you're done." Jack swung his sword around quickly and tapped Kate's side when she failed to parry it.
"C'mon Kate, focus!" He urged. He brought another blow, this time aimed towards Kate's arm. Kate was able to spin around so that he missed her by inches. Yet by the time Kate had spun all the way around, Jack had his sword at her stomach.
Kate could tell that Jack was growing irritated, but Kate was trying to focus as much as she could; Jack was just far faster and better, there was no way Kate could try to match him.
Jack took a step forward with his next move, and Kate was just able to block it in time as she took a step back.
"Better," Jack said, sidestepping with his next blow. Kate mimicked him by stepping to the side as well, somehow managing to block the blow.
Jack kept moving on his feet, Kate hesitantly moving as well to stay in position in front of him. "Always move your feet," Jack instructed. He swung his sword overhead and Kate misjudged where his sword was heading as she moved her sword to parry his. He stopped his sword in time and lightly touched the blade to her shoulder. He did not wait to make his next move, or the move after that, and each time Kate was too late to block his sword.
"Kate! Pay attention!" He scolded. Kate narrowed her eyes and tried again to parry his next move, but was again too late as Jack's sword again stopped just in time to gently tap her arm.
"I'm not as fast as you Jack; I can't keep up." Kate mumbled.
"Well you're going to have to learn." Jack rebuked. Kate was taken aback by his tone and looked down at the sword in her hand.
"Again," Jack prompted. Kate wanted to protest; her legs were aching and her arms were sore from the heavy sword; all she wanted was to go lie down and let her body rest; yet she knew better than to respond.
Just as Jack was about to raise his sword and make his move, there was a shout from above at the crow's nest.
"Land! Port Manning ahead!" The voice floated down to the deck and Jack quickly sheathed his sword, pulling out his telescope and looking through it towards the land mass they were approaching.
Kate gratefully dropped her arm to her side, thankful for the distraction that ended their lesson early. She was about to put hers away but Jack gently grabbed her wrist to stop her. "You're going to need that."
What all do you take of this Adger fellow? And why does Jack seem to have a premonition of violence in Port Manning? Ahh, tell me what you think in the reviews! Reviews make my day (:
Always,
Becca xoxo