Chapter Six

"Yeh be too kind-'earted, Kai... Kind-'earted an' dumb."

"Now don't be like that, love," I chided my companion. "I owe it to the man..."

"That be true enough, I s'pose," she agreed with a nod. "But 'is wife not be the same as 'im, yeh know..."

"And how do you suggest I go about paying him back then? Not like I can bring the man back from the dead." The woman sighed, shaking her head while she did so, but she said nothing which was a miracle in itself. "She's capable enough, I think."

"She be crazy. That's wha' she is." It was my turn to sigh then, but I had to admit she had a good point. After all, it wasn't just any woman that would pull a knife on a man twice her size- especially not one with a reputation like my own, and the look in her eye wasn't one of a person with a sound mind... though as much had been said about me at one point or another. "An' wha' is she tryin' to say 'bout me and decency? Ain't I a decent enough woman?"

"Not in that sense of the word, I'm afraid." When she cast me a nasty glare, I tried to explain myself further- preferably without putting my own life at risk. However, in that regard, I failed rather miserably. "What I mean to say, love, is... you don't quite fit the image of a fine lady."

"Is that so?"

Truth be told, I'd been more than ready to get clubbed in the head with the pommel of her sword, yet she only decided to sit on my lap. "Can' be mad 'bout wha's true, I s'pose," Claire chuckled. "I ain' a fine anyt'in', an' I knows it better than anyone."

"Aw, come on now, love..." I assured her with a kiss. "You be better than the lot of 'em put together." She laughed then, clapping me on the back, and stood right again- much to my own disappointment. "Where you going now?" I asked pitifully. "We were just starting up something mighty fine right there."

"I told yeh I wasn' a fine anyt'in'," she chuckled. "Best be gettin' our clothes back on in any case... Wouldn' yeh say, Cap'n?"

"You know, they say that the only way a woman can travel aboard a vessel is without clothing, or she'll anger the sea herself," I replied with a wink. Claire laughed again, throwing her head back as she did so, but this time she hesitated for a moment as if she was actually thinking over what I'd said. "You probably wouldn't mind a bit, would you?"

"No' at all. A fine lady migh', though."

We shared a laugh before dressing ourselves and headed for the deck, but once there, we found the place was in something of a state of mischief. However, it took me a moment to figure out what all the commotion was about as the two ladies insisted on talking over one another.

"Git off o' 'er!"

"You get off me, Ann!"

"Not till yeh leave the poor gal alone, Nat, I won't. She ain't done nothin' wrong!"

"Like telling me what's what is nothing. She has no right to be here if you ask me. This isn't a place for spoiled little girls!"

"Mind tellin' meh how yer any diff'rent?"

"Hey! What's this all about?"

The young women jumped at the sound of my voice just as I came to stand beside them, but I remained firm. After all, I couldn't have them walking all over me on my own ship. However, Claire seemed to feel it was her place, not mine, to get a hold on things.

"Both of yehs be squawkin' 'bout 'ere like two gulls, an' neither of yehs got a damn clue what'cha e'en be squawkin' 'bout in the first place. Now yehs best be tellin' meh what's what afore I bust both of yer heads fer this 'ere mutiny on my cap'n's boat."

How those girls even managed to understand a word of it, I would never be able to tell, but they did as they were told and kept quiet. If I wasn't feel so put out, I probably would've laughed. As it was, though, I could only stand there and try to look like I was needed. However, that was before our new companion decided to make herself known as well.

"If I'm not mistaken, they were discussing me and my presence aboard your ship."

"So it be the Widow Lourne who is to blame fer this, is it?" my companion muttered bitterly under her breath. "Yeh out not be 'ere if yer gonna be causin' hate and discontent 'bout this place."

"Well then, perhaps you should take your leave of this ship as well," Chelsea replied cooly, "for it seems to me that you are just as incorrigible as your crew here."

"What did you say? I couldn't quite hear yeh... You have to speak up- unless you're wantin' to keep that tongue of yours, that is."

At that point I was inclined to intervene and step between them before anyone decided to draw blood. The fact that her saber was resting just under my chin told me I hadn't done it a moment too son, either- much to even her surprise.

"Now, love..." I began softly, lowering the edge of her blade. "Don't you think we've had enough of that?" Claire only stared wide-eyed for a moment before she gave me a nod and sheathed her sword. Satisfied, I quickly turned my attention to the other two who had tried to slip off to the side. "And as for you lot, I suggest you be getting back to your posts." It was only after seeing them make their way below deck before I finally brought my attention to our guest. However, she wasn't going to make things any easier for me it seemed. "Mrs. Lourne, I-"

"Chelsea will do well enough, Mr. Viento."

"That be Cap'n to you."

"Very well, Chelsea it is," I agreed with a sigh before giving my companion a stern look. "Now that that's out of the way... Why don't you and I have a little chat, hmm?" Then casting a glance in my associate's direction, I added, "Alone, that is. If you don't mind."

"As long as you can keep your hands to yourself, I don't believe that would be any trouble at all," the woman replied. I only grinned and, with a sweep of my arm, motioned for her to join me in my quarters. However, as she passed me by, I couldn't help but tease her a bit.

"I'll do my best, love, but I'm afraid I can't make any promises." She cast me a heated glare, and it was all I could do not to laugh at her flustered expression. To her credit, though, she didn't say a word until we were below deck, but once there, she still let me know just what was on her mind. And hell hath no fury like the woman standing before me right then.

"You are not to call me that," she warned, her stormy gaze never parting from me. Though I raised a brow at first, she was quick to explain herself to me, and she was sure to make herself perfectly clear as well. "I will not tolerate being addressed by the same title as that woman."

Ah, so that was the problem...

"She is absolutely horrid. No better than a bar wrench, and yet you all seem more than happy to let her galavant about this ship as if it were her own! And you, sir..." she said as she aimed a long finger at my heart, "are by far the most deplorable captain- pirate or otherwise- that I have ever had the displeasure of meeting."

"Why do you think she acts as my quartermaster?" I replied with a chuckle. "She has her faults, I'll admit, but I haven't met a soul who hasn't. And that includes you, I'm afraid."

Chelsea frowned, with deep creases forming on her troubled brow, but after a time, her expression changed to that of a cruel sneer as she spoke. "That scar of yours... I suppose you earned it with that loose tongue you seem so fond of flapping about?"

"Don't mistake me," I began, my voice low as I traced the jagged white blaze. I knew it well enough, of course, being as it ran from just below my right ear to my shoulder, but I glared at her all the same. "But if you be planning on staying on this ship for long... I suggest you keep to your own business about such things." Her lips quivered as if she were at the ready to call the matter into further question, but she stayed quiet, only giving me a weak nod in understanding.

"What was it you wanted to speak to me about then?" she asked. "I doubt you have any true interest in me or my opinions, so come out with it, will you?"

"Yes, yes," I agreed, chuckling to myself. "I only wanted to ask you if you knew a man by the name of Takakura?" A blank stare was her only answer, but I hadn't really expected much different. After all, knowing Will, he wouldn't have breathed a word of his associates or the business itself to her. "He's the man we're after at the a moment."

"And why is that?"

"Because he, like my associate, was a quartermaster. Worked alongside your husband for the last few years, I believe." Chelsea seemed to think on this for a moment, and at last, she gave me a nod for me to continue. "I only met the man once, but I have never known one more loyal to his captain- whether it be William or any other."

"So how is it he is still alive?" the woman asked, lifting her chin ever so slightly. "Would not a loyal crew hang alongside their captain?"

"Only if they were present for his capture," I explained with a heavy sigh, leaning against the hull. "Your husband gave up the Dove and its crew long before he was taken to the gallows. They are still wanted men, however, and so it may take some time to find them."

"You know all this, and yet you still claim you don't know who killed my husband. Don't you find that a bit odd, Mr. Viento?" I only smiled. "Fine then. If you won't give me a decent answer, then I suppose I can ask you another question. Perhaps this one will be more suitable to your taste?"

"Perhaps," I agreed, offering her a toothy grin. "You never can tell."

"No, I suppose you can't. Not with a man like you." She took a deep breath as if preparing herself for whatever ill my come of her question, and once she had done so, she appeared to have relaxed- if only slightly. However, it was just enough that she could go ahead and ask. "How is it you came to meet William? If you'll forgive me for saying so... I don't believe he ever mentioned you, but it seems to me that you knew him far better than I could ever have hoped to."

My face softened then, my eyes becoming distant, but I remained quiet as I was unsure of what to say at the moment. After all, I couldn't very well tell her the truth of our meeting... Not when she was so desperate to find the man responsible for her husband's death.

"It was at a pub in Port Royal," I explained, my voice grace and solemn. "He wasn't a captain at that time, though... just an ordinary sailor. I'm afraid that's all there is to it."

"You're lying," she deadpanned. "There's much more to it than that, and you know it better than anyone."

Well... she certainly had me there. She had me, and so I knew there was nothing I could do or say to convince her otherwise. However, I couldn't bring myself to admit to anything more. Not at that moment anyway... Not when there was so much at stake, including her and myself.

"That's all I have to give you," I said at last, my heart still heavy with guilt. Although I expected for her to throw herself into another fit, the woman only turned and made her way out. Once she was out of sight, I could only sigh and wonder how I came to be at that very place and time. After all, I wasn't going to stop her when there was nothing more to say.

"You really ought not to leave yer door open," Claire chided me as she stepped into the room. "It's bad enough yeh made the poor girl cry wit'out the whole ship knowin' it."

"Maybe it wouldn't be such a problem if you keep it to yourself," I offered. "Of course, it might serve us better if you'd stop with eavesdropping all together." My companion may have scowled, her face becoming flushed a lovely shade of red, but she didn't bother to argue with me. Most likely because she knew it was true. "Don't worry about it none, love. I know you didn't mean any harm by it."

"Why would I?" she replied with a shrug. "I was jus' 'ere to make sure she didn' try to cut yeh again."

"She's a good girl."

"Ne'er said that she wasn't," Claire assured me with a grin. "Jus' said she was crazy is all." I only rolled my eyes, but it was still enough to make her laugh. "But, yeah, she's a good one all right... Too good if yeh ask me."

"You want to tell me something, I take it?"

"Jus' that I t'ink we better jus' leave well enough alone," she explained, leaning up against the open doorway. "Will's dead, and there ain't no way to change it. No sense in bringin' the rest of 'em to the gallows... Not to mention us."

"Nothing will happen to us," I assured her. "We'll make out just fine."

"And wha' 'bout that lot?" she challenged, raising a brow. I said nothing at first, my mind filled with other thoughts, but she took it to mean the worst. "They ain't gonna be fine, Kai, and yeh know it better than anyone. So then... yeh mind tellin' meh why yer willin' to 'ave 'em all killed for that woman?"

"Because those men are good as dead as it is," I replied, turning away from her steady gaze. "They don't have a lot of time left before they're found..."

"So yer jus' gonna 'ave 'em die like that?"

"It's not like I want them dead, Claire!" Her gaze was steady, but just by the way she bit her lip, I knew I'd put her on edge with my outburst. Of course, as I'd said, it was times very few and far between that I actually let my temper get the best of me. Unless I was under heavy strain, of course... which I was certain no one could argue was the case at that very moment. With a sigh, I began again, "All I'm saying is those men are probably more than willing to make one last go of it before they die. Besides, it's their decision to make... not mine."

Claire said nothing to my claim, her eyes still filled with doubt, and so I left it at that. After all, I knew the situation was more than a bit hopeless. Even if Takakura was was where I thought he'd be, there was no telling where the others might have stowed themselves away, or even whether those that we did find would be willing to join up on a mission such as this. And then to try and overtake an entire port with such a crew?

Suicide was what it was.

"Well, I guess there's nothin' doin' if they be dumb enough to sign up fer this mess," my companion sighed at last. Then she shook her head and whispered, "I jus' don' like it is all... Such a waste. A waste... tha's wha' it is."

"I know..." I rested my head against the hull, listening to the gentle lapping of the sea against the ship itself. It was such a beautiful sound... and yet even on the ocean itself, I rarely ever took the time to hear it. Even as I lay my head beside it, my thoughts remained as haunting echoes in the back of my mind. "I keep asking myself why I'm even doing this..." I admitted, more to myself than to my companion, "and I still don't have an answer."

"Yeh 'ave it," Claire muttered, narrowing her eyes at me and folding her arms across her meager chest. "Yeh jus' ain' willin' to admit to it."

"This has nothing to do with him."

"Like hell," she spat back. "Yeh know damn well that's what all this shit is about. You and your bloody grudge are gonna have those men killed, and for what? Just so you can hold yer head high that you pulled one over on 'im! That's all it is... isn't it?"

"That's enough..." I sighed as I righted myself and made my way for the door. "I'll go and give the word to head for Belém, so be sure the rest of the girls hear of it," I ordered, my words sure and strong in their conviction. Claire hesitated for a moment as if she were thinking of arguing with me further on the matter, but after a time, she gave me a firm nod. Whether it was in understanding or true acceptance, though, I couldn't rightly say. The only thing she had to offer me was a reply that was just as cryptic as the gesture that came before it.

"Aye, Cap'n... Belém it is."

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Author's Note: I've tried to do as much research as possible for this story, so I'm hoping that my geography isn't too far off and that these ports actually had such names in the 18th century. If anyone finds any mistakes, though, feel free to tell me!