XLVIII.
Revenge

The next day they rose and Edward seemed in a hurry to get around. He brought a bag that he had brought with him off the Jack. He gave Mary another bag and when she peeked in it, her face furrowed. He was about to leave the room but she stopped him, grabbing his shoulder.

"What is this?" She asked, holding the bag out.

"Mary, don't argue with me. Please." His voice sounded weary and at once she regretted making a fuss. She sighed, her shoulders sagging.

"Fine. Fine. I'll go along with whatever it is you're cooking up." He gave her a tight smile and they gathered their horses together. He directed her to a tavern, one much different from the one she had been in the day before. This one was indeed in Bristol and she would meet up with him after.

They separated and Mary knew there were eyes upon her. Templar spies, but she was powerless to act against them at the moment and simply rode on. She dropped her horse off at a stand to let him water and feed. Then Mary Read, dressed as a man, entered the tavern.

She checked and yes, the privies were in the rear of the establishment, as Edward had said they were. She slipped inside and held her breath against the stench. She changed, faster than she ever had, and perhaps she had entered the establishment as a man, but she left as a maid. She kept her boots on though, she wouldn't wear any of those horrible shoes that most women enjoyed wearing. They killed her feet and she wanted to be able to run. Just in case.

She found Edward once more, dressed quite sharply himself. He was dressed the part of a merchant, right down to his tricorn hat. She raised an eyebrow at him and he smiled, tipping his hat at her. He offered her his arm and she took it gently.

"So where are we going?" She asked him, making her voice light and conversational.

"Just a little ways" He answered and soon they approached a flower stall where a woman was already looking. Edward tapped her basket three times and said in a hushed voice, "I got your message"

The woman didn't look up. She bent to look at the flowers before them. Mary pretended to have great interest in them as well. "Good" came the woman's soft reply. She looked about them and whipped a headscarf out of her basket and tied it about her head. "Follow me"

Then she set off and Edward and Mary followed after. She found herself curious and she leaned towards Edward as they walked. "Who is she?"

"Name's Rose. I helped her years and years ago. She was Caroline's maid" Mary nodded, silenced by his explanation. She followed along silently, cursing the skirt which kept feeling like it was tangled around her legs. Finally they stopped outside what looked to be an old stable. Edward looked around and Mary saw a pang of realization and then sadness wash over his features.

"You've met the young mistress Jennifer have you?" Asked Rose, her eyes sparkling. She was a pretty young woman, though she looked as though she had been worn by many years of being a servant. Mary remembered the same happening to her mother's. It was never an easy life, but at least it was a well-paid one.

"Jenny, yes. I've met my daughter. I'm keeping her safe on my ship while I handle business here…" Edward answered.

"She has your eyes" Rose's voice went soft.

"And her mother's beauty" Edward's voice was so sad. Mary glanced up at him but kept silent.

"And her willfulness." Rose sighed. "When her mother passed away last year, she said she must meet you no matter what"

"I'm surprised that old scratch, Emmett allowed it"

Rose let out a dry laugh. "He didn't. He didn't know she was gone till the next morning and he was quite sour because of it. It was myself and her grandmother, the Lady of the house, who helped her plot her escape. I spirited her away to the ship in the middle of the night. I remember watching her sail off…She is such a brave and beautiful girl"

"I'm sure there were meetings…" Rose's eyes glanced to Mary, as if just realizing she was there.

She pressed her lips together for a moment and then said, "Whose this?"

"This is a dear friend of mine." Edward explained. "Mary Read. She's…She's been my mentor for a good many years"

Mary looked up at him, her mouth opening to deny some of what he said. Her? A mentor? She looked at Rose and said with a shake of her head, "I'm a friend of Edward's who helped him get to this point." There that was simple and vague enough.

"So Rose, were there meetings?"

Rose nodded, just slightly and went on "You could say there were meetings, yes sir"

"Perhaps with a Mister Hauges?" Pressed Edward. Rose nodded, tight-lipped. "And Wilson?" Edward's voice went dark at that name. Again, another small nod from Rose. "And where would they be hiding now, Rose?"

Rose glanced away. "I do not know, sir"

Edward's sigh was annoyed. "Why asked me here if you have nothing to offer?"

Rose's eyes snapped back to Edward and they narrowed, ever so slightly. "I do not know where they are now, sir, but I do know where they expect to be tonight. At the warehouse. I'm bringing Mister Scott a change of clothes there tonight, straight after dark"

Edward nodded and then he took his arm from Mary. "Why are you helping me Rose? Why betray him?"

"Because you once saved me from a fate worse than death. Because Caroline loved you so and because…" She didn't seem to be able to go on for a moment. She swallowed hard. "Because that man allowed her to die. He wouldn't get her or Mrs. Scott the medicines they needed. Mrs. Scott eventually recovered, but Mrs. Kenway…she withered away"

Edward's face flashed with pain. Mary grimaced and found herself asking "How did she die?"

"Smallpox" Rose answered. "Mister Scott brought it from London I think. Oh, Mrs. Kenway had these awful blisters, worse thing you've ever seen, all over her face…"

"Please, stop." Edward cut in. "Please, let me remember how she was. Please"

"Edward" She murmured his name, reaching to touch his arm. Rose looked from her to him but didn't say anything. Mary knew she suspected though. It was none of her business though so she didn't ask. She wouldn't ask.

"Tonight, then?" He asked Rose finally, his voice rough.

"Tonight, sir, yes"

They had returned, she had redressed herself as a man and then they rested and plotted. Eventually, Mary fell asleep. She was startled awake by a knock on the door. She roused herself but Edward had it open first. Outside was the woman they were renting the room from. She was pale and frightened looking. Mary didn't catch her first few words but she stumbled over to the door in time to hear her next words:

"…powerful men who have called powerful forces against you – I mean him"

"I see" Edward replied carefully. "And what might these forces be?"

"Soldiers, sir. A whole troop of them. Heading right for where Edward Kenway may be staying"

"And when they arrive, Edward Kenway and his young friend will be forced to defend themselves from said soldiers. A bloody battle will ensure, with many lives lost and much damage caused then, no doubt" The landlady's cheeks turned red and her face pale further. "Rest assured that no such trouble shall come here tonight. Edward Kenway was once a foolish man but he has learned that in order to change who you are, you must change how you think and he has certainly changed how he thinks"

"Very good, sir" Her voice was blank.

"And now me and Jim shall take our leave, doubtless never to return!" He turned to his bag and grabbed it but dropped it back to the bed, only taking a few things he needed from it. Mary left her bag as well. There was nothing she needed to take with her within it. Nothing she couldn't easily replace. Edward took out some gold and pressed it into the woman's hand.

"Oh, that's more than generous, sir"

"You've been very kind" He told her.

"There's a back door, sirs" And then she stepped aside and they rushed out the back as the soldiers rushed in the front.

The two of them dashed into the night, heading into the shadows and from there, sneaking to Bristol. Edward seemed to know which way to go to and Mary simply followed him, trusting his judgment. He led them and he did extremely well with staying to the shadows, moving as part of the night. She was so proud of him in moments like this, but she knew she had to keep her head leveled right now. She knew that the men they were hunting were most likely expecting them and while she did not know what crimes they had committed, the fact that they were Templars was enough for her to agree to kill them.

They stopped by a tavern which Edward briefly entered and then returned to her side where she hid on a roof, leaning against a chimney.

"We're leaving straight after this. Well, you are for sure" Edward caught her chin in his hand.

"What about you?"

"I don't know if I'll make it out alive." He admitted. She made her face stay blank, else her anger would have taken ahold of her. "And if I do not, I need you to take care of Jenny"

"Take care of her yourself!" She demanded.

"I will, if I can…but if something happens, Mary…I want you to promise that you'll take Jenny to…to France or something. Somewhere the two of you can be safe and happy. I want…I want you to be safe and happy"

"I want you to be safe and happy too" She admitted, her voice losing all its anger. "So do your best to stay alive. You just met your daughter. You can't leave her so soon."

"Just promise me Mary. You're the only one I trust"

"I promise" She only said it to make him happy. It made him smile, in a peaceful sort of way.

"Thank you" He kissed her briefly – for luck – and then they turned towards the warehouses. It was only a few roofs over and they were glaring down at three thugs guarding a larger one. It was right by the docks and Mary noticed Edward looking off into the distance, as if looking for something.

Edward then glanced back down at the warehouse, testing his hidden blade. Mary was wondering what he was waiting for, but quickly realized. Was this man already inside? Were the others within as well? If they didn't know, they couldn't move forward with confidence. The three men would be nothing for them. They could take them down while half asleep. Edward and Mary were still hesitating when Rose came walking proudly up to the door.

"Is a Mister Emmett Scott within?" She asked the one guard. He looked up and chuckled darkly.

"What's it to you?"

"I have clothes for him"

"You'd be the maid then"

"That I would" She didn't seem scared at all and Mary had to give the woman credit. She had guts.

"Go on in, he's waiting for you" The door opened and shut. Mary glanced at Edward and they had just slid to the ground when there was a scream.

"Rose!" Edward hissed and then he attacked the first guard, Mary took the second. Edward's blade was wet with the third's blood within ten seconds and they were in the warehouse, throwing caution to the wind. Bad idea because the air exploded and a bullet hit Mary's left thigh. She cursed loudly, stumbling into some crates, hot blood dripping down her leg.

"Mary!" Edward ducked down with her, holding onto her shoulders. "Is it bad?"

"No." She growled and she dared a peek.

There was a gantry and an office beside that. Three people were up above them, one standing on the railing as if they were going to jump the twenty feet. Two were men and she figured the older one was Emmett Scott and she had no idea who the second was. Rose was the one on the railing. A noose was around her neck and the one man held her steady, clearly using her as a hostage.

"Hold on there, Kenway" The man holding Rose called. "If you make so much as a move, I give her a push and you'll have the death of a maid on your hands"

"What do we do?" Mary whispered.

"I'll take them. Can you handle Rose?"

"Aye"

"Were you there that night, Wilson? Were you the one who wanted me to kiss steel?" Edward called, checking his pistol's powder. He was buying for time. Mary tensed, testing her hidden blade.

"Aye. And you would have if the others had not been so soft!"

"And what of you Emmett? Were you there? Did you help burn my family's farm?"

"And foul myself with such a dirty deed? No, the only way I would have been there was to witness your execution" Emmett replied. He was sweating like a pig. He was afraid of Edward she realized. He was very afraid of him.

"Your pride is your undoing Emmett. You pride is the undoing of us all"

"You know nothing"

"I know you allowed my beloved to die" Edward's voice was hollow, angry, sad.

"I loved her too!" Emmett yelled, leaning against the railing. Rose began to whimper but checked herself, hardening her expression.

"Not the kind of love I'll recognize, Scott!" Edward shouted back.

"You'll never understand! You never could!"

"I understand that you are a greedy man, never happy with your lot. I understand this greed has been the death of many innocent people. I understand that this greed will now be the cause of your own death. I understand that you are about to die" He looked to Mary and mouthed Ready?

Ready. She mouthed back.

Wilson began to speak again but the two of them dashed from behind their crate. Edward had two pistols. He shot twice, Wilson shot once. Mary saw Edward fall back. Emmett went down, a hole in his forehead. Wilson yelled, blood pouring from his side. Rose screamed as she fell. Mary dashed forward, her leg hurting something awful but she had to ignore it. She ran and jumped onto a tea crate. She launched herself off it as hard as she could, engaging her hidden blade, reaching out…

Just before Rose's rope went taunt, she swiped the blade across it. The two of them went flying across the warehouse and crashed into the floor. Mary tried to protect Rose as much as possible but they were both addled and sore now. She sat up and she saw Edward up above her.

"Are you okay?" He called. She saw blood leaking from his shoulder. A drop landed on her cheek.

"You're hurt!"

"I'm okay. Hurry along after making sure Rose is okay, Mary! This night's not over yet!" Then he was gone, limping away. She hissed and pushed herself to her feet.

"Wait, miss" Rose stopped her. She took her headwrap off and quickly used it to wrap Mary's leg. "So you don't bleed out too much yourself" She explained. "Go! Master Kenway needs you!"

Mary nodded and hurried after him. She followed the trail of blood. As she got closer and closer to the port, she could see the Jackdaw, all its gun hatches open and aiming at the port. She cursed. What the hell was Edward playing at? She was close when suddenly she was surrounded by guards. They didn't kill her, only took her hands behind her back and forced her to match down to the pier where Edward was talking with a portly merchant and another man.

"Ah, right on time" The portly merchant said, motioning to her.

Edward was on a ship called the Charlotte. A barrel of tar lay at his feet, a torch in his hand. Behind him was the navigation room and someone was banging on the door, begging to be let out. Edward glared at the merchant, clearly pissed that he had brought Mary into this. Edward's shoulder was stained red. He had been shot, she realized, and he needed to get that treated. Why did he not stop to fix it yet?

"Let her go." Edward's words were a hiss.

"Her?" The merchant question.

"I'm a woman, you arse!" She growled at him, thrashing to get her arms released. They did let her go and she stumbled away.

"Peace. We're here on a mission of peace. Of mercy" The man claimed and Mary looked from him, to Edward. Edward shrugged and motioned for her to stay calm by laying his one hand flat in the air by his leg. She simply dropped her arms to her side. She would have rather joined Edward on the ship, but she stayed on the docks instead, knowing that many guns were trained on her, were trained on Edward and the crew of the Jackdaw who were watching with dark eyes.

"So what will it be Kenway? Will you die and take a young man with you? Or will you take what I have offered?" Mary wondered what he had offered. "Ah, your young friend looks confused. Good…ma'am, I have simply told Mister Kenway here that he is to drop that torch in the ocean and there will be a pardon for him and his crew. The young man trapped in it is a foolish young lad, too influenced by his elders. Killing him is pointless now, Mister Kenway has had his revenge. The men he sought are now dead."

Mary blinked blankly and then looked at Edward who seemed to be thinking hard about it. Then he sighed and dropped the torch. Well, into the ocean of course. The merchant smiled widely and motioned for Edward to come forward. He did, after kicking what was blocking the door out of the way. It gave way and a young man, though not much younger than Edward, rushed out and to another man with a cunning resemblance to him. He offered Edward a tearful apology before parting with the man whom Mary guessed to be his father.

The merchant, whose name was Robert Walpole, clasped Edward on his back as he climbed onto the port. He began telling Edward of the different things that Edward would experience in London. He told him of contacts, of a business, of making Edward into a man of quality. Mary followed, limping now herself. They were taken to a doctor and Walpole still talked.

"And what of you Miss….?"

"Mary Read" She answered.

"Miss Read, then, I can make sure you are rewarded as well…"

"I require no bribery. I have what I need" She answered and he raised an eyebrow but commented no further. "Give me a moment to talk to Edward, if you will though"

By this point they had both been treated but they were all just talking about different things. He nodded and left the room. Mary moved from her seat to sit closer to Edward. She sat down and gave him a long look which he returned.

"What made you spare him?" She asked. He had been so set on his revenge…

"I thought of Black Bart's cruelty." He reached out and took one of her hands, pushing up the sleeve to show the scars there. The scars that would always be there from when she made her wrists raw, trying to escape Black Bart. She did not think back on those months with any sort of pleasure. In fact a shiver ran up her spine to think of her time on that ship. Edward knew because he squeezed her hand comfortingly. "I thought of Blackbeard's generosity. I thought of Anne's bravery. I thought of Ade's courage. I thought of your spirit. But most of all, I thought of Jennifer and the hope she represented. I couldn't lose all that" He traced her scar with his finger, running his finger around her wrist.

"Edward" She whispered his name and he looked up at her.

"I couldn't just throw it away" He told her, a small smile on his face. "And now I want you to come to London with me"

"Edward…" Her face pinched. "I…I can't. I couldn't!"

"Please, Mary? Please?" He begged. His one hand was on the side of her face and he was leaning closer. No, she had to push him away, she had to say no. "Please?"

"Edward…Don't…I…"

"I'll be there Mary, I'll always be there for you…"

"But…" She tried to come up with an argument but he kissed her. He used it as a way to seduce her to the idea of coming with him, of sailing to London. And at that moment it didn't seem like a bad idea. Suddenly, she didn't mind it but as he pulled away. "I need to think about it. I'll go. But I can't say I'll stay"

"It's the best I can hope for" He smiled a little and leaned away, content with the argument won. She rolled her eyes, he never would change. Not completely at least, but she wouldn't want him any other way.

A/N: I'm sorry for how late this chapter is. I haven't been feeling well of late and I might be extremely slow at getting chapters out. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it. Only a few more chapters left and perhaps there will be a happy ending.