Nassau, March 17, 1720
James' schooner docks in the humid Nassau harbor, she barks an order to the crew and stomps away from the helm. Damn these hormones. Everything pissed her off and her crew could feel the tension in the air. She sighs remembering the incident from last night.
"Are you alright sir?" James whips her head to the side, eyes filled with unnecessary rage. "I'm fine." She snaps, "If I wanted your concern I'd ask for it." The lad places a hand to her shoulder and she tenses. She grabs his wrist and tugs, pulling him up over her shoulder.
He lands hard on his back with a thud, the wind knocked clear from his lungs. She points her sword at his neck and he looks at her doe-eyed, "I'm s-sorry sir! I didn't mean to!" She sheathed her blade and the kid scurries backwards, "I don't need the likes of you checking up on me! Next time you touch me I'll chop your hands off!"
She glances at the poor kid, his eyes widen and he quickens his paces tying the lines. She rubs her knuckles against her temples feeling a headache coming on. I just need to talk to Annie, she grabs a handful of pickled fish from a barrel and hurries towards the Old Avery. She inspect the fish in her hand and groans, she hasn't been able to get enough of this shite lately even though it tastes fermented.
She stomps up the steps, tugging at her tight shirt, For fucks sake, you can practically see my tits. She eyes the unusually quiet tavern with a frown, having never seen the place so empty before. She takes a seat at her favorite table, the one next to the tree. She likes having her back to it, being able to see everyone who comes and goes.
"James, it's good to see you! When brings you into this decrepit old town?" James grins, "Annie do you have time to talk?" The redhead smiles, placing a gentle hand to her cheek, "Sure thing lad," James stomach growls and she laughs sheepishly. Anne giggles patting James' cheek, "Guess you're hungry? Let me get you something to eat and then we'll talk." James nods and pulls out the last piece of her fish to nibble on.
James pats her stomach gently when it growls again, Jaysus, I've never been so hungry in my life. Anne arrives with a hot plate of food, the smell causes her stomach to growl again, this time painfully. She leans over and groans, "Oh god." Anne's brows raise and she sits down placing a hand against James shoulder, "What's wrong Jim?" She shakes her head and picks up the fork, "Just hungry." And begins shoveling the food into her mouth.
Anne watches wide-eyed, "Looks like you haven't had a bite to eat in weeks, let me go get you more..." Anne stands but James shakes her head, "No, this is enough, sit I've something to ask you." Anne nods her head and sits back down, giving her friend a sideways glance when she dumps her ale on tip of her potatoes. She scoops a bit onto her fish and takes a bite. Anne hums curiously and James wipes a bit of food from the corner of her mouth. "Annie, I want you to join my crew."
Anne laughs and James huffs angrily, "I'm serious." Anne wipes the tears out of the corner of her eyes and leans forward in her chair. "I don't know Jim. I haven't the faintest idea how to pilot a ship. That ain't work a woman does." James scoffs and points her fork at her, "Tosh! I've seen a score of ladies who can reef a sail and spin a capstan."
She stuffs a large piece of pork into her mouth, chewing slowly, waiting for Anne's response. She runs a hand across her stomach and rubs softly."Is your stomach bothering you Jim?" She jerks her hand away and props her fist against her thigh, "I'm fine, just hungry is all. Now will you join my crew?"
Anne taps her finger against her chin in thought, "And would you teach me to fight? With a cutlass like? And maybe handle a pistol?" James rests her hand over top of Anne's, "All that and more, but you have to work for it. There's no stumbling into true success." The two women whip their heads to the side hearing a surly voice approach them, "Oi, Lad, that's my lass you're making love to! You lay off or I'll cut ya!"
James spins around flipping the drunk off, "Up yer ass Rackham. Lad's the last thing you should be calling me." Jack stomps up to James breathing his nasty breath in her face, "Oh! Oh, is that right, is it? Lad!" James pushes him away and stands up pulling out her pistol, "Back off Rackham, I'm not afraid to kill ya." Jack throws his arms up in defeat, "Woah lad! No need for violence."
He places a finger to the top of her pistol and slowly points it to the ground. "It just so happens that we've found a small island with plenty for the take, But I guess if you ain't up to it.. "
"Now why would I want to throw in with your lot? So you can betray me like you did Keway?" She raises her hand back up and cocks her pistol. Anne places a hand to James' elbow. "Jim, calm down. You're going to hurt somebody." James shrugs the redhead off, "That was the plan. This bastard don't know the first thing about ladies." Anne smiles and wraps her arms around James waist, lowering her arm, "Please Jim? Can go somewhere more private?"Jame remains firm, she aims her pistol back at Rackham and pulls the trigger. The tavern goes silent, the only sound is the ringing from the gun.
She puts her pistol away and without a word heads in the direction of the docks. Rackham and Bonny watch her retreating form until she turns around with her scarred eyebrow raised. "Well ain't you coming?" The sounds in the tavern returns and the band is again playing their lively music. Rackham lurches forward, if he wasn't drunk he'd probably be skipping, "Where are we going?" James' eyebrows raise, astounded by his idiocy, "Really Jack? Didn't ya just ask for my help?"
Point Negril, March 29, 1720
The hull of the ranger was alive in celebration. The crew singing cheery shanties sharing bottles upon bottles of rum. However Anne and Mary sit away from the men having a celebration all on their own. Mary pops the cork on her bottle, she takes a swig and hands it off to her friend, "Annie, I've got something important to tell you."
Anne smiles and hands the bottle back over to Mary. She twists the bottle in her hand avoiding Anne's curious gaze. "I haven't told anyone about this yet. I'm not even sure how to properly say this." Anne pats Mary on the cheek, "Out with it already!" Mary's hazel eyes flick upwards and she chews on her bottom lip. "Annie, I'm pregnant."
Anne giggles and Mary sends her and angry look, "What's so funny? Is it that hard to believe?" Anne shakes her head, "That's all you've been worried about?" Anne places a hand to the top of her bump, the coat just barely hiding it now. Mary covers Anne's hand with her own, "But how did you know?" Anne grins, "It wasn't hard to guess with the concoction you made up in Nassau."Mary grimaces, she has been having a lot of strange cravings now that she thinks about it.
Anne continues, "You've been very cranky lately and look," she rubs her hand over Mary's belly. "You're even starting to show." Mary's face flushes and Anne smiles, "Mary, I've got something to tell you too." Anne places Mary's hands to her own stomach. "I'm pregnant too!"
Mary grins but it's quickly wiped from her face from the loud crash from above deck. Mary and Anne jump from their spots, pulling their weapons out. "What was that?" Mary shouts. "I don't know but I'm staying here." Jack hides under a table nursing his rum, Mary scoffs and storms above deck. "Damn it! I'm going to need help up here!"
Kingston, April 3, 1720
"The charges sir I'll hear them again" Mary kicks angrily at the ground, Damn Rackham! Mary hears the shuffling of feet as another prisoner is lead into the courtyard for their own sentencing no doubt. She peeks her head up, curious to see what sorry lout was about to be sentenced next. Her eyes widens when they connect with sea blue, Edward's gaze is steely as they locks eyes. He pulls in her direction but is quickly jerked to a bench in the crowd.
Mary's mouth drops open and she turns to get a look at Anne's sympathetic face. Mary curses under her breath, she didn't need any pity, What the hell Edward. "Milord, his Majesty's court contends that defendants Mary Read and Anne Bonny did piratically, precariously, and in an hostile manner attack and engage and take several certain fishing boats." Oh posh, those boats were just waiting to be stolen. She rolls her eyes as the guard talks, her gaze roams over to Edward's eyes were trained at her stomach. His gaze is unnerving and she leans forward a bit in an attempt to make his eyes move anywhere else but there.
Edward's eyes dart up with, anger? Christ he knows."Secondly this court contends that the defendants lurked upon the high seas and did set upon, shoot, and take two certain merchant sloops thus putting the captains and their crews in corporal fear of their lives." Her heart begins to race, Dammit! If I weren't so stubborn we wouldn't have been In this situation! Mary shakes her head and turns her head, Anne's eyes never left. Mary musters up a halfhearted smile and glances back down sadly.
"You Mary Read and Anne Bonny art to go from hence to the place from whence you came and thence to the place of execution, where you shall be severally hang by the neck till you are severally dead, dead, dead." Anne shoots out a quick, "Oh rot." Mary laughs and shakes her head. "May God in his infinite mercy be merciful to each your souls."
Mary raises her head and stands proud, she and Edward connect eyes. She smiles at him and shouts, "We're pregnant! Do you all hear that?" Edward's eyes soften and her heart drops into her stomach. Such an intimate moment for when a man finds out he's about to become a father, only to be ruined by the angry crowd.
The crowd gasps loudly and the courtroom lights up with outrage. Edward attempts to stand but is roughly pulled back down into his seat. She jumps and looks down at her belly, Was that? She flinches again when she feels it, her face lights up with a grin. She connects eyes with Edward who's face was filled with concern. The judge shouts out, "What the devil did she say?"
The bailiff leans down whispering into his ear, "They plead their bellies mi'lord." Anne retorts, "Aye, ye can't hang a woman quick with child can ye?" Mary, ignores all the voices around her, the only person who mattered in this room now was Edward. She mouths, I felt a kick. His eyes light up and when the judge slaps his gavel down again onto the table they're attention goes back to the trial.
"Quiet! Quiet! If what you claim is true then your execution will be stayed, but only until your terms are up." Anne quickly bites back, "Then I'll be up the duff the next time you come knocking." Mary laughs and the room is filled with outraged cries. Mary grins, nothing could ruin her good mood now. The judge, fed up with their quips, shouts, "Remove them!" The guards drag the two women away Mary gives Edward one last look before she is pulled into the dark prison. He shouts something to her but she can't hear it over the loud crowd.
She's barely given enough light to see where she's with only a small sliver of light trickling in through the occasional crack in the wall. They are led through the halls, periodically hearing a pained shriek. Mary trembles at the thought of just what could cause a scream in such agony. Would she be tortured? They may have stayed their executions but who's to say they won't be subject to torture? The pair are thrown roughly into their cells, darkness enveloping both of them as the bars clink shut.
Mary stands there, barely making out the cracks in the wall. "Oi woman!" He glances behind her shoulder as a guard waves a stack of clothes at her. "Change into these and leave that moldy garb where we can reach it." She turns back to face the wall ignoring the soldiers command. He shakes the bars, "You hear me woman? Change your bloody clothes before I rip 'em off meself!" She sighs and peels her coat off tossing it behind her.
The men cackle as she pulls the last bit of scratchy material on. She hands them her beloved set of clothing and they turn to leave, "Thanks for the show." Mary rubs her arms, comforting herself from the men's lewd staring. She walks around the small cell with a frown. An iron bed frame is the only thing furnishing the cell. No mattress, no pillow, just the frame.
Her eyes flick over and light up at the sight of the small pile of hay in the corner, What luxury, with this I should be able to make my own mattress. She spreads the straw along the frame and throws the scratchy old blanket on top. She sits down carefully, testing her makeshift bed. She sighs sadly once she's settled in... well as settled in as a pregnant woman I'm prison can get.
"Smart thinking Mary, I nearly forgot the law forbids killing an unborn child." Mary is startled, she wasn't expecting to be lucky enough to be contained next to her friend. Mary glances down at her belly sadly, Anne continues, "This will buy us time until Edward can break us out of here! Mary, are you listening?" She glares at the wall but remains silent as Anne babbles on to herself. "How long do you think we'll be in here? How do you think Edward got caught?"
Mary growls angrily, "Anne, are you even listening to yourself? How in God's name can Edward break us out when he is locked up too? I'm sure he will be hanged within the week! And we'll be following the same fate after we give birth." Mary walks over to the bars and shakes them, testing their strength. Anne begins weeping, "I don't want to die, I just want to live happily ever after with my child, like them fairy tales. How did I even get here? I was just a simple barmaid, how am I in prison Mary?"
Mary sighs and sinks down to the floor holding a hand out of the bars, "Anne, take my hand. We will be just fine, we'll find a way out of here." Mary frowns, knowing this would be where she died. She looks up, letting a single sorrowful tear roll down her cheek and tries to reassure herself, "We'll be just fine."
Kingston, April 13, 1720
Only ten days had gone by since their imprisonment and it'd felt like an eternity. Mary had practically memorized every inch of the prison that she could see and knew exactly when the guard shift changed. She marked in her head every blind spot that was made, when the guards stopped to talk, and noticed that the creepy guards were always the ones to watch when they slept.
Today was different though, the usual creepy guards weren't there. She could hear faint tapping and a small bit of conversation. That voice, it sounds so familiar. Then the voice shouted, "Oy, lads don't suppose you could get me a drink before you hang me? A sort of last meal aye, I want a bottle of rum!"
Her eyes widen, Rackham, she shuffles over to the bars and hissed, "Anne! Anne, wake up! They're bringing Rackham through here!" When the guards drag him past her cell he struggles, "Oy, wait! I think I know that lass! Let me talk to her!" The brute punches him in the gut effectively shutting him up.
"Rackham you arse!" Anne shouts from her cell. Mary knows this was a conversation not mention for her ears but she couldn't help herself. Jack cooed at his lover, "Annie, it's good to see you. They're off to hang me now, Bonny, lass." Mary hears Anne shake at the bars and a shout from the guards.
"Had you fought like a man, you need not have been hang'd like a dog." Anne growls at the man as they drag him away. Mary frowns when she hears her friend breaking down and holds her hand out for her. "It's not fair!" Mary squeezes her hand tightly, "I know, but the only thing we can do is fight."
Kingston, April 25, 1720
The creepy night guards decided that staring wasn't enough anymore and had decided to take the woman's punishment into their own hands. It started a week after Rackham was hanged, Mary woke to the sound of her cell bars being pulled open. t
Thinking she'd must have overslept she sat up, only to be push back down and her legs spread open. Mary struggled against their grip and was rewarded with a hard crack to her jaw.
She'd learned quickly that if she was quiet their assault would be over quicker. She was left with many bruises, easily seen even through the darkness of the prison. Mary grew week as the days went on, the poor conditions of the food and water were beginning to take a toll on her health. Not to mention the sexual assault left her physically and emotionally exhausted.
Mary crawls weakly towards her new favorite position in her cell. She holds her hand out and Anne grabs it eagerly. "Annie, I'm so cold." Anne rubs Mary's clammy arm with her thumb, "Mary, you're burning up." Mary rests her head on the cold bars, they hear the click of the outer doors shutting. A chill quakes through her body as the footsteps grow louder, "They're coming again Annie," Anne's grip tightens, Mary tugs her arms back into the cell when she hears the lock click.
Mary looks up weakly at the blonde guard, she smiles at him. He reminded her of Edward, though Edward never raped her... He bends down to pull down her brief but something stops him. He places a hand to her cheek and she can't help but to lean into his touch. His hands were so cool on her flushed face.
He stands back up shoving her to the ground. Edward's never pushed me before... "Bah! You're useless! I can't fuck you when you've got a fever." She watches him stomp out of her cell and raises a weak arm. She can hear Anne struggling against the guard, "Don't touch me!" Mary's eyes begin to cloud up, "Edward, Edward come back. Don't leave."
Kingston, May 15, 1720
Anne has been shouting for the past hour , "Bring her a doctor, she's dying!" A guard shake her cell bars, "Shut up you! If you didn't want to die, you should have never became pirates! You did this to yourselves!" Mary squeaks at Anne, "I'm alright and so is the babe. It's just a small fever." She was lying, the fever had wracked her body violently. She had been stuck sitting by the wall hours ago, powerless to move.
Kingston, May 28, 1720
Edward shakes at the gibbet with all his might, not sure what it would accomplish but it's better than just sitting up here for Jaysus knew how long. Mary Read was pregnant, but is he the father? She looked straight at me when she said it. It has to be mine! He sees a gleam of silver in the moonlight and squints, making out the hooded form of Mary's mentor, Ah Tabai. He shakes at the bars again, this time the guards turn to scold him. Edward smirked, Gotcha.
Ah Tabai plunges his blades into the back of their neck, they let out a gurgling noise as blood fills their throats. He shuffles through their pockets and tosses a set of keys into Edward's waiting palm. He lands on the ground with a soft thud. He stand, legs shaking from his hunger strike.
"Do not mistake my purpose here, I have come for Mary and Anne only. You do not owe me anything for this. But if you would lend me your aid, I can promise you safe passage from this place." Edward nods and takes a step toward the man. "I'll need weapons." Ah Tabai hands Edward his pair of hidden blades and darts towards the prison.
Finally they reach Mary's cell. He pulls the heavy doors open and he crouches in front of his lover. He places a hand to her large bump, how long had it been since they'd made love? He counts on his fingers, Nearly six months, is this the right size for the babe to be mine? "Mary?" He lifts her head forcing it to look at him, "Mary, it's me Edward."
Mary stares at him blankly and he frowns. Anne's voice is trembling as she asks, "Edward, who's this fella?" Edward holds Mary's face up and she leans into his palm. His chest tightens and he finally finds the words to answer back, "It's all right Anne, he's a friend. What's wrong with Mary?" He holds a hand to her forehead, her skin was clammy but burned hot like coal, "She's ill."
Edward pulks Mary to her feet and drags her through the cell door, "Can you walk Mary?" They stagger a few feet as Mary was barely conscious, "Lean on me Mary." She wets her chapped lips and croaks, "I can't." Edward adjusts her arm around his shoulder and takes a step forward, "Come on that's it, you're alright." Mary begs, "Stop, stop please." They stagger a bit further, "I ain't leaving you."
"It's no good" Edward leans over to pick her up, "I ain't leaving you nowhere, no bloody way." Mary leans her head against his shoulder and pleads, "Put me down Edward, don't die on my account." He stops and sighs, he sets her gently on the ground. "You're such a pain in the ass, dammit, you're supposed to be the one to outlive me." His throat is burns as he struggles to hold in his emotions.
Mary places a sweaty palm to his cheek, brushing a tear away, "I've done my part, now will you?" He pulls her hand up, placing a kiss to her palm, "If you come with me I could, Mary." Her eyes slip shut and his heart races. He pats her cheek gently in an attempt to rouse her, "What of your child, Mary, if you die so will she." Mary looks up at him with a smile, "I'll be with you Kenway, I will."
Edward placed a hand against Mary's belly pleading, "Fight for our babe Mary!" She brings one of his hands to her lips, kissing his fingertips, "Don't worry Kenway, It's not yours." Her grip loosens and her head lulls to the side. It's not my child, I should have known she would have taken a lover. I've been so stupid, if I would have just told her how I felt- "Dammit!" He curses and leans his forehead against hers. He places a kiss to the tip of her nose and when the guard's shouting grows louder he scoops her body up and jogs out of the prison as fast as his feet would carry him.
Edward stumbles to the shore, physically and mentally exhausted. Anne eye's Mary's still form and whispers, "What happened to Mary? What's wrong?" Edward shakes his head, Anne bites her lip and turns away. "Is she gone?" Edward answers by placing Mary's body on the small craft, "What will you do now?" Ah Tabai questions and Edward takes a step back, "Nothing sensible."
Ah Tabai rummages around in the craft and pulls out a bundle of clothing, handing them off to Edward, "You haven't earned this, but they suit you." He pushes the craft into the water and Edward watches mournful as Mary disappears from sight. Edward glances down at that familiar uniform and clenches it tight. He turns on his heel, heading in the direction of the nearest tavern.
Kingston, May 29, 1720
Edward stumbles his way to the bar, how long had it been since she died? He looked at his hand clenching a fist then slammed it down onto the bar top. The bartender gives him an angry look, heading in his direction, "More?" And Edward slurs out, "Bring the bottle."
The bartender sets down the glass he was wiping out, throwing a fist to his hip, "I'd like to see some color first." Edward grumbles and shuffles through his coin purse. He grabs a fist full of reales slamming them to the counter.
The bartender grabs the coins and fetches the bottle, Edward bends down to adjust a chair that had fallen on its side. "Will this do?" The bartender slams down a crystal skull and Edward's eyes widen, Roberts bends down sneering into his face. When did Roberts learn to tend bars?
"In all your years out here you could never achieve what I have done in one-fifths the time." Edward flies from his chair, grabbing at the skull, "That's my prize Roberts! Give it to me!" I earned that! I have to show Mary the observatory, she will be so proud of me when she sees it! All eyes in the tavern land on Edward, hushed whispers of, "Who is he talking to?" And "There ain't anyone there."
Edward follows the hallucination, stumbling through the tavern to chase after his prize. Roberts taunts him, dangling the skull just out of reach. "Come little puppy and slink back to your kennel. You haven't the mettle for my brand of Madness." Roberts pushes him to the floor and he lands with a loud clang. Edward crawls along the floor to chase after his demon.
An older man bends down to help him back up, the man morphs into the figure of his old friend Ben Hornigold who mocks him, "Welcome aboard Kenway! It's prizes, plunder, and Adventure ahead. Are you game?" Edward shoves the man away, "Out of my way Ben!"
Edward drags his drunken body along the floor, Thatch approaches this time, "Raise a glass to Freedom Lads! Here's to Gentlemen of Fortune and women of leisure." Edward rolls over onto his back groaning. This time Mary leans over, sneering at him raising an arm in a toast, "To a world full of Rogues, better than the kings and queens that kick us about."
He flings his arms out to grasp at her form but she only bends backwards out of his reach. Mary! Come back to me Mary! Edward throws his hands over his face and shouts, "Don't mock me, I know you are all dead!" Mary walks into the water, waves crash around her ankles. Her hair is let out of its usual tight bun and is flying in the wind.
She continues walking, ignoring his cries, and is soon engulfed in a black mist where the sound of a crying child can be heard. The sage sits on a rock only a few feet away from Edward, tossing the skull into the air, and it disappears. "As gentlemen of Fortune enjoy plenty of satisfaction, pleasure, and ease. Liberty and power what man with a sensible mind would choose the former life?"
Edward is suddenly thrust into the sea, he swims upward in an attempt to make it to the surface. His lungs are screaming at him to take a breath, is this what Mary felt when taking her final breath? Edward struggles as he swims to the surface that was always just out of reach, pushing bodies out of the way as he goes.
A shark nudges at him, knocking out the little air he had left in his lungs. He felt his chest tighten as he continued to swim upwards, If you die you can be reunited with her. He burst through the water at the last moment.
He finds him at the helm of the Jackdaw, drifting uncomfortably close to a waterspout. "No more than two years! You promised me!" He whips his head to the side, Caroline is there. Suddenly he feels the overwhelming urge to defend himself, "You left when I needed you the most!" Caroline drifts closer, much like a ghost and places a hand to his cheek, "But you had me! What keeps you wandering? Do I not make you happy?" Edward reels back, offended by her touch and growls, "I'm so close Caroline, please just let me do this!" Edward blinks and Caroline is replaced by James Kidd.
"Is everything you do out of spite Edward?" He grips the wheel tighter and hisses, "It's not spite that's driving me Mary, it's courage!" Mary scoffs, crossing her arms over he chest, "Courage for what man? There's no one left in your life to care!" Edward cheeks are wet, when had he begun crying? "God damn you all! I can handle this!" Mary leans in and slaps him across the cheek, he braces for the impact.
But it never came, he opens his eyes as her hand goes straight through, "You lout! Always tearing down, when you could be building things up, or building yourself up if nothing else!" Edward falls to his knees and pounds onto the deck, "Just leave me be!" His vision fades, all that is left is Mary's scolding voice, "Change course, Edward, change your bloody course before it's too late!"
Tulum June 3, 1720
Edward finds himself at the shore of Tulum. Why was he even here? Surely Ah Tabai wouldn't be happy or welcoming to see him. He sighs and hops off the deck, hoping by some off chance Mary might actually be there waiting for him.
Edward wanders through the empty town, stumbling upon a familiar face he hadn't been expecting, "Ade?" His ex-helmsman peers up giving Edward a warm smile, "Captain Kenway! It's good to see you! What are you doing here?" Edward frowns and shakes his head sadly, "For years I've been rushing around taking whatever I fancy, not giving a tinker's curse for those I hurt. Yet here I am, with riches and a reputation, feeling no wiser than when I left home. Yet when I turn around and look at the course I run, there's not a man... or woman that I love, left standing beside me." Ah Tabai approaches from behind, "There is still time to make amends Captain Kenway."
Edward spins towards the man and when he speaks his voice cracks, "Mary, before she died, asked me to do good by her, to sort out the mess I've made, can you help me?" Ah Tabai smiles and gives his shoulder a soft squeeze, "Mary was fond of you Edward. She saw something in you. Something that gave her hope that you might one day fight with us." Edward nods sadly, "Aye, she told me. Had I listened, maybe, just maybe, she'd still be here with us." Ah Tabai interrupts him, "What do you think of our Creed, Edward?"
He thinks a moment, "It's hard to say, for if nothing is true then why believe anything? And then if everything is permitted why not Chase every desire?" Ah Tabai is quiet but Edward continues, "It might be that this idea is only the beginning of wisdom, and not its final form." Ah Tabai places a gentle hand to Edward's shoulder, "That is quite a step up from the Edward I met many years ago, you'll live up to Mary's hope yet."