The Blackjack spent three whole months out at sea before docking at Nassau. During those three months, they intercepted a few navel caravans, collecting lots of rum, sugar, and other supplies that they needed. They even manage to convert two of the ships to work for their small village back in Great Iguana. The crew celebrated with a keg of rum that night.
Nassau hadn't changed much since he had been there last. The houses still looked as though one storm would blow them away. There was a small fishing dock on the far-right side of the beach. A large black flag with a skull and bones waved tall and proud on the beach to tell anyone who comes here that this is a city of pirates. Standing proudly at the top of a cliff side was small fort used to deter people away.
The Blackjack wasn't the only large ship to anchor in the water. Not far away was a large three-mast ship with more canon guns then he would like to count. Even though the sails were all pulled up, he knew the sails were shite with red dripping down as to look like blood. The monster of a ship also had more metal and other things along the side of it to make it look even more intimidating. The ship belonged to Clarisse La Rue. She was one of the few female pirates but still the most intimidating and ruthless pirate out there. He has meet her a few times here in Nassau. The first time they met, Clarisse thought him as some weakling. They ended up having a drunken fistfight that ended with mutual respect.
Taking the sand covered paths way up the hill to the tavern, Perseus could hear that the party had already started. The tavern musical group was playing loudly and drunken sailors singing their own songs. Just as the rest of the town, the tavern was made of old weathered wood, but built against a hill side, so it stood taller than the other houses around.
"Well, look what the sea has washed to shore lads. Perseus Jackson!" a familiar voiced called out over the noise.
Perseus smirked and looked up to see Clarisse leaning against the railing with a mug in hand. "Good to see you too, Clarisse."
"Still sailing with Haltron? Rumor has it you all took on a Galleon. That must have been one hell of a fight. Wish I was there to be a part of it."
"It was. We barely got a way," he told her, walking up the stairs to the tavern. "We lost many good men that day. Including Captain Haltron."
"What a shame. Captain Haltron was a damn good pirate," Reyna, Clarisse's Quartermaster, said from a table away. He nodded in her direction. Reyna was the best Quartermaster any captain could ask for. She ran the ship with an iron fist and commanded unwavering loyalty for everyone who sails on their ship, Maimer.
"Who is captaining Blackjack now?" Clarisse asked, passing a bottle of rum to Perseus.
"I am." He took a long swig of the burning alcohol.
Clarisse laughed. "You? The crew must have been out of their minds to vote you as their captain."
"Perseus is an amazing captain. He took the position when we needed him the most," Grover said, taking a seat nearby. A barmaid came over with more mugs, plates of bread, and smoked meats.
Clarisse scoffed, taking one of the plates. "Time will only tell how good of a captain you are."
"Have you heard from Leo in a while?" Perseus asked changing the subject. "I found two of his men in Kingston. He left them there to gather information, about what we aren't sure."
"He must be after Luke Castellan," Clarisse said, shrugging. "That coward was willing to sign the pardon."
Perseus raised an eyebrow. "Pardon? What are you talking about?"
"That bastard Castellan was here four months ago trying to get us to sign a deal that if we surrender we would receive a pardon from our crimes. Meaning we wouldn't be thrown in jail and hanged for our piracy. Of course, any proud pirate wouldn't even think about signing any kind of deal with Olympus. Castellan was meet with resentence—"
"He underestimated the stubbornness of pirates," Reyna interrupted.
"—and tried to use force instead. He arrested three pirates and hung them in the center of town. This caused a revolt amongst the rest of us and we chased him off this island and followed him for two months. Last we saw, he was heading back to England. We stopped following him after that."
"When Castellan first approached us with the pardon, he gave us a week to give him a reply. That night Leo tried talking to everyone sign the pardon," Reyna added. "He gave this big speech about how our time as pirates is coming to an end and how we should stop now before we lose all our lives."
"I told him if he wanted us to kiss Olympus' ass, he better do it somewhere else or my face will be the last thing he ever sees," Clarisse vowed, with a fierceness in her eyes that Perseus knew she would keep her vow.
"Leo left that night. We haven't seen or heard of him for three months now. No one has actually."
Perseus didn't want to think about what Clarisse would do to Leo should they find out he had been betraying them. Pirates can handle a lot of things, but betrayal isn't one of them. Thankfully the crew of the Blackjack has always been loyal to their ship and captains, so he has never seen what has been done to traitors or deserters, but the stories haven't been good either. Most of the time, captains and quartermasters would use them as an example to deter anyone from following in the traitor's steps.
"According to Travis and Connor, the two I recused in Kingston, Leo had left there about a month ago. Word around the town says Castellan will be returning there in a week," Perseus told them.
"Leo might be there also," Grover said pushing his mug away. "We should also find more about what Castellan has planned for us. We saw how powerful his ship is first hand. If we are going to stop him from destroying us all, we need to get to him first."
"Grover, go bring Travis and Connor to us. I have a few questions to ask them," Reyna said, looking deep in thought.
Grover looked at Perseus for permission, which he gave with a nod. Grover left, leaving them all deep in thought. So much has happen in the past six months that left Perseus's mind spinning. Leo behavior was strange and questionable. After hearing what Clarisse and Reyna had to say about all this, it wouldn't surprise him had Leo really sided with the Castellan. However, what would Leo have to gain by doing that? Freedom? As pirates, they are freer than anyone else. Gold? Again, they can take any gold they find and fight for. He couldn't figure out what would cause this behavior.
As for Castellan situation, that was making Perseus nervous. He has seen first had how damaging and deadly a full Galleon is. All Castellan had to do was fire his canons at Nassau and destroy the city, effectively eliminating almost all the pirates. Instead, he let Clarisse chase after him for two months? He had to have known they were following him for that long, so why not attack out in open water? What did he have planned to just leave them be?
"You wanted us captain?" Travis's voice knocked Perseus out of his thoughts.
"I did. Reyna wants to ask you both some questions about Leo. Answer truthfully," Perseus told them.
"Do you remember four month ago when Castellan came here asking for us to sign a pardon with them?" Reyna asked. The two pirates nodded but stayed quiet. "Where did Leo go after he left here?"
Travis and Connor shared a look before Connor answered. "Captain Leo had us travel around mindlessly for a long while. He gave us orders to avoid any and all ships, no matter who it's was. That went on for about two months, I think. At one point, he announced that we would be going to Kingston. We all thought it was going to be routine stop to buy supplies since we had been out to sea for so long. After three weeks Captain Leo told us and a few others to stay behind to keep an eye on those up in the mansion. He told us that he would be back in a month for a report then he and the rest of the crew left suddenly that night."
"Did anything happen in or around the mansion?" Reyna asked.
Travis shook his head. "No. Nothing. The only activity we saw was that of guards and workers. No one of any importance was there."
"Seems like Leo is planning something with Castellan," Clarisse said, frowning. "Perseus, go back to Kingston and search the mansion. Castellan is planning something, and I want to know what it is. I'm leaving for Havana at sunrise. Meet me there once you know anything."
Perseus nodded. "My men and I will leave for Kingston in a few days."