Author's Note:

Thanks to Whisperwings for betaing, and to you lovely readers for the reviews!

A thirty-three year old young man sat in a tavern, just a few miles from the grand Townsend-Clarke estate. He sipped lightly at his brew, keeping a sharp ear out to the surrounding conversations.

His coal-black eyes rose from the foaming top of his drink as he spotted someone posting a sign on the tavern's bulletin board. He carefully read the script upon it: 'Crew wanted for hire, ASAP.' The smaller print of the details intrigued the young man out of his seat to read it.

'Experience sailors wanted, all positions available. First come, first served basis. Contact Captain Darcy Mantra.'

The young man gently stroked the thin stubble on his chin in interest. He finished his brew quickly, placing a copper piece on his table, grabbed his dark leather overcoat and made for the bar.

A scantily clad bartender leaned over the bar, showing off her ample cleavage. "And what can I get for you, darling?" She purred.

The young man forced back a chuckle; the woman was old enough to be his mother. "Just some information." He scratched at his chin idly. "Yeh wouldn't happen teh know where a Captain Mantra would be, would yeh Ma'am?"

"Sure." The bartender leaned back and grasped an emptied keg. "He's a regular." She began polishing the inside of the keg with a rag. "Keeps to himself in that corner over there." She nodded towards one of the darker corners of the tavern. "Nice tipper…" She winked.

"Thank yeh, Ma'am…" The young man nodded curtly and walked towards the corner.

After weaving through the many tables of rowdy drinkers, he came to a shadowy booth in the furthermost corner of the tavern. One occupant sat in the dark, and a single candle lit the table.

"Captain Mantra?" The young man asked in a hushed voice.

"Aye... That be I." A nonchalant voice responded. "Sit down, lad." A hand wearing a leather fingerless-glove motioned across the table at the empty seat.

The younger man sat down and tried to get a better look at the captain. The captain in question had a body built so that there was nothing but muscle, despite looking to be quite older than the younger man. He had a wild mane of silver-grey hair and beard, and a pair of intelligent rust-coloured eyes.

"You're here for the job, aren't 'cha?" The captain raised an eyebrow.

"Aye." The younger man nodded.

The captain nodded, taking a sip from his keg of ale, once he had swallowed the drink he continued. "Good for you, lad… and you're an experienced sailor?"

"Since me childhood, Captain."

"Aye, and any positions are your calling?"

"I'll trust that yeh can decide that on yer own accord, Captain."

"Ha." The captain snickered. "Good attitude. Just one last thing, lad." He finished off his ale and looked across the candle light at the younger man. "What's your name?"

"Silver. John Silver."

Author's Note:

Reviews are my motivation, and are great ways to get your opinions and thoughts out to me… so keep them coming, if you please!

MG#6