Chapter 9: A Silver tongue

"Mathis Steelcrest, Lord some such thing of the Brethren of the coast. I know exactly what yer are looking for."

"I am currently looking to cut up the two women playing dress up. If you don't have them, leave or be cut down with them."

"Ah who? I was just going for a stroll all on me oneies and discovered El dorado. I thought you had such a lovely ship, and I can't carry it all by meself. Perhaps a deal could be made. sixty/ forty? forty sounds like a good round number."

Mathis scowled at him but gave no reply.

"I see the strong silent type."

"I remember you, Jack Sparrow, use to be a fear some pirate, till you somehow managed to entangle yourself with a so called pirate lass. I heard she dug her claws into your spine, and you gave up. Couldn't cut it while I ruled the sea, so you retired. Pitiful, that's why I hate women. they lull a man's senses till he is defenseless and ruin his reputation to the point of no return. Women pirates are the worst kind they do all that and stab you in the back when you least expect it."

"First it's Captain Jack Sparrow and second that was a lovely speech but really it just tells me one thing. You need you find yourself a girl mate. I'm sure if we do something about yer dark attire, someone with turn up."

"QUIET! You have ruined your good reputation as a pirate for what? Some warmth in the night. I know they are pullin your strings, wretched females. Let me cut them down and I'll be generous enough to give you your life at sea. Perhaps I'll be merciful and kill them quickly."

Jack's voice slowed to a low growl, "I'll choose my lass any day over bein' warmed by a lust for gold alone, Steelcrest," Jack's tone changed back to a light tone, "But Look what I got." Jack waved the gold plate around, "It's shiny and there's more where this came from."

Mathis paused a moment, he looked like he might snatch the gold from Jack's hands. "I doubt it. I've found a piece here and there all over this bloody island for months." Mathis paused touching the hilt of his military style sword. When he looked up his gaze turned cold and bitter," I thought he was a fellow believer in pure piracy. He gave himself away eventually, nothing but a spy and traitor. But he was a stubborn bilge rat He tossed him over board after I ran him through myself," He paused long enough that Jack almost lost his cool. Steelcrest lifted his chin in pride as he continued," and yet he returned from deaths door to derail my plans stole my leverage and took treasure meant for me. Now he's been locked up for two weeks below deck. I thought he would have broken by now, he's been beaten, and tortured. Yet still he holds on to hope." He said hope with such distaste. Mathis looked Jack over and peered into the tree line before continuing. "He once spoke of a crew of real pirates who might best me, and take the gold and make sure this island would be out of my reach forever."

Jack's voice continued to remain neutral, but his mask slipped for only a moment," A man locked up, hardly a good source of information. Planks start to speak to a man if he's below too long. Surely you'd know that by now. What are they teaching Pirate captains these days? You know mate, you sound a bit too out of sorts to be of any real help, I think I'll be taking it all meself after all. "

Mathis growled out a rely, pulling his sword and cutting the air in front of Jack. "I am the King of the Brethren, I'll take that gold and you can join that gutless pirate bellow. Set sail gentleman! Oh and my men will find those wretched women eventually, and I choose to kill them slowly." Jack attempted to make a run for the plank but it had been removed and two large crew men blocked the way. The ship started to move away from the shore line. Either Jack thought they were able to get the ship sailing at an impressive speed or he had been too focus on the conversation.

Jack pulled his sword prepared for a fight, "Yer going to have to best me in a fight, captain to captain first."

Jack pulled his sword and blocked Mathis's first hit. The strength of his hit pushed Jack and his blade against the ship's railing. The Pirate king's military sword inching dangerously close to his arm. He used the side of the ship to counter the force. Jack began moving around the ship, one jump and Mathis's blade stabbed a wooden barrel. He reacted by pulling a crew member's sword behind him, before charging at Jack with greater speed. Jack matched his blade swing for swing. The Next time he Jumped onto the ship netting and rolled onto the deck in a low crouch. He started to pull his arm back to stab Steelcrest when another crew member plunged a knife into his left shoulder. The crew member pulled the knife out, prepared for another attack as Jack tried to fight against the crewmember and the pirate King.

An angry and distraught Isz shouted from an approaching ship," Cheat! Coward! Rat scrum!"

The Unknown sailed next to Steelcrest's ship. Isz and Mich swung aboard first, next come the French twins and Gabriel. Once aboard Worley turned the Unknown wide, circling Steelcrests ship. Michelle had her Greek weapon, bow and arrows slung on her back. Isz wielded a long blade and dagger. She swung her blade at the crew men's back, he turned avoiding her deadly blade the second time. She swung her blade wide and connected to the hilt of his weapon; and with her small dagger cut into his wrist.

Isz glared at the crew member desperately trying to stop his wrist from bleeding, "Fight fair or I promise today will be your last." She helped Jack up and they nodded to one another. He muttered quietly to her," I should have seen that coming." Isabel Sparrow turned to Steelcrest with all her anger, channeling it into cold confidence.," As for you Steelcrest or is it King, lord, Admiral, or captain? My theory is all you want to make sure no one knows the truth you can't hide from, you are nothing. Less than nothing because you pretend to be like pirates of legend without doing anything to suggest you are worth of being one of them. And you choose Gold, titles, violence. Those things will never change the fact that you're a bully with a title, and little to no power without your men. Which is why your men are exhausted and unfit to fight us properly, they are doing all the work for you."

Michelle eyed the crew making sure they were all wounded enough to at least be slow fighters. As she looked around spoke, "It does seem to me that we have outrun, and outwitted all of them at every turn." Her gaze landed on the worst of his wounded men," He's still got a spear through his thigh. They are hardly in any shape to fight for you now." Michelle stared directly at the pirate king, "So Steelcrest, do you feel competent enough to fight women?"

Steelcrest narrowed his eyes at her, "I don't fight women, what do you really want?"

Michelle knew she had his attention, raising her Greek blade high, "I will see the man you have below decks."

Mathis stared at her intently. He looked her over head to toe then looked at Isabel." The maids from the governor house. So come to save him have you? women are so slow to react. Who is he to you? Family? A brother, a lover, no I see you have a ring. A husband… you abandoned." Mich couldn't stop the guilt edging her confident expression. "OH even better, you had no idea where he was, did you? The governor doesn't recue spies, but he sends some woman to finish the job. Well men drag him up to the deck. Show these lady pirates what happens to spies on a real pirate ship."

Two men walked below and soon pulled a thin, bruised, and scared Merrick behind them. They pulled at his irons, he tumbled forward and dragged him to the middle of the ship. Steelcrest's men secured him to the center mast.

Michelle memorizing every wound, the swelling around his eyes were fresh. He could hardly see. She gripped the hilt of her Greek weapon till her nails dug into the palm of her hand. Only Isabel's slight head shake stopped her from running to him. She poured her anger into her words, "You will fight me and you will lose."

Merrick pulled against his irons as Michelle's voice spoke. He opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. It looked as if he had been denied minimal food and water since he'd been caught. It broke her to see how much he had endured to protect the governor's boy and to save these people. Steelcrest had too much to answer for and she was going to make sure he did answer for them.