William Brand

This is how close Pizza Hut is to the Pyramids. Yep, right off of the Giza Plateau.

All of your prayers and whatever you might need in addition to them.

I am so very sorry to hear that you can't make it, and moreso that it's for a reason impacting your life in a negative way. The best of luck with you and yours and we'll watch for you next year.

It was William's turn for false starts. He tried and failed to form a proper retort in his mind, for he was certain that if he opened his mouth then, nothing but vinegar would pour out. He managed one look in Dorian's direction, who looked to William as if he was of the same mind. "I beg your pardon, sah?," was all that William could manage at the last. De la Cruz managed to keep himself neutral, though Gasset looked a little uncomfortable now. "My Capitaine has asked me to ask you 'What portion of those goods taken from the snow may he expect for he and his aboard His Most Catholic Majesty's ship, the Navarra?'" "He and his...?" came Tudor's voice from across the room. She had just entered with a laden tray and looked as openly dumbfounded and cross as anyone in the room. "That will do, Mistress Smith." William instructed, though he could hardly blame her for speaking out of turn. He was still facing the Lieutenant. "Perhaps you can explain to our good Steward, and to those lingering dead of our Whole Company who gave up their lives but a watch ago, how I might with clear conscience, pay out shares to those who waited rearward while me and mine stepped into the shadow of death?" William's voice had risen as the long question played out. He was not yelling at the end, but the harsh whisper of his voice had thinned to something like an edge. The Lieutenant, servant to his Master's will, took this question well enough. De la Cruz was a soldier first and last, and not unaccustomed to taking orders that he would have not given himself. Of course, as he was the messenger of such orders he was also the very emobdiment of it, so he waited for an answer fitting his question.

We are still following this thread closely as an additional event for the Mercury Crew. Please feel free to post more suggestions for additional events. http://www.piratebrethren.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=1814

As Dorian had both announced and dismissed the business touching Preston, William did not ask after the matter. Instead, they began the work of calculating and dispersing all that had been gained. They were not five minutes at this business when a knock came at the door and a marine ushered in one familiar to them and one not so familiar. Lieutenant Roldán Zubizarreta Rey Guerrero De la Cruz and Felipe Gasset. "Lieutenant." William greeted. "Captains. Sahs." De la Cruz returned, and introduced his companion of the Navarra. Felipe Gasset was of course his usual delightful self and clapped hands with any man that would do so. "Please come in." "I see that you are engaged." De la Cruz offered with a raised hand by way of formality and William formally waved this away. "None of that. Just the business of the snow. Please." William finished gesturing toward a chair. Felipe Gasset sat down at once, but De la Cruz took a seat with none of his practiced grace. Indeed, despite the casualness and ease of his face, he was somewhat different than they had seen him before. Only once had William seen the conflict of his attitude, and then only at the mention of the late Captain Voulet or that ship of the same captain, Le Vedette. William tried to reassure the man that their presence there was not an interruption. "We are dividing those shares of the Whole Company." William explained, then added. "Some of your countrymen were brave enough to join in the fray and have therefore been given a portion of such shares." This only seemed to make the Lieutenant less comfortable, and he opened his mouth once and then twice in false starts. Felipe Gasset only watched him do this in silence. William and Dorian exchanged a look and with the room entering into another unexplained pause, William asked, "Is something the matter, sir?" Felipe Gasset made as if to speak in the Lieutenant's place, but De la Cruz raised a hand sightly and began. "It is of this very matter that I am sent to ask you 'What portion of the goods taken from the snow will be shared with the Navarra and her crew?'" The pause that followed was greater than any that had come before. William blinked only once in a very long silence.

I've lready been in contact with them and they are listed on my Baconfest website. Pirates and Bacon. Oh that I could fly out for this.

William had drawn out his own chair but simply stood, holding the high backed seat. He didn't say anything. He had thought that the argument at the rail had had something to do with the loss of the snow and he had a prepared apology for the zeal of his Master Gunner. This news was not overly surprising, as he had not known the full extent of Bill Flint's injuries. William had witnessed men pronounced dead rise again, obviously not so wounded as believed, but he was also no stranger to superstitious tongues. "Well." he said finally. Then said it again, before sitting down. "So struck down, but not wounded." Nigel offered, and it was both a question and a guess. Dorian made no reply to this, but accepted the glass that William passed to him. A pause hung over the table for a moment and William decided that he would apologize in some form as planned. "Mister Youngblood's...vivacity caused an unfortunate end to the snow." This was an understatement of course, though no true blame could be laid at the feet of one bent to his duty. Still, the prize had been lost and William felt it should be said.

William was standing not far off to his left, but Dorian noticed him last of all. Instead, Dorian gave those men of the frigate a look which was calm, but also daring. William walked forward with the same look fixed upon his own and the men were obliged to look suddenly busy. William almost asked what was wrong, but refrained. Instead he simply gestured to the Ward Room and the two of them fell aft. Only when they were within the quiet privacy of the small room, did William look at Dorian with the question on his face as he gestured to a chair.

A very happy birthday, my young friend. May you live forever in the comforts of your choice.

Maeve was as weary as she had ever been and she made no effort to hide it, but for her silence. When she reached Bill's side she was the very painting of her occupation, being as red outward as she felt inward. She knelt and pressed her hands here and there upon the man and called for a lantern so softly, had those near her not watched in silence, this order might have been lost. It did not help that so many were working to bring the Lucy to the 'Dog, even as the 'Dog was also brought to them, but she blocked all of this out. 'Medicine is an exercise in walls of will', her father had often said. She held up these walls with the willowy remainder of her calm. She was her father's daughter and she would carry this man back from the brink if the man might be brought. She went to work on him there and then in the open air of the Lucy's littered and bruised deck.

William almost laughed, but he was too weary. "News? How is it with you? Is the Lucy much harmed?" Before Captain Lasseter could answer this, the frigate was hailed loudly from the Navarra's smallboats on approach. William and Dorian once again heard the clear, welcoming voice of the Lieutenant. William acknowledged him on approach and called to Dorian, "Let us gam together and speak on matters of the moment!"

William found himself still shouting and stilled himself. The drowning snow had almost claimed the men in the water again and he had never shouted so many orders in such short succession. Now he was at the rail watching the last of them come aboard, half drowned or drowned altogether. Gabriel was so wet with water and lifelessly limp, that he slipped from reaching hands, but it proved an accident to his benefit. As his body struck the deck he sprayed up a great cough and gasp together that sent him into a fit of wet vomiting as he sputtered back to life and rolled over upon the deck. William joined a few others in a small chorus of encouraging voices all telling Gabriel to give the seawater back to the sea. Then, his men safe enough, William was at the rail again. "AHOY, THE LUCY!"

It was hard for William to ignore the noise of the snow grinding upon the Lucy, but ignore it he did for too many of his men were in the water for his liking. Lines had been tossed over for their recovery, but William was still obliged to risk two more men in the recovery of Gabriel Edward. As the rescue played out orders shouted aboard the Navarra carried to them in the dark as she slowed on approach. The men of that ship were lowering away smallboats in a fervor of pending aid. This both pleased William and annoyed him and he found that he did not favor the company of the Spaniards in that moment. Perhaps it was the timing of their arrival, being too late to offer any true assistance, except in form only. Perhaps it was their nearness, sitting as idle observers to the Whole Company's unfortunate loss of the snow. Whatever it was, he wished them anywhere but here. Then Robert Hollis surfaced again sputtering. Cradled under one arm was the limp, lifeless form of Gabriel Edward. He coiled the nearest line about his hand and forearm and cried, "Hall away!"

I would gladly contribute art for the book. Are you still looking for writing contributions as well?

Don't mention it. I will gladly take a watch every night if we don't have enough when the event grows closer. Just giving everyone a chance to man a watch. Just out of curiosity, why not on the even hours and in four hour watches? Midwatch. Morning Watch. You don't have to answer that. I know period watches would be a little long for any of us after tramping around all day.

Sat - Gate Duty 0100-0300 - William Brand/Mercury

Gate Duty 0100-0300 Edward/Arc I will help cover this time slot with Edward.

"this is a very fickle and faithless generation." Said by William Kidd as they slipped the noose around his neck.

No, I noted it, but with the hope that something would change. Sorry that you can't make it this year.

I concur. Follow it up with Key Lime pie and forget eating anywhere else.

Drat...I was thinner in 2005.

William vaulted across the widening gap between the frigate and snow. He made the distance poorly and only the shrouds save him as he cracked one shin on the rail. He had not compensated well for the extra weight nor cling of the water in his clothing. While this self inflicted injury to leg and dignity played out several lines were tossed into the brink and Badger was shouting at everyone, sailor and marine alike. Gavin was treading water with the grace of a panicked cat, having never learned to swim. Hollis had recovered himself enough to keep his head above the water, though he had gone deep in the fall. Gabriel was nowhere to be found.

We have need of it for a few crew members of the Mercury, so I'll claim it on their behalf. Thank you, Jon. We'll see it carefully used and returned to you there.

With all of the commotion of the moment, it was left to Ciaran to remind them of the Navarra's presence, for she was on approach and would soon overtake them or pass them by. It was comforting to have her return, though she had been of no assistance in the engagement, and would remain a heavy laden liability all the way to Trinidad. Still, she was in their charge and they were all but ready to go with her the rest of the way. William and Dorian exchanged a few bits of news that each had witnessed separately in the last quarter of an hour. William was sorry to hear of Lefevre's death, but confused that his mention of so many dead below should give Captain Lasseter pause. He would have asked after Lasseter's disquiet, but they were to busy dodging death's long reach again, for the snow had leaned over enough now, and the weight of water had become so great below, that the damaged mast that had once held the trysail split from where it was secured at the mainmast and the spanker boom was sent swinging freely around the deck. It swung so wide that it knocked John Kingsman soundly off the Lucy's rail and threw him into the bewildered, clumsy, but accepting arms of his fellow sailors. It would have struck Dorian soundly across the back of his skull as it came around, but he saw Benjamin Quigley's eyes widen so much that he ducked and just lost his hat. William, who was a little shorter, had already ducked the swinging beam, but others were not so fortunate. Gabriel Edward and Gavin Montgomery were at the rail of the Lucy with the last objects to go over to the frigate when the boom came around to them. It had lost some of it's force by then, but maintained enough momentum to upset them on the rail. Gabriel went over the side and down at once, but Gavin teetered on the edge, his arm pinwheeling in a way that might have been funny if he wasn't so threatened then. Robert Hollis thrust out a hand to catch him, but only succeeded in going over the side himself and suddenly three men were in the water. Now that gap between the Dog had increased with the removal of the lines, but the two ships were still too close not to threaten the men below. The situation was not improved by the darkness nor the fact that Gabriel had fallen against the Watch Dog as he plummeted. "Man overboard!" came the calls from above. William called to Dorian as he fled his side. "Let us quit this place!"