William Brand

Aye, lass.

It was nearly the noon hour when Mister Lasseter cleared his throat to call William's attention to the small boat approaching the Watch Dog. With the uniformed guards aboard, there could be no mistaking the prisoner in their keeping. "Mister Lasseter, please call all hands to the weatherdecks." The Quartermaster affirmed the order with his knuckles forward and in short order the crew assembled amidships. William made his way down from the quarterdeck with his hands behind his back. His look was murderous in its sobriety and it had its effect almost immediately. Most of the crew couldn't see the passenger of the pinnace, but William's demeanor did not bode well for whomever it might be. Then someone near the rail spoke the name of Muller and it passed like an echo through the throng. Lamaire called out his request for admittance to the ship and an affirmative answer went back. In no time at all Muller and a number of his escorts were aboard the Watch Dog.

We need some italian cake.

Tah-duh!

Aye. And may I recommend a side of sourdough toast and soft cheese? They compliment one another very well. Also, we have a fine mead that has just arrived.

"Permission granted, but do take some fresh water to yourself afterward. I will see that it is replaced before we leave to sea." William went to the rail and watched the progress of many ships in the dockyard, careful to note their position and the degree of each ship's conduct and order. Many ships maintained a relaxed posture, lazily going about the every day work of maintenance and repair. Others were strict in their execution of routine. The splash that signified Miss Smith's bath was overshadowed by a church bell that tolled the hour from shore. William noted the time and made a note to check it against the sextant and the hour marked by the glass aboard.

The Devil's Deckhands Stormchasers Freelooters The Thugery Dockyard Devils The Clan Cutlass Sea Rovers Yarn Spinners The Beachcombers The Sea Monsters The Ghost Shipmen Golden Age Actors The Planksters Marauders The Lookouts The Gangplank Gang

The orange juice has strawberries, and yes, those are scones. (pulls up a chair and an extra fork) You eat around the eggs and I'll eat the remains.

William stood in front of her shaking his head with his arms folded. "That simply won't do." "Captain...?" "I couldn't possible escort you into the presence of the Don barefoot. And while the well worn clothing of a Ship's Steward is presentable enough for the every day duties required of you here, this attire will not serve in court." William let his hands drop at his sides. "I am afraid that I must insist that you take a perfumed bath and adorn yourself in the finest of finery in preparation to take my arm and be received into the presence of the Don."

The list is getting long. The Rub a Dub Dub Pyrates Long Stockings long shoremen Pirates in Fun Pants Pippi's Pirates Rummy's rum-runners Pirates of the Black Spot Caribbean Rum Runners The Misfiteers. The Jolly Roger-Dodgers. The Faire Weather Fiends. The Beachcombers. The Festivalians. The Able Seamen The Barnacle Brute Mob The Longshoremen. Sparrow's Flock Tortuga Trouble The Old Way Inn The Pyrate's Hand The Pirate's Pub nova albions pyrates of the charred sail the library pyrates of the charred sail The High Risk Merchant Seaman Brethren o' the Free Souls Brethren o' the Dark Mysts Brethren o' the Dancin' Pub The Whydah Wanderers The Three Arrrrrrrrs Pyrates Play Cyber Pyrates of the First Order: The Stowaways Sentanced Traders of Works Already Writen About Your Seas Barbados Brats Tortuga Tarts Caribean Castaways Buckeneers o the Black Sail Davey Jones Rejects The Independents. The Independence. The Shipmasters The Free Mariners Dockyard Dogs Watch Dogs The scurvy dogs of the piracy pub The Crows Nest The Portside Players or the Starboard Players Davey Jones Locker Treasure Cove or Cave Pirate's (or Pirate/Pyrate) Treasures Red Tail Dawgs

William thanked Mister Lasseter and excusing himself from the Doctor's company, he excepted each of the proffered items with a smile and a thank you. William noted the ink on her hands but he refrained any comment on them. Instead, he sipped his coffee with a satisfied nod, and looking over his cup he asked, "How have you been, Miss Smith?" "Fine, Captain." "Good. Good." William said and handed her the half empty cup as he placed the cutlass and baldric over his shoulder. He rested the weight there, adjusting it several times. Then he took back the cup and saucer and examined her up and down as he walked about her in a slow circle.

Today's special is eggs benedict. Damn traitorous eggs.

"Disturb me?" William asked as he approached the quarterdeck from amidships. "I'm not so easily disturbed." "Bonjour, Capitaine. I did not see you there." Tempest said with a smile. "Doctor. Mister Lasseter." The Quartermaster passed the newly received parchment over to the Captain. William read the brief correspondence and turned to Mister Lasseter. "We will be welcoming another prisoner to the Watch Dog shortly. When he comes aboard, I want our new guest kept separate from the old. I should like him tied up in the fo'c'sle, if you please." "Aye, Cap'n." "Also, I should like any idle crew members to assist Mister Badger in the airing of the spare canvas before we put to sea. I should like Mister Badger and Miss Kendra to examine the spare sails and see that no mildew or mice have been at them. They may make what repairs they need to at that time."

"Let us do so now. I am well rested and everything seems to be in order. Please inform Mister Badger that he shall have the deck and inform the Master Gunner and Master-at-Arms to be mindful of the watch. Then send word to the Don." William removed his spyglass and remained at the rail until the longboat was secured at the docks.

Word reached William in the Ward Room that Dominique-Gaston Lamaire was aboard and in conference with the Ship's Surgeon. William received this news with only the slightest nod. Interactions with the French were becoming common place. He returned almost immediately to the limited cartography available on La Margarita. While better than some, it was, as many maps of the day, inadequate. William lamented a little that he had not pursued a more active career in cartography. He had shown a knack for it in his youth and might have made a name for himself. Not that he hadn't made a name of some renown, albeit infamous. After a time he heard an assembly of men on the deck and the preparation of one of the small boats. He took up his new coat and went topside. The longboat was turning away from the Watch Dog and William gave a nod to the man at the tiller as he turned back to the Quartermaster. "Thank you, Mister Lasseter."

William nodded, having expected advice along these lines. He removed his hat to smooth back his hair and then replaced it. "Mister Lasseter, please choose five able seamen to carry out the task of recovering the Monsignor or information about the Monsignor. Give them purse for the journey, but make it understood that they are to risk no hurt to themselves. If he should not be found on La Margarita, then they should not leave the island, but report back with their findings."

William came up from the Ward Room with a chair and set it on the Quarterdeck. "Good morning, Mister Lasseter." "Cap'n." William sat down and began to peruse the logbooks, stopping from time to time to question Mister Lasseter on particular points in the ship's records. He asked many questions regarding the crew in his absence. He focused on those events regarding the Monsignor and his departure, careful to understand what had happened. Mister Lasseter, ever the practical man, conveyed the events as soundly as he could without interjecting his personal opinions. He was ever a man of facts and figures. After a time, William stood at the stern rail with the log tucked under his arm. "I believe that the Monsignor acted on his feelings when he chose to leave the ship in search of my whereabouts. And while I cannot condone his actions as the Captain of this ship, I cannot fully condemn them, as the intent was in my best interest." William paused for a time, shaking his head. "I wonder if he could ever understand how his actions have been at once flattering and insulting to me. He flies into the unknown to find me and by doing so, he disobeys me in disobeying the man in whom I placed my utmost confidence. It is a mutiny for my sake...but against my wishes." Mister Lasseter said nothing, careful to fill the silence with a mouthful of buttered biscuits. William smiled at this, wagging a finger in the Quartermaster's direction. "You are a man of few words and of profound patience. Any other man might have taken this welcome opportunity to complain about the disobedience of fellow seaman. You'd have every right to." William smiled again, for Mister Lasseter did not speak or even nod. "Well, the Monsignor is a passionate fellow. His prolonged absence is troublesome and I am beset with two paths. One, I go in search of him. Two, I do not. If I go in search of him, then I put aside all enterprises until he is found...and what then? I cannot let him aboard again, for he might surely depart again unbid. His passion to do what he thinks he must unbridled by any orders might lead me to this intersection a third time. But if I do not look for him then my conscience might be seared ever after for abandoning one who abandoned all for me." William let out an exasperated sigh, balling up one fist on the rail. He shook his head for a long time before looking back at the Quartermaster. "Suggestions, my good fellow?"

Some strong name suggestions... The Independents. ...or...The Independence. The Shipmasters The Free Mariners Dockyard Dogs

Wow. When you throw a surprise party, you throw a surprise party.

If I were to attend only one in California, which one should I travel to see?

When William awoke in the comfort of his own chambers aboard the Watch Dog, small as they were, he was relieved in a way that he couldn't explain. He lay about for the better part of an hour doing absolutely nothing and enjoying it to the fullest. Soon he realized how selfish this was given the work of the others and he dressed and went immediately to the galley. He sent for Miss Smith and dismissing the galley crew. When she joined him there he asked her to assist him in the preparation of the evening meal. They worked side by side on a treat that William hadn't prepared in years, but a treat that he was sure would find favor among several crew members from the British Isles, especially Mister Lasseter, who had worked tirelessly since his disappearance and return. When the last of the supply boats was returning to the Watch Dog, he sent word to all of the ships officers and officer's mates to join him in the ward room for dinner. He greeted each in turn as they arrived, careful to thank each of them for their recent service in his absence. Many of them tried to down play their work as the duty required of any sailor, but he would have no refusals to his compliments. Instead, he had Miss Smith show each of them to their seat and set a glass of French wine in every hand. When the last of them had arrived he unveiled the shepherd's pie and Yorkshire pudding he and Miss Smith had labored over in the kitchen. The two dishes had become one of William's favorites ever since he first came to England and he was glad of their approval. "Lad..." Mister Lasseter began, and almost immediately corrected himself. "Cap'n. Sorry, Cap'n." "No harm done, Mister Lasseter. Your error is a compliment and shows that the meal is an ample distraction. However, you must also thank Miss Smith." Many warm thanks were showered on them both and the conversation flowed like the wine.

Morning on the Watch Dog passed without incident. Mister Lasseter dutifully set every crew member to work, careful to retire those sailors that had made up the night watches. Many blinking sailors came up to the gun deck, but they were soon roused by the air and the coffee continuously sent up from the galley. The task of running out the barge and cutter soon evolved into a steady shipment of fresh supplies from shore. William relieved Mister Lasseter after some rest and then Mister Lasseter relieved him again. The sleep was insufficient for both, but neither of them seemed to show or care about this. Within the short hours of the first two watches of the day, much of the routine aboard the Watch Dog had settled again into an easy stride. With the arrival of the Afternoon Watch, William once again retired for some much needed rest.

William only nodded after Mister Lasseter was through. He felt neither angry or satisfied that another conspirator had been captured. In truth, he only just had enough anger for Augustus Muller. He didn't know how to feel about this mystery woman in the hold. The talk of hidden wealth was at once more important to him than revenge, but he said nothing of it. Instead, he invited Mister Lasseter to show him to the prisoner. They went forward into the cable tier to find the huddled mass that had once been the proud and willful Lady Ilex. She was in a heap of cables and bound with her share of them. She did not stir. Mister Lasseter raised the lamp over her and William regarded her as he gave Mister Lasseter a nod. The Quartermaster kicked her just enough to wake her. She came around slowly at first, then shielded her face. William noted that she had been beaten once or twice about the head. It reminded him of his recent adventures in captivity. She seemed confused at first about her observers, but recognition was already dawning in her face when Mister Lasseter made introductions. "Cap'n, may I introduce the Lady Ilex?" Her eyes went a little wide and there was a sort of confession in her face. At first she could not speak, though her mouth moved. Finally she managed a small and feeble whisper. "Red..Wake..." He smiled a little then, and it was not the smile he used by daylight. This was the smile that unfurled over bloody waters like a dark standard. This was the smile touched off by the matchlight of her fear. He hadn't heard his old nickname spoken with such awe and trepidation for years. Even the Dutch of the Danzig had not said it with such utter dread. The smile twisted across his face like a line of blood. "Miss Ilex." he returned, all but hissing the end of her name. He made no effort to express any warmth in his bearing. He was all wheels and cogs then. He set his mercy carefully aside and bent to put a finger gently under her chin. The touch did not express care. It spoke of absolute obedience and harsh reprisals for any disregard. "I understand that you have wealth amassed somewhere on this island. Pray it is enough to satisfy the debt of my imprisonment. If you have hitherto presented my men with false and misleading details regarding its location, then I shall personally remind you what I am capable of." He had no idea if she believed any of those stories that described his atrocities. Many of them were untrue and most had been exaggerated over time, but her eyes seemed to say, "Please, God, deliver me from this evil." and that was enough for him. "Goodnight, Miss Ilex."

William's eyebrows first raised and then furrowed. He also left the rail to place his hands behind his back as Mister Lasseter explained the absence of the Monsignor. Then, at the mention of Lady Ilex, his hands rested at his side. "I see. Well...this is strange news. Well...of course..." He began, but didn't finish. Then after a moment's pause. "Who is Lady Ilex?"

Today's Special is Cape Shark in Essence of Fennel.