The Pirate Hunter's Smarter Brother!

[Jacky Tar]

Aye, I had me concerns. The treasure fleet was in port a month a head o' schedule. Some o' the mutineers from me ship were in port. Ransom looked like she were ready pull anchor an leave Havana. Me ship had been boarded once. Oi... an I'm smugglin' emeralds in t' port. Aye, everthin' was goin' according t' plan.

The grinnin' Red Cat looked like she were trying t' out lady Ransom. She got me attention, an I said, "So, Red Cat is the food t' yer likin'?" She nodded, an I thought well at least she's usin' a fork an not wipin' her hands on her dress.

Truth be told, the ladies t' my surprise were behavin' like ladies!

[Black Nate]

Nate watched the ladies eat with their fancy forks. He had set his goblet down and was going to have a servant get him more, but instead his dinner glass was filled with wine. Nate shrugged his shoulders and took up the glass and had a taste. Finding it tasty he smiled and picked up a fork and dug in to his chicken with gusto. Nate did not tear it apart, but ate with relish. The food was very good. He thought the meals he had on the RakeHell were wonderful after his time spent shipwrecked, but this far surpassed them. Nate finished his plate before everyone else. Sitting back he drank the Madeira in small sips, as it was not as good as the rhum. He hoped another course would be served soon.

[Jacky Tar]

Our host still had not returned t' the table, when they started servin' the second course, a Spanish pork braise.

I glanced up, an saw wot kept Raphael occupied, a very animated captain Nunez. Apparently my presence was takin' a unexpected toll on our hosts' guest list.

I turned t' Ransom, "I doubt we will be so warmly welcomed next time. In fact I'm beginnin' t' seriously doubt if we should pass this way on our return trip."

[Ransom]

I jerked my head around to look into Jacky's face, and growled, "This is NOT the time to decide this may not have been a good idea! And don't think I haven't noticed that you aren't too popular with any of the Spanish captains." I leaned closer to his ear. "Just what the hell did you do, other than provide charts? And, more importlantly, how the hell do we get out of here — Commodore."

[Black Nate]

Nate was just a bit concerned with the heated words passing between the captain and commodore. He finished the spanish wine and before a servant could fill it, Nate covered the glass and picked up his goblet, passing it off to the servant to get him more rhum. The second course was eaten slower than the first, and Nate looked to Red Cat. "Them two always like iss at a fancy table? Act like they tied th knot an are tryin ta untie it now." It was getting stuffy and hot in the dining hall here and all ol' Nate wanted to do was go out into the fresh air. Pushing his chair back from the table, he looked to captain Ransom. "Capin, ya think there be a problem if I were ta stretch me legs? I'll take Miss Red Cat ere wit me, if she'd care ta join me. On me honor I won't cause trouble on me own, Ma'am, Sah." Nate gave the captain a serious and solemn look to say he was truly serious, and gave Red Cat a hopeful look, that she might join him in a walk.

[Jacky Tar]

With all earnest, I said t' Ransom, "I wasn't implyin' that this visit t' Havana was a bad idea. It was the only course we could o' taken t' get back the Relentless."

"Nunez still holds me culpable fer his ship sinkin'." I paused long enough t' taste the pork. I turned t' any that would listen, "This is the best braised pork I've ever tasted!"

Ransom grabbed me, an said, "You sunk his ship?" Nate fell back in t' his chair, an reached fer the nearest bottle.

"Nay, I never even opened a gun port t' his vessel."

[Ransom]

I hissed into Jacky's ear. "What other little tid bits of information have you neglected to mention?"

Furious over the things Jacky had kept secret all this time, I stood, picked up my wine goblet, and, forcing myself not to toss its contents into Jacky's face, instead, I turned and headed for a nearby balcony.

Leaning on the balustrade, I took a dozen deep breaths to calm myself. In the distance I could see the harbor, and the Rakehell at anchor. I'd have given anything to be on her and away from this city, and away from the man who had brought us here. It was then I decided that, with or without him, I was leaving Havana as soon as this dinner was over. He could hare off to the Dry Tortugas without me or my ship. Since he hadn't trusted me, I no longer trusted him.

I took a long draught from my cup, then started planning my escape.

[Jacky Tar]

I excused me self, and followed Ransom out on t' the balcony. Away from pryin' eyes, I said, "Aye, I hav history wit' some in this port. As fer Nunez, maybe he'd be happier if I let 'em go down wit' his ship."

"Nunez, was not a captain, when we first met. The Relentless was anchored in the Dry Tortugas. We had hooked a wreck wit' grapnels an were doin' a bit o' salvagin'."

"Nunez's ship, a galleon happened upon us. They fired a shot across our bow, as the Spanish were wont t' do, us bein' in Spanish waters. Their captain didn't know these waters an came in closer, an got his ship reefed."

"I sent over water an offered t' take some o' their passengers back t' Havana. That's how I met Raphael Navarro."

"Nunez, wit' some marines, were sent t' accompany Senor Navarro back t' Havana."

[Red Cat Jenny]

Red Cat moved not...only her eyes followed JAcky..who followed Ransom..

She twisted her mouth sideways an narrowed her eyes at th pair. "Always trouble them two..." she muttered. Cat began t' lean her chair back, an then remembered she be dressed as a lady an brought it right agin. She stabbed small bits o chicken and potato on her plate wit a single tine o the gilded fork, huffing slightly of boredom an frustration. Fancy staid dinners were just not her do..Finally Red Cat realized ol Nate had sat back down an remained quietly so. She turned to th sailor an fixed him a look in th eyes... "Them two....bah! they'll no doubt be out thar arguin fer a while on..I knew Jacky 'ad a run in wit a galleon some yars back..but I didnt know we'd be comin directly across th crazy son of...." again she remembered where she be and actin as what "um..Spaniard.." She paused a moment glancin about th room. "I do hope Mr. Tar did not overestimate his ..charm in such matters" The room felt close an stuffy. Red Cat felt far too unarmed. "So Mr. Durant...ye fancy a walk do ye?" She smiled a smile only slightly mischieviously. Nate nodded lookin wary. "Care t' accompany a lady then?" Cat chuckled holding out a hand pinky up... in his direction.

[Ransom]

I took another swallow of wine, and kept staring out toward the harbor as Jacky quickly gave his short history with the Spanish. When he was finished, I turned and met his gaze. "It's not about what you did or didn't do. It's about why you didn't tell me about it before we got here. Why was it such a bloody secret?"

After another deep breath, I said, "We've fought together, and we've sailed together. I've covered your back, and you've covered mine. I thought we trusted each other. I thought I meant someth..." I turned away from him. "Nevermind. Let's just get through this dinner and get the hell out of here. I'll decide what I'm going to do once I'm back on board the Rakehell." I met his gaze again. "If my ship is not allowed to leave when I choose, if she's empounded and my crew taken as prisoners..." I couldn't finish. The anger and the hurt were almost suffocating.

[Black Nate]

Nate slowly smiled. He took the hand offered, upturned pinky and all. As he did so he stood and bowed deeply. "Aye, R - ahhh... Miss Red Cat, I'd fancy a walk wit ye. Where would ye wish ta be off to?" Red Cat stood, slightly mocking the upper class as she curtsied to ol' Nate. "Oh, we c'n walk there abouts, or o'er there." She pointed daintily to another balcony, then to a spot closer to the exit. "As ya wish, m'lady." Again Nate bowed low, turned to be at here side and they walked slowly from the table. Red Cat looked at Nate with that mischievious smile. "So. . . . ye say ye had a run in wit pirates did ya? Do tell." Nate gave her a sideways look and that grin of his returned. "Aye, I done had a run in wit pirates. Seems more that once now." The look on his face dared her to answer his almost question of a statement. All Nate could do was wait, and hope some clarification would be had from the Red Cat.

[Jacky Tar]

Aye, Ransom had been as true a friend an comrade in arms as a man could ask. I didn't see how me unspoken past wit' the Spanish, could be misconstrued as a breach o' trust.

Her emotions betrayed the real reason fer her frustration, it was the unspoken bond they shared that tore at her heart. She meant more t' him than ship or crew, but it was those very things that kept them apart. Underneath it all she was still a woman, his woman, if he'd let her be.

"Hold out yer hand," I said t' Ransom. "Just hold out yer hand, please." Ransom did so reluctantly. I pulled an emerald, the size of a robin's egg, out of me pocket an placed it in her hand. She stared blankly at it and turned it over in her hand. "When cut an polished, it would be fit fer a queen."

I looked in her the face, "This is me last secret fer this port, I swear. I transport emeralds from Colombia, fer certain persons. These trades don't appear on the books an if discovered I could be held as a smuggler." Such trades are needed t' grease the wheels o' commerce in Havana an other ports, but she knew that.

She didn't seem t' care, so I said, "The stone is yers, an if ye decide t' leave t'morrow, I understand. Sell or trade the cargo aboard yer ship as ye choose. Mayhaps ye'll stay a day or two longer here, while we tend t' the business at hand. Ye hav several bargainin' chips now, so no one will touch yer ship."

Why didn't I tell her I loved her an plead wit' her not t' return t' Port Royal? It was too late fer that now; she wouldn't believe me.

I left the balcony an returned t' the dinnin' room.

[Ransom]

The emerald felt as cold in my hand as my heart felt in my chest. I stared at it, fighting tears. We are such fools, I thought. Had he trusted me, this conversation would never have happened. Had I not such a temper, it would never have gone this far. He didn't even ask me to stay, which meant he'd prefer that I go and let him do his business without my constant railery.

I had a sudden desire to throw the emerald over the balcony. Let some poor peasant find it, and get some joy of it. It gave no joy to me.

Practicality stayed my hand. To get back to my home port, I would need the money it would fetch. As for the cargo within the Rakehell, I would see it unloaded before leaving. I wanted no obligations to a man who did not want me.

Feeling sick, I returned to the dining room and took my place at the table. Between my corset and my body, the emerald dug painfully into my flesh.

[Red Cat Jenny]

Red Cat an Nate walked wit jest a bit o mock propriety towards th other balcony. As they stepped out on th portico they missed Ransom who were headed back towards whar they had just sat. Nate glanced over "Seems more than once now." he had said. Cat fought not to laugh..coughing genteely to cover it.. They settled near the low wall which looked out over th Cuban waters. Nate rocked back on his heels hands behind his back, but his expression belied tha he warn't gonna give up wont fer an answer. Oh.. he smiled politely, but his eyes were askin.

Cat leaned back again th balustrade coolly ignorin his look. She breathed in th sea air which were much preffered t' th stuffiness inside. She grinned at ol Nate a moment..jes th twinkle o mystery in her eye. "Y'know Mr. Durant...there be pirates...an then there be pirates" Red Cat looked about an back t' him, leanin in closer "I've 'ad occasion t' know a few" she sat back against th wall again examinin th nails o' one hand and her tone turned nonchalant..

"They ain'y all bad ye know.." then true t' nature she added still lookin at one paw "wall not alla time anyways"

[Black Nate]

Nate watched Red Cat set back against the wall and his hands came down to his sides. He stepped closer to her and grinned. She were telling him what he believed was true. The Rakehell and Relentless were indeed pirate ships. He decided she was trustworthy enough to divulge a secret. "Aye, they ain't all bad. Ta be honest, we dun some smugglin o goods now an agin. Th 'Liza ad a special place in er hold. . . . Ah, well. . . ." Nate's enthusiasm of his story dropped off a bit and his eyes were cast down. A moment later they met Red Cat's eyes. His wild grin appeared again. "Aye, Miss Cat, you dun some smugglin o goods yerself, or ye done worse I suspect." Nate relaxed as he spoke and again stepped closer for privacy. "Ol' Nate thought ya was a man, th way ya handled yerself back on shore were th' Almighty put me in yer path. Dressed as ya were din't help none neither."

[Red Cat Jenny]

Red Cat looked up sideways at Nate...she considered his words a moment. Then looked out at th bay an laughed. "Yer an interestin man Mr. Durant ye are...." She directly avoided answerin his question. She intended to...but not jes yet. As th game were too much fun. She hadn't had much chance t' spar wits since tryin t' retrieve her scroll an such from Tar back at th Fat Weasel "I do b'lieve our guests may be waitin fer us" Cat glanced past his shoulder. Well...around 'im as he were taller n her..

Th Cat grasped her skirts put her nose in th air a bit an waited f' him t' escort her back t' th table whar Captains Tar an Ransom had indeed returned. Th servants had jes set another course an refilled th wine goblets.

[Ransom]

I was barely aware that Red Cat and Nate had resumed their seats, and that another course was being served. With my stomach in a knot, there was no way I could eat anything. With trembling fingers I brought my goblet to my lips and sipped the expensive wine. But my mind seemed frozen and unable to function.

Jacky was silent, and although his elbow was almost brushing mine, he might as well have been on the other side of the world, so far apart had we drifted in the last half hour.

[Black Nate]

Nate knew something was wrong, something had happened between the captain and commodore and it was not good. He gave Red Cat a questioning look and smiled at Ransom when her eyes looked his way. The captain looked slightly ashen and trembled a bit. Nate may have been new to the Rakehell and captain Ransom's command, but she was his captain now. "Summin amiss capin? Summin ol' Nate can do ta help? I be sure Miss Red Cat an I got yer back what havoc may come. Told ye, th Almighty says we gonna be fine." She looked at him and he grinned his grin, but it had a mean look to it this time, as his eyes looked at other round the table.

[Red Cat Jenny]

Red CAt raised both eyebrows at Nate's familarity, but looked at Ransom an waited t' see wot had transpired..

[Ransom]

Nate's condescending remark focused my attention. When I spoke to him, my voice was low and hard. "However much you might think yourself my protector, think again. I am well able to protect myself. It would also serve you well to remember just who you're talking to. We may have plucked you from the sea, Mr. Durant, but I can damn well throw you back in it if you don't remember your place."

[Red Cat Jenny]

Red Cat had stood an walked over t' JAcky. She leaned in an whispered, gesturin t' the balcony previously occupied. "A word Mr. Tar? T'will take but a moment"

[Black Nate]

Nate was no longer grinning. He straightened and knuckled his brow. "Aye sah, ma'am. Beggin yer pardon, I ave no doubt ya can protect yerself capin. I know my place in th ranks, very low. I protect my capin wit m'life." Nate pushed back in his chair, giving Ramson some space. "or ta be thrown back ta th sea so it seems. Ol' Nate's sorry if he did offend yer, Sah, Ma'am." Nate sat passively yet at attention, waiting to see if he were to remain on shore, on ship or in the ocean.

[Jacky Tar]

Red Cat wanted t' talk now in private, but I was all talked out an I told her so.

I heard Ransom offer t' return Nate t' the sea, if he didn't remember his place. I wondered if I'd wish t' join him 'fore this night was over.

[Ransom]

... "I protect my capin wit m'life."

Protect me with his life?

Within the maelstrom my brain seethed in — of perseived betrayals, my trapped ship, and Jacky's confession of being a smuggler — two words sang out. Protect. Life.

Like a tidal wave, what the gift of the emerald really meant came crashing down on me. The gift I had almost thrown over the balcony in anger and stupidity. With my hand over my breast where the gem lay hidden, I leaned back in my chair, face to the ceiling, trying to breathe through my suddenly constricted throat.

[Juan Francisco Navarro]

As I stepped out of my carriage, I saw several familiar faces preparing to leave my brothers hacienda.

"Gentleman what is this, was the food not to your liking?" Capitan Nunez stepped forward and explained it was not the food, but the other dinner guests that hasten their departure. I scoffed, "Then your loss gentlemen, a good meal always trumps bad company."

I left them and headed to the partido.