The Scathed

[Robert Ironcastle]

Yes!New chapter.

[Crestshot]

Ahoy mates! Thanks for still hanging in there on this story! Considering I know that you guys want this a lot, I'll just let you get straight to...

Smoke



Kat’s prediction ended up being correct. Before the sun had set, Scern had come back down to the ship and requested a number of the Mercenary’s crew to assist in the transfer of supplies. Lawrence was careful to leave certain crewmembers aboard, such as Emily, who would be quick to ready the ship if the need came. Kat noted out of the corner of her eye Luckie sending Angel down into the ship before falling in line with the rest headed up to the fort.

Lawrence and Charles stood near Kat on the trek up the docks. The group, led by Scern and some of his soldiers, passed through the giant wooden doors and into a large field. Kat looked around in wonder at the feat the Crown’s military had pulled off on such a small island. Men stood in the distance, practicing formations led by an officer. Kat narrowed her eyes slightly towards them, but saw no figure that jumped out at her with recognition. She instead continued to follow the steady, well measured steps of Scern, her eyes glancing around, looking for a good moment to dart out of sight and begin her explorations.

The crew was led past the field and under another arch. Kat’s eyes picked up on a rather inconspicuous, yet heavily guarded doorway as her boots squelched through the mud of a nearby pig pen. She made note of the area, as well as the ramp to her left as they fell into the shadow of trees. The hill they marched up led to a town scattered with soldiers or black and gold EITC uniforms, along with the occasional common dress.

Scern began leading the group to the left, closer to a large, storage like building. Kat found her opportunity to break away from the group, so she tapped Lawrence briefly on the arm as she darted past him and into the crevice between two of the buildings. She pressed herself against the wall, listening to the men enter the warehouse. The door finally shut, and she let her breath go.

Her compass clicked as she brought it out of her pocket and flicked it open. Slowly it spun, pointing to her right, down the alleyway. Kat snapped it shut and crept slowly down the narrow hall, but kept it close in her hand. This wasn’t a place she felt like getting lost in.

The dark of the alley was short, and she emerged with the warehouse still on her left. The buildings were much more condensed on this side, but the area was empty. Kat glanced around, noticing guards stationed at the top of a bridge, and she shrunk into the shadows, silently watching them. They paid no attention to the ground below them, however, but instead stood there chatting with each other, bayonets held loosely at their sides. She walked slowly out into the area, glancing around her with her hand twitching to grab a dagger from her coat for protection. Across the small lane she quickly darted, the sunlight off a window blinding her for the briefest of moments. She was out of view of the guards, at least. Now it was just a matter of exploring the buildings around her to find her prize.

The door she was leaning on suddenly fell away, but Kat was able to catch herself. Her heart pounded with adrenaline rushing through her from fear. A large hand roughly grabbed her shoulder and spun her around. She met closely with two dark, cold eyes.

“I thought I saw you from the window,” Randolph growled, sheer fury mixing with his words. His grip was too tight against her shoulder and pressing in just the right spot so she couldn’t move her arm. She was stuck as he pushed her against the wall of the doorway.

“You and your little pirate self, and your little pirate crew. Did you enjoy leaving me to die in the middle of the ocean? Did you?!” He accentuated it with a sharp squeeze to her shoulder, and Kat couldn’t help but gasp in pain. “I’ve heard of the mischief and the conning you’ve gotten up to the past three years, Katherine. Well,” he grinned maliciously. “Good luck doing that from now on.”

Without warning, his hand shot from her shoulder to her forearm, viciously pulling up the sleeve of her shirt. During his rant, Kat hadn’t seen the rod Randolph had held in his right hand, but she certainly felt it now as he burned a red-hot P into her skin. She screamed in pain, falling to her knees while Randolph stood over her, cackling.

He finally pulled it away, letting it dangle at his side next to her face as she moaned in pain. “How does it feel, Katherine?” he taunted. “Do I need to make it feel better, love?” His face turned into a sneer.

Kat didn’t let herself fall to his goading, instead weakly reaching into her coat. “You wish,” she hissed, pulling a grenade out and setting the fuse to the brand. It lit and she flung it with her good arm into the lane. She stood and kicked the metal pole into his face. The hot iron seared his skin, the embers burning what stubble he had. It was he who yelled in pain this time, and Kat ran back the way she had come while he was distracted.

Kat turned out of the alleyway, only to run into her crew, who looked at her curiously. “Back to the ship!” she yelled, gripping her arm tightly. She glanced behind her to see smoke rising, and Randolph coming through the alley. “Now!” Without waiting for confirmation, she began running at top speed down the hill and back to her ship, feeling the P on her arm jolt with little shocks of pain.

“They’re pirates! Seize them!” Randolph cried behind her. She didn’t look back, but she heard the drawing of swords. Whether they were friend or foe, she couldn’t be sure. All she knew was the need to run, to escape, to find something to get rid of the searing burn in her skin. Cries reached her ears along with the clashing of swords, but she just ran, down the hill, past the other warehouse, under the archway to the field. She saw through the far gate the sails of her ship being set up and could almost hear the anchor being raised. Some sliver of hope popped up inside her that maybe, just maybe, they could get out of this alive.

That’s when she made the mistake of turning around.

Her men had engaged with the Navy everywhere she turned. Their numbers were monumentally overpowered, and most had just begun fleeing back to the ship as she had been doing. The thing her eyes focused on, however, was the battle between a red haired, emerald eyed man and the swine she had once called a husband. As she stared at them, their blades became locked, sweat pouring down their faces in the Caribbean heat. Randolph suddenly raised a hard black boot and kicked Lawrence in the chest, knocking him backwards and stunning him. Lawrence fell to the ground, and Randolph’s gaze immediately turned to her. He began storming towards her, and Kat felt her legs were ready to pounce away from him, but instead Lawrence sat up from the ground he had been shoved onto and flung his dagger towards Randolph. The aim was true; the small blade sunk into the back of Randolph’s thigh, and he roared in pain for the second time in minutes. He turned from Kat, his leg buckling as he fell on Lawrence and soundly punched him across the face, then under his chin, and again in the ribs.

“Lawrence!” Kat cried, and she tried to leap to his aid, but Charles’ large form appeared and pushed her backwards.

“Go, Kat, go!” he yelled at her, but she shoved herself against his arms.

“Charles we have to help him!” Charles glanced behind him to see that two more soldiers had come to their officer’s aid, and were dragging Lawrence’s unconscious and beaten form up further into the fort.

“We can’t help him right now, Kat!” he claimed. Knowing prematurely that his sister wouldn’t give up, he kneeled down and flung her over his shoulder, taking off at a run for the ship. She tried to beat on his back, but hissed in pain at the burn on her forearm. That didn’t stop her from screaming obscenities and cries to be freed as they got closer to the ship, though.

“If we go back, we’ll all die!” he shouted as he boarded the Mercenary.

“Set sail as quickly as possible!” he ordered the crew with the Captain still on his shoulder. She wiggled and screamed and tried kicking her way free, but Charles didn’t let her down until the ship had left port, and she was forced to watch the fort shrink in the flames of the setting sun.



And now I'll go off under my rock to avoid the slings and arrows of misfortune.
(If you got that reference, I love you.)

I have to thank Pieisbetter2 for a sentence used in this chapter. Can't be caught plagiarizing, now can I?

I know you all have waited for this chapter, but it was worth it, aye? I'd love reviews, especially on this chapter mates (minus the giant sword, if you please Em). It's good to know that as unreliable as my postings are, there's still people here waiting to read the story. So, I hope you enjoyed! Thanks for reading!

-Kat Crestshot

[The Stealthy Pirate]

Heh heh. Hanging... bad pun.

Anyway, good chapter mate! Poor Lawrence @_@

p.s. I dare you to figure out what my user title means :P

[richfireskull]

Oddly enough i know what it means lol... and WOOT way to go Crest! As always it is lovely

[Robert Ironcastle]

Great chapter.

[SEAKING23]

/applaud

Great chapter, and great story! Wish they'd come out faster though.. :P

[Robert Ironcastle]

^ With ya on that.

[Catherine Ironcutter]

NUUUU. Make it turn out happily D:

In all seriousness, I hope this turns out happily. Because otherwise I will be unhappy. And unhappy Em's aren't good.

[Crestshot]

The muses have been kind to me this week, mates. So, as an early 4th of July present (or just a general present for those of you out of the US), here is...

What If's



Do or die.

’That’s what it should have come down to,’ Kat thought bitterly. She stood at the wheel of her ship, keeping it steady while she reflected.

They had lost ten members of the crew at Kingshead. Whether they were dead or merely jailed and awaiting a rigged trial, she couldn’t possibly know. Of all those that had been left behind, emerald eyes always came to her mind first, but of course that wasn’t all. Faces of those crewmembers who had fought by her side in Tortuga or risked their lives climbing the rigging swam through her mind, but also the friends she had laughed with in candlelight as they drank rum and played poker below decks.

Kat suddenly started, believing a flash of green hair had appeared emerging from the galley, but it was only Angel as she sullenly began scrubbing the decks. She sighed at the tricks her mind was playing. The last thing she wanted was a reminder that Luckie, of all the people, was gone as well.

Morale on the ship had been low in the days since Kingshead, but that wasn’t much of a surprise. Angel seemed especially downhearted, considering Luckie had taken on the role of a mother figure for her. The crew seemed to walk around in a daze, some of them at times turning to ask for help from a colleague, only to remember that they no longer numbered 32. Crewmembers would pass by her, and she would feel the heat from their glares, knowing that they blamed her for this damage. She knew they had every right to.

Contact between her and her brother had been minimal the past few days as well. She understood and appreciated why he had dragged her out of the fort, but that didn’t necessarily mean that she was happy with him about it. He, thankfully, had noticed it and had been avoiding her as well. Sarah, though, was caught between the two siblings in the worst of ways. She had tried to talk to Kat the day after they had escaped Kingshead, but that had only culminated in a yelling match.

“He was only doing what was best for you, Katherine!” she had pleaded, but Kat had refused to give in.

“What would have been best was if I had helped defend my crew!” Kat yelled back. “You know the tradition of a captain going down with his ship, but what about his crew? Hang the Code, those men and women have been with me through every insane endeavor I have put my mind to!” She had slammed her hand down on her desk at this point, forgetting about the P burned into her arm. It sent a jolt through her, and she hissed in pain.

“Yes, because you’re supposed to fight with a small dagger and a freshly injured arm,” Sarah replied, her voice laced with thick sarcasm. “Would you just stop?”

“No I will not!” Kat thundered. “I left him behind!”

The statement made them both pause. “Them,” Kat had then corrected quietly. “I left them behind.”

“That’s not what you said.”

Kat was silent. Then, a simple “I know” was uttered from her lips. “I left him behind,” she whispered. “After Solomon, I promised him that I would never do that, but I did. I did, just as I abandoned Solomon once before.” Her injured arm came up to rest on her chest, her hand settling over her heart. “But it hurts so much more this time.”

A single tear formed and ran a river down her cheek. This, to Sarah, was more terrifying than if Kat had burst into screams of fury and pain. “Lawrence Mcrage has been with me since the very beginning. He saved me from death in an unforgiving ocean all those years ago, and he saved my life again when he threw a knife into Randolph’s leg, only this time, he may have traded his own. After so much, Sarah…” She sighed and placed a hand to her closed eyes, seeing fire and emeralds. “After so much, I have continuously denied the one thing we both desired most in this world. He saw the danger of Kingshead when I refused to, and somehow I think he knew that he wouldn’t come out of there as expected. He knew, and he tried to talk to me, but I denied him once more. What if that was the last time?

“What if I never tell him I love him?”

Kat had sunken into her desk chair, and Sarah came to stand in front of her. “Life wasn’t made dwelling on what if’s, Kat.” She took her sister under the chin and tilted her face up. “You will be able to say those words, and I am going to help you be able to do that. Perhaps you have burned all of your bridges in the Royal Navy, but I doubt many words have spread about my turn to piracy.” She walked over to the map of the Caribbean Kat kept on her wall and pointed to the island in the center. “I think I know where we need to go.”

So now, two days later and three days after Kingshead, Kat manned her ship for Port Royal. She trusted her sister’s plan, just as she trusted that the system of the law on Kingshead was not much different from anywhere else, and just as she trusted Randolph would be playing chess with her as he used to in their parlor; waiting for her move so he could pull the single piece right out from under her that would completely destroy her game.

Her arm buzzed, and she shook the sleeve of her shirt back to reveal the still scalding P. Randolph shouldn’t have burned it onto her. It was only proof that she had more to fight for. She hissed as the sleeve fell back over it.

And somewhere else, miles away in a jail cell, Lawrence Mcrage screamed as the same symbol was burned into him.

“And I was under the impression that pirates were far more substantial.” The man dressed in the black and gold of an EITC uniform stood just in front of Lawrence while two more spread his arms out to his sides. His shirt had been stripped from his body, leaving his bruised chest exposed, along with the new, bright red P. “I suppose not.”

Lawrence lifted his head, his usually sparkling green eyes glazed over with something much more sinister. His breath was heavy as he spoke. “What I wouldn’t give to see you in this same position screaming louder and writhing on this ground at the slightest touch of that poker.”

The man grinned toothily, exposing the yellow and rotten pieces. “But pirates don’t get their wishes granted. Not in the eyes of the law or the God who will condemn you to Hell.”

Lawrence snorted wearily. “You call this lawful or moral? Torture and branding me like I’m an animal?” He looked the soldier solidly in the eye. “In that case, I’ll enjoy seeing you burn right next to me.”

The small room echoed with the backhanded slap Lawrence was given across the face. “How dare you accuse me of such things!”

“That will be enough, Mr. Remington,” a voice spoke from the jail’s stairway. A soft clunk of a crutch was heard as its source came closer. Around the corner entered Randolph, a crutch under one arm and two soldiers of his own behind him. “I’ll be taking it from here.”

Remington’s back straightened stiffly. “Very well, Mr. Randolph.” He motioned to the ones holding Lawrence back, and he was abruptly dropped to the floor. The new scarring mark on his chest burned as it hit the dirt and he grimaced while he pushed himself off the floor to greet Randolph. He looked coldly up at the man that surrounded him, finding Remington glaring back. “Feel free to summon me if you need… assistance with him, sir,” he said. He stared at Lawrence threateningly for a moment longer, walking up the dark stairs and out of the jail.

Randolph glanced at the slam of the door before turning back to Lawrence. “So you’re the little mongrel who stabbed me in the leg,” he sneered. “You should work on that aim.”

Lawrence grinned. “Who said my aim was off?” He stood, and Randolph’s guards stiffened, but the officer stood still as a rock. “If I had aimed anywhere else, I could have killed you. That honor is saved for Kat.”

He suddenly felt himself shoved backwards by a dull point into his stomach. His back slammed into the wall and he slumped down to the floor. He gingerly rubbed his new bruise as Randolph clunked forward towards him.

“If you think that my leech of a wife is going to get anywhere near me, that’s where you’d be wrong,” he growled in Lawrence’s face.

“Denial is unbecoming of you, officer. If you don’t recall, she’s not your wife anymore,” he taunted back. Randolph’s crutch came up and smacked him across the head, the wood roughly connecting with his skull. Lawrence was forced to the floor again, this time with stars forming in front of his eyes. He heard Randolph as if through a well.

“She’s quite the fighter, I’ll give her that. Gave me quite the burn.” He turned the side of his face towards Lawrence and lightly stroked the bright pink scaled breaking his beard. “I don’t think I would have ever expected that from her all those years ago. And to see her brother and sister as well… Perhaps I would have expected that from Charles, but never Sarah.” He shrugged. “No matter. They’ll all be on the noose soon enough.”

The image rushed into his mind of Kat’s buckled boots dangling a foot off the ground, her eyes staring out at the world lifelessly while a rope was wrapped around her neck. His breathing sped up and slowly, his fists and teeth begun to clench.

“She was always rather whiny and sniveling. It will be good to have that gone from this world.”

Lawrence lurched at Randolph’s feet, too quick for the redcoats to react. With his weight taken from his good leg, he slammed onto the ground, and Lawrence immediately grabbed him by the neck. “Whatever love she gave you was more than you will ever deserve,” he growled, his hot breath coating Randolph’s face.

The points of two swords touched Lawrence’s back. “Touchy, aren’t we?” Randolph said as Lawrence slowly rose off him. “Quite the temper you’ve got there.” He spoke the words contemplatively while one of his men assisted him to his feet and the other kept his sword trained on the highly agitated Lawrence.

“You don’t know the half of it,” he grumbled venomously.

“We could utilize that…” Randolph muttered, as if to himself. Lawrence’s scowl only deepened.

“What, are you offering me a position in the Navy?” he scoffed. “I’m a pirate, not a member of an ever corrupt English society.”

Randolph smiled grotesquely. “You know, Mr. Remington is quite skilled in the art of torture. I believe it stems from his deep delight of it.”

Lawrence’s eyes narrowed. “I’ll assume I should take that as a threat.”

“For a pirate you’re quite…” Randolph let his finger trail along the hilt of the blade in his belt, “sharp, Mr. Lawrence.”

“My name is Mcrage,” he snapped so viciously that the soldiers raised their swords to his chest again.

But Randolph only chuckled softly. “I had been wondering about that. Well,” he turned towards the door as if making the motions to leave. “Since you have denied me once, I doubt you’ll change your answer anytime soon.” He began walking up the stairs and called backwards, “I suppose I’ll just have to send Remington in again while we wait for Katherine!” One of the departing soldiers took the lone torch on the wall and the door slammed behind him, leaving Lawrence and the jail to descend into darkness.



I've gotten lucky the past two weeks or so. Not quite sure when the next chapter will be out, so I'm sorry for that. I'll try and keep the muse locked in her cage.

Thank you for the reviews! Even the ones that tell me I'm slow posting warm my heart. Happy Fourth of July! Thanks for Reading!

-Kat Crestshot

[The Stealthy Pirate]

Good chapter mate!!! I think I know what shall happen next.

[Catherine Ironcutter]

The plot thickens... -insert dun dun dun dun music here-

And a chapter that doesn't involve killing someone off for once :O Me liked. You post another soon.

[Robert Ironcastle]

Huh.That scum Randolph.
But a very good chapter as always Kat.

[Crestshot]

Ahoy mates! Late chapter (I know I know), but this has been in the making for a while. Little stops and starts, you know... Anywho, you don't want to hear my excuses. Instead, here's...

New Plans and Drunken Soldiers



“Throw her in the brig!” Randolph commanded in a harsh voice. His eyes looked cold, and strong hands grasped her arms, dragging her across the deck of the ship.

“No, sweetheart, I swear I didn’t! I would never…I, I couldn’t!” Katherine struggled viciously against her captors, yelling out to her husband. They only held her tighter, not caring about the fact that she was female. That only made them fiercer towards her.

“You think I can believe you?!” her husband thundered. “You are nothing but a stupid, stupid woman! I should have never brought you aboard this ship!” His voice quieted with his next line. “The men were right. A woman on a ship is bad luck.”

Then the most sinister of smiles came to his face. “But I have the one thing you most desire, don’t I?” The fog around them parted just enough for Kat to see bright red hair being dragged away from her, up a hill. “He’s mine now. Soon enough, I’ll have you again as well. You will all die.”

With that, the men dragged a struggling, crying Katherine across the deck and she was thrown across the floor…

But she didn’t end up in a dark, dank brig. Instead, she was shoved into a hard backed, ornamental chair. Randolph sat across from her, his hands folded in front of his face as he stared avidly down at the black and white board between them.

“You always feel the need to protect your precious Knights, don’t you Katherine?” he murmured in his contemplation. His fingers tapped his white rook forward to take the pawn that had protected the knight.

“He is the most unique of the players,” Katherine murmured. Her fingers lightly touched the head of the black stallion. She twirled the piece on its square, contemplating her next move.

“That is your problem, Katherine,” Gregory scolded her as she moved the knight in its unique L shape. “They’re just pieces, not people. The way you see them as such hinders the way you play.” He immediately moved his rook horizontally and snatched her noble knight between his fingers, leaving it right next to her queen in the middle of the board.

“No, it’s a player,” she protested softly. “Even the pawns have their own specific characteristics. If they didn’t, nothing would happen in this game.” Her dark queen moved diagonally away from the rook, two spaces away from Gregory’s king.

“Checkmate…”

~~~~~

Kat walked into the dark room of the Royal Anchor. She marveled at the irony of the name as she approached the bar. It was the middle of the day, so the tavern was busier than she usually saw it, but it was a good place to blend in. She had dressed herself in casual men’s attire, and kept her forearm turned downward, should anyone have the unfortunate chance of catching what was behind the bandage.

Her hair tucked into her weather beaten hat, falling gently over her eyes. She sat at a barstool, listening to the feet screech in the hushed aura of the Royal Anchor. Josie came across from her stool with a glass in one hand and a rag in the other.

“What’ll it be?” she asked, the perfect example for an up and coming bar wench.

“A bottle of rum,” Kat growled in the deepest tenor she could manage. She allowed her eyes to drift up to Josie’s, and saw a spark of recognition, but not full comprehension, in the other woman’s. The confusion was evident in her stance as she slowly set down the glass she held. She reached behind her for the bottle, keeping her eyes on the curious figure in her tavern.

“Three gold,” she told her patron. Kat grunted with a nod to the redhead as she passed the gold across the wooden bar. Josie swiftly grabbed the coins and tossed them in the till, and Kat noticed with satisfaction that Josie slipped the other object into her apron pocket.

She waited on that bar stool for an hour, silently nursing a bottle of rum. Men entered and left the tavern to the joyous tunes of a flute and guitar, but she paid little attention to the sounds. Instead, she sat in quiet contemplation, almost brooding, as she waited for Josie to give her a sign.

“Adam, take care of the customers for a few minutes,” Josie said to her young barkeep, bringing Kat out of her haze of thought. “I’m taking a break in the back room for a few minutes.” She tossed her rag to the boy, catching Kat’s eye as she slid out the door behind the bar. The door slammed shut, and Kat barely contained her patience for a few minutes more before slithering out of the front door, leaving her empty rum bottle behind.

She pulled her dark coat around herself a little tighter, glancing shiftily around the building behind the brow of her hat as she exited. A regular trickle of people passed her by, paying her no attention as they made their way to barter for various wares. She easily, without needing much subtlety, slipped around to the back of the Anchor, quickly climbing the stairs and entering the back door Josie had once given her the key to.

“I was wondering when you would be back in Port Royal,” Josie said after the door had firmly closed.

“Purely out of necessity,” Kat said softly. A stream of light flowed through an open window, and she quickly closed the blinds. “If I didn’t absolutely have to be in Port Royal, I wouldn’t be.”

“Then what’s with the disguise?” Josie asked curiously.

Kat didn’t turn away from the closed window as she spoke, but her knuckles whitened on the sill. “I’m surprised you haven’t heard, with all the sailors that pass through your bar. Started a full out revolution on Tortuga, among other things. The Navy isn’t fond of me lately. I figured, considering what I usually wear, this would be simplest.”

Josie approached her from behind. “Well, good move on slipping me that key, then, so I knew it was you.” She took Kat’s arm as if to draw her away from the window, but the pirate hissed when it hit the bandage. Josie’s eyes widened when she saw it, and she gently opened Kat’s arm out to her. The cloth fell away easily, for Kat merely looked away in shame, and she heard Josie’s breath catch as Randolph’s reminder was revealed. “They marked you,” she murmured, and Kat looked back briefly enough to see the horrified look in her face. “Kat…” she said slowly. “Where’s Lawrence?”

Kat’s mouth hardened into a straight line. She jerked her arms from Josie’s grasp and wrapped it in the bandage again. “He was captured by the Navy,” she said. “We needed to come back here to get plans and information. My sister and brother are out now trying to get as much. I hope you don’t mind that I told them to meet me back here.” Her eyes strayed low to her bandage the entire time she spoke. “I’m sorry we had to meet again like this.”

Before Josie could respond, Adam knocked on the door of her quarters. “Josie, we got a bloke down here getting restless. Looks like he’ll start a fight any minute now!”

Josie sighed. “Be right out, Adam.” The boy’s steps disappeared down the staircase, and Josie turned to speak quietly to Kat. “You know you’re free to stay here as long as you need.” Then she disappeared through the door that led to the main bar, leaving Kat to more quiet brooding.

She sat there for the rest of the day until a banging came to the back door. “Kat, are you there?” Charles’ voice leaked desperately through the door. She leapt to her feet and turned the knob, finding Charles and Sarah there almost stumbling into her in their haste to get through the doorway. Sarah kicked the door closed behind them from her position where she had fallen on the floor.

“Should I just assume things didn’t go well?” she sighed, looking at her breathless brother and sister. Charles looked up at her with sheepish eyes.

“Yah, you could say that…” he muttered.

“We tried throwing Father’s name around a little, but that apparently doesn’t work outside of England.” Sarah slumped in the lone chair in the room Kat had just vacated. “Then, on a chance, we tried associating ourselves with Randolph and telling them we were sent to retrieve information on Kingshead fort, but they just got even more suspicious and asked Charles for credentials. That’s around the time we began to run.”

Kat felt the fury rise up in her, and she finally lost her cool as she slammed her fist into a nearby wall. “Well now what do we do?!” she shouted, ignoring the way her hit had rattled her entire arm, including the scarring P. “We can’t just go charging in there again!”

The three sat in silence; Kat attempted to regain her control while Charles and Sarah tried to figure out how to react to her. Kat’s hat had flown off her head with the force of her blow, allowing her hair to fall and frame her tormented face. The images of Randolph growling in her face as he scalded her and Lawrence’s prone form being dragged away from her flashed in her mind. She breathed heavily and clenched her teeth while she stood there.

Footsteps thundered up the bar staircase and Josie charged into the room, slamming the door behind her. “What happened?” she demanded, looking around the room. She did a double take to Sarah in the chair and Charles leaning against the door. There was a pause, and Josie moved to the immobile Kat. “I’ll assume these are your siblings.” Kat was unable to answer, so instead Josie held out her hand in greeting to the others. “I’m Josie Mcreedy.”

Charles and Sarah glanced at each other, and Charles pushed off the wall to take it. “Charles Crestshot,” he told her. “This is my sister, Sarah.”

The introductions and pleasantries were cut short by Kat, who had finally regained control of her emotions. If the three looked closely, however, they would see the flames still dancing behind her hazel orbs, the ones that had been lurking there ever since Lawrence disappeared. “We need a new plan.”

“Well if you’re going to talk, go down to the bar and grab some drinks,” Josie said. “I’d prefer knowing you were safe down there.” A shout came from below, and Josie rolled her eyes. “I still have to deal with that, so I’ll meet you in a few minutes. Go the front way.” She darted back out of the room, and Kat heard her yell at some “Mangy mutt!” only seconds later.

Kat sighed and picked her hat up from the wooden planks. She placed it gently back on her head and began to hide her hair again. With every strand she tucked away, she felt as if she was retreating further and further inside of herself. After double checking her bandage and being sure it was tight, she walked out into the cloudy day, not paying attention to her siblings following behind.

She made a circle around the block, paranoia lurking in the back of her mind. Charles and Sarah didn’t follow closely, instead choosing to go straight into the bar. On her walk, she was able to see the common folk she didn’t usually interact with go about their daily ways. Children ran underneath her feet, almost knocking her over in their innocent haste for play. A woman stood behind a stand, calling out and advertising her wares. A long bearded man leaned against a building nonchalantly, smoking a cigar. Something in her heart tugged towards all of these people, towards this calmer, nonthreatening life.

Bright red suddenly appeared in the picturesque view, cutting the tension Kat felt in her heart, and instead transferring it to her muscles. There didn’t seem to be a need for it, however; the Navy soldiers that walked through the crowd were young, rowdy, and apparently off duty. They laughed and shoved each other around playfully as they walked. Kat kept her eyes on them as they passed by, and one word reached her ears; “Kingshead.” Her body tensed even more as her mind worked on overdrive, imagining the possibilities. When they didn’t notice her, she began following them, almost certain that she knew where they would be going in this part of town.

The group of men, with Kat following closely, approached the Royal Anchor. They entered ahead of her, and she waited another minute to do the same. She looked around, finding her family filling two of the seats at the bar, and the soldiers having claimed a darkened corner.

“I think I figured out what we can do,” she murmured as she sat next to the two. They exhibited minimal surprise to their sister appearing out of nowhere. Instead, they listened carefully to her words while Josie brought out a few drinks.

“See them?” she muttered in her low voice, gesturing gently towards the corner of raucous men. Charles’ head whipped around, causing Kat’s hand to shoot out and tightly grasp his shoulder, bringing his attention back to her. “Not like that, you idiot!” she hissed. “I heard them say something about Kingshead on the way here. Perhaps we can use them.”

Sarah began opening her mouth to say something, but a unified cry drowned out whatever words she had. “To promotions!” one redcoat cried. Josie went over there with a tray of mugs while one man in the center of the group received cheers and slaps on the back.

“Sarah, I think you know what I’m going to ask you,” she said, slowly turning back to her. She raised her eyebrows, and Sarah’s eyes widened.

“Kat, you can’t possibly expect me to…” But Kat silenced her with a simple stare, and Sarah saw the desperation haunting her sister’s soul.

“It’s our best shot. I would do it, but we know that’s impossible.” Kat held out her bandaged forearm. “Please.” It was not a request, but a statement. She tore herself away from her sister’s eyes, unwilling to discuss the matter anymore, and called Josie over.

“Josie, make sure those men over there get all the drinks they need,” she said. “Every drop is on me.” Josie nodded and went to fill more tankards to deliver to the table. These boys were about to learn the true meaning of alcohol.

As the bar got emptier, the soldiers got louder and more rowdy. Their raucous laughter echoed, grating on Kat’s eardrums, but she forced herself to put it to the back of her mind. The time soon came, though, when Kat figured they were all susceptible to their own wiles.

“Now,” she whispered without looking at her sister. Sarah had been building up her act as the night had grown longer, leaning back against the bar and feigning interest towards the corner. When they began to notice her, she stood. Her gaze resembled that of a grinning tigress on the prowl as she approached the group that had begun to throw cat calls at her. She ignored each one, instead eyeing the young blonde in the center.

“I hear you’re the man of honor tonight,” she began. Kat’s head turned almost unnoticeably so her ear was directed towards them. She heard the rustle of cloth beyond the other chatter as the man straightened his uniform.

“Yes, tha’s me.” His voice was slurred slightly away from the refined arrogance Kat could hear behind it.

“Do you have a name, Mr. Man-of-honor?” Sarah asked, a suave tone entering her voice. His friends began oohing and laughing more, but the blonde instead stood (rather unsteadily) from his chair.

“Lieutenant Jonathan Mellow, miss,” he said, bowing clumsily and kissing her hand.

“Mellow you certainly are,” Kat heard Charles mutter under his breath, and the two shared a soft chuckle.

“Is that so?” The slight screech of a wooden chair on the floor was heard as Sarah gently pushed the Lieutenant back into his chair. “Well gentlemen, what happens to be the occasion? Did the fort get a new shipment of gunpowder or is it King George’s birthday?” A fake, tinkling laugh rang out, and the others echoed it in their deep roars of hysteria.

Lieutenant Mellow grinned up at her. “Actually, miss, i’s my promotion. Fin’ly movin’ up.” His grin suddenly faltered a bit. “Wha’s your name again?”

Sarah waved her hand carelessly, as if brushing the question away. “Oh, I suppose you can call me…” She sat in his open lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Angel.”

Kat and Charles both snorted from their listening posts.

Mellow, on the other hand, hummed almost inaudibly. “I think I like the sound of that.” The other two siblings exchanged looks of disgust at the words.

“So, Lieutenant, what duties does this promotion entail?” she asked, running her fingers gently over his clean, boyish face.

“Unfortunately, a transfer,” he sighed. “You eva’ heard of Kingshead, Nayana?” Kat’s ears perked up at the word. This was what they had been waiting for.

“Only rumors,” Sarah said innocently. “It’s supposed to be some impenetrable fortress in the middle of nowhere.”

“No’ quite in the middle of nowhere, but tha’s essentially it. Only the elite are assigned there,” he boasted. Kat could practically hear his chest pop out.

“How exciting,” Sarah said girlishly, but Kat heard the sarcasm behind her words. “Well, Mr. Elite, think you can help a girl out?” Sarah asked, walking her fingers up his chest. “I’ve fallen into a terrible rut lately. Can’t fend for myself, you see. Could you take me with you, help me get some work at this fantastic fort?”

Mellow looked cautious and confused, as if trying to think logically through his drunken haze. “I’m not sure if I have that power,” he said slowly.

Sarah grinned deviously. “I have an idea.” She stood and pulled at his hands so he would stand with her. “Let’s talk about this upstairs. Alone.” She dragged the Lieutenant out of the room and up the stairs to the jeers of his friends. Kat and Charles, on the other hand, looked at each other in alarm.

“You don’t think she’ll…” Charles started. Kat shrugged.

Josie came to stand on the other side of them. “I wouldn’t worry ‘bout her,” she said nonchalantly. “She seems to be a smart girl, I think she knows what she’s doing.” She passed a key over the counter to them. “The both of you go up to your room and sleep some now.” She shooed them out of the bar and they solemnly walked up the stairs to the rooms.

Sarah stood in the hallway, her voodoo doll twirling in her hands. She glanced up at the sound of footsteps and smiled genuinely for the first time in over an hour.

“I put him to sleep,” she told them without preamble, waggling the doll. “When he wakes, he’ll think that I convinced him to take me along. His ship leaves in two days. The Mercenary can follow it back to Kingshead, and we’ll go from there.”

Kat ran forward and hugged her sister tight. “I love you, Sarah. I’ll be thanking you forever.”

Sarah wrapped her arms around Kat in return. “I love you too, my sister,” she said quietly.



I thoroughly enjoyed writing Sarah's moments there at the end. I was a giggling mess as I wrote.

Well, as always, tell me what you think! (of the chapter, maybe not on my late schedule ) I adore your reviews, so thank you very much for the ones on the last chapter! Thanks for Reading!

-Kat Crestshot

[Captain Del]

I loved it!

There's something about your story that really captures the essence of the Caribbean. It's kind of like a perfect balance between the Caribbean that exists in game, and your own creation, as though you've been able to bring it to life. I simply adore your story, always have, and always will!

[Catherine Ironcutter]

That was an awesome chapter. Plus, it didn't kill anyone off. Good job.