The man glanced from Edward to the dead captain, then over his shoulder to all the armed pirates surrounding them. After a moment he nodded, accepting the deal.
Anne came over and pulled the first mate aside. "Let us discuss the particulars in private, Captain," she said sweetly as she took him to the captain's cabin.
"Men, let's get this cargo moved!" Edward commanded.
Over the course of an hour, the crews of the Queen Anne's Revenge and Fortune moved several tonnes of various spices to their respective holds. The merchant crew stood around, watching the pirates with wary glances. They never seemed comfortable with the idea of pirates taking their precious cargo, even if it was technically paid for.
James, the former sailor on the merchant ship, thanked Edward for his service, and decided to stay with the merchant ship to return to fairer shores, as he was not a Bodden Town native.
After they'd secured the cargo, and Anne had issued payment, Edward met with the new captain for the last time. "Good day to you, Captain," he said, holding out his hand.
The man glanced from Edward's eyes to his hand, and then gave it a shake with an expressionless face. "I hope you do not take offence to my saying this, but I hope we never meet again."
Edward grinned, and without a word he returned to his ship, then addressed his crew. "Let's return home. Our business here is done!"
3. Scars
Edward watched the horizon as Bodden Town came into view. It would still be some time before they would land, but he could already see the small edge of the Caymans as it grew larger.
The sun was close to setting, but it would still be light out when they arrived. Edward could see the sun, resolute in its arc, off to his left when he stood at the bow. It was bright, but not harsh as it was during the day. Its soft glow shimmered on the water as the sea danced endlessly to the east and west.
The light heat helped the sea's stench subside, taking on an overall pleasant tone, and helped productivity and morale.
The men seemed excited to see their home close, and they worked all the harder to coax more wind into the sails. Sweat glistened off many of their faces as they pulled rigging lines, but they wore small smiles as they did so.
To Edward's right, off the starboard bow, the Fortune was well ahead of them. Being the smaller ship, the Fortune had the advantage in speed, and Bartholomew Roberts enjoyed rubbing it in whenever he beat Edward to port.
Edward chuckled to himself, remembering the last time Roberts had made a glib comment, and Edward had threatened to sabotage Roberts' sails if he kept it up. The serious look on Roberts' face after Edward's comment still made him laugh.
Tala, a wolf with reddish-grey fur, jumped up beside Edward and placed its front paws on top of the bow railing. The suddenness of Tala's arrival startled him, but he quickly recovered and patted the wolf's back. Tala was panting and glanced from him to the approaching island before barking.
Edward grinned. "That's right, you'll have solid ground under your feet soon enough."
"There you are, Tala! Don't run off like that," Christina, Tala's owner—if a wolf could be said to have an owner—came running up after the animal. "Hello, Captain," she said with a wave.
"Sometimes I wonder just who the real owner is between you two. She has you running around more often than not some days."
Christina grinned as she brushed some of her strawberry-blond hair out of her face. "Some days I'm not so sure myself." Christina patted Tala, and the three watched the island as the ship bobbed up and down on the waves. "She seems to know when we're approaching land."
Edward glanced at the wolf. "Perhaps it can hear when the crow's nest calls down that they see land."
"She."
"Pardon?" Edward questioned with a raised brow.
"Perhaps she can hear," Christina corrected.
Edward stroked his beard. "Yes, my apologies. She."
"Perhaps you are right. She is a smart one. Yes you are, aren't you Tala?"
Tala answered with a loud bark, then moved down from the railing and lay down at Christina's feet.
"So, my eyes and ears, how are the crewmen faring?" Edward asked affectionately.
"They're doing well. They groan about the usual matters: taste of the food, seasickness, when they'll next be on land and at the brothel. Morale is high, though. They've been through much on this voyage, and so it will take much more than tedium to break their spirits."
"Good, good." Edward nodded.
"There is one thing, the same thing actually." Christina leaned her side against the railing and folded her arms. "The men are wondering, what with all this revenge business, when we're going to go and rescue Sam and kill Kenneth Locke for what he did."
Edward gripped the railing and cast his eyes to the deep abyss of the sea. "And I suppose you wish to know this as well?"
Christina gave a short, derisive laugh. "Of course I do," she answered in a harsh whisper. "We have had this conversation three times already, and you never give me an answer. I know for a fact I'm not the only one either."
Edward let out a sigh; even now the name Kenneth Locke caused his hands to tremble inexplicably. The only thing he could do to mask the tremors was to grip the ship's railing. He wasn't afraid of Locke, but the thought of him brought back painful memories. Memories of John's death flashed in Edward's head, and after them the remembered wounds of torture ached all over his body.
"We're just concerned, Ed, that's all," Christina said as she touched his arm. "And the sooner we settle things with Locke, the sooner we can move on to Herbert's revenge and mine, like you promised."
Edward peered at Christina suspiciously. "Yours and Herbert's?"
Christina removed her hand. "Yes. I want the same as my brother, and why should I not? Calico Jack deserves to die for crippling him. He deserves much more than that, actually."
"Well, you'll have to have some patience. The Boddens are looking into Locke's whereabouts. Sam will be able to take care of himself until then."
"Yes, but it's been four months. Perhaps the Bodden Brothers aren't qualified to handle the task if they still haven't found anything."
Edward held the railing so tight his knuckles turned white. "Drop it," he said.
Tala opened her eyes and looked up at Edward, no doubt sensing his anger. Christina was taken aback and blurted out, "Excuse me?"
"I said, drop it," Edward seethed.
Christina stood there for another moment, her mouth a line. "Fine. I guess that's what I get for trying to help. Venir, Tala," Christina called, and the two left, one of them in a huff.
Edward closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. John's dead eyes kept appearing, and the blood pouring from the poor old man's neck felt like it was filling his lungs and choking him. All over his body he could feel sharp pain in specific spots, each one a reminder he would carry for the rest of his life.
He could feel a cold sweat on his forehead despite the cool breeze. He wiped his forehead and took a few more deep breaths as he stared at the ring on his finger. After another moment, his heartbeat slowed, and his chest no longer felt constricted. He could breathe normally again.
When Edward was sure that the feeling had passed, he turned around to leave the bow. He went down to the main deck, where he noticed Jack Christian, the musician, and boatswain in William's absence.
"Jack," he called. Jack walked over to Edward. "I'm retiring to my chambers. Keep the crew busy and send someone to fetch me when we're closer to land."
Jack nodded, a definite note of concern in his eyes, but he didn't address Edward's obvious pallor. "Aye, Captain."
Edward descended to the gun deck and headed to the stern where the captain's cabin was. He noticed Anne talking to the ship's surgeon, Alexandre, but Edward was in no mood to talk so he tried his best to avoid being seen. He entered the captain's cabin and closed the door behind him.
He went to his bed and flopped down in it, clothes and all still on him. He lay there, staring at t
he wooden boards of the ceiling as he held his head in an attempt to prevent a headache.
What's wrong with me?
…
Edward awoke with a start as a crewmate jostled his shoulder. He grabbed the man by the scruff of the neck before he recalled where he was. When his senses came to him he let the man go.
"Sorry, you startled me."
The crewmate adjusted his clothes. "My apologies, Captain. I only meant to wake you as we're approaching land. Jack says there's something you need to see."
Edward raised his brow as he stretched his legs and got up from his bed. "What is it?"
The crewmate shrugged his shoulders. "A group'a the men gathered at the bow, but before I knew what the general commotion was about I was sent to fetch ye."
Edward nodded, but he felt it could mean only one thing: Something bad had happened to Bodden Town. He rushed out of his cabin and up to the weather deck.
The sun was a thumb above the edge of the horizon now, giving off a reddish glow to the darkened sky. There were few clouds in the deep blue above them, and in a few hours it would be a dark night.
Edward could see crewmates hanging onto the rigging while standing on the side railings or leaning on the rope ladders as they looked towards Bodden Town. Some peered through spyglasses with their mouths agape, before a neighbour slapped their shoulder to steal the opportunity to look through its magnified scope. There were also many crowding around the bow doing the same. They stood on their toes, leaning to the left and right as they tried to see over their the heads of others.
Edward approached the crowd and began pushing people aside. "Make way for your captain," he instructed.
He weaved his way forward as he stared ahead to the enthralling scene. At first he didn't notice anything off, but as his eyes focussed and he took note of the state of the homes and ships, it dawned on him.
"Someone hand me a spyglass," he said as soon as he reached the front of the crowd.
"Here, Captain," Jack offered.
Edward took the magnifying device and peered through it to take in the state of Bodden Town, the town he partially owned, in its entirety.
The majority of the homes and businesses nearest the shore were completely destroyed, mere husks of their former selves. The palms and grass and flowers in front of the harbour market were torn, disturbed, or outright obliterated. In the harbour, there were several boats and ships which were also decimated from what looked like cannon-fire. The place was more wreck than town.
When Edward had last seen Bodden Town, it was the polar opposite. The sun had been shining, birds chirping, and people bustling. It used to be a lively, thriving, and growing town that he'd taken pride in helping build up. Now he nearly couldn't bear to look upon it.
Edward handed the spyglass back to Jack, and gripped the bow railing. As the ship closed in on Bodden Town, Edward grew more and more enraged. He gritted his teeth as his thoughts shifted to his crewmates whom he'd had stay behind to assist in building homes, and he wondered whether they were still alive. William, Pukuh, and Nassir, his ship's carpenter, were all among those who'd agreed to stay in town—each one of them an irreplaceable friend to Edward.
"Who or what do you believe is responsible?" Jack asked.
"Pirates," Edward guessed.
"Pirates?"
"If it were the British Navy, or any navy for that matter, they wouldn't have left. We would still see them in the harbour. If pirates attacked, they took what they wanted and left. And there is no chance of a storm causing this type of destruction. I struggle to think of another explanation."
"Why would pirates attack Bodden Town?"
Edward scoffed. "Why indeed. It's not as if we've made any enemies," he said grimly, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Jack nodded. "Yes, I see your meaning. The question is then: which of our past transgressions comes back to haunt us today?"
Edward caressed his beard. "I can only think of one pirate with the power and the gall to do this," he replied.
Jack raised his brow. "Oh?"
Edward glanced over his shoulder at Herbert sitting in his wheelchair, manning the helm with Christina beside him, and Tala the wolf beside her. Jack followed his gaze to the brother and sister, and nodded when he understood.
Edward leaned close to Jack. "Best to not mention him by name. I could be wrong," he said in a low whisper.
"I see," Jack said, glancing around. "I fear you may be right. I am surprised it took this long. It's been, what, two or three years since we killed one of the captains in his squadron?"
Edward glanced down at his sword, the weapon made of a mysterious alloy that was the last remnant of the captain that Herbert had killed. Given that some called Calico Jack the King of the Caribbean, such an offence would require an equal and opposite response, lest Calico Jack be considered weak.
"Whoever it was, they will pay for what they've done."
The crews of the Queen Anne's Revenge and Fortune eased into the far end of the harbour and dropped anchor before securing themselves to the dock. The dock was also damaged and in need of repair closer to the main road, but it was not as dire as the rest of town.
Edward didn't wait for a gangplank to be dropped, and instead opted to jump off the side of the ship to the pier.
"Edward!" Anne called before following him.
Edward scanned the wharf until he saw people on a nearby boat cleaning debris and removing the small mainsail. He sprinted over to them, and they turned to look at him when his heavy footsteps met their ears.
"What happened here?" he asked.
Some of the sailors eyed him and Anne and their ship. One of the ones more focussed on his work answered. "What, ye just arrived, did ye?"
"Yes. Did pirates attack?"
"Aye, must have been. Though, don't ask us who they was. We was too busy running to ask them their particulars," the man said with a laugh.
Edward turned to Anne. She had a concerned look on her face, no doubt thinking on William, her friend and protector. "It is as I feared. Tell the crew to stay on alert and remain on the ship." Edward began walking off without another word.
"Wait, where are you going, Edward?"
Edward turned around and walked backwards a few paces. "I need to speak with the Boddens and learn more of this attack. They will know."
"Hold, hold, I wish to join you. I need to know what happened to our crewmates."
"Wait a minute, you're that Blackbeard fellow, ain't ye?" the sailor from the boat asked. Edward and Anne both turned their attention back to the man, but neither answered. "This is all yer fault!" he shouted.
Edward and Anne both looked at each other, confused. "I believe you are mistaken, sir. I have not been here in near abouts a month. I had no part in this, I assure you."
"Yea, ye may not 'ave shot the guns, but you brought them here."
Edward stepped forward, his brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"
The sailor pointed to the harbour street. "I was about when those bastards rained iron down on us, and before I could get me and mine out I saw clear as I see you a man calling for your head. They came here for you, and you weren't here."
The man was becoming agitated, and it was then that Edward noticed that the men in the boat had various bandages and visible injuries. He also saw them picking up tools or thick pieces of wood and holding them menacingly.
"Edward, perhaps it's time we leave," Anne whispered as she placed her hand on his chest and pushed him back, all while keeping her eye on the sailors.
"Yes, I believe you are right." Edward turned around and the two stepped away at a quick pace.
"Oh no, you can't just walk away from this, you dirty pirate," the man yelled.
The sound of boots hitting wood echoed across the pier, and it soon turned into sprinting. Edward and Anne had no choice but to face their aggressors, or they would be attacked from behind.
"We want no part of this, hear? No part!" Edward said with a swipe of his han
d.
"You should'a thought of that before ye brought this to our shores."
The men all stood in front of Edward and Anne, seven in total, ready to strike with their makeshift weapons.
"I don't believe we can reason with them, Edward," Anne said.
Edward glanced at her, knowing she was right but wishing the opposite. These people were rightfully angry, but their anger was misdirected.
Edward slowly placed his hand at the hilt of his cutlass. He glared at the men, looking down on them with all the fury he could muster. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
The men wavered at Edward's look and his stature, glancing at each other. The original man who had started the conflict seemed undeterred, and he lunged forward, aiming a metal tool at Edward's head.
Edward didn't draw his sword, and instead grabbed the sailor's weapon mid-air and punched him in the stomach. The man doubled over, clutching his belly.
With their mate's display of courage, four of the men went to attack as well, while two ran away because of Edward's display of power. The attackers all came after Edward and ignored Anne, possibly thinking she wouldn't fight.
Anne twisted her hip, leapt into the air, and kicked one of the men in the side of the head. The man sprawled the ground, unconscious.
Edward ducked under another man's attack and swept his leg. He fell to the pier, hitting his head violently on the wood.
Anne punched another man in the back of the head, and when he turned around to face her she kicked him in the stomach and face in rapid succession.
The last sailor rushed at Edward with a wooden beam raised high in the air. Edward slammed his body into the man's chest, grabbed his legs, and used his momentum to flip him onto his back. After he landed, Edward punched him in the face for good measure and rose to his feet.
Edward and Anne were not winded in the least. Their attackers were simple fishermen from what Edward could tell, and no match for trained fighters.
A moment after their battle, Jack, Christina, Roberts, and Roberts' first mate, Hank Abbot, came running up to them. "What happened?" Roberts asked, glancing at the bodies lying on the pier.
Blackbeard's Justice (The Voyages of Queen Anne's Revenge Book 3) Page 3
