Edward rose as well, facing Henry while folding his arms. "No, you did mean what you said, and I can't let this go. You think what we're doing is childish?"
"No, but the way you justify your actions by saying you're fighting for freedom, when in reality you're satisfying your own rebellious nature, is childish. Sugar this life how you want, we are outcasts."
"Outcasts?" Edward responded. A crowd of the crew had gathered to watch.
Henry, sometimes as hot-headed as Edward, could not back down now. "Yes, you call this freedom but we've been shunted from society for our reckless behaviour. This is no freedom. Freedom cannot be foisted upon someone. We've simply changed prisons."
"How are we imprisoned? We have the whole world to explore! The ocean is ours."
Henry stepped forward to Edward, the two of them didn't even notice the crew watching. "Only the size of the cage has changed. What if we wanted to land in England, or Port Royal, or some other locale owned by the British? Do you think we would have a whole lot of freedom there?"
"Alright, Henry, if you're so smart then how does one actually attain freedom?" Edward spoke with a tone which made it sound like he was calling Henry an idiot.
Henry laughed derisively. He couldn't stop now. "I don't know, Edward, why don't you try ruling the world? That's a good start. Or maybe we can ask your father when we find him? Maybe he found his freedom out here somewhere, what with him not returning and all."
Edward levelled Henry with a thunderous punch to the jaw. Henry held a hand to his jaw, his eyes wide. Edward grabbed Henry by the chest and exacted a pound of flesh from him, blow by hideous blow. The debt Henry took with his words was far too great.
Anne heard the commotion and ran to the top deck to see Edward still punching Henry without end. The crew was trying to tear Edward away but they were like flies before his rage.
"Why don't you keep talking about my father, you bastard? Say something else," Edward yelled, ignoring the men pulling him back.
"I'm sorry, Edward," Henry cried.
Anne ran in front of Edward, pulled back her fist, and punched him. Her fist, whip-like in motion and with pinpoint precision over years of training, landed perfectly on the temple, knocking Edward unconscious in one blow.
"Take him to the crew cabin," she ordered while pointing to the stairs. She then grabbed Henry by the chest and dragged him into the stern war room cabin. She nearly threw Henry onto the oval table in the room. "Start talking. Why was I forced to knock Edward unconscious and why did he assault you?" Her long red curls bounced with rage as she pointed and stared daggers at Henry.
Henry pulled himself together after taking a breather, but was still distraught. "I was arguing with Edward and made a comment about his father, which I shouldn't have."
"Damn." Anne placed one hand on her hip and she bit the thumb of the other. She had seen Edward's anger over his father's disappearance before, but not to that extent. Henry must have truly struck a nerve. "I will speak with Edward and do my best to calm him. Be prepared to apologise if you wish to remain on this ship."
"Thank you, Anne," Henry said as he deflated onto one of the chairs around the table.
Anne went downstairs to the crew cabin. Several crew members watched her as she passed, but none stopped her due to the glare in her eyes. They gathered at a distance from Edward and were waiting and watching to see what he would do, but parted for Anne.
Edward awoke from unconsciousness a while later, his head foggy and his anger below boiling. He sat hunched over on a chair, staring at the floorboards. Edward was chewing on the Mayan leaves, a habit he picked up during thoughtful times.
When Edward noticed Anne he did not rise. "I want him off the ship."
"I am not your cabin boy. If you wish your best friend to leave this ship, you will dismiss him yourself. Although you would be a fool to do so. More fool than when you beat him near to death on the waist."
Edward rose to his full height, causing William, standing nearby, to tense. "What did you say?" He stood a full foot over her, but she did not back down.
Anne pointed her finger threateningly in Edward's face. "You heard me, you big brute. Henry said something he regrets, as all people do, and you cast him out? Only a fool would do such a thing."
"Do you know what he said about my father?"
"Yes, words. Words only have meaning if you let them. Words only make you angry if you let them. Do not let meaningless words anger you."
"But…"
"Quiet! If you cannot find your own fault in all this, and understand how Henry feels, then maybe you were never friends to begin with." Anne turned and walked away. "Meditate on this, and then apologise for your foolish actions, or lose Henry forever," Anne warned over her shoulder before herding the people out of the crew cabin and back to work.
Edward fell back into the chair, defeated. He pressed his thumb and forefinger against his temples to try to dull the pain. He reflected on what he had done as tears fell from his eyes.
…
Edward entered the war room. Henry pulled his head up at the noise, and at the sight of Edward he rose.
"Edward, I'm sor—"
Edward raised his hand. "Don't. Just… don't." Henry sat back down as Edward grabbed a chair and sat in front of his friend. Edward frowned as he sat hunched over in the chair. After a moment, he smiled wistfully. "You remember the first thing you said to me after my father disappeared?"
At first Henry was caught off guard at the question, but a smile formed as he realised where Edward was going with his story. "I said 'He's in a better place now.'"
Edward chuckled and ran his fingers through his wavy black hair. "Robert pulled us apart after I scrapped with you. I still believed my father left me on purpose, not that he could have died. I was so angry because I thought you meant he was with another family, but I understood later, and we made up."
"I remember how you shut yourself in your room for weeks and wouldn't talk to me."
"I was pretty stubborn back then."
"Back then?" Henry asked with a smirk which caused both men to laugh.
"I pushed you, and I shouldn't have hurt you. I'm sorry, Henry."
"I'm sorry too, Edward, I shouldn't have said what I did."
"I know you mean it when you say you're sorry, but I will need some time to forgive you for what you said. So what do you say we act as if a few months have passed, and become friends again? It's been a long time since we were friends." Edward extended his hand to Henry.
Henry shook Edward's hand in agreement, then rose and hugged him. After a moment they left the war room laughing together. When the crew saw Edward and Henry back to normal, smiles abounded, not the least of which was on Anne's face.
None could think their peace would so swiftly and irrevocably be broken in the near future.
18. The Day the Devil Knew Fear
Edward and crew landed in Tortuga after a few days' travel. The island was ruled by pirates and their ilk. Having no specific ruling class the island was claimed by rogues for their trade. If one journeyed to Tortuga, an unspoken rule was to travel in a group and hold weapons, as thefts and other acts of villainy were commonplace.
Freedom landed on the south end of the small island. Many ships flagrantly displayed Jolly Rogers, and others hid them for fear of a marine raid. The rest were merchant ships not afraid of the treacherous acquaintances surrounding them.
The harbour was a main hub of trade and money flow, with a few businesses thriving on the stolen booty for profit. The area around the docks was a mess of activity, and from the ship Edward could see the mass of bodies moving to and fro in the mercantile apex.
The true town of Tortuga was two miles north of the hub and surrounded by a wooden wall for defence, but security was sorely lacking at times. The merchants who frequented Tortuga were the ones who supplied the men for the militia, but when the pirates became too wild the militia would be taken out until the issue was resolved. Raids, pirate attacks,
marines from the British or conquistadors from Spain had all tried their hand at taking over or destroying Tortuga, but the town always managed to return from the brink larger and more festooned with felons.
Jack watched from the sidelines as Edward asked for volunteers to see the man they were after in Tortuga. Ten minutes after Edward left with Anne, William, and John, Jack decided to visit the harbour.
Jack's feet seemed to move under their own accord, and he soon found himself in front of a tavern. He looked at the tavern for a long moment before deciding to head inside.
As Jack was entering, Edward and the others were leaving. Jack overheard them talking about entering the town now that they had a better idea where Aaron Cook was.
Edward noticed Jack entering the tavern, but Jack didn't meet his eyes. Jack wasn't sure what he was doing at the tavern himself, so he didn't wish to be questioned by Edward right now.
Jack examined the tavern. He could see rough men downing rum as if it was water, men in various types of clothing and colour playing a game of cards, and others showing off weapons of various sizes as if they had to compensate for something. The smells of blood, sweat, alcohol and various other things filled his nostrils, and Jack felt at home.
Jack walked to the bar table and sat in an old chair. "Whiskey, if you please, sir."
The bartender nodded and handed him a small glass which he filled generously. Jack paid and thanked the bartender, and the bartender left to tend to his other regular patrons.
Jack stared at the drink in front of him. The liquid had a brown, almost chestnut colour. The smell was strong and brought to mind a warm spice mix of cinnamon and nutmeg, as well as a hint of chocolate and toffee. Jack sniffed the mixture slowly as he turned the drink in his glass, its sweet promise tempting him.
Just a touch, Jack thought, enough to wet the lips. Jack tipped the glass up, but stopped just shy of the liquid making contact.
Jack set the glass back down and pushed it away from him before he had a second thought. The bartender asked him if anything was wrong, but Jack reassured him that he was fine. Jack sat and stared at the glass, thinking on the past for a time, and then the future. His thoughts drifted to his love, his wife, Rachel, and his kids, Maximilian and Jessica, and the man who killed them, George Rooke.
I made a promise. A little bit won't hurt. But the Captain saw me, he'll know. No he won't. We'll just have one glass, that's all. No!
Jack went back and forth in his mind, but eventually all the voices drowned out and it was just him and the drink. He pushed the glass back and forth in his hand as the time passed.
Someone came up beside Jack, but he didn't look up from the drink. "Ah, thanks fer the drink, mate," the man said as he grabbed the drink in front of Jack and downed it in one gulp.
Jack's mouth opened and he looked at the person who stole his drink. Sam sat down next to him, smirking in his trickster fashion.
"Samuel. To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Wanted a drink. No better place, right? Barkeep, another!" Sam shouted.
The barkeep came over and filled Sam's cup again. This time Sam decided to sip and savour the drink instead. Jack and Sam sat in silence for a while.
"So, how have you been coping since… the incident?" Jack asked.
"Fine," Sam said, taking another swig of the drink.
"I heard what happened to some of the crew, some of the things they saw in that mist. I'm glad I didn't have to experience that. I can only imagine what I would see."
"We all have shit we gotta deal wit. It's how ye carry on that matters." Sam lifted the glass and glanced at Jack. "This ain't the way, mate."
Jack hung his head in shame. "I know." Jack ran his fingers through his hair. "Edward sent you, didn't he?"
"Ran back to the ship a'soon as he saw ye enter," Sam confirmed. "Wanted someone ta watch ye. I volunteered."
Jack laughed. "Maybe we both could learn something from Edward. He chooses to deal with his problems head on, always moving forward."
Sam knocked back the last of his drink. "He 'asn't hit the wall yet. All us broken souls git there, you know better'n most." Sam stood up from the chair. "When he's drownin' we'll need ta be there ta help him surface."
"Right," Jack agreed, then joined Sam. The two left the tavern and headed back to Freedom to await their captain's return. As they walked, Jack patted Sam on the back. "Thanks, Sam."
…
Edward, Anne, John, and Henry passed through the open gates of Tortuga, and were met with a glimpse of how Bodden Town might have been under different rule. Townsfolk gallivanted about, talking and drinking and singing together without a care in the world. Others fought without anyone to stop them, and some made wagers on the outcome.
"I suppose this is to be expected in this locale?" Anne asked, gaping.
"Business as usual, perhaps?" William added.
"They are rather, e-enthusiastic," John nervously stuttered.
Edward eyed the various villains warily. "Stay close."
They moved in a tight-knit group to the nearest tavern, a seedy building made of rotting wood full of bullet holes. The tavern was occupied by gentlemen of questionable repute—and one man also full of bullets, dead on the floor. When Edward asked the bartender, he directed them to a green house on the west side of town.
"I don' know how Aaron comes by his intelligence as he never leaves his home, but his information is true as can be. He's the man you're huntin' for," the bartender confirmed.
Edward thanked him, and they left to find the green house. Edward and company passed by other taverns and businesses selling weapons and stolen merchandise as well as people walking the streets of the town. The filth was evident with garbage and dirt covering the pathways and the residents. Quite the contrast to Bodden Town where the streets were regularly patrolled and kept relatively clean.
Edward found the green house after wading through the throngs of debauchery and unwanted solicitations. The small house had faded green paint falling off in chips from decay and neglect. Aside from the pale green colour the house was rather plain.
Edward unconsciously eyed the road they were on before knocking on the door to the house. He heard no sound of movement at first, but after knocking a second time he could hear someone bustling about. After much noise and curses an iron peep hole opened up in the door.
The pair of eyes showing had a furrowed brow above them and moved about to scrutinise each of the people there. "What business do you have with me?"
"The Bodden Brothers sent us. I have a letter of introduction here, and you should have received correspondence recently regarding our arrival." Edward presented the letter to the slot.
The man eyed the letter, and then Edward, carefully before snatching it. Edward could hear the sound of the paper being ripped into and then silence as the letter was read. After a moment the door was unlocked and opened for the visitors.
In front of Edward stood an older man, hunched over with a cane in one hand. He did not have grey hair or wrinkles, and appeared to be in good health, save for the cane and a limp from injury, not old age.
"Well, get in here. I don't have all day," Aaron said.
Edward entered first, with his group in a line behind him. The inside of the house was unexpected, but understandable, given Aaron's reclusive habits. The first room was plain with very little furniture and almost every inch covered with books and papers. Shelves filled with books lined the walls and spilled into piles on the floor. Papers from different locations across the globe were strewn about in no discernible pattern, some dating back many years. The house smelled of stale air and old paper.
Aaron walked to a door at the far end of the room as Edward and his friends ogled the many texts surrounding them.
"Come on, then." Aaron beckoned.
Edward focused and walked into the other room to sit down in one of the chairs after Aaron did the same, and his company followed suit. "I trust you know why we are here?"
"Y
es, and in another week you shall have your answer. The best I could do on such short notice is find out your man, Daniel Richardson, is a slaver. Richardson's last raid took him to Calabar, in NiTalaa, in the past few months."
Edward's mouth went agape in shock over the name of the village. He shared knowing, and equally troubled, glances with his crew.
"If you are upset with the progress you can show yourself to the door. I only had two days' notice to find you this much…" Cook began, but Anne stopped him.
"No, we are pleased with your results. The location is what is troubling."
Edward picked up where Anne left off. "One of our crewmates has been there for some time. He is coloured."
Cook scratched his chin. "That is troubling. He took many slaves from Calabar. I do not know Daniel's role, but he supplied the ship and men."
"We have more reason to meet with this man than before."
Before they could continue the discussion a knock at the door pulled the group's attention. Cook excused himself with a grumble about not expecting anyone and returned to the other room, closing the door behind him.
"So N-Nassir's village was attacked by slavers?" John questioned.
"That appears to be the case," Anne answered.
"There's a high probability he was taken." Edward stroked his beard. The crew left their carpenter after the death of his child so long ago, long enough that Nassir had to have been there at the same time as Daniel Richardson. Where are you now, Nassir?
The noise of a punch came from the front room. William glanced to the door. His brow was low, which brought to mind the perked ears of a hound.
William rose silently, motioning for silence. He went to the door and used another slit like the one on the main entrance to see through. What William saw made his eyes widen and he immediately shut the slit.
"We must leave, now," William whispered.
Edward followed suit by lowering his voice. "Why, what is happening?"
"There is no time to explain. The man who arrived is dangerous and we must leave immediately." William pulled Anne silently from her chair and herded her to the back door.
Blackbeard's Revenge (Voyages Of Queen Anne's Revenge Book 2) Page 20
