Blackbeard's Revenge (Voyages Of Queen Anne's Revenge Book 2)

by Jeremy McLean

  "It be me Capt'n," Sam whispered back. "Ready to head in?"

  "Yeah, let's move."

  Before the two could move any closer to the slave quarters, the door opened and another guard emerged with a lantern in hand. Edward and Sam blew out their lanterns and ducked to the ground. The guard peered left and right, and he noticed something was off.

  In the darkness, the guard could see the third lantern, but not Edward and Sam. Edward shot a dart, but missed and hit the building. Sam tried his shot, but the guard bent over and the dart flew over his head. The guard picked up the dart Edward shot.

  "Damn it, I'm out of darts," Edward said softly.

  "I be out too. I used two on the first bloke."

  "What do we do?" Edward asked, watching the guard examine the dart.

  "I don't know, we wouldn't be havin' this discussion if ye were a better shot."

  "Me, a better shot? You're the one who missed twice, I only missed this one."

  Thump.

  Edward and Sam turned in the direction of the noise and noticed the guard passed out. Upon examination, they noticed that the guard had pricked his finger on the tip of the dart, thus injecting himself with the concoction and knocking himself out.

  "What a fool," Edward laughed.

  The guards at the front entrance of the mansion heard the noise. "Is everything alright?" one of them questioned.

  Edward and Sam both jumped at the voices. "Uhh, Gary's been drinking again," Edward replied.

  The guard at the front entrance sighed. "Put him inside, we'll tell the boss in the morning."

  "Right," Edward replied.

  The guards at the front went back to watching the road. Edward picked up the two unused darts, then he and Sam picked up the man who just fell. They carried the body inside the slave quarters.

  The inside was a horrid sight to behold. The annex building next to the mansion was a quarter of the size and no inch of the space was wasted on comfort. Wooden cots lined the walls, with a thin strip down the middle for walking. The cots were stacked on top of each other with barely any space to breathe between them.

  Some of the slaves' eyes were on them, but they didn't move for fear they would be punished. The slaves probably didn't know the ones before them were not guards.

  Edward scanned the annex building, but he could see no guards. "Nassir?" Edward whispered. "Nassir?" he asked a little louder as he moved further into the room.

  "Edward?" a voice replied.

  A man descended from a cot near the middle of the room. Others paid more attention at the odd display.

  "Edward, what are you doing here?" Nassir questioned as he walked over to Edward and Sam.

  "We have several reasons, but firstly: I am glad to see you are alright. I cannot imagine how Richardson is treating you."

  "I have been through this before, but some of my villagers are children, and they are not coping as well."

  "Do you have any ideas for how to reach the shore without raising alarm?"

  Nassir shook his head. "I know not of any way without alerting anyone. Trust me, I have been thinking, but I am a simple carpenter, not a trickster."

  Edward leaned in close to Nassir and whispered, "Then join us and we can at least save you, then we can think of a way to save your villagers after."

  Nassir shook his head. "No, I will not leave without my villagers. I leave with them, or not at all."

  Edward placed his hand on Nassir's shoulder. "I had a feeling you would say that. I promise you, I will find a way."

  "Capt'n, we'd best be leavin," Sam said.

  "Right." Edward glanced over his shoulder. "The other reason we arrived was to retrieve the key for the ship."

  "The slaver has a key to the Freedom?" Nassir asked.

  "Yes, we travelled to the location the clue pointed us to, but the puzzles were solved and we found a note instead of a key. The note was signed Daniel Richardson. Once we procure the key, we will return to the ship and invent a plan to save you." Edward glanced at the near hundred watching him. "All of you."

  Nassir hugged Edward. "I believe in your words."

  Edward nodded and held Nassir's gaze for a moment before he passed through the door joining the annex building to the mansion. Nassir and the villagers watched as Edward and Sam crept into the mansion. Their hope was leaving, but Nassir knew they would return, and they would all leave as one.

  Edward walked through the empty kitchen and pulled out the mock blueprint Alexandre provided. The picture showed a rough detail of where Edward was and where they should go. The kitchen had one exit to the left leading to the dining hall, and another to the right leading to the entrance room. Edward opened the swinging door on the right to peer inside.

  Two guards were conversing on the side Edward would walk into, but no others from what he could see. He slowly pulled the swinging door back to a point of rest.

  "Take one dart, head through the dining hall, and we'll hit both of the guards at the same time."

  Sam nodded and took one of the darts. He went through the door to the dining hall after checking for guards. Edward peered through the swinging door. When he saw Sam at the other door, they both nodded and pulled out their blowguns. They fired the darts at the same time, hitting both of the guards.

  The guard Sam shot fell to the ground after a few seconds, but the other was still standing. First, he pulled out the dart, inspected it, and then tried to wake his friend.

  Edward's and Sam's shock was written on their faces, and each rushed out to correct the mistake. The guard noticed Sam approaching him, then opened his mouth to yell. Edward ran and clapped a hand over the guard's mouth. The guard struggled and writhed against Edward, but couldn't free himself. Sam punched the man hard in the stomach, then again in the temple, knocking him out.

  Edward lowered the guard to the ground. Sam carried a grim expression. "We only have a few minutes before he wakes up," Edward whispered.

  "What happened to the dart?" Sam asked.

  "I must have picked up the one the other man pricked himself on."

  "No use cryin' now. We 'ave to move."

  Edward and Sam moved quickly and quietly up the stairs to the second floor. They kept an eye on the corners for any movements in the dark of the upper part of the mansion, but the hallway was quiet and empty.

  Edward went to the fireplace and opened the door to the right. He peered through the slit, and saw an empty room. Edward and Sam entered, shut the door, and rushed straight to the desk at the back.

  Moonlight from the windows, and the eyes of dead animal heads following their movement, lent an eerie atmosphere to the empty room.

  Edward's eyes moved across the trophies, and settled on the key above the desk. He moved a chair behind the desk to stand on top of, and took the key down.

  "Isn't that the fake?" Sam asked.

  "We don't know yet. We shouldn't make assumptions. Alexandre could easily be wrong about the whole thing." Edward opened the picture frame and pocketed the key. "Take the lockbox," Edward said as he set the picture frame back on the wall.

  Sam bent under the table and on the left side, hidden under the legs, was a small iron box with a slot on the front meant for a key. Sam set the iron box on the top of the table.

  "Can you pick the lock?"

  Sam laughed. "Can you pick a lock, he says? Who do ye think I am mate?" Sam pulled out some tools from his pockets and showed them to Edward.

  "Well, get to it. I'd rather not have to take the whole box with us if we don't have to."

  Sam went to work on the lock with Edward watching intently over his shoulder. Edward was on edge, and he was sweating from the pressure. The tiny sounds of the clinking metal on metal sounded like gunshots. Sam perspired in concentration, the stress of the situation hitting him as well.

  After a tense few minutes, Sam turned the metal pick and the lock clicked. The top of the lock box popped ajar. Edward and Sam both smiled at the sight.

  "I'm afraid you won't
find what you gentlemen are searching for in that trinket."

  At the entrance stood Daniel Richardson, portly with salt-and-pepper hair, just as described by Henry. He held a musket in his hands as steadily as any trained soldier.

  Twelve guards filed into the room and pointed muskets and pistols at Edward and Sam.

  "The key in the picture frame is a forgery, and there is nothing in the lockbox aside from money and deeds to several foreign estates." Daniel pulled out a slender key on a chain around his neck. "This is the real key. I'm in the habit of trying to open any strange locks I find. Who would believe the owners of the lock would fall into my lap as a gazelle into the lion's maw? One way or another, your ship is mine."

  "Over my dead body."

  "That can be arranged." Daniel raised the musket once more.

  Edward grabbed the lockbox and threw it at the window. Richardson and the guards let loose their guns on Edward and Sam as the lockbox crashed through the pane, shattering the glass. Bullets flew past them as Edward and Sam jumped out the window and fell to the ground below. The two rolled as they hit the ground, and jumped up to run, but were stopped in their tracks.

  In front of them were the magistrate's men with weapons ready to fire.

  Edward and Sam surrendered. They were shackled and thrown into a carriage to be taken to the local jail.

  22. Trick & Switch

  Edward and Sam sat on the floor of a small cell, thick wooden walls and iron bars keeping them caged. On the back side of the cell a window with iron bars let air inside. Inside with them were a few local toughs and a drunken old man.

  Edward and Sam were both incarcerated until they could have a meeting with the local magistrate about sentencing. Luckily the locals didn't know who Edward was so he was only being tried for attempted theft, but even theft could carry the death sentence depending on the magistrate and the load on the jails.

  Overcrowding isn't a problem here, but the magistrate is. If I could get word to the crew…

  "So, how's it feel ta be back in prison, Capt'n?" Sam asked with his trademark smirk.

  "Terrible," Edward replied. He leaned over to Sam. "We need to find a way out of here."

  "Way I sees it, a jail such as this has one weakness: the guard. When they open the door to let someone out, we rush the guard and escape."

  "Sounds simple enough. I overheard those two will be let out today, so we can ask them for help." Edward pointed to the two local ruffians.

  "Work yer magic, Capt'n," Sam said with a laugh.

  Edward sat down beside the two thugs. "We want to escape, what say you help us out?"

  The two men laughed. "And why should we help you?"

  "Money. If you help us we will reward you with money and take you wherever you wish."

  The other man spoke up. "How much money are we talking about?"

  "One hundred pounds split between the both of you," Edward replied confidently.

  The two men smiled and one offered his hand. "Give each of us one hundred and you have a deal."

  Edward sealed the deal with a shake, then told the short version of the plan. They would wait until the two men were let out, then the four of them would jump the guard and run. After sealing the deal, Edward went back over to Sam. The co-conspirators whispered afterwards, laughing and deciding what they would do with the money.

  "I suppose that went well?" Sam asked.

  "Yes, money is an easy motivator," Edward replied.

  After another half hour, the sound of clinking keys could be heard down the hallway between the cells. Two guards, one with the keys and the other with a musket, approached the cell Edward and Sam were in.

  "Alright Greg, Jim, time ta go, you worthless sacks of bullshit." The guard set the key in the lock and turned.

  Edward, Sam, Greg, and Jim all tensed. The guard swung the door open. "Now!" Edward yelled as he ran to the open gate. The guard's eyes widened and he grabbed the iron bars to close the gate.

  Edward balled his fist and was about to punch the first guard when he was sent to the floor suddenly and violently. Greg and Jim attacked Edward and Sam, allowing the guard enough time to close and lock the gate. Once Edward and Sam were subdued, more guards were brought in.

  "Why?" Edward asked Greg as the man pinned him down.

  "You think we're stupid? You were using us. There ain't no money, and you ain't no captain. Besides, this'll put us in good with the magistrate. No hard feelings?"

  Edward and Sam tried to struggle against the men, but neither was able to escape.

  The extra guards entered the cell and aimed muskets at Edward and Sam. "Don't you move unless you want to be shot!" the guard with the keys shouted. Greg and Jim moved away from Edward and Sam and then left with the guards through the gate. The gate was locked and the guards left through the hallway.

  Sam stood and rubbed his neck where Jim had pinned him. "Well, wonderful."

  Edward rose up and moved his arm around to bring the feeling back. "Now what?"

  "Don' look at me. I'm not the one with the plans."

  Neither am I, apparently.

  Edward and Sam sat in silence as the day passed by. Eventually the drunken old man was also let out, this time with five guards pointing muskets at Edward and Sam while they took him out. Edward didn't try anything, and Sam wouldn't if Edward didn't. A guard told them the magistrate would see them tomorrow, and they were given mouldy bread with thin soup to eat.

  Later that night, Edward and Sam were trying to sleep on the hard wooden floor when Edward heard a curious noise outside. He rose and peered out the gated window, but he couldn't see anything. He rested his ear to the edge and listened intently.

  "Edward," a voice softly sounded in the dark.

  "Henry?" Edward asked into the darkness.

  Henry appeared from the shadows. He was wearing a cloak and kept searching to and fro to make sure no one was around.

  "What are you doing here?" Edward asked.

  "We bought some time by giving fake Freedom papers to the magistrate. He's having them inspected for authenticity as we speak. We were also able to talk with Nassir, he's the one who told us you were captured."

  "I'm sorry, Henry. Everything was going smoothly. Richardson is sharp, and I think we underestimated him. I don't know how we're going to get out of this one." Edward's eyes hit the floor, his disappointment in himself evident.

  "Don't worry yourself. After seeing you captured, Nassir came up with a plan to save you and his villagers."

  "Will his plan work?"

  "Trust me, if we play our cards right, this one can't fail."

  …

  The next day, the Freedom was no longer in the harbour. The ship had left in the early hours of the morning. The crew were in a rush to leave, and headed south to an unknown destination.

  Henry and Alexandre, however, remained. They entered the magistrate's office and stepped into pure chaos. People were running around, talking with locals and the authorities about something. Daniel Richardson was there, with Nassir at his side, talking with one of the officials about what happened.

  Henry and Alexandre walked up to them. "What is this madness?" Alexandre asked.

  One of the officials spoke up to answer. "The magistrate was kidnapped in the night, and, the Devil smiles, so was the mayor and the sheriff and some other officials."

  Henry and Alexandre grinned. "Perhaps we can shed some lumière," Alexandre said as he handed a piece of paper to Daniel Richardson. Richardson opened and read the paper.

  Richardson, if you are reading this, my crew of the Freedom have taken Boston officials as hostages. If you want to see them again, you will meet these demands: Myself, Edward Thatch, and Samuel Bellamy, will be released from prison and surrendered to the crew of the Freedom. Along with us, our crewmate Nassir, his villagers, and the key, you know which one, will be brought to exchange for the lives of these officials. Take all these to Gloucester in four days and the exchange will be made.

  Aft
er Daniel was finished reading, he pulled the paper away with a flash of rage. "What is the meaning of this?" he asked, shaking the paper at Henry and Alexandre

  "Was the paper not self-explanatory? Follow the instructions and your people will return safely," Henry said, then he and Alexandre turned to leave.

  "What do you think you are doing, sirs?" one of the officials yelled.

  "We are leaving. We will be watching from afar to make sure you follow through with our demandes." Alexandre waved goodbye to Nassir as they left. Daniel and the official were not armed and thus powerless to stop Henry and Alexandre. After leaving, they disappeared and were not found again.

  Later that evening, a meeting was held with the remaining authorities over how to handle the situation.

  "These pirates have our leaders in the palm of their hands. There should be no question we must give in to their demands," one man declared, with some in the meeting agreeing.

  "Where is the justice? Doing this will let other criminals know they can make a mockery of our city," another refuted, with an equal amount of people siding with him.

  "What of it? All pirates are caught eventually. This Edward Thatch is the infamous Blackbeard we've been hearing about. All we need to do is let our motherland know he is here and the Queen will send naval reinforcements. We can use this situation to our advantage."

  Daniel Richardson was also a part of the meeting, being central to the demands. He slammed his fist on a desk. "Is no one taking a mind to my loss in this? They have a snare around my property alone and it is unacceptable any of you think I should transfer my slaves to this pirate!"

  "You have an overabundance of plantations in many cities, Richardson. Your duty in this situation is to sacrifice for the greater good," the first man said. "And, might I remind you that several people whom helped you acquire said plantations are amongst those missing?"

  The argument continued for over another hour with the participants in the meeting clearly split down the middle. Some were swayed back and forth, but they couldn't reach a consensus on what to do.

  The doors to the meeting hall were opened and a newcomer barged in. "I believe I may be of some assistance."