"How fares the sea, Herbert?" Edward asked.
"Smooth sailing, Captain. Winds in our favour. Headed to Bodden Town to unload this cargo, I presume?"
"You presume right, sailing master." Edward smiled.
William joined those on the quarterdeck and spoke words with Anne, ensuring she was well. William knelt, examining her closely. After a few words and nods from Anne, William stood straight and the two joined Edward, Herbert, and Christina at the helm.
"William, could you call the crew together? I have an announcement to make."
"Aye, aye, Captain." William turned to the main deck and yelled for attention.
The crew dropped what they were doing and crowded together near the quarterdeck. Jack and Nassir were on the deck, Pukuh was hanging from a bowline, and Alexandre stood beside Victor, with the remainder of the crew walking up from the lower deck.
"Well, men, I want to start off by saying I am proud of all of you for the courage you displayed back on the island, and for all the times I called upon you to be brave with me.
"Over the course of this journey we've solved deadly puzzles in the underground of not one, but two islands, fought against a Marine Captain who chased us halfway across the Caribbean, saw the unimaginable in the Devil's Triangle, fought a plantation owner, and killed an assassin sent by none other than Queen Anne herself.
"That is more than any crew on these seas could say they've done, and you deserve all the praise. Without you, all this would not be possible, so thank you."
The crew pumped their fists and hollered their appreciation back to their captain.
"And thanks to those efforts, we now have a full ship. The final cabin is opened, but before you view the room I have more to say.
"When I received this ship—some of you may not know the story, but I'll keep it brief for those of you who do—I had a night of wild abandon, with too much to drink, and I used my life savings to buy this warship, when all I wanted to be was a whaler. The man who sold me this ship was named Benjamin Hornigold. He created this ship as a game, and that is what set us on this journey for the keys.
"Little did I know at the time, but because of what he did, he still owned this ship. Freedom was his ship, and until I retrieved all the keys, this ship would not truly be mine, as it is now.
"As such, this ship needs a new name," Edward said, placing his hands on the quarterdeck railing.
The crew was confused. "But Captain, why?"
"Simple, gentlemen: We have our Freedom. This ship is a symbol for all of us. For some, the ship is our home, our escape, our hope. The name was more than just the name of a ship. Freedom was what we sought. Freedom from our former lives, freedom from chains, both literal and figurative. But, the ship is ours now, we are free from our former lives, and we are free from the chains.
"We need a new name, and with that name a renewed purpose."
Edward let the crew murmur amongst themselves, allowing the words to sink in and take root. After the crew talked with each other, they agreed with Edward.
"What's the new name?"
Edward folded his arms. "Queen Anne's Revenge."
Anne's and William's jaws dropped. The crew became louder at the sound of the new name. Confusion was the main theme.
Before the crew could ask more questions, Edward raised his hands to silence them. "The reason why I've chosen Queen Anne's Revenge is twofold: Firstly, because the name will be a testament to our victory against Queen Anne and her assassin. This ship will be a constant reminder that despite her actions against us, despite throwing everything she sent against us, we are still here, and we are still alive!" Edward yelled, causing many in the crew to cheer. "Whenever people hear of our exploits, it will be a constant mockery against her and all she stands for.
"And the second reason will be our purpose. Queen Anne's Revenge will be the name the world knows, but to us, the true name of this ship is Revenge.
"We have our freedom, so we will avenge those who have had their freedom taken away. Our purpose will be to take Revenge for those who can't take it for themselves.
"Slaves, the poor, the imprisoned. We will free them from their chains, and take revenge on those who caged them. Who's with me?"
The crew pumped their fists and chanted together in agreement. They were in a frenzy of excitement so loud that those on the other ships could hear it.
"We are pirates! We will steal Freedom back for those who need it, and take Revenge on those who think they can take it away," Edward yelled. He raised his fist. "Revenge!"
The ship once known as Freedom, owned by Benjamin Hornigold, was now and forever known as Queen Anne's Revenge, owned by Edward Thatch, the pirate Blackbeard.
Epilogue
One Month Later
The noonday sun shone over the Queen Anne's Revenge, the wind cooling the ship and all those gathered on it. The ship drifted in the sea off the coast of Bodden Town. The crew of the Fortune mixed on the deck with the crew of the Queen Anne's Revenge. Everyone gazed at the quarterdeck, and the ceremony being performed.
On the quarterdeck, Christina stood on the starboard side, and William on the port with Jack behind him playing a light medley with his violin. In the centre, in front of the helm, stood Bartholomew, Edward, and Anne.
"Do you, Edward Thatch, take this woman to be your wife?" Bartholomew asked.
Edward was wearing a white three-piece suit with gold and silver embroidery. He had a white undershirt with a vest and longcoat and the pants went to his knees with white socks pulled up. His beard was in braids and his wavy black hair was slicked back.
"I do," he replied.
"Do you, Anne Bonney, take this man to be your husband?"
Anne wore a stunning white dress with a gold necklace. The dress was embroidered similarly to Edward's suit, with gold along the chest and pearls at various spots. It fit Anne's curves beautifully and had a frilly skirt all the way to her feet. Anne's hair was done up, with her curls spilling out at the front and sides.
"I do," she replied.
The two were wearing rings, simple gold bands made from leftover metal from the forging of Edward's cutlass.
"Then by the power vested in me by the Lord above, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Edward leaned in and kissed Anne. The crews cheered and threw up their hats in celebration of the union. Edward and Anne, both smiling from ear to ear, turned hand in hand, and gazed at their crew. They lifted their hands together, showing the two wedding bands symbolising their eternal bond.
THE END
See Blackbeard's adventure continue in Blackbeard's Justice available now on Amazon. New but familiar enemies rise up to challenge Blackbeard and his allies. Will Blackbeard and crew survive this new trial? Click Here to learn more!
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About The Author
I was born in N.B. Canada and I'm in my twenties. I enjoy downtime with a fantasy novel, role playing game, or television drama, and some scotch.
I started writing after a long time of trying to find myself and what I wanted to do with my life. I've always had an active imagination, and love to create stories and entertain people. When looking into careers I was drawn to video game design, but, just before I started school, I found that the people that work in programming don't have much say in story. Because of that, I decided it wasn't for me.
After I found that I enjoyed writing a friend of mine challenged me to participate in a writing competition.
It was during this competition that I started what would become Blackbeard's Freedom. I felt confident that others would enjoy Blackbeard's Freedom, and the subsequent series, so I decided to share it with the world. After Amazon made things so easy to self-publish, I knew that this was the route that I wanted to take. Now I've found my passion in life, and all I hope for is that people enjoy what I write.
It would help me immensely if you could share this novel with your friends via Twitter or Facebook and leave a review on Amazon by clicking this link: Blackbeard's Revenge Review Page
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Acknowledgments & Dedication
Table of Contents
BLACKBEARD'S REVENGE Prologue
1. Catch Two & Twenty
2. Gammond Castle
3. The Great Escape
4. The Chase
5. Reunions
6. The Devil of the Den
7. The Portsmouth Pillaging
8. The Cost of Freedom
9. Resolve
10. The Bermuda Gateway
11. The Ghosts of the Island Beyond Time
12. Theodosia Burr Alston
13. The Cure
14. The King & Blackwood
15. The Brothers Bodden
16. Mystery in the Gulf
17. The Straw
18. The Day the Devil Knew Fear
19. Calabar Revisited
20. Bonds in Boston
21. Bait & Trap
22. Trick & Switch
23. The Third
24. The Island of Heaven & Hell
25. The Black Death
26. The Break
27. Pushing Him Into Darkness
28. The Hounds of Portugal
29. Cache-Hand
30. John the Fearless
31. Escape from Lisbon Bay
32. Dead & Alive, Lost & Found
33. Benjamin's Game
34. Tsunami Vs. Plague
35. Of Heaven
36. From Hell
37. The Ship's Name
Epilogue
About the Author
Blackbeard's Revenge (Voyages Of Queen Anne's Revenge Book 2) Page 43
