HOME | DD
Brawrloxoss — ROSE O'SCARLETT... Chapter 1
Published: 2013-01-19 19:35:07 +0000 UTC; Views: 4259; Favourites: 6; Downloads: 1
Redirect to original
Description
CHAPTER 1Wanted woman
Festive as always, the tavern on the outskirts of town was a smoky, noisy place, but those at the round, wooden card table in the center of the room barely noticed. This was a sturdy place but of poor construction. Many of the wooden planks that made up the floor were twisted and bowed up and creaked when they were stepped on. The bar was old and made largely from the wood of wrecked ships, and the three people working behind it were kept busy by the patrons who haunted the place frequently. Almost all were mariners, men and a few women whose blood was the sea itself, and among them were many pirates.
In the seventeen hundreds, the law on this scattering of islands in the Caribbean was supposed to be the governments who had established themselves there. The largest presence on Jamaica was the British and the fort on Port Royal was an ominous symbol of their supremacy there. It was, however, something of an inconvenience for those who operated outside of British law. During this time, with European countries fighting amongst themselves, the colonies in the Caribbean found themselves on their own for the most part and local governors were frequently at odds with each other and almost always at odds with the numerous privateers and pirates who haunted this part of the world.
Among these would be a woman who, on this day, escaped her troubles with a mug of rum and a game of cards. Dark green eyes were framed by very long, very thick lashes and were fixed on the thin built man who sat across from her. He was not attractive, nor did he pretend to be. His long hair was very thin as was the mangy, un-kept beard he wore. This was a man who spent long periods of time at sea and clearly spent little of his time sober.
Her interest in him was far from a romantic one. He had much of her money on the table before him, and a taunting look in his bloodshot eyes.
She pursed her full lips a little and her eyes narrowed just slightly. This was a woman who could easily catch the eye of any man who saw her. Long brown hair was restrained in a single pony tail, but for what was feathered and dangling from her temples and forehead. Her face was one that was not heavily painted with make-up, nor did it need to be. A very lovely woman, she was not a thin woman, rather thick bodied but thick in all the places with curves that would would turn any man's head, and her bleached white shirt was open halfway down her chest, perhaps to relieve some of the Caribbean heat, or perhaps to distract the other card players at the table, and she had ample breasts to do just that. The cuffed sleeves concealed more than her arms and she would have to demonstrate a pirate's slight of hand to make her move. The man across from her was watching her like a hawk, as was everyone else at the table. The ace up that right cuff might just get some of her gold back, unless she was caught. Again.
The man strummed his cards across his fingers, not quite smiling.
She reached to her mug of rum and gently picked it up, her eyes shifting to it as she raised it to her lips. A couple of swallows later she gingerly set it back in its place. Her eyes shifted to her ever shrinking stacks of coins, then to the enticing pile of coins in the center of the table. Only two hands were still in play, and hers had to win. Looking back to her cards, she reached up with that right hand and scratched under her ear, then slowly slid her knuckles down her neck and over one breast and back to the table. That's all anyone saw.
Setting her elbows on the table, she grasped her cards with both hands and examined them closely, then turned malicious eyes on the man across from her. Now, she had three aces in her hand to work with. That right hand slowly reached to her stack of coins and she picked one up, tossing it carelessly to the pile in the middle as she snarled, "Call."
He smiled slightly and slowly laid a straight flush down to the table.
She closed her eyes and slapped her cards down, trying to ignore him as he laughed and drug the pile of coins toward him. That's how her luck had been for months.
A young man who had entered unnoticed made his way to her through the crowd of people who milled about in the tavern. Facial hair was not yet his and his hair was neat and orderly as always. The hat he wore was a three pointed mariner's hat. His white shirt was dirty as was the brown vest he wore. His brown trousers were dirty as well and a sizeable hole was worn in one knee. His boots seemed too big and awkward for him as he walked.
Reaching her, he gently placed a hand on her shoulder and reported, "Captain, they've raised the new mast and the crew's working on getting the rigging in place. We should be good to go by this evening."
Without looking at him, she nodded and replied, "Okay. Get everyone ready to shove off by dark."
"Aye, Captain," he responded as he spun around to leave.
Reality was coming back to her even as she watched new cards slide her way. One by one she picked them up, not liking what she saw and sneering a little as the last one made it to her.
A thin man with graying hair and a white beard strode up behind her with a mug of something in one hand. His other hand was at his belt, his thumb hooked there near the cutlass he always wore. The gray shirt he wore was well kept and the black vest he wore over it looked new. His trousers looked like they had been recently pressed and he was well groomed, almost like a dignitary of some kind. He watched her for a moment as she tossed yet another coin toward the middle of the table. Not waiting for her to receive another card, he cleared his throat to draw her attention, which he got without even a look.
"Give me a moment, Bugs," she murmured.
He took a gulp from his mug and watched that moment as she lost yet another hand.
"At your convenience," he said to her as she dropped her head into her hands.
Heaving a sigh, she gathered up what money she had left and shoved it into a pouch on her belt, then stood and reached for her own mug, offering, "Thanks for the game, mates."
"Thanks for the money, Lass." one of them countered.
She responded with a smile and a sneer and turned to follow the gray headed fellow to another table near the back, and everyone at the table she just left watched her, keeping their eyes on the red, form fitting tights that covered her legs and hips and left little to the imagination. As they sat down, she rubbed her eyes with one hand and pleaded, "Just give me good news."
"Okay," he complied, "they haven't caught you yet."
She stared off into nothing and nodded.
"You're pushing your luck, Rose," he informed. "The Governor's got an even bigger price on your head now, so big that I don't know who you can even trust anymore."
She turned her eyes down and nodded again.
"How's your ship?" he asked before taking a drink from his mug.
Her lips tightened and she replied, "She got pretty banged up. I barely got her to port in one piece, and without my main mast." Looking to him, she offered, "I guess I should be thanking you for what you did out there."
He smiled slightly. "I just distracted them. And there's no British frigate made that can outrun the Silver Falcon. Besides, it's nothing you haven't done for me a hundred times."
With a smile and a nod, she said, "Well, maybe I'll live to do it a hundred more. I guess that price they have on me is not yet high enough for you to turn me in."
"Nor will it be," he informed straightly. Taking another drink, he shook his head and
advised, "You need to get yourself away from Port Royal, missy. You've been damn lucky they haven't noticed that wreck you brought in. I'm surprised they haven't a detachment of guards come after you."
"Just as soon as the Dragon is sea worthy," she assured. "I'm just going to lay low until then." She shook her head. "I had to call in my last favor from the shipyard just to get her in."
"I noticed her flying British colors," Bugs observed. "Nice touch."
"Just one of many captured flags," she said straightly. "I'm going to try and get out
this evening whether the repairs are done or not. I think we can limp to Tortuga with what we've got in a couple of days."
He nodded. "Right through all the sentry ships that are waiting for you. Why don't you let me get you out of here tonight?"
Shaking her head, she took a gulp from her mug and insisted, "I won't leave my ship and crew behind."
"The gallows won't care about your loyalty, Rose."
"I know," she said softly, looking into her mug. "We lost some good mates on that last outing, didn't we?"
Bugs nodded again and confirmed, "Aye, we did." He raised his mug to her and added, "But we've still got each other, Lass."
She smiled and bumped his mug with hers and they both drank.
"I sure don't know what I'm supposed to do now," she informed, staring back into her mug. "Seems like every navy in the world is gunning for the Scarlet Dragon and her captain."
"I know the feeling," Bugs agreed. "Rose O'scarlett is almost as infamous as Blackbeard, Sparrow and that lot. Best be keeping your head down, Lass."
"Aye," she said, nodding slowly.
"You could leave the sea," he suggested. "Not too late for you to start a new life."
"Could you?" she countered.
"I'm too old and set in me ways, Rose. Take what's left of your youth and settle down somewhere."
"I have to see this through," she insisted. "I have more than just myself to think about."
"Aye," he said with much sarcasm in his voice. "I'm sure the gallows will love to know that."
She rolled her eyes. "Aye, you said that last time, too." She huffed another sigh and insisted, "I'll be all right once I'm at Tortuga. I can regroup there."
"If you get there," he added.
An unnatural hush fell over the tavern as the door slammed. The creaking of the floor and clop of heavy boots drew everyone's attention to the door, and many quickly looked away and ducked down, trying hard not to be noticed.
The man who entered was of enormous stature with thick arms and a bulky chest and back. Black hair reached nearly to his shoulders and his black goatee added menace to his already imposing features, which were primitive with an exaggerated brow and very heavy jaw. Faded black trousers looked like they had been recently dried of sea water and big boots found the floor with purpose. He wore no shirt over his titanic frame, only a black jerkin that showed off the muscular bulk of his chest and arms. Cruel green eyes scanned the tavern as he strode in and found the bar. This was a man who knew he was feared and made no secret that those who did had good reason to.
Many of the patrons, about half the people in the tavern, quietly slipped out the door. Those who remained were no longer so festive and many of them hunched down and murmured amongst themselves as they tried not to be noticed.
One of the men behind the bar was quick to grab a pitcher and reach to one of the barrels of ale, turning the valve as quickly as he got the pitcher under it. As the big man arrived, the barkeep turned with the nearly full pitcher and set it down in front of him.
Grabbing it by the handle, the huge man in black turned toward the room and leaned back against the bar, propping his elbow on it as he raised the pitcher to his mouth and took a few gulps from it.
Rose had her eyes locked on the big man and was unaware that her lips hung open at the sight of him. She raised her chin toward him and asked, "Who is that?"
"No one you want to associate with," Bugs warned. "Keep your distance from that bloke and stay out of his way. I've never heard of him granting quarter to any under his guns."
"Really," she drawled in a challenging tone.
"Miss O'scarlett, if you only take one piece of advice your entire life then take this one and keep your distance from that pirate."
"Pirate, is he?" she asked absently. "He looks like a rough one. Think he's for hire?"
"Everyone's for hire, Rose, except Captain Jones over there. You really don't want to throw your lot in with him."
"You haven't told me why I shouldn't," she pointed out, still staring at the big man. "He might just be the one to get a girl out of some copious hot water."
"Or turn you over to the Reds for a handsome profit," Bugs countered.
"Do you know him?" she asked.
"Only by reputation," was his answer.
One of Rose's crew slipped in, creeping along the far wall as if to keep as much distance between himself and the big man at the bar as he could. His bald head shined a little in the light of the oil lamps and he wore no shirt over his impressive build. His eyes never left the big man as he took a chair across the table from Rose and reported, "They'll have the ship seaworthy by tonight, Captain, but she's in a hard way. Lots of British soldiers snooping about, too."
She absently nodded.
Bugs cleared his throat.
The crewman bade, "Captain? Ye hear me?"
"Yes!" she barked, suddenly irritated. "The snoopers are too brittle, I heard!"
He exchanged looks with Bugs.
Rose noticed him staring with wide eyes at the big man and she asked, "What do you know about that big bloke over there?"
"Nothin' I like, Captain. I heard tell he once took on a garrison of British 'cause one of 'em looked at him wrong and killed half of 'em bare handed. I also heard tell he sank four frigates in one day and nary took a cannon hit to his ship. Bit a shark and killed it once, I hear. Never offered quarter to those under his cannons and takes not a prisoner, I hear. Killed a man not long ago in a tavern in Tortuga who he thought was cheating him at cards, broke the poor soul's neck with his bare hands, he did. Comes from the deepest part of Hell, me think. Davy Jones himself avoids him."
"And his name?" she prodded.
"All the men I know just call him Sir."
Rolling her eyes again, she looked to Bugs and asked, "Does he have a first name?"
He answered straightly, "Only name I've heard for him is Cannonflash Jones. He captains the most feared ship on the seven seas, a giant two hulled monster called the Black Dragon."
"I like the name," she drawled.
"Don't get you any ideas, Rose," Bugs warned.
She looked down at her mug, then gulped down the last of what she had and stood, informing, "I'm empty. Be right back." Ignoring the groans of her friend and crewman, she strode with a sultry walk to the bar and stopped a few paces down from the big man, leaning onto the bar as she slid her mug to the barkeep across from her. The commotion in the tavern went unnoticed as her thoughts were consumed with the big man beside her. She pretended to ignore him, but this was difficult as she wanted to see him close up.
A young woman who was rather thin and half a head shorter than Rose approached from the other side of the bar and took her mug. Long straight black hair was kept perfectly brushed and combed and was restrained behind her with a red ribbon. She wore a forest green dress that had a very low and lacy neckline and short sleeves. Very pretty in the face, her big brown eyes were locked wide on the huge pirate who stood beside Rose. She absently took the empty mug and pulled it toward her, then finally looked to Rose and asked, "More rum?"
"Aye," Rose replied, "that would be wonderful, Maria. Thank you."
The barmaid took a black bottle from beneath the bar and filled Rose's mug, turning her eyes back to Jones as she did. Looking back to Rose with an arched brow, she shook her head in slight motions.
Rose smiled back and nodded.
"You're just as impressive from behind," someone behind her complimented, his accent unmistakably British and his speech very direct and proper.
Maria backed away, her eyes darting about behind Rose, who casually raised her brow and looked over her shoulder.
Fanned out behind her were four navy guards in bright red uniforms. They were heavily armed and three had their hands on their weapons. The fourth had his arms folded.
"Did you think you would go unnoticed here in Port Royal for long?" the officer asked, smiling as he raised his chin slightly.
Rose shrugged. "Well, I was hoping." Her right hand moved down toward her cutlass.
Metal rang as the three soldiers drew their weapons.
Now she was feeling cornered, and near panic. Ever so slowly, she turned and leaned her elbows on the bar, raising a leg to prop her boot against it and allowing her scarlet tights to show off her shape. "Well I'm glad to see the law around here is on its toes. God only knows what could happen to a girl in these parts."
The officer raised his brow. "Do you mean like a trial and hanging?"
"Not what I had in mind," she countered. "Um, would you gents mind if I were to finish the drink I just ordered?"
"I'm afraid I would," he replied.
She looked back and took the mug anyway, her eyes on it as she said, "Oh, come now. Can't a girl have one last drink before the gallows?" She raised the mug to her lips, then swept it to make the rum splash into the faces of three of them.
Taken off guard, the fourth took a step back as the other three reached for their burning eyes, and before he could get himself set with his weapon she kicked him hard in the chest and knocked him into the table behind him.
Swiftly, she grabbed the officer's arm and spun herself around, flinging him into the soldier who was trying to quickly right himself.
Four more soldiers burst into the tavern.
Her brow arched and she sighed, "Oh, great," then she pushed one rum-blinded man into the other and grabbed a chair, hurling it at the four men who had just stormed in.
Bugs and her crewman were already in action and jumped the officer and one of the soldiers as they tried to get her from behind.
The other patrons simply stayed out of the fray.
Rose pushed a table over and rolled it toward the four charging newcomers, then she darted around them and reached for a mug on another table. Someone grabbed that arm, and before she could react, someone grabbed the other. Her arms were twisted behind her by two men and she was turned to see the officer striding toward her, still rubbing his eyes. As he neared, she noticed Bugs and her crewman being held at sword point by three of the British, and Bugs' hand was on his cutlass, ready to draw it. As their eyes met, Rose subtly shook her head, hoping to call him off before he ended up arrested as well.
Shaking his head, the officer stopped a pace away and folded his arms. "I didn't expect you to come quietly, Miss O'scarlett, nor did the chap who turned you in. I think it's time for you to just stop this nonsense and come along now."
She drew deep air, trying to catch her breath, then she nodded. "You're right. No more nonsense." She kicked him hard in the gut, pushing off of him and sending herself and her two captors stumbling backward. They ran into something, and ale splashed all over them.
The officer's eyes grew wide.
Rose wrenched one arm free and half turned to take on the other soldier, then she froze as she looked up into the face of the big man at the bar.
His pitcher was still in his hand and the ale that had once been in it covered him. He was staring down at her, and he did not look happy.
She smiled sweetly and offered, "Sorry."
He brushed some of the ale off of him and slammed the pitcher down, his gaze shifting to the soldiers who held her.
The officer took a few steps back, pointing a shaking finger at the big man as he shouted, "This doesn't involve you, Jones!"
Not known for a forgiving nature, Cannonflash took the shirt of one of the soldiers with one hand and hurled him over the bar, slamming him into the mugs and glasses on the other side. As he fell to the floor and was covered with bar wares, the second soldier drew his sword and tried to thrust, but his arm was caught and the big man's arm torpedoed fist-first into his face, knocking him out cold. He was thrown into the officer as another soldier charged.
The three holding Bugs and Rose's crewman at sword point abandoned them and charged the big man, who responded by throwing a heavy table at them.
This time patrons fled the bar.
Rose slowly backed away, watching this bear of a man take on five of England's finest, and as he mercilessly beat them down, Bugs and the crewman grabbed her arms and pulled her toward the door.
"Time to go," Bugs insisted as they negotiated around overturned furniture.
She did not resist, but she did protest, "We should help him."
Bugs laughed and shook his head. "You just keep thinkin' that, Lass, and while you're at it let's give him some distance."
Out of the tavern, they slowed their pace to stroll unnoticed through town and toward the water.
"Well they know you're here," Bugs observed. "They'll no doubt be looking into finding your ship. We need to be shoving off now!"
She raised her brow and looked to him. "We, Mister Nailhall?"
"Yes, we. Your rigging isn't set and your Dragon'll not take the wind well without her main sails." He looked over his shoulder, squinting against the sun that plunged toward the horizon. "Should be dark in a couple of hours. I'll tow ye out to sea and keep the lines on until your sails are set." When he heard an angry sigh from her, he added, "Put your pride away, Lass. You'd do the same for me if I liked it or not."
"Aye," she conceded softly, her gaze on the path before her. Looking up, she saw a tailor shop and said, "Got to make a stop first. Mister Larson, get to the ship and get 'er ready to get under way."
"Aye, Captain," the crewman replied, hurrying on his way.
"Another shopping spree?" Bugs asked grimly.
"They know what I look like by now. Gotta make sure they don't recognize me."
"Be quick, then," he sighed.
This took nearly an hour and she emerged from the tailor's shop looking like a different woman. Her hair was up and worn under a large brimmed black hat that had a long white feather stabbed into one side. Her white shirt was traded for a red one with a black vest, and dark pink trousers conformed to her shape as well as her old ones had. Black boots went nearly to her knees.
Seeing Bugs, she ran her fingers along the brim of her new hat and asked, "What do you think, Captain Nailhall?"
He nodded and dryly said, "Beautiful. We need to go."
She rolled her eyes and took his side.
"Two navy soldiers were lookin' for you a while ago," he reported. "The place is crawling."
"They aren't looking for the big fellow?" she asked.
He huffed a laugh. "Look what happened the last time they found him. Today they're
interested in a troublesome woman named Rose O'scarlett."
"Never heard of her," Rose joked.
As they reached the dock, they stopped suddenly as they saw a sea of red uniforms swarming about.
Rose's eyes darted around and she murmured, "Not good."
"Aye," Bugs replied.
"Now is when that big berserker from the tavern would come in handy," she observed.
Pursing his lips, he nodded. "Aye, but right now we'll have to rely on our wits."
Her eyes scanned the many soldiers scattered about the beach, dock and shipyard. "Think they'll notice if we just stroll right up the dock to your ship?"
"I can't see you drawing any attention in that outfit," he replied.
Rose recognized the sarcasm in his voice and shook her head slightly. "This isn't an outfit they'll be looking for."
"No, they're looking for the woman in it."
Rose smiled slightly and wrapped her arms around one of his. "Well, perhaps they're not looking for a lady who you are bringing aboard to show a good time."
His eyes slid to her. "Why Miss. You must think me a hussy."
She laughed loudly and drew in close to him. The British soldiers were taking notice, but in a fleeting way and her face did not hold their attention long enough to be recognized by anyone. Fortunately, her body was a good distraction here. It was a long, tense walk to the dock where Captain Nailhall's ship waited.
Moored across from a small Navy warship, Bug's ship was not a huge one by any means. Small and fast, and heavily armed, it could sail shallow waters that the larger British patrol craft could not. His crew worked at a moderate pace to ready the ship to return to the sea and a few of them carried supplies across the planks that accessed it from the pier.
Almost there, more eyes found them and both began to feel more and more unnerved.
Thirty yards away they passed a stack of crates that had been inspected by the Navy soldiers and Rose saw that one was still open and the packing was straw. A number of clear, corked bottle tops protruded from the straw within the open crate and her hand swept in with a fluid motion and removed one. She clamped down on the cork with her teeth and pulled it free, spitting it the other direction, then she raised the bottle to her lips and took several long gulps.
Bugs glanced down at her. "How is it?"
Rose grimaced a little and replied, "A little dry for my taste, but not a bad wine for a white." She looked up at him and offered him the bottle. "Try some?"
"Later," he mumbled, his eyes locked on a Navy officer who was watching them approach.
This was a tall man with a sword on his left side, pistol on his right, decorations on his chest and a ruthless look in his eyes. He was clean shaven and perfectly groomed, wearing his hat perfectly. Behind him were two red clad soldiers with muskets in their hands, and they looked like they were ready and anxious for action.
Glancing around, Bugs saw far too many British soldiers on the pier to risk a confrontation, and there were even more on that patrol ship. A breath growled out of him as the officer and two armed soldiers with him approached, and he warned, "Be on your good behavior, Lass."
She took another drink from the wine bottle and assured, "You'll have no worries from me,
Captain Nailhall." As the soldiers approached and stopped to block their path, Rose laughed and leaned heavily on Bugs' arm, slurring her words a little as she said with loud words in a thick British accent, "Why Captain! I think surely you should have more, I do!" As all three soldiers looked right at her, she pulled the brim of her hat down with the hand she held the bottle with, spilling some of the wine as she looked to them with a flirty smile. "Well 'ello, gentlemen."
The officer cleared his throat and looked back to Bugs. "Captain Nailhall, I presume."
Bugs nodded and confirmed, "Aye."
Raising his chin, the officer went on, "Seems to be some problems with your manifest.
You mind telling me of your cargo?"
Bugs shrugged. "Not much to tell of. Farming supplies for Tortuga and such."
"And one pretty lady," Rose added in that thick accent. She leaned toward the officer and loudly whispered, "He's the captain of his own ship. Got me a man with a heavy purse, I do."
"And your manifest?" the officer pressed. "It appears to be missing."
"Not missing," Bugs corrected. "Many pirates about these days, especially working the docks. Many more working behind desks. That manifest stays locked up until I see the cargo meself. Wouldn't want any numbers changed on it, now would we?"
Nodding slightly, the officer agreed, "I suppose that's a wise precaution."
With a slightly wobbling head, Rose looked to Bugs and complained in that high voice, "You told me you'd show me your ship! I'm here to have me a good time, I am!"
Bugs glanced at her, then looked to the officer and raised his brow.
Folding his hands behind him, the officer leaned in close to Bugs, whispering in his ear, "I would just keep that one drunk, and when you leave Tortuga, make sure she stays there." Stepping back again, he raised his chin and announced, "You appear to be in order, Captain Nailhall. Carry on."
"Thank ye, sir," Bugs replied, leading the woman at his side past the navy men as they stepped aside.
Walking across the plank to get aboard was no special ordeal really, but Rose acted as if it was, barking a scream halfway across as she acted like she was about to fall off.
Once aboard, Bugs approached one of his crew and asked in a low voice, "Any Reds aboard?"
The man shook his head and looked around. "Came aboard a while back and sniffed about. Checked out our holds. Looked hard and asked lots of questions."
"They take anything?"
"Wanted the cannons. I told'em we've hired on to privateer for his Majesty's fleet against those pirates what keep raiding the merchants."
Bugs smiled and nodded. "Earned ye some extra gold, mate. Take your station."
"Aye, Captain." The old sailor looked Rose up and down and raised his eyebrows, nodding as he observed, "You'll be bringin' a man's heart to the deck, Captain O'scarlett."
She smiled back and curtsied to him. "I thank thee, kind sir."
He offered her a smile back and went about his tasks.
"We'll get you out to the Dragon," Bugs informed, "and we'll attach the tow lines and get you under way."
"You don't have to do this, Bugs," she informed solemnly.
He nodded.