Bloody Mary

Chapter Sixteen~Both Sides Now

The man thought on this for a moment, then turned back to his men and let loose a call. "Oy! Any of you lads seen a Schooner while sailing?"

The men in the tavern began to murmur amongst themselves as though attempting to remember if they had actually seen one. Of course their route was full of passing vessels and it would be quite difficult to prove one Schooner is different from another.

"Aye! Saw one of 'em wrecked on an island, I did. And that was about a month ago. I doubt its gone anywhere since then."

Something sparked in Carlisle just then, and his head lifted to look at the pirate who spoke. "Did you see anybody on the island?" 

"Can't be sure, but we did see the smoke of a fire after we left."

"Then it was a smoke signal. Why didn't you turn back?" Carlisle now turned to the pirate captian seated before him and gave him a hardy glare. He didn't know if it was his crew they were speaking of, but he felt it within himself to press for details and find out.

"We had just battled and suffered a loss of many men with a Navy ship. I didn't fancy losing any more of my men. However..." He trailed off and a mischievous glint lit his eyes. The pirate leaned closer to Carlisle and spoke in a hushed tone. "Should you desire it I could take you to that island to see if it truly is your crew, as I am sure you suspect them to be. But I ask for something in return."

Now Carlisle began to grow suspicious, as if he wasn't when the captain first sat down to speak with them. He knew better than anyone else how sneaky pirates were. He was one, after all.

"And what would that be?"

"Your friendship. I do you this favour and help you find your crew and once you find them we consider ourselves allies, my lad. You ask me this favour so in the long run we can both ask favours of each other. What do yah say?" Suspicion knawed at Carlisle's innards and his eyes simply stared at the pirate's hand that had been outstretched to make for a handshake. He was quite wary, but his crew and their safety and possibility of being alive was fresh in his mind, so he stretched out his hand and met the captain in a hardy shake.

"Captain Carlisle Bishop, at your service."

"And Captain Benjamin Hornigold at yours, mate."

~ ~ ~

The two pirate captains left the next morning before the sun could make its appearance over the horizon. By the time they had set sail the sun had slowly begun to shine its light upon the water and the hull of Benjamin Hornigold's ship: a well weathered Barque with three sails, two square rigged and the last fore-and-aft rigged. When Carlisle had first set sight on it he had met it with appreciation for it's sturdy looks. It would be a fast ship as well, he knew, for the hull was sleek and narrow, providing perfect maneuvering through the Carribbean waters.

As they sailed the hours grew on, and Carlisle provided the best he could for the crew. He would tie the sails, assist in swabbing the deck and maintain the cargo as he had done before when he was a young lad on his first ship. It was somewhat of a welcome experience, and he executed his jobs properly. He had forgotten what it was like not to be a captain and to be actually operating instead of sitting within his quarters and dividing the pay amongst his crew. Perhaps he'd have to change that, he thought as he worked.

"Carlisle, come here for a moment." He paused from assisting the crew move the cargo into storage and glanced up at Benjamin, who stood by the wheel of the ship with his eyes aimed into the distance. With a short farewell to the crew Carlisle made his way toward him, coming to a stop at his side.

"Yes?"

"How long have you been captaining your ship?"

"Not but a couple of years. Why?"

"Simply curiosity." The captain said, and then turned to look Carlisle in the eyes. "That ship with the blood red sails that was in the harbour, I assume that was yours?"

"Aye, if you mean the Caravel. She was my father's before he settled down with my mother but I... I suppose I took it off his hands."

Benjamin tilted his brow. "So that's your story then? You're a runaway?"

"I s'pose you could say it like that. Or... I had a calling that differed from what my father expected of me."

"Aye, don't we all?"

The two fell into silence as the wind began to pick up with a newfound vigor. The sails became bloated with the new force and the speed of the Barque piqued, and soon they were slicing through the waves as though nothing stood in their way.

"And you? What about you? What did you do before you picked up this... Occupation?"

Benjamin snorted. "Occupation, that's a gentle way to say it. But before this I was a privateer in the war. It wasn't long before I realized that that life suited me ill, and I made my way to becoming something else. However, I do not wish to declare myself an enemy to those I once served and thus refuse to fight against any English vessels."

"But you said you attacked a Navy ship." 

"True. I did attack a Navy ship, though it was more for my crew's benefit than mine. I prefer fighting this battle of my own accord and under my own order, but I'm afraid my crew is made up of some of the toughest men I've met. And they don't always comply with what I suggest, though they have learned to. They hunger for the blood of the English, and I cannot hold them from that forever, else I wish mutiny upon myself."

"Well, here's to hoping that that never happens. And, as promised, I will be there to assist you if it ever were to happen."

"Good. Who knows, Captain Carlisle Bishop, you might just be filled with the stuff of legend."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I feel no shame in admitting that this chapter is certainly not up to standards and is the shortest thus far. This is just something I barely got out, and honestly do not think I can do much more with it until I finish this story and look back while editing the whole thing. Its damn good to be back, though.

DO NOT claim the contents of this story for your own. All rights and claims go to myself and those that have helped me write this thus far. Do not copyright this text, otherwise there will be consesquences.