Fic: 'Stormalong' (6/8 - J/E - 'R')
Here's chapter six, and many thanks, again, to hereswith for editing and suggestions.
~ Stormalong ~
Chapter One: Errand
Chapter Two: Disaster
Chapter Three: Shadows
Chapter Four: Persuasion
Chapter Five: Trouble
Chapter Six: Complications
The Venturous Maid (formerly the EITC's flagship Venture), made port at Île Sainte-Thérèse by the middle of the morning, tying up opposite the Black Pearl and the Empress almost entirely without fanfare, much to Barbossa's annoyance.
"Where in blazes are they?" he shouted over to the lone watch he could spot, one of Elizabeth's dour Chinamen, who merely pointed up the wharf into the town.
"Where's Jamie is what I want to know," Teague growled. He called out, "Have y'seen Jamie Turner?" and was rewarded with a sharp nod and a gesture toward the Pearl. Teague closed his eyes briefly, and even Barbossa felt relieved. The little lad wanted schooling, but he had potential, right enough.
"Well, we knew it, didn't we?" Barbossa raised a brow. "Going to pay him a visit?"
Teague straightened, his narrowed gaze on the Pearl. "Not just yet. Let's go find Jackie."
It didn't take them long to catch wind of Sparrow, thanks to a knowledgeable pack of little ones who were the only townsfolk visible. They'd gawped at the Maid as she'd eased up to the dock, but had since lost interest, grand pirate ships being so thick on the ground here, apparently, and were now playing some game near the wharf. They stopped and stared round-eyed at Barbossa and Teague, however, as the two approached in their finery and weapons.
"Capitaine Jacques leaves his sword on his ship!" one saucy lass piped up, accusingly.
"Does 'e now?" Hector smiled in his most ingratiating manner. "And would ye happen to know where Capitaine Jacques has gone off to this fine morning?"
"Don't tell him, Cecille!" A smaller boy, probably the chit's brother, tugged at her sleeve.
"Stop it, Jules!" She jerked her arm away. She said to Hector, "He is with the men. They are helping to repair the schoolhouse."
"The schoolhouse, is it?" Hector smirked and slid his eyes at Teague. "Ain't that precious?"
"Precious. Aye," said Teague. "Now Cecille - and Jules! What say you show us the way to that schoolhouse?" And Teague carefully reached forward and drew a shiny doubloon from behind the lass's ear.
*
"Jack's 'round the back," called Gibbs from the roof of the schoolhouse, where he and several others were nailing on new shingles where the old had blown clean off.
Teague and Barbossa headed down the side of the building. Gibbs hadn't seemed particularly surprised to see them, but the same couldn't be said for Jack, who came around the back corner carrying an armload of tools and nearly collided with Teague. He gave a startled yelp, dropped a couple of items, then yelped again as a hammer bounced off his booted toe. A spate of curses followed as he retrieved the tools.
Teague said, amused, "Weren't you expecting us, Jackie?"
"Not you!" Jack straightened and gave that pout of his. "Saw the Maid was headed in, of course. Thought you'd sent Hector."
"Barbossa arrived the night after you left. Offered to bring me out when we couldn't find hide nor hair of Jamie. I was a mite worried. When'd you find 'im?"
"Just yesterday. Little bugger was cozied up in a corner of the hold with the ship's cat for three days! Made a bloody mess down there, too. Couldn't stand it anymore an' snuck off the ship to play with some children by the wharf, which is where Lizzie an' I found 'im when we was headed back, yesterday."
"God's teeth." Teague shook his head. "I suppose you gave him what for?"
A bitter scowl crossed Jack's face. "Oh, aye. You'd've been right proud."
He started to walk off, but Teague caught his arm. Jack's eyes flashed, but his father paid no heed, saying, "Lost yer temper with 'im?"
Jack made no reply, but from his expression it was evident that Teague had hit the mark.
"It had to be done, Jackie," Teague told him, letting go. "He's got to learn, or he'll be useless! You know that. But you ain't me, boy, an' don't you go thinkin' you are."
One of Jack's brows lifted, and from the looks of it Barbossa suspected that was the closest Teague had ever come to owning he'd done ill by his son a time or two. Jack just shrugged, then, and said, "Time'll tell, won't it?" But he looked a bit easier as he shoved past and headed toward the front of the building.
Barbossa fell into step with him. "Where's our fair sovereign?"
"Tending the sick, at the church. They've a plague here, and you'll want to be away soon as may be -- and I'll be obliged if you'd take Teague and Jamie. More old folks and little ones down with it by far than those in their middle years."
"Are you implying I'm old, boy?" growled Teague from behind them.
"Implying? I'm bloody comin' right out with it!" Jack averred. "You'll all leave on the next tide, savvy?"
Hector bridled, unwilling to take orders from Jack, bloody maîtresse en titre or no. "We'll sail in the morning," Hector told him. "We've some cargo to offload, medicines and blankets and such. I'll set the lads to work this afternoon. And I'll want to see Her high-an'-mightiness before we leave. What maggot's in 'er head, lingering in a place like this? Why the devil didn't you bring her back to the Cove?"
"Bring 'er? You should know better than that. Tried to talk some sense into her, but she'd none of it."
"Touched in the head," Barbossa muttered. "This ain't what pirates do! Charity!" He spat, disgusted.
"You try tellin' her that."
"I will, since you're apparently incapable."
Teague spoke up then, rather severely. "Pirates do what they like, when they like. Lizzie's been a good King, canny and bold as they come. No reason to doubt her judgment now."
"What if she dies of it?" Barbossa objected. "She's riskin' her life, and ours!"
Jack snorted. "Aye, our usual lay ain't dangerous in the least."
"Ye know what I mean. This is different."
"It is. I think that's why she's doing it."
"Bloody soft!"
Jack laughed. "As I said, you can tell her. I'll just stand to one side, out of harm's way."
*
Teague stayed at the schoolhouse, where he proceeded to take over direction of the workers in a masterful manner, and Barbossa and Jack walked through the town to the church. The doors stood open and their quarry emerged as they approached, accompanied by a slim, neatly habited nun, dark to Lizzie's gold, and near as pretty. Hector swept off his hat and made a leg.
Elizabeth said, fervently, "Hector, I'm so glad you've come!"
"Brought Teague, too," said Jack. "We left him at the schoolhouse, arguin' with the townsmen on the best way to shore up the roof over the portico. Soeur Marguerite, Hector Barbossa, captain of the Venturous Maid."
Soeur Marguerite bowed. "A pleasure, capitaine. Elizabeth has told me something of you."
"Has she now? Nothin' good, I hope?"
The little nun chuckled, and her eyes were kind, but knowing. "God will judge us all in time, n'est-ce pas? But you have arrived in a good hour, and for that we can only be grateful."
Elizabeth said, "You'll take Jamie back to the Cove for us? Jack would have sailed this morning except that we saw the Maid headed in."
"Aye, well, we can talk about the particulars of that tonight over dinner. Might I invite ye both to dine on the Maid? And Jack, as well, o' course."
"Oh, yes, Soeur Marguerite - please do!" Elizabeth begged. "Hector's cook is a compatriot of yours. And you can meet my Jamie, naughty boy though he is."
A young man had come up behind them, out of the church, and now said, quietly but firmly, "Oui, ma soeur, it will do you good to get away for a few hours."
"Jori! This is Captain Barbossa."
Jori bowed. He said to Barbossa and Jack, "Today we have received no new sick to be tended. There are still many ill, but most are responding to the medicinal tisane and better conditions afforded by the generous people of Shipwreck Cove. We owe you much thanks."
"That's fine news!" Barbossa said, and looked pointedly at Elizabeth. "Maybe ye'll be leavin' yourself, then, soon."
"Not for a while - a week at least, I should think. But dinner tonight. And Jori and I will persuade Soeur Marguerite to come."
Goodbyes were said, and the three went back to the church. Jack and Barbossa departed for the docks.
"I noticed there was no mention of Lizzie being soft," Jack said, slyly amused.
Hector said, "Don't you worry. I'll speak me mind to 'er tonight."
*
He did speak it, taking Elizabeth out on deck for "a word in private" after they'd all gathered on the Venturous Maid for supper. The two returned very shortly, and Jack saw, with no surprise, that whatever Barbossa had said had been a waste of breath. There was a grim look about Lizzie's mouth and a spot of color on either cheek. And Hector was scowling.
He gathered his wits, though, and played the host with some grace, and was seemingly soothed by Soeur Marguerite's presence, a development Jack watched with interest. Iniquity contrasted with innocence- though it wasn't as though Soeur Marguerite wasn't fly to the time of day. Virtuous was maybe a better word. She chose to keep her eyes on the light, looking past the darkness in the conviction that all would unfold as it should. It was possible she had a point.
Teague liked her too, and Jamie, who'd been confined to the Pearl's Great Cabin with Ragetti as watch dog all day, seemed fascinated by the first nun he'd ever seen. Jack hoped the lad wouldn't blurt out something untoward, for he'd overheard a few stories about Jack's stay in that convent, so many years ago.
But Jamie wasn't his usual lively self that night, and as the meal wore on he grew quieter, picking at his food. Jack didn't worry about these strange behaviors, since he'd witnessed the tongue-lashing Teague had given the boy earlier - enough to give anyone a fit of the sulks, let alone a five-year-old boy. But then the last course was brought in, sweets and nuts and a good French brandy for the men, and Jamie pushed his plate away.
"What the devil ails you, lad?" demanded Teague, as surprised as Jack. Jamie's love of sweets was well known.
And Jamie uttered words that brought all conversation to an abrupt halt: "Mama, I don't feel well."
Elizabeth's face drained of color.
Teague laid his hand on Jamie's forehead and frowned, but by that time Jack and Elizabeth were around the table.
"Stand up." Elizabeth's voice was tight as she drew her son to his feet.
Jack saw Jamie sway, and knelt to support him, taking hold of him under the arms. The small body was hot to the touch.
And then Elizabeth pulled Jamie's shirt up and the telltale rash was revealed over his abdomen and chest. "Jamie," she whispered. She dropped the shirt, and pulled him close in an agony of fear and despair.
On to Chapter Seven