The Maelstrom

Chapter 9: Diplomacy

It had been three days time since the Vile Whore left port. The crew remained tense and silent as they made their way across the watery expanse, but remained loyal to their captain. "Ye sure we be doing this?" Grog said as he walked to stand next to Gabriel Raines.

"Aye." The captain responded as he looked toward the land on the horizon. Slowly the distance became more clear as a massive shore side city of marble and metal rose from the distance. "Raise the white flag, close the gun ports, and make sure the crew holsters their weapons." He said with his eyes locked to the city before him.

"Aye aye captain." Grog said as he patted Raine's shoulder and got to work. It was not long before ships began to approach them from the city. "Captain, it be the queen's na-"

"I know, orders stand." The captain responded in kind. "Make way for port, and get that flag raised!" He added as he turned the helm of the ship toward the naval brigade.

The crew did not hesitate to lower their flag of piracy and raise the white flag of surrender. However they were unsure if the Queen's navy would reply in kind, the damage they've done to them as well as the crimes they committed upon the sea made them the Queen's highest priority; even in these dark times. "Gunships port side!" Margo yelled out from the crows nest.

"Five on starboard side as well captain!" Tiny Tom yelled from the bow of the ship. "They have cannons trained on us!"

"Raise sails half mast! Lower our speeds, and follow the orders!" Grog responded back. "Trust in ye captain!"

Raines looked at the ships as they approached rapidly, there was ten in total. This drew a grin across the Captain's face, it was an honor to know he was such a threat. "Pull along side. Let them board." He said as the crew got to work.

A massive gunship pulled next to the Vile Whore and made anchor, the pirate ship replying in kind. "Captain Raine's this is Admiral Jones of the Queen's navy! You are trespassing upon the waters of Fha. The price upon your head is quite the hefty one; surrender or be sunk!" A man yelled from the deck next to them. "You are under arrest for your various crimes against-"

"Spare me the details Admiral. I know what I have done." Gabriel said, cutting off the admiral. "Ye know as well as the rest of ye ships that ten ships holds no threat to the Vile Whore." The captain said with a bemused chuckle as he made his way toward the side of his ship.

The admiral took a step back in dismay at Raine's reaction. Quickly he gathered himself and adjusted his coat. "You will follow orders or you will be-"

"Parlay!" Gabriel responed.

"The navy has no Captain to invoke-"

"The Queen is your Captain." Merle said as he walked to stand next to Raines.

The admiral stood in shock for a minute as he looked at the crew upon his ship. "Wh- No, she is not our-"

"She leads the Naval Brigade, that is a captain in my book kind sir." Merle responded with a wide grin. "Would you be the one to tell your Queen that you refused the right of parlay? Would you tell her that the Navy's finest broke the laws of the se-"

"They are not our-"

"You made those laws! It was her mother's pen and quill that made such an agreement with those notorious upon the seas! Need I remind you who she was before she became your queen?" Merle shot back. "We invoke the right of parlay. Take the captain and I before the Queen, it is our right by the laws set upon the land and sea."

The admiral stood there in anger, a mere pirate dared to speak to him like that. "I should have thy head!" He snapped as he ordered his crew to board the ship. "You will have your audience, but you will do so under shackle and chain!"

The captain looked at Merle and gave him a pat on the back. "Ye did well my boy." He said, in which Merle grinned and nodded. "We surrender to your terms, but no harm is to come to my ship or crew."

"Your ship and crew will stay here with the naval fleet under guard. Any attempt to flee or attack will be met in kind." The admiral said as he boarded the Vile Whore. "You and your diplomat with be bound and shackled to meet before the Queen."

"We agree to your terms." Merle said simply as he raised his arms to be shackled, the captain doing the same. Nervously some naval crewmen approached the two, but were met with no resistance. "Take us to your Queen."

The admiral nodded in agreement as his crew took Raines and Merle away. "You will have your audience. But I will keep a close eye on you." He said as he followed behind the two.

"I be expecting no less." Raines said with a chuckle. "My crew will be watching yours as well." He added as the two were lead to the brig upon the Navy ship.

"Set sail for Fha! The rest of you guard this ship!" The admiral yelled out as his ship made way toward shore. "If they even flinch, ye end them."

Below deck in the brig Raines sat next to Merle. "I knew ye would prove to be useful beyond attire." He said with a laugh.

Merle chuckled and looked up at his Captain. "Thank you Captain." He said softly but was met with a hand on his shoulder.

"Call me Gabriel." The captain responded in kind. "Ye have been upon my ship long enough. Once we are finished here, ye debt will be paid off and will no longer be ye captain."

Merle looked up at Raines and placed his hand over the mans. "You will always be my captain." He said with a smile, patting Raine's hand as the ship sailed off toward the Queen's land.