A Hidden Queen

Chapter 91

Panic. That was the only word to describe what the young naval officer felt. The bright blond hair bounced with the rocking leg; his pale blue eyes darting as his nerves got the better of him. Pierre had never been more terrified in his life than right now as he sat outside the large auditorium type room.

The Almilitary had called in each of the officers serving on The Governor mere days after returning and handing over their official reports. The action itself was not a surprise, but Pierre had been brutally honest in his report. He accused James and Private Jackson of atrocities that were too hideous to believe. He accused himself of retaliating against a superior officer, leaving out details of his own incrimination of treason as he helped Josephine, with no real wounds, over the side. Who would take the word of such a man?

Even then, he was not worried about what they gleaned from his report, but the reports of others. James had been the first to be called for questioning as he had been the one leading the expedition. He had expected himself and Hunter to be called in afterwards. But the court took a different avenue, looking for Private Jackson next. Once realizing that he could not be found, they then moved to call in Mr. Welsh, Pierre's petty officer, to recount his tales of the event.

The thought of the adolescent speaking made Pierre's stomach turn. The young man would answer truthful, as he should, but those answers may further cloud the waters, making it less likely for Jack to come out of this unscathed.

Pierre leaps to his feet, pacing the small corridor. It further ate him that he had been amongst the last to be called. He had fully expected to be questioned directly after James, and before Mr. Hunter, but the court had kept him for the last. It should have been Hunter out here pacing the floors and waiting with agonizing slowness. But that was the thing with the military, if they discovered discrepancies; they would do everything within their power to uncover it. And he had a sickening feeling he was going to be the one pinned to the wall.

Jack shakes his head, unable to stop his pounding heart. He loved Josephine and did not regret his decision to get her off the ship. But that did not mean he desired to spend the rest of his life in jail or worse, hung for treason. He runs a shaky hand through the blond hair, lowering himself pitifully back into his seat. He closed his eyes, burying his face in his hands and prayed that he made it through this alive.

The panic settles further, his breath hitching at the creaking protest of the wooden doors. A pale blue eye peeks out from between his fingers as Hunter smoothly slithers through them. The young man sighed heavily, collapsing next to Pierre. For the first time, Jack was able to get a good look at the second lieutenant. The normally bright, child-like eyes were dull and held a hardness of a man who had witnessed things he wished he had not. The tussled hair was unkept, needing a good cut as the loose strains fell around his face. Hunter rubs his sweating palms against his knee, smiling wearily up at Jack. He had aged several years since leaving port on this wild goose chase and Pierre could not help the feelings of responsible guilt washing over him.

"That bad?" Jack mumbles, unable to look him in the eyes.

"No." Hunter shakes his head, sitting up properly removing all weariness. "In fact, that one was easy compared to some I have been witnessed to in the past. We may just come out of this yet, sir."

"They ask about the whereabouts of Carter?"

"Surprisingly they did not. However, I was also not present when she slipped over the side after being shot at either." Hunter lied, smirking devilishly.

A relieved laugh shakes Pierre's shoulders as he pats Hunter on the back, shaking the young man lightly with a strong grip on his neck. The pair had not discussed the events of that night since it occurred. Jack did not have an inkling as to what would be asked or what Oscar would say. He only knew that the man would be truthful in his answers. But it was evident that even the youngest did not agree with what had happened aboard The Governor throughout those hellish days and responded in a way to protect the queen as well.