Siren's Silence

Chapter 16: Snakes and Weasels

James

   Dinner was a silent affair. Siren's composure had returned, but she showed no inclination toward an explanation of the King's behavior. Parker was in a state of brooding. And I was still fighting down my newfound aggression and desire to remove Captain Silver's head from his shoulders. The crew, having apparently sensed the tension, was eating with their eyes on their plates.

  At last, Siren stood and excused herself. Hans and Ivan followed her out, not wanting to leave their captain alone.

  Jack looked to Parker. "Explanation," he said.

  "Silver is up to his old tricks again," Parker growled.

  Gavin asked incredulously, "Did 'e not get the hint when she tried to kill 'im the first time? Why does 'e keep going fer somethin' 'e knows 'e can't have?"

  "Because he thinks he can change her mind," Parker growled.

  "Well, it didn't seem like she was discouraging him," I said.

  The table went silent, and, for the first time, I felt Parker's anger aimed at me. "Watch yourself boy, Siren does what she does for a reason."

  "Then explain her reasoning," I snapped. "She's one of the greatest powers on the seas, yet she answers to a damn pirate. She has her own protected island, so she doesn't do it for safety. She can conquer and plunder any ship she could get close to, so she doesn't need money, and she has an entire town's worth of people willing to sail under her, so she doesn't need crew. So, why the hell is she even here?" I hadn't realized my voice had been growing louder until the silence of the room came crashing to my ears. I was standing, aggressively leaning over the table. I sat back down, looking away from the others. Conversation ensued at the other tables.

  "We best move this conversation elsewhere," stated Jack. "Finish your meals, then we'll leave."

  The group obeyed, downing the last of the food before them. I was already done. Thomas watched me, clearly concerned.

  "What was that all about?" he whispered as we left.

  "I dunno. I'm not myself. I don't know why, but ever since... Ever since I saw him... The way he touched her..." Briefly, the image of his hand tracing down the woman's side, coming to rest at her hip, with clear intentions of continuing once the opportunity presented itself. That deep, cold fury rose up again. "He treated her like a damn prize, as if she was just like those whores on the street."

  "And she let him do this?" Thomas queried.

  "I'm not sure 'let' is the correct term. She seemed a little too surprised to react."

  "You're sure that's not your imagination? Siren is more than capable of killing a man if she needs to. I don't see how even a pirate king could push something upon her that she would not permit..." Thomas's tone was cautious.

  "I'm not really sure of anything. She did pull away rather quickly..."

  "Hm."

  "What do you think?" I asked.

  Thomas sighed, "I think we've gotten ourselves into a world we know nothing about under a captain that we do not understand in a situation that we are far too deeply invested in."

  I nodded. What had I gotten myself into?

  Parker led us to another inn on the higher class end of town. It was smaller than the previous one, with wooden walls and roof, and lit by a multitude of candles and a wide fireplace. He tossed a few coins on the bar and asked for a private room. The middle-aged barkeep obliged, leading us back past the bar to a small room lit by another fireplace and a few more candles, the walls were lined with thickly upholstered furniture that still bore the distinctive scent of rich perfumes.