Honor Among Thieves || Book Two

~14~

Instead of a joyous reunion, the crew of the Destiny gathered together for a funeral.

After leaving Tortuga, Monty's body was clothed and placed in a longboat that was lowered into the sea just as the sun began to rise. While Mange read from the twenty-third Psalm, Sera willed waves to overtake the boat and carry it to the murky depths where the deceased could find his rest...

"Who would do somethin' like that?" Wolfie asked as he joined his captain, stroking his stubble thoughtfully. She shook her head, her eyes wide and unseeing. "I have never, as long as I have been captain of this ship, never lost a single man. And now," Her voice quivered as tears pooled in her eyes. "And now this."

Wolfie put a comforting hand on her back. "Now Cap'n, ye can't blame yerself. Ye didn't know--"

"Exactly." She pulled away from him. "I didn't know, I-I don't know. I must've missed something somewhere. Who would..."

Her voice trailed off.

"Ye don't know what sort o' dealin's Monty had 'fore ye took 'im in. Coulda been someone he owed money." He said, gently patting her back. She sighed and lowered her eyes. "I know. We just need to keep our eyes and ears open, I suppose."

"Aye." He gave her a friendly hug. "Now, go get some rest."

She frowned. "Rest? I just got back. The sun is rising and you've--"

"I can handle 'em a few more hours."

"Have I ever told you that you're my favorite?" She quipped, breaking into a smile. He snickered. "I think ye did when ye made me first mate."

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Later, aboard the Black Pearl...

"Beckett?! You mean...As in 'Cutler Beckett'?!"

"Yes." Elizabeth looked at Gibbs funnily and gestured toward the leather-bound letters in Jack's hand. "He signed them."

Grimacing, Jack tossed the letters aside.

Gibbs's eyes nearly popped out of his skull. "Jack, d'ye know what this means?"

"I most certainly do, Gibbs." Jack replied in an offhand manner, nibbling his lip as he looked out at the vast sea. "It would appear that Master Turner has been working for Beckett this entire time and conveniently neglected to tell us."

"And he wants the compass." Gibbs added. "Beckett sent William--"

"To get me compass." Jack interjected, drumming his fingers on the hilt of his sword. "And there's only one reason he would want me compass..."

"He did mention a chest." Elizabeth said, earning a mortified look from Jack. He bit back a curse and nodded slowly. "That's it. He wants to find the bloody chest."

Gibbs gulped. "And with the chest, he--"

"He and the whole blasted East India Trading Company would have complete control over the seas." Jack stated flatly, a chill running up his spine. Gibbs shuddered. "'Tis a terrible thought."

"Absolutely wretched." Jack grumbled, looking up at the tar black sails. "Don't you think we could be moving a bit faster?"

Gibbs nodded and made his way down the stairs barking out orders. Once he was gone, Jack shifted his focus to Elizabeth and waved the Letters of Marque in front of her face. "Care to tell me how you came across these?"

She shifted uneasily on her feet and averted her eyes. "Persuasion."

"The friendly sort?"

She looked up at him, her breath unexpectedly hitching in her throat when she met his eyes. "No."