Pirates folly

Chapter 1

Nassau Beach 1717

It was evening time in Nassau, the skies were crystal clear and there wasn't a breath of wind to speak of, it was a beautifully perfect, still evening.The sea lapped gently onto the beach floodlit by the full moon. Blackbeard had organised a gathering seafront to celebrate his recent lucrative haul from a Spanish convoy,

It had been a convoy that he'd pursued for a few months prior to attack, fair to say he'd even become a little obsessed with it all for a while.

Thatch had crossed paths with a jumped up cockshot Spanish lieutenant by the name of Señor Hernandez some six months earlier in Havana, he'd pissed Thatch off during a set to in the docks and since that time he'd been set on getting his own back, Hernandez was lucky to escape with an empty ship and his life intact if truth be told. Charles Vane had likened him previously to a dog with a bone on occasion and you thought that was a pretty accurate description.

Thatch always held long celebrations after he'd had a substantial haul, he was quite renown for them, pirates and privateers would get word and gather from all over the Caribbean, usually to show face, no one wanted to get on his wrong side, his fearsome reputation preceded him. Thatch's parties were really quite something sometimes lasting days there was always music, singing, dancing and a constant flow of liquor and this one didn't look like it was going to disappoint either.

It was fairly late, you sat at Edwards desk on The Jackdaw and glanced momentarily up from your work, it was pitch black outside the window.The flicker of the lantern light flooded the log books you'd been working on in front of you. You'd been busy finishing up on Kenway's fleet plans, it was something that you had taken responsibility for of late, It was a task Edward always loathed and always left it typically til last minute to plan the next leg of voyages so you helped him with all the planning side of things.

The music and merriment was clear to hear from Edwards desk as you sat there alone, you preferred to work in the quiet as there were fewer distractions and you always managed to get the task done in half the time. Placing your quill down you rubbed your face, eyes now tired from the dim light but pleased the plans were now finished, you leant across and quickly poured yourself a tot from the leather carafe that Edward always kept on his table, you downed the liquor from the small wooden tumbler, it burned as it went down, standing from the wooden chair you readied yourself to make the short journey shoreside to join the celebrations.

The crew of the Jackdaw had been shoreside for the previous few hours enjoying the celebrations. You'd never known the ship so quiet, it was quite eery.

Edward stood with a couple of his crew chatting and laughing around the big fire that had been lit on the beach, it kicked off immense heat, the light from it illuminated everyone who sat around.

"Kenway!" greeted Thatch loudly with a broad smile as he approached him on the beach, he slapped his hand around Edwards shoulder firmly, there'd been so many people there that he'd only just got round to speaking to him

"Thatch" welcomed Edward. "quite a night so far" he smiled nodding his head at the large crowd gathered

"Aye, quite a turnout eh and all this rum.... courtesy of Señor Hernandez" he wheezed a loud laugh "so fill your boots and enjoy" he continued lifting the bottle he was holding up in a toast.

Edward laughed in response, taking a long gulp from the bottle Thatch offered forward, he passed it back afterward

"I will Thatch, thank you"

Placing his hand back on Edwards shoulder he turned him away from the others and faced the shoreline, he tilted his head into Edwards

"Listen Kenway" He growled quieter and more seriously "got wind of some substantial loot being housed in a fort not far from Jamaica ......... that be sommat that May interest you?"