Heart of the Abyss (A Pirate's Tale)

Heart of the Abyss (A Pirate's Tale) - 4th Chapter

Chapter 5

Conviction and Escape

For the past few days, the garrison of Port Royal was busy making itself stronger than it was before, given the attack of last night. Jeremy was summoned everyday to prime his ship for a sudden attack, as he was the first to respond to the attack. Also, he was promoted to commodore for the same deed.

The pirate, after what had transpired, was awaiting trial on the charge of piracy. Though he swore oaths, curses, and cries when he was sent to the brig then to prison when the ship went back to shore, he held his peace and spoke not to a soul in the prison, even to fellow convicted pirates awaiting their trial.

For a time, there was peace in Port Royal. Not a single threat was to be seen disturbing the calm of the ocean around it; however, in the Port itself, there was none, as Jeremy was about to find out.

On the morning of a month after he was appointed commodore, Jeremy was disturbed by a loud rapping on the front door.

He ran down hastily towards the door, wanting to stop the ruckus and be done with it. Just as he was about to open it, the rapping stopped.

"Strange," Jeremy whispered to himself as he opened the door.

There was no one there.

Scratching his head and muttering about discourteous ruffians, he slowly closed the door again to sleep some more, but something wide and large at the foot of the door made him look twice.

There on the rug outside lay a long, ornate box. On top of it was a letter sealed in wax that bore the seal of two crossed tridents.

A grim feeling crept over him as he slowly opened the letter.

There, written in deep red ink, were the following words...

Perhaps this would open your eyes to who you really are...

He reread the letter, wondering what it could mean, but the sound of wheels and galloping horses made him look up from it and forget what he was supposed to do about the box and the letter.

The governor's carriage halted in front of the door and Catherine stepped out of it.

"Good morning, Jeremy," Catherine greeted, and upon seeing the situation Jeremy was into, she asked, "Is something the matter?"

"What? Oh, it's nothing worth fretting about," he assured with a smile. "Come on in," he said in a manner of invitation.

He called for a servant to bring up the box to his room. Then, he indulged Catherine to breakfast.

"What brings you here in so early an hour?" He asked while the both of them were in the midst of eating. Lady Cassandra, at the time, was still in bed.

"I... Well... I've come to warn you," Catherine said in a tone that sent Jeremy to the feeling he had before when he saw the box and the letter.

"What have you come to warn me about?" He was speaking in almost a whisper.

"Do you know Richard Gregson?" She asked in urgency.

"Yes, he's the admiral of The Crown's first naval fleet, and the youngest and most notorious of all the admirals still in service. Why?"

"The old admiral stationed here was called back to England due to the attack that almost burned Port Royal. The new admiral had just made land two days before, and his immediate action was to question every crew and officer of every warship stationed here about the attack on Port Royal."

"And?"

"Father was there when Admiral Gregson questioned your first mate. He asked of the events that transpired when you attacked the pirate ship of the scourge of the seven seas. He... your first mate... He mentioned the exchange you had with the pirate you were with the night of the attack!"