Sea Bound

The Plan's End

I'm f****d. 

It's all I can think as I creep away from the shadowed corner of the cave I'd been dragged to. My hands are sticky, I can feel what I only assume is blood crusting on my face.

My body aches in random spots, especially my jaw, but my senses are heightened. I'm trembling, not from fear, but from the fight. 

I see a few people scattered about the cave, some Imperials still awake at this hour, drinking. It's only a matter of time before someone notices those two bastards have disappeared. And if they see me, then it's all over. 

I crouch behind a small cluster of crates, taking slow, deliberate breaths until I'm breathing evenly. I can see the mass of materials that lead to the sleeping area, and I know my men are in there. 

There's nothing for it. 

We take the ship now, or die trying. We'll die anyway if I'm found out. Two dead Imperials - who's the most likely suspect? The crew of random civilians, obviously. 

So I lick my lips, cringe at the coppery taste, and move. 

My feet carry me effortlessly, almost silently, and I'm able to slip into the dormitory without drawing any attention. Luckily, my men are the only ones sleeping on the ground, and I creep towards Sam. 

He's lying on his back with one arm over his head and the other on his chest. 

Putting my hand over his mouth is enough to jolt him awake, and he instinctively grabs my arm hard. 

His eyes narrow at me, the sleep fading quickly in the dark depths, until his brows furrow. 

I put my finger over my lips before I lift the other hand from over his face.

"What the f**k happened?" He whispers furiously. My nose crinkles in disgust before I move away from Sam, giving him a chance to sit up. 

"Imperials," I seethe, but it's all I say before I'm covering the face of the next member of my crew. 

Together Sam and I wake all twenty of them, and we're crouched in various positions about the sleep space. 

"We move now," I whisper and their delighted faces tell me they've been waiting for this moment. 

"But we move quickly and we move quietly. Sam will take two men to go and cut the ropes holding her down. The rest of us will take out the patrols and get on board. There's about ten Imperials on deck, but they're scattered." 

My heart is in my throat. All the waiting is finally coming to an end, but there's so many f*****g things that can go wrong. 

"Get your arses onto the ship because if you're not there when Sam cuts the ropes, then we'll leave you behind. Try not to kill anyone - stealing a ship is one thing, but we don't need a man hunt bent on revenge." 

I can't really talk, considering the two men I'd just bashed to death. But then again, that was their own fault. 

"There's tools in the smithy and more weapons on board. Move fast. Move quiet. I’ll either see you on board or in hell." 

I grin at them, and they beam back. 

We move slowly, two or three at a time, until we’re out of the sleeping area and spread out, hiding behind anything that will shield us. 

Sam is a few paces away from me and he catches my eye. I nod and he returns it, before he’s turning and sneaking towards the right side of the ship where most of the ropes are tying her down. 

I know the anchor is lowered as well, so we’ll have to get in there and raise it before we do anything else.

I’m about to take a step when a strangled, cut off yelp catches my attention. I turn to see the boots of an Imperial being dragged behind a crate. Here’s hoping they didn’t kill him. 

More and more of the patrolling Imperials are yanked, knocked, or shoved down - and all done so pretty quietly. 

It isn’t until I’m scaling the side of the ship do I hear the first real, panicked shout. It seems to echo around the cave, ricohetting through my skull and then concentrating on the sleeping quarters. 

There’s a faint rustle and I know we’re running out of time.

I gesture hurriedly to my crew and they abandon their cover to make a run for the ship. I continue to scale her effortlessly, and just as I throw my legs over the gunwharf, I hear the tight click of a pistol. 

Moving instinctively, I throw myself onto the deck as the loud sizzle and bang of the gun fires around the cave. The sound of the bullet hitting the cave behind me is a tinny thud, and my heart jumps into my throat as I realise just how close it had come to hitting me.

But I have no time to recover, because my crew is letting out a rallying cry as they storm onto the deck, boots smacking against the wood as fists and bodies connect with faces and stomachs.

I heave myself to my feet and rush into the fray, lowering my body and angling myself to slam hard into an Imperial’s stomach, throwing us both to the ground and knocking the wind out of the other. 

They’re not prepared for us, but they’re putting up a damn good fight. Shouting and commotion is spreading through the cave, and it won’t be long until we’re swarmed. 

“Raise the anchor!” I yell, getting the attention of a few of them. 

They turn and race towards the back of the ship, disappearing down a hatch that I pray leads to the anchor capstan. 

I turn to rejoin the melee but am stopped by a flash of metal. I'm just about able to turn away from a fatal blow in the guts, but the sword still slices through my side. I cry out, throwing myself on the ground and rolling away from another swing. 

I keep my eye on the Imperial coming after me and I recognise the sailor that had caught me outside the Captain’s cabin a few days ago. 

His face is flushed red and teeth bare, gnashing at me in pure rage as he swipes again. I dive away from the sword but I collide heavily with the gunwharf. I groan and twist my head awkwardly, only to see the sailor still coming for me. He's got me pinned, and I can see the black murder in his eyes.

The sailor cries out as he raises his arm, bringing the sword down in a heavy arc that will take off my head. I stay steady until the last moment, jolting my head to the side and hearing the woody thud as the sword is embedded in the ship. 

I take the chance, lashing out with my foot and catching the sailor in the stomach. He grunts and stumbles backwards, giving me a chance to reach up and grab the hilt. 

I pull, but it's stuck in there well. 

He screams at me and charges, snarling like a rabid dog. I gasp as he collides with my body, but I keep a firm hold on the sword. We're both hauled forward with the momentum and the sailor yelps as he's thrown overboard. I nearly follow him, but I brace my knee against the gunwharf and hold the hilt for dear life.

It just abouts stops me from going over, and as I lean over the gunwharf, I see that every Imperial is now fighting to get on deck. 

"Captain!"

I turn at the sound, just about able to see Sam as he climbs onto the deck. He's bloody and breathless, but he's smiling. I can feel the sway on the ship, the knock of her bow against the cave floor. 

"Get the sails down!" I all but scream, rushing over to the main mast in the center of the deck. 

My crew are fighting around the edges now, trying to keep the other sailors from climbing aboard and there's nothing for it. I'll have to release the sail myself. 

My hands are slick with sweat and blood, my side is sharp and aching. I can feel warmth running down my shirt, into my breeches, but my heart is still hammering and my limbs are loose and strong. 

I jump onto the mast and scramble to get a foothold, before I’m shimmying up it like I’ve done it a thousand times. 

True, I have, but not on a mast this big. By the time I reach my top, I’m panting and sweat is beading on my brow. I’m not sure if its from exertion or pain, but I push that thought aside. I grab the ropes that are binding the sails and start to pluck at them, internally cursing myself for not bringing a knife. 

I open one, two, three. My fingers are swift and nimble, but it still feels like an age until the sails are freed. They drop and fan out with a gran whoosh, rushing towards the deck. I hear a surprised yelp and just about see a figure jumping out of the way. 

The main yard of the sail swings about wildly, and I just about lift my legs to avoid being knocked off by it. 

“Someone secure the yard!” I howl, wrapping my hand in a rope so I can lean outwards and see past the sail. 

The Imperials are starting to swarm us from all sides, more and more of them breaking through my crew and onto the deck. They’re like ants - fighting and crawling and forcing their way onto my delicious prize. I bare my teeth before I start a quick, unsteady descent. 

I land on deck hard, the force jolting up my legs and making me stumble. My side is burning now, and there’s little black spots in my vision. I growl in frustration but force myself forward, grabbing at the ropes and pulleys to secure the yard. 

As I’m frantically tying the sail down, I hear a distinctive click behind me and I freeze, slowly glancing over my shoulder to see the barrel of a gun pointed right at my head. 

“Let go of the ropes.”

Gerard is watching me with narrowed eyes, but his skin is pale and arm trembling. Knowing that my crew are busy fighting for their lives, there’s no one who can come and help me.

So I drop the ropes and raise my hands, palms up, before I turn and face him. His chest is heaving, but I don’t see the blind rage in his eyes that I’m expecting. No, I see… sadness. Hurt. Disappointment. 

Which is somehow even worse. 

“How could you do this to me, Hamish?” he asks, his voice hard and demanding. I open my mouth for a sarcastic retort, but the words die on my tongue. I’m left with my jaw hanging open, my brows furrowed as I fight for something to say. I don’t know what’s stunned me, what’s come over me, but I don’t know how to answer him. 

“Is this who you really want to be?” He asks, although I’m not sure he really wants an answer. “A thief? A pirate?”

My jaw snaps closed, my teeth clacking as I press them together. 

“It’s what I am,” I snap back, frustrated at myself and my own lack of f*****g reaction. 

Gerard’s eyes widen, and he looks me over as thought it’s the first time he’s ever seen me. The truth seems to shock him to his core, although it can hardly be surprising at this point, right? 

Did he really trust me so much that my being anything other than the sweet little merchant’s son is just incomprehensible? Or did he really just want to believe me? I seem to be a reminder of the son he lost, and perhaps that was what blinded him so much. But that’s hardly my fault now, is it?

I glance around as I feel a cold, salty breeze rush over my body, and I see that the ship has swayed herself enough that she’s left the safety of the cave. The wind is behind us, forcing us forward, even though the sails aren’t secure. I can hear splashing and I lean to the side enough to watch my crew dumping Imperials overboard. 

Gerard follows my line of sight and I see the helplessness in his eyes. 

He knows he’s lost the ship, but he’s obviously a proud man. The gun is raised higher, his hand no longer trembling. It seems he’s willing to die aboard his stolen vessel. 

“Jump.”

Gerard’s eyes snap back to me and I hold them with my own. I don’t know how, and I certainly don’t know why, but I don’t want this man to die. He’s old, he’s done his part. He treated me with kindness when none was needed, and I really do believe that he would have taken me in. He would have taken me to his home, introduced me to his family, fed and clothed me, got me into the naval ranks. 

It’s the first time I’ve ever had that - kindness from a stranger. 

He doesn’t deserve to die, and I hope he can see the truth of that in my eyes. 

He licks his lips, his eyes darting from me to my crew, and back to me again. 

“Just jump,” I repeat, taking a step forward. His hand tightens on the gun, but I don’t think he actually wants to use it. 

I stop as the gun presses against my forehead, and his eyes are wide as I slowly reach up and wrap my hands around the pistol. 

He lets me take it from him, before his shoulders slump. 

“I cannot go back and face my peers knowing that I didn’t fight for this ship,” he says quietly, his voice almost confiding even if his eyes are cast down. 

“You did fight,” I say quietly, turning my head as I hear cheering coming from my crew. We’re on the open waters now, and I know we’re running out of time. If they see Gerard, they’ll kill him. 

“You fought, and you lost. There’s no shame in that.”

Gerard lets out a humourless laugh, before he starts to step backwards. 

“Shoot me.”

My brows narrow and I instinctively glance at the pistol in my hands. Gerard leans his back against the gunwharf, and he’s watching me with tired eyes. 

“Save your reputation, and mine.”

It clicks, and I understand. 

I hear someone shouting my name, and running footsteps, but I don’t turn my head. Instead I aim the pistol high, firing in a cloud of sparks. The shot coats my hand and I feel the familiar hot pricks of gunpowder searing my skin, but my eyes never leave the Admiral. I’m almost certain that he smiles at me before he’s thrown overboard with the force of the bullet. 

The breath I release is slow and measured, letting out all the peculiar attachment that I had over a complete stranger. 

My crew reach me, some looking over the gunwharf to where the admiral fell. I just hope he’s either been taken by the waves, or is already behind us. 

For a long moment, my men and I stand there. We look around the empty deck, at the gilded wood and glittering bannisters. We admire the expensive paint, the billowing sails. We’re silent as we bob through the waves, watching as the island begins to sink behind us. 

I’m not sure who breaks it first, but it causes an explosion. My men howl and cheer, laugh and shout, reveling in our victory. I find myself laughing aloud with them, because honestly? I never expected us to get the ship. 

Not that I wasn’t going to give it my all, but… there was always such a small chance of success. But as I look around my ship, over her gorgeous features, I can scarcely believe that she’s mine. 

I give the men a few moments of celebration before I climb up onto the quarter deck, my hands running over the smooth wood of her wheel. 

My heart is jumping, dancing. My stomach is knotting with excitement. She’s mine. I smile, my hands gripping her tight, before I cast my eyes at the men below. 

“What are you standing there for?” I yell, and they jump to attention. “Get that sail secured and lower the masts! Clear this deck of the Imperial bastards! I want us flying through these waves!”

The men scramble to follow my orders and I cackle to myself. 

If only Kellian could see me now.

---

Alexander

The news arrived two weeks after the incident, and not just by letter. It arrived personally from the Admiral himself. 

Five dead. Seven severely injured. Twelve with minor injuries. Two missing. 

My crew is decimated. My ship is gone. 

Anger doesn't even begin to describe what I feel. Rage doesn't quite meet it, either. But that is nothing compared to what I feel as the Admiral answers my question. 

“The name he gave was Hamish Morrison, Captain. Although I doubt that’s his real name.”

My limbs turn to ice. My heart seems to stop. Bones and muscles and skin all turn taught, and the breath catches in my throat. 

“H - Hamish?”

The Admiral looks at me with a furrowed brow. “Yes. But as I said, I doubt it’s-”

“Hamish,” I mutter, turning to lean over my desk. I brace myself with my palms flat, my eyes unseeing as the name swirls around and around in my head. 

Laughter bubbles from my chest and to my throat, escaping in a maniacal cackle. The Admiral watches me, concern evident on his bruised and battered face. 

"Of course it is," I mumble, still laughing. "Of course." 

The Admiral steps towards me. 

"Do you know him, Captain?" 

I cast my eyes upwards, barely able to take control of my laughter. I dread to know what my face looks like while it wears such a twisted smile, but the look of horror on Gerard's face speaks volumes. 

Without explanation, I turn and grab an empty pack from my cupboard, before I start stuffing it with anything that seems necessary. 

"Captain?" 

I do not reply as I shove some bread and my coinpurse into the pack. 

"Alexander," he says more forcefully, grabbing my arm and stopping my movements. 

"Admiral," I announce cheerily, causing the man to almost blanch. "I'm requesting leave effective immediately." 

"What? But-" 

"I don't know how long I'll be gone, but considering I've worked tirelessly for years I'm going to assume that I've earned that much." 

"Alexander, stop. What are you doing?" 

I manage to step out of his weak hold before I shake myself out of my blue Imperial jacket, instead picking up a less inconspicuous brown one. 

"I shall keep you updated as regularly as I can," I say, already turning for the door. 

"Captain Williams!"

The authority is like a whip, and I halt out of habit. My back is straight as I turn to face my superior, but there's only concern in his eyes. 

"What are you planning to do?" He asks, and for once I'm lacking a meticulously planned answer. 

With my chin raised and my jaw set, I answer him. 

"I'm going to Purgatory. I'm going to get myself on board a pirate vessel and I'm going to hunt down the little prick that stole my ship and take it back." 

There's silence stretching between us, and Gerard is watching me dubiously. He shifts the arm that's in a sling, but I can see he knows that I won't be stopped. Instead he purses his lips and sets me with a hard look. 

"And when you find him?" He asks slowly. 

My answering smile is grim. 

"I'm going to kill him."