My head was about to explode. The man who apparently had fooled me stood there as if nothing had happened. Although I didn't want to trust Admiral Wright, something told me he wasn't as bad as I thought... Stupid soft heart! One more time, I squeezed my eyes shut while recalling Dirk's words. Maybe my softness got in my way sometimes... Who am I kidding? Of course, it did! I was about to give a chance to the man who kidnapped Maartje and Laurens... and let's not forget he killed my uncle too! Probably not directly, but he'd definitely given the order. Like a scared prey, Wright took a step back. I panted while remembering all the sadness the SHA had brought me. I shook my head in denial, not believing he had the guts to face me after everything. Hoping an SHA army wasn't waiting for me, I approached the British man.

I huffed, "How did you find me? What do you want?"

"It isn't hard to find the only female pirate captain that exists," Wright raised his brows. "I still need your help."

"You can't be serious!" I laughed nervously. "What are you going to do next? Ask for a hug?"

"I would've met you at the tavern if Mrs. Campbell hadn't shown up unannounced," the man took a deep breath. "I know where she took the two pirates."

Could he be my only chance to rescue Laurens and Maartje?

Pacing and sweating, I thought about The Englishman's words. Could Mrs. Campbell be indeed blackmailing him? Was that man a victim or a liar? All I wanted was to learn witchcraft and make that problem disappear.

"You let my friends be kidnapped, sent your clowns to kill my uncle, and made my life a living hell," I shot the admiral an icy glare. "Why in the name of rum should I believe you?"

"Mrs. Campbell ordered me to murder an Ocean Storm crewmember, but I didn't know he was your uncle. I'm sorry," the admiral pressed his lips together. "I promise to take you to your friends and send fewer men after you."

I scowled, "How about no men?"

Wright sighed, "If I eliminate the SHA now, Mrs. Campbell will expose my secrets."

"So, after I help you, we go back to being enemies?" I looked deep into Wright's eyes. "Because you wish to destroy the SHA, not the Royal Navy."

The Englishman shrugged, "Although I'll keep chasing criminals, I'm leaving you and your allies alone."

I chuckled, "I thought you didn't hate pirates."

"I'm stuck between the Navy and piracy. For now, I'll stay with my job," he glanced away. "However, I disagree with the brutal methods Mrs. Campbell developed with Atkins. She forces me to apply them."

"This makes less sense than a crab lifting a coconut!" I rolled my eyes. "How can you be stuck between two opposite things?"

The admiral sighed, "Let's have a drink and I'll explain everything. You may bring your allies too if you'd like."

"I hope I don't regret this," I took a deep breath. "Come with me."

Breathing fast, I walked towards Rosa's house with Wright. His expression wasn't stern and it didn't seem he wanted to grab his weapons. Everything was fine... Until Miguel, Nuria, Joaquim, and Giacomo laid eyes on Wright. Luckily, Rosa was with the kids in another room. Francis growled. Everyone except Faria pointed a pistol at the admiral.

I jumped in front of Wright, "This is Admiral Thomas Wright. Some call him The Englishman. I know this sounds insane, but he's on our side."

"With Hunter Atkins' help, Mrs. Campbell blackmailed me to found the SHA," the British man raised his hands in surrender. "I need you to recover what she stole from me. I'll become your ally in return."

Nuria, Giacomo, and Miguel returned the blunderbusses to their weapon belt. Joaquim bit his lower lip firmly while staring at the admiral defiantly. Wright was paralyzed as if he'd seen a ghost. I cocked my head to the side, trying to understand the situation. Francis whined, apparently scared. I caressed my dog's head as Pilantra walked closer to The Englishman. Miguel frowned, seemingly as confused as me.

"That's your new name, Andrew? Que interessante..." Joaquim grinned sarcastically. "I'm not surprised. The Royal Navy would kill you if they knew your true identity."

Thomas Wright indeed isn't his real name...

Miguel and I looked at each other then back at Thomas... or was it Andrew? I squeezed my eyes shut... How did Faria know Wright's actual name? That was insane!

Giacomo narrowed his eyes, "Is this vero? Did you lie to Captain Storm about who you are?"

Andrew nodded, "I'll explain everything if we have a drink now. I'm also going to reveal your captured friends' location."

"The last thing I want is to drink with a Navy man. No offense, Andrew," I gazed at the ground briefly. "However, he may be our only way to destroy the SHA and find our friends."

My allies kept staring at the admiral. Joaquim looked at the ceiling, seemingly avoiding Andrew's gaze. I chewed on my lip, hoping no one would start a fight... What? It was five pirates and a dog against one admiral! The chances of a conflict were high.

Miguel nodded, "Muy bien. If Eva gives this man a chance, I'm doing the same."

"Me too," Nuria's lips curled into an evil grin. "We'll cut him to pedacitos if he backstabs us."

Ricci shrugged, "I'm so desperate to get rid of the SHA that I won't refuse anything."

Joaquim wrinkled his nose while turning to Andrew, "If I don't have to see this idiot's face much, I'm in."

"A beautiful friendship is blossoming already!" I grinned sarcastically. "Let's go."

It didn't take long for us to arrive at the tavern Andrew wished to go. Everyone except for Joaquim and the admiral introduced themselves. Once we sat, the admiral said to my friends what he'd already told me. Mrs. Campbell naming the SHA after Hunter Atkins, the alliance... Everything. Joaquim drank his ale desperately. Francis approached Pilantra as if he felt sorry for him.

"With all that in mind, allow me to properly introduce myself," the British man took a deep breath. "I'm Andrew Knight."

Joaquim forced a smile, "Also known as the backstabbing quartermaster who, without saying goodbye, left our crew for the stupid Navy eight years ago."

Now I know why Faria hates him.

When I thought I wasn't related to that story, my eyes bulged... Knight. Guess what? That was Quartermaster Devil's last name! Yes, one of the violent bastards I killed before being elected captain. The man who'd treated my friends and me like garbage for months with Captain Monster's help. You may also remember Captain Monster and Quartermaster Devil as the male versions of my evil stepmother... True gentlemen!

I chuckled nervously, "This may be just a coincidence, but are you related to Graham Knight?"

"He was my older brother," Andrew sighed. "I know you killed him and Damian Fletcher, but I'm not angry. The bastards had it coming."

Raising a brow, I tried to understand what Andrew's trick was. Francis cocked his head to the side, apparently confused... Quartermaster Devil's younger brother wasn't mad at me? I blinked fast, expecting to wake up from that dream any moment.

"Graham was horrible. He tried to rape our sister once when we still lived in London," Andrew wrinkled his nose. "The way he and Fletcher treated their crew motivated me to join the Navy."

"I would've killed those horrible men too," Miguel's eyes widened. "Eva did the right thing."

I'm glad I did at least something right.

Joaquim wouldn't stop drinking. He did everything to avoid looking at Knight. I scowled, hoping that tension between them wouldn't get in the way of defeating the SHA. Quarrels can ruin many things, including schemes to destroy pirate hunters.

Nuria huffed, "How is your false identity related to our situation?"

"Mrs. Campbell and I talked a while ago. She congratulated me for being the youngest Royal Navy admiral in history," Knight sighed pronouncedly. "I was stupid enough to tell her I used to be a pirate. She pretended to like it, so I mentioned the Crown treasure."

Faria laughed nervously, "You told her about the diamond necklace with rare pink gemstones? Jesus Cristo..."

"I was drunk! She pointed a pistol and made me get the jewel," Andrew rubbed his face. "After I gave it, she threatened to tell the Royal Navy I was a criminal if I didn't start the SHA."

"I wish she'd told them," Joaquim narrowed his eyes. "You deserve to be hunted after betraying our crew."

So the founder of the SHA was Joaquim's quartermaster...

I sipped my rum while absorbing that information... Would life ever get sick of throwing surprises at me? First Andrew was Knight's brother, now he let Mrs. Campbell know about a robbed treasure and got blackmailed because of it! I thought my story was the craziest, but Andrew's seemed pretty messed up too.

Miguel crossed his arms, "Why did you abandon piracy?"

"Fletcher and my brother were allied to Joaquim and me. I got sick of their violence," Knight stared at the ground. "I became determined to end pirates like them."

Pilantra chuckled, "I broke the alliance a month after you left. You could've just told me those idiots bothered you!"

Andrew sipped his rum, "The past can't be changed. I need to get my treasure back and stop that lady's blackmail."

Giacomo raised a brow, "To summarize, you want us to recover this jewel before the crazy woman exposes you."

"Exactly. In exchange for your effort, I'll provide information about the SHA to help you destroy it," Andrew tilted his head slightly downward. "The problem is I don't know where she put the necklace."

"This looks too good to be true," I rubbed my chin. "Is there something else you'd like to say?"

Knight took a deep breath and glanced at the wall... Wasn't I a mind reader? If piracy didn't work, I could guess people's thoughts for a living... Don't judge me! I had a right to have crazy ideas after everything that'd happened.

"The second secret is... more complicated," the admiral chewed on his lip. "It's a death sentence."

Gálvez pushed his glass away, "It can't be muy worse than being a former pirate in the Navy."

"Trust me, it is," Knight rubbed his forehead. "Mrs. Campbell took advantage of my drunkenness in that same night and stole a love letter I wrote."

"You're creating a huge problem because of a letter? Seriously?" I laughed and shook my head in denial. "I thought I was the only one who liked jokes!"

Andrew gulped, "It wasn't for a woman."

Faria almost choked with his drink. Knight turned to him while sighing... Guess what? The situation was much more complicated than I'd thought! Francis barked, apparently upset.

Joaquim forced a laugh, "Why's everyone looking at me? I don't know what this maluco is talking about!"

"I'm sorry," the admiral looked deep into Pilantra's eyes. "They might read it, so I must tell the truth."

Faria scowled, "You can't do this!"

"Don't be dramatic," Nuria knit her brows. "Your secret isn't dark, Joaquim."

"Mamma mia!" Ricci turned to the admiral. "Could someone explain what's going on?"

"Joaquim and I didn't just work together," Andrew glanced at the table as if he wanted to hide. "We were a couple."

Faria was paralyzed. Francis whined and approached him, seemingly wanting to help. The Portuguese man breathed so fast I thought he'd faint... Yeah, Andrew hadn't lied. However, some things didn't make sense... Why did Pilantra kiss me if he liked men? That was insane! Joaquim threw his glass against the ground, spreading ale everywhere. I gawked, feeling bad for the poor soul who'd have to clean that later.

"You bastard!" Faria bared his teeth. "That's the one thing people can't know about me! Ever!"

Knight's eyes widened, "These guys are pirates. They're the last people who'd judge us."

"Now everyone knows I'm a freak. I hope you're happy," Joaquim stood up and took a step back. "Excuse me."

"People aren't freaks for being different!" the admiral knit his brows. "Don't overreact, Joe!"

Faria squeezed his eyes shut, "You lost your right to call me that a long time ago."

Joaquim left in a hurry. I sighed, remembering when everybody thought I was weird for being unusual... Was there a worse sensation? Definitely not! I had no idea Andrew and Joaquim were once in love. Taking a deep breath, I prayed that problem wouldn't stop my allies and me from defeating the SHA. Also, I didn't want Faria to be upset despite the trouble he'd caused when we met. No one deserved to feel inferior for not following the rules some boring old guy had created. 

****

Author's note: Hey! Thank you for reading! I hope everyone is well. Please vote and comment if you enjoyed this chapter and follow the "Battles and Secrets" playlist on Spotify. How will Joaquim's secret affect Eva's fight against the SHA? Keep reading and you'll find out... :-) Also, take a look at my aesthetic for Andrew below the translations. 

I dedicate this chapter to my dear friend Ashpoint

Foreign words/expressions in order of appearance:

1. Que interessante means "how interesting" in Portuguese

2. Vero means "true" in Italian

3. Pedacitos means "little pieces" in Spanish

5. Maluco means "crazy man" in Portuguese (ending in "o" refers to a man)

I chose Ewan McGregor to be Andrew Knight because he fits Andrew's description perfectly and I really like him as an actor. Besides, I'm a huge fan of Obi-Wan. If "Battles and Secrets" becomes a movie someday, I believe Ewan would be a great choice to play Andrew. I hope you like my aesthetic!