The following morning, Scarlett was awakened by the hustle and bustle of the crew rising from their drunken slumber. The previous evening had lasted long into the night until little by little, the crew meandered off wherever their stupor took them to find a comfortable place to sleep. Some had wandered above deck to sleep under the cold haze of the moonlight, while others crawled under the scratchy warmth of the blankets on their cots. This is where Scarlett and William spent the night as well, staying in the segregated area usually occupied by Leslie. It was only when Scarlett insisted on giving the Captain his cabin back, offering to stay with her brother, that he had arranged for their more private sleeping quarters.

However, it did little to separate them from the crew's sudden awakening. The men launched to their feet, clumsily slipping on their boots while others who had fallen asleep fully clothed ran above deck.

William rustled beside Scarlett, puzzled by the frenzy around them as well. Then there was the toll of a bell above their heads. It couldn't be a warning of danger--the gun room remained quiet next door--but telling by the crew's response, it had to be important. The two followed suit and rose promptly from their cots, William pulling his waistcoat over his shirt and Scarlett tightening the strings of her stays and slipping into her dress.

Then quickly, they walked through the gun room and climbed above deck into the early morning light. The crew staggered together to form a disorderly circle, still trying to comprehend what was going on as neither their captain nor the quartermaster were to be seen. Scarlett and William joined the outer edges of the group and waited alongside them. As Scarlett watched the remaining few find their positions and stand at attention, she wondered how any of them had been able to serve during wartime. But then again, there was a reason they were pirates.

Suddenly, the cabin door opened and Leslie stepped out. Without an acknowledgement to his audience, he climbed the steps to the stern deck and stood beside the helm. Only then did he survey the crew before him but his expression was neutral.

“Your captain will be out shortly for an announcement,” he said, his hands clasped behind his back. “But first, we will be calling attendance.”

Leslie began going through a list by memory, calling out the names of each crewmember. Each inquiry was answered by a voice in the crowd until one was met with silence.

“Hansen?” Leslie repeated. “Somebody find Hansen.”

A couple of men dispersed from the crowd and climbed down the hatch. Leslie continued checking attendance and nearly finished by the time they came back with the culprit. They carried Hansen by each arm, holding him up to walk on his own feet.

“We found him passed out in the hold, sir,” one of the men said. “A few bottles of rum was laying at his side.”

“He shall be dealt with discipline, then,” Leslie said. “Each man should be at the ready to attend to his duties and the spirits in the hold are to be rationed only for special occasions and Sundays.”

“Swallowed the last drop of rum, I did,” whispered one of the men who had retrieved Hansen as he leaned over to his comrade. “Can't let ‘im have all the fun.”

They snickered quietly together until all attention was drawn to the opening of the cabin door. The Captain finally emerged, standing tall in a long black frock and red velvet waistcoat. His hair had been washed and combed back and his beard was trimmed but his eyes were still weary. Scarlett wondered how much sleep he had gotten the night before.

Leslie jumped to attention, quickly forgetting the drunken pirate struggling to find his balance, as the Captain climbed the steps to the stern deck and stood at his side. Scarlett had always observed his crew as being relaxed in the presence of their captain but now she noticed a tension in the air. Some shifted their weight nervously as the crowd fell silent in anticipation. Announcements must have been rare occurrences on their ship, she mused.

“Sir, would you like me to address the crew?” Leslie said.

“No, thank you, Leslie, that's quite alright,” the Captain said. Then he took in a breath and turned to his audience. “Men, I want to start off by thanking all of you. You've been a loyal, reliable crew to me. We may be called pirates and have faced many battles--not only with those who oppose us but even those of our own--but you have always stood resilient.”

The crew hummed in agreement and a few smiles appeared at the good appraisal by their captain but nervousness was apparent on their faces.

“And it's on that strength,” he continued, “on which I hope I can rely. I have come to a decision. We will no longer work for Bastian De Leon.”

Scarlett's heart leapt. She had heard the Captain mulling over the idea just the night before but his quick decision still came unexpectedly to her. Mutterings erupted throughout the crew, some raising their voices louder in disapproval and stirring up the indignation of their comrades.

“You can't do that!” spoke up a pirate, stepping forward from the crowd. “That's our lives you're talking about. How are we going to make any money? We'll go broke in no time!”

“We'll have our necks broke!” said another, fear in his eyes.

The crew sounded with an agreeing shout.

“Silence!” Leslie said, though it did little to calm them down.

“It was a hard decision,” the Captain said, raising his voice over the rowdy crowd. “Don't think that I have considered this lightly. But we have already made ourselves enemies of Bastian and we are not ones to run from a fight.”

“It's because of the lass,” another pirate chided in, turning to the rest of the crew. “Ever since we picked her up, we've had nothing but trouble. What did I say about bringing women aboard ship? It's bad luck!”

“I say we give her back!” said yet another pirate. “Bastian's men will pay a pretty price for her--you all heard what he said--and then we'll be rid of the problem and can still work for Bastian.”

Scarlett's stomach felt sick as the others expressed their agreement heartily and without hesitation. The safety she had been starting to feel on the Captain's ship vanished immediately. Confirming her uneasiness, William pulled her away from the crew by instinct to protect his sister.

“I will not tolerate any of this!” the Captain said, angrily. “I take full responsibility for this action. Think, men, if your mothers and sisters, wives or lovers were sold into this kind of slavery. Think if your brothers were sold into this nation's petty wars. Perhaps you have already experienced this. Think if you yourselves were sold, not free to roam the seas and do as we please? Many are not as lucky as we are.”

The crew settled down, silenced by his words as they thought of long-lost loved ones back home. Scarlett wondered what untold stories they held and as she remembered the Captain's own past, she could only imagine the weathered, tough faces before her had lived through horrible things.

“Bastian needs to be stopped,” the Captain added. “He can't be allowed to go on and it takes a crew like ours to stand up to him.”

“And how's do you plan to go about doing that?” a pirate said.

“That is the part we have to figure out.”

“With all due respect, Cap’, you mean to tell us you don't even have a plan yet? And you expect us to go along with that?”

“I expect you to trust me, as your captain.”

This was answered by a few scoffs but he grew serious and continued.

“I expect as much from a loyal crew who has always trusted me and worked unitedly to weather any storm that has come our way. However, if you do not wish to proceed with us, I will give you the chance to take your leave from my ship. I will find men willing to embark on this journey and fill your place but I hope it may never come to that and I'm assured you all feel the same. Think on it. You may return to your duties for now, men. Thank you.”

The crew remained quiet, their fears and concerns about their captain's decision now resting silently upon their chests. His mind was made up and the meeting was adjourned so what else were they to do? There was no life out there for them beyond their ship. Hesitantly, the crew dispersed and set off to begin their morning duties.

Scarlett, however, remained motionless, gazing at the several faces that turned to face her as they passed. They didn't say a word but their scowls told her everything. They already resented her.

William tugged at her arm, leading her towards the Captain's cabin. Alexander and Leslie were just stepping inside and allowed for the siblings to follow. Only when the door was closed, shutting out the brightening daylight and the murmuring voices of the crew, did William begin to speak.

“You're putting my sister in harm's way,” he said, approaching the Captain who had walked over to his desk.

“William, don't,” Scarlett said, sensing the anger exuding from him.

“They blame her for your decision,” he continued, ignoring his sister completely. “You've made her the enemy aboard your ship. Did you see the way they looked at her? They despise her. I wouldn't put it past them to consider hurting her and I'm not going to let that happen.”

“Don't you speak of my crew that way,” the Captain said, abruptly. “No harm will come to your sister--I will see to that. If any such man tried to harm her, he would be duly punished with lashings and my crew knows that.”

“I hope you do. If not your crew, then Bastian De Leon. If you're going to start this fight against him, he will come after us more than ever.”

“The lad is right,” Leslie said. “These are dangerous waters, Captain.”

“I know but it's too late to work for him anymore,” the Captain said, gazing at Scarlett.

“This is my battle, too,” she said. “It's all my fault this is happening so it's only right that I help you fight.”

“Don't be ridiculous, Scarlett,” he said. “You haven't been involved in the trade so there's nothing you need to fight for. All you need to worry about is staying safe and finding your sister.”

“But I don't want to just stay safe. I saw the faces of your crew out there. They know I am the reason for this. I need to prove to them that I will stand and fight, too.”

“You don't need to prove anything to them.”

“Scarlett, please, don't be foolish,” William chided in. “Remember what we came here for.”

“Your brother is right, love,” the Captain said. “Our first order of business is to get you to your sister. We are about a day away from Plymouth. We may dock there tonight or by the latest, tomorrow morning. Have you thought about how you're going to search for her?”

Scarlett paused, realizing she hadn't given any more thought to it. She had assumed they would ask the locals around the town but now that they were being sought after by Bastian, things weren't so simple. Now standing before the men, who gazed at her awaiting a response, she lost confidence in her plan. How would she find her sister, a woman she had never seen, in such a daunting town as Plymouth?

“I'll need your help, Alex,” she said. “You know what she looks like. I'm afraid without you, William and I would be lost.”

“I'm not sure I could be of much use to you,” he said, shaking his head. But peering at the pleading look on her face, he sighed and continued, “It goes against everything in my gut to put myself before your sister again. But I will do it only to protect you from any harms along the way. We need to be careful and that brings me to my next order of business. Leslie, please fetch the pistols.”

Leslie stepped over to the corner and retrieved two pistols that hung on the wall. He brought them over and placed them on the desk before his captain, who picked them up individually to inspect them for a brief moment. Rising from his chair, he presented one to William.

“These are flintlock pistols,” the Captain said, handing it to William. “Do you know how to use a gun?”

“No, I'm afraid not,” William said, warily taking hold of it. “Back home, we've never had a need.”

The Captain nodded in understanding but the look of concerned disappointment on his face was not easily disguised. “Well, you're going to learn. And so will you, Scarlett.”

He picked up the other pistol on his desk and handed it to her. The cold metal was heavy in her hands as was the weight of her nerves as she gazed at her weapon.

“You both need to be equipped to protect yourselves in case anything should happen and if it does, don't hesitate to shoot. I mean it.” He gave Scarlett a serious look before turning to his quartermaster. “Leslie, please gather two of the men to teach Scarlett and William how to use their pistols. They can fire off deck for practice.”

“Aye, Captain,” Leslie said, clicking his heels together briskly before moving towards the door. “This way, please,” he added, urging them to follow.

Scarlett was nearly ready to step outside when the Captain called her name. She turned back as the others made their leave, allowing the Captain to approach her privately.

“You do realize I only want to keep you safe,” he said, pushing against the door so that it was barely ajar. “But there's a fire in your eyes--I see it--the same fire I once had when desperate to seek adventure. I fear once we arrive in Plymouth, I may not have another chance to say this and I know I've said it once before but perhaps, things may be different this time. I'm offering you a life of adventure…with me, by my side.”

“Oh, Alex,” Scarlett trailed.

“Think about it,” he said, emphatically.

Scarlett looked up at him thoughtfully before reaching up and touching his face. He leaned in unhesitatingly for a kiss, his lips eagerly searching to steal a moment of passion between them. They had had little time to be alone and he enveloped her in his arms now that he had the chance. But then she pulled away and peered at the expectant face before her.

“I'll think about it,” she said. Then lifting the pistol in her hand and resting the barrel against her shoulder, she smiled and added, “But first, I need to learn how to be a pirate.”