Pirates We Be (Part 2 )

“I heard he was tall and dashing,” whispered the barmaid to the dancer girl.

“No, I heard he was a scarred and grotesque, with skin like cedar bark..” Replied the dancer as she took a sip of ale.

An ungloved finger ran up and down the tankard handle as a smile played on closed lips. He couldn’t help but listen intently to the conversation of the two lovely ladies at his right.

“Oh bullocks, Anne Marie. I bet he’s quite a looker. Strong, daring, and dangerous.. What more could you want in a man than that? “

“Perhaps one that is not wanted by the executioner.”

The figure decided this was indeed his cue and spun on his barstool.

“Dear ladies, excuse my intrusion… But might you be conversing about the infamous Phantom pirate?”

“That we are- what is your take on him Mister..” Anne started.

“O’Connor. Please, call me Joseph.” The lean figure took her hand from the bar and kissed it, doing the same to the maid across his way. “What do I think about him? I think he’s a genius and a criminal.. A gentleman and a thief. One can’t help but be disgusted by the way he plunders riches from entire towns, but at the same time, one can only admire his ingenuity and elegance.” He gazed at Anne Marie with a gray eye, the other being partially covered by long and straight hair he kept in a loose ponytail behind him.

Anne giggled. “You hear that, Elisa? He sounds like an expert on the man..”

“Indeed he does,” said the interested barmaid. “Where do you hail from, traveler?”

“London, actually.. but It’s been a while since I’ve seen England’s shores… I’m here by the Queen’s charge, to catch that criminal pirate that you speak of. “

“Truly? Oh that does explain it, Elisa, “ said an excited Anne Marie.

“But it keep it quiet, “ the man said with a wink. “We don’t know who could be listening.”

Indeed he did. Just over the dancer’s shoulder was a table crowded with men, laughing and drinking. The man knew they listened intently and he caught the eye of a muscular bearded one and gave him the slightest of nods. The figure conversed quietly with the others at his table and they quietly left the tavern.

“Oh please, Joseph, tell us more about him- we won’t tell!”

“If you insist, “ shrugged the man as he drank deeply from his ale. “His ship is like the ocean itself, it does not merely ride on top of the waves but moves in a fashion that one would argue that it is an extension of the water. He captains this ship effortlessly, moving from port to port, from the Caribbean to the far east with no troubles at all..” He felt he had gathered a little more attention from the tavern goers.

“It’s said his men found him so charismatic, that that signed away their very souls to sail under his command, pillaging with him as they skip across the world, stealing riches from every flag. No one knows how he does what he does, but I’ve heard witnesses say he’s cleared out entire ships without disturbing a living being. He moves with the ocean, like the tide he rolls in at night, and is gone come morning, leaving little evidence of his whereabouts in his wake.. “

By now he had quite the gathering.

“An jus’ how you suppose you’re going to catch a man liken to that?” asked a gruff drunkard in back.

“Oh, I will have him, for in wit I am his match, in determination his equal, and in swordplay…” The man scaled the bar and drew a hidden rapier with a superfluous twirl. “I am his better.” He resheathed the blade and sat down on the bar directly in front of Marie Anne, who was at this point, very flush indeed.

“I’d have him in the noose, if he would come… But I doubt he will settle for anything less than the fitting end of a fight to the death. “ He fell silent with an arrogant smirk and watched as the crowd dispersed into heated little discussions around him.

Anne Marie lay her hand on his knee and drew her eyes to his.

“Oh, Mr. O’Connor… You’ve worked up quite the fright in me… Would you be so good as to walk me home? “

The man flashed gray eyes her way. His lips formed a wickedly sweet smirk as he slid from the bar.

“Of course, dear lady, of course..” He took her arm and led her out the door.

He was awoken by the shrill call of the whippoorwill before dawn. His eyes shot open and he quietly slid from the sheets, leaving Anne Marie to sleep soundlessly with them as her only covering. Slid on his pants and shirt quietly, leaving the shirt unbuttoned. He grabbed his boots in his arm and headed for the door. He turned back to the bed and quickly grabbed his tri-cornered hat from the bed post. He pushed it down over his long unbound hair and dashed out the door and toward the harbor.

Waiting on the deck was the man with beard.

“It’s almost morning, Gabriel.. Cutting it a bit close just for a little fun with the barmaid, don’t you think?”

Gabe walked past him and quickly boarded the vessel.

“She was a dancer, Grayes. “ He corrected as the man joined him on the ship. “And the day that a night like that isn’t worth being a few minutes late is the day I stop committing piracy.”

The ship sailed off as dawn lit up the harbor, with considerably more than it had entered with, as well as a decently sated young Captain.