"Not so. You made a choice to join a bunch of pirates under the condition that we help you in your vengeance." Edward placed his hand on Herbert's wheelchair. "You are the architect, I'm just the hired help."
Herbert and Edward both chuckled at that, but then Herbert shook his head in defiance. "No, you're family. And I've told you before that this family is my strength. It's the only reason I've gotten this far."
Edward's face warmed, embarrassed, but happy to have Herbert make such a declaration. "Let's kill Calico Jack then, shall we, brother?"
"Let's," Herbert said as he clasped Edward's forearm. Edward grabbed Herbert's forearm back and shook it to seal the informal bond of vengeance.
Christina, Herbert's sister, rushed up from below deck over to Herbert and Edward, with Anne trailing behind her. "We found him?" Christina asked expectantly. After a quick nod from Edward and Herbert, tears filled her widened eyes, and she fell to the deck on her knees next to Herbert. Her arms wrapped around him, and she shoved her face into his chest, her strawberry blond hair draping over him. Herbert's chest muffled her sobs.
Herbert wrapped his arms around his sister, and his tears came back at once. He consoled her, but knew that she was crying for the same reason he had; this was joy, and possibly relief.
After a moment, the other crewmates rushed up from the depths of the ship and began preparations to leave Tortuga at a moment's notice.
Christina regained her awareness with the noise of the many feet pounding against the weather deck. She got to her feet and wiped her tears away, a quick transition to the determined, anxious look of a woman ready for a fight.
The crewmates who had found Calico Jack returned with the men who were going to help with the plan. Ten men in all would help while Edward, Anne, and Herbert would carry out the other half of the plot.
"Do we all know our parts to play?" The crewmates nodded. "Then show us the way, men," Edward commanded.
"Captain," Christina said, stepping forward before they could leave. "I know that I'm supposed to stay here and prepare the ship for departure, but I wish to join you." She stood defiantly, her fingers balled into fists. "Please."
"Christina—" Herbert began, but Edward's hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"Rest assured, you will have your chance to extract your pound of flesh from Calico Jack," Edward declared. "But we need you here. Without Herbert, you are our best helmsman."
Christina's gaze fell, and her fingers dug into her palms for a moment. Nassir, the negro shipwright, came over beside Christina and wrapped his massive arm around her, pulling her in close. She looked shocked at first, but when she gazed up at him, her features softened. They shared a bond of loss over the years aboard the ship, and it carried a weight that a captain's command simply could never hope to rival. Next, her wolf companion, Tala, nudged her fist with a whine. Christina looked down at her, opened her palm and scratched her friend on the nose.
When her gaze came back to meet Edward's, she wore a false smile and misted eyes. "I'll hold you to that promise," she said.
"Understood," Edward replied.
As the departing crew began boarding a longboat for shore, Edward stopped to talk with William, the boatswain in charge of the ship while Edward and Anne were away, and Jack, the musician.
"Keep the men in line and entertained," Edward said, leaning in with a soft voice. "Tensions are high, and we can't have any mistakes. Not tonight."
William gave a stiff salute, and Jack nodded. "Understood, Captain," William replied.
"I'll bring out the fiddle tonight," Jack added with a smile. "That should lighten the mood a touch."
Edward gave the two men a few more explicit orders about when to be ready, and whom in the crew to use at which stations, before turning around to join the others still boarding the longboat. Before he could disembark, another crewmate came up behind him and gave him a forceful slap on his back.
Edward let out a grunt as the stinging on his back coursed through his spine. He glared at the Mayan prince he knew to be behind him, and the prince smirked back at his captain.
"Pukuh, I thought you to be sleeping at this hour."
"I would not miss this," he replied. Pukuh's smile faded, and he gave a stern look. "Do not underestimate this man, Calico Jack. According to my father, when he was known as Benjamin Hornigold, he was a fearsome man to his enemies, and the years seem to have hardened him." Pukuh's light accent belied the harsh tone he employed.
"Not to worry, friend, we have our best opportunity here and now, and I wouldn't let my guard down during such a crucial time."
"You would not let your guard down? How was it I hit you on the back a moment before then?" He shot Edward an impetuous grin.
Edward shook his head. "I knew you were there, but it seemed like you could use a boost of confidence after losing your arm. Perhaps if you were in good form you would have been able to sneak up on me," Edward tried his best to add a fake tone of pity to his words, but he couldn't help but grin at his own jesting.
Pukuh playfully punched Edward in his arm before he exchanged another few words of encouragement for the battle to come.
The crew watched as their captain and the shore party entered the longboat and paddled to shore. They were mostly silent, imparting strength in solidarity for the task ahead. Everyone knew who their captain was about to face, and the weight of what it meant when they would come back with the enemy in hand.
Edward noticed Alexandre and Victoria on the quarterdeck, near the helm. When deciding who would be part of the team to face Calico
