Anne surmised that on the surface, it functioned as a democracy, but behind the scenes, it was an oligarchy. Edward needed to be savage to rule through force if needed and keep the pirates in line.
After the ceremonies, Sam continued, Edward did his best to catch up on the administrative side of his father's business. Or, at least, that was what he told everyone. Sam knew that Edward was in mourning and spent his days and nights reading things left behind in his father's study as his new staff kept him plied with liquor. He hadn't left the study since the ceremony.
They eventually reached a large gated villa near the edge of town. There were many guards around the premises, but upon noticing Sam, they opened the gates and allowed him entry.
Upon entering the villa, Sam pointed to a room on the first floor. "Herbert's in that room, Christina."
Christina, her face still filled with worry, rushed off without another word. Sam looked at Alexandre and motioned his head towards the room, and Alexandre and Victoria both understood the message and joined Christina.
Anne's heart sank further. That Sam wanted Alexandre to see Herbert meant something terrible had happened to him in the battle. He was still alive, perhaps, but in what state of living was he?
"Come, I'll take ye two ta the captain," Sam said.
"Does he know I… we've arrived?" Anne asked.
"I sent one of me men off when I saw the Freedom… ah, I mean the Queen Anne's Revenge sailing in," Sam said, then muttered, "That's going ta take some gettin' used to."
Anne and William followed Sam to the second floor of the villa to a room at the back. The other crewmates decided to stay behind and visit Herbert first. A guard opened the door for them and let them enter a large study.
Anne saw Edward sitting in a chair at a table layered with papers, charts, and various oddities. The sight of him, alive and well, took another weight off her, and she felt she could breathe normally again.
After the relief, she noticed his beard was almost completely gone. There was hair there, just not at much as she remembered. It made him look younger and less menacing than he had previously.
Edward looked up from some papers, and when he noticed Anne, his eyes opened wide. He rose from his chair and nearly ran over to her. He scooped her up in his arms and spun her around. He had the widest smile on his face, and his eyes had misted. He pulled her close, and they kissed and wrapped their arms around each other as they let out all the built-up passion from their time apart.
After a moment, he settled himself and rested his head on top of hers. "I missed you," he said.
Anne laughed. "I can see that," she replied. She nestled her head into his chest. "I missed you too."
He smelled of booze, but it was not so pungent as to be intolerable, and Anne decided that now was not the time to broach the subject. It was a time for reunion and time for her to be there for him.
Anne lifted her head up and looked into his eyes. She placed her hand against his cheek, feeling the warmth on her palm. "Sam told us what happened. Edward, I—"
"Let's not speak of it," he said. "There will be time enough for that later." Edward looked behind her to William and Sam. "Where are the rest of the crew?"
Anne stepped back awkwardly due to her leg and answered, "Most are on the ship. Some came with us. Christina, Alexandre and Victoria are visiting with Herbert."
Edward had heard her, but he was looking at her feet. He must have noticed the awkward way she had stumbled backwards.
Anne let out a sigh, wishing that she could have held it for a time when they were alone. Perhaps if she dispensed with it sooner than later, it would be simpler.
Anne knelt and lifted her pant leg up above her knee, showing the prosthetic. "Sam told you of our battling Silver Eyes? Well, the battle did not go as planned, nor as simple as I would have desired."
Edward knelt, joining his wife, and examined the prosthetic. "How did this happen?" His words were short, and his tone a mix of concern and sadness.
Anne shrugged her shoulders. "It's a rather long story. There will be time enough for that later," she said with a grin.
Edward nodded and smiled as well, a bit of relief in his eyes. "This is a remarkable design. Did Alexandre make this?"
"Yes, he, Victoria, and Nassir all had a hand in it."
Edward continued his appraisal, and then he lifted a finger up. "I have just the thing to finish the design and make it even better." He rose to his feet and went to the back of the study and began rummaging through some things.
Anne kept her pant leg rolled up, but she stood up as well, waiting. After a moment, he came back, holding a pair of copper greaves in his hands. He showed them to Anne and handed one to her.
"These are from one of Calico Jack's commanders, Grace O'Malley. She won't be needing them anymore, given that she's with Davey Jones now. They have a secret weapon inside them which fires off bullets out the front."
Anne inspected the greaves, taking note of the weapon inside. "That is ingenious." She handed the greaves back to Edward, and he laid them on a nearby table. "Can you tell me what happened to Herbert? Sam wasn't
