Parrot Cay, 1705
RobertMaynard stood at the helm and gave the signal for both his crew and the crew of the
Radiant Discord
to cast off. Davis had to give Maynard the excuse of Jack's absence because of his drinking too much and was currently feeling under the weather. Maynard accepted it with a smirk saying, "Not much of a captain if he can't even hold his grog."
Davis didn't argue with the man. There was no sense in starting an argument that would result in Maynard demanding to see Jack because of his first mate's insubordination against him.
The one thing that did surprise Davis was that instead of heading south, Maynard had said there was a change of plans and they were to head north. Maynard had a rather large smile on his face that Davis could only attribute to an
I told you so
.
Davis didn't push
that
matter either, though he was beginning to dislike not being able to defend his captain and friend. Instead, he asked Maynard why the change in plans so that he could notify Jack when he came around. What he was told surprised him.
"It appears my informant from last night had more news for me this morning. Of course he insisted on lightening my purse a little more. But interestingly enough the
Hades' Whore
was seen in these very waters just mere hours ago."
"And we are going to give it chase?" Davis asked adding excitement to his question as to not throw invite question from the man.
"In a sense," he said. "According to the information, Rusalka is heading to San Salvador to make repairs and upgrades, where she apparently has done in the past.
"Rather than follow her, hoping to catch up and thus giving her knowledge of our pursuit, we are going to head the opposite direction around Acklins Island and effectively cut her off, where we will sink her ship and her with it if need be."
"Jack ye couldn't have left at a worse time," Davis said to himself when he was alone.
——
Jack
sat in a tavern on the Haitian island of Tortuga. He had a several people sitting with him at the table enjoying a drink by his coin. "I'm in need of something small," he was saying, trying to get the attention of all those at the table. "Something that will get me to Guanaja and back safely."
"What do ye want from there me friend?" one of the men at the table asked.
"An artifact that Blackbeard has sought for some time now," Jack replied.
Instantly a couple of the men got up and left the table. Jack expected as much considering Blackbeard's reputation. Hopefully though, they would still spread the word. When it came to the Caribbean and well known pirates, word spread quickly. Strangely enough it spread faster that the fastest of ships.
"Who are ye to tempt fate with the cursed Blackbeard?" the same man asked.
"The name is Calico Jack, master of the Caribbean!" Jack yelled as he climbed onto the table. He held his mug up high. "Soon even the landlubber, Blackbeard will serve me!"
"I have a skiff for ye Calico Jack, if ye be interested," the man called to him. He had to repeat it several times before Jack acknowledged the man. He had to make the scene look good after all.
"Aye!" He yelled down to the man.
"I'll leave ye be then until morning," the man said waving a hand at Jack. "Be at the docks with yer coin."
"Aye!" Jack howled again.
Acklins Island, 1705
The
Radiant Discord
sat in the open water with its sails lowered and its overall appearance in need of repair. The goal was to look like a helpless ship for when Rusalka and her pirate gang appeared they would have an easy target to strike.
Meanwhile, the
Ocean's Innocence
sat just off the coast of Acklins Island and out of sight, ready to ambush the pirate when they began their attack. The only downfall that Davis could see was they were too late to intercept her or other pirates would attack.
Fortunately neither scenario won out.
It was just afternoon when the announcement came down from the crow's nest that a ship with a raised pirate flag appeared on the horizon.
"Man yer positions!" Davis ordered.
The men scurried into position, pretending to be working or fixing some part of the ship. Davis had raised a merchant's flag when they first arrived and the crew placed weapons in strategic spots hidden from view. The cannons were loaded and also kept from sight.
It was all just a matter of waiting and having the element of surprise. Davis was a little angry at having to use the
Radiant Discord
as bait, but without Jack being there he couldn't raise much of a fuss. And Maynard reminded him how any expenses that incurred would be taken care of. Davis couldn't argue the point any further. Of course, Maynard had no idea of their intentions.
——
