CHAPTER IX - The Treasure "I was thrown overboard by a wave," Chris replied as he stared into the flames. "Last thing I remember is Ezra crawling over to you and Josiah, then this huge expanse of water coming down at me and then... nothing. I woke up on a beach on the other side of the island." "See anybody else?" Josiah asked. "We still have seven missing." Chris nodded. "Simmons and Kershaw's bodies washed up on the beach. I buried them before coming to search for the rest of you." "What now?" JD asked. "We have no ship and the map is gone." Chris grinned at the green-eyed man sitting beside him quietly. "Well, Ezra here says he remembers what was written on the map. Since we're already on the island, all we need to do is follow the instructions." "Why bother?" Nathan asked. "Even if we do find the treasure, then what? We have no way of getting it off of this island. What's the point in finding a treasure if we can't spend it?" "We will have to be patient. The Caribbean Sea has a lot of navigation, sooner or later a ship will sail close enough to locate us; providing we build a fire to catch their attention." Ezra snorted. "With our luck it will be a pirate ship and we will all be slaughtered." Chris glared at the other man. "Damnit, Ezra, don't say things like that! Look, even if it is a pirate ship, chances are they won't stop for us; they won't care. On the other hand, if it is one of her Majesty's vessels... They patrol this area frequently and if they see the smoke they are bound to investigate. We can say we were attacked by pirates and left here to die. There's no reason for them not to believe us." "Then what?" Buck asked, but he was grinning. Chris chuckled. "You know what, we've done this before. We overpower the poor bastards sent to land, don their clothes and take over their ship." "You make it sound so easy!" JD laughed. "It is. We did this twice before when we were after ships more powerful than ours and couldn't afford to engage in a battle. They fall for it every time. It'll work, you'll see. The worse part is having to wait until a ship comes close enough for us to see it and for them to see our signal." "The plan still stands, then?" Josiah asked. "Tomorrow we'll go searching for Mckenzie's loot?" "Yes. I'll talk to the crew. They will stay here; this place is well out of sight and they should be safe. The seven of us will leave first thing in the morning," he informed, ignoring Ezra's pitiful moan. Seeing the others nod their approval, he rose and went to speak with the crewmen about the new plan. He took his time, going around all the small fires spread throughout the camp where the men were warming up. When he returned, the others were preparing to sleep, lying as close to the fire as humanly possible without getting burned. Grinning, he waited until Ezra was lying on his side, before joining him. He spooned up behind the sturdy body, shaking his head chidingly as he felt the other man tense against him. "Chris --" "It's all right, Ezra," he interjected softly, propping up on his elbow and looking down at the other man. "Nobody will say a thing. I just want to stay close to you." Ezra stared up at him for a long moment, then nodded and nestled back against him, closing his eyes with a soft sigh. Almost immediately his breathing changed into sleeping pattern. "I'm glad you made it," Vin told him sincerely. "I don't know what we would've done with him if you had died." Chris frowned. "What do you mean?" "He hardly said a word all day. Kept to himself, didn't let anyone get too close. He hides it well, but... It was easy to see how much he was hurting," Vin replied. "Yeah. You better not do something like this ever again, or I might be forced to hunt you down and kill you," Buck mock glared at him. Chris grinned at his men, understanding they had accepted Ezra as one of their own and knowing they would give him hell if he ever hurt the other man. With a final nod to the others, he snuggled closer to the warm body lying so close to his own and proceeded to fall into much needed sleep.
"You sure the map said we had to start at the 'cliff of white'?" Nathan asked for the hundredth time. "Yes," Ezra replied tiredly. "What the hell does that mean?" JD frowned. "I don't know, Mr. Dunne, probably the walls of the cliff will be made of a different kind of rock, white in its color. Sort of like the cliffs at Dover." "Let's keep circling the island. We're bound to find it sooner or later," Chris remarked as he walked ahead of the small group. Half an hour later they had found the elusive cliff, which as Ezra had predicted, was chalk white. Chris leaned over the edge, looking down at waves crashing over the sharp rocks far below. "Now what?" Vin asked Ezra. "Well, the map said to look for the twin mounds." "Twin mounds?" Josiah echoed, looking around. "Don't see anything resembling that description." Chris narrowed his eyes suspiciously as Buck suddenly snorted, chuckling softly until it turned into a full belly laugh. "Twin mounds!" he chortled. "Twin mounds!" "What the hell is so funny, Buck?" Vin growled. "There!" Buck gestured towards the mountains visible above the trees. "Twin mounds, get it?" He placed each hand in front of his chest, kneading the air as he would knead a woman's breasts. And Chris laughed too, realizing the two mountains did resemble breasts, standing parallel to each other and with their inverted 'V' formation. He laughed harder as JD shook his head disgustedly at the two of them. "And you call me boy!" he scowled. "We found the twin mounds," Nathan chuckled as well. "What's next?" "We have to reach their base," Ezra replied. Chris sighed, all laughter leaving him. The mountains looked far away and it would take hours to reach them. He wasn't sure he would make it without killing one of the others. They were great seamen, but a pain to be with on dry land. He had never seen a more complaining group in his life. From Ezra who didn't like early mornings, to JD who kept telling them anecdotes -- or so he said they were -- to Nathan who never shut up, to Buck who kept driving them crazy with his stupid pranks. The only one behaving was Vin, and that was because he was ahead scouting most of the time. Even Josiah kept disappearing to observe one animal or another. He felt like an old matron trying to keep her unruly children in line. "Let's stop wasting time, it's nearly midday. Vin, lead the way." "Aye, aye, Captain," Vin replied, giving him a maddening grin. Chris exhaled softly, going back on his thought; none of them were behaving. It was going to be a long, long day.
Chris frowned. "Where's Vin?" "Ahead of us. You sent him to lead the way, remember?" Chris glared at Buck. "Yes. But we haven't seen or heard from him in a few minutes." They stopped moving, all ears wanting to pick up their friend's whereabouts. "Vin!" Nathan called out. "Vin, where are you?" "I heard something," Josiah said. "It came from there." They marched that way, cutting through the dense foliage until they all heard it, Vin's voice whispering, "In here. I'm in here." "Why the hell is he whispering?" JD asked. "Let's find out," Chris said. They followed Vin's voice, reaching a small clearing in the middle of the forest. The floor was covered with dry leaves, which was obviously the reason why Vin had failed to see the quicksand he was rapidly sinking in. "Damnit!" Chris growled, looking around. Spotting a sturdy piece of tree bark, he snatched it from the ground. "Vin, grab the bark." The other man reached slowly for his salvation, careful not to make any sudden moves that would make him sink faster. "Got it," he breathed. Chris nodded, beginning to pull his friend out of the quicksand, assisted by Josiah and Nathan. Once Vin was out of danger, Chris scowled at him. "You're supposed to be good at this scouting thing." "I am!" Vin replied defensively. "I heard something fly above me and looked up. When I realized I'd stepped into quicksand it was already too late." Chris sighed tiredly. "Fine. Let's keep going; we're almost there." It took them over an hour to reach the base of the twin mountains. They were obviously traveling through a scantily visited island and it was hard to advance in such rough conditions. The vegetation fought them every step of the way, and even with cutting through it with the axe Buck had found on the beach that morning, it was nearly an impossible task. Once they were finally there, Chris turned to Ezra. "Next?" "Turn East. There should be a narrow path going up the left mountain," Ezra replied. JD nodded. "Found it." Ezra shrugged. "Then we go up until we find a cave." "Sure is a lot of walking to this treasure hunting thing," Nathan complained. "Well, you didn't want it to be easy, did you? Everyone would be able to find it then," JD retorted. They kept climbing for about another half an hour before they found the entrance to the cave. They walked inside, taking deep breaths, enjoying the refreshing air, relieved to be out of the suffocating heat. "And now?" Vin asked. "Let me guess, we keep walking?" Ezra chuckled. "Right you are, Mr. Tanner. There should be a tunnel to your right, heading down. We are to take it and keep going until we see a large chamber where we are to find the treasure." JD grinned. "You mean this is it? No more threading through the jungle?" "This is it, Mr. Dunne. Although there was nothing in the map stating how long we have to walk before we discover the aforementioned chamber." "In that case..." Chris drawled sarcastically, gesturing for them to get moving.
"Lord, this is tiring!" Josiah exclaimed as they found yet another fork ahead. They had been walking for over an hour, always going further and further into the mountain, still moving downward. At each turn they had found a fork, having to look for the scratches on the rock that pointed in the right direction. The inside of the cave was a real maze, and without the faint markings, they would have been lost, maybe forever. JD shuddered. "I just wish there weren't so many bats in here. I *really* don't like them!" "You know what would be really ironic?" Buck mused. "If we got to the chamber and there was nothing there." "Buck, you want me to shoot you?" Chris glared at the other man. "No." "Then shut up." Vin tilted his head to the side. "I can hear running water." "Yeah, so can I. It's just ahead," Nathan said. The passageway kept getting progressively wider until they were standing in a large chamber. There was a cascade of water running from the cave ceiling, and beautifully sculpted stalagmites and stalactites all around. "This place is amazing!" JD breathed, looking longingly at the waterfall. "Think this is the right chamber?" Chris asked Ezra. "No. The map stated it was the last chamber. There's another passage to our left." Chris groaned. "Let's keep going then." "You know," Buck began as they continued. "If we keep going down, we are going to be below sea level. This chamber is not underwater, is it?" "The map didn't mention anything. Which in itself means nothing," Ezra replied grimly. "It could have been done on purpose, in case someone had found the map and was trying to reach the treasure before Mckenzie could retrieve it." "I can see light up ahead," JD said. They followed the light into another chamber and this time Chris knew they had found the right one. It was probably the biggest cave chamber he had seen in his life. Water droplets were catching light as they fell hundreds of feet from the ceiling, making it look like it was raining stars. The walls were covered with luminous rock formations and the impressive stalactites and stalagmites spread out through the ground and ceiling looked like polished chandeliers and candlesticks. And there, right in the center of the chamber, resting in what looked like a natural cavity in the cave's floor, stood the treasure. Chests and chests full to the brim with jewels, precious stones, gold coins, goblets and tiaras. "Oh. My. Lord," JD whispered, walking slowly towards the huge golden pile. Buck whooped, jumping into the pool of water surrounding the treasure. "We did it! We found it!" The treasure hunt was finally over.
CHAPTER X - Trapped "I can't imagine how long it must have taken to bring everything down here. Most of Mckenzie's men had been caught and hanged by that time. He had only a handful of trusted men left," Nathan remarked as he walked towards him. "What's wrong, Chris? Why aren't you trying to bury yourself in the loot with the others?" "Can't," Chris muttered. "I have this feeling something's wrong. Makes me nervous." "That's just the sight of all that fortune," Nathan grinned. "I guess," Chris allowed, although he wasn't too certain. Vin approached them, his whole face lit up with a wide smile. "You do realize we are rich beyond our wildest dreams, don't you?" he chuckled happily. "Correction; *I* am rich beyond my wildest dreams!" a new voice stated from behind them. Chris turned around and found himself looking straight into the barrel of a pistol. Ten men were standing near the passageway, all heavily armed. Their leader was dressed all in black, looking smugly down at him, and Chris had no doubts about the man's identity, especially after seeing the anger in Ezra's eyes. "Death," he growled. "Larabee," the other man mock bowed. "We finally meet face to face." His eyes focused on Ezra, turning impossibly cold. "Mr. Standish, we meet again. I believe we have some unfinished business between us. Now, gentlemen, if you please. Relieve yourselves of your weaponry." Chris nodded to the others who obeyed, letting their swords and guns fall to the ground. "You won't get away with this," he swore. Death smiled. "I already have, Captain Larabee." He turned to one of his men. "Go back to the 'Skull' and tell Mr. Cook we have found the treasure and need every available man to help carry it back to the ship." After the man had left, he grinned at Chris. "It is most fortunate that my ship is anchored on this side of the island. It will save precious time." "How did you find us?" Buck asked. "I have been following you since you left Tortuga. The storm gave me some trouble, but my ship is better equipped to handle it than yours was. It was easy to discover this island and where you camped last night. When you went in search of the treasure this morning I followed you. I have a good tracker amongst my men and you gentlemen left a visible trail. Which one of you had the misfortune of landing in quicksand?" "I did," Vin answered with a scowl. Death shook his head, tsking softly. "Very clumsy, Mr. Tanner. I expected more out of you. Mr. Appleton, Mr. Donovan, watch the prisoners. The rest of you, start taking the treasure out. And make it fast." "Aye, Captain." For the next three hours Chris and the others watched helplessly as the treasure was taken from the chamber, first by Death's remaining seven men, then by the dozen others brought from the ship. Little by little all the chests disappeared, taking several trips before the task was completed. Death approached them, brushing an imaginary speckle of dirt from his clothes. "Gentlemen, it has been a pleasure. Mr. Standish, I'm certain you will be exhilarated to know you will be coming with me. As I stated before, we have some unfinished business to see to. I don't take kindly to being made a fool. As for the others... Kill them," he ordered his men. "No!" Ezra shouted, blocking Death's way as he made to leave. Death raised an eyebrow quizzically. "Something to say, Mr. Standish?" "Don't kill them," Ezra pleaded softly. "I'll do anything you want, but please... don't kill them." "Anything, Mr. Standish?" Death grinned. "Yes," Ezra replied firmly. "Are you certain? Anything?" Death leered, his eyes running up and down Ezra's body lasciviously. Chris saw Ezra's eyes widen as he realized exactly what Death was asking for. "Don't do it, Ezra!" he shouted desperately. Ezra looked at him, his eyes regarding him sadly. "I'm sorry, Chris. I can't let you die." Then to Death, "Anything." Death stared suspiciously at the two of them, and Chris saw the sudden understanding shine in the man's eyes. "Ah. I see. Well, well, well! I confess I am surprised, Captain Larabee. But then, Mr. Standish is a very handsome man." He sighed dramatically. "Oh, very well! I'm feeling benevolent today. Mr. Donovan, please tie the prisoners securely." Chris fought furiously as his wrists were tied behind his back, followed by his ankles. He was thrown on the ground, his shoulder hitting the wall painfully. The others were soon sitting beside him, all bound hand and foot and leaning against the rock wall. "There!" Death gushed out. "I did what you asked, Mr. Standish. And to show you I am a reasonable man, I will even allow you to say goodbye," he told Ezra, gesturing for him to go to Chris. Chris watched Ezra approach him hesitantly, then kneel before him. "Chris?" he whispered softly. Chris turned his head to the side, unable to face the other man. "Chris, please?" When he still didn't acknowledge the other man, Eza sighed sadly. "Fine, be that way. I know you are upset, but I had to do it. Would you have let me die?" He wrapped his arms around Chris, hugging him tightly. "I love you," he breathed into Chris' ear. When he moved back, Ezra looked at the other men. "Gentlemen, hope we meet again someday." "Count on it, Ez," Buck vowed fiercely. "Take care of him for me?" Ezra whispered. Vin nodded. "We will. Take care of yourself. We will come looking for you." "Enough!" Death ordered. "Take him to the ship!" Chris watched as two men grabbed Ezra and dragged him away from the chamber. As they reached the passageway, Ezra turned and their eyes met. He wanted to say something, to tell Ezra he was sorry for the way he had acted as the other man was saying goodbye, that everything was going to be fine, but nothing came out. Ezra smiled at him sadly, then disappeared from sight as the men took him away. He tensed as Death drew near, staring down at them. "You didn't really think it would be that easy, did you?" the man drawled. "Meaning you are going to kill us after all?" Josiah challenged. "Oh, no! I may be Death, but I do keep my promises. And I did promise Mr. Standish I would not kill you. Of course, there are other ways of making you disappear. I can always give nature a hand." "What?" Nathan frowned. "I'm certain it will be relatively easy to blow up that passageway after my men and I go through it. Even if you do manage to free yourselves from the ropes, you will be trapped in this chamber forever and die. I will have kept my promise, as I won't be the one killing you. I will eventually tell Mr. Standish. It would not be very sporting of me if I kept such knowledge hidden from him. But of course, I will have my fun with him first." He smirked. "How does it feel, Larabee? To know I have everything you wanted? The treasure and... more." Death laughed evilly. "Well, time to go. Die well, gentlemen." When they were finally left alone, Buck banged his head against the wall with a groan. "I hate that bastard!" The roar from an explosion echoed throughout the chamber, a deep rumbling growl that nearly deafened them. The ceiling in the passageway collapsed, dirt and rocks raining down on the six men, and blocking the way out. "I don't want to die," JD whispered brokenly when the dust finally settled. "And you're not going to," Vin told him. "Can you turn around?" JD frowned. "I think so. Why?" "There's a knife hidden in my right boot. If you take it out, we can use it to cut the ropes." "We need to find a way of getting out of this cave," Josiah remarked. "We will. At least now we'll be free," Buck retorted with a maddening grin. "We still have a fighting chance." Chris narrowed his eyes dangerously. "And we will get out of here," he vowed fiercely. "Death hasn't seen the last of me yet. However long it takes... I will find him."
Ezra sat down on the bed, looking around Death's cabin. He had been brought to the man's quarters as soon as he had arrived at the ship, his hands tied in front of him so he wouldn't try to escape again. He had been left alone, the door locked after the two men had shoved him inside. He stared out the windows, realizing it was probably mid-afternoon. He was hungry; they had arranged for something to eat in the morning before going on their treasure hunt, but hadn't anticipated spending so much time away from camp. The door opened and Death entered, a wide smile grazing his face. "Mr. Standish, I believe it's time you kept your part of our deal. I need something to bank the fire inside; finding a fortune always does that to me." "You mean, stealing," Ezra scowled. "Details, Mr. Standish. Well?" When Ezra hesitated, he glared. "We haven't set sail yet. I can always send my men back to kill your friends." "No! No, I will do it," Ezra agreed, swallowing hard. He lay back on the bed and closed his eyes as Death covered him with his body, his hands beginning to paw at him. He bit back a groan as the man nipped at his throat, the bigger frame grinding against his in an obscene parody of lovemaking. He tried to keep his mind away from what was happening, but all he could think of was Chris. He remembered their intense yet loving kisses, the way the other man always managed to set his body on fire with a mere touch. Something rebelled inside of him and he suddenly knew he couldn't go through with it, he couldn't betray Chris that way. He shoved Death away as hard as his bound hands would allow, his body bucking at the same time, trying to dislocate the weight pinning him down. When the other man became more forceful in his rough caresses, he moved a leg between Death's and kneed him furiously in the groin. Death cried out, his hands moving to cover his loins, and Ezra took the opportunity to push him away. The pirate fell to the floor whimpering softly, his gasping breaths loud in the otherwise silent cabin. Minutes passed until Death finally sighed and sat up slowly. "I see you are not a man of your word, Mr. Standish," he observed, glaring at Ezra through watery eyes. "That's --" A knock on the door prevented him from finishing. "Yes?" he called out as he rose from the floor. The door opened and one of the men Ezra had seen at the cave walked in. "Captain, we are ready to depart." "Very well, Mr. Donovan. Set a course to Port Royal," Death ordered. "Now leave us." "Aye, aye, Captain." Once they were alone again, the pirate stared down at Ezra. "As I was saying, it's not very gentleman-like to go back on your word." He smirked. "Then again, neither one of us is truly a gentleman, are we? So I guess I can tell you the truth now." Ezra frowned. "What truth?" "Your friends are dead, Mr. Standish. Or will be, eventually." "W-what?" Ezra stammered. "B-but you said --" "I said I wouldn't kill them, and I didn't," Death interjected. "I merely blew up the passageway's entrance, trapping them inside the chamber. It will take them an agonizingly long time to die," he stated with a laugh. Ezra felt his blood turn cold in his veins. He looked at the man chuckling before him and a furious rage took over his whole being. Rising from the bed in one swift move, he pushed Death away from him, reaching for a chair with his bound hands and hitting the man with it until Death was cowering on the floor, shouting desperately for help. His mind didn't register the door opening or the four men trying to get him away from Death; all he could see was the man who had fooled him, the man responsible for his friends' excruciating demise. He kept swinging the broken chair, over and over again, until finally someone managed to hit him from behind and he plunged into blessed oblivion.
Buck dumped another load of rock away from the blocked tunnel and wiped his dirt-covered brow. "How long have we been doing this?" "Forever," JD muttered. They kept digging away at the dirt and rock, their ragged breathing filling the chamber. They had been clearing the passage for hours, painstakingly removing rock after rock, in an effort to escape their entrapment. Chris was pulling away another large boulder when he heard a muffled scraping sound. "What the --? Everyone keep silent!" he ordered. "I heard something on the other side." The five men stopped working, standing frozen as they all tried to hear any sounds coming from the other side of the blocked entrance. The scraping sound was clearer now, along with the sound of several voices. "Hello?" Chris shouted. "Can anyone hear me?" "Captain Larabee?" a familiar voice penetrated through the rock and dirt. "Captain, is everyone all right?" The distant voice called out again. "Yes! Can you get us out of here?" Chris asked. "We're trying. Me and the boys are all here. We'll get through to you soon, we still have more rock to move. You better keep going on that end as well." Chris nodded and they set their minds and bodies to it, digging feverishly through the blockage. Soon the sound of rocks falling echoed in the chamber as the top of the entrance suddenly became clear. A pair of hands appeared and pushed more dirt away. Chris grinned as Henry, one of his crewmen, slithered through the opening, sliding down on his stomach until he reached the bottom. "Captain," he panted with a grin. "Henry. Well done, man! How did you know we were here?" "Mark was searching for food on this side of the island when he spotted Captain Death's ship. He came for the rest of us. When we got to the cove, we saw a group of men heading towards the mountains and followed them. We saw them enter the cave, but decided to wait before doing anything. We almost attacked when we saw them leaving with the treasure, and then Ezra, but we didn't know what had happened to you. After Captain Death left we came inside and heard the explosion. We figured you had to be here." "Good work. Let's get out of here." One by one they left the chamber, joining the rest of the crew in the passage, following the markings on the walls to find the exit. Once outside, Chris took a long, deep breath, relieved to be out in the sun again. They were free. Now all that was left was to hunt Death down... And kill him.
CHAPTER XI - Vengeance It hurt him to think of Ezra in that madman's hands, suffering whatever torture Death chose to inflict, while they were stranded on the island with no way out. They were ready to signal any ship sailing their way, but until that time they would have to be patient and make the best of a hopeless situation. "We'll find him, Chris," Vin assured him as he walked up to him. "Eventually, yes," Chris acknowledged softly. "But what shape will he be in? It could be weeks before a ship comes our way. By then Death could have killed him, for all I know." "He won't. If I know Ezra, he will fight Death tooth and nail. And that bastard loves a challenge." Chris closed his eyes on the slowly setting sun. "That's what I'm afraid of, Vin. That's what I'm afraid of."
Ezra woke up with a splitting headache. Opening his eyes, he realized he had been taken to the ship's hold, his hands still tied, but with a new addition; he was bound to a pillar by the waist. He squinted his eyes at the darkness around him, seeing the treasure resting securely on the other side of the hold, strong ropes keeping the chests together and preventing them from slipping as the vessel swayed gently. Hearing footsteps on the stairs, he waited until the man drew near to raise his head. He felt a profound sense of fulfillment as he noticed Death was limping slightly and witnessed the bruises covering the man's face. It wouldn't bring Chris and the others back, but at least he had allowed himself a small amount of revenge. "I see you are awake," Death drawled. "How observant of you," Ezra quipped sarcastically. "You know, I could take what I want, force myself on you. But that would be far too easy. I want you to submit to me, to surrender willingly." He grinned evilly. "So I decided to tame the beast, so to speak. From now on, and until I say otherwise, you will remain in the hold. No walking around, no going up for fresh air and sunlight. You will have no food brought to you, and only enough water to keep you alive. You will be allowed to bathe and relieve yourself only once a day. Unless you wish to starve to death, I sincerely hope you change your mind about our deal, Mr. Standish. It takes a very long time for a man to die this way. Although it would be ironic for you to perish thus; after all, your... Larabee is suffering the same fate as we speak." Ezra growled, trying to kick at the other man, but Death moved out of the way. "Now, now! Temper, temper! I believe I shall leave you alone to ponder the error of your ways, Mr. Standish. Have a pleasant day." Ezra leaned back against the pillar, looking up helplessly at the wooden ceiling. The numbness he had felt at the island when he had believed Chris to be dead was returning tenfold. It physically hurt to think of the other man's suffering, and a dark side of him was content he would be experiencing something similar. It brought them closer somehow.
It took three weeks for a ship to sail close enough to the island to see their smoke signal. Luckily, it was a British cruiser, and obviously patrolling the islands in search of pirates. Chris waited by the beach as a long boat slowly approached, then went over to meet the officer and the six seamen coming ashore. "Gentlemen, am I happy to see you!" he huffed as he shook the officer's hand eagerly. "Sir, I am Lieutenant Durst. What has happened? Why are you here?" "Christopher Tanner. I was captain of a small ship carrying supplies from good ol' England when we were attacked by pirates. They took all our valuables, the cargo and sunk our vessel. They left us on this island to perish, sir! Those... those scoundrels!" he shouted in mock outrage. "Did you happen to hear the pirate's name, sir?" Durst asked, his expression a sympathetic one. "I believe the name I heard was Captain Larabee." "Oh, my! Sir, you are most fortunate to be alive! You were attacked by one of the most ruthless pirates in the Caribbean Sea!" Chris raised an eyebrow at those words. "Really?" he drawled. "Then I am truly fortunate. Twice over, now that you have come for us." "Is any of your crew here?" "Yes, Lieutenant. We set camp not far from here. It's been three weeks, we needed some place safe to live in." "Of course. Show me to your camp, then. My men and I will help you bring everyone aboard." "Thank you, Lieutenant. Please, follow me." Chris lead the men to their improvised camp, grinning wolfishly as his men suddenly jumped from cover and attacked the British, not giving them enough time to fight back. Soon they had them disarmed, out of their clothes, and securely tied. "What's the meaning of this?" Durst asked as he glared up at Chris. "Well, Lieutenant, it's like this. You have before you one of the most ruthless pirates in the Caribbean Sea," Chris answered with a chuckle. The man gasped in understanding. "Captain Larabee!" "In the flesh!" Chris responded, bowing with a flourish. "And I'm in dire need of a ship, which is why I'm going to take over yours. The rest of the crew will be brought here as soon as the vessel is under our control." "What's the plan?" Nathan asked. "We wait. They will probably send more men when Durst doesn't return. We need further clothes and weapons. If they do not, we attack as soon as it gets dark. In the meantime, see if their clothes fit any of you. If they see us, the clothes will fool them long enough for us to get closer." "Wouldn't it be easier to let them take us to the ship and overpower them there?" JD asked as he donned one of the seamen's garments. "Not really. See, if we do it that way, we have the whole crew to fight against, even if they aren't expecting a threat from the marooned. This way, we have already eliminated seven men, and if they send more, it'll be a considerable share of the crew. There will be less men left to fight. If we wear their comrades' clothes, most of them won't even see us coming," Josiah explained. "Buck, go watch the cove. Warn us when they send more men." "On my way." Vin grinned as he finished buttoning Durst's uniform. "We're getting closer, Chris. The ship is practically ours. Soon we'll be able to leave this island, go after Death and rescue Ezra." Chris nodded, his heart speeding as he thought of the other man. Three weeks was a long time, too long when you were captive to such a man as Death. He shuddered as he remembered Ezra's declaration of love as he was saying goodbye, and hoped he would be able to hear those words again. And more importantly... say them back.
Everything went according to plan. Six more men came ashore in the afternoon, armed to the teeth and expecting trouble. Still, Chris and the others didn't have great difficulty subduing them. Their clothes were divided amongst the men, and by nightfall they were ready to attack the British cruiser. They hopped into the two long boats, rowing calmly towards the ship. The sentries spotted them, but as predicted, seeing the familiar uniforms and clothes, let them approach. They moved swiftly, going after the sentries first, knocking them unconscious, then the seamen still wandering about the decks, the ones sleeping in the crew quarters, and finally the officers' cabins. Two hours later they had left the British back at the island and were on course to Jamaica. Captain Larabee and his men were back.
They spotted the 'Skull' on their fourth day at sea, on her way to Tortuga. Chris coldly studied their formidable adversary; with its fifteen hundred tons of impressive bulk and its numerous artillery, he knew they were in for a fight. The British cruiser was a good ship, fast, but would not be able to withstand much punishment. "Battle stations!" he ordered, watching the men rush below deck to take their positions while the artillerymen aimed the cannons and firelocks. There was a flash of light from Death's ship and seconds later a large cannonball whistled through the cruiser's masts. "They've seen us!" Buck shouted. "Fire!" Chris ordered. Buck nodded, firing a single shot. The cannonball smashed through the gangway of the enemy bridge, snapping the flagpole in two on its way. But Death was not defeated. In that instant the 'Skull' seemed to catch fire. A hurricane of steel whizzed through the air and struck the cruiser, fracturing its masts and creating chaos aboard. "Damnit! Vin, move us closer, quick! Our only chance is to flank and board them." "Aye, Captain!" The cruiser sailed closer, and was quickly hit by a second volley of fire that sent wood, cannon parts and debris flying. The infernal cacophony of gunfire erupted, both sides matching shot for shot, cannonball for cannonball. Both crews, bent upon victory, could hardly see each other, engulfed as they were by immense clouds of smoke that stubbornly clung to all decks, but they continued to fight with equal furor, as fire was met with fire and discharges by more discharges. The 'Skull' may have had the advantage of its great bulk and massive artillery, but Chris' men were leading the attack, refusing to give up the fight. Riddled with holes, sails shredded, and now almost completely unrecognizable, they continued to fire, despite being subjected to an incessant hail of cannonballs. In spite of everything, Vin managed to maneuver the ships side by side. A wild cry of victory was heard throughout the cruiser, the men wanting nothing more than to get on board the other ship. The grappling hooks were hurled and the battle proceeded, only this time face to face with the enemy. "Attack!" Chris shouted, jumping over the bulwarks and landing on Death's deck, his eyes already looking for the other man. The air was suddenly filled with a different kind of noise; the distinctive sound of blades clashing together as the men from both crews fought for their lives, skillfully engaging in swordplay. "Captain Larabee," his nemesis drawled from behind him. "You never cease to amaze me." Chris slowly turned to face Death, sword already in hand. "As you see, I'm still very much alive. You, on the other hand... won't be for long!" he growled angrily, as he thrust forward. Death dodged, blocking his stroke. They were facing each other, spinning in a slow circle, feinting, teasing, learning about the other, the tiniest movement countered. "Enough fun! Time to die, Larabee!" Death grinned, finished with the teasing. Their swords crossed, then again, and again, the sound from the blades coming so fast it was almost continual. Chris pressed on, making Death retreat. They were almost flying across the decks, never losing balance, never coming close to stumbling, paying no mind to the other men fighting all around them; the battle raged on, first one and then the other gaining the advantage. Chris was fighting furiously, ducking and feinting and thrusting, escaping by inches as Death's sword slashed the air painfully close to his left arm. He felt Death gaining on him, forcing him back, seeming to gain strength as the duel advanced. "Where's Ezra? What have you done to him?" he growled, as he was pushed against one of the masts. Death laughed. "Wouldn't you like to know? Stay alive and find out!" Suddenly thinking of Ezra at the hands of the madman, Chris felt a surge of power and went into a fierce attack, striking with deadly precision, driving Death easily back, landing blow after blow, slash after slash, until the other man was bleeding from several cuts. "Die!" he breathed, attacking in earnest. He drove for Death's left shoulder, thrusting successfully. Then another move and his blade entered the other man's right shoulder; always striking, always moving forward. And then, almost too fast for the eye to follow, the sword stroke one final time and Death cried out as he was unable to parry and Chris' blade plunged clear through him. They stood frozen for a moment, their eyes locked, Death's reflecting pain and fear, Chris' reflecting vengeance. Then he withdrew his sword and Death pitched forward, lying dead on the ground. Chris leaned against the mast, panting for breath, staring down at Death's ashen features, the blood still pouring from the multiple cuts, his eyes bulging wide, but no longer seeing. He had finally won.
It was unbelievably easy after that. Seeing their captain was dead, Death's remaining men surrendered their weapons. Chris allowed them to board the British cruiser and sail away to lick their wounds, warning them not to show their faces in the Caribbean Sea in the near future if they valued their lives. "Now what?" JD asked, looking around their new ship. "Search for Ezra," Chris replied, already marching towards the cabins. He was frantically going through each cabin when Vin's voice called out, "Chris! Nathan! Come quickly!" Feeling his heart skipping a beat, he exited the last cabin, joining the others on the deck. "Where are you?" he shouted. "In the hold!" They rushed to the hold, and Chris gasped at the sight before him. Vin was holding an extremely frail looking Ezra in his arms. The other man had lost weight he couldn't afford to lose, his pallor was frightening and he looked haggard and weak beyond belief. "My Lord," Josiah whispered. "What have they done to him?"
CHAPTER XII - Bliss The healer shook his head despondently. "I don't know. We have to try and wake him." "Ezra? Ezra, wake up." Chris patted the pale face tenderly. "Ezra?" The other man groaned, snuggling up against him. "Cold..." he muttered. "Ezra, I need you to open your eyes for me," Chris pleaded. "Come on, Ezra." "No..." Ezra whispered in a nearly non-existent voice. "Yes, Ezra. Do it for me, come on." Ezra sighed gently, then slowly opened his eyes, blinking sleepily up at Chris. He looked at the other man for a long time, then suddenly began to chuckle weakly. "What are you laughing at?" Chris asked, confused. "Hallucination," Ezra breathed. "You're a hallucination." Chris shook his head at the man's whimsical mood. "I'm not a hallucination, Ezra. I know Death told you we were dead, but we managed to escape from the cave." Ezra looked up. "You did?" "Yes, we did," Buck answered gently, and Ezra turned his head to look at him, then at the others. He turned his focus back to Chris, raising a trembling hand to brush over his face. Chris held Ezra's hand up with his own, pressing it against his cheek firmly. "I'm alive," he whispered. "You're really here?" Ezra queried, so softly the others had to strain to hear. "You didn't die?" "We are really here, we didn't die. Believe me, Ezra. And Death is dead. He will never hurt you again." "Oh, Lord!" Ezra breathed, struggling to wrap his arms around Chris' neck. Chris held him tighter, pulling him closer to him. "It's all right, Ezra. You're going to be fine." "I'm so tired..." Ezra whispered against his neck. "Ezra, I need you to stay awake," Nathan told him. "I have to ask you a few questions." Chris felt Ezra nodding, so he manhandled him gently until he could look at Nathan. "What are you feeling?" the healer asked softly. "Cold... Fatigued..." "Do you know why?" Ezra nodded. "Been without food for --" He frowned, then looked up at Chris. "How long... the cave?" "You haven't had anything to eat since the day we found the treasure?" Josiah asked incredulously. "Why?" "When he told me what he had done..." He sighed, closing his eyes and leaning back against Chris' chest. "I nearly killed him. Took four of his men to get me away from him." "So that's why he decided to starve you to death?" Chris gritted out, feeling furious anew. Death had died far too quickly. "I wouldn't say yes..." Ezra explained weakly. He looked up again, obviously trying hard to focus on Chris' face. "I couldn't keep my part of the deal, didn't let him... I couldn't betray you." He tilted his head to the side. "Are you still upset with me?" "Lord, Ezra!" Chris whispered, resting his forehead against Ezra's. "I wasn't upset with you. I was angry, and not at you. I was angry at *me*. I made you a promise, that he wouldn't get near you, wouldn't hurt you again, and I couldn't keep my word." "Chris," Nathan interrupted gently. "You can do this later. Right now, Ezra needs to be taken somewhere comfortable, like one of the cabins. And we need to find him something light to eat. Ezra, have you been in here all this time?" "Yes." Nathan exhaled softly. "All right. I need something to cover his eyes. There's not enough light here to see properly, and after nearly four weeks the light from the sun will hurt his eyes." "Here," Vin offered, giving him a small scarf he usually wore around his neck. "Thank you. JD, find the galley. See if there's any fruit, or at least something to make a broth." "Right," the young man answered, rushing out. "Buck, find him something warm to wear. Until the food begins to work, he will continue to feel cold. Josiah, can you carry him to the captain's quarters?" Nathan asked, once the scarf was in place. Chris released his hold on the other man long enough for Josiah to carry him to Death's cabin, and lay him down gently on the bed, then sat by Ezra's side, hovering protectively as Nathan began to examine him thoroughly. Buck returned with a heavy coat, which Chris helped Ezra don, smiling at Ezra's contented sigh as he finally felt warm enough. JD walked in carrying a cup filled with freshly made broth. "It was already on," he informed with a grin. "All I had to do was wait a few minutes for it to finish brewing." Chris nodded. "Thank you, JD." He reached for the cup, then waited until Josiah and Nathan placed Ezra nestled against him, to raise it to the other man's lips. "Ezra, I need you to open your mouth. I have some broth here for you." The other man obeyed, taking slow, careful sips until the cup was almost empty. He shook his head, refusing to take more, and Chris looked at Nathan. The healer smiled. "He did good. It'll do for now. Lay him down and let him sleep for a while. We'll give him more every few hours. He can't eat too much or he will be sick." Chris adjusted Ezra's position until he was lying back on the bed, removing the blindfold and covering him tenderly with the covers. He brushed a few strands of unruly hair from the man's forehead, then turned to the others. "Set course to Tortuga. This ship might not have suffered too much damage, but it still needs repairs. Do whatever you can now; leave the rest to when we get there. And clean the ship." "What do we do with the bodies?" Vin asked. "Throw them overboard," Chris replied, his eyes flashing dangerously.
The men worked feverishly. They were all capable seamen and several skilled carpenters and ship builders could also be found among their ranks. It took them only four hours to raise two new masts, reinforce the bulwarks, seal all the holes and repair the rigging, having had an abundance of cables, fibers, chains and ropes on board. By mid-morning the second day, not only could the ship set sail, but also engage in battle once again, for new barricades made of tree trunks had been erected to protect the cannons and firelocks. The ship's name had also been changed. Chris refused to let such a magnificent ship be named 'The Skull', so he had renamed her 'Destiny'. It seemed fitting somehow, after all they had been through in the last months. The seven men were now gathered in the main cabin, trying to decide their future. Ezra was sitting on the bed, much to Chris' relief, looking alert and much healthier. Against Nathan's orders he had already been walking about the ship, if only for a few minutes. Chris grinned ruefully, the other man was nothing if not stubborn, confronting even his own physical needs. "So we still have the treasure, which means we're once again rich beyond our wildest dreams," Vin quipped. "Now what?" "We keep doing what we have been doing so far," Chris replied. "Death might be dead, but we still have the governor to fight against. Now, after the last few weeks, I think everyone deserves a little time ashore. So take the crew and go. I'll stay here with Ezra." "I want to go as well," Ezra protested. "No, you don't," Chris replied sweetly. "You're staying here." Ezra glared at him, but remained silent as the others exited the cabin. "Why can't I go?" he finally asked. Chris sighed. "You know why, Ezra. It's only been two days. You are still too weak to walk around town with the others. Even if they went to the tavern, it would take too much out of you, and until you are well, Nathan said you can't drink. What would you do, spend the afternoon watching them?" Ezra exhaled softly. "I'm sorry. It's just --" "You're tired of being locked up. I know. But Ezra, you have barely moved for the last month. For what you told us, Death only allowed you to walk a few minutes each day, and during last the week, you had to have help. And you're still weak from lack of food. You have to be patient." "Not exactly my strong point," Ezra conceded with a slight smile. Chris chuckled. "It doesn't matter. I still love you," he said, enjoying the way Ezra's eyes lit up at the words. He leaned forward, brushing his lips over the other man's. "I've been wanting to say that for a month. I. Love. You. I'm sorry for the way I behaved at the cave." Ezra nodded. "It's quite all right, Captain Larabee," he replied with a teasing grin. Chris mock glared at him. "You're pushing your luck, sailor." Rising from the bed, he began to take off his clothes, grinning at the other man's gaping expression. "What are you doing?" Ezra blinked, confused. "Undressing," Chris answered with a chuckle. "I can see that. Why?" "I want to lie down with you, hold you for a while. The others are leaving the ship as we speak, we'll be all alone. No one will bother us. What do you say?" Ezra seemed to hesitate, then nodded slowly, so Chris motioned for him to lie down. When the other man obeyed, he sat back on the bed, then made to stretch beside him, hankering down into the space Ezra had left for him. He looked over at the other man, who lay acquiescent in his corner, squinting at the afternoon sun. Shaking his head fondly, Chris reached out and pulled Ezra into his arms, one hand gently directing the younger man to rest his head on his chest. Ezra stiffened for a moment, but just as Chris began to fear he had been too presumptuous, Ezra relaxed, letting his arms move around Chris' larger frame. Burrowing in further to bring their bodies into full contact, Ezra sighed happily and said, "This feels good." Letting out a relieved breath, Chris hastened to agree, his hand caressing the chestnut hair tenderly, "Yeah. Yeah, it does." It felt so good that Chris had to struggle to keep his body under control. It wasn't easy with Ezra in his arms. Feeling his warmth, his spicy smell tickling his nose, made it damn near impossible not to become aroused. But he refused to do anything to upset the other man. They had done nothing more than kiss and he was almost certain Ezra was a stranger to male loving. But just being there, wrapped in each other's arms, felt incredibly right. It filled something inside him that had been sorely lacking since his wife and son's death. It was contentment, bliss. He could stay in that bed forever, enjoying the feel of Ezra in his arms. Though Chris had been sure Ezra had fallen into a healing slumber, the other man broke his contented silence a moment later. "Chris?" "Yes?" he whispered back. "I need to know if.... Not that it matters, but... I wanted to ask...." Ezra stammered, his uncharacteristic nervousness making Chris frown. "You can always ask me anything, Ezra. What is it?" "Have you ever... been with a man?" he asked hesitantly. "Because... I am not certain if I am prepared, but I do wish to become... intimate with you." Chris smiled gently. "So do I. I have been dreaming about you for a long time, about loving you and --" "You dreamt about me?" Ezra interjected, sounding surprised. "Yes. Especially on that island. The dreams would come when I had no control, when I was sleeping. Part of me hated thinking of you that way when you could be suffering Lord knows what at Death's hands, but I was helpless to prevent them. And answering your question, yes, I have been with a man before. Some years ago. He died two years before I was married." He felt Ezra lift his head. "I'm sorry." Chris shook his head. "It was a long time ago, the wound has healed." "And your wife's?" Ezra queried perceptively. "That one still smarts. Probably will until the day I can get the man responsible for Sarah and Adam's deaths." "My uncle." "Your uncle," Chris confirmed. "But it's not as important as it was before. I couldn't think of anything else but getting my revenge." "And now?" Chris smiled. "Now I spend most of my time thinking about you." Returning his head to its former place, Ezra cuddled in a bit more and Chris could feel him smiling against his chest as he whispered, "I love you, Chris." "I love you too," he whispered in return, and to his surprise he fell almost instantly into a deep, blissful slumber.
CHAPTER XIII - The New Governor "Been awake long?" he asked. Ezra shrugged slightly. "A while." "What have you been doing?" The other man smiled. "Watching you sleep, pondering about life." And with that, Ezra leaned down and captured his lips in a startling tender kiss, lips gliding over Chris', moving them in an excruciatingly slow caress, the tip of his tongue sweeping gently over Chris' upper lip, begging to be let in. Chris parted his lips, letting his tongue entwine with Ezra's, feeling the other man pressing himself more deeply into his embrace. He could feel Ezra's erection brushing against his own, and he couldn't stop from moaning into the sweet mouth ravishing his. Finally coming to his senses, he pulled back reluctantly. "Ezra..." he gasped. "We shouldn't... Oh, Lord!" he groaned, as Ezra moved against him, hips shifting slightly and further enflaming the physical evidence of their desire. He regarded Ezra's flushed face; the wide, dilated eyes, the kiss-swollen lips, the movement of his chest as he panted for breath, and suddenly knew what he desperately needed from the other man. "Ezra... Love me," he whispered softly, allowing Ezra's eyes to meet his own, to see the need and arousal lurking within him. Reaching for a jar containing an oily substance he had found just for that purpose, he handed it to the other man. "Please," he breathed. Ezra licked his bottom lip, looking down at the small jar. "I... Tell me what to do," he pleaded softly. Chris smiled, nodding his understanding. "You need it to stretch me, so it won't hurt," he explained. Ezra raised his head at that. "Hurt?" Chris chuckled. "It won't hurt, Ezra. That's why we use that substance." "Oh." Then, "Stretching?" "With your fingers," Chris replied gently. "You put some inside me and loosen the muscle with your fingers. Then you put some on yourself, too." Nodding slowly, Ezra placed his hands on Chris' chest, touching him tenderly with his fingers, making lazy circles on the hard pectoral muscles above his nipples. He licked one nipple, then the other, blowing over them softly. Chris closed his eyes, moaning deeply and pressing himself into the touch, wanting more, needing more than the light, teasing touches he was receiving. He felt Ezra run his hands along his sides, lingering over his waist and letting his thumbs stroke the stomach muscles. He groaned helplessly as the touch vanished, only to return a heartbeat later at his groin. Ezra handled him slowly, carefully, obviously getting use to touching him. Chris bit his lip hard, forcing himself not to thrust, letting the other man explore to his heart's content. Never taking his hand away, Ezra attacked his shoulder, nibbling his way up toward his left ear. Caught between the double assault, Chris tilted his head back submissively, moaning softly as Ezra bit him gently on the neck, then sucked harder, alternating between nibbling and lapping at his flesh until he was whimpering his need for the other man. "Ezra, please!" he cried out. His reply was a breathless chuckle. "Patience, my pirate. Patience." He watched dazedly as Ezra moved to lie between his legs, reaching for the jar. The other man coated his fingers with the oily substance, then reached down to Chris' tight ring of muscle, a first finger brushing softly over the puckered portal. Chris laid his head back, holding the sheets in a white-knuckled grip, feeling the finger swirling in tiny circles over his opening. He moaned as the slick digit entered him, stretching his entrance and sinking slowly deeper. A second finger soon joined the first, then a third, and Chris pushed back against the invaders, writhing and crying out as they brushed repeatedly against his pleasure nub. Finally Ezra removed his digits, coating his cock with the oil and moving forward slightly, holding himself with one hand. Poised at Chris' entrance, he hesitated as if waiting for something. Chris smiled, staring into Ezra's eyes. "I'm ready," he whispered. He moaned as he felt Ezra guiding himself into his body, applying a tiny bit of pressure with his hips until he was past the ring of muscle and sliding smoothly into his depths. His breath caught in his throat. It had been so long since he had felt so complete, so thoroughly possessed. He opened his eyes, gazing up at the man blanketing him, and realized Ezra was staring down at him, looking entranced. "I never thought..." Ezra breathed softly. Chris nodded. "Feels amazing, doesn't it? Now move." Eyes never leaving Chris', Ezra obeyed, pulling out slightly and pushing forward experimentally. Then grinning wickedly, he did it again, and again, moving with a slow and steady grace that had Chris moaning for more. With every thrust, Ezra's cock massaged him inside, making him groan and push back against his lover deliriously. Ezra wrapped a hand around Chris' cock, pumping it in time with his now frantic thrusts, both of them lost in the loving, letting it consume them, encompass them, destroying all awareness of time and place. Chris' pleasure grew, and grew, and grew, until he finally cried out, his seed bathing Ezra's hand and both their bodies. He heard Ezra whimper his name, then the other man was coming deeply inside of him, his whole body trembling as he surrendered his life-force to Chris. Ezra collapsed against him, panting hard, pinning him willingly to the bed. When he found the strength to move again, and very gently, he rolled Ezra off, using a corner of the sheets to clean their bodies. That accomplished, Chris pulled his lover back into his arms, stroking the silken hair tenderly. Ezra sighed contentedly and burrowed into his chest. "Unimaginable," he whispered, nuzzling Chris' chest softly. "Yes, it was," Chris agreed with a smile. "Ezra, I need you to know something. Just because we did this now... I don't want you to feel obliged... to make love just because I was prepared to do it. I don't want you to feel like I'm forcing you. It will be in your own time, when you feel it's right. Understand?" Ezra nodded against his chest. "Yes. Thank you." Chris kissed the top of his head tenderly. "Rest. The others will be back soon. Everything will be fine." He stayed awake long after Ezra surrendered to his exhaustion and fell asleep. His body was sated, but his mind was fully alert, thinking. He'd had a hard life, everything he had possessed had been fiercely fought for, every person he had ever loved he had lost. He suddenly wondered if the peaceful contentment he was experiencing was not the quiet before the storm. And he prayed he would be able to survive it.
The sun was already setting when the other five returned, most of the crew still remaining behind. Chris was on the bridge, watching the slow harbor movement, while Ezra was sitting on the stairs leading to the bridge, staring at the beautiful shading skies. "We have to talk," Vin announced, as soon as he jumped on board. "Yeah. You won't believe what we heard back in town!" JD gushed out excitedly. Chris nodded. "Let's go back to my cabin." Once the seven men were all there, he asked, "So, what happened?" "We went to the tavern and everyone was discussing the same thing," Josiah explained. "There's a new governor in Jamaica." "What?" Ezra exclaimed, his eyes growing wide at the information. Vin nodded. "It's true. Your uncle is not the governor anymore. Last week a representative from the Queen arrived at Port Royal and made the official announcement." "And you'll never guess who the new governor is!" Buck chuckled. "We know him?" Chris asked curiously. "Who?" "Captain Perry!" Buck boomed. "Apparently he and Her Majesty are close friends and when the reports started pouring in about Standish's conduct, the Queen decided to do something about it. And since she knew Perry and he was already here..." "And my uncle? What happened to him?" Ezra queried softly. "Didn't hear anything on that," Nathan said. "But he must be imprisoned, after all he has done..." "And that's not all," JD grinned. "We've been pardoned." "What?" Chris startled. "Why?" "Well, we spoke with a few people and you know how word of mouth goes, but I think he was given permission to set everything right. You know, to undo Standish's wrong doings. The only reason we got into this business was to fight Rupert Standish. So Governor Perry pardoned us, all of us. Crew included," Josiah said evenly. Chris frowned. "You don't think this could be a trap for us? If we are being pardoned, we will have to go to Port Royal to speak with the governor. Standish may have spread the rumors so he can catch us." Nathan shook his head. "There was a group of men in the tavern who were at Port Royal at the time and witnessed everything. It's not a lie, Perry really is the new governor of Jamaica." Chris sat back on his chair. "This is somewhat unexpected, to say the least. Ezra, you know Perry better than we do. Can we trust him?" Ezra nodded. "Yes. He's a good man. If he claims he has pardoned us, I believe him. What will we do?" Chris looked at the six hopeful faces surrounding him and chuckled. "Very well. We sail for Port Royal in three days time. Ezra still needs his rest and we have some last minute repairs to see to. This has better be true, or we are all going to regret it."
They arrived at Port Royal without incident, although Chris could feel the tension building in the crew. It was so thick you could cut it with a knife. He couldn't really blame them. Most of the men had had some sort of sentence set upon them unjustly by the ex-governor, while the others simply related with their fight against Standish. Now, they had a chance to be free from those charges, and yet they feared it was all a hoax. It would be a trying day. No one tried to stop the seven men as they went ashore. Although he looked around constantly, Chris could see no suspicious individuals hiding in the shadows, nothing out of place that would lead him to believe they were indeed falling into a trap. As they drew closer to the governor's palace, he stopped and looked at the others. "We're here. There will be no turning back after we go through those gates. This is our last chance." "I still say we should go," JD spoke up. "I agree," Buck grinned. The rest of the men nodded and Chris exhaled softly. "In that case, let's go." They walked over to the gates, stopping before the royal guards. "We wish to see the governor," Chris stated to the two men. "Is he expecting you?" one of them asked, watching the seven men curiously. "In a way," Vin replied with a chuckle. "Tell him Chris Larabee and his men are here to see him." The two guards exchanged a look, then the one who had spoken earlier nodded. "Wait here." Chris watched him go inside, disappearing into the impressive two-story building, only to return a few minutes later and wave at the guard still at the gate. "Seems you are in luck," he said as he opened the gates. "Go with Hill." He gestured towards the other guard. "He'll take you to Governor Perry." They approached Hill, who led them into the house, past several opulent corridors until they finally stopped before a closed door. The guard opened it, motioning them inside. "This is the chamber of power," Hill informed them seriously. "The governor will be with you shortly." He closed the door behind him, leaving the seven men alone in the wide room. Chris realized immediately why it was called the chamber of power; the walls and ceiling were ornamental displays of weaponry, an obvious reflection of the governor's power. It was not a room for comfort, but for show, and he wondered why Perry would send them to wait there. Before he could deepen the thought, the door opened and the former Captain Perry walked in, a wide smile grazing his wrinkled face. "Gentlemen," he drawled. "I see you have heard the news. Welcome to Port Royal." "Thank you, Governor," Chris replied as he watched the man sit down. "There are several pieces of information spreading throughout the islands. One of them in particular interests us." Perry chuckled. "Yes. I can guess which piece of information it is. And I can assure you that it is true, you have all been pardoned. The seven of you and your entire crew as well." "Why?" Chris asked, not yet ready to give up. Perry sighed. "I began listening to the rumors about the rebellious pirate Larabee long before we ever met. A man who attacked the governor's troops and ships carrying cargo from or for the aforementioned governor, who had sworn to bring Rupert Standish down mercilessly. Captain Larabee, I like to think of myself as a good judge of character. Since I met first Ezra, and then yourself and your crew, I knew everything to be true. I had also been aware of Standish's doings for some time, reason why I warned Her Majesty." "So?" "So, I am a great believer in justice. You fought for what you thought was right and I am aware of the circumstances surrounding your wife and son's deaths. I am also aware it is said Standish had something to do with it. In the face of those facts and your actions, I have seen fit to arrange for the pardons. I also have a proposition for you." "Proposition?" Chris repeated suspiciously. Perry grinned. "Quite. I want you in my fleet. Things are going to change around here, Captain. Although I can understand what you did and why you did it, I will not tolerate piracy. I already have a man who will handle all the navigation affairs, but I also need good, loyal men to commandeer the ships and fight pirates such as Captain Death." Chris' eyes narrowed dangerously. "That's one pirate you won't have to worry about ever again." "Oh?" "He's dead," Buck supplied helpfully. "Who's the man you were speaking of? The one responsible for navigation affairs?" "Orrin Travis. He's a good friend and a good man. What he doesn't know about the sea has yet to be discovered. Should you accept my proposal, you will be under his command only. You will answer to no one but him." "Can I have a word with my men before giving you my answer?" Chris asked. "Of course," Perry replied, rising from his chair. "I have some business to see to, I shall return in a few minutes. Gentlemen." Once they were alone, Chris turned to the other men. "Well? This involves us all. What do you think? Should we accept?" he asked, knowing that whatever the answer, their lives would never be the same again.
CHAPTER XIV - Kidnapped "I thought it would be better if all of us were to sit down. We have a lot to discuss," he explained as they took their seats. "So, have you decided how to proceed regarding my proposal yet?" "Yes," Chris answered. "We accept. But we would like to be given some time before meeting Travis and sailing off." "Of course, of course! Excellent! Welcome aboard, gentlemen," he said. "So to speak." Ezra cleared his throat. "Governor, may I ask, what has become of my uncle?" Perry scowled. "Unfortunately, he escaped before we could place him behind bars. Somehow he knew about his deposition before the official announcement. He vanished. Obviously, he knew what would happen should he stay at Port Royal. I have men looking for him, but they have yet to find him. I do have some good news." "Good news?" Buck echoed. "Yes. Mr. Thompson, who I believe was the foreman at the Standish plantation, was captured four days ago and charged with murder. Apparently after what happened at the plantation, Standish blamed him for not being able to control the slaves and fired him. He moved to Port Royal and unable to find work, was forced to resort to thieving to survive. One of his victims fought him and he ended up beating the unfortunate man to death. He had quite a lot to say about his association with Rupert Standish and their... business deals together. I believe this is yours, Mr. Standish," Perry said, handing Ezra a piece of yellowed paper. Chris saw Ezra examine the document before looking up at Perry with a frown. "I don't understand," he said. "It's quite simple, Mr. Standish. Thompson told me how you were forced to sign the deed of the plantation over to your uncle. He stated he and his men held you at gunpoint until the deal was completed. Well, I'm handing the deed back to its rightful owner. I'm certain that between you and your mother, you will decide what to do about the property." Ezra nodded. "Thank you." "There's more. When I moved to this house, the first thing I did was clear my... predecessor's office of all his possessions. Imagine my surprise when I discovered this," he remarked, showing a large stack of papers resting on the table. "What is that?" Josiah asked curiously. "Ownership documents belonging to all the slaves. It seems your uncle didn't believe them to be safe back at the plantation. Once again, these are yours, Mr. Standish." Ezra exhaled softly. "Would you be willing to help me with those, Governor?" Perry raised his eyebrows quizzically. "Of course. What do you wish me to do?" "I want to see to their emancipation. I believe they will need some documentation to make it official, but I have no idea what is necessary." The governor nodded. "I can have the documents drawn for you, all you will have to do is sign them. But... I mean no disregard to Mr. Jackson, but are you certain, Mr. Standish? If you do decide to rebuild the plantation, you will need workers." Ezra grinned. "That's my point exactly, governor. I would like to have them back as workers, not slaves. I believe I can afford to pay them a small salary, at least until the accounts are balanced." Perry shook his head. "You truly are an amazing motley crew, gentlemen. Very well, I will see to the documents. But you still need to find the slaves. They disappeared after the plantation burned down." Chris cleared his throat. "We might have a lead on where to find them," he stated, remembering Joseph. "As soon as you have the documents ready, we will look for them." "They should be done by tomorrow afternoon. In the meantime," Perry leaned back in the chair with a smile. "I want to know exactly, how did Captain Death die? I seem to have missed the last round of rumors regarding you gentlemen. Most lacking on my part. So, tell me everything. I want to be able to imagine the battle as if I had been there. It will cure some of my sorrow. It will be some time before I will be able to sail the Caribbean Sea." Chris nodded, and between the seven, they managed to embellish their adventure, starting from the last time they had seen Perry. They did leave some things out, like the fact they had a fortune hidden in their ship's hold.
"Where to now?" JD asked as they went through the governor's palace's gates. "We should go back to the ship, tell the crew everything's all right," Josiah suggested. "I want something to drink first. I think we're all entitled to a little celebrating," Buck said. "There should be a tavern around here somewhere." Chris nodded. "Tavern it is, then." He turned to Ezra. "What are you going to do about the plantation?" Ezra shrugged slightly. "I would like to find Mother first, before I decide on how to proceed. If I can't, I guess I should rebuild it. I can use my part of the treasure. And the workers can help," he stated with a grin. "I like the idea of paying them a salary," Nathan chimed in. "And about freeing us... I... uh..." he stammered, embarrassed. Ezra chuckled gently. "It's quite all right, Nathan. It was the right thing to do. As for the salaries, it's a good business venture. They know the work and they will do it better knowing they are free. It will be my gain." Buck scowled. "That makes it sound so ruthless. That's not why you did it." "No," Ezra replied seriously. "But this is the way I was taught, Mr. Wilmington. I always see the practical side of every action." They found a tavern and walked in, ordering ales all around. For the first time in a long time they let themselves go. They were free to come and go as they pleased, no troops to hide from, no patrol ships to elude, no gallows to fear. It was the start of a new beginning for the seven men.
The next day Chris and the others returned to Port Royal to once again see Governor Perry. As they strolled through the crowded streets, they were greeted as heroes, the news about Death's demise having spread throughout the town. Despite Death's connection with the former governor, it was obvious the populace was happy to be rid of the pirate. Or maybe it was because of it, Chris thought ruefully. Governor Standish hadn't exactly been a model of kindness. They were allowed in the palace immediately and taken to see the governor, who rose from his chair with a grin as they walked in the room. He shook their hands eagerly. "Gentlemen. How are you faring? Mr. Standish, I have those documents ready for you. As soon as you sign them, they will become official. All you will need to do is give each of the former slaves their document and they will be free." Ezra nodded. "Thank you," he said softly, already signing the first document. Chris turned to the governor. "I have spoken to my crew. They are understandably exhilarated about having been pardoned and working for the right side for once," he quipped with a grin. "We have a ship and a full crew. I'm sure that will save you some time and bureaucracy." "Indeed. Most of the men I chose to command my fleet are without ships or crews. It will take some time before everything is prepared. But should some major problem occur, I can always count on you," Perry replied. "Mr. Standish, have you any news of your mother?" "Not yet. I have written letters to a few of her friends in Europe; I sent them today. It will take months before I hear anything," Ezra answered, signing the last paper. "There. All done." Perry nodded. "Good. You can take them with you then, and good luck finding those men. In the meantime, I got word that Orrin Travis will be arriving in Port Royal in exactly a week from today. I expect you all to be here. Until then, the time is yours to do as you please. Enjoy." "Thank you, Governor. See you next week," Chris replied, following the others out of the room. "Back to the tavern again?" Buck asked pleadingly once they were back out in the streets. Chris chuckled. "Why not? We have nothing better to do for the next few days. You can drink to your heart's content." "I'll be along shortly," Nathan said. "There's a gypsy who lives around here who sells some of the herbs I use to heal some of our ailments. I'm almost out, so I need to get more." "Can I accompany you?" Ezra asked. "I'm in no hurry to remain for hours on end surrounded by a drunken, noisy crowd." he remarked ruefully. Nathan nodded. "Sure." "Excellent! Mr. Sanchez, will you keep these documents safe for me?" Ezra asked, handing the other man the slaves' emancipation papers. "Wouldn't want them to get lost, they are far too valuable. Nathan, I believe this one is yours," he stated, giving the healer his document. "You are officially a free man. Gentlemen, we'll join you soon," he added to the others. Chris watched the two men walking away, wishing he could have asked Ezra to stay behind. He had never been the possessive type with Sarah, but for some reason he hated to be parted from Ezra. Maybe because the other man was so prone to finding trouble.
They had just left the gypsy woman's establishment when Ezra heard something off to his right. He stopped moving, eyes searching their surroundings quickly. Nothing. As he turned back around, he had enough time to hear Nathan groan from beside him, and the world exploded into stars.
He woke up some time later, his temples throbbing painfully from the blow to his head. His hands were tied behind his back, and so were his ankles, and he was gagged. Opening his eyes he saw Nathan lying down beside him, also tied up and gagged, his eyes still closed. A trickle of blood ran down his neck, and Ezra realized they must have hit the healer on the back of the head as well. They were being taken someplace. He could hear the horses' hoofs as they moved forward, and he felt nauseated each time the wheels of what appeared to be a cart, hit a hole in the road. The two of them were hidden in the back, covered by a rough cloth, obviously to avoid being seen by anyone. He could tell they were no longer in Port Royal; it was too quiet for that. He could not hear the usual buzz of the lively town, the frantic noises coming from the harbor, or even the constant cry of the seagulls. From the silence surrounding them, he would guess they were heading inland, and by the bumps on the path, traveling through a scantily used road. Dragging himself closer to Nathan, he bumped his body gently against the other man, until he heard him groaning pitifully. He waited patiently for Nathan's eyes to open, wincing sympathetically as the healer flinched at the sudden light. Finally, Nathan's eyes reopened, looking around until they settled on Ezra, who raised his eyebrows and shrugged helplessly. They were in trouble again. They remained close together for the remainder of the journey, giving each other whatever meager comfort they could manage, until they finally reached their destination. The cart came to a halt with a shouted command from a harsh male voice. "Finally!" someone exclaimed and Ezra gasped at the familiar voice. "I was starting to believe you would never get here! Were you successful?" "Yes. But we were forced to bring one of the others as well. He was never alone." "Doesn't matter. Let me see him." The cover was thrown back and for the first time Ezra saw his captors, two of the plantation's former guards. And beside them stood a smug looking Rupert Standish. "Well, well, well! Nephew, we meet again! It's been such a long time, has it not? Aren't you going to greet your uncle?" Then he chuckled, "Oh, of course. Silly me. You can't speak with that rag in your mouth, can you?" He reached for the gag and, none too gently, pushed it from Ezra's lips. "What about now? Anything to say?" "What do you want?" Ezra snapped angrily. "What is rightfully mine," Rupert replied, all humor gone from his face. "I couldn't believe when my men returned from town yesterday and told me not only that Death had been killed at Larabee's hands, but that you were back and were going to be working for that old bastard Perry! I also noticed there was no mention of a certain loot belonging to Mckenzie, which makes me believe you have appropriated it for yourselves. Well, I want it," he snapped. "Larabee had better be able to trade the loot for you, or he will be a member short in his crew." "He will tear you to pieces," Ezra growled. "You still owe him for his wife and son. If you do this, there isn't a rock big enough on Earth for you crawl under." "We shall see, nephew. We shall see. Take him to the slave quarters; he can stay among the ruins for all I care. But I want one of you watching him at all times," he ordered. Ezra was dragged from the cart and for the first time realized they were back at the plantation. His uncle had been hiding in plain sight all of that time, while Perry's soldiers had been looking for him far away from the Port Royal area. "What about the Negro?" one of the guards asked his uncle. Ezra felt a shudder ran through his body at the hateful look his uncle threw Nathan's way. "I don't care. Do with him as you will. He's yours." The men grinned. "Thank you, Mr. Standish. We can sell him tomorrow at the slave auction, he will make us a good profit." "Did you provide for the note to be sent to Larabee?" "Yes, sir. We offered a gold coin to a street urchin to give the note to Larabee at the tavern they were staying." "Good. Now, take my nephew to his new accommodations and get rid of the slave. I have some thinking to do." "Yes, sir." The men reached for Ezra again. He did try to fight their hold, but tied up hand and foot he was no match for the guards. He managed to steal a glance at Nathan, taking in the frightened light in the usually warmth-filled brown eyes, and wondered if he would ever see the other man again. He knew his uncle wasn't planning on letting him live, and even if Chris and the others managed to rescue him, they would probably be too late to save Nathan from being sold in the auction.
CHAPTER XV - The Rescue JD gulped down the rest of his ale. "I'll go look for them," he offered, putting down the mug and rushing out. "You think something might have happened to them?" Josiah asked, the worry clear in his voice. "Josiah, this is Ezra and Nathan we are discussing!" Buck huffed. "Remember how peaceful life was before we met them? A few battles, an occasional skirmish with the governor's troops and that was it. Now, we get trapped in caves, sunk by storms, stranded on deserted islands, engage in battle every two days... It's not normal! We've been through three ships in the last weeks!" "We're also rich, have a much better ship, and we've never had so much fun before," Vin added softly. Buck sighed. "Yeah, there is that. You sure get attached to those two, don't you? Not to mention the boy, who's as bad as them. We should start calling them the 'Troublesome Threesome'." JD walked in at that moment, a small pouch in his hand, worry shining deeply in the hazel eyes. "I found Nathan's herbal pouch," he announced as he sat down. "It was lying on the ground, in the middle of the street." "Damnit," Chris murmured angrily. "Captain Larabee?" a small voice asked from beside him. He turned his head to see a young boy, maybe six or seven years old, looking expectantly up at him. "Yes?" "I have something for you," the boy said, big blue eyes blinking fearfully, giving Chris a folded sheet of paper before running away and disappearing from the tavern. Chris unfolded the note and read it, feeling his anger growing as the words impacted into his soul. "What does it say?" Vin asked. "'Meet me tonight at midnight with the treasure or he dies. I will be waiting at the Standish plantation.' It's not signed, but I can guess who it's from." "Rupert Standish," JD stated firmly. "But... the note says 'he dies'? He must mean Ezra. But what about Nathan?" "Hopefully, the note was written before they were captured. They were probably just trying to catch Ezra, but he's never been alone so they decided to take Nathan as well," Josiah replied. "Now what?" Buck asked. "We get ready for tonight," Chris growled. "And this time Standish is not getting away from me."
They left Port Royal as soon as it got dark; JD driving a cart loaded with large wooden boxes to hide their cargo, the rest of them on horses. It would give them an edge over whatever Rupert Standish had planned for them. They had been traveling the dirt road for nearly an hour when bad luck struck again. Vin was riding beneath the branches of an overhanging tree when a dark figure dropped without warning from the foliage. The attacker landed on Vin's back, sending him crashing into the ground. Vin's terrified mount reared up in panic but the attacker hung on. For an instant, Chris was too startled to react, but reflexes honed by years of danger took command. He quickly reached for his pistol, his hand as steady as a rock as he aimed it at the bandit. The robber, fighting to control the horse, was a difficult target but Chris' aim was deadly; his bullet struck the man in the middle of the back. The bandit flung his arms out with a cry and fell sideways from the saddle, his hands still tangled in the reins. Secured by the weight of the body, Vin's horse could not move. "Chris --" JD began. "Not now!" Chris interjected with a shout. He remained where he was; road bandits rarely worked alone and sooner or later more would emerge from the shadows. He did not have to wait long. Three more rose from the long grass beside the road; one made for Vin's unconscious frame while the rest made to approach the cart. Without a thought for the consequences, Chris charged at the two heading towards JD, using his thighs to guide his mount while he turned the empty weapon into a club. One blow felled the man on his right and he kicked out with his left leg, striking the other in the face. Both men reeled away, driven off by the savagery of his resistance. The robber who had run towards Vin was bending over him with an upraised dagger. Before he could so much as move, Buck ran him through with his sword, a single thrust which tore the man's throat open. "No one hurts my friends!" the mustached man growled angrily. Wheeling around the tree, Chris looked up. The branches were empty, so he slid from his saddle. "Everyone all right?" "Yeah, yeah," JD replied shakily. Chris nodded, rushing over to Vin. He knelt by the younger man. A quick touch on the warm throat confirmed he was still alive. "He's fine. Must have hurt his head when he fell down." He patted Vin's face gently. "Vin. Vin, wake up." The other man groaned, opening his eyes and looking up dazedly at him. "What happened?" "We were attacked by bandits. One of them jumped on your back and knocked you from the horse. Think you can ride?" Chris asked softly. Vin sat up, touching the back of his head gingerly. Chris was relieved when the hand came back with no blood. "Yeah, I think I can manage," Vin answered. "Just don't ask me to put my thoughts into any kind of order, my head hurts too much." Chris helped the other man rise. "I didn't know you could think," he quipped with a grin. Vin made a face. "Ha ha. Trying for Court jester, Larabee?" Chris patted the man's back softly. "I might. Wait here, I'll get you your horse." Three strides allowed him to catch the trembling horse. He kicked aside the body of the thief he had shot to free the leather straps and returned to Vin. "Here. Try to stay on it this time," he chuckled, springing onto the back of his own horse. "Let's keep going. We still have at least half an hour before we get to the plantation."
Ezra watched his uncle pacing around like a caged animal before him. It was nearly midnight and they were waiting by the steps of the collapsed main building. The rope binding his ankles had been severed, but his hands were still firmly tied behind his back, and one of the guards had a tight grip on his arm. "What do you intend to do with me?" he finally asked. His uncle grinned evilly. "Trade you for the treasure, of course." "And will you allow us to leave safely?" Ezra asked dubiously. "Do you doubt my word?" the senior Standish asked, raising an eyebrow in mock puzzlement. "In a word... Yes," Ezra drawled sarcastically. His uncle laughed. "And you should. You are correct; I do have other plans. Like killing you, nephew. You are the reason why I have been surviving on bread and water for the last days, why I have been sleeping on the ground like a common vagabond. Before you came along, the slaves knew who the Master was and how to behave. But because of you I have lost everything I held dear. You have cost me my plantation, my fortune, my position as governor, my strongest ally's life, and even that treasure. It's time I take matters into my own hands; you must pay for what you have done." "Larabee won't allow you to kill me," Ezra promised, knowing his lover would do anything in his power to get him out of his uncle's clutches safe and sound. "He won't have much choice. Not with a pistol aimed at his men. And by the time he realizes what is happening, it will be too late." "You are mad!" Ezra spat angrily. "Perhaps," his uncle conceded. "But I will be an extremely rich madman in a few more minutes. And you will be dead."
As soon as they drew close enough to the plantation, Chris was able to see the three men standing before the main house; the light from a lantern shining eerily around them. He recognized Rupert Standish immediately, in spite of it having been some time since he had last seen the man. He still stood tall and rigid, forever the plantation owner, so full of himself. Not even being on the run had slumped the man's proud bearing. Behind him stood Ezra, his hands obviously tied behind his back, the third man holding a dagger pressed against his neck. Chris shuddered as he realized that just one slip would be enough to kill his lover. "Larabee!" Rupert Standish spat when they were finally close enough to talk. "Standish," he drawled back, making no move to dismount from the horse. "Let's get down to business, shall we? I believe I have something you want, and you have something I need." "You want this?" Chris asked in a deadly voice, gesturing towards the cart. "Bring it closer," the man ordered harshly. Chris shook his head. "Release Ezra first. And where the hell is Nathan?" Standish laughed humorlessly. "I believe you have yet to understand who is in charge here, Larabee." Turning slightly, "Mr. Pitt, if you please," he spoke nonchalantly. Answering to his voice, the man holding Ezra pressed the dagger closer to his captive's neck, breaking the skin and making the other man cry out in pain. Chris glared at Standish, but relented. "All right! It's your move." "That's better. Mr. Pitt, you can rest for a moment. Answering your question, Larabee, the slave is no longer here. He didn't interest me. He was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time." "Is he dead?" Chris asked in a low, dangerous tone. "Dead? My goodness, no! That's the last thing my men would want to see happen. But I still have my dear nephew. And unless you give me what I want, I will kill him." Chris saw Ezra trying to speak, but the dagger brushed dangerously close to his throat and his lover quieted down. He had to make the exchange rapidly, before things got out of hand. "Fine!" he barked furiously. "JD, take the cart over to our former governor." He smirked as the man glared at his words. The young man nodded, slapping the reins and forcing the horses to move a little closer to the three men. He stopped when he was inches away from Standish and jumped from the cart, walking backwards carefully, his eyes never leaving Ezra's captors. Chris saw Standish gaze curiously at the boxes and nod. "Good, good," he drawled softly. "You know Larabee, I have to say I'm disappointed. After all this time and you still haven't learned your lesson." He grinned. "You, sir, are a fool," he told Chris as he gestured for his man to act. "No!" Chris shouted as he pulled out his pistol and tried to shoot the man who was swinging his blade down over Ezra's exposed neck. He heard Josiah yell something from behind him, then a shot rang out, but his eyes never left the man holding Ezra. He held his breath as Ezra suddenly kicked the man in the shin, then dropped to his knees, taking advantage of the fact the man had moved his arm slightly away. Not wasting any time, Chris aimed his pistol at the man, shooting him in the stomach. Seeing the man fall down in a heap on the ground, Chris finally risked looking at the others. They were all standing together, surrounding a dead Standish. "Who killed him?" he asked. "I did," Josiah replied apologetically. "He was going to shoot Buck, I had no choice." "By no means do I wish to interrupt such lively conversation, but would it possible for one of you gentlemen to cut my ropes?" Ezra asked sarcastically from behind them. "Sorry, Ezra," Chris grinned, cutting through the binds imprisoning the other man. "Are you all right?" "Yes," Ezra replied, touching his neck with a grimace. "It's merely a scratch. I have to say, though, that is one experience I have no wish to relive again." "Pitt?" Chris asked. "Dying," Ezra stated. "With a bullet in his stomach, it will take him a long time to do so. Is that the treasure?" He glanced at the cart. "No," Buck chuckled. "We filled the boxes with rocks, figured your uncle wouldn't have much help, and would be too busy with you and Nathan to check it. He was such an arrogant bastard, it didn't even cross his mind we would try to double-cross him. He should've known better." "Taking a great risk with our lives, weren't you?" Ezra chided, glaring at Chris. "I'm sorry. But we didn't exactly have much time for planning. Where's Nathan, Ezra?" Ezra's eyes darkened. "My uncle had a second man working for him, he took Nathan back to Port Royal. Intends to sell him tomorrow at the slave auction. We have to hurry back to town." "They can't sell him! Didn't you give Nathan his freedom papers?" JD asked with a frown. "Yes. But I heard my uncle speaking with one of the men, they destroyed the document. There's no way of proving Nathan is free now, we will have to buy him back," Ezra replied grimly. Buck exhaled softly. "Lord, I will never complain about not having anything to do all day. If we keep going this way, we'll all perish from exhaustion!" "Josiah, release the horses from the cart, we can leave it here. Ezra and JD can ride the horses back to Port Royal. We have a long ride ahead of us and we have to be up early for the auction." Once both Ezra and JD had their mounts, Chris nodded. "Let's ride. We have a friend to rescue."
CHAPTER VI - Brand New Life The six men waited patiently as slave after slave was sold, man, woman and child alike. Finally the merchant gestured to his helpers, who brought a tightly bound Nathan forward for inspection. "Fine slave, new this morning," the merchant told the crowd. "As you can see, he's a strong one, well built, fit for hard work. He's cultured too, well spoken. Not too many of 'em like that. Name's Nathan." "How much?" someone shouted from the audience. "For you, Master Johnson? Three gold coins." "I'll give you five!" another voice yelled from the back. Chris looked around. The square was full of soldiers; they would not be able to fight their way to rescue Nathan. They had tried to find Governor Perry that morning to let him know what was happening, but were told the governor was away on business. The only thing left to do was buy Nathan back. At least now they had the money to do it. "Six coins!" he shouted, grinning as Nathan glared at him. "Very good!" the merchant crooned. "Who else?" "Seven!" Master Johnson shouted back. "Eight!" Chris offered. "Josiah, have a quiet word with Master Johnson, will you? Persuade him it is not in his best interest to buy that slave." Josiah chuckled. "Right away, Chris." Chris watched the big man move through the throng of people in the square until he was by Johnson's side. Josiah said a few words, and suddenly the startled man looked straight at Chris, who saluted him and grinned. Seconds later Josiah was back with them. "Will he stop bidding?" JD asked anxiously. "Yes," Josiah replied, looking very pleased with himself. "What did you tell him?" Buck asked. "The man is white as a ghost!" Josiah chuckled. "Well, I told him Chris was the famous Captain Larabee and that if he so much as looked at Nathan again, we would snatch him from his home one day and cut him up into little pieces, which would then be sent to his family." "Josiah, really!" Ezra chided, but he had a wide smile on his face. "I would have told him we would gut him and feed his insides to the farm animals. But... I guess that will do," he deadpanned with a mock sigh, making the others laugh. "Who will give me more than eight coins?" the merchant called out. "No one? Then sold to the man in black." "Come on, let's go get Nathan," Chris told the others. A few minutes later they had paid for their 'slave', who was glaring at them while he rubbed sore wrists. "Did you really have to buy me?" Nathan grumbled. "It was the only way. Couldn't find the governor and there are too many guards around. Come on, let's get out of this place." "Not yet, Chris," Nathan interjected. "Joseph's here." "What? Why?" JD exclaimed. "I thought he was hiding in the jungle with the other slaves!" "He was. But every once in a while, some of them come to town for food. He was caught two days ago, and when he couldn't prove he was free and no one claimed him, he was sent to the auction." Chris sighed. "All right. We'll buy him as well. It will save us the trouble of having to go after them in the jungle."
Twenty minutes later, Joseph was hugging Ezra enthusiastically. "Young Master! Ya is well!" Ezra smiled gently. "I am fine, Joseph, and please, don't call me that anymore. Seems like life has given us both a hand, because we were ready to go in search of your hideout tomorrow." "Why?" Joseph asked curiously. "The new governor has given me the deed to the plantation and also the slave's ownership documents." "So the plantation is yours?" "Yes. And I have also made arrangements for all of you to be free. The documents are signed and safely back at Captain Larabee's ship." Joseph's eyes grew wide. "W-we're... free?" "Yes. Is it possible for you and the others to meet me tomorrow at midday at the plantation? I want to give you the papers and make you all a proposition." "Proposition?" Joseph echoed. "I wish to rebuild the plantation, Joseph, and I would be infinitely grateful if you kept working there. Not as slaves, but as independent workers. You would receive a small salary at the end of each week in exchange for your services. I don't know how much I can afford to pay, since it will probably be a few years before the fields will give us enough to make a profit, but --" "We stay and work for ya," Joseph interrupted to assure. "You's a good man and we needs money to be free men. What we been doin' in that jungle ain't livin'. You're givin' us a second chance and I thinks everyone will take it. We be there tomorrow." Ezra nodded. "Thank you. Don't forget, tomorrow at midday." "That reminds me," Buck said when Joseph had left. "We left the bodies behind." "Good. Maybe the animals fed on them," Chris stated cruelly. "If not, we will bury them tomorrow. I'm sure Standish's former slaves will rejoice in seeing their nemesis' dead body." Josiah yawned suddenly. "Lord, I'm exhausted!" he muttered. Chris nodded. "Let's go back to the ship. We can use a few hours sleep after the night we had. I think it's time for us to start enjoying the free days we've been given before meeting with Orrin Travis." JD sighed contentedly. "Yeah. All's well that ends well," he groused, yelling as Buck cuffed him on the head. "What?!" Chris exhaled softly as he followed the six men back to the ship. They were finally rid of all their enemies, and Lord willing, they would finally be able to have some much deserved peace.
Chris walked into his cabin to find Ezra already in bed and fast asleep. The other man was lying on his stomach, and obviously naked under the sheet covering him. Not that the linen was doing much; it was pooled around Ezra's waist, showing the smooth expanse of his back, a leg also uncovered from the thigh down. All in all, Chris thought, a beautiful sight. He shuddered as he noticed the small wound on Ezra's neck, the result of Pitt's dagger. He had come close to losing Ezra yet again, this time forever. He suddenly felt the need to be with the other man, to touch him, to love him. Knowing most of the crew was on shore, and that they were virtually alone, he decided to take the chance. Even if the others heard them, it was not as if they didn't know what was going on between them. He undressed quickly, then knelt on the bed, allowing his eyes to feast on his lover's body. Finally satisfied he had memorized every sensuous curve, he crawled up on his hands and knees until his lips were directly above Ezra's shoulders. Grinning wickedly, he leaned down, nibbling first one shoulder, then the other, licking on the creamy skin to ease the sting. Ezra moaned and squirmed beneath him, but still didn't rouse. Moving the sheet aside, he ran his tongue up and down Ezra's spine, slowly, little catlike strokes that had his lover moaning and whimpering almost continuously. "Chris..." Ezra groaned, coming fully awake. "Please..." "Please what?" he asked teasingly, hands gripping his lover's firm mounds and kneading gently. "Please... do this?" Running his tongue slowly up and down Ezra's cleft, he gripped tighter as his lover whimpered and jerked. "Or please... do this?" He breathed hotly over the tiny pucker before licking slowly across the opening. Enjoying Ezra's little mewling sounds, he began to lave it with his tongue, nipping the wrinkled bud with his teeth and stroking the other man's balls and hardening cock. "Make love to me, Chris," Ezra begged in a restrained voice, his breath coming in tiny gasps of pleasure with each sweep of Chris' tongue. "Are you certain you are prepared now?" Chris teased, nibbling at the sensitive skin. "Lord, yes!" Ezra shouted impatiently. "Very well," Chris whispered as his tongue dipped inside the tight channel, making Ezra groan low in his throat, his legs spreading wider in wanton invitation. "Turn over, I want to see your face." Ezra turned around, lying on his back, and Chris straddled his hips, one finger brushing lightly across a taut nipple. He moved his hand low to brush across Ezra's smooth skin at the juncture of hip and thigh, while his lips targeted the twin peaks. His wet tongue slid slowly across the hard nubs, wrenching a low moan deep from within Ezra's body. He felt Ezra wiggle under his body weight, trying to press harder against him, wordlessly expressing his need. Chris chuckled, kissing and licking across Ezra's tightly wound body, enjoying the way his lover arched into his touch. He moved over his lover, possessing the sweet, addictive mouth thoroughly. Ezra opened up to him immediately, both of them moaning as their cocks brushed heatedly together. Pulling their lips apart, Chris reached for the jar with the oil and slowly coated Ezra's cleft with it. Sliding one finger inside the tiny puckered entrance, he moved it carefully in little circles, until the channel grew used to the intruder. When he thought Ezra was ready, he added a second digit, smiling as his lover groaned at the strange sensation. He gently manipulated his fingers first one way then another until Ezra was writhing helplessly on the bed. Finally a third finger joined inside the tight channel, and he waited for Ezra to loosen up. At last, that moment came and Chris tenderly caressed his lover's flank in response, stilling his probing motions. "It's time, Ez," he whispered, watching the glazed green eyes shining approval. He rubbed the oil up and down his shaft, coating it thickly so Ezra wouldn't feel too much pain. His fingers pushed gently at the loosened hole, making sure his lover was prepared. He lined up his cock with the entrance to Ezra's body and began to slowly penetrate the tight opening. Ezra tensed up almost immediately, groaning painfully beneath him. He made as if to push Chris away, but Chris grabbed the wandering hands, pressing them firmly to the pillows with his own. "I know it hurts, Ezra. Take a deep breath, let your body get used to me," he gritted out, brushing his lips gently over Ezra's sweat sheened forehead, while he tried desperately to control the impulse to thrust into the virgin heat of his lover's body. Finally, after what felt like forever, he felt Ezra's body loosen up around him. He remained still for a moment longer; their gasping pants the only sound in the otherwise silent cabin. "I have to move, Ezra," he breathed, his control just about gone. Watery green eyes blinked opened and gazed up at him. "Then move," Ezra whispered back, a slight smile grazing his lips. Slowly he began to undulate, his cock sliding gently in and out of the tight passageway. He kept Ezra's hands captive, lacing their fingers together as they began to move in a perfect rhythm. He buried his face in his lover's neck, nibbling softly. One of his hands slid down and gripped Ezra's wilted cock bringing it back to full arousal, the other still binding Ezra's wrists tightly. Ezra moaned and whimpered in response to his dual assault, bucking frantically against him, their thrusts getting harder and faster as he continued to pump Ezra's cock, willing him to come on his hand. With a loud gasp of completion, Ezra finally surrendered to him, his seed flowing hotly over Chris' hand and their bodies. The clenching of Ezra's inner muscles sent him over the edge as well; growling low in his throat he bit sharply on Ezra's throat, filling his lover's passage with his come. They lay together for a long time, wrapped in each other's arms, allowing their heartbeats and breathing to slowly return to normal. "Chris?" Ezra finally whispered quietly "Yes?" he asked, his head never leaving its resting place on Ezra's chest. "It was worth the wait," Ezra's tone was amused. Chris chuckled lightly. "I'm glad you think so." He kissed the nipple closest to his lips. Cuddling Ezra close, he wrenched the sheet free and drew it up over them before giving in to the sleep that always followed incredible lovemaking.
When he woke up, Ezra was not on the bed or in the cabin. Dressing quickly, Chris walked out of what was now their quarters, finding his lover staring enthralled at the dawning day. The sky was changing from red into gold and then into a yellow-white brightness, the sun rising over the horizon, giving it the impression it was emerging from the calm sea. "All right?" he whispered, wrapping his arms around Ezra's waist from behind. "Yes. Just enjoying the view. It's been so long since I've been allowed to fully enjoy such a magnificent act of nature." He tilted his head up to look at Chris. "You do realize we are finally liberated, don't you? No more Captain Death, no more Governor Rupert Standish. We have been given the chance to start anew. No more ghosts from the past, no more hate." Chris smiled, leaning down to kiss the upturned nose. "Yes. We are going to be all right." "All of us," a new voice stated, and they turned to see Buck, JD, Vin, Josiah and Nathan standing behind them. The seven remained in comfortable silence, watching the sun shine its light down on Port Royal, while the town slowly came awake. It was the start of a brand new day for the good people of Jamaica. But it was the start of a brand new life for the men who, from that day on, would see that the islands in the Caribbean Sea were a safer place to live.
Epilogue "Are you certain about this?" he asked softly to the man walking by his side. "Yes," Ezra replied with a smile. "You don't belong on dry land, Chris, not anymore. It's the right thing to do." "It will be months before 'Destiny' sets anchor at Port Royal again," he warned. "I know; I can wait." "Ezra --" "Chris," Ezra interjected softly. "This *is* right. It would be wrong to make you stay at the plantation; you would wither and die of boredom here. I couldn't possibly see you go through that. You have to be Captain Larabee to be happy; it's in your blood. Your heart belongs to the sea." Chris grabbed his lover by the arms, stopping their advance. "You're wrong," he said with a smile. "My heart belongs to you." Their eyes met and held for a long time, then Ezra sighed gently. "Which is the reason why I'm leaving the plantation in Joseph's capable hands and joining you aboard the 'Destiny'. I will miss seeing it grow into the shape it once had, but I would have missed you a lot more." Not wanting to insist and upset the other man, Chris simply wrapped his arms around him and hugged Ezra tightly to him. And he suddenly realized he was a truly fortunate man; he had everything his heart desired. A ship to sail the Caribbean Sea, friends who stood by his side through thick and thin, and most importantly, someone who loved him and who he loved back. Bliss indeed. THE END
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