For Taurus. Part of your birthday present, sorry it’s so late.

Prologue: Port Royal June 14th, 1598

“You’re late, Smith.”

“Unavoidable, I assure you,” Captain Smith answered

“Who is he?”

“A shipmate. I spoke of him in the tavern,” Captain Smith reminded

“I didn’t think he would be so young,” he said and the twinge of remorse in his voice was evident

I looked straight into Guilder’s eyes. The fire cast shadows on them and they looked deep and hallowed, as if this man was already dead. I shook my head, but could still not get the sight of death to leave him. Perhaps he was meant to die soon and perhaps my eyes were deceiving me, but I did not like the looks of this man. He was said to be the lowest of all the traders in Port Royal, even the whole Jamaican coast, but he was the only person we could trade with. I could tell he was a smuggler. I knew the type all too well. The Fens in England were full of them and my family even traded with them from time to time. They were all an unshaven lot who hunched over slightly and had a cunning look to them. They were not to be underestimated…. Or cheated.

“Where is the silk you promised, Smith?” Guilder asked, fingering his blade

“It is still aboard ship. I wanted to confirm that you had the maps of which I seek.” Smith was a cautious man; I will still give him that.

“I have ‘em, but you will not see them until all we agreed upon is in my possession.” Guilder was tensed

“Captain,” I said slowly, knowing something was afoot

“Remain silent,” Captain Smith warned and I noticed for the first time he was sweating

I wanted to curse and storm about, but I stood, watching this man. I had great respect for the Captain, but he was no thief. He always said that cheating a man turned his stomach and now that he was doing it again he was a bundle of nerves. If I was not mistaken, Guilder had also noticed. He was acting too ready to attack, even more so than someone in his line of work should. I dared not go for my dagger. Even the motion would put him past the edge and the Captain would be unprepared.

“Where do you wish the drop off point to be?” Captain Smith asked

“Here. You send that boy for it and then we’ll do business,” Guilder said with a hint of gruffness in his voice

I bristled at being called ‘boy’, but remained as still as possible. Captain Smith looked at Guilder for a moment before speaking.

“Only if you give me the scripts I have asked for.”

Maps, the only thing we needed. None of us knew these south waters and getting back from where the storm blew us was going to be trying if not nearly impossible. When you add the Spanish into the mix it was a tight spot to be I felt the hairs on the back of my neck raise on end. I knew that feeling and I didn’t like it, I had never liked being watched.

Cautiously, I looked around and saw movement in the background. I was sure he had two laying in wait for us and I nearly did curse. Now, it didn’t matter if we had the silk or not. They were going to keep their maps and whatever we had if they had any say in the matter.

“Captain,” I said with as much weight as I could “I shall go and fetch the silk. We don’t want another incident, like we did in Crickdale.”

Smith stiffened and I knew my message had been sent across. Not a year ago had we been ambushed in Crickdale during a trade turned sour. Our last Captain had died that way and I hoped it would not be something handed down to Smith. Guilder smiled and I was wary. That smile was show and I knew it.

“I think one of my men should accompany him,” Guilder suggested

Captain Smith looked from me to Guilder before nodding. Guilder’s smile widened and he yelled for one of his men. A shadow moved and I had a rather large man come up behind me. I had a sudden vision of my own death by this man’s hand, and kept a mental latch on my dagger.

“Don’t be long,” Smith warned

“Aye, sir,” I said and turned to follow this man

Away from the fire everything became dark, except the gleam in my companion’s eyes and I was very conscious of the fact the man beside me took deep breaths, like an animal. He was in fact closer to animal than man. His long hair made him look wild and his eyes didn’t seem human. I tried my best never to glance in his direction as we made our way towards the ship. The moon was not as bright as it could have been and I had not thought to bring a torch, so I had to make my way by the map I had made in my head. I had two paces until I had to make the next turn when I heard a noise…. almost like that of an...owl. It was a singnal and I was ready. I cut my next step short and heard the dull thud of my companion walking into a tree. I did not take time to smile. I darted into the dense foliage and ran with everything I had, until an arm caught me around the shoulders and a handcovered my mouth.

“Quiet.”

I instantly relaxed at Tippin’s voice and looked for some sign of his mood in the moonlight. He did not look happy, but he also was waiting for this moment.

“Guilder, my unfortunate companion and at least one more in the bush await us,” I informed him as I relinquished Mr. Stone of my sword and pistols.

“We will have a rough time of it,” Tippin said sheathing his blade

“Tip, the Captain is sweating.”

His English features stiffened and he spoke with more urgency.

“No need to worry. The Captain knows if there was trouble we were right behind him.”

“There’s trouble, now. One wrong word and Guilder will slice him open like an eel,” I said picking up my pace towards the path

“Lupin? Where do you want us?” Stone asked, matching my pace

“You’re tall enough to fool them, so you will be with me. Tippin and the rest will fan out and see if they can make the numbers more even,” I directed “Then all we can do is hope that we’ll come out of this alive and with something to point us back on course. We cannot afford to spend months looking for Glandor.”

“Aye.” Stone nodded

I slowed our pace as we got close to the fire again. Stone knew enough to make sure they did not see his face and I knew enough to look like I meant business. When we were close enough to see where I had left the Captain I grew wary. Guilder was still in the open, but Captain Smith was nowhere to be seen.

“Where’s the silk, boy?” He asked, slightly smiling

“It’s on its way,” I assured him “Where is the Captain?”

“He is near.”

It was then I knew the Captain would not make it through this alive. I saw one of my men behind Guilder and decided I had to act fast.

“No Captain, no silk,” I said evenly

“No listen, boy. If I don’t get my silk your Captain is dead,” Guilder said just as evenly

I knew the type. The Captain would already be dead or wounded beyond help. I dared not glance at Stone, so I made myself look into Guilder’s beady little eyes. For the first time that night I decided that the truth was the best option.

“There is no silk.”

Guilder’s jaw tightened and he looked like he wanted to strike me, but that faded and he was smiling, again.

“What do you meant there’s no silk, boy?” Guilder asked “You’re ship just came out of the east. How can there be no silk?”

“Because we never traded for silk,” I said honestly and I knew Tippin was silently cursing me

Guilder’s eyes did not change. They stayed as friendly as they were a moment ago, but I could tell he was silently seething; any man in his position would be. He suddenly seemed very calm and smiled slyly.

“Well, no silk, no Captain. Reg-”

It was then that I drew my double-bladed cutlass and ran him through. He didn’t even have a chance to react to what he knew was coming. He fell to his knees when I pulled the blade back. He looked up and me and smiled while blood bubbled out of his mouth. He collapsed to the ground and the sounds of things going on around me seemed to come to me suddenly.

There were all five of the men I had brought ashore fighting with these smugglers. From the looks of things they were out numbered, but they were better swords men by far. I had no time to really identify who was who. I just needed to find the Captain. If I was right I would find a body or a near death man. I didn't want to be right.

I was about to start towards the densest of the foliage when I heard a growl behind me. I turned just in time to have someone tackle me to the ground.

I looked up into the wild eyes of my earlier companion as he groped for my neck in the dark. I grabbed for my pistol, but the hand on my neck was stronger than I expected. I was frantic by the time I had a hold of the dagger in my belt. I looked up at those crazed eyes for the last time before sinking my knife into him, right to the hilt. I felt the warm blood wash over me and the hands become weaker. I shoved him off me as the final throws of life left him.

“Lupin?”

“I’m alright, Stone. Keep your mind on your sword,” I warned him and he nodded

I scrambled to my feet and picked up my sword again. I had to find Captain Smith. It was then that I smelled the smoke.

“Fire!” Rand yelled

I looked back to where I had first come, only to see the bonfire had spread to the fallen trees and brush around it. The flames illuminated everything and I knew I did not have long.

A man of Jamaican decent came running out of nowhere, sword raised. I braced myself but he only had eyes for a man standing over the Captain. He took a swing and the man jumped from under it. He caught the root of a tree and fell. The Jamaican laughed sinisterly and brought his blade up for the final blow. I drew my dagger and threw it right at him. It landed between his shoulder blades, but he did not seem deterred. He raised the blade again, but the wound slowed him and I had time to make the distance between us. I crossed his blade, a hair before it met the stranger’s nose, and forced his hand up. I parried his thrust and shoved him backwards. He tripped over a fallen smuggler, all his weight on the dagger. He grinned, his white teeth shining in the moonlight as life left him. I was beginning to think men I killed were happy to go if they all insisted on smiling as they died.

A footstep crunched behind me and I swung my blade. The clink of clashing metal rang in my ears as I saw Tippin’s stiff features. He glared at me and I lowered my blade.

“The fighting is over,” he said in a tone that I rendered as anger

“Aye,” I answered, “Are they all dead?”

“Some escaped, although the two or possibly three you promised lay dead by the fire.”

“I underestimated them, Tippin,” I said, angry enough at myself

“Shall we take this one prisoner?” Stone asked, pointing the end of his blade at the mystery man I had saved

“No, let him go,” I ordered and the man looked shocked

“Lupin, I do not think it is wise and as your elder, I suggest you kill him before he kills you,” Tippin said drawing his blade as well

I wasn’t really listening. The Captain was breathing hoarsely and it filled my ears. He was not doing well and any man wouldsay the same.

“We have to get him back to the ship,” I said and Stone nodded

“Rand,” Stone called “Bring som’at to carry the Captain on.”

Tippin gave me a look I could not read before he brought his blade down. Mine was a fraction of a second faster and I saved this man’s life again. I knew my eyes were blazing when I looked Tippin in the eye.

“I told you to let him be,” I said in the deadliest tone I possessed

Tippin looked me right back in the eye, but there was a hint of surprise and even fear lingering in them. He sheathed his sword and walked back towards the ship. I took a moment to calm, before looking at this stranger.

“You should not be here if he returns,” I said evenly

The fire glanced off the man’s hard blue eyes. He nodded slightly, before rising. He held out his hand to me and I kept eye contact with him while I took it.

“Regales,” he said and I caught hint of no British accent

“Lupin,” I answered

“I owe you twice, Lupin,” he said and there was a hard tone in his voice “I always repay my debts.”

“A lot of people have said that,” I said turning towards ship

“I am not just anyone,” he said walking beside me “I will repay my debt.”

I looked at him again. His blonde hair was disheveled and he was covered in dirt. I could tell he had been one of these smugglers, but he had been standing over the Captain. I had not decided yet if he had intent on killing Smith or not, but a man who feels indebted is most often the greatest allie a man could ask for. I glanced him over again and sighed.

“Tippin does not like you, my friend,” I said walking again “However we can use all the help we can get. Do you know these waters?”

“Yes,” he answered

“We need to avoid the Spanish,” I explained “To keep things simple we would also like to avoid the British navy, so we need to find a safe harbor to re-stock where neither will bother us.”

“I know of a few,” he said

“The sooner we get back to England, the better.”

He had nothing to say to this and I did not figure he was a wanted man there.

"That man wanted you dead," I commented

"Now he is dead and so is the reaason," Regales said stiffly

I knew this man wuold prove to keep me guessing the entire time I was associated with him. I smiled slightly. This could prove to be entertaining.

When I boarded the ship, with Regales, Tippin gave me furious looks, but there was something else to his fury, something beyond Regales.

“The doctor is in the Captain’s quarters. He has requested your presence,” Tippin said bitterly

I nodded and Regales followed me below. I thought it wise of him with the mood Tippin had fell into. He remained outside when I entered Captain Smith’s quarters. He was pale in his bed and I knew he had little time left. I had become attached to the Captain in the last six years. He was like a favorite uncle who had shown me everything I knew about sailing and trading. Now I felt a twang of loneliness at the thought of him not being here.

“Lupin?” Doctor Harper asked, not looking away from his charge

“Aye,” I said coming as close as I dared

“He does not have long,” Harper said standing “He wishes to speak to you, but keep it as short as you can. The less he talks the longer he will be with us.”

I nodded and took Harper’s seat. He glanced at my bloody clothes and then to my eyes.

"It's not mine," I said

"It never is, it it, Lupin?" Harper said with a hint of irony in his voice

I said nothing and he nodded before he closed the door behind him. Captain Smith’s eyes flashed open. He smiled, weakly and then it faltered.

“I’m dying, lad,” he began, dryly“There will have to be a new Captain.”

“Tippin will do you proud,” I said nodding

“No. Tippin spent too long in the British navy. The men do not follow him, but they follow you.”

He wheezed for a minute while I took that in. I knew they favored me, but was I ready to be a Captain? I only had eighteen years under my belt.

“You’re young, lad, but you’ll grow into it. I trained you for it, just like I would my own son. You make me proud, lad.”

I nodded and he watched me for a moment before speaking

“In Kingston I heard rumor of a man by the name of Lupin dying,” he said with a hint of curiosity in his voice

I looked at him carefully and then down at my hands. He grabbed my hands; his grip a shadow of their usual strength, and coughed. I looked back up at him, shocked to see him smiling.

“I knew who you were the moment you walked aboard my ship all those years ago. Maybe he is looking after my son, the way I did his…”

He trailed off, as he had so many times before when he mentioned his long dead son, but there was lightness to his breathing I didn’t like.

“Tippin knows…Find yourself a lass and settle down, lad…you remind me of myself when I was younger…”

He started wheezing more then ever and his eyes looked far away.

“Should I call for Harper?” I asked

“No…I’ve had enough close calls in my years…maybe it’s time to see what the other side is like…”

He closed his eyes, then, and a moment later his breathing had faded until I could no longer hear it. His face relaxed and I knew Captain Abraham Smith had passed on. I placed his hand on his chest and returned to the deck.

The crew was solemn and we shared a moment of silence for the Captain. Tippin finally gave me a tired look and indicated I should take the helm. With the sun rising in the distance, I laid a hand on it and knew this is where I belonged.

Any comments at all are welcome and flames are accepted

See ya in the funny papers!!! Sonah