With much effort, looking at the scene before her, Vivienne's sympathy came back, showing pity...and a little confusion. She didn't tell her ship to fire, nor to advance in any way. Plus, the ship was concealed behind the rocks, so the current blast range way out of its depth. Was it another ship? Vivienne looked out of the hole, which was clearly not big enough for her to go through, and be free. The brokenness of this girl behind her, what else could she do? "Abi', get somewhere safe", she softly told her by a nickname, before she saw a sight she didn't expect to see outside: the nightly view of the harbor...with a ship blowing projectiles upon the town.

The town was under chaos and destruction. Screams, explosions, pirates running amok, and...the blacksmith fighting back? "Say goodbye!", the pirate he was fighting said. Quickly, and out in great speed, a projecting cannonball snapped a chain to a sign, making it fall upon the offender, making him fall through a window.

Either because she didn't hear or because she didn't care, Abigail didn't move. She stayed by her cousin even as rowboats from the pirate ship landed in the port. Even as Will Turner fought off pirates in the street. She wasn't bitter at those who did this. At the moment it hadn't even crossed her mind that someone was responsible. She just felt empty. Dazed even. Part of her didn't - couldn't accept the fact Elizabeth was dead. "Come on, Elizabeth." She whispered pushing some of her cousin's hair out of her face.

Death does strange things to people. The stunning blow of shock followed by denial. Some people wail, others are stoic - almost hardened. For some the realization that it is not a cruel joke but a grim reality doesn't come for several weeks. Even holding her dead cousin's body, the evidence of death in front of her eyes, Abigail's brain couldn't wrap around it. This was a dream. She would wake up and find Elizabeth alive and well. They'd laugh together about her crazy nightmare. "Please," she whispered.

She glanced up at the roof of the ceiling. Her eyes searched almost as if begging heaven to answer the question all people asked when a loved one died: Why? Why did this happen? How could it happen?

Will fought on the streets. The pirate with the massive ball and chain was a bit difficult. A weapon like that had advantages and disadvantages. If used properly it could be a very powerful assault weapon. But if not, it can be more of a hindrance. In this case, it was a bit of both. Will dodged it as he pressed the pirate. However, he was cheated out of his victory as the heavy sign came down taking out the pirate. Will scowled. Could he not have just ONE victory? First his slob of a master knocks out the female pirate and now a sign. It was as if the universe was laughing at him.

He didn't get much time to consider as a passing pirate smacked him upside the head with a bottle, sending him into oblivion.

The pirates had made it all the way to the Governor's mansion. He wasn't there of course. Safely in the fort, Governor Swan had been called to discuss some business and now sat there anxiously worrying about his daughter and niece.

The fort had been caught unaware but they were quickly fighting back. Soldiers poured onto the streets to fight the pirates off. Cannon fire returned at the ship. Commodore Norrington walked along the men giving them orders and courage.

The prison was a strange place for a couple pirates to wonder into but nonetheless two did. Abigail didn't know how long she was sitting there when they entered. She didn't even look up.

"Well, well, well." One of the pirates said taking in the scene. The two moved forward and grabbed the young girl with not the best intent. Neither seemed to notice Vivienne yet.

Though seemingly empty, Abigail fought as she was pulled away. She didn't really know who it was who had grabbed her nor did she really care. She didn't want to be separated from her cousin.

One pirate saw the thin band around the girl's neck. "'hat do we 'ave 'ere?" He asked pulling it out. Both froze as the moonlight reflected on the rare pirate coin hanging from Abigail's neck.

Vivienne was already feeling a bit overwhelmed at the noises of blasts coming from outside the fort. She did, however, regret that she told her crew to keep the ship hidden. They could really use the aid right now. But an counterattack upon the fort would be a waste of their artillery, plus Vane wouldn't accept such reckless on the use of its weaponry. She didn't need another lecture coming from him, nor Silver. Or better yet, she didn't need to be told on what not to do.

Noticing two intruders coming into the brig, the pirate had her attention on them, almost amused that they didn't even notice her. However, with them beginning to manhandle Abigail, it wasn't long where she got their attention. "Like looking in a mirror, love. Am I right?", she spoke up to get their attention, as she crossed over to the bars of her cell. "You seem to have gotten your trinket. May I ask you to remove your hands from the girl?", she feigned politeness with that smirk of hers.

Whether it was the glint of the gold in the moonlight, the voice of Vivienne or maybe just reality hitting back again, Abigail found herself in a dire situation. Held by two pirates who did not seem to have the best intent, any crying or protests ceased as her face took on the firmness and closedness that would make her family proud. "Unhand me." Her voice held the bearing of her rank.

Both pirates ignored her. One let her arm go and walked toward the prison cell. He chuckled at the irony. "My, my. Vivienne." He smirked. "Does Captain Vane know you're here?" He asked.

The other man laughed as well, though his grip on both the gold piece and Abigail's arm did not loosen. Abigail tried to yank the piece away which brought his attention back to her. He hit her across the face and yanked the chain off her neck. It broke but not before digging slightly into her skin. To her credit, Abigail barely uttered a cry of pain, instead letting herself remain completely calm. She had the feeling that if she showed any fear it would be the end of her. As it was, her life and virtue was in jeopardy. Her chin lifted, as she fought to be brave, though the hints of fear was evident in the tremors in her hand and in her eyes. She wished she was as brave as Vivienne. Laughing in the face of death. Casually bantering while guns had been pointed at her. But she wasn't.

"What's your interest in the lass?" The first pirate mocked. "Want the gold piece for yeself?" He laughed. His smile faded.

Vivienne's own smile faded, as soon as he did. Just a frown, once she noticed and heard the sound of a slap coming from Abigail. Did her new captor just hit her? The pirate lass' gaze only stared at the tall, masculine, and nearly beefy visitor before her; the bars of her cell seperating herself and them, the faint smile making itself known again. "My interest?", the brunette asked him rhetorically. "That girl?", she gestured to the direction where Abigail was held. "The gold?", she narrowed her eyes at him. It was like a up-close encounter with this guy. "Vane? He's around. Just not here", she simply responded nonchantedly, and surprisingly, darkly in a whisper.

Vivienne then suddenly snatched the front of his shirt, and pulled; so fast and strong, his face hit the steel bars between them. "Beware of the beast, my friend. You tell Captain Low that we'll see him soon", she warned him menacingly before finally letting her grip fall from his shirt.

The pirate scowled and brushed himself off. "Yeah," he laughed but there was just a hint of fear. Not for the crew but for him personally. His Cap'n was one of the best there was. The pirate would bet him against even the great Charles Vane. But that didn't mean personally, he was free. A pirate made many stops and if someone was out to get ya, they could do it away from your crew. He brushed it aside. "You a'int goin' anywhere but the gallows." He replied. He pretended to tip a hat. "Pleasant dreams. Give me regards to Davy Jones." He laughed and turned away. "Let's take 'er back to the Cap'n. He'll be wantin' a bit of sport."

Abigail pulled tightly and glared at him. "Any harm comes to me and my father will see you all hanging from the highest yardline." There was bravely in her words but also a lot of naivety.

Both men laughed. "And who be your papa, lassy?" The one holding her asked.

Abigail met his luring grin with cold politeness. "Lord Ashe. Commander of the 7th Fleet, lord protectorate and your doom."

Both men laughed. "We got ourselves a lady here. Should be interesting. You'll enjoy our Cap'n" They pulled her toward the stairs but not before the second man, the one who had held Abigail and had taken the gold coin, looked back at Vivienne. "Iffin you get out of 'ere you might want to side with Cap'n Low. Vane is on his way out. Low is the way to go."

Vivienne narrowed her eyes once again, before that smile of hers made itself known. Watching them leave with Abigail, all the pirate could do was glance at the now deceased body of Elizabeth laying nearby. True, the pirate began to pity the girl for losing someone dearest to her, but now, once of the most fearsome of pirates had taken her as a prize. Like I'm afraid of some locker, she thought to herself with that smile remaining. But that one look to the lifeless body made her lose the act of carelessness. Captain Ned Low now had the New World's most expensive of riches; not to mention a person of an even higher class upon his vessel. She needed to get to Vane, all the way to Nassau. But first things first, she needed to find a way out of this bloody cell. It was going to be nearly dawn, and the longer she sat in there, Vivienne was up to the point of passing out in sleep upon the floor.

Abigail kept her head as she was forcibly put into a rowboat and rowed out to the pirate vessel. Explosions sounded all around them. And for one moment, a shell nearly hit them as it screamed over head. She ducked, illiciting laughter from her captors - though it was a bit nervous as they too had been a bit afraid for a second.

The one pirate kept a tight grip on her arm the entire time. It was as if he couldn't let go. His other hand held the pirate coin, also gripped tightly. She had made one half-hearted attempt to grab it and the bruise on her cheek ended that attempt. Why he didn't pocket it she didn't know.

Her heart pounded as they approached the enemy vessel. Flashes from the cannon illuminated it in the night. She was completely terrified. These men were not like Vivienne or the pirates she had daydreamed about. They were cruel and the looks and suggestions made had her fear for both her life and person. But, being the daughter of a lord had its advantages. Despite the slight tremble in her hands, the hint of fear in her eye, she managed to keep most of her fear under control. She had learned to hide her emotion many times before. Though in a case like this, it was a bit more difficult due to the type of emotion.

The men led her up into the ship and past other pirates fighting the fort. They marched her to a man who's composure sent an icy fear unlike any she had ever felt before.

"Cap'n. Look what we found. And she had this." The pirate finally released her arm pushing her forward, making her land in a heap at the Captain's feet. He handed over the pirate coin to his leader. Abigail looked up at the man and lifted her chin, fear there but also courage.

Amid the thunder of cannon fire that surrounded the Fancy, stood an imposing, silhouetted figure by the wheel, too far from where Abigail was firstly deployed, but watched the scene nonetheless. A nonchalant, emotionless stare was all he gave, as he just stood there with a sword at his waist. At the mention of his title, this figure strode in a cool-minded manner towards the stairs, his boots thumping against the wood. A cloud of cannon smoke obscured him for a moment, but as soon as he made it to the deck, his full presence became known: wearing the darkest of colors, but nothing beyond imposing; just a simple dark t-shirt, a dark jacket, and a pair of dark pants, along with the heavy boots that left an echo in the wood at every step, his hair was short, medium-brown, wavy, and just above his shoulders, with a stubble that perfectly angled his lower jaw.

The real element was his scarred, pale right-eye; he was possibly half-blind, with the other appearing perfectly in a normal blue, but he did give off a good penetrating stare with both on his person. He wasn't that tall, being at five-foot eight, nor too strong with an evident slim, athletic physique, which gave off that quality of being easily deceiving. That showed that he was a man you'd fear in a dark alley. The darkness and shadow surrounding the deck proved that right. The right hand resting upon the sword at his waist, armed with a pistol and a dagger, he was before his crew, standing only a few feet away from the newcomer. This was Captain Edward Low, the man behind this nightly massacre.

Low didn't speak a word, he just listened. Listening, and observing the situation; his unconcerned gaze never leaving, even as he was passed the trinket by one of his men. He still didn't speak, just fiddled with the object in his hand, his attention now resting on the girl, who just got deposed of at his feet. It was like he was in a moment of processing the information being passed down to him, while still fiddling with the metal, almost outlining its design. In just short notice, the captain finally stopped this action, now having his full attention on the girl, to the point of kneeling down to one knee, towering over her. "My apologies, miss", he finally said after a long while, sounding Irish by his accent. The tone wasn't exactly sympathetic, but rather shallow. Casual with monotone. "I confess, they lack manners. Especially with a damsel", it didn't sound deep, but in the normal range of lacking emotion.

Abigail eyed the pirate a bit suspiciously. It sounded more to her that speech was a bit of an afterthought, that he didn't really seem to care about her well-being but was being polite. Which begged the question, why? She was technically his prisoner. He could do whatever he wanted. Why would he apologize for their lack of manners then? Was he the type that wanted her to justify his taking her? Either way, she was used to courts and ballrooms of London. If he wanted to fence with words then she would be more than able.

Drawing herself up, she stood and looked at him. "Apology accepted," she said even though both knew it wasn't really meant. "I take it then that I can have my necklace and trinket back and be on my merry way?" She held out her palm but didn't snatch the necklace back. She didn't want to appear desperate, despite the fact she really didn't want to lose it. She had found it on the beach her first time at Port Royal. And though it was really more sentimental than anything, it meant a lot to her.

Around her the crew chuckled at her audacity but she ignored them. The captain was in control here. No doubt he'd refuse her, using some political language or such to deny her request. She honestly didn't expect him to give it back but at the same time, if he was going to try and pretend to be a gentleman and such, she was going to force him to it. She hated charades. And surprisingly, the man reminded her more of someone she'd meet at one of the elite social gatherings back home. And that alone brought courage. She was able to handle them back then, she could do so now. Either way, what had she too lose?



The early morning found Will with a massive headache. The town was still in a bit disarray from the pirate attack. Picking himself up, Will heard rumors that the pirates had gone all the way to the governor's mansion. Immediately he worried about Elizabeth. Was the alright? When news that she and Abigail were missing hit him, his worry increased.

He took the route to the governor's mansion. Soldiers were there but no one else was home. The governor was still at the fort with the Commodore dealing with the mess. "Have you seen Elizabeth?" He asked on of the servants. The woman shook her head.

Inquiry after inquiry and no one knew anything. Then one boy said he had seen the two cousins head to the jail late last night. Frowning, Will headed that direction. Why would they go to the prison? He remembered the pirate and wondered briefly if she had managed to escape. The prison really hadn't been checked since the attack. Grabbing an axe on the way, he walked through the streets shaking his head at the carnage. He hated pirates. They were going to pay. He just hoped Elizabeth was alright.

Right when the sun purged through the window, Vivienne was up and about. Scanning her surroundings, and trying to come up with a plan to get out and be on her way. The hole in the wall was one option -- but she was way too big to even fit (being the size of a cannonball would suffice). Then, she looked upon the cell door, realizing that these things had a lock on each of them in this bloody hell of a brig. Reaching around in her hair, she found one of those spare hair clips that she used as a backup to pick locks during times of raiding. Hey, she had to have a "spare key" for every locked item. Attempting to pick the lock of her cell, the pirate just heard the door from the entrance, at the top of the stairs. Reacting fast, she was on the floor, upon her back; like how she was last night, acting unconcerned and bored.

The prison was a mess. You had a few guards posted but no one really was paying any attention to it. The town was too busy recoiling from the attack from the previous night. However, one guard on duty did mention something about seeing Elisabeth and Abigail. "They shouldn't be here now." The guard was partially distracted as he watched a the crowd of people right there arguing about seeing the governor and demanding better security.

Will thanked him and moved on. No one stopped him from entering and he headed down the stairs. The door was open slightly, which seemed a bit odd. Casually with the ax ready, he entered the main prison. Stopping, he found who he was looking for. Dropping the ax he ran over to the body on the ground. "Elizabeth?" He called coming over. She wasn't moving. He checked her vitals. He winced as he saw the shrapnel wounds that killed her. She was long gone. Even if he could find a doctor it would do no good.

Will wasn't the type to shout or cry or make a big fuss. Even with the death of Elizabeth and the massive blow to him he didn't shout. There was no agonizing scream like the one Abigail had made. He might have lost composure if it wasn't for the fact he heard some stirring. Picking up the ax he turned. It was female pirate. His grip tightened. Mentally he cursed the pirates. Once again they had taken someone he had loved. His hatred was evident.

Vivienne listened, until the newcomer made his presence known: the blacksmith from the day before. That male voice wasn't unheard of, and his concern for the motionless lass was there. However, just as the brunette watched him, there was a small amount of pity evident in her expression. Too people knew this now-deceased young woman, and by the looks of it, Vivienne's realization didn't go unnoticed. But for the blacksmith's expression to fall upon the locked-up pirate, Vivienne made her face casual again, but with a hint of sympathy. "If you think I did this, love, I swear upon the pain of death, I never touched her", she tried to reassure, but his hatred was there, and all she needed him to understand, was that this was a misunderstanding. "Abigail's gone, if you're looking for her too. They just took her last night", she added as an afterthought. Vivienne wasn't scared of him, but she casually pitied him.

The waves washed up on the beach. The water rolls over the boy who is barely alive. He coughs, spitting out water, his vision hazy. He doesn't know how he managed to wash up here. He remembers the cannon fire. The crashing of wood, the screams of dying men. He remembers his father, blood on his face shielding him as the last lifeboat is blown to smithereens. It's snippets really. Everything happened so fast and as it was, he could barely stay conscious. A young girl's face appears in front of his blurry vision. "He's alive, Father!" Her words seem so far away. Cradling his head, the girl sits beside him while the grown ups run toward them. "I'm Elizabeth." A smile forms on her face. To him, she was an angel.

Will looked the female pirate over briefly. For some reason he actually believed her. The irony in that. Pirates were never honest. But there was something that made him feel like this time she was. Besides, he could see the evidence of where the cannon ball came flying in. The shrapnel on Elizabeth testified that it was that which had killed her. His ax lowered slightly. At her comment about Abigail he turned and looked back at her.

Soft bed. Clean clothes. Warm soup filling his stomach. The beautiful angel sitting at his side holding his hand. Noise from the doorway. The girl looks over as another one, much younger enters. A mass of freckles dots her face and she is nowhere near as pretty as the angel beside him. "This is my cousin Abigail." Elizabeth nodded toward her. "Abigail, this is Will. He's our guest for awhile. He needs our care."

The younger girl hangs back but gives a shy smile. "Hello."

"Where? Who?" Will asks. Abigail was nice enough. He always had eyes for Elizabeth only but her cousin was fun to have around - when she was here. The three of them would play on the rocks, along the shore, or elsewhere. She was a bit younger but he let her tag along - or more like Elizabeth and her let him tag along. Either way, he couldn't leave her to pirates. Not only was she Elizabeth's cousin but Will wouldn't suffer any woman that terrible fate. "Who took her, pirate?" He demanded going up to the bars. "Associates of yours?" Now that wouldn't be real accurate. Otherwise, why would she still be here?

This young man sounded desperate, and Vivienne could clearly see it in his eyes. To see him this way, made her wonder; what was he to her? To Abigail? Whatever it was, the brunette was intrigued albeit sympathetic. She wasn't going to lie to him, to which she does most of the time, but Vivienne willingly opened up. To see him hover over Elizabeth's body, as if she were to be cherished, something in Vivienne's mind clicked: Oh, so he did find a girl. How could she be so foolish? It was in her woman's intuition for (almost) every man to search for that feeling.

He knew her. Cared for her, even, as if she were someone dear to him; someone he grew fond of.

For that, the pirate sat up, pulling up into a sitting position, looking up at the blacksmith from the ground. "Only one man would be responsible for this. Goes by the name of Captain Edward Low", she said, giving him the name. "Ever heard of the Fancy? It's the vessel that ended her life", Vivienne gestured to the body of Elizabeth, but she briefly feigned offense when he mentioned about her associations. "By the locker of Davy, only a fool would side with the Devil", she quickly countered. "Although, I will happily take you to him", she offered, after a moment of thinking.

The Fancy. The name alone brought back memories.

"Cap'n, she's gainin' on us."

"I knew it." one of the men cried out. "Nobody outruns the Fancy. He crossed himself.

Cannon fire. Flames. Smoke. The uncurling of the Black Skulls and Crossbones. The cries of men dying as the ship was torn apart. Being separated from his father. "Hang onto the board, William. Don't let go for the life of you. I'm going to go find another piece."

The sinking wreckage of the ship done in by pirates who hadn't even given her the courtesy of boarding.

"Edward Low." The words came out like a hiss. "He is the Captain of the Fancy?" Will demanded. This would not only be a chance to rescue Abigail but it could bring the revenge he had long sought. "How can you be sure it was him?" He demanded coming over and pulling her into the bars. "Tell me." His grip wasn't too kind and there was an intensity in his eyes.

Edward Low. So he was the man responsible for the death of his father. The death of Elizabeth. And the capture of Abigail. He would pay. Will would see to it.

Vivienne did not see the blacksmith advance, gripping her bare arms, and pulling her to direct contact with the bars, giving her head a quiet bonk against them. She groaned at his demands, almost in a frustration. Did he have to be this rough with her? She was a lady. Well, due to the fact that she was a pirate, it didn't really help the situation.

After a minute to gather her vision, the brunette noticed how close they were. Like before, during their first "meeting", it was almost the same scenario. Except it was he who returned the favor. His strength didn't go unnoticed, and the anger fueled it. "A word of advice: watch where you throw your anger. You could hurt someone", she recalled as an advisement, a half-tease, half-truth. Lifting her eyebrows in a 'you know' kind-of-way, the pirate waited for his grip to loosen, before she could answer.

"I'm sure, because unlike me, he paints the ground with blood. Plus, I wouldn't fire on an open-town unless I have the means to do so. Funny thing is, only a man plagued with insanity would do such a thing", she casually directed this to him, in an honest way. It was true, even.

At her comment, Will realized his grip was a bit tight. Part of him remembered she was a woman and he did loosen up. Even with his hatred of pirates there was still just a slight bit reservation in hurting a female. Especially one as despicable as her. He let her arm go. He turned away. Insanity. The pirate was right. Only an insane man would attack a heavily defended town with only one ship. The fact he got away with it was a bit sad. It also showed how unprepared they had been. No doubt some heads would roll for it. But that wasn't his concern now. His concern was for Abigail. He owed Elizabeth that much. Not to mention, he knew Abigail and though they hadn't been real close, they had spent time together when hanging out with Elizabeth. He couldn't leave the sweet girl to this Low - especially if he was that insane. Will knew men. He could only imagine what they would do to someone like her.

He turned away. "I have to hunt him down. The Interceptor is in the cove. It hadn't been touched - I'm sure. But it's the fastest ship in the fleet. I'll get the Commodore to hunt him down and bring Abigail back." He didn't really say it so much for her sake but more to himself. He turned and looked at the pirate. "You probably should never have become a pirate." He lectured. There was just the slightest feeling of pity for her. She'd hang no doubt. And with the town just hit by pirates, no doubt there will be a lot of people wanting to take their anger out on her. Lying or not, it was obvious that she was not with the pirates that attacked. They would have freed her. They took Abigail so they were here. Of course, maybe they gave up as they couldn't unlock the doors. Stupid pirates. He built these bars. They were fairly easy to open if you knew how to do it. But they didn't. Not many pirates were blacksmiths.

He wondered if she was lying about Low though. That made him hesitate just slightly. What if it was someone else? No. She was probably right. Will had heard of the man. He did sound insane. And even if it wasn't, the Interceptor would track the pirates down, rescue the girl and sink the pirates once and for all. Still...why would she tell the truth. He turned back slightly puzzled. "What is your game?" He inquired curious. "You don't win either way so why be honest? What's your play?" Maybe she wanted revenge too. After all, they left her here.

As soon as she heard the man lecture about his latest plan, the pirate couldn't help but give out a hearted laugh of amusement. He is so naive, the brunette thought to herself while she observed him. "How in the name of the tides are you going to do that?", Vivienne asked, curiously questioning about this plan of his. As soon as she asked this, she started to stand back up to her full, slightly limping from recieved wound from yesterday. "Open your eyes, love", she said from the other side of the bars. "This is not a hero's errand to rescue a damsel in distress", the pirate warned him. "This is Ned Low, not Jack Rachkam", it was true; Calico Jack Racham was a pirate known for his words and strategy, not for unpredictablity and deceiving. It was easy to get around Jack, but not as much as Low.

Once he had the guts to tell her about not choosing to become what she currently was, Vivienne did momentarily lower her head in regret, but it was quickly masked with a smile. "Sometimes, those decisions can be non-negotiable", the pirate responded, before taking a moment to think. "My game? With that Devil roaming around the Seven Seas, no one is safe. Not for people like you, or for people like me. This man will keep murdering and pillaging whenever he pleases. He killed several in New Providence, a few hundred in Tortuga; even here", the brunette grimly told him, anger slightly there. "He will attack again if need be", and he would.

Will listened to the woman. His eyes narrowed slightly as she seemed to think that his plan was foolish. Well, she didn't know him. Besides, the British Royal Navy was far better than any pirate vessel. And with the Interceptor and Dauntless here in Port Royal they could easily go after the pirate and take him out. "Well I'm glad you have a somewhat conscience." His tone was a bit mocking. He didn't really know or care really if what she said about stopping Low was her game or not. He was wasting time. "Have fun with that when you swing." He turned and quickly left.

He made his way through the town. He had to ask several soldiers where Commodore Norrington and the Governor were before finding them. "The pirates have Abigail. And they killed Elizabeth." He just blurted it out surprising everyone. That in turn led to some questions and someone retrieving the body and then taking to the mansion where the Governor flung himself over it.

"Elizabeth." The man was obviously in pain but so was Will. And they didn't have time.

"The pirate ship is only a few hours ahead. Let us set sail, catch them, sink their vessel and rescue Abigail."

Commodore Norrington snorted. "Right. If you can't tell we are way tied up at the moment. I'm not sending even one vessel out until we can sort this out. The Spaniards might catch wind and use this to take advantage of us. No." He turned to the Governor. "I recommend we leave be. The pirates are long gone and chasing them would be a futile waste of time that would leave us vulnerable. I sympathize that the girl is gone but she's no doubt been ravished and killed by now." He shrugged. "That's the nature of pirates."

Will's hand tightened on his ax. The fact that the man just was callous about it sickened him. It was probably true. The girl would have undoubtedly been used by now. If she was still alive she'd be wishing she wasn't. But...that slight chance that she was alive was all he cared about. He wouldn't leave her to that fate if there was an opportunity to help.

He wondered what he could do. He could try to commodore a ship. What did he know about that? He didn't even know how to sail that well. With a bit of a reluctance and humility he came back to the prison. "If I break you out of here will you help me rescue Abigail?" He asked.