Minutes later, Calliope and Markus were on board and dry, Calliope now having donned Markus's shirt after he'd given it to her without a word. The fact it was still soaked had the fabric clinging to her ample bosom, but it still moderately covered her up. Markus was a bit more intimidating shirtless, sword in hand and death in his eyes when he took the measure of the two prisoners and the mutinous deckhand he had to deal with. 

The rest of the crew stood on either side of the deck, saying not a word. Only the slight creaking of the ship in the cove was audible while Markus stared at the prisoners. Jim was downstairs, wiping up the blood that had been spilled on deck. An audible 'clunk' could be heard as Sketti banged his metallic appendage on the railing. "So Capt'n. What do ye suppose we do with this lot?" he grumbled, glaring daggers at the bound men. 

"Captai-" Bill began, but Sketti shot the deck in front of him. "Shut it, ye dog!" 

"No, let him speak." Markus said, staring at Bill. The deckhand grew nervous under the Captain's gaze. He could swear the Captain had not blinked since he had come back onboard. As if judgement itself kept his eyes open to bring the crushing weight of the sea on Bill and the other two men. Bill began again, his northern country accent evident in the cool breeze of the hot day.

"I didn't know they would attack the crew, or yourself sir. I only..." he glanced at Calliope's direction. "I only thought they'd kill the witch, Captain. I swear on me life. The things she done...it's not right. Her being on board!" He seemed to gather himself up, knowing he was a dead man but still wishing to speak as if he was still apart of the crew. "A woman aboard is bad enough, but I'm a progressive sort, I am. But I draw the line at demon pacts." 

Markus glanced at Calliope, then at Phill and Will. "Were you two in on this?" he asked them. "Speak truly." 

"No, Captain." Phil said. "Well..." 

"We had words." Will spoke up. "We all have misgivin's about the dark Lady here but, we didn't plan on doin nuffin with it." None of them seemed to want to meet Calliope's eyes. They might be intimidated of Markus but they didn't even want to acknowledge Calliope was there, though because of her power or her being the most recent victim of their brother's stupidity, Markus wasn't certain. "Bill got a little carried away I suppose. He told neither of us about what he was doin' I swear on Galena." 

"And what would you have me do with him?" Markus asked them, watching the brothers. All eyes turned to them, and they were silent for many moments. Phil cleared his throat. "We understand your role as Captain, but we beg you to spare him. Please Captain. He won't even disobey orders again, will you Bill?"

"I won't. I swear on the Gods." Bill said, lowering his head. The crew began to quietly murmur to themselves, indecipherable to Markus who simply needed time to consider. He needed to make a decision now, however. The crew looked to him to make quick decisions. "Sketti." Markus said, calling the quartermaster up. The Dwarf gave his customary 'aye' and approached. Markus nodded. "free Bill of his binds." Sketti did so, to the relief of the three brothers. 

"Get the chopping block." Markus called, which drew surprised and horrified looks from the triplettes. Bill almost looked like he was going to jump ship, but Sketti held him by his wrist firmly and Sron loomed behind him. Halvar and Corsica brought a stout wooden table and set it on the center of the deck. Markus grabbed a boarding axe that was embedded on the railing, testing its keen edge and gave a practice chop. 

"Which is your dominate hand, Bill?" Markus asked. Bill groaned in fear, trying to bite back a tearful beg. "Your dominate hand." Markus repeated. 

"I'm a righty, sir." Bill said under his breath, his arms now splayed across the table. Markus nodded, placed his foot on the man's left arm, and hacked into his wrist. The blade chopped heavily, splitting bone, flesh, and finally wood as it severed the hand. The man screamed, his cries echoing off the treeline on the shore, before he went into shock and lost consciousness, falling into a darkness he wasn't likely to wake up from for awhile. Phil and Will rushed to his brother's aid, and Markus dropped the bloodied axe onto the table. 

He picked his sword up again and pointed it at the right soldier, the one that had been on board looking at the cannons. "You, what is your name?" he asked him. 

"Reginald, Captain." 

"You're on the crew, Reginald. But you do not eat for two days. If you fall behind, I'll throw you overboard do you understand?" he asked him. The man nodded stupidly. The other soldier to the left looked up at Markus. He had been below decks, fighting until he was captured. "Your name?" 

John, sir." 

"Your fate I leave to my first mate." he said, motioning for Calliope to approach. "Kill him any way you want, or have him join the crew. Do what you will." 
[@Penny]