“So how do you plan on robbing a treasure fleet? And a fucking Spanish flotilla at that?”

I’ve spent the last hour going over various aspects of my plan for the next year or so, and it’s not going so well. Zijde and Bheki both are apprehensive, but Bheki is stuck on attacking the Spanish treasure fleet. That’s really not even the hard part! I know that the fleet is going to get hit by a hurricane off the coast of Florida at two in the morning on July 31st, but I can’t really explain how I know that though.

“Look Bheki, I found someone that says they can make some advanced weapons for us, ok? If he delivers we can move forward. If not, we’ll scrap the plan.”

“Boy, are you fucking stupid? Pirates have been trying to take treasure fleets for centuries and it’s never worked. They just get themselves killed.”

Not gonna lie, him calling me stupid like that makes me wanna reach across the table and slap the shit out of him, but that probably wouldn’t bode well for my cause.

Zijde turns to Bheki, giving him an incredibly harsh look, “Bheki, the plan is probably overly ambitious, but I’d rather you not insult the man. He even said, unless he gets the weapons he’d be fine with throwing the plan out.” He turns to me and gives me a thoughtful look, “Your heart is in the right place though. I think it’s a good plan, but I think you will need much longer than a couple years to accomplish it.”

Bheki crosses his arms a sucks are through his teeth in disdain, but he accepts what his captain says. I take a few moments to think about what to say to salvage my plan.

“Look, it’ll take three months to make the first batch of weapons. If they work, it’ll make taking ships so much easier. Let’s see how it goes then. Deal?”

They both shake their heads in agreement… one much less enthusiastically than the other but whatever. They look past me at someone, and before I can look to see who it is I get grabbed and shaken roughly.

Billy is quite drunk and very much so slurring his words, “Utah you, you damned liar! You said you’d help me out with my problem!”

I shoot Zijde a glance, and I find him giving me a knowing and very amused look. He waves me off chuckling, “Go help the lad, but come find me in a couple hours. There is still something we three need to take care of.”

Billy drags me off to a secluded corner to ask me what my plans are, but he’s so drunk it’s pretty hard to understand what he’s getting at.

“Look Billy, slow down and help me understand. I know your nervous, but I can’t help you if I can’t understand you.”

He slows down but it doesn’t help much, “Ok, ok, ok, ohhhhkayyy, look, we are only gonna stay in port for a week or two at most. So, if I’m going to spend time with a lady I need to go ahead and start!”

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Well, like I said before… young, dumb, and horny, but I did say I’d help, “Alright, alright, I’ll go talk to the madam. Don’t worry, but you my friend, do not need to drink anymore. You don’t wanna pass out and piss yourself do you?”

He gives me a dumb, drunken stare for a moment and then vigorously shakes his head no. I go off to find the madam leaving him to nurse a mug of water in the meantime.

It takes me a few minutes, but after asking several people and wandering around aimlessly I find her. And let’s just say she wasn’t what I was expecting. She was old. Like sixty plus territory. She wore a hood that covered most of her face and body. She was maybe five feet tall and so frail I couldn’t guess her weight. She had a long curved nose and from what I could see of her face she had pretty bad pockmarks.

Her voice high pitched, crackly, and shaky, “Hello dearie, are you looking for someone to accompany you to bed tonight?”

Holy shit, I have to say if she offered me an apple I wouldn’t take it if is was starving, “Ugh, no ‘mam. I’m actually looking for someone for my friend if there. The younger guy sipping on the mug.”

“Oh, I see. What is he looking for?”

“Well, without going too much in detail of his life… he is crippled with fear of not pleasing a woman. I thought maybe you have someone that is pretty, knowledgeable, and around his age?” I lean in closer to whisper, “I will also pay a good bit extra to make sure she hasn’t worked the last few days and she doesn’t have anything he could catch.”

She starts cackling with laughter… which unnerves me even more. She turns to me with a surprisingly toothfilled smile, “I have just the woman, she’s nineteen I believe and she only works once a week. Her rate is quite expensive though.”

“Perfect, would she be willing to spend a few days with him? I think it might take some time to work up his confidence.”

“That will be up to her. She will be here tomorrow evening. I’d ask for you to put down some coin first though. Just so no one person’s time is wasted. I’m sure you understand. Two doubloons and a peso or the equivalent would be a fair price.”

She starts to cackle again when she sees my face. Well Billy, you better enjoy this. I hand her thirty-three pesos, from the last couple months of work leaving me unsettled with my finances..

She gives me a deep searching look for a few moments, “You must care deeply for this boy… or you and your crew came upon considerable coin. Which is it?”

Fuck, fuck, fuck, of all the people to get suspicious it had to be the madam. Besides for bar keepers, madams are the most notorious for selling information to anyone that would pay the price. I try my best to keep any of my internal panic from showing on my face.

“The boy saved my life at the expense of a friend’s life. He didn’t know he was making a choice at the time, but he is still riddled with guilt.”

I thought that was pretty good as lies made up on the spot went.

“I see, that would certainly explain the air the boy gives off. I can feel the weight of it from here. I suppose this is a deal done. It’s still up to her though. She can choose to say no, but if that happens you’ll get your money back. I hope you enjoy.” She starts cackling as she goes to the back. She pauses and says over her shoulder, “Clean the boy, and groom him. It would go a long way with her.”

I give her a nod before returning to Billy. He definitely hasn’t sobered up, but he doesn’t see any more drunk.

“Well Billy I have someone lined up for you.”

He jerks his head towards me so hard he almost falls off his stool, “Really? Where is she?” He starts looking around frantically, “Oh shit, I should have bathed. I smell awful!”

“Billy, Billy, she isn’t here. You meet her tomorrow. Don’t worry. Go get some sleep, you’ll need your sleep.” I give him a teasing wink as he gets off his stool.

“Yea, you’re right Utah. Thank you so much. I’ll get a bathe tomorrow.”

“Yea and a haircut. A shave couldn’t hurt either.”

He nods as he makes his way towards the door. About that time I feel an arm wrap around my left shoulder. I see Zijde staring after Billy as he walks out.

“That’s good of you Utah. The boy has had more than his fair share of hurt and death. I’m glad you have taken a interest in him. He needs someone to guide him. I would, but I can’t be seen to give partial treatment to anyone on the crew that hasn’t earned it.” He was smiling warmly while speaking, but his face hardens into a look of determination, “By the way, it’s time to take care of our problem. Are you ready?”

I let a cocky smile spread across my face, ignoring the pain, “I’m always ready to solve problems Captain.”