Another volunteer

"In that case Captain I think we should get moving. I'm curious to see these guns of yours." Brenan was just about to get up when the well dressed swordsman he had spotted earlier sat down in the seat between the two of them.

"I thought that was you Lieutenant!" interjected the swordsman "Its Harold Castillo of the Siren’s Call." The sailor extended his hand and seizing Mr. Michaels hand he shook it warmly. Turning to Brenan he added "Harry Castillo, I served with the Lieutenant. It is a damn shame how Captain Simonds treated him sir." Brenan wondered what Harry was doing in Freeport when the Siren had left with the evening tide yesterday, but kept silent and watched as Harry turned back to Michaels.

"Thank you Mr. Castillo, it was good of you to say." Michaels looked over the sailor and this time he seemed to be able to place him. "You weren't on any of my gun crews were you?".

"No sir, and just call me Harry; I was an able seaman on the third watch and led the second boarding squadron, I had hoped to work on a gun crew, but the Captain he never listened to no one." Brenan got the impression that the seaman was talking to him as much as to Michaels.

"Well thank you again,” Michaels smiled at Harry as he excused himself “this captain and I have some business to attend to." Castillo interrupted with a loud smack of his hand on the table.

"You've got a new position already, I knew someone would snatch you up in no time.". Turning again to Brenan the man added "He's the best gun officer I've ever seen, Captain. Hey, you wouldn't happen to be looking for more men?" The seaman definitely talked too much, but Brenan knew he needed both experienced fighters and sailors. Perhaps sensing that he was considering signing him on, Castillo added quickly:

"I don't need a full salary first time out, I just want to get away from Captain Simonds. It’s hard for a man to see captured women to be sold as slaves and not do anything about it." That lifted at least one of Brenan’s worries about signing on one of Siren’s deckhands. Bartley Simonds, while primarily a pirate more than a slaver was all too happy to include any pretty women in the loot taken from captured vessels. This included women from the crew sailing the ship and passengers as well as any of the ship’s whores. Black Bart was also known to accept girls as barter from the many island inhabitants in exchange for a cask of rum or other trade goods.

“So that’s why you missed your ship?” Asked Brenan

“Well that and I was a little under the weather yesterday." Castillo shrugged his shoulders and lowered his head in what could be an indication of shame "So can you use me Sir? As you already know, I got no commitments at the moment.”