Life on the high seas

John walked the deck of the frigate and leaned against the wooden barrier, preventing him from falling into the water, and felt the wind on his face. "Seems like we've all got sailing in our blood." Alex said as he walked up to John and clapped him on the back with a smile on his face. Alex had removed the cape, and hat, and seemed much more relaxed and at ease then when he was on the Navy ship. His accent disappeared to be replaced with the familiar accent from back home. "It's all a front." Alex laughed at John's questioning look. "I seem like some scary guy, so we don't have to fight that much, if given a choice, I'd much rather do things peacefully. I know my pirate brethren look down on me for it, but it's my way, right?" He smiled at his brother. Without his hat, John saw that Alex had grown his hair out, and it was now covered in a bandana. "So, tell me about Sophie. When I left home on that last day, you two must have been about fifteen or so? Yeah that seems right, we're six years apart?"

"Yeah, Alex six years."

"So, anyways tell me about her. Any trips to the hayloft? You know how Mary and I liked to frequent that one behind old farmer Ben's barn." He laughed. "Anyways, how is Mary?" He asked.

"She's fine Alex, or at least she was. She was distraught for a good year after you supposedly died. Mom and dad told her to move on with her life, she was waiting for you to come back."

"One regret that I have." Alex said looking out towards the endless sea "So, what happened to her?"

"She got married to Mr. Atford's son."

"The mill boy?"

"Yeah, that's the one."

"Man, well at least she's happy now." Alex sighed wistfully.

"Not really actually, she's pledged a life of celibacy now that you're not around."

"What?! That's ridiculous." Alex said incredulously.

"I know, that's what many people told her, but she was having none of it."

"She always was stubborn."

"I have to come to terms with the fact that Sophie will have to move on now too."

"Not to worry, there are many women out in the Caribbean, not to mention in Tortuga, you'll get your fill not to worry." Alex said with a smile as he clapped John on the back again. He turned around and started walking back across the deck.

"Alex! What happened to the leg?" John asked.

"Oh this? Shark bit it off when I tried to escape from the pirates who wanted to capture me." He said. "It's been a reminder ever since, life is short, enjoy it!" He said aloud and the crew responded with and 'Aye!' John ran after Alex because he still had so much to ask him.

"We were talking about Sophie." John said now with the both of them standing on the other side of the deck overseeing the work of the crew. It was amazing the shanties they were singing helped liven up a rather boring chore, and it seemed as if the crew were into what they were doing.

"Ah, yes. Forgive me, I went off on a tangent." Alex said.

"No worries. She and I had been more than friends for a couple of years now, and I decided to broach the topic to her. She said that when I got back, we would ask her father together for permission to marry her." John said.

"I'm sorry John." Alex said

"That's alright. I have another question."

"Of course you do." Alex said with a chuckle as he walked up the stairs to the captains wheel.

"How did you know I was going to be on the ship?" John asked.

"We had received an anonymous tip from someone by pigeon saying that what I was looking for would be in that particular spot and a particular time. Sure enough, it was right."

"You don't know who it was from?"

"No."

"Oh well, thanks for answering my questions anyways Alex."

"Anytime bro. Now go below deck and talk to the quartermaster, I've given him instruction to dress and arm you according to your new station."

"Yes captain." John said as he made his way below deck.

"You didn't tell him Alex?" The man steering the ship asked.

"How could I Bill? How could I tell my brother that we were sent to kill every last man aboard that ship by none other than the company run by his fiancé's father. How could I tell him that?"

"I'm guessing we're no longer taking contracts from them?"

"You guessed right. Thankfully it seems as if the crew is ok with our deception. Damn! We're going to have to report our success then head to pirate safe waters."

"Lan! Get your skinny ass over here!" Alex shouted laughingly "And bring the pigeon, it's time to reply to Lord Waterton." He said the name mockingly making the crew burst out laughing.

"I hope you know what you're doing here Alex. You're playing a dangerous game, and now you've got your brother mixed up in it to." Bill said.

"I know Bill!" Alex wrote out the message on a small scroll, attached it to the small holder on the back of the bird and let it fly back to wherever it was supposed to go. "More sail! Get us to Tortuga before night boys!" There were cheers from the crew, but the captain was stoic and worried.