Open Wardrobes

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The pirate vessels, those at least used more as vessel of war, rarely came here. The same went with ships from other kingdoms. Most of those that traveled here did so purely for purposes of trade and this, frankly, was much to the liking of the people of Antilla. Their island, so they prided themselves, was one quiet and untroubled but the larger political affairs of the Five Kingdoms.
As usual Red ordered their flag furled as they sailed into the harbor. Flying the pirate flag usually attracted more attention than it was worth, to fly the banner of the flagship even more so. Howl did the same, though it was clear enough to most that these were vessels used to doing battle and word soon spread through the port. Once ready to disembark Red paid a visit to Lemuel Drake.
"We have arrived in Antilla," she told him.
"Yes, that much I could guess," Lemuel said dryly. "I did not think you would be heading anywhere else."
"Once I have the map our deal is complete and I shall release you to your people," Red reminded him. "Do you feel so inclined to aid us in tracking down Dain Melthew?"
"He may be gone, or he may have the map no longer," Lemuel pointed out. "What then of my fate?"
"We shall discuss that if such an eventuality arises," Red said, hopeful it would not. "No vessels shall leave this island until I order it. If he is here, he shall not escape."
Lemuel considered his options once again. They had rolled around in his head ever since their departure from Montegal and did not feel any better now. He could do his best to aid Red Foxx and hope somehow that he would gain useful knowledge of the map in the process. Yet if the second half alone could be of great help his people would likely have made use of it already. If he declined, if indeed this truly was an offer, he might at least keep his conscience somewhat clean. At the best, by withholding his assistance he might make the different between Melthew's capture or escape. Yet he did not honestly hold out much hope of that. What then was to be done?
"I shall come with you," Lemuel sighed, "but I ask for one further condition."
"You are not in such a position," Red noted.
"At least hear it," Lemuel said, exasperated. In that moment he could not see the young princess in the stern pirate before him, so annoyed had he become with her and her ways.
"Speak then."
"I ask to see the second half of the map, for ten minutes at least," Lemuel requested.
Red laughed. "You still think to find some way to beat me to the Heart?"
"If my request is so laughable, it cannot be much to grant," Lemuel said.
"Very well," Red said, amused, "if you think it shall be of such great assistance. Your countrymen have very like studied it close already."
"Perhaps so," Lemuel conceded, "but I thank you nonetheless."
Red released Lemuel was his cell, keeping him chained however as he had been on their last excursion, and led him above deck where they met Jat, Howl, and Howl's first mate. Cutthroat Kelt.
"Mornin', Captain," Howl greeted Red. "It be a fine mornin' for such a hunt, do ye not think?"
"Excellent, Howl," Red grinned. "Shall we set to it?"
The five of them crossed the dock and entered the small town that lay there. Jat had spoken to the harbormaster at length already who, like most men in his position on the pirate isles, too smart to hide anything. The healthy handful of gold that Jat presented him with for his troubled did not hurt.
The long and short of it was that Dain Melthew, to the best of the harbormaster's knowledge, dwelt still on the small island and kept a humble residence not far from the port itself. This made sense, Red thought, as he was like to be ready to depart at a moment's notice if a bad wind reached him. Red remained confident that they would take Melthew quick and unawares. She had brought Drake more as a bargaining chip than anything else, if matters came to that. She had only expected to be able to use him once to betray a countryman, as she had forced him to do with Sir Mot. If he hoped to somehow turn things to his own advantage, let him occupy himself thus.
They found Melthew's home easily enough from the harbormaster's instructions. Dain Melthew dwelt here under a different name, of course, but the harbormaster knew his trade well and made it a point to know the true identities of all who stayed here long. Melthew was, perhaps, a touch too open about his visits from other former nobility of the Ruined Kingdom which had caught the eye of those loyal to their pirate masters.
Red knocked on the door, planning no subterfuge this time, and soon her summons were answered. Dain Melthew came himself. He was not so old as Sir Mot, having been but a young lord on the rise when the destruction had driven him from his home. He looked at Red with a proud eye and quickly studied both her and her companions. If he recognized Lemuel, he did not show it.
"Can I help you?" Melthew said gruffly. It did not appear that he had shaved his beard in some days, much less pass beyond the boundary of his own door.
"I am Captain Red Foxx," Red announced. "You will allow us to enter."
Dain nodded and ushered them all in.
"I cannot say I thought to have the pirate king himself pay me a visit," Dain said as he sat down in his own chair. "At least not so soon after assuming your father's throne."
Red watched Dain carefully and he gave her a grim sort of a smile.
"So now, Pirate King," Dain continued. "What is it you think I can do for you?"
"I have come for the map."
Dain made no sign of recognition, but his eyes passed quickly from one person to another. "And what map is that?" he asked Red.
"I shall make this simple," Red told him. "You shall give us the map and in return I shall allow to live."
Dain laughed harshly. He was no so easily cowed. "That explains why you have brought with you this small army, I suppose. You must think me a fearsome foe indeed."
"Where is it?" Red demanded and the pirates around her looked as grim as she did.
Dain stared hard at Red. "I see you are not one easily deceived, Captain Foxx. Yes, I know of the map. And yes, it is here on Antilla." Here he paused.
"And?" Red prompted.
"What do you offer me?" Dain asked.
"I have offered you your life already," Red stated.
"Yet without me you shall not find where I have hidden it," Dain shot back in return. "No man save myself knows."
Red smirked, not quite so easily taken in. "That I doubt," she said, "but I shall hear your request regardless."
"An island of my own."
"And that is all?" Red asked in a mocking town.
"You have so many, pirate lord, shall you miss just one?" Dain scoffed in return.
Aye, but he makes a point there," Howl offered. "I can think of many an isle I be more than ready to set this one down upon and sail away."
"Granted," Red told Dain, "and I shall in truth reward you even greater than this, should you prove yourself faithful."
Slightly surprised at how easily the pirate captain had agreed to his proposition Dain nodded and stood. "Then follow me, Captain."
Dain led them back into the streets and soon they walked through the darker alleys Antilla had to offer.
Howl whispered in Red's ear, "I cannot say I like this, Captain. This one has plans of his own."
Red merely smiled. "But of course," she whispered in return. It was then that Howl realized Jat was nowhere to be seen.
Dain led them into a dead-end alley and upon coming to the far end stopped and turned to face the others.
"We have come to the end," he told Red Foxx.
"Indeed. The map?"
Dain smiled. "Yes, I do indeed know where it is, but I have no intention of giving it into your hands."
Three pirates drew pistols and aimed them at Dain Melthew. Red furthermore withdrew her saber and pointed it at Dain's chest.
"You are outnumbered here," Red said. "I advise you to rethink your course and hand over the map."
Several clicks surrounded them and Red whirled around and looked up to see the muzzles of several pistols pointing out of the windows above.
"I did not think to have the great Captain Foxx himself come looking for the map," Dain said smugly, "but this is indeed a quarry well worth the trap."
"Do not think you shall deter us so easily," Red said coldly and she neither moved her pistol or sword elsewhere.
"I have half a dozen men above," Dain stated. "You shall not escape here unless I grant it."
"Ye shant escape either," Howl growled, "remember that."
"I will," Dain said, "because you shall lower your weapons now, or else I shall have my men open fire."
"If you do," Red said, "you shall not make it a single step before we shoot you dead."
"Well, it seems we are at something of an impasse," Dain conceded. "Perhaps none of us shall leave this alley alive."
A slight noise from above attracted Red's attention. Out of the corner of her eyes one of Dain's hired pistols drew back suddenly for a moment, only to return a moment later. Red took two steps towards Dain. The point of her sword now sat an inch below his neck. Dain shuffled slightly on his feet.
"I will order my men to shoot," he told Red.
"You will not," Red said firmly. "You may be brave enough behind your hired guns, but you are not ready to risk your own death." The sword tip pressed in harder. "I can end it before your men even take their first shot."
"I am warning you, Captain..." Dain said, but he seemed less sure.
"No, I am warning you," Red hissed. "I grow tired of this! You shall tell your men to drop their weapons, or I shall see you do not die here and now but suffer greatly at the hands of my crew. Where is the map?"
Dain did not move. Red made a quick gesture to Howl and Kelt. They pointed their guns upwards towards two of the armed windows.
"You are still outnumbered," Dain said.
Red closed her eyes for a moment and then raised her pistols upwards. One shot and a man fell dead from the window. Red dropped her pistol and swung Dain around in front of her, the sword now across his neck.
"Do not shoot! Do not shoot!" Dain cried and his men held their fire.
"Less outnumbered now," Red hissed in Dain's ear. "Would you care to reconsider my offer?"
"You are still not in a strong position yourself," Dain told the pirate. "But perhaps we can come to an arrangement to both our advantages."
Another sound came from above and Red tightened her grip on Dain. Red looked up and nodded. A shot came from above, followed by two from below from Howl and Kelt. More shots from above answered, but in the end all of Dain's men lay dead, either slumped over their window or bloody in the alley below. Howl had suffered a bullet to the shoulder, but that was the greatest of the pirates' injuries. Lemuel had wisely cast himself to the ground when the fight began. Their enemies dispatched, Jat climbed down from her perch where she had taken two of the men from behind before shooting a third across the alley. Red Shoved Dain forward into Kelt's custody and reclaimed her pistol.
"That be fine work, Mate Stevens," Howl said to Jat as he inspected his wound. "I barely notice meself that ye be at work up there. Ye should be learnin' to count," he spat at Dain who had now found a quieter tongue.
Jat helped Howl bind his wound while Red addressed Dain once more.
"Must I ask you again, or are you at last prepared to cooperate?"