The Abyss sailed quietly, La Fortune still in tow. The sea had calmed since the chaos of the last raid, but tensions remained thick in the air. The men worked steadily, their bodies still weary from battle, but it wasn't just the exhaustion of their labor that made the crew uneasy. They could sense a change in direction, and they were waiting for answers.
Up on the quarterdeck, Jacob stood beside Garrett, watching the horizon, his mind already calculating their next steps. The last port, where they'd originally intended to return for repairs and resupply, was no longer in their future. There was a better option ahead—one revealed in La Fortune's captain's logs. But the crew needed to be informed, especially after everything they'd been through.
Jacob turned to Garrett, his decision firm. "Gather the crew. It's time they know where we're headed."
Garrett gave a sharp nod, recognizing the importance of the moment. "Aye, Captain. I'll have them on deck."
It didn't take long for the crew to assemble. The men stood scattered across the deck, some still wiping sweat and grime from their faces, others casting furtive glances at their captain. They knew something was coming, but they hadn't expected to be called together so soon after the battle. Whispers spread quickly, but they died down as Jacob stepped forward, his presence commanding immediate silence.
Jacob's eyes swept over his crew—veterans and new recruits alike. Many of them still bore the wounds of their last fight, but they stood ready, waiting for his word. He wasn't about to repeat Rourke's mistakes. He needed them to trust him, to follow him without hesitation. And for that, they needed to know the truth.
"We're not heading back to the port we just left," Jacob began, his voice carrying over the deck. "There's a reason for it."
The men shifted uneasily, but they remained silent, their eyes locked on Jacob.
"We've made a good haul with La Fortune, no question," Jacob continued. "The gold has been divided, and you've got what you earned from that. But La Fortune wasn't the only ship on this route. There's a second convoy—a smaller one, following the same path. They spread out to avoid attention, and we caught the first. But the second is just days behind."
A murmur ran through the crowd, the promise of another raid stirring excitement among the crew. Jacob raised his hand, and the men quieted once more.
"We're heading to Port Serpent's Reach," Jacob said, his voice firm. "It's a hidden pirate haven, five days from here. We'll dock there, make repairs, and prepare for our next move. La Fortune and the rest of the cargo—the silks, spices, and merchant goods—will be sold there. Once we offload and sell those, we'll divide the spoils, and each of you will get your fair share of that haul."
The crew exchanged glances, the unease beginning to fade as Jacob laid out the plan. Garrett stepped forward, nodding toward the men.
"Port Serpent's Reach is no place you've likely heard of," Garrett added. "It's a pirate haven, hidden from the Navy's eyes. A good place for us to lay low, fix up the ship, and take stock of what we've got."
A few of the more seasoned pirates nodded knowingly, while the younger recruits looked eager to prove themselves in the next raid. Jacob could see that the tension was beginning to ease, but there were still questions lingering in their minds. One of the crewmen, Pike, stepped forward, his face lined with concern.
"But Captain," Pike began cautiously, "some of us were hoping to spend our coin soon. We've got our gold from the first haul, but the bigger share comes from selling La Fortune and the cargo. How long will we be waiting for that?"
Jacob nodded, understanding the concern. The crew had fought hard, and they were eager to see the full rewards of their efforts. But patience was crucial. "You'll get your share once we reach Port Serpent's Reach and sell the remaining goods," he said firmly. "We can't divide the value of the silk and cargo until it's sold. That, and the sale of La Fortune, will cover the repairs we need and give us a good payout. It won't be long."
The crew visibly relaxed at that, reassured that their reward was coming as soon as they made port and sold the goods. Jacob had no intention of withholding their pay, but he needed them focused on the bigger picture—this was a long-term game, and they stood to gain more by moving strategically.
"We'll hit this second convoy, and it'll be worth twice as much as La Fortune," Jacob continued. "But that's only if we're smart about it. We take our time, make the repairs, and hit them hard when they're least expecting it. You all know what happened last time—we barely got out with our lives. This time, we'll be ready."
The men muttered their agreement, some nodding, others straightening with a renewed sense of purpose. Briggs, the veteran officer who had survived Rourke's leadership, stepped forward next, addressing both Jacob and the crew.
"Captain's right," Briggs said, his deep voice commanding attention. "We got lucky with La Fortune, but if we don't fix the ship and prepare, we won't make it through another fight. We've lost good men, and we've taken damage. Five days to Port Serpent's Reach gives us time to get back to fighting form."
Jacob looked out over the crew, knowing that his transparency had calmed the tension that had been building. He wasn't hiding anything from them, and that made all the difference. He wasn't Rourke, and they would see that time and again.
"We set sail now," Jacob finished. "Five days to Port Serpent's Reach. You'll have your coin once we've made the sales and done the repairs. Stay sharp, stay focused, and we'll come out of this richer than you ever dreamed."
The crew cheered, the promise of wealth and another raid invigorating them. As the men dispersed, returning to their duties, Jacob caught Garrett's eye and nodded in satisfaction.
"You handled that well," Garrett said quietly as they stepped aside. "Rourke would have kept them in the dark, but you brought them in. They respect that."
Jacob gave a small smile. "They deserve to know. We've all got something to gain from this. And when we hit that second convoy, they'll understand why."
Garrett chuckled. "Aye. Let's hope the next raid goes as planned."
The next few days passed in relative calm, though the crew remained hard at work. Old Wood and Kofi continued overseeing repairs, the sound of hammers and saws filling the air as they worked to keep The Abyss seaworthy. Below deck, the freed slaves who had chosen to remain aboard began finding their places among the crew, though tension still simmered between the veterans and the newcomers.
Jacob kept a close eye on the ship's progress, knowing they would need every advantage for the next raid. They had taken damage, yes, but The Abyss was resilient, and so were her crew.
On the second night, Garrett joined Jacob on the quarterdeck, both men staring out at the calm sea, the distant stars reflecting off the water like scattered diamonds. The journey to Port Serpent's Reach had been uneventful so far, but Jacob knew better than to let his guard down.
"We'll be hitting the port in a few more days," Garrett said, breaking the silence. "Anything you want the men to do before we arrive?"
Jacob considered it for a moment, then shook his head. "Just keep them focused. Once we're in port, I'll want a meeting with the key officers. We'll need to plan the convoy hit down to the last detail."
Garrett nodded, then hesitated. "And the repairs? You sure we can handle another raid without being fully patched up?"
Jacob's jaw clenched for a moment before he answered. "We'll fix what we can at Port Serpent's Reach. Once we've sold the goods and La Fortune, we'll have enough for a full refit. We perform the critical repairs and we'll be ready by the time the convoy comes into range."
Jacob's gaze swept over the ship as he spoke quietly but firmly, "Keep putting the crew through their paces. We've taken on more hands, and I need them working like they've sailed with us for years. No weak links, Garrett."
Garrett gave a curt nod. "Fair enough. I'll keep the crew sharp until then."
Both men stood in silence, watching as the ship cut through the dark waters.