970. Chapter 970

After Captain Kate and the Sorceress

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: Je ne regret rein, except not owning Castle. Rating: M, here and there. Time: 18th Century

Captain Kate Beckett of the pirate ship Revenge, stood on the quarterdeck of her ship and smiled. She was dressed in her usual garb: Sea boots with four inch heels, skin tight doeskin pants, a tight white silk shirt, tied under her breasts, showing off her flat stomach and a wide brimmed hat with an eagle feather in it.

"Why do you smile, Kate?" asked Rick.

"I enjoyed Versailles, I really did. But this is where I belong. At sea, and not trying to bring down Bracken at a distance using money instead of cannons."

"We might still bring him down with money. We have friends in France and we've found that Bracken and Desmond have no shortage of enemies in England. They're working to prove that Bracken is a thief and a murderer. They could succeed."

Kate rested her head against his chest and felt his arms go around her. "True." Then after a moment, "Am I an evil person for wanting to run him through with my rapier and watch him die slowly and in agony?"

"Not at all. Considering what Bracken is like, it's too good an end for him. They should bring back some of the old medieval tortures for that one: The iron maiden, the rack, or perhaps burning at the stake. I'd like to see him get all three."

Kate kissed him softly. "Then perhaps we could go back to the Caribbean. I'd like to rebuild my parents place and live there as a wealthy family, doing nothing but enjoying life."

"Perfect." Rick said.

They sailed into the South Atlantic and eventually made landfall at the Dutch colony at the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. There they put into the port of Kaapstad.

Kate swiftly checked over the shipping anchored off of Kaapstad and was happy to see no British warships. Only two armed ships were in the harbor, an East Indiaman of the Dutch East Indies Company and a lean and rakish twenty-gun brig which flew no flag.

"We'll go ashore and start laying in supplies of fresh food and water for the next leg of our journey in Revenge." Captain Kate said.

"The Sorceress." Rick quickly corrected her. "Remember our ship is the Sorceress and we are Lord and Lady Rodgers. We don't want anyone to know where the infamous Kate Beckett is."

Kate smiled and curtsied to her husband. "You every wish is my command, my lord."

"Then perhaps we could go below and…."

Kate danced away from her amorous husband. "Business before pleasure."

As the crew left the ship, Kate wandered over to the brig. It was a well run ship, with everything spic and span, all ship shape and Bristol fashion. She asked an idler on the dock about the ship.

"She's the Witch of Endor, as fine a twenty gun brig as you'll ever see."

"What does she do?"

The man looked around him. "This and that, as the case may be."

"A slaver?" Kate asked, feeling anger rise in her.

"Oh, no, Ma'am. Not at all. Mostly she takes people and things what wants to get somewhere quick like and safely."

"A smuggler?"

"I wouldn't say that, Ma'am." But the man winked at her.

"Who's her captain?"

"Captain Will Sorenson, Ma'am.

Kate's blood ran cold. "Where might I find this Captain Sorenson?"

"Why, he's over at Old Nick's Tavern. The building with the green roof, yonder."

Kate strode angrily off with one hand on the hilt of her rapier. She entered Old Nick's Tavern, and not seeing Sorenson, called out loudly. "Will Sorenson, show yourself, for I have come to kill you for your part in the murder of my parents."

To Kate's surprise, a tall, lanky blond man stood up, drawing his own sword. "I do not know you, nor your parents, but I don't think you'll kill me this day, lass." He walked slowly towards her.

Kate dropped the point of her rapier to the floor. "I beg your pardon, good sir. You are not the Will Sorenson I seek. He looks nothing like you."

Sorenson sheathed his blade. "There are other Sorensons, I suppose. However, you might wish to enquire before you issue death threats."

Priscilla, having seen Kate rush to the tavern with her hand on the hilt of her rapier, dashed into the place. "Mother, what is wrong? Why did you come here?"

"You!" Screamed Sorenson. "You lying whore. I'll have your heart's blood on my blade this day, so I swear."

Kate raised her blade up as Sorenson advanced. As she did so, Rick, Ryan, Alexis and a dozen well armed sailors arrived to back her up.

Sorenson stopped in the face of so much force.

"Beggin' yer pardon, Captain." Said a man who had been sitting at a table with Sorenson. "But I think we're a bit outnumbered. As these folks are from the fine frigate I seen entering the harbor, we'll be even more outnumbered as time passes. Perhaps the better part of valor is in order?"

"Mother, he has every reason to hate me." Priscilla said.

"I think it would be best if we talked together privately." Rick said.

They found a table outside where no one could come near without being seen, and sat. Kate ordered rum for all and explained who she was, who she was pretending to be and what her mission was.

"So, you're the infamous pirate Captain Kate Beckett." Said Sorenson. "I expected more."

She smiled. "Someone larger than life, perhaps?"

"Perhaps just someone larger." Sorenson said gallantly.

"Now please explain your enmity towards my daughter, Priscilla. And be aware she is in all ways but that of birth, my daughter."

"My parents had a very rich plantation on Jamaica. My poor father had no head for alcohol, nor for cards. My mother, while she lived, was able to control his failings. But she died. Shortly after, my father and I were invited to Governor Bracken's for a party. Priscilla led me to the garden and filled my ears with sweet lies and even kissed me. While I was dallying with her, my father, now drunk was losing at cards. Before I could get to him, he had lost our plantation. My father….He killed himself two nights later. I took some gold he had secreted in our home and bought a ship. A small one, to be sure, but, much as you did, I preyed upon Bracken's ships and was lucky enough to take the Witch. But, I was not as lucky, or perhaps as good as you are. Bracken sent his buccaneer friends after me and they chased me all the way to the southern tip of Africa, before I lost them."

Priscilla, now crying, nodded. "This is true, mother. However, I did not know of my father's plans for Mr. Sorenson. He merely asked me to flirt with young Will here. I was just entering my teens and was quite unused to the affect that I seemed to have on young men. I admit that I did become a terrible flirt at that time. But, I swear that I had no evil intent."

"You say that Priscilla has been disowned by her father who wishes to marry her off to some old pervert?"

Kate just nodded.

"In that case, I feel I have no cause to feel abused by Miss Bracken, pardon, that's Lady Priscilla Rodgers, isn't it."

Kate looked over to Sorenson and recalled how his ship had impressed her. "You cannot stay here, for word will get back to Bracken, so you must go to the East. I propose that you come with me. A small squadron of French warships will be more impressive than a single ship. And I can give you a French letter of marque so that you will not be thought a pirate. What do you say?"

Sorenson thought it over. "I have no other good choice, so I agree."

They stayed in Kaapstad for several days, purchasing supplies and doing the repairs on their ships that were always necessary after a long voyage. But when a Dutch trader brought news that a Royal Navy frigate was in the area they cut their stay short. With a fair wind behind them, and flying the white flag with golden fleur de lys of the French Kingdom, they left the Atlantic behind and headed into the Indian Ocean.

After a long, but not overly exciting voyage, they entered the harbor at Mahe on the Malabar Coast of India. The harbor was crowded with ships. Most of the larger ones flew French flags, however, large ships from the Ottoman Empire, Persia and several of the Muslim sultanates that lined the western Indian Ocean were also there. The balance were small, local coastwise traders.

Kate was happy to see that the only warship in the harbor was a rather slovenly looking Spanish frigate.

Once anchored Kate called for the captain's gig to be made ready. She called over to Captain Sorenson to be ready to go ashore and meet this le comte d'Schlemming.

Kate quickly changed into a suitable gown. So as not to attract too much attention, Lord Richard Castle was officially the special envoy to the court of Sultan Ibraham. Kate would appear to be no more than Lord Rodger's wife, while Esposito would take the position of the captain of the Sorceress.

Once ashore they asked the way to the residence of le comte d'Schlemming. Their first hint that there would be trouble was when the first person they asked spat at them and said something angrily, then walked away. Kate found a very old man sitting by the docks with a begging bowl in front of him. She dropped a large gold coin into the bowl.

"I need directions to the residence of le comte d'Schlemming. Can you help me, grandfather?"

The old man nodded. "I can help you by telling you to avoid that imp of Satan at all costs, otherwise you will sink into the sea of depravity that he inhabits."

Kate dropped another gold coin into the bowl. "Thank you for your advice, grandfather, but we have business with d'Schlemming and I and my men can protect my virtue."

"Inshallah." He muttered. "Do you see the large blue house built in the style of the Europeans? You will find him there. Be careful, great lady."

"Thank you, and I shall."

Arriving at the house, which was more like a mansion, they could see two heavily armed men at the doorway. However, both appeared to be insensible from alcohol. Looking inside, they could see no one, so they walked into the house. Down one hall, they ran into a very scantily dressed Hindi girl, who appeared to be in her early teens.

"Excuse me." Lord Rodgers said, doffing his hat. "Can you direct me to le comte d'Schlemming?"

The girl stared at him blankly for a moment, then pointed off to her right.

They found d'Schlemming in the courtyard in the middle of the mansion, sprawled on a couch. He was dressed only in a pair of linen drawers, and was being fed grapes by two women, both nude. One was Indian, but the other, a blonde, was European.

The blonde looked up at them as they entered the courtyard. "Ere! Away wi' you, slut. 'E's my man an' I don't need no competition from you an' your skinny bum."

Rick stepped forward and bowed ever so slightly to the blonde. "Lady Katherine is my wife. I'm Lord Richard Rodgers, special ambassador to the court of the Sultan of Malabar. We have business with M. le Comte."

"You have no business with me, as I am France's only representative here." D'Schlemming's words were slurred and his eyes unfocused. "Now get out and take your skinny bitch with you. My Jacinda here is all I need."

Rick's hand went to the rapier at his side, but Kate's hand closed over his. "No." She whispered.

Rick inclined his body ever so slightly in a bow. "As you wish."

Back on the street, they asked a passerby for directions to the palace of Sultan Ibrahim. Before the passerby could reply, a young boy appeared beside them.

"You wish to see the Sultan, oh great lords and lady? I am Daud, and for the absurdly low price of ten annas, I will take you there."