Lady Eleanor [4]

After Robin had devised a plan that adhered to their principle of non-lethality and ensured their anonymity, they prepared to make their way outside. Tying together two long blankets, they secured them to a sturdy piece of furniture, ready to lower the makeshift rope from the second-floor window and descend outside.

The night sky was adorned with a yellowish crescent moon, its gentle glow illuminating the dark blue expanse studded with shimmering stars. A slight, chilly breeze carried the salty scent of the nearby sea.

Donned in black robes made of thin cotton, both Eleanor and Robin trembled slightly from the coolness of the fabric.

Descending the cliffside, they stealthily made their way into town, taking care to avoid detection by the stationed navy guards.

Robin's knowledge of their usual posts, gleaned from her brother's stories, proved invaluable in navigating the perilous path undetected.

Yet, the irony was not lost on Robin. The very knowledge she had acquired to understand justice and righteousness now found itself employed in aiding her childhood friend in the commission of various crimes to free Captain Jack and Mary Grace.

While Robin possessed insights into the workings of the navy, her understanding of pirates and their clandestine underground network was limited. However, Eleanor, captivated by tales of pirates since the tender age of six, had extensively delved into the subject through books. Her previous kidnapping experience had also acquainted her with the existence of hidden tunnels.

They sought refuge in a bustling tavern, which operated round the clock. The air within was heavy with the scent of alcohol, sweat, and unwashed bodies as patrons reveled in drink, song, and dance.

During the day, taverns would see a modest gathering of pirates, but come nightfall, they would overflow with them, with only a handful of ordinary citizens in attendance.

All eyes momentarily shifted towards Robin and Eleanor as they entered, only to quickly return to their boisterous activities.

"Arrr, fifteen men on a dead man's chest,

Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle o' rum!

Swiggin' and the devil had his way with the rest,

Yo-ho-ho..."

Approaching a weathered wooden door, they turned the handle and stepped inside. There, they were greeted by a bald, muscular man dressed in commoner attire, his head bearing a prominent scar that ran from the back to the forehead, as if his skull had once been split in half.

His cold, brown eyes fixed upon the two intruders as he spoke in a deep voice, "What be the word?"

Eleanor exchanged a glance with Robin before addressing the man. With a pause, she reached inside her large, bag-like brown leather pouch, attached to her waist, and retrieved two gold coins, tendering them to the man.

Her pouch was brimming with gold coins, amounting to a sum that could sustain a comfortable life without much concern for future expenses. These coins had been acquired through a previous act of theft, pilfered from an unguarded basement. Eleanor's father had arrived shortly after Robin, concluding their clandestine endeavor, and had fallen asleep, oblivious to their actions.

At the time, Eleanor had paid little mind to the possibility of her father noticing the missing gold and launching an investigation within the mansion. Given that the servants, approximately twelve in number, including cooks, gardeners, and maids, would be the primary suspects, she felt confident in their ability to elude scrutiny.

Unsure of the required passphrase, Eleanor candidly asked, "Is this enough? I am unaware of the word."

The man scrutinized the two, his gaze sweeping from their feet to their heads, before responding, "Hmmm. How can I be sure ye scallywags ain't in cahoots with the blasted navy?"

Eleanor withdrew three additional gold coins and replied, "We are ordinary citizens seeking to hire a group of individuals. Our friends are pirates who have recently been apprehended by the navy. Their execution is scheduled for tomorrow, if you haven't already heard."

The man's face showed a mix of resignation and curiosity as he uttered, "Jack? You be hearties with Jack Thunder?"

Eleanor beamed with pride and nodded. "Yes, we are."

Letting out a weary sigh, the man conceded, "I don't reckon I understand how any soul could be mates with a scallywag like him, but regardless, ye may carry on."

Grateful for his permission, Eleanor and Robin exchanged nods and pushed open another door, revealing a set of stone stairs leading into the depths of the underground tunnels.

As they ventured into the intricate maze of tunnels within the pirate network, their first instinct was to turn left.

After a considerable walk, they encountered a bustling area filled with pirates, each occupied with their own tasks and objectives.

"I'll handle the talking," Robin suggested, ready to step forward with purpose.

However, Eleanor halted her with a firm grip on her arm. "No, I can handle this. I've got the knack for speaking their lingo, which might prove useful."

They joined a line of two people, all awaiting their turn to converse with an elder pirate adorned in a coat stolen from nobility, its gold emblems glinting in the dim light. His grayish-white hair and eyes matched the weathered look in his gaze, which held a mix of indifference and a hint of bloodlust.

When Eleanor's turn arrived, she approached the man with a confident swagger and greeted him, "Ahoy, how be ye doin'?"

His reaction was muted, his gaze lifeless yet tinged with a touch of intrigue. "State yer purpose," he replied in a monotone voice.

Maintaining her pirate accent, Eleanor continued, "Aye, I be in need o' a dozen hearty souls for a grand task come tomorrow. I require some to warn the residents o' danger and, if necessary, whisk 'em away to safety. Another crew shall plant gunpowder barrels in each house, connectin' 'em with a rope soaked in oil. When all is set, one spark shall ignite the fuse, causin' a grand explosion."

The man listened attentively to her request before responding, "That be an impossible feat, and even if it were possible, the cost would far exceed yer means."

Eleanor boldly declared, "Gold be no obstacle to me. Can it be done?"

Raising his arm, the man gestured, "Fetch us two chairs."

"She be wit' me," Eleanor retorted firmly.

"Three chairs and everyone else, clear off," he commanded.

Once the chairs were brought and the area cleared for privacy, they all took their seats.

"That be a mighty request, lass. I can tell ye're naught but a noble attemptin' a weak imitation of a pirate," he remarked calmly, his voice laced with a hint of threat.

He continued, his tone slightly raised and menacing, his gaze fixed on her concealed lips, "Ye tried to blend in, but me blood be tellin' me ye be a noble."

In a flash, he grabbed his small dagger and pressed it against Eleanor's neck, her hair held captive in his grip. "Now, why would a noble like yerself be plannin' such a deed?"

As Robin regained her composure, she drew her own smaller finger-length dagger, positioning it cautiously toward the man. "Release her!"

He chuckled, tightening his grip on the dagger, causing a trickle of blood to escape. "Nay, she be needin' to explain herself first, and so do ye. Sit down, or I'll send her to..."

Reluctantly, Robin slowly took her seat and lowered her dagger.

Eleanor's words rang out with a regal air, her voice brimming with unwavering determination. "Verily, I be of noble birth, but I implore ye, keep this knowledge shrouded in secrecy. I yearn not for mine own kin nor the navy to unearth me involvement. In days of yore, I languished as a captive within these labyrinthine tunnels, until the gallant Captain Jack Thunder and his fair comrade Mary Grace bestowed upon me the gift of freedom. A debt of gratitude I shall forever carry. Alas, they now find themselves ensnared by the clutches of the navy, their lives to be extinguished upon the morrow. I yearn to liberate them from their impending fate. Henceforth, I endeavor to orchestrate a spectacle of grandeur, one that shall instill such fear in the hearts of the guards that they shall abandon their posts at the gallows, thus allowing for their swift escape."

The man nodded, laughter escaping his lips as he released his grip on Eleanor's hair and withdrew the dagger. He shifted his gaze towards Robin and asked, "And what be yer role in this grand scheme?"

Robin crossed her arms, maintaining a defiant silence.

Eleanor reassured the man, "Fear not, she be me loyal companion, here to lend her aid. That be all."

The man pondered for what seemed like an eternity before finally speaking, "Very well then. I've calculated the costs. Ye'll be needing 20 men, each to be paid 5 gold coins. For the gunpowder barrels, that be 10 gold coins per barrel. Considerin' ye be blowin' up 5 houses, includin' the oil-soaked ropes, the total cost would amount to 330 gold coins. As for me services in makin' it happen, that'll be an additional 200 gold coins."

Eleanor swiftly responded, "Agreed! What be the grand total?"

"The grand total be 630 gold coins," he replied.

Eleanor inquired, "Who's going to count the coins?" as she opened her pouch, revealing a collection of shiny gold coins.

He called out, "Alexei, come 'ere!" and commanded, "Count these coins. The total should be 632 gold coins."

Robin interjected, "How did it suddenly become 632?"

With a cold tone, he retorted, "That be Alexei's bonus for countin'."

After Alexei, a man who appeared more like a common citizen than a pirate, finished counting, the man introduced himself, "Call me Q, that be what they call me."

Eleanor nodded and introduced herself, "I be El."

The two of them discussed the specifics of the task, including the timing and various rules.

Once their conversation concluded, Eleanor and Robin bid farewell to the underground pirate network and emerged back into the open air.

"So, Robin, I do apologize for the distress you had to endure. It must have been an utterly harrowing experience," Eleanor expressed with a tone of remorse.

Robin offered a reassuring smile and replied, "Worry not, El. My concerns were solely focused on your well-being."

Eleanor returned the smile, but her expression turned serious as she asserted, "Lead the way."

Nodding in acknowledgment, Robin took the lead, guiding them to the residence of the first executioner. There, they explained a portion of the plan and offered a substantial sum of gold coins as compensation for his involvement.

Considerable time was spent in this negotiation, as the executioner initially hesitated, contemplating the idea of betraying them and alerting the navy. However, Eleanor's true identity was unveiled during their discussion, and the executioner ultimately chose to comply.

To facilitate their persuasion of the second executioner, he was invited to join their cause, and Eleanor hired him as well.

With all the necessary arrangements in place, Robin's meticulously devised plan was set into motion. Despite a few obstacles arising from Eleanor's identity being revealed, she had willingly disclosed it herself, whereas Robin's remained concealed.