mara-z@gmx.de The sun beat down on Tortuga like a physical weight, drawing out the thick, heady stench of overripe fruit, unwashed bodies, and the salty tang of the Caribbean Sea. The harbor was a chaotic symphony of creaking timber and shouting men. The Black Pearl glided into the docks, her soot-colored sails snapping in the gale … Read more
The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea The Dauntless was dying. She groaned, a deep, structural sound that vibrated through the soles of James Norrington’s boots. The mainmast had been shattered by the rogue storm, a jagged stump reaching toward a bruised sky, and the sea was currently claiming the lower gun deck with a … Read more
The transition from the dying Dauntless to the Black Pearl was a blur of salt-spray and humiliation. As each sailor and Marine crossed the gap, they were met not with open arms, but with the cold steel of cutlasses and the rough grip of pirate hands. True to Jack’s word, they were alive, but they … Read more
The Black Pearl was a cacophony of shadows and sharp steel. As the sailors of the Dauntless were herded into the hold, a group of Jack’s most seasoned pirates—Bo’sun, Pintel, and Ragetti among them—blocked the path to the stern. They weren’t looking at the prisoners; they were looking at Jack, their eyes glittering with the … Read more
Part IV: 128 The crew of the Black Pearl gathered in a grim semi-circle around the mainmast. There was none of the usual rowdy cheering; a strange, heavy tension hung in the air. Even for pirates, the sheer scale of the debt Jack was demanding felt monumental. Norrington was led to the mast. His hands … Read more
The crew of the Black Pearl gathered in a grim semi-circle around the mainmast. The usual rowdy jeering was absent, replaced by a heavy, expectant silence. Norrington was led to the mast. His hands were bound with rough hemp rope and hoisted above his head, forcing him to stand on his tiptoes. Two pirates stepped … Read more
The crew of the Black Pearl gathered in a restless circle around the mainmast. The air was thick with the scent of salt and the dark anticipation of men who lived by the blade. Norrington was led to the mast. Two pirates forced his arms up, binding his wrists to the heavy timber. With a … Read more
The marble corridors of the Imperial Palace had always felt colder than the mud of the Eastern Marches, but today, they felt like the interior of a tomb. General Matthias Corvain walked with the measured stride of a man heading toward his own gallows. To his left and right, the Crimson Guard—Lucian’s newly appointed personal … Read more
The messenger arrived at dawn. Matthias stood in his command tent, reviewing supply reports from the recently concluded campaign. The Eastern Marches were secured, the rebel forces scattered, another victory added to his unbroken record. He was already planning the return to the capital, to report his success to Emperor Adrian. Then the messenger stumbled … Read more
Matthias had been avoiding Prince Lucian for three years. It wasn’t difficult. The palace was vast, and Lucian spent most of his time in the eastern wing with his tutors while Matthias trained with the guard or studied in the libraries. Their paths rarely crossed, and when they did, Matthias made sure to disappear as … Read more