A brisk wind whistled through the crowd, causing scarves to be tightened and jackets pulled snug around the awaiting spectators. It was not as often as one would think, that a hanging was so very public. They were events of great entertainment for the common folk, but they were usually held in the palace courtyard, were the nobility and certain citizens who lived in the upper town could manage to attend. This time was different of course. The unlucky bastard about to loose their life was none other then a pirate. Which meant, by the decree of Queen Illia, they would be hanged in the town square of the county’s capital, Rostrone. Surrounded by streets packed full of people, faces gaunt and numb from the cold.


It was dead silent, allowing the crackle of torches to be heard, it was as if time had slowed by the thumping of drums. Even the snow appeared as though to loiter on its decent to the ground. Puffs of frosted breath coasting around the square. The noose was ready, and the on lookers braced themselves as the pirate was pulled up the stairs, and shoved toward the middle of the platform. A sigh and series of unfortunate whispers echoed briefly as the bag was pulled off her head. She was gnarled, but stunning none the less, even with once sun kissed skin pale. She shifted in her leather boots, smirking at the on lookers. The men whose eyes roamed her body, and the women who looked away abashedly. Her shirt was far too thin and low cut for the severe weather of Wintanberg, especially during Frosttide.


The banging of a cane silenced the crowds again, as a middle aged man in a smooth velvet dress coat cleared his throat, proceeding to read The Accused her charges. “This woman, Beatrix Baudelaire, is accused of murder, theft, and crimes against her majesty. But above all, piracy!” The man announced, his first clenching the handle of his cane when Beatrix simply chuckled. “Piracy is a most brutal and inhuman crime! Those who offend the laws of our Queen, as well as the laws of nature, will find their reckoning!”


A figure slipped through the crowd, their caller turned up and hood pulled low over their face. He wasn’t so accustomed to this chilling weather, and would be more then happy to return to the tropics once business was handled here. As the sentencing continued to drag on, the hooded figure turned down into an alley and entered a small inn. Heading passed those faces peering through windows, trying to get a glimpse while keeping warm. He mounted the staircase, and three levels up he found the room he had claimed the night before. The hooded man strode slowly toward the balcony, opening the frosted windows, before crouching between the railings. He began to fumble with the inside of his long thick coat.


“As it is by law, Beatrix Baudelaire is here by, sentenced to death!” The velvet coat man announced, as the executioner proceeded to position the noose around her slender neck. There was a pause as a Paladin began to recite a prayer from the sidelines.


In that moment, before the executioner had the chance to adjust his grip around the lever, a shot burst through the crisp air. Sparks descended from the inn’s balcony, as the hooded figure stood back up, reloading his rifle. The shot had disposed of the executioner, but now with the ramped crowd and the snooty velvet coat, there was still more work to be done.


“Unhand our Quartermaster or non o’ ya’r will make it home in one piece!” Exclaimed a long bearded man from the crowd, flinging off his coat, and pulling out his blunderbuss. Four others followed soon after, two making their way to set fire to a nearby stack of barrels. The bigger a distraction, the easier it would be to get Beatrix out safely.


“This is madness! You’ll all be hanged!” Cried out Velvet Coat, trying to reach the lever. However a well aimed shot penetrated his shoulder before he could get close to it, causing him to collapse on the platform.


A handsome man of Sharki decent hurried away from the burning barrels, pulling a dagger from his belt. He met Beatrix’s green eyes from the platform, and couldn’t help but smile at her knowing look. After all, he’d told her not to go through with her plan, but both of them knew she wasn’t gonna listen. So there had been an exchange of kisses but no goodbyes. They never said goodbye.


He mounted the platform, ready to cut her loose. “What? No I told ya so?” She chuckled, watching him closely.


“Nay, because ya already owe me two gold coins jaanam...” Avniel Shahar smirked, and leaned in for a kiss. “Now let’s get ya out of this so we can feel the sea beneath our feet again!” He pulled back from her lips, to reach up and begin cutting at the rope. But Velvet Coat began to stir on the ground, and before Avniel could make enough progress, his cane slashed against the lever and the floor fell beneath Beatrix’s feet.


Avniel gasped, trying to grab at her, keep her up. But the man was beginning to stand, and Captain Alcazar had lost his vantage point from the inn balcony, fighting off officers who had spotted him. “L-l-listen to me Av...LISTEN!..it’s in-n his c-coat, he to-ok it from m-me cell...” She forced out, despite the rope strangling her windpipe.


“Meri jaan...” He breathed out, cupping her face, still trying to keep Beatrix up. He looked behind her, down the streets toward the barracks, and saw the Queen’s army begin to mobilize. They were out of time.


“Go!” She insisted, and with one final kiss she lifted her legs to shove him back. This time she fell with more weight, and without Avniel to catch her. The snap was quick, and Avniel felt a displacement of his soul and body. The chaos around him blurred, trapped in that suspended state till he heard the whistle of Velvet Coat’s cane through the air.


He whirled his arm to grab it, and tore it out of the man’s hands. Avniel didn’t hesitate any longer, swiping the cane at his knees, so he fell hard on the platform. On top of the man now, Avniel pressed his blade against his throat, drawing the smallest ounce of blood. “Where is it? Ya honourless bilge rat!”


“What? I-I don’t have anything!” He insisted, but Avniel just pressed harder. “Aargh! F-fine! Left-t inner pocket...” He breathed, and Avniel shifted so his elbow held down the man’s chest, while his hands searched his coat. Then his finger tips felt the cold metal, and retrieved the ancient coin. It fell into the palm of his hand, Avniel’s thumb cascading over the weathered edges, the cracks, and the skull and cross bones etched into the centre.


Velvet Coat tried to struggle out of his grasp, calling at the approaching soldiers. Avniel quickly stored the coin in his own pocket, and drove his dagger through the man’s trachea. Blood spewed as his hand pulled back, and he turned, leaping from the platform. He’d let him choke on his own blood, a slow and gruesome death. The Queen’s army and her alliances would let pirates, free men of the sea, be strangled for public entertainment. This ponce didn’t deserve a quick death.


“We haven’t much time! More of the Queen’s lapdogs will be here. Best we clear out now!” Exclaimed Captain Alcazar, pulling himself over the railing, landing firmly on his feet bellow. He squeezed Avniel’s shoulder, looking back at Beatrix, still swaying from the rope. “I’m sorry Avniel, but we can’t risk stayin’ here much longer. Ya have it don’t ya?” The Boatswain looked up at his Captain and nodded. An expression of relief covered his face, but it was short lived. A sudden explosion shook the square. One of the barrels the crewman set ablaze was packed full of gun powder. That would draw even more attention to the square.


“Since news broke of the Kings’s illness, Wintanberg ‘as been on the hunt more then ever. They ’re lookin’ for any weaknesses we ‘ave.” The bearded pirate exclaimed as the crew hastened down the snowy streets, and dipped into a descending hill.


“Have the Ambassadors convened?” Avniel questioned, ducking at the echo of gun shots, this time from the Queen’s army.


“Aye! Means we need to get to work! The next King will ‘ave the most power!” His Captain answered, pulling the hood down to reveal a shaved head. They needed to disappear into the public, and find somewhere to lay low till they could leave the capital.


“Is that why we came here?” Avniel questioned, before skidding around a fallen townsman.


“O’ course! The Ninth Piece of Eight ‘as been in the Queen’s possession for decades!” The bearded pirate chimed in, bounding down an empty alley followed closely by Avniel and their Captain. The chaos continued further down the streets, followed by the army. Here they could rest for a moment.


“I mean for us to gain favour among the Ambassadors, by retrieving it.” Alcazar breathed heavily, leaning against a stone wall. He nodded at the coin Avniel pulled from his pocket.


“Hail-Hail the Pirate King, he who holds the Ninth Piece of Eight...” Avniel whispered the lyrics, his mind filling with wistful memories of smoke, rum, sour plum, and skin against skin. Beatrix loved sour plums.


“...Hail-Hail the Pirate King, he who rules the Winds and Tides.” Alcazar finished the verse, and a heavy silence fell over them.


Everything was about to change.
 

Hey! Finally posting the third teaser! This one I did the most editing and revisions on, so unsurprisingly it’s also the longest so far. It is for everyone to get a better idea of not only other pirate crews and their schemes, the plans of different kingdoms, but also a bit more pirate mythology overall. Also for those wondering, jaanam means beloved, and Meri jaan means my love/soul/life when in reference to a female. I hope you enjoy!