Meggie listened to Bryn's words and knew there was truth to them.

"Thank you, Miss Brynn.....for understanding what I am feeling. As for this lady captain's men.....never again will they touch me! If this is what men do to women then I want no part of it! I used to dream of being rescued by a handsome man who would make me his wife, but now.....no. Not if this is the way it is. I have taken care of myself for years on this island and I need no man to order me about or touch me when I don't wish to be touched!"

Meggie's green eyes looked into Brynn's, her fiery nature coming to light.

"What do we do now? Do we stay here....do we rescue Raider.....what? I do not trust this lady captain or her men and I don't think Raider should either."

In the very next instant, Meggie switched faces and became a worried girl again.

"Will you and Atien help me learn to be with people again?"

She trusted Brynn and Atien, finding Atien somewhat nice to look at although she would never say so.

Lothaire listened carefully to the conversation between Raider and the woman Captain. Seemed they shared a past that ended badly, as most things did. Pity she gave the gem to the gorilla, gettin' it away from the giant Irishman would be task to be sure, but Reynard had a trick or two up his sleeve. First he'd have to find a way to mix in with the crew though, and upon hearing that Raider's men would be joining their Captain shortly began to work on a plan.

Babe grit his teeth as Raider spoke to Anne, the Irishman was now remembering how he hated the young captain, Babe hoped that Raider would make move that would not please Anne and she would at last give him the order....

"I'd give this gem away now to kill that scab..." Babe thought to himself.

But it was not his call, at least not now. Anne knew what she was doing.

Babe called the 8 or 10 crew members to his side and ordered them to look sharp and to round up Raider's crew (what was left of them) and to take them aboard.

Babe wondered if O'Hara had survived the battle, Babe always kinda liked the man. Do not misunderstand, Raider's first mate was a scoundrel with a heart of stone, all qualities that Babe admired.

Wasn't it just a few years ago the two Irishmen were drinking together, before the two Captains had their firery love affair? It seemed like another lifetime. Babe was curious as to how long Raider and his men had been at the sail, the She Wolf was nearly two years in the water, had the Bill Of Rights been at sea just as long?

"Find Raider's men boys, no need to be gentle boyos, the captain wants them aboard."

Babe and his men fanned out to gather up the remainder of Raider's men.

O'Hara had followed his captain's orders and stealthily stole into the shadows of the jungle foliage. He had learned to implicitly trust Raider's judgement and rarely if ever questioned his motives except when it came to Captain Anne Bonney. She was as sure a witch if ever there was one to sail the seas and if'n he ever got the chance he'd plunge his dagger into her back and release Raider from whatever spell she'd cast on him. He'd bide his time until that day and await word from his trusted friend and captain to learn what there next move would be. He wondered though, how Raider would get a message to him. Surely, Captain Bonney, would not be so foolish as to allow Billy Bones to accompany Raider, at least not unless the little spy was tethered tight.

As the lithe man slipped through the forest like a phantom something caught his ear. "The red-headed wench.", he thought and his mouth twisted into a fiendish smile. Maybe she'd give him just the excuse he was looking for and slowly he slid a pistol out from his belt. Slowly then he crept round a small ridge of rock, his keen eyes searching all around, especially the tree tops for any sign of the savage girl. It was then that he noticed the odd bow of tree to his left, unfortunately he was too late to recognize it as a trap.

The branch had been drawn tight and held in place by a vine. There was a snapping sound ahead of him, then a heavy branch lashed out catching the slim man in the back, knocking him forward and down a small slope. Despite his uncontrolled tumble, O'Hara held fast to his pistol and pointed it about menacingly when he landed at the bottom of the sandy depression. Spinning around and rising to his feet a hard boot struck his hand, disarming him and the experienced swordsman just managed to draw his dirk in time to parry a cutlass that would have slit his throat.

A swarthy skinned man with raging green eyes forced the first mate back into a tree and even as O'Hara threw a hard kick to his attacker's mid-section that quick man slipped to the side with an expert dodge. He then continued to press his sword against the dirk forcing O'Hara to grab at the man's sword arm with his free hand, locking them in a deadly wrestling match.

"I'll not be put down by any scurvy rat o' the She Wolf!" Spat O'Hara as the wiry man twisted and pushed against his brawny opponent's strong grip. The man was smaller in stature but definitely stronger, meaning that were he to survive this fight O'Hara would have to out smart his opponent.

O'Hara tried to conserve his energy unfortunately relaxing meant allowing his own blade to come uncomfortably close to his own throat and if he unexpectedly tired it was end game. The smaller man continued to hold him and the situation seemed dire but then he spoke, "I am not from de She Wolf. Who are you?" he demanded in a heavy French accent.

"First mate o' the Bill of Rights, mate." O'Hara growled his answer, taking advantage of the extra time to make his move, but then the man quickly jumped back releasing him.

The Frenchman, confidently held his sword high between them, but it was evident that he was suddenly more full of questions than fight. "You are not from de She Wolf? Are you with de Captain Raider?"

O'Hara straightened up and composed himself. He considered for a moment attempting to snap draw one of his pistols and being rid of this nuisance but then again, perhaps the Frenchman could be of some use to him. "Aye, Frenchie, if'n ya haven't a guessed the Bill o' Rights be Raider's boat. Ye can address me as Mr. O'Hara. Now, who ye be?"

Not knowing whether or not he could trust this pirate, Reynard stuck with his fake name, "Jean. Jean LeBlanc. I am sorry for attacking you, Monsieur O'Hara, but that Captain Bonney's men are searching the island for your crew."

"Well, LeBlanc, you're not a member of me crew. So what's yer story?" Asked O'Hara already suspecting the name was an alias.

As the two men continued on their way, Reynard explained how he was on the British occupied French ship destroyed by the She Wolf. That he was in the brig and managed to escape for she went down. A story that, O'Hara could only accept as the truth as he couldn't for the life of him think of any other way a Frenchman could have ended up on the island anyways. He certainly wasn't a part of Bonney's crew, he was certain of that but he didn't trust the man's motives. LeBlanc, like all men was after something and O'Hara was sure it was more than just finding a way off of this rock. The man was quick though and knew how to use a sword. His use of a trap also demonstrated ingenuity which was an asset that O'Hara could find use for.

"Ye stick with me, Frenchie. I may have use for a man o' yer talents, but cross me once and I'll gut you just as sure as your standing there. You got me?" Growled O'Hara.

Reynard nodded and sheathed his sword.

"Good." Said O'Hara and they pressed onward through the jungle in search of Atien, Bryn and the rest of the crew.

Reynard followed closely behind his new shipmate. At least now he'd have a chance to get off the island and even better he was close to whatever this, 'Dread William's cache' was. If Raider had been willing to part with a gem that could purchase and man ship, then it could only be a fraction of an even greater treasure.