Adventures of Len the Bold Ch8

Chapter 8 – Captain Smith’s Fleet



When she awoke, she felt like someone was watching her. She sat up.

“Well well well, if it isn’t the Captain” A strong male voice said from below. Len looked down.

“Well, if it isn’t Mr. Nathaniel Smith.” Len said, coming down from the Crow’s Nest.

“You mean ‘Captain’ Smith.” Nathaniel said.

“Oh, so the old Captain finally promoted you?” Len said teasingly.

“Len, I didn’t come here to bicker with you. I came for Will.” Nathaniel said, moving closer to her.

“Mr. Graves is preoccupied at the moment.” Len said, turning around. She could feel Captain Smith’s breath on her neck.

“Len…” He whispered in her ear. She shuddered; his voice was like a bullet piercing the skin.

“What are you really here for Smith?” Len said, walking away from him. She paced around him slowly.

“Did you know that you are the most…desirable pirate throughout the seven seas?” Smith said to Len.

“Aye, I was sort of aware of that. How fascinating.”

“You could probably have anyone you want.”

“I’m not interested.” Len said, looking towards Will’s private room.

“Ah, I take it that you already have a love interest then?” Nathaniel called out obnoxiously.

“Aye, I do.” Len said. Neither of them saw, but Will was watching from his door.

“Who is it?” Nathaniel asked roughly, with a hint of envy and curiosity to his voice.

“That’s not your concern” Len fought back.

“Well, it certainly is…” Smith’s voice faded.

“Considering what?” Len challenged him.

“Considering that you could just combine our two crews. Think about it. We’d be one big fleet. We’d conquer the whole world.” Smith said enthusiastically.

“I would never do that” Len sneered at Smith.

“Why not? The two best Captains of the world, together for once? No one should be able to resist an offer like that. Think of the treasure, of the reputation!” Smith said grabbing Len’s arm. She held a stern look on her face.

“Let go of her!” Will said running from his room. He couldn’t take any more of their fighting.

“Hahaha” Smith laughed evilly. “I should have known!” Smith said. “ When you got all defensive…hahahaha” He said, still going on about Len being in love with Will. Will ran up to them, pulling his rusty sword from a plain leather sheath. When Len saw that Will wasn’t using his new steel sword that she got him awhile back, her heart sunk. Smith still held his grip tight on Len. Will raised his sword to his neck.

“I said…Let…go….of…her!!” Will said. Straight away Smith grabbed his huge claymore from his back, pushing Will away from him, finally letting go of Len’s arm. She stepped back, bumping into Lin and Mara.

“Use your pistol!” Lin whispered to Len. Len remembered that she kept her belt on when she went to sleep the previous night. She slowly put her hand on the pistol. She walked up to Smith and put her gun to Smith’s head.

“Drop your sword or I will shoot” She said. Smith immediately dropped the claymore on the ground and threw his hands in the air.

“I surrender” He said, keeping them in the air. Len stood still, keeping the pistol aimed at his head.

“Len, just let him go. This is between me and him” Will said.

“Aye you wench! Put that damned pistol down!” Smith said, exasperated. Len, still keeping the pistol at his head, pulled out her sword, giving Smith a gash on his arm. He cringed, but stood straight, realizing his mistake for calling Len a wench. “I’m sorry for my mistake Captain Len. Just let me go…please!” Smith said, practically begging.

“Don’t believe him Len” Will said.

“Len, you should believe me! If you put your pistol down, I’ll walk off the boat and leave you and your crew alone” Smith bargained. Len didn’t know what to do. Should she listen to Will? Or to Smith?

“Here’s what we’ll do.” Len said calmly. “I’ll let you leave, But I will walk you onto the decks of Tortuga, so that my ship and crew are away from you. We are both happy then.” Len said. He nodded and started to walk down the gang plank. All of a sudden the whole dock went silent to watch what was happening between the seas deadliest captains. Once they got to the bottom of the plank, Len pushed Smith onto the docks.

“Go. Never come on my ship again. If you do…” Len put the pistol in the air and shot it. “ That bullet will be in your head.” She finished walking up the gang plank. The dock behind her arose with whoops and cheers from the multitude of people that had gathered to watch the fight. When Len arrived back aboard the Gwyneth Cerridwen, the crew came out of hiding.

“Len that was amazing!” Lin said to Len, running away from the rest of the crew.

“Thanks!” Len said, a little shaken up. She turned to Will. “Meet me in my office.” She went to her quarters and sat down. Will came in a few minutes later.

“Aye Captain. What is it you need?” Will asked with a serious tone to his voice.

“I am sorry for my behavior last night. I was over intoxicated.” Len said, feeling ashamed about her actions the previous night.
“It’s fine Len. I’m the one who - ” Will couldn’t finish his sentence. Lin barged into the room, out of breath.

“Len, Will, come quick! There’s something wrong with Mara!!” They ran out of the room, right as they heard a scream.