Barbossa stared down at the two pirates standing in front of him, Pintel and Ragetti shifted nervously in front of their pirate captain. They didn't know why they had been called for and cringed at the thought of being in trouble once again. It was true that they weren't the best pirates on the ship but they just as loyal as Bo'sun; Barbossa's first mate.
"Ya might be wondering why I've called ya two here," Barbossa started as he sat down at his desk.
The two pirates looked at each other, before nodding in silence, not wanting to risk angering their captain.
"I've called ya two here because I have a very important mission that I require ya to do for me," Barbossa laced his fingers together and leant forward in his seat.
"Can I ask C'ptain, why pick us?" Pintel asked as he looked over at Ragetti, "We're not usually the ones you trust with your missions. That's more Bo'sun's area of expertise."
"Well Pintel, Ragetti," Barbossa started, "Out of my entire crew, ya two are the least likely to scare a child and what I need ya to do requires ya to not scare the general public."
Pintel frowned in confusion, "A child, C'ptain? Are we taking on babysitting jobs? 'Cause we ain't the best with children."
Ragetti nodded in agreement, "Yeah C'ptain, kids don't seem to like us much."
Barbossa rolled his eyes and sighed, "Yar not going to be looking after a child, ya idiots. I'm giving ya the task of watching one from afar and reporting back to me on what ya see."
Pintel bit his lip in thought, "Not to be rude or to question your ways C'ptain, but why can't ya see over this child."
Barbossa grimaced, "I don't like ya questioning my methods, but as I do deem this an important task, I'll let ya know. This child I want ya both to watch over, I believe she is mine."
Pintel and Ragetti's eyes widen at Barbossa's claim and they looked at each other in wonder, a pirate C'ptain's heir, here on the Isle. Now that was something special.
"The mother," Barbossa continued with deep sigh, "Has made it so that I cannot go near the child in any way, shape or form, a bit of old magic. It's her way of punishing me for a mistake from long ago. However, what I need ya two to do, is just watch the child, report to me and tell me how she is fairing."
"Where do we find the child?" Ragetti asked, wringing his hand nervously.
"A little birdie has told me that the child has been seen in the company of Gaston's twin brats." Barbossa replied, "Yar best bet would be to find them in the marketplace. I want regular updates on her welfare."
"And may we be so bold to ask; who is the mother?" Pintel asked, stepping away slightly to avoid a violent outburst.
"Queen Grimhilde," Barbossa smiled wistfully.
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COTW
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"Okay," Ragetti pulled Pintel along towards the docks, "C'ptain said that we have to find Gaston's twins. His child should be with them."
"Stop pulling me," Pintel yanked his arm from Ragetti's grip, "I heard him when he told us. I also heard him when he said we should try the marketplace, did ya forget that?"
"Oh," Ragetti scratched his cheek, "Yeah, I didn't hear that bit."
Pintel rolled his eyes at his nephew and started walking to the marketplace, "Then we go this way."
"Right-o, lead the way, uncle."
The two pirates made it to the busy marketplace in record time. Standing on the edges, they looked around in hopes of spotting any of the three children.
"That one!" Ragetti pointed to a young child with green hair and ripped clothing.
"Really?" Pintel scoffed, "That's the one ya pick?"
"Yeah," Ragetti nodded, "Right age!"
Pintel rolled his eyes, "Wrong gender."
"Really?" Ragetti frowned, "Bu-"
"I'm pretty sure that ain't the daughter of a Queen."
"Are you sure, uncle?" Ragetti tapped his chin in thought, "It could be."
"We're looking for a girlie, not a lad."
"But, he could be one of the twins," Ragetti pointed out.
"Gaston ain't got green hair, so why would any of his kids?"
"Oh," Ragetti sighed, "That's true."
"Just keep looking," The older pirate muttered, pushing past a large guard and his small charge.
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COTW
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Evie smiled at Humbert as he lead her through the marketplace, she squeezed his hand tightly as someone roughly pushed passed her, causing the small princess to stumble. Evie didn't let it bother her, as today was the first time she was going to be spending time outside the castle without her mamá or a guard.
Feeling his charge stumble, Humbert growled at the passing man, eyeing him up to see whether or not he was a threat. The guard huffed, as he noticed the passing man was a pirate, he pulled Evie closer to his side, best not let her get any ideas and run off.
It wasn't long before Humbert stopped in front of the shop he was looking for; Frollo's Creperie. Gaston's twins were sitting at a table, each with a crepe in front of them.
"Okay Little One," Humbert crouched down to Evie's height and placed his hands on her shoulders, "I'm leaving you with the twins. They'll bring you back to the castle before nightfall, use your time wisely."
"Okay Humbert," Evie smiled, "Thank you for bring me here today."
Humbert nodded before stalking away through the crowds, leaving the girl in the care of Gaston's boys.
Evie turned and faced Gaston Jr and Gaston The Third, she smiled at the boys and sat down at their table, "Hello boys"
"Hello Evie," They replied together.
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COTW
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"There!" Ragetti shouted smacking his uncle on the arm repeatedly and pointing towards three sitting children, "That's them, the twins right?"
'For once the fool was right,' Pintel thought to himself.
Pintel looked to where his nephew was pointing, Gaston's lads were easy to recognise; both having dark hair and strong jaws – just like their father. The girlie was really what Pintel wanted to get a good look at, the C'ptain's heir.
She sat primly at the table, her chin resting on laced fingers as she listen to one of the twins talk. She giggled at the right moments and then asked a question of her own, however, Pintel was to far away to hear what was being said. Her dark blue hair done up in a fancy braid and she wore a rather pretty dress.
"Seems yar right, nephew."
"So now what?"
Pintel rolled his eyes, "Now we wait and watch. Just like C'ptain said."
"How long do we watch for?" Ragetti asked.
Pintel shrugged, "I guess until the end of the day or we lose the girlie. Then we can report back to C'ptain."
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COTW
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The day passed slowly as the two pirates trailed after the three kids from a safe distance. The twins took little girl all round the marketplace, to all the shops and stalls, showing her all the places they liked to go to. The pirates took note of things that seemed to interest the girlie, ready to tell their Captain at the end of the day.
It wasn't until the middle of the day that they learnt the little girl's name, one of the twins calling over to her to show her a stall full of sparkling jewellery. Evie, they called her, it suited her.
It was getting dark when the twins took Evie back to Grimhilde's castle. Pintel and Ragetti watched from the shadows as a huge man meet the twins at the castle gates and spoke to the boys for a moment before taking ahold of the little girl's hand and leading her back into the castle. The twins left once the gates were closed and headed home.
"Back to the C'ptain?" Ragetti asked.
"Back to the C'ptain." Pintel agreed.
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COTW
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Barbossa sat carving an apple into pieces and feeding them to Jack the Monkey when Pintel and Ragetti stumbled into the room. He put the apple down and raised an eyebrow at the pirates, as they almost ended up on the floor in their haste.
"I take it ya found the child?" Barbossa questioned, "As ya both have been away all day."
Pintel shoved Ragetti to the side, stood up tall and straightened up his vest, "That's correct, C'ptain. She was with Gaston's twins, just like ya said."
"And?"
"Well," Ragetti continued, "We watched them all day, the twins took her around the marketplace. They had some food, looked at some of the shops. Ya know, kid things. She seemed to enjoy herself."
"Did ya learn anything of importance?"
"Oh, oh, yeah! The twins, they called her Evie." Pintel spilled excitedly to his captain.
"Evie," Barbossa let the name roll off his tongue, smiling at the way it sounded, "That's perfect. Was there anything else ya discovered?"
"It looks like she's alone with the twins, no guards whatsoever."
Barbossa stroked his beard in thought, his mind buzzing with ideas, Jack the Monkey grabbed the forgotten apple and gnawed on a side. The pirate captain's eye lit up as he decided on his plan of action.
"Ya boys have done well today," Barbossa started, Ragetti nudge Pintel in the ribs and smiled happily, "I am very pleased."
"Thank you C'ptain," The pirates said together.
"Now that ya have shown me that ya can follow me orders," Barbossa began, reaching over his desk he grabbed an old ledger and handed it to Pintel, "I want ya continue what yar doing and take note of things of interest in this book. Ya will then report to me at the end of each week. Got it?"
Pintel took the ledger from his captain and held it close. Both pirates nodded at what their captain was saying, knowing he wasn't really asking if they wanted to do the job, he was telling them.
"Got it, C'ptain!" They agreed.
"Good," Barbossa smirked, "Figure out between the two of ya how yar going to follow my Evie and every Sunday I expect a report here in this office."
Pintel and Ragetti nodded in agreement.
"And I don't have to tell ya, not to tell not to mention this to anyone?" Barbossa's voice dropped in a threatening manner.
"Not a word will pass our lips, C'ptain! Ya can count on us."
"I do hope so boys, don't disappoint me. Ya won't like what I'll do to ya if disappoint me."
To be continued . . .