An Unwavering Promise: Part II

Fifteen Years Later

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Hector Barbossa grazed the smooth pegs of the Black Pearl with the tips of his fingers, feeling the immense power of the Pearl beneath his feet as it commanded the sea. He abandoned the life of an honest sailor many years ago, relying on fortuitous circumstance and a good old bit of pirating for his profits.

Barbossa was always very well armed under his brown, double-breasted waistcoat and made sure to carry all of his valuable items on his person, especially his silver lion's head ring – a most symbolic item, for it showed his status as a leader among his peers. He was a mirror image of Isaac in his prime, yet treading along his own path.

His features had greatly aged over time; his face was now covered with countless freckles and scars. Each scar came with price and profit, mapping the journey of his life and harvesting a wiser mind due to lessons learned.

'You must keep it safe.'

It was not until now, on the Black Pearl, that Hector Barbossa found his safe haven in a very peculiar place.

"The mooring line! The mooring line, you idiot!" Pintel screeched at the top of his lungs from the Tortugain docks.

"You know I can't see!" Ragetti retorted, pointing at his empty eye socket.

"O' shut it! Ever since ye lost that infernal eye o' yours I've 'eard nothin' but complainin' from the likes of ya!'

"I'd like to see ya loose an eye!" he contested. "Then maybe you'd 'ave a bit more sympathy fo' me," he sniffed, folding his arms.

"Oh," he raised his brow. "A bit mo' sympathy? Is that what ya want?" Pintel inquired, beginning to roll up his sleeves, flashing Ragetti a devious smile as he gritted his teeth.

"On second thought," Ragetti stated, raising a finger to his angry counterpart, beginning to back away slowly.

"Come 'ere you good fo' nothin' bilge rat!"

"Masters Pintel and Ragetti!" A harsh voice interrupted.

Both men stopped in their tracks, Pintel's left arm lay still in the air with his hand gripped tightly around Ragetti's lean neck.

"At ease, gents," Barbossa sighed, shaking his head as he turned his attention toward Ragetti's empty eye socket.

"Master Ragetti, I have some matters to discuss with ye in my cabin," Barbossa stated, turning in the direction of his cabin, holding his hands behind his back as he headed toward the large, black French doors.

"He started it, Cap'n! I swear!" Ragetti protested as Barbossa disappeared through the threshold.

Pintel grimaced. "Shut yer trap!" he whispered through his teeth, stubbing Ragetti's toe.

"Ow!" Ragetti yelped, grabbing his foot with his hands as he hopped around on the other.

"Get in there! Cap'n's waiting fer ya!" Pintel exclaimed, pushing Ragetti through the threshold of Barbossa's cabin.

Ragetti staggered out of the cabin several moments later, feverishly rubbing the right side of his face.

"What did the Captain want?" Pintel inquired, noticing something strangely different about his scrawny nephew.

"Oi! Where'd you get that from?" He said, pointing at Ragetti's new wooden eye.

"Can't tell ya."

"Wha'?"

"Ya heard me! I can't tell ya," Ragetti retorted, rubbing away at his newly acquired eye, feeling rather good about himself.

"Since when did you become chums with the Captain?" Pintel inquired in a jealous fit.

"What's wrong with bein' chums with Barbossa? Fine man if ye ask me," he stated, straightening his collar, nose lifted high in the air.

"If my memory serves me righ' I believe we were chums first!"

"Aye, that's right. We'd be chummier if you'd stop tryin' to ring me neck!" Ragetti confirmed, nodding his head.

"Can ye at least see better with it?"

He closed his good eye. "Not really."

"Then what good is it then?"

"I guess the Captain figures that I gotta keep my image," he offered, folding his arms.

"Image? I'll show you image if ye don't haul in that godforsaken mooring line!"