Plotted verse with @intolerablexsacrifice // @harriedwritings // @tidefated

When Eleanor Guthrie came to acquire Abigail Ashe without the consent of Charles Vane, things took a turn at the gate. Confronted by Vane’s accusations against Miss Guthrie, the young Miss Ashe took the situation into her own hands and struck the blonde from behind with the base of the torch in her hand. Dropping the impromptu weapon, she unlocked the gate and surrendered herself to the pirate who had ensured her safety and rescued her from Low’s crew rather than follow the woman who would steal her for captain Flint with a letter brought to her by a woman who may or may not truly be in Nassau.

Confessing her role in her escape attempt, Abigail offered Vane the letter she had been enticed by and set the tale into a new series of motions. Gate closed, leaving Eleanor to find her own way back, Vane declared his business and association with her officially at an end, in a tone that promised retributions. After perusing the letter, he approached the Barlow woman and arranged with her to see Abigail back to her father under the oath that both she and Flint would also remain in Charlestown. If they were so confident in their plan, he saw no reason why they shouldn’t compensate him for ferrying them – it would, after all, be the least they could do with all he stood to lose in assisting them when the actual payout had potential to be so much larger.

After some arguing, Flint eventually consented to demands under the condition that two of his men would serve as additional escort. The Ranger left Nassau harbor with Flint’s warship under the temporary command of Silver, who ( unbeknown to Flint ) had no reason to betray that trust when it would once again place the gold in the hands of too many people. With Joshua as temporary quartermaster, Flint believed the self-serving yet ever-popular Silver would not act without him, and that Joshua would make certain he did not, in the event it occurred to him to try. Meanwhile, Billy and Joji accompanied himself and Miranda in escorting Abigail to her father – with Vane standing watch over all proceedings.

Upon arrival, Flint and Miranda went ashore with Abigail – and matters took yet another turn when the young woman took it upon herself to eavesdrop upon her father’s meetings with the two, determined to ensure her new friends would be safe. Though she did not understand the entirety of what she heard, when Miranda approached her late one evening and insisted that she leave alongside Flint and herself, Abigail inferred enough to trust the woman implicitly. It helped, admittedly, that Miranda did not insist that she believe – only that she leave Charlestown, one way or another.

The three encountered Vane and his rescue party, much to their surprise – it appeared that despite the state of negotiations, Peter Ashe had delivered a threat to the crew of the Ranger that forced Vane to acknowledge the truth of Flint’s war. Together, the group returned to the ship and, upon a swift meeting, Vane agreed to assist in an act of vicious vindication, which lead to the burning of Charlestown. The Ranger left the port, and the newly forged alliance began plotting the next course.