Date: 19-th of July 1719, early afternoon
Place: Aboard HMS “Rose”, in the open sea

The morning had been uneventful. Gareth had been the supervising officer on duty during the forenoon watch. The captain had asked both him and the sailing master to let him know when they arrive at 25 degrees North, and this happened around noon. A cabin boy had been sent to inform the captain, who got into his cabin for a while.

About a bell later, the same cabin boy announced that the next bell should find him in the captain’s cabin. This was, no doubt, the summoning to a meeting… Could he be late? No way! So, he took care to be present in time. Now he was checking again his uniform, to be spotless and proper as any of His Majesty’s officers should always present himself in front of a superior. Once reassured that he was above reproach, he knocked at the captain’s cabin, wondering what the meeting could be about.

It was feeling strange for him to be the first lieutenant now, but since Mort’s sudden illness left him in Kingston, under dr. Kemble’s care, Gareth had to take over all his duties. And, after how much he had learnt lately, this wasn’t so difficult…

He wore his full dress uniform. Moments like this deserved formality. His black hair was in a perfect queue as always, his uniform inpeccable. Miles always kept up appearances.

He put the yet unopened orders on the table and prepared with wine for the officers.

"Come in!" he said when he heard the knocking. "Welcome, Mr. Sinclair. Take a seat, if you please."

He sort of missed Mort and hoped the young man would recover soon, but Sinclair had been a good first lieutenant, dutiful and honest. He knew how to run a ship. And he wasn't inquisitive. Mort would've guessed there was something up with the "merchant" on board. Mayhaps it was the gods who hindered him to keep Jamie safe.

He wondered what could be in the orders. He had a bad feeling. Diplomacy stuff. I'd bet my life on it.

Gareth took a seat as instructed, smiling briefly.

”Thank you, captain. Please, allow me to report that we might not wait for the sailing master. He will join us as soon as he can. For the moment being, he is busy with making it through the reefs we are crossing…

It was a dangerous area, and following the recent adventures the sailing master remained with no mate. Costa was helping him when available, just like he used to be around most officers in his free time, eager like a puppy to do something else, to learn something or to show his knowledge. Gareth had used his assistance in various minor tasks too during the time.

If somebody had told him what the Captain knew already, Gareth would have been beyond shocked – but the captain and the doctor had kept the secret and nobody had any idea that Costa was not exactly what he seemed to be.

Gareth set his blue gaze inquisitively on the captain, not noticing yet the envelope, but waiting to be told what had happened. The wine glasses got no attention from him either.

"I think we have to wait a bit, Mr. Sinclair. The orders are clear, I am to open these documents in the presence of all officers."

It was hard to be this undermanned, but they didn't get a new lieutenant yet and they could only hope Mort will soon rejoin them. He made one of the older midshipmen acting lieutenant but it was temporary, he wasn't invited to the council.

Gareth shrugged. What did all officers mean anyway? Midshipmen and warrant officers alike? Usually it was lieutenants and sailing master – and he was the only lieutenant aboard, while the sailing master… what was more important now, listening to the reading of the orders instead of being informed later, or taking care not to hit the ship on one of the hidden reefs? The sailing conditions in this area were quite awful, and the sailing master had his priorities right. The safety of the ship above anything else.

But well, Mr. Crawford was the captain, and he was the lieutenant, so he took a seat as invited, saying simply:

”As you wish, Sir.”

He realized with worry that they might be waiting a long time… in vain.

The message on the table stated clearly, even if no eyes had read it yet:

[dohtml]<center><div style="width: 450px; background-image: url(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/xscissors4handsx/textures/picparc.png); -moz-border-radius: 5px 5px 5px 5px; border-radius: 5px 5px 5px 5px;">
<div style="width: 440px; text-align: justify; color: 383838">
Captain Crawford, <p></div>
<div style="text-align:justify;width:440px;">
Upon the opening of this order, you will proceed to Nassau. On your way, you are hereby directed to stop at the place the pirates called Rhum Cay, located between Long Island and Cat Island, where you will meet a Spanish ship with a white flag and negotiate an exchange of prisoners.
<br><br>
You are fully mandated to conduct the discussions as you see fit in order to get from them Captain Edward Cavendish, Earl of Burlington, who isthe second son of the Duke of Devonshire, in exchange for Captain Fabian Alvarez de Silva, Duke of Olivares, held prisoner in Nassau. If they want other prisoners too within the same exchange, we have nothing against it as long as we obtain the same number of prisoners of similar ranks. In the good interest of our alliance, if they offer French prisoners too, you should agree as long as the terms are acceptable.
<br><br>
From there, proceed to Nassau and report to Governor Woodes Rogers in order to take the Spanish prisoner aboard and deliver him as you had agreed previously with the enemy captain.
<br><br>
Inform your officers as need to know only. Destroy this letter.
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<br><div style="width: 440px; text-align: right; color: 383838 ">
<i> Admiral Croft </i><br></div>
<center>made by hannahrem at caution 2.0</center>[/dohtml]

After a while, when the lieutenant and the sailing master went out of the captain’s cabin, the sailing master headed to his maps, to check directions, while Gareth went to the helmsman, to check how he was following the course.

Life suddenly was no more as boring. Rhum Cay? He had to check it on the map too, he had just an idea where it was.

An exchange of prisoners? This sounded intereting, A duke in exchange for an earl… not so bad this move. And he might have something to learn from these negotiations. Who knows, some day he might be in this position too.