Chapter Text
30 Years Ago…
Hornigold cast a critical eye over the boy sitting across from him. He'd been given a fresh set of clothes to change into, and an opportunity to put a little food in his belly, but he still looked a bit like a half-drowned rat. Though in fairness to the boy, the way he was swimming in his borrowed clothes was almost certainly lending to that impression.
"What's your name, lad?" Hornigold asked him.
"Edward Teach, sir." Good, the boy had a bit of respect in him; Hornigold didn't have any time or patience for any smart mouths aboard his ship.
"And how came you to be drifting on a bit of wood out in the middle of the Dregmorr, Edward Teach?"
"Mum and I were on a ship, trying to go back to her home country, far away from the sea beasts. The beasts got us first." The boy's eyes dipped to the floor when he said it, and Hornigold could tell he was holding back tears.
"Sorry to hear that, lad" Hornigold said. "And what of your father?"
"He served aboard the Monarch; the Kraken killed him."
"Don't lie to me, boy," Hornigold growled. “I don’t hold with liars on my ship.”
"I didn't lie," the boy snapped back. "The Kraken killed him."
Hornigold slammed his palms against his desk and stood to loom over the boy. "I am a Hunter; I am connected by the Code to all the Hunters that come before me and all that come after. You think I don't know the name of the three men who survived the sinking of the Monarch, Edward Teach? Now, I'll give you one more chance to tell me the truth; what happened to your father?"
The boy lifted his chin defiantly and glared back at Hornigold. "The Kraken killed him."
The two of them stared each other down a moment longer, then Hornigold sat back with a quiet chuckle. He liked this kid; he was all vinegar. "Alright then, lad. I'll strike you a bargain: I'll ask no more questions about your father and you'll tell me no more lies. Do we have a deal?"
Edward nodded, a weight and seriousness to his action that belied his young age. "Deal, sir."
"Good. Now as I see it you have two options before you, lad. The first is we’re due to take the ship back into port soon, and there's a Hunter orphanage up in Guelston we could drop you off at. Your father having been on the Monarch means you're owed a place if you want it, and I know the Headmistress there; she'll take good care of you."
"And the second?" Edward asked, looking not one bit interested in the orphanage.
"I've been meaning to get myself a new cabin boy," he said. "It'll be hard work and dangerous, but you know that. There's also no nobler profession out there, and training under Captain Benjamin Hornigold on the Inevitable will make you the best of the best in time. If you don't die a great Hunter's death before then. What do you say to that, Edward Teach?"
Edward looked up at him, and there was a fire in his eyes, in his very soul. "Yes, captain."