So many long years had passed; the Captains had come and gone sons replacing fathers and grandsons after them. Here she stood again through so many seasons and through so many storms, on the jutting cliff with the waves pounding the base far below her.
They stood before her as other men and women had many years before, the Captains and the heads of all the families. But this time they were one people, this time they had come together to choose a new king, her successor, he would take over as lord Captain of the fleet and be king upon her death. The Seasworn would suffer no child leaders, no weaklings had a right to rule them, and they bowed only to strength and prowess.
Thus this council had been called, they would choose one from among them who would be worthy to replace Queen Anne Teach. This was the method decided by the great Council:
Any mans name may be put forth, however no man may submit his own name.
After all candidates have been put forth each shall speak to the Captains and Queen above the roar of the sea and there with the salt spray upon their lips they shall cry for their new king. The people will judge who shall rule over the Seasworn.
They were all here, the sun was rising, and this was a day blessed by the sea.
The first names were called out, notable Captains and lordly lords. Each man whose name was called walked forward to kneel before the Queen the name in each of their minds came from the lips on none, but they began to look about as if to see who would say the name. Finally they each looked to the Queen, who looked at her people and finally spoke the name.
Edward Anne said in her powerful voice.
And he strode forward, tall and straight, muscled like a maidens dream. Strapped to his back was a large black battle axe, not unlike the one worn on the back of the Queen. He wore black boots of finely tooled leather, the rest of this clothing was black as well, lacquered black ring mail over black leather breeches and jerkin. A red skull and crossbones were splashed across his chest, a black patch over one eye, the sigil of his house. He knelt before his queen along with the others. Five men knelt before the Queen high above the roaring sea.
One by one the candidates were allowed to speak to the Captains and the Queen first was Blood Eyes, Captain Jack Everly. The Captain of the Seas Hammer, known throughout the seas as Blood Eyes. His eyes burned red, and his skin was bleached white from birth, in most cultures an albino like him would have been feared, but as a Pirate Captain he struck fear in the hearts of his foes and was highly regarded for his skill at arms. He spoke of leading the Seasworn to glory and feeding the sharks far across the waves.
Next came the Twins, brothers, each had named the other and they spoke together. The twin brothers were Captains of identical ships; they were famed for trapping their prey between them with sharpened spikes imbedded in the rams of their ships. They had lofty plans of expansion, one spoke of expanding their inland holdings while the other talked of the plunder they would find from the people they would find in their new territory.
After the Twins came the Captain of the Victory, Benjamin Barbosa, Lord Captain of Landlubbers Retreat. He was a strong man, his huge black beard covered most of his face but his voice boomed and he was a powerful man. He began to speak, telling them how he would create a stable world, build roads and bring some infrastructure in the kingdom. He had become rich on farming ad trade, but he was still a formidable Captain with much support at the Council.
They had all spoken but him, the silence roared with the sound of the waves. The sea spoke to her its song had guided her for so long the last candidate looked at her, and she nodded at him. It seemed that the Captains and the Family heads held their breath as he began to speak.
For many years our Queen has spent her life to protect and strengthen our people. She did not seek power, she accepted the mantle that was thrust upon her. She told me once when I was only a lad that ruling was not a right, but a responsibility. There are many storms before us and the seas are wide and wild, but if you should declare that I must be king then I shall do my best. He smiled at the Queen and she gave her famous smile, which could bring joy or strike dread. I grew up on the knee of our great queen, it was from her hand that I first accepted a blade, and she taught me to fight as well as any man. I owe her my life many times over, as many of you owe me your own lives. I sail the great salt seas with a skill unmatched by any among the Seasworn. The fact that this last statement had not provoked an outrage spoke volumes. His voice rose and he cried out to the Council, Brothers, declare me your future King and I shall bring you all glory and plunder, blood and gold, and we shall sail the waves to where no man has gone before!
The rest was roaring, the candidates each had some support, but the vast majority supported Edward. Even old Blood Eyes and Benjamin Barbosa shouted out his name when the time came, forgoing their own claims.
When the choice of the Council was clear, a chant began, but Edward silenced them with his hands raised. He turned to the Queen and knelt before her; the Queen laid her hand upon his head and poured water from the sea over him. He rose and began to speak once again his voice rolling over them as the sound of the waves.
My friends and brothers, you shall not regret your choice here today. He reached out and took the Queens hand Grandmother he said I will not disappoint you
You could never disappoint me my daughters son; you will make a great and powerful king.
The chant began again unquenchable this time; the Seasworn roared their approval for their new king.
Edward Teach, Edward Teach, Edward Teach.