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I loved my father, so I have and continue to respect his wishes but I do
hope for a reconciliation with my family some day. During my many
following adventures in privateering, I met my good friend, Her Ladyship
Caitlin Spencer-Longfellow of Newmarket. We had unknowingly both
been chasing the same Algerian Corsair, the notorious Kahyr ad-Din al Sallam.
Caitlin had business with al Sallam on behalf of the English Crown, whereas
I was dispatched by the Vatican to 'dispatch' the corsair myself!
Al Sallam had been terrorizing Italian merchants and the Pope Eugene IV
(1431-47) commissioned me to destroy his ship and capture him alive if
possible. My reward for that would be a special dispensation, which I needed
because my father tried to have me excommunicated when I was banished.
Although he failed, my standing with the church had suffered (which is
why I began doing favors for the Pope in the first place). Both Caitlin
and I, again unbeknownst to each other, heard the Corsair was in Tripoli,
so we went there to seek revenge. Arriving in port, our ships coincidentally
were docked next to each other and unfortunately our crews got too rowdy
in the same local tavern and tore the place up. Caitlin and I first
came face to face in the local jail bailing our respective crews out of
trouble and initially bonded over our joint (veiled) amusement regarding
our respective crew's predicaments. Since al Sallam had the misfortune
of being incarcerated along side his crew, we took the liberty of absconding
with the items we were after, and everything else aboard his ship!
There was a minor skirmish on the deck of the corsair ship as our people
were having a heated argument over who had rightful claim to the booty
but then it was decided, as all involved were civilized folk, that each
party would take the items they were hunting for and then split the rest
and leave the ship sunk at the pier. Most of Captain Cate's crew
felt pretty strongly about keeping the ship for themselves, but I vehemently
was opposed to this and wanted to sink it, because, although I didn't have
the corsair in my custody, all I had to do was sink the ship to get my
dispensation. Once Caitlin heard that, she backed me 100% as a matter
of honor, and we've been fast friends ever since! When she heard
my story regarding my father, she welcomed me into her home to sojourn
for a while. I so enjoyed her company and that of her household,
that I soon desired to take up residence there and formed a 'trading' alliance
with Lady Caitlin.
And
the adventure continues...
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