Chapter 126 - The Menagerie

Captain Black walked to where Delaney and Vincent were standing and he looked quite pleased. Delaney looked to see what he could possibly have for her but saw no animal, only a little black velvet pouch with a red ribbon to carry it with.

"Here you are my Dear," he said, holding out the purse to her.

Delaney frowned in confusion but took it. It was light and when she put one hand underneath it she felt it was warm. Her excitement growing, she gently opened the little purse and looked down inside.

A pair of large black eyes like marbles stared up at her and a moment later another pair joined the first. There were two little light grey heads with pointy pink noses and a black stripe ran from between their mouse-like ears down to stop at a point right between their eyes.

"They're babies but they'll get used to you rather easily," Captain Black smiled and gently slid a finger down into the pouch and waited for the little creatures to come near before petting their heads.

After a moment, he stuck his whole hand in and pulled out one.

"This is what is known as a sugar glider," he announced, "These are a pair of twin boys some of my younger children have been enjoying recently so they're quite tame."

The thing the Captain held out to Delaney then was dark grey with a cream-colored belly and little pink feet. It had a long thick tail and when she reached out and touched his thick fur, it was the softest thing she had ever felt.

"They're adorable," she whispered afraid to startle the little thing.

Without warning, the Captain reached over and put the first one in her hand. His little pink feet clung to her fingers. His brother had his head sticking out of the bag observing all this. Captain Black pulled him out next and held him out to Vincent who hesitantly took the small animal.

"There you are," Captain Black chuckled, "These will be the perfect little things for you to love and care for until the two of you have a beautiful baby of your own."

Delaney smiled and blushed. Vincent stiffened but didn't take his eyes away from the animal in his hand.

"Keep them in this pouch and keep them with you as much as you can. They will learn your voices and grow to love you. They also have some very interesting tricks I will leave for you to discover."

With those words, the Captain strolled off to visit with the others, leaving Delaney and Vincent alone with their two tiny new pets. Delaney gasped as hers went skittering up her arm and snuggled itself into the side of the bodice of her dress where it met her arm.

"They're such darlings," Delaney smiled as she pat the head of hers, "We will have to come up with names for them."

"So we are keeping them are we?" Vincent asked with a smirk.

Delaney smiled sheepishly, "Well it would be rude to turn down the gift."

Vincent chuckled and lightly kissed her on the forehead before tucking his little passenger back into the pouch. Delaney did the same with hers and watched as the little boys curled up around each other again. She put the purse on her wrist and looped her arm through her husband's.

"What other surprises do you think the Pirate King has in store for us?" Delaney asked quietly as they walked over to join the others.

"I don't think I could guess the answer to that even if I tried," Vincent chuckled.

-

The Pirate King showed his guests outside where they found dozens of men, women, and children, all speaking a different language and wearing bright colors. In the middle of the courtyard was a large bonfire where the pirates had two hogs roasting on a spit. On one end an old man sat slowly turning a handle that turned the pork over and over, ensuring it was cooked evenly.

"I've never seen food cooked like that," Delaney whispered to Vincent as she looked on in awe.

"During the war, the only meat we were able to eat was cooked that way," he informed her and smiled when she looked surprised.

Captain Black raised his hands in the air and clapped loudly several times until he got the attention of the crowd. They grew quiet and turned to see what he had to say. Scanning the tanned faces, Delaney caught sight of Ian for the first time since they had arrived. He was standing beside a very beautiful older woman wearing a dress of many vivid colors.

The Pirate King gave a short speech in his language and when he finished his people clapped and cheered a phrase Delaney and the others couldn't understand. Captain Black turned to them and announced they were saying welcome. He then insisted they follow him so he could show them more of his collected animals.

They walked towards the enormous barn and inside it was a fantastic menagerie of animals Delaney, Vincent, and their friends had never seen. They went to an immense barred stall and inside were three enormous beasts the Captain said were called elephants. They reached through the bars with their long trunks and sniffed at the visitors.

"One day when you have more time and there isn't a party, I will invite you and Lord Adair here and let you ride one of them," he said with a mischievous grin.

Delaney gasped and couldn't imagine sitting so high atop one of those beasts and riding it. Vincent looked intrigued though and he grinned down at her.

They strolled together down the line and the captain announced the names of the animals they passed. There were giraffes, camels, zebra, and antelope, all of which Delaney liked. Along the back of the wall though he showed them a bright-eyed tiger and a male and female lion sitting together. The Captain warned them not to get too close to those cages.

Outside he walked them to a very small pond and pointed out saying the animal was right there. Delaney looked and looked at the pond and could see no animal. Right before she was about to give up, something she had assumed to be a log, moved upward out of the water before coming swimming towards them.

One of the other pirates came up beside them and handed the captain a dead chicken. They all watched him then toss the bird up and right above the head of the beast. All of his guests gasped and jumped back when the thing launched itself up out of the water with an enormous mouth full of teeth wide open for the world to see. It snatched its meal out of midair with a loud snap before dropping back down into the water.

"There is no swimming in the ponds allowed at my home," Captain Black teased and then informed them the animal was an alligator.

Delaney held tight to her husband's arm as they made their way along the tour. Some of the animals were cute and then some were deadly. She could tell the Captain loved them all though by the excitement with which he told his guests about the animals as they passed. Once he was finally finished he suggested they go join the others back outside around the fire.

"My Dear Lady Adair, do you mind if I steal your husband away from you for just a bit?" he asked as they moved to leave the barn.

"Of course not," Delaney answered and looked up at Vincent. He seemed uneasy but leaned over and gave her a good kiss before turning to follow the Captain.

Outside thunder rumbled lightly overhead and the people were stretching large canvases up on poles to give them some protection in case it began to rain. Cora and Constance had gone with the others to turn over their pets to the captain's men who had cages for them. Delaney hesitated but then turned over her pouch with its tiny sleeping babies inside.

Turning back to the firepit she caught sight of Ian standing with crossed arms and felt relief as she headed towards him. The young pirate smirked when he saw her.

"So my father has been showing you all of his beasts then? What has he given you?"

"Two baby sugar gliders," Delaney grinned up at him, "All his animals are amazing!"

"Ah yes, sugar gliders will be good for you. You'll like them. I'll help you with them at first."

Delaney looked up at him with wide eyes, "So you are going to be returning with us?"

Ian shrugged a shoulder, "My father has yet to speak to me since I arrived. I imagine if there was an urgent reason he needed me back he would have told me right away."

"He hasn't spoken to you?" she asked, thinking that was odd.

"He was busy showing his guests around and now I assume he is talking business with your husband and the prince." Delaney nodded. "He will speak to me if he needs to. While he was occupied with you though I did get a chance to speak with his doctor."

"You did?" Delaney asked, having nearly forgotten the medicine for Vincent in all the excitement.

"I did and he is making us a batch I will get from him before we leave. He said we need only send word when we need more and he will prepare it and have it brought to us."

"Oh, Ian thank you so much!" Delaney grabbed his hands and gave them a quick squeeze before letting them go again.

Ian looked surprised and then uncomfortable with gratitude. Delaney was about to ask him about the doctor when she heard Ian's name followed by a long string of speech in their language.

Ian's eyes jerked up and Delaney turned to find the short, beautiful older woman she had seen standing with Ian earlier. The woman frowned at her as she looked her up and down, passing judgment. She turned to Ian and continued speaking in an annoyed tone.

Delaney was surprised when Ian began speaking rapidly back in the same language in a serious but hushed tone. She had never heard him speak it before. He frowned as the older woman grew louder and pointed a finger at Delaney. Ian took a step closer, looming over her as he spoke in a now irritated voice. At last, he snapped some word and flung his hand out towards the house in a gesture for the woman to go there.

The old woman glared at him before turning and storming off in the direction he had ordered.

"Did I do something wrong?" Delaney asked quietly, feeling suddenly anxious.

"No you didn't," Ian frowned, "She just likes to cause trouble for me any time she can."

"Who was that?"

"The Pirate King's wife," Ian rolled his eyes.

"That was your mother?" Delaney asked in shock.

"No," Ian smirked, "My mother is the King's mistress."