Ring

"Great, then," Teague said, resting his hand on Jack's shoulder. "Oh, and you might want to take this. . . ." Teague slipped a ring off his right index finger.

Jack was taken aback and quickly tried to hide his own hands.

"It's okay, Jackie, I know you took one of my rings before you left town."

"But Tia Dalma said you were looking for me. Looking for it."

"I had it confused with another ring. This one." Jack's eyes grew wide. "This was the one you wanted, wasn't it? The one with that most unique property."

"What are you talking about? I know nothing about a ring with a most unique property," Jack said loudly for the sake of the crew. "So, this is the one what can control people and make them do your bidding, eh?" Jack continued out of the corner of his mouth, so only Teague could hear.

"Yes, Jackie. But be warned, it's only worked twice, once seven years ago when I was fending off an angry washerwoman, and again a few hours ago when we were in the process of securing your boat from that backstabbing mate of yours."

Jack's eyes were wide, curious, and a little bit skeptical as he examined the ring. So this is how Teague got Fitzwilliam to obey his orders aboard the Barnacle. Jack figured that the ring's power must have eventually worn off, which would be how Fitzwilliam was able to betray Jack and Teague's location.

"So, how do I know when it is going to work and when it's, you know, not?"

Teague shrugged. "There doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason to any of it. So in other words, it would be wise not to rely on it."

Jack slipped the ring on his finger. It immediately slipped off—Teague's fingers were much bigger than Jack's. Even the ring Jack had swiped from Teague before was bridged with floss. Jack stuck the ring on his thumb instead, where it remained secure.

***

Sins of the Father, Chapter 10