Ed watches patiently as the book is brought to him and the pages presented. The first one is shocking. Why would the ship's Captain sign himself over? There had to be thought or plan behind it. Ed wonders briefly if it's a trap.

The second document causes him to feel a flare in his blood, which he tries to hide to the best of his ability. Ed swallows thickly and exhales through his nose, staring at it for a moment. It isn't just Stede's name that is causing this reaction. It's also that these documents are establishing Izzy as Captain and not him.

Now, had Edward not been present, and he hasn't, this would be one thing. Edward couldn't blame him. But Izzy and everyone fucking else present has repeatedly made it clear that Edward has been. Which he still doesn't fucking understand, by the way.

To Izzy’s credit, there are legally binding documents that name him Captain back home, also. But those documents aren't magically reinforced, and as a rule pirates tend to operate outside of the law, so they basically mean fucking nothing.

Ed's fingers run down over the document as he reviews it, pausing at the bottom over Izzy’s name. "You've got him, you mean." he mutters plainly.