by Tamara Moss
‘We need to talk.’
Yamini added another dirty plate to the pile teetering in her arms. ‘About what?’
Around them, the crew was chatting in low murmurs, the air heavy with an after-dinner lull. Someone suggested a game of rouls, but Xiang had become solemn and sluggish since they’d returned, and Eire refused to socialise with anyone. What was the point of playing without those two?
Lintang helped Yamini stack plates. They had left Jafir six days ago, and Lintang had decided enough was enough. ‘About Bayani.’
Yamini immediately stiffened.
‘That, exactly that,’ Lintang said. ‘That’s what we need to talk about. He’s not a monster, and he’s not someone you have to be afraid of. He’s the same person he was when he first boarded the ship.’
She followed Yamini into the galley, where Dee had filled a drum with washing water. Yamini scraped the leftovers into a bucket, tipped all the plates into the washing drum and got a brush.
‘I heard what he said,’ she muttered. ‘To the Disgraced God. I saw how he stopped it.’ She scrubbed harder. ‘And I know his explanation shouldn’t make sense, but it does, and that’s …’
‘Terrifying?’
Yamini bunched her lips together.
Lintang sat beside her and picked up another brush to help. ‘He didn’t have any proof when he told me, so even I didn’t believe him at first. I mean, I sort of did … I don’t know, it was very confusing. The only thing that made me sure was what I learned when I was in shika state, only I don’t remember it now. I just know I saw the truth, and that his star really is Niti’s.’
‘And you’re all right with that?’
‘It doesn’t stop him being Bayani, does it?’
Yamini shrugged. Lintang began drying the plates to put away.
‘He hasn’t even worked up the courage to tell his parents yet, so please don’t spread it around.’
Yamini grunted in reply.
Lintang took a wet plate from her. ‘He doesn’t have any memories of being a God. He’s still Bayani, no matter what his star is. I wish you’d stop avoiding him.’
‘It’s not like I was nice to him to begin with.’
‘Doesn’t hurt to start now, though, right? Like I said, you’re not in Zaiben anymore. You can trust the people here. And Bayani, Pelita and I won’t be going anywhere anytime soon, so unless you’re planning to leave the crew, you’re going to have to accept that we’re family.’
Yamini paused mid-scrub. ‘Why did you offer to train me?’
‘Huh?’
‘That night, against the drowning man. You offered out of nowhere.’
Lintang remembered watching Yamini fight the mythie with nothing but a mop and sheer determination, and smiled. ‘I saw potential. I think one day you’ll make a great warrior.’
Yamini didn’t say anything at first. Then she put her head down and muttered into the drum, ‘I’m sorry.’
‘About what?’
‘A lot of things. Everything, I guess. And what I said at the swamp to Bayani … I was tired and cranky, and we’d just lost all the Curall –’
‘Don’t tell me. Tell him.’
Yamini didn’t lift her gaze.
Lintang touched her arm. ‘He’ll forgive you. He’s very nice. Trust me. He wants to be your friend too.’
Yamini nodded without smiling. Lintang wasn’t worried. When Yamini spoke to Bayani, she’d realise there was nothing to be afraid of.
They finished the washing up and had just returned to the mess when the chatter among the crew died down. All eyes fell to a space behind them.
Lintang turned to find Captain Shafira standing in the doorway.
‘Captain!’ she said with a gasp. It was the first time Captain Shafira had ventured out of her cabin since the mountain. She looked well, and healthy.
Slowly, everyone stood. Pelita moved as if to hug the captain – or maybe boop her nose – but Mei grabbed her by the sarong before she could.
Captain Shafira scanned the group. ‘Yamini,’ she said after her silent register. ‘Fetch Eire.’
Yamini scurried off, moving faster than usual, probably because she didn’t want to miss anything.
‘It’s good to see you up and about, Captain,’ Quahah said.
‘Thank you, Quahah.’
An unsettling quiet fell over the room. Pelita chewed on her hair. Twip nibbled at crumbs that had fallen to the floor.
When Eire returned with Yamini, the tension heightened. Eire stepped past the captain without looking at her.
‘I’ve heard your accounts of what happened during the ten days I was gone,’ Captain Shafira said when Eire had taken her place in the group. ‘And it seems there are some things I need to address. Firstly, Eire.’ Captain Shafira walked slowly to her first mate so they were standing face to face. ‘Is there something you’d like to say to me?’
‘Yes,’ Eire said. ‘You ordered us to turn around if you were taken by lo fali-air. I did not. I will do anything to save you.’
‘Even sacrifice Lintang, when you know what part she plays on this ship?’
‘Yes, Captain.’ Eire stared at the wall. ‘It was wrong. But I would do it again. I would put all crew in danger to protect you.’ She lifted her chin. ‘Which is why I know I must step down as first mate.’
At last she met Captain Shafira’s gaze. An understanding passed between them. Lintang had a feeling they’d discussed this earlier. She remembered what Captain Shafira had told her, about how Eire had done exactly what she’d expected, and realised that just because Captain Shafira had counted on Eire’s actions, it didn’t make them acceptable.
‘Very well.’ Captain Shafira turned away to face the rest of the crew. ‘Then for my new first mate, I’m appointing Xiang.’
Xiang straightened. ‘M-Me?’
‘You have to ask?’
Through the swelling and bruises, Xiang’s face flushed. Then she smiled, a full, bright, blissful smile, and whatever grim air had grown around her since Mount Railin shattered.
Captain Shafira smiled back. Then –
‘Yamini.’
Yamini gulped visibly as the captain turned to her.
‘I heard you were willing to give your life to stop Lintang from fulfilling the second prophecy. You followed my orders, even when I wasn’t there to see. I give you my gratitude, and my respect.’ Hope flitted across Yamini’s face, but it was quickly dashed as Captain Shafira spoke again. ‘When I demoted you to cabin girl, I said it would be permanent, and that will never change while I’m in charge. I keep my promises. I’m sorry.’
Yamini dropped her head. Lintang had an unusual urge to comfort her.
‘I don’t know if it means much,’ Captain Shafira added gently, ‘but I forgive you. You’ll be allowed to learn to fight with Xiang again, and I’ll make sure there’s a chore rotation so you’ll have help.’
Yamini’s breath was a violent shudder, and when she lifted her face again, her eyes were red. ‘Thank you.’ And she gave a small, wobbly smile.
Captain Shafira nodded to her, then turned to Lintang. ‘Right,’ she said, ‘the last order of business.’
A thrill rippled through the crew. Mei clung to Kona’s hand. Avalon tried and failed to suppress a smile. Dee grabbed Quahah’s good shoulder. ‘Galloping grassbeetles, this is it,’ she wheezed beneath her breath.
‘Ow, my shoulder.’
‘Oh, sorry.’ Dee loosened her grip. ‘I’m just so excited.’
Captain Shafira stepped forward and clasped both of Lintang’s hands in her own. Lintang’s heart and stomach jumped as if the ship had just dipped down an enormous wave.
‘You’re a natural leader,’ Captain Shafira said. ‘My crew respect you. You’re brave and capable and creative. You’re loyal too, and care deeply for your friends. People appreciate that in a captain.’
Dee blew her nose on her shirt.
‘A captain,’ Lintang repeated. Her voice sounded like it was floati
ng somewhere near the ceiling.
One day, she would be captain.
Captain Lintang.
Captain Shafira spoke while the words were still ringing in Lintang’s head. ‘Lintang of Desa, will you officially accept the title of heir to the Winda?’
‘I will,’ Lintang said, and her voice remained stub bornly echoey and distant, even as she laughed. ‘It would be my greatest honour.’
‘Here you are.’ Bayani hauled himself through the centre hole of the upper basket. Lintang was sitting below the wall, out of sight from the rest of the ship.
Bayani gulped and quickly looked away from the view down the hole. It was a long way to the deck.
‘Can’t say this is my favourite spot,’ he said. ‘At least the seas are calm.’ He sat next to her. ‘Yamini’s training down there with Xiang, you know. They’re putting on quite a performance. Not as good as the ones with you and the vigil in Desa, but not bad.’
Lintang let her head fall back to look at the bright blue sky. ‘I’d almost forgotten about those. Hey,’ she added suddenly, ‘how come you asked Governor Jani to come along to that one on our last night there? We got into big trouble because of you.’
‘Sorry. I just wanted her to see what she was up against.’ He rubbed his hands. ‘I can’t wait to see you two face each other at the summit. We’re going to have the upper hand the whole time, especially when she finds out her son who’s been missing for twenty years has a child with the Zulttania of Allay.’
Lintang’s stomach did its usual hiccough whenever she thought about the summit. For better or worse, it was going to change everything.
There was the violent sound of metal blades ringing below.
‘Should we be afraid, now Yamini’s allowed to use weapons?’ Bayani said.
‘Has she spoken to you?’
‘Yes, actually. She wants to be my friend.’ He hesitated. ‘Is it safe?’
A laugh burst from Lintang. ‘It’s safe. In fact, I think we’ll be even safer with Yamini on our side.’
‘Really?’
‘Really.’ Lintang glanced at him. ‘She’s more loyal than any of us realised. One day, she’ll make a great crew member. Maybe even a great first mate.’
Bayani raised his eyebrows.
‘You’re happy as navigator, right?’ Lintang said. ‘And I need a first mate to go to battle with me, strategise, jab a few people with a sword. You wouldn’t want to do that.’
‘No,’ Bayani said, ‘I definitely don’t want to do that. But do you trust Yamini to have your back?’
‘I do.’
There was a small grunt as Pelita pulled herself inside the basket. Her face brightened when she saw them. ‘I found you!’ She hugged Lintang. ‘That was fun. Can I hide now?’
‘We’ll take a break, then we’ll play again later, all right?’ Bayani said.
‘Yay!’ Pelita wriggled into the spot between them and stretched out her legs.
‘Are you sure you want to stay?’ Lintang said to Bayani, as if they hadn’t been interrupted. ‘On the Winda, I mean.’
‘Of course I am. What kind of question is that?’
‘Even when the Vierzans leave the Twin Islands?’
‘I go where you go.’
Lintang caught his gaze to try to figure out what he was thinking. ‘You never wanted to travel before. Are you sure you don’t want to go home?’
‘No way.’
Lintang hadn’t expected such a passionate no from the boy who, at one stage, would’ve done anything to stay on his farm.
‘I have the star of a God inside me,’ Bayani said. ‘This is Niti’s one chance to see the world as it’s supposed to be seen. I want to go everywhere. I want to experience everything. I want Niti to return to Ytzuam understanding what it means to be human.’
‘Good,’ Lintang said, ‘because I don’t want to travel without you. You’re the most important person in my life.’
‘And me!’ Pelita said.
‘And Pelita,’ Lintang agreed. ‘I won’t go anywhere without either of you.’
‘Well, you might as well start calling yourself captain, because I’m staying here,’ Bayani said.
‘Me too!’ Pelita said.
Lintang giggled. ‘I’m not captain yet. I doubt Captain Shafira will be stepping down any time soon.’ She lowered her voice. ‘She told me when she retires and goes back to Allay, she’s going to take Xiang to help find her sister.’
‘Mratzi’s scythe, what would we do without Xiang’s skills?’
‘You have me,’ Pelita said indignantly. ‘I’m better than everyone here.’ After some thought, she added, ‘Except uppai and okkai.’
‘Who?’ Bayani said.
Lintang smirked. ‘Don’t tell me she’s made more imaginary friends.’
‘No-o,’ Pelita said, as if they were as slow as gnomes. She gestured to the rigging. ‘Mei and Vuu-Vuu said I could call them that. It’s mummy and daddy in Kan-e-ko-nese.’
Lintang and Bayani exchanged glances.
‘Obviously they’re not my mummy and daddy,’ Pelita said. ‘But Mummy and Daddy are very busy in the sky, so Vuu-Vuu does things like catch me when I fall down, and Mei kisses my sores.’ She tapped the scars from the Narian gnome’s claw marks.
‘And you’re … happy?’ Lintang said.
Pelita threw up her hands. ‘Yes!’
‘That’s good.’ Lintang patted Pelita’s head. ‘That’s all we want.’ She looked at Bayani. ‘And you? Are you happy?’
‘Yes,’ Bayani said, but he sounded thoughtful. ‘Although I haven’t quite figured everything out about myself yet.’ He hesitated. ‘There is one thing I want to try. Do you remember how in Kanekonese there’s no “he” or “she”?’
‘Yes …?’
‘Do you think, maybe … you could use that with me? Because after Allay, I don’t know if Niti – if I – am a boy or a girl, or if I’m neither.’
‘Sure,’ Lintang said. ‘What were they again?’
They practised the new words, and Lintang concentrated on thinking of her best friend as hua instead of him.
Then Bayani got up, and pulled her up too. ‘Come on.’
‘What are you doing?’ Lintang said.
‘Look.’ Bayani turned her so she was standing against the railing.
She scanned the bright water around them. They were still between islands in Kaneko Brown, and their path was swirls of colour. ‘What am I looking at?’
Pelita stood too.
Bayani gestured below. At the bridge, the masts, the bow, the black sails. At the crew bustling on the deck. At Xiang and Yamini training hard.
‘One day, Lintang,’ Bayani said softly.
She soaked in the view. They powered through the waves, a single vessel in a world of ocean, adventure always at the horizon.
One day, she would take charge of this ship. One day, she would lead this crew. And she would do it with her best friends by her side.
A warrior, a God and an ex-pixie.
Now that was the making of a legend.
Dear Mother,
Can you hear me? I’m not really sure how these things work, but I’ll do my best. We came across a bunch of whisperers on top of a mountain, so you and I can send messages to each other.
We’re on our way to a summit that will hopefully mean the Vierzans get out of our country, and maybe even break up the United Regions. There will be lots of talking and treaties before that happens, though.
Please tell Saam and Devina that Bayani is well. Tell them Pelita is too, but I don’t think they care.
We can’t come home yet. We won’t be able to until Captain Shafira is proved innocent, and the Vierzans leave the Twin Islands. But don’t worry – we’re planning to travel lots while we wait. And Niti’s hat, do I have news for you when I see you next! I’ll give you a hint: it’s something about the Winda.
Say hello to Father and Nimuel for me, as well as everyone else in the village. Except Teacher Hixam. I do
n’t want to say hello to her.
I love you, Mother. I’ll be home as soon as I can.
Thank you to Lindsey Hodder, Zoe Walton, Zoe Bechara, Jane Parkhill and the tireless efforts of everyone at Penguin Random House for allowing me to share Lintang’s story with the world.
Molly Ker Hawn, superstar agent, I’m forever grateful to have you.
James Brouwer, thank you for making Lintang look absolutely incredible on that cover. My girl’s all grown up.
EMMA AND JEN: SailorEm and Railway Station. So much love to you both. You’ve spent uncountable years reading my stuff, and that’s why this one’s dedicated to you.
Marissa Meyer, it took a lot of drafts, but I’ve finally finished Lintang’s story, and you were there through it all. Thank you.
Marguerite, what would I do without you? Thanks for being my starlight during the easy times, the hard times and every time in between.
Finally, thanks to my family, friends and every stranger who’s picked up these books to give them a go. It’s been a wonderful adventure.
West Australian author Tamara Moss has been writing seriously for over a decade. After majoring in Asian Studies at the University of Western Australia, Tamara has taught Japanese, interned at indie publisher Twelfth Planet Press, and worked at many different schools. Lintang and the Pirate Queen was a CBCA Notable, and was shortlisted for the Readings Children’s Book Prize. Lintang and the Forbidden Island and Lintang and the Brightest Star are the second and third books in the series.
Lintang dreams of having adventures on the high seas.
When a deadly mythie attacks the same day the infamous Captain Shafira visits her island, Lintang gets her chance, defending her village with a bravery that earns her a place on the pirate queen’s ship.
But they’ve barely left the island when Lintang discovers her best friend, Bayani, has stowed away. Telling Captain Shafira means betraying her friend, but keeping Bayani’s secret risks everything … including their lives.
The time has come to visit the forbidden island of Allay.
But first Lintang needs to find her captain, and it seems the only way to get to the Winda is to join – then escape – the Vierzan navy. Only then will Captain Shafira set sail for Allay, where the crew of the Winda must uncover what really happened to the country’s missing ruler.
