Beside the Rock and Cloud

by Pete Draper

  Beside the Rock and Cloud

  By

  Pete Draper

  For Mum and Dad

  Because family is more important than everything else

  Thank You

  I would like to say a special thank you to Kristian Linde

  For your help and support throughout and for helping make this book the best it could be

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is purely coincidental.

  Copyright © Pete Draper 2020

  All rights reserved and protected under UK copyright law. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.

  First eBook edition June 2020

  Published by Pete Draper Author Ltd

  For more information visit pete-draper.com

  Also by Pete Draper:

  Between the Rock and Cloud

  The Emperor’s Heir

  Coming soon:

  Beyond the Rock and Cloud

  Drunk Again

  Two waves slapped together, each made a herculean effort to climb over the other, forcing a white spray to gush to the surface. Cassi spotted the ship a mile off, its sharp bow cutting through the water. The triangular black sail glided through the air, sleek as a shark’s fin, the gold tetractys holding firm on one side.

  The Golden Empire weren’t fond of smugglers.

  “Can you evade them?” Cassi asked.

  Long fingers slid across a forehead sleek with sweat. Barolos shaded his eyes with a straight hand, the other gripped the worn steering wheel. “You may as well be asking me to square de circle,” Barolos said, “Where’s de compass and straight edge?” He performed a twisting motion with finger and thumb.

  She glared at him, then her eyes turned back to the monstrous galleon. With a whip of its tail end, it spat water across the surface. Cassi’s eyes widened; her jaw froze into a ring of fear.

  “We have a few minutes until dey arrive. Find Carilyo, he’s de only one who can get us out of dis.” Barolos’ hairy arm turned the wooden handles. “Maybe we can lose dem in de rocks over dere, but not wid my steering. Quickly now! I’ll get de crew ready.”

  Cassi sighed angrily, seeing the jagged, deadly black rocks, each one sharper than a scarda dagger. With fearful wide eyes, she frantically scanned the deck for Carilyo, he was nowhere to be seen.

  “Check his quarters,” said Luco, he hurried up the rigging with several others.

  With a racing heart, she barged into Carilyo’s quarters. Not there.

  She sprinted towards the hatch, barging into Taylan as he rounded the mast. She bounced off his arm.

  “Where the fuck is my brother?” Cassi demanded.

  “Below deck,” Taylan replied in his deep voice. He stared down as she passed him, his eyes above her forehead. A black eye-patch covered one of them, the gold seam around it glistened. “What’s the commotion?”

  “Golden Empire.” Hurrying along without turning, Cassi pointed portside. Taylan followed her finger past the dull, black fingernails.

  The pursuing ship’s back end zig-zagged, shoals of fish spread apart as it cut between them. The spray spewed from either side of its hull like a sea monster had puffed out a violent breath from a pair of humongous nostrils.

  “Fuck.” Taylan looked away, biting his lip hard. “Better wake him up, there’s no getting out of this without the Captain.”

  “I’m the fucking Captain,” Cassi snapped. Staring through his dark eye, she was met with nothing but stone. “He’s just the man who steers it when he can be bothered.”

  Taylan’s eye narrowed, the wrinkles below it curved like waves. “Steer us to safety then, Captain.”

  The ire in Cassi’s eyes burned. She flung the hatch open. Each step thumped, sending dust exploding into the air, her heart jumped and thumped in her panicked chest.

  While she searched desperately, dozens of scary thoughts shot through her head. She’d probably be sold to House Otep to dance for their Dons. A ghostly tingling feeling shot through her wrists at the thought of her thigh being branded. “Stop it,” she told herself.

  Each empty room fed her anxiety more, each creaking door increased the rate of her already rapid heartbeats.

  “Where is he?” Cassi screamed at Sofiya. The Katalian girl jumped, then didn’t say a word, her face wore that irritating, gawping half-open mouth. She tilted her neck in the general direction, the short hair rolled around her head.

  Furious steam followed Cassi down the passageway. Ripping the door open with a screech, the warm air and sweat overwhelmed her. Stepping back to allow the stench out, Cassi pinched her nostrils. The intense body odour and stale rum were overpowering to the extent that she gagged a couple of times. How can he breathe in here?

  For some reason her heartbeat settled. Carilyo sprawled on the floor with his head twisted, legs bent awkwardly, hugging a sack as though it was his child. He’s drunk again.

  She stared at the brother she hated so much, the one she never wanted. The one she was stuck with, for life.

  Boiling vapours sprayed from Cassi’s nostrils. Seeing him snooze so peacefully, it made her face twist with fury. She pinched the skin of his eyelids, prying them open harshly. When the eye was open wide, she slapped him hard across the face. A satisfying clap filled her ears and tingled on her hand as palm connected with eyeball.

  “Argh!” Carilyo’s head jumped up with a yelp, he wriggled like a fish on a hook. The bloodshot eyes crept open, tears leaked beneath. “What the fuck Cassi?” The eyes shut tight.

  “You’re drunk again!” Cassi yelled, the words rolling from her sharp tongue like spits of venom. “Get up, you piss-head!”

  “Stop nagging and let me sleep.” Carilyo placed his hands over his ears. “The ship is fine.”

  “Maybe you should tell that to the imperials sailing towards us.” Cassi stared down with disgust, waiting a second while the alcohol-filled cogs turned in his head. How she’d love to smack his head against the wall and drag him up to the quarterdeck by his hair.

  “Im-pe-ri-als?” Carilyo stuttered. Stumbling to his feet, he reached for the door, toppling over with a crash.

  “You might want to pull your trousers up first, ejotto.” The fear made her heart race again, “We don’t have time for this! Hurry up!”

  Carilyo’s eyes widened, his slow head looked down at the shorts hanging around his knees with a smile of embarrassment. Cassi could see way too much of him, it was nothing she hadn’t seen before, didn’t mean she wanted to see it again. Lifting his long shorts, he slotted the belt through the D-rings, pulling it back on itself.

  “Get up!” Cassi snapped. She held him under the armpit until his wobbly legs could handle the weight. “Pull yourself together, you’ve got to get us out of this.”

  Cassi dragged him down the passageway, swaying precariously with his head sagging forwards. Sofiya grabbed his other arm; together they guided him up the stairs. His face slapped the wooden board with a clunk after tripping on the last step.

  His prone body was motionless for a few seconds.

  “Fuck! We don’t have time for this.” Pacing around in a circle, Cassi watched anxiously at the oncoming imperials.

  “He’s too fucking drunk.” Barolos clapped a palm into his forehead, making a loud slapping sound. “We’ll have to sail around de rocks if he can’t get us through dem.”

  With a sharp movement, Carilyo rolled to his feet. The colourful beads in his thin hair clacked together, the wood
en sandals clicked on the deck. He looked out at the oncoming galleon. The golden figurehead of Zernando, Lord of the Lightning whistled towards them, thick strands of windswept hair were plastered on either side of his harsh face. A jagged bolt of lightning filled one of his hands, the other pointed at them.

  “Not good,” Carilyo said. He grabbed the steering wheel, nudging the older man aside with a hip before his elder could turn it. Carilyo swayed side to side a little.

  His eyes closed. Snoring.

  “Wake up!” Barolos slapped Carilyo’s olive-skinned cheek.

  After he came around, Carilyo shook his head like a wet dog. The smooth cheeks flapped with a wet clap as the gums slapped against bone, Cassi hated the annoying slapping sound every time he did it.

  “Lower the sails!” Cassi yelled to the crew up above who were untying them.

  “Not yet!” Carilyo roared back, watching the galleon approach. “We’ve got time. Take the wheel a moment Barolos.”

  Meandering towards the side, Carilyo swayed with a gaze fixed on the oncoming ship. A couple of men had hooks in their hands, they looked eager, and weren’t far from boarding.

  The enemy galleon was turning.

  “What are you doing Carilyo?” Barolos demanded.

  “This will help,” Carilyo chuckled to himself.

  He loosened his belt, dropping his trousers, then pissed like a horse over the side with his bare ass on show. Cassi turned away from the ass cheeks and yellow stream, watching the furious imperials. Growling voices filled their deck, their bow turned, approaching head-on again. Zernando smiled viciously.

  Some of the crew whooped Carilyo on, he put on a show for them, waggling his member like he was watering plants. Cassi could smell the stench of alcohol in the warm vapours of his urine from where she stood, she looked away, squeezing her nose between finger and thumb.

  “You’re disgusting Carilyo, whatever you’re doing, get on with it!” Cassi snapped. “Damn those ancestors of mine, whatever they did wrong has left me cursed with you.”

  “You’ll see what I’m doing.” Carilyo shook the last drops several times before raising his trousers.

  “Dey’re going to ram us, ejotto!” Barolos yelled. The usually calm first mate had lost his rag, Carilyo had a habit of doing that to people.

  “Dat, is de point,” Carilyo mocked him. “Those galleons are quick in a straight line.”

  Carilyo waved a hand, returning to take control of the ship. “Drop the sails.” He smiled, watching the white sails lower, they gathered up a gust of wind as the ropes were pulled to tighten them. In their desire to ram the ship, the angry imperials had turned a little too much.

  With a swoosh, the Howling Dragon left the Golden Empire galleon behind.

  Carilyo’s eyes never left the pursuing ship. “Those galleons are quick in a straight line, but when turning, they are slower than a manatee. We shall lose them in the rocks here, I know the passage better than I know the names of the crew.”

  Cassi gulped, looking at the series of ragged rocks, there must have been many more hidden under the surface. “You cannot be serious. You’re drunk Carilyo. One false turn and the hull and keel will be torn to shreds, it’ll be no use getting ahead of them if we have to swim to shore.”

  Swaying a little, Carilyo closed his eyes with a smug grin on his face. He sang to himself, “I feel the waves, they course through my veins.”

  “There is a rock there,” Carilyo pointed portside. Cassi hadn’t seen the sharp rock until her brother identified it.

  “How did you know that was there?” Taylan asked.

  “I felt it,” Carilyo smirked, light gleaming from the layer of sweat on his forehead. A dash of drool had dried next to the corner of his mouth, something green and sticky covered the outside of one of his eyes and his hair was covered in dandruff flakes.

  Mist rose from the larger bundle of rocks ahead, a glimmer of light stabbing through the narrow gap between them. It was their only hope.

  The imperial ship had turned, it was on their tail for a while. Now it was gaining on them, the triangular sail was rigid. It raced towards them quicker than an arrow with the wind at its back.

  After spending enough time in their slipstream, the galleon made its move, swinging its back end out like a caudal fin. The incensed imperials formed at the side, some with hooks, others with crossbows.

  “They will catch us,” Cassi said abruptly. She rolled the ruby ring around her pinkie finger nervously.

  “Calm down Cassi. That thing will not fit its fat ass through the Smuggler’s Passage,” Carilyo snorted.

  Cassi shielded her eyes from the sun, peering at the gap ahead. They weren’t too far from it, but the speed of the chasing ship made her gasp.

  Something whistled past her head. Cassi dropped down. A couple of arrows thudded into the hull, one wedged itself in the mast. Another bolt hit one of the riggers in the chest and he whelped. His bouncing body tumbled through the rigging until he smacked down on deck, leaking blood onto the boards.

  Cassi slowly lifted herself. The streamlined galleon picked up the pace. Its bow was now level with them. Seconds later, they were side by side. Another flurry of arrows punched holes in the sails. Barolos and Taylan ducked behind a bulwark.

  A couple of hooks shot over, latching onto the shiny bulwarks of the Howling Dragon. Leaning back like they were in a tug of war, the imperials yanked on the ropes, pulling the ship closer to theirs. More images of capture and a life of slavery filled Cassi’s terrified mind, rusty iron chains and a dancing cage were a fate worse than death.

  “Cut them off!” Cassi yelled. Barolos and Taylan produced their knives.

  “Don’t bother,” Carilyo overruled. He turned to look at the Golden Empire Captain, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you…” he pointed with a couple of taps of his finger at the brown rock ahead.

  The Captain’s eyes turned white, he shouted something in a panic, pointing out the rock to his crew.

  “If you release your hooks, you’ll have time to turn!” Carilyo shouted.

  “Fucking smugglers! I could smash you against the rocks with us!” The Captain growled, light gleaming from the triangles in his black helmet. He clenched his hand into a fist.

  “But then you’d have to swim to shore, and you’re not in the best of shape, are you?” Carilyo curved a hand over his belly.

  “Cut them off! Quickly!” The Captain snapped. “We’ll get you next time!”

  With a few swipes, the ropes were strewn aside. As they slackened, the hooks were pulled away by the crew and dropped into the sea. The galleon turned. Cassi cringed as its keel scraped the rock during the final moments of its rotation. A grinding sound filled her ears.

  The zipping noise split the air again, she whipped her head back in time. The arrow whistled past her ear, cutting a few strands of her black hair.

  “That was too close,” Cassi said with a panting breath. “What about when they get around?”

  “These rocks spread for miles.” Carilyo closed his eyes for a moment, then tapped the side of his nose. “We will be in Traki before they round them. There is a reason they call this place the Smuggler’s Passage.”

  A Dangerous Job

  His tongue explored his gums. He found it, immediately wishing he hadn’t. Fucking ulcer. It sent a sting throughout his entire mouth. It was fresh, he’d be stuck with the damned thing for weeks.

  It had taken over his mouth. After removing his tongue, Carilyo knew its location better than he knew the position of each of his teeth. In front of his bottom jaw, slightly to the right.

  “Today…” Carilyo exhaled, “Could be the day I go sober.” He stared at the overhead of the compartment. The thought alone brought on the inexplicable anxiety; the uneasy feeling in his gut, like something had burrowed in there and was clawing its way out.

  The stench of rum filled his head, the scent of alcohol was tough on a recently awakened stomach. The bottle beside him had survived his slumber w
ithout being knocked over.

  Carilyo rolled over, feeling the sting in his head, the ring in his ears, and now, thanks to the ulcer, the intense pain in his mouth. He rolled across the sleeping pallet back to his bottle, picking it up.

  “Fuck ulcers.” He took a sip, it tasted so bitter.

  “Fuck hangovers.” He took another, this time gulping much more.

  “And most importantly, fuck being sober.” Carilyo guzzled it down, this time remembering to place the cork in it before laying himself back down.

  Thump. Rattle. Bang.

  His eyes flicked open with a tremble of the heart and a feeling like he’d been asleep all of ten seconds. The room was nice and dark, Carilyo wasn’t sure what the sound must’ve been. He closed his eyes, letting his heart settle.

  Bang, bang, bang.

  He shot up, leaning against the wall. Then all was quiet again.

  As soon as his head brushed the pillow, a repeated set of violent bangs thudded against the bulkhead. Each thump sent ringing reverberations through him, making his eardrum rattle like a snare drum.

  “Can’t they just let me sleep?” Carilyo groaned, trying to cover his ears with the pillow, it was no use. He rolled over, the bottle wasn’t where he left it, but the stench had survived, making him feel uneasy.

  “Time to wake up.” The door screeched open for what seemed like forever, the squeaky hinges wouldn’t stop their relentless torture on the hairs of his eardrums. Barolos’ open palm was forced against the doorframe, his wide body filled the doorway.

  “Where are we?” Carilyo pressed the base of both palms into his eyebrows, pushing down into his eyes until they slid past his cheeks. The room shook, his head swirled, but that could have been the motion of the sea. Sitting up, his head was spinning like a planet in orbit. His stomach churned, he grabbed the bucket in time, the acid and rum sprayed from his mouth. The ache in his gut felt like he’d been punched.