Beside the Rock and Cloud

by Pete Draper

  When she caught him, Cassi threw a punch. Her knuckles collided with his mouth, she cut her fingers and a couple of teeth cracked. The next punch hit the nose, she felt satisfied at the sound of the break.

  “I never liked you, little shit.” She booted him in the stomach, feeling the leather shoe collide beneath his ribs. Another stomp cracked some of them.

  Murta and Barolos grappled with one another, eyes bright as lightning. They traded blows to their bloodied faces. Murta was slammed into a beam, making it crack, the wooden supports groaned uneasily. It looked like the balconies were about to come toppling down. He bounced back, grabbing Barolos’ shirt, shoving him until they smashed through a window out onto the street.

  Cassi scanned the room for Carilyo, he was fighting Taylan.

  Carilyo ducked and weaved from Taylan’s sword. He stepped on a thick piece of glass, hopping as it cut his foot.

  “You are not worthy of Gianlo’s sword,” Carilyo said, wincing from the sting in his toe.

  “Neither are you.” Taylan thumped through a broken table which stood at a slant. “At least I know how to use it.”

  A bottle hit him from the mezzanine above. Taylan wobbled back.

  “Take that!” One of Carilyo’s drunken revellers shouted, the sword clattered to the floor.

  Carilyo dived at Taylan, wrestling him to the ground. He punched Taylan’s face but probably hurt his hand more. His fist reeled back, stinging too much to punch again. Taylan countered, hitting Carilyo’s mouth and making a tooth wobble. He felt his lip fatten.

  Carilyo slapped Taylan across the cheek, watching it redden when it stopped vibrating.

  “You dare slap me.”

  Carilyo gave him another, this time much harder. He dragged his fingernails across the cheek after it, ripping the string of the eyepatch. It uncovered the gruesome missing eye.

  Taylan swung and missed, but the trailing elbow caught Carilyo in the nose. Blood leaked from one nostril, dripping on Taylan’s clothes.

  Carilyo rocked back, instinctively grabbing the bloody nose. Taylan seized him, climbing to his feet.

  “Fucking useless little shit!” Taylan grabbed Carilyo’s wrist, something tightened inside it as it twisted. “All those years!” He pulled the wrist, yanking Carilyo to the side, a stab of pain shot through his shoulder when he tried to lift his free arm. “All those years at your father’s side, doing anything he ever asked. I loved him like a father. But you, you had everything handed to you, and still fucked it all up!”

  Taylan threw Carilyo into the air by his arm, the socket of his shoulder popped out. With a downward thrust, Carilyo was slammed onto his back. The air was crushed from him. He felt every buckle in the table legs as they bulged and snapped. He tried to breathe, but there was no breath to be had.

  Carilyo grabbed the dislocated shoulder, his eyes tearing in pain. His fat lip bled, as did his nose; his clothes were torn and tattered. He tried to roll to his feet but was frozen on the spot. “I didn’t fuck anything up.” Carilyo wheezed. “I still had the ship, until you mutinied.”

  “You brought slaves aboard! That was Gianlo’s only rule.” Taylan shouted down, looking for the sword.

  Most of the bar had cleared out, the Rocklanders were gone. Several of the crew were knocked out or killed. Roxy was gone, Murta and Barolos were nowhere to be seen either.

  “He would want me to do the right thing,” Carilyo croaked.

  “I thought maybe he’d give me the ship, for all my years of service and hard work. But no, he gives it to you, you little shit; despite being a lazy little fuck who never did anything.”

  Taylan stomped on Carilyo’s ribs. Carilyo winced, fighting for breath. He couldn’t roll away as the foot crunched into him again. The impact shot through his organs, jolting them.

  “Then when he died, the crew got behind you. All these years it took to convince Barolos that you were useless.” Taylan lifted Carilyo behind his back, slamming him through another table.

  Taylan pressed his boot down on Carilyo’s face, trying to crush his head. His nose crunched when the heavy boot crashed onto his face, dirt stuck to his cheek.

  He tried to cover his face with his arms, another kick hit his hand.

  “You’re done Carilyo.” Taylan lifted the foot high for one final stamp.

  He braced himself, placing his hands over his face.

  Something warm and sticky splashed on him. Carilyo looked through the gaps in his fingers, eventually removing his hands to see the tip of the sword sticking from Taylan’s chest. Gianlo’s sword. He watched a drop roll down the blade, aiming for his eye; he managed to catch it in his palm.

  Taylan’s eye widened, he held his shocked hands under the blade. He dropped to his knees. When the sword was violently retrieved, more blood trickled from the wound.

  “Let me help you Carilyo.” Barolos offered a hand. Carilyo looked at it for a moment, then knocked it away, scowling as he felt the bruise in his ribs. He pushed himself to his feet, shaking all the way.

  This Changes Nothing

  “Give me that.” Cassi snatched the sword from Barolos’ hand. In a flash, she was holding the bloody tip close to his body, his white chest hairs showed through the tears in it.

  “This. Changes. Nothing.” Cassi grimaced with bulging, wild eyes. Barolos raised his arms to his sides, showing her the deep creases in his old palms. His face was bruised and bloody. It was hard to tell his clothes from the dust, glass and splinters stuck to him.

  Hermo stood beside Cassi. Murta limped on her other side; he pinched his broken nose, cracking it back in place, blood ran down his lip.

  “Let me deal with him.” Murta cracked his neck one way, then the other. His clothes were as badly torn as Barolos’, their bodies didn’t look like they could go again, but their mean eyes did. “Me and him aren’t finished.”

  But for a swift turn of the head, Cassi was unmoved. She had a tight grip of the sword; her eyes were locked in on where to stick it.

  “I’m sorry Cassi.” Barolos began to grovel. His watery eyes trembled when a drop of Taylan’s blood dripped to the wooden floorboards, trickling down the pile of glass. “I had no choice; de crew would have killed us all if I didn’t agree. It was de only way I could save your life. Dey would have tied a ball and chain to your ankle and watched you sink; I couldn’t have dat.”

  His eyes looked sincere.

  “Don’t give me that, it was the only chance you could save your own life.” Cassi snapped. Turning her head aside, she spat on Taylan’s body. Her sword didn’t move an inch. “Pah. You’re as bad as him. After everything we’ve been through Barolos, how could you?”

  A tear rolled down Barolos’ cheek. “It will haunt me forever. But it’s what Gianlo would have wanted me to do, to keep you and Carilyo alive.”

  “Don’t!” Cassi roared, lifting the sword with a violent jolt. Barolos jumped, as did Murta and Hermo. “Don’t you dare talk about him! Not after what you did. You disgraced yourself, don’t talk about what my papa would have wanted. He would not have wanted any of it.”

  Barolos’ eyes whitened. “I wish things could have been different.”

  “Well they weren’t; you chose a side.” Cassi spat at Taylan again, the thick phlegm stuck to his scalp beneath the scraggly combover. “You chose the wrong one. Now you must face the consequences.”

  “We should get out of here,” Murta said, looking around nervously. “Make a decision on what yous wanna do with him.”

  She held the sword firmly. Barolos’ whole body was scared stiff.

  “Nothing I say can change de past,” Barolos spoke weakly.

  Cassi screamed out, lowering the sword. Everyone around her flinched again.

  “Get out of here. Enough blood has been spilt today.” She looked around the pub. The shattered glass and splintered wood littered the floor, most of the brawlers had vacated already, several corpses and unconscious bodies remained. Dark patches of blood and beer stained the floorboard
s.

  Barolos nodded forlornly. His heavy feet crunched over the broken glass as he slithered away.

  “Barolos!” Cassi yelled across the room.

  His head turned slower than ever.

  “I never want to see you again.” She gave him a sharp stare. “Since you are so keen to remind me of Gianlo. Here is something he used to say.” A vicious grin lit her face. “Traitors walk the Hall of Ancestors alone.” She let the last word hang in the air a good long while.

  Barolos’ weary head dropped. He turned his back, brushing himself clean with a lazy old hand, the sparkling glass cut his fingers.

  “We really should get out of here, before the city guard arrives,” Murta said. “They don’t come down this part of the city offen, but they will for sometin as big as this. It’ll be no use having yous’s ship back if yous’re down in the dungeons with iron chains around your ankles. Yous’ll hang for this.”

  Murta gave Cassi a stern look, he put a hand close to her elbow but didn’t dare touch it. “I shouldn’t need to remind yous that Katalians aren’t so popular around here. I dread to think what they might do with yous before they hang you Cap’in.”

  Cassi eyed the trembling publican, then back at the trashed pub, she gasped. “What have we done? We need to make this right once we’ve got the ship back.”

  Carilyo nodded, or maybe he trembled. He looked like he was having trouble staying awake, she could hardly recognise him behind his busted-up face. Cassi and Murta helped him along.

  “Now let’s get our ship back,” Cassi said. Removing a handkerchief from her pocket, she wiped her sword clean before sheathing it. She felt much more balanced with the weight of her sword back on its belt.

  They hurried onto the docks, turning towards the Howling Dragon, followed by Hermo, Roxy and their gang of Levacians Carilyo recruited.

  Those Levacians looked a hardy crew, to say the least. One had less teeth than fingers, another had a rat-faced grin permanently plastered on his face. But they needed new crew members wherever they could get them.

  “The Howling Dragon…” Cassi sighed in relief. “It has been too long since we were aboard.” The dragon’s head at the bow was still glorious, bronze flames sprayed from its furious mouth, bursting into a sharp peak in the centre. Rows of fangs surrounded the flames, each one longer than a sword. Uneven spines poked from above its head, curved like shark’s fins. Filled with ferocity, the intimidating eyes would be enough to make Levac Cloudhaven shudder.

  They climbed the ramp, expecting another fight from the remainder of the crew.

  “What are you doing here?” Luco’s skin turned pale as Cassi approached, flanked by huge men either side of her. “Where’s Taylan and Barolos?”

  “Taylan’s dead.” Cassi left Carilyo with Murta and Hermo. She unsheathed the silver sword with a satisfying metallic grind. “You will be too, if you don’t get off my ship.

  She stepped towards him with quick feet, Luco backed away.

  “Better not get too close.” Cassi grinned, flicking her free hand out to the side. “If you want to stick around though, maybe I could cut a permanent smile into that miserable face of yours.”

  “Okay, I’ll leave.” Luco looked at the sword frightfully, he was backed against the bulwark with men either side of him. “Just let me pass.”

  “Pah.” Cassi looked at him like her next meal. “Why should I make it easy for you?” She forced him back towards the gap in the bulwarks, the gap where the plank was extended from. “I wasn’t afforded a graceful exit.”

  Luco watched his feet, he backed away a step. “Cassi, please.” His voice turned to a squeal. “I never wanted any of that to happen.”

  “But it did,” she spat. Her eyes lit up as he almost lost balance, he was nearly out of ground. “I can’t believe I ever let you kiss me. You disgust me Luco.”

  When there was nowhere else to put his feet, Luco dropped to his knees. It wasn’t long until he was sobbing.

  “Knock him overboard!” One of Leon’s men shouted, a bunch of them started laughing. She saw the fear in Luco’s eyes, she saw something else too, he was heartbroken. Cassi placed a hand over her mouth. I have become the bully Taylan always was.

  “I loved you Cassi,” Luco wept. “I thought, maybe you’d love me back, even though Gianlo didn’t approve.”

  Cassi took a step back, her eyes widened. She rubbed them, hoping nobody had seen the tears.

  “He’s crying.” One of the men burst out laughing.

  “What’s-a-matter?” Someone else taunted.

  “Go,” Cassi murmured, lowering the sword.

  “What?” Luco hadn’t heard her over the jeers.

  “Go!” Cassi yelled. “I never want to see you again.”

  Luco nodded, trying to climb to his feet.

  “Are you deaf! Hurry up!” Cassi’s eyes burned, sizzling through the tears on her eyelashes.

  Luco gulped, edging away from Hermo. He nearly fell overboard as he scurried away, wiping the tears from his face.

  “And you!” Cassi’s eyes lit when she saw Varleo, still wearing her underwear over his clothes. She raised the sword to him, forcing him back until he was pressed against the base of the mast. “You think this is funny, do you?” She pulled the bra strap with the back of her sword.

  Varleo’s eyes watered, he gave the smallest, sharpest shake of a head. He was pushed back so tight he’d grown a huge double chin above her necklace.

  The sword rose slowly to his neck, lifting his chin with the back. She relished in his terrified eyes, waiting a while before she spoke again. “Take them off, then fuck off.” Cassi gave him her meanest stare, licking her canine like it was a fang.

  Varleo nodded, sliding out of the garments, handing them and the necklace to Cassi with his tiny trembling hands. She snatched them, then gave him a quick jump of her head; he flinched before he ran away.

  She sheathed the sword, dreading what her chambers were going to look like. She needed to change out of these dirty clothes she’d been wearing for weeks. The rest of the new crew admired their new ship. Carilyo stroked the rough tops of the bulwarks. It felt like they had been parted with their ship for years.

  Cassi walked up to the quarterdeck, past the coils of rope strewn all over the place. The deck was sticky and dusty, it had become a mess without her around. Carilyo’s Katalian flag had even been taken down; he knelt to pick it up, holding it up with pride.

  Leaning on the parapet, Cassi smiled. Taylan and Barolos were gone. It was a fresh start. There was nothing nicer than feeling the soft breeze from up here. Some of the Levacians raced to the top of the rigging. Carilyo walked wearily towards the stairs.

  “Now to see what is left of my chambers.” Cassi covered her eyes in anticipation.

  She opened the door, immediately falling to her knees.

  A gasp escaped her mouth, the room had been ransacked. Her jewellery stand was smashed and scattered in the corner, unsurprisingly, there was no jewellery left on it, or inside any of the broken boxes. Her chest of drawers and wardrobe were almost empty, but for some cheap trousers. Silk went for a good price around here.

  Her eyes trembled when she saw the torn painting on the floor, her eyes raised to her safe.

  It was open.

  A few coins remained, all the setag notes were gone. All those years of hard work and negotiation were wasted, she couldn’t even replace the things she’d lost. Cassi placed her head in her hands, but she didn’t cry. She still had the sapphire necklace but didn’t feel like wearing it.

  “They’re just possessions,” she whispered to herself, wasn’t sure she believed it. Some of those jewels were what Gianlo had bought her; those were the ones she was sad about. “How will I pay the new crew?” A sudden panic hit her gut.

  Looking in the corner, she gasped. Harold had been brutally disfigured. His head was torn off, the stuffing was scattered around him, his limbs were strewn across the room. It looked like they’d cut his chest open with a
knife and dragged out his insides. There was no way she could fix him.

  Carilyo stumbled behind her, mumbling slowly. His concussed face was expressionless. “The lager is gone; they- they must have sold it. There are a couple of barrels left for the rest of the journey.” Then he saw the room, his battered face jumped to life. “Shit.” He almost sounded worried, then his eyes closed, it looked like he was about to fall asleep. Concussion and alcohol withdrawal were taking their toll.

  She shook his arm and his eyes opened. He ran his fingers through his hair, stopping at the huge lump.

  For the first time in her life, she felt completely helpless. She needed his advice. “What are we going to do?”

  “Well we still have the ship,” Carilyo said. The words couldn’t have left his mouth slower. He looked back to the deck in thought, his head bobbling like he was drunk. He stumbled back to her, offering a hand. Taking it, she rose painfully, hearing his shoulder click, Carilyo wore an agonising wince. She saw the genuine pain on his face, like a child who’d grazed their knee.

  “For how long will we have the ship? How are we going to make money? We don’t have any to buy anything.” She searched her brother’s face for an answer.

  “We shall… think of something.” Carilyo spluttered out the words, he looked like he would pass out at any moment. “Everything always… works out for us… in the end. But first, we- we need to get out.” He exhaled sharply. “Of the east dock, we’ll go to the south dock, then decide what to do from there.”

  Cassi rubbed her face, then ruffled her hair, feeling the last few rings on one hand. She held the necklace tight. “I can raise enough to pay the crew for their efforts today, but we need to buy something worth selling.”

  “We’ll be fine,” Carilyo said. “When we get Samia and Doriya to Argosa, we’ll have more money than we know what to do with. I’ll… replace everything you lost. I’ll b- buy you the prettiest dress… in the Merged Seas, you’ll look like a governor’s daughter.”

  Cassi smiled, laughing a little inside. “Thank you Carilyo, but I don’t need expensive clothes anymore, having my big brother back is enough for me. Though I would like to change out of this.” She pulled at the silk shirt which stuck to her sweaty skin.