by Rob J. Hayes
“Well, I reckon those bastards have given us a hell of a weapon there. You two take as much as you need to replenish your stocks,” he said to the Arbiter and Kebble. “The rest I want storing somewhere safe, here on the island. I want as few folk as possible knowing about it. Good?”
“Aye, Cap’n,” Princess said.
“Good.” Drake stood from his barrel, swaying on his feet. The Arbiter rushed forwards to hold him upright. Keelin couldn’t quite figure out the relationship. If the Arbiter was Drake’s keeper, making certain he kept to whatever agenda the Inquisition had, why did she seem to care so much for him? “Now, if you all don’t mind, I need to rest. Princess, I’ll need a boat back to the Fortune.”
Chapter 30 - Starry Dawn
The beer was bitter and warm and foul, but Elaina swigged it down nevertheless. Courage was what she needed now, and while that was something she usually had in spades, and then some, the matter at hand was sensitive, and she had a bad feeling about it.
Three days ago Blu and Ocean Deep had arrived at north port, and three days ago Corin had gone missing. The quartermaster of Starry Dawn was known well in Fango, and not least of all because he could put it back and pass out under a tavern table as well as any sailor, but his disappearance had set Elaina’s mind ill at ease.
Fango was a large town with many buildings stretching across multiple trees, from jungle floor to canopy. Elaina had searched as many of them as she could, but to no avail. Even Quartermain hadn’t seen the man. Elaina supposed it was possible Corin had wandered off into the jungle, but that seemed unlikely given the fearsome reputation of the place. Much more likely was that Corin had turned on his friend and captain, turned on his crew, and told Tanner all about the ship they’d taken. The possibility of such treachery made Elaina sad and angry at the same time, and she couldn’t decide whether she’d hug her friend or stab him when she finally caught up to him.
The shade of the tree and the slight breeze should have been enough to keep Elaina cool, but her blood was boiling and no amount of wind could take away the heat she felt in her cheeks. She finished off the mug of vile beer and threw it into a nearby bush, her eyes fixed on the last place she could think to look for her friend: The Nymph. If she found Corin sitting in Tanner Black’s court, the betrayal would be undeniable.
Elaina set off at a sprint and leapt just before she reached the nearest climbing rope, taking it mid-jump and beginning her climb long before the rope had stopped swinging. She went hand over hand as quickly as she could, forsaking finesse for pure power. It was a waste of energy, but she felt like she had energy to burn, and releasing it in this way might make her less hotheaded in a confrontation.
Sweat was dripping from her face by the time she reached the ground floor of the brothel and pulled herself to her feet. As always, one of Tanner’s pirates stood guard at the entrance. Luckily for both of them, it wasn’t Mace. Elaina wasn’t sure how she’d react to the man’s presence in her current state. The pirate gave her a cheerful greeting; Elaina ignored the bastard and barged into the brothel.
It was the middle of the day, and though the music was absent, the activity in the brothel was no less vigorous than ever. Pirates drank and pirates fucked and whores earned their pay. Elaina had no time for any of it, and she headed straight to her father’s alcove, ignoring Quell’s attempt to detain her with flowery words.
Tanner Black was absent, but his court was not. Many of his pirates – and many of Blu’s – lounged around drinking and fiddling with their coin purses, trying to decide whether they should buy another fuck now or save their money for later. Blu himself was collapsed in a chair, with his head resting on his shoulder and a thin line of drool wetting his fancy shirt. One of Blu’s crew leaned over and poked his captain, and the fool woke with a start, his eyes going wide with shock and fear.
“Where’s Da?” Elaina all but shouted.
Blu made a sleepy, non-committal noise, and then shrugged. One of the other pirates was more awake and not so useless.
“Takin’ a piss.”
Elaina waited, but not patiently, pacing and sighing and snorting and growling, all while Tanner’s court and Blu watched her through bemused eyes. When Tanner entered the brothel, still in the act of fixing his belt, he didn’t seem surprised to see his daughter. The infamous pirate wandered back to his alcove and picked up a mug from the table, draining it in one large gulp.
“Elaina,” Tanner Black said eventually, giving his daughter permission to speak.
“I’m looking for my quartermaster.” Elaina decided to skip the pleasantries. “No one has seen him in days.”
“Can’t keep track of ya own crew,” Blu said with a nasty smirk.
“Quiet,” Tanner said sharply, and the entire brothel seemed to obey the command. “Follow me.” He set off towards the brothel’s far exit, leaving Elaina to catch up.
Following him outside, Elaina couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Where is he, Father?”
Tanner glanced impatiently over his shoulder, but said nothing. He wasted no time mounting one of the wooden bridges that crossed from the brothel to another nearby tree house, and quickened his pace. Elaina had to all but jog to keep up with him.
After crossing two more bridges they came to a giant tree that had three houses attached to the outside, all connected by a platform. An old one-eyed man sat in a rickety chair outside one of the buildings, and it took only a moment for Elaina to recognise him as a retired member of her father’s crew. From a distance he looked as though he were simply sitting, watching the world go by below him, but with an old sword laid on the table next to him and a set of keys attached to his belt, it quickly became clear he was guarding the building.
“Ya lied ta me, Elaina,” Tanner said as he took the keys from the old man and slotted one into the lock.
Elaina had the sudden feeling that she didn’t want to know what was on the other side of the door. “No, I didn’t.” Her voice was shaking.
“That ship ya took was Acanthian.”
Her father was staring at her now, his eyes dark and accusing. Some things she could get away with lying about, others she couldn’t – and this was one.
“That what Blu told ya? Aye, it was Acanthian.”
“An’ it was protected by the Guild.”
“No, it wasn’t.” Elaina immediately knew the lie was a mistake.
Tanner Black threw open the door to the house, grabbed hold of Elaina, and dragged her inside. She didn’t try to resist; her father could easily overpower her, and Elaina knew he might punish her, but never would he do her any permanent harm. At least, she sincerely hoped that was true. Despite her belief in her father, fear flowed through her veins, and she couldn’t stop herself shaking. The blood rushing through her ears was as loud as a turbulent ocean.
Inside, the house was dimly lit and stank of the stale straw that littered the floor. The room was empty, but Elaina could just about hear a low moaning coming from the other side of a closed door. Tanner let go of Elaina’s arm and closed the door behind them. The house grew dimmer still, but there was a flickering shard of light coming from under the door to the other room.
Tanner opened it, and lantern light flooded out. Elaina could see her father clearly now, as he stood there, staring at her. Never one to be timid, Elaina wasted no time in striding forwards. The second room was smaller than the first and just as poorly maintained, but there was a single storm lantern hanging from the wall. Corin was lying on the floor.
Forgetting her company, Elaina rushed forwards. Corin was moaning softly. His shirt had been ripped open, exposing his chest, and there was barely enough of it left to qualify as clothing. His britches were missing, and Elaina saw them balled up in a corner of the room. Worst, though, were the serene smile on her friend’s face and the distant look in his eyes.
“Corin.” Elaina shook him by the shoulders, to no response. “Corin!” she shouted, but still received no reply.
“What did ya do t
o him, Da?” Elaina turned furious eyes on her father.
“Nothin’,” Tanner Black said, stepping into the doorway. He filled the space. “He did it to himself; I jus’ supplied the means. He begged for it. Oh, the things he said, the things he did. Were you aware your quartermaster is addicted to Lucy?”
There was no safe answer to that question, and Elaina knew it. If she admitted to knowing, she’d seem a sentimental fool for letting an addict serve aboard her ship. Feigning ignorance would make her appear an incompetent captain. She settled on sending a poisonous glare towards her father.
“The ship you took was under the protection of the Guild.” Tanner folded his arms across his chest.
Right then Elaina wanted nothing so much as to defy her father.
“No, it wasn’t.”
Tanner Black took two steps into the room and sent a heavy boot into Corin’s midsection. The man barely seemed to notice; his only response was a moan that sounded more pleasure than pain.
“What are you doing?” Elaina shouted, rising to her feet and positioning herself between her father and Corin.
“Punishin’ you for lyin’ ta me,” Tanner growled. “I already know the truth, girl. Ya quartermaster told me everythin’ ta get himself another fix.”
“Fine, they had protection. But we didn’t leave no one alive ta get back ta the Guild.”
Tanner shoved Elaina aside, and she staggered away. Before she could get back between the two men, her father sent another boot into the prostrate man’s side. This time Corin coughed and attempted to roll away, but Tanner put his boot on the quartermaster’s belly to stop him.
Elaina rushed forwards to push her father away, but stopped at the last second as she realised it would only make matters worse. There was only one way to get both herself and Corin out of this situation, and that was to appease Tanner Black.
“I know about the navy ship, girl,” Tanner spat. “Provides its own set o’ problems. Means that shit Morrass probably wasn’t behind Black Sands and Sev’relain.”
“What about Sev’relain?”
“Gone. Same way as Black Sands, by the sound of it. Sarth’s handiwork, but I hear Morrass thinks the Five Kingdoms is in on it too. Last fuckin’ thing we need is the Guild financing the whole shitting thing.”
Elaina felt her stomach curdle. Keelin had fled Fango, and it was possible he’d made his way to Sev’relain. It was possible he’d died there. “I’m sorry, Da,” she said quietly.
Tanner watched his daughter for a moment, his boot still firmly on Corin’s belly; by the looks of it he was pressing down fairly hard. The addict didn’t seem to notice; he was stoned long past any sort of conscious thought.
“I’m takin’ ya loot,” Tanner said eventually. “All of it.”
“What? Ya can’t, Da. My crew…”
“I can’t?” Tanner sent another kick into Corin’s side.
Elaina couldn’t fathom how he could do such a thing. Tanner had known Corin for as long as she had. They’d grown up together, served on The Black Death together under Tanner. Now he’d drugged Corin and was beating him. Elaina nodded, resigned.
“I’ll have it sent to Quartermain on your behalf.”
“Good.” Tanner removed his boot from Corin’s belly. “An’ you’ll be needing a new quartermaster.”
“What? Da, please…”
Her father had always been quicker than his size should allow, and his hand shot out and grabbed hold of Elaina. He dragged her out of the room, and she didn’t bother to struggle; it would have been useless.
“The boy will stay right here,” Tanner said as he dragged Elaina away. “Wouldn’t want ta deprive my crew of their new pet.” Elaina’s last glimpse of her best friend showed Corin lying motionless on the floor, with deep red swelling already starting to discolor his side and a stupid grin on his face.
Chapter 31 - The Phoenix
Standing outside his cabin aboard The Phoenix, Keelin though back to something his brother had said to him a long time ago. “When you’re faced with a great many tasks, pick the most arduous and complete that one first. The rest will appear easy by comparison.” Right now Keelin was taking that advice very much to heart.
“She ain’t in there, Cap’n,” Feather said. Keelin turned to the boy with a hopeful grin, though he had a strangely sour feeling in his stomach.
“She’s vacated my cabin? Did she go ashore?”
Feather paled and scratched behind his ear. “Nah, Cap’n. She’s… um… up in the nest. Taken to spending some time up there, when not teaching the cook to… cook.”
Keelin looked upwards to the nest, then grabbed hold of some rigging, readying himself for the climb.
“She don’t like to be disturbed, Cap’n. Says it’s her place of peace.”
Keelin stopped and turned on Feather. “How long have I been gone?”
“F… few days, Cap’n?”
“And you staged a mutiny to put her in charge?”
“No!” Feather looked shocked and terrified all at once.
“Then I think I’ll go disturb her. Gods know she’s disturbed me enough.” Keelin leapt, took hold of a tied-off rope leading up to the main mast, and started climbing.
Just that morning the work crew had finished construction of the Righteous Indignation, and before anyone else could claim ownership of the tavern, Keelin intended to rid himself of his squatter.
Halfway up to the nest, Keelin took a moment to look down upon the beach and the fledgling town of New Sev’relain. The massive hulk of the Man of War, still being cannibalised for its wood, was the most visible landmark. A trail of people walking to or from the ship almost looked like ants scavenging a giant carcass.
On the beach front, just up from the tidal line, sat the shacks, shanties, and tents of the temporary settlement. The majority of the refugees were still living in those makeshift shelters, along with many of the pirates from both the Fortune and The Phoenix.
Further up the beach, towards the tree line and on firmer ground, sat the first true buildings of New Sev’relain. The tavern was the largest, and while it looked impressive from the outside, Keelin knew first-hand it was still all but empty inside, little more than a shell. Smaller buildings were dotted here and there nearby, housing or food stores; some were even occupied already.
In the little more than fourteen days since they’d landed on Cinto Cena, the island had begun to take the shape of Drake’s dream. Keelin wanted nothing more than to set sail and get back out onto the ocean. He reached the nest and hauled himself up over the lip and into it. Aimi was staring not towards the island, but out to sea, her back to him. The nest was barely big enough for two people, and Keelin found himself huddled to one side in an attempt to minimise contact. He cleared his throat softly, finding he didn’t truly want to disturb the woman.
Aimi looked over her shoulder, gave Keelin a brief but warm smile, then turned back towards the ocean vista. Keelin couldn’t entirely blame her; with the sun high and hot and sending glinting shards of light off the waves, it was a truly beautiful sight.
“The tavern is finished,” Keelin said, deciding to jump right into the matter. “Down in the town.”
“Mhm.” Aimi gave no other response.
Keelin opened his mouth to say more, but realised he had no idea how to broach the subject.
“I was born at sea,” Aimi said, as if talking to herself. Keelin decided to shut his mouth and listen. “My parents used to love telling me the story. They were fisher-folk from the coast of Tseronei, just south of Larkos in the Dragon Empire. My mother was pregnant with me, and they were out fishing one day when a storm hit. My father used to say it was the largest he’d ever seen, a fitting storm to herald my coming. My mother went into labour and popped me out right there in the little cabin.”
“How did you end up in Sev’relain?”
“Fishing villages are small places, Captain Stillwater,” Aimi said. “Too small and too confined. I wanted to see more of the wo
rld. My older sister taught me how to bind my breasts and dress to look like a boy, and I booked passage on a trader. I learned to tie knots, climb ropes, and piss in secret. I visited some wonderful places, until pirates took the ship.” She gave Keelin a dark look over her shoulder. It seemed to dim the brightness of the day, and made him feel guilty for his chosen profession as he never had before.
“Captain Iolin of the Ferryman took the ship in a mostly bloodless chase.”
“He was a fair man, Iolin,” Keelin said. “Until he sailed into Land’s End and they stretched his neck.” He rubbed a hand across his throat; the idea of hanging was not a pleasant one.
“Seemed so,” Aimi continued. “Took me on as ship’s boy for a while, but by then it was getting harder to hide my breasts.” She looked over her shoulder again, piercing Keelin with a challenging stare. “The problem with growing into a woman. One of many, actually, at least when trying to pass as a boy.
“A few years back he stopped the Ferryman at Sev’relain, and I jumped off, bought some clothes more fitting to my figure, and begged for some work at the tavern. I learned to cook, serve drinks, and avoid lecherous pirates. I never meant to stay there.”
Keelin sighed.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Aimi turned back to the sea. “I didn’t mean for my life story to bore you.”
“It didn’t, it’s just…” Sometimes the best way was to simply dive in. “The tavern is finished, and it needs an owner. I thought that you…”
“No.”
“Well, at least you considered it.”
“I just told you I never wanted to get stuck in Sev’relain,” Aimi hissed, “and now you want me to strand myself here, wherever this is.”
“We’re calling it New Sev’relain.”
Aimi rolled her eyes at him.
“You’re going ashore,” Keelin said firmly.
“No, I’m not.”
“Well, you can’t stay here.”
