Lintang and the Pirate Queen

by Tamara Moss

  ‘Who cares about the sirens when we’re going to die now?’

  Xiang pointed to Mei and Eire, who were tying ropes around their waists. ‘They’ll lower themselves down and hack at the serpent from there. Hopefully it’ll do the job, or at least make it let go. If only we could find the head. Then we could –’ She cut off and groaned.

  Lintang turned to see what she was looking at and found Captain Shafira tying a rope around her waist with the other two.

  ‘She’s always got to be a hero,’ Xiang muttered, then stalked over to them.

  Lintang tightened her grip on the harpoon. If only she could be the hero this time.

  Yamini burst out of the hatch and ran across the deck. ‘Let me help, Captain.’

  The cheater! She’d probably tried to stop Lintang to get the glory for herself.

  But Captain Shafira whirled to Yamini with a face like thunder. ‘What are you doing here? I told you to stay below deck!’

  Before Yamini could respond, the ship rocked steeply, throwing everyone off their feet. Lintang was still scrambling to stand when the serpent’s head lifted behind Captain Shafira, snapping its jaws. It took a heartbeat for Lintang to realise there was a little ball of white light speeding around its face.

  ‘The harpoons!’ Captain Shafira said. Xiang turned to fetch them, but the serpent dived at Captain Shafira’s voice, fangs bared.

  Lintang acted without thinking. She raced forward and shoved her harpoon into the serpent’s mouth to wedge it open. The serpent started to snap but stopped as the dragon’s claw dug into the roof of its mouth and sprayed blood across the deck.

  A thread of pain sliced down Lintang’s arm. She staggered and fell back.

  Pelita buzzed around the serpent, again making it lift its head. Keelee gave a piercing screech, and lightning split the blue sky. The serpent thrashed in pain as Lintang blinked away spots.

  ‘Now, while it’s blinded!’ Captain Shafira said.

  Eire jumped onto the rigging. Xiang hurled one of the remaining harpoons through the air. Eire swung out on a rope, caught the harpoon with one hand, and used the dragon talon to slash the serpent through the neck.

  The serpent fell back, slopping into the ocean, its body unfurling from the hull like a rope let loose. Lintang hadn’t realised how its grip had affected the ship until they bobbed higher onto the waves. The crew leaned over all sides to watch the mythie’s torso sink into the depths.

  Eire landed back on the deck, the harpoon still in her hand. Some of the crew cheered, but the rest were already starting to assess the damage done to the ship.

  Lintang didn’t get up. She checked her stinging arm. Her skivvy sleeve had torn and there was a ribbon of blood from her shoulder to her elbow.

  Captain Shafira jogged over. ‘Are you hurt?’

  Lintang wanted to say no, it was only a scratch, but the stinging had grown worse.

  Quahah leaned her hands on her knees to inspect it. ‘Fish on a stick, is that a wound from the serpent’s fang?’

  ‘You need to get that fixed up.’ Captain Shafira took Lintang’s good arm and helped her to her feet. ‘Come on, we’ll get you to Hewan.’

  ‘She was very brave,’ said Xiang as they passed her.

  ‘Yes, I suppose she was,’ Captain Shafira said. Lintang’s heart lifted in hope – the captain thought she was brave – until Captain Shafira added, ‘Except that she disobeyed my orders. Again.’

  Banished

  Captain Shafira sat Lintang on one of the mess’s tables and rolled up her skivvy sleeve.

  ‘Oh, the poor thing,’ Farah-the-clam-shell said.

  ‘Maybe they’ll have to cut her arm off,’ Dee said in a hushed tone.

  Lintang sucked in a sharp breath.

  Captain Shafira gave Dee a warning glare before yelling, ‘Hewan!’

  The rest of the crew gathered around. Eire took one look at Lintang’s arm and huffed. ‘She is fine. Why is there fuss?’

  ‘Yamini, fetch me some salve.’ Captain Shafira took a bundle of clean cloth from Avalon and pressed it against Lintang’s wound, which caused sparks of pain up and down her arm.

  ‘I’m sorry I didn’t stay below deck,’ Lintang said. ‘I just wanted to make sure Bayani was safe. He’s in a room filled with weapons and –’

  ‘Don’t you think I know that?’ Captain Shafira said. ‘Don’t you think we’re prepared? Avalon would be in dire trouble down there if we hit turbulent waters, otherwise. The weapons are always secured against the wall.’

  Lintang untangled her tongue. ‘But if the ship sank –’

  ‘The ship will not sink.’ Captain Shafira couldn’t know that for certain, but she sounded incredibly sure of herself.

  Lintang hesitated. ‘Keelee … the lightning bird … it does have powers, doesn’t it?’

  ‘It protects me, and the ship,’ Captain Shafira said. ‘So there was no need for you to act. Your constant disobedience is giving others the idea that they can ignore my orders, too.’ She shot an annoyed glance in the direction Yamini had gone. ‘Not to mention you lost me a valuable harpoon.’

  Lintang sagged, then winced as the action tugged at her wound.

  ‘She was only trying to save you,’ Avalon said.

  Captain Shafira didn’t answer.

  Avalon persisted. ‘She won’t have to leave the Winda. Right?’

  Lintang’s breath caught.

  ‘You made promise,’ Eire said. ‘If girl disobeyed, she would be off ship.’

  Captain Shafira looked at Lintang. There was regret in her eyes.

  ‘No,’ Lintang said. Hurt crept into her voice.

  ‘Vierzans will take you home,’ Eire said, maybe to appear reassuring, but she looked pleased, and Lintang knew she didn’t really care what happened, as long as Lintang was gone.

  Xiang stepped forward. ‘What about your necklace, Captain?’

  ‘We will go to Twin Islands later,’ Eire said.

  ‘I didn’t ask you,’ Xiang said, frowning.

  ‘I’m here.’ Hewan stumped in with a wooden box. ‘Who’s hurt?’

  Captain Shafira withdrew the cloth, and Hewan peered at Lintang’s arm. ‘Oh dear,’ she said. ‘Looks like it needs stitches.’

  Lintang barely heard her. ‘Captain, please –’

  ‘Don’t speak,’ Captain Shafira said.

  ‘But –’

  ‘For once in your life, Lintang, just do what I say!’

  Lintang recoiled. Captain Shafira sounded angry. Truly angry.

  Mother had yelled at her before. Elder Wulan had yelled at her before. That was nothing compared to this. The Goddess had had enough. Lintang had broken the rules one too many times, had opened her mouth when she shouldn’t have, had been as disobedient and troublesome as Mother had warned.

  Heat flooded Lintang’s face as the rest of the crew shifted uncomfortably. Eire nodded to herself, satisfied the captain could finally see the truth. Lintang was not fit to be a crew member of the Winda.

  Yamini returned with a cloth filled with the green goop from the slop bucket room. She was smirking – she must’ve heard Lintang being told off.

  Hewan scooped up the goop. It killed germs and kept the body clean. Lintang had used it every night instead of having a bath. But this time, when Hewan smeared it on the wound, it stung as hot as a hornet sting. Lintang cried out, surprised.

  ‘We haven’t even started yet,’ Hewan said.

  Captain Shafira held out a hand. ‘Here.’ Her voice was tight.

  Lintang didn’t move. She felt raw and exposed. Any movement, even to reach out to the captain, seemed like it would somehow make her humiliation worse.

  But then Hewan pulled out a thread and a needle, and they were very alarming, so Lintang clutched at Captain Shafira’s fingers as though her grip alone would keep the pain away.

  ‘Don’t watch, starflower,’ said Dee as Hewan threaded the needle.

  Lintang shut her eyes. She wished everyone would leave.

&nb
sp; When Hewan pinched the top of her cut together she let out a small gasp and squeezed Captain Shafira’s hand tighter. Captain Shafira squeezed back.

  The noise dimmed as the needle pierced Lintang’s skin. She could feel the thread being pulled through. She shut her eyes and whispered a string of swear words in her own language.

  ‘Avalon, get Bayani,’ Captain Shafira said. ‘He can keep Lintang company while Hewan works.’

  Eire snorted. ‘Why?’ she said as Avalon left the room. ‘They will be company in Zaiben, yes?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Captain Shafira quietly. ‘I suppose they will.’

  The Defiant Boy

  Bayani entered the mess alone. Lintang didn’t look up. The tears had come uninvited, and she hated when people saw her cry, even him.

  Captain Shafira stood so he could take her spot. He sat down and squeezed Lintang’s fingers.

  ‘Avalon said you fought a sea serpent,’ he said. ‘Just like Pero the warrior.’

  She stifled a sob and didn’t answer. She was overly aware of the rest of the crew standing around, murmuring to each other. Hewan continued her agonising work.

  Bayani added lightly, ‘You’ve had worse than this. Remember when you swam through the rapids and broke your arm?’

  Lintang finally looked at him. ‘I have to leave the Winda.’

  His half-hearted smile faded. ‘I heard.’ He cupped her hand in both of his. ‘We’ll go home together. It’ll be all right.’

  No. It would never be all right again.

  She said nothing, and he said nothing, and the silence stretched on. Twip and Pelita passed the corridor outside the mess, Twip chasing Pelita with high-pitched screeches while Pelita dodged and zipped about in glee.

  ‘I’m so sorry, Lintang,’ Bayani said at last. ‘I heard you broke the rules to try to save me. I’ve ruined everything, haven’t I?’ He loosened his grip on her hand. ‘I can go back to the cage if you want.’

  She clutched at his fingers, keeping him in his spot. Yes, she was embarrassed. No, she didn’t want him to leave.

  So, even though neither of them spoke, he waited by her side while Hewan worked. Captain Shafira and Xiang spoke in the corner, their voices too low to hear. Everyone else had given up their conversations.

  Pelita finally joined Bayani, resettling on his shoulder.

  ‘Are you done tormenting poor Twip now?’ he said.

  She buzzed her wings in satisfaction.

  ‘Finished,’ Hewan said at last, and cut the leftover thread from the wound. ‘It will leave a scar, I’m afraid.’ She examined her work. ‘I suppose you haven’t had the Curall.’

  Lintang released Bayani’s hand and flexed her fingers. ‘No.’

  Hewan nodded, unsurprised.

  ‘What’s Curall?’ Bayani said.

  Hewan rummaged in her medical box. ‘A new medicine developed by Vierzans. It kills dangerous things in your body. Stops illnesses, diseases; you name it, the Curall fixes it.’

  ‘We could use that in Desa,’ Bayani said.

  ‘I’m sure you could,’ Hewan said. ‘But only people who are part of the United Regions are entitled to it.’

  Lintang thought of her grandfather, his body shuddering with blood-filled coughs, the healer’s broths doing nothing to save him. She thought of the plagues that swept through the village, taking so many lives on their way. She thought of how sick Bayani had been last season; how helpless she’d felt when he’d been rushed to Sundriya, so delirious with fever he spoke only nonsense, while his father quietly made preparations for his funeral. They’d desperately needed medicine then.

  ‘That’s not fair,’ she whispered.

  ‘No,’ Captain Shafira said, looking up from her conversation with Xiang, ‘it isn’t. It’s just another reason Vierzans are able to talk countries into joining the UR. I can’t believe –’

  She cut off abruptly as Bayani straightened, gasping.

  ‘What?’ Captain Shafira said at the same time Hewan said, ‘Here it is,’ and pulled out a small glass vial with a pump on the top. ‘I have one left. It’s a spray. Just aim for the back of your throat.’

  She held the vial out for Lintang, but Bayani snatched it from her hand. ‘Let me see that.’

  Lintang pulled away in surprise. Since when did Bayani snatch?

  He whirled to Pelita too fast for anyone to stop him, and sprayed her directly in the face.

  Hewan cried out, Captain Shafira stepped forward and the crew tensed for a fight. Eire even drew her weapon.

  ‘Have you lost your mind?’ Lintang said.

  ‘Bayani,’ said Captain Shafira slowly, ‘that was Lintang’s best chance of avoiding infection.’

  Pelita hovered beside him, spluttering.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Bayani said. ‘But I have two days left. I had to try.’

  ‘Try what?’ Lintang said, but Captain Shafira spoke over her.

  ‘You think this is going to prove it?’

  ‘I hope so.’

  ‘Prove what?’ Lintang said. ‘What do you mean, you have two days left?’

  Xiang looked from Captain Shafira to Bayani, puzzled. ‘What’s going on?’

  ‘The boy is defiant,’ Eire said, pointing the spear side of her weapon at him.

  ‘He used up the last Curall!’ Hewan cried.

  ‘Everybody stop talking, and Eire, for the love of Mratzi, put your khwando away.’

  Eire scowled and reluctantly returned her weapon to her belt.

  Captain Shafira peered at Pelita. ‘How long do you think it will take to work?’

  ‘I have no idea.’ Bayani held his hand out for Pelita to sit on. She did so begrudgingly, giving him her worst glare. ‘Sorry,’ he said again. ‘But hopefully it will be worth it.’

  ‘What will be worth it?’ Lintang said.

  Captain Shafira and Bayani were working together. They had a secret, something neither of them had shared with Lintang. She frowned at them as they watched Pelita.

  ‘Wait,’ Bayani said. ‘Just wait.’

  The Little Girl

  Pelita buzzed about for a bit, then sat down on the table, yawned and curled up to sleep. The crew grew bored and wandered away. Though no one said it, their looks towards Bayani were clear. They didn’t know what he was up to, and they didn’t like it. Lintang didn’t like it, either.

  Captain Shafira placed a hand on his shoulder. ‘It was only a theory.’

  ‘Can you please tell me what’s going on now?’ Lintang said.

  Before Bayani could answer, Pelita woke with a squeak and squirmed in her spot.

  Bayani jerked forward. ‘Look.’

  Pelita’s white glow was getting brighter.

  ‘Yes.’ The word rushed out from Bayani as a breath.

  ‘Mratzi’s scythe,’ Captain Shafira said, stepping towards the table. She stared at Pelita, mouth open.

  The glow grew so bright they couldn’t look directly at it.

  Lintang pushed her chair away and stood. ‘What’s happening?’

  ‘Dee!’ Captain Shafira said.

  Dee stuck her head into the room. ‘What’s wrong, Captain?’

  ‘Fetch Hewan. And get a fur cloak from the cargo, now.’

  Dee’s eyes widened at Pelita’s glow, but she nodded and hurried off.

  Pelita’s squeaks turned to tiny shrieks. She sounded like she was in pain.

  From beside Lintang, Bayani was whispering, ‘Please work, please work, please be worth it, please work –’

  And then, as swiftly as a sneeze, a human body burst out of the pixie. A girl lay in Pelita’s place, an Islander barely ten years old. She opened her eyes and screamed.

  Lintang staggered backwards.

  Captain Shafira lunged to hold the girl still. ‘It’s all right, little one, it’s all right –’ She glanced at Bayani over her shoulder and said breathlessly, ‘You were right. By the Gods, Bayani, you were right all along.’

  Lintang looked at him. He was staring at the girl like he couldn�
�t believe it either.

  Dee returned with a fur coat, and Captain Shafira wrapped it around the girl’s body, both to cover her and pin her arms in place. ‘Get some food and fresh water prepared.’

  ‘Wh–what’s happening?’ Lintang said as Dee left again. ‘Who is that?’

  Hewan returned with her medical box. ‘What – oh.’ She put the box down. Other crew members crowded in. The girl continued to scream.

  ‘A little help, Bayani,’ Captain Shafira said.

  Bayani hesitated, then leaned over the girl. ‘I’m here,’ he said softly. ‘You’re safe now.’

  She cut off mid-scream and stared at him, mouth agape, chest heaving.

  ‘Wa … ter …’ She had to speak through wheezes, and she used Vierse.

  ‘Dee, hurry with that water!’ Captain Shafira said.

  The girl continued to stare at Bayani. ‘You …’

  ‘Bayani,’ he said. ‘My name’s Bayani.’

  Her brow creased. ‘Bayani, Bayani, Bayani.’ She said it like a chant, and something about it sparked in the back of Lintang’s memory.

  Bayani’s face paled.

  The little girl drew another shuddering breath. ‘Water.’

  ‘Dee!’ Captain Shafira said.

  ‘Water,’ the girl said again, still staring at Bayani. ‘The water will call for you.’

  ‘Shh.’ He stroked her hair. ‘It’s all right.’

  She sobbed. ‘The water will call for you. The harvester will come.’

  ‘What’s she talking about?’ Lintang said.

  ‘Nothing,’ Bayani said, avoiding her gaze.

  Nothing, nothing, nothing.

  The girl closed her eyes again.

  Hewan picked up her medical box and joined them. ‘What do you need, Captain?’

  ‘Make sure she’s all right,’ Captain Shafira said. ‘I’ll have her taken to your room.’

  Dee hurried in with a jar of pickled fish and a flagon of water. She pushed through the crowd, the gold hoops in her ears swinging frantically. ‘Where do you want this?’

  ‘In Hewan’s room.’

  ‘She’s a little girl,’ Mei said, staring. ‘She’s just a little girl.’