Lintang and the Pirate Queen

by Tamara Moss

  Captain Shafira drew a breath and tried again. ‘How did you get Eire’s weapon?’

  ‘What, this?’ He heaved the khwando from palm to palm. ‘Picked it up on my way through.’ Then he smiled, and it was a terrible, frightening smile.

  Captain Shafira didn’t speak.

  He stepped out of the engine room. ‘Stay,’ he said, then closed the door, and with the sounds of the spoked wheel turning, it locked into place.

  Captain Shafira pushed at it. It didn’t budge.

  ‘So,’ said Captain Moon, starting up the staircase, ‘we really are dealing with a Kanekonese siren.’

  Captain Shafira turned to her. ‘Tell me there’s another way out of here.’

  ‘The pipes lead to the ocean; you’d never get back onto the ship by going through them. Other than that door, there’s no exit.’

  Captain Shafira pushed at it again. ‘We have to get out.’

  Captain Moon’s boots clanged loudly on the steps. ‘I haven’t faced a Kanekonese siren before, but I’ve had the training. We’re not going to do anything against the boy’s orders, or we’re all dead.’

  ‘Um,’ said Lintang.

  ‘We’re dead if we reach the siren, anyway,’ Captain Shafira said. ‘It’ll drag this ship under, taking us with it.’

  Captain Moon reached the balcony. ‘Why in Patiki’s name did you have a boy on board? Even with regular sirens it’s dangerous to take a male –’

  ‘This is absolutely not the time to lecture me.’ Captain Shafira kicked the door. ‘Just get us out of here.’

  ‘Um –’ said Lintang again, but Captain Moon cut her off.

  ‘I told you, there isn’t another way out.’

  ‘What kind of ship doesn’t have multiple exits in the engine room?’

  ‘Does your ship have multiple exits in the engine room?’

  Lintang tried again. ‘Um –’

  ‘The Winda doesn’t have an engine room, it’s a sailing ship.’

  ‘You still have that old thing? Move with the times, Captain Shafira, sailing ships are for slaves to the elements –’

  ‘EXCUSE ME, POTATO GIRL WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING.’ They all turned to Pelita, who nodded at Lintang. ‘Go ahead.’

  Lintang slipped off her boot and said, ‘I have another Curall, if you’re interested?’

  The Job Offer

  After Captain Moon unshackled the dragon, Captain Shafira sprayed the Curall against its nostrils. ‘Hopefully that’ll do it,’ she said, tossing the vial aside and stepping away. ‘The sleeping sickness should wear off in a grain or two.’

  ‘Oh … good …’ Lintang said, eyeing the dragon’s chest as it moved up and down.

  ‘The dragon can break the door, but it’ll need a target,’ Captain Moon said.

  Captain Shafira turned for the staircase. ‘I’ll do it.’

  ‘No.’ Captain Moon stopped her. ‘The dragon knows and despises me. It’ll go after me first.’

  ‘Wakey, wakey,’ Pelita said, and they glanced at the dragon to find its eyes blinking open.

  Captain Shafira pushed Lintang and Pelita away. ‘Hide.’

  The two of them ran to the corner, finding a spot behind a mess of pipes.

  ‘Why do you have children with you?’ Captain Moon said as she started across the room.

  ‘Long story,’ Captain Shafira said. ‘And don’t you dare start lecturing me again!’

  The dragon wobbled to its feet. Lintang peeked between pipes, trying to see through the steam. The dragon’s front leg gave way and it fell again, hitting the metal floor.

  ‘Poor thing,’ Lintang whispered.

  ‘I’ll go help it,’ said Pelita, starting forward.

  Lintang lunged to grab her baggy shirt.

  The dragon lifted its snout, its nostrils flaring as it sniffed the room.

  ‘Hey!’ Captain Moon shouted from the balcony. ‘Remember me?’

  The dragon whipped around. Its eyes narrowed to slits. No longer did it look like a stumbling, weak thing. The Curall was doing its job.

  Pelita clapped. ‘Well done, dragon!’

  Lintang clamped a hand over Pelita’s mouth. Too late. Pelita giggled behind her palm.

  ‘Keep quiet, you two!’ Captain Moon said. ‘Dragon, over here. Over here!’

  But the dragon slithered towards Lintang and Pelita, sniffing them out in the steam. Lintang mentally measured the distance between them and the staircase. They might be able to make it, if the dragon was still drowsy.

  ‘Pelita,’ she said as the dragon picked up its pace, ‘do you want to play a game?’

  ‘Yay!’

  ‘First one to the staircase wins. Ready?’ The dragon had one last pipe to weave around – they could go the other way and steal an extra heartbeat. ‘Go!’

  They sprinted for the staircase. Behind them the dragon roared, its talons scraping against the metal deck as it gave chase.

  ‘Run, run, run!’ Lintang screamed, but she needn’t have. Pelita sped across the room as fast as when she was a pixie.

  The dragon’s warm breath drenched Lintang’s back. She winced, waiting for the pounce, waiting to be knocked to the floor and devoured, but there was a battle cry behind her and a scrabbling sound. She risked a peek over her shoulder.

  Captain Shafira had thrown herself at the dragon and sent it off-track. It scrambled to right itself as Captain Shafira leaped to her feet and raced after Lintang. ‘Don’t slow down!’

  Pelita was already at the foot of the staircase, jumping on the spot. ‘I won, I won!’

  Lintang reached her, but Captain Shafira’s arms came around them both, hurling them sideways to the hot floor. Pain zinged up Lintang’s wound. A breeze whipped above as the dragon soared overhead. It kept going, heading for Captain Moon.

  ‘That’s right,’ Captain Moon said. ‘Come and get me.’

  It snapped at her head. She ducked, and its snout clanged against the door. It swiped at her. She spun out of the way. Its talons sliced through the bottom of the solid door as easily as a knife through fish flesh. Light from the passageway streamed in.

  ‘That’s not good enough,’ Captain Shafira said. ‘You need it to destroy the door completely.’

  Captain Moon grunted, using her sword to keep back the dragon’s snapping jaw. Sweat dripped from her face. Her perfect hair had come loose. Her coat now had three large rips across the front. ‘I’m working on it.’

  Captain Shafira pulled Lintang and Pelita to their feet. ‘Are you two all right?’

  ‘This is great!’ Pelita said.

  Lintang couldn’t tear her gaze from the battle. The dragon slashed at Captain Moon, ripping more holes in the door and only just missing her each time.

  ‘That will do,’ Captain Shafira said as the door finally crumpled. She jogged to the other side of the room, where the dragon had been shackled, and rattled the chains.

  The dragon’s head jerked up.

  Captain Shafira banged the chains against the wall. ‘Freedom’s on the other side. Don’t you want to get out of here?’

  The dragon spread its wings and launched from the balcony. Its tail only just missed Captain Moon on its way down.

  Lintang ushered Pelita up the staircase. There was enough space in the door to get into the passageway, but Lintang hesitated, watching the dragon land in front of Captain Shafira. Steam drifted over, blocking them for a moment, then bright light spilled into the room. The dragon had ripped through the wall. Lintang stood on her toes, trying to see around the pipes. There was a moment of shadow as the dragon flew out of the ship. Fresh air billowed in, swirling the steam around.

  But where was Captain Shafira?

  ‘Come on, what are you waiting for?’

  There she was, already halfway across the room. Lintang grinned, relief flooding her nerves. Of course Captain Shafira was all right. She was unkillable.

  Captain Moon scooped to pick up the black sword from the balcony. ‘I’m impressed.’

  ‘B
ack at you,’ Captain Shafira said, reaching the top of the staircase. She took her sword from Captain Moon and sheathed it. ‘Come on.’

  The four of them sprinted down the passageway. ‘You’ll be adrift without a dragon powering the ship,’ Captain Shafira said. ‘When we’re done I’ll send someone to get you.’

  ‘That all right, we can send a message to Kaneko Brown for help.’

  ‘Just like our last encounter, eh?’

  Captain Moon groaned. ‘Don’t remind me.’

  They climbed the first lot of stairs.

  ‘I know you’re good,’ Captain Moon said, ‘but what makes you think you’re going to win against a Kanekonese siren?’

  ‘We have to. We’re the only ones who know the truth about the mythies.’

  ‘What truth?’ Captain Moon said, but Lintang was no longer paying attention. Horror surged through her. Captain Shafira was right. If the Kanekonese siren killed them all, no one else would know mythies were human. Innocent people would continue to die.

  They started down the next passageway. Spots had appeared before Lintang’s eyes, and tiny spears attacked her lungs. Pelita kept up with the captains easily. She was even humming as she ran.

  ‘No,’ Captain Shafira said to a question Captain Moon had asked while Lintang was busy fighting for breath. ‘I’m the last one you should be worried about.’ Impossibly, she picked up her pace. ‘My crew, on the other hand …’

  Lintang jolted to a stop.

  Captain Shafira only made it a few more steps before she realised Lintang wasn’t following, and stopped too. ‘What are you …?’

  ‘Bayani,’ Lintang said. She had to wheeze the word. She clutched her aching lungs. ‘Bayani … He’s going to die … today.’

  Her heart throbbed, and not from the run. It was already happening. He was under the siren’s spell. Even if Captain Shafira won, even if they saved the siren, Bayani wasn’t going to make it.

  Pelita and Captain Moon waited, chests heaving, faces red.

  Captain Shafira didn’t move. ‘I’ll do everything I can, but I can’t promise I’ll be able to save him. I’m sorry.’

  Lintang slapped a hand over her eyes. Not even the Goddess could help him now.

  She heard footsteps, and when she uncovered her eyes, Captain Shafira was standing before her.

  ‘I’ve come across a lot of horrific things in my travels,’ Captain Shafira said, ‘but this is the worst. Bayani –’ She cut off. Breathed deep. Tried again. ‘Bayani is one of the best people I’ve ever met. It’s not fair, what’s happening to him. And for him to die under my care … I hate it. I hate it so much, I want to find Mratzi and take her on myself.’

  Lintang curled her hands into fists. ‘Me too.’

  Captain Shafira gripped her shoulders. ‘But we can’t.’ When Lintang opened her mouth to argue, she said firmly, ‘We can’t. We don’t have the power to stop a mythie like the propheseeds, and I – I’m worried you’re going to try something silly to save him. I’m worried you’re going to die under my care, too.’

  ‘But –’

  ‘Promise me,’ Captain Shafira said, ‘promise me you won’t risk your life to save him.’

  Lintang had to grit her teeth against more tears. She couldn’t promise that, not even to the Goddess.

  Captain Shafira smiled, but it was a sad smile. ‘Lintang. You’re brave, and loyal, and imaginative, and everything I look for in a shipmate. I want you to be a crew member of the Winda, and you can’t do that if you’re dead.’

  Lintang’s breath stuck in her chest. ‘Y–You want me?’

  ‘I do. I promised your mother to return you to Desa, and I will. But I never said anything about not taking you away again.’

  A traitorous tear slipped down Lintang’s cheek. ‘Really?’

  ‘Really,’ Captain Shafira said. Her expression turned grim. ‘But if you want to be invited onto my ship, it means not giving up your life to save Bayani. It means letting today play out how it’s supposed to.’

  ‘You mean letting him die.’

  ‘If that’s what the prophecy means, then yes,’ Captain Shafira said. ‘You need to let Bayani die.’

  * * *

  THE MYTHIE GUIDEBOOK

  INFORMATION PAGE: ORIGINS

  Documented reports around the world speak of shooting stars that appeared before the Infestation, which marked the end of the Chihin period and the beginning of the Bauei period. The shooting stars are widely understood to be the arrival of the new creatures to our world, in the form of what we commonly call ‘mythies’. These creatures have been part of our myths and legends since the beginning of humanity, and there is speculation over whether the Gods were inspired by our creations, or whether we foresaw the introduction of the mythies throughout our various cultures.

  One question we must ask is why? Why would the Three Gods send predatory, parasitic beasts to our world in such a violent fashion? Why do the mythical creatures seem to focus so much on humans, both as prey and as hosts to their young (see section on reproduction)?

  Mythie hunters and scholars of mythology agree that the introduction of these aggressive species seems to be a threat by the Gods towards humanity. One governor of the United Regions went on record to say he believed the mythies were sent to this world specifically to wipe out humans for good.

  While this may be an alarming theory, other experts won’t go as far as that. Everyone concurs, however, that the Three Gods – Niti, Patiki and Mratzi – have a lot to answer for.

  * * *

  Sacrifice

  They made a detour to the Glory’s medic’s office. Eire and Xiang weren’t there.

  ‘Did you have crew stationed here?’ Captain Moon said as Captain Shafira stopped at the doorway.

  Captain Shafira didn’t answer.

  ‘No bodies is good,’ Captain Moon said. ‘No bodies means he didn’t kill them.’

  Captain Shafira scanned the room. Lintang peeked in too. The place had already been ransacked from their earlier search for Curall, with cupboards broken, boxes out, drawers open. There was no blood, at least.

  ‘Maybe they’ve gone back to your ship,’ Captain Moon said.

  Captain Shafira still didn’t speak.

  Lintang touched her arm. Every grain of sand that fell through the hourglass was time away from Bayani. ‘Captain? We need to get to the Winda.’

  Captain Shafira jerked at the touch. ‘Right,’ she said, the silence leaving her. ‘Let’s go. If Bayani’s cut the tethering ropes, we’ll have to figure out another way aboard.’

  They climbed to the top deck, into the wind and sun. There was less steam than before. The ship no longer had anything powering it.

  Captain Moon’s crew were untied and standing to attention around the perimeter of the deck. They were staring towards the stern, but turned when Captain Moon marched forward. There was a shiiing of swords as they saw Captain Shafira.

  ‘Arms away,’ Captain Moon said. ‘First mate, report.’

  A woman stepped forward as the others reluctantly returned their swords. ‘Spellbound male has boarded the pirate ship. He instructed us to remain here, and as per K-S Protocol One we followed his orders. Our dragon escaped shortly after and headed east.’

  ‘And the Winda’s crew?’ Captain Moon said.

  ‘The invading crew returned to their own ship with the spellbound male and a second, unconscious male.’

  Captain Shafira advanced. The crew braced themselves but didn’t draw their weapons again. ‘Does that include the Vierzan and Phaizen women?’

  The first mate glanced at Captain Moon before answering. ‘My attention was on the boy and the dragon. I wasn’t taking note of –’

  ‘Never mind.’ Captain Shafira turned to the Winda. It was still against the Glory, sails raised, bobbing gently. ‘I’ll find them myself.’

  Lintang and Pelita followed her to the plank joining the ships.

  ‘Why has he left everything?’ Lintang said. ‘Why hasn’t he
set sail?’

  Her third question remained unasked: Is he already dead?

  But no – when she looked across she saw Bayani standing on the bridge with the spear side of the khwando pointed at Zazi’s neck. The rest of the deck was empty. The only movement was the flap of Zazi’s tablecloth-like sarong.

  ‘Wait.’ Captain Moon hurried up to them. ‘We should have a plan of attack. I could –’

  ‘The best thing you can do is medicate the siren if you see it,’ Captain Shafira said.

  ‘Medicate,’ Captain Moon said. ‘You want us to … medicate the siren.’

  ‘Right. You’ll see.’

  ‘But what about the dragon?’ Lintang said. ‘It’s flown away.’

  ‘It’ll be back,’ Captain Shafira said grimly. ‘Dragons can never resist a siren.’

  She used her sword to cut the tethering ropes, and they left Captain Moon behind, shuffling down the plank towards the Winda. Pelita hummed to herself. The two ships knocked against each other, then separated. Lintang almost lost her balance as the plank wobbled. Captain Shafira reached out to catch her. Overhead, the lightning bird shrieked, its shadow passing over Lintang.

  ‘We’re coming across, Bayani,’ Captain Shafira said when they were close to the Winda. ‘Don’t hurt Zazi. We aren’t here to stop you getting to the siren.’

  ‘By all means, join us,’ Bayani said. ‘I don’t expect you’ll stop me, considering the siren’s heading here instead. I can feel her.’

  Captain Shafira reached the railing and helped Lintang and Pelita onto the deck.

  ‘Where are the others?’ she said when they were safely aboard.

  Bayani laughed. ‘In the mess.’

  ‘All of them?’

  He smiled that frightening smile. ‘Pelita,’ he said, ‘why don’t you collect everyone?’

  Lintang wanted to stop her, but Captain Shafira shook her head. Pelita skipped down the hatch.

  ‘What if it’s a trap?’ Lintang whispered.

  ‘Then it’s too late, anyway. Just don’t move. Don’t do anything sudden. He’ll kill Zazi if he thinks we’re trying to stop him.’