Pirate Princess
Chapter 21: Onward
Alec wiped down the galley tables with a rag, sliding bits of bone into the bucket he held in the other hand and wiping up drops of gravy at the same time. He had been delegated the duties of the cook's help on top of his usual cabin boy chores for the rest of the week as the original kitchen helper had initiated a fight and taken a beating after being grossly insulted by another pirate for being a "pansy".
The rest of the crew was already above decks, preparing to set sail for the open sea. Captain Edselvron and his First Mate – the giant known as Gabor — sat at the deserted table and discussed their course over a platter of exotic fruits and a map. "We should work in eh systematic way of sorts, I'm thinkin'," said Edselvron between bites of starfruit.
"Whatcha' mean 'systematic way o'sorts', Cap?" asked Gabor, scratching his bald pate.
"I mean movin' down along the coast ta 'it the less important ports, but not every bleedin' port along the way! Confuse those royal idiots, I say." He smirked, proud of having thought of such a brilliant plan.
However, Gabor effectively wiped of that smirk by questioning the plan's effectiveness. "Wouldn' there be less booty at t' less important ports?"
"O'course there'll be less booty! But see this," Edselvron pointed to a point on the map just as Alec moved half a table's length closer to them under the pretence of cleaning up some soup that had been spilled on a bench. "We'll 'it the less important ports areas now that the important ports are being watched – after our last successful raid," he cackled evilly, bits of fruit visibly stuck in the gaps in his teeth. "The prize here is the port of Morrois, over here. We attack the under-guarded ports along the coast, working our way up towards Morrois. Look here, there are two bity ports near Morrois. Seein' our 'systematic' raidin' of the less important ports, they'll think to outwit us by deployin' troops from Morrois to these two ports. But…"
"We forgo t' little buggers an' 'it t' big mama!" Gabor finished. A face-splitting grin appeared on the big man's face, but it seemed more like a grimace to Alec.
Alec approached the pair purposefully, adding a casual swagger to his step as he did so. "Eh, Cap?" he asked.
Edselvron seemed to realise his presence for the first time and frowned. "Whatcha' doin' 'ere lad? Ain't ya the cabin boy?"
"Aye, sir. I'm takin' over for the cook 'elp today. 'E got smashed up pretty bad last night," responded Alec automatically. Having been around the Brotherhood for nearly a week had imbued his courtly tongue with a pirate's pitch.
"Is somethin' the matter?" asked Edselvron, evidently annoyed at having his breakfast interrupted by a cabin boy.
"I couldn't 'elp overhearin' your conversation, sir. Ya said ya wanted to 'it the smaller ports right?" Edselvron nodded, suddenly remembering the valuable information Rider the ex-Royal Navy personnel could provide. Alec forged on, "Why don'cha forgo the small and less important ports altogether an 'it the wealthier towns instead? Like Sahkino? Tis a small merchant town dealin' in spices and gems and fancy stuff. Under-guarded by the Royal military coz it ain't a port like Morrois and the merchants' guild sets aside funds sufficient for only a small private guard that we can easily overcome."
Edselvron regarded him carefully, rubbing his chin in a most thoughtful manner. "How many times the booty ya talkin' about here?"
"Thrice the usual at a small port of fisher-folk and junk merchants. Less than Morrois, though."
"Whatcha think, Gab?"
The big pirate sniffed and wiped his nose on his sleeve. "Sounds like a good idea, Cap. Less risk, more takings!"
"All right then, we'll do as Rider says…" Edselvron paused in mid-sentence. "Ya sure about this boy? The King's attention…t'will be on the ports only?"
Alec nodded. "Pirates strike ports, not merchant towns; the raiders do that. The King's worried 'bout pirates, he guards the ports closely."
"Wait. Are the waters near Sahkino deep enough for us?" asked Gabor. "This is a nice-sized tub; ain't no piddlin' 'arbor gonna hold t' Red Lantern close ta shore as we need ta be."
"Aye, it'll be enough. I've heard plans for a port to be developed there but the King's put it on hold as a precaution against pirate attacks." Alec knew that this much was true. And if the pirates could sail in close to land, this also meant that the waters would be deep enough for Royal Naval ships to drop anchor.
The two pirates smiled at him. Edselvron thumped him on the back, as well. "That's my lad! I've a mind to promote ya! Tell the boys to set sail, Gab; we leave in a candle." Turning back to Alec he continued, "If this works out fine, we'll just ferget Morrois an' head back to Norsunder for a 'olidiay!"
Alec practically beamed. "O'course sir! Don't ya worry, this'll work out just fine."
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A brisk knock sounded upon Ezranya's door. "Enter," she said, after she had pulled on a tunic and was busy adjusting it and admiring the fine material it was made of.
"Captain, we've received word from Rider," reported Commander Keriam, stopping a few feet away from her. "You make a very pretty picture, Captain," he complimented with a smile.
Ezra spun around to face him, embarrassed to be caught preening like a peacock. "Is it for real this time?" she asked, abruptly changing the topic.
"Yes, Captain. The other Commanders await us in the meeting room." He pulled open the door to her room and waited for her to exit before him.
Upon her arrival in the meeting room below deck, she received nods of acknowledgement from the other two commanders who were seated around a rectangular table, a sealed letter before them. So, they didn't see the need to filter or withhold any information Rider was giving them. Her eyes widened a fraction at the knowledge that they trusted her without question. Keriam picked up the missive and broke the wax seal, unfolded it before handing it to her.
Taking the piece of parchment from him with a somewhat shaky hand, Ezra cleared her throat and began reading out loud for all within the room to hear her:
E., K., S. and N.:
There is much to report with regards to the Brotherhood's plans to ransack the coasts of Remalna; I have managed to influence the captain's decision, and they are to sail for the merchant town of Sahkino by noon. Congratulations, E., you were correct in your assumption that these are the pirates we were searching for.
My plan is to deploy troops to Sahkino and to close of the Brotherhood's escape with the five naval ships at our disposal. The five ships are to drop anchor in ports no more than a day's ride from Sahkino (The more royal presence at the port originally, the better - for purposes of blending in). The aforementioned military resources are to be battle-ready from now on and prepared for action at my word.
I have proposed this idea to my father and await his response. I have asked for him to send his reply to you as well. Any suggestions from you would be much appreciated.
I also wish to add that the Brotherhood has onboard their ship a powerful mage by the name of Zirellia Ianthe, a young woman who claims to possess dangerous powers. If possible, do find out more about her and prepare our own mages for her added assault. The list of powers she provided me with included, and I quote, "create fire, rage storms and bring hail amongst others".
Best of luck,
Rider.
Ezra looked up from the letter and placed it back on the table. "Well?" she asked.
"What do you think, Captain?" countered Keriam.
"It's pretty sound to me. And as much as I hate to admit it, he's making a whole lot of sense," she replied. Perhaps Rider's course of action wasn't too harebrained after all, she thought. The other commanders offered no objection, so Commander Keriam scribbled a quick note back to Rider and called an end to the meeting.
Ezra was about to exit after Commanders Stamford and Nerone had exited the room, when Keriam halted her in her steps by asking, "Captain, would you like to join me for brunch?" With a smile he added, "I know for a fact that you, like myself, haven't had breakfast."
She was hungry. "I'd love to!" she replied brightly. Then, after she bit her lower lip in thought, she added, "Could we go over Rider's plans in greater detail at the same time? Perhaps we could come up with ideas for them to be carried out with a greater chance of success."
His smile faded at the edges, but it was only for a blink, and Ezra couldn't be sure she had really seen it.
"Yes, and we should prepare to put out to sea as well, although I'm certain Stamford and Nerone have already begun to spread the word," he said, cocking his head to one side. True enough, one could hear the sounds of the anchor being drawn up and the sails being unfurled.
Ezra turned back with a smile. "Shall we, then, Keriam?"
The commander returned the gesture and slipped his arm through hers. "You know, you can call me Thanyl, if you like, Captain."
"Thanyl?"
"Yes. My name."
Of course, she realized. Keriam is his last name. All this time, she had been referring to him in a formal way. If they were going to be friends, she ought to start using his first. "Very well then, Thanyl, you can call me Ezra."
He nodded deeply. "It's my honor."
These court blokes, she thought with a wry twist to her lips. So formal, even when they're being informal. At least Ker—er, Thanyl isn't as tightly wound as Rider is.
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It only took five days for the Brotherhood to reach the town of Sahkino. Alec was busy with general cabin boy chores—swabbing the deck, coiling rope, helping to clean and oil the guns mounted at the sides of the—but the Captain came out of his quarters at times, and Alec could feel Edselvron watching him. Twice he was called into the quarters to look over the maps the Captain had out and make a judgement or a suggestion. Part of it was honest curiosity about what the cabin boy would say, but mostly, Alec was sure, it was Edselvron's way of checking to make sure that the story Alec was telling stayed the same every time.
Working amongst the Brotherhood also meant crossing paths with Golden Iccavus more often than Alec would have liked. He felt as if he was walking on eggs every time the old Buccaneer's gaze passed over him. Each time this had happened, his muscles would tense involuntarily, his ears pricked for Iccavus' hiss of recognition. Every such occurrence however, had passed without incidence and Alec began to put down his anxiety as nothing more than the fear of having his carefully laid plans blown apart.
Unfortunately, his luck ran out days after they had left Captinadora Harbor. He had been scraping away the hardened droppings of various seabirds along the wooden railings, bent over his task in the semblance of utter concentration. His ears as usual open to any conversation between the members of the Brotherhood. It wasn't as he had hoped the buzz of chatter that greeted his ears, but the measured step of Golden Iccavus. He glanced up and squinted into the sunlight that was partially blocked by Iccavus. "Is there a problem, sir?" he asked, the perfect image of the submissive underling.
"I've seen you somewhere 'aven't I? I just know I 'ave! I just can put my finger on it." The old buccaneer said this in a single breath, then paused, waiting for revelation to sink in. When that did not happen, he glanced pointedly at Alec, waiting for an answer.
He sure remembers a face, Alec thought wryly. The instinctive reaction was to lie, but he brushed that aside. Should Iccavus miraculously recall the truth, he'll be branded a liar and Rider's mysterious appearance would be brought into question. "I believe you have, sir. I was in amongst the crowd when that thieving boy's 'and got cut off. Quite impressive, if I may say so m'self," he replied, taking care to maintain eye contact.
"Yes, indeed," said Iccavus absent-mindedly, stroking his beard. "But you were with someone weren't cha?" He licked his lips, still deep in thought. His eyes flashed wide and he snapped his fingers. "Tha' pretty lass with braided hair!"
"Not someone but something. My dog Ash, sir." Iccavus frowned. Alec hurriedly amended, "But I did see that 'pretty lass' too! Quite a lovely sight she was!" He wondered briefly what Ezra would do if he so much as had a less than decent thought about her; probably something along the lines of flaying him alive. No, castrate him more like. "Sorry sir, but I'd best be on m'way if this railing's gonna be free of bird droppin's by nightfall," he said, beating a hasty retreat. That was uncomfortably close.
That night, as Alec sat on his bed, he drew his silver communications case from his breast pocket. The metal case grew warm in his hand and he gripped it tightly, as if it was his only lifeline to the outside world – to his family, Ezra and the commanders. He was still in the midst of preparing himself for his next face-to-face encounter with the female pirate, and feared the worst. Chuckling quietly to himself, he slid out the false back and extricated his father's letter.
Alec:
Your plan is well thought out and will hopefully go through just as smoothly. Were I your cousin, Nadav, I would congratulate you for having so successfully infiltrated the ranks of the Brotherhood. But as your father (and at the insistence of your mother), I have to reprimand you for your brash behaviour. You are not just part of our military force, but our son and the future king of Remalna.
To address more urgent matters, I have deployed and will be leading troops to the town of Sahkino. We will arrive there in a matter of days – a week at most. With the appropriate words of power, use your summons stone to inform us of your arrival and to give the signal for us to attack.
Your mother urges you to stay alive at all costs. To do that, I urge you to keep your wits about you.
P.S Your mother sends her love.
P.P.S I have done as you requested and have sent my orders to those aboard the Valiant as well as to the rest of the fleet.
Your Father
Alec refolded the letter with a sigh but he could not help grinning as well. His father's stamp of approval was of the utmost importance, for only he had the power to mobilise the army. He felt a pang of homesickness just then and ran his fingers over the letter once more, comforting himself with the knowledge that his father's hands had touched it just moments before.
The instance of sentimentality passed and he turned towards the task at hand with a brisk business-like air, quickly penning an affirmative reply to his father with the certain grimness he always felt before an event that would involve bloodshed.
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The Valiant was only a little ways behind the Red Lantern. Ezra hadn't even needed to tell her crew to keep out of sight. If the Brotherhood knew they were being followed, a bloody awful row was going to happen, and that was the last thing anyone on board wanted.
Of course, it wasn't easy to stay out of sight on the ocean. Not a whole lot of things to hide behind, and it's only dark half the day. It wasn't in Ezra's meagre magical arsenal to turn the ship invisible, so they had to be sneaky about trailing the pirates. The Jolly Roger was up as they sailed out of Captinadora Harbor, in case they came in sight of the Brotherhood as they were leaving Tourmaline, to let them know that they were "friends." Or, at least, they wouldn't attack them in the safe waters around the island. After they were on open water, the Valiant appeared to be sailing north-east, whereas the Red Lantern was sailing north-west to go to Remalna. It was tricky steering for the rotating line of helmsmen, but—so far as the lookouts could see, and as Rider reported—the Brotherhood didn't notice that they were being followed.
Ezra crossed her fingers and hoped that all would go as planned. They had come too far to fail, and failure meant disaster. The prospect of having to face a powerful mage made a hot, tight knot of her stomach. Ezra didn't know how to deal with something so unpredictable. Only the mages they had with them would know what to do and she hated not knowing how to do something, being helpless.
"Please let this work, let it not fail," she whispered to the open sea as the wind carried away her soft words. And, even softer, "Keep him safe," slipped past her lips without her consciously forming the words. She frowned when she heard them, and mentally amended, I'll need him alive to make his strangulation at my hands more enjoyable.
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A/N: Special thanks to Wake-Robin for her very long review! We wrote this chapter quite a while back, so I can't really remember what I'd wanted to say about it – if anything at all. This chapter is more or less a transitional one, everyone's getting into battle mode. Just watched Kingdom of Heaven and it was good. Really cool battle scenes! Anyway, EG is currently working on chapter 24 and editing 23. She's supposed to get back to me by about today, but she hasn't. It's all right though, since we're ahead of schedule.
I'm guessing that this story will come to an end by about the 25th chapter. Which is just as well, since I'm starting at college next week. Life will be much busier for me and EG's busy as she is already. However, as most of you should know, we've already begun working on a sequel. That is, we have a plot and an idea strung together already. When we'll start to write it waits to be seen. But we both most certainly wish to see this story to its proper conclusion, so rest assured that it will be written.
Thanks to all reviewers:
Sammey: Your guesses are pretty close but not entirely correct. I'll leave it at that before I give everything away. Zirellia's powers are still supposed to be a mystery, you'll learn more about her in the sequel.
StardustPixie: Thank you so much for your encouragement. We are planning on making this an original, but we'll have to write the sequel first.
Trina-k: Nice suggestion, but I'm too lazy to have something like that. Perhaps I should add "Previously on PP: Check previous chapter". Thanks anyway!
Selenes Song: There was no need to review every chapter, you know, unless you had something in particular you wanted to comment or critique about. But it was nice of you to take the time to boost our number of reviews! We'd love to hear of your suspicions for Ezra and Alec, although it's pretty obvious where they're both headed now.
Sheyana: It's a little difficult balancing between the Ezra and Alec scenes now since everything is going on simultaneously. I've left EG with the battle scene, so let's see how she does. According to her, it's going to be a little Ernest Hemingway-ish. I'm looking forward to it, so should you.
Wake-Robin: Ezra and Alec will be meeting up again by the end of the battle. We've already figured that part out. All will end on a note of fluffy foreshadowing. (yayness!).
No, we've not mentioned how Zirellia turned half-blind and we probably won't go into detail about her past either. The most you'd get is a brief mention in this part of the story though we might elaborate in the sequel. She'll certainly play a larger role then of course and we'll get to see a side of her that's pretty – shall we say, creepy? – in the next few chapters.
Alec is lonely, he just has it at the back of his mind since the front is filled with more pressing matters at the moment. As a future king, my impression is that his father has taught him to work under pressure. It's the leader that has to keep a cool head in the battle so that he can lead his men. So he's focusing on the task at hand. Don't worry, the family will be coming back into the picture soon enough, at least for the ending. Since this story is about Ezra and Alec and this mission, it would be strange to throw in a family scene but if we ever re-work this we might give the people in Athanarel a larger role. In any case, Vidanric's going to make his appearance!
REVIEW!
FS&EG