Chapter 27.
A week after the incident with the attack that had left Sokanon dead, Natsuki was still quiet and pensive. She did not shy away from Shizuru's touch or her affections, but she seemed reticent to venture outside of her cabin for any length of time, unless Shizuru was with her.
It was a great relief to Shizuru when, after a week, Natsuki rose from bed, dressed, and went outside on her own. Duran greeted her eagerly at the door. She walked outside, her bare feet cushioned on the newly sprouted grass that was an announcement of the spring.
Shizuru was stretching her limbs, preparing to rise, herself, when Natsuki came back in, frantic.
"Shizuru, there is a ship. A ship!"
"Is it Captain Kanzaki and the Fuuka?" Shizuru asked.
Natsuki shook her head vigorously, "It is a different ship. I have never seen this before."
Shizuru came out to the cliff with Natsuki. She saw a ship that could only be described as a man-o'-war, painted black. Three gun decks, with a total of what must have been 50 cannons. It flew three flags. The first was the flag of Germany. So, this ship was in service to Kaiser Herzog. The second flag was more concerning. It was a black flag with a skull and crossbones design. A pirate, though if flying the German flag, it was likely a privateer. And the third flag interested Shizuru greatly. It was a white flag.
The whole ship itself was painted black, and the same skull and crossbones design was emblazoned on the front of the ship.
"They're flying a white flag," Shizuru said, "They've come in peace? Wait, there's a boat launching from the ship. I see only three people aboard. Natsuki, come with me."
Natsuki looked at her, concerned.
"It will be alright. Natsuki, I know that those men tried to harm you, but you are strong. And I will not let anyone from this ship try to take you. Or harm you."
Natsuki inhaled deeply, then nodded.
They reached the beach below at the same time that the boat landed. There were, as Shizuru had surmised, three people aboard the boat. The first was a tall man with brown hair, a long jagged scar over one cheek and the bridge of his nose, and an eyepatch. He walked with a noticeable limp. He had a long saber on one hip, and a holstered pistol on the other.
At his side was a much shorter man, wearing a wide-brimmed hat filled with bullet holes, and a tattered brown cloak.
And alongside them was a tall, willowy woman with hair the same red shade as Mai Tokiha, though it reached down to her ankles. She wore a burgundy cloak. She sported a scar similar to the one as the man with the eyepatch.
The tall man extended his hand, "Permit me to introduce myself. I am Phantom F. Harlock, Captain of the Arcadia. These are my…."
Before he could finish, Natsuki ran to him, embracing him, "HARLOCK!"
Everyone looked puzzled for a moment, but Shizuru saw a huge smile on Natsuki's face, and tears of joy rather than despair in her eyes.
Harlock smiled gently, "So, it's true. Little Natsuki is the Forest Princess we've heard tell of."
"Harlock!" Natsuki cried joyfully.
"You know each other?" Shizuru looked at him.
"I served the military under Baron Kuga for many a year," Harlock said, ruffling Natsuki's hair affectionately, "When he died, I bought my old command and became a privateer. These are my associates, Tochiro Ooyama, and Emeraldas, daughter to Countess Prometheum.
"I came here on urgent business from Kaiser Herzog."
Natsuki looked up at him, and pushed away, a horrified expression on her face.
Harlock shook his head, smiling, "No, Little Natsuki, it's not to take you away. Countess Suguira made it abundantly clear that you would not be parted from these lands. If that had been Herzog's order, I would have refused immediately, even if it meant losing my letter of marque and operating as a mere pirate.
"No, we have been sent to give you the new charter for a Barony here in the colonial world. The Barony of Garderobe. And there are now ships coming bearing colonists fro Garderobe, the people who will be under your care as Baroness of this land. We were also asked to see to your safety until those colonists had arrived and established themselves.
"It seems that Duke Nagi de Artai seeks to create a new Kingdom here, in Windbloom, and bar anyone from entering without his approval. But the Arcadia stands ready to protect the citizens of the new Barony, and to hold back any military force that Duke Nagi may send."
"I am Countess Shizuru Viola de Fujino," She curtsied, "I am a friend and ally of the Baroness. Am I to understand you correctly, that Baroness Natsuki Kuga is now to lead a new colony, Garderobe, to serve as a stopgap against the machinations of Nagi de Artai."
Harlock nodded, "That is correct. Nagi de Artai has grown ambitious, and seeks to subjugate the new world. He cannot be permitted to have his way."
"Captain, a question," Shizuru looked at him, "Having served with Baron Kuga, I wonder if you might know who it was who killed him?"
Natsuki gave him a quizzical look.
Harlock nodded, "He calls himself the Obsidian Prince. He is the head of a secret order known as the First District. Supposedly, he is the prince of a kingdom known as Kazahana. However, he has hidden himself as a ship captain, secreting cargos of contraband and dispersing soldiers to hidden locations. He currently goes by…"
8888888
"So, how long until we make landfall, Captain Kanzaki?" Nagi looked out at the expanse of the ocean.
"Well," Captain Kanzaki smiled, "I intend to make landfall in a few short hours. You, on the other hand, will probably never see land again, though I'll let the Gods of the sea decide your fate."
Nagi blinked, "What?"
"Into the longboat, Duke Nagi de Artai."
"But…"
"I would do as he says, husband," Mashiro came out of the cabin and held onto Kanzaki's arm, "Unless you want my brother to widow me right now."
"B-brother?!"
"I am the Obsidian Prince," Reito Kanzaki bowed, smiling smugly, "And you are getting off here in the long boat, Duke. If the Gods of the Sea are merciful, you might even make it to shore before your food and water run out. But the Kingdom of Windbloom will now be ruled by my sister, Queen Mashiro, and I will use the money that she generates to seize control of Europe using the First District. We'll reshape the world into something beautiful."
"Captain!" a crewman in the crow's nest called, "There's a ship at Windbloom. It's the Arcadia!"
"Damn! I'd hoped to arrive first and block that bastard Harlock. You're in luck, Nagi. It looks like I won't be able to kill you just yet.
"Harlock won't attack me if he thinks I'm still operating in my disguise as a merchant captain. So if you do anything to let them know who I really am, Nagi, I promise, you won't live long."
Nagi smiled, "Then I should warn you, Captain, that as you know, I left John Smith at the colony. And as an agent of Schwarz, Smith knows that First District is in control of Schwarz. And I know that my prior fiance has been making serious inquiries as to the identity of the man who ordered Baron Kuga dead. Smith is a rat of the first order, and the Countess is, shall we say, motivated. And the Baroness…"
"Ah, yes, the Baroness. Do you remember the men you had do that ridiculous effort at impersonating an native legend? I did not, as you suggested, throw them overboard," Reito smiled, "I delivered them back to the shore, and paid them handsomely to spend the winter doing what they could to turn the native tribes against the colony, and I told them that come spring, I wanted them to kill the Baroness.
"And with her death, the last vestige of my dear Baron Kuga's aspirations for the New World will be forever crushed."
Nagi grinned at him, "Assuming that they were up to the task. I've learned not to underestimate our little princess. She's quite full of surprises. And if Shizuru is supporting her? Well, then you're really in trouble."