Chapter 29.
Ships arrived for both the Windbloom and Garderobe colonies. They carried not only colonists, but building materials, food, and equipment.
"This is trouble," Natsuki sighed to Shizuru, "Terrible trouble."
"What do you mean?" Shizuru blinked.
"When Windbloom was formed, it was small. There weren't many people. That meant that there would be no trouble for the tribes. There were plenty of deer for the people to hunt. Plenty of fish. Plenty of birds. But now…"
"There are too many people. And even with us bringing pigs and cattle, as well as chickens," Shizuru understood, "We will overwhelm the tribes' space."
"I don't want that. But this was decided by people far away, who don't know or understand. And even if they did, would they care? Even if I could convince this…Kaiser Herzog that it was a bad thing, I would not convince Nagi or his 'Queen'.
"There is nothing to be done. It is too much."
Natsuki looked out at the ocean with sad eyes.
"It is not your fault, Natsuki," Boone walked up to her, putting a hand on her shoulder, "We were told by our shamans that this would eventually happen. That many from your world would come. You did not bring them or invite them."
"Boone!" Natsuki held him, crying, "You…You will leave? The tribes?"
"The tribes will seek out new lands to the far north. If we stay, there will be conflict. Or, we could join your people, but then we would lose our way of life. We would have to adopt to the ways of these new people. And while some of them, like you, and the Countess, and Good Takeda, have shown a willingness to adopt our ways, there are more who do not.
"I wish you only peace and prosperity, my Princess of the Forest."
Boone embraced her.
"Let me come with you!" Natsuki pleaded, "I am more at home with your people than with the people who have come!"
Boone shook his head, "The road ahead of us is too long, and too hard. One day, perhaps, your people will learn to be at peace with my people. With you leading them, that is something I can hope for. But the shamans have forbidden you from joining our tribe.
"I will pray for your good fortune, Princess."
"And I will pray for yours," Natsuki buried her face in his chest, crying. Shizuru felt like weeping, herself. This man had been like a second father to Natsuki, even if he'd been barred from bringing her into his tribe. And now, this was a final farewell. They would likely never see each other again.
"I only wish we could have lived together in peace," Shizuru said to him, "But you are far more honorable than the so-called nobles who scheme from across the ocean. For you could have chosen to fight."
Boone nodded, "There are many who wished to do so. But then I showed them the number of ships. Soon, your people will outnumber ours by a great number, and a fight without hope of victory is foolish. There are innocent people on all sides who would suffer.
"But one day, with people like you and Natsuki giving guidance, one day we may all live in peace together. That is my hope."
"You will always have friends in Garderobe," Natsuki said firmly, "I…I do not have the right words. You…"
She closed her eyes, then spoke in Boone's tongue, "(I love you, Father.)"
"(And I love you, my dearest Summer Princess.)"
Boone walked away silently, and all Shizuru could do was hold Natsuki will she cried silently.
"I've lost another person," Natsuki said to her, "And the only comfort I have is that I am not having to dig another grave."
888888
"What is this, Captain Harlock?" Shizuru blinked.
"Emeraldas, Ahn Lu, and I were working on it," He said, "Natsuki is the Baroness of this place, and she cannot appear before her new subjects in animal skins if she wishes to command their respect, for they are ignorant people who don't understand the skills and powers she has to keep them alive.
"But I knew, as did Emeraldas, that she wouldn't tolerate wearing the formal dress of a German Baroness.
"So we fashioned this outfit for her. It will allow her to move with the same ease as the clothing she is used to, while giving her the appearance and authority of a member of the noble court."
Natsuki was wearing a pair of black trousers, sturdy boots, a loose fitting shirt of a midnight blue, two gunbelts, crisscrossed over her hips, a longcoat of the same hue as her shirt, and a black tricorne hat with dark blue feathers sticking out of one side. She spun on one foot in the outfit, testing her mobility. Finding that she was not hindered, she smiled, pleased.
"These clothes suit me, Harlock," She said.
"Then," he suggested with a smile, "I think it time you addressed your subjects and laid down the law. I know there are things you want of them, and you need to show them, quickly, that you are not only to be respected, but trusted."
Natsuki nodded. She went outside, and found several men waiting beside her cabin. They looked young, nervous, anxious.
"You are the people who will build Garderobe?" she looked at them sternly.
"Yes, Baroness," one of them said, licking his lips nervously.
"Then here are my laws for this land. This is the land you all call the New World. It is not a safe place. It is not a kind or gentle place. But it is a rewarding place, if you treat it with respect.
"There are many tribes scattered through the area. You will not attempt to harm any of them, save in cases of self-defense. These people helped me survive when all others died. They are honorable, and to be treated with respect and dignity.
"You have brought materials to build better homes than these log cabins. That is well, for we do not want to cut down too many trees. Build quickly. Build well.
"Also, there are people from Windbloom who will wish to leave that place and join us. You will make no effort to hinder them. They are my friends, and come to us because they wish to escape their new false King.
"All the other rules, you will find in the books of the Preacher-men. Do not kill. Do not steal.
"This is my companion, Countess Shizuru Viola de Fujino. If I am not available, her word is as good as mine.
"Work well, be honest, and you will do well here. That is all."
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"So, Kanzaki has left the Fuuka?" Harlock asked Emeraldas.
"He has. Tochiro spied him from the crow's nest boarding the newly arrived Man-o'-war The Aswad."
"He means to make a fight of it," Harlock grinned, "Well, shall we hound him all the way back to Europe, dear Emeraldas?"
"I think we can lure him into a nice little trap if we head North, make as though we're hugging the shore for safety. Let him grow overconfident, and then, when we're out of sight of all others, we'll show him what the Arcadia can do."
"If your plan is to return to Europe," Ahn Lu said, "I'll join you. I've left one of my best people to keep an eye on this 'King' Nagi and his new brat Queen."
"Not going to insist that the Baroness join you after all?" Emeraldas smiled knowingly.
"That girl doesn't belong anywhere else," Ahn Lu replied.
"Tochiro," Harlock called, "Send word to the Baroness that we'll be setting sail tomorrow. And make sure that bastard Kanzaki thinks that the Arcadia is listing due to a problem with the bilge pumps. I want him close when we bring our guns to bear."
"Aye, sir," Tochiro grinned. He did so enjoy a good fight, after all.