Jae-ha opened his eyes and found himself in the place most familiar to him, the captain's cabin. He tried to sit, but fell down at the first attempt from an overwhelming pain in his chest.
"Are you okay?"
Despite being familiar, the voice was not one he associated with Gi-gan's cabin. He glanced to the side and found Sen sitting there, looking at him with concern with a pile of clothes at her side and a needle in her hand.
"I thought you'd leave as soon as you could," Jae-ha told her quietly. Sen shrugged and went back to her needlework.
"Where to? I have no place to go," she replied. "I'm better off here, mending clothes."
"So you escaped from Kum-ji without any plan?"
"I knew how to escape," she said. "As for afterwards... it doesn't matter. Whatever life throws at me, I'll come out victorious."
"Isn't that rich coming from Kum-ji's mistress," Jae-ha chuckled. He stopped after a moment, for laughing hurt his chest.
"I feel like you have some hidden enmity against me," Sen sighed. "It can't be because I got you into trouble."
"No, I'm just concerned," he said, a hint of gentleness in his tone. "Could you come here for a moment?"
Although tense, Sen went. When Jae-ha took her left hand in his, she flinched.
"If you had let me jump—," he began, but Sen cut him off.
"I understand if you want revenge, however, I have twenty-seven and a half reasons against it," she stammered. "Reason one, forgiveness is a virtue all must practice, reason two, holding grudges is not beneficial to one's physical and mental health, reason three, revenge doesn't suit—"
"Revenge? What are you talking about?" he asked, turning her hand to reveal the gash on her palm. He frowned. "See, it's gotten worse from holding onto those windowsills. Your beautiful hand..."
He sighed in remorse. Sen stared at him, mouth agape. After a moment or so, she spoke again.
"You're an idiot," she said, her praising tone similar to when she spoke of Kum-ji's hate for Jae-ha.
"Only an idiot would stand in Kum-ji's way, no?" Jae-ha grinned. "I guess that makes us the same, then."
Shocked by his brilliant smile, Sen quickly pulled her hand away. A moment of silence followed. She cleared her throat.
"Is there anything you need?" she asked. "I've changed your bandages while you slept, but if you find them uncomfortable..."
"No, the bandages are fine," Jae-ha replied. He thought for a moment. "I'd like some water, though."
Sen nodded and poured him a cup of water from a jug on the table. She helped him sit up and drink before letting him lie down again.
"Anything else?" she asked, but no response came. Jae-ha had fallen asleep once more.
...
Three days passed as Jae-ha drifted in and out of consciousness. His memories of these times were hazy at best and filled with images of Sen working by candlelight. He only ever saw her rest twice, both times leaning against his bed. Otherwise, she always seemed to have something to do—clean his wounds, feed him, write something in a leather booklet, mend clothes, make clothes...
She always sang as she sewed. Strange songs they were, some gaining a meaning after being listened to for the fifth time and Jae-ha only ever heard wisps of them, for once she noticed he was awake, she stopped all her work to help him. He never could persuade her to sing then, so he could only listen to bits of her songs for a short while after waking up. One was of cranes, another of lovers tethered by a spider web, a third of midwinter and yet another of a love like a demon's song, whatever that may be. There were many more he couldn't quite understand the words of.
However, by the fourth day, Jae-ha felt well enough to sit up. By the end of the week, he could walk.
"There really must be some dragon blood in you," Sen remarked, impressed. "I've never seen such a fast recovery in my entire life."
"And a long time that must have been," Jae-ha teased, earning a glare from Sen. "A century or so, I think?"
"..." Sen cried, picking up a book from the table and aiming it at his head. It was then that the door opened and Gi-gan stepped in. She looked incredulously first at Jae-ha, then Sen, then the book in Sen's hand.
"He's only just recovered," she said sharply. "Do you want him to die?"
"I'm sorry, ma'am," Sen muttered, eyes downcast. Internally she cried, It's just a book! He called me old, a book to the head is light punishment!
"If there's something you want to say, say it," the captain said. Sen shivered.
"Nothing, nothing at all," she replied quickly. Gi-gan frowned.
"I don't like liars, Sen."
Sen glanced at Jae-ha, silently asking for his help. He, however, had turned to the wall, pretending to sleep. Looking at the traitor, a sudden thought entered her head.
"Actually, I do have some words for you, captain," she said, clutching the book to her heart. "Jae-ha has fully recovered, it seems…"
"Healthy enough to beat to your heart's content," Gi-gan muttered. Sen looked away awkwardly.
"I didn't—not that it matters, my work here is done," Sen said, with only the slightest hint of regret. "With nothing left to do, I shall take my leave, ma'am. I'll no longer endanger the wellbeing of your subordinates."
"So you're going just like that?" Gi-gan asked, feeling displeased. Sen shook her head.
"No, ma'am," she replied, handing her the leather-cover book. "I've worked on this for the past week. It contains all the information I've gathered on Lord Yang—his contacts in Kai, his businesses under other names, his usual battle strategies and the ones he plans to use in the future. I shall take my leave, then."
"But Sen, can't you stay?"
Sen smiled slightly as she said, "Impossible, ma'am. I've never been a fighter and am of no use to you."
"You got rid of an officer very quickly," Jae-ha began, forgetting that he had been pretending to be asleep. "Very neatly, very—"
"Efficiently," Sen offered. Jae-ha nodded and said, "That."
"Not bad," Gi-gan said. "Isn't that something?"
"Something, yes," Sen admitted, "but that something isn't nearly good enough. It was a one-on-one fight, ma'am, fueled by desperation."
"You could try being an actual pirate for a day. We'll see after that."
"Ma'am, I really don't think—"
"Yes or no?"
"I could try, ma'am," Sen said. "However, given my abilities and strengths, I would rather—"
"Very well, then. That's settled. Tomorrow is your first mission, I'll introduce you to your comrades then."
With that, she left. Sen slid into a chair and closed her eyes. Piracy, was it now? Such a mess… But it could all be dealt with once she got a good night's rest. Leaning back, she sighed deeply. Yes, sleep was what she needed.
"Sen, I have a question," Jae-ha said, interrupting her rest. "About Kum-ji."
Sen covered her eyes with an arm.
"Ask me tomorrow. I don't feel like talking," she said drowsily. "And you should go to sleep. Rest and get well soon."
"But please!"
"Listen, I've been working on that stupid book for the last few days instead of rest, so I'm a little tired. The last thing I want to do at this hour is think of unpleasant things. Good night."
Jae-ha thought for a moment then smiled. He placed a hand to his chest and hissed in pain. Sen jumped up immediately.
"Can you stand? Can you sit? Can you breathe?" she spluttered. "Should I change the bandages?"
"It hurts so bad!" Jae-ha complained, sitting down. "Ugh, the pain!"
Sen immediately gathered everything she needed and set to work. She took up a piece of cloth, dabbed it in a cup filled with strong alcohol and started to clean the wound. Jae-ha watched with interest as she bandaged him up, quickly and skillfully. After finishing, she felt wide awake. Jae-ha noticed her no longer complaining about her lack of sleep and immediately took advantage of the situation.
"Where does Kum-ji hire his mercenaries from?" he asked.
"Chi'shin, probably. The place is full of veterans without work," Sen answered, waving her hand dismissively. She had given up all hope for a good night's rest.
"What does Kum-ji sell?"
"Silk, oils, incense, narcotics, sometimes slaves. There's a slave shortage in the Kai Empire since—"
"Human trafficking again?" Jae-ha gasped in horror.
"Yes. As I was saying, Kai's economy revolves around—"
"We have to tell the captain!" Jae-ha got up and grabbed Sen's wrist, dragging her along.
"Why does it have to be my wrist?" Sen complained bitterly. "Why can't you just ask me politely to come along? Oof!" she said as Jae-ha shoved her into the captain's cabin.
Gi-gan listened to the story while smoking her pipe, and hummed knowingly.
"That's impossible," she stated, peacefully blowing smoke out her nose. "That used to be the case months ago, but by now, Kum-ji had stopped."
"Haven't you been reading my book?" Sen sighed, equally placid. "He's stopped shipping them, but only to gather more."
"So what? We're going to raid that ship, the next one, and the one after that. They'll not get past us."
"Yes, that's what you're supposed to think, ma'am. But there has been a change in plans, and the new strategy will take place in twelve days," Sen replied. "It's supposed to play out like this: Lord Yang sends out galleon one, as bait. It has all kinds of articles you'd expect, ma'am, silk, incense, et cetera. This is to be raided by your pirates, ma'am. But three or four hours later, galleon number two sets sail."
Gi-gan gripped the edge of her chair, her knuckles and face turning white. Her pipe fell to the ground, spilling ashes all over the floor.
"This number two is reasonably smaller, and easy to mistake for a fishing-boat," the girl continued lightly. "The crew looks insignificant, and only a few men below deck are armed. There are few slaves, twenty at most."
Sen dodged a book Gi-gan had thrown at her. The old woman had fire in her eyes and looked three times more fierce than usual.
"You mean to tell me," she shouted, "that I've been outsmarted by Kum-ji, of all people?"
"Not yet, ma'am."
"Why didn't you tell me this immediately?" the captain roared. "Why now? What do you think would have happened if you had left today?"
"You would have read the first few pages, ma'am. I made sure to make note of it early on."
"Little demon!" Gi-gan cried. "If Jae-ha hadn't brought you here, I'd still have no idea!"
"You would, ma'am, for you would have read my book," Sen said. The captain threw the book at her head which Sen dodged.
"You and your book!" Gi-gan shouted. "I hope the both of you rot in Hell! Go, leave, now!"
"But ma'am, the book—"
Sen couldn't finish her sentence before Jae-ha covered her mouth and ushered her outside. After they left, Gi-gan punched the table.
"What am I doing?" she muttered. "Am I going insane?"
The walls stared down at her unsympathetically. The light of the lamp flickered, as if expressing an opinion of its own. Gi-gan answered with the knock of an extinguisher, and continued to think in the dark.
Kum-ji, in his room illuminated by fifty-three candles and scented with the finest of incenses, felt a chill run down his spine. He glanced about in search of any danger, but found none. He shook his head and went back to discussing his new marriage with his father-in-law-to-be from the Kai Empire.