Chapter 8; Sea Queens;
Characters of the chapter:
Isabela Captain of the Siren'sCall II, admiral of the Felicisima armada (self-appointed)
Harwyn Second in command of the Siren's Call II
Yara Greyjoy Master of ships on the small council of the south kingdom, commander of the royal navy, Queen of the Iron Islands
"What do you mean we won't be taking the deal?" Harwyn asked of Isabela as they walked briskly towards the prow of the ship.
"I mean exactly that. We're not getting involved in this. It's not worth it." Isabela replied.
"Have you lost your mind? This could be the best thing that has ever happened to this crew, and it's not like the Orlesians are asking anything that we haven't done a hundred times over."
"It's not about what we're being asked to do. It's about who's asking and what it will mean if we do it." Isabela replied, slightly annoyed at her second's insistence.
"What it means?" Harwyn repeated, incredulous. "It will mean pardons for everyone on this tub, and commissions for the two of us. We could be officers for real! And we'd get to be filthy rich in the bargain too! I don't see the bad side on this deal."
"I'm in this line of work because I prefer to be free. I run a strictly freelance operation, everyone on the crew knows it. We sail where we want, when we want and do as we please when we get there. That's what we all signed up for. The Orlesians will ruin that for us. If we take this deal they'll own us for good. I'm not interested in having some pompous Orlesian fool who's never even set foot on a ship tell me what to do with mine for the rest of my days." She countered.
"That's it?" Harwyn asked in disbelief.
"That's it." Isabela confirmed. "If I rob a trade ship or get paid for smuggling I do it because I wished to, because it was fun, because it paid good coin and because I owe no one anything afterwards. If that's not good enough for someone here I'll leave them at a good port so they can find their own way. But until that's the case, this is my ship and we'll do as I say."
"It's yours." Harwyn said, backing down. "But I ask you to reconsider, for the sake of the crew, and yourself. This could set us up for life."
"I know it could." Isabela admitted quietly. "But my answer is still no."
Harwyn hung his head. "Then… I'm sorry Izzy."
It was at that moment that several crewmen, that until that moment had been minding their own business, sprung at Isabela. Even surprised, her reflexes were fast enough that she got her hands on the hilts of her daggers before they caught her wrists, wrenching her arms behind her back, taking as many of her weapons from her as they could find moments later.
"HARWYN! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOUR DOING!?" Isabela yelled as she struggled in the grip of three other crewmen who held her.
"What I should do!" Harwyn replied. "It seems to me you no longer have the best interest of this crew at heart. New leadership is required. So…" Harwyn reached out with his hand, taking Isabela's hat from her head and placing it on his own. "… I'm taking command."
It was Isabela's turn to stare at his second in command in disbelief. "You're screwing me over this!? I thought we were friends."
"We were, otherwise I would just slit your throat and be done with it." Harwyn countered. "If I was really feeling nasty I'd turn you over to the lads for a few days first. Maker knows they have their share of frustrations with you. Instead, I will give you a chance in the form of a boat, of which we have only two, so I'm sure you appreciate the sacrifice. I'm even going to give you a map and enough food and water for, say… three days."
"Why are you doing this Harwyn, really?" Isabela asked with a serious tone. "Fancying yourself as an admiral, maybe?" she added poisonously.
"Yeah, maybe I do." Harwyn replied. "And maybe I know this crew doesn't fancy being chased by Orlesian warships for the rest of their days. You've lost your touch Izzy. Running around with that Hawke fellow has left you all soft in the head. It used to be that you cared about the bottom line. Sure, even back then you balked at some things, but we always managed to get by. Now, though… The Isabela I knew would never have walked away from a deal this good."
"And the Harwyn I knew would never have turned out to be a fucking traitorous bastard!" Isabela said angrily. Then she suddenly spat on his face. Harwyn wiped her spit from his cheek, glaring at her.
"Watch yourself. My mercy has its limits. I won't put up with crap like that." Harwyn said with strained calm, holding up a finger in warning.
"You deserve no less, traitor." Isabela retorted.
"You are the traitor here." Harwyn said. "You became one the moment you failed to do what was the best for this crew. Now, get off my ship."
Then someone hit her over the head, and everything went black. When she woke next, her head ringing, she was on a boat in the middle of the ocean. Her ship was nowhere in sight, all around her there was nothing but ocean. Isabela spat out a long string of curses, damming Harwyn to the darkest reaches of the void, enraged at this turn of events. She shouted her anger and frustration to the empty skies. When she finally calmed down she took stock of her current situation.
Apparently Harwyn had at least been as good as his word regarding food, water and the maps. It still wasn't an act of mercy, not truly. Her ship had been more than three days travel from the closest dry land, and a rowboat travelled more slowly than a proper sea ship. Harwyn had simply wished her gone without having to deal with her directly, which might have upset those few that still harbored loyalty to her. And it seemed currently that Harwyn might get his wish. Either her supplies would run out and she would die of thirst, or one of her enemies pursuing her would catch her and see to it that she was hanged for piracy. And all that provided her boat remained afloat long enough for one of those things to happen.
On hindsight Isabela thought she should have been able to see the betrayal coming. Harwyn had always been popular, regarded as cunning, ruthless and most of all not romantic or idealistic in the slightest. And it was true that her decision was bound to raise some eyebrows, easy for Harwyn to exploit and turn members of the crew against her. None of that ultimately surprised her. What did was that Harwyn would turn on her, an old friend, so readily, or that so many of the crew would follow him. She had miscalculated, badly, and that had cost her.
She was thinking of this when her hand happed to meet a pocket and discover something within. She pulled out the contents, a small stack of papers stamped with the Orlesian sigil.
"So preoccupied with my blasted knives you forgot to check if I had this on me? Your loss and my gain I suppose." Isabela said to herself thoughtfully. A small smile ghosted on her lips. Having these papers would likely not stop Harwyn from going through with his plans. He likely had the most important details already memorized, and he could have another copy as soon as he made contact with Orlesians. But maybe she still had a bargaining tool after all, provided she was found by the right people. It was an option to consider at least.
She kept rowing as much as she was able, heading towards the shore because there was nothing else to do, taking her bearings from the sun by daylight and from the stars at night (a more complicated task than usual, since she was not wholly familiar with local constellations).
It was at the dawn of the third day, she was finishing off the last of her food and water, wondering what she would do next, now that it was all gone. And then she spotted a sail, far away on the horizon. Even though it was still far away, she could tell that it was coming her way, maybe soon close enough to call. Isabela sat down to wait for the ships arrival, trying to decide whether she was relieved or concerned that a ship was coming. When the ship had had time to get closer Isabela managed to get a closer look at it. The ship had black, triangular sails emblazoned with a red dragon with three heads. At the top of the main mast flew a black banner carrying a Golden Kraken.
Exactly the people Isabela had been hoping to be found by.
Isabela bit her lip, taking in a long nervous breath. This was the moment of truth. Now she had to decide whether to draw the attention of her enemies and hope her bargaining chip would work as she wished it to, or remain quiet and hope they passed her by. She had no way of knowing how they might react. If they decided they were better rid of her there was nothing she could do to stop them.
But ultimately the choice was obvious. She had no more food, no more water, and she was still nowhere near any coastline. This was the only ship she had seen for days. When the next one would come here, if such a ship was even coming, it might be too late for her. Her choices consisted of certain death on one hand and almost certain death on the other. Knowing this she stood up on her boat and began to shout at the other ship as loudly as her lungs could manage, waving one of the oars she had to better get the attention of the ship. After a while of doing that, she saw the ship change course and head straight for her, and she knew she had succeeded. When the ship reached her a rope ladder war lowered and she climbed on board. As Isabela had expected, the crew consisted of Ironborn in their grey coats and leather armor. The crew parted to reveal a woman that Isabela knew to be the one in charge of this ship, recognizing her due to the cat and mouse games they had been playing at sea for close to two years.
"Admiral Isabela." the woman greeted her.
"Admiral Yara." Isabela replied, giving a mock bow.
"That's Queen Yara to you." The Queen of the Iron islands replied dryly.
"Ah. Well… all the better!" Isabela said, grinning.
Yara glanced over the side of the ship at the boat Isabela had arrived in. "Could've sworn your ship was a lot bigger when last I saw it. Did it shrink in the rain or something?"
"Err, no. It turns out I had something of an uprising on my hands." Isabela admitted, mildly embarrassed.
Yara chuckled. "Pirates happened eh?"
"Yeah, pirates. Bloody pirates." Isabela sighed.
"Well, we all have bad days, don't we?" Yara said with a smile. "Take her below. And for the sake of the Drowned God secure her properly this time. I don't want to have a repeat of what happened on the Kraken's fury." she then told her crew.
"I have information you might valuable adm… that is, Your Grace. Something of great value, vital to the security of the kingdoms. Maybe we can strike a deal?" Isabela said just as the Ironborn were about to take a hold of her.
Yara paused. "I have been chasing you up and down this coast, from Arbor to Bear Island and back, for two years. TWO. YEARS. In that time you have caused me an endless list of embarrassments and frustrations, costing me more time, effort and patience than I even knew I had available to spend. Now that I finally have you in my hands, you want to bargain. Do you take me for a fool?" She asked.
"Oh, not to worry, only if you refuse me." Isabela replied, her tone light and playful.
Her glib tongue caused Yara's eyes to narrow with barely controlled annoyance before she regained her composure. "Even if what you say is true, why would I bargain for this? I have you. I could just make you tell me. There are certainly ways to do so" She asked.
"You could try." Isabela admitted, unfazed by implied threat of torture. "It will cost you even more time, effort and patience, and you might end up with nothing more than the first convenient lie that pops into my head. Or you could agree to my terms and be guaranteed real information. I won't ask for much. Hear me out at least."
"I suppose there's nothing to lose if I do so." Yara mused after a moment of consideration. "Speak quickly, and know I make no promises."
Isabela nodded and procured the papers she had into her hand. "These contain all the information you need. Once we have a deal I'll give them to you. You can deliver them to the Dragon Queen at you leisure."
A few of the Ironborn reacted on instinct, moving to take the papers from her, but Isabela was quicker. With a few brisk steps she ran to the side of the ship, standing on the railing. She tutted at the Ironborn crewmen, wagging a finger at them while her other hand held the papers dangerously over the water. "Not so fast gentlemen. One wrong move from you and these papers get a dip in the water. You'll get nothing then." Isabela said, smiling mischievously all the while.
"For all we know those papers are just bad poetry." Yara commented. "How do we know that they'll be worth our while?" She then asked.
"You'll get to read them the minute we have a deal. If they really are bad poetry, you'll know at once, and I'll pay the price for my little jest."
Yara bit her lower lip, weighing her options. "Back off." She finally said to her crew, which they did immediately. "Name your conditions. What do you want?" she then told Isabela.
The pirate nodded, and complied: "What do I want? Freedom."
"You want freedom?" Yara asked, raising an eyebrow. "Jump overboard and see how far freedom gets you." She then suggested.
"Very funny." Isabela said sarcastically. "And also not what I had in mind. What I would have is this: One, I won't be hanged or be turned over to someone who intends to hang me. Two, my crimes before this will be pardoned to the greatest extent you and yours can manage to do. Three, I reserve the right to walk away whenever I want. At any port, at any time, with no conditions or strings attached, nothing owed to anyone and no threats hanging over my head because of anyone in the Twin Kingdoms. Until then, seeing as I have neither a ship nor a crew, I'll work for you instead, in whatever way you see fit, if you'll have me."
A surprised silence lingered on the deck of the ship.
"You… would serve me?" Yara said slowly, dubious.
"Yes, if you like." Isabela confirmed. "As to why you might wish to, like you so kindly mentioned, you have been chasing me for two years. Ask yourself what kind of skill does it take to do so to someone like you. All that is yours, if only you agree."
"I take this would mean you want a ship of your own?" Yara queried.
Isabela gave a short laugh. "Wanting and getting are not the same thing, near as I can see. Being an ordinary member of the crew is a step down for me, to be certain, but right now saving my skin matters more to me. The best way to do that is to make my skin worth something to someone else. And if somewhere along the line I get a chance to kick Harwyn in the balls, all the better."
"Who be Harwyn?" Yara asked, frowning.
"The one who stole my ship from me. I intend to make him pay for that."
"Ah." Yara said, understanding. "If you joined me, you would do as you're told?" the Ironborn Queen asked next, still barely believing her ears.
"If you tell me to scrub the decks clean then that's what I'll do, though I tell you now that would be a waste. I can fight well and I know my way around a ship as well as anyone here." The pirate assured.
"And I am supposed to trust this, to take you on your word?" Yara asked sharply.
"Yes, in much the same way I'm supposed to trust you and take you on your word. For all I know you intend to turn on me as soon as you have what you want from me. It's a gamble for both of us, but my options are far worse if the gamble fails." Isabela countered. Yara gave a nod, conceding the other woman's point.
There was a long, uncomfortable silence as the Queen of the Iron Islands considered the offer presented. "Alright." she said finally. "We'll give it a try, on the terms you have named. Half a whiff of betrayal and I'll make you an offering to the Drowned God, understood? Now, the papers, if you would."
Isabela handed over the papers, which Yara immediately proceeded to read. The more she read, the deeper the look of concern on her face. "Is this authentic?" She asked when she was done reading.
"Do I look like a forger to you?" Isabela asked as her response.
"You look like a whole list of unsavory things, but that's not necessarily a bad thing." Yara countered. "Still, if this even remotely true then this is vital information, well worth the price you asked for. Come, we will discuss this further in my cabin, work out the details of our arrangement."
Isabela nodded and followed the Ironborn Captain.
"By the way, common courtesy dictates I should ask: will you be needing more clothes? I mean, that's not terribly much." Yara asked after a few steps, gesturing at Isabela's outfit.
"What? Nah, no need for that. This is just the way I dress." Isabela answered, walking past Yara, heading for the cabin.
"Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm not complaining…" Yara said to herself, admiring the figure of the other woman as she walked away, still beautiful despite subtle sings of creeping age.