Hmmm, my review count seems to be going down. I understand most of you have read this already but if you would be kind enough to leave a few words, just reminding me that you want me to keep going, it would mean a lot to me. I still will, I have 14 chapters ready and more on the way, I just want to make sure my readers are still with me.
Okay, a short but bittersweet chapter. Next chapter up soon and chapter 13 is done. It's the darkest chapter ever and should be up on my live journal tonight.
The Wind that Shakes the Barley
Twas hard the woeful words to frame
To break the ties that bound us
But harder still to bear the shame
Of foreign chains around us
My vengeance on the foe to wreak
While soft winds shook the barley
---Solas
Sokka grinned, happy to see that weird little creature climb through the bars. Momo usually stole his food, but at this minute, he was a welcome sight. "Momo! You scared me!" he exclaimed. The little lemur climbed up onto his shoulder and began fiddling with the clasp of the chain, obviously trying to pick the lock. He had stolen one of the keys! He did not know how he had done the deed, but that was irreverent. "I am so sorry for trying to eat you, I owe you big time," Sokka assured his now favorite pet. Even if the key didn't work, Sokka could still use Momo as a pillow!
Within a moment, Momo had unlocked the chains. There was nothing sweeter then the sound of that clicking. Sokka resisted the urge to kiss the furry little monster. He didn't want more fleas after all. He stretched his limbs, rubbing the places in his wrists where the chains chaffed. He still had a bump on his forehead but he planned to give more then that to Prince Zuko.
Sokka unconsciously reached down to his belt to arm himself. A jab of pain filled his heart. They had taken away his father's boomerang club! No one took away Sokka's sister and weapon without major punishment. "Come on, Momo. We have Fire-bender to burn," he said, as the white fur-ball hopped onto his shoulder.
Being on the metallic Fire-Ship gave Sokka the creeps. He preferred the beautiful softness of snow and the elegance of ice. The cold hollow metal halls, lit by kerosene lamps made Sokka shudder. He had to keep his eyes open for danger. He was a master warrior, he would just find and free Aang, find and free Katara and make Prince Zuko and his men beg for mercy. It was simple, really!
Momo was clutching Sokka's neck. Obviously, the fluffy fuzz-imp was scared. "It's all right, boy," he soothed as he walked down the halls. He trekked down the halls, coiled as a cat, ready to attack any opponent in his way. Momo suddenly jumped off and landed near a pile of crates. Sokka's eyes widened as the lemur was thrown against the wall.
"Miserable vermin!" a soft voice hissed angrily as a slight figure emerged from behind the crates. The voice was high and female! A girl on a Fire Nation ship?
"He's not vermin, he's a lemur!" Sokka said, studying the girl. Tall and slim, she seemed familiar for some reason. She had dark hair and golden eyes set in a pale face. Where had he seen such features before? She also wore the colors of the Fire Nation, but had no armor. In fact, her trousers, high boots and sword were clearly the mark of another trade. "And you are a pirate."
"Smart, peasant. Did it take all of your brain to figure that out?" the pirate laughed harshly.
"Well, at least I am not a criminal," Sokka spat back. That was a good comeback!
"Is that the best you can do? I agree, your dress indicates that you are a low class escaped prisoner who smells badly and has the intelligence of a vole. Now kindly go back to your cell before you get us both killed," the wench said haughtily. She placed her hands on her hips, as if expecting him to obey.
"I am getting out of here. If you alert the guys, they'll put you back in the dungeons too," Sokka reminded, narrowing his eyes.
"I am not leaving, and neither are you. Please stop before you get yourself killed," the pirate said primly. Was that concern in her voice?
"Don't worry, I am the best warrior in my village, felon. I'm not scared of the guards," Sokka said, flexing his muscles a bit. Perhaps she was afraid and needed his protection. Well, she might be a pirate but she was still a weak girl. He'd have to be kind to her for now.
"It's the not the guards you should be worried about. I am not letting you leave here," the pirate shrugged, trouble glinting in her eyes. She had her hand on the hilt of a curved blade.
"You and what army?" Sokka challenged. This girl did not seem that scary! She did have a sword, but she was still just a girl! Of course, Suki had been just a girl and Sokka had been bruised for days after her last encounter with that warrior.
"Prisoners have escaped!" called a harsh male voice. A hot jet of fire seared the air above the two combatants.
"Hopefully, not that army!" Sokka sputtered. That was bad! Why did she have to go and make all that noise? Now he would lose the element of surprise.
"This is all your fault!" both captives accused each other angrily. Stupid pirate wench would get them both killed! Five Fire-Benders had already surrounded them. Sokka was frantic for a weapon to defend himself. Beads of sweat bloomed on his forehead, as he realized the danger he was in. Five against one!
"What do we have here? A prisoner and a stowaway pirate?" one of the guards said, a cold look on his evil face. Sokka hated him on principle. What he would not give for his boomerang.
"Yes, he's an escaped prisoner, but I mean you no harm. Take me to your master, he'll vouch for me," the pirate wench explained, holding up her hands. She looked terrified. Sokka would think a bloodthirsty pirate more courageous but then again, she was a girl!
The guard laughed. "Do you think you can seduce our lord Prince with your pretty face, pirate scum? We won't allow an assassin like you to hurt him," he said harshly, sending another ball of fire at them both.
"Hey, she's the pirate assassin, not me!" Sokka said, hopping on one foot to avoid the balls of fire. The closed, cramped quarters would make it impossible to use hand to hand combat. They were both backed into a hard metal wall. There was nothing they could do.
"Give up now or face incineration," the guard commanded, sending another ball of fire at their feet.
"Please, just take me to Prince Zuko. He'll reward you," the pirate pleaded, her hand on her sword. Sokka did not understand why this crazed girl wanted to see the psychopathic prince? Did she think she could gain mercy from him? Seals would fly before that happened. Prince Zuko would rape her and then have her hanged.
"Quiet, wench!" the guard snapped in harsh voice, filling his palm with fire for a third time. The pirate set her jaw and pulled out her sword.
"As much as you are low class scum, I guess I have no choice. We'll have to fight our way out. Watch my back, I'll watch yours," the pirate said, taking a dagger out of her shoe and tossing it to Sokka. "Use it well, peasant,"
Sokka grinned, taking the finely crafted blade in his hand. "Thanks, felon," he answered sharply, standing beside her. He did not like her, but he could kick her rear end later. Punishing Fire-benders took precedence. Unfortunately, Prince Zuko's lackeys had decided to end the fight quickly. The next thing both of the captives knew, their clothing had been lit on fire. As they fell to the floor to roll out the flames, the guards grabbed them.
"His highness's new training program really paid off," one of guards mused as the pirate and Sokka were then restrained. Oh lovely, the brat prince had a new training program!
"Cross your arms behind your back. Any quick movements and you'll lose a hand," they were ordered, as rough cords were bound around their wrists. Sokka watched in horror as Momo was stuffed into a bag, with no regard for his comfort.
"Do you know what the Fire-Nation does to assassins?" the guard continued, leering at the pirate girl. She paled but stood firm. "Shame to break that pretty neck of yours." Sokka instantly felt a hint of pity for the girl. She was doomed! "Perhaps we'll have a little fun before that happens."
"Leave her alone, Fire Nation scum!" Sokka found himself ordering. That girl may be a pirate and a thief, but no one deserved that. He was rewarded with a hard slap across the face. He heard a yowl but realized it wasn't his own. Another guard had tried to fondle the girl's face and had a finger bitten.
"You little viper!" one guard snapped, towering over the girl threateningly.
"What is going on down here?" a harsh voice demanded. Sokka winced at the sound of his enemy's voice. The loathsome pale prince bounded down the stairs a second later, looking especially haughty. "What is the meaning of this disturbance?" The pirate and Sokka were then forced to their knees in front of the demented despot. Sokka would have spat, if he hadn't been so afraid.
"We found an escaped prisoner and an assassin on board. Permission to deal with them?" the guard asked, a cruel smile on his face. A ball of fire appeared in his hands.
Prince Zuko's scarred face blanched when his eyes fell on the two prisoners. "Merciful spirits! NO! DON'T HURT HER!" he said, leaping in front of the pirate wench. He spread his arms, ready to take any blast that came.
"But, sir, she's a pirate!" the guard said, looking confused. Sokka was confused too, that spoiled sociopath had just leapt into harm's way for another! Did that prince had a sense of justice?
"Just a pirate? How dare you! Unhand her immediately!" Prince Zuko commanded, looking furious. The soldiers immediately let go of the dark haired girl, who nodded her thanks.
She smoothed her singed clothing and smiled serenely at the prince, who bent down to help her up. When she had risen, Prince Zuko untied his cape and tied it around her shoulders. "That's better," he said softly.
"Hey, unhand me too!" Sokka commanded angrily, deciding to try his luck. Perhaps they would obey the order automatically before thinking about it. That would give him an opening to counter-attack.
Prince Zuko raised an eyebrow. "Are you really that brainless to think they would?" he asked softly, with a mocking smile on his pale girly face. The pirate girl laughed at that comment, a merrily mocking sound that made Sokka want to spit. He should have never left his village, what was it with all this uppity females running amuck? He would not allow himself to be humiliated again.
"You wouldn't be so brave if you didn't have your guards here, you bald-" Sokka began, but the next words got swallowed in a yelp of pain. The pirate girl had kicked him hard forcing him to double over in pain. Sokka gritted his teeth. For a girl, she kicked quite hard.
"Show respect to your future Lord, peasant!" the girl snapped, looking quite furious, as she punched Sokka in the nose. Had the guards had not been restraining him and holding him upright, Sokka would have been laid out flat. The poor water-tribe boy winced in pain as blood flowed from nose, mixing with tears. Every inch of his face felt as if a polar bear had hit it! His entire face felt aflame with pain, fiery burning throbbing pain. For a girl, she definitely hit even harder. With a flick of her wrist, a knife appeared at Sokka's throat. It was the end, he was going to die.
"As enjoyable as that looked, it was not necessary," Prince Zuko soothed his violent vixen. "Nice punch though. Couldn't have preformed it better myself. You've learned well,"
"How do you plan on killing him?" the girl asked in a business-like manner. "Is he useful for information?"
Sokka gulped, completely terrified. He had thought Fire Nation was ruthless, but this girl was a sadist without peer. They were really going to torture him now! Would begging for mercy help him now? He could feel himself tremble in sheer terror at what his fate would be. He tried to drop his eyes, unable to look at his foes without cringing in fear. He could almost feel the hot flames licking at his body.
Prince Zuko looked down his nose at him, smirking. "I considered it but I pay no attention to the insolence of a peasant like him. He isn't even useful for information. He's beneath us both, ignore him. The Fire Lord can decide his fate," he directed in a kindly voice, so unlike the cruel voice he used for most other people. Had that dolt managed to find himself a girlfriend? Life was completely unfair! Wait, had he just been spared? He forced down a sigh of relief, slightly nauseated that he was grateful to Fire-bending scum. He liked his tongue just where it was.
"Wouldn't it be easier to kill him? No need to involve the Fire Lord," the girl directed primly, giving Sokka a look reserved for rats. Her nose was high in the air as if she thought she were some kind of royalty. Sokka looked away, filling his mind with all the insults he would love to call her.
"Enough of that, we must talk!" the prince directed, with a cold smile on his disfigured face. Sokka breathed a bit more easily. His tongue was going to stay where it belonged, all due to the Fire-monster Prince pitying him. Ordinarily, Sokka would be furious at being pitied but he supposed he could stand a little pity to save his life. Prince Zuko's little girlfriend was really bloodthirsty, the two deserved each other. He could not believe he had found someone who made that blaggard look compassionate. Wonders never cease!
"You should thank your lord and master for your mercy. Consider yourself lucky I am not the one to deal with you," the pirate girl snapped, giving him a look of disdain.
"I sincerely appreciate your boyfriend's wish to keep me alive to humiliate me more. Now can I please have a handkerchief to wipe my nose?" Sokka muttered, still being forced in a kneeling position to a pampered prince and perverse pirate. The blood was staining his robes. He felt as though he had been hit by a glacier. His breathing was shallow and his entire face was throbbing. He was dizzy from the shock but he would not allow the two terrorists to enjoy his pain.
Both of the dark haired deviants burst out laughing. "This isn't my girlfriend, you ill-bred yokel. Perhaps the fact that your own sister doesn't care about you prevents you from giving the respect due to my own sister," the prince said regally.
Sokka gasped. "There is more of you!" he breathed. The pain at the mention of his sister made him wince. Katara was still insane and he had not managed to save her. Now with two spoiled sadists aboard the ship, there was nothing he could do to help that would not endanger himself. He had failed his sister.
The Fire-Pirate-Princess nodded. "The more, the merrier," she said with a smirk.
"Take him back to his cell and make sure he stays there. Don't spare the chains," Prince Zuko directed.
"If he tries to escape, break his legs. Those heal fast," the Princess directed in a cheerful voice. "From what you tell me, my lord, I doubt his sister wants to see him." A nod from Prince Zuko validated her cruel words and Sokka was wrenched away to his cell. He could hear the girl as her brother respectfully led her away.
Sokka was too broken-hearted to even bother wincing at the threats. The pain in his nose had faded away into a dull ache. Katara was lost to him. The insanity had truly stripped her of everything that made her his sister. His family was destroyed and he was in the hands of a sadist. As he was manacled back in place, a vision of his father appeared in his head. "I failed you. I failed everyone. I am sorry," he thought miserably.