Let's Play Pirates: Chapter 9

Chapter 9
‘The wreckage of the Kiteling has been found, My Prince,’ said Chambois, eying his master suspiciously.
‘Where?’ asked Ashitaka, his throat dry, as Bessie, who had been speaking with him about casual matters, exclaimed, ‘what?!’
‘Between here and New Canaar,’ said Chambois, ‘a ship stumbled upon the figure head -rather unique, it is- and found more remains not far off… the men have brought you back the figure head- it is waiting in the Evidence Room.’
‘And the crew…?’ asked Ashitaka softly.
Chambois bowed his head, knowing something –if little- of the prince’s feelings towards the pirate captain, and feeling sorry for him, ‘Davy Jone’s Locker, My Prince…’
‘I see…’
‘No one…’ Bessie whispered, ‘all gone… tell me, is there any… any clue as to how it might have happened.’
‘A bomb blast by the looks of it,’ said Chambois, ‘slightly charred… you know, My Prince, the Takans make extremely good bombs…’ he trailed off suggestively.
‘You think they might have sunk the Kiteling?’ asked Ashitaka, eyes hardening.
‘Well it’s possible, isn’t it, My Prince?’ said Chambois, ‘some might even say probable…’
‘I suppose so,’ said Ashitaka.
‘Why would the Takans attack the Kiteling?’ asked Bessie, ‘and why couldn’t they get away,’ her voice rose slightly, ‘“with me, Cori and Masou we’re always the faster ship”- that’s what Lulu said- why couldn’t they get away?’
‘I don’t know, Lady Songsmith,’ said Ashitaka, ‘I am sorry, but I don’t know… is there anything else, Chambois?’
‘No, My Prince.’
‘Good… you may go.’
Chambois bowed deeply and left.
‘Lady Songsmith?’
‘Hmm…’ said Bessie, her heart aching.
‘It hurts me too.’
‘I know it does,’ Bessie sighed, ‘but… if I had known that would have been the last time I’d ever see them… I’d have told Kuris how much I admire her- I would’ve thanked Cori for keeping everyone in good spirits- I would have told Morro-Chai how impressed I was with her work- and how well Hero was doing with his knives. I would’ve at least thanked Xatu and Kendo for always being there- for being strong and wise. I would’ve told Fern to stop spying on people, and that he’s the best idiot of a friend I’ve ever had… and Lulu and Masou,’ she chuckled at the thought, ‘I would’ve told them how completely impossible they are- and exactly how they should be spending their last days… with each other…’
‘I would’ve killed Kuris for even thinking of leaving Asheia,’ said Ashitaka, smiling grimly, ‘and tied your fairy lovers together, locked them in a dark room and left them there until they confessed undying love for each other.’
‘That’d be funny,’ said Bessie, ‘if… whatever happened… hadn’t… I might try that myself.’
Ashitaka nodded sadly.
‘How could Kuris let it happen? How could she let an enemy ship close enough to…’ her eyes flashed, ‘unless it wasn’t an enemy ship.’
‘You’ve lost me,’ said Ashitaka.
‘Your ships were out there are the time, Ashitaka,’ said Bessie, ‘and looking for Kuris too.’
‘You don’t think my men would betray me, do you?’ asked Ashitaka, horror evident on his face.
‘It’s always possible, Ashitaka,’ said Bessie, rubbing her dry eyes, ‘…anything’s possible…’
‘But is it plausible?’
Bessie met his eyes with a sad shrug, ‘I don’t know.’
-
‘So what’s the plan, Kuris?’ asked Fern, trying to appear cheery a he plonked down beside his cousin on the sandy Thracean shore. ‘Do we find another ship?’
Kuris looked over to where the rest of their group was sitting, dejected, and shrugged, ‘I don’t know,’ she said, then she sighed, ‘Davus doesn’t plan on leaving, does he…?’
‘I don’t think so,’ said Fern, ‘have you any idea how he got back?’
‘None…’ said Kuris and her eyes flashed, ‘he’s dead- he doesn’t belong here!’
‘Hey, Captain K,’ said Kendo, walking over, ‘where’s Mina? She’s been gone a while, hasn’t she?’
Kuris stood, ‘did she say where she was going?’ she asked and Kendo shook his head.
‘She’ll be fine,’ she Davus, shrugging.
‘Do you know where she’s gone?’ asked Kuris.
Davus shook his head, ‘no,’ he lied convincingly.
‘Anyone?’ said Kuris, a little louder, and the rest of the group, a little ways off, shook their heads sadly.
‘Right,’ said Fern, ‘should we go look for her?’
‘Of course,’ said Kuris, ‘Davus, you should probably come with us.’
‘Me?’ said Davus.
‘Yes, you,’ said Kurissyma, her voice hard, ‘as for the rest of you- we won’t be long. Kendo, I’m putting you in charge.’
Lulu rolled her eyes, ‘we’re not children, Kuris, just hurry up and find her so we can get out of here, damnit!’
Kuris nodded, ‘very well- Fern, Davus- let’s go.’
-
Mina stared up at the huge palace sadly, ‘I was scared, Bessie,’ she whispered, ‘they were all going to die… I’m sorry.’ Closing her eyes for a long moment, Mina let out a long sigh, before walking up to the gates.
The sentries moved to block her way, ‘who are you?’ said the elder of the pair.
Mina blinked, ‘I am the Lady Collette Amelia Isaaru who disappeared two years ago,’ she said, using Cori’s full name, ‘I have invaluable news for the Prince about the Kiteling.’
‘The skyship?’ whispered the younger sentry, holding a hand to his head in awe as his companion made the sign against evil, ‘you had better come in then.’
Mina swept a clumsy curtsey and the elder sentry gave her a suspicious look, but let her through anyway. Once inside the palace, Mina was confronted by the butler.
‘Name and business, my lady?’ he said, his voice old and tight.
‘Lady Collette Isaaru,’ Mina replied easily, ‘I have news of great importance to the Prince.’
The butler bowed deeply, ‘you will excuse me while I inform his highness of your presence.’
‘Yes, of course,’ said Mina graciously, and when he was out of sight, she followed him up the regal stairs, looking quite out of place among the finery.
A few flights later, she came to a corridor, lined with portraits and statuettes on antique tables.
‘…Yes, Lady Songsmith. Thank you, Lady Songsmith,’ whispered a small mousy girl, walking into the corridor, ‘you need only call if you need anything-’
‘Nonsense,’ came Bessie’s kind voice from inside the room, ‘it is a party, Emira, you shall not wish to be disturbed!’
‘All the same…’
‘I have one last request for you- then you may retire for the night,’ said Bessie.
‘Just one? But it is only afternoon-’ Emira paused under Bessie’s gaze, ‘oh… well… okay.’
‘Go have fun.’
‘That’s it?’
‘That’s it,’ Bessie confirmed.
‘But…’
‘Go! That was an order!’
Emira gave a small smile, ‘alright, thank you, Lady Songsmith!’
Bessie came out into the corridor and watched her go, before turning and sighting Mina, ‘Mina!’
Mina stepped back in surprise, ‘Bessie… uhh… Lady Songsmith?’
Bessie ran to hug her friend, ‘Mina! Are you alright?! I heard the Kiteling went down!’
‘It did,’ said Mina.
‘What happened?!’
‘It would appear that Morro-Chai accidently set off one of her bombs,’ said Mina softly, ‘though she swears that she didn’t.’
‘Is everyone all right?’
Mina looked down, ‘when it happened… we were fighting Nik,’ she said. ‘Davus was with him.’
‘The witch?’ said Bessie, her voice dropping considerably, ‘the witch who died?’
‘Yes… he is with the others… but… we do not know what happened to your brother or his crew- or Xatu.’
Bessie’s heart constricted, ‘o-oh…’
‘Your brother is changed since I knew him, Bessie,’ said Mina, still not meeting her eyes, ‘he was going to force you to return to New Canaar with him- he would not hear of you staying with the Thraceans… your father’s death corrupted him- hurt him deeply.’
‘My father’s… death,’ Bessie repeated, sounding a little choked, ‘I see…’
‘I am sorry.’
‘No,’ said Bessie, shaking her head determinedly, ‘come in, lets not stand out in the hallway.’
‘It’s a nice place, Bessie,’ said Mina, following her in, ‘do you like it here?’
‘It’s… different,’ said Bessie, shrugging, ‘people are nice… we should probably talk to Ashitaka about what has happened- he thinks you all dead.’
Mina nodded, ‘I suppose.’
‘He is grieving Kuris,’ Bessie went on, apparently not realising that Mina had stopped listening.
“I made a promise… but how can I hand my friend over to the Devil? Especially a friend like Bessie… and what might the Devil achieve with a Songsmith? It should be terrible for her to fall into its hands! Don’t think about it… just don’t think about it… Bessie would understand… there was too much at stake- and Davus did save their life… he kept his promise. If Davus delivers Bessie to the Devil… I can’t be sure… but I think he’d be allowed another chance at life… he… he became a witch –sold his heart and soul to the Devil- to save me, two years ago… if there is something I can do to bring him back… I must.”
‘Come on, Mina, let’s go!’
Mina shook her head to clear it and closed her eyes for a moment before replying, ‘yes, alright.’
-
‘Mina! There you are!’ came Kuris’ voice through the crowded streets of Akinore, Thrace.
‘You idiots!’ was Bessie’s half-laughed, half-sobbed response as she ran over to fling her arms around the pockmarked captain. ‘We heard you were dead!’
‘You don’t wanna know what we heard about you,’ said Kuris, grinning.
Bessie smiled too, ‘probably not,’ she agreed, then she stepped back as she sighted an addition to their group. ‘Who’s this?’
Kuris gave her an odd look, ‘this?’ she said. ‘This is Davus.’
‘Davus who died?’
Mina nodded sadly, ‘he is returned… for better or for worse- we are yet to discover.’
‘How can he be here?’
‘That’s the million Pewter question,’ said Kuris, turning to Davus, ‘for you see- he will not tell us.’
Ashitaka, uncomfortably- perhaps foolishly- tried to make a joke out of it, ‘what an odd crew you have, Kuris- two children, three fairies, an undead and –until recently- a Songsmith.’
Fern, who –as usual- seemed to appear from nowhere, spoke up in his cousin’s defence- catching the prince’s remark as an insult, ‘we pride ourselves on our diversity.’
Ashitaka laughed, not unkindly, and tried not to show just how relieved he was that his outlaw love had survived the “accident”. ‘So?’ he said, ‘what happened?’
It was Davus who answered, firmly, ‘Morro-Chai dropped a bomb-’
Kuris cut him off with a glare to freeze an angel’s heart, ‘she says she did not- and I believe her!’
‘Who else among us had access to bombs?’
‘Maybe one of Nik’s men- maybe you,’ said Kuris coldly, ‘after all, you were sailing with him.’
‘The blast came from the Kiteling,’ Davus proclaimed.
‘So saith you,’ said Ashitaka, his voice hard.
‘In any case,’ said Kuris, her own tone equally so, ‘Morro-Chai was on board Nik’s ship at the time- now stop this nonsense or I shall leave you here when we set sail again.’
Davus shut his mouth, somewhat indignantly.
‘When are you leaving?’ asked Ashitaka.
‘As soon as we find another ship,’ Kuris replied readily.
‘I see…’ said Ashitaka ponderously, ‘but there is something I wish to show you first.’
‘Of what nature?’
‘Secrecy.’
‘I’ll keep Lady Elizabeth company,’ said Davus immediately.
‘As will I,’ said Fern, upon catching Kuri’s pleading look.
Noting their distrust of him, Davus turned bitter, ‘I’m not a criminal- I don’t need to be watched.’
Mina gave a helpless shrug, decidedly not speaking.
‘No,’ Kuris agreed, however, ‘you’re not a criminal- you’re a witch who died and returned to life- who doesn’t seem to care that the accident killed his own brother- as well as being a pirate-’
‘So are you!’ Davus complained, outraged by the apparent injustice he was afforded.
‘You will not tell us the terms or means of your resurrection,’ said Kuris resolutely, ‘and I shall offer no further faith in you while my questions remain unanswered.’
Davus’ reply was one of unflinching coldness, ‘everybody’s gotta sleep.’
-
‘I have heard much about you, Lady Songsmith,’ said Davus, joining Bessie later, thinking her to be alone as she walked restlessly about a Thracean market in wait of Kuris’ return.
‘I wonder at the truth of it all,’ said Bessie thoughtfully, ‘some are too kind- others far too harsh. That’s what I think, at least- to some I am a betrayer- to some, a hero. You must decide for yourself, I suppose.’
‘Shall I have the opportunity to?’
‘I suppose not,’ said Bessie, shrugging, ‘for I believe Ashitaka wishes to leave for Tortuga soon, with Kuris and I…’
‘Tortuga?’
It was not Davus, however, who spoke, but Fern, and Bessie found herself oddly relieved by his prescence.
‘It is what Ashitaka intends to ask her,’ said Bessie, frowning, ‘he has found some Auld Sheyn documents –miraculous ones- that he wishes to share with her- he means for her to accompany us to the ruined city.’
Fern shook his head, ‘she will not go.’
‘No?’ said Bessie, looking up in surprise, ‘but I thought-’
‘You thought wrong,’ said Fern stiffly. ‘All the Kiteling had is lost- she will not leave us- we must all work together to create a new beginning- starting now- all of us… except you.’
‘Me?’
‘You will go to Tortuga.’
Bessie was sure she was not imagining the hints of betrayal in his tone.
‘There is so much more I can learn about these powers… this gift…’ Bessie whispered.
‘No doubt Kuris is curious also,’ said Fern, ‘but still she will remain with us- with her crew- with her friends. I had thought that you might also…’
‘She will stay…? Because of your Code?’
‘It is not because of the Code,’ said Fern, ‘no- not the Code, but honour.’ He gave her a hard look.
‘And where is yours?’ asked Davus, ‘trying to deter her from her goal- it is a once in a lifetime opportunity!’
‘If she truly cared any for us, she’d never have left.’
‘Well she did,’ said Davus, ‘so just let her go, already!’
‘I will not-!’
‘Stop it!’ Bessie cried, her perfectly groomed brown hair fling about her in a sudden yet predictable rage, ‘stop it! Both of you! Just- just leave off!’ She stormed off angrily, in true heroine fashion, and, thought Davus made to follow -for whatever wicked end he might have hoped to achieve- Fern held him back.
‘Why do you want Bessie to go somewhere like Tortuga?! It’s dangerous!’
‘She wants to go,’ Davus protested.
‘Why do you care? You don’t even know her!’ Fern paused and furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, ‘you don’t care… not for her… but someone else- someone with the power to rescue a witch from the depths of Hell. You made a deal with the Devil.’