Let's Play Pirates: Chapter 11

Chapter 11
‘Davus, what do you want?’ asked Fern sharply, as the two sat on the beach later that morning, everyone else asleep nearby. ‘What do you mean by being here?’
‘You know what I want,’ said Davus, ‘I want to live! I used my powers badly- but I did it to save Mina! I shouldn’t have had to die for it!’
‘And you’re willing to give up Bessie for your own sake?’ said Fern, ‘don’t you know what the Devil could achieve with Bessie’s powers?’
‘Power is not good or bad- it is the person who wields it,’ said Davus, ‘you’re all thieves and murderers- her power is not so pure.’
‘But she would not have it used for evil ends, Davus!’ Fern exclaimed, ‘by living- by cheating death- you endanger all of Asheia!’
‘What will you do, then? Will you kill me?’
‘I cannot, can I?’ said Fern, ‘for I am sure the Devil has granted you immunity- for this task, at least.’
‘Immunity from death- and great power,’ said Davus, eyes sparkling.
‘For this you will forsake your friends? Your country?’
‘Fern, I’m not a bad person- you know I’m not!’
‘I did, Davus,’ said Fern sadly, ‘but this… this is not the stuff of an angel- nor a remotely good man. We were friends once… but if you try to hurt Bessie, you will find yourself suddenly alone. If you harm her, you may well gather yourself a hoard of enemies… Asheia is in great peril. Bessie might be the only one with the power to save us… even if she doesn’t know it.’
Davus shook his head, ‘Asheia has been doomed since the beginning. Let me live to see the end… then I will die content.’
‘There doesn’t have to be an end!’
Davus closed his eyes with a sigh, ‘oh, but there does, Fern… there does…’
-
Bessie opened her eyes wearily and rubbed her bruised back, ‘what time is it?’ she mumbled, looking about her.
‘Not far past 11,’ said Kuris, a little way away, bringing up a hand to shield her face as she turned her gaze on the sun.
‘Here,’ came Belle’s voice from behind, ‘put this on- it may be a little small but it will attract less attention…’
‘Belle! How are you doing?!’ cried Bessie, taking the dull green-blue sundress from her gypsy friend.
‘Fair,’ said Belle, ‘Eleniel wishes she could be here to see you off- and Mother Naerwen, more so- but they are both tied up with work…’
‘Oh, yes! Where are the children?’
‘With a friend of mine- Emira.’
Bessie smiled as she remembered the shy maid Ashitaka had given her, ‘alright then- you tell Emira “thank you” from me… and tell her to try not to be quite so introverted.’
Belle smiled, ‘I will, Lady Bess! You can count on me!’
‘And you can count on me for absolutely everything else,’ said Bessie, ‘don’t be afraid to ask.’
Blushing, Belle nodded, ‘thank you- just come back in one piece is all!’
Bessie grinned, ‘I’ll try.’
The two young women embraced and parted.
‘Right, now,’ said Kuris, ‘get out of that ridiculous party dress and be quick about it- we want to be leaving soon.’
‘Yes, Captain!’
‘Glad to see your five minutes of fame haven’t gone to your head! Now hurry up!’
-
‘I hate the dark,’ Hero complained as the train sped on through the night.
‘Baby,’ said Morro-Chai, a cat-like grin spreading over her face as she peered out the windows, into the darkness.
‘I’m surprised they let us on the train,’ said Masou, ‘seeing as we’re… you know, pirates.’
‘Are you kidding?!’ Kuris exclaimed proudly, ‘they were afraid to turn us down!’
‘We move with the prince’s blessing,’ said Mina softly, ‘the Thraceans will refuse us little… but the other kingdoms… they will be different.’
‘So I fear,’ said Kuris, shrugging a dark, scruffy pigtail over her shoulder, ‘but we’ll be right, I think, if we steer away from major cities.’
‘I hope so,’ said Morro-Chai.
‘I just hope it gets light soon…’
‘It won’t,’ said Mina with a small smile, ‘just try and go to sleep for now.’
‘Sleeping’s boring,’ Morro-Chai protested, ‘we rested all morning!’
‘Believe me,’ said Kuris, ‘you won’t regret it.’
Reluctantly, the two smallest children cuddled into a small ball and eventually fell to sleep despite the rocking of the train as it powered along.
‘Cute, huh?’ said Masou, grinning.
‘It’s true though,’ said Kuris, ‘we should all rest while we have the chance- we’re not likely to get another for a while.’
Obediently, one by one, the crew of the late Kiteling drifted off to sleep- leaving, lastly, Davus, Mina, Fern, Masou and Lulu awake- with Cori somewhere in between.
‘What do you think of this plan, Davus?’ asked Lulu, her voice hard, ‘do you truly support us?’
‘Don’t you trust me?’ said Davus, ‘of course I support you! Support us. We are working towards saving Asheia from Oblivion- what nobler cause is there?’
Sensing his sincerity, Mina nodded slowly, ‘I know of none,’ she admitted.
‘Yet,’ said Lulu, ‘your presence disturbs me… I have no notion of how you may have returned to us- it frightens me- as it does, the others.’
If anyone noticed the harsh look on Fern’s face, or the anger and fury with which he looked upon Davus, they didn’t mention it, and he himself was silent.
‘I would prefer not to think about it,’ said Davus, ‘but I assure you- I am quite trustworthy.’
Mina sighed, believing herself to be the only one who knew about Davus’ condition and stumbling under the weight it put on her heart. Worse still, though, was the thought that she had not yet fulfilled her promise… Bessie was still alive.
‘I hope so,’ said Masou. ‘I hope we can trust you.’
‘We’re friends aren’t we?’ sighed Davus in askance, ‘we all were once… don’t you remember?’
‘It has been a long time, Davus,’ said Masou, ‘but perhaps you are right…’
‘You have not yet harmed a soul in my knowledge,’ said Lulu, ‘and so, though wary, I will aspire to trust you again.’
‘Is that the best offer I’ll be getting?’
‘Probably,’ said Fern, somewhat coldly and, noticing this, Mina raised an eyebrow at the usually easy-going and bright pirate. Shrugging off his discomfort, Fern turned his gaze on Bessie’s sleeping face.
‘Get some sleep,’ said Mina, eyes locked on the side of his face turned towards her, ‘I’ll keep watch.’
‘What is there to watch?’ asked Davus.
‘Who knows,’ said Mina elusively, ‘maybe something, maybe nothing. It is best to be safe.’
Fern gave her a hard look then nodded sleepily, ‘very well,’ he said and, not without a quick, furtive glance about him, he closed his eyes- soon asleep.
‘Will you not sleep also, Mina?’ asked Lulu, a half hour or so later, when Davus had, at last fallen to sleep.
‘I’ll be fine,’ said Mina.
‘No you’re not,’ said Lulu, giving her a cynical look, ‘go to sleep- I’ll watch- I don’t feel at all tired,’ she pressed a mask of vigilance and watchfulness over her sleepy face and, though Mina saw right through the act, she was far too tired to argue.
‘Alright,’ she said, ‘just for a little while.’
‘So,’ said Masou eventually, ‘when do you plan to sleep?’
Lulu, who had thought herself to be the only one left awake, jumped, then regained herself, ‘I’ll be fine.’
‘That’s what Mina said,’ Masou pointed out.
‘Well, what about you, then?’ said Lulu irritably, ‘you’re still awake.’
Masou shrugged silently and Lulu’s face softened.
‘Thank you,’ she said, ‘for keeping me company- but I’d rather that you, at least, got some sleep tonight.’
‘No, it’s cool,’ said Masou, crossing the cab (all of which was taken up by their lot- no one else daring to come close) to squish himself between Lulu and a sleeping Kuris.
‘So, then, Masou, what do you think of all this?’
‘All what?’
‘All this!’ Lulu gestured around her vaguely.
‘Travelling with a bunch o’ pirates and a dead guy to a bundle of temples to pray to a mass of gods who foretell our destruction? A mass of gods that we’d never heard of until just last night?’ said Masou, rolling his eyes, ‘I have a few misgivings.’
‘Just a few?’ said Lulu, ‘I have many… something doesn’t seem right… about Davus, I mean- it isn’t the same as before… then again, perhaps it is Xatu’s absence that ails us so.’
‘Perhaps…’ Masou agreed, ‘but I agree- Davus… I don’t know- something’s missing. It’s not at all like it used to be.’
‘No… not at all,’ sighed Lulu.
The train jolted and, instinctively, Lulu clutched Masou’s hand, a light blush spreading over her cheeks as their eyes met. Ducking her head to hide her glowing face, Lulu rested the side of her face on the back of the seat and bid him softly goodnight- asleep in a matter of moments.
-
Masou did not sleep that night, too unsettled to get comfortable, and though he was mostly alone with his thoughts, often enough someone would wake up, searching for the sun that seemed just about ready to rise. Several times Lulu awoke during the night, as did Morro-Chai and Fern- in fact, it seemed that the only one who slept through the entire night, was one who awoke in the early morning, when even Masou had fallen, however lightly, to sleep.
Kuris looked about her with a small sigh, she was thinking about the friends she had lost- Nik, Xatu, Davus- in a manner of speaker, and soon-to-be, Ashitaka, as well- for she knew he could not survive the wrath of the Auld Ones, whomever, or wherever, they might be.
Eventually though, her mind was turned to happier thoughts and notions by the sight of two of her closest friends, snuggled tight in the small space. Her eyes softened as they settled on Lulu and Masou, jolted in their sleep by the movement of the train, so that Lulu’s lips rested against his neck. She saw Masou move slightly and blink his eyes open lazily, looking down to see Lulu pressed against him. Kuris watched him smile at her lovingly and press a gentle kiss on the top of her head, before turning towards Kuris, who quickly pretended to be asleep.
‘I know you’re awake,’ he said, but Kuris’ eyes remained shut. ‘I know you are,’ he said again, but less certainly. Still, Kuris was silent, but she smiled in her “sleep”. ‘Fine,’ Masou went on, ‘I’ll just take this opportunity to peek at those secret “treasure maps” you gave Fern…’
Kuris twitched.
‘I thought so,’ said Masou, catching the sudden movement, ‘so what is it, anyway? The maps, I mean, what’s so important about them that I can’t see?’
Kuris only smiled and shook her head, opening her eyes again slowly, ‘good morning, Masou- have a nice rest?’