Let's Play Pirates: Chapter 12

Chapter 12
It was easily past midday by the time the train pulled into the old station, and Kuris’ crew, beyond tired of travelling by land, were glad to see a familiar face.
‘Naerwen!’
The chubby gypsy woman at the ticket stand looked up from her customer, ‘a moment, if you will,’ she said quickly, and she bustled over to the group. ‘By gods! You’re all in tact! Lulu, Masou, what would I have done if you’d gotten yourselves killed? And you, Lady Bess, I hear you’ve become quite the songstress!’
Lulu held up a frail hand to cease Naerwen’s babbling and smiled slightly, ‘Naerwen, I’m glad to see you well.’
‘As am I to see you,’ said Naerwen, ‘but it has been awful tough for us gypsies of late- have you heard? Tumbler’s Cove was attacked! There ain’t a thing left and we’ve been sold as slaves- the lot of us!’
‘I met Belle in Akinore,’ said Bessie, ‘that was the first we’d heard of it.’
‘The Prince did this, you know? We called him a friend, and a confidante- but all he really was is a spy- a spy and a thief at that. The Auld Ones will make sure he burns for this, I am sure.’
‘What is it that was stolen?’ asked Kuris sharply.
‘Things made in auld,’ said Naerwen bitterly, ‘of great value and importance to us. Scrolls and artefacts… things recovered from the Isle of Tortuga many years ago…’
‘You have been there, Naerwen?’ asked Lulu.
‘Not I, no,’ said Naerwen, shaking her head, ‘but my grandmother- she led an expedition there many years ago.’
‘Did she have ta go pray at all the temples too?’ asked Hero irritably and Morro-Chai hissed at him not to be rude.
‘Aye, she did, little one. Aye, she did- I went with her for that. Such wonder… but now it is all hidden beneath the earth.’
‘What happened?’ asked Kendo, looking up from his folded arms.
‘An earthquake- a terrible one- that shook all of Asheia. Everything was destroyed and the land bore the stench of death for many days and many nights. When the survivors fin’ly ventured outside again, they saw that all the temples had fallen, replaced by a pile of rubble and rock that rose high into the sky, forming the great Ashein mountain ranges…’
‘So the Thracean temple is not by Mount Kentaru, but the mountain itself?’ said Kuris, ‘that changes things… tell me, do you think the Auld Ones will hear our prayers from the mountain?’
‘I think not, Little Captain,’ said Naerwen, ‘for that it why they sent it… My grandmother’s party was joined in their quest for knowledge by a traitor- an agent of Hell who wreaked great havoc over the sacred land. They say that the Auld Ones vowed that no more would man step foot on the hallowed isle- it would remain forever as it is- at peace, even when the world ends…’
‘The world ends?’ repeated Morro-Chai tonelessly, ‘so sad… Lady Naerwen, why must the world end?’
‘It is what she predicted, child- the Prophetess.’
‘Merilwen,’ said Bessie, ‘that was her name, wasn’t it?’
‘Aye, so it was,’ said Naerwen thoughtfully, ‘I had forgotten. It is a while since I read the story myself.’
‘And this story,’ Bessie continued, eyes wide, ‘it was in a book? A large, leather-bound book? A blue one with gold lettering?’
‘How do you know that?’
‘It was called The Prophetess, wasn’t it, Naerwen? That lying creep! He told me he found it in Tortuga!’
‘Oh my… My grandmother found that book-’
‘Hey! Can I get some service over here?!’
‘Just a minute,’ cried Naerwen, rather disconcerted, ‘oh… oh dear… I had best get back… Lulu? Masou?’
The two fairies nodded silently.
‘You hurt that prince for me, alright? Show him what you’re made of!’
Lulu cast a glance and Kuris, who looked away, ‘y-yes, Naerwen,’ she said hesitantly.
‘Of course,’ said Masou.
‘Don’t you worry, Miss!’ said Cori excitedly, ‘we’ll kick ‘im where it hurts!’
‘Dead meat,’ Kendo agreed and Kuris turned slightly green.
‘Good bye then,’ said Naerwen, then she sighed, ‘just bring back our treasures.’
‘We will, Naerwen,’ said Kuris, ‘I swear we will.’
‘Good,’ said Naerwen, ‘I’ll be seeing you, then.’
She rushed away to her irritated customer and Lulu turned to Kuris sadly, ‘I’m sorry,’ she said.
‘Don’t be,’ said Kuris, shaking her head, ‘he deserves it- the idiot- and he’s going to get it too- the moment he sets foot on Tortuga.’
‘But where do we go from here?’ asked Mina softly, ‘the Auld Ones won’t let us go to Tortuga either, and the temples are no more- how are we to contact them? To save Asheia?’
‘I… don’t know.’
-
Kuris’ crew spent that night at Naerwen’s humble dwelling- it wasn’t large, in fact, it was quite small, but it was just large enough to accommodate them all on the floor and at least it was dry.
‘Thank you again, Naerwen,’ said Mina softly as a hot drink was pressed into her hands.
‘No, it’s fine,’ said Naerwen, smiling warmly, ‘it’s not often I get visitors- never, actually- and tea is the one thing I have in abundance.’
‘Still,’ said Kuris, ‘thank you.’
Naerwen shook her head, ‘if you will truly help us as much as you say you will, then it is the least I can do in return.’
‘We’ll do everything we can to get your grandmother’s treasures back, Naerwen!’ Cori exclaimed, ‘you can count on us!’
‘I’ve heard a lot of people say that before,’ said Naerwen, ‘you’d better mean it.’
‘We do,’ said Bessie, ‘don’t worry.’
‘Good,’ said Naerwen, ‘then there is no need to repay me… so, what now? Will you return to Akinore, take to the seas or continue on to the mountain?’
‘Which do you think is best?’
‘It depends what your priorities are,’ said Naerwen. ‘The safety of Asheia ought to be one, of course, but I don’t see how you can help. All hope from that angle, I should think, lies in communication between the Five Nations. The death of a prince in the name of peace would not go down well. You may want to keep him from reaching Tortuga. On the other hand, you may have to use force to retrieve the ancient texts that were stolen from us.’
‘I promised you I’d return what was stolen,’ said Kuris, ‘but we will not harm Ashitaka unless it is necessary- either way, it would seem we must find him.’
‘I wish you luck,’ said Naerwen. ‘Now, you must all get a good nights rest tonight, I shall go and see someone about transport.’
Bessie blinked as she felt the floor creak, unable to see clearly in the darkness, ‘now? It is the middle of the night!’
‘We gypsies will do everything in our power to help you- whilst you are in Thrace, I am sure you will find a few of us everywhere,’ she smiled. ‘Now, I have a friend who deals in boats, if I can get you a long boat, or a sail boat of sorts by tomorrow, will you three fairies be able to fly to the harbour? It would save a day by train.’
‘Of course,’ said Masou instantly and Naerwen smiled.
‘I’ll have one by morning,’ she promised, ‘I trust you’ll find your way onto a ship once you reach the coast?’
‘We’re all armed well enough,’ Kuris agreed, ‘thank you for your help.’
‘Again, it is nothing, my friends- it is poor reward for the great deed you do us by retrieving our treasures.’
Kuris bowed her head deeply and Naerwen left, disappearing into the night. The door creaked as it opened, and banged as it shut, then there was silence.
-
‘Kuris, those scrolls,’ came Fern’s voice in the later darkness, when all but his cousin were asleep, ‘they were not “treasure maps”- you took them from Ashitaka, correct?’
‘I did,’ Kuris admitted.
‘And he took them from the gypsies?’
‘I suppose…’
‘Should we not return them now?’
Kuris shook her head, then, remembering that he could not see her, softly disagreed, ‘no, I think not. Have you read them?’
‘Briefly.’
‘They are written in Auld Sheyn and speak of the dark forces that oppose the Auld Ones- the Devil and the undead, for one.’
‘You can read it?’
‘I don’t know how,’ said Kuris, ‘but yes, I can- so can Bessie and Ashitaka, I know that much.’
‘I could not,’ said Fern.
‘I suspect many cannot…’ said Kuris casually, ‘in any case- on the subject of the undead, it would seem that the Devil has asked for something in return for the freedom of Davus’ soul.’
‘Yes…’ said Fern, who had known for some time now.
‘It says that to get rid of Davus- we must make his mission impossible,’ said Kuris, ‘then he will return to the afterlife… to… to Hell, I expect.’
‘But how?’ asked Fern.
‘Well it depends what his task was,’ said Kuris, shifting uncomfortably on the hard floor.
‘What if I told you that I knew- that I have known for a while?’
‘I would ask you to tell me immediately,’ said Kuris seriously.
‘He… is after Bessie- I don’t know why and I don’t know what he means to do with her- only that she is in danger from him.’
‘That makes things difficult…’ said Kuris sadly.
‘Why?’ said Fern, dreading the reply.
‘We can only be assured that he does not get a hold of her if we, ourselves, do.’
‘You think we should get rid of Bessie?!’
‘No, of course not! …Unless we have no other option…’ Kuris sighed, ‘you must understand that if he gets her- not only will she be gone, but Davus will return fully to power. It is the only way to get rid of him…’
‘I know…’
‘Davus is a danger, not only to Bessie, but to the whole crew, to all of Asheia- and to himself also. If we can stop him…’ she closed her eyes with a sigh, ‘then we have to.’