Let's Play Pirates: Chapter 14

Chapter 14
‘My Prince, perhaps you should see this?’
‘Is it important, Chambois? I am beyond busy.’
‘Only as important as your rogue lover.’
Ashitaka gave his manservant a slightly demeaning look, ‘you cannot go about calling her that, my friend; it will get us both in trouble.’
‘But you know who I’m talking about, don’t you, My Prince?’
Ashitaka nodded silently.
‘Well then,’ he went on conclusively, ‘begging your pardon, My Prince, but I say, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it’s probably a duck.’
‘If only it were so simple,’ said Ashitaka tiredly, ‘go on, Chambois, tell me what she has done now.’
‘She’s found herself a rowboat, my Prince.’
‘And?’
‘My Prince, it’s flying-’
‘So was her ship,’ said Ashitaka, shrugging.
‘-On a collision course with ours.’
‘Okay, I think I see the problem now,’ said Ashitaka, blinking as he stood, ‘take me to the Bridge.’
-
Even as a door opened on the side of the airship to allow them to board, Kuris gave the order to steer away, then, turning back for a moment, she, by change, caught Ashitaka’s eye as he stood by a window in the Bridge.
“You may want to keep him from reaching Tortuga.”
Of course she wanted to… but was it wise? He was the bad guy, wasn’t he? He’d attacked and enslaved the gypsies- destroyed their homes, stolen their treasures… he was dangerous.
Ashitaka waved at her brightly.
“Oh, Ashitaka…” Kuris thought miserably.
“All hope… lies in communication between the Five Nations.” “The death of a prince in the name of peace may not go down well.”
‘Lulu, Masou, Cori… I want you turn back.’
‘Turn back? Are you sure?’ said Masou, raising an eyebrow.
‘What are you thinking, Kuris?’ asked Fern, touching her shoulder, ‘do you mean to attack him? Force him to give back the gypsies treasures?’
Kuris stared straight ahead, ‘just bring us around, my friends, I will decide… when I hear what he has to say for himself.’
Fern sat back in his seat with a sigh, ‘no, Kuris… you’re not thinking of forgiving him.’
‘No! No, I’m not! Of course not! I never could, you know that, Fern… but does he need to die? It could cause unnecessary enmity between the Nations.’
Davus gave her an odd look, ‘they will think Lady Bess has betrayed them for New Canaar,’ he said, ‘and that could cause a war.’
Kuris smiled gratefully, ‘yes! Of course, we can’t hurt him, can we? Not while Bessie’s with us.’
Fern didn’t seem convinced, ‘I hope you’re not going soft, Kuris- not on Ashitaka- in times like these we can’t afford an alliance with any kingdom- we must be neutral, do you understand?’
‘I know that, Fern!’ said Kuris, eyes sharp, ‘I just don’t want to hurt him!’
‘We’re pirates,’ said Fern, ‘it’s what we do.’
Kuris cast her eyes to the surrounding sky, determinedly ignoring him. Silent, even as the small boat docked, Kuris stepped onto the airship and walked, her face the picture of stoicness, towards the bridge- fearing the confrontation that was to ensue.
The hall past the docking bay was empty, no security, no nothing- only the dull drumming of the engines, soft, as though very far away.
‘Madame Pirate,’ came the hard voice of Ashitaka’s manservant.
‘Hmm?’
‘The Prince is this way.’
Kuris made to follow, but Morro-Chai was determined to walk in front, ‘make your decision wisely, ‘kay, Captain?’ she said quietly, and she turned her eyes forward, following Chambois through a door and into another long corridor.
Kuris nodded deeply and, with a quick glance about her friends, walked forwards, eyes set squarely on the back of Morro-Chai’s head.
‘Be careful, Cous’,’ said Fern, nodding grudgingly.
Kuris smiled reassuringly, ‘don’t worry. I will.’
-
‘Kuris!’ Ashitaka twirled around to face Kuris, standing, behind Morro-Chai, in the door way, beginning to recite the words he had been practising in his head since she left, ‘why did you flee Akinore? I meant for you to come with us- you needn’t have bothered with the chase.’
He tried to sound light-hearted -to make a joke of her flight- but neither of them was laughing.
‘I’m not joining you, Ashitaka,’ said Kuris.
‘No way after what you did to the gypsies!’ Masou exclaimed angrily.
‘You had friends among them?’
‘That’s not the point!’
‘No… I suppose not.’
Kuris furrowed her eyebrows slightly; ‘you attacked Tumbler’s Cove- and stole the gypsies’ treasures, claiming that they were your own.’
‘You came here to get them back?’
Kuris bowed her head slightly, ‘and… and to warn you- Ashitaka, if you go on to Tortuga you will die!’
‘That’s what you keep saying, Kuris, but I don’t believe you,’ said Ashitaka.
‘Are you calling my cousin a liar?!’
Kuris shot Fern a grateful look.
‘I’m merely suggesting that she is misinformed,’ said Ashitaka. ‘You see, Lady Serora has told me of the gypsies lies- how they wish to protect Tortuga- to stop us from reaching it- that is why I had to have them enslaved.’
‘You’re wrong,’ said Bessie, ‘Serora’s wrong- you don’t understand!’
‘Ashitaka… My friends want their treasures back- you will return them- what you do after that is none of my concern- none of any of ours,’ Kuris looked pointedly at her crew.
‘I can’t do that.’
Kuris’ heart sank, ‘why not?’
‘Lady Serora will not allow them to be taken from her.’
Kuris’ poor heart constricted painfully, ‘she’s on board with you, isn’t she?’
‘Yes,’ said Ashitaka, ‘she is.’
“You fool, Ashitaka! You poor, poor fool!”
‘What does she want with them?’
‘She is with us, Kuris- she wants to save Asheia.’
Kuris shook her head, ‘nothing will be gained by flying there, and if you do, the scripts will be lost again- there will be no way to retrieve them.’
‘You’re wrong.’
‘The temples have been locked away, Ashitaka- under mountains of stone. There’s no way in- no safe way- O! What was that?’
The ship began to shake violently and Ashitaka flew to the pilots, ‘what’s wrong?’ he cried.
‘I don’t know, M-my Prince!’ stuttered the senior commander, ‘as soon as we crossed the Tortugan boarder… it just started- wha?!’
The next jolt threw everyone across the room as the airship tilted dangerously before rocking back into place.
Masou’s arms came tight around Lulu, and Ashitaka attempted to hold on to Kuris, but she shied away, making her way back to the controls.
‘What in Seven Hells?!’ she gasped, staring at the radar.
‘The size of that thing…’ murmured Fern.
‘It can’t be an airship,’ was Morro-Chai’s immediate response.
‘Then what is it?’
‘Hells…’ muttered Kendo, ‘it’s the Beast… the Beast that destroyed Tortuga 1379 years ago…’
‘And don’t you know why it’s here, Ashitaka?’ asked Kuris, voice suddenly hard, ‘it’s here for us.’
‘My Prince!’ cried Chambois at the door, ‘it’s your fiancée-’
‘Is she alright?’
‘M-my Prince- she’s gone!’
-
Naerwen closed her eyes, leaning back on her pallet tiredly, soaking in her exhaustion, ‘Auld Ones,’ she murmured to the sky, ‘you grow restless… don’t worry… it won’t be long now- one way or another… the end is near.’
-
‘Lord Hartfield.’
Nik looked up from his papers tiredly and nudged his father’s half-moon spectacles down the bridge of his nose just a little, ‘yes, Kyra?’
‘You have a guest.’
‘Oh?’
‘A Miss Serora de Gaul, Milord, she claims some connection with Sir Davus’ employer.’
Nik chewed on his bottom lip thoughtfully before replying, ‘send her in then.’
Nik’s maid left and returned a few moments later with Lady Serora.
‘Make it quick, could you?’ said Nik, in what he hoped was a casual sort of tone. The truth was that he was afraid, he was in Davus’ debt, and the man sure had odd ways of making him repay it.
‘Sir Davus apologises for not being able to make it here himself, he was caught up with your sister’s crowd,’ said Serora.
Nik’s eyebrows furrowed ever so slightly, ‘I see… what news do you bring of them.’
‘Their condition is none of your concern,’ said Serora, ‘all you need to know, is that Sir Davus has plans for that prisoner of yours.’
‘His brother,’ said Nik shortly.
‘Mister Xatu.’
‘Yes.’
‘He requires that you take the prisoner to the number 4 dock at Akinore, Thrace.’
‘When does he wish me to leave?’ Nik replied readily.
‘Immediately,’ said Serora, ‘he expects you there by nightfall.’
‘By nightfall,’ Nik repeated dubiously, ‘it’s impossible.’
‘He has employed three fairies with the task of taking you there quickly, you will meet them at the Waterside Tavern at 12 o’clock- all in dark cloaks and hoods.’
‘May I ask what is to befall the prisoner?’
‘You may not.’
Nik drew blood in his lip and released it, ‘very well.’