Let's Play Pirates: Chapter 6

Chapter 6
(Four years ago
‘What will you do once you gain your degree in mythology?’ asked Kuris, in one of her many disguises- this, a young scholar, named Dimitri.
Prince Ashitaka, a fellow student, grinned and rolled onto his stomach, wincing as the lumps in his bed pressed into him, ‘I’ll travel to Tortuga,’ he declared brightly, ‘and search for clues as to Asheia’s current state.’
‘So political,’ Kuris giggled.
‘What about you “Dimitri”?’
Ashitaka was probably the only one at the university who knew that Kuris was not who she pretended to be.
‘I’ll sail the world,’ she said wistfully.
‘Who’d let a girl on a ship?’ asked Ashitaka, raising an eyebrow.
Kuris laughed, ‘who’d let a girl in a university?’ she said proudly.
‘Yeah,’ said Ashitaka, ‘but you’re not supposed to be a girl.’
‘You’re not telling anyone. I’m not telling anyone. Who’s to say whether or not I belong here?’
‘Maybe you’re right,’ said Ashitaka.
‘Maybe I am,’ Kuris agreed and he grinned.
‘That’s what I like about you, Kuris- it’s all “maybes” and “what ifs” with you!’ he chuckled, ‘if you try that at the palace all you get is a big old “we’ll get back to you on that!”’
Kuris laughed too.
‘I’m serious!’ Ashitaka exclaimed, sitting up and throwing his arms around in exasperation, ‘I practically have to arrange a meeting to speak with my father! What about yours, eh?’
‘Oh! Ash! Most of the time it’s like I don’t even have a father! He’s always away- always working! If I weren’t here I’d be stuck in some finishing school- you know that they haven’t even realised that I never arrived!’
‘That’s rough.’
‘Not much worse than yours, I suppose,’ said Kuris, sighing, ‘I just wish they’d pay a little more attention, you know?’
‘Yeah, I know… it’s a good thing you’re here, Kuris- nobody else ever treated me like normal person… I mean, not like a friend.’
‘Eww! Mushy!’ Kuris chuckled.
‘Heh, sorry,’ said Ashitaka, sounding amused.
‘Maybe I should’ve been a guy, huh?’ said Kuris, ‘I mean- no restricting dresses, no damn corsets, no damn rules!’ she sighed wistfully, ‘university, a life at sea, learning to fight…’
‘It’s not all that special,’ said Ashitaka, shrugging, ‘besides, then you wouldn’t get the honorific title of “female pirate”- which is exactly where a life of exclusion and sexism will take you.’
‘Thanks, Ash,’ said Kuris sarcastically.
‘What!? It could be fun to be a pirate!’ said Ashitaka.
Kuris grinned, ‘yeah, maybe.’
‘Besides,’ said Ashitaka, looking embarrassed, ‘guys aren’t pretty like girls.’
‘Anyone in particular?’ Kuris giggled teasingly.
‘Well… you’re pretty.’
Kuris’ laugh died in her throat, ‘I’m dressed as a freaking guy,’ she said, forcing herself to smile.
‘But you’re not one,’ Ashitaka insisted, flushing, ‘your skin is so smooth… and your hair is such a pretty colour…’ he reached out to touch her fluffy dark hair, cut as it was into a boyish mess.
Kuris gave a shy smile and shrugged, ‘thanks, I guess.’
‘I’d like to see you follow your dreams, Kuris. And you shouldn’t let something like gender get in the way of things.’
‘And if all else fails,’ said Kuris, regaining her usual cheery disposition, ‘I can always turn to piracy!’
Ashitaka laughed too, ‘Kurissyma san Tybalt,’ he thought hard for a moment, ‘the Black Lady of Thrace!’
‘Nice!’ said Kuris, chuckling appreciatively. ‘You’ll have to join my crew!’
‘You see,’ said Ashitaka, shaking his head and sounding sad all of a sudden, ‘you don’t want to be like me- what would my father think? I mean, who knows what would happen if the only heir to the Thracean throne turned pirate?’
‘That’s rough,’ said Kuris, giving him a sympathetic look, ‘then again, The Black Lady of Thrace is hardly a suitable title for Lady Kathryn Lenne Karroi.’
‘That’s always true.’
‘You should do something about it, you know,’ said Kuris thoughtfully, ‘I mean, one day you’ll be king! You could let girls turn pirate- go to university- fight- whatever! I know a million who’d thank you for it- and a million who’d kick your ass, but that’s besides the point.’
‘I can’t tell Thraceans what their opinions ought be,’ said Ashitaka carefully, ‘it would be an abuse of my power… but what I will do is this- when I am king, there shall be no laws restricting women- and there will be no Witch Hunters.’
Kuris nodded enthusiastically, ‘if fairies were out in the open… who knows?! Maybe I could get a ship in the air!’
‘Heh, maybe, Kuris, maybe.’
‘You know,’ she went on, ‘before I got to know you… I didn’t think you were the sort of prince who would actually listen to his subjects. I mean, what laws has your father made or changed? None! I thought you’d be just like him.’
‘I don’t want to be like him,’ said Ashitaka, sounding disgusted, ‘I don’t want anyone to be like him!’
‘I know,’ said Kuris, smiling, ‘and I’m glad too.’
Ashitaka seemed to struggle with himself for a moment before leaning towards her slightly to press a gentle kiss to her mouth, ‘thank you.’
‘My Prince!’
‘Shit!’ Kuris yelped, standing at the boy in the door.
His name was Lysander Troy, the son of a great Canen lord, and he had just walked into his dormitory to find two of his –cough-seemingly-cough- male friends, kissing.
‘My Prince! You are-?’ Words failed him.
‘No,’ said Kuris quickly, ‘wait! He’s not- I’m a- I’m a girl!’
‘Dimitri?!’
‘Actually, it’s Kathryn,’ Kuris admitted. ‘Or Kuris- whichever.’
‘Master Loompa! Master Loompa, come quick!’ Lysander yelled down the hall and the sound of the chubby mythology master’s heavy footsteps became louder as he approached at a slow run.
‘Master Loompa! Dimitri is a woman!’
‘I prefer girl,’ said Kuris unhelpfully.
Master Loompa stood frozen in the doorway for a moment before storming over and slapping Kuris across the face. He made to strike her again but Ashitaka stepped between them.
‘My Prince! You knew?!’
‘I did,’ said Ashitaka firmly, ‘you will not harm her.’
‘Please, My Prince- she has seduced you-’
‘Seduced?!’ Ashitaka roared with a fury Kuris had never seen of him, ‘are you underestimating the will of the Prince of Thrace!’
‘Rules are rules, My Prince!’
‘Then I will see to them,’ said Ashitaka, ‘now leave- immediately! ’Master Loompa still looked uncertain.
‘That is an order!’
‘I must resit, My Prince! I have my orders!’
‘No!’
‘Lysander- restrain him.’
‘I am sorry, My Prince,’ said Lysander, shaking his head as he held his friend back, ‘but it is for your own good.’
Ashitaka could only watch helplessly as Kuris was dragged away.
“Damn Hell, this is all my fault.”)
-
‘My Prince! What’s that in the sky!’
‘It’s a ship,’ said Prince Ashitaka, sounding amused.
‘Should we attack?!’
‘No, not just yet, Chambois- I want to see the captain.’
The prince’s manservant bowed uncertainly, ‘but, if I may, My Prince-?!’
‘You may not,’ said Ashitaka stubbornly, ‘now wait patiently- she means to board us.’
‘She, My Prince?’
Ashitaka chuckled lightly, ‘the Black Lady of Thrace.’
‘Ashitaka!’
‘Right on cue!’ Ashitaka laughed, ‘hello, up there!’
The skyship touched down to the water and Kuris hopped on board the prince’s ship, motioning for her crew to stay put.
‘Can we attack now, My Prince?’ asked Chambois nervously.
‘Do you have a qualm with me, boy?’ asked Kuris, nodding at him.
Chambois shivered at the ice in her tone and shook his head violently.
After a few moments of cold silence, Kuris took a deep breath and ran towards her prince, flinging her arms around his neck, ‘Gods, Ashitaka! It’s really you!’
Lulu boarded the ship too, glaring at the few who dared approach her, ‘touch me and you die,’ she said and she passed through the prince’s crew easily, ‘Kuris- you know him… well?’
‘He was my friend,’ said Kuris, then her face fell, ‘Ashitaka, I’m a pirate.’
‘The Black Lady of Thrace,’ he chuckled.
‘Yes,’ said Kuris, blushing.
‘If all else fails…’
‘…Turn to piracy… that was your idea, Ashitaka.’
‘Yes,’ he sighed, ‘it was. So- you mean to rob us?’
Kuris screwed up her face in determination and pulled away from him, ‘yes,’ she said, ‘I- we do.’
‘Very well,’ Ashitaka drew his hanger and held it before him patiently, waiting for Kuris to take out her own.
‘Now, My Prince?’ asked Chambois, glaring particularly at Lulu, who was glaring right back.
Ashitaka nodded solemnly, ‘now.’
Bessie hastily picked up her flute as Kuris’ crew rushed onto the prince’s ship, beginning to play the only song she knew.
‘A songsmith! Block your ears, men! She’s a demon!’
This is so cool, thought Bessie proudly.
‘A songstress! A songstress!’
‘My Prince! What do we do?!’
‘You found yourself a songsmith, Kuris?’ said Ashitaka, half horrified and half impressed.
Kuris didn’t reply, intent as she was on landing a hit past the prince’s superior swordsmanship training.
‘If I’d been born a boy, you’d be so dead right now, Ashitaka!’ she said eventually.
It was just as the crew was beginning to realise how little magic Bessie’s song actually contained that something changed. Bessie was convinced it was a wrong note, but maybe it was a right one.
‘She really is a songsmith!’ whispered a small feminine voice as, one by one, the men on board the ship fell to the deck, unharmed but sleeping soundly.
‘Really?’ said Kuris, ‘well that’s odd!’
‘I did it?’ said Bessie, wide-eyed, ‘Gods! I did it!’
‘Who are you?’ asked Fern roughly, his hanger still held out before him.
‘My name is Lady Serora de Gil,’ said the girl and they saw her now, emerging from below the deck, ‘I am My Prince’s fiancée.’
‘Ashitaka doesn’t have a fiancée,’ said Kuris immediately, ‘we’d have heard about it.’
‘The engagement has not yet been announced, my Lady,’ said the timid Lady Serora.
Ashitaka, thought Kuris sadly, did that kiss mean nothing?
‘Then you have no business speaking of it,’ said Kuris sharply, ‘you are a wench on a ship and you will stand aside immediately!’
‘My Prince only seeks peace in Asheia,’ whispered Lady Serora, ‘is that not your goal also?’
‘What are you saying?’
‘My Prince wishes the help of the magical creatures- to aid him in his quest for peace,’ said Lady Serora, ‘will you not help us? Help Asheia?’
‘What makes you think we’d help you?’ asked Lulu, eyes flashing, ‘after all you’ve done to us.’
‘When My Prince is king, he will call off all of Thrace’s Witch Hunters,’ Lady Serora promised.
‘It is true, what she says,’ said Kuris, ‘Ashitaka often spoke of it- he bears no ill will towards fairies- if you joined him, you would be in good hands, Lulu. You would be safe.’
Lulu looked down, ‘but if I joined with Thrace… you would remain as you are?’ she asked, knowing the answer.
‘I would,’ said Kuris.
‘Masou? Cori?’
‘I want to stay with Captain Kuris, no disrespect, milady,’ said Cori, ‘I am sure Prince Ashitaka will make a great prince… but my loyalties lie elsewhere.’
‘Lu, I’m willing to go where you go,’ said Masou, ‘if you will join with Thrace- then so will I. If you choose to stay- I will stay too.’
‘I cannot leave Captain Kuris, Lady Serora- what has Thrace ever done for us?’ Lulu traced the many scars that covered her jagged wings. ‘What have any of the Five Nations ever done for us? I cannot pledge allegiance to a nation that would have had me killed for living.’
‘This is bleak indeed,’ said Lady Serora, ‘very well- what about you, Songsmith?’
Bessie didn’t reply.
‘There has not been a Songsmith on Asheia for many centuries- your powers are rare and unique-’
‘With all due respect, Lady Serora, I know nothing of such an art- what happened was an accident- if the power stems from anywhere, I’d say it must be the flute,’ said Bessie.
‘A magic flute? Preposterous- there is no such thing!’
‘What will you do, Bessie?’ asked Mina. ‘There is much to be gained from joining Thrace- gold, jewels, honour, protection- but do you think any of that could be yours if it were not for your powers? They would be using you in the worst possible way.’
‘The amount of documents we have recovered from the sacred Isle of Tortuga- there are so many new spells, new songs for you to learn,’ said Lady Serora.
Bessie looked around her at the deck, the sleeping bodies of dozens of guards spread over it… such power… and a chance to learn more… all this had been an accident- what if she could learn to refine that power? She could be invincible!
‘I will come with you,’ said Bessie.
Kurissyma looked saddened, ‘very well. Lady Serora, I leave her in your hands. You tell Ashitaka that if anything happens to her, he answers to me!’ she turned to Bessie, ‘I hope you know what you’re doing, Elizabeth.’
‘So do I,’ said Bessie.
Kuris turned to her crew, ‘we will not sink Bessie’s ship- we leave, now.’
One by one, the crew of the Kiteling embraced her and went back to their own ship, each looking more solemn that last.
Lulu shook her head as she released Bessie, the last of Kuris’ crew to do so. She looked heartbroken, ‘you said this was where you belonged,’ she said, ‘with us.’
‘You won’t go making Lady Elizabeth feel guilty now, Lu,’ Masou warned her, ‘she’s made up her mind.’
Lulu’s face hardened, ‘I know. I wish you luck, Bessie.’
‘See ya, kid.’
Bessie watched sadly as the Kiteling lifted back into the sky, ‘goodbye!’ she called but she knew they couldn’t hear. ‘Goodbye,’ she said again, softer.
‘Welcome aboard, Lady Songsmith!’
Bessie turned back to Serora solemnly, ‘yes,’ she said, ‘thank you…’