Let's Play Pirates: Chapter 7

Chapter 7
‘I’m glad you’ve chosen to stay with us, Lady Songsmith,’ said Prince Ashitaka, upon being informed of the situation, ‘I would, however, that I had been given a chance to speak to your friends…’
‘Cori would never have come,’ said Bessie, ‘nor Lulu- Masou… it may seem foolish but he would never wish to leave Lulu’s side.’
‘I know the feeling,’ said Prince Ashitaka sadly after a full moment’s silence.
What can a Prince know about love? Don’t tell me this Lady Serora isn’t some pretty and polished noble lady but an actual person?
Ashitaka chuckled weakly at the look on her face, ‘no,’ he said, ‘sadly, I do not mean Lady Serora. My engagement to her is entirely political, though I know her to be a nice sort of girl.’
‘Then who can you be speaking of?’ asked Bessie, the prince’s presence drawing her, involuntarily, back into a more polite manner of speech.
Ashitaka gave her an odd look, ‘it was a few years ago now… close to three, I expect. I was sixteen-years-old. His name was Dimitri Vagner.’
‘His?’
Ashitaka laughed in a rather unprincely way, ‘he was, of course, truly your Captain Kurissyma.’
Bessie breathed out a sigh of relief, ‘I would be quite uncomfortable if you spoke of another man.’
‘We attended university together- studying mythology,’ said Ashitaka nostalgically, ‘I was probably the only person who knew her to be a woman… she trusted me and I was the one who got her kicked out and sent back to finishing school…’
‘Was there nothing you could do?’
‘It was a Canen school- I could not control it,’ said Ashitaka, ‘they were convinced she had seduced me…’
‘How did they find her out?’
‘She admitted it,’ said Ashitaka, ‘she didn’t want them to think I was a… you know… it wouldn’t have looked good.’
‘And you never saw her again?’ asked Bessie, who had a secret liking for romance and heartbreak.
‘No,’ said Ashitaka, ‘but your skyship has been gaining some publicity recently. “Skypirate strikes again.” “Lady Pirate, Kurissyma san Tybalt- Friend of Foe.” But I had to see for myself if the rumours were true- I always spoke of travelling to Tortuga, to try and find out why the Five Great Nations split apart, and I knew that if I feigned an expedition there, Kuris would have to seek me out.’
‘It is her dream also,’ said Bessie quietly.
Ashitaka nodded, ‘I would that she had joined us…’
‘Perhaps it is for the best,’ said Bessie, thinking forlornly of her crew, ‘I mean… you are to be married- why complicate things?’
‘“The heart does things for reasons that reason cannot explain,”’ Ashitaka quoted wisely, ‘I just wanted to see… we always joked, she and I, that if all else failed, she would turn to piracy- I never thought she’d actually do it.’
‘Captain Kuris has a big heart for all she tries to hide it,’ Bessie agreed.
‘Are you sad to have left?’
Bessie shrugged elusively, ‘I have not decided,’ she said, ‘…but I pray we will one day meet again.’
‘As do I, Lady Songsmith.’
-
‘Captain Kuris, I demand an explanation!’
‘Not now, Fern, I’m busy,’ said Kurissyma tiredly as she fussed pointlessly about the deck.
‘Busy my ass!’ snapped Fern, ‘why did you let her go?!’
‘She wished to go,’ said Kuris, ‘and so I let her- what is there not to understand?’
‘You didn’t want her to leave!’
‘No, Fern, I did not,’ said Kuris, ‘but she will be safe with Ashitaka- I have no doubt.’
‘How do you know?! He might have changed!’
‘He has not changed,’ said Kuris, ‘trust me.’
‘You have just given great power to the Thracean prince- the people will see this as a peace treaty! An alliance!’
‘Then that is their folly,’ said Kuris. ‘I shall not be responsible for the assumptions of a nation of idjits.’
‘She does not belong there, Kuris! You know she doesn’t!’ Fern complained, ‘any one of us would die in Court! What if it is a trap? Perhaps they will sentence her to hang- to lure us to the capital! Each of us is liable to die for murder and stealth- many counts of it too! Would you truly jeopardize the safety of your crew? Knowing that the only thing standing between us and the noose is the trust of a-?!’
‘A what, Fern?’ asked Kuris coldly.
‘A childhood love!’
‘It is not quite so complicated as that, cousin, I trust him is all!’
‘Trust? Trust?!’ Fern boomed, ‘I saw the look on your face when Lady Serora introduced herself as his fiancée! We all saw it! How can you even think to deny it? And how can you allow someone to have that sort of power over you?!’
‘If he harms Elizabeth, he will die at my hands, Fern,’ said Kuris firmly, ‘that is my vow and I will not live to see it broken. If he turns traitorous then he must be disposed of. It is no more complicated than that.’
‘I hope you’re right, Kuris,’ said Fern angrily, ‘because if you have lead Lady Bess to her death then yours will follow!’
‘I’ll take my own life before seeing any of my crew die for reasons unjust,’ Kuris swore and Fern seemed to calm down a little.
‘Very well, Kuris,’ he said, sighing, ‘I just hope this has not been a mistake.’
‘Me too, Fern,’ said Kuris, looking away, ‘but fear not… as long as I live, nothing will happen to harm Lady Elizabeth Hartfield.’
-
"CANEN SONGSMITH, ALLY OF THRACEAN PRINCE
LADY SONGSMITH, ELIZABETH HARTFIELD of NEW CANAAR shocks the world by swearing allegiance to the THRACEAN PRINCE ASHITAKA. The first SONGSMITH in a century- she travels now to THRACE where she will learn to refine her talent with the ancient scrolls found in the TORTUGA EXPEDITION PRINCE ASHITAKA recently led. She will be presented to the COURT near the end of the month at the PRINCE’S MAY BALL."
-
‘Milord, I think you should see this.
Nicholas Hartfield, Master of the house since his father’s fatal heart attack, looked up from his work curiously, ‘yes, Williams?’
‘It’s your sister, milord- she’s been found in Thrace.’
-
‘The May Ball?’
‘Yes,’ said Lady Serora, ‘it’s a big event- don’t worry, we’ll teach you how to behave.’
Fun… thought Bessie sarcastically.
‘But why?’ she asked, instead.
‘Well, you represent Thrace now- you must act in a way that befits the title of Lady Songsmith.’
‘What do you know of how a Songsmith ought to act?’ asked Bessie, ‘seeing as I’m the only one in a hundred years.’
‘You must act like a proper lady,’ said Serora, ‘though I see how sailing with pirates may have corrupted your etiquette-’
‘I don’t,’ Bessie muttered to herself.
Serora pretended she hadn’t heard, looking about the room thoughtfully, ‘I hope you are comfortable,’ she said, before adding, somewhat snobbishly, ‘though I suppose your standards aren’t high.’
‘I don’t suppose they are,’ Bessie agreed, trying to keep her tone light and enduring.
There was a timid knock on the door.
‘Who’s there?’ called Serora.
‘Umm… it’s Emira, ma’am… come to help Lady Elizabeth dress for bed,’ came a small voice.
‘I don’t require-’ Bessie began uncertainly.
‘Come in then and make yourself useful,’ said Serora, cutting her off loudly, ‘I will see you in the morning, Lady Songsmith.’
‘Sweet dreams,’ Bessie called after her, but she was to receive no reply.
Staring forlornly at the door, Bessie didn’t see the petite maid come up behind her with a nightgown and she jumped as a small hand tapped her on the shoulder.
‘Oh, hello,’ said Bessie. ‘Emira, wasn’t it?’
‘You can’t be more than fifteen-years-old,’ murmured the maid, more than just a little surprised.
‘I’m fourteen,’ said Bessie, secretly proud that she looked older than she truly was.
‘My, my! So young!’
‘How old are you?’ asked Bessie pleasantly.
‘Beg pardon?’
‘How old-?’
‘Oh, I am sixteen, ma’am,’ said Emira blushing, ‘but… rather small.’
‘No matter,’ said Bessie, shrugging.
Emira helped Bessie to undress silently and she donned her nightgown before pulling down the decorative coverlets and getting into bed.
‘Thank you, Emira,’ she said.
‘Is there anything else you require, Lady Songsmith?’
‘Not at all,’ said Bessie, ‘I believe I shall sleep quite comfortably tonight.’
‘Then may I now seek permission to retire?’
‘Yes, of course,’ said Bessie, smiling.
‘Thank you,’ said Emira, curtseying, ‘I shall be by in the morning to help you dress.’
Bessie nodded again, ‘goodnight, Emira.’
Emira grinned nervously, ‘sleep tight, Lady Songsmith.’
-
Within a week of the news, Lord Nicholas Hartfield took advantage of the peaceful seas and left for Thrace with a crew of seven other men, whose names he was not bothered to know. It was Nik’s goal, no doubt, to try and talk to some sense into his sister- then force her to come home if she remained obstinate. Not that he ever got that far. In fact, he was hardly out of the harbour when he was ambushed –though some might say met- by the Kiteling.
‘Nik! Nik Hartfield, my friend!’ called Kendo jovially.
Nicholas squinted at the approaching ship, ‘Lord Kenichi!’
Kendo pulled a face at the name and Kurissyma grinned as she pulled the Kiteling up alongside Nik’s ship.
‘Hey, Nik,’ said Xatu, eyes bright in his hard face as he crossed onto his old friend’s ship.
Kendo followed suit and punched him playfully on the shoulder in that way men do, only to find himself surrounded by Nicholas’s burly crew.
‘Whoa, threatening,’ said Kendo laughingly, ‘call ‘em off, eh?’
Nicholas nodded shortly and his crew backed off.
‘What’ve you been doing, man?!’
‘My father died,’ said Nik coldly, ‘and left me in charge of his business and estate- and just as the initial workload wears off I find that my sister has made an alliance with Thrace.’
‘It’s Kuris’ fault,’ said Kendo, scratching the back of his neck foolishly, ‘she was all “you can trust Ashitaka”’
‘Shut up, Kendork!’ snapped Kuris climbing on after him, ‘it was her own decision.’
‘My sister was on board with you?’
‘For a little over a month,’ said Xatu.
‘And you let her join Thrace?!’
‘The Five Nations are no longer at war, Nik,’ came Mina’s soft voice, ‘surely there can be no harm in such an alliance.’
‘We all know that this peace will not last forever,’ said Nik, ‘and when it ends –because it always does- Thrace will have a Songsmith on their side! And a Canen Songsmith too!’
‘I see,’ said Kuris, her voice hardening, ‘so this is not so much about your sister as it is about her abilities as a Songsmith…’
‘You have changed much, Nik,’ said Mina sadly, ‘I am disappointed.’
‘What is that supposed to mean?’
‘It means,’ said Mina, ‘that you are not the person I thought you were. Two years ago you gave up your freedom to watch over her… now you would rather her dead than in Thrace.’
‘But, Mina-san! It’s nonsense! Heads will roll for this madness!’ Nicholas stormed.
‘Then let your own roll with them.’
Nicholas stepped backwards, his eyes wide and he stood there for a moment, shocked, an arm held out before him defensively. Soon, though, he was forced to face a painful reality. His gaze turned cold and hard, ‘guards! Get them!’
Breathing heavily, as though she had been running, Mina looked down at the wooden staff that was her choice of weapon and her eyes misted over with pain and anger.
‘Die, Nik Hartfield!’