The Panagea Tales Box Set

by McKenzie Austin

  Kazuaki was a patient man. He waited on the main deck until the cockboat was abreast of the ship. While it was no surprise to hear Iani’s voice call from below, he did not expect the words that followed. “Captain! Man down, immediate assistance, if you please!”

  The captain walked to the ship’s railing and peered over, narrowing his eye as he saw Iani and a stranger holding a haggard looking Rennington. “Granite,” Kazuaki ordered, motioning the giant of a man to the cockboat below. “They’ll be needing an assist.”

  Granite’s dog jumped up with excitement at the mention of his master’s name. The man grabbed a large rope and tied it around the main mast, fashioning a quick harness around his waist. He propelled himself down the side of the ship, landing in the cockboat with a thud. Nicholai gripped the sides of the small boat, fearing the sheer weight of Granite’s body would cause the vessel to sink. Without making eye contact, the giant man threw Rennington over his shoulder.

  The injured Platts brother let out an exasperated sound though he tried his best to muffle it. “No need to be gentle,” Rennington uttered with cynicism. “Not as if it’s painful being riddled with bullets.”

  Granite said nothing as he pulled Rennington and himself up the rope, keeping the man balanced on his broad shoulder. His boots scraped against the barnacles and old boards of the ship, but he made short work of the effort, dumping Rennington onto the main deck above. Removing the rope from his waist, Granite threw it back over the side, so Iani could join them.

  “Where’s E.P.?” Rennington asked through his agony, clutching the area where the bullet entered his hip.

  “Here,” Elowyn’s voice called out as she emerged from the deckhouse. She ran over and knelt beside him. Her brows furrowed together as she laid eyes on the two bullet holes. “Gods, Renn, what the shit happened to you?”

  “Feckin’ Southern footmen is what,” Iani called out, having heard Elowyn’s inquiry while he climbed the rope. He finished his ascent and hoisted himself over, breathing hard as he ran his hands through his hair. “Damn near threw both of us in the cellars to rot too. Probably three days away from Darjal putting our heads on a gods-damned pike.”

  Kazuaki frowned. He motioned for Granite to help Elowyn get Rennington to her cabin where she could further assist in his medical recovery. Rennington swatted at Granite’s dog as it tried to shove its muzzle into his pelvis, tongue lolling out to lick at the wound. “Get your feckin’ bilge water mouth away from me, beast—that tongue will give me sepsis!”

  “Down,” Granite said to the dog. It obediently abandoned its mission.

  Kazuaki ignored the goings-on as he did many times before. He kept his attention on Iani. “And how did the Platts brothers manage to evade death?” he asked, putting the wonder of whether they were followed in the back of his head until he received more details to the story.

  As if on cue, Nicholai finished climbing the rope. Hunger and thirst dulled his ability to perform any physical task with ease. It was obvious from his performance in Avadon’s marketplace he was not a successful thief. Lacking in this skill left him famished most nights since he left the Southeastern division. He loitered on the railing, staring with caution at the men and women who stood on the main deck.

  “This bugger here,” Iani answered, thumbing toward Nicholai. “Can’t fire a gun worth a damn, but slick enough to get those military dogs to let us go. Took us to these catacombs that run throughout the underground. The mouth opens right at the shoreline, hidden beneath some rubble. So fear not, Cap,” Iani continued, acquainted with Kazuaki’s concerns, “we weren’t followed.”

  The captain drew his shoulders back and approached Nicholai as he leaned over the rail for support. His gaze was skeptical. “I suppose you think I owe you a debt of gratitude for assisting my men.” That was as close as a ‘thank you’ as Nicholai would get from Kazuaki Hidataka. The captain grabbed the Southeastern Time Father by the shoulders and pulled him over onto the main deck where he fell to his knees from the force.

  Nicholai shifted his weight to help himself sit, gazing up at the captain through his hood. “I’d hate to see how you’d handle me had I let them die,” he muttered.

  “Yes,” the captain agreed, eye dwelling on Nicholai as he placed his arms behind his back, “you would.”

  Granite, Elowyn, and Rennington disappeared into the cabin. With his brother out of sight, Iani’s face showed his concern for Rennington’s well-being. “Think he’ll be okay, Cap?”

  Kazuaki glanced over his shoulder in the direction they’d gone. He took a few shots to the hip before. He did not doubt Rennington lived in a great deal of pain. The bullet to the arm was only a flesh wound, but depending on where he was hit in the pelvis, he could suffer long term consequences. Rennington seemed to move well despite his injuries, then again, the elder Platts brother wouldn’t show weakness in front of his sibling. “He’s in very good hands,” Kazuaki said.

  Iani accepted this as the most reassuring answer the captain would provide. Brack and Revi joined the others on the main deck, each man glancing at Nicholai with skepticism. “Who’s the newbie?” Brack asked with curiosity, unaware of what transpired earlier.

  “Calls himself Nico,” Iani answered before Nicholai spoke. “Got me and Renn out of a jam on the mainland.”

  At that moment, the ground rumbled. They were unaffected in the harbor. The ripples from the force cascaded outward, sloshing against the ship’s side. Kazuaki looked outward, expecting to see another chunk of land fall into the sea. But if a detachment took place, it was out of eyesight. It happened often, pieces of the land vanishing into the sea. He couldn’t blame Panagea for disintegrating. Man ravaged her daily. Though it was an alarming trend, it was not one he concerned himself with. Panagea chewed him up and spat him out long ago. While a part of him missed having stable ground to call home, he was a man of the sea. Kazuaki convinced himself the unwelcoming jaggedness of rocks and earth meant little to him.

  As the reverberations settled, the captain turned a blind eye to the aftermath. Instead, he knelt down to be eye level with Nicholai, who still hadn’t pulled himself up from his place on the floor. “Tell me more about these catacombs,” he said, his words dry and unforgiving. Kazuaki’s intrigue grew at the existence of something he knew nothing about.

  Nicholai peered out at the captain from underneath his hood. He hesitated. It seemed wrong to relent his information, but he valued living. Nicholai suspected he wouldn’t live much longer if he didn’t cough up the truth. "They run through the undergrounds," he started, "serving as escape routes for Time Fathers, should a situation arise that their military can’t handle. Each division has them. The older tunnels all feed out into neighboring cities, but when it became clear that the mainland was crumbling," he paused, gesturing toward the sound they heard moments ago, “they commissioned additions. Now they also run to the nearest coast. Typically, there’s an aquatic vessel hidden somewhere near the exit, stocked with enough non-perishables to make it to the next division and then some.”

  Kazuaki stared at Nicholai for a long time. It was uncomfortable. Without taking his eye off the stranger, he said, “Penn. Brack. Join Iani and take the cockboat back to the tunnel’s exit. See if you can’t find those non-perishable items Mr. Nico mentioned.”

  “Yes, Captain,” Penn approached the railing and propelled with ease down into the cockboat.

  “You got it, Cappy!” Brack followed Penn, but paused when Kazuaki addressed him.

  “Brack. It’s Captain.”

  “Too right, Captain,” the Rabbit laughed, ego none the injured as he disappeared downward to the cockboat.

  Iani lingered, his gaze off in the direction where Elowyn took his brother. He lamented leaving his side while injured.

  “He’ll be here when you get back,” Kazuaki said knowingly, motioning Iani off with his hand.

  The man cleared his throat and nodded. “Yes, Captain.” With that, he joined his comrades, off to find the hidden b
oat and supplies.

  Kazuaki’s attention turned back to Nicholai. He saw the man’s hunger. His thirst. Even through the shadows of his hood, he witnessed the man’s sunken eyes and chapped lips. “I’m not an unfair man, Nico. You appear to be an individual of certain knowledge. Pray tell, how did you find out about these catacombs? Perhaps an exchange of information for a meal and a drink?” It was a mercy deal. Kazuaki would have gotten the information one way or another, by means of torture if need be. But he extended a proverbial life line to Nico: a reward for his efforts in helping Rennington and Iani.

  Bartholomew approached. As a scholar, Nicholai’s knowledge of the catacombs intrigued him. He seemed to know their history a great deal. Curiosity caused him to loom behind the captain, his hands behind his back as he listened.

  Nicholai hesitated again. The allure of a meal was tempting, but he was not ready to offer the knowledge that he was a Time Father. He still wasn’t certain who he could trust. It was obvious he fell into the company of outlaws—though he was technically one of them now after the atrocity he committed in Southeastern. Nicholai still did not know these peoples’ characters. Once they discovered his identity, they might hand him in to the military of any division for a quick reward. “I ... discovered records ... while searching for the library Darjal hides beneath the church in Avadon.” It was only a partial lie. Nicholai crawled through the catacombs to find easy access to the library since he arrived in Southern. It would at least be believable he might stumble across literature in his search.

  “A library?” Bartholomew’s eyes lit up. The scholar did not even try to stifle his interest. He was a philosopher, an academic ever on the search for knowledge. His hunger for information only grew since he left the Northwestern Division many years ago. The Time Father there, Vadim Canmore, destroyed every learning institution available in Northwestern, paving the way for industry to thrive and funnel more money into his own pockets.

  Unlike the rest, Bartholomew was no criminal. Panagea did not shun him; he shunned her. Vadim’s greed drove the scholar to Kazuaki’s ship, where he discovered more of an opportunity to learn than he had in Northwestern. But in all his adventures with Kazuaki since then, Bartholomew had never been more excited than he was now. They stumbled across occasional pieces of literature in their hunts for legends; they were enough to satisfy his lust for learning. But an entire library, hidden from the public knowledge, blew his mind.

  Kazuaki’s intrigue rose also, though he hid it well. “And what particular piece of literature were you hunting for in this ... underground library?” he asked, still trying to figure Nicholai out.

  The Time Father shifted. This captain was a prying and clever sort. He did not know how long he could get away with withholding information. “Rumor has it, Darjal hides all pertinent literature there. Old records, accounts of the way things used to be, old fairytales that might ... contradict his religious efforts,” Nicholai explained, hoping his answer was enough to satisfy the captain, but vague enough not to betray his intentions. “Anything you could think of you wouldn’t want the public eye to fall on, especially if you were trying to sustain an environment where you’re to be revered as a god.”

  “I see.” Kazuaki leaned back, but kept his kneeling position beside Nico. Old fairytales, locked away in the catacombs beneath a church—it had Kazuaki Hidataka written all over it. “Revi,” the captain shifted to his feet, “head to Penn’s galley, perhaps he’s left something edible for our visitor. See he’s well fed. He’ll need his strength if he’s going to lead us to that library later.”

  “Yes, sir,” Revi approached Nicholai and pulled him to his feet. “Come on, you. Follow me.”

  Nicholai followed Revi, casting a cautious glance over his shoulder at the captain. Kazuaki stared at him the whole time, keeping an ever-watchful eye on Nicholai until he disappeared toward the galley with Revi. The captain’s gaze was intense. It sent chills down his spine and he was happy to put distance between it and himself.

  “An entire library, Captain,” Bartholomew ran his dark hands over his head, trying to take in the anticipation of the moment. “Do you think it’s true?”

  Kazuaki continued to stare at the door where Nicholai vanished with Revi. “I think our ‘friend’ knows more than he’s letting on,” he said, “but I also suspect he’s a reliable source, indeed.”

  “We’ll find out,” Bartholomew offered, looking back toward the mainland. “If the boys return with the supplies on that hidden boat, that’s a keen indication he knows a thing or two more than we do about the goings-on here.”

  “Too right,” Kazuaki replied, tearing his gaze away from the door and connecting with his comrade. He trusted Revi to keep a watchful eye on their visitor. He wanted to make a quick check on Rennington and assess his condition. If things went the way he intended them to, he’d have to leave the injured man on the ship while they stowed away to the catacombs. Rennington’s condition would tell him how many men he needed to leave behind to man the vessel in their absence. He felt the rare thrill of excitement bubble inside him for the first time in years. With any luck, Nico falling into their laps would be a great boon. “Only time will tell, mate,” he said to Bartholomew, waiting with patience alongside his trusted friend. “Only time will tell.”

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  It was incredible how many non-perishable food items fit in a getaway boat for a Time Father. Iani, Penn, and Brack returned several hours later, having found the vessel hidden amongst the rubble, as Nicholai said. Kazuaki watched his crew unload the crates from the small, stolen boat, and place it into the storage of their own ship. It was enough food to keep them at sea for months if they rationed it well. Though the food was by and far the most critical prize, the hygiene products and entertainment, decks of playing cards and dice were also valued. They left nothing behind.

  “She’s empty, Captain,” Penn announced as they removed the last crate. “You’ll be wanting us to be rid of the evidence?”

  “Aye,” Kazuaki affirmed. “Have Revi follow you out with the cockboat. Return quickly, we’ll be tending to business soon.”

  Penn and Revi nodded, setting out to sink the stolen ship farther into the sea. The captain recounted the number of crates brought in from the small vessel. There were many; it took a hefty amount of time to unload it all. It was for the best. He wanted to wait until the dead hours to return to the catacombs when the likelihood of anyone being present in the church was next to nothing. The day provided an unexpected fortune. If what Nico said was true, and all the Time Fathers had vessels hidden by their hometown’s nearest coast, they could raid the remaining seven and never risk capture by dropping anchor near a major port for a long time. But that journey needed to wait. A much more pressing one awaited them. By validating the hidden boat's existence, Nico’s talk of underground libraries sounded promising.

  “Bermuda, get everything ready for tonight,” he instructed, adjusting his long jacket.

  “Yes, Captain,” the woman moved forward, guided by programmed thinking.

  Kazuaki watched her depart before heading toward Elowyn’s room. Though he knocked on the open door, he did not wait for a response before entering. It was a modest space, a bed for the patient and a bed for Elowyn that allowed her to monitor. Though the woman was absent to assist the others in preparing for departure, it was not Elowyn Saveign the captain came to see. “How do you fare, Rennington?” he asked, gazing down at the bedridden man.

  Rennington opened his eyes and blinked away his fatigue. “Aye, Captain, I’m right as rain,” he said with tension, trying to slide himself up in the makeshift bed.

  Kazuaki saw the bottom of a bandage peeking out from beneath the sleeve of his shirt. Elowyn removed the bullet from the shoulder and bound the wound. He assumed she got the bullet out of his hip, but Kazuaki did not plan on removing Rennington’s bed sheets to verify. He felt someone behind him; Iani returned from dropping the stolen supplies off in Penn’s galley. He cleared his
throat from behind the captain. “Can I ...?” he asked, motioning to his brother.

  Kazuaki stepped aside. Iani smiled, relieved to see his older brother sitting up and alert. “You look like shit,” he said with affection.

  “Feck off,” Rennington shot back, trying not to chuckle for fear he’d exacerbate his wounds.

  Kazuaki observed the brothers for a moment before he said, “We’re heading back to the catacombs to look for that library mentioned by that Nico fellow. I’ll be leaving Elowyn with you for medical circumstances, should you need her. Penn will be here, should you need a meal. Granite, should you need any muscle.”

  “Gods, take his dog with you,” Rennington muttered, slamming his head back onto the pillow. “Beast has been clawing at the door all day, damn creature wants my blood more than Darjal Wessex does.”

  Kazuaki allowed him to complain before he finished his earlier statement. “And Iani,” he added, looking at the youngest Platts brother. “You’ll be staying as well.”

  Iani looked surprised. He assumed he’d be going back, since, aside from his brother, he was the most familiar with Southern and its goings-on. But he nodded without arguing. “Yes, Captain—thank you.”

  “Right,” Kazuaki muttered, taking a deep breath as he backed toward the door. “Get well, Rennington.”

  “Captain,” Rennington sat upright again, propping himself up on his elbows, “if I may, though it kills me to say, that guy really did save our asses.”

  Kazuaki nodded. “I’ve heard.”

  Rennington frowned, seeming unsure for a moment before he said, “Forgive me for bringing up old garbage, Cap, but we never did replace Jirin. It’s been years. I think this guy could be a good addition.”

  Kazuaki glanced at Iani, his expression giving away nothing. “Did he suffer head trauma when he got shot?”

  Iani blinked, uncertain whether the captain was serious or trying to make a joke.