Raven's Quest

by Karen Hayes-Baker

  “Come we must speak with him now. Wait only until the guards have returned to the castle,” Karasu returned.

  “Speak to him! Are you mad? He probably does not speak Ashiman. How do you expect to talk to him? Besides he has been a prisoner, I doubt he wants to talk with us. Come Karasu, we waste time. Taku will return shortly and we need to plan our move.”

  “We must speak with this man first. I know his tongue. Come on Jun. Now,” Karasu insisted and as the guards disappeared into a lane leading from the harbour he set off towards the Brig. With a cry of exasperation Jun hovered momentarily and then trotting to catch up, joined the young ronin.

  “We had no choice Thom. What did you expect me to do? Wait until they chopped your bloody head off!” Aledd justified with irritation. Devlin was really trying his patience. They had got him out of a stinking prison cell and saved him from execution and all the Kapitan could do was shout at him.

  “No bloody choice! Of course you had a bloody choice. I did not expect you to hand over half our guns and our gold. By Abyssi Dafidd, the bloody gold! Hell, two years it’s been man. Two bloody years! And you’ve given away everything,” Thom shouted as he strode back and forth in his cabin. Yet even as he berated his First Mate he knew he was wrong and that Aledd truly had had no choice, not if he had wanted the return of his Kapitan and the son of his ruler. He slammed his fist against the wooden beam of the ceiling and followed it with his head growling with despair.

  Aledd hung his head and bit his lip. He understood the anger, but he smarted at Devlin’s words. For a long time neither man spoke as each battled with his temper.

  “Shit, shit, shit!” Thom cried banging his fist with each exclamation.

  “We have to leave on the next tide,” Aledd muttered after a suitable pause when he thought his Kapitan was calmer.

  “Like hell we are! I want that gold back Dafidd and I have no intention of leaving this shithole without it. No man, NO MAN, do you hear me? Takes what is mine and tells me to leave like a dog with its tail between its legs,” Thom bellowed and the First Mate cringed.

  “But Thom, they…,” he began to reason.

  “NO! I will get it back. Do you think I dare return home with nothing. Two years Dafidd. Two bloody years and nothing to show for it!”

  “But….”

  “ENOUGH! Leave me alone, I need to think,” Thom ordered and turned away from his second in command.

  Aledd hovered uncertainly for a moment and then with a curse turned to leave the cabin. Thom closed his eyes aware of his incredible lack of gratitude and rudeness, but too filled with ire to repent.

  But Aledd did not manage to retreat and Thom was not allowed to lament his predicament in peace for just as the First Mate reached the door it opened, following a knock, to reveal the black sailor, Josef Densall.

  “Kapitan,” Densall began.

  “By the Gods above, can a man get no peace? WHAT?” Thom bawled and his two officers exchanged a glance that reflected their irritation.

  “Sorry Kap’n. There’s two men to see you,” Densall continued undeterred by his commander’s bad mood.

  “Tell them to piss off! I’m in no mood to see anyone,” Thom swung around his face puce with rage.

  “I think Sir…. They say they have come to help,” Densall replied.

  “Help! How the hell can they do that? I’m not seeing…. Wait, they speak Westlandish? It’s not that treacherous beetle Akika is it? If he thinks he can worm his way back into my good favour he can think again. Given half the chance I would take him five grosmetriles out and feed him to the fishes. Slant eyed little snake!”

  Aledd leaned against the door jam and smiled at the floor. Thom’s tantrum had become quite amusing and now he was curious.

  “Er, tis not Mr Akika, Kap’n. Tis another. He says to tell you his name is Oyama,” Densall added.

  “I do not give a damn what his…,” Thom paused. Oyama was Hayato’s family name. Through the red mist Devlin’s brain began to give way to intrigue and logic. He drew in a deep breath and blew it out slowly looking at first Densall and then Aledd but seeing neither. His mind worked furiously. Could this man be a relation of the imprisoned nobleman? Could he have been instructed to make contact by that angelic apparition that Hayato disclosed as his sister? She was formidably Gifted after all.

  “Ask them to come in Josef,” he said at last in a deliberately calm tone. “You will stay with me please Dafidd?”

  Aledd raised his eyebrows and nodded and moving back into the cabin took a seat upon the bunk. He crossed his arms upon his chest and waited.

  Less than a minute later Densall returned with two Ashiman men. He showed them into the cabin and under instruction from his Kapitan, left, closing the door behind him. Both men bowed respectfully although, Thom noted, the elder never quite dropped his eyes and seemed less at ease than his young companion. He saw the empty sword sheaths at the men's waists. His men had requested the removal of weapons.

  “Kapitan, it is honour to meet you,” the young man dressed in black said as he stood upright once more. Thom was surprised at how well the lad spoke Westlandish, but merely inclined his head in response.

  “What may I do for you Mr. Oyama?” he returned.

  Karasu smiled broadly. “I have come to ask help in rescuing brother and sister from Lord Kurohoshi. I believe you met brother,” he said still smiling.

  “My help? How do you expect I can help Sir? I have been ordered to leave this place.” Thom perched himself onto the corner of his table.

  “Yes I understand, but you not intend to leave do you Kapitan? Not without gold they took. Was it payment for release?” Karasu continued.

  Thom darted a questioning look at Aledd who, though alarmed, simply shrugged in reply.

  “It no great secret Kapitan. I watch soldiers take away yesterday evening along with some cannon. I think we able help each other.”

  Thom screwed up his eyes and walked around the table to sit in a chair behind it. He pursed his lips and held his hands in front of them with fingertips touching. He ran through the stilted conversation he had had with Hayato, the promise of help to retrieve the lost gold. He studied the young man before him. There was a likeness yes, but the visitor before him was so young, a mere lad. Still the boy carried a confident air, much more so than his companion who clearly comprehended nothing of the conversation.

  “Mr Oyama and Mr?” he began.

  “This is General Furuki Jun. He was my father’s First Samurai and now he has sworn to help me. He is great warrior,” Karasu explained proudly.

  Thom noticed Aledd raise his eyebrows and he smiled behind his hands. “Well, Mr Oyama and Mr Furuki, please take a seat. This gentleman is Dafidd Aledd, my First Mate, officer if you understand.”

  “Yes I understand perfectly,” Karasu acknowledged and bowed to Aledd who merely grinned awkwardly in return. He pulled out a chair from the table and sat indicating another to Jun.

  “My name is Devlin. Kapitan Thom Devlin. Your Westlandish is very good, much better than your brother’s.”

  “Thank you. Yes, Hayato not good at study. He prefer to learn ways of warrior. However, I Sennjo and so no such opportunity. I thought prudent to be diligent student and now I glad, it was not in vain. I can converse very well with you Kapitan Devlin,” Karasu smiled again and Thom echoed the expression seeing the pride of the boy within.

  “Sennjo?” he queried.

  “I not sure how to translate. Both myself and sister are Sennjo. My people believe our kind not truly human but possessed by spirits or Kami. You have heard of this word? Some think we magical beings. It is reason I became priest and why sister is in grave danger.”

  “You are a priest?” Thom asked in surprise.

  “Of sorts. I am ronin now. Without master and without Temple. I think you call it, renegade?” Karasu laughed. His good humour was infectious and Thom found himself relaxing in his company and warming to him.

  “Tell me Kapitan, if you w
ould, of brother. How he is?”

  The question came out of the blue. It was sudden and unexpected.

  “He is in good spirits but he suffers from his injuries still. He has a broken leg and has been beaten quite badly. Yet he bears up well and he is healing. They leave him alone other than to feed him and he is visited each day by a servant who tends to his wounds. Once he was visited by your sister,” Thom reassured.

  “Mizuki! You seen her? She well also?”

  “Oh yes. Yes she is very well,” Thom replied with a knowing grin that was caught and returned by Aledd on his bunk seat.

  Karasu frowned. He did not quite care for the exchange he witnessed yet he was relieved to hear from a living being that both his siblings were alive and reasonably well.

  “Thank you Kapitan. You put mind at rest. Now, to how we help each other,” he smiled. “There eight men with myself and General. I think we capable of passing most of castle guards undetected if army distracted.”

  “Ten of you! That is all? There must be over two hundred men behind yon moat and wall. And how would you distract the rest of the army? Are you quite mad Mr Oyama?” Thom exclaimed.

  “No not mad. Please, call me Karasu. It is given name. I know it sounds very uneven odds, but please understand Kapitan, men with me no ordinary soldiers. They all skilled Samurai. And, we no intention of charging forward to fight. This attack by stealth in dead of night. With luck we rescue both brother and sister before anyone notice. Other than diversion of course. That where you come in,” Karasu continued.

  “And what do you propose I do? Do not forget that I am expected to leave here on the next tide. Tis less than twelve hours away. That does not give any of us much time.”

  “No it does not. However, you have guns. You know how to fight with cannon from the sea. This will give us the diversion we need. I….”

  “Hold on! You want me to fire upon the city from aboard the Rose. These cannons will do little damage to yon castle, Sir. They are old and designed to break through wood, not several metriles of stone and mortar. They may do damage to these shacks around the harbour, they can sink a sailing ship, but they are no match for a fortress. You will have to think again my young friend,” Thom interrupted. He was beginning to think he was wasting his time indulging the renegade priest. If it had not been for the impressive figure of the General he might have already thrown the pair off his ship, but something about the still and patient composure of the First Samurai intrigued him. This man was a soldier faithful to the boy’s family, but no fool. There must be something in the ronin’s plan that assured his loyalty.

  “Yes I understand, but you know guns Kapitan. Do you also know of steam ships? I think answer is yes. I think you quite at ease with warfare at sea. I think this vessel, how you say it? Plaything? Am I correct?”

  Thom narrowed his eyes again thinking hard. This lad was shrewd. Too much so, but then he had said he was, what was the name he had used? Sennjo? The pirate Kapitan did not know exactly what Sennjo meant but he presumed it was the same as what he would call Gifted. Was the young ronin Gifted enough to read his thoughts, or was his information from the girl locked away in the castle? The more he thought about it the harder he studied his visitor. It was easy to see the resemblance between Karasu and Mizuki; they were almost of an age, if not the same age. Did they share a mind? He had heard of it before, and if it were true, then he thought Karasu would know everything he had talked about with Hayato for the latter had spoken freely with the girl upon her visit.

  “Whatever gives you that idea?” he toyed not quite ready to accede yet.

  “I think you guessed Kapitan. I not think you fool. Please respect I am not. You make friendship with brother and he spoke with sister. You know do you not? Only doubt how I know, but that not hard is it?” Karasu replied.

  “Very well. Yes this vessel is my private ship, but do not call her a plaything. She is far more than that Sir. She is a working ship and she has earned her way. For the nigh on two years she has been my home, but I know steam ships. When I return home I should have my first command of one. Tis an honour and a privilege that must be earned. I hope I have done enough to earn it. If you want to know if I and my crew could sail such a vessel the answer is yes. But Sir, I have seen no such ship in these waters. They require a great deal of coal to power them and none is available after Srelencha. Maybe a small tug or fishing boat using sail as well as steam. You might be able to power such using timber, but no merchant ship or man-of-war would make it this far and you would need the latter to breach the castle walls. It would take a class one frigate at least. Unless I am mistaken there are no such ships here,” Thom concluded.

  Karasu smiled broadly. He had heard the confirmation he required. He had not been so sure that the man before him would have the necessary experience. He was not that much older than himself after all, but his words spoke volumes. Here was a man who understood the art of a sea battle, the limits of his own ship and what was needed to succeed. It was evident, by how he spoke, that he knew how to succeed also. Karasu turned and rapidly explained, in his own tongue, what he had just heard to Jun. The older man, deadly serious at first, soon returned his companion’s smile.

  “Kapitan Devlin-san. There is, in harbour of home city, such ship. It there twelve years now, but it maintained in working order. It just never sail. You correct as to the reasons why no such vessels visit our islands. We have no coal. There none anywhere this side of world we think. Kapitan of this ship marooned here with all of crew. It through him and my father that I learn your language. He was great friend of father,” Karasu explained to the pirate.

  Thom leant his elbows on the table clearly interested. “Is he still here? What about the crew? They could have tried wood, but then it would not have got them far enough,” he mused the latter almost to himself.

  “They did try wood. They burned it and sailed ship around coast, but Kapitan Larkenen say it burn up too fast, they not get far before fuel all have gone.

  “There rumours of coal on continent. Group set off with some gold in search, to barter what they need with natives. Father warned against it. That country wild and full of evil. It said that all demons of underworld reside there. Whether true or not, thirty men left and never returned. After Kapitan would hear of no more expeditions. He lost first officer and best friend.”

  “They stayed then. They live here still?” Thom inquired.

  “Some married local girls and stayed yes, but rest return to homeland. At least I hope did. They built sailing ship with father’s help and left eight years ago,” Karasu answered.

  “The Kapitan also?”

  “No. Kapitan died of fever. He buried in grounds of father’s castle. Before he die he ask father to keep ship ready sure that one day his men return for it. Many would say it foolish request and only fool honour it, but father promised and ship still berthed, ready, in harbour at Kyo-To-Shi.”

  “You think she is still seaworthy? You do not think that Kurohoshi has decided to get rid of her?” Thom carried on beginning to feel excited as his thoughts raced ahead.

  “Why? There no one here to sail her save half dozen middle-aged men who gave up sea long ago.”

  “And everything aboard her still works? She is a warship?”

  “Yes, everything works. She is, I think, you call frigate?” Karasu confirmed grinning back at Devlin’s barely hidden enthusiasm.

  “Class one or two?”

  “Sorry. I not understand distinction.”

  “How big is she? As long as this ship? No she cannot be a class one. She would never have been able to carry enough fuel. What were they doing this far out? They must have known they could never get home?” Thom talked to himself as much as to anyone. He looked up at Aledd who watched him carefully, seeing exactly where his Kapitan’s thoughts led. This could be a way to retrieve their gold.

  “Mr Oy…, Karasu, how far is it to Kyo-To-Shi? I would very much like to see this ship. We will need to plan carefull
y. There might be no one who can sail her, but I think Kurohoshi’s men would object to us liberating her do you not agree? If she is sea worthy still, we will need wood. A lot of wood and a crew.”

  “But you have crew Kapitan,” Karasu observed, puzzled by the comment and amused by the pirate’s sudden excitement.

  “But not enough men, Sir. I will need to retain a crew aboard the Rose and, if this steamer is what I think she is, then I will need at least fifty men. We number only forty Karasu. I need more.”

  “Do all need to be sailors Kapitan?”

  “They need to be able to stoke boilers and load guns Sir, nothing more. The sailors I can supply, can you give me the others?” Thom demanded standing upright his eyes ablaze.

  Karasu conversed rapidly with Jun and then turning back to Devlin said with a grin, “We guarantee fifty men if what require. Are you willing to help?”

  “Mr Oyama Sir, I am.” Thom thrust his hand forward and after a momentary pause Karasu took it in his.

  EIGHTEEN

  Akika Kouhei was almost certain he had seen someone following him as he left his office and headed home at the end of his day’s work. Almost certain, but not absolutely so. Twice he had seen the same man, he thought. Once as he crossed the busy street after leaving the office and once more when he paused at the market to buy his wife the apple-pears she so enjoyed. He had cursed his myopic vision and told himself he must be mistaken, but the nagging doubt remained. Why would anyone follow him anyway? He was of no import. Then his mind drifted to the foreigners; the pirates. He had thought them honourable men, but how could he be sure? It was evident from his last meeting that the man named Aledd thought he had betrayed the Kapitan. Did the Kapitan feel the same? Kouhei shot a glance behind him, saw nothing through the dark gloom of the stormy sky and scuttled on towards his home.

  As he entered his abode he suddenly realised how afraid he felt. His wife was startled by his hurried entrance and frowned at his outdoor shoes still upon his feet. He peered through the window next to the door and, seeing no one, sighed loudly.