by Pete Draper
“Fuck.” He turned towards the stairs, thinking about leaving her for a while. “She won’t take this well.”
Carilyo crept through the cargo hold towards her, Cassi looked down at the two of them. It was difficult to watch his sister’s eyes fill with tears; dark eyeliner leaked down her face. She blinked. The veil of tears mixed like colours on an artist’s palette. She never cried.
“How could you?” Cassi sobbed. Heavy whimpers pounded from her chest between each breath. After a moment she regained her full voice. “How could you!?”
“Look how young she is!” She nodded at the girl in the corner. A huge black tear slid to the tip of Cassi’s eyelash. It exploded onto the floor like a giant rock hitting the water, sending ripples through Carilyo’s skin and bones.
“I’m sorry Cassi, I should have told you sooner.”
“Should have told me sooner? You shouldn’t have fucking done it!”
Carilyo turned his head, stroking his arm uneasily. Cassi’s stare was too powerful when she was this angry.
“It’s… it’s not what it looks like,” Carilyo mumbled without looking up.
Cassi wiped her eyes but the tears wouldn’t stop. “Not what it looks like? Well it looks like you’re a slave trader. Papa would be ashamed Carilyo. Have you forgotten his only rule already?”
“Of course not.” Carilyo looked at his feet like a naughty child.
“Well it looks like it.” Cassi wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. She looked down at the mother and daughter sat on the bench, the stamp of House Otep was branded on their thighs. “Have you forgotten what happened to Uncle Luiyo? He traded slaves in the Green Sea too. You remember what he looked like when they were done with him in that Rockland labour camp up in the Coratta Islands. He was never the same after breaking rocks for fifteen hours a day in the cold.”
“Of course I remember Uncle Luiyo. He was a disgrace to the family.” Carilyo suddenly remembered his grey skin; hard labour in the cold had broken him. Gianlo had only taken Luiyo back because he was family. Their uncle died a few months after his return.
“You are no better Carilyo!” Cassi screamed. “What about Anna? And Juliya? They got into debt without a father to provide for them, our cousins are slaves now, because of him. Because of…” she pointed down at Samia and Doriya with a flat palm. “This!” The sharp noise made the little girl jump.
“I’m sorry Cassi. But it’s not what it looks like.”
Cassi’s eyes watered again. She shoved Carilyo’s shoulder and walked back through the cargo hold.
“I’m sorry about her,” Carilyo told Samia. The mother stared at him blankly, wrapping an arm around Doriya.
Carilyo felt the floor creak, the ship was turning, sharply. “Shit!” He sprinted back up on deck.
“Cassi! What are you doing?” Carilyo yelled as he raced up the steps. He felt his pounding head, running hadn’t helped his hangover. It felt like a giant thumb was being pressed into his forehead.
“What do you think I’m doing. I’m offloading those two slaves before you can sell them!” Cassi didn’t look at him, the dark streaks of tears painted her cheeks.
“Barolos. Why have you let her get hold of the steering wheel? You know she can’t steer.” Carilyo climbed the final steps to the quarterdeck.
“She is de Captain, as much as you are. If she gives an order, I obey.” Barolos smiled at Carilyo, though he did look concerned watching Cassi manhandle the steering wheel.
“That’s too fast Cassi,” Carilyo said. The ship turned suddenly, and he slipped, slamming his head and shoulder on a few steps as he fell onto the deck, much to Taylan and Rohass’ amusement.
“Let me explain Cassi.” Carilyo lifted his throbbing head.
“Shut up Carilyo!” Cassi shouted back, fighting back more tears. “I’m taking them to Corov.” She let out the quietest of whimpers. “I’ll set them free before you can sell them.”
“You cannot take them there!” Carilyo climbed to his feet.
“What is she talking about?” Barolos demanded. His eyes narrowed, the creases in his forehead sharpened.
“Ask Carilyo about his slaves below deck,” Cassi smirked. She wiped her stained cheek.
“Let me explain,” There was a nervous jump in Carilyo’s voice.
“I’ll wring your fucking neck!” Barolos approached, a flaming ire in his eyes as he descended the steps.
“Please Barolos. Cassi. Just listen.” Carilyo backed away.
“I’ll listen after I throw you overboard! You know your papa’s only rule, no slaves!” Barolos descended, each step louder than thunder. Both fists were clenched so tight the meaty knuckles turned whiter than milk.
Carilyo ran over to the steps on the other side then hopped up to the quarterdeck, face to face with Cassi. “Listen Cassi, you cannot take them to Corov.”
“I can, and I will.” Her eyes flicked to him for the briefest of moments, then back to the wheel.
“It is not safe for them there.” Carilyo thought about dropping to his knees to beg. A huge lump filled his throat.
Barolos thumping footsteps reached the top.
“It will be safer than wherever you are taking them.” Cassi didn’t look up from the wheel.
“No, it will not. If we leave them anywhere in the Arrizean or Green Sea, they shall be sent back to House Otep. Nobody steals from House Otep, everyone in Levac or Rockland will want to make sure they go back there. It will be a miserable life for them both.”
Barolos grabbed the back of Carilyo’s shoulder. The heavy fingers dug deep.
“We must take them to the New World.” Carilyo felt the hand crushing him. “That is the job we are doing. There, they shall be safe.”
“Wait Barolos.” Cassi looked at him with a disarming stare, her watering eyes finally softened.
“Since when did you ever care about anyone but yourself?” Cassi asked.
“I… I saw the girl’s eyes.” A tear escaped to Carilyo’s cheek, he gulped. Then more tears flooded out. “Those pretty brown eyes reminded me of you Cassi. After papa died. The young girl who was my whole world, my only family; you were as lost as I was.”
Cassi looked him in the eyes, her mouth opened, but no words came.
Carilyo couldn’t fight back his pathetic crying, “Looking at Doriya reminded me of when all you wanted to do was play.” He sobbed, looking at the sparkling rings on Cassi’s fingers. “Before all you were interested in was jewels and money.” Carilyo wiped his eye, tasting the scent of Cassi’s perfume. “I thought… I’ll never be able to change you, but maybe I can make a difference to this little girl, make sure she has the chance to grow up happy.”
Cassi cried again, her grip on the steering wheel loosened.
He wiped the tears from his face with a sleeve. “I knew, I cannot save them all. But at least I can make a difference to these two. When we get to Argosa, they shall forever be free from House Otep. The girl’s uncle is already there, he is paying for this trip.”
Cassi nodded, sniffing as another tear left her eye.
“I know that papa would want us to do this,” Carilyo said. “He always said he would end slavery in the Arrizean if he could.”
Barolos arm wrapped around Carilyo’s back in a strong hug. “No matter how noble you dink dis is,” Barolos said, pulling Carilyo aside. “You should not have done dis. Not without consulting Cassi or de crew. You have put us in grave danger. Some of de crew may desert when dey reach Rockland.”
Carilyo peeled Barolos’ arm off. “I did what I thought my papa would do. What your best friend Gianlo would do, in the same situation. He would not be able to leave these two, if he was given the same opportunity.”
“Your papa would never do dis. He would never put his crew at risk in dis way. He always stayed out of slavery, even dough he disliked it.”
“Maybe I can’t end slavery like papa always wanted. But I can at least make a difference to those two.” Carilyo snatched his mama’s b
ottle by the rope, dragging it behind him as he stomped off to refill it.
The lump in his throat was heavy, the bruise on his face tingled. Tenny’s incisions were still fresh; the pubes were itching as they grew back. At least she hadn’t chopped it off.
After it was filled, Carilyo took a swig from the bottle, rum often dulled life’s problems. With each sip, the guilt subsided.
“Why should I feel guilty?” Carilyo sipped again. “When I am the one doing the right thing.”
Sofiya stared blankly.
“Should I have left them there?” Carilyo asked, forgetting that he wouldn’t get a response. She had a pretty round face; it was too bad she couldn’t talk.
“They are human beings too; they deserve to be free.”
Sofiya nodded.
“It’s a dangerous journey, yes. But it is for a good cause.”
Sofiya nodded again, her eyes opened a little more.
“What do I have to be guilty for?” Carilyo took another drink.
Sofiya’s head turned, her eyes glanced at the bag on the table, full of money.
“Money, puh!” Carilyo said. “That is for Cassi. Putting gold in her hand is the only way you can convince her to do anything. I don’t need money; all I need is my bottle.” Carilyo took another heavy gulp. Each drink washed away the tears and shrank the lump in his throat.
The Perils of the Arrizean
The grey dorsal fins circled, the flat heads swam inches below the surface. Where skimmer sharks go, blood soon follows. They circled the advancing pirate ship.
Cassi peered at the monstrosity of wood, steel and scarda that whistled towards them. It was wider than two houses and looked like a floating shantytown with an assortment of rusty and rotten, moss-covered rooftops.
“How far is the Passage of Corsov?” she asked, the panic in her voice surfaced with a tremble.
“Won’t be there ‘til long after nightfall,” Luco replied.
Carilyo was still moping below deck, probably asleep.
Cassi turned to Barolos, “Better prepare the crew for a fight.”
The pirates fast approached. The medley of materials on its hull clacked in the wind. It was a wonder it could shift so quickly.
Cassi unleashed her sword while Barolos rounded up the crew. Zellsee, Rohass and Taylan hurried over with an uneven assortment of weapons in their hands. Blunt, rusty daggers wouldn’t strike fear into the hearts of anyone.
A wide bellied pirate tossed chunks of meat overboard. Two sharks fought over the same piece, turning the bloody water to a phlegm-like froth bubbling at the surface.
The ugly ship rounded them, taking the Howling Dragon head-on.
Cassi let the warm air turn cool in her nose. The only thing worse than being caught by the Golden Empire was being captured by pirates. The end result was the same; prisoners ended up being the property of House Otep. The pirates however, would do far worse to her on their way there.
She saw their faces, a mix of pale-skinned Levacians and Rocklanders; and darker-skinned Trakians by the looks.
The ship swerved, showing its armoured hull. The mix of rusty steel, glass and scarda looked like rows of razor-sharp teeth.
Between the raised stands above the hull were three strange weapons. Cassi eyed them a moment, then saw what was inside. Steel hooks. Much larger than the usual ones; each claw was the size of a broadsword.
The sun gleamed across their sharp edges. The pirates pulled on something beneath and the ropes shot over.
They flew across deck. The hook tipped a member of the crew overboard and he was soon encircled by hungry sharks. One had a nasty grip on his leg, another took a bite from his chest. Soon he was dragged to the depths of the Arrizean.
The rope stretched rigidly; the hooks gripped the hull tight. Cassi slashed at one of them, but it sent her back with a jolt through her arm, zapping her elbow. Her puzzled eyes considered the rope. The light ran down them. They weren’t ropes; they were steel wires.
A bunch of amused pirates with bloodthirsty eyes pulled winches beside the strange new weapons. The Howling Dragon groaned as it was dragged towards them. Cassi and the others slid down the deck when the ship nearly capsized.
A couple of pirates leered at Cassi. She gave them the finger.
The ship righted itself, but the steel wires wore at the bulwarks, sawing through them.
The Howling Dragon was dragged towards the pirate ship like a snake drags its prey down its throat. It wouldn’t be long until the fighting started.
Barolos and several others approached the side with spears in hand. Rohass spat at the bandits.
Several dark clothed pirates climbed onto the raised stand on their ship. With swords ready, they prepared to jump.
Cassi felt a hand on her shoulder. Barolos threw her back, plunging his spear through a bushy beard into a Rocklander’s throat. Blood sprayed below. The sharks whipped into a frenzy before the body even touched the waves.
More on-rushers leapt over; the first line of defenders were overwhelmed. The man she’d given the finger to earlier hurtled towards her with eyes wider than a virgin in a brothel.
Cassi took a step back when he jabbed at her with his sword. The parrying blow sent a ring throughout the deck. Then she was backpedalling.
Taylan hit the deck, reeling from a mighty punch. Cassi tumbled over him, landing flat on her back. Her ankle twisted on the way down; she did her best not to cry out in pain.
The pirate climbed on top of her. She smacked him in his weird face. It was like one cheek was lifted, causing one of his eyes to narrow, with creases around it. Her rings made a satisfying bloody imprint on his dirty cheek.
Cassi couldn’t free her sword; it was wedged behind her back. Her attacker’s breath stank of ale. He hissed at her, spraying spit all over her face.
She wriggled, trying to get free while her attacker raised his sword.
Murta punched the man right in the temple, knocking him out cold.
When she climbed to her feet, the weight was almost too much for the ankle. She felt the clang of the ships crashing together. Each hook clung to the opposite side of the hull. The bulwarks were giving way. The Howling Dragon was outnumbered, but the crew were giving the pirates a good fight.
Back on his feet, Taylan swiped and slashed with his dagger. A Levacian pirate booted him back into the mast and he was winded. The pirate’s eyes lit up as he thrust the sword forwards for the killer blow. Before it could be delivered, Cassi plunged her sword beneath the man’s armpit, spilling his blood all over deck. Taylan’s eye was wide with shock and relief.
Rohass tussled with a pirate, both struggling over a rusty dagger. Taylan gave a bandit an uppercut, sending him flying. Barolos’ blood tipped spear poked and prodded at its next target.
A glimmer of light caught her eye on the horizon. The dark gleam of scarda. Shades.
The black ship looked like a curved knife skimming over the water.
“Shit!” The pirates scurried around. Some leapt back onto their own ship.
“Release the hooks!” One yelled. A couple of them loosened their winches.
The Shade ship was the quickest she’d ever seen, it blasted through the water quicker than those hooks had shot across deck.
“Hurry up!” A pirate cried in a panic.
Something was tossed from the Shade ship. Cassi watched a light approach, it bounced on deck a couple of times with a rattle. It was some sort of glass container with a bright blue liquid inside.
For some reason she was drawn to it. The crew scurried for something to hide behind.
“What’re yous doing!” Murta roared. He tackled Cassi to the ground, covering her with his massive body.
Her head turned as the thing exploded, sending shards of glass blasting throughout the ship. A few stuck in Murta’s arm, blood leaking from it onto Cassi.
“Yous alright?” Murta’s eyes were wild; his teeth were ground together.
Cassi nodded.
He
got up, offering her a hand. Luco was behind the wheel. The pirates’ slack hooks had been released. They scraped the deck like giant claws, one wedged between the boards, ripping through a couple of them.
Both crews stared at the Shades, praying they would go for the other ship.
Luco turned the rudder and the Howling Dragon edged away from the pirates. The Shade ship circled them; as did the hungry sharks, they knew there was more food to be had.
Cassi had to close her eyes when the Shade berserkers screamed. The sound was an unbearable screech which whistled through her earhole. Despite it only lasting a few seconds, it felt much longer.
Then she heard the crash, thankfully, she heard it, didn’t feel it. The Shades rattled into the pirate ship.
The pirate Murta knocked out earlier was back on his feet, looking overboard and weighing up his options. No way was he taking a dive with all those skimmer sharks below. He was screwed. Taylan’s eye lit up. He gave the man a smack in the gut, dropping him to his knees.
Cassi watched the pirate ship be overrun with shades. Their spiked scarda armour was terrifying, as was the next scream. The bandits were no match for fully armed berserkers. Served them right for picking fights with merchants.
The Passage of Corsov
Drip.
A thick red spot slapped the sea. With it came a furious chain reaction, shark heads crashed together in their desire for meat. They snapped at him; the captured pirate hung perilously close to the water.
Drip.
Another drop from his bloody nose slipped to the sea, his pursuers followed in a frenzy. Taylan had given him a good beating before tying his hands together and throwing him over the side.
With a heave, Taylan lifted the rope with a gleam in his eye. He lowered it a couple more feet. The pirate treaded on the surface, managing to swing as the massive jaws came up for a bite. When he came back down, his foot dipped in. A set of razor-sharp teeth sawed through his leg.