Dragon Choir

by Benjamin Descovich

  “No, you can’t. Delik what are you thinking? We’re away there’s no—”

  “Are they your Jandan brothers?”

  “No. It’s just—”

  “Hot lead will sear through their damned souls.”

  Juniper lined up her starboard guns with the docks. Elrin had a sick churning in his stomach from all of the killing. They had taken measures to preserve the life of the soldiers on the ships, but the battle on the docks was tainted; thick with revenge and darkly disproportionate to the Jandan threat.

  “Don’t do it, Delik,” Elrin pleaded. “You’re better than Pelegrin.”

  “This plan is long in the making lad. The docks have to go and those Jandans are just in the way.” Delik watched the battle with empty eyes.

  “Then your plan is flawed,” Elrin removed the blue Jacket; it was too oppressive in the heat.

  “Destroying the docks will weaken the Jandan hold on Rum Hill! It’ll cut supply lines to North Eye.”

  “No, you’re wrong. It will strengthen the Jandan hold. When trade grinds to a halt, the people of Rum Hill will turn against you. They will lose their livelihoods. When the Jandans repair the docks the rebels will have gained nothing.”

  Delik’s cheeks flushed, his eyes were damp.

  “They defiled her! They murdered her!” Delik slammed his fist down on the rail. “They all deserve to die!”

  “If you fire the cannons, the two ships out to sea will hear. You will lose any chance of surprise.”

  Delik gripped the rail with both his hands, knuckles white.

  “Hold fire!” Delik yelled, slamming his fist on the rail again. “Coalman! Hold fire!”

  Coalman bellowed the order from the main deck, down the hatch, to the gun deck.

  Delik wiped his face with his yellow cloth hat. He gave Elrin a grim sneer and shook his head before casting the hat into the sea. It bobbed in the wake of the ship for a moment before sinking into the blue of the bay.

  Elrin stood with Delik in silence. They watched the battle on the docks run its course and stewed on their words.

  Drakkin charged from the mangroves, bearing down on the marines with their superior size and strength. The remaining Jandan lines were torn to strips, buckling in a mess of blood and panic. Unruly shouts of victory punctuated the screams of the dying, burgeoning into a rowdy chorus that thrummed across the bay in a great wave.

  A cheer went up on the captured ships, matching the vigour of their allies on shore. The rebel crew hollered and clasped each other’s arms, showing grins as big as their relief that the battle was won. Delik refused to entertain any such celebration, his gaze drifted on the sea, his brow knit in thought.

  Elrin had no joy for the blood spilt; scores of lives were lost and he had been part of it. He worried about what the rebels planned to do with the three prize ships. Jando would want them back.

  His quest was burning to ash.

  Delik called to his man on the main deck. “Coalman! I want these ships to sail out in formation. Get a message on wing to the others as well.”

  “The others?” Elrin squirmed. This adventure had him strapped to a demon dog and he had no idea to which of the five hells he was being taken. “How big is this, Delik?”

  “Why? You scared lad?”

  “Of course, I’m scared! I just wanted passage on a ship. Now, I’m part of this rebellion you’re taking against Jando.”

  “Quit your complaining! You’ve got passage on our ship,” said Minni, walking down the stairs to the quarterdeck. “Won’t be free though.”

  Minni was unshaken by the battle. Her quiver was empty, but her dark eyes were full of mischief. She stood beside Delik and leant her bow against the rail, appraising them both.

  “Look here lad. This is big, but the how of the big is a little murky.” Delik became distant for a moment, as though he were remembering something.

  “What does that mean?” Elrin was determined to extract some sense from them.

  Delik ignored Elrin’s question and called to Selmet at the wheel. “Once we clear that headland, set course to engage the two remaining Jandan vessels anchored beyond the bay.”

  “What Delik means is; he needs you in his crew,” said Minni, giving Delik a nudge. “We’ve got a big adventure ahead of us. There’ll be treasure. Glory too I imagine; if you like a bit of that. Won’t be easy, but you seem to handle your head in a pinch.”

  Delik crossed his arms. “Hold your bloody horses. He’s too fresh. He’ll just get in the way.”

  “Didn’t I just get you out of a pickle back there,” Elrin fumed, the quick defence boiling over before he considered better diplomacy. “If I was so green, how did I know what to do with the solargraph? If I was in the way, how did I take down ten men?”

  “Eight actually, but that’s not bad if you’re weak-wristed,” said Minni. “I helped with two. Just keeping an eye on you.”

  Elrin balked then blushed. Was she really watching out for him or just having another dig? “Thanks Minni, but that doesn’t help right now.”

  “Well,” said Minni. “I don’t want to appear contrary, but one of them was close to taking your head off its hinge. So, I think it does help right now.”

  “Damn it, Minni! You know what I mean.” Elrin rounded on Delik. “Listen to me. I deserve to know what is going on, you thankless, stubborn, old—”

  Delik drew Elrin’s blade, stealing it from the sheath so fast, he didn’t have time think of his weapon, let alone draw it to defend himself. The blade pressed to the young man’s abdomen, the sharp point establishing an uncomfortable clarity of thought. Remarkably explicit images of his intestines spilling onto the deck kept Elrin’s body still while carefully raising his hands in surrender; he didn’t stand a chance against Delik.

  “You listen to me, pup. Hear me sweetly. Because next time, I’ll not pause to parley with your mewling. I need a man who’ll think for himself. I grant you this, you’ve a head for thinking, but I sure as shite don’t need a boy who cries about what is and whinges about what might be, or once was.” Delik pulled the blade away from Elrin’s abdomen, flipped it over and presented the hilt for Elrin to take. “Now make up your own mind, lad. You stay, or you go.”

  The young man considered his dwindling options. These two were trouble, but they fought for freedom and that was something his father would have done. Maybe if he helped them, they would help him. Minni was on his side; she’d helped him out of trouble more than once. She wasn’t like any of the girls he knew back in Calimska. Her beauty carried a shadow of death that left him abashed and cautious, harassed with an awkward nervousness that struck him when she smiled. Delik confused him in a very different way. The man was a touchy, cagey little bastard, thrusting Elrin into mortal danger while feeding him half-truths for who knew what reasons.

  They both had a plan. Elrin had nothing. Delik was right; he was green and had no real training with a blade. How ironic that he might be safer with these two rebels than by himself, even if it meant fighting the might of Jando.

  Elrin took his blade and returned it to his sheath. “I’ll stay, for now. Just in case you need me to save your hide again.”

  Delik scoffed. “Smart arse, eh. Like I need another one of those.”

  “Then you’re in luck, I can’t stay with you for long. I need to get to the Hoard Islands, there’s something there that will help my father. Will you be going that way?”

  Delik laughed. “Very funny, Minni. Did you put him up to this?”

  Minni held up her hands to show her innocence. “I’ve not said a word.”

  Delik scowled. “Are you tuggin’ my chain, lad?”

  “No, I ...” Elrin gathered his thoughts. “Am I missing something here?”

  “Tell us why you need to get there, Elrin,” said Minni.

  “I was told by a friend that something called the Dragon Choir would aid my father. I was told to go to the Hoard Islands and seek it out. If you’re not going there, I’ll still help,
but only until you get to another port. I’ll ask there.”

  Minni flaunted her smug smile. Delik was not impressed.

  “What’s going on?” asked Elrin.

  “Never you mind, lad. Minni here is ploughing her own field a little too deep.”

  “Piss off, Delik,” Minni cut back. “And change that damn shirt. You smell like fish and look like a butchers block.”

  Delik scowled and sniffed at his bloodstained yellow shirt. “Bah! My shirt’s fine.” The shankakin turned to Elrin. “Pay her no mind. Send a message to the ships at sea and make some good of yourself.”

  Elrin remained at the helm beside Delik and followed his direction. He wrote the message and sent it to the beacon on the headland to relay on. “Commodore Pelegrin secure. Ship damaged, but seaworthy. Escorting back to fleet. Hold position.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Beans

  The rebel ships rounded the headland, leaving the calm waters of the bay for the windswept chop, roiling across the Salroc Sea. While the fresh gusts buffeted the ships, Coalman and Selmet called and whistled to each other, directing the crew with ease. Delik was glad to have them, he knew his way around a fishing skiff, but sailing a tall ship like Juniper required experienced sailors.

  The two Jandan galleons were at anchor, awaiting them out to sea. Delik squinted through the ocean glare and noticed more ships farther off. Faster than a curse could form on his lips, the spyglass was out, revealing their ruin approaching.

  The spotter called down from the crow’s nest affirming his fears. “Five sails pressing from the north. Jandans manoeuvring.”

  “Ash it!” Delik cursed to the wind. “Impatient bastard!”

  Delik could tell Elrin was ready to pester him with another question. The lad was too curious, he never knew when to keep his nose out of it.

  “What is it, lad? You look set to burst if you hold it in.”

  “Shall I send another message?” asked Elrin.

  “No, but wait for one. They’ll be sure to send something if they are going to engage.” Delik eased his expression. The lad wasn’t so bad; he didn’t whinge all the time.

  Elrin held the dragon seal to the north and was ready when the Jandan ships pulsed a series of flashes across the sea. He twisted the seal and allowed the enchanted dragonhead to vent. Magical ink tumbled onto the transcriber and Elrin read as the words coalesced. “Pirates on course to engage. Three caravels. One carrack. One fluyt. Request Templestone and Fearless to assist.”

  Delik fumed. “Why couldn’t Kobb wait for the signal? What is his bloody caper?”

  “Has he ever made things easy?” said Minni. “It doesn’t change a thing. We must press on.”

  At Delik’s command Templestone, Fearless and Juniper sailed forth to intercept the remaining Jandan ships with the rebel captains under order to board and subdue. They sailed as fast as the head wind would allow, tacking starboard away from the coast, but without a weather witch they were at the mercy of the belligerent wind, blowing favour into the pirate’s sails and against their own.

  Delik slammed his hand on the rail, growling at the slow pace of their approach. “The ship may as well have a hole in her side for all the speed we have beating against this damn wind.”

  “I have an idea,” said Elrin.

  “Oh, another one is it?” said Delik throwing his hands in the air. “It’s not like we are short on time. I’ll hear anything you’ve got. Actually, we’ve time for a spot of tea and a hand of cards too.”

  “What have you in mind?” Minni asked, her eyes toying with Elrin. “Don’t mind old grumpy lumps, he’s not versed in sarcasm.”

  Delik sneered. Taking sides; she’d chew that poor lad up and spit him out. The woman was too bloody smart for her own good, playing all the angles from the shadows then shining in all her glory when she took the stage. She was the darling of the rebellion and a necessary curse.

  “Look at that face. The image of his father,” Minni put her arm around Delik and gave his shoulder a squeeze.

  “Bugger off, Minni!” Delik shrugged her arm away.

  “Doesn’t know how to deal with his anger either,” Minni mocked Delik’s expression with a dour face of her own then burst into laughter. “Just like his father.”

  Delik found himself smiling despite his every effort to hold it back and give Minni a serve. This bloody woman was impossible.

  “My idea?” asked Elrin.

  “Go on then,” said Delik. “Ignore her if you can.”

  “We have those two redeemers who came to heal Pelegrin. They’re not much use in prison below decks. Maybe they can help speed things up.”

  “What, to patch up our arses with a cushion so we don’t get splinters from sitting around waiting?”

  Elrin ignored Delik’s sarcasm. “Surely redeemers are more versatile with magic than just killing and healing. One of them might be an elementalist. Who knows until we ask?”

  “Could be the last queen of the sea people for all I care. Unless we get a team of dolphins to pull us along, those galleons and their cargo are in the wrong man’s hands.” Delik crossed his arms, thinking it over. He gave in, it was worth a try. “Alright then, go and get them. Make sure you ask Coalman for an escort, keep them bound and gagged no matter what.”

  “I will,” said Elrin. “And make sure you save some of that tea for me.”

  Elrin grinned and hurried away. Delik let a smile cross his face after Elrin had gone below decks and turned to talk with Minni. “You might be right about him. He could be just what we need if he knows about the Dragon Choir.”

  “If the Muden of Gren say it is so, then it is so. They weren’t wrong about you. Though you denied it long enough. They weren’t wrong about Tikis, nor me.” Minni was serious for a change. “He’s the Key, I’m sure of it.”

  “Be as sure as you like,” Delik refused to fall into Minni’s trap. “That is not what I was saying and you know it. I’m not going to be convinced until I see it happen.”

  “Why not? All the signs are there. You know the prophecy as well as I do.”

  “Now you’re mixing me up with my old Pa again. He’ll have memorised every word they’ve said since he was a sprout. Not me.”

  “The Key to free us shall fall in your hand, holding a note, but no name. Sounding the Choir—”

  “I’ve not seen a note,” interrupted Delik. “Have you? And I believe he has a bloody name; Elrin. So don’t go on spouting their fluff till it makes some sense.”

  Minni unrolled the dead letter and faced it to Delik. “Like I already showed you, it reads plain as day. Elrin No Name. Are you blind or daft?”

  “I’d not call a dead letter a note. Don’t go pinning your hopes just to have them dashed.”

  “That’s fine advice from you.”

  “All I’m saying is, the Muden know some things better than others. Sure, they might be able to see it all, but the gibberish that comes out only makes light of some of it. And I wager they don’t tell us all of the little they know.”

  “Listen to yourself would you? You go on about gibberish while your own mutterings are a right confusion.”

  “Clean the rot out of your ears then.”

  “Just give Elrin the chance he needs and we will find out. No harm in an extra hand on the way; his heart is in the right place. His sword arm needs a lot of work, though, if he sticks to one of us he won’t be such a soft target…”

  Delik let Minni prattle on about her new pet. He recalled his father coming home from Gren so many seasons past. He had blathered endlessly about the Muden; their riddles set him wild with hope. Pa was the Fist, they said. Pa would lead them to freedom. They never said freedom would require such blooded knuckles.

  “Delik, are you listening to me?”

  “Yes, Minni. Yes, yes. We must keep him safe. I agree.”

  Coalman ran up the stair to the quarterdeck and interrupted them. Close behind followed a scrawny youth, black smears on his hands and cheeks.r />
  Coalman presented the boy. “This powder monkey found something strange in the ship’s magazine. Thought you’d be interested.”

  “What is it, boy?” Delik waved him forward. The boy was hesitant to talk. “Spit it out, son. I won’t bite.”

  “Powder’s cursed, won’t set to flame.” The boy hefted a powder horn into Delik’s hands.

  “By Ona!” Delik tested the weight of the horn. “It’s as heavy as a bag of shot.” He opened the stopper and emptied a sum into his palm. “It’s not even black!”

  “Like I said, sir. It’s cursed, see. Me and Toppa opened a fresh barrel. Ready for the battle like we was told. Straight away we knew it was cursed, blood red and sparklin’. Knew it wasn’t right and came up to me gun boss and showed it.”

  “And you tried to light it, eh?” asked Delik.

  “S’right, sir. Didn’t even fizz a spot.”

  “You’ve done well, son,” said Delik, shaking the boys powder stained hand. “I need you to go back to that magazine and check the other barrels. Separate the ones that are, ah, cursed. Make sure it isn’t used in the cannon.”

  “Me and Toppa tried to shift that one we’s opened, sir. Couldn’t budge it.”

  “Hurn,” said Delik, half to himself. That’s why they had the ogre loading the barrels.

  “Sorry, sir?”

  “Go and ask the ogre to help you,” said Minni. “His name is Hurn.”

  That didn’t sit well with the boy at all.

  “Off you go then,” said Coalman, without a scrap of sympathy. “You’ve got your orders.”

  The boy ran off, likely imagining a gruesome death-by-ogre awaited.

  “Anything else whiles I’m close enough you don’t have to shout?” asked Coalman, taking off his wool knit cap and scratching his bald head.

  “Get the ears of all the lads. Remind them to stay their blades if a Jandan surrenders. I want a cleaner fight this time. If any of the crew don’t like the idea, take their weapons and put them in the cells. Those bastards just make the Jandans fight to the death. They’ll yield if they know they are outnumbered; less blood the better.”