by Robin Roseau
"I'm sorry," she said amongst them. "I'll remove it as soon as you are ready. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make you angry, Rani. Shhh. Shhh."
Cursed
Captain Sorri Westmere
Her anger came out of nowhere. She had felt so good, and then suddenly she was screeching at me. It had come at such a surprise. And then she had demanded the gag, surprising me even further.
I had already been reaching for it. We were still in a crisis situation, and I could not have her defying me from the quarterdeck at any time, but certainly not during a crisis. I thought she would resist me, and I would be forced to put her in the brig for the night. I knew that would be the end of our growing rapprochement.
But she asked for the gag. No, she demanded the gag, and that changed everything. That certainly changed everything. She was shaking in my arms, but she didn't pull away when I pulled her more tightly against me.
I reached a hand up to caress her cheek, although I didn't know if she would feel it. Her cheek was wet. I wrapped myself even more completely around her, holding her tightly.
"I'll take it off when you're ready, Rani. I promise. Just tell me when."
She shook her head.
"You don't want me to take it off?"
She pushed away, and I let her. I knew I could see her far better than she could see me, but she turned her face up to me anyway. Even in the dim light, I could see the tears sliding down her cheeks.
"Oh Rani," I said. "I'm not angry at you."
She stomped her foot.
I sighed. "Do you want me to remove the gag?"
She shook her head.
"Do you want me to stop asking questions and just hold you?"
She shook her head.
"Do you want me to understand why you are crying?"
She nodded.
"But you do not want me to remove the gag."
She shook her head.
"You're not crying about the gag."
Again, she shook her head.
"It's something else."
She nodded emphatically and then pressed herself against me again, wrapping her arms around me. I held her. I thought this was important, very important, but I didn't have her niece's facility with the right questions.
"I believe there are two important questions. When should I remove the gag? And why are you crying."
She shook her head. Then she moved an arm from around me, and she pressed three splayed fingers against my cheek.
"Three questions?" and she nodded. "We'll get to the third. First, the gag. Will you tell me when you want me to remove it?"
She nodded.
"Part two of question one," I said. "You have calmed down. Why do you want to wait?" And she nodded. "It's because you are afraid you'll grow angry again." And she nodded.
"Next," I said. "Why are you crying. Is it because of the gag?" No. "Is it because you are afraid of me or what I might do?" No. "Is it because you are afraid I will make you leave or not invite you back?" No.
"Sub-question then," I said. "Do you care if I make you leave?" and she nodded emphatically. "You do not think I will send you away?" and she shook her head and burrowed closer to me, as if there was any air left between us.
"Yes, I like holding you, Rani."
Radha stepped over. "Everything all right, Captain?" she asked.
"We're working on it," I replied. "Status?"
"Black night. Course change?"
"Yes. Bring in the studding sails and turn us west-southwest. We'll hold that heading until first light, and if it's clear, then due west."
"Not to our original course?"
"No. Give us some privacy, if you can."
Radha stepped away, and I caressed the back of Rani's head. "Is your mouth numb?"
She nodded.
"Throat?"
She reached with a hand and pressed against the cleft of my neck. The numbness had spread quickly.
"Do not wait too long before you ask me to remove it, Rani," and she nodded.
"Are you crying because you are angry with me?"
She paused, then shrugged.
"I am on the right track, but that's not quite it?" And she nodded. "Did you want to be angry?" No. "Are you still angry?"
She shrugged.
"Are you still angry with me?"
And she shook her head strongly.
"But you are still angry?" And she nodded.
"I'm not getting anywhere, Rani. Would your niece ask the right questions?"
She pushed away and firmly pushed a finger into my chest.
"Keep asking?" And she nodded.
We went around and around, and I still didn't get anywhere.
"Honey," I said, and she stiffened in my arms. "I'm sorry. Rani." She relaxed. "I am sorry. Please let me remove the gag." And she shook her head. "Then we need to give up until you can speak, or we should ask Minori to help."
She leaned against me and then nodded.
"Commander Halfheart, I require Minori Karden on the afterdeck at your soonest convenience," I said firmly.
Radha appeared and said, "Captain?"
"At your soonest convenience, Commander," I repeated. "She won't stay long, but please wrap a proper cloak about her."
"Aye-aye, Captain," Radha said. "I'll fetch her now."
"She should be in the galley but if not, then her own quarters."
Radha disappeared, and Rani pressed against me, squeezing tightly. She stopped crying, but every few seconds, she pulled me tighter and tighter to her.
"I am still your kidnapper, Rani," I said quietly. She tightened her hug.
Several minutes passed before Radha returned with Minori. She had to lead her to me.
"Why is Auntie Rani crying?" were the first words out of Minori's mouth. She shouldn't have been able to tell.
"She's blind as a bat, Captain," Radha said. "You need to give her a hand."
I reached out and found Minori's hand reaching for me. I pulled her towards Rani and me, and then Rani shifted in my arm and pulled her niece into a hug. Then I watched as Rani found Minori's hand and pulled it up to her mouth to feel the gag.
"Oh," Minori said. "You mouthed off again."
I explained to her why she was here. She looked puzzled when I said there was one more question to answer, but then she shrugged. "First, why is she crying?"
Rani nodded.
"Are you crying because she gagged you?"
"I already asked that," I said, and Rani shook her head.
"Just making sure," Minori replied. "Are you crying because you couldn't control your anger?"
And Rani began nodding her head up and down, over and over.
"Are you crying because you are tired of not being able to control your anger?" Minori asked. Rani kept nodding her head. "Are you crying because it's not your fault, and you can't help it?" And she was nodding her head.
"Is that question answered, Captain?" Minori asked.
"Yes. Thank you, Minori."
"But you are mistaken. There is not one more important question. There are three. But it may be that my aunt does not want me to ask all three of them."
Rani turned in my arms, fully facing her niece and made a "keep going" gesture with her hand.
"Can you see her, Minori?"
"Still blind as a bat. Can you?"
"I believe she wants you to ask the questions. Is that correct, Rani?" And Rani nodded. Then Rani reached for Minori's hand and pulled it to her cheek, still nodding.
Minori smiled. I wondered if Rani could see it. "All right, the first question is simple, and I bet you already know this one, Captain. Why can't she control her temper?"
Rani nodded.
"The next question," Minori said, "Is Does she want-" She paused. "No. I'm sorry. What form of help does she want managing her temper?"
Rani nodded.
"Aunt Rani," Minori said, "Did the captain have to force you to accept the gag?"
Rani shook her head. "Then I believe I know
the answer to this question. The third question is this: why is she returning your affection, Captain." And Rani nodded.
"You have the questions to have answered," Minori said. "Do you wish me to help arrive at the answers?"
Rani nodded.
Minori turned to me. "Captain, I wish to discuss this with my aunt before I will assist further. Will you give us privacy?"
"Certainly," I said. I pulled Minori closer to her aunt and then I stepped away to speak with the officers for a while. I heard Minori speaking quietly, and when I looked over, her mouth was over her aunt's ear, but I could not hear the words.
"All right, Captain," Minori called out. "We are ready whenever you are." I returned immediately, and Rani leaned against me.
"The question is: why can't my aunt control her temper? Aunt Rani, is it because you are just that mean of a person?"
Rani paused for a moment then shook her head.
"I didn't think so," the girl said. She paused. "Aunt Rani, is magic involved."
And in my arms, Rani stiffened.
"Oh my god," I said. "She's been cursed."
Rani grew stiffer in my arms, and then suddenly she was practically throwing herself at me, wrapping herself completely around me, and I knew if she could, she would be sobbing.
"Oh honey," I said, stroking her head. "Curses can be broken." She shook her head. "No, I've had experience. Curses can be broken." She still pressed against me, but she was shaking her head, and she was very clear.
"Aunt Rani, are you absolutely sure this curse can not be broken?" Minori asked.
And Rani reached out an arm and pulled Minori into our hug.
"Captain," Minori said. "It is my experience that my aunt is never wrong when she is this sure about something. It is my opinion you should assume this curse is permanent."
"Did you know about this curse, Minori?"
"Yes. I am the one who asked the right questions, but only recently."
"Minori, you may never be a popular woman, but you are going to be a very wealthy and well-sought-out woman. If ever you need a home, you will always have one with me."
"I will not ask questions of your kidnap victims, Captain. Nor will I help you find more. While you are engaged in this business, it would be very difficult to be friends with you."
"That is a conversation for another day, Minori. Minori, do you know the answers to the questions you ask?"
"Sometimes. But usually I ask questions, and I see where they go. People say a lot by what they do not answer. These questions are easy because I know my aunt. Shall we find out what help she wants with her temper?"
"Rani, do you want me to gag you when you begin to lose your temper?"
She pulled away, and her expression was filled with sadness, but she nodded slowly.
"When I gag you, will you fight me?"
She shrugged.
"Do you ever lose control of your actions?"
She shrugged.
"Captain, she does, but it is very, very rare, and it takes real cause, cause anyone would recognize. She has never hurt anyone, as far as I know."
"What sort of cause?"
"The only time I have seen it, someone was hurting me."
Rani looked between us, then turned to Minori and made a "keep going" gesture.
"Aunt Rani, do you want anyone else to help you with your temper."
She nodded and immediately pointed towards Radha.
I turned her to me. "Are you sure?" And she nodded.
"Commander," I said loudly. "Your presence, please." Then quietly I asked, "Shall I tell her about the curse?" Rani nodded.
I brought Radha up to speed.
"Curses can be cured," was the first thing she said.
"We've been through that." But she understood what we wanted. When I was done explaining, she turned to Rani.
"Are you going to fight me?"
And Rani shrugged, then nodded.
"But I should gag you anyway?" Nod. "And restrain you as necessary?" Nod. "How long?"
"Until she calms down and asks us to release her," I said immediately. "She must be both calm and ask."
Rani caressed my cheek.
"Are you still angry, Aunt Rani?"
She nodded.
"As angry?"
And she shook her head.
"Should we go to the last question?" Minori asked.
Rani turned to Radha and pointed back towards the wheel.
"Commander, thank you," I said.
"I'd like to stay."
Rani stamped her foot and pointed away.
"I'm going, I'm going," Radha said with a chuckle. "I like you when you're gagged, Ms. Karden."
Rani gave a rude gesture, but Radha chuckled again. "Ms. Karden, I also like you when you aren't gagged. Even with your curse."
Rani caressed Radha's cheek, then pushed her away. Once Radha was well clear, Minori asked, "Why are you accepting so much affection from the captain? Why are you returning it?"
Rani nodded.
"Captain, I believe I know the answer, but it is not my nature to answer questions. I ask them, not answer them. Aunt Rani, are you sure you want me to ask these questions?"
She nodded. "All right," Minori said. "Does the captain know how many lovers you've had?"
Rani shook her head.
"Wow. That was the wrong question," Minori said. "Does the captain know how many long term lovers you have had?"
Rani nodded.
"Does she know why it ended?" Rani nodded. "Does she know why there haven't been more?" Rani nodded.
Minori turned to me. "Captain, do you want my aunt in spite of this curse?"
"Yes," I said immediately.
"For keeps?" the girl asked.
"Yes."
"Are you absolutely sure?"
"Yes."
"Do you understand she can't be tamed?"
"I do now."
"And you still want her?"
"Yes."
"Do you understand she is taming you?"
I laughed. "Yes. She is very good at it."
Minori was quiet for a minute. "I do not know if I should ask this question. Captain, why do you want my aunt?"
"I don't know."
"I believe you do, Captain. Do I need to ask the right questions?"
"I would rather you didn't, Minori."
"Captain, does my aunt remind you of anyone?"
Rani stiffened in my arms.
"Minori," I said quietly. "I believe your services are no longer required."
"Captain, do you want her to believe the only reason you want her is because she reminds you of someone?"
"That's not why I want her!"
"Then I will stay," Minori said. "Who does she remind you of?"
"Pera. Okay. She reminds me of Pera."
"Rani, do you know who this is?" Rani nodded, and she pulled away from me slowly.
"No. Rani. Do not jump to conclusions. Minori, do not stop now!"
"Captain, in what ways does my aunt remind you of this woman from your past?"
"Stature and hair. That is all. It is what struck me first the night you arrived on board. But it isn't because she reminds me of Pera. Physically, Pera was my type. Physically, Rani, you are my type."
She stopped withdrawing, but she didn't come closer.
"Captain, does my aunt's intellect interest you?"
"A great, great deal."
"Even without the curse, my aunt has a fiery personality. How do you feel about that?"
"I find it intoxicating."
"Did you enjoy kissing her?"
"A great deal."
Rani held her hand out to Minori, then grabbed her and pulled her into a hug. She put her fingers over Minori's mouth, and that was the end of the questions.
Rani didn't release Minori, but she faced me and lifted a hand to her mouth.
"Is it time to remove the gag?"
She nodded.
"Are you calm?" Nod. "Are you sure?" Nod.
I stepped closer and removed her gag. She rubbed at her mouth for a moment, caressed my cheek, then held out her hand.
"You want the gag?" She nodded, so I handed it to her. She looked at it in the dim light. She placed it over her mouth, but it was inert without the magic word, and you couldn't gag yourself with one. She looked up at me, cocking her head.
"You can't gag yourself," I explained.
So she took the gag away and tried to place it in my mouth, but I pushed her hands away. "No way," I said.
"Aunt Rani, are you trying to understand how it works?"
She nodded.
"Then you may gag me if you promise to remove it."
"There is a word," I explained. I taught them the word. Rani couldn't get any words out yet. "If you can't say the word, you can't activate the gag."
Rani looked at me, then turned to Minori and held the gag out to her. Then she tapped her own mouth.
Minori didn't even ask if she was sure. She stepped up, held the gag over her aunt's mouth, and spoke the word. She said it incorrectly.
"It's not working," she said.
"The accent is on the second syllable," I explained.
Minori said the word correctly, and I saw the gag slide into Rani's mouth.
"Wow," Minori said. "How do I remove it?"
Rani shook her head but instead grabbed the ties and put them behind her head, then turned around, her back to her niece.
"What do I do, Captain?" Minori asked.
"Wrap the ties around each other and say the next word," I explained. "The ties will fuse together and tighten." I taught her the word, and soon Rani was fully gagged again. She turned back to her niece, tugged at the gag twice, and then grimaced when the gag tightened. I was surprised she hadn't already learned that feature. Any attempt to remove the gag incorrectly caused it to tighten.
Rani whimpered.
"Stop tugging," I said. "It will keep tightening."
She nodded.
"Do you need me to remove it, or may I teach your niece?"
She pointed to Minori.
"Captain," Minori said immediately. "I applied this gag. Who may remove it?"
"You as well as anyone on the ship who outranks you. That is almost everyone except the person wearing it. In practicality, the gag's magic may not recognize a seaman, but your mother could almost certainly release the gag and it may even recognize your older siblings. It may recognize the other adult guests, but I do not know. I have never allowed anyone but an officer to place a gag."