Privateer (The Five Kingdoms #1)

by Robin Roseau

  "If she had cleared the deck faster, she would have been safe. I swear, passengers that don't follow orders make me consider another career."

  I couldn't tell if they were pulling my leg, but I thought perhaps they were. I wasn't sure if I should encourage them.

  "How many are normally up here?"

  "When we expect possible contact with the enemy, as many as three. We might find Candoran ships here, but the likelihood of contact with Noridan ships is slight. Our watch is primarily for land, but of course, we still watch for other ships and incoming weather."

  "And kraken."

  "Yes. And kraken," Sorri said with a straight face.

  "Do all three of us scan everywhere, or do we divide the ocean into three?"

  They taught me how to scan, moving my head slowly and not sweeping around too quickly. A ship over the horizon would be small, and a fast sweep could miss it. Together, we watched.

  "When was the last time either of you posted a watch up here?" I asked.

  "It happens," Radha said. "Not often. Right now, we only would have one crewman up here, and we rotate about every two hours. So you are here for two hours until the next seaman relieves you."

  "You aren't leaving!" I squeaked.

  "Relax," Sorri said. "You're fine."

  I clutched at her. "Please don't tease."

  "We have far more important duties, Ensign," the commander said. "If you see anything-"

  "Like a kraken," I interjected.

  "Just hollar. You'll have three seamen joining you in seconds."

  That was when I noticed, far in the distances, a smudge on the horizon.

  I squinted at it. "Shouldn't I have a spyglass?"

  "You'd probably just drop it," Sorri said.

  "Or get seasick looking through it," Radha added.

  "They're aren't toys," Sorri explained.

  "All right," I said. "Then I'm sure we can wait an hour before we get a better look at that smudge."

  "What smudge?" Sorri said immediately.

  "I think it's a kraken," I said.

  Sorri laughed.

  Radha was quiet. "Captain, it's not a kraken."

  "Ship?"

  "Twelve degrees off the starboard bow," Radha said. "Land."

  Sorri pulled me around and kissed me. "Congratulations. First one to spot land at the end of a long voyage gets thrown overboard."

  "You are so full of shit!"

  "We were lying about the kraken," Radha said. "But not this. You're going in."

  "I seem to recall that was dangerous."

  "We'll come to a stop first," Sorri said.

  "And we'll fish you back out afterwards," Radha added.

  "We promise," Sorri said, stretching out the last word.

  "How far away is that?" I asked, pointing to the smudge.

  "It depends on how high it is," Sorri said. "Maybe thirty miles. Nice job, Ensign. You're relieved early. Commander, help me get her down and get a couple of seamen up here. We'll take care of the required tradition, then we'll have an hour or two before we're close enough to try to figure out where we are."

  "Full of shit," I muttered.

  "We'll tell you what, Ensign," Sorri said. "We'll let you go down the fast way, and if you can make it without screaming, we'll consider omitting tradition."

  "But if you scream, we get to dunk you twice," Radha added.

  I was still watching land, and I didn't realize right away that Sorri was tying a rope around my waist.

  "We should give her the choice, Captain," Radha said. "She climbs down the slow way, but we definitely dunk her twice. Or she goes the fast way and may not get dunked at all."

  "Full of shit, both of you," I said.

  "Not this time," Sorri said. She handed me the rope, now tied under my rib cage and disappearing over the edge of the crow's nest. "Hang onto this tightly."

  "What?" I screeched.

  "I don't think she'll just jump for us, Captain," Radha said.

  "No. We'll have to throw her." And then they picked me up and before I could scream, "No!" they dangled me over the side.

  "No! Captain! Don't drop me!"

  "Remember, try not to scream," Sorri said.

  And they dropped me.

  I screamed all the way to the bottom, falling faster and faster, then the rope tightened around my middle, and I began to slow down.

  * * * *

  Captain Sorri Westmere

  "That's never happened before," Radha said. "Can you reach her mouth? She needs a gag."

  "How do we get her down?" I asked.

  Rani was dangling with her feet about seven feet above the deck, swearing a blue streak at both of us. Her swearing had started a few seconds after the screaming had stopped, and she hadn't let up since.

  "We'll have to pull her down," Radha suggested.

  "You pull her down," I said. "I'm not getting near those feet." I rubbed my cheek. She'd already kicked me once.

  "She's your girlfriend. You pull her down, Captain."

  "We could leave her there until she calms down," I suggested.

  The screaming grew in volume, and the words she was using were very colorful.

  "No one will get any sleep if we do that," Radha replied. "Ensign. If you do not stop kicking, we can't pull you down."

  Rani aimed a particularly harsh kick at Radha, but she just swung around more, her foot missing Radha by a couple of feet.

  We had collected a significant audience with most of the passengers standing back. Minori was glaring at both of us, but she hadn't said anything. She finally walked up and said, "Aunt Rani!"

  Rani immediately stopped swearing and kicking, but she was squirming from the end of the rope. As soon as it was safe, Radha and I dashed in, grabbed her, and pulled her down to the deck. As soon as her feet were firmly on the deck, she took her hands from the rope and took a swing at me. She would have connected, but I was watching for it. Minori stepped in front of me and put her hands on her hips.

  Rani calmed down, breathing heavily. Minori didn't say a word. Then Minori stepped closer and pulled her into a hug.

  "Are you two pleased with yourselves?" Minori asked. "Did you stop to think how embarrassed she was going to be?"

  Minori hugged her aunt more tightly then stepped away and began untying the rope from around her.

  "It's tradition, Minori," Radha said quietly. "First time down from the crow's nest is by the drop."

  "It's a cruel tradition, and my aunt deserves better," Minori said.

  "It's a necessary tradition," I added. "Everyone screams. No one gets warned ahead of time. The goal is to scare the crap out of a new recruit so she learns to respect the height."

  "I didn't need your tradition to respect the height!" Rani spat. "Or didn't you notice how scared I was climbing up?"

  "It's really unfortunate you spotted land the first time up, Rani," I said. "Ships have their traditions, and it is considered ill luck to bypass them. I am truly sorry."

  "If you think you're throwing me in the sea, you are insane."

  I stepped up to her and tried to pull her into a hug. She resisted, but I said quietly, "Ensign, calm down. This is important."

  She let me pull her to me, but she was stiff. I whispered to her. "We have to do the traditions. The crew won't accept you if we don't, and they'll worry about ill luck. Some are very superstitious. They'll start doing things to ward off bad luck, and you won't like them."

  "You really intend to throw me in?" she asked.

  "I hope you'll be a good scout about it."

  "You humiliated me, Captain." She pushed away from me.

  "Rani," I said in a voice loud enough to carry to everyone listening. "When they dropped me from the crow's nest, I not only screamed, I soiled myself."

  "You did not!"

  "She did," Radha said. "It's not uncommon. You did okay. I bet if we drop you again, you wouldn't utter a peep."

  "Like you'll ever get me up there again!"

  "Be a
good scout," I told her quietly. "Please."

  "I think you're lying about this tradition. You're just trying to haze me."

  I looked around and spotted a seaman performing a repair of a bad section of decking. "Seaman Langston!"

  He popped to his feet. "Yes, Captain?"

  "Land ho!" I yelled. "What is the next question to ask, Seaman?"

  "Who are we dunking, Captain?"

  "Thank you, Seaman. Carry on."

  I turned to Rani.

  "Fine," she said. "You may toss me in once, but not twice. If everyone screams, then that was a sucker's bet and I never agreed to it in the first place."

  "Thank you, Rani," I said. "Commander! Prepare for a dunking!"

  Radha began issuing immediate orders. We dropped sails until we had just barely enough headway to continue to hold a heading. Several seamen unlimbered the derrick, and seamen from all over the ship appeared. A dunking was a popular event. The deck became crowded.

  Rani stood silently at the railing, standing tall and looking out over the ocean. "You're a bitch, Captain," she said quietly.

  "Are you really angry?"

  "No. Embarrassed. Humiliated, actually."

  "Don't be. It's actually a source of pride to accept a dunking. We have other traditions for them as well."

  "Which you intend to surprise me with?"

  "Oh yes. We don't warn anyone. We're not going to warn you. If you have anything in your pockets you don't want to get wet, give them to me now."

  She pulled out the gag and handed it to me. "Keep that," she said. "If I ever lose it again, I'm going to enjoy screaming at you and hoping you can't find a gag."

  "I'll save it for you. I think you feel better knowing you have it."

  "I'm going to use it on you tonight," she warned me.

  I laughed, but wasn't sure whether she was serious.

  Radha stepped over with the rope from the derrick. Rani let me tie it around her middle then asked, "Does the tradition require you to throw me?"

  "The tradition requires you to go into the water, and it's important you don't hit the side of the ship."

  "Fine," she said. She pulled away from both of us and yelled, "Clear out of my way!" Rani stepped ten paces from the railing and then she was running. When she got to the railing, she jumped, pressing off with her hands, and then she was flying over the side. Everyone rushed the railing, hoping to see her splash down. I looked down, and she appeared next to the ship, sputtering a moment later. The rope around her middle tighted as the ship continued to sail past her, and after a few seconds, she was being dragged through the water slowly. She rolled onto her back, clutching the rope in her hands and looked up at us.

  "Tradition fulfilled?" she yelled up at me.

  "Very well," I yelled back. "Haul her out, Commander."

  Radha issued the orders, and after a moment, Rani began to rise out of the water. She clutched the rope, and soon she was dangling from the derrick, ten feet away from the side of the ship.

  "Commander!" she yelled. "Drop me."

  "You do not give orders to commandeers, Ensign," Radha yelled back at her. Then she stepped over to the winch and hit the release. Rani dropped back into the ocean.

  We dragged her a little further that time, and she rode along in the water, letting it slap her in the back. When she was at the top, she was dripping wet, but she was grinning.

  "Once more, Commander!" she yelled. "If you please. But I'm getting cold."

  Radha dropped her. Again, we dragged her a short distance, but only the amount of time it took for the seamen operating the winch to haul her up.

  "Again?" Radha asked.

  "No," she said, and her teeth were chattering. "Thank you."

  "Haul her in!" Radha ordered immediately, and the derrick swung, carrying Rani over the edge of the railing. She hung there, well above our heads, dripping water.

  "Is there another tradition I don't know about?" Rani asked. "Please let me down."

  "There is one more tradition," I said. "Ensign Karden. You were the first to spot land on this voyage. You have accepted your dunking. You are free from menial duties until the next time the ship drops anchor."

  And then the crew cheered before they lowered Rani gently to the deck. Radha stepped up to her and untied the rope.

  "Thank you, Commander," she said, then wrapped Radha in a very wet hug. Rani giggled when she stepped away. She looked around and found me watching, then began stalking me.

  I let her pull me into a wet hug as well, and when she lifted her mouth towards mine, I bent my neck and took the kiss she was offering.

  The crew cheered again.

  * * * *

  Rani Karden

  An hour later I was in the mess hall with Glora, Minori and Lindora, playing a game of cards. One of the seamen had provided the deck. Glora and I were teaching the girls a partner's game. The cook had kept me supplied with warm tea, and Minori had braided my hair for me after I washed the sea water out of it.

  "Ensign," I heard from behind me. I turned around, and Radha was standing in the doorway to the mess. She looked unhappy. "I have been looking for you. You are required in the captain's cabin."

  "Was I supposed to be somewhere? If so, I am sorry. I didn't know."

  "No. But no questions. Come with me."

  "I'm sorry," I said.

  "We'll pick this up another time," Glora said.

  I climbed from the chair, gulped down my tea, then hurried after Radha.

  "When a senior officer gives you an order, Ensign, you do not keep that officer waiting while you offer your social niceties and finish your tea."

  "Yes, Commander," I said. "My apologies, Commander." I had a sharper retort on my lips, but I let it die. Radha was angry about something, and making her angrier didn't seem like a good choice.

  I seemed to be doing much better dealing with people lately. The old me would have let her have it for thrusting her rules onto me. I'm sure I would have said something quite cutting.

  When we arrived on deck, I saw the sun had come out. I glanced behind us, and I could see the clouds we had been sailing under, but in front of us there wasn't a cloud in the sky, and it was warm.

  "Hey!" I said. "The sun."

  "Quite," said Radha. "Surprised?"

  She said it sharply, almost as if it had been my fault the weather had been poor.

  "The clouds couldn't last forever. Well, unless this part of the world is eternally cloudy. I wouldn't know. But the captain promised us a cheerful island, so I expected sunshine."

  Radha didn't respond to that. We stepped across the deck and entered the passageway. She knocked once at the captain's door then held the door for me and half pushed me into the cabin.

  The cabin was a shambles, and Rani was searching through everything. Drawers were pulled out, the bed had been practically destroyed, and absolutely nothing was where it belonged.

  "What happened?" I asked. "This was ship-shape when I changed clothes."

  "Where is it?" Sorri spat at me, her words clipped. She looked at me with more anger than I've seen from anyone in a very long time. She crossed the room to me and yanked me by both arms, then slammed me against the wall next to the passageway door, lifting me until my feet dangled above the floor and my eyes were even with hers. "Where. Is. It?"

  "Sorri?" I said. "You're hurting me."

  "Where is it?" she screamed.

  "Where is what?" I said. "I don't know what you're talking about?"

  "Don't give me that!" she yelled. She pulled me away from the wall and then slammed me against it again. "Where is it?"

  "And I'm telling you, I need to know what you're talking about!" I wasn't angry yet, but whatever she had lost, it wasn't my fault. If I put something back incorrectly, destroying the room looking for it wasn't going to help. "Tell me what's missing, and I'll help you look for it."

  "You know what you took! Rani, how could you? How could you? This is sabotage. Do you know what I have to do to you if
you have sabotaged the ship? Oh god! This is Pera all over again!"

  "Put. Me. Down." I said firmly. "I did not take anything. Tell me what is missing."

  "The sextant. The sun is out. We need to take readings and see where we are. But the sextant isn't where I keep it. I always put it back, but it's not there. What did you do with it?"

  "I have not touched the sextant since the night you taught me to use it, Captain!" I was becoming angry. "But I can find it. Calm down, and I'll help you find it."

  "You hid it! Did you throw it overboard? Did you?" She slammed me against the wall again.

  "I haven't touched it! Captain, I haven't touched it! If it's missing, I can help you find it."

  "If not you, then it was your niece."

  "No!" I screamed. "Minori has never touched anything that didn't belong to her in her entire life, and she wouldn't have started now. Besides, she's never been alone in here for more than a minute or two, and I would know if she had been snooping. Minori doesn't snoop that way. Minori asks questions. That's her way of snooping. You leave her out of this!"

  "It was one of you!" the captain screamed. "Do you know where the sextant is?"

  I thought about the sextant. I had held it. I knew exactly whose sextant it was. I knew what it looked like and how it felt to hold. And immediately my magic worked, and I could feel the sextant. And I knew it wasn't in the cabin, but it was close; it was on the ship.

  "It's not here," I said.

  "You know!" she said, slamming me against the wall. "The only way you could know is if you moved it, or if your niece did! Oh god, Rani, why?" she slammed me again, and it was really starting to hurt.

  "Put me down, Captain. Sorri, please, put me down. I didn't touch it. Minori didn't touch it. But I can help you find it."

  "You know where it is!" she screamed. "I saw it in your face! You know where it is!"

  She slammed me against the wall again, and I cracked my head against the wood. It stung, and tears came to my eyes.

  "Captain," I said pleadingly. "Put me down. I can find it. I promise."

  "This is sabotage, Rani!" she screamed. "Oh god, I don't want to have to do to you what you're making me do to you! Why did you take it? Oh god! You look like her, and now you've betrayed me like her! And I'm going to have to kill you like I killed her! Oh god, Rani. Why?"