by Jake Taylor
Freya leaned forward. “…Is that a dragon tooth?”
“The tip of one. I chipped it off myself,” she said, showing the broken end of it.
Haruka smiled. “Killed it herself.”
Freya took the tooth, inspecting it. “You’re sayin’ ye took down a dragon yerself, an’ took a piece o’ tooth as a trophy?” Freya looked at the blue-haired knight. “Ain’t many that’ll believe that, but I’ve ‘eard a lotta tall tales an’ fanciful stories in my time, an’ I know when one’s true. Ya got my respect.”
Isabella caught the tooth as it was tossed back to her. “Thank you. What about Haruka?”
“You’re askin’ if she ‘as my respect?” Freya snorted. “She got it when I saw ‘er.” She met Haruka’s gaze. “Black Sun doesn’t play around. I am surprised t’see one runnin’… Especially a Saito.”
Haruka looked to the side. “Father won’t let go.”
“Why d’ya want ‘im to? If y’ don’t mind my askin’.” Haruka hesitated, looking at Isabella. Freya sat back, nodding. “I got it. Chose t’go with ‘er, eh? Crazy decision. Just crazy.” Freya grinned. “I like crazy.”
“Thanks. I think.”
Isabella leaned forward. “You’re really just helping us because it’s a bad idea?”
“Course. Why not?” Freya laughed. “I like adventure. Sounds fun. I ‘ope more catch up b’fore y’leave. Where’re we takin’ ya, anyway?”
They looked at each other and Bella answered for them. “We didn’t really have a destination in mind… Just, ‘away’.”
Freya scratched her chin. “That right?” She leaned forward, setting her arms on her desk. “I gotta nephew… I could take you to ‘im. It’d be a good idea.”
Isabella tilted her head. “Why? Who is he?”
Freya glanced at Haruka. “Dalgus Bloodmoon.”
Haruka blinked. “The Howling General…?”
Freya grinned. “Same one. ‘E’s my nephew. I guess not many know that. Point is, he’d ‘elp.”
Haruka looked at her confused friend. “Mercenary general,” she explained. “Honorable one.”
“Yeah, ‘e kinda went a different way, not sure ‘ow ‘e turned out so well with me raisin’ ‘im,” Freya said with a snicker. “Black Sun would ‘ave a ‘ard time gettin’ t’you through two thousand mercs.”
“I don’t particularly want to be a mercenary,” Isabella said thoughtfully, “But it would be a good place temporarily.”
Haruka nodded. “I’ll trust him.”
“It’s a good call. We gotta couple weeks b’fore we’re there, though.”
Isabella smiled. “That’s fine. I wasn’t quite done enjoying sailing, and this ship is much more enjoyable already.”
“I try t’be a good host,” Freya said with a grin.
IXH
On the deck, one pirate was approaching another while looking back over his shoulder. He was a somewhat portly fellow with a rounded nose, shorter than average which he made up for by wearing three hats on top of each other. “Hey, Byron,” he said, addressing his much taller, thinner companion, who had a more pointed nose and thin mustache. “You seen our new passengers?” He grinned. “Been watchin’ ‘em m’self.”
Byron was busying himself by adjusting ropes, rolling his eyes as he heard the other’s comments. “Sure, Grits, that doesn’t make you sound creepy at all.”
Grits (full name Griswold; his nickname was thanks to his position as ship’s cook) looked offended as he slid back a step. “I’m not bein’ creepy! Can’t a guy admire a view?”
“From a distance.” The voice directly behind him made him jump, and he spun to see Freya’s grin inches away.
“Cap’n! I wasn’t… I mean, I was jus’ sayin’…”
“I ‘eard what you were sayin’,” Freya said as she smacked the side of his head, knocking off two hats. “Where’re yer manners, eh? Besides, those two would break you.”
“Really?” he said, looking intrigued.
Byron shook his head and muttered something under his breath. Freya sighed, putting a hand to her forehead. “Not that way, y’ great buffoon. They’re fighters. The one in green’s Black Sun.”
Grits paled a bit. “Oh. What about the other one…?”
Freya rubbed her chin. “That one I know less about, but I’d be careful ‘round ‘er, too. The sword at ‘er side ain’t for show.” Grits looked down dejectedly and she snickered, patting his head. “No worries, now. We’ll dock soon an’ you can meet a nice girl there.”
“A nice girl he can pay for?” Byron said over his shoulder.
“What else?”
“Cap’n, that’s a bit mean…” Grits suggested meekly.
“A bit mean? A bit mean?!” A few other pirates glanced over with wide grins as Freya grabbed the back of Grits’ brown vest, hauling him up despite his flailing. “I’ll show you a bit mean!”
“Nononononononononono-“ She heaved him over the side of the ship. “Sooooorryyyyyy-“
As she heard the splash she dusted her hands off. “Somebody throw ‘im a rope b’fore ‘e drowns.”
There was a chorus of laughs as Grits was pulled back up on deck, sputtering. “Lesson learned,” he stated, “but dinner found!” he proclaimed proudly as he raised a fish in one hand, eliciting another chorus of laughs and cheers from the crew.
Freya noticed Isabella watching from further down the deck. She went over to her, leaning on the rail beside her. “You’re lookin’ confused there, Izzy.”
Isabella blinked and gave her a smile. “Sort of. This ship really is different from the other one. Although, I’ve only ever been on the two, so maybe every ship is different.”
“Aye, that’d be the case. Tyne was a bastard, no morals or loyalty.” Freya paused. “I mean, we ain’t got any morals either, but we got loyalty, so that counts, right?”
Bella smiled and shrugged. “It’s enough for me. Even Tyne wasn’t as bad as… Well, I don’t have any right to judge anyone, anyway.”
“Bad past, eh?” Freya nodded back towards the group. “Everyone on board this ship ‘as a bad past. We’re full o’ murderers, thieves, con men, bandits, whatever else y’ wanna throw in, we got it. The difference is, every man ‘ere wants t’be part o’ somethin’. It’s all friends, y’know? An’ friends overlook yer past.”
“I’ve heard some things about pirates, and that doesn’t seem to fit very well with the rest.”
Freya laughed. “Well, we got moods like anyone else. I didn’t get all those flags in my room by bein’ friends with those ships. An’ the title ‘Pirate Queen of the Eastern Seas’ wasn’t earned through saintly actions.”
Isabella nodded. “I guess I’m just having trouble reconciling the murderous pirate thing with being friendly. I suppose I thought it’d be one or the other.”
Freya snorted. “People usually aren’t one or the other.”
“I was.” Bella looked at her. “In my darker days I was just cold and didn’t care about anyone. I certainly wasn’t friendly. If I went back to that now it’d be the same way.”
Freya rubbed her chin. “Sounds intense. There’s a difference, though. We’re doin’ what we do ‘cause we like it; it’s fun. What was your reason?”
“I was…” She looked at the ocean. “Lost, I guess. Directionless and letting others direct my actions.”
“Well, there ya go. Sounds like you were more numb than anythin’. If th’ people directin’ you had chosen other things, you woulda been doin’ those.”
“I don’t know… I was violent even without their orders… Killing was the only time I felt anything.” Isabella sighed, brushing her hair from her eyes. “Things are different now, though.”
Freya looked thoughtful, her blue eyes inspecting the other woman. “Is that ‘cause of th’ monk?”
Isabella smiled. “No… I had changed before meeting her. I’m very glad about that… Still, she’s definitely made things different.”
“How so?”
“You two seem pretty close.”
“It’s true. It happened pretty fast.” Isabella bit her lip. “I’m kind of scared she’ll be taken, though… or worse.”
Freya shrugged. “Sad truth is, people lose friends all th’ time.”
“Maybe, but this is… different.”
Freya tilted her head. “It’s not jus’ ‘cause she’s yer only friend, is it? You’ve got stronger feelin’s for ‘er.”
Isabella’s eyes widened and she glanced over her shoulder, whispering, “Shh! Don’t let her hear you say that!”
“Why not?” Freya shrugged. “Seems t’ me she might feel th’ same way.”
“Really?” Isabella smiled and then shook her head, wiping the expression off her face and looking down. “No… It doesn’t matter. That’s even worse. If she does I’ll have to do something to stop it… Maybe even leave.” She sighed. “I really don’t want to leave.”
Freya scratched her head. “I don’t really get it. What’d be so bad if you like ‘er so much?”
“It’s…” Isabella looked at the horizon. “It just wouldn’t be fair to her, okay?”
Freya raised her hands. “Alright, I give up fer now. I think it’s a mistake, but obviously I don’t know all o’ what’s goin’ on. All I-" An ear-splitting scream cut her off, piercing painfully into the heads of everyone on the ship. Freya, Isabella and the rest of the crew all clapped their hands to their ears to block out the noise.
Haruka appeared on deck in seconds, making it to Bella’s side in another second and looking at her. “Okay?”
“Mostly,” Isabella said, lowering her hands and looking at Freya. “What was that?”
The pirate queen was grinning, rushing for the main mast and beginning to climb towards the crow’s nest with incredible speed and agility. “Maddis, get passin’ out th’ plugs!”
Another scream forced everyone to shut their ears again. A well-dressed man moved up to Isabella and Haruka, handing them each two small cork-like objects. “These won’t help much, but they’ll keep your brains from spilling out your ears. I suggest putting them in now.”
Isabella blinked, looking from them to Haruka. The monk shrugged, stuffing one in each ear, and Bella followed suit. “Eeyahoo!” Freya shouted from the crow’s nest, patting the back of the man up there with her. “Comin’ from th’ northwest!” The pirate at the tiller spun it, turning the ship in the direction Freya had yelled out.
Isabella shook her head. “I don’t get it,” she said. Haruka was staring to the northwest and Bella followed her stare. “What’s… Oh.”
There appeared to be a storm heading straight for them, pointed and full of violent lightning and wind, churning the waves wildly as it passed. That was only noticed for a second, though; it was the spirit that drew their attention. It appeared to be a woman, or woman-like, ethereal and semi-transparent, with long white hair that flowed around in the air like it was underwater. It wore a tattered white dress that acted the same way, and had bony hands and a gaunt, almost skeletal face, with black pits for eyes. The worst part was that the specter floating over the ocean towards them had to be six stories tall at the smallest, at least twice as tall as The Black Wake. It opened its mouth and emitted another piercing scream, and they could see the air itself distort before the gaping maw as pain shot through them.
Freya landed beside them, still grinning. “That, me friends, is a banshee. Th’ lost love of a sailor who died at sea, she went insane with grief and waded into th’ ocean t’ find ‘im. These things are doomed t’ travel th’ oceans o’ th’ world forever, callin’ out th’ name o’ their loves, though y’ can’t understand it. Every call pulls ya closer t’ death. Once she gets closer you’ll hear ‘er cryin’ an’ wailin’. Creepy stuff. Worst part is if y’ live long enough for ‘er t’ touch the ship, though.”
Isabella glanced at her nervously. “What happens then…?”
“Ever heard o’ ghost ships?” Freya chuckled. “We’ll be a lot like her. Not somethin’ I want, dunno ‘bout you.” A cannon shot sounded and Freya spun to see a cannonball sail all the way over to pass harmlessly through the banshee. “Who the fuck fired that?!” the captain yelled. “You can’t ‘urt a spirit like that, ye daft fools, you’ll just make ‘er mad!”
“What do we do?” Haruka asked.
Freya looked at her. “Well, t’be honest, I’ve only ever run into one, an’ I didn’t succeed in killin’ it.”
Isabella blinked. “Then… How did you survive?”
“Long story. Point is, this’s my chance, an’ I know how t’ do it, but I need ‘elp…” She grinned. “Help like you.”
Haruka and Isabella both nodded. “What do you want us to do?”
“Ha! I love it. Get yerselves t’ the bow, an’ use whatever magic y’ got t’ distract ‘er. We’re gonna ‘ave t’ ram her.”
“Ram her?” Haruka blinked. “But you said…”
“Her touchin’ th’ ship an’ the ship rammin’ ‘er are two different things.” Freya paused. “At least, I ‘ope they are. ‘aven’t tried it m’self.” She waved a hand. “I’m sure it’s fine. Get up there!” She laughed, running off to the tiller.
Haruka sighed and Bella looked at her questioningly. “Okay, so… Which part is the bow?”
“Front.”
“Right!” Isabella grinned at her. “Come on, Ruki, this is another thing to add to the list of things we’ve conquered!”
“Optimistic.”
“She’s got the right idea!” Freya yelled back as she spun the tiller, fighting against the massive waves that tried to shake the ship off-course now. “Everybody dies, girls, an’ I intend to deserve it!”
The two ran for the front of the ship, dodging pirates as they ran in all directions. Everything had to be constantly adjusted to survive the wild, rapidly changing wind and waves. The ship’s size prevented an easy capsize, but the skill and experience of the crew was what would hold them on course. Isabella and Haruka stood on the very front of the ship, side-by-side, watching the approaching spectral behemoth. The banshee emitted another scream but it was much louder now; they nearly fell off the ship from its effects.
Banshee wails did several things, all of which they noticed in succession. First, they caused pain, increased with every wail. Second, they drained strength and stamina, making you feel weaker and tired. Both women noticed this as well. Haruka launched a fireball at the spirit and Isabella whirled her sword around, causing a blade of wind to fly out. Both spells impacted the creature and appeared to get its attention, if not really hurt it, as the black pits it had for eyes seemed to focus on them. It emitted another scream, and that’s when they noticed the third effect of a banshee’s wail; the unraveling of magic and enchantments. Haruka had no trouble, as her spells came from the use of her chi. Isabella, however, realized she had quite a bit of trouble.
Her eyes went wide as she pulled her sword close, feeling the enchantments on the scabbard weakening. Another scream brought her to her knees with a cry of pain. Haruka grabbed her shoulder, about to ask what was going on when she noticed the color of Bella’s hair and eyes flicker, changing only for a second. She cursed, standing and unleashing a sword made of flame towards the spirit. It connected, but she couldn’t kill it early; she wasn’t actually doing damage. One final wail shattered the enchantment on Bella’s scabbard, and then the sword, Mercy, was no longer restrained.
Bella’s scream somehow caught the attention of the pirates, as it was different than the banshee’s, full of pain and torment rather than sorrow. Haruka had to leap back as a burst of energy flowed from Isabella, shredding the deck around her. Protect… Protect… Have to protect! Her body was lifted up as her hair and eyes changed to a shining gold. Her sword became silver and created a golden shield i
n her left hand. Haruka recognized the state from the fight with the Elemental; she was glad it was this one she’d become.
Freya shook her head, blinking a few times and squinting into the wind. “Am I seein’ that right?”
Isabella’s feet returned to the deck and she looked up to the banshee. “You will not harm these people,” she stated, running up to the edge of the ship. The crew watched wide-eyed as she launched herself off towards the banshee. Haruka cursed, racing along the deck. She controlled the energy within herself and increased the strength and ability of her core and legs as she ran, speeding up before she leapt after Isabella.
Freya rubbed her eyes, watching for another second before throwing her head back and laughing. “They’re as crazy as I am!”
Gold light encompassed Isabella as she slammed into the banshee, stabbing her sword into its chest. It unleashed a horrifying wail that made Bella’s world spin and sent pain shooting through her body. Still she managed to leap up as a bony claw larger than she was swiped at her. It swept back rapidly and knocked her up, and she found herself in the air directly in front of its gaping maw. Her eyes went wide as she heard it sucking in air for another wail; she could only imagine what would happen to her when it unleashed that with her directly in front of it.
Haruka hit the banshee’s chest and sprinted straight up, slamming her shoulder into its jaw. Purely physical objects simply went right through it, but Haruka was a monk and very well trained at lining her body with energy, so its jaw slammed shut, cutting off the scream but sending it into a rage. A hand smacked Haruka down but Isabella caught her wrist, jamming her sword into the banshee to stop their fall. Haruka grabbed the spirit’s tattered dress, holding on beside Bella. “You’re insane,” she stated as the banshee wailed again, weakening their grips.
Isabella blinked a bit and then smiled at her. “You’re as insane as I am, Ruki.”
Haruka blinked herself, staring at her. “Bella…?” Was she not different, like during the past transformations? No, she was, but… there was something else…