The Maiden in the Mirror
Page 33
Minerva gawked at Captain Black, with her mind racing. The twins shouted for her to run. Gunner called for her to clear his line of fire. Olbus knocked a weakling sailor to his knees in a single blow, surging forward to help. He would have been upon the enemy captain in less than a second, but Captain Black caught Minerva's arm in his open hand and twisted her around like a hostage. Then he clamped his meaty palm across her wrist, hand, and hair and leveled his pistol to Minerva's temple.
"Enough!" Captain Black bellowed, loud enough to loosen the stones of the mountains.
Olbus slowed to a halt, and both the crews ceased their fighting.
"Got a bit of a soft spot for the girls, don't you, Old Boss?" Captain Black remarked with a sneer.
Every muscle of Olbus' body flexed and wracked, but held fast, restraining him.
Captain Black called for Squints, and when the wicked nostril-beast appeared, he lowered a gangplank to the Skyraker. "Get Glass and put him in the brig! Phoenix crew, get back on the ship!"
Olbus brimmed with fury, pondering his options, as several crew of the Phoenix came down to drag Captain Glass away.
Minerva didn't resist Captain Black's hold. "I'll be fine," she assured Olbus, after which she walked freely up the gangplank to the deck of the Phoenix. She gave a nod and a smile to Olbus as she went, reaffirming her statement. "I'll be fine," she insisted.
"If any of these men move, shoot them," Captain Black said, appointing Squints to guard the gangplank by handing him the frightening pistol.
Although no one moved to approach Squints, the cracking sound of Olbus grinding his teeth shattered any perceived level of calm in the air.
When Minerva arrived in Captain Black's private cabin, she held back tears and took deep panicked breaths. "Uncle Caba?" she whimpered.
Captain Black gave her a joyful smile. "Minnie! You're alive!" Then he pulled her close in a tight embrace.
Why wouldn't I be, is what she would have asked, if she wasn't too busy enjoying the strength in his arms and the smell of tobacco in his beard. "What are you doing here?" she managed to stumble out, utterly confused.
The enormous captain leaned back, appraising her innocent expression. "You don't know," he declared, not as a question.
"Don't know what?" she asked.
Captain Black took a deep breath, and guided her over to sit on a plush bench. "I have something incredibly important to tell you, but first, tell me how you ended up with the likes of Captain Glass."
Chapter 87
Lintumen the Lion
"What're they doin' in there?" Squints mumbled to himself.
Over half an hour had passed, and the crew of the Skyraker took to sitting down or milling about at the far end of the ship, with some exceptions. Olbus stood at the base of the gangplank, baring his teeth. The display noticeably affected Squints, and the small man frequently slid backward, one imperceptible fidget at a time, distancing himself from the imposing man.
Luff and Leech approached their leader and gripped his shoulders. "Minnie can – take care of herself."
Olbus calmed slightly, looking over at the twins. "I can't break a promise. Not again."
"You're not," they replied together, sharing the statement for added effect.
Olbus lowered himself to the deck, glowering at the hull of the Phoenix as it weighed down on the battered husk of the Skyraker.
"That girl is – tougher than jerky," the twins joked, as Leech kicked a piece of rock. "How many crews have survived – a broadside hit from the Phoenix?"
Olbus spent some time admiring the mostly intact Skyraker. It was by no means in optimal condition. In fact, it would be lucky to fly, but compared to other ships that fought the Phoenix, it was within the vicinity of functional.
Gunner came to sit beside them. "Is this it?" he asked. "After everything that's happened, this is how we lose her?" The perfectly sculpted gunner flipped his elegant hair back and forth. "All guts and glory, that girl."
The twins nodded in agreement.
"What do we do if we want to get her back?" Gunner asked.
"We wait," said Olbus, once again staring at Squints with his teeth bared. "Because there is nothing else we can do."
Therefore, they waited, saying nothing. Gags and Big Jim, and a few others, joined them shortly after, sitting and staring.
Squints started to sweat.
An unexpected noise from the entrance to the sterncastle of the Skyraker drew the attention of those in the crowd. It sounded like several locks releasing their restraints, all at once. A moment later, Lintumen Barrister, in his grey and wrinkled splendor, stepped out into the light of the setting sun.
"Don't move!" Squints barked, squinting at him.
Lintumen squinted back, working to focus his eyes in the sunlight. "Or what?"
"I'll shoot."
"No, you won't," Lintumen replied, as he shuffled up to the foot of the gangplank.
"I'll do it!" Squints shouted, brandishing the pistol.
"No. You won't," Lintumen said, as calm as a slumbering bear. Then he took a slow and deliberate step up the gangplank.
"I really will!"
Lintumen halted when he reached the deck of the Phoenix, nearly standing upon the Phoenix herself. He hung his toes over the edge of the plank, all but boarding her.
For a time, Squints fumbled with the trigger of his weapon, but he never fired. He shook hard and licked his lips, and then lowered the weapon to his side. Much of the Phoenix's crew still stood on deck, but all of them retreated from the presence of the powerful magician.
Lintumen then turned his attention to the aft of the Phoenix, and affixed his stare upon the wall of captain's cabin. Seemingly satisfied with his inspection, he looked at the crew around him, raised an eyebrow, and then turned around and walked back towards the Skyraker.
The crew of the Skyraker overheard Squints' sigh of relief, but the crowd that Lintumen returned to wasn't exactly welcoming to his presence. Lintumen was a prisoner for a reason, and seeing him walk out of his own cell was like watching a caged lion step calmly through the bars of its confinement.
"Something of an issue appears to have arisen, sailors. It seems that I've lost my captain."
The men pointed at the Phoenix.
"It also appears that I've lost my apprentice."
Again, they pointed at the Phoenix.
"There is also a minor matter that perhaps you can help me clarify."
Every arm in the crowd shot towards the Phoenix.
"Ah, no. You see, without a captain, his sentence no longer restricts my actions. That is, I am free to leave this ship and do as I please. Moreover, I am no longer required to keep his secrets. Secrets that, at this very moment, could be very enlightening." He paused for a moment, allowing his words to be processed. "Would you like to know my secret?"
Chapter 88
Revelations
Minerva sighed in a heavy, shuddering way, overwhelmed with relief as she completed her story.
Captain Black waited for a long time before speaking, searching for a way to tell her what he needed to say. The big man took a deep breath in preparation, and then wasted no effort on softening the facts.
"Captain Glass murdered your mother and father."
Minerva's guts twisted. Perhaps it was his total abruptness, or simply the unexpected nature of the news. Either way, her mind reeled. "What?" she gasped.
"I thought he killed you as well, but I never saw your body. That's why I've chased him all the way here. I wanted him to die in the worst way possible, and I put all my best efforts into accomplishing that task, but somehow I failed every time."
Minerva wanted to interrupt him, but she couldn't will herself to speak.
"After Cloudscorch fell, I sent an assassin to kill the captain in Riggersport. When it returned unsuccessful, it warned me that it encountered a person of similar likeness to myself. I didn't believe it, but still, I changed my tactics. I had no issue with hurting the captain, or the c
rew, but I assumed that if you were alive, then you would be a prisoner in the depths of the ship. So, I sent the Arbalest and the Ballistae to anchor the Skyraker in the forest."
Minerva was still struggling with the news of her parents when Captain Black leaned in close to hug her.
"Never did I imagine that he would make you a member of his crew. And now, to learn that you're the reason my plans were failures, well, what a story this will make."
"You're a pirate?" she begged, seeking any topic that might distance herself from her thoughts.
"Aye. So was your father. When we first met, we were rivals. Two big dogs with their own pack of hounds. He was the smarter one, though, and pushed for a merger. Together we formed the greatest pirating fleet in the sky, the Black and Red Consortium."
"He was your partner?"
The conversation was helping Minerva to avoid breaking down entirely.
"Aye. That's how he met your mother. At first, I hated him for his affection towards her. I am the older brother, after all, and she was always so little that I often forgot she didn't need protection. In time, though, I relented, and they fell in love. Red retired after that, and left his half of the consortium to me. I kept the name, out of respect."
"Why did he retire?"
"Because thirteen years ago his life changed forever. For the better, he always said." A furry smile ruffled the beard of the immense captain as he let his words take hold of Minerva. "When you were born he said that owning the skies and raising a daughter were irreconcilable. He wanted to be somewhere that no one would know him, or seek to challenge him for his fame. He wanted a good life for you, away from all of this, and did everything he could to ensure it."
Minerva sniffed and wiped her eyes, vividly recalling the love that her father lavished upon her.
"But Captain Glass learned of his location, and then went to kill him for the fame. I received a warning of his plan and went to stop him."
"I don't understand. The captain is so gentle. He's not a murderer."
Black shrugged. "Sometimes men find the courage to do the things they normally couldn't, and sometimes they regret it for the rest of their lives. Perhaps we'll never know what really happened, but he's alive and they're dead. There is no one else to blame."
Captain Black reached over and picked up a folding frame from inside a nearby cabinet. Inside it, Minerva saw a painting of a woman in a pretty, yet sturdy, dress. She was petite beyond compare, and bore a striking resemblance to Minerva in almost every aspect, right down to the way her hair was wrapped into a tight bun. On the other side of the frame, a tall and stately man with a red flowing beard and wiry ginger hair looked back. He wore fine silks and looked very dashing with a sword and pistol at his side.
"Elspeth and Rhett, as painted on their wedding day. My sister took your father's name, of course."
Minerva touched the portrait, and her heart ached. "What are you planning to do with Captain Glass?" she asked.
"I don't know. Torture and kill him, most likely."
"What if I asked you to spare him?"
Captain Black gawked at Minerva, but Minerva now knew why Captain Glass always came back for her. Why he smiled a weary smile whenever their eyes met, and why he never once raised a hand in opposition to anything she did.
It never goes away, the regret.
"If you asked," Captain Black said, "then I would spare him. I must wonder why, though?"
"He gave me an opportunity that no one else would. The chance to show my courage, and to fight for something that I cared about. He could have left me behind, or killed me without trouble, any number of times, but he never did. You might not be able to forgive him, but I owe him for his efforts."
"He murdered your parents, Minnie."
Minerva thought of the decades that wore heavy on the mind of Olbus. "I want to be able to forgive him before it's too late," she said.
Captain Black clucked his tongue and drummed his fingers, considering her words. "Very well. His fate is yours to decide, but if he ever crosses me again, I will plunder his ship and hang him from my bowsprit."
Minerva thanked the huge man she realized she knew nothing about, and began to consider the fate of her friends. "What are you going to do with the Skyraker and her crew?"
"I have no debt to settle with any of them, so they are free to go after they choose a new captain."
"Will you not keep it?"
"Certainly not!"
The captain feigned insult, as if a terrible travesty had just occurred.
"Why not?" Minerva demanded. The Skyraker was a good, strong ship, she thought.
"Some time ago, I had fifteen ships in my fleet. Now I have twelve. I dare not recruit only one."
Minerva blushed and understood. Thirteen was an unlucky number.
Chapter 89
Toss of the Hat
When Captain Black returned from his meeting with Minerva, a panicked Squints promptly assailed him.
"Here ye go, cap'n, sir, yer gun."
Captain Black holstered his weapon and appraised the crew of the Skyraker. "Are you the navigator?" he asked, pointing at Lintumen.
"Yes," Lintumen replied, addressing Black without a shred of worry in his voice.
"Ah, I see," Black replied, and then turned to the others. "Crew of the Skyraker, by the rights of plunder I claim your ship and all of its bounty. However, I choose not to take your vessel, or its contents. Boatswain, present yourself." When Black spoke, his voice carried so powerfully that it shook bones and rattled boards. "Bosun," he said, when Olbus approached. "Lead a vote for a new captain. When you are done, we will assist you in traveling to port."
Captain Black nodded curtly at Olbus, and then walked back to his own ship. He was halfway up the gangplank when Olbus called out to him.
"Captain. I cannot."
"Are you unfit? If so, I shall appoint another."
Olbus cast a sideways glance at Lintumen and the rest of the crew. "I am fit, sir."
"Then explain yourself."
"One of our crew is absent."
Captain Black understood, and a moment later, he escorted Minerva by the hand, down to the crew of the Skyraker. She was easily convinced to return for the vote, as the health of her friends worried her greatly.
"Are all of your crewmen now present, bosun?"
Olbus nodded in relief and gave the frazzled Minerva an uneasy look as he moved to the head of the ship. "Skyraker crew, listen close! The time has come to choose a new captain. The chosen sailor shall become responsible for this ship and her name, and all her deeds. Is there any opposition to a vote?"
The men exchanged apathetic glances. For many of them, this was probably their first experience with a democratic process.
"I see no opposition! For the role of captain, step forward with your nominations!"
A few sailors cleared their throats and shuffled their feet, and a crowd gathered on the deck of the Phoenix to observe the proceedings. Not a single sailor spoke, and Minerva could see why. Being responsible for the Skyraker was probably a bad idea. It was barely flying, and even that was mostly because it was pinned to the wall by the Phoenix.
"In the absence of a nomination I will present a single name, and you will vote between myself and that sailor."
A few men shrugged, or nodded, still disinterested in the proceedings.
Minerva looked around at the crew while Olbus waited for a response, wondering if he would choose Gunner, or maybe Big Jim. They might not be capable captains, she thought, but they were good men. She couldn't imagine either of the twins doing it, unless they did it together. Olbus knew the crew better than her, though, and probably knew of a different man who would fill the role quite adequately.
"I nominate the rigger, Minerva!"
While the crew kept their peace moments earlier, an explosion of conversation burst forth.
"I have named your nomination!" Olbus barked, to quiet the crowd. "Minerva, stand on the steps over here."
"Stand to the side of your chosen captain!" Olbus demanded.
Luff and Leech ran to Minerva, and Gags wasn't far behind. Big Jim took his time, mostly because he was fat and slow. Spit and his fellow detractors were quick to move to Olbus' side, although it was clear that they saw the choice as the least disagreeable of the options. A few stragglers lingered in the middle of the deck, and Gunner was with them. He looked at Minerva, then at Olbus, and then back at Minerva. She blushed but didn't look away. She wanted so badly for him to vote for her.
Minerva's shirtless hunk flipped his wonderful hair around while he contemplated his choice. "A girl? For a captain?" he begged. "You can't be serious? She's not even a woman."
Gunner wasn't so much speaking to Minerva, as he was the rest of the crew. Many of them shrugged when he looked at them. Minerva did her best to entice him with a smile, when she caught his eye, but it didn't seem to have much effect. She really did need to practice some seduction, she decided.
With a mighty sigh, Gunner shook his head at her before looking at Olbus one last time. "This won't end well," he said with a grin.
Minerva did her best not to squeal with glee when he stood with the others on her side.
Once the crew had split, it was clear that someone needed to count the sailors, as no clear winner could be determined.
"Navigator, tally the votes," Captain Black ordered.
Lintumen looked once at one side, then once at the other. For less than a second each. "It is even, Captain. Forty-one sailors on both sides."
Captain Black stepped forward to address the crew, somewhat startled as he clearly expected the count to take much longer. "Your vote is split. If any man sees fit to change their vote, they may do so now."
Several men from both sides exchanged places.