Bellica Page 21

  Merry nodded, understanding instantly. "Aye, child," he said gently. Strangely, she found she didn't mind the diminutive endearment. The word child from anyone else would send her into a fury. Well, he does have twice yer years, Anala. Maybe more. "They'd be in me office," he continued, "as well as me seal." He turned to go below decks, motioning for her to follow him.

  Anala swallowed the sudden lump in her throat, sighed, and followed him into the darkness of the ship, her back straight and her resolve strong. It was now or never.

  Jourd'Umbra, 32nd Decima

  The crossing to Mt. Voco took a total of four days in good weather.

  The stowaway was discovered in the dark morning hours of the third, just after midnight.

  Anala had spent her first afternoon and evening finalising her will, witnessed by Merry, and writing a series of letters to be delivered and read only upon her death. After that lengthy and depressing business, she'd joined the crew for the evening meal, sitting next to the captain and laughing at all their bawdy and ribald stories and jests.

  The next day she slept a long, long time, much to her disgust, and then got up and paced the deck, occasionally stopping to talk to Merry, who quickly became like the uncle she'd never had. She was grateful for his friendship and kindness. He had a rough exterior but a heart of gold.

  She learned of his niece and heir, a young girl around Mara's age named Morgan. "She's right quick, a sweet if feisty girl. I normally have her on as part of me crew, though this voyage'd be a mite too dangerous," he'd told her. "She was right furious at staying home. She'll be madder when she hears I 'ad Bellica Anala on board and she no got ta meet her!" he said, and let out a whoop of laughter.

  Anala laughed as well. "I'd be pleased ta meet her, after me mission is complete." She had resolved to not think of the alternative to coming back safely. Her will was done. It bore no more thought. "Though I'll admit surprise," she added, and Merry raised his bushy eyebrows. "That ye'd allow a young girl on board," she finished, gesturing at his crew.

  "Ah, that," he said, and chuckled. "Ye'd be a quick one, child, no mistaking. Me crew is loyal ta me ta a fault, but they'd been un-Guilded fer so long, and away from Athering's...influence. So while no woman would normally come aboard as crew, those women normally ain't me family. And me crew knows how I feel about me family." A dark look crossed his face, transforming him, and Anala suppressed a shudder. She wouldn't want to tempt Merry's wrath. "'Sides," he continued in a lighter tone, clouds leaving his features, "Morgan's one o' the crew now! The boys love her. She'd be our regular cabin girl, and everybody's darlin'." He smiled at that, obviously pleased that he didn't need to force the acceptance of his heir. "Her mother worries a mite, but there's no need. Morgan's safer here than at home," and his face darkened again, but briefly.

  Anala did not ask but filed the information away for future speculation. Instead, she commented on the current cabin boy. "I'd thought he looked...out of place," was the best way to put it.

  Merry nodded, his eyes drifting to the boy for a moment. "Aye, that'd be Ros. I hired him on a whim, getting a tip he was lookin' for a shipside job. He's no experience but is a fast learner and eager ta please. I figured working with a Meriweather'd be good fer his resumé," he said as an afterthought, and Anala guessed he felt the same way about his celebrity as she did hers.

  She glanced at Ros again, then looked away. There was something about him that bothered her, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She shrugged and chalked it up to his being new and not quite fitting into the rhythm of the ship.

  She'd retired soon after the evening meal, sated with good food and lulled by the rocking ship. Her journey already half over, she tried to suppress her growing unease.

  She woke in the dead of night and lay in the sleepnet for a moment, wondering why. With a sharp pain, her bladder reminded her and she jump-fell out of the hammock, not wishing to fall asleep again only to awake hours later, relieved but damp.

  She allowed her eyes to adjust to the dark and made it slowly out of her cabin, down into the hold, to the privy, or the head as the sailors called it. She stumbled only a few times and exited the tiny water closet feeling much better.

  On her way back to bed, she heard a commotion above deck and was awake enough to be curious.

  "A spy! A spy! Cap'n Merry, I found a spy!" a crewman was saying loudly, though not loud enough to wake the entire ship.

  "Now, now, Jerry, calm down. Ye're too damn excitable," said Merry. Anala came on deck and saw three figures by the helm: Merry, his hands on the spoked wheel that steered the ship, and Jerry, who was holding a small figure by the arm. The figure was trying to get away, but Jerry held fast. Anala moved closer, wanting to help and curious simultaneously. The figured struggled some more, then cried out in a high, young voice "Let me go! I'm no' a damned spy!" This gave Anala pause; the voice was familiar. It sounded like....

  Jerry gave the girl a shake. "Tha's just what a spy would say, innit?" he said.

  "If I were a spy I wouldna hide out in the hold but be part o' the crew! Now let me go, ye cretinous, ignoble, spurious cat-herder!"

  "Cat-herder! Why, ye little..." Jerry spluttered in anger, obviously feeling his job was more vital to society than herding felines. He raised his other arm to strike the girl across the face, then cried out in pain a second later as Anala's hand closed on his wrist in a bone-crushing grip. She twisted his arm behind his back in one fluid motion and forced him to his knees. She had her belt-knife at his throat a second later.

  "Touch me sister and I'll see fit ta do much, much worse, Jerry," she said in a soft, deadly voice. She applied just enough pressure with her knife to make her point; his Lucian's Pomegranate bobbed as he swallowed nervously. "Now let 'er go."

  Instantly Jerry let Mara go and she stepped as far away as possible, rubbing her arm. "Jerk," she said defiantly, but subsided when Anala glared at her.

  The bellica then released the deckhand, who rubbed at his wrist and throat, whimpering. He almost looked fit to give Anala a piece of his mind, but thought better of it when she sheathed her knife very deliberately. He sketched a sloppy salute to Merry and scampered down into the hold. Anala felt no remorse. She'd not done any permanent damage. And he was fixing to hit Mara.

  Which she wanted to do herself, admittedly. Mara looked terrified, however; so the bellica settled for grabbing the girl and shaking her. Her sister squeaked in fear but Anala didn't hear her.

  "Mara, what in tha name of Bellona and Juno and all tha's holy were ye thinking? Were ye thinking? What good could possibly come of ye stowing away on a boat full of rough mercenaries wit' no time fer a young girl who're taking me on a classified mission?" In her anger her voice had risen, and tears were in her sister's eyes. With effort she controlled herself, letting go of the younger girl. "Mara, what...." she trailed off, at a loss for words. Sighing, she walked to the railing and leaned over, wishing, not for the first time, that she was anywhere but there. Maybe Suncoast, where they kept their women locked up like possessions. Or one of the moons. That would be nice and safe. Forgotten World--she'd even settle for the castle in Athering. At least Aro would be there.

  "It'd not be safe, Kiddo," she said, her voice quiet. "Now I hafta worry about ye, whether ye're safe or not, instead of concentrating on the mission. Dammit, Mara," she cursed again, but her heart wasn't in it. She turned to face her sister. Mara's head was bowed and her shoulders shook silently. At the helm Merry stood placidly, seemingly unperturbed by the events unfolding around him. Did the man never sleep? Anala admired and appreciated his calm steadiness. Mara couldn't handle yet another person yelling at her. For all the girl's defiance and fire, she was a tender flower, and shy, spending all her spare time at the Library. She'd been reading too much again, to judge by the insults she'd flung at Jerry. An educated and quick-as-lightning girl. Anala could hardly wait for Aro to meet her -- he'd love her.

  Anala's heart clenched again. She put aside her thoughts of her lover and major
. Mara was silent, sobs subsiding. Anala sighed. "Why?" The girl was smart! Why would she do something so stupid?

  Mara gulped for air, rubbing her face on the edge of her sleeve and sniffling. "Because," she said, her voice miserable. "Ye can't go alone! And I dinnae care what Mum and Dad say, ye deserve a family. And ye have me, cause I love ye, Anala, and dinnae want ye to go ta the end without yer sister. And...and..." The girl paused, seeing the lack of convincing material in her argument to stay. "...and I could help ye! I've been reading about pirates and the high seas and military tactics and such; I'm sure I could help ye out!" She said this last part with such enthusiasm Anala almost laughed.

  Instead, she sighed and knelt before her sibling, taking Mara's shoulders in her hands. "I'd be very happy to hear ye say ye care for me so, Mara, and I want ye ta know I love ye very much. Ye're a very smart girl and I'd be proud ta call ye me sister," she said, gently wiping the tears away. Mara smiled at her sister, beaming in the light of Anala's affection. "But," said the bellica, a little more sternly, making Mara's face fall, "Ye cannae help me. I know ye're very smart and ye read a lot, but books dinnae help any in the things I do. Especially not where I'm going. Besides," she said as she saw the protest on Mara's lips, "it'd be far, far too dangerous fer ye, child, and I willnae be able to do anything right if I'm ta be worrying about ye all the time. I'll be worrying about ye as is, but at least ye'll be safer on board with Merry here than ye would with me where I'm going. Do I make meself clear?" Mara nodded vigorously, and Anala sighed resignedly. "And I'm afraid we cannae take ye home. It'll anger the crew, and I dare not waste any more time on this mission." She rose and brushed off her knees, turning to Merry, who had observed all the goings-on with nary a protest. He looked at her expectantly. "Merry, can me sister stay on board if'n she's ta do exactly as ye say, obeying yer every order?" she asked, adding emphasis for Mara's sake.

  Merry smiled widely. "A course! It'll be just as if I had me niece Morgan on board!"

  Mara's nose wrinkled. "Ye're Morgan Meriweather's uncle?" she asked, sadness forgotten with this new information.

  "Aye, child, do ye know her?"

  Mara hesitated. "Nae," she shook her head. "I've...seen her around, is all. She talks about ye a lot. I've heard," she added, looking sheepish.

  Merry's smile widened, if such a thing was possible. "Does she now? I'll have ta ask that young scamp jus what it is she'd be saying about me," he said good-naturedly, and laughed. "Ye'll be perfectly fine aboard my vessel, Mara, so long as ye mind yer sister and dinnae cause her grief. If ye like, I'll teach ye about knots tomorrow."

  Mara nodded happily and sketched a quick bow. "Aye, sir, I'd love that -- I was readin' about them on one of those pirate books, but the book dinnae say anything else about them. I'd be a mite curious."

  Good on Merry for guessing the girl's need ta learn everything under tha sun, thought Anala, and she reminded herself to thank him at length later on that day. After sleep. She was so weary.

  She nodded to Merry. "Thank ye sir. I trust yer men will understand the situation?"

  Merry nodded, his face serious, voice light. "I'm sure they do already, Bellica, from what ye did ta Jerry!" He grinned. "But I'll speak ta them all the same."

  Anala felt immensely relieved. "Thank ye," she said again, then grabbed Mara and led the girl to their now shared room. "Come on, ye rapscallion. Bedtime."

  In the morning she'd sort things out further. Right now all she wanted was sleep.

  Jourd'Aradia, 33rd Decima

  The next day dawned bright and sunny with a fair breeze, showing the truth of Merry's family legacy. Anala got out of the hammock, careful not to wake her sleeping sister. Despite the rocking of the boat, she'd not slept well after returning to her bed: she was too tense with wariness. She could not sleep with her sword and scabbard belted on but it made her nervous to sleep with just her belt knife. Funny, how before she'd not even thought of her own safety with these roughneck ex-pirates.

  For that was what they were. Guilded merc ships were pirate ships with the right to plunder, and a wider array of skills than pirates. "Mercenary" was just a nicer way of putting it. As well, mercs were beholden to none except the highest bidder, while true pirates abided by some obscure code that no one truly understood, and pillaged without discretion. Pirates had no clients, and no one to answer to except Mare Herself. Ach, well, change a Goddess for one with the most coin and there'd be no difference, not really, thought Anala.

  The bellica sighed. She wanted more sleep! But she had Mara to think of now.

  Damn the girl's loyalty! Her stowing away had been foolish and dangerous and presented Anala with a host of new problems, not least of which was keeping the girl safe. What would their parents do? They loved Mara -- once they found she was missing, they'd tear Harbourtown apart looking for her, and the fact of Anala's presence in town a day or so prior and her immediate departure could leak out. This could blow the cover of the mission, which would hardly please Empreena Zardria.

  Shite. What if Anala did not return? What of Mara then? She trusted Merry to keep her sister as safe as possible -- but he could not be all places at all times, and Mara was of an age to get into mischief. The girl was too damned trusting.

  If -- no, when. When they got back, Anala would be ripped apart and devoured by their parents, no matter what Mara said in her big sister's defense, for not bringing their parents' youngest back as soon as the stowaway had been discovered. Tyvian! They'd find a way to blame her for Mara's disappearance in the first place and kill the bellica for that. A mite ironic, if I survived Mt. Voco a second time ta be killed by me parents in a fit of pique, she thought with a ghost of a smile.

  All of those problems loomed on the horizon as surely as Voco soon would, and she felt her concentration ebbing. She'd not even addressed her heart yet. She had said her goodbye to Mara, and had walked out of her old home expecting never to see her sister again. Then she'd done her business and made peace -- moved on. Mara's reappearance in Anala's life was reopening the bellica's grief for herself. She felt ridiculous, revisiting the pain.

  With a start she realised she'd been standing in her cabin, frozen by her thoughts. She shook her head briskly, and stole a glance at Mara. The girl was curled up in the hammock, sleeping peacefully in the rocking of the ship. All she was wearing was a fustanella and linen shirt; she had no shoes. Anala sighed again. The first thing she had to do was get Mara some better clothing. Shoes could wait; the girl wouldn't be leaving the ship until they got back to Harbourtown anyway. Anala didn't want the girl walking around in such impractical clothing. Impractical and...masculine. The girl was nearly sixteen years old and more of a tomboy than Ghia -- yet where Ghia was headstrong and tough, as a woman should be, Mara seemed to take on more boyish traits from her style of dress. She was shy, timid, and more concerned with her books.

  Well, tha's what she has me for, thought Anala, heading down the hallway from her cabin. Big sisters have a duty, I reckon.

  She rapped her knuckles on the door in front of her and waited. A moment later Ros opened the door and looked at her perplexedly.

  "Ros -- do ye have a pair o pants that I could be borrowin'?"

  He looked even more confused, but nodded. "Aye, Bellica." He frowned and looked her over. She was easily twice his height, and filled out in ways that he wasn't. "Though why would ye be needin them, if I may ask?"

  Anala growled softly and ran her hand through her hair, undoing it from its club. "Ye may ask, though I willnae answer. Ask Merry--he'll tell ye in a bit anyway. May I borrow the clothes or no'? Ye'll get em back tomorrow."

  The boy shrugged and disappeared into his room. Anala waited patiently and he reappeared moments later, clutching a bundle of clothing. "Here," he said nonchalantly, confusion in his eyes.

  She took the bundle. "I thank ye kindly. Ye've done a great service ta me today." She strode down the hall, heading for her room with Mara's new wardrobe clutched tightly in her hands.

&nbs
p; ~

  Anala stood on deck, staring at the waves. The sun, though weak in winter, beat down on her head, making her hair shine blue-black.

  Merry sat by the main mast, Mara beside him, lengths of rope spread between them. True to his promise, he'd been teaching Mara everything he knew of knots for several hours. Anala smiled to see them so: Mara was alive with learning, positively glowing with enthusiasm. Merry had a huge smile on his face, putting into Anala's mind the image of a very happy bear. It was such a wonderful picture, the bellica felt her worries disappear for a moment.

  Mara seemed to be adjusting to ship life well. The girl was nothing if not adaptable. Merry had announced her presence and a warning to the crew when they broke fast that morning; there had been an interested look and murmur at the "young boy" in their midst, which had quickly subsided at Merry's promise of a good keelhauling to anyone who so much as looked at Mara the wrong way -- and that was after he let Anala have at the culprit. Some crewmen glanced at Jerry, confirming that the man had spread tales of his treatment at Anala's hands when he'd mistreated her sister. Anala wondered how much he'd embellished the stories to make himself come out on top in them; she almost hoped the answer was "a lot" so that she could cut him down to size -- again -- when the time came.

  Despite Merry's assurances, Anala found she could not keep her eyes off Mara for more than a minute or two at a time. I'll be a right case on Voco if I dinnae let meself trust the captain.

  Seeing no cure for it, she walked over to join Merry and the girl by the mast.

  "Anala! Lookit what I've learned!" Mara held up a tangle of rope eagerly.