* * *
'Sy
* * *
We appear on deck near the prow of the boat. Gerald is to my side, Camden to the other, and Jenny behind me. That will make for a good formation, should fighting come into play. Lute and Julia are already secreting themselves around the ship, though I gave them instructions not to spy too much into who and what is on the vessel. We're not here for that type of operation and it is impolite. Besides that, Mitheoni-archo will be expecting us.
Strange, then, that no one is here to greet us. While the ship hasn't hailed those landside yet, surely he would anticipate--
I narrow my eyes, then look about. Something strange is going on. Though perhaps its just every one of my senses screaming at me and demanding to know why I've just put myself in a place where I'm surrounded on all side by water. My skin is crawling from the sensation of so much water rolling around me, under me, and saturating the very air I breathe. Despicable. I don't know how Elete can stand this part. At least he had a nice friendly boat and not one of these giant Chetharian galleons.
Strange things goin on here, Pa. Should I kill 'em if they see me?
Prisoners. I explained what those were to you once, did I not? Your entire brigade has been instructed at length on what I mean by taking someone alive.
Awww, Daaaad. I thought you were kidding around about that! Lute sulks. Fine. Play your boring game.
The Peacekeeper raises an eyebrow at me. A query. I nod, and he takes a few steps forward. He's not drawn Geillg'a, but I can see his wrist cocked just-so, ready to draw her faster than an eye can blink. Jenny inches sideways a little bit, which gives her a better angle to offer him cover while still appearing to be an innocuous foot-shift.
"Hallo?" Camden's accent sounds stronger right now. Damnit, that means he's itching for a fight. I know we all are, right now.
"Gus? Zat you?" A young voice calls out. Odd, it must be no older than a child. And so it is - from what I can tell, he's a male child, probably twelve at the oldest, wearing a black vest, a red bandana, and a peasant's blouse. Odd garb, for a Chetharian. He blinks, looking us up and down. "Oh. Whoa. I'd better tell that--" he cuts himself off and sweeps a flourishing bow. "Pardon me, mateys. We were not expecting company so early. Permit me to summon the proper authorities."
"Oh, don't be so hasty," I say. "Perhaps we should have a chat." Camden hasn't drawn his Arms yet, but that child certainly cut it close. I want to talk with him, and see just what is going on--
A sword jabs into the small of my back right after Diyn decides to alert me to its presence. "Not so hasty, me gents. Drop yer weapons. Aye, right on the deck there. We just swabbed it."
A quick mental check tells me that Jenny has made herself scarce. Strange. Diyn assures me there's nothing at all to worry about. Why would I alert you to a swordsman of no skill?
Gerald raises a dubious eyebrow as we're surrounded by a group of swarthy, mangy, crusty, accursed brigands. What? Pirates?
It certainly explains why we weren't expected on deck, but how could a ragtag group like this take on a fighting squad of Archos? Well, that certainly says something about the training proficiency of Mitheoni-archo. Maybe he was a casualty. What a pity.
I roll my eyes, then focus on the situation at hand. Gerald is looking for a cue, and Camden is almost begging for an excuse to draw. I expect Jenny has found a vantage to shoot her arrows from. The sword at my back is obviously no match for my blade (as if any is). There's obviously nothing of value here.
"Kill them all, save for the child." I parry the sword at my back with the Trident, watching the man who dared challenge me widen his eyes in shock. Geillga's length uncoils and then strikes at a crewman with the grind and whistle of finely-honed metal. Gerald fires both guns, all grins. All around us rain Dyennah's arrows. I never see Lute and Julia draw, but I can feel their glee after I give the order to kill.
"Holy gullshit, Cap'n! They're sportin' iron I never saw on 'em!"
The man who pressed a sword to my back just cackles in response. Considering the size of his hat and the absurd feathers tucked into it, plus the flashy coat and high level of bravado, I'm going to guess that he is the Captain of this crew. "That's right, we might have a real fight from these Radian pansies, boys! Have at 'em! ARRRH!"
Diyn turns easily in my hand in a maneuver that will cut the man in half as if her were only so much grease and fat - and really, that about sums up the whole lot of this crew. Both my Arms and I take pause when the intended result fails to happen.
Breath of Theos, did he dodge me?!
There's a cackle from behind me, and I manage to duck away from the man's blade with Diyn's assistance. Had I not done so, my head would have been chopped clean off. Gerald curses as he fires. I'm occupied with the task at hand, but I do note that not of my son's shots are making their mark. The same can be said for Jenny's arrows. I'd say it was impossible were I not witnessing it with my own eyes.
Camden is silent, surveying the battle as closely as he can. Then he squawks, and I look over at him in between parries. Katherine is in his arms. Camden hoists the baby onto his shoulder with one arm as he weilds Geillg'a with his other.
"KHATARINA!" I roar it as I fight, my anger weighing on it and giving a particular accent to the name that only ever seems to come out unless I'm completely infuriated with her.
"M'name's Captain Zhienor Furiste d'Dragani du Barista von Karkavosta the Seventh, Unspeakable Terror of the Forty-One Seas!" The Captain seems to be annoyed that I got his name wrong. Whatever his name is, it's preposterous, and I shan't bother with it as it's about to be a dead man's name.
But 'Sy, I had to come and look! You're on a BOAT! I won't miss this! Katherine glares at me. Camden glares at her. Gerald shouts as he fires both his guns:
"Katherine, what the hell, you like dying this much?" Then he manages to get himself punched in the mouth and starts to brawl with ten men at once.
"GO HOME!" I take off the Captain's head. I swear I do, but there he is, still grinning at me, still having an intact neck, not a hair harmed on his head.
No! You're surrounded by water! And there's pirates! I'll never see this again in my life!
Camden tries to exit the fight and keep Katherine out of harm's way. He sort of manages - the pirates attacking him are rather intrigued about the sudden presence of an infant in his arms.
"Hey now, what's this? Psychological warfare, it is!"
Then Katherine vanishes, and Julia assures me that she's keeping the Advocate out of harm's way, somewhere secluded on the ship. Fine and good. Ungrateful brat of a girl, she's like this every time she's Regenerated. At least now I can focus on the fight at hand - and marvel at just how poorly we are performing in it. Out of all four of us, and probably Lute besides, none of us have landed a single hit on our opponents.
* * *
Katherine
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I want to go back! Jhe Julia! Jhe Julia take me baaaack!
The Armed tsks at me and smirks. Nay, Jhe Cruxradia. We can't have you endangering yourself right after you've gone and endangered yourself. Besides, isn't it fun to explore new places? That's my job, you know! Julia sounds horribly cheerful. That's because she's pandering to me as if I am a child.
Wait, I think this is how Julia always speaks to me. It's a little hard to tell. We don't interact much - our jobs rarely have us do so. In any case, Julia is a lot more clever than anyone who was watching me at the nursery, and knows how to keep me from just teleporting onto 'Sy's head right now. But it would be fun to go and bother him right now!
Something a child like you would think, I know, but my duty is down here. Now, child, you are something I am sworn to protect above all things, so don't think I'm goint to let you crawl out of my sight. Others may forget that you are the Treaty, but I do not. Ever.
I hate being the Treaty instead of the Advocate. One's a birthmark, the other's my job. Feh. And I'm not a child, I'm not even acting like a child, being an infant doesn't make me act childlike at all! But whyyyyy?
Because spying is more interesting than cutting up a squad of pathetic and unworthy fighters. See, look. There's plenty of pirates down here, and they're all doing interesting things.
I don't really believe her and I don't want to look. I want to be up there and fight with 'Sy and the others! I can totally take everyone up there. Still, I'm stuck with Julia, so grudgingly I decide to look about. We're in a dark place, but that's mostly because I'm with Julia and she hides in darkness. This room below-decks is fairly well-lit with a single lamp. Up ahead is a desk - the man sitting at it has more light ready in the form of a candlestick. He's writing intently, his long black hair shadowing his face.
"And then... no, that's no good, have to-- ah! What a heroic maneuver! Really some of my best-- oh, they're clever, will have to-- very nice. Goodness, they're putting up more of a fight than anyone we've raided! There's just four of them... ah, no, five. Ha! Found one sneaking about. How cute! Just have to get him surrounded... hm! Remarkably difficult! Well I declare."
Julia and I do a simultaneous eyebrow-lift.
A Poet? Get closer.
I'm not your personal conveyance, dear princess.
Do it or I'll poop on you.
Julia seems to be as motivated by that as any other person who's looked after me while I'm a baby. It's always sad when I grow so big that I can't use it as a threat anymore. We get closer to the guy. Still can't see him! His hair's blocking the view. We can't get any farther without me being given away. As it is the only reason I got this close is because he's distracted by his writing. Julia scowls. I should just kill him.
Hmph. You shadow division people are always chickens like that. I manage to squirm out of her arms, hitting the floor with a muffled thump. Poetry has a nice knack of easing little crashes like that when you work it right, and I'm wearing my thick soft footie pajamas. And I can crawl!
You little--! Julia doesn't bother finishing to tell me what I am, though - she leaps backward into the shadows again as the man looks up. And then, down. I don't have the best vantage so all I can see is nose, hair, then knee.
"What--?" The man picks me up. The fool! I always knew being a baby would be the best disguise. It's a shame 'Sy never lets me do this on purpose, as much as he always warns that he's going to kill me. The man holds me in his lap, confusion spreading over his face. "Who are you--" He looks at his writing in a panic. "No!!"
Of course, it's too late, then. Our unknown Poet has given up a few seconds of watching his pirate comrades' backs in battle, and I bet it was enough for 'Sy and the rest to turn the battle. The man reaches for his quill in a panic, managing to scribble out a sentence or two before Julia's blade is at his neck.
"Get your hands off the baby before I have to spill all your lovely ink."
"My pardon. By all means, we don't mean any harm to an infant." The man raises his hands. Julia snatches me back, but keeps Gwen at the man's neck.
Hm. I send a thought to Julia and the Judge at once. 'Sy? Don't kill the pirates! They've got a Poet with them. They might have more!
'Sy's voice is a deep growl as he replies. That's no reason not to kill all of them but one. Bring the Poet here. And what have you been doing down there?
She's safe, Jhe h'Akribastes. Julia's voice is calm and even.
Have they really earned their deaths? I press 'Sy on it, scowling with concentration. He always hates that question, but...
He sighs. Oh, fine. We'll kill them later. They're complete pushovers now, in any case. I suppose their captive Poet is the cause of their previous invincibility?
Of course. Julia marches the Poet up the stairs. I'd like to get a better look at him - something's up with him. I think I might recognize him, but it's always hard to get an angle when I'm this tiny, and everything looks so much different!
"Madam? I suppose some barter could be made for our release? If I could but talk to your leader--" Julia jabs the point of Gwen into the small of his back. I doubt she draws too much blood, but it keeps the guy quiet.
"Oh, you'll see the Judge. Don't you worry about that, you traitorous scum."
"I beg your pardon?" He seems quite confused.
I poke Julia. Maybe he was being forced to write for them?
She shakes her head. Quiet. It doesn't explain why he's trying to barter.
Just because we don't know yet doesn't mean there's not a good reason! And I like him.
Julia snorts, then answers the man's question. "Fine. The Judge will work it all out, I'm sure."
The man has no answer for that.
We get onto the deck, where a number of pirates are bound up by quite a lot of rope. There's quite a lot of blood present, but no one seems to be dead. That's a bit strange considering how angry 'Sy sounded. We make our way up to him, where he's been questioning the Captain. Apparently that hasn't been going so well, if 'Sy's expression is anything to tell by. He looks up, first verifying that I'm alright, then taking me in his arms and verifying again, then holding me in a way that has a little extra huggyness to it even though he doesn't want to admit it he was worried about me, then looking at the Poet that Julia marched up here.
'Sy's face shifts to worried alarm, which starts turning to pure confusion. I start to understand why as I get my own chance to size up the guy in broad daylight, with all of his hair out of the way. I know who it is now, but that just gives us more questions to ask.
"...Elete?"
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