Chapter 11

  Huge galleons with billowing sails gathered around the shores of Isle Durna, all bearing the intertwined serpents of the Pirate Empress. Any onlooker would have assumed an imminent naval battle just based on the sheer number that were stationed around the pear shaped island. Clustered all around the docks were forts constructed of white granite surrounding a middling town. Erbosa was never one to show off the extent of her wealth, for her abode was just the same as that of any high end merchant taking up residence at the island. In spite of Isle Durna’s reputation as a pirate lord’s island, a steady stream of trading vessels were allowed into the harbor as long as they paid Erbosa’s tribute. Just as surely as blood circulates through veins and arteries, the flow of commerce continued even through pirate territory.

  Morning dawned on the crew of the Jormagand as the survivors of Zevros’s attack were brought on board. Bluff-bowed with impressive ribbed sails, the modified Yujin warship was designed to smash through heavy waves. Bronze scorpion ballistas mounted on the sides put even the ones on Sarvaq’s vessel to shame, and the sterncastle towards the back consisted of two levels. The burning flames from the night prior had still not left Sannan’s mind by the time he was brought up to the sterncastle’s second story. It was a well decorated space with folding screens depicting fantastical creatures from the Age of Divinity. Quetzals with wings large enough to block out the sun, Vesperids with plumage in the colors of the eight elements, among other wonders. A long oakwood table dominated the center of the room with navigation maps and compasses scattered across its surface. Cabinets, brass bound chests, and glass enclosed bookshelves lined the walls, most of which were fixed in place on the wooden floor.

  Under the rose gold light of a fireglass chandelier was the Pirate Empress herself, seated comfortably in her high backed chair.

  “These are the only survivors?” Erbosa had a look of deep contemplation on her face, what would be a handsome face save for a pinkish scar going down the right side, kept concealed most of the time by a lock of black hair. She wore a blue cha’an dress from her native Huaxia cut to be more form fitting and embellished with goldwork embroidery. Ice blue quetzal feathers framed her shoulders, decorating the indigo coat mantle hanging down her back.

  The golden tassel on her forehead swung as she shook her head. Ordinarily, Sannan would have felt awed in the Pirate Empress’s presence if he was not still grappling with the catastrophe he had just experienced. He, Zari, and two other deckhands were among the only survivors. To Sannan’s dismay, Estaval was not present either, though he never recalled seeing her killed or captured.

  Erbosa grimaced, drumming her fingers along the edge of the table. “It was a mistake letting Olberan hunt the Sea Snake by himself. What I am curious about is why he is taking captives. What possible use could he have for them? Or for that matter, where is he taking them? There is still so much we don’t know.”

  Captives? All of a sudden Sannan was feeling a spark of hope that Azala and Estaval might still be alive after all. Then something clicked in his head.

  “The Sea Sna- No, Zevros said he wanted Zari and I for test subjects.” Zari turned to him in surprise for having spoken, and was prepared to say something before the Pirate Empress cut her off.

  “Relax, anyone is allowed to speak to me freely.” Erbosa laughed, “Zevros is no scientist, Sannan. But there is a possibility he works for one, perhaps the one responsible for turning him into a freak of nature to begin with.”

  Gradually, Sannan’s shoulder began to throb as the numbness faded away. To his side, Zari winced as she massaged a cut on her left elbow.

  “They have not received healing yet?” Anger flashed across Erbosa’s face for a second, but it was gone so quickly Sannan might have imagined it. “Huoyan!”

  A flustered girl came running over, dressed in the same Huaxia fashion as most of Erbosa’s crew. Dainty, with large eyes and chin length marigold hair, she looked no older than Zari. Her rounded headpiece bore a strange, silver worked symbol resembling a flame nestled within a lotus. Without another word from her captain, the young girl conjured up a levitating, bluish-green flame that danced its way around Sannan and the others. Slowly but surely, his wound began to close up like a flower blooming in reverse.

  “Huoyan here is training to be our crew’s healer,” Erbosa explained. “Though elemental energy only alleviates wounds, not illnesses. So our physician is not going anywhere anytime soon.”

  Huoyan’s cheeks turned red the moment the Pirate Empress directed a smile at her.

  Zari inquired, “so, what are we going to do about Zevros? I… I just can’t get closure for what happened to my father’s crew until he is dealt with.” Her eyes were turned down and her hands tightened around her breeches.

  “No worries,” Erbosa replied soothingly. “The Fleet of the Iron Serpent is working to triangulate his location as we speak. It may prove difficult considering he is operating with one of those new ironclads, but not impossible. And believe me.” She abruptly planted a dagger into a spot on the Thalassian Sea map laid out before her, as if that were the location of the Sea Snake’s base of operations.

  “Once we find Zevros, I will have him pay for every life he has taken. Personally.”

  One of the deckhands piped up, sweat trickling down his narrow face. “W-What about us? Our crew has been all but wiped out.”

  Erbosa grinned like a madwoman and announced, “you are all coming on my ship, of course. The Jormagand will be your new home from now on.”

  “Does your ship have an engineer?” Sannan could not stop himself from asking.

  The Huaxia woman quirked an eyebrow at him. “Engineer? Well yes, but they come and go, you see. No, I want you to challenge yourself. Given my years of piracy, I have accumulated quite the repository of machine parts for you to work with. Feel free to work on all the projects you want to your heart’s content!” Erbosa spread her arms wide in an inviting gesture, and Sannan’s mouth gaped. Any project? Well, his first instinct was to reconstruct Khanrea. Tempting as it was to try requesting Erbosa’s crew to salvage the remains of the two ships, Sannan was inclined to accept that an A105 was in order. Azala, however, there was just no replacing her.

  “You can’t be serious,” Sannan protested. “For a pirate such as yourself to make that kind of offer… It’s just too good to be true.”

  “I’m sure you were just as surprised when Olberan revealed he was not going to kill you after whisking you away from that smuggler. Indeed, you will come to find that Olberan and I are very much alike. Of all the division captains under me, I see the most of myself in him.”

  Erbosa got up out of her chair to place a hand on Sannan’s shoulder.

  “And so see this privilege of yours as a gift. For aiding that stone brained fool of a captain in his time of need.”

  Zari’s timid voice broke in, “C-Captain Erbosa. Were your crewmen able to recover my f-father’s–”

  “Of course, I intend on giving Olberan and his crew a funeral to be remembered.” With that warm smile on her face, Erbosa was addressing him as an equal and not as his superior.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  “Now then, I’ll cut the lot of you loose. Just remember the funeral will be held this evening.” Erbosa went back to studying the Thalassian Sea map laid out before her, muttering something under her breath too soft for Sannan to hear. The reddish gold light reflecting off on her gave the look of someone preparing for war rather than a funeral.

  …

  In spite of the humid atmosphere of Isle Durna, a sea breeze gusting in felt cold on Sannan’s back. His mind felt as numb as his body did before Huoyan’s healing. Even if he had all the resources of the Aphelos Academy at his disposal, Sannan felt in no mood to do work. He shuffled forward aimlessly along the dock until Zari caught up to him. For a while, neither said anything to each other, not until both were standing before the towering white gates leading into the town. A steady stream of merchants were filing in, well dressed folk in fine silks who failed in some instances to hide their apprehension of having to intermingle with pirates.

  “Sannan, I’m sorry you had to be dragged into all this,” Zari said finally. “It feels like it was only yesterday when you were brought into my old man’s crew.”

  Sannan sighed in response. “There is nothing to apologize for, Zari. We could not have anticipated the attack to come as it did. The high seas are unpredictable, doubly so for pirates. Surely you have heard of Cheondung’s Sea of Storms? Dangerous as that place is, explorers still risk their lives to traverse it.” He turned and looked Zari in the eyes, still glistening with the residue of last night’s tears.

  “Your father did the best he could to help us escape from those monsters, and we still have a shot at getting back at them with the Pirate Empress’s help. One thing keeping me going is the thought that we could still save the captives Zevros took.”

  “But if…But…” The words were stuck in Zari’s throat. As tough as it was to say it, Sannan forced the words out in a rush.

  “If they are all already dead, the least we can do is end Zevros before he could take any more lives. Now I am not assuming every pirate he killed was innocent, but if not for them, for people like Azala.”

  Zari was able to crack a smile. “You would be assuming to know everything about Azala’s past, saying something like that. But I agree. And for the record, there are reports of the Sea Snake targeting civilians too, all throughout the Thalassian Sea.”

  “All the more reason for us to prepare for our next confrontation with him.” Sannan stepped through the gates right behind a reedy book merchant, only to be stopped by a guard in reddish leather armor.

  Planting his silver tipped spear down in front of the pair, the guard barked, “pay up Erbosa’s tribute. You all should know the rules by now.”

  “She just invited us on her crew!” Zari argued.

  “Oh, did she now? Where’s the evidence?”

  Sannan said with a grimace, “did you not just see us leave her ship? Besides, it’s not like I have anything to pay in the first…place…”

  Neheri’s payment. I still owe her! The thought that he still owed that much money left him in a daze. Incensed, Zari looked ready to say something to the guard when a dainty girl in an orange cha’an dress came over to drop a bag of coins into the guard’s hand.

  “Let them into the town, will you?” Huoyan smiled up at the guard, who smiled back in turn before stepping to the side.

  “Thanks for stepping in,” Zari said as she strolled onto the whitestone paved road that weaved its way around Isle Durna’s town. The whole place was layered like the concentric stacks of a cake, with each level of elevation showcasing larger, more opulent dwellings. In addition to merchants, craftsmen and artisans from the nearby nations hurried about their business. Some bore the emblem of their respective guild as enamel pins displayed on their tunics. Food vendors, peddlers, and entertainers set up shops at regular street junctions, all competing for space with some attracting small crowds of onlookers. Constant surveillance by guards ensured violence hardly broke out between drunks or street toughs. Guards were interspersed throughout the streets, all of whom Sannan suspected were pirates. Strange as it was to imagine pirates running a town like this.

  Huoyan clasped her hands behind her back and blushed at Zari’s compliment. “I… it was nothing. I’m new to the Pirate Empress’s crew, you see. Where I was before, people rarely gave any praise.”

  “A medic like you who heals wounds, not used to praise?” Sannan said in astonishment.

  “The Yujin Empire just expected that out of you,” Huoyan replied. “Let’s change the topic. What do you two think of the Pirate Empress? She always insists I call her Erbosa, but she is a pirate lord and so I think she deserves the honorific.”

  “She said it herself. A spitting image of my dad in terms of how she behaves, in my opinion.” Zari paused abruptly, then gave Sannan a scrutinizing look. “Where are we heading off to? If you want to wander the town until the sun sets, be my guest. But I did promise to take you to the firing range before the ship was attacked.”

  Sannan stopped by a peddler’s stand selling rusted axle gears, the gap toothed seller trying for an earnest smile. It took only two seconds for him to inspect before Sannan dismissed the items and went on his way.

  “The repository that Erbosa mentioned. Do you by any chance know where it is?”

  Zari shook her head regretfully. “Sadly, despite growing up on this island, never have I been made aware of the location.”

  “I could point you in the right direction,” Huoyan said eagerly. “Just follow me!” Despite her stature, she was quick on her feet, with Zari and Sannan having to sprint to catch up. Occasionally, Huoyan would make a sharp turn at a street junction or stop to confirm she was following the fastest route.

  “Where… is… all her speed…coming from?” Sannan spoke between deep breaths, leaning against the side of a cutler's shop while Huoyan was inspecting the row of slate roofed houses across the street.

  “There,” she said, pointing to a towering building right at the edge of the block. Built in the distinct Huaxia style, it was a many tiered structure with roofs curving upward to terminate at golden points. Sannan was no architect, but it truly was magnificent work, especially with that star shaped point on the very top. A veranda bordered by a polished fence ringed the base of the building, crowded with civilians intermixed with guards.

  “It should be the basement.” No sooner were the words out of her mouth before Sannan hurried over to the building’s entrance. Decorated with entwined vines and flowers, the golden front doors beckoned to him in spite of the two guards flanking them on either side.

  “Not this again,” Sannan grumbled as the guards made a move to block his entrance.

  Zari hurried over to his side and stared down the guards as if to bore holes through them. “Can’t anyone get the message that the ruler of this island has granted us generous access to her facilities?” As with the gate, the guards stepped aside when they noticed Huoyan was accompanying them.

  “My, my Huoyan. Looks like we are going to have to take you with us everywhere we go.” Zari gave her a wink.

  Huoyan squeaked, “please do not think of me that way!” The doors opened to reveal a flight of stairs going up and another going down. Without pause, Sannan descended the spiraling stairs leading to the Pirate Empress’s loot repository. Naturally there had to be other means of entry into the massive vault he stumbled into. Glossy magenta columns supported a ceiling as high up as four of those Jar’haavan hovels stacked on top of one another. Rows upon rows of shelves were lined with treasure chests, wooden crates, and leather sacks. Here and there, coins spilled from a couple of them like water leaking from a cistern. Most eye-catching to Sannan, however, were the eight shelves lined towards the back of the chamber, all containing mechanical contraptions visible from where he was standing a hundred feet away. Leather armored guards patrolled a few of the aisles between the shelves, though they all carried a lax demeanor as if they only half expected thieves to show up. Right as Sannan was making his way towards the back of the chamber, he noticed he was not the only person down here besides the guards. Several pirates were hauling goods in and out of the repository through additional openings leading up to other places of interest. An engineer with a tight band wrapped around his bald head was combing through a set of assorted parts near the base of one shelf.

  After coming this far, Sannan stood to marvel at Erbosa’s collection. As impressive as Sarvaq’s Chalassa collection was, the shelves that stood before him were a reminder of why he reveled in his craft. The disabled head of an Ostravan automaton lay face down on the top right shelf, with the second level accommodating drivers, bolts, and enablers the likes of which he had never seen before. On the third shelf level was the fabled conduit Azala mentioned, damaged yet not beyond restoration. Like an iron filing that would not leave a magnet once attached, Sannan knew how he would be spending the rest of his day. He could only wish Emra or Azala were here to bear witness to the creations he was already planning. Emra’s Lumix core had long since been confiscated, and Azala was the Sea Snake’s captive, yet he felt he was undertaking this for the two of them.