Dragon Choir (17 page)

Delik gripped
the rail with both his hands, knuckles white.

“
Hold fire!” Delik yelled, slamming his fist on the rail
again. “Coalman! Hold fire!”

Coalman
bellowed the order from the main deck, down the hatch, to the gun
deck.

Delik wiped
his face with his yellow cloth hat. He gave Elrin a grim sneer and
shook his head before casting the hat into the sea. It bobbed in
the wake of the ship for a moment before sinking into the blue of
the bay.

Elrin stood
with Delik in silence. They watched the battle on the docks run its
course and stewed on their words.

Drakkin
charged from the mangroves, bearing down on the marines with their
superior size and strength. The remaining Jandan lines were torn to
strips, buckling in a mess of blood and panic. Unruly shouts of
victory punctuated the screams of the dying, burgeoning into a
rowdy chorus that thrummed across the bay in a great wave.

A cheer went
up on the captured ships, matching the vigour of their allies on
shore. The rebel crew hollered and clasped each other’s arms,
showing grins as big as their relief that the battle was won. Delik
refused to entertain any such celebration, his gaze drifted on the
sea, his brow knit in thought.

Elrin had no
joy for the blood spilt; scores of lives were lost and he had been
part of it. He worried about what the rebels planned to do with the
three prize ships. Jando would want them back.

His quest was
burning to ash.

Delik called
to his man on the main deck. “Coalman! I want these ships to sail
out in formation. Get a message on wing to the others as well.”

“
The others?” Elrin squirmed. This adventure had him strapped
to a demon dog and he had no idea to which of the five hells he was
being taken. “How big is this, Delik?”

“
Why? You scared lad?”

“
Of course, I’m scared! I just wanted passage on a ship. Now,
I’m part of this rebellion you’re taking against Jando.”

“
Quit your complaining! You’ve got passage on our ship,” said
Minni, walking down the stairs to the quarterdeck. “Won’t be free
though.”

Minni was
unshaken by the battle. Her quiver was empty, but her dark eyes
were full of mischief. She stood beside Delik and leant her bow
against the rail, appraising them both.

“
Look here lad. This is big, but the
how
of the big is a little murky.”
Delik became distant for a moment, as though he were remembering
something.

“
What does that mean?” Elrin was determined to extract some
sense from them.

Delik ignored
Elrin’s question and called to Selmet at the wheel. “Once we clear
that headland, set course to engage the two remaining Jandan
vessels anchored beyond the bay.”

“
What Delik means is; he needs you in his crew,” said Minni,
giving Delik a nudge. “We’ve got a big adventure ahead of us.
There’ll be treasure. Glory too I imagine; if you like a bit of
that. Won’t be easy, but you seem to handle your head in a
pinch.”

Delik crossed
his arms. “Hold your bloody horses. He’s too fresh. He’ll just get
in the way.”

“
Didn’t I just get you out of a pickle back there,” Elrin
fumed, the quick defence boiling over before he considered better
diplomacy. “If I was so green, how did I know what to do with the
solargraph? If I was in the way, how did I take down ten
men?”

“
Eight actually, but that’s not bad if you’re weak-wristed,”
said Minni. “I helped with two. Just keeping an eye on
you.”

Elrin balked
then blushed. Was she really watching out for him or just having
another dig? “Thanks Minni, but that doesn’t help right now.”

“
Well,” said Minni. “I don’t want to appear contrary, but one
of them was close to taking your head off its hinge. So, I think it
does help right now.”

“
Damn it, Minni! You know what I mean.” Elrin rounded on
Delik. “Listen to me. I deserve to know what is going on, you
thankless, stubborn, old—”

Delik drew
Elrin’s blade, stealing it from the sheath so fast, he didn’t have
time think of his weapon, let alone draw it to defend himself. The
blade pressed to the young man’s abdomen, the sharp point
establishing an uncomfortable clarity of thought. Remarkably
explicit images of his intestines spilling onto the deck kept
Elrin’s body still while carefully raising his hands in surrender;
he didn’t stand a chance against Delik.

“
You listen to me, pup. Hear me sweetly. Because next time,
I’ll not pause to parley with your mewling. I need a man who’ll
think for himself. I grant you this, you’ve a head for thinking,
but I sure as shite don’t need a boy who cries about what is and
whinges about what might be, or once was.” Delik pulled the blade
away from Elrin’s abdomen, flipped it over and presented the hilt
for Elrin to take. “Now make up your own mind, lad. You stay, or
you go.”

The young man
considered his dwindling options. These two were trouble, but they
fought for freedom and that was something his father would have
done. Maybe if he helped them, they would help him. Minni was on
his side; she’d helped him out of trouble more than once. She
wasn’t like any of the girls he knew back in Calimska. Her beauty
carried a shadow of death that left him abashed and cautious,
harassed with an awkward nervousness that struck him when she
smiled. Delik confused him in a very different way. The man was a
touchy, cagey little bastard, thrusting Elrin into mortal danger
while feeding him half-truths for who knew what reasons.

They both had
a plan. Elrin had nothing. Delik was right; he was green and had no
real training with a blade. How ironic that he might be safer with
these two rebels than by himself, even if it meant fighting the
might of Jando.

Elrin took his
blade and returned it to his sheath. “I’ll stay, for now. Just in
case you need me to save your hide again.”

Delik scoffed.
“Smart arse, eh. Like I need another one of those.”

“
Then you’re in luck, I can’t stay with you for long. I need
to get to the Hoard Islands, there’s something there that will help
my father. Will you be going that way?”

Delik laughed.
“Very funny, Minni. Did you put him up to this?”

Minni held up
her hands to show her innocence. “I’ve not said a word.”

Delik scowled.
“Are you tuggin’ my chain, lad?”

“
No, I ...” Elrin gathered his thoughts. “Am I missing
something here?”

“
Tell us why you need to get there, Elrin,” said
Minni.

“
I was told by a friend that something called the Dragon Choir
would aid my father. I was told to go to the Hoard Islands and seek
it out. If you’re not going there, I’ll still help, but only until
you get to another port. I’ll ask there.”

Minni flaunted
her smug smile. Delik was not impressed.

“
What’s going on?” asked Elrin.

“
Never you mind, lad. Minni here is ploughing her own field a
little too deep.”

“
Piss off, Delik,” Minni cut back. “And change that damn
shirt. You smell like fish and look like a butchers
block.”

Delik scowled
and sniffed at his bloodstained yellow shirt. “Bah! My shirt’s
fine.” The shankakin turned to Elrin. “Pay her no mind. Send a
message to the ships at sea and make some good of yourself.”

Elrin remained
at the helm beside Delik and followed his direction. He wrote the
message and sent it to the beacon on the headland to relay on.
“Commodore Pelegrin secure. Ship damaged, but seaworthy. Escorting
back to fleet. Hold position.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Beans

The rebel ships
rounded the headland, leaving the calm waters of the bay for the
windswept chop, roiling across the Salroc Sea. While the fresh
gusts buffeted the ships, Coalman and Selmet called and whistled to
each other, directing the crew with ease. Delik was glad to have
them, he knew his way around a fishing skiff, but sailing a tall
ship like
Juniper
required experienced sailors.

The two Jandan
galleons were at anchor, awaiting them out to sea. Delik squinted
through the ocean glare and noticed more ships farther off. Faster
than a curse could form on his lips, the spyglass was out,
revealing their ruin approaching.

The spotter
called down from the crow’s nest affirming his fears. “Five sails
pressing from the north. Jandans manoeuvring.”

“
Ash it!” Delik cursed to the wind. “Impatient
bastard!”

Delik could
tell Elrin was ready to pester him with another question. The lad
was too curious, he never knew when to keep his nose out of it.

“
What is it, lad? You look set to burst if you hold it
in.”

“
Shall I send another message?” asked Elrin.

“
No, but wait for one. They’ll be sure to send something if
they are going to engage.” Delik eased his expression. The lad
wasn’t so bad; he didn’t whinge all the time.

Elrin held the dragon seal to the north and was ready when
the Jandan ships pulsed a series of flashes across the sea. He
twisted the seal and allowed the enchanted dragonhead to vent.
Magical ink tumbled onto the transcriber and Elrin read as the
words coalesced. “Pirates on course to engage. Three caravels. One
carrack. One fluyt. Request
Templestone
and
Fearless
to assist.”

Delik fumed.
“Why couldn’t Kobb wait for the signal? What is his bloody
caper?”

“
Has he ever made things easy?” said Minni. “It doesn’t change
a thing. We must press on.”

At Delik’s command
Templestone
,
Fearless
and
Juniper
sailed forth to intercept
the remaining Jandan ships with the rebel captains under order to
board and subdue. They sailed as fast as the head wind would allow,
tacking starboard away from the coast, but without a weather witch
they were at the mercy of the belligerent wind, blowing favour into
the pirate’s sails and against their own.

Delik slammed
his hand on the rail, growling at the slow pace of their approach.
“The ship may as well have a hole in her side for all the speed we
have beating against this damn wind.”

“
I have an idea,” said Elrin.

“
Oh, another one is it?” said Delik throwing his hands in the
air. “It’s not like we are short on time. I’ll hear anything you’ve
got. Actually, we’ve time for a spot of tea and a hand of cards
too.”

“
What have you in mind?” Minni asked, her eyes toying with
Elrin. “Don’t mind old grumpy lumps, he’s not versed in
sarcasm.”

Delik sneered.
Taking sides; she’d chew that poor lad up and spit him out. The
woman was too bloody smart for her own good, playing all the angles
from the shadows then shining in all her glory when she took the
stage. She was the darling of the rebellion and a necessary
curse.

“
Look at that face. The image of his father,” Minni put her
arm around Delik and gave his shoulder a squeeze.

“
Bugger off, Minni!” Delik shrugged her arm away.

“
Doesn’t know how to deal with his anger either,” Minni mocked
Delik’s expression with a dour face of her own then burst into
laughter. “Just like his father.”

Delik found
himself smiling despite his every effort to hold it back and give
Minni a serve. This bloody woman was impossible.

“
My idea?” asked Elrin.

“
Go on then,” said Delik. “Ignore her if you can.”

“
We have those two redeemers who came to heal Pelegrin.
They’re not much use in prison below decks. Maybe they can help
speed things up.”

“
What, to patch up our arses with a cushion so we don’t get
splinters from sitting around waiting?”

Elrin ignored
Delik’s sarcasm. “Surely redeemers are more versatile with magic
than just killing and healing. One of them might be an
elementalist. Who knows until we ask?”

“
Could be the last queen of the sea people for all I care.
Unless we get a team of dolphins to pull us along, those galleons
and their cargo are in the wrong man’s hands.” Delik crossed his
arms, thinking it over. He gave in, it was worth a try. “Alright
then, go and get them. Make sure you ask Coalman for an escort,
keep them bound and gagged no matter what.”

“
I will,” said Elrin. “And make sure you save some of that tea
for me.”

Elrin grinned
and hurried away. Delik let a smile cross his face after Elrin had
gone below decks and turned to talk with Minni. “You might be right
about him. He could be just what we need if he knows about the
Dragon Choir.”

“
If the Muden of Gren say it is so, then it is so. They
weren’t wrong about you. Though you denied it long enough. They
weren’t wrong about Tikis, nor me.” Minni was serious for a change.
“He’s the Key, I’m sure of it.”

“
Be as sure as you like,” Delik refused to fall into Minni’s
trap. “That is not what I was saying and you know it. I’m not going
to be convinced until I see it happen.”

“
Why not? All the signs are there. You know the prophecy as
well as I do.”