Miya Black, Pirate Princess I: Adventure Dawns (36 page)

"You're an awful man, did you know that?"

"Aye, I've been told before. More than once."

"And you," said Lily, looking down at Miya. "You ... you ..." She took a deep, frustrated breath. "You're your father's daughter and that's all I can say."

Miya beamed, then suddenly realised something and looked back, searching the crowd.

"Where's Sola?" she said. "He was just behind me before ... huh, that's weird."

"Now you, Black Boots," Lily said. "Take a step back and let's have a look. You've been in the wars and no denying it, haven't you?"

Miya looked at her father, noticing for the first time how injured he was. His right shoulder was heavily bandaged, as was his right leg. Around his left wrist was another bandage, and there was quite a fresh cut above his right eye. He'd also lost his hat somewhere.

"Dad, what happened to you?"

"Few fights, nothing big. And what about you, Coconut? What's all this?"

Miya was standing cockily; blackened, burnt, bandaged and bloody proud of herself for it.

"Oh, just a few scratches," she said, lightly.

"Just a few scratches, is it? How'd you get so burnt?"

"Fighting fires, Badger Pete set the jungle alight."

"Oh no, are the monkeys okay?"

"That's what I said! But Sola said they're smart enough to run from fire, so."

"Well," said Tomas, smiling at his daughter. "That's something of a relief." His face and tone became more serious as he glanced up at Lily. "And the town?"

"Better than it could have been. Eastern parts will need some rebuilding but we've had only a few casualties."

"Good. That's good," said Tomas. "I noticed the navy's taken something of a beating. Four ships sunk?"

"In exchange for over a dozen of Pete's," said Lilith. Tomas nodded.

"He's spread his crews thin, and discipline seems to be in short supply. But with four of our ships gone—"

"Almost all the crews came out alive," said Lily.

"Still—"

"Ships can be replaced," said Lily, firmly. "People can't."

"... true enough," said Tomas. He glanced back as the ship that had accompanied him into the harbour sailed in to dock. "Miya—"

"Oh, right! I completely forgot about the ship that was with you, who did you find that'd help us?"

A tall, dark figure jumped down onto the docks.

"Hallo, granddaughter," said Heartless Jon. "Thought I'd come and have a look at this island you're so proud of. Damned curiosity of mine'll be the death of me yet. Had to fight my way through a hell of a crowd to get here, seems a popular place."

Lily shot a glance at her husband as Miya ran forward, throwing her arms around her grandfather.

"I knew you'd come!" she cried.

"Did ye?"

"Actually no," said Miya, releasing Heartless Jon and stepping back. "To be perfectly frank I thought you were a useless, cowardly old man with no sense of responsibility."

"Aye? Well I am at that. But I suppose I came anyway. Maybe I got some sense knocked out of me somehow. By the way," he said, leaning forward and lowering his voice. "Don't suppose ye could give us a hand, could ye love? I've gone and buggered me bloody knee again."

*

Miya walked beside her grandfather as they made their way through town, quietly exalting in the quiet gasps and whisperings of recognition as a few in the crowd realised who he was.

"Ain't used to this kind of attention," he said to Miya, in a harsh whisper. "It's getting my back up."

"You're a legend," Miya replied. "This is how people are supposed to react to you."

She suddenly tripped a little, recovering easily but frowning down at her feet.

"They don't usually do that," she said, mostly for her grandfather's benefit. He looked at her.

"How long since ye slept, girl?"

"Oh, um, let's see ... I had a little nap sometime—that's right, I woke up just before Sola saw the smoke from the island. So ... I dunno, yesterday sometime I guess."

"Miya, sleep is very important, especially for a girl your—" Lily stopped herself, and smiled at her daughter. "Actually, I think we're all quite tired."

"I certainly am," said Tomas. He winked at Miya. "Looking forward to my own bed."

Miya fought against her own body but lost, yawning a huge yawn. "Ah, no, I'm not that tired, really."

Even as she said it she knew it wasn't true; she'd been running on a mixture of adrenaline, anger and pride for the last good while and she knew it. Evading Grace, running through the jungle to the town, then fighting the fires, repelling the bandits, and of course the days of almost constant sailing before that. Miya's head grew light and her family's voices grew distant and she suddenly knew she was going to faint.

"No," she said, clearly.

"No what?" said her grandfather. Miya looked up. They were in front of her house. She looked up at Heartless Jon, then leant towards him.

"Did I faint?" she asked.

"Eh? No, ye didn't."

"No," said Miya, nodding. "I didn't. Princesses may faint. Pirate princesses do not."

They just blank out for ten minutes or so, said the tiny voice inside her.

Shut up, tiny voice, thought Miya. I'm getting pretty sick of you.

"—in charge of things in town, we'll hear the alarm if it's raised and can be down there in minutes," she realised her mother was saying. Tomas nodded, then smiled at his wife.

"How long have YOU been awake?" he asked.

"Well, since the attacks began, so—"

"Since yesterday!" said Miya. "Hey! Don't get down on me for being awake so long when—" she interrupted herself with another huge yawn. "Ah, this stupid body, it's working against me. And I have to go find Sola, where is he?"

"He's still missing?" Tomas asked.

"No, I mean, he was with me before, but then he disappeared. I don't know—" Miya yawned again, scowling as she fought to control it.

"Bed," said Lily, opening the door and encouraging her daughter inside. "For both of us. I think the boys here need to be alone a while, in any case. Come on, young lady, upstairs."

"What? No! I want to be there too! I want—"

Yawning and protesting, Miya let herself be pushed up the stairs and into her bedroom. As she kicked off her boots and just managed to unbuckle her belt before collapsing into her bed, asleep almost before hitting the pillow, she had the thought that sometimes—and only sometimes—being bossed by your mother could be quite useful.

*

Miya was woken some time later by a stillness in her room. It was dark, but after blinking a few times she yawned and said, "I can see you, Sola, you're the bit of darkness that's not moving at all."

"I brought your chest," he said. "I thought it better not to leave it outside too long. I know there are certain items inside that you would not want to lose."

Miya rubbed her eyes as she sat up. "Oh, thanks. That was really nice of you to do. What time is it?"

Sola shrugged. "Between sunset and sunrise."

"Why are you so wet?" Miya asked, her eyes adjusting to the lack of light. Even as she asked, she became aware of the sound of heavy rain from outside. "Oh. Um ... how's the battle?"

"Nothing is happening now. Badger Pete's forces have withdrawn for the night."

Miya nodded. "Good. Um. I don't know if I should tell you this or not, but going into a girl's bedroom at night isn't really the done thing."

"But you are my sister."

"True, but—"

"And this is important."

"What is?" Miya was suddenly fully awake, excitement instantly burning inside her.

"After our father returned, I—"

"Oh yeah! What was that all about? You just disappeared, I was kind of a little bit worried actually!"

Sola paused, then sighed. He sat down beside Miya on her bed.

"I thought it best that you be with your family, as just your family."

"What? What are you talking about, you're family too! You're my brother—you're Dad's son, for goodness sake!"

Sola shook his head.

"No. Not yet."

"But ... what? I don't understand," said Miya.

"It doesn't matter, not now. In the evening I borrowed a canoe from one of the northern islanders, and when it was dark I paddled out to Badger Pete's ships."

"You what? Wait, where did the northern islanders get canoes? Did they bring them along or something?"

"They made them."

"Oh," said Miya, feeling a little stupid. "Oh, right. But, hey! You went on an adventure without me!"

Sola smiled. "It was a one-person canoe. I apologise."

"Well ... I guess that's a good enough excuse."

"I think I know the reason for Badger Pete's withdrawal. Even now, more ships arrive."

"What! MORE, even?"

"And some of these new ships are different. I think they are Highland."

"No, remember? Badger Pete's ships are just using the Highland flag."

"There are differences between Badger Pete's ships and those of the Highland," said Sola. "Aboard Pete's ships there is laughter and singing—the crew drink and boast. There is no singing on the new ships, no laughter."

"Hmm. No singing, no laughter. That does sound like the Highland. How many ships are there now? In total, I mean."

"Twenty-two corvettes, fifteen frigates, five brigs, and Pete's flagship," said Sola. Miya blinked.

"Really?"

"There may be only twenty-one corvettes. It's possible I counted the same one twice. It was raining, and dark."

"And we have one brig and a handful of corvettes in the navy, and now Dad and Grandad's ships. I have to say, Sola," said Miya, her tone contemplative, "I'm starting to think our odds aren't that great."

"Even so," said Sola and Miya together. She laughed.

"Gotcha. Oh," she said, suddenly realising, "we should be keeping our voices down, everyone's sleeping."

"No," said Sola. "They're downstairs talking. I said hello just before."

"What? What are we doing sitting around here, then?"

Miya jumped up from her bed and dashed downstairs.

"How could you have a strategy meeting without me?" she demanded. Her father and grandfather looked up at her from where they sat, glasses held in their hands.

"Oh ... aye," said her grandfather. "Strategy meeting."

"Sorry, Coconut," said Tomas. "I thought you were asleep. Hello, Sola. I meant to say this to you before, thank you for going with Miya."

Sola inclined his head in acknowledgement as Miya narrowed her eyes.

"Is that
rum
?" she asked, pointing an accusing finger at the glass Tomas was holding. "You know Mum's feelings about that!"

"Your grandfather brought it along, I felt it would be extremely rude not to accept it," said Tomas.

"Aye, have a glass yerself," said Heartless Jon. "Ah—only kidding ye," he added quickly, at the look his son shot him.

"Hm," said Miya. "Where IS Mum?"

"Snoring fit to shake the rafters, I'd bet," said Tomas. "Ah, I mean, still sleeping," he corrected himself, at the look on Miya's face.

"This isn't a strategy meeting at all!" she said. "You're just getting drunk!"

"A little father and son reminiscence, is all," said Heartless Jon. "With a wee drop or two of the ol' social lubrication to grease the wheels o' the ages, ere the rust grew thick o'er the intervening years."

"Couldn't have put it better myself," said Tomas. Miya looked between the two of them.

"Well, I suppose it's good you're getting along and I guess you must have a lot to talk about, but we're in the middle of a war here! We have to be up and planning and fresh in a few hours, I think it's well past both of your bedtimes. Come on, up you get. Grandad, how's your knee?"

"Can barely feel it, love," he said, as she helped him to his feet.

"Come on, Dad, yip-yip." Miya clapped her hands lightly.

"All right, all right. Best sleep in a guest room tonight," Tomas muttered, as he got up.

"I'll kip down here, this couch seems comfy enough," said Heartless Jon.

"Nonsense, you'll do nothing of the kind," said Miya. "Come on, guest rooms are this way. Sola? You must be tired too, all of you come along, hustle hustle hustle."

Miya herded her father, grandfather and brother along and up the stairs, slotting them each into a room.

"G'night, granddaughter, may yer dreams be filled with adventure," said Heartless Jon, before he staggered over to the bed and managed to get in after only three attempts.

"Sleep well, my darling. Ah, don't tell your mother about the rum. Please," said Tomas, as Miya closed the door on him.

"Good night, sister," said Sola. "You should sleep more too, if you can."

"I was just thinking," said Miya, standing in the doorway of Sola's bedroom. "Why did you wake me now? Why not in the morning?"

Sola hesitated a moment, then said, "I was excited about telling you what I had learned, and I wanted to return your chest. Also, I missed your company."

Miya hugged her brother quickly.

"Good night, Sola. Sweet dreams."

"To you too."

Miya left her brother's bedroom and returned to her own, just a little sleepy. As she was preparing to climb back into bed she realised that her bed sheets were filthy—blackened with the soot from the clothes she'd been too tired to take off before falling asleep (also a little bit damp from where Sola had sat down). She tutted to herself, then went and washed her face and hands as well as she could. After that she changed into her pajamas (which were decorated with little crocheted clovers and ships, thank you Mum), then headed to the linen closet to get some clean sheets.

"Miya, good morning. Nice PJs."

Miya turned, arms full of sheets, at the sound of her mother's voice.

"You should be in bed sleeping," said Miya. "There's nothing happening right now except a little rain. And it's not morning, not nearly."

"I couldn't stay asleep," said Lily. "I kept waking up, sure that Pete was going to signal an attack, or thinking I heard the alarm from town. Why are your arms full of linen?"

"I sootied my sheets."

"Come on then, I'll give you a hand changing them."