Vampirates 4: Black Heart (17 page)

He grinned. "Can I count on your support?"

Cheng Li smiled enigmatically. "My deputy, Jacoby, is racing with Captain Quivers. And Captain Platonov has signed up Jasmine, another key member of my crew."

"I see," said Commodore Kuo. "So your loyalties are divided."

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean," she said with a smile. "But I understand that you are, for a change, the favorite."

"Am I?" John Kuo asked with a twinkle in his eye. "I'll be happy simply to beat last year's time."

"Yes." Cheng Li grinned. "And to break another academy record."

"Ouch!" Commodore Kuo made a sudden grab for his shoulder. "As ever, your darts are brutally accurate, Mistress Li."

She laughed, but then a rogue thought entered her head, a thought she had anticipated but had vowed would not trouble her today. And yet it was impossible for it not to.

"What's wrong?" John Kuo asked her.

Cheng Li sighed. "I was just thinking about my father. It's silly, I know, but I wish he could have seen me here today."

"Not silly," John Kuo said, reaching out his arms to Cheng Li. "Not at all. Chang Ko Li was like a brother to me. I knew him better perhaps than anyone but you and the rest of your family. And I know, my child, that he is watching you today and that he is the very proudest of men."

"Thank you," Cheng Li said, burying her face just for a moment in John Kuo's powerful chest.

"I mean it," Kuo said, kissing her lightly on the head. "Now, come on. We must hasten to the shore. It wouldn't be good form to be late for your own investiture!"

As the orchestra played the opening notes of the Pirate Federation anthem, the crowd of dignitaries, teachers, and students rose in unison. Cheng Li felt a shiver along her spine as she sang the familiar words.

"I pledge my life to adventure

I submit my soul to the sea.

I shall fight both wind and weather

For the dream that burns in me.

And the dream that burns in me

Is simply to be free.

And there is no greater freedom than

To be a pirate!"

The words and music resounded loudly in Cheng Li's head. As she sang the second verse, she turned to stare at the platform from which Commodore Kuo would shortly begin the ceremony. Behind it hung the ancient sailcloth bearing the Pirate Academy logo. The logo was composed of four symbols: the sword, the compass, the anchor, and the pearl. One of the very first things Cheng Li had been taught on her arrival at the Pirate Academy was the meaning of the four symbols: The sword represented the ability to fight, the compass signified skill in navigation, the anchor acknowledged the importance of pirate history, and the pearl celebrated the capacity to forge on through the toughest situations and find the treasure within. These, in the view of the Pirate Federation, were the four core talents any pirate must master, and Cheng Li knew she had mastered them all.

"... And the honor that I seek

Is a title beyond compare.

For there is no greater title than

To be a pirate!"

As the third and most stirring verse of the anthem approached its close, Commodore Kuo gave Cheng Li's hand a squeeze, then rose from his chair and walked over to climb the steps to the podium.

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen," he said, addressing the vast audience on the ranked stands with his natural confidence. "Welcome back to the Pirate Academy. This, like any harbor, is a place of connections. Many of you were formerly students here. Now you are captains and deputy captains of your own ships. Others among you are teachers here. Like me, you have left the oceans in order to pass on your knowledge and experience to the pirate captains of the future." He nodded toward the ranks of students. As he did so, a ripple of applause broke out among the crowd. The headmaster waited for it to subside before continuing. "Yes, I think of our little harbor here at the academy as a place to depart from and return to and to keep returning to, throughout your days as a pirate." He paused. "We are gathered here once more for the investiture of a new pirate captain. Such occasions always fill me with pride, but today this is especially true. We are about to see a truly remarkable young pirate take to the seas as captain of her own ship."

He exchanged a reassuring glance with Cheng Li. Standing there, she was already glowing with pride as he continued. "Cheng Li is, as you all know, the daughter of the great pirate captain Chang Ko Li. He was known as the best of the best, and for very good reason. Tragically, he died before Mistress Li was of an age to learn his skills firsthand. Whether piracy is in the blood is a matter for debate. Whatever one concludes, no one can deny that Cheng Li has been the most conscientious of students of piracy. During her illustrious career as a student of this academy, never once did I hear her invoke her parenthood as a reason for preferment. Never once did she use it to win favor with her classmates. No, because Cheng Li is a worker. She applied herself to the lessons here with absolute focus and diligence. She graduated top of her class, and as is customary left this school to take up an apprentice post as deputy captain on board the Diablo, captained by Molucco Wrathe."

Cheng Li wondered if others would note that neither Molucco, nor indeed any member of the Wrathe family, was present today. No matter. If they did, they would doubtless put it down to the recent incident on board the Typhon and the Wrathe brothers' determination to reclaim Trofie Wrathe's stolen hand. Remembering her recent run-in with the Wrathes at Ma Kettle's, Cheng Li was relieved that they were absent from today's ceremony, though she knew that her investiture would have made Molucco squirm rather satisfactorily.

She turned her attention back to Commodore Kuo. "We were lucky to borrow back Mistress Li to assist our teaching body for a few months -- the first time, I might add, that a non-captain had been asked to work here. It will come as no surprise to you that not only did Cheng Li rise to the challenge but she exceeded all expectations. She is a naturally gifted teacher, and had we the luxury of two lifetimes, would I'm sure have made a very valid contribution here. But the rightful place for Cheng Li is out on the oceans, and with no more ado, I would like to ask her to join me on this podium so I can perform her investiture as captain."

There was a spontaneous outburst of applause as Cheng Li climbed the steps to join Commodore Kuo on the platform.

They bowed before each other, and Teagan, a rather serious student from the reception class, stepped forward with a cushion fashioned from an antique joli rouge and bearing a captain's chain. This chain, made from gold and the finest gems, bore the same four symbols of the Pirate Federation, the sword, the compass, the anchor, and the pearl. Every captain certified by the Federation was given one, and wearing the chain would not only be a huge honor for Cheng Li but a potent link to the great pirates who had come before her. There was rapturous applause as the child presented the cushion to Commodore Kuo, who lifted the chain and draped it around Cheng Li's bowed neck.

Then Teagan stepped back, and Cheng Li knelt before Commodore Kuo. There was an absolute hush in the crowd as he removed his Toledo blade from its holster and held it in readiness.

"By the powers invested in me by the Pirate Federation, I, Commodore John Kuo, grant Cheng Li the title of captain in perpetuity."

He took the Toledo blade and extended it until the blade rested on one side of Cheng Li's neck. As the metal touched her pale skin, he spoke. "Plenty and satiety."

Then he moved the sword over her head to the other side of her neck, saying, "Pleasure and ease."

Finally, he rested the tip of the sword on her heart. "Liberty and power."

He returned the blade to its scabbard, and the final part of the ceremony began. The entire assembly chanted the words of the investiture:

"In your head and in your heart, may you uphold the traditions of the Pirate Federation.

Honor those who have come before you.

Give those who come after reason to honor you.

May the oceans sustain you and the weather be good to you.

May you teach your crew and allow them to teach you.

May you be steady both in glory and adversity.

And at the setting of your sun, may you travel home in peace and harmony."

The commodore bowed to Cheng Li and extended his hand to help her up. As he did so, he kissed her lightly on the cheek and whispered in her ear, "Congratulations, Captain Li." Then he stepped back to give her center stage. Once more the applause was rapturous.

"Thank you," said Cheng Li, her face as bright as the afternoon sun. "I promise not to detain you long, but I would like to thank a few people. Thank you to Commodore Kuo for performing my investiture and for saying such kind words about myself and my father. Thank you to the academy tutors who taught me so well and" -- she paused -- "who worked me so tirelessly!" There was a ripple of laughter at this. "But if I thought the students worked hard here, that was nothing compared to the work the teachers put in, as I now know!" She clapped her own hands together to honor her teaching colleagues. In the crowd, she saw Captain Quivers acknowledge her praise.

"Today is a wonderful day for me, but piracy is a team event. I feel blessed to have such a wonderful new ship provided by the Federation, and yes, very soon I shall unveil the name I have chosen for her. But before I do, I want to acknowledge the crew I shall be working with. Thanks to each and every one of you who has signed up to my articles. I hope I will serve you well as your captain. I know how talented you are and I look forward to working with you." She glanced to where Jacoby, Jasmine, Connor, and the other members of the crew sat in the stands, smiling at their dynamic leader.

"And so to the name of my ship. I thought long and hard about this. But as I filled a notebook with ideas, I kept coming back to one name. There was just no getting away from it. I had to ask Commodore Kuo if we could bend federation regulations. I'm delighted to say that the federation has agreed, and so I give you my new ship, our new ship, the Tiger!"

There was a communal gasp as the ship's plaque was revealed.

"I know!" Cheng Li said. "I know that it is not usual practice to take the name of a former federation ship, but I need hardly tell you that the Tiger was the name of my father's vessel. My father, Chang Ko Li, was cut down in his prime. People talk about him as being the best of the best. But he was only a young man when he died, and I think there was much we had yet to see from him. I want to continue his work. I hope that you will understand that I chose this name not to ride upon his reputation but to honor it and, I hope, in time, to enhance it."

As she finished speaking, there was absolute silence once more. Cheng Li glanced nervously about the crowd. She caught Jacoby's eye. His hands began to clap. Then Jasmine and Connor joined in, followed by the rest of the crew of her newly named ship. Behind her, she heard John Kuo bringing his own hands together. Cheng Li dared not turn around but glanced instead up to the row of captains. She saw with relief that they, too, were clapping. Within an instant, she faced a wall of applause. Most of the audience had risen to their feet in a further demonstration of support.

"There," Commodore Kuo whispered in her ear. "I told you they'd fall into line, didn't I?"

Smiling, Cheng Li nodded her appreciation as Commodore Kuo addressed the crowd once more. "Ladies and gentlemen, Captain Li and her crew will now sit for the crew pictures that are customary prior to the maiden voyage. As for the rest of us, please do join me on the terrace for our deservedly famous academy tea. And then we shall resume our seats -- at least you will resume your seats -- for the Captains' Race!"

Out at sea, Lady Lola Lockwood's face was pressed tight against the high-definition periscope that enabled her to see outside without ever actually having to venture into the daylight. She adjusted the focus until she had a crystal clear view of the scene in the Pirate Academy harbor. She watched for a moment, then stepped back and stood up to her full height, brushing a stray tendril of raven hair away from her eyes.

"Well?" inquired Marianne, who was sitting across from her on a beautiful silk-covered chair, working away on her needlepoint.

"The race is about to begin," announced Lady Lockwood.

Marianne grinned and set down her tapestry. "Shall I go and ready the others?"

"Yes, my dear," smiled Lady Lockwood. She rubbed her hands together briskly. "Goody, goody! I'm in the mood for some sport tonight."

17THE CAPTAINS' RACE