treasure rewrite
Dec. 3rd, 2006 10:50 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
maderrIt's still rough. My betas can bemoan my errors at their leisure.
There are few thing I enjoy writing as much as Kinlosing every single argument he's dumb enough to get into. He's just so much fun to pick on.
Chapter Four
“Same!” Kindan bellowed for his first mate, whipping around at the soft snort that came from behind him.
“Yes, Cap’n?” Same asked blandly, not bothering to hide the mirth that sparkled in his dark blue eyes.
Kindan ignored it. “How do things progress?”
“We’re ready to sail, Cap’n. Just waiting on our guests.”
“Guests,” Kindan repeated contemptuously. “Very well. Tell the men they can relax until our guests appear.”
“Yes, “Cap’n.”
Another chuckle came from nearby and Kindan stiffened. Same laughed. “Master Raiden,” he said, bowing his head.
“Same,” Raiden greeted lightly. “It looks as though everything is going well.”
“Of course it is, Master Raiden.”
Kindan ignored the amused look his first mate shot his way.
“Kin,” Raiden greeted. “Looking forward to returning to the seas?”
“Same, please inform Raiden that he is to leave me alone or be dumped overboard. Also remind him that I am not speaking to him.”
Raiden laughed. “Oh, I remember. It’s been three days, Kin. Surely you cannot be that angry still? I've even left you in peace until now.”
Kindan jerked away from the hand Shima tried to lay on his shoulder. “Same, please inform Raiden that I really will dump him over board.”
“Oh, I believe you,” Raiden replied as Same simply rolled his eyes and walked away. “You did it in Piedre that one time, after all.”
Still Kindan said nothing, staring stonily out over the harbor.
Sighing in amusement and exasperation, Raiden stepped around so that he was looking straight at Kin, who simply glared.
“You’re overreacting,” Raiden said calmly.
Kin said nothing.
“Even you cannot go this entire journey not speaking to me. Such poor communication will create problems, and you detest when things don’t run smoothly on your vessels.”
“You are not improving your chances of staying dry by being obnoxious, Shima!” Kin snapped. “I cannot believe you treated the secretary like a slave to be bought and expect me not to be angered!”
Raiden lifted a brow. “It was a perfectly legal exchange, Kin. His Highness sold Takara’s contract to me, as is often done with royal employees.”
“That does not make it right or any less detestable.”
“His Highness had his reasons, no doubt, for doing as he did.”
“Amusement!” Kin snapped. “Or didn’t you notice he was laughing? Dragons drown you all!” Snarling further curses, Kin turned away and stalked back the captain’s quarters, slamming the door behind him.
He crossed the cabin to the table and glared at the map spread out on it, noting sourly that his second mate had finished charting the course perfectly. Of course he had, Kin didn’t hire idiots to sail under him.
Still, now he was running out of people to snap at. Bracing his hands on the table, Kin reminded himself he had no choice but to do this if he wanted to be able to keep his promise in another year or so. When this journey was over, he was fetching the Kumiko and waiting in Kundou until Koori came to him.
Assuming he wasn’t the only one who remembered the promise… He shook his head vehemently back and forth, refusing to be pessimistic when he had already had more than enough to frustrate him.
Glowering, Kin returned his attention to the map, looking at it more closely. The quality of it was amazing, as was the detail…especially given it must be centuries old. Only royals would bury something this valuable and useful in the treasury only to be pulled out when a spoiled brat wanted to prance around the world.
Snarling, Kin strode to his desk and threw himself into his seat, snatching up the ledger on the center of the desk. He flipped idly through it, more interested in privately cursing the entire voyage that double checking the cargo lists – because Raiden being Raiden, and despite what he might have said, was not going to stop trading. Pozhar was too valuable a port to pass up, especially as a good portion of the hold was devoted to tea, bolts of Kundou silk, and three trunks of Kundou sashes.
Throwing the ledger back down, Kin stood up again and restlessly prowled his quarters.
A sharp rap at the door broke into his thoughts and Kin snarled for the intruder to enter.
Same looked at him with exaggerated patience. “Guests arriving, Cap’n.”
“Yes, I thought I sensed a storm on the horizon,” Kin replied. Grimacing, he strode to the door and followed Same outside to the upper deck where Raiden stood as two men boarded the Fuujin.
Kindan caught himself staring, but was unable to do more than glower to cover it up.
Prince Nankyokukai had cut his hair. Gone were the waist length strands of ocean-blue strung with precious jewels. He’d cut it to his chin and left it unadorned. It…surprised him. Only royalty and a precious few nobles could afford to keep their hair so long, so richly decorated. Only the color of their eyes and hair more clearly marked the royal house of Kundou. To cut it, especially to such a drastic length, was…unheard of. Kindan had never known it to be done.
The prince finished greeting Raiden and turned toward him, lowering his shoulders and head in a polite half-bow. “Captain,” he said as he rose back up, an infuriating smirk curving on his pale lips. “A pleasure to see you again.”
“Are you and Raiden’s secretary ready to sail?” Kyo asked, ignoring the mocking display of manners.
Nankyokukai laughed. “Are you always angry, Captain? Doesn’t that get boring?”
“I could ask the same about being a selfish, spoiled brat,” Kyo snapped. “Obviously you still find amusement in it, so I suppose anger must have its own amusements. My third mate will show you to your quarters.” Turning sharply on his heel, he stalked up to the poop deck and shifted his glare to the harbor and the open seas beyond. “Same!” he bellowed.
“Cap’n?” Same asked, looking up at him.
“Make us ready to sail. We leave as soon as everything is ready.”
“Aye, Cap’n,” Same replied. He turned and started calling orders to the crew, who all fell obediently to work. Most of them were older by Kin by at least a few years, if not several. No one, however, had ever questioned him.
He was a stark contrast to the men working across the upper deck and in the rigging. Years of sea and sun had left them all with dark, weather-roughened skin. Kundouins in general had slightly darker skin in general. Most of the men aboard were also short, builds ranging from slender to stocky. Hardened sailors all, none of them the type to get squeamish about the rougher elements of life at sea.
Kindan was pale, his skin smooth and flawless. He looked more like a noble in that respect, except that for him it was completely natural, not the result of hiding from the sun. A byproduct of his birth and one he hated. Only a history of fights and pitching men overboard in his younger years had convinced one and all not to be fooled by his appearance. In every other way he was as much a man of the sea as those who scrambled to obey his orders.
“Ready, Cap’n!”
“Then get us out of here,” Kindan said.
Same joined him on the poop deck. “Master Raiden requests to speak with you in your quarters.”
“Of course he does,” Kindan said. “He can wait until we are in open waters.” He stepped away to let Same take the helm, knowing full well Raiden would come hunting him down and he’d just have to hand it over anyway. Shoving away thoughts of his friend and guests, Kindan devoted all his attention to his ship and crew, snapping orders where necessary, one eye on the sea itself.
An hour later he was satisfied they were well on their way. He could sense no foul weather on the horizon. Same could, unfortunately, manage from here. Stifling his curses, Kindan strode down the stairs and into his quarters. “Make yourselves comfortable,” he said dryly at the three men comfortably settled at his table with food and wine.
“We will, thank you, Kin,” Raiden said, unrepentant. Perhaps the only who could get away with such disrespect. Raiden might own the ship, but Kin ruled it and all aboard. “Come join us, now that we are underway. Such a voyage should be celebrated, and your sour demeanor hardly suits a celebration.
“Celebrating with slave traders does not give me cause to smile,” Kyo retorted, ignoring them to stride to his desk. From the bottom drawer of his desk he withdrew a glass bottle filled with what looked like water but was in fact the finest quality Pozharian liquor available. Most swore by Verde whine or Piedren whiskey, but he far preferred Firelander vodka. Pouring a lowball half full, he tossed the drink back in one swallow. The vodka burned down his throat and settled to a lingering warmth in his stomach. He returned the bottle to his desk and crossed his arms over his chest.
Raiden chuckled. “You can’t stay angry forever, Kin.”
“It seems to me he is always angry,” Nankyo answered, shooting him another of those taunting smirks. “Perhaps I only ever see your bad side.”
“Kindan is perpetually grouchy, it’s true,” Raiden said, and Kindan could tell by the glint in his eye that Raiden was close to losing his temper over Kin’s continuing anger.
Good. It served him right for acting in such a wretched, stupid manner. Jewels and silk and perfume were one thing; people were quite another.
Though if he felt like being honest, which he most certainly did not, the true source of his ire was the arrogant man sitting across from Raiden, that infuriating smirk still on his face. As if he knew exactly how annoyed Kin was and why. Which just made Kin that much angrier.
Dragons drown them all. Standing up, Kin stalked over the table and crossly sat down next to Nankyokukai, wondering resentfully if Raiden had arranged the seats so on purpose. When he felt like being honest again, he would probably concede Raiden had only cared about having Takara next to him.
“The course is charted,” he said stiffly, forcing himself to act like a Captain if not like much else. “If you care to see it.”
Nankyokukai sipped his dark red wine idly, the smirk faded from his lips but lingering in his sharp, ocean blue eyes. “I will settle for hearing it, thank you, Captain.”
Somehow he was being mocked, Kin knew it, but storms if he could figure out how. Wishing he’d brought the vodka with him, Kin explained the course. He was proud of it; no one knew the seas better than he. Part of that was his natural affinity, but more than a bit of it had come through hard work and discipline. Storms if he’d let an arrogant prince ruin the pride and pleasure he took in his work. “The journey straight from here to the point of destination would be roughly five months over open sea. Rather than risk it and spend the entire five months at sea, we have instead arranged to run the three months to Pozhar, resupply, then make a two-month journey to the island we call home.”
“San Hoshi,” Raiden interject, face brightening. “I found it years ago, completely abandoned. I’ve slowly built it up. It now has my own manor as well as a small village comprised of the sailors’ families, friends, a few others. It is one of my greatest treasures.”
“Yes,” Kindan said. “That will be our last stop, before we travel another month to the point of destination.”
“So you are extending the journey there by a month. No doubt to take the same route back, so a twelve month journey in total.”
“From the point where we turn east toward San Hoshi, then beyond it to the island you insist is there though only your maps say so, the waters are largely uncharted in recent centuries. They are outside the trade routes, nothing but water and small islands so far as old, unreliable maps go. It is safer to break the trip up into a total of three stops and add a month than make a straight five month journey.” He looked between Nankyokukai and Takara. “It will also be safer in that we are likely to encounter storms and other problems.” Though he was hoping a particular problem would not bother him this journey. “In which case we will benefit from being in port to make necessary repairs and replace anything that is lost.”
Nankyo smirked and finished his wine. Takara refilled it as he set the empty glass down on the table. “I wouldn’t worry about storms, my good Captain. While I am aboard, there should be nothing but smooth sailing…so far as the seas are concerned.” He lifted his refilled wine glass and took another sip.
A strand of hair slipped forward as he set the glass down and Nankyokukai reached up to tuck it back behind his ear. The shorter hair bared his long, pale throat, further enhanced the dark green collar that lined his ice blue robes, matching a dark green sash embroidered with paler green dragons.
Kin looked away and finally helped himself the food spread out across the table. “Did you conclude all your business satisfactorily, Shima?”
“Naturally,” Raiden replied, motioning vaguely in the air, the jeweled rings on his fingers glinting in the light. “If we resell all the perfume I bargained for, we will more than make up what we paid for the silver…though of course I’ve already made that up.”
“Then promptly lost it all buying that storming necklace,” Kin said.
Raiden rolled his eyes. “Shall I remind you how much that little bauble in your ear cost?”
“Not nearly as much as it should have,” Kin retorted. He jerked away as fingers touched the black pearl stud in his left ear, then glared furiously at Nankyokukai. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“My apologies,” Nankyokukai replied, looking anything but apologetic. “Even in the palace, such black pearls are not common. It’s truly black, not merely deep gray.”
Kindan grunted. “Yes,” he said, saying nothing more.
“Kindan has precious few treasures,” Raiden said into the silence, “but he guards them voraciously. We found that pearl in a backwater jewelry shop in Pozhar, of all places. The merchant thought he was fleecing us…we, of course, did not bother to tell him that it was worth three times what he demanded. Firelanders.” He shook his head slowly back and forth.
Takara looked at him in disbelief. “Surely even a backwater shop should know the true value of a true black pearl?”
Raiden shrugged. “That was my thinking, but I was hardly going to question the storming fool about. I’m a merchant, not a priest.” He took a deep swallow of his own wine.
“Believe me, I noticed,” Takara replied. “So we have three months to Pozhar? I have heard much of the Firelanders, and met those who have come to Kundou…” his face clouded briefly.
Nankyokukai chuckled. “A hundred years from now, Taka, you will still be sore over that fight with Duke Krasny.”
“The man is a storming bastard,” Takara snapped. “Everything is a battle to him and he takes no quarter. I wanted to throw him in the shark pool.”
“You should have said so,” Nankyo said with a laugh. “I would have done so for you.” Mischief sparked in his eyes. “Taiheiyou and Indoyou no doubt would welcome the company. If you had asked nicely, Taka, I may have even iced it over.”
Takara rolled his eyes. “I am surprised you needed me to ask, Nankyo.”
“I thought Princess Sonya might take offense,” Nankyo murmured.
Kin stood up, unable to bear being at a table where Dukes and Princesses were discussed with such flippancy. It was not the sort of conversation at which he belonged. Stalking back to his desk – this was his cabin, storms if he’d leave because they were being infuriating – and yanked his log from its drawer. Ignoring the brief silence that rapidly returned to idle chatter, he noted the date and time of departure, adding in the details of crew, passengers, weather and general notes of the cargo.
Not that much of anything would survive if they were attacked, but it never hurt to take all precautions – especially with a royal prince aboard. The idea of something going wrong while he transported royalty halfway across the world made his head hurt something fierce.
Why had he let Raiden talk him into this mad scheme? They’d be far better off sticking to their trade routes. Better profit…all right so it was hard to beat what the prince had given them on top of the royal house paying for all supplies…but was it worth the headache? Kindan glanced pensively toward the table, keeping his eyes on the far wall, watching the prince on his periphery.
There was little point in denying Prince Nankyokukai was beautiful. All the rumors of him were quick to bring up the subject of his beauty – most said that he easily outstripped his family in appearance, even the Princess Umiko. Beyond that, the rumors agreed on a few more interesting points: he was given to making life difficult for his siblings, did what he wanted when he wanted, and was probably the most talented magic-user after his father.
Everyone loved to gossip about the troublesome brat prince and the way he wreaked havoc upon his family.
The pretty face was a smooth surface that gave no indication of the sharp-toothed fish beneath. In short, not worth the trouble. Raiden was going to pay and pay dearly for dragging him into this.
Unable to sit still, Kin stalked from the room, slamming the door behind him, and went back up the poop deck. He shook his head at Same’s silent query over the helm, instead moving to the railing to glance briefly at the men before letting his gaze wander out over the deep blue green sea, the cloudless sky.
Here was where he belonged. Nothing but water on all sides, a strong wind and three months far away from civilization. The tension eased slowly from him, and Kin allowed his thoughts to wander, unsurprised when they went immediately the reason he was willing to endure almost anything. A promise he hoped, ached, to keep. One more year and he would be able to afford to wait until Koori found him…
“This is my hiding spot!” Kinni hissed in outrage, furious that some street rat had found his little corner in the old warehouse. He’d searched ages for a place no one would think to look. “This is my spot,” he repeated. “Go find your own.”
“So-sorry,” the figure said, slowly standing up, hands going to his face to wipe away tears but really monly managing to smudge them into the dust that had accumulated on his face. There was always dust in the old warehouses in the harbor. Late afternoon sunlight filtered through the cracks in the old wood walls, just enough to see by.
He’d thought it was a girl, what with the crying and the shoulder-length violet hair. Now, though, he could sort of tell it was a boy. Crying. Kinni shook his head and motioned impatiently. “Sit down. If you run now, the guard will see you and I don’t want to get caught. Took all day to get away from the storming ‘smith.”
“S-smith?” the boy asked, still sniffling but obediently sitting back down, curling his legs up as he set his back against a towering packing crate.
“Silversmith,” Kinni said shortly, not interested in discussing the storming bastard he’d finally run away from. He belonged on the sea, like his dad, not slaving away in some stupid shop full of dumb trinkets. “I ran away.” He slid down to sit down next to the storming weird crying boy. “Why are you crying?” he demanded. “Boys don’t cry. My dad said so.”
In reply, the boy only hunched his shoulders and sniffled, obviously trying to stop crying. “They tried to hurt me again for ‘acting up’ in lessons.”
Lessons. Violet hair. Some noble brat. That was even worse than a street rat. Kinni grimaced but slid off his pack. Mamma had always said to be nice, and the boy was crying, so he could try. “I have some food, if you want to share. Just don’t eat all of it.”
“Me too,” the boy said quietly, and suddenly scrambled over to a shadowy corner, pulling out a satchel that seemed way too big for his tiny body – he was smaller than Kinni, but then the shop women always said he was big for his age – and opened it up, pulling out half a dozen clumsily wrapped bundles. “Took from the kitchen when the cooks weren’t looking,” he said with another soft sniffle.
Kinni stared. Little oranges that were actually called something else but he couldn’t remember what. Flat bread that smelled like cinnamon. Two little meat pies. Hunks of cheese. It made his own feeble takings seem that much more pathetic. Grimacing, he pulled out his own offerings – a few small apples, some hard bread, and a few pickled eggs he’d managed to snatch right before he’d fled while the storming smith was starting in early with the cheap wine. Storms, it was only lunch time.
“Apples!” the boy said eagerly. “Those are my favorite.”
“Trade you for an orange,” Kinni said, handing over one of his green apples.
Immediately the boy nodded, taking the apple and giving Kin an orange.
“My name is Kinni,” Kinni said. “What’s yours?”
The boy stared at him, silent for a long time. “Koori,” he said at last.
Kinni grunted and began peeling the little orange, ripping the skin away and tearing the slices apart, popping one in his mouth, grinning around it. “This is good.”
“Mmmhmm,” Koori agreed, taking another bit of his apple, holding it with both hands as if worried it would get away from him.
“So why are you here?” Kinni asked when his orange was gone, more interested in getting another one than in knowing why Koori had run away.
Koori paused in the middle of taking a bite, and Kinni almost groaned as he realized he’d made Koori start crying again. The apple fell into the dirt as Koori curled up, sobbing quietly into his arms.
“Hey! Storms take it! What’s wrong? Stop crying – boys don’t cry, come on. What’s wrong?” Kinni struggled to get Koori to stop, utterly confused. This was worse than the way all the storming girls giggled whenever he was around and where always trying to touch him and play with his hair.
Hesitantly he reached out to touch Koori’s shoulder, yelping as the boy abruptly turned and embraced him tightly, clinging tighter than a starfish to a ship. Desperately Kinni tried to think of how to get the crying boy off of him. Shoving wasn’t working. Awkwardly he settled for what he’d some of the men around the shops do when their women started crying and patted Koori’s back and shoulders. “Storms, it’s all right. What has you acting like this?”
“I-I-I-don’t-don’t,” the boy sniffled loudly, then started coughing, before he regained control of his voice. “I don’t want to g-go h-home.”
Kinni rolled his eyes. “Then don’t. S’why I ran away. I’m going to be a sailor like my dad.”
Koori’s sobbing eased a bit and slowly he sat up. “A-a sailor?” he repeated, voice full of the same longing Kinni felt every day.
“Yeah,” Kinni said proudly. “I even have money saved up, to buy my way onto a ship.”
Koori frowned. “Buy your way?”
“Oh, you’re from the city, so maybe you don’t know. Ships only take sailors what can buy a post. They don’t take just any riff-raff off the streets. My dad taught me all about sailing, so I know they’ll take me.” He hoped. He didn’t want to go back to that storming trinket shop.
“I don’t have money,” Koori said with a sniffle. He wiped the tears from his cheeks, smudging the grimy dust further, then fumbled in his satchel again. “All I have is this,” he said in a low tone. “Mama said it was special.”
Kinni knew silver when he saw it, even in the dingy light filtering into the tiny corner. It was a dagger, decorative rather than functional, and he could see there were stones set into it…possibly saphir or esmeralda. Hard to tell. The sheath was silver as well, set with more stones. He handed it back. “You could sell that for a lot of money.”
“Maybe,” Koori said with a frown. He laid the dagger in his lap and retrieved his apple. “So why are you going to be a sailor?”
“My dad was a sailor. A captain. I’m going to be captain of the best ship in the world and bring home the ultimate treasure just like he did.”
Koori looked at him with wide eyes. “What’s the ultimate treasure?”
“Ah—I don’t know yet. Dad never said, he just always smiled at mom like they were keeping a secret.” Kinni frowned at the memory, refusing to be sad that his parents were dead. He was tired of being sad. He was strong, just like dad. “I’ll find it anyway though, just wait and see.”
“I wish I could,” Koori said, smiling sadly. “I have to go home, though, even if I don’t want to. I don’t know how to be a sailor and if I stay away they’ll hurt my sister instead of me.”
Kinni glowered. “Hurt your sister? Who?”
“The t-tutors,” Koori said, beginning to sniffle again. “They always h-hurt when I do or say something wrong. M-ma-mama says it’s ‘growing up’ when I tell her.” He wiped his cheek again.
Clumsily Kinni patted his shoulders again, really hoping the boy wouldn’t cling all over him again. “It’s cause you cry,” he said knowingly. “The storming smith I worked for picked on me a lot after my parents died and I was sad. Then I just started laughing at him, and he got so mad eventually he stopped punishing me all the time. When they try to hurt you, just laugh instead of cry. Then they’ll stop, and maybe leave your sister alone too.”
“R-really?” Koori asked, blinking those wide, wide eye up at him.
Something about him made Kinni want to hug him, which was just girly and weird. “Really,” he said.
Koori nodded obediently. “I still wish I could be a sailor.”
“Why can’t you?”
“B-because of my s-sister,” Koori said, beginning to cry again. “And no-no-no one likes me..” He looked miserably at Kinni, then down at his own hands, fisted in the fabric of his grungy robes.
“Aw, that’s not true. You’re not cold. I’m sure there are people that like you.” He reached out to pat his shoulder again, letting out what sounded like a squeak when Koori abruptly leeched onto him again, crying quietly against him.
Storms take it. Kinni patted his back again, really wishing he could figure out how to make the boy stop crying and going all starfish. “What about your parents?”
Instead of calming, Koori only cried harder.
Wrong thing to say. Kinni struggled to think of what to do. “Well—I like you. Even if you cry a lot.”
“Y-you just met me,” Koori said plaintively. “You can’t like me already.”
Kinni frowned. “Yes, I can. The only people I don’t like are mean people and you cry too much to be mean.”
“M’kay,” Koori mumbled against his shirt, then slowly he sat up. “I like you too.” He smiled.
Kinni stared, but his thoughts were broken up as outside the harbor bells began to ring. “The ports are closing soon,” he said. “If I’m going to try and get on a ship before they find me for running away from my apprenticeship, I have to go now.”
“Oh…” Koori said glumly, smile vanishing. He obediently moved away and packed up all his things, slinging the overlarge satchel over one shoulder.
“Come on,” Kinni said. “The guards should be busy collecting all the riff-raff and stuff and I can find a ship to sneak onto or something. I’ve been planning this for months.” If ‘run away and find a ship’ counted as a plan.
Taking Koori’s hand, not sure why he did though from the way he clung tight it was obvious Koori didn’t mind, Kinni weaved his way through the boxes and crates filling the warehouse until they made it to the doors.
Outside the sunlight was slowly fading, though it would still be a couple of hours before it was really dark. He dropped his hand and turned to look at Koori – then stopped.
Koori was…pretty. He’d never known a boy could be pretty.
Filthy, but pretty. “You’re a mess. How long have you been in the warehouse?”
“S-since yesterday,” Koori said, cheeks flushing at the comment to his appearance. He knelt on the ground and opened his satchel, fumbling briefly to yank out a piece of cloth, Kinni assumed to try and clean his face or something. Koori frowned as it caught on something in the bag and gave a hard yank.
Kinni gawked as the dagger spilled free, fading sunlight catching on Highland silver and brilliant saphir. Flawless, he bet, though he didn’t know jewels as well as he did silver. He knelt down and picked it up. “Koori, you could buy a ship with this.”
“Really?” Koori asked doubtfully.
“A whole ship,” Kinni repeated. “You’d never have to go home. You could take your sister too, if you’re worried about her.”
Koori frowned, then shook his head. “Sister wouldn’t leave. ‘Sides, mama said I have ‘sponsibilities. I only meant to run away for a little while.” He took the dagger as Kinni handed it to him, then suddenly thrust it back. “You take it. Buy a ship.”
“What?” Kinni said, mouth gaping.
“Buy a ship,” Koori repeated. “Be a sailor.” He smiled sadly. “You can find the ultimate treasure.”
Kinni swallowed and looked at the dagger. What would his dad do? He always said never accept gifts.
“Maybe you can come and show it to me someday. Your ship too,” Koori said wistfully, turning to look out over the harbor and the ocean beyond.
Then Kinni knew what to do. Fumbling for a moment, he pulled a heavy silver chain from beneath it, undoing the clasp and shoving it into Koori’s hands. “Here. That belonged to my dad. He gave it to me before…” He stopped as memories of that night tried to surface, but he stamped them down, refusing to be sad anymore. “Before he died. It’s our family crest.”
Koori turned the necklace over in his hands, examining the pendant attached to the chain – a lighthouse from which emanated beams of light. “Pretty,” he said softly.
“Dad always said never accept gifts. A man earns what he takes. This dagger is worth a lot, and I can’t repay it. So…how about I make you a promise?”
Those wide eyes turned up to him, and Kinni wondered why they made him want to hug the boy again even though hugging was girly and stupid. “A promise?” he repeated.
“Yeah,” Kinni said, wishing his heart would stop beating so fast, confused as to why it did. “You said you can’t run away now…but if you ever can run away forever, then I’ll help you. I’m not a Captain yet, but I will be done day. I’m going to call my ship the Kumiko. Ask for Captain Kinni and show me that pendant and I’ll take you wherever you want to go. Maybe…maybe you can ever help me find the ultimate treasure. If you come soon enough.”
A smile lit up Koori’s face; even the grime and drying tears couldn’t dim the power of that smile. Then Kinni found his arms full again, arms so tight around his neck he was practically choking. “It’s a promise, then.”
“Y-yeah,” Kinni said, but didn’t manage anything more as Koori suddenly kissed his cheek quickly, shyly, then turned and bolted away. He turned around briefly to wave, then vanished into the crowds of people leaving the harbor.
Kinni watched him go, shaking his head in confusion, then hid the dagger in his own bag before bolting away from the warehouse to find a ship that would take him for a measly 700 paaru. For some reason, he knew he wouldn’t ever sell the dagger.
There are few thing I enjoy writing as much as Kin
Chapter Four
“Same!” Kindan bellowed for his first mate, whipping around at the soft snort that came from behind him.
“Yes, Cap’n?” Same asked blandly, not bothering to hide the mirth that sparkled in his dark blue eyes.
Kindan ignored it. “How do things progress?”
“We’re ready to sail, Cap’n. Just waiting on our guests.”
“Guests,” Kindan repeated contemptuously. “Very well. Tell the men they can relax until our guests appear.”
“Yes, “Cap’n.”
Another chuckle came from nearby and Kindan stiffened. Same laughed. “Master Raiden,” he said, bowing his head.
“Same,” Raiden greeted lightly. “It looks as though everything is going well.”
“Of course it is, Master Raiden.”
Kindan ignored the amused look his first mate shot his way.
“Kin,” Raiden greeted. “Looking forward to returning to the seas?”
“Same, please inform Raiden that he is to leave me alone or be dumped overboard. Also remind him that I am not speaking to him.”
Raiden laughed. “Oh, I remember. It’s been three days, Kin. Surely you cannot be that angry still? I've even left you in peace until now.”
Kindan jerked away from the hand Shima tried to lay on his shoulder. “Same, please inform Raiden that I really will dump him over board.”
“Oh, I believe you,” Raiden replied as Same simply rolled his eyes and walked away. “You did it in Piedre that one time, after all.”
Still Kindan said nothing, staring stonily out over the harbor.
Sighing in amusement and exasperation, Raiden stepped around so that he was looking straight at Kin, who simply glared.
“You’re overreacting,” Raiden said calmly.
Kin said nothing.
“Even you cannot go this entire journey not speaking to me. Such poor communication will create problems, and you detest when things don’t run smoothly on your vessels.”
“You are not improving your chances of staying dry by being obnoxious, Shima!” Kin snapped. “I cannot believe you treated the secretary like a slave to be bought and expect me not to be angered!”
Raiden lifted a brow. “It was a perfectly legal exchange, Kin. His Highness sold Takara’s contract to me, as is often done with royal employees.”
“That does not make it right or any less detestable.”
“His Highness had his reasons, no doubt, for doing as he did.”
“Amusement!” Kin snapped. “Or didn’t you notice he was laughing? Dragons drown you all!” Snarling further curses, Kin turned away and stalked back the captain’s quarters, slamming the door behind him.
He crossed the cabin to the table and glared at the map spread out on it, noting sourly that his second mate had finished charting the course perfectly. Of course he had, Kin didn’t hire idiots to sail under him.
Still, now he was running out of people to snap at. Bracing his hands on the table, Kin reminded himself he had no choice but to do this if he wanted to be able to keep his promise in another year or so. When this journey was over, he was fetching the Kumiko and waiting in Kundou until Koori came to him.
Assuming he wasn’t the only one who remembered the promise… He shook his head vehemently back and forth, refusing to be pessimistic when he had already had more than enough to frustrate him.
Glowering, Kin returned his attention to the map, looking at it more closely. The quality of it was amazing, as was the detail…especially given it must be centuries old. Only royals would bury something this valuable and useful in the treasury only to be pulled out when a spoiled brat wanted to prance around the world.
Snarling, Kin strode to his desk and threw himself into his seat, snatching up the ledger on the center of the desk. He flipped idly through it, more interested in privately cursing the entire voyage that double checking the cargo lists – because Raiden being Raiden, and despite what he might have said, was not going to stop trading. Pozhar was too valuable a port to pass up, especially as a good portion of the hold was devoted to tea, bolts of Kundou silk, and three trunks of Kundou sashes.
Throwing the ledger back down, Kin stood up again and restlessly prowled his quarters.
A sharp rap at the door broke into his thoughts and Kin snarled for the intruder to enter.
Same looked at him with exaggerated patience. “Guests arriving, Cap’n.”
“Yes, I thought I sensed a storm on the horizon,” Kin replied. Grimacing, he strode to the door and followed Same outside to the upper deck where Raiden stood as two men boarded the Fuujin.
Kindan caught himself staring, but was unable to do more than glower to cover it up.
Prince Nankyokukai had cut his hair. Gone were the waist length strands of ocean-blue strung with precious jewels. He’d cut it to his chin and left it unadorned. It…surprised him. Only royalty and a precious few nobles could afford to keep their hair so long, so richly decorated. Only the color of their eyes and hair more clearly marked the royal house of Kundou. To cut it, especially to such a drastic length, was…unheard of. Kindan had never known it to be done.
The prince finished greeting Raiden and turned toward him, lowering his shoulders and head in a polite half-bow. “Captain,” he said as he rose back up, an infuriating smirk curving on his pale lips. “A pleasure to see you again.”
“Are you and Raiden’s secretary ready to sail?” Kyo asked, ignoring the mocking display of manners.
Nankyokukai laughed. “Are you always angry, Captain? Doesn’t that get boring?”
“I could ask the same about being a selfish, spoiled brat,” Kyo snapped. “Obviously you still find amusement in it, so I suppose anger must have its own amusements. My third mate will show you to your quarters.” Turning sharply on his heel, he stalked up to the poop deck and shifted his glare to the harbor and the open seas beyond. “Same!” he bellowed.
“Cap’n?” Same asked, looking up at him.
“Make us ready to sail. We leave as soon as everything is ready.”
“Aye, Cap’n,” Same replied. He turned and started calling orders to the crew, who all fell obediently to work. Most of them were older by Kin by at least a few years, if not several. No one, however, had ever questioned him.
He was a stark contrast to the men working across the upper deck and in the rigging. Years of sea and sun had left them all with dark, weather-roughened skin. Kundouins in general had slightly darker skin in general. Most of the men aboard were also short, builds ranging from slender to stocky. Hardened sailors all, none of them the type to get squeamish about the rougher elements of life at sea.
Kindan was pale, his skin smooth and flawless. He looked more like a noble in that respect, except that for him it was completely natural, not the result of hiding from the sun. A byproduct of his birth and one he hated. Only a history of fights and pitching men overboard in his younger years had convinced one and all not to be fooled by his appearance. In every other way he was as much a man of the sea as those who scrambled to obey his orders.
“Ready, Cap’n!”
“Then get us out of here,” Kindan said.
Same joined him on the poop deck. “Master Raiden requests to speak with you in your quarters.”
“Of course he does,” Kindan said. “He can wait until we are in open waters.” He stepped away to let Same take the helm, knowing full well Raiden would come hunting him down and he’d just have to hand it over anyway. Shoving away thoughts of his friend and guests, Kindan devoted all his attention to his ship and crew, snapping orders where necessary, one eye on the sea itself.
An hour later he was satisfied they were well on their way. He could sense no foul weather on the horizon. Same could, unfortunately, manage from here. Stifling his curses, Kindan strode down the stairs and into his quarters. “Make yourselves comfortable,” he said dryly at the three men comfortably settled at his table with food and wine.
“We will, thank you, Kin,” Raiden said, unrepentant. Perhaps the only who could get away with such disrespect. Raiden might own the ship, but Kin ruled it and all aboard. “Come join us, now that we are underway. Such a voyage should be celebrated, and your sour demeanor hardly suits a celebration.
“Celebrating with slave traders does not give me cause to smile,” Kyo retorted, ignoring them to stride to his desk. From the bottom drawer of his desk he withdrew a glass bottle filled with what looked like water but was in fact the finest quality Pozharian liquor available. Most swore by Verde whine or Piedren whiskey, but he far preferred Firelander vodka. Pouring a lowball half full, he tossed the drink back in one swallow. The vodka burned down his throat and settled to a lingering warmth in his stomach. He returned the bottle to his desk and crossed his arms over his chest.
Raiden chuckled. “You can’t stay angry forever, Kin.”
“It seems to me he is always angry,” Nankyo answered, shooting him another of those taunting smirks. “Perhaps I only ever see your bad side.”
“Kindan is perpetually grouchy, it’s true,” Raiden said, and Kindan could tell by the glint in his eye that Raiden was close to losing his temper over Kin’s continuing anger.
Good. It served him right for acting in such a wretched, stupid manner. Jewels and silk and perfume were one thing; people were quite another.
Though if he felt like being honest, which he most certainly did not, the true source of his ire was the arrogant man sitting across from Raiden, that infuriating smirk still on his face. As if he knew exactly how annoyed Kin was and why. Which just made Kin that much angrier.
Dragons drown them all. Standing up, Kin stalked over the table and crossly sat down next to Nankyokukai, wondering resentfully if Raiden had arranged the seats so on purpose. When he felt like being honest again, he would probably concede Raiden had only cared about having Takara next to him.
“The course is charted,” he said stiffly, forcing himself to act like a Captain if not like much else. “If you care to see it.”
Nankyokukai sipped his dark red wine idly, the smirk faded from his lips but lingering in his sharp, ocean blue eyes. “I will settle for hearing it, thank you, Captain.”
Somehow he was being mocked, Kin knew it, but storms if he could figure out how. Wishing he’d brought the vodka with him, Kin explained the course. He was proud of it; no one knew the seas better than he. Part of that was his natural affinity, but more than a bit of it had come through hard work and discipline. Storms if he’d let an arrogant prince ruin the pride and pleasure he took in his work. “The journey straight from here to the point of destination would be roughly five months over open sea. Rather than risk it and spend the entire five months at sea, we have instead arranged to run the three months to Pozhar, resupply, then make a two-month journey to the island we call home.”
“San Hoshi,” Raiden interject, face brightening. “I found it years ago, completely abandoned. I’ve slowly built it up. It now has my own manor as well as a small village comprised of the sailors’ families, friends, a few others. It is one of my greatest treasures.”
“Yes,” Kindan said. “That will be our last stop, before we travel another month to the point of destination.”
“So you are extending the journey there by a month. No doubt to take the same route back, so a twelve month journey in total.”
“From the point where we turn east toward San Hoshi, then beyond it to the island you insist is there though only your maps say so, the waters are largely uncharted in recent centuries. They are outside the trade routes, nothing but water and small islands so far as old, unreliable maps go. It is safer to break the trip up into a total of three stops and add a month than make a straight five month journey.” He looked between Nankyokukai and Takara. “It will also be safer in that we are likely to encounter storms and other problems.” Though he was hoping a particular problem would not bother him this journey. “In which case we will benefit from being in port to make necessary repairs and replace anything that is lost.”
Nankyo smirked and finished his wine. Takara refilled it as he set the empty glass down on the table. “I wouldn’t worry about storms, my good Captain. While I am aboard, there should be nothing but smooth sailing…so far as the seas are concerned.” He lifted his refilled wine glass and took another sip.
A strand of hair slipped forward as he set the glass down and Nankyokukai reached up to tuck it back behind his ear. The shorter hair bared his long, pale throat, further enhanced the dark green collar that lined his ice blue robes, matching a dark green sash embroidered with paler green dragons.
Kin looked away and finally helped himself the food spread out across the table. “Did you conclude all your business satisfactorily, Shima?”
“Naturally,” Raiden replied, motioning vaguely in the air, the jeweled rings on his fingers glinting in the light. “If we resell all the perfume I bargained for, we will more than make up what we paid for the silver…though of course I’ve already made that up.”
“Then promptly lost it all buying that storming necklace,” Kin said.
Raiden rolled his eyes. “Shall I remind you how much that little bauble in your ear cost?”
“Not nearly as much as it should have,” Kin retorted. He jerked away as fingers touched the black pearl stud in his left ear, then glared furiously at Nankyokukai. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“My apologies,” Nankyokukai replied, looking anything but apologetic. “Even in the palace, such black pearls are not common. It’s truly black, not merely deep gray.”
Kindan grunted. “Yes,” he said, saying nothing more.
“Kindan has precious few treasures,” Raiden said into the silence, “but he guards them voraciously. We found that pearl in a backwater jewelry shop in Pozhar, of all places. The merchant thought he was fleecing us…we, of course, did not bother to tell him that it was worth three times what he demanded. Firelanders.” He shook his head slowly back and forth.
Takara looked at him in disbelief. “Surely even a backwater shop should know the true value of a true black pearl?”
Raiden shrugged. “That was my thinking, but I was hardly going to question the storming fool about. I’m a merchant, not a priest.” He took a deep swallow of his own wine.
“Believe me, I noticed,” Takara replied. “So we have three months to Pozhar? I have heard much of the Firelanders, and met those who have come to Kundou…” his face clouded briefly.
Nankyokukai chuckled. “A hundred years from now, Taka, you will still be sore over that fight with Duke Krasny.”
“The man is a storming bastard,” Takara snapped. “Everything is a battle to him and he takes no quarter. I wanted to throw him in the shark pool.”
“You should have said so,” Nankyo said with a laugh. “I would have done so for you.” Mischief sparked in his eyes. “Taiheiyou and Indoyou no doubt would welcome the company. If you had asked nicely, Taka, I may have even iced it over.”
Takara rolled his eyes. “I am surprised you needed me to ask, Nankyo.”
“I thought Princess Sonya might take offense,” Nankyo murmured.
Kin stood up, unable to bear being at a table where Dukes and Princesses were discussed with such flippancy. It was not the sort of conversation at which he belonged. Stalking back to his desk – this was his cabin, storms if he’d leave because they were being infuriating – and yanked his log from its drawer. Ignoring the brief silence that rapidly returned to idle chatter, he noted the date and time of departure, adding in the details of crew, passengers, weather and general notes of the cargo.
Not that much of anything would survive if they were attacked, but it never hurt to take all precautions – especially with a royal prince aboard. The idea of something going wrong while he transported royalty halfway across the world made his head hurt something fierce.
Why had he let Raiden talk him into this mad scheme? They’d be far better off sticking to their trade routes. Better profit…all right so it was hard to beat what the prince had given them on top of the royal house paying for all supplies…but was it worth the headache? Kindan glanced pensively toward the table, keeping his eyes on the far wall, watching the prince on his periphery.
There was little point in denying Prince Nankyokukai was beautiful. All the rumors of him were quick to bring up the subject of his beauty – most said that he easily outstripped his family in appearance, even the Princess Umiko. Beyond that, the rumors agreed on a few more interesting points: he was given to making life difficult for his siblings, did what he wanted when he wanted, and was probably the most talented magic-user after his father.
Everyone loved to gossip about the troublesome brat prince and the way he wreaked havoc upon his family.
The pretty face was a smooth surface that gave no indication of the sharp-toothed fish beneath. In short, not worth the trouble. Raiden was going to pay and pay dearly for dragging him into this.
Unable to sit still, Kin stalked from the room, slamming the door behind him, and went back up the poop deck. He shook his head at Same’s silent query over the helm, instead moving to the railing to glance briefly at the men before letting his gaze wander out over the deep blue green sea, the cloudless sky.
Here was where he belonged. Nothing but water on all sides, a strong wind and three months far away from civilization. The tension eased slowly from him, and Kin allowed his thoughts to wander, unsurprised when they went immediately the reason he was willing to endure almost anything. A promise he hoped, ached, to keep. One more year and he would be able to afford to wait until Koori found him…
“This is my hiding spot!” Kinni hissed in outrage, furious that some street rat had found his little corner in the old warehouse. He’d searched ages for a place no one would think to look. “This is my spot,” he repeated. “Go find your own.”
“So-sorry,” the figure said, slowly standing up, hands going to his face to wipe away tears but really monly managing to smudge them into the dust that had accumulated on his face. There was always dust in the old warehouses in the harbor. Late afternoon sunlight filtered through the cracks in the old wood walls, just enough to see by.
He’d thought it was a girl, what with the crying and the shoulder-length violet hair. Now, though, he could sort of tell it was a boy. Crying. Kinni shook his head and motioned impatiently. “Sit down. If you run now, the guard will see you and I don’t want to get caught. Took all day to get away from the storming ‘smith.”
“S-smith?” the boy asked, still sniffling but obediently sitting back down, curling his legs up as he set his back against a towering packing crate.
“Silversmith,” Kinni said shortly, not interested in discussing the storming bastard he’d finally run away from. He belonged on the sea, like his dad, not slaving away in some stupid shop full of dumb trinkets. “I ran away.” He slid down to sit down next to the storming weird crying boy. “Why are you crying?” he demanded. “Boys don’t cry. My dad said so.”
In reply, the boy only hunched his shoulders and sniffled, obviously trying to stop crying. “They tried to hurt me again for ‘acting up’ in lessons.”
Lessons. Violet hair. Some noble brat. That was even worse than a street rat. Kinni grimaced but slid off his pack. Mamma had always said to be nice, and the boy was crying, so he could try. “I have some food, if you want to share. Just don’t eat all of it.”
“Me too,” the boy said quietly, and suddenly scrambled over to a shadowy corner, pulling out a satchel that seemed way too big for his tiny body – he was smaller than Kinni, but then the shop women always said he was big for his age – and opened it up, pulling out half a dozen clumsily wrapped bundles. “Took from the kitchen when the cooks weren’t looking,” he said with another soft sniffle.
Kinni stared. Little oranges that were actually called something else but he couldn’t remember what. Flat bread that smelled like cinnamon. Two little meat pies. Hunks of cheese. It made his own feeble takings seem that much more pathetic. Grimacing, he pulled out his own offerings – a few small apples, some hard bread, and a few pickled eggs he’d managed to snatch right before he’d fled while the storming smith was starting in early with the cheap wine. Storms, it was only lunch time.
“Apples!” the boy said eagerly. “Those are my favorite.”
“Trade you for an orange,” Kinni said, handing over one of his green apples.
Immediately the boy nodded, taking the apple and giving Kin an orange.
“My name is Kinni,” Kinni said. “What’s yours?”
The boy stared at him, silent for a long time. “Koori,” he said at last.
Kinni grunted and began peeling the little orange, ripping the skin away and tearing the slices apart, popping one in his mouth, grinning around it. “This is good.”
“Mmmhmm,” Koori agreed, taking another bit of his apple, holding it with both hands as if worried it would get away from him.
“So why are you here?” Kinni asked when his orange was gone, more interested in getting another one than in knowing why Koori had run away.
Koori paused in the middle of taking a bite, and Kinni almost groaned as he realized he’d made Koori start crying again. The apple fell into the dirt as Koori curled up, sobbing quietly into his arms.
“Hey! Storms take it! What’s wrong? Stop crying – boys don’t cry, come on. What’s wrong?” Kinni struggled to get Koori to stop, utterly confused. This was worse than the way all the storming girls giggled whenever he was around and where always trying to touch him and play with his hair.
Hesitantly he reached out to touch Koori’s shoulder, yelping as the boy abruptly turned and embraced him tightly, clinging tighter than a starfish to a ship. Desperately Kinni tried to think of how to get the crying boy off of him. Shoving wasn’t working. Awkwardly he settled for what he’d some of the men around the shops do when their women started crying and patted Koori’s back and shoulders. “Storms, it’s all right. What has you acting like this?”
“I-I-I-don’t-don’t,” the boy sniffled loudly, then started coughing, before he regained control of his voice. “I don’t want to g-go h-home.”
Kinni rolled his eyes. “Then don’t. S’why I ran away. I’m going to be a sailor like my dad.”
Koori’s sobbing eased a bit and slowly he sat up. “A-a sailor?” he repeated, voice full of the same longing Kinni felt every day.
“Yeah,” Kinni said proudly. “I even have money saved up, to buy my way onto a ship.”
Koori frowned. “Buy your way?”
“Oh, you’re from the city, so maybe you don’t know. Ships only take sailors what can buy a post. They don’t take just any riff-raff off the streets. My dad taught me all about sailing, so I know they’ll take me.” He hoped. He didn’t want to go back to that storming trinket shop.
“I don’t have money,” Koori said with a sniffle. He wiped the tears from his cheeks, smudging the grimy dust further, then fumbled in his satchel again. “All I have is this,” he said in a low tone. “Mama said it was special.”
Kinni knew silver when he saw it, even in the dingy light filtering into the tiny corner. It was a dagger, decorative rather than functional, and he could see there were stones set into it…possibly saphir or esmeralda. Hard to tell. The sheath was silver as well, set with more stones. He handed it back. “You could sell that for a lot of money.”
“Maybe,” Koori said with a frown. He laid the dagger in his lap and retrieved his apple. “So why are you going to be a sailor?”
“My dad was a sailor. A captain. I’m going to be captain of the best ship in the world and bring home the ultimate treasure just like he did.”
Koori looked at him with wide eyes. “What’s the ultimate treasure?”
“Ah—I don’t know yet. Dad never said, he just always smiled at mom like they were keeping a secret.” Kinni frowned at the memory, refusing to be sad that his parents were dead. He was tired of being sad. He was strong, just like dad. “I’ll find it anyway though, just wait and see.”
“I wish I could,” Koori said, smiling sadly. “I have to go home, though, even if I don’t want to. I don’t know how to be a sailor and if I stay away they’ll hurt my sister instead of me.”
Kinni glowered. “Hurt your sister? Who?”
“The t-tutors,” Koori said, beginning to sniffle again. “They always h-hurt when I do or say something wrong. M-ma-mama says it’s ‘growing up’ when I tell her.” He wiped his cheek again.
Clumsily Kinni patted his shoulders again, really hoping the boy wouldn’t cling all over him again. “It’s cause you cry,” he said knowingly. “The storming smith I worked for picked on me a lot after my parents died and I was sad. Then I just started laughing at him, and he got so mad eventually he stopped punishing me all the time. When they try to hurt you, just laugh instead of cry. Then they’ll stop, and maybe leave your sister alone too.”
“R-really?” Koori asked, blinking those wide, wide eye up at him.
Something about him made Kinni want to hug him, which was just girly and weird. “Really,” he said.
Koori nodded obediently. “I still wish I could be a sailor.”
“Why can’t you?”
“B-because of my s-sister,” Koori said, beginning to cry again. “And no-no-no one likes me..” He looked miserably at Kinni, then down at his own hands, fisted in the fabric of his grungy robes.
“Aw, that’s not true. You’re not cold. I’m sure there are people that like you.” He reached out to pat his shoulder again, letting out what sounded like a squeak when Koori abruptly leeched onto him again, crying quietly against him.
Storms take it. Kinni patted his back again, really wishing he could figure out how to make the boy stop crying and going all starfish. “What about your parents?”
Instead of calming, Koori only cried harder.
Wrong thing to say. Kinni struggled to think of what to do. “Well—I like you. Even if you cry a lot.”
“Y-you just met me,” Koori said plaintively. “You can’t like me already.”
Kinni frowned. “Yes, I can. The only people I don’t like are mean people and you cry too much to be mean.”
“M’kay,” Koori mumbled against his shirt, then slowly he sat up. “I like you too.” He smiled.
Kinni stared, but his thoughts were broken up as outside the harbor bells began to ring. “The ports are closing soon,” he said. “If I’m going to try and get on a ship before they find me for running away from my apprenticeship, I have to go now.”
“Oh…” Koori said glumly, smile vanishing. He obediently moved away and packed up all his things, slinging the overlarge satchel over one shoulder.
“Come on,” Kinni said. “The guards should be busy collecting all the riff-raff and stuff and I can find a ship to sneak onto or something. I’ve been planning this for months.” If ‘run away and find a ship’ counted as a plan.
Taking Koori’s hand, not sure why he did though from the way he clung tight it was obvious Koori didn’t mind, Kinni weaved his way through the boxes and crates filling the warehouse until they made it to the doors.
Outside the sunlight was slowly fading, though it would still be a couple of hours before it was really dark. He dropped his hand and turned to look at Koori – then stopped.
Koori was…pretty. He’d never known a boy could be pretty.
Filthy, but pretty. “You’re a mess. How long have you been in the warehouse?”
“S-since yesterday,” Koori said, cheeks flushing at the comment to his appearance. He knelt on the ground and opened his satchel, fumbling briefly to yank out a piece of cloth, Kinni assumed to try and clean his face or something. Koori frowned as it caught on something in the bag and gave a hard yank.
Kinni gawked as the dagger spilled free, fading sunlight catching on Highland silver and brilliant saphir. Flawless, he bet, though he didn’t know jewels as well as he did silver. He knelt down and picked it up. “Koori, you could buy a ship with this.”
“Really?” Koori asked doubtfully.
“A whole ship,” Kinni repeated. “You’d never have to go home. You could take your sister too, if you’re worried about her.”
Koori frowned, then shook his head. “Sister wouldn’t leave. ‘Sides, mama said I have ‘sponsibilities. I only meant to run away for a little while.” He took the dagger as Kinni handed it to him, then suddenly thrust it back. “You take it. Buy a ship.”
“What?” Kinni said, mouth gaping.
“Buy a ship,” Koori repeated. “Be a sailor.” He smiled sadly. “You can find the ultimate treasure.”
Kinni swallowed and looked at the dagger. What would his dad do? He always said never accept gifts.
“Maybe you can come and show it to me someday. Your ship too,” Koori said wistfully, turning to look out over the harbor and the ocean beyond.
Then Kinni knew what to do. Fumbling for a moment, he pulled a heavy silver chain from beneath it, undoing the clasp and shoving it into Koori’s hands. “Here. That belonged to my dad. He gave it to me before…” He stopped as memories of that night tried to surface, but he stamped them down, refusing to be sad anymore. “Before he died. It’s our family crest.”
Koori turned the necklace over in his hands, examining the pendant attached to the chain – a lighthouse from which emanated beams of light. “Pretty,” he said softly.
“Dad always said never accept gifts. A man earns what he takes. This dagger is worth a lot, and I can’t repay it. So…how about I make you a promise?”
Those wide eyes turned up to him, and Kinni wondered why they made him want to hug the boy again even though hugging was girly and stupid. “A promise?” he repeated.
“Yeah,” Kinni said, wishing his heart would stop beating so fast, confused as to why it did. “You said you can’t run away now…but if you ever can run away forever, then I’ll help you. I’m not a Captain yet, but I will be done day. I’m going to call my ship the Kumiko. Ask for Captain Kinni and show me that pendant and I’ll take you wherever you want to go. Maybe…maybe you can ever help me find the ultimate treasure. If you come soon enough.”
A smile lit up Koori’s face; even the grime and drying tears couldn’t dim the power of that smile. Then Kinni found his arms full again, arms so tight around his neck he was practically choking. “It’s a promise, then.”
“Y-yeah,” Kinni said, but didn’t manage anything more as Koori suddenly kissed his cheek quickly, shyly, then turned and bolted away. He turned around briefly to wave, then vanished into the crowds of people leaving the harbor.
Kinni watched him go, shaking his head in confusion, then hid the dagger in his own bag before bolting away from the warehouse to find a ship that would take him for a measly 700 paaru. For some reason, he knew he wouldn’t ever sell the dagger.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-03 04:31 pm (UTC)I like how you fleshed out this chapter. Putting it into Kin's POV introduces him very nicely. And I so agree with him about Raiden the slave-trader! *giggles*
Snarling further curses, Kin turned away ands talked...
And stalked, I think you mean.
He stalked over to the table...
You might want to change this verb, since it happens so close to the previous one. It sounds better that way?
no subject
Date: 2006-12-03 04:35 pm (UTC)^___^ Thankee!
And fixed, so thanks for that too!
no subject
Date: 2006-12-03 05:54 pm (UTC)I'm also enjoying greatly the allusions to future events - like Duke Krasny - because I see 'em and I can't wait to re-read the expanded, made-over versions of them. ^___^
But yay! Treasure! ^______^
no subject
Date: 2006-12-03 05:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-03 05:59 pm (UTC)“Are you and Raiden’s secretary ready to sail?” Kyo asked, ignoring the mocking display of manners.
I think you meant Kin instead of Kyo.
*squeals and glomps you* Much, much love for this universe and for this story. ^_______^
no subject
Date: 2006-12-03 06:00 pm (UTC)Heh. I shall pray for the night to be swift or at least for you death to be painless. *salutes you*
no subject
Date: 2006-12-04 05:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-04 04:46 pm (UTC)^____________^ He so needs to make good on that threat some day.
“You did it in Piedre that one time, after all.”
*sleuthy eyes* ...... Drabble? ^______^ *duck!*
“His Highness had his reasons, no doubt, for doing as he did.”
AAAAAAGH! x.x The fact that we know wtf is going on makes this nice little innocent like a whole freaking lot worse. :P
Kin turned away and stalked back the captain’s quarters
back TO the... ^.~
When this journey was over, he was fetching the Kumiko and waiting in Kundou until Koori came to him.
;;__;; *wobbly eyes*
more interested in privately cursing the entire voyage that double checking the cargo lists
that = than
Kyo asked, ignoring the
Kyo = Kin. ^.~
Most of them were older by Kin by at least a few years,
older THAN Kin
Kundouins in general had slightly darker skin in general.
Fond of 'in general' today, are we? ^.^
Only a history of fights and pitching men overboard in his younger years had convinced one and all not to be fooled by his appearance.
^________________^ Yay Kin!
Most swore by Verde whine or
AHAHAHAHA... Verde whine indeed. *SNICKER* *removes your errant h* ^^
That was my thinking, but I was hardly going to question the storming fool about.
about it? ^^;
“You should have said so,” Nankyo said with a laugh. “I would have done so for you.”
*snicker* I bet he would have... ^.^
Stalking back to his desk – this was his cabin, storms if he’d leave because they were being infuriating – and yanked his log from its drawer.
stalkING / yankED. Conflicting verb tenses, luv. :) You need a He in there somewhere.
but really monly managing to smudge them
monly = only ^^;
I’m going to be captain of the best ship in the world and bring home the ultimate treasure just like he did.
*melts*
.......
For some reason, he knew he wouldn’t ever sell the dagger.
;;;____;;; Kinniiiiii..... *SNIFFLE* ;_; *whimper*
demanding h0r
Date: 2006-12-04 11:01 pm (UTC)"You did what?"
Raiden held up his hands and took a hasty step back. "Triple strands of perfectly matched peridot and amber beads. They sold it for barely a quarter of its worth. A quarter."
"Shima," Kin said slowly, barely unclenching his teeth to do it, "that money was for repairs to the Ohime.
"Yes, but--"
"But nothing! Storms take it, one would think you couldn't live without buying obscene amounts of jewels! Do you know what you just did with our money? Do you?" Kin stalked toward him, backing Raiden up against the edge of the ship.
"Now, Kin--"
"Now, Kin this!" Kin snarled, grabbing Raiden by the front of his robes and half shoving, half tossing him over the side of the Fuujin. He glared over the side as Raiden hit the water, waiting until he resurfaced. "That's what you just did with our money." Glaring a second longer for emphasis, Kin then turned sharply on his heel and stalked to his quarters.
Re: demanding h0r
Date: 2006-12-05 04:33 am (UTC)