The Storyteller: The Gift
Nov. 25th, 2018 06:17 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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yrae
Twenty-Fourth Birthday
Sen didn’t tell Tu of her plans immediately, just in case she reacted poorly and left them stranded. Instead, she and Kaiji agreed to tell her when they were in Ryas, hoping she would be too distracted by her negotiations to want to deal with her rogue crew.
When they finally docked, Ryas buzzed with the arrival of the pirates. Having lived aboard Orana for four years now, Sen had almost forgotten how the rest of the world saw Tu. The locals all gave her a wide berth, but stared openly at her and whispered to each other. Tu had sent Red Cacao ahead to announce their arrival, as much to promise they weren’t going to attack as to prepare the king and queen and make sure they weren’t at sea themselves.
When they arrived in Ryas, each member of the crew carried one end of a chest, aided by members from the other crews. This was all Tu’s treasure, saved from over two decades just for this purpose.
Tu waited in the castle’s throne room as the procession of chests lined up behind her. The king and queen, not much older than Sen herself, stood at the front of the room, tall and regal in their bearing but showing no more opulence than the pirates before them.
When all the treasure had been delivered, Sen left with everyone else. Only Tu and Kes would be part of this meeting. Everyone else would have to wait to learn the outcome.
Sen waited with Kaiji in the castle plaza, but after almost an hour with no news, even they decided to leave the castle until Tu called them back. It had been too long since they were last in Ryas, and Sen wanted to learn just what the sentiments were if nothing else.
The treasure chests had certainly sent tongues wagging in Ryas. They all realised it was to buy the Pirate Isles, but whether the king and queen would accept this payment, nobody could guess. Since the pirate war, and Tu’s subsequent escape from prison, the monarchy had been very quiet on what they planned to do about the pirates who remained. Over the eight years since then, the number of pirates had slowly been building back up.
For the most part, the locals had brushed off the pirate war as the almost traditional attempt of the newly instated monarchs to take down the pirates. As it had for every new pair of monarchs before them, they had ultimately failed, however successful they had appeared at the time. The locals didn’t really care. Eight years on, their lives had mostly returned to normal. Criers in the plaza went back to denouncing pirates and their ilk while others complained of taxes.
Sen passed groups of people listening to the pirates talking about the Chain of Pearls, enrapturing them with tales from the exotic islands. Sen avoided such associations herself and just stayed with Kaiji. As much as she loved and admired Tu and her vision, she still couldn’t support a nation built on piracy.
Finally, late into the evening and well after sunset, Tu called the five crews, including Cocoa Black, together on the deck of Orana.
The spring in Tu’s step almost became a run as she mounted the foredeck to address the crews. Sen’s heart skipped a beat. Had the king and queen agreed to let Tu buy the Chain of Pearls?
Tu held up her hands to call silence. ‘We’re not there yet,’ she opened, just to stem off any immediate questions. ‘But I’m confident. Today was all about just convincing their Majesties that I do have a real and workable plan for the Chain of Pearls, and that we truly do want to take the islands legitimately. I also had to convince them I’m trustworthy, tell them enough of my recent history that they’d believe what I was telling them about the future. That much has succeeded. Tomorrow, we’ll open negotiations to buy the Chain of Pearls for ourselves.’
The crews all gave ragged cheers, happy enough that progress had been made, but hoping for more. They had expected to just walk in, dump their treasure as payment and leave, despite how Tu had warned them early that politics took more work and effort than that.
She descended the stairs as the crews all started dispersing back to their own ships. She sought Sen out with a broad grin. Kes stood beside her, just looking tired.
‘You called?’ Tu said, as though she hadn’t just spent the entire day talking with royalty. ‘Sorry that took so long, kiddo. I guess I should work on being more succinct if I’m entering into politics, shouldn’t I?’
Sen shrugged, her heart suddenly racing. ‘The stories are what made me fall in love with you, though,’ she said, trying to ease into what she knew she had to say. She took Kaiji’s hand and squeezed it for comfort. Kaiji squeezed back. Everything she had planned to say flew out of her head, leaving her numb in front of Tu’s proud, expectant smile. ‘Listen, um. I can’t stay on Orana forever,’ she babbled, and once the words started flowing she couldn’t stop them. ‘I want to captain a ship of my own. Kaiji and I have been saving, just as you did, and we’re ready now. We want to leave Orana and buy a ship.’
Far from disappointed, Tu stepped forward and grabbed them both in a hug so tight it was almost painful. ‘Oh, my strong, brave girls! I’ve been waiting for you to say that to me. I’m so proud of you both.’ She stood back, taking each of their free hands and wearing a smile broader than when she had stepped up on the foredeck. ‘How much can you have saved after only four years, though?’
Sen glanced at Kaiji, bolstered by this open show of support. ‘Enough for a small ship,’ she answered. ‘We were saving on Cocoa Black, too. It won’t be much, but it will be something to start with, and it’ll be ours, then we can look at something bigger when we start making money.’
‘Fabulous,’ Tu said with a wink, ‘but I’ve got a better idea. Come with me.’
She let go and led them both down onto the docks. They were quiet this late at night, filled with only the sound of lapping water, creaking wood and a few boisterous Raykinian ships still alive with laughter and beer. Tu led them past Cocoa Black, past Zest, past the Smallfry and stopped in front of Red Cacao. As soon as Sen read its name, something clicked in her mind. Her skin prickled and her shoulders felt heavy.
‘This is yours,’ Tu said affectionately, patting the hull with a hand.
Sen was numb as she looked up at the magnificent ship, silver under the moonlight. It was every inch as beautiful as Horizons had been. She couldn’t accept this. Red Cacao was a pirate ship, captured years ago, its crew killed, ransomed or turned pirate themselves. Tu hadn’t acquired it with hard-earned coin, as Sen intended to do. Hers would be a small ship, more like Smallfry, but it would be hers. She wouldn’t be beholden to anyone on her own deck. If she were to accept Red Cacao, she would always owe Tu for it. She knew Tu wouldn’t hold that over her head—she never had done with the jetty, or indeed any of her other gifts—but Sen would feel it all the same. If she accepted this ship, she would have to be part of Tu’s fleet.
She found herself shaking her head. ‘I can’t.’ Her throat was dry.
‘Sure you can,’ Tu said with a shrug. ‘I can give my strong, brave girl anything I want.’
Sen shook her head again. ‘Except I’m not,’ she said. Kaiji’s hand in hers gave her strength. ‘I’m not your strong, brave girl. If I’m anyone’s I’m Kaiji’s. We want our own ship, with a crew we choose.’ She hadn’t forgotten her promise to crew her ship with bastards. She took a deep breath. ‘We can’t be a part of the Chain of Pearls. I’m no pirate, and I can’t be part of a nation built on piracy. Not just built on it, but you’re still condoning it. I can’t, Tu. I can’t kid myself of that anymore. The king and queen can’t possibly agree to your terms without condoning piracy themselves. You’re telling the world’s pirates that they have somewhere to hide from justice. What legitimate sailor is going to agree to trade with that?’
She was rambling now, she was aware, but Tu wasn’t saying anything. She had never known Tu to be silent before. She wove words like a master, and now she said nothing. Sen shivered; Kaiji gripped her tighter. Tu wasn’t silent because she was at a loss for words.
The proud smile Tu had worn earlier, teeth shining white under the moon, was now hidden in darkness. Her eyes were shadowed. She let out a rushed breath, covered her mouth with one hand then ran her fingers back through the short stubble of her hair. Still, she stayed silent.
Sen took a deep breath, making sure her voice would be strong when she spoke. ‘I can’t accept Red Cacao.’
‘You can,’ Tu said finally, her voice grating, ‘because I’m the one giving it to you. It hurts… it hurts that you still can’t trust me, Sen. It hurts that you still believe, after all this time, that because I offer you something, I expect something in return. You know me better than anyone with whom my name carries weight. I need you to believe in me.’
Sen wiped her eyes with the back of her free hand. ‘I can’t.’
Tu bent over almost double, then straightened and turned the gesture into a heavy nod. ‘Then take Red Cacao as a parting gift. I’ll take the crew with me so you needn’t be burdened. Use your savings to hire a new one. Don’t waste it on a junk you’ll sell in three years.’ She held her arms out for a hug, not forcing even that on Sen now.
Sen hesitated for only a moment before accepting it. She sniffed and tangled her fingers into Tu’s shirt. ‘Thank you,’ she whispered. ‘Not just for the ship, for everything. Everything. I’ll never forget you.’
‘I love you, kiddo,’ Tu returned.
Sen’s breath hitched in a sob. She stood hugging Tu for what felt like half the night. Every time she felt she should pull away, she or Tu would only hold on tighter. Finally, it was Kes’ hand on Tu’s shoulder that pulled them apart. Tu pulled Sen’s shoulder down gave her a final kiss, gentle and almost maternal on Sen’s cheekbone. ‘Someday, kiddo, I hope I’ll make you proud.’
Sen turned aside and latched onto Kaiji instead. She couldn’t watch Tu leave.
She and Kaiji spent the night at an inn in the city. The next morning when they went to pay, they found their bill not only already paid for, but paid in advance for three full months. Tu was giving them time to properly string together a crew, not just the first people who came along.
Sour rumours began spreading through the city that day, all of them emanating from the castle. The pirate lord was issuing threats, they said. She wouldn’t accede to the king’s and queen’s wishes. She was demanding that piracy be made legal, not just in the Chain of Pearls, but in Tsayth, too. The king and queen demanded a list of all ships who made berth in the Chain of Pearls, not just the pirates but anyone and everyone, so they could distribute the lists among their bounty hunters.
Whatever the truth of it, the negotiations had broken down. By evening, Orana had gone, taking Zest and Smallfry with it.
STUFF
o If you look closely you can actually pinpoint the exact moment Tu's heart breaks in two.
o Hi, I'm Annarti, and I have a Thing about complicated relationships in fiction.
o I've been saving Red Cacao up for this. My favourite café has to be the name of my girl's first ship.
o Technically won NaNo with this chapter but we're not done yet. No celebrations until chapter 30 is in the bag.
no subject
Date: 2018-12-01 06:21 am (UTC)Tu's life savings are more impressive than mine.
Get with it Sen. Piracy is sexy and cool.
Gonna be the most expensive pearls you've ever bought Tu.
Kes' life is being tired of Tu's antics, but loving her and leaning nearby anyway.
I TOLD YOU SHE WOULD BE FOR IT. God Sen. I know your Tu better than you. Tu will totally get you an awesome ship too. JUST WATCH.
I TOLD YOU. Red Cacao is a good choice, its like the opposite but same as the ship she got her start on :3
NO SEN YOU CAN TOTALLY HAVE IT DBFgudbfgdufbgdfg Oh you and your pride.
Like. Sen. Do you think that maybe some of those pirates turned to piracy because they are bastards. DID YOU THINK THAT???
I love her still.
Saying she was not Tu's girl would have been the most hurtful horrible thing I ever read if she hadn't quickly followed it up saying she was Kaiji's girl. Good save.
Tu being hurt is the worst thing every instead and I hate it nsdubgdfuibgfbg TT__TT
This is a horrible chapter and it makes me feel bad and I don't like it.
no subject
Date: 2018-12-01 07:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-12-01 07:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-12-01 08:18 am (UTC)