Heart of the Kraken (Tales from Darjee) (17 page)

He watched the movement of her hand. Reis was wrong, she was warm and he would rather lose himself in her embrace than that of any high price prostitute. "How do you ride a stingray?"

A wide smile broke over her face as she glanced up at him. "When I was young and small, I could hang on to their wings and tuck up against their backs as they swam."

"Do you miss that life?" He had to ask, as much as he fantasised of building a world for the two of them, he couldn't imagine it being possible.

She sighed and her hand stilled on his leg. "No." Large azure eyes like a calm ocean turned to him. "I just want to be with you, wherever that may be."

"It's not possible, Ailin." He stroked the side of her face. Only in his dreams where the lines between land and sea blurred could he truly possess her.

The smile softened to something tinged with mystery. "Trust Nancy. Love will find a way with the help of a little ore-mancer magic." She turned her face and kissed his palm.

He wished her could believe her. He would hope for a miracle but in the meantime would continue with his plan.

Chapter Sixteen

The afternoon sun caressed the water with a lover's touch that turned her surface into velvet adorned with sparkling gems. Birds lined the high rock wall that surrounded the harbour and called to one another as they watched for small fish playing beneath the surface. The Razor's Edge crew on watch paced back and forth, keeping an eye on the other vessels around as they carried out their daily tasks.

Fenton emerged from the hold and stretched cramped muscles. He could sit and listen to the soft lilt of Ailin's voice for hours, but his arse went to sleep from the hard timbers and needed a break. He lifted his gaze skyward to the airships dotted along the shoreline. The Imprudent broke away from her mooring tower and drifted over the harbour. The water's reflection rippled across her bottom and the airship seemed to undulate and breath as it floated.

He watched the airship move closer. "What is Shame up to now?" he muttered.

Reis emerged from his cabin at the stern and glanced upward as the shadow crossed the deck like an enormous bird of prey circling them. Fenton headed to the captain, it looked like his prediction played out. Shame was making his move. He just hoped enough chaos resulted for him to slip Ailin from below and over the side.

The airship dropped a sea anchor which cut through the water, slowing her progress and pulling the dirigible lower and closer to the water. As she lost height, her hull would soon brush the tops of masts as they passed.

"Bastard better not crash into my ship," Reis said as Fenton halted at his side.

The Regulators reached the Razor's Edge and Shame threw the engines in reverse and the airship hovered above. The sea anchor butted up against the ship and caught on something below. The pirates watched as the airship aimed its canon downward at them. Fenton waited. Regulators normally dropped abseiling lines over the side and rappelled onto their prey below. He'd also appreciate a few smoke bombs to escape Reis' gaze and to cover his actions.

The people milling on the beach stopped and turned to watch. A crowd gathered as the lawmen hovered over the pirates. Lusions operated on a policy of neutrality, any hostility would be relayed to Nancy and who knew what traps the ore-mancer set to ensure compliance. Shame took a huge risk in trying to out manoeuvre Reis but then given his near legendary arrogance, he simply acted to character.

"Bloody idiot." Reis shook his head and then waved a hand at Fenton. "Kraken, Mr Fenton. Before Shame starts firing and boils your fish in her pot."

Fenton stiffened, releasing the beast was an overreaction and a huge risk in the harbour with so many anchored vessels. Besides, if he had to control the kraken, he wouldn't be here to stand by Ailin. "Do you want to see what Shame proposes first? I doubt this will go any further than posturing. You risk angering Nancy by letting the kraken loose in his quiet waters."

Reis scowled. "I doubt Nancy will want Regulators and pirates at each other's throats either. Bad for business if this is no longer neutral territory. It will take time to turn all our canon around whereas the kraken can drag his sea anchor away before he does anything stupid."

Fenton held his ground, new found courage strengthened his resolve. He had to stay close, the kraken couldn't access the hold unless the side of the ship was cracked open and he refused to leave Ailin unguarded.

Reis laid one hand over the gauntlet but his gaze remained fixed on the copper undercarriage of the Imprudent. "The sooner the fish is gone, the better, Mr Fenton. It makes you insubordinate and that's not like you."

"Perhaps you have been captain too long if you cannot listen to reason." Freeing his mind tore away the shackles that kept him compliant. Inside, he stretched and for the first time stood tall and filled out his skeleton. With his shoulders back, he no longer shrank under the captain's orders.

"I shouldn't have to repeat an order." Reis flicked the switch and the blue light flashed from the captain to first mate.

Electricity rippled over Fenton's body and he grunted as though he took a punch to his gut and then dropped to his knees. The kraken would follow its command and drag the Regulator ship away, but then it was coming back for Captain Reis.

***

Reis watched pain grip his first mate, it turned his bones to steel as he jerked to the tune of an unseen musician who played his body. Hand over hand, Fenton crawled to the edge of the ship. Then he turned his back to stare up at the man who thought to take his fish without paying the reward first. Shame was born in the upper ranks with a silver spoon in his mouth. Although others claimed the silverware was wedged much lower down. His actions at court plummeted him back to earth. Only his father's intervention spared the former courtier from a prison sentence and he was labelled Shame and given control of the Imprudent. A constant reminder of his folly and arrogance. Reis laughed, no one could accuse the Lady Alise of lacking a sense of humour.

Movement caught his eyes as a shadow detached from the Edge's hull and coalesced into the demon from the deep. This time, the kraken rose up, its elongated head emerging from the ocean as it opened the sharp beak to scream. Perhaps he imagined that it flailed a tentacle in his direction as it made the ear splitting screech. The enormous limbs lashed out above the water. One latched onto the line holding the sea anchor. Suckers clenched and it clung to the chain. Another tentacle joined the first and it sank back into the water, its mammoth weight pulling on the metal.

Regulators peered over the railing of the airship. They hovered close enough that Reis heard Shame shout commands and their canon changed focus. They tried to aim straight down, at the monster tugging on their anchor. Their on board winch screamed of metal grinding on metal as they threw it in reverse and tried to haul the dead weight back up. The kraken kept hold of its balloon and swam toward the sea wall and the open ocean.

Reis chuckled as the Imprudent was dragged backward. Then they fired the canon. The boom shot across the harbour like the crack of thunder. The shot missed the creature directly under their belly and fortunately, missed the Razor's Edge. The balls splashed into the shallow water and sent up plumes of steam and sand. The canon were cranked around as the airship drifted further away. Repel lines appeared over the sides and soon brown and maroon clad Regulators clipped to the lines and dropped over, before they were swept too far from the pirate vessel.

One in particular caught his attention, the man with the maroon fringe on his shoulders flapping in the light breeze. Shame.

Reis laughed, good humour rippled through his body and spread out to his men. It had been months since their last decent fight and the Regulators were renowned for their skill with sword and pistol. He smacked his hands together and rubbed them in anticipation of the battle about to unfold. He drew his sabre and waited for his opponent to touch the deck. Shame's arrogance condemned him. Once again, he made the opening hostile move, strictly forbidden under the rules of Lusions. He wouldn't want an enraged ore-mancer on his arse, the man could end up with a mechanical cock that whistled.

Shame swung on his rope to angle over to the pirate ship. He released himself at the high point of his swing and landed on the deck with the soft grace of a cat jumping from a tree. He drew his sword and pointed the tip at Reis.

"You will hand over the mermaid," he said.

Reis laughed and raised his weapon. "Only if you wrap those velvet lips around my shaft first."

Shame lunged and Reis parried his blow and then danced to the side. "Bit clumsy for you, Shame. Feeling impatient?"

"I have a reputation to maintain and wish this over quickly." The two captains circled one another.

The next time steel clashed, he found Shame immoveable and nearly overbalanced. The Regulator captain might dress like a dandy, but he fought like a warrior. They traded blows, each delivered faster and harder as their dance took form. Reis would lead, pushing Shame to the railing only for Shame to spin, duck, and appear behind him. The younger man would snatch the lead and dictate the next round with the point of his sword.

Reis couldn't stop the smile from taking over his face. Shame was a worthy opponent, his arm strong and his skill with the blade excellent. For the first time in over a year, he faced a combatant who equalled him. Adrenaline flooded his body and catapulted him into a good mood, plus the Regulator had a smack down coming from Nancy once he caught wind of the fight. There wasn't much that could improve the day further unless the kraken split open the Imprudent's hull and gold rained on those below.

Around him, his crew took on the Regulator men who were hopelessly outnumbered. One by one, they were pushed to the sides and disarmed. The Razor's Edge pirates could obey some rules and they had no intention of killing the lawmen and risk losing their privileges to visit the Fancy Garter.

Part of Reis' mind registered Nancy rushing to the end of the pier. His blue and green patterned tunic swirling between his legs with each hurried stride. He stopped at the end and raised his fist and shook it at the on-board melee. Then he raised both arms and Reis turned back to parrying Shame's latest blow.

Lightning from a cloudless sky flashed across the harbour. Over the roar of the kraken tugging on the anchor rope came another scream. Higher in pitch, the harsh tone seemed mechanical in origin, not natural. A shadow swooped over the corner of his vision.

He swung at Shame and turned a fraction enough to see the ocean boil as another colossus rose up to challenge his kraken. This monster was nothing natural, but a gigantic mechanical snake. The creature soared straight up toward the sky for over a hundred foot and then it dove and struck out. The long, tubular steel body was segmented like a crazy brass wyrm with long sensor wires jutting out like a toilet brush bristles. It had red eyes and the head end swung back and forth to an unseen command. It wrapped around the kraken's neck and squeezed. Everyone froze, their own battle forgotten as they watched the new one unfold.

The demon from the depths of the ocean battled a puppet operated by Nancy. His hand gestures made at the end of the pier, matched the weaving of his creation. The grey blotched hide of the cephalopod wrestled with the bright steel of the snake. The combatants sank into the water and raised a wave that nearly capsized the boat. The kraken's scream was cut off as the sinuous automaton wrapped around its fat neck. Unfeeling, it continued to choke even as the kraken tried to pull its narrow body from its own. A faint pink flush crept up the kraken's head as it lost its air supply.

Nancy teetered on the edge of the pier, his toes hooked around the last plank. His eyes narrowed in concentration and his thin lips pursed and moved as he whispered unheard words. Then he drew his hands in an arc across the harbour. His creation obeyed and the steel wyrm dragged Reis' beast back through the water. Two tentacles still clung to the anchor line and it hauled the airship behind. The entire ensemble looked like an adult dragging a reluctant child away from a party while still clutching a balloon.

Reis' aquatic monster made some internal decision and let the chain go. The airship shot up into the air before the crew could stabilise the sudden ascent. Then it turned all eight tentacles to the thing entwined around its neck. Men watched open mouthed as Nancy, like a puppet master, controlled his mechanical beast with hand movements. Once the kraken and giant wyrm were a distance from the pirate ship, he let his hands drop to his side. His creature unwound itself and disappeared beneath the waves. The kraken sank, its sides heaving as it drew air back into its lungs.

A seagull circled the boat and took up a position in the rigging. Men elbowed each other and pointed. The bird was metallic, the sun a low glint over its tin feathers. It opened its beak and a harsh squawk emerged.

"Recall the kraken, Reis," Nancy said, his voice relayed through the automaton seagull. "Or I unleash my creation on the Razor's Edge."

Reis muttered and swore, but his finger flicked the switch on his gauntlet. The blue light sizzled over the water and shot through the kraken. It roared and sunk below the water.

"Captain Shame," the seagull continued. "You broke my governing rule by attacking a ship enjoying the neutrality of my island. The Imprudent is no longer welcome at the Isle of Illusions, you will exit my harbour."