Regrets of The Fallen (Victis Honor Book 1) (14 page)

Haruka was standing very close to her. Isabella was wearing a body-length gold coat over white clothing rather than her armor, so at least she’d have a chance if she fell over, but Haruka really didn’t want to test her condition in the wild waves that could claim even the healthiest of victims. Isabella noticed this and simply gave her a grateful smile that turned into a grin when Haruka grabbed her free hand after she leaned a bit too far over the railing during one wave. “You’re kind of nervous, huh?”

Haruka looked sternly at the water, keeping a firm grip on the other woman’s hand. “Dangerous.”

“I can tell.”

“Had experience.”

“Really?” Isabella tilted her head. “…Would you prefer it if I went inside?” Haruka nodded and Isabella relented without an argument, heading back below deck with her. She shook the water from her hair before entering their room, giggling at the annoyed expression Haruka displayed when the action sprayed her with water. Inside the room they removed their coats, leaving them dry enough to sit on the bed. “So what experience did you have?”

Haruka sat at the head of the bed and leaned against the wall, folding her arms and crossing one knee over the other. “Thrown overboard once,” she stated, thinking back to the event. “Stormy night. Far from land.”

“That sounds horrible.” Isabella sat cross-legged on the bed next to Haruka’s legs, facing her with an awed expression. “How did you survive that?”

“Swam,” Haruka said with a shrug. “Four days. Issues with sea life, solved. Very tiring.” She looked at Isabella. “You couldn’t do it.”

Bella nodded, understanding more why Haruka had been so nervous. There was no way she’d be able to swim for more than a few hours without shifting. “You’re right about that. Even shifted I’m not sure how long I’d be able to keep it up. It’s amazing that anyone could.”

“Chakra,” Haruka explained. “Control own life energy. Less tired, less hungry, less thirsty. Limits, of course, but enough.”

“And without that you’d be dead…?” Haruka nodded. Isabella leaned forward. “What about that ‘issues with sea life’ you mentioned?”

Haruka smirked. “Sharks. Big creature. Weird eel. Grelk.”

“I understood, like, none of that,” Isabella said with a laugh, receiving a chuckle from the monk. “So what’s a shark?”

“Big fish,” Haruka said as she held her arms out. “Longer than a man. Lots of teeth.”

“I guess it makes sense fish would be bigger in the ocean than lakes and rivers. What about an ‘eel’?”

Haruka tilted her head, thinking of a good comparison. “Like… Fish plus snake. Long, thin, vicious.”

“Ugh,” Bella said with a frown. “
That
sounds like something I wouldn’t want to meet. And a ‘grelk’?”

Haruka smirked. “Drown victim. Water zombie. Annoying.”

“There are
zombies
in the ocean, too?!”

“Slimy. Covered in moss, algae. Weird hands.”

Isabella shuddered. “Remind me never to take a swim in the ocean.”

Haruka chuckled. “Not even worst part.”

“What’s worse than giant fish with teeth, water snakes and slimy zombies?”

“Big creatures,” Haruka said. She was enjoying this now as she leaned forward with a grin as if she was telling a ghost story. “Giant. Some bigger than ships. Different kinds. Eat men whole.” She gave a wicked smile. “Some eat ships whole.”

Isabella looked around as if she expected one of these nightmares to break through the walls of the ship as they spoke. “Giant monsters? Really?! Just…
lurking
down there beneath us, unseen, waiting to eat us?! Ruki, I hate the ocean!”

Haruka laughed, pulling the woman to her. “No worries. Rare to see. Sailors know to avoid. Didn’t you fight dragons?
Rarely
worse than dragon.”

Isabella curled up against her. “Just once. It’s not a good memory. And at least you can see a dragon coming if you’re lucky. I just hate the idea of all these horrible things beneath me that I can’t see or face.”

“Not bad for ships. Usually safe.” Haruka rubbed her shoulder and then continued, dryly, “
Our
worry is
above
.”

Bella looked up at the ceiling. “You really think they’ll try something, don’t you?”

Haruka nodded. “Don’t trust them. Not sailors, pirates. Bad idea.”

“I know,” Bella sighed. “But we didn’t have another choice. This is the best way to get away from the Black Sun.”

“True. We’ll handle it. Invincible team.”

Isabella smiled. “That’s right. If they make a
move, that will just be
their
problem.”

And it would. Haruka knew she wouldn’t have the slightest bit of hesitation if she had to rip a few throats out. She hoped they would be smart, but if they weren’t, well, even god wouldn’t be able to help any of them that tried to touch one strand of dark blue hair.

Haruka looked away with a growl. “This isn’t fair.”

Isabella smiled. “This is as fair as it gets.”

It took two days into the journey, but something finally happened. It started simply, with one of the sailors sending up a flare just after sunset. As the flaming object arced into the night air, Isabella looked at the sailor curiously. “What was that for?”

“Jus’ part of a deal, lass,” Captain Tyne said as he walked up beside them with his thumbs tucked into his belt. “There’re some pirates ‘round here we pay protection to, th’ flare lets ‘em know ta let us through.”

“Oh, I see. Thank you.” Despite Isabella’s understanding, Haruka didn’t buy that for a second. It was just plausible enough for someone to accept, but a signal for a deal like that would be too easy to replicate without paying. Deals with pirates always used special flags or sounds.

She became even more suspicious when Tyne suggested with a smile, “Why don’t you ladies retire? We’ll ‘andle the ship and let y’know if anythin’ comes up.”

“Yes, I suppose you’re right, I’m already tired,” Isabella replied. He bid them goodnight as Haruka followed the blue-haired knight belowdecks.

“Bella…”

“Yes, it does look bad, doesn’t it?” Isabella shut the door after they entered the room, biting her lip. “Well we certainly can’t sleep. Fortunately all I’ve done is sit or stand around all day.” She put a hand on her hip. “Honestly, I never thought about how little there would be to do on a ship and how much pent-up energy I’d have.”

Haruka shrugged. “Lots to do. Learn ship, work out, survive night…”

“I guess we’ll get energy out tonight. Are you looking forward to it, Ruki?”

“Unsure.”

“I do wonder who they were signaling.” She moved over to the bed and began rearranging the blankets and pillows, stuffing clothing under them. “I won’t be able to fight in my armor on this ship. Too dangerous,” she stated as she put her armor on the bed as well.

Haruka nodded as she passed her their pack. “Be careful. Watch your back.”

“Backstabbing types, huh?” Isabella finished and backed away, tilting her head and studying the bed that appeared to have two bodies in it. “That doesn’t surprise me.” She left the room as Haruka turned out the room’s lantern before following her.

“Cowardly, dirty.”

“That’s nothing new,” Isabella said with a smile as she pulled the door closed after them, sliding her iron sword into her belt beside the other’s scabbard.

Haruka examined the supply room across from theirs, nodding as she picked a spot and sat down in the dark, folding her arms. “Many people dirty. No honor, no discipline.”

Isabella sat beside her, giving her a smile. “Just the opposite of you. Although, you were planning on killing a politician when we met…”

Haruka sighed, looking away from her. “Assassin. Different.”

“Oh, really? You’ve never attacked someone from behind, or while they slept, or while unarmed or helpless?”

“I…” Haruka frowned. “Different,” she reiterated.

“So,” Isabella said with a sly smile, “What you’re saying is, if these pirates were being
paid
to stab us in the back, then they wouldn’t be honorless savages.”

“Not professional.”

“Oh, so the difference is they’re
amateur
murderers?”

Haruka looked at her. “…Yes.”

“Mmm.” Isabella nodded. “Yes, I see how big a difference that is.”

Haruka frowned. “Judging?”

Isabella raised an eyebrow. “You really think I can judge someone for killing? I’m just questioning your judgment of others for doing the same things you do.”

“It’s a job.”

“You would’ve killed me while doing your job had we not met the night before.” Haruka tried to disagree, but she knew Bella was right. Still, she had no idea what to say. Isabella laid a hand on her knee. “Honestly, I’m not trying to make you feel bad. What you do is nothing like what I did. I’m just saying it’s a little weird how you feel about actions so close to yours.”

Haruka sighed. “It’s… Feels different. Make choices, get pay, devote life to… perfection. Train, study, learn, practice, work… Effort.” She waved a hand to indicate the rest of the ship. “Predators. Pick on weak, run from strong. Stab in back out of fear, not caution.”

“You killed that man who was one of you, just like you,” Isabella pointed out softly.

Haruka looked at her. “Tried to kill you. Killed him first.”

“Would you have let him go if he had decided to leave?”

“Yes.”

“What about after he attacked me?”

“…Quiet. Someone coming.”

“Haruka-“

“Shh.”

Isabella went quiet, but Haruka could tell from her look that the subject wasn’t dropped for good. They watched from the darkness as Captain Tyne led two hooded men into the hallway. “Right in here,” he said quietly as he gestured to the door. “Now if you’ll just give me my payment-“

“You will receive it after she is on our ship,” one of the men replied. The captain went quiet and the two men opened the door and moved into the room as silent as the wind. They each moved to either side of the bed, raising their hands over it. Faint lines of light began to appear in the air, lowering to the bed and suddenly forming chains over the figures there, tightening rapidly and firmly.

There was a second of surprise and another of understanding before the two women shot from the supply room and into the cabin. Before the men could react Haruka’s hand caught one’s head and shoved it into the wall, splintering the wood. Isabella’s sheathed sword caught the other at the base of the head, dropping him like a sack to the bed.

Captain Tyne had taken off up the stairs and Haruka went after him, anger lighting her green eyes. “Ruki, wait!” Isabella followed her, already fearing what was about to happen.

Haruka burst out onto the deck where Tyne was shouting orders. She growled as she set her sights on him and he and another sailor lifted pistols. Having a lot of experience in this land, Haruka knew exactly what they were and leapt to the side as the two fired.

Being relatively new to this part of the world and pretty much all advanced technology, Isabella did not. The shots hit her in the shoulder and stomach as she emerged behind Haruka, bringing a shocked expression to her face as she wondered just what had hit her. She stumbled back a few steps and hit the wall, looking down at the two bleeding holes in confusion.

Haruka did not react well to that. She stared with widened eyes at Isabella, but three seconds later her eyes narrowed and a low rumble escaped her lips. Tyne tossed the pistol and drew his saber but Haruka’s fist reached him first, shattering his jaw. She slammed her other fist into his stomach and then swept his feet from under him, sending him to the deck.

The other sailor attempted to grab her and she slapped his hand away, then his neck, then shoved him back. A Death Mark appeared on both spots and he cried out in pain as his hands exploded, but he could make no sound when his throat followed. Haruka ignored the blood that sprayed her mask as she stomped twice, shattering both of Tyne’s knees. The man screamed in pain, but this was
his
fault; Haruka caught his wrist and slammed her palm into his elbow, breaking it as well.

The enraged monk then lifted the man up by his last good limb. “Stop! I beg ya… I’ve got loot I’ll share, an’ the
ride’ll be free, an’ I’ll-“ Haruka tossed him over the railing and watched as he hit the water. He had one good limb to swim with; she bet that gave him a few minutes to an hour to live. She had bigger things to worry about, though, because his crew was still up and moving.

Isabella looked up, finding Haruka with confused eyes. All she knew was that she’d been hit with some sort of weapon. Two sailors came towards her with sabers to finish the job and Haruka began running, but Isabella pushed herself off the wall and shook her head. “Others behind you,” she shouted, “get the others!”

With clenched teeth Isabella stepped forward and gave a shout of frustration as she swept her sheathed blade up in a diagonal arc and stumbled forward. Both sailors grinned at each other and backed out of the way of the swipe, but it had been a ruse; Isabella moved like lightning and thrust the end of the scabbard into the stomach of one as her hand shot to the throat of the other. She slammed the second one to the deck and spun on the doubled-over one, striking his back with the sword and dropping him. A stomp of her foot silenced the one on the ground and she took a moment to straighten herself out, rolling her bullet-pierced shoulder to loosen it a bit as she strode purposefully towards another three nervous pirates.