Chronicles of the Dragon Pirate (37 page)

He took a swallow of claret then handed the goblet to Selene, who took a delicate sip as he went on. “I wasn’t much older than you are now when we came here. Sir Francis had picked me up on Three-Day Island, the sole survivor of a Shadowmen attack on a merchant ship. Sweet William was the one who found me, washed up on shore, and Sir Francis’s dragon-ghost Storm healed the head wound I’d suffered.” He stared at the claret-dark sea for a moment. “I was fortunate, for I only lost my memories of whom I’d been before and not my skills or my intellect, as others healed in such a way have had happen.

“I had no sailor skills to speak of but I knew how to swing a sword and accurately fire a pistol, so Sir Francis made me his bodyguard. We were using the spot where Haven is now as a base against the Spanish, and since Sir Francis didn’t want to be caught unaware, he’d sent out scouts. Sweet William did as you did, Tomas, climbing up on the aqueduct and spotting the ruins from above, but since he didn’t have a dragon-ghost of his own he went back and climbed down the ladder built into the stone. Then he told Sir Francis what he’d found. The crew was making the buildings of Haven habitable again, so Sir Francis left them and took me alone with him to visit the ruins.”

Captain Hawkins tapped the smoldering tobacco out of his clay pipe and placed it in a pocket of his coat before staring out to sea again. “We’d brought dragon-globes, and Storm and Sir Francis’s other dragon-ghosts held them up so we could see the entire wall. I remember I spent a good deal of time looking at the battle, but Sir Francis only gave it a cursory glance, examining the painting until he’d reached the point on the far left where Long-Mu was escaping by ship. He remained there the rest of the time we spent inside there, tracing her image with his finger. When I finally tore myself away and found him, I asked who she was. ‘A survivor’, he answered, and then tore himself away to look me dead in the eye. ‘This was a House of Memory for the survivors, so they would remember what they had lost. Etch this moment onto your own memory and never, ever tell another soul what you saw this day...or I will have you put out of the ship’s company the moment I hear of it’. Sir Francis was the focus of my entire life at that point so I did as he commanded, and have never mentioned it to another person...until now.”

Captain Hawkins went silent as he continued staring out to sea, and after a moment Pepper said quietly, “You’re in a strange mood tonight, sir.”

“My ghosts are restless,” he answered, motioning towards the ship as he added, “And speaking of ghosts, there are will-o-the-wisps playing around the masts...which mean the White Lady is about.”

Turning my gaze on the Blackjack Davy, I saw bobbing spheres of white light floating around the spars of the upper masts and the mainmast itself, slowly following each other as they wove their way in and out of the rigging. Suddenly, Pepper gasped, “The White Lady’s standing on the bow!”

I looked at once...but the bow was empty. Selene gave me a puzzled look matching my own, but the captain said, “What’s she doing?”

“Looking towards Big Bluff hill with a stern expression.” Pepper shivered, and I put my arms around her, the girl leaning into me with her gaze fixed on the ship. “She’s in a warrior mood tonight.”

“How can you tell?” I asked, believing she saw something I couldn’t since the captain was taking her seriously.

“Normally she wears a white dress Master Khan calls a kimono, but tonight she’s wearing white armor of lacquered plates and the ghost twin of the white sword the captain...” Pepper gasped. “She’s heard me speaking and she’s turning her head towards us.” Pepper took my hand and gripped it hard. “Tomas, she’s looking right at you!”

“In China,” Selene said with a wary eye on Pepper, “it is customary for children to bow to their parents as a gesture of respect.”

“Here, hold this,” I said as I handed Pepper my wine cup. She let go of my hand to take it and I got to my feet, giving the empty bow of the ship the courtliest bow I could, my hand sweeping in front of me before I rose again.

“She’s amused,” Pepper said. “I don’t think they bow that way in China, but she’s giving you a slight bow in return...now she’s looking at me.” Pepper placed the cup on the packed sand and scrambled to her feet, bowing to the empty ship in a formal way, with her hands folded together as if in prayer. When she rose back up, Pepper said, “I think I pleased her. Long-Mu gave me the slight bow back, and her face looks...kind.”

Selene spoke in a very neutral tone. “If she approves of the match between you and her son, then the return gesture of respect is also traditional.” Her voice became wary. “What does the lady do now?”

“She’s turned back towards the hill with her stern expression. Captain, I’ve never seen her like this: it’s like she’s on guard against something or someone on Big Bluff. Jade’s with her and the six little ones as well, along with other wild dragon-ghosts...they’re swirling around her...their colors... so beautiful.”

“Pepper,” Captain Hawkins said sharply, “attend me.” When she didn’t answer, her attention still fixed on the bow, he said, “Tomas bring her back now.”

I took her by the shoulders and lightly shook her. “Pepper, look at me.” Her gaze remained fixed on the bow as she began mouthing words instead of speaking, so I took her by the chin and gently turned her head so she’d look at me. Pepper gave me back a vacant stare. I felt a stab of fear and, not knowing what else to do, kissed her on the mouth.

Pepper reared back. “That certainly got Smoke’s attention.” A contrite look came upon her face as she looked past me towards the captain. “Kyrie eleyson, I did it again, didn’t I?”

“Tomas, feed her some wine.” I got Pepper sitting down with her back to the sea and gave her the wooden cup which she drank from as the captain continued. “When Pepper begins looking at the spirits she sees instead of ignoring them, at times she gets lost.”

“Their world becomes more real to me than ours does,” she said, holding the wine cup with both hands.

Captain Hawkins fixed me with a stern look. “It is now your responsibility to keep her solidly in this world...are we clear?” I nodded and he took the goblet from Selene as he asked her, “You told me you know a few things about Long-Mu?”

“From Bartholomew,” Selene answered, “or rather, from his grandfather. About eighty years ago Pope Paul the third of that name raised a fleet to attack the Turks, who were expanding their empire. It was an alliance that included Venice among others, but the battle ended in our defeat. According to Bartholomew’s grandfather it would have been a rout, save for the Dragons of the Venetian navy and three Chinese warships on a trading mission. They had been attacked by Barbary corsairs several times and were in the mood for revenge. Unfortunately, the admiral in charge did not believe in using Dragons, relying on his massive cannons instead, so all the Dragons were kept in reserve. The wind deserted the alliance, stranding their big guns, while the Turks ran circles around them using Artifact weaponry and golems.”

“Not using Dragons doesn’t make any sense,” I said.

“Now, it does not,” Selene said, “but you have to understand how much things have changed. The pope was against the idea of using Dragons at all, except within approved religious orders of course, and the man in charge felt the same. So when the dragon-spirits of the Turks began setting off the powder magazines of the alliance, they did not have the means to stop the destruction.

“But Long-Mu did. Bartholomew’s grandfather...his name was Bartholomew as well, said she had almost as many Dragons on her ships as the Turks did, and when the admiral called for a retreat, he finally allowed the Dragons to defend the fleet. When he saw Long-Mu in action he realized the alliance could have won the battle if he’d used their help in the beginning, and said as much to the pope when he reported back to his Holiness. Pope Paul, in turn, granted Long-Mu a private audience. What they spoke of was said in confidence, but later that year he issued a papal bull calling for the recognition of Dragons as children of God, and allowing them the sacraments under the same conditions as everyone else.”

“Someone must’ve forgotten to tell our parish priest,” I said half-jokingly. In St. Augustine I’d been denied entrance to the church and only got communion once a year, when the priests and brothers of Draco Magistris came to renew my license.

Pepper had a serious look on her face as she put her hand on my arm. “I would’ve ended up like Victoria if it hadn’t been for my faith in God. Every time things would get to where I couldn’t go on, I’d recite the Office or one of the psalms I’d memorized, and somehow find the strength to keep enough of myself together to endure another day.”

She broke off as we saw someone coming towards us from the noisy festival still going on and turned towards him, Captain Hawkins spinning around with his back to the sea. “Jean, is aught amiss?”

“All is well, Mon captain,” he said, his eyes wine-bright as sweat glistened on his forehead. “But since you have released your prisoner from your cabin for ze night, I thought I would ask her for ze pleasure of a dance.”

Selene had also turned around as I saw the captain’s eyes narrow. “We were engaged in a discussion...”

“Surely that can wait,” he said, interrupting, the quartermaster’s mouth smiling while his eyes remained hard. “Pleasure must be taken where it is found.”

“Might I offer a suggestion,” Selene said quickly. “Dance is a pleasure that must be taught, and I suspect neither Tomas or his betrothed have had the benefit of learning the Courante or one of its variations.” She looked at me and I shook my head, as did Pepper. “Jean, the Mirror dance was popular when you were a member of the court of Anjou. Do you still remember it?”

“How could I ever forget,” Master Le’Vass answered. “Twelve-fingered Harry knows ze proper music, and ze others will pick it up.”

“Then I would suggest you pair up with Pepper while I pair with Tomas. I can teach the basic steps while you lead the dancers,” she turned towards Captain Hawkins, “if that meets with your approval?”

A wry smile touched his lips. “Put so eloquently, how could I refuse?” He got to his feet and helped Selene get to hers as Pepper and I quickly scrambled up. “Lead on, Jean, and we will follow.”

He held out his hand to Selene in the manner a nobleman would to his lady, and Selene took it with elegant grace. Master Le’Vass gave the captain a sardonic smile of his own and started towards the fires while I held out my hand to Pepper in the same manner the captain had to Selene. Pepper gave me an amused look but took it in the same elegant way, the pair of us following the others as Pepper put her lips next to my ear. “I’m sorry I let myself get distracted,” she whispered. “It hasn’t happened in a while.”

I was coming to realize I still had a lot to learn about Pepper as I whispered back, “At least I know the best way to bring you back.”

She suppressed a giggle. “Smoke pulled me away so fast I lost where I was for a moment. Tomas, I promise you lively nights after we’re betrothed.”

I gave her a suspicious look. “Meaning what?”

“Meaning you’ll...”

“Figure it out,” we said together. Pepper giggled as I shook my head, Selene glancing back at us a moment before looking forward again as we reached the edge of the festival.

Twelve-fingered Harry was speaking with the brown haired man I’d seen playing with the drummers earlier, along with an older man whose brown hair was turning grey, who held their pipes in their hands. Three African men of the village spoke among themselves over their drums, hollowed out pieces of wood brightly colored in blues and reds, but all of them stopped talking as Master Le’Vass stepped into the center near one of the largest fires and raised his arms. “Gentle men and noble ladies,” he called out, “I beg your indulgence for a moment.” Catcalls came back at him from the crew, but Master Le’Vass only laughed. “Au contraire, messirs; since all lands must have a noble class, whom ze lower orders look up to with envy, who better than ze crew of ze Blackjack Davy and ze free people of Haven?”

A speculative mutter swept the crew as Master Le’Vass made an elegant gesture towards the crew with his hand. “Sailors all over ze New World and ze Olde have heard of us, envying our exploits but more our freedom as they toil under their master’s lash, and who does not think any one of them would not give up everything they own for ze chance to be exactly where you are now? Speaking of masters,” gesturing towards the villagers of Haven, “how many of your brothers and sisters would not do ze same? How many, sleeping in their beds this night under ze same moon we are gathered under, would not envy all of us together here as friends?”

A roar of drunken approval met his words, and after a moment Master Le’Vass raised his hands again for quiet. “So, since we are ze new nobility of ze New World, I have prepared an entertainment suitable for such noble company. Mistress Selene has been granted a night of freedom by ze captain, and she has agreed to teach ze young Dragon and our petite Pepper a version of ze Italian Courante, known as ze Mirror dance.”

A speculative murmur swept the crowd as Selene stepped forward. “The Mirror dance is designed for groups of two couples, so if anyone else cares to learn we need at least four dancers.”

Several catcalls from the crew made Selene flush, but Jeremiah was already on his feet. “Someone will have to show Tomas how it’s supposed to be done,” he called out.

“Sounds like a challenge to the Prince-o-the-pirates,” Curly catcalled.

“Not unless Tomas gained a sense of rhythm while I was away,” Jeremiah catcalled back as his eyes swept the crowd. “Maria, care to join me?”

A young woman of half-Spanish and half-African origin, with high cheek bones and dark, liquid eyes stepped out from a group of women. Unlike most of the others, she wore a green dress from Europe that left her shoulders bare. “It’s just a good thing you asked, Jeremiah,” giving him a wild grin, “or I would’ve made you suffer for it.”

Jeremiah extended his hand to her, whispering something in her ear that made her laugh as Sally walked up beside Pepper. “Sally want dance too.”