I’m back with another teaser, this time a brief excerpt from Chapter 1. Our intrepid hero meets her rescuers and has some doubts about their sincerity.
(I say brief but it’s like 700 words send help)
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“Get down, she’s going to blow!”
The muffled voice echoed through the cell block, only an instant ahead of the promised explosion. Coughing echoed down the long passage, suddenly much clearer than it had been before, and accompanied by a clatter of metal. Hannah pressed against the bars, trying to make sense of the situation. Attacking an Armada ship was bad enough. Surely someone couldn’t be stupid enough to board one?
The next words, however, seemed to confirm that this was exactly what the intruders were doing. “It’s one of these prisoners! Check the ones down there, Monkey.”
“I’m on it,” a second voice replied in a thick Polarian accent. Two sets of footsteps, one heavy, the other small and light, echoed through the brig, coming closer and closer to Hannah’s cell. The interlopers advanced down the passage, pausing briefly outside each cell before continuing deeper into the brig. It was obvious that they were searching for something—or someone.
She was still puzzling over the situation when a Monkey dressed in a blue naval uniform came to a stop in front of her cell and let out a cry of triumph.
“Aha! I think this is the prisoner we’re looking for!”
The heavy thumping of feet announced the arrival of the Polarian Monkey’s companion. He was a heavyset Human who carried an ancient spark thrower in his right hand. His left had been replaced with a hook, which combined with his massive white beard, red jacket, eyepatch, and bicorn hat, fitted the stereotypical image of a pirate to a T.
“Could be,” the newcomer replied, squinting into the cell. “You, there! You’re standing on me blind side. Scoot over a little.”
Hannah reached for her hip, then let her hand drop to her side when she remembered that the clockworks had confiscated her weapons. “Who are you?”
If the massive pirate was bothered by the curt reply, he didn’t show it. He hummed to himself and adjusted his position slightly to get a better view. His eyebrows went up as he studied her.
“I told you! She is the one!” the Monkey insisted.
Once again, the larger pirate appeared skeptical. “Maybe so. She sure looks young.”
Hannah slapped a hand against the wall. Both pirates jumped. “Now hang on just a minute! Who are you two, anyway, and what do you want?”
“Ah, our apologies! We haven’t introduced ourselves!” the Monkey said, shooting a look at his taller companion. It might have been intimidating if he wasn’t three feet tall with his hat on. “This is Boochbeard, and I am his first mate, Mr. Gandry. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
Boochbeard and Gandry—she’d heard those names. The dim-witted captain of the Flying Sloth and his first mate, who had deserted from three different navies before turning to piracy. To say that their exploits sounded unbelievable would be an understatement.
So what were they doing here?
Boochbeard frowned, unmoved by his comrade’s glare. “Don’t forget the important part. You wouldn’t happen to be an orphan, would ye?”
Hannah rocked back on her heels, her jaw dropping as she processed the implications of the question. What were these two getting at? Why was that the important part?
And, more importantly, how had they known?
“What kind of a question is that?” she demanded, as though the answer hadn’t just been written all over her face.
“You are!” Gandry gave Boochbeard a pointed look.
“What difference does it make?”
Boochbeard beamed. “Well, in that case, we’re here to rescue you! Now, let’s get ye out of this confounded cell. There’s piratin’ to be done!” He tucked his pistol into his belt and rubbed his hands together eagerly.
Hannah stared, her mouth opening and closing wordlessly. Right now, she didn’t trust these two as far as she could throw them. She had no connection to them. There was no reason for them to rescue her, if it was even her they were looking for.
On the other hand, here was her chance to escape. She could get answers once the Erebus was nothing but a distant memory.
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This was originally going to be the prologue to my fic, but I cut it because it didn’t fit with the rest. So have...a preview, sort of.Â
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The letter was battered, faded, singed, and water stained, the wax seal at the bottom cracked and half missing, the edges ripped and ragged. A faint smell of blasting powder and electricity clung to the parchment, and a sooty thumbprint had been smudged in one corner. It had passed through many hands to arrive at its destination, long diverted from its intended recipient. And yet, despite these abuses, the precise writing that filled the top half of the page was still legible.
Supreme Commander Kane,
Your suspicions appear to be correct. My sources inform me that piracy is on the rise across the Spiral, from Marleybone to Monquista. Raids on ports and attacks on shipping have increased dramatically in recent weeks. Even Valencia and MooShu are not immune.
The turmoil these pirates are causing is bad enough, but I worry that in the long term these pirates may become numerous enough to impact the Grand Design. I am particularly troubled by persistent reports of a "Pirate Haven" somewhere in Skull Island, where hordes of pirate crews are gathering in great numbers.
I have recently launched an aggressive sweep of several skyways, arresting criminals and undesirables of all sorts for transport back to Valencia. I am confident that the prisoners, once properly questioned, will be able to shed more light on these questions. If these pirates pose any threat to our interests, I will destroy them.
Of particular note is a prisoner who was captured in MooShu. I believe she is the one we have been searching for. I have made special arrangements for her transport. If those pirates attempt a rescue, I will be ready.
For the glory of the Armada!
—Deacon
At some point during the letter’s travels, one final line had been added, scribbled across the bottom in large, messy letters.
TAKE THAT SHIP! The one we’re lookin’ for’s on it, I’m sure of it! Yo ho ho!
The uniformed Monkey lowered the letter and looked over at his companion. “You are sure that Deacon is talking about the Erebus?”
“Of course, Monkey! Cap’n Avery himself got word that Deacon’s flagship just finished some diplomatic business in MooShu. He’s headed for Skull Island next.”
“And why would he travel through Skull Island if he had an important prisoner aboard? He knows that we know who he has. He knows that we know that he knows who he has. And he also knows that we know that he knows that…that…”
Across the table, a white-bearded Human downed a gulp of Yum in a futile effort to hide his grin. “That what?”
The Monkey took a deep breath, then pointedly flattened the letter on the table. “Never mind. The point is that he expects us to attempt a rescue. He will be ready for us!”
“Ah, ye worry too much. We’ve never gotten into anything too big to handle before.”
His companion resisted the urge to bury his face in his hands.
The Human set his empty mug down on the table, his expression turning uncharacteristically serious. “Besides, you heard what that strange fellow said.”
“I know what he said. I was there.”
“He said that we’d rescue a young orphan from the Erebus and that they’d put a stop to the Armada.”
“You do realize that he could have just been a crackpot?”
“Then why’d a wizard show up to put a stop to him?” The Human grinned triumphantly at the Monkey’s infuriated groan. “Sounds to me like us rescuing that orphan is pretty important.”
The Monkey massaged his temples wearily. He knew he shouldn’t have ordered plain Yum. Not that it would have made a difference. “As I recall, you were the one who wanted to hide until the Armada stopped searching for us.”
His companion replied by tapping the letter with a beefy finger. “Come on, Monkey! It’ll be our biggest adventure yet!”
The Monkey looked back down at the letter, then sighed, his face settling into the longsuffering look of someone giving in to the inevitable. “How quickly can we put together a raiding party?”
