chapter ONE

The sun was out in all its spring glory; clear skies and a gentle breeze only added to the romance of the voyage. Marian was standing at the hull, arms around herself watching a pod of dolphins play just shy of the ship.

“Beautiful, aren’t they?” Jon asked as he walked up behind her.

“Yes, yes they are.” She concurred.

They stood in companionable silence for a while, just watching the graceful creatures streak across the ocean surface. “Have you given any thought to what we talked about?” He asked at last.

She wanted to correct him; tell him that he was the one who was constantly doing the discussing while she sat passive but instead said, “Jon you are a good man; kind, handsome, compassionate. And you would make a wonderful husband for some girl someday soon.”

“But I don’t want some other girl, some other day. It is you I want no; it is you I need, now.”

She took a deep breath; putting this off any longer would serve no purpose but to string him along at the expense of Genevieve who was all too willing to give him her all. And if she were to be perfectly objective, she also thought that Genevieve and Jon made a suitable match. “I am sorry too Jon, but I just can’t settle for less than exactly what I need.”

“But Marian…”

“No Jon, please for once let me finish. You are everything that I have said you are and I am sure more than the world has had the chance to see, but that is just not what I want.

In all honesty I do not know what I want but I do know that when I find it I will; just like my mother knew and my father. That makes me sound like a simple minded romantic but I don’t care- I know that fabled spark is out there waiting for me.”

“No. that does not paint you a fool, it shows courage and commitment to an ideal; that is commendable. I just hoped that you could give me a chance and maybe in time we would…” he held her hand when she started to answer. “I know that is not what you want but it does not change the fact that I feel as I do.”

They lapsed into an uncomfortable silence and Marian was grateful when finally Jon excused himself and walked off. She felt bad about what she had just done, but she refused to feel guilty about it. She would not, like her mother waste the formative years of her youth just because society expected her to conform.


chapter TWO

Her mother had been married to another before her father, and she had had to put up with an egoistic old cad who did not much care to hide his indiscretions. Sometimes going as far as to proposition whores in her presence.

They at least had the good sense to feel ashamed; he on the other hand did not. He would fondle and harass anything not clad in pants. Once, she had enough and told him as much, in front of quite the crowd. They were at the annual Coral Ball, surrounded by a host of other lords and ladies and of course the serfs that served them.

He had been missing for a spell so I wandered the halls and rooms looking for him as I had started feeling poorly and would have liked to go home. When finally I did find him, in the cloak room he was in the arms another woman; or more accurately in between her legs.

He came up, face wet from her juices; furious look on his face, almost as though it was my fault for discovering his cheating carcass. I raised hell, so much so that the other guests crowded about to get a glimpse of the cause of the furore.

The shock kept him from doing much but try to hide his face from the world, so it was after a good number of them had seen them both in their semi naked states that he had the sense to cover himself up. He came out of that cramped space breathing fire.

He shoved me roughly back, and was it not for the wall I banged heavily against I surely would have fallen, and fallen hard. He pulled his hand back to strike and my eyes closed in anticipation of the blow even as I raised my chin defiantly.

I cracked open an eye and found George red in the face with his arm twisted behind his back. His assailant was a giant of a man and though his face was composed and his demeanor passive, there was no doubt that he could cause considerable harm to an opponent.

“Milord please.” Lady Victoria pleaded wringing her hands.

“You are lucky you maggot infested piece of urban filth, that I have a fondness for the hostess because I have a good mind to put you in the exact position you deserve.” He growled. “Muttley.”

“Aye milord.” Came a gruff voice from the back of the crowd.

“Get back to the manor now. You know what you must do?” he asked.

“Aye, Lord Elliot.” The man replied. “Where am I to take them?”

“Do I look like I care man? Throw them in the river, dispose of them on the streets, burn them, I DO NOT care.”

“No. My love you mustn’t.” gasped the woman who had just finished dressing. “I can change love, I will change. Please…” she said moving to him. “I am sorry…”

The blast from his eyes was enough to stop a rampaging bull and the woman was wise enough to know that. “Yes, you are that. On second thought Muttley, take her things to this buffoons house- I quite think they make the perfect pair, don’t you?”

To hear her mother tell the story of that first night she had laid eyes on her father was her favourite bedtime story as a child; it had been the basis of her fantasies through her teens and now as a young lady she still found herself musing over it; the perfect love- the fated match. She would find it too.


chapter THREE

They were coming up on Diani Coral; the most famous sight on the whole coast, with good reason. It was at that point on the sea where God came to rest. The sun filtered through just right; enough to give the place happy warmth without stifling it with humidity.

The light from it made it possible to see several feet below the surface and though the water colour changed from deep aqua to soft green as a result of it, the rainbow of fishes swimming below could not have been more charming.

The constant breeze was a welcome change from the blazing sun of the sea behind and a notable difference from the biting cold that would assail you ahead. All in all, the type of place many a man would give life and limb to build a home.

And that was not all, for right in the middle of this wondrous watery fairyland towered a 30 foot tall, 50 foot wide coral reef of the most magnificent colours and design that you had ever seen.

It was hard to believe that it had been crafted by nature; it looked more like the carefully sculpted work of a master artist at his best- God must have been in a particularly good mood when he built it, they said.

No matter how many times she passed that same route, Marian could never get enough of it, she felt she never would. She often wondered why the boat never docked on the small island that could be seen on the portside; she also pondered why some enterprising gent had never thought to make a home there.

She was pretty sure she could marry the man who ever did, for a man with a bone as romantic as that in his body would definitely be as her father; loving and loyal. She imagined a life on that little island in the middle of the sea with the perfect weather and bountiful harvest, not to mention the sights.

She could see children; 2, no 4; 2 girls and 2 boys- not necessarily in that order and a man. Yes, she could see her husband; rich and well mannered. He would be highly educated, maybe a lawyer or a doctor but not with the same stupid pride that so many nobles had.

No he would be refined but physical. During the week he would be at his practice on the mainland making a mark on the world and over the weekends you would find him tilling their little paradise or splitting wood for cold winter nights. Playing with their little ones on Sunday afternoons or cuddled up with her on warm summer nights.

The incessant blaring of the fog horn brought her harshly back to reality. She glanced all about her and could see the men at arms handing out sabers and muskets. Jon was leading the pack; issuing orders with the same firm authority that had seen him rise to the rank of Major by the age of 29.


chapter FOUR

“Steady men!” he commanded when a ripple ran through the columns, “These are just lawless pigs out to steal the blood and sweat of hardworking citizens and we’ll be damned to hell and back before we let them have it without a fight.”

He got a roar in response. Yes, Jon Mayor was indeed qualified for the title he held.

The crew started an old war song; one that was meant to give heart to soldiers before a battle; and they would need all the heart they could get. Their assailants were not soldiers; they were not disciplined or trained in warfare tactics. They had no order, no scruples, and no honour.

But what they lacked in training they made up for in conditioning; for those dogs who went out to sea, risking life and limb every day in the pursuit of treasure and adventure had been battered and bruised by the elements so that they were used to most forms of pain.

What they did not have in terms of discipline they compensated for in ferocity for they were a wild bunch, a ruthless one. Many of the marines there had served more than two 5 year terms on the high seas and had had chance to see a pirate crew in action.

And while honour or scruples and order were in short supply for these scums, greed, malice and spirit were bountiful. It did not matter how well trained a company was or how well armed or even how many there were guarding a vessel. When pirates struck; insignificant as their numbers were, you had to pay attention.

The company at full crescendo, were stomping their feet and clanking sabers; seeing them sent a chill up Marian’s spine. The same affable soldiers she had come to know in the course of the voyage had turned into bloodthirsty beasts.

She could feel their angst as they drew nearer and nearer to the shadowy shape of the pirate ship that was now visible past the curtain of fog after her slice of paradise.

If she was not scared out of her wits by the prospect of being ravished by sweaty, smelly, toothless brutes she would have burst out laughing at the sudden lull that fell over the frenzied soldiers when the ship was fully in site; in fact she did giggle a little.

“It’s the Phantom Galleon.” Whispered a scared voice from somewhere in the middle of the ranks. “It’s the mother of all demon ships come to drag us to hell.”


chapter FIVE

“Be quiet you fool.” Jon hissed, “They are but humans like you and me.”

“B..But major, these are the Sundance pirates! When they strike they leave behind a trail of destruction that none can rival, even the other crews are mortified of them.”

“If it bleeds, then we can kill it.”Jon returned a little testily. It was the first show of nerves Marian had ever seen in the man.

“They say that no one has ever seen a one of them fall…or even bleed.”

“Well then today will be the first day.” Their Major said in a cold quiet voice that brooked no further dissent. “Anyone who tries to run from this battle, I will cut down myself.”

He said that with a calm and confident face but Jon himself was privy to the legend of Captain Messa and his bunch. They had never lost a crew member; they struck fast and they struck lethal. Everyone above the rank of captain in the armada was advised to run if ever they saw the Sundance pirate insignia.

“Forget numbers, forget munitions, forget the heart and skill of the column you command; if you ever see the Black Star turn tail and run.” The general had told them once in a war council meeting.

“It won’t mean you a coward; it will mean you are smart; it will not make you a lesser man; it will make you less dead.”

Jon hadn’t understood how the storm of Narina; a national war hero- a man whose exploits were as legendary as the kingdom was vast, could ask his soldiers to run from battle.

It was well known that General Genoa had faced off with the monkey king on numerous occasions and was one of the few people who had battled the scourge of the sea and come out with his life, and Jon, young and full of spirit commented on that.

The general had stripped of his jacket and turned to reveal his back. “Many of you think that I am still the legend that I was, and in some respects you may be right. But these are the results of my skirmishes with the captain of the Phantom Galleon.”

His back though wide and muscled was covered by scars and scabs of various shapes and sizes.

“Most of these I got from Messa. I should be dead,” he’d shocked them “For many are the times I have lost duels against him, but he always let’s me walk away; which is why I do not go out to sea as much anymore.”

chapter SIX

Standing on the bridge of the deck, watching death loom ever closer, Jon experienced the feeling Genoa had promised them would be there if ever you came across the Sundance pirates.

Some of the crewmen were having difficulty breathing; the stronger ones were sweating profusely enough to visibly wet their shirts; some were crying but all of them were having trouble finding their nerve. Those that had been on the sea for years called it ‘Makmende’ the spirit of the sea.

It was the force of the soul. The more hardship you overcome the bigger your spirit grows, the more you put your life on the line, the stronger it becomes- it was said. Jon knew people; politicians and aristocrats with big makmendes and he was among the marine headquarter heroes with the strongest; but what they were facing was ridiculous.

To have that much effect on so many of his men and from that distance as the vessel was at least 5 leagues from them.

“You can fight him and you may walk away but the moment you do, you will throw away life out at sea.” Genoa promised them at the end of the meeting. “I live, not because we are friends or because I am a legendary warrior. He lets me live simply because he needs someone strong to spar with every now and then.

The stronger you are, the harder he will seek you and your crew out for practice sessions.”

The Black Star drew up on their portside. At that moment it looked every bit the Phantom Galleon it had been christened. There was no sign of life on board; no sounds, no movements, no menacing souls; only that murderous spirit force.

An arrow neatly knocked the saber out of Jon’s hands.

“Major, up there.” The captain shouted pointing at the Black Star’s main mast.

Though the ship rocked and swayed to the motion of the waves there was a figure standing with absolute ease his arms across his chest on the crossbar; he stood looking down at the soldiers on the marine vessel as though they were mere insects.

The figure squatted on the mast and with effort so minimal he should have dropped into the sea, launched himself across and onto the mast of their ship. Muskets were aimed on him as he stood upright.

His mouth, the only visible part of his body, twisted upwards in what must have been meant as a smile.

“Fire on my mark.” Jon panted sweat pooling at the small of his back. There were a few bumps and thumps behind him and he turned to find his men passing out. Those who were out cold already were either on their knees or bent over, gasping for air.

Jon himself was nearing his limit; his sweat glands were on overtime while his lungs seemed to be falling asleep; assailed by the ever increasing pressure.

“Utterly useless captain, this crew of yours.” Jon heard from behind him and turned to find the figure already on the deck standing over the figure of his captain, who was on one knee.

“Well at least you can still hold on to your weapon. I will commend you for that and then kill you anyway.”

“Why don’t you pick on someone your own size?” Jon hissed hurling a chair at the pirate’s back.

“What’s this? A man who can actually stand my spirit; this is indeed a surprise!”


chapter SEVEN

Because he would have trouble in a mobile battle, Jon raised his musket first and fired wide off the mark. The figure edged slowly towards him and did not even flinch when he raised the firearm for a second shot; nicking his cheek.

“I see your aim is improving- but then again I am not ducking, am I?” it taunted.

“Why don’t you come a little closer and then talk all that rubbish you sea dog!” Jon challenged.

“I like this one, really I do like you.” The man told no one in particular using his gloved hand to parry Jon’s saber slash. “Especially your commitment to this ideal you call justice. If I didn’t know any better I would say you were my good friend Genoa’s seed.”

Using his free hand to yank the dagger out of Jon’s thigh, he remarked. “On this sea there are very few real men. Gone are the days when setting out on voyage was a fete of wonder and bravery.

Now we have all these weather people who tell you when and where to set sail. And a barrage of soldiers trained to handle most situations. Throw in a horde of staff that makes the journey on water a floating paradise and you give us sea dwellers a bad name.”

Jon reached for his other dagger and swiped it at the figure; who in turn let the blade pass through his two middle fingers only to stop the tip of the blade from piercing his eye at the last possible moment.

He slapped Jon’s arm away and admired the intricately curved ivory handle and the exquisite workmanship. He sighed when Jon reached over for it and stood up.

“I really did like you.” He said gesturing to Jon’s bleeding legs as he stood upright. “It is not often that you will find a man willing to put himself through that kind of physical discomfort in order to overcome psychological anguish.

But our lines have been drawn in the sand; you want this beautiful blade back yet I covet it. In the world we live in that means we must do battle for it.” He switched the angle of the blade and raised it above his head.

“Such a pity; a few more years and I would have probably let the old general retire.”


chapter EIGHT

When the hand touched his arm, he reacted instinctively; exactly as years on the sea and street had taught him. He let go of the blade he was holding and instead used that same arm to twist the hand holding him, throwing it's owner into a fast wide spin all the way around him; the momentum of which had the person careening off their feet.

Even as he tried to get through the shock of someone being completely unaffected by his makmende to the point of sneaking up on him, he wondered how such a worthy adversary would be so light and why they were not putting up more of a fight.

For sure this technique having been perfected through many years and even more battles took into account and countered all possible human reaction; whether instinctive or taught, but the victim’s body itself usually put up some form of resistance.

As the opponent flew away from his body, he let go for a split second; just long enough to somersault onto the deck and snatch up the blade he had dropped. Before legs could connect with wood his hand was again upon his adversary; this time in a vice like grip around the neck with the gleaming blade in tow.

The blade stopped a hairsbreadth from her throat. She saw his eyes go wide a split second before she saw that his arm was restrained by a whip.

“Cap’n just because the lady don’t know how to make a proper meal or keep a clean house is no reason to kill her.”


chapter NINE

There were flashes of colour and whispers of movements as pirates arrived aboard the Marina.

“Aw Captain, you didn’t leave any for me! But you promised.” came a too young and definitely female voice.

“I know Karin, I know but I didn’t fight them see; I haven’t even unsheathed my blades.”

“No fair Uncle J, you know you’ve got makmende; and you promised, you promised.” The little girl said, stomping her feet.

“Okay darling okay, you can kill one of them then.”

“Really, you mean it uncle J? I want the strongest one; a fair fight.”

“Oh, I see” the whip man said coming up behind her.

“What does that mean?” she demanded.

“Nothing, nothing- you can have the strongest one.”

“You wouldn’t!” she said narrowing her eyes at the two, “Yes you would.”

The one they called captain smiled, the other shrugged.

The girl threw her short sword down in indignation, “How the hell am I supposed to become a pirate if you keep interfering in my fights?”

“Don’t say interfering darling, think of it as oversight.” The man said.

“Oversight my…“ she begun but was cut off in mid protest.

“Watch your language young lady, especially where the captain is concerned.”

“Sorry captain.” She said and in a more demure voice continued, “Uncle J, you know it's my 13th birthday real soon right? And you said I could have whatever I wanted.”

“Yeah, yes I did. But I meant we would go steal it together.”

“But I don’t want to steal, I want to kill!” her voice was pleading now.


chapter TEN

Marian was in shock. She knew, and had heard that pirates were cold heartless bastards; but she had always assumed that was after years of hard living and mistreatment, just as she had always assumed that all pirates were male.

That child definitely did not meet that criteria just as did a good number of the rest of the crew; she had counted at least 17 women so far.

The captain knelt in front of the pouting child, took her by the shoulder “You will get your chance darling.”

“When?”

“The day we meet the demons who did it, you will draw first blood.”

Marian watched him make a cut on his palm with the dagger he still held and hold the bleeding hand out. The little girl looked at it and though her expression was still wary, she made a nick in her own little hand and took his in a firm shake.

“You have my word baby.”

They were supposed to be evil; they were the demons she had been warned about all her life. They embodied all that was wrong with the civilized world; they stood against all that was good and holy, yet Marian’s heart melted anyway when the little sobbing form folded into the man’s arms.

“But I still want to kill somebody. I’ve been practicing and everything.” her small voice said moments later.

“You won’t give that up will you?”

“Nope!”


chapter ELEVEN

“Okay then, choose one for yourself.”

“I want that one.”

And to Marian’s horror she was pointing at Jon whose look was as bewildered as her own.

“Choose another one darling, he…”

“No no no no. I want that him.” Gesturing wildly she continued, “He is the only one who is still conscious uncle J; the only one that I will fight fair and square”

Jonti looked at his first mate and could find no reason in the other man’s eyes to not grant the child’s request.

“Baby.” He said turning back to the girl. “After this you know you will have to grow up; in more ways than one.”

“I know uncle J.”

“After this day, you will no longer be a sea apprentice, you become a Sundance pirate; you get to join the crew.”

Brechin stood ramrod straight and puffed her chest out, “I have waited for this day all my life captain and I will not embarrass the Sundance legend.”

“B. Are you sure you are ready for this? There will be no coming back from what you are about to do.”

Her mind screamt yes, but her heart just wasn’t ready. She knew that the day would come when she would come across the people who had stolen her first life and on that day she believed her heart would show no mercy.

The others, that she would harm before then were simply tools for practice. Like every other Sundance pirate she would be expected to perfect a skill and master a weapon. Not only that but she needed to come up with a signature move.

Unlike weapons where people were grouped in squads and skills which required teamwork, signature moves were individual efforts and had to be original. They could not be taught or aped.

The only way to create a style was to do real battle. She knew that; understood it but her heart would not be still. Uncle J- the captain had advised her time and again to take her time growing up.

The name of the Sundancers carried a lot of weight and responsibility. They were the hope of a growing nation, the justice of a murdered people. ‘Donning that name means you forget yourself and live for the people.’ Jonti always said.


chapter TWELVE

Standing there sword in hand, staring down a man whose name she did not know; whose life story she had never heard, she started to feel the weight. Could she like the rest of the proud warriors of the sea take a life without remorse?

“It takes time to develop the sense of who to kill in a fight; it takes time and patience. Your emotions are still immature, your conscience underdeveloped. Your judgment will be clouded if you attempt this now.” Jonti told her as he moved out of her way.

It was a hard decision, one that more people than should have had made. He had watched them struggle with the choice, watched them either crumble under the pressure or emerge above it.

He judged neither one. Those that joined the army were welcome and would be welcomed to the sons of the sea with the same love and commitment that had seen them into the commune. Those that could not were allowed to join the royal guard.

Either way, family was family. Most of the crew had raised concerns that Brechin was too young to be a pirate apprentice and he had told each the same thing. ‘None of us have been through what that little girl has been through.

We do not allow her a chance to feel like it is possible for her to avenge that and she will lose her soul. This is the best way, the only way.’ Was Jonti's answer.

But now he was not so sure of his own wisdom. He could see the struggle within her, could feel it. And he knew it was more turbulent than many he had seen in his time as a pirate and before that as a thug. He was not sure he could take seeing her go through that.

Brechin felt his worry for her, felt all their worry for her and wanted to break down and cry. She wanted to be back in his arms or back at the village getting up to mischief; anywhere really, but here.

“Fight!” Someone shouted and the rest of the crew, the ones who had been left playing gin rummy in the lounge or been asleep below deck hassled to get to the SS Marina.

There was no turning back now, Brechin knew. She expected these people to have her back, the same people who by donning the black insignia of the Sundance pirates she vowed to defend with her very life; she could show no signs of hesitancy, of indecision.

That was a show of weakness and nobody wanted a crew mate they could not undoubtedly trust their survival with.

She tightened her grip on the blade and raised it just as Kamal had taught her; she spaced her legs and bent her knees. The sword was held at chest level with the tip pointing skyward. She drew her breath in and charged forward eyes narrowed.


chapter THIRTEEN

‘Shit’ Jon thought scrambling for his saber. The child was hardly past crawling and yet he could feel her killing intent from so far a distance. The sword stance s he used told him she was no amateur either; it was a technique he had seen only once on his world travels- in the land of silk and spice.

It was said to never need a second strike. He had seen it used once by a man who had been charged with the safety of the trade delegation from Narnia. The caravan had been attacked by bandits, 7 of them; the same number as the people in the caravan.

But by the time Jon's team drew their weapons and stepped out of the wheeled conveyance, the bandits lay dead at the feet of their guide. His stance had been as hers, and his eyes focused just as intensely.
There was no way he would win this battle. The little girl was obviously a prodigy and her courage in the attack as well as how she knew to not maintain a straight path of attack told him that she was well versed in the art of sword fighting.

At that moment the murderous spirits had been turned off and he could move with ease; well as much ease as the leg he had stabbed would allow. The battle was already skewed in her favour.

He also knew as sure as the sky was blue that by some miracle should he come out on top of the skirmish, he would not live long enough to marvel at his good fortune. Any one of those gathered there would take his life before he could seriously harm the girl.

She swung her blade down; he swung his upwards to meet the attack just as the guide had taught him. The force of her swing surprised him; causing the sword to swing all the way around.

She changed the angle of the blade for an upward slash; he brought his down for a vertical stab through her crown. She slid fast out of the way, changing the arm that held the blade as she did, so that the arc and power though reduced would still slay him.

Choosing to forgo a suicide strike, Jon let his sword continue on its course and parried her attack. They looked at each other for what could have been days, each acknowledging the other. Then she stood up and walked back to the one they called captain.

She picked up her sheath and slid the sword inside reaching for the spear by his side.

“Aw Come on B. This is boring.” Somebody said as she expertly handled the long shaft.

“We came to watch a battle, not an execution.”

She huffed and being the child she was, stomped her foot. “This is my duel, you stay out of it.”

“Taka is right B,” The captain told her from his perch. “You asked for a fair fight, so fight fair.”

“But he is so much bigger than I am.”

“And his spirit is broken and his body wounded.”

“But captain…”

“No buts little one; look at him.”

And he purposefully kept his tongue until she turned to her adversary. When she realized that nothing would happen until she complied, she reluctantly faced the man.

“He already thinks that we will jump in the minute he gets the upper hand; that has caused his fighting spirit to desert him.”

“But he stopped the jigen unc…”

“He did not stop it, how could he have? Look at his leg. It’s bleeding so much he can barely move it without flinching. His concentration is not in the battle; his body is merely reacting to your charge- looking to stay alive.”


chapter FOURTEEN

She looked at her opponent, really looked at him for the first time since she chose this fight. He was broken, his eyes were dull and his leg was indeed injured. The fact that he had been able to stop an attack so powerful and further block the follow up was commendable in itself. To do that in his state was nothing short of a miracle.

Jon could barely believe what he was hearing. They were pirates, they had no honour, knew none. Yet he believed the man when he said that his rogues would not join in the fight. He could not be sure but he thought he saw a smile tug at the corner of the dreaded captain’s mouth when he looked his way.

“Can I at least use them then?” Brechin asked.

“Why not.” Kamal said and threw her a canvas bag.

Jon blinked for what seemed just a split second, and when his eyes flew open the whip wielding man was bending over him.

“I would suggest you muster your strongest will for survival.”

Reacting instinctively, Jon swung his saber at him. The whip came down hard on the back of his hand and almost as though they were old friends having a chat; like Jon hadn’t just tried to kill him, he put his arm around the marine’s shoulder and continued. “She is better at these than the blade.”

As he floated away from the still shocked Marine, Jon looked up to see the little girl brandishing a metal claw and bouncing from foot to foot. The crowd grew silent as the leaps slowed down and finally stopped.

She looked to her captain and when she got the go ahead, dashed forward. Jon could hardly believe the speed with which the little girl cut across the deck of the massive vessel, or the power with which she clashed the claw against his blade.


chapter FIFTEEN

Her attacks were relentless, her speed incredible and power unbelievable. She kept at him like a body possessed; it took more than he knew he had left to keep from being impaled.

Brechin had an advantage and she knew it, which is why metal claws were her weapons of choice. They were like an extension of her body. Fighting with them was like dancing and she did love dancing.

Her small body made her a difficult target and her grace and agility made her a formidable foe. Which is how she managed to avoid the man’s downward slash and duck his side strike without a pause in stride.

He brought his knee up and she blocked with her forearms. She knew he would follow up with an elbow to the back of her head so she twisted away. The man switched tact; she heard the foot placement change and knew he was lunging after her for a stab in the back.

When she turned she did it claw first, to block the blade and kick him in quick succession; front left to the side of the head, back right to the small of the back as he fell forward. For good measure she aimed a stab at his prone form.

Jon just barely rolled out of the way and came up to find her features composed, claw still in the wood where his neck had been only moments ago. Child or not, he could not afford to play games with this one. If he wanted to see the morrow he would have to throw away his pride.

He picked up the sword digging into his side and stood up. Adrenaline was pumping through him, he could scarce feel the wound in his thigh now. This next round would require his full power, no time for injuries and such. He held the blades at chest level.

“Cap’n?” Kamal asked.

“Let them be. She needs this.”

“He is not an easy target.” His first mate insisted as the man raised the sabers and held them horizontally; in the form of a cross. “That technique…”

“Kamal.” Jonti interrupted. “Haven’t you noticed? B is not at her best either.”

“Cap’n!”

“She has been fighting with one hand behind her back, fighting with only one claw. There have been no acrobatics and her spirit is silent. The battle has not yet begun.”


chapter SIXTEEN

Jon closed his eyes; he did not want to, but he knew he had to. His intensive training at the academy, his many years out at sea; his experience both as a man and a marine had not prepared him for a scenario like this. How could he kill a child?

But again, how could he not? It was either kill or be killed; this child had shown him that she was playing for keeps; it was time to up the stakes. The technique he was gearing up for had been passed down in his family for generations.

It’s skill and precision had protected Narnia’s monarchy in times past and it’s power and range saved a great many lives in the country’s civil war. It was widely known and feared even more.

Brechin felt the blood begin to hum under her skin; she felt her muscles ripple with excitement. She had needed this more than she knew; this was growth, this was experience, this was the first step to the morrow she had searched so long for.

She clutched the second claw tighter, the knowledge that she would have to use it soon ringing in the head. The man attacked first.

Brechin knew about the flying dragon technique, knew how to use it and how to defend against it; it had been drilled into her by Jonti and she had practiced it numerously with Kamal. She was confident in her mastery of it.

But this was not a lecture in the captain’s chambers, nor was it a spur on the deck of the Star. This was real; it was a duel and she needed to remember, no to put to practice everything she knew.

The blades were coming at her from both sides of the neck; stage one where the wielder of the technique would attempt to decapitate his opponent with the initial strike. If you had one blade, then that meant you could only defend one side of your person.

Brechin pulled back bent down low and with all the might she could muster delivered an upward blow to the point where the blades intersected. That left her opponent open to the double kick; to his shin and chest.

Recovering quickly from the child’s almost playful defense against his attack, Jon dove straight into stage two of it, combining the blades and slashing downward right, upward left followed by a double handed forward thrust.

If it did not end your life it would end your existence as a fighter. A slash or stab from two blades so close together made it impossible for the wound to fully heal. In the event that one actually survived it they would soon wish they hadn’t.

Brechin dove forward, under his right arm in a head roll but anticipating his reaction did not complete the somersault. Instead she stopped braced her left foot on the ground as soon as it touched the earth and used the right to push herself back under his left arm as he turned with his second slash.

She then dragged her light body under his legs and came up behind him as he stabbed where her form should have been standing. The element of surprise on her side, she leaped into the air and using both feet kicked him in the back of the head.

Jon had in all his time alive seen only 13 who had managed to evade the dragon’s jaws and tales of the few who had managed to evade it’s claws had been told to him as a boy. But these had all been seasoned fighters, the latter being fighters in the revolutionary wars.

This child had just managed what took years of practice and experience. If she managed to evade the tails as well, Jon knew all was lost. That’s what was running through his mind as he made his final charge.


chapter SEVENTEEN

Placing the base of one sword on the base of the other he formed a double sided, double edged weapon. Moving it like a windmill he advanced on the little girl, giving her no place to run to- no way to escape being cut.

Three back flips later and Brechin was far enough away from the menacing blades; with a smile on her face she rushed head on towards her attacker. Jon faltered for less than a second; which was more than she required.

A normal person facing such an assault would be held captive by fear the moment they saw the technique, a relatively good and experienced fighter would at least have the sense to retreat until they saw an opening to escape.

The truly gifted would know to hold their ground and wait for the one moment of weakness between the attacks and defend pattern just as the attacker lunged for the kill.

Jon had never known any person who ran full out against the deadliest stage of one of the most revered blade techniques in the world. She was mad, there was no other explanation, the girl was mad.

Brechin picked up her speed as she neared her opponent; she measured her breathing and narrowed her eyes in focus. There was a one shot chance, executed perfectly it was the ultimate defense against the attack- but a small miscalculation, the slightest mistake and you were dead.

6 yards from her target Brechin leapt forward and started spinning in the air, her clawed arm stretched out before her. The first two spins were supposed to daze the enemy from the sheer speed added to an assault. From the way the slight falter in the man’s advance it was apparent that that at least had been achieved.

The third spin was meant to be used to get a handle on the speed at which the enemy rotated his blades and the fourth was used to gauge the pattern of movement they used moving side to side. The swiftness and curve at which a warrior moved his weapons were largely dependent on the age, technique and prowess and just a little to do with personality.

Which necessitated the 3rd and 4th spins; a mistake at this point would mean you were opening yourself up to a counter attack from an experienced enemy and would almost certainly be death when up against a master. The second of the four part style was thus also used to determine whether to push through with the attack or to pull lightly back into a defensive maneuver.

Luckily by the end of part 2 Brechin was sure she need not concern herself with the backup form of the tactic; drawing her right arm back as she completed the 5th revolution, she brought her foot down 2 yards from the man and with the muscles achieved from a difficult childhood and skill honed through a lifetime of fight games lunged at her target.

Jon saw the girl come ever closer and though mystified as to what she intended to achieve with her foolhardy endeavor never once let his mind wander. With his eyes locked on the spinning form of the soon to be dead girl, he gripped the blades harder as he made final approach.

The shock on his face, he was certain, was comical. One minute he was moving forward sure he would cut down the child and the next his blades had stopped rotating and he could not for some reason budge his arms.


chapter EIGHTEEN

He looked down and if his jaw dropped any further he would soon be gurgling sea water. The 3 spiked claw was lodged perfectly against his weapons with the middle point in between and displacing the base of the swords; interfering with the pattern of movement thereby halving his attack power.

The spaces between the teeth are what had trapped the momentum of his blades. He took a deep breath and waited; he knew better than to make any sudden moves. They were in a standoff.

She wouldn’t dare try and draw back; she was leaning forward precariously, and though the pivot added to the power of her charge, withdrawing would leave her open to any number of attacks.

Jon could also not venture an inch because the slightest change in position or power would send the claw straight into his chest. It was taking all he had to just keep it from advancing as it was.

The standoff would continue only as long as each could hold their ground and though his leg irked him considerably he knew that the angle at which the girl was leaning had to be more troublesome. It was just a matter of time; whether he lost too much blood and with it consciousness before she felt the effects of gravity remained to be seen.

Brechin watched the emotions play across the man’s face. She was impressed; it took him a few short seconds, maybe 20 or 30- she couldn’t tell exactly as the position she was in had started to annoy her, to work out what took most people at least 2 to 3 minutes. By which time they would be breathing their last.

Jon turned to face the girl just as she spoke to him. “You have been a worthy opponent.”

“Likewise little one.” He said and meant it.

“Yet I regret that I must bring this to an end, I cannot keep the captain waiting too much longer.”

Jon would have thought that it was just plain bravado on her part but having seen her play across the deck, play against him he knew better. Though he could not see just how she intended to end their stalemate he knew she could certainly do it.

He heard it before he saw it and his eye turned just in time to see her left hand fly from behind her with a speed unlike anything he had ever seen and barely managed to duck out of the intended path.

Thought it did not go through his neck the blade still met the solid mass of his right shoulder. It must have hit something because Jon’s hand suddenly became listless and the sword in his right hand clattered to the ground and when she turned the claw the degree of the ache was so intense it caused Jon to drop to his knees.

Dropping the blade in his left arm he brought it up to his right shoulder hoping to ease some of the pressure off the wound. Brechin raised the other claw and angled in for a decapitating blow.


chapter NINETEEN

Jon looked up at her and the only thought in his head was -after an illustrious career on the sea, I am to be felled by a child no older than my sister Martha’s first born.

Jonti turned away; he knew this was a part of growing up. It was a pre- requisite for joining the crew but he never wanted to see that particular moment; when one traded innocence for a life of murder and pillaging. It was necessary, he knew but that still did not stop him loathing it.

He was going to walk away, he should have walked away but he stole a glance at the woman who’d earlier snuck up on him. Her features were stricken; in a way that had he not felt a catch every time he glanced at her soft features would have been funny.

He stared just long enough to see the tears glistening in her eyes and the scream that could not get past the terror lodged in her throat. He felt bad, more for himself than for the man about to be struck down; it was apparent she cared for the man.

The feeling that elicited in him was foreign; Jonti was not prone to jealousy, he had never had cause for it. Yet looking at the tears on the woman’s face and the anguish wrenching at the heart she held in her trembling hand he felt it and though he did not much care for it, it wasn’t’t an altogether unwelcome feeling.

“Stop them please.”She pleaded, and though her eyes were fixed on the scene playing out before them, even though the words were barely above a whisper, Jonti had no doubt they were meant for him.

“Impossible!”He told her just as quietly. “I gave my word not to interfere with the duel.”

“You would make a murderer of a child this age? You are a worse monster than I feared.”

Jonti looked at her, took his time to really look at her. He saw the fancy clothes covering the healthy body underneath. Her posture was one of power, her very bearing screaming a life of privilege.

He knew she had no idea what really went on in the world; she was sheltered from the ills of those around her, protected from the ghastly and unthinkable. He thought about telling her that and realized words would make little difference.

“Cap’n.” Kamal called.

“Handle whatever it is K.” Jonti said facing his ship.

“Cap’n.”Kamal called again making Jonti pause, his first mate rarely ever interrupted him while conversing and e definitely never hesitated to carry out an order, not in front of the crew.

“She be crying Cap’n, Brechin is breaking.”


chapter TWENTY

Rushing towards the little girl, Jonti could tell that though her arm was about to deliver the death blow to her opponent, Brechin was no longer with them. She was in a world of her own; recalling her past happiness, recounting her losses, reliving her pain.

Ending a life with such heavy thoughts would just not do. Brechin’s speed was incredible but the captain’s was godlike; before the blade got to it’s intended victim Jonti had yanked her off her feet and drew her across the deck as Kamal dragged the wounded marine away.

“I’m sorry uncle J, I really wanted to do it, for them, for you.”
“Hush child. You fought well, better than I would have imagined. You have been paying close attention. Not being able to take a life is not a weakness, it's strength and one you should be proud of baby.”
“But I wanted to join the crew so bad, I just wanted…”

“The battle proves that you are meant to join us, there is no doubt that you definitely belong on the Black Star. You will get the chance to seal that soon, just don’t rush it, let it come to you; not everyone can take a life on their first attempt.”

“But you did Uncle J, the first time and you were younger, much younger.” Brechin said as the strain of the battle took over and caused her to pass out.

“Difference is I had no choice baby girl.”

“Sir?”One of the deckhands called and Jonti knew the crew was awaiting his orders.

“Sack it and then sink it, leave no trace that it ever existed.”

“The crew?”

“Throw them overboard, give them enough food to last them a week. The rest we will leave to fate.”

“And him?”

Jonti needn’t have looked; he knew they were speaking of Jon, “Him you can kill.”

“No, you mustn’t! ”Marian shrieked.

“I take it you presume you can tell me how to run my crew because I chose to show a little mercy to this bunch of lowlifes?”

“You speak of giving your word and of honour but where is the honour in what you are doing?”

The look Jonti threw her was dark and dangerous; nobody ever questioned his code of honour. Even in those times, turbulent as they were he kept a strict check on the conduct of his crew.

“You would have killed them all, Jon included wouldn’t you?”

“Had he won and taken the life of my charge, I would have let him live jus as dictated by the rules of a proper duel.”

For some reason Marian was certain the man spoke the truth, had Jon won against the little girl he would have been released.

“But in my grief I would personally have slaughtered the rest of the crew.”

That, Marian was also certain, was not an empty threat.

“Then I will make you a deal pirate.”She informed him in a far braver voice than she was feeling.

“I am listening.” Jonti informed her, curious to hear what she would offer for the man’s life.

“Allow Jon to live, let him leave with the rest of the crew and I will come with you of my own free will.”

“And what value pray tell would your joining my crew provide?”

“Surely sir you cannot be that daft!”She told him rather too fast. “In this day and age you must feel the change set in; the navies of the world grow stronger in terms of military power and less afraid of pirates.”

“So what exactly are you proposing.” The captain asked a smirk on his face.

“You will shortly need a body that could negotiate on behalf of your people. You must have heard of the revolution in the western waters?”

“Unlike the trash that don pirate insignia in the west seas and go around murdering and raping for creature comforts, the Sundance pirates have a much loftier goal and we would as soon die as make a deal with devils.”

“Aye!”The crew shouted from wherever they stood.

The man had said it matter of factly, not like the utterances of a mad man but rather the conviction of a leader and the way his people went back to their tasks after that declaration left no doubt that they would live and die by those very words.

“I offer myself to you,” Marian said desperately, “For whatever you deem me fit, just let the man live. He is one of the few men of valour the world has left.”

“Cap’n,”Kamal said. “One life is as good as another and besides if you take out all the strong ones very soon we will have no one to play with.”

Jonti was quiet as he thought about it. He looked first to the woman, then to his first mate and then to the unconscious body on his shoulder before turning his gaze to Jon.

“Killing one with potential as yourself would be the smart thing to do; it would save me a headache in the future. But then that would make me out to be a coward, wouldn’t it; nipping a threat in the bud.”

Turning to Kamal he gestured at Marian and launched himself off the marine vessel with a last remark.

“I have never been a coward and I certainly haven’t ever been called smart.”

“Milady.” Kamal bowed as he scooped Marian up like a mere pebble and headed to the side of the boat.

He stopped a moment to address Jon. “Your life has been spared by the impassioned plea of this wench; I will allow you a moment to say your goodbyes.”

Jon and Marian both knew what her actions meant. By the code of the sea, if one offered their life in place of another there was no reason for anyone to go looking for them or start a war because of them.

The two locked eyes; in her eyes was the plea that Jon move on with his life and forget that day, in his there was the grim determination that he would return the favour someday.

As they flew to the pirate vessel moments later, Marian knew without a doubt that she had done the right thing. Not only had she saved Jon’s life, she knew without a doubt that she was headed towards love.

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 13.02.2011

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