Kieran’s Quest: Part Two (a Serial Story)

February ’17, Story B (continued).

Here is Part Two of “Kieran’s Quest”! Part three should be out on the 28th of this month. Let me know what you think! ~Panda

Find Part One here: Kieran’s Quest: Part One (a Serial Story)

 

“This here is a telescope, little missy. It helps you see a long ways out. Whoever is stationed up here, generally me or Donny, give the alert when we see ships, land, or whales and such… anything that could be a danger or a help. Want to give it a look?” The girl nodded, taking the piece from his hands eagerly, looking at the world with a smile. They had been at sea almost an hour, and she could still see the port. Her smile faded as she saw a ship launching, and wordlessly she gave the scope back to the man, pointing. Pulling the scope up, he saw the Queen, her shape unmistakable as the boat had been special ordered, almost a replica of a Yalin boat, to help with friendly trading. Watching the man’s face, Brenna pulled away, fear creeping over her face once again. Lyde glanced down, squeezing the girl’s shoulder. “No one’s gonna hurt you, girlie.” His deep voice was quiet, serious, as he watched the sea. “No one.” Taking a deep breath, he turned to the lower decks, raising his voice. “Boat coming out! Seems to be The Queen!” He turned to Brenna. “Let’s get down for dinner. Donny can take my position,” Grasping the ladder in one hand, he helped the girl off the platform. Iona met them halfway to the dining hall, smiling.

“Derby and Kieran are busy, planning our course, as well as debating what to do about The Queen, but we shall have a good dinner as it is. Dylis will be there, as will the most of the crew. They all want to meet you, Brenna.” The woman smiled, and the girl pulled close to her as they entered the dining hall, her eyes widening as she saw the men who immediately gave a cheer, each standing behind their place. Her own place was set beside Iona, Lyde on her other side.

Dylis stood at the head of the table, her eyes shining. She was home once more. Nodding to one of the men, the food was blessed, and they sat, the food in pots around the table, which sat in the grooves made for them, to prevent spills. After a while, the talk slowed, and the men looked to Dylis as she stood again.

“I know we left port earlier than expected. I was glad to see you all still with the ship. You have my thanks. My family is here with me once again. Many of you know Kieran as the former Captain on board, and his wife, Iona.” As she gestured, Iona nodded, smiling as she gazed around the room, making eye contact with many who remembered her. “We also have Brenna aboard this trip. She is to be granted the same treatment as if she were my true sister. Lyde, I believe, has already met her?” The man nodded as the girl pulled herself into a tight ball, the entire room watching her.

The door burst open, Derby looking around until he saw Lyde. “Lyde, O’Kirk, Melint… Davy, you too. Come with me, now. The rest of you hurry your dinners and meet at the armory. Kieran will instruct you from there.” He turned, the men he had chosen following him out, the others grabbing last bites of food before exiting. Brenna looked to Iona, her eyes showing her fear.

“Don’t worry, dear. We’ll take care of you… as long as we can.”

Brenna shook her head. “If it comes to it… I want to fight.” The words were clear, and the girl raised her head slightly, swallowing her fear.

The woman’s eyes widened, but Dylis was at the girl’s other side, the room having cleared. “Hush that talk. Kieran would never allow it.”

The girl looked from one face to another, before pulling on a strand of her long, dark hair. “Don’t lock me in a room.” Her best attempts at keeping her voice firm were lost. She was not used to speaking at all, let alone being amongst so many strangers as the day had brought, and the tension in the air was suffocating. The tears appeared in the girl’s eyes, but she blinked them away before they were noticed.

“We won’t.” Iona pulled her into a hug, stroking the girl’s hair.

The door opened, and Kieran walked in, and saw her, holding out his arms, and the girl walked to him, shaking as he pulled her close. “Hush now, it will be alright.” He stood there a moment, waiting for the girl to calm down before looking up to the other two. “Lyde is bringing your armor. I doubt there will be any hand to hand, but I want you to wear it.”

Lyde entered then. “I’ve brought Miss Dylis’ armor, and some Kieran thought would fit you, ma’am.” The man bowed, handing each woman a parcel of leather and chainmail. It was odd for a woman to wear, but both were accustomed to life on the sea and pulled it on quickly. The chainmail dress ended halfway to the knees. Leather sections covered their torsos, while pauldrons, belt, and gloves finished the look, which was added to by both women being in practical trousers and boots. Iona held her regal look, even with the absurd dress. Dylis straightened as she finished pulling her gloves on, and Lyde handed her a sword. The girl looked more like a warrior than any seventeen year old should have, and Kieran watched them with sad, fond eyes. Brenna stood next to him, staring at the two in front of her, almost transformed in her mind.

Lyde reached a hand out to her. “Shall we find a shirt to fit you?” His smile was kind, but the girl pulled away, despite the familiar, salty air he shared with Kieran. Her comfort with him earlier had surprised them all, but now she pulled close to Kieran, shaking her head.

Kieran shook his head as well. “We’ll take her, Lyde. Get your weapons, and return to your post. Brenna will stay with Iona. I doubt we’ll have any hand-to-hand combat this time…” Lyde pulled to attention before bowing and walking out of the room, leaving the four alone. Turning to the girl he had adopted so many years before, he sighed. “Dyl… Whatever happens in the next few hours, and days… Know I’m proud of you. You’ve become a true old seadog, as your parents were before you. I know your father would have been as proud of you as I am.”

“I love you, Papa,” Her voice choked, and pulling herself together, the girl turned to Iona. “You too, Mama.” The two embraced for a moment, before the girl bowed to them, hurrying out of the room.

Kieran knelt, then swung Brenna up in his arms. “We will take care of you… daughter.” Hearing the familiar terminology of the monks, the girl nestled her head onto his shoulder, tears sparkling in her eyes.

As the girl felt her feet returning to the ground, she nodded, lip quivering, and stood for a moment as Iona and Kieran shared a long moment, watching each other’s eyes and coming to a silent understanding before the woman grasped her hand. “We should not delay. The men will need you, Kieran.” Leading the girl, Iona walked out, Kieran following, and they parted ways at the hallway, Iona taking the girl to their rooms, Kieran going to meet the men.

“I’m not going to force you to stay here, Brenna, but it would be safer. I doubt we will have any troubles except a few cannonballs launched, but even so, we want you safe.”

“Will you stay with me, or are you going out?”

“I will go to Kieran.”

He strode the deck, two of the cannon were loaded, and several men were armed with crossbows, each of them in armor, watching the ship which chased them, waiting for it to come within firing range, knowing that bracing themselves oft’ times was not enough to keep upright through cannon blast. As they watched, none eager for battle, a few still suffering the effects of their habits in their time off duty, and some going into their first battle, the air crackled with nervous energy.

 

“Fire.” The man’s fiery hair was tied back from his face, his clean-cut jaw set. If the man smiled, he could be pleasing picture – if he knew how to smile. Knicks and scars covered his hands and bare forearms. Hirm Tavis. The man was hard, and he knew it, but would not change a thing about himself. His cruelty was well known, and the number of men he had killed was beyond speculation.

“Sir, we’re barely in firing range, it would be better if…” The man in the freshly-pressed, and even more freshly ruffled captain’s suit was cut off.

“I said, FIRE.”

“Yes, sir!” Turning around smartly, the captain looked to his crew, many boys younger than would be honestly employed, but this was a stolen vessel, as it was. “Cannons two and four, ready!” after a pause and confirmation with the boys attending them, he continued. “Aim and fire at will!”

 

The first few balls flew far or short of the boat, and Kieran watched the decks of the boat opposite them, resentment rising within him. “Aim, but do not fire. It is a loss, but I do not wish to risk the health of the women by needless battle. Plus, it will infuriate the man.”

Derby smirked. “Haven’t lost any of the old salt, I see.”

“Never have, never will.” The two shared a smile as the first ball hit their ship.

“Put on the steam. Let’s put their aim off. Cade, O’Kirk, see to the damage.” Derby’s voice was hard, and Iona and Dylis joined them. Derby motioned to the map on the table behind the wheel. “The best port would be Kingsmouth. Not letting whichever Captain that scum has on board with him know where we’re going will be the trick. The boat is speedy, but their crew will be made up mostly of young boys if what you tell me of Tavis is true.”

“Kingsmouth is obvious, though- too much sympathy. What about Baylfast?” Dylis’ voice was hesitant.

Kieran nodded, agreeing with the girl. “Baylfast would be good…”

“And he’ll think we’re headed to Kingsmouth. We can pick up a better load of supplies while we’re there…” Their conversation was cut short as Kieran threw Iona to the deck, shielding her with his own body, Derby saw his actions, and pulled Dylis down at the same time, the hum of the cannonballs flying overhead being replaced with the sounds of splintering wood, as slivers flew through the air.

Lyde dropped from the crow’s nest, rolling to prevent breaking anything, and racing to the site the four had been standing. As he got there, Derby and Dylis were taking their time standing up, pulling slivers from their arms as they turned to the other two. Iona had rolled from underneath Kieran, almost sliver-free. Kieran groaned, his left arm pinioned under the table, and his shirt soaked with blood, where a larger piece of wood had been thrown into him. As the woman lifted the table off his arm, she checked that damage, before ordering the men to take him to his bunk. She would tend him there, and the love she poured into the care would be better than any doctor’s medicines. It was the second, and the last ball to hit the ship that day, as they sped the boat forward in route to Baylfast. Derby ordered their own cannons to fire before the ships were out of reach. The expertise of the gunners gave them an advantage, and the damage was obvious.

 

Brenna was standing beside his bunk when Kieran woke. The girl had been silent since she saw his wounds, not that she talked much as it was. His eyes flickered open, and he glanced around the small room, realizing where he was, he remembered the events of the past few days, groaning. The girl watched him, worried.

“Good…morning?”

Her face breaking into a smile, the girl nodded. “Just past sunrise.” Turning away, she slipped out the door, making her way to Iona’s side in the prow. The woman stood with Dylis and Captain Derby. “He’s awake.” Staying long enough to make sure they understood, she slipped back to the room, the others following.

Iona let out a relieved laugh as she entered the room, seeing Kieran sitting up in bed.

The man smirked. “You didn’t think that little scratch would do me over for good, did you?”

The woman laughed as Dylis and Derby made their way into the room. “Never.”

“You old dog! I should’ve known nothing would keep you down long.” Derby’s head was shaking as he laughed, the relief mirrored in all of their faces let Kieran know the seriousness of his situation.

After a few moments of catching everyone up to date, Derby excused himself, returning to the top deck, Brenna silently following him out from her corner. It had taken a day, but she was used to the roll of the ship now, and she made her way to the crow’s nest easily, lingering as she climbed the rigging. Pulling herself onto the platform, the girl smiled at Donny, who wordlessly held the telescope out to her.

“Thanks, Donny.”

The man watched her, surprised, then smirked. “Cap’n K doing better, then?”

“He is…” She handed him the telescope, noting the other ship’s position in her mind. Their own ship was odd, having been a combination of several countries’ navy’s best features. The crew themselves were a mishmash of cultures, races, and ages. They were assigned tasks based on expertise and ability while learning the basics of every position. Almost any crewmember could take any of the other’s places but rarely did. Donny had been a cabin boy with the first captain of the ship, whom Dylis’ father had bought it from, and had stayed on since then. His arm had been removed thanks to a cannonball, and since then, he was mainly on watch in the crow’s nest, though occasionally switching with some of the other men. Lyde switched out with him during the day, and the others kept watch at night.

It had been several weeks since Kieran first woke, always staying just enough ahead of the other ship to keep from worry, the inexperience of their crew, and the oddly built boat bringing them trouble in managing. Brenna had become comfortable with the rest of the crew, quickly becoming a pet. From cook to carpenter to captain, they were all her friends, her family. As she loosened up, learning to trust again, she began to frequent the crow’s nest even more. Donny and Lyde became used to it, and the night watchmen learned to expect her arrivals at certain intervals when her dreams would upset her, or if she could not sleep. Though they rarely carried on conversations, she came to trust them, finding herself happier there than anywhere else on board, feeling safer when she could see what was going on around her.  The others left her alone about it, the watchmen reporting to Kieran when she had come up, though unbeknownst to her.

They were on track for Baylfast, a week away from the port, the sea was calm, and the winds were good. The day was almost perfect, it should have been a warning. They had lost sight of their enemy’s ship sometime in the storms of the night, and they were all on their toes. The men tried to lighten the mood for the girl, but she sank back into silence, worrying everyone that much more. Tavis was a threat to her, they knew, as Kieran had briefed the crew on the events leading up to their escape to the seaside. Iona presented the girl with a new dress, but the thanks the girl offered was weak. It was encouraging to hear her talk, but the bright spirits and smiling face they had all come to expect from the girl were gone. As the day wore on, she retired to her room, the forced cheerfulness stifling. The crew watched Kieran pacing, his arm kept in a sling to prevent tearing the wound on his side open.

“Calm down, Kieran.” Iona’s voice was quiet as she walked up beside him, watching the last point they had seen the boat. “You’re not helping yourself, or anyone else by worrying.  The men look to you to as a leader- would you lead them to fear?”

The man turned to her, smiling sadly. “You are right, of course, I do not want them to worry. But for Brenna and Dylis, as well as Pat, almost half the crew… the consequences if they come upon us unexpectedly? I doubt he would grant mercy to any. Their lives, all of them, are held in a delicate balance, if not already forfeit because of choices I have made, and will make. Do you say it is wrong for me to puzzle out a way to save as many as I can?”

“You are not in charge of life and death, it is not for you to decide. Nothing you could have done would have prevented any of this. Most of us would be dead were it not for you- both of the girls and I, for certain.”  She bowed to him. “I will leave you to ponder, Kieran. But think of the rest of us, as you do so.” She walked away, and he watched her go before turning back to the sea.

 

Tavis stared at the captain, the bottle in his hand shattering as he squeezed it. “After my orders, I expected to find us CLOSER to them, not to have them lost to sight altogether.” He pulled closer to the man who slunk backward, his back already against the wall.

“My crew cannot run for days on end, we do not have enough to switch out as they do. Last night was clouded. We’re already on half rations, and they’re only boys. I will not slaughter my own crew.” The man stood, knowing the words would most likely be his own death, but this time, he would not back down.

Tavis drew closer. “This wine is cheap, captain, and yet… your talk is cheaper. Who are you protecting by disobeying? Certainly not yourself, nor your crew. Only them.” He spit, missing the spittoon purposefully, and the captain felt the sharp slivers of the rough logs and his own fear biting into him.

“You can’t run this boat on half crew, half to death. These boys don’t know what they’re doing. It’s all I can do to keep some of them from going over the railings…” He was cut off by Tavis’ punch, the force of the blow knocking him sideways, his head slamming into the wall.

“If we don’t find that boat within two days, they won’t be jumping over. They’ll be thrown- and your son first.”

His eyes widening, the captain wiped the blood from his face.

“You think I would not find out your little secret, Captain? I did.” Turning on his heel, the man walked away slowly, knowing the captain would do all he could to find the ship. People were right to fear him. He was a hard man, though young. His trade had been his father’s first, and his father’s father before him, and he would see this mission to completion. The hate burned within him, but though he had threatened the captain, he had no intentions of fulfilling his threats – at least not before he could bring a better crew aboard.  Their lives meant nothing to him, but he was smart enough to know his own men could not run the intricate ship. As he strode down the deck, he heard the sounds of his own crew’s merrymaking. They had found the captain’s wine cabinet, and were drunk. They had already drained the supply, which meant that by the time they caught back up to his opponents, they would be back on their feet.

 

Two long days had passed since losing sight of the Queen, and everyone had settled into a nervous calm, feeling the eye of the storm they were in.  Brenna climbed the rigging at dawn, her purple dress falling slightly past her knees. As she reached the platform, Donny hefted her up with a smirk.

“Want a look?”

The girl gave a half smile as she took the telescope. After a moment, she shoved it back into his hands, pointing wordlessly at a spot to the far-east. The man looked, then lowered the scope, his eyes widening. The wind which ruffled his shaggy hair was blowing the ship closer to their path. As their own ship was not going with the wind, it would not be night before the Queen reached them. Turning to the girl, he saw she was already halfway down the ladder, and the man followed her, Lyde saw him come down and took his post with a silent nod.

Her bare feet skimmed the deck, surprisingly silent for her speed. Donny went to Derby on a lower deck, informing him of the impending danger. As the girl reached him, Kieran leaned on the rails of the ship, his worry showing. His arm stayed in its sling, although it bothered him.

“Papa?” The girl’s voice was quiet, but he was used to it.

“What is it, Brenna?” He turned, and seeing her face, he knew what she had seen. “Where is it?”

“East. Almost straight out.” Her voice was stronger, and he nodded.

“Bring Iona and Dylis to Captain Derby.” He gave her shoulder a quick squeeze before walking away

As Brenna reached the kitchen, the cook walked out carrying a tray of breakfast hand-pies for the men. Smirking, he grabbed one, handing it to her then tugging her braid as she expressed her thanks. Walking into the kitchen, she found Dylis after a moment, swallowing her bite. “She’s been spotted. You are to go to Captain…”

“I’ll go,” Dylis cut her off, “Iona is in her room.” She watched the girl, wishing that she could have been older before having to go through a battle like the one they were about to face. She knew it was foolish, that the girl had seen worse, just as Dylis herself had at her age. It was necessary if she were to get older at all that the battle should happen, though.

Eating as she walked, the hand-pie was soon gone, and the cook handed her another as he passed the door to the kitchen once again. “If you keep wolfing them down like that, the crew won’t have any!”

“May I have one for Iona, sir?”

His eyes widening, he quickly wrapped a baker’s dozen in a cloth, placing them into a basket. “For the whole passel of ‘em. I don’t believe any of them have eaten yet.”

“Thank you.” She gave a quick bow, taking the basket as she made her way to Iona’s room, not running this time, but keeping a goodly pace. As she reached the room, she knocked, and the door opened wide.

Iona smiled as she saw the basket in the girl’s hand. “Breakfast?”

“You’re supposed to go to Captain Derby. I already sent Dylis.”

The woman’s eyes grew worried as she nodded. “I see. Come along, dear.” The two walked side by side, Brenna carrying the basket of hand-pies as she ate her own. The others met them going the opposite way as they walked.

“We need to prepare for this battle… I don’t doubt that he has several of his own crewmen with him…” Kieran nodded towards the basket in Brenna’s hands, and she handed him a hand-pie, Dylis taking the basket from her.

“You two go get dressed for this. It isn’t going to be pretty.”

Donny patted Brenna’s shoulder as she kept her eyes on the ground, her obvious worry making the rest’s look small. “Don’t worry young’un. It will all turn out in the end.”