Ashsib and the Cat Beast

Chapter Eleven

The gray was abating. They were leaving the storm behind, but heavy clouds still hung around the Triand Mermaid, keeping the crew muffled from one another.

"Things just have to be complicated, don't they?" Quinn grumbled. He and Ashsib were on watch together. One looked forward for obstacles, the other looked back at the slowly gaining, white and red ship.

"Nine seasons, hidden in the river, move it, alone, cold." Ashsib muttered to himself, trying to find a connection.

"What are you saying over there?" Quinn grouched, wanting to grouse, but his partner was ignoring him completely.

"It's what Namere said to me, but I have no idea what she was trying to get across." Ashsib explained, "Nine seasons, hidden in the river, move it, alone, cold. Those were her words."

"She was saying stuff like that this morning, too." Quinn shrugged, "Elian says it's hallucinations and stress. She's just rambling."

"Maybe." Ashsib didn't believe it.

Namere had been trying too hard for nonsensical rambling. The focused look she'd given him had been very similar to the one before they'd played Mother May I on Tarsiss. He hadn't known what it meant then and he didn't know now. She always seemed to think more of him than he really was. That woman was frustration incarnate!

"Though, nine seasons is a brand on several crates in the hold." Quinn mused, "I only noticed because they were some of the ones that Gramitt guy gave extra attention to. Then again, we took them from Tarsiss, so Namere would know that. There is no way she knew if anything had ever been hidden in them, considering her condition when we loaded them up on the ship."

"Crates?" Ashsib turned around.

"Yeah, dry supplies, some spices, things of that nature. Challah chose them." Quinn explained, "We've unpacked and repacked them several times by now, they don't have what was originally in the. There definitely isn't anything hidden in them, either. Namere's just out of it and saying words from recent memory."

Ashsib had to admit the Captain's logic was solid. When Namere boarded their ship in Sedlily, all she had was Karihyou. She even had to borrow clothes until Tarsiss. Nothing to hide. Unless she'd done it before making herself known, and even then, the hold had been completely emptied by Smile and his hoard.

"How is that ship gaining on us?" Quinn hissed, staring at the clear form that had emerged from the rain after them. "I'd love to give them warning, but we'd have to turn broadside to do it and that would just slow us down."

"If they get as close as before and try to board, I could rip their sails." Ashsib offered, judging the distance he could jump. One ship seemed much easier than the Smile had been.

Quinn gave him a peculiar look, "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

~~~

"How are they getting closer, Pashqua? How. Are. They. Getting. Closer?" Quinn berated their navigator.

"I do not know, Captain. I have no other answer." Pashqua responded, his agitation making him long-winded, "I am not on their boat. You go ask them."

"Save your jokes, they don't suit you." Quinn said.

"Was that a joke?" Calder questioned.

"For Pashqua, yes, sadly." Bretta replied.

Dinner wasn't burnt, since it was Vel's turn to cook, but that did mean it was steak. It was all he knew how to make. Ashsib had almost forgotten the taste of Vel's steak. His wasn't the only portion half-eaten.

"We can stop and fight them." Vel suggested.

"Your jokes aren't funny, either." Quinn snarled.

"I wasn't joking." Vel said under his breath.

"As far as we know the whole ship is full of people and there are only six of us capable of fighting." Bretta lectured, "It's not good odds. Ashsib may startle them if he Beasts out, but that's not something that lasts very long. He always reverts back."

"How is it suddenly a bad thing I turn back from being a monster so easily? If they want something from us, maybe we should just go and ask them." Ashsib sarcastically put in.

"That's not a terrible idea..." Quinn considered.

"Yes, it is." Bretta responded hastily.

"It definitely is." Calder added.

"Completely a bad idea!" Ashsib squeaked. He'd be blamed. Totally blamed. Bretta was already giving him a dirty look.

"We'd have to catch a few to ask, though." Vel was on the good idea side, scheming with the Captain.

"As it is, they'll be close enough to board us by tomorrow." Quinn pointed out.

"Trap." Pashqua offered.

"It could work, but the trick would be to catch one and repel the rest." Quinn nodded at Pashqua's suggestion.

"No, we aren't going to try and capture any of them!" Bretta stood up from the table, her glare silencing the scheming men, "If there's one thing we don't need to invite onto this ship, it's more unpredictable situations. I know you're on edge, Captain, but let's find a better plan of action."

"I'm Captain. I decide." Quinn's face went hard, "Running isn't fixing this. Real P.O. wouldn't chase us like this, we have to deal with them sooner or later. I'd rather do it on our terms."

"It's all well and good to say it, but how do we do it?" Calder asked, "They're of the shoot first variety. I don't think engaging in any sort of fight would be wise."

"If we don't make it a fight at all," Quinn said so easily, "Then there is no problem, yes?"

"But Captain,"

"There's no problem, yes?" Quinn repeated.

"Aye, Captain." Came the dutiful response.