PoraBora

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Ila'i was left in shambles. A squadron of koa warriors was left behind to help fix the damage, but the rest, and their ships, were conscripted. They filtered between Makaia's boats, among them the bat ray and the barracuda. The whale shark was to remain behind, as it had sustained too much damage to fix in an afternoon.

Crews were split and mixed as part of Makaia's goal to sell the idea of a united Taipala. But the koa sat in silence whenever Makaia's own attempted to communicate.

Akoni did not get to see much more than that, for he was taken back to the brig without another word from Makaia. Still alive. A lucky thing, after what had transpired on the island.

U'ekeo had been stripped of his leadership and jailed. He too was fortunate. Akoni had figured Makaia would have had him killed, for he had proven himself a problem. He doubted it was simply the legendary chief's famed benevolence.

Maye had been dragged over rolling logs and shoved below deck on one of the silvertip ships, his limbs shackled, the temperature maintained so that any fowl he released might die from the heat in the time it would take for them to push open the door. The god had closed his beak and had not struggled. He had barely moved.

And true to his word, Makaia had left two men in leadership positions. Ila'i's new Navigator of Taipala was an easy man to like, all smiles and eager to help however he could. It made him easier to distrust. The naval commander was replaced by a harder soul, and Akoni wasn't sure whether the warrior thought it was a promotion or exile.

It didn't matter. The late afternoon took them away from the southern horizon.

Akoni sighed as he seated himself in his cell. He barely had a minute to get comfortable, if he could pretend he could, before he heard a whisper.

"Well," said Tua. "That was a bit of a mess."

Akoni smiled. "I don't yet know if I think your brother would have done better." He moved closer to the wall to better hear. It wasn't by the door. How Tua had found an opportunity to sneak into the neighboring room, he wasn't sure. He distinctly remembered Makaia's insistence that he not be able to communicate with his syphons. No doubt he had many things on his mind, after taking on the koa and starting his conquest of Taipala.

"I suppose he'd have hung the chief and his navigators from the anchor. Like a bundle of fish for sale. He probably would have drawn the fleet out first, too, I imagine. Barring that, he'd have barred them in. A slow victory, perhaps, but he wouldn't have lost a ship."

"And if he was in a rush?" Akoni asked. "If he had to chase a god?"

"He'd have come back for Maye," said Tua. "In and out in the first night. He wouldn't have sent a warning. He definitely wouldn't have come ashore himself."

"I suppose Ila'i should be happy, then," snorted Akoni.

"They don't look happy," said Tua.

Akoni knew it. He'd seen the koa on deck, feathered tattoos across their lower bodies, spears in hand. Eye contact came only in glares.

"No. Which is to our advantage."

"I never thought six of us was quite enough," Tua said. "Do you have something in mind?"

"Make it clear we're not with Makaia," Akoni said. "And make friends."

"Do you worry one of them will tell Makaia what we're up to?" Tua asked.

Akoni expected a part of Makaia already knew. "You're still not getting along with the others?"

"Noo'omu punched me in the face."