PoraBora

Chapter Forty-One

Akoni awoke during the night, several times, the problem with a nap going too long. Each time, he had enough presence of mind to remember he wanted to apologize to the koa warrior, and enough exhaustion to turn over and sleep again.

It was only in the morning, when the sounds of a ship awake poured into his brig, that he remembered he was a prisoner.

Akoni sighed. Next time he would make sure it was Noo'omu who took the blame for dropping the anchor.

There was a knock at the door. Akoni glanced over. Tua didn't knock or use the door. Breakfast, probably. He'd slept longer than he'd thought.

The door opened, and a young koa warrior stood in front of him. Akoni remembered him as the one who had tried to stop Makaia. He was hard to forget, with a face like it had been splashed with oil during a breach.

The boy looked at him, as far as Akoni could tell.

"Makaia wants to see you."

Akoni grimaced but stood and followed him into the hall. The warriors who stood watch over the brig yawned.

The boy was silent as their footsteps echoed their way up. He glared at every back, his hand twitching on his spear like he planned to do something with it.

Akoni snorted. "You could do it. As long as you were quick, and quiet."

"Do what?" snorted the koa.

"You'd have to start down here," Akoni continued. "Above, everybody and every ship would see you. Down here, you could lure them in, one at a time."

The boy didn't say anything.

"Night is usually best," said Akoni. "But warriors are light sleepers. If they hear a thump, they're up with their firelocks. Dawn is better. There are noises at dawn, but people are still tired. A thump is just someone on the floor above you getting up early, to use the restroom or light a lantern. A firelock, though...nobody mistakes a firelock. No, best is quick and quiet."

"I'm not going to kill anybody," said the koa stiffly.

"Good," said Akoni. "Because even if you did manage to take the ship, there are forty more who don't value a hammerhead without Makaia on it."

The boy looked sidelong at him. "Is that what's stopping you?"

"Many things are stopping me," said Akoni. "You'll notice the rigsmen didn't get to keep their spears."

"You're really not on Makaia's side."

Akoni smirked. "I was trying to be subtle."

They both looked down at his bound hands. The boy snorted.

"What's your name?" Akoni asked.

"Hui."

"You have a memorable face, Hui."

The boy glared at him.

"Memorable faces make it difficult to get into trouble. Or out of it."

"I'm not planning to make things any worse for myself," he said.

"I'm sorry," said Akoni. "Being inconsiderate comes with the job."

The boy shrugged. They were silent again, helped into awkwardness by passing warriors. They were headed up. As they should: Akoni had seen out the portholes. It was a sunny morning. In an hour, the brig would become stifling. In an hour, he expected he'd be back in it.

"What is he thinking, sending me to fetch you?" Hui grumbled. "Doesn't he worry I'll break you out?"

"Makaia?" Akoni shook his head. "I think he hopes for it. He wants me to make a swim for it and show up dead on Kehoa's shores."