Pirate Nation

Chapter 8

Asha

We sprint into the town, our boots pounding the stone pavers. The streets are mostly empty. A few people dash around, running into shops or down side alleys. Musket barrels and pistols poke out of ajar doors and slivers of open windows.

"We need a horse," I say.

"What?" Kai halts beside a pile of knocked over crates. "Ah no."

Raised voices and the clipped sound of boots on cobblestones echo in the street.

I grab Kai's arm and yank him into a narrow alley.

We press ourselves into the shadows. I freeze as three soldiers run past, their weapons rattling, buttons and polished boots gleaming in the moonlight.

Once they have passed, I let out a breath.

"That was close," Kai whispers.

I begin to answer when a groan sounds behind us. I spin around, peering further down the alley.

Movement catches my eye. A boot shuffling back, retreating deeper into the shadows, followed by a muffled groan.

Kai steps towards the shadow. "Hello?"

"Please," the voice is strained. "Please, just leave me alone."

As we get closer, my eyes adjust to the gloom, and I stop. I put out a hand, halting Kai.

Sitting on the ground, slumped back against the wooden wall of the building, is a man. His thin leg stretches out in front of him, the ankle twisted at an odd angle. His forehead shines with sweat, and his eyes dart back and forth between me and Kai.

The man tries to move, pushing himself up with his hand, but his ankle flops uselessly. He lets out a cry, falling back down.

"Please," he says. "I've got nothing. No gold. Nothing worth your time." He groans, clenching his jaw. "I was just going home."

"This late?" I frown.

"Night shift." His eyes are wide, his words coming out in a rush as I take a step closer to him. "Please. I have a family. My children, they need me."

Oh. He thinks we are going to rob him. I glance down at the pistol in my hand. I replace it in my belt.

"It's all right. We are not going to hurt you." I crouch beside the man, holding out my hands, showing I'm unarmed. "Your ankle. It looks broken."

"It is," the man says through his clenched teeth. "I fell."

"You fell?"

"It was already injured," he says. "But I took a tumble and well..."

It was probably already broken, but he's been walking around on it anyway. He cannot afford not to. It's a similar story all over the archipelago. Either you work or you don't eat, and the same goes for your family.

"Have you seen a physician?"

The man gives a bark of laughter, which morphs into a wheeze of pain. It's all the answer I need.

Of course, with the Aurellian King raising the people's taxes yet again, I shouldn't be surprised.

"Let us help you." I reach for his leg to examine it, but he pulls away, grimacing at the movement.

"Asha." Kai's voice is quiet but I don't miss the trace of urgency.

I hear what he's not saying. We don't have time for this. The Aurellian guards will be here at any moment.

I know Kai is right, but I can't just leave him like this. I look at the man's gaunt face, his hollow cheeks, and the way his clothes hang from his thin frame.

I reach into my pocket and pull out the coins I stole from the soldier. I glance at them, counting the pitiful silver coins and sigh. I reach into my left boot, drawing out three gold coins.

"Here." I press all the coins into the man's hand. "Get that ankle seen to and get something to eat. For you and your children."

Before he can reply I jump to my feet and run back down the alley, following Kai into the street.

"Thank you!" the man's voice follows us as we run.

Kai glances at me with a look I can't quite place.

"What?"

"You can't help yourself, can you?"

I just shrug.

It's part of what we do. Yes, we steal, but contrary to popular belief, we don't keep it all to ourselves. Not that the Aurellian officials want that spread around. They would paint us as the villains, the vicious pirates and outlaws, rather than let that light shine on themselves and their overbearing authority on the people.

A thundering reaches my ears and I stop, looking back towards the harbour. A riderless white horse, fully saddled, is charging down the centre of the street.

Before I can think about it too much I jump into the middle of the street.

"Whoa!" I raise my hands, moving into the horse's path. "Easy there, matey."

Her white coat glistens, and her breaths come in short sharp bursts. Dark red streaks coat her left flank and the back of the saddle. Blood. None of it hers.

I snatch up the reins, halting her.

"Shhh," I whisper, stroking her neck. She must have run here all the way from the docks.

Her muscles shudder under my touch, but she stills. I grip the front of the saddle, place my foot in the stirrup and swing up onto her back.

I gather the reins, looking across the street to where Kai hides behind a pile of crates.

"What are you doing? Come on." I wave him over.

"I'm not getting on that hairy beast." Kai grimaces, walking over. "Ah, no thank you. I'll find another way."

I let out a frustrated breath. "There is no other way."

"There must be some-"

"We don't have time for this."

"Maybe a cart-"

"Just get on the horse!"

I give Kai the sternest look I can muster, stretching out my hand.

Kai looks at the horse's eyes, frowning.

"She's not going to eat you," I say.

He hesitates a second longer before seizing my hand. "Are you sure?"

"Positive." I swing him up behind me, and he settles onto the back of the saddle.

"Did you see its eyes?" Kai shudders. "Filthy beast."

I shake my head. This beautiful mount is anything but filthy. I grin. She must belong to someone pretty important.

"Hold on tight." I tap my heels into the horse's sides and snap the reins. "Yah!"

The horse springs forward, surging like a gunshot.