Motley (#Wattys2016)

4: Hungry

"I just hope we don't run into them again," Ryota was saying. "You said that the general blocked our spell? That's worrisome."

"Hmm?" Nori was staring at the ocean shining in the sunset, but she looked back at him.

"Earth to Nori! Wake up, captain!" Ryota told her, snapping his fingers impatiently under her nose.

"I'm listening, I'm listening," she told him.

"I think this general was able to conjure a personal shield at the last second," Masa said, "so we know that he didn't see the spell coming and didn't have time to protect everyone else. Still, those sleeper missiles come in fast, so he must have remarkably fast reflexes."

"And on top of that, he knows magic. I wonder if the entire Rose Marquis is magical too," Reiko chipped in. "Because if they do, we should just stay away."

"True; since the general knows we stole lots of their money and supplies, they might be after us," Satoru said grimly. "I don't like that guy," he added, "not at all. But you've got a soft spot for him, huh, captain?"

"Don't be ridiculous. I'll fry up those sausages, shall I?" Nori said quickly. She punched Satoru lightly in the arm and, getting the signal, he followed her into their tiny kitchen.

The kitchen could hardly be called a kitchen. It was very cramped, only slightly larger than their broom cupboard. In fact, it was probably designed to be a closet, but they had squeezed in a stove and a couple of boxes with food packed in enchanted ice.

"Now, tell me what this is all about," Satoru said. "You saved his life. Explanation, please?"

Nori sighed. "Look, I was going to tell you, I just couldn't say it in front of him."

"Well, spit it out! I could have covered our tracks, I could have ensured that they wouldn't follow us! You got us in this mess."

"He was being threatened," Nori said.

"I- what? Did he tell you that?"

"No, but he had wounds on his wrists and probably his legs. That means someone had him locked up, maybe even tortured him. It wouldn't be decent to kill him."

They were both silent. "I'm sorry," Satoru finally said. "I didn't know."

Nori shook her head. "You couldn't have known. And I really appreciate you defending me like that."

"Don't you know? That's a mark of a friend!" Satoru laughed. They crossed wrists and hugged.

"This is like the old days," Nori said. Her voice was slightly muffled in Satoru's shoulder. "When we were smaller and crazy."

They broke apart. "And you worked at that inn. Plus had your hair long." He made a face of disgust.

"Horrible. I don't know what I was thinking," Nori said, touching the ends of her own chopped short hair.

"You know, you did the right thing in saving the general. I don't know why I didn't think of it before. He may be smart enough to have a high rank, but he's almost our age."

"Aye!"

Satoru and Nori jumped as Ryota poked his head inside. He looked shiftily at them from one suspicious pirate to the other. "You two ain't doing anything... Special?"

"Of course not!" Satoru and Nori both said loudly and unblushingly.

Ryota chuckled. "I know. But if you're going to cook that sausage, cook it fast. Reiko might eat the anchor if we have to wait any longer for food." A girl's shout was heard from the deck and Ryota went out to yell something back. He went back to the kitchen and said, "she's conjuring rocks now and she might sink the ship. I'd hurry if I were you."