In Search of Spice, page 41
Takeo spoke to Sara. “You are interesting people. The Imperial Orchid sailed for two months to get here. I saw her maybe five times, and did not hear her speak. I never heard of ninja boasting before. Or talking. Now on your ship, look at her.”
“How about you, Takeo? I think you didn’t speak much either.”
“You are right.” His eyes twinkled. “Like I say, interesting people. No respect for others, but lots of friendship. Different. I think I like. Now, I think I will join in the archery. This very brave of me, because I think I am very good, but I know the ninja will be better and I think your Pat will be too.”
“I will join in too. Only Pat and Grey Fox on this ship are better than I am, so it will be a challenge between us, perhaps?”
There was a long debate on where to set up the archery range. Bai Ju thought there was room on the Imperial Orchid, but Pat’s view prevailed and they towed a barrel behind the Queen Rose. After the swordsmanship exhibited the previous day, none of the Sung entered, but all wanted to watch. The Bosun took charge of the barrel, and all the ship boats were arrayed around it, with the staff of both ships on the poop deck of the Queen Rose, looking over the fighting deck where the participants and the Bosun stood. The rigging creaked with the weight of crewmen.
First came the speed test, with the barrel floated fifty yards behind the ship. Bai Ju went first, and in a minute by the hourglass sent an incredible fourteen of her black, red fletched arrows into the barrel, missing none. She had the smallest bow, made of bamboo and horn glued together and recurved. Takeo’s bow was similar, perhaps a hand longer and he sent nine arrows, missing with two which glanced off the barrel.
Sara, with her longer bow, matched him for speed but only missed one. Grey Fox struggled, launching eight arrows and missing none. Pat’s bow impressed the Sung with its size and Bai Ju laughed in delight when she struggled to pull it three quarters of the way back. Pat sent nine arrows, missing with none, only part drawing his bow.
The distance competition saw the barrel sent out a hundred yards, with each competitor sending five arrows, and the distance increased by fifty yards for a tie. Sara missed with two arrows, Takeo with one, while the others hit it every time though Bai Ju took longer.
At 150 yards, Bai Ju missed with one arrow then Pat and Grey Fox went neck and neck till Grey Fox missed one at 250 yards. He swore it was a rogue wave and laughed with Pat about it.
Pat grinned and smashed the barrel with one of his boat sinker arrows.
On the poop deck, Captain Lim commented to Captain Larroche he understood now why they weren’t bothered by pirates and offered to buy Grey Fox.
As the Sung went back to their ship, Bai Ju collected Suzanne and Walters, saying she would make the introductions they needed and took them over to the Imperial Orchid. She led them down to a cabin which she opened without knocking.
Inside were a startled looking group of men, grey haired, working over scrolls. Bai Ju started to speak and the men fell to their knees, knocking their foreheads on the floor. Bai Ju snapped at them in Sung and they leapt to their feet. The leader listened to her and nodded. She turned to Walters.
“I tell them what you are and they will help you. Enjoy.” She nodded and went out of the door with Suzanne in tow before he could speak.
Walters looked at the men, wondering at their white faces. The oldest collapsed into a chair. One came towards him.
“You are our honoured guest. The Flower Lady says we must show you our maps, even the secret ones.” He shook his head in amazement.
“Well, that would be very kind of you,” replied Walters. “I have brought some of my own maps to show you.” And he spread some scrolls on an empty desk. All the men came over and peered at them.
“Ah, yes, the island chain.” The apparent leader smiled his delight. “A detailed map. Very fine work. What does this symbol mean?” All thoughts of introductions left the heads of the scholars as they delved into the work and started to argue about it.
Bai Ju led Suzanne back to another area of the ship, where there was a large superstructure on the main deck. She went into this, revealing an airy room covered in cushions, full of girls who were busy doing their hair, applying make up, sewing clothes and even a few practising on musical instruments. The chatter ceased as they came in, stillness spreading across the room.
Bai Ju looked around the room, and snapped something in Sung. One of the girls jumped up and ran to a door at the back, reappearing moments later behind an older woman, fresh from sleep. Her eyes were wide with apprehension.
“Heya, Old Mother,” said Bai Ju in Belada. “I bring you someone special, this Suzanne, she best courtesan in Harrhein. Also, she Tantric Master.”
There was a slight murmur at this, but the girls all looked at Bai Ju, transfixed like rabbits watching a snake. The older woman prostrated herself at Bai Ju’s feet and tried to kiss them. Bai Ju dodged the slobber and kicked the woman in the side.
“Get up, old mother. Never mind me, talk to Suzanne.” The woman began to weep, and started calling out in Sung. Bai Ju looked disgusted.
“These ship’s courtesans. Captain use them to help trading with new peoples we meet. I cannot stay. This too frightened. Will not help you while I here.” She turned and left the room. There was silence in the room except for the woman, weeping in heavy, gusting sobs. The girls came and clustered around her, helping her up and seating her on a cushion. One brought her a cup of tea and another fanned her. They murmured to her in Sung, and one or two dashed a glance at Suzanne.
After a few minutes and as her heaving bosom subsided, the woman looked over at her, and said something in Sung. Another replied and the woman’s eyes sharpened. She barked an order and one of the girls brought Suzanne a cup of tea.
“A thousand apologies, beauteous one, the White Flower frightens us, we thought we were going to die. Please, sit down. Here beside me. Tell me your name and what you are doing here.”
In the afternoon Bai Ju held her trials.
All the kai Viti volunteered, as did about fifteen of the crew and of course Hinatea’s girls. Esbech and Stiphleek surprised themselves by entering, though from their faces Sara thought they had gone along with their kai Viti friends without realising what was happening.
For the first hour it was simple exercise - running round the ship carrying sacks, climbing the rigging, performing exercise routines. Bai Ju monitored them, dropping the occasional observation in a low tone to Hinatea and Pat, telling them what she was looking for.
She pulled one of the crew girls out of the exercise routine, gave her a small wooden ball and told her to balance it on her head while standing on one foot. The girl looked blank, but made a game try, though she looked nervously at Bai Ju as she did, the ball falling off all the time. Bai Ju studied her, and shook her head, gently excusing the girl.
She selected Esbech next. He caught the ball as it fell without looking at it and tucked it into his beard. Bai Ju laughed and kept him.
Testing continued and the group winnowed down.
Silmatea was chosen and given the ball. She didn’t look at it, held it in her hand and Pat could see her clear her mind, fluidly extend her foot for balance and raise the ball to her head without looking at it. She was in grace, even though the ball rolled off. She shook herself, and lowered herself to retrieve it, but Bai Ju stopped her.
“Good. You start. What your name?”
“Silmatea, mistress.”
“You strong, girl. Stay and watch, tell me when you know what I look for.”
“You look for the god-touched, mistress, those who can slow time. And can do it when tired, I think.”
“Good girl. Don’t tell the others!”
The afternoon passed and most of the audience lost interest. Rat was chosen, as were half a dozen of the Kai Viti, three more of the Harrheinian boys, two of the crew girls and all four of Hinatea’s wild girls, though none of the other Pahippians. Both Esbech and Stiphleek made it through. Bai Ju called the survivors together and spoke to them.
“Well done. You did good. You selected. Now it gets tough. Some of you pass easy, some just make it. Now we see how you do. Not all make training. Can stop anytime. If not make it, you still better soldier, hunter, than anyone else. Rest now, come back here at midnight and we give you exercise.”
The group broke up, going off too exhausted to talk much, high on the euphoria success gives. Brian came over, looking warily at Bai Ju.
“I think we need to talk. You have chosen these people, which is fine, but the training you give them must be outside their normal work hours. They still have work to do.”
“But I choose them.” Bai Ju was puzzled. Wu Chen came over, with Sara.
“Honoured Sister, these peoples’ ways are different from ours,” Wu Chen began. “They do not understand what you are; they do not have people like you in their country. We must fit in They know nothing of what you are or what you can do. The special status you receive in Sung has still to be earned in Harrhein.”
“Oh, think I understand.” She looked at Brian. “Cannot have all time for training?”
“We may be able to come to some agreement,” said Brian, as he took in the meaning of Wu Chen’s words. “I need these people to sail the ship and to keep it clean. When the weather is fine, like now, and steady, I do not need them and any work I give them is to keep them busy, or to train them for when they are needed. But in bad weather, especially when the wind changes or we are close to shore, I need all the hands to change sails quickly.”
“So if training includes changing sails quickly, I can train all time and give to you in bad weather, better trained?”
“Yes, that would be fine,” said Brian, unable to perceive a trap in her words.
“When can practise changing sail?”
“Ask, and I will tell you.”
“Is good. I go now, need bath!” She smiled at him and went off to the rails.
Brian looked at Wu Chen. “What the hell is she, Wu Chen?”
“She is very special in Sung, Mate Brian. A trained killer from the secret temples. Even the Emperor is wary of her, for her people consider him to be their vicar to the people. They hold themselves apart and chosen by the Gods. In Sung, she can go where she wills and take what she wants, and nobody will say anything. I had to ask Captain Lim for permission to come on this voyage, with a letter from the Emperor. She appeared and chose herself a cabin, told him she was coming along on the journey.”
“You were right, we have nothing like her in Harrhein.” Brian thought for a moment. “Well, maybe the princess. I can see the Captain is going to be over the moon with delight at another pushy woman on board.”
“She has chosen sixteen people, I think. When she has finished training them, no army can stand before you.” Wu Chen did not understand Brian’s comment, so continued. “I met her once. The city where I lived was plagued by bandits. They were strong. I was in the throne room discussing with the Hand of the Emperor how to deal with the situation, when the doors swung open and this one came in, followed by four of the bandits carrying baskets. She waved to the bandits, and they opened the baskets. They contained heads, the bandit leaders. And she left, all without speaking. The bandits she left behind for the Hand to do what he willed. There was no more bandit problem.”
“Are there many of them in Sung?” Brian spoke into an echoing silence.
“No. Nobody knows how many. When the horse riders came in from the steppes a hundred years ago, fifty came out to help us. Old, young and children. In the last ten years, she is the only one we have seen, that we know about. She appeared for the first time two years ago. In the Emperor’s court. Told him there was too much banditry in the Empire and he must clean it up. Said the people were suffering. Nobody tells the Emperor what to do. She did.”
He looked bleakly at Brian.
“All my life I have feared them. They are the only ones we magicians fear. We think they are the servants of death himself. Now this one appears and talks! She laughs! She is human. She looks like a young girl and which makes her all the more dangerous. It is passing strange. And now I am on board a ship with this changeling, with destiny calling me to train the most powerful novice I have seen. We live in interesting times, Brian.”
“We do indeed. Well, we must make the most of it.”
“Brian, in Sung, this is a curse. May you live in interesting times. People die in interesting times”
Captain Larroche grinned at his coxswain as he climbed into the jolly boat. “A good days trading today, Ben. You’ll have your work cut out tomorrow.”
“That’ll be fine, surr. What’ll we have to do?”
“We’re going to lash the two ships together so we can transfer cargo.”
The cox’n mulled this over.
“Us’n ‘ll check the fenders tonight, surr.”
The Captain smiled as he went up the ladder to the main deck and continued up to the poop. He stopped for a moment, at the sight of Sara sitting cross-legged opposite Takeo, with her eyes closed. Her right arm was outstretched, balancing a ball in the palm of her hand. He raised an eyebrow to Brian, and went up to him.
“Brian, tonight I feel like celebrating. We will have a full dinner in the ward room. Tell the cook. All the officers and the craft masters to attend.”
“Good idea, sir. Are we inviting any of the Sung?”
“No, only our complement. The Sung are doing the same.”
“You are aware we have three more, ah, craft masters, sir?”
“Three? What, the wizard, Sara’s swordsman and... not the little girl with Pat? What’s she a master of?”
“Killing, sir. Yeah, I know. There’s a lot I have found out about her, sir, which I will tell you, but the bottom line is we don’t have to worry about being attacked. I think we should have Hinatea as well, as the leader of the Pahippians.”
“Sara won’t have her in the same room.”
“I don’t think we have to worry about those two any more, sir.”
Pat received the news of the wardroom dinner with some trepidation. He had only attended one since his elevation to the ranks of officers, in which he had received some pointed instructions as to table manners from the First Mate, after which Sara had whispered instructions to him. Somehow he knew she wasn’t going to help him this time, and he dreaded to think what Bai Ju’s table manners were like. He didn’t think Hinatea’s invitation was at all a good idea. She disdained using forks and spoons.
“What this wardroom dinner?” Bai Ju sat cross-legged on the bunk, with Hinatea opposite her. Both girls had their eyes closed and were holding hands.
“All the officers and craft masters will attend and eat together. It is important to have good table manners and we must be dressed in our court uniforms.”
“Ah so. Court manners, neh?”
“Yes, that’s right,” he said, heartened.
“So must make noise like this when eating soup,” she made a dreadful sucking noise. “Belch to show food is good and spit on floor when food arrives.”
She pealed with laughter at the horrified look on his face, and rolled on the bed in a paroxysm of glee, while Hinatea grinned and mimed scratching intimate places. The girls were getting on well.
“Is alright,” she choked through the giggles, “we make fun of you! You so funny sometimes.”
“Well, the trouble is, I don’t know what the manners are supposed to be, so how am I supposed to tell you?” He grumbled. “I am sure to get the blame when you two do something wrong.”
“Poor Patty,” she stopped laughing instantly and started to stroke his hair.
“And don’t call me Patty!” he snapped.
Smiling, she stopped. “What you want me to wear? Sung court dress?”
He looked at her with deep suspicion. “You have it? Is it decent?”
“Of course, I have everything.” She gestured at the wooden chests filling up the tiny cabin. “What you mean, decent?”
“Your bosoms are covered up, and legs not showing,” he said going red again.
“Bosoms? What are bosoms?” she said with a wicked grin.
Hinatea broke in with a smile. “I have my ceremonial dress. It is very beautiful.”
“What is?” Bai Ju wanted to know. “Is pretty?”
“No!” said Pat in horror. “You can’t wear Pahippian clothes to a dinner!”
Hinatea pulled a grass skirt and some shells out from her chest. “See, very pretty. No wear anything else, very good.”
“You are not wearing a couple of leaves,” said Pat firmly. “Ask the Bosun for a proper uniform.”
Both girls spoke at once, proclaiming how beautiful grass skirts were and Bai Ju could borrow one as well.
Pat ignored them, and started getting out his court uniform. He had only worn it once, after he had been given it from ship’s stores, and he started worrying over the creases and a nasty looking stain. Bai Ju was fascinated by it and took it away from him.
“Nasty thing! The cloth is so hard. What this thing for?”
“This is an epaulet, it shows my rank as a junior officer. Come on, give it back. I have to get the wrinkles out of it and clean the stain.”
“How you do?” she asked, ignoring his hand and still studying the uniform.
“I’ll take it to the galley and steam the creases out. Maybe the cook can get rid of the stain. Come on, give it to me.”
She sniffed. “Cook! Ha! Leave to me, I sort. You need new rank now, to show what you become.”
“NO!” he cried in horror, visions of a gaudy monstrosity sitting on each shoulder.
“Yes,” she said with finality. “You go wash, you smell bad. Wipe salt off, not hurt clothes.”
“Please, Bai Ju, this is important. I must do things correctly according to our customs. You cannot know what is right.”
“Ha!” she turned on him in mock outrage, eyes flashing. “You think I stupid whore? I know what you need. I fix. Go!” She pushed him out the door. He bumped into Suzanne in the corridor, who saw him ejected and smiled.
“Hi,” he said, a picture of misery and attempted to get past her. She moved to cut him off.
