#twas a bit funny but i refuse to watch it for at least a few more years

[locustonabench]

sometimes i want to give a show a shot so i walk in halfway thru a random episode of it on tv and am just left there frickin confused feeling like i walked into a fistfight

and then i end up watching the entire show to get the context

[ajanefantasy]

Sari: The Borough - Ch 3

Sari followed the trail, her heart racing. Cal was right. Did her father learn of this day’s activities, a lecture would she receive, but such a possibility swayed her not from her path. Nor did the prospect of dealing with a nefarious pirate change her mind. She would help Master Stack retrieve the stolen cargo. Because she could. Because it was the proper way.

She looked over her shoulder for a moment. There would be more than the three of them on this outing. Master Stack had asked two others to accompany them, to help with the cargo, as well if any trouble arose.

She grinned and had to stop herself from skipping down the dock. This was the type of adventure she wished for, longed for. She saw Cal roll his eyes again and laughed. He enjoyed these outings with her, even with all of his grumblings and pokings.

“A plan do you hold, poppet?” Cal asked. “Doubt I do you can walk up to this Lucky Charm and demand the cargo back.”

“I did think to begin so, to inform her that ‘twould be best did she return what was not hers.”

“And does she refuse? We know well that she will.”

“Depends upon the refusal methinks.”

“A feeling I hold we will see her laugh at our request.”

“You speak as if ‘twould be our first time experiencing such a thing. We were laughed at during my previous foray into trouble, and believe I do the time before that as well.”

“How could I forget?” They stopped laughing after a few swipes of Sari’s sword. “But I sense something more with this.”

“’Tis not the laughter that concerns me, I can deal with the laughter.” Considering she had been laughed at most of her life, being laughed at now held no power. At least not much. She lowered her voice, “’Tis the condition of the child that concerns me, and if she may be used as a buffer when we do confront this Lucky Charm.”

“The child Master Stack spoke of?”

“They keep her for just such a purpose, to distract warm-hearted individuals. She cries at night, wishing to go back to the orphanage where they took her from, certain ‘tis a better home than the one she now has.”

Cal closed the gap betwixt he and Sari, and looped their arms together. “Well then, let us cause some trouble.”

“I thought you might see it so.”

“What will we do with the child?”

“I will need ask what she might wish once we remove her from that cur’s clutches. I would give her a choice.”

“Sari…”

“If I can do something, I must try. Never could I turn my eyes blind to such a thing.”

“I know. I would just have you prepare yourself. Not always can we win.”

She nodded. “I just wish to gain the child, even if I fail at gaining the cargo.”

“Of course.” He squeezed her arm.

Sari swirled her magik, seeking their target. For a brief moment, she bared her teeth feeling Lucky Charm’s essence grow stronger. The pirate was truly vile and after this, she would need bathe to erase this essence. “We grow close. If what Master Stack says is true, that she enchants men, please be mindful. I would rather not have such a thing happen to you.”

“My permission do you have to thrash me as I taught you does such a thing occur. But to ease your mind, I will do what I can to keep my distance from her.”

  Sari stopped behind the pirate and braced herself for the confrontation. She had observed her for a few moments before she approached, wishing to gain a small measure of the other woman. Lucky was an incredibly attractive woman of medium height, with a well-displayed buxom build, and a cloud of burnished curls flowing wildly around her head and down her back. Sari had to admit to a small amount of envy regarding the pirate’s breasts as her own were not more than a handful at best. Lucky wore an eye patch over her right eye, but it did naught to detract from her looks. The patch, Sari thought, offered Lucky a roguish air.

She cleared her throat. “Lucky Charm, I presume?”

“Capt’n Lucky Charm,” the pirate said automatically as she turned about. She was forced to look up as she eyed the girl before her and automatically hated her for it. Lucky was used to being taller than most women. She curled her upper lip in derision.

Sari had to agree with Cal, the cruelty in Lucky’s singular nutmeg-colored eye, rendered all beauty moot. There was not one drop of compassion to be found within this woman. None.

“You stole the cargo my friend was guarding.”

Lucky laughed. “Child, dear hideous child, ‘tis quite funny that.”

“You did say she would laugh, Cal.” Sari kept her eyes on the cur.

“That I did. Do you have a plan forward?”

“I had hoped this exchange could be done in a reasonable manner, but this may prove as repugnant as Lucky Charm is herself. And I speak not of the awful perfume she seemed to have bathed in.” She then redirected the conversation towards Lucky once more, smiling seeing the insult fully sink in, “Again, you stole the cargo my friend was guarding; Captain Hammer’s cargo. My friend would like it restored before his captain returns.”

“Mayhap Capt’n Hammer should have a more competent man guarding his cargo, that is if he wishes to keep cargo from being stolen. Ye stab in the dark since I know not of this cargo ye speak, bitch.”

‘Twas Sari’s turn to laugh. “She called me bitch, Cal. ‘Tis rare such occasion when most oft am I called mad and deranged. The last to utter it had his manly bits busted. Return the cargo.”

“I know naught of what ye speak.”

“Tell me, what would happen did I set Guards to this? The two men who took the cargo were most sloppy with their essences, as well their words—they spoke much of you: how pleased you would be by such a haul, by finally trumping Hammer Boots. ‘Twas quite easy to follow here.” She waved her hand about. “All that aside, what causes my temper to stir the most, is that you dared force a child to aid you. Truly? A child? Are you that incompetent of a pirate? One can only wonder…”

“Teach ye I will to mock me, ye hideous little shit.” Lucky grabbed her sword and drew it.

“Methinks you are the little one here, vile cur.” Sari stepped aside when Lucky lunged at her. She drew her own sword and met the pirate when once more she lunged.

They moved back and forth on the dock, swords clashing and sliding away, clashing and sliding away. Lucky appeared more aggressive than skillful when she leapt, sword coming down. Sari turned, but was a second too slow, and the sword sliced across her arm.

“Did that hurt, princess ugly?” Lucky jeered. “Aye, I know who ye are. Do ye cry? Methinks ye…”

“Stupid you are as well as short.” Ignoring the biting pain—she had felt worse—and the feel of blood running down her arm, Sari slashed at Lucky, continuing the fight.

“Need any aid, poppet?” Cal asked as he watched the sword match. He punched one of Lucky’s crew when the fool thought to interfere, knocking him down and out. “This match goes longer than it needs.”

“Tougher opponents have I had.” She hissed when Lucky’s sword grazed her shoulder.

“Mayhap you should consider ending it instead of playing with your opponent; ‘tis your one weakness.” Cal punched another member of Lucky’s crew and tossed him into the harbor. “Besides, your arm and shoulder bleed, ‘twould be best to stitch the wounds before too much time passes.”

“Oh, very well.” Sari parried Lucky’s move and then went on the attack sending the cur stumbling back.

Lucky tried to regain the offensive positioning, her swing wild. Sari leaned her body to the side, dodging the blade. Straightening up, she slammed her fist into the woman’s jaw. She followed the retreat, stepping left when Lucky swung her sword right, bringing her own sword about and cutting Lucky’s leg.

“Gut ye I will.”

Sari advanced until Lucky was disarmed, sword flung to the side, and shoved against a dockside lamppost. She pressed her sword against the other woman’s throat. “The match is mine.”

“Never!” Lucky started to struggle feeling a drip of blood well and slide down her neck, but was forced to stop when the blade dug deeper. “Slice ye I will from stem to stern. I will…”

“Not this day. This day is done, and the cargo is claimed. Master Stack, ‘twould be best did you and the others retrieve what belonged to your captain.”

“Aye, Miss Zhari.” Smoak and the others rushed on board Lucky’s boat, The Siren.

“I will go find the girl.” Cal started after Smoak. “Or should I stay?”

“Go, I have this.”

“All is well, I have her.” Gillam came down the gangplank, a little blond girl with pudgy cheeks in his arms, her dirty clothes ill fitting as if once they belonged to another and had never seen the wash.

He had started searching for her the moment Sari engaged the pirate. Upon finding her locked in a small cage within the hold, he stepped out of The Inbetween and freed her from her little prison. It had taken some coaxing, not only his sudden appearance startling her, but she was leery of trusting anyone after her experience with Lucky Charm. Even then, trying to give her to Cal, she refused to released Gillam’s neck.

“All is well, little love. Promise I do that Cal will keep you safe. Never will he allow these curs to take you back. There you go.” He released the child as Cal took her and then returned to The Inbetween.

Sari breathed a sigh of relief seeing that the child was safe, but upon taking note of the condition the girl was in, she felt her ire rise once more. She bared her teeth at Lucky, so very tempted to inflict further damage upon her; ‘twould serve her right.

“Do I ever see you within Issin Sound…” her voice was a low growl. Spirits flickered with her temper, several wishing to take vengeance against Lucky.

“Ye have nae such power…”

“Were you not the one who said you knew who I was? If that is so, then you know that I do. Issin Sound is mine and you hold no welcome here.”

A throat cleared. “Might we be of service?”

Sari checked from the corner of her eye, not wishing to take her attention off Lucky. Two Guards stood to the side taking in the scene. She knew these two Guards. She was certain that Naru Bastan had, in his capacity as one of Artezan’s five Watcher Commandants, asked them to keep an eye on her. It was the only way possible for her father to know of her various adventures so quickly. ‘Twas a rare day when she did not see them about.

At least they were willing to keep silent concerning her being the king’s daughter while she was about the village. It was just easier to not bring attention to such things. She wished not to be judged for her Title. She was certain those in The Borough knew who and what she was, but they, too, were kind enough to allow her to be just Sari. Or Zhari, as the case was most oft in The Borough.

“This cur, she is unwelcome here in the Sound. Used she did a child so her crew might steal cargo from another and then locked the child within a hold cage. You can see the girl’s condition.” She felt their magik stirring. “Also is she known to bespell men to gain her way and would advise caution.”

“The child is mine through right of adoption.”

‘She took my child when eyes were turned away,’ the spirit of a young man spoke by her side. He had the rough parlance of someone from the Northern Seas, just like Tramp, as well a tattoo upon the right side of his face. ‘Lured her with sweets and promises of family.’

“Methinks that did we write to the orphanage you took her from, a different story would they tell. You stole her. And even had you truly adopted her, ‘tis easy to see you hold no care of her, that you consider her a beast to be used and naught more. A proper home will I find the child where she will be loved and your filthy cur hands cannot touch her.”

“Best ye be to keep vigil over yer shoulder,” Lucky hissed. “A day will come when I put my blade in yer back.”

Sari exchanged her sword for her dagger, the length of the blade now against Lucky’s neck. “When the day comes for us to meet again, cur, ‘twill be my blade spitting you. Just know that you will see me coming and naught will save you.”

The Guard’s cleared their throats once more.

Her eyes never leaving Lucky’s enraged filled one, Sari stepped back. “She is all yours.”

Once the Guards took a struggling Lucky Charm and the few bedraggled crew who had not run off, or were just coming to after being thrashed, Sari approached Cal who still held the girl. The little girl was pressed tight against Cal, hiding her face in his neck. Sari summoned a little fuzzy stuffed animal from her cottage into her hands and held it up. She had several always on hand for when new children arrived at the Royal Orphanage. The little creatures seemed to calm the little ones, giving them something to hold, something that belonged to them. She made certain that each child’s stuffed toy was unique in some way. This one had a single golden horn in the middle of its head as well a fuzzy mane and tail.

“All is well, poppet. Safe you are now.” She held up the fuzzy toy. “This little one would very much like to be your friend. What say you?”

The little girl peeked out from hiding her face. She reached out and touched the little creature, but then jerked her hand back.

“’Tis yours do you wish it with naught desired in return.”

The little girl reached out and took the stuffed animal, hugging it tight against her.

“What is your name, little love?”

“Asha,” she whispered.

“’Tis a pretty name that. My name is Sari and ‘tis Cal who holds you. Might I ask where you are from? It sounds much like the parlance from the Northern Seas.”

“Koniaq.” Asha squeezed the little horned horse. “Like Önia she looks.”

“Who is Önia?”

“One of Mother Sea’s Nine Daughters and ‘tis Koniaq she looks after. Papa told me stories about the golden horn upon her head.” Her chin trembled. “I miss Papa.”

‘My little wildberry.’ The spirit reached out and touched his daughter’s back. ‘The barkeep, he is of Koniaq, and one loyal to the Prince Prime. Take Asha to him, he will keep her safe.’

Sari pressed a hand to the girl’s back where the spirit touched. “Of course you do.” Hearing sounds from the boat, she looked over and found Master Stack. “Do you have what you came for?”

“Aye, and then some. Much treasure did we discover in the hold.”

“Good. Be quick. I return to The Borough.” She nodded when Cal offered her a questioning look. “Methinks Asha would like to meet Tramp.”

---

©A. Jane

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