Distant, muffled cheering woke Ji as she swayed in her hammock. She had been skeptical about sleeping in a net, but a single night had won her over. That, she admitted, might even be a problem. She was used to sleeping on a thin mat and rising at dawn, and the light streaming in through the porthole told her it was well past sunrise. She looked to her side and saw that Yazwa was still sleeping peacefully in her hammock. With a quick twist, Ji rolled out and landed quietly on her feet, a maneuver that was still proving difficult for Yazwa and Saiyun. She dropped to her knees and bowed to the rising sun to say a morning prayer.
The ritual banished her drowsiness, and she rose, ready to face the day. “Yazwa,” she said, gently shaking her bunkmate. “It’s morning.”
Yazwa grunted, holding up her hand to block the light. “How late is it?” she asked.
“Past sunrise,” said Ji, holding out her hand.
After untangling her dreadlocks from the hammock, Yazwa staggered out of bed, dressed in a thin white robe. “Let me change, I’ll be right out.”
Ji stepped outside the curtain Yazwa insisted on hanging up and waited, looking down at her own clothes. Her loose pants and tunic were starting to accumulate stains and a terrible smell. Maybe now that they were in port, she could wash them.
“Ready,” Yazwa yawned, pulling aside the curtain. She wore a white dress with green patterning down the middle and on the hems. Her wooden staff was held close to her side. Out of all the people who had suddenly joined Captain Bill’s crew, she was the only one who managed to bring along a change of clothes. “What’s all the ruckus about?”
“Let’s go find out,” Ji said as she made her way above deck. The morning sun lit up a long row of docks, packed with ships of all sizes from many different lands. The river that flowed next to the city gave them safe anchorage, and surrounding the docks was a black stone wall separating it from the rest of the city. Over the wall, Ji could see the tips of towers watching over the city. On the shore where the river met the sea was a fortress with thick stone walls topped with cannons that Ji was certain were real.
Ji noted that the other ships were alive with activity, but a different sort from hers. Bill’s crew stood in a circle on the main deck, cheering on something she could not see. She tried to squeeze into the circle, but she was shoved back each time she tried. “What’s going on?”
Yazwa stood up on her toes to look over the rest of the crew. “Looks like Aven and Bill are fighting.”
After another attempt to push through the crowd got her nowhere she ran up the sterncastle stairs and perched on the railing to stare down at the spectacle. Aven and Bill stood in the center of the ring, circling each other while the crew shouted encouragement. Bill wore nothing but his black loincloth, and Aven had stripped to his waist.
A jolt shot through Ji’s body as she watched the brawl. Bill charged Aven like a bull, hard hands shooting out to seize his arm. Aven stepped aside, grabbing Bill’s wrist and twisting to throw him to the ground. Aven was on top of him in a flash, but Bill rolled and used his weight to throw Aven off. Then it was Bill’s turn to pounce, and Aven slithered out of his grip and rose to his feet. Nothing was familiar, neither their stances, nor their footwork. It was a way of fighting she had never seen before. Her Esgan had sent her out into the world to learn, and learn she would.
"I don't know how they can do this so early," came Saiyun’s voice behind her. He sat leaning against the railing, a book open in his lap. “They’ve been at it ever since Cai left.”
Ji glanced back down at the fight below her before turning her attention back to Saiyun. “Do you know why they’re fighting?”
“Probably because they’re bored,” he sighed, standing up and speaking over the din of the crew.
Ji turned her attention back to the battle below her as Aven and Bill grappled with each other. It wasn’t as fast as her style, but she could barely keep track of their movements when they slammed their bodies together. “Wow,” she whispered to herself.
Saiyun walked up beside her, looking down at the match. “Have you had anything to eat yet?” he asked.
“No, Yazwa and I just woke up,” Ji said, unable to take her eyes off the fight.
“Well, I think there might be something left,” he said, pointing at the deep black pot Yazwa was bent over. “How, um, how have your sleeping arrangements been? No trouble?”
“No, the hammocks are very comfortable,” said Ji as a sharp whistle rang out. The fight below halted as all heads turned towards the gangplank.
“Who won?!” Cai shouted, coming aboard and waving a jingling cloth sack over his head.
“No pins!” Bill grinned as the crew around them scattered. “Kids getting better!”
Ji hopped off the railing and made her way down to the main deck. Money was changing hands, so she assumed the fight was the subject of betting, just like everything else that happened on the ship. Pirates were a strange people. “Bill!” she called out, approaching the captain.
“Don’t say my name so loud,” Bill said, pulling on his coat. “We can talk later. I need to get pay sorted.”
Ji stepped aside to let him pass and sought out Aven. He knelt on the deck, his bare chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. A shiver ran down her spine when she closed in on him. It must have been jealousy. His body bore the scars of a warrior.. “You fought well,” she said.
“Thanks,” Aven said, wiping some sweat from his brow. “First time he never pinned me.”
“Oh heavens,” Saiyun groaned as he came down the stairs. “There’s a lady present.”
“Yeah?” replied Aven.
“So put on a shirt,” Saiyun snapped, grabbing Ji’s shoulders and steering her away from Aven. “I’m so sorry you had to see that.”
Ji cocked her head to one side. Some days Saiyun was stranger than the pirates. “Why is everyone so excited?” she asked.
“Cai went to cash in the diamonds Aven…stole,” Saiyun sighed. “Apparently everyone is getting a share.”
“Everyone?” asked Yazwa, grimacing as she ate the cold remnants of breakfast out of a bowl.
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“Everyone except Tsen, since he didn’t help at all,” replied Saiyun.
As if on cue, the withered old man stormed up from below decks. “Are we finally ready?” he snapped.
“Yes! Gather ‘round everybody!” shouted Cai as he dumped out a bag full of silver coins onto a barrel. “Time for pay!” A cheer went up from the crew and they swarmed around Cai.
“I get pay?” asked Ji, following the crowd.
“Yeah, of course,” Aven said, pulling on his shirt and joining everyone else. “This is a pirate ship. No one would be here if they weren’t getting paid.”
“Everybody shut up!” Cai called, arranging the coins into four equal piles. “We’ve got 48 silver gatl here. One quarter goes to the ship and after that the Captain and I take our double shares, which leaves two coins left over for each of you!”
“Don’t take off yet,” Bill said as Cai started passing out the coins. “There’s a little problem. Judging by the banner flying over the port, the same people who were in charge last time I came by are still running the place. They’ve got a price on my head, so I won’t be heading out into the city. That leaves it up to Cai to pick up supplies.”
"I thought we were still well-stocked from Chanan Harbor?” asked Aven.
“We are,” said Bill with a nod. “But always resupply at the first opportunity. The ruling family around here can change quicker than the wind, so I don’t want to linger. Get what you need and get back to the ship, we leave on the next tide.”
As Bill was talking, Cai reached Aven and Ji. “Here you go, money well earned,” he said, dropping a pair of silver coins into both their hands.
Ji peered down at the coins, rubbing one with her thumb. They were lumpy, irregular circles, stamped with a face on one side and nine interlocked circles on the other. “I can’t take these, I have sworn a vow of poverty,” she said, trying to pass them back to Cai.
“Two gatl won’t break that,” Aven said, blocking her hand. “A change of clothes will take up most of this anyway.”
Cai scoffed, pocketing his share along with the ship’s. “Only if you’re trying to get taken for a fool. I’m going into the market with Tsen and Saiyun for supplies. I’ll make sure you don’t get ripped off.”
Yazwa looked down at the two coins silently, rolling them in her hands. “The Chuxa of the Hunt,” she mumbled.
Ji blinked. Yazwa had a faraway look in her eye as she stared down at the silver. “Is that who is on the money?”
“Yeah, I think so,” said Cai, peering at the gatl. “You coming with us?”
“No,” said Yazwa, clutching the coins in her fist. “Is there a temple to Illitzo in this city?”
Cai pointed down the river. “Southernmost district along the shore.”
“That’s where I’m going,” said Yazwa, pocketing the coins and walking away without another word.
“Wait, Yazwa!” called Saiyun, following after her.
“Leave me alone!” Yazwa snapped, her staff clunking on the deck.
Ji furrowed her brow as Yazwa walked down the gangplank and out of sight. “Should she be going alone?”
“No, she should not,” Saiyun said as he rejoined the group.
“Yazwa will be fine,” said Cai. “She can look after herself, and she blends in too.”
“What made her so upset?” she asked. “What is a Chuxa?”
“They’re like the gods of Atemzl,” Cai said, holding the silver coin up to Ji’s face.
“Like En Chitei?” Ji asked, examining the face on the coin. It was of a bald man facing to the left, with many lines running over his face.
“Not quite,” Cai replied, sticking the coin back in his pocket. “En Chitei is the wind and sky. The Chuxa are more mortal. When Illitzo, founder of Atemzl was nearing the end of her life, she used all her skills to weave shrouds for her nine most loyal followers. Putting them on grants the wearer strength and long life and some pretty impressive tattoos.”
“And the man on the coin is the Chuxa of…Wealth?” asked Ji.
“One of them. Illitzo’s shrouds will make you live a long time, but not forever,” replied Cai. “There have been hundreds of Chuxa over the years. Yazwa must have known about the one on the coin. Probably got her feeling pious.”
“As much as I enjoy this history lesson,” growled Tsen. “I would like to get a move on before the sun sets!”
“Keep your shirt on,” grumbled Cai. “Who’s coming to the market?”
“I require more paper and ink, among other things,” Tsen grumbled.
“I need a change of clothes,” Saiyun said with a grimace, pulling at the neck of his navy blue robes. “I also need summoning materials if I am to learn from Tsen.”
Cai beamed. “You’re in luck, I know exactly where to go. You’re coming to get a change of clothes too, right Ji?”
“Yes,” said Ji. “But I want to talk to Bill first.”
“Well hurry up then!” shouted Cai.
Ji turned around and walked up to Bill, who was lounging in the shade of the sterncastle still wearing only his loincloth. A leatherbound book lay open on his lap, with many notes written in the margins of the pages
“Captain,” Ji said, bowing.
Bill marked his spot in the book and looked up. "What can I do for you?"
Ji squinted, trying to read what was on the page, but the script was unfamiliar to her. “I watched your spar with Aven and was awed by your style. Please take me as your student,” she said, still bowing.
"That is a terrible idea," Bill said, leaning back
“I know you are a seasoned warrior and that I am only a novice, but I will follow your every instruction without hesitation,” Ji said, bowing lower.
"Not why it's a bad idea. Look at us," Bill said, gesturing to himself. The scars on his tanned, weather-beaten skin were only just visible beneath the hair that covered his body. "I'm taller than you, weigh twice what you do, and I've got stubby arms and legs compared to yours. What works for me will not work for you."
“My Esgan commanded me to learn—” she said, cut off by a sharp whistle.
“Aven!” Bill called. “Get over here.”
“What?” Aven asked, looking from the bowing Ji to the reclining Bill.
“Ji’s looking for a teacher, and I’m making that your job,” Bill said, setting the book aside and laying down on his back. “If she wants to learn how to grapple, she should learn it from someone reedy like you.”
“Hey,” said Aven.
“I’m not blowing you off either,” Bill said, stretching out in the shade. “Aven’s young, but he’s been in more scraps than you might think. There’s a lot you can learn from him.”
Ji rose and looked Aven up and down. He’d managed to avoid all of Bill’s attacks during their spar and had fared better than her in the battle against the summons. “I am your eager student,” she said, bowing to him.
“Stop that,” Aven sighed. “What am I even supposed to teach her? She’s an acolyte of En Chitei. I'm a thief."
“I can’t be the only one who noticed her complete and total lack of awareness,” Bill chuckled, closing his eyes.
“I can’t argue with that. Get up!” Aven groaned, grabbing her shoulder and pulling Ji out of her bow. “Bill’s right, you only see what’s in front of you.”
Ji scowled as she rose, twitching the tip of her tail. "You can teach me this awareness?” she asked.
“I mean yes, it’s possible,” Aven said, scratching the back of his head. “But I don’t know how I’m supposed to do it on a ship.”
“Bring her to the fighting pits,” said Bill.
“There are fighting pits?” asked Ji, perking up.
“Where better to see what happens when someone doesn’t watch their back?” Bill grinned, reaching his hands behind his head to use as a pillow. “You know where they are, it’s not far from the marketplace.”
Aven shielded his eyes and glanced up at the sun. “We don’t have much time…”
“I’m making it an order,” Bill said with a yawn. “Teach her to be aware and show her how to break out of grapples. The Esgan made me swear to do what I can to help. I don’t want to do anything to lose this favorable wind.”