Banda Sea

  Sophie hit her tenth button, waited for Kaliana and Nali to hit it, then walked back down the beach. This one was made of black sand, which she hadn't seen before.

  It wasn't surprising to her that each island was slightly different, but each beach being distinct was something she hadn't expected. There were tan beaches, pink beaches, rocky beaches, very soft beaches, beaches full of seaweed, short and steep beaches, long and low beaches… The varieties were endless. Another few contests like this, and she’d truly be a beach connoisseur.

  They waded through a few waves to reach the boat and climbed in. Razan moved the sail, it filled with air, and they were off to the next island.

  “There’s rain between us and the next button,” Peter said, frowning at his map and then the sky. “We could go around it, but that’ll take maybe twenty minutes.”

  “Which direction is it heading?” Nali asked.

  “West,” Peter answered.

  “We should go through,” Razan said.

  Kaliana shook her head. “It will be very cold. And all our clothes will be soaked through in an instant.”

  Sophie shivered, remembering how her time in the ocean had ended. “I'd rather not freeze to death again.”

  “The wind around it will be cold and damp regardless,” Nali said. “It’ll be over faster if we go straight through.”

  “Should only take us five or so minutes to get through the rain,” Peter added. “They’ll be miserable minutes, but I think we’re going to be miserable no matter what.”

  “A vote, then,” Razan said. “Who would rather go straight through?”

  Peter, Razan, and Nali raised their hands. Razan and Nali glared at each other, obviously hating that they were in agreement. Both of their hands wavered, but several seconds ticked by without either one backing down. And then several more seconds passed.

  “Right, three against two,” Peter said loudly, putting his hand down. “We’ll go through the rain.”

  “Good,” Nali said sharply, turning to stand at the bow.

  Sophie shared a look with Kaliana, then moved closer to Nali. “I… think short hair-”

  “Don't,” Nali snapped.

  “Sorry.”

  She looked ahead to a dark part of the sky, hoping to survive.

  Peter was regretting having voted to go through the rain. The temperature had dropped several degrees as they’d approached, and the wind had picked up sharply. With it, the waves had gotten higher.

  He hadn't been particularly seasick before, but the boat rising and then dropping by well over a foot every few seconds was making his stomach churn. Sophie was hanging over the side, having lost her lunch shortly after reaching the rough patch.

  And then the rain hit.

  As far as rainstorms went, it wasn't too bad. Peter had been through far worse in terms of raindrop size and how hard they landed. But combined with the sharply rocking boat and cold wind, it was extremely not fun.

  Razan growled, fighting with the ropes, trying to hold them in one hand. “Hold the tiller steady,” he ordered Peter.

  “Right,” Peter said, grabbing the long piece of wood with one hand.

  Razan let go. The tiller shot away, nearly wrenching Peter’s arm out of it’s socket. Worse than that, the boat suddenly veered left, and was hit sideways by an oncoming wave. It rocked so far the edge went underwater. The women screamed, pushing themselves up against the other side for balance before the boat rocked back. Razan grabbed the tiller and shoved it all the way back until it was nearly touching Peter’s chest.

  “Sorry!” Peter yelled over the rain. “I didn't expect- Sorry!”

  “Steady,” Razan snapped, and jumped up to fight with the sail again.

  Peter put both hands on the tiller, struggling a bit to keep it in place. He felt the water under the boat pushing against the rudder. It was a constant pressure, not something that rose and fell with the waves, which made keeping control easy once Peter figured out how much strength to put on the tiller.

  Another wave hit, rolling the boat again, but not quite as severely as last time.

  Razan looked at him. “Slowly move the tiller to center.”

  Peter nodded, allowing the tiller to be pulled away from him. The boat was once again facing the waves, instead of being parallel to them. Peter had noticed Marie and Razan keeping the boat always facing the waves, but hadn't put together why it was important until now.

  A particularly big wave moved under them, and water poured off Peter’s hat as he found himself facing the sky. Before he could come to terms with the angle the boat was at, it reached the top of the wave and was suddenly angled down. Peter nearly slid off the bench, using the tiller to keep himself anchored as they crashed into the next wave, seawater washing over the bow as the boat bounced back up like a cork.

  By this time a significant amount of water had collected in the bottom of the boat. Nali and Kaliana were switching between holding on for dear life and scooping water out with the small buckets Marie had insisted on bringing while Sophie hung over the edge and emptied her stomach again. Razan finally finished whatever he was doing with the sail and sat back down, taking the tiller from Peter just before they angled down and hit another wave.

  Not prepared and not holding on to anything, Peter found himself briefly airborne before his skull cracked into the sail’s boom.

  Nop appeared on the raft in front of Marie. “Peter has been knocked unconscious.”

  “How?” she asked, worried but not particularly surprised.

  “They are currently going through a squall; Peter was knocked loose and hit his head,” the raven reported. “Would you like him to be bailed?”

  Marie hesitated. “Is it serious?”

  “Can't be that bad if they haven't bailed him already,” Ebba said, pausing in her efforts to get paint off her jacket. “He must be safe.”

  Nop bobbed. “He has a slight concussion; we are still scanning for any serious issues, but believe there are none.”

  “Bail him,” Marie decided. “I should have sent him home at the start.”

  “Understood.”

  “How’s the rest of them?” Louis asked.

  “So far fine,” Nop said. “They should be through the rough patch soon.”

  “I should have stayed on my boat,” Marie said, feeling guilty. She didn't know the exact circumstances, but if she’d been there something would have been different. That something might have been enough to save Peter from having gotten hurt.

  “You’re just jealous we haven't hit any storms,” Ebba said, scrubbing at the light blue spot on her gold jacket again.

  “Partially,” Marie admitted with a slight smile.

  Nop was watching Ebba. “Removing the paint won't change the score,” she said. “You’ve still been shot twice.”

  “Aye, but no one else knows that,” Louis said.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  “If I let the paint dry, it’ll stain the fabric,” Ebba added. “After which it’ll take at least three washings to get completely out. There’s plenty of water here, so I’m not letting this thing get stained again.”

  “Oh,” Nop said thoughtfully. “I wasn't aware.”

  “It’s mostly noticeable on light colors,” Ebba said. “All your groups have darker colors, right?”

  “Still, I should have- Sorry, this isn't relevant to the contest. Marie: I have let you know about Peter. That is all I needed to do.” She fluttered back, and the raven vanished.

  “Odd,” Louis remarked.

  Ebba shrugged, holding her jacket up to the sun. “Maybe someone will think she’s cheating if she stays too long. Finally, it’s clean.” She laid it in the sun and stretched out next to it, getting comfortable.

  “We’re almost to the next island,” Marie warned. “Two minutes at most before we reach it.”

  “I’m aware.”

  Louis smiled at Marie, a playful look in his eye. “Although the atoll approaches, it appears our associate is apathetic.”

  Ebba frowned.

  “Indeed,” Marie said, grinning. “It is inconceivable she imagines it insignificant, but it’s my impression she is inattentive to the impending end to idleness.”

  “Wait…”

  “Such is the sweet siren song of sonombulance, I suppose our Swedish spouse would select sleep over securing a substantial score in this sport,” Louis added.

  “You’re doing it again, aren't you?” Ebba asked, rubbing her face.

  “While I wish to whisper what we are working at, it wouldn't be worth the words wanted to…” Marie faltered, searching for a word for ‘explain’ that began with a W.

  “Explain,” Louis said, saving her. “Even if everyone elaborated, engaging you in an explanation would eradicate our entertainment.”

  “Please,” Ebba begged. “You’re breaking the translator! Is it rhymes? Are you using the longest words possible?”

  “Currently your conjectures are consistently not capturing the correct cause of our-” Marie hesitated again.

  “Cadence,” Louis supplied.

  Marie nodded gratefully. “Aye, cadence.”

  Ebba sat up, glaring at them. “I don't know if I should threaten you or bribe you.”

  “Better to bribe us,” Louis said. “But the beach is before our beautiful boat, and we must beat our-”

  “Badversaries,” Marie suggested, almost managing to do so with a straight face.

  Louis choked on a laugh. “Beat our badversaries to the button,” he finished quickly.

  “I don't know why I put up with you two,” Ebba said, getting to her feet. “My only option is to learn English.”

  “No, then we’d do it in French,” Marie said, joining her as the raft finally scraped its way up the beach and settled on the island.

  Ebba stepped onto the sand, looking around for the button. “And then Spanish if I learned French. Proof you love Louis more than me.”

  “Look at me the way you looked at Kaliana and I might feel differently,” Marie said, heading for the treeline.

  “Well if that’s all it takes,” Ebba laughed, following. “After the contest is done, though.”

  “Correct. The contests must control our conduct.”

  “Poetry,” Ebba guessed. “Some sort of poetry.”

  Marie smiled. “Alas, no.”

  “Damnit.”

  Razan watched an approaching boat, the women on the island, and the map device, wishing he had three heads to keep everything straight.

  He was alone in the boat, in theory figuring out where to go next. In reality he was hoping Sophie and the others would get to the button and back before the enemy reached them. Sophie had the spyglass, so he couldn't tell who was approaching.

  With a sigh, he focused on the map. That was the only thing he was in control of at the moment.

  It looked like he was supposed to go west-northwest from here, but there was an atoll between him and the island the next button was on. So they’d have to go around it.

  He looked up to find the women coming back down the beach. The enemy boat was closer now, and a crossbow bolt with orange paint hitting the bench near him let Razan know who the three people in it were: Foxes.

  Sophie was the first back to the boat. She pushed herself easily in, then helped Nali and Kaliana in as well. A crossbow bolt hit Nali in the side, making her yelp and duck.

  “Hey!” someone in the enemy boat yelled. It sounded like Mateo’s voice. “There’s three groups in that boat?”

  Sophie walked to the bow. “Yes! Why?”

  “That’s allowed?” Chimeg shouted.

  “Probably!” Sophie shouted back.

  Razan drew his boat closer to theirs. They were finally close enough he could see Mateo and Chimeg at the bench in back, and Innoka in front. She smiled at him, and he… couldn't smile back. He wanted to, but this was going to be one of the last times he saw her. There was nothing to smile about.

  “Take Innoka with you,” Chimeg called. “As long as you have no issue taking random people along.”

  Sophie looked back at Razan. “Should we?”

  Razan hesitated. It would be kind and good if they agreed to let Innoka join them. But something in him suddenly grew cold. He nodded to Sophie, motioning Nali over. The Korean woman almost acted like she was about to say no, but decided to sit next to him on the bench. Razan waited, moving the boat so it would draw up alongside the Foxes.

  “Are you in a truce with them?” he asked quietly.

  “No,” she answered.

  “Are you in a truce with the Diamonds?”

  She smirked. “Never.”

  “Neither are we,” he said. “I think as soon as we’re out of sight of this boat, it’s time we remove our enemies.”

  Nali gave him a shrewd look. “Your captain might not like that.”

  “Perhaps, but she left me in charge. I feel we’ve been charitable long enough.”

  She got up without replying, moving to help Innoka into the boat.

  Innoka thanked her, being careful not to fall, then went to sit next to Razan. She gave him another smile, and he smiled as well, filling the sail with wind as they moved west.

  “How many buttons have you pushed?” Sophie asked, leaning against the mast.

  “Ten,” Innoka answered.

  “The one here makes my twelfth,” Sophie said. “Captain Marie is going around the other way with the Windwards, so I assume we should be almost done.”

  “How nice,” Innoka said condescendingly.

  Razan looked sideways at her. He’d thought they were friends, but now he was second-guessing that. He looked between them, and Innoka put her hand on his shoulder, moving closer. Sophie rolled her eyes and turned away to talk to Kaliana.

  “Peter’s not here; was he bailed or did he not join in the first place?” Innoka asked.

  “We hit a squall and he was knocked out in the rough water,” he answered. “I could have prevented it, if I'd reacted quicker.”

  “I’m sure he’ll be fine,” she said kindly, then smiled as Nali walked up to them. “Hello.”

  And then there was a sword pressed against her throat. She moved her hand off Razan’s shoulder, and he gently pinned it to the bench with his knife, careful to not draw blood.

  “Thank you for bailing on your group without a fight,” Nali said smoothly. “We appreciate your trust, but it is unfounded.”

  Innoka stared at her, then turned to Razan. “This was a trap?”

  “I apologize, but yes,” he said.

  She grit her teeth, pulling out her bail device. It was obvious she wanted to curse them, but vanished without saying anything.

  Nali smiled, then spun elegantly around and aimed her thin sword at Kaliana. “You’ve hit enough buttons for someone still here due to the kindness of other groups. Goodbye.”

  “You aren't in charge here,” Kaliana said nervously.

  Razan smiled blandly. “Sophie, please get your knife out and prepare to fight.”

  “But she doesn't fight,” Sophie said, doing as ordered. She got into a proper stance, holding the knife out.

  “She doesn't, no, which will make this fight very easy,” Nali said.

  “Fine,” Kaliana said, holding her hands up. “I surrender. You clearly don't want me here, so I will go.” She pulled out her bail device and vanished.

  “Now what?” Sophie asked, putting her knife away.

  Razan turned the sail. “Now we prepare to be called tricksters and betrayers.”

  Marie watched another island fade into the background. It was one made entirely out of coral, with no trees on it, only a few vine patches.

  “We’re heading into rain,” Louis said.

  Marie sat down and leaned against him, looking ahead to the dark skies in front of them. Ebba laid down, using his knee as a pillow. Neither of them said anything; they just judged the sky.

  “Should we go through or try to skirt around it?” Louis eventually asked.

  “Through,” Marie immediately said.

  “Through,” Ebba agreed.

  “I don't know why I bothered asking,” Louis laughed.

  “Because it’s polite,” Marie said, reaching over him to put more tension on a rope. He put an arm around her waist, keeping her close when she was done.

  “Who knows, I might have suddenly been struck by a bolt of sanity,” Ebba added.

  “My dear, you’ve avoided sanity for a good number of decades,” Louis told her. “I doubt it will catch up now.”

  She grinned.

  There was a blue flash, and Nop appeared. “Marie: your group has now pushed all sixteen buttons. Would you like to be taken out of the contest, or remain?”

  “What, leave?” Marie asked, alarmed. “No. Hell no. Absolutely not.”

  “We won't let her,” Ebba added, hooking a hand around Marie’s boot.

  “At least not until we get through that squall,” Louis said.

  “Not until you leave,” Marie corrected. “I’m staying with you until this contest is completely over.”

  “Very well,” Nop said. “If you change your mind, simply bail.” With that, she vanished again.

  “You’re having too much fun on this raft, admit it; it's not us you’re staying for,” Ebba said.

  Marie almost agreed out of habit, but stopped. She smiled. “No. I’m enjoying being with the people I love. Stop trying to say I’m here for any reason other than I want to be with you.”

  Louis shook his head. “Ebba, can you believe she’d lie like that?”

  “Pirates are not truthful people, so I hear,” Ebba said.

  Marie gave up. “Fine. If I weren't here, you two would immediately sink this sorry excuse for a raft. I'm surprised you survived so long without me. I have to stay for your safety.”

  “I knew it,” Louis said, kissing her cheek.

  Ebba smiled up at Marie. “Horribly untruthful pirate.”

  “You’re both impossible,” she sighed.

  “Aye, we are,” Louis agreed. “Into the storm we go!”

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