The evidence of mastery is found just as often in defeat as in victory. For what practitioner who had never lost a battle can claim true expertise?
DAIPUNA: THE ART OF COMBAT
Ani and Tai stood under the twisting arches of bone that made up the Summer Palace. The name had been given to the seat of power of the tiny, tropical island of Raun by an outsider generations ago. The Raunians had found it funny so they kept calling it that. The palace had no walls, no real structure other than the one created from the elaborately decorated remains of a giant fish, some ancient ancestor to the selakki whose rib cage was as large as a house.
Bleached bone arches carved with the same symbols their people tattooed on themselves stood on a patch of ground at the edge of the island. Behind it, the waters of Pirate’s Bay lapped gently. Many Raunian locations had adopted the names foreigners had given them.
King Pia sat on the throne, a hideous creation constructed of whale bones and decorated with shark teeth. It looked like an uncomfortable seat, and Ani’s mother was an uncomfortable woman. Her heavily tattooed face was prematurely lined, her expression pinched as she regarded her children.
Beside Ani, Tai’s head was high. He’d told her once that whenever he was called to the Summer Palace, he focused on the endless blue of the water behind the throne and not the thing itself, nor its occupant. Ani’s shoulders were squared, the constant pain of her missing limb helping her to focus on the present moment and not on the past.
Attendants lined the space. There were no courtiers, just normal folk appealing to the king to confirm contract negotiations and settle disputes. Though some here were, no doubt, in attendance to see what would come of the notorious Summerhawks in a showdown with their mother.
“Captain Tai Summerhawk,” the king said in a sonorous voice, “you are accused of removing Ani Summerhawk from her lawful contract with Captain Noa Whiteel. What say you to this charge?”
Tai’s voice was clear as he answered. “Guilty.”
Ani’s shoulders jerked involuntarily.
“Very well,” the king said, her eyes hard. “I sentence you to two years of hard labor in the western hunting grounds. You will lose ownership of your ship for the term of your incarceration. It will reside with your second-in-command, Mik Autumngrass, until your release.”
Mik stood on Tai’s other side, eyes glassy as he nodded in recognition.
The king’s steely gaze slid over to Ani. A rod of iron shot through her spine to be watched so carefully by her mother. “As for you, Ani Summerhawk, you claim a challenge made and solidified to a foreigner.”
“Yes, I am spoken for.”
“However, as this party has abandoned you, is presumed dead, and clearly is not here to sign a marriage contract, I cannot in good conscience approve the match.”
Ani’s jaw clenched. “He did not abandon me, and he is not dead. He and his family were kidnapped by foreign mages.”
Tai stiffened beside her, but they’d had this argument before. He thought she was delusional, but she didn’t care. Her mother waved away her protest. “Be that as it may, the contract is unsigned and as such, is unratified. Any further claim on you is allowed.”
The king’s gaze shot to Noa, who stood with several members of his crew among the other court attendants. He stepped forward and bowed respectfully. “I make no further claim for Ani Summerhawk. I have no need of a one-handed apprentice or a disfigured wife.”
Murmurs rippled through the audience. Tai’s entire body was a taut wire as he held himself in check. Ani just smiled. Her fingers itched for her blade. She was learning how to do everything with her nondominant hand, including twirl her knife.
“Very well. Is anyone else here willing to enter into a contract with this young woman as an apprentice?”
Mik stepped forward. “I am.” His freshly tattooed captain’s mark blazed on his forehead. He could have made captain years ago, but he preferred serving as second for Tai. However, he’d undergone the final test in preparation to take over Tai’s ship and for her. Tears stung her eyes as she held her breath, waiting for her mother’s response.
King Pia’s nostrils flared. “It is deemed acceptable. We will ratify the contract at this afternoon’s signing ceremony.”
Relief flowed through Ani’s body. She looked over at Mik, struggling to hold in her emotions. Then two members of the Security Force stepped forward to meet Tai. He didn’t protest as they shackled his wrists and started to lead him away.
“Wait!” Ani cried, wrapping her arms around him.
“It’s only two years,” he said thickly. “Study hard during that time and I bet you’ll make captain earlier than expected.”
She smiled through her quickly building tears.
“And the other thing . . . The stone?” he whispered.
“You were right,” she said. “Father’s hiding place can’t be found.”
He nodded. “Keep it there. Don’t forget Mother will be scrutinizing you closely. She’ll take any excuse to deny your captainship. But we’ll find a way to get the stone back where it belongs when I return.”
She nodded, and the guards dragged him away. Only then did Ani let the tears fall, still holding her head high as Noa and the other vultures observed her.
When court finally ended, she didn’t spare a glance for her mother. Instead, she followed Mik through the narrow streets of Raun to the dock where the Hekili was being repaired. It would be seaworthy again in a few short weeks.
In the bay, a pod of dolphins swam in circles. Machen had sent word of a connect with some highly sought-after merchandise down in the southern archipelago. That would be their first destination. They’d function just as they had before, doing business while Mother’s watchdogs paid close attention to her training.
She planned to make captain faster than anyone ever had. She’d show Noa what a one-handed girl could accomplish. And she would use every contact she had, and create those she needed, to find Roshon and his family. The path was the way, and this one was hers.