The Shattered Islands: Part One: The Rakam Read Online Free Page B
Author: Karpov Kinrade
point, either player can challenge the other, and if Han'Ruu was to challenge me now, I would lift my cup and reveal my one shell. He would see that I lied, and I would lose. However, he must be sure, for if he is wrong, and I am being honest, then I am the winner.
There is no challenge, and we play three more rounds, adding up our points. I have nineteen. He has twenty three. The first to reach thirty, or to win a challenge, wins the game.
I pat my gloves and clean my side of the table. We shake our cups and peek at our stones and shells. "One shell, two stones," says Han'Ruu, grinning. He is almost certain to win next round.
I shrug, keeping my face calm. "Three stones, three shells." Nine points. Enough for me to win. Those who have followed along, grow still.
Han'Ruu snickers. "Challenge, brother."
I lift my cup. Three stones. Three shells.
"Inspect them," says Han'Ruu, and Tel'Ruu checks my stones to see if they are marked on only one side. They are. He tosses them three times to see if they are weighed evenly. They are. He does not notice the black powder on my gloves, the one I spread over my side of the table, the one that covers the second marks on my stones.
Han'Ruu laughs. "What a game, brother, what a game. You may have her tomorrow—"
"Tonight."
The crew chuckles.
"Tonight then," says Han'Ruu, smiling. "Feel free to use my cabin, brother."
I nod and stand and take my sword by the hilt and the blue-eyed girl by the arm. Calla catches my gaze as we leave the mainroom and smiles, clearly pleased I'm exercising my carnal rights, even if not with her.
My hand tightens on the blue-eyed girls arm, and I escort her to the captain's quarters. Once inside, I secure the door and sit down, not on the bed, but on the floor, and motion for her to sit across from me. She remains standing, her eyes stabbing at me like rakam knives. She thought I was one thing, and now she thinks I am another. If, when her eyes pleaded with me earlier, she had any hope of escape, I have crushed it.
Now that I am within arm's length of her, I see where her beauty has been marred by bruises and scars, and the inked mark of the slave on her ankle. She is not as flawless as she seemed from a distance, but in her wounds she is made even more beautiful, like a broken bird who has almost forgotten how to fly.
"What is your name?" I ask.
"Vasa."
"Vasa, tonight, you must stay in this room," I say. "You must bar the door. You must not let anyone in until the sun has risen. Do you understand?"
Her eyes are confused, her lips trembling. "Why?"
"Because the men outside must pay."
She is quiet for a long moment, and then her voice turns harsh. "Fool, all of you will be asleep soon."
"We will not," I say. "My crew knows about the wine."
She blinks, then frowns, challenging me. "How?"
"Do not worry how," I say. "Will you stay in this room, Vasa?"
She nods.
I sigh with relief. "Then it begins." I take three deep breaths and exit the room. I lift the necklace around my neck and place the whistle to my lips. I blow.
And a roar rips through the skies.
***
The drakruu descends like shadow, like death. She glides around the ship, the beat of her wings a steady thrum amidst the shouts and screams as all look to the skies.
I walk forward, my sword flashing in the moonlight. "Drakruu," yells the man who calls himself Mal'Ruu, as he grabs a spear from the side of the ship. I step forward and slice open his calf. He sprays blood over the shell as he crumbles, cursing and spitting.
The crew rushes to fetch spears and arrows, and the man who calls himself Tel'Ruu notices my blade and draws his own. We exchange three moves, and then he falls, his sword hand cut from his arm. Han'Ruu yells for his men to fetch nets, yells of the stones a drakruu is worth, and then his eyes meet mine. They see the bloody men in my path, and they grow wide with fear.
He tells one of his crew, a women larger than I, to stop me. She charges, yelling, rakam
There is no challenge, and we play three more rounds, adding up our points. I have nineteen. He has twenty three. The first to reach thirty, or to win a challenge, wins the game.
I pat my gloves and clean my side of the table. We shake our cups and peek at our stones and shells. "One shell, two stones," says Han'Ruu, grinning. He is almost certain to win next round.
I shrug, keeping my face calm. "Three stones, three shells." Nine points. Enough for me to win. Those who have followed along, grow still.
Han'Ruu snickers. "Challenge, brother."
I lift my cup. Three stones. Three shells.
"Inspect them," says Han'Ruu, and Tel'Ruu checks my stones to see if they are marked on only one side. They are. He tosses them three times to see if they are weighed evenly. They are. He does not notice the black powder on my gloves, the one I spread over my side of the table, the one that covers the second marks on my stones.
Han'Ruu laughs. "What a game, brother, what a game. You may have her tomorrow—"
"Tonight."
The crew chuckles.
"Tonight then," says Han'Ruu, smiling. "Feel free to use my cabin, brother."
I nod and stand and take my sword by the hilt and the blue-eyed girl by the arm. Calla catches my gaze as we leave the mainroom and smiles, clearly pleased I'm exercising my carnal rights, even if not with her.
My hand tightens on the blue-eyed girls arm, and I escort her to the captain's quarters. Once inside, I secure the door and sit down, not on the bed, but on the floor, and motion for her to sit across from me. She remains standing, her eyes stabbing at me like rakam knives. She thought I was one thing, and now she thinks I am another. If, when her eyes pleaded with me earlier, she had any hope of escape, I have crushed it.
Now that I am within arm's length of her, I see where her beauty has been marred by bruises and scars, and the inked mark of the slave on her ankle. She is not as flawless as she seemed from a distance, but in her wounds she is made even more beautiful, like a broken bird who has almost forgotten how to fly.
"What is your name?" I ask.
"Vasa."
"Vasa, tonight, you must stay in this room," I say. "You must bar the door. You must not let anyone in until the sun has risen. Do you understand?"
Her eyes are confused, her lips trembling. "Why?"
"Because the men outside must pay."
She is quiet for a long moment, and then her voice turns harsh. "Fool, all of you will be asleep soon."
"We will not," I say. "My crew knows about the wine."
She blinks, then frowns, challenging me. "How?"
"Do not worry how," I say. "Will you stay in this room, Vasa?"
She nods.
I sigh with relief. "Then it begins." I take three deep breaths and exit the room. I lift the necklace around my neck and place the whistle to my lips. I blow.
And a roar rips through the skies.
***
The drakruu descends like shadow, like death. She glides around the ship, the beat of her wings a steady thrum amidst the shouts and screams as all look to the skies.
I walk forward, my sword flashing in the moonlight. "Drakruu," yells the man who calls himself Mal'Ruu, as he grabs a spear from the side of the ship. I step forward and slice open his calf. He sprays blood over the shell as he crumbles, cursing and spitting.
The crew rushes to fetch spears and arrows, and the man who calls himself Tel'Ruu notices my blade and draws his own. We exchange three moves, and then he falls, his sword hand cut from his arm. Han'Ruu yells for his men to fetch nets, yells of the stones a drakruu is worth, and then his eyes meet mine. They see the bloody men in my path, and they grow wide with fear.
He tells one of his crew, a women larger than I, to stop me. She charges, yelling, rakam
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