Chapter 4

Despite the tribulations of the previous days, Artemis sailed faster than ever before, heading to its last stop before the Fool’s Current. The crew was more focused than before, seemingly rejuvenated from Sunder’s more commanding attitude, and with a lucky wind, it wasn’t long before a sailor’s favorite words were spoken.

“Land!” screamed Lieh from inside the main mast’s crow nest, nearly diving down to the deck to help the others with the sails

The sun’s harsh heat quickly stopped them from celebrating as vigorously as before, but they did not waver, and Artemis kept up her pace, keeping up the pace with the clouds above them. Unlike last time, everyone stayed on the ship as it docked, locking her down to the port with incredible efficiency. Meanwhile, Yeng slammed open the door to Sunder’s room.

“I can’t believe that speech of yours actually worked, I haven’t seen them work like this since the moment we were out of your parent’s direct line of sight.”

“If I’m being honest, I can’t believe that either,” responded Sunder, analyzing the new path charted on their map. “I just assumed they would go along with my plan and more or less shut up.”

“I mean, your father didn’t make generals wet themselves by being kind.” Yeng walked over to him, putting her hand on the middle of the map, looking straight at Sunder with a playful look, “But that little cute face of yours isn’t built to scare people to death, yet. Speaking of…” she slid her hand from the table and down to his waist, and in a swift motion, pulled from it a small bag of coins he had dangling by his side. “You want them to really be ready to die for you? Let them enjoy this day.”

“I didn’t have that on me for nothing,” he said with a chuckle, “Let’s go, it’ll be good for me to join you for once.”

Coming up to face the crew, Yeng screamed out with Sunder under her arm, “Today we’re drinking the good stuff!” bringing the sack up to the air and moving it around, the constant clinking of the coins was quickly drowned out by the celebratory screams of the men.

“Wait-wait, I forgot something,” said Sunder, “we still need to get supplies,” he then snatched the sack from Yeng and pulled out five golden coins.

“Get someone else to do it!” blurted out Hui, appearing to already be drunk just from the thought of going out to drink.

Sunder searched his pocket for a small piece of paper, raising it in the air, “I’ll join you as soon as I can, I’ll be done in less than an hour.”

“You better,” said Yeng. She then took back the sack and led the way in search of a tavern, leaving Sunder to pick up supplies.

“Yeng,” asked Hui on their search for drinks, his face sobered up, “do you think we’re going to make it through?”

“Where is this coming from?” she chuckled, “You’re one of the last people here who would care if he woke up dead.”

“That’s the only thing we all have in common. But the kid’s not on the same boat as us. He’s the only one in here we’re meant to protect, if one person is meant to come back, he is that person. Right?” Yeng was unsure how to respond, her smile dwindling with each step, returning for just a moment as the rest of the crewmates called them out, pointing to a promising tavern, “I’ll be blunt, you know Rhea better than maybe even him, even if this is a suicide mission for the rest of us… is he meant to make it?”

Yeng pointed to an empty tavern, still somewhat close to the ship, and threw the bag of gold in the air, “Whoever catches it can drink double!” as the rest of the men skirmished amongst themselves, she stepped back with Hui, “You know I can’t answer that. But while Ang-Shi isn’t listening, I can assure you, there’s no need to worry about him.”

Hui gave a long sigh of relief, like his last care in the world had just vanished, “Thank you. I couldn’t handle having another kid die in front of me.”

Yeng grabbed Hui’s shoulder and gave him a small hug, before pushing him toward the tavern that was quickly becoming crammed with their crewmates “Let’s get you filled up, you’re a downer when you’re not drunk.”

Just as everyone was settled in the tavern, ready to start drinking the day away, Sunder burst through the door. Everyone inside joined in cheering, as the nearest crew member gave him a half-filled cup.

“I told you I would be quick,” he said with a cocky grin on his face.

“You better finish up that cup before I get you the next one!” said Lieh.

“If you don’t leave this place drunk, we’re rioting!” screamed Hui, slamming another cup of wine in his face before he was even done speaking.

For over eight hours everyone drank, talked, and enjoyed themselves in the same way they promised to do once the mission is over. As the night carried on and the crew’s lively spirit died down, Sunder began heading out the door, along with Yeng and another woman, his arms around the waist of each one.

“Captain!” said Hui, his voice so raspy from yelling all day he could barely muster a single scream, “That’s not fair, at least share one with us!” Yeng responded to Hui’s pleas by stretching out her middle finger before slamming the tavern’s doors on their way out.

Soon enough, the tavern closed for the night and the rest of the crew returned to Artemis. As they traversed the ship’s bridge and entered their quarters, passing through the hall and the closed door to their captain’s quarters, their ears were immediately graced with the sound of creaking wood and two women moaning. Several words of felicitation, mockery, and encouragement were thrown out as they stumbled to their rooms and passed out on their hammocks, which were scattered around the large common living quarters, or the nearest unoccupied part of the floor.

By the time the last of the crewmen fell asleep, Yeng and the other woman, a young blonde girl, both rolled over in bed, catching their breath as if their life depended on it.

“Oh…dear…lord,” the girl said, still gasping for air.

“I…I know,” responded Yeng with a dry throat.

“I never thought…this could feel so good…with just a woman.”

Yeng smiled and put her hand underneath the girl, pulling her closer before giving her a long kiss, “Now imagine what I can do to you tomorrow when I’m not drunk.” the girl snuggled next to Yeng’s chest before she looked up to the ceiling “Did you at least enjoy the show kid?” She then moved aside the woman’s hair and peeked over at Sunder, leaning over a table with a quill in hand.

“I’m sorry, what?” he responded, without lifting his eyes from the paper, leaning only slightly on his chair.

“Did you seriously not peek over here?” asked Yeng.

“Not really, I thought you would’ve wanted a little privacy. And I needed to double-check our new schedule after we cross that current, I’ll send over a pigeon with the new dates once we reach the next stop.”

“Is he not attracted to women?” whispered the blonde girl to Yeng.

“I’ve asked him that at least five times on this trip, he says he’ll start thinking about that once we finish this mission.”

“What sort of mission are you doing?” she asked, her hazel eyes reflecting the flame from a small candle that Sunder had on his table.

“If you tell her you’re the one who has to kill her,” said Sunder, keeping his head locked on his papers.

“Let’s just say it’s a secret,” she said, winking with a smile. “I’ll tell you all about it when we return.”

“You swear?”

“Until the day I settle down, I’ll always find a way to be with masterpieces like you.”

While both women continued rolling around on the bed, Sunder dried his quill and set it on the table before getting up from his chair and laying down on the floor, placing a rolled-up pair of pants under his head, “Well, good night to the two of you. Try not to be too loud, at least until I wake up.”

“At least sleep in the bed with us,” said the woman, “that floor does not seem soft at all.”

“I know Yeng, and she’s going to at least play with you twice before she falls asleep. And that bed is soaking wet anyways.”

“He’s not wrong,” she said as she moved her hand down the woman’s body, who quivered slightly. “Now, as he said, try not to moan too much this time, wouldn’t want to wake up our little snow princess.” Yeng then got herself under the woman as they continued their embrace.

Not long after the sun had risen and the birds had begun chirping, everyone on the ship was forced awake from their drunken naps. Sunder grabbed the chair next to him and pulled himself up with it, his back cracking as loud as the wooden floor as he straightened himself up.

“Next time I’ll just sleep sitting down.” as he complained to himself, he looked at his bed and saw Yeng, stroking the other woman’s head and twirling her fingers across her head.

“You’re better off getting another bed,” she whispered, trying to not wake up the girl, “because I’m not waiting until we get back home to grab another gorgeous piece of ass like this.” Yeng then kissed the woman before giving her a light smack, prompting her to wake up, startled. “Morning beautiful.”

“Oh, what time is it?” she said groggily, trying to straighten her hair with her fingers.

“Not sure,” said Sunder, “but you two should get dressed, I promised them at least one meal on land, and if that meal ends up being dinner, I have to completely rewrite that schedule.” The moment he picked up both women’s clothes and threw them up to their bed, they heard the ground rumble as several footsteps came in the direction of the ship.

“Kiya!” screamed an old fat man, his voice deep and booming, “You get your filthy ass out here now before I have you sleep with the horses for the rest of the month!”

“Yeng no,” said Sunder, putting himself between her and the door. She was barely dressed, covering only her private parts, but she was ready to leap out the ship and hunt whoever had just spoken.

“Yeng, listen to him, please don’t make this any worse.”

Meanwhile, most of the crew was already on the ship’s deck, looking over at the group of men standing outside.

“Hey fatty,” screamed Lieh, spinning a dagger on the ship’s edge, “looking for your girlfriend? Don’t worry, our Cap’n will give her back to you, but you better clean her up before having a go yourself!” The rest of the crew quickly overshadowed whatever the man below them was saying with loud laughs and more taunting words.

The door to Sunder’s room was slammed open, its echoing impact rushing up to the deck, silencing everyone. Yeng walked out slowly ahead of the two of them, still only half-dressed with one of Sunder’s shirts and her boots, as the men opened a path for her to look down at the man who was screaming. ‘So that’s her name!’ she thought while staring daggers at him.

Yeng looked over to her crew and nodded, prompting them to lower the plank down into the wooden platform, letting Sunder and Kiya walk down, approaching the angry man and the rest of his mob with a respectable posture. “Is she your daughter?” he asked, keeping a frozen, emotionless face.

“What does it look like to you?” Sunder looked at the man up and down, seeing his dark skin and black dirty hair, along with a beer belly barely covered by a tight blue shirt.

“Then you have no reason to come here and demand her.”

“I own her, boy.” The man took a step forward, trying to intimidate Sunder with his size.

“This is not a war zone, there are no slaves around these towns.” he responded, not moving an inch.

“She might as well be one. Her family sold her to me to buy themselves a carriage and some horses to leave this place. If you want to buy her back, go ahead. But by the look of the rags you’re wearin’, I assume you can’t even pay for the night you just spent with her.”

“Do you even know who he is?” blurted out Hui, somehow still inebriated, before getting kicked to the ground by Yeng.

“He could be the Emperor of China for all I care, money speaks louder than any title.” The man took another step toward Sunder, getting close enough to have him smell his morning breath. “If she wants to be a whore, then I have to come collect the debt. How much are you paying for that night with her?”

Closing his eyes, Sunder sighed for a moment, whispering under his breath “Why did you say that?”

A large slam was heard behind the man. He turned around and saw Yeng, straightening herself after hitting the floor. “That question should be directed at me.”

“Is that how you want to pay what your kid owes? Guess it’s only fair, and I would mind giving you a spin.” The men began cheering him on, about to surround her before she glanced through all of them, momentarily stopping them in their tracks.

“He owes you nothing,” said Yeng, stepping up to the man with each word, “I do.”

“Oh.” He paused for a moment, before breaking into a fit of laughter, along with his men, having to use Sunder to balance himself. “Gods, I haven’t heard a joke like that in a long time. What would your parents say if they heard you right now?” his eyes burned themselves on Kiya, who tried cowering behind Sunder in silence.

“The White Wolf would have killed you just for standing that close to his son!” every eye was focused on Hui; Sunder himself was thinking of leaving him ashore right there before Lieh knocked him out with a sharp punch, almost using the dagger he had clenched in his hand.

“That hair…” the man looked over Sunder, now with new eyes, as if he was gazing upon a mythical being. “How did I let that fuckin’ hair go unnoticed?” he passed his fingers next to Sunder’s hair, who simply moved his head to the side. “She can keep the girl, you are going to make me so much more money.”

Sunder took two steps back, each one followed by the man. He then lifted one arm to his side, covering Kiya’s eyes. “Yeng,” he uttered with a deep, commanding tone.

The man’s menacing expression quickly shifted as he attempted to turn around, seeing only the edge of a knife going for his throat. Sunder got himself in front of Kiya, shielding her from the man’s blood as Yeng slid the knife around his neck, nearly lopping his head off. She let him fall to the floor, his arm dangling off the wooden platform, and faced the shocked mob that was behind her.

“Open the sails and start moving!” she screamed as Sunder ran inside with Kiya, pulling the bridge inside the ship. Meanwhile, Lieh jumped down to the dock with a rope already tied around his waist and a spear in each hand as the rest of the crew attempted to get Artemis moving.

“You’re gonna hurt yourself with that tiny thing,” he said before giving one of the spears to Yeng.

“We don’t want to hurt anyone else,” she responded, clenching her teeth while looking over at the scared men, “even if they might deserve it. Just see if they can get the ship moving so we can leave.” As most of the mob was unarmed, they bought some time by just pointing their spears at them, but as the few men that had brought weapons moved to the front lines, Lieh and Yeng began getting cornered, trying their best to avoid fighting.

“Stay here, hold tight, and don’t move,” Sunder ordered Kiya, placing her hands over the rope tied around the main mast before going off to help his crew. Immediately after he let her go, she moved to the edge to check on Yeng, facing a dozen blades, cornered against the ship’s hull.

“Please stop fighting!” she screamed, despite knowing barely anyone was listening to her, hoping somehow, she could help.

“Pull!” screamed Sunder. As every man on deck lifted the sails with a single pull of the ropes, everyone was whiplashed as a strong gust of wind pushed Artemis away from the dock at an incredible speed. Lieh, hearing the ship’s sails raise, grabbed Yeng, and prepared himself for a strong pull. His back cracked as they were pushed toward the ship, but before they even hit the water, they heard Kiya’s scream, as she fell overboard from the ship’s sudden takeoff.

“Kiya!” screamed Yeng as she held out the blunt side of the spear to her. She managed to grab on just barely, but the strong waves caused by the ship kept making it harder to keep clinging to the spear, ready to slip out of her hands at any moment. Yeng maintained the spear close to her chest, holding the blade just under her arm. “Don’t you dare let go!” she said in her best attempt to calm the girl.

“Whenever you guys feel like helping!” screamed Lieh at the rest of the crew, holding on to Yeng to keep the spear steady.

As Sunder managed to grab a hold of Artemis’ wheel, and the waves calmed down, the rest of the crew could finally pull them out of the water.

After switching with Hui on the wheel, Sunder approached them, “Is everyone all right?”

“We’re fine,” said Lieh. “They were in shock, didn’t even get the chance to attack back.”

“Yeah…” Yeng seemed whiter, trembling on her feet before quickly losing her balance. “I just need to sit down…” but before taking a single step she collapsed. Sunder turned her face up and checked her body. She was bleeding from her side, Yeng’s shirt, which barely covered her chest, had several cuts just under her arm.

“Go grab some wine,” Sunder ordered, looking at Lieh, “No one attacked her?”

He was at a loss for words “I-”

“It was my fault,” Kiya kneeled next to Yeng, grabbing her hand, “the waves were too strong, and I could see that the spear kept moving around…”

“It’s alright,” said Yeng, “This is nothing, can barely feel it” En-Lai approached Sunder with a large cup of baijiu, abruptly raised her shirt, and poured it all on her wound. Yeng’s screams overshadowed every sound on the ship as she twisted around on the floor in pain.

“Wine wouldn’t do any good, she needed something with more alcohol.” Said En-Lai the moment the screaming died down – his voice not losing its monotone despite the situation – before looking over at Kiya “Girl, your clothes.”

“But-”

“If this was your fault it’s your clothes we’re using.” flustered with all the men around, she begrudgingly gave him the cloth that covered her chest. Large enough to cover the entire wound, it was still barely enough to stop the bleeding. “A couple of days of rest and it should start scarring, the saltwater helped clean it, and most of the cuts are shallow, it’s nothing she can’t handle.”

“Good.” Sunder got up and looked ahead at the girl, ready to bawl her eyes out, “I’m sorry Kiya, we’ll drop you off at the nearest village and make sure you are taken care of.”

“No.” she grabbed Sunder’s hand, taking a deep breath and sucking back her tears, “I don’t want to be anywhere near here ever again. Please, let me come with you.”

Sunder kneeled, keeping himself at eye-level with her, “This is not a small trip Kiya, you need to be aware we are risking our lives on this voyage.”

“I was already risking my life by staying the night on this boat with you, I’m not afraid, as long as I can leave this place.” she released Sunder’s hand, and placed it gently over Yeng’s wound, “Besides, she said she wanted to bring me with you.”

The entire crew muttered amongst themselves, but Sunder kept his head down, chuckling. “Alright, welcome aboard,” he then raised himself and looked over at the horizon while Yeng used the last of her strengths to grab Kiya and kiss her, slamming her head in the ground moments after. Kiya then approached Sunder quietly, who looked over at all the reactions coming from his men, their eyes passing right through her uncovered body. Before she could even speak up, Sunder took off his shirt, handing it to her before looking at his men. “She’s part of the crew now. Anyone tries anything funny and it won’t be just Yeng beating you up.”

Kiya blushed for a moment, hiding it as she put on Sunder’s clothes. “Thank you, for everything.”

“As long as you can keep Yeng quiet, I am more than happy to have helped you.” he turned his eyes to the ocean, focusing on the horizon with a stoic look.

“You don’t need to act all tough around me, I didn’t sleep with you, but I was close enough to learn you talk a lot in your sleep.” Sunder’s eyes widened, but his body and face remained the same, frozen in shock “Don’t worry, it’s cute that you still think so much about your parents.”

“From what I understood, you don’t really think about yours as much…”

“They left me there when I was five, I can barely remember their faces.”

“I’m sorry. That must have been horrible for you.” as Sunder looked back at her, Kiya hugged his arm tight, looking over at the horizon with a nostalgic smile.

“It’s fine, I’m sure I’m going to be better now, regardless of where we’re going, it can’t be worse than that place.”

“Well, Egypt is a wonderful place, if we get there alive, I’m sure you’ll love it.”