The Vagabond was docked, which presented the perfect opportunity for its crew to explore the streets of Sheba. The country was newly formed, but the dying culture of Kemet was still hanging on… though just barely. Captain and first mate Rennan exited a pub deep in the city and found themselves instantly greeted by a street performer.
The dancer muttered something in her native tongue as she twirled a sword around her, balanced it on her head, and bent backwards.
“Wow,” marveled Captain. “Look at her go. You think she knows how to use that sword?”
Rennan shrugged, so Captain cleared his throat. “Nofri. You speak English, ma’am?”
The woman whipped her blonde hair as she swiftly swept the sword off her head and stood straight up. “I do. Who wants to know?”
“Name’s Rennan,” offered the first mate. “This is Captain.”
“Sailors,” she stated, continuing to undulate to the muffled music spilling from the pub. “Welcome to the ruins of Kemet. She’s not what she once was.”
“I know,” marveled Captain, shaking his head. “A shame, really. They’re calling it Sheba now, I hear.”
She rolled her eyes and leaned against the wall, breaking her character to cross her arms. “I’m just a dancer, boys. You won’t find any sex workers this deep in the city… they’re closer to the port.”
Captain chuckled. “I wasn’t making small talk. Well, perhaps just a little. I’m here because I’m a collector. I appreciate culture, and I like decorating my home with relics. You know how to use that sword?”
She swirled it toward his neck as Rennan pulled out a gun and held her frozen there. She smirked at the men before lowering her sword. “I sure do. And it’s not for sale, Captain.”
“Lower your gun, Rennan,” Captain said, waving dismissively at his first mate. “Why don’t you return to the ship?”
“Because you just met this woman and she’s clearly dangerous, Captain.”
Captain turned to glare at him. “That was a polite suggestion, not a question I expected you to answer.”
Rennan stared at him for a second, then backed down and turned to walk away. Captain stared after him before turning to the dancer. “What’s your name?”
She glared at him.
“Aw, come on,” he said. He stepped closer. “I just go by Captain, but I’ll tell you my name if you tell me yours.”
The woman studied him with distrust, but it faded into vague interest. “My name is Saida.”
“Asher Murphy,” he said, outstretching a hand.
Saida sheathed her sword and shook hands with the sailor. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
“You hungry?”
She tilted her head to study him. “I’ll be honest, I can’t quite figure you out, Asher. Most men make what they want clear, but your approach is… confusing.”
“Please don’t call me that,” he corrected politely. “It’s Captain. And I have a proposition for you, but it will sound crazy without some introduction. What’s a good place to grab a bite to eat?”
Saida looked at him with consideration, then relented with a sigh. “For the record, I am dangerous, like your friend said. A woman like me wouldn’t survive in this rough neighborhood if she couldn’t hold her ground. With that in mind, let’s go to my home. It’s just a five-minute walk. You won’t find any good food around here since Kemet fell.”
Captain nodded respectfully and offered her his arm for escort. Gracefully, she accepted the gesture and began to lead him away from the pub.
“You make good money dancing out here, Saida?”
“Quite honestly… no.” She shifted her weight to bump hips with him as she signaled to turn around the corner. “Just enough to pay the bills. Tourists marvel, but they’re few and far between now. Locals have seen acts like mine before, so they’re not impressed.”
Captain clicked his tongue. “It is a shame such a beautiful dance isn’t being regarded as the ancient art it is.”
“I agree.”
“You’re classically trained? You must be.”
She nodded. “It’s my culture, Captain.”
“And sword-fighting is, too?”
She smiled at him mysteriously. “And what of yourself, Captain? Are your people sea-faring?”
He chuckled and shook his head. “No, ma’am. I was born in a place called Tesland… a crummy little coast in the Pacific. I spent hours staring at the ocean and dreaming of leaving. When I was old enough, I bought a ship and got a shipping license. I’ve lived on the water ever since. My crew and I travel the world.”
“What’s her name?”
“The Vagabond.“
“That’s pretty.” She stopped to unlock a door, and she looked over her shoulder at him as she opened it. “Please close it behind you and lock it. I’ll meet you upstairs. Don’t mind the mess.”
She began ascending the staircase while Captain closed the door and locked it. As he reached the top of the staircase, she was already in the kitchen clanking pots and pans. Kitchen area, rather. The entire apartment was a tiny studio, save a single door that he assumed was a restroom.
It didn’t appear messy to Captain. Sure, there were piles of books, scattered papers on every flat surface, and a few hip scarves draped over a kitchen chair, but there was not a speck of dust anywhere.
“So you’re a trader,” she ventured, “And not a pirate?”
He grinned at her, revealing a gold canine and an otherwise flawless smile. “I was a trader. Laws changed, Miss Saida, so you might consider me a pirate now.”
“Huh,” she marveled as she poured soup into a pot and turned on a burner. “You know, passenger ships haven’t come here in ages. I’ve been looking to leave the country if you wouldn’t mind negotiating. I have some pretty things you might appreciate for your collection.”
He picked up a pair of finger cymbals and admired them. “I have a proposition for you, actually. Your English is impeccable, and it’s clear to me that you’re educated both in language and culture. If you can actually use that sword, I would like to invite you to join my crew. I wanted to preserve a bit of Kemet’s culture, as it’s one I admire, so I came here to hire a group of musicians to keep us entertained at sea. We found one at a local pub, and I think a dancer and finger cymbalist would be a worthy addition to their lineup. We’ll pay you for as long as you stay, and you can take off at any port you’d like.”
She had been preparing bowls and silverware, but Saida froze and turned to stare at Captain. “I just have to dance, and you’ll let me leave anywhere?”
“Well, not just dance,” he stated. “As a crew, we share responsibilities that you’d also have to assist with. Cooking, cleaning, making repairs. And defending the ship if necessary. Pay varies depending on what we’re transporting or trading at any given time, so it ain’t always great, but I can guarantee free room and board.”
Saida blinked, then moved back to stirring the soup. She ladled a bit into two bowls and set them on the table.
“Can I help you with anything?” Captain offered.
“I’m going to grab some bread. Can you please pour us some drinks?”
He stood and grabbed two glasses from the stack next to the refrigerator, then leaned into the fridge to peek at her beverages. There were meager supplies in there, but he did spot a few juices and two bottles of white wine.
He lifted one. “Is chardonnay okay?”
“Of course.”
Captain whistled as he admired the expensive label on the wine. “Where’d a street performer like you snag an imported bottle of wine? Ain’t this brand worth a pretty penny?”
She walked to the table with him, and as she set down the bread she sighed. “It’s from the palace. I took it when it fell to invaders.”
“You sure you want to open it?”
She nodded.
Captain pulled a corkscrew out of his pocket and opened the bottle as Saida watched him with an amused smile.
“That’s a nifty thing to carry.”
“When we’re on the open ocean, days can get monotonous,” he said with a laugh. He poured two glasses and raised his. “Cheers.”
She clanked her glass with his before taking a sip. Saida smiled at him as she whisked her spoon around her bowl of soup. “So your crew doesn’t know your name?”
“No.”
“Why’d you tell me, then?”
He smiled at her. “Because I knew I had to give you reason to open up to me. You stand out like a sore thumb, with all due respect. As you mentioned, a woman like you wouldn’t survive these streets without a bit of knowledge. Plus, that hair color could not have been cheap. Such an unusual person must be exceptional, right?”
She studied him, biting her lip and chewing over her thoughts. “I don’t know why I’m telling you this, but… My father was Kemet’s slain king. I have no family here anymore, and women aren’t exactly welcomed into the local business world. I would love to join your crew, Captain, but you have to understand that I may still be a political target for years to come.”
He dipped bread in his soup. “That’s fine. We’re already pirates. If you’re alright with that, I think we can survive with a princess on board.”
“Former princess,” Saida corrected. “Street life changed me, Captain. Princess Saida is dead. She died with our empire.”
“That’s okay,” Captain said with a smile. “I like regular Saida. She seems like a person we’ll really enjoy having around. I know I won’t mind this cooking.”
“Oh, I should mention… I’m vegetarian, sir. Can your kitchen accommodate that?”
“If you’re on my crew, we can really drop the formalities. That’s fine, Saida. We’ll take care of you. You may not have a family here but, out on the open sea, we’re all family. You’ll fit right in.”
***
“Blue wire to the yellow port.”
“Okay.” Saida was on her back under the control panel, working to repair the radio as Captain read instructions from a book. She situated the wire and smiled to herself. “All set, Cap.”
“Great,” he said. “Now, look for the battery. You should see a place where you can plug in the red wire there.”
“I see it, Captain.”
“Captain!” Rennan’s exclamation broke Saida’s concentration. She scooted out from under the dashboard as the first mate faced them with pure panic. “There’s a boat approaching with their boarding dock at the ready.”
“Shit,” Captain grumbled. He glanced at Saida, then turned back to Rennan. “They’re likely realizing that we’re pirates with the radio down. If they reached out, their calls obviously went unanswered. How long until they’re here?”
“Minutes, Captain.”
“Prepare the crew!” he exclaimed. “Make sure everyone is armed.”
“Yessir.”
Rennan left, and Saida touched the sword on her hip nervously. Captain immediately moved to comfort her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“Don’t be scared.”
“I’m not, Captain.”
“Well, I am, quite frankly,” he said. “It’s your first time facing an attack. I’d feel better if they didn’t see you.”
“You think I can’t hold my ground?”
He laughed. “No, I’d never think that, Saida. I do think, however, that these men won’t be expecting to see such a beautiful woman on a pirate ship. I worry how they’d react.”
Saida was taken aback by the tenderness and concern in his voice. “What should I do, Asher?”
“Hide.”
Saida ran her eyes over the space and found a cabinet that was just spacious enough for her to kneel in. She emptied it quickly, tossing its contents into nearby drawers, and tucked into the space as gunshots broke out on deck. She heard Captain walk to the bulletproof window and click the firing pin on his gun. He opened a window and began shooting. Saida cracked the cabinet door just enough to watch.
While he fired, the chaos on deck eventually slowed down. Captain seemed pleased with himself. Saida shifted to pull her sword from its hilt, and she held it close as she watched Captain work.
Suddenly, however, a shadow fell over him. As it inched closer soundlessly, Saida quietly opened the door to the cabinet and slipped her shoes off. On her knees, she crept out.
The invader didn’t even see her. His eyes were locked on Captain, and his hand was hovering at the ready to cock his pistol and shoot. Slowly rising to her feet, Saida moved in tandem with the man as he approached Captain.
She was closing the distance quickly, and the invader was getting ready to fire. Saida bounded into action by drawing her sword across the man’s hand. His gun fired as it dropped, and Captain jumped. By the time he turned, Saida had her sword to the man’s throat and was holding him against her. Impressed, Captain bent to pick up the discarded firearm.
The man squirmed, but Saida dug her sword against his neck to hold him steady. Captain approached, then turned his eyes to the gun in his hand.
“This is a pretty weapon,” he commented. “And one that would cost a pretty penny, I reckon. Is this your crew?”
The man didn’t speak, so Saida shook him. He gasped against her sword. “Yes!”
“Great,” said Captain. “Now, we’re going to walk to that open window, and you’re going to tell your men to stand down, or they’ll get to see you get beheaded. Not the best Thursday morning you’ve had in a while, I’d say.”
The man nodded, and Saida walked him to the window. Captain lowered it just enough to give him room to talk.
“Stop!” the man cried. “Stand down, crew. Back to the ship.”
Captain stepped beside him and barked, “Vagabond team… let them go. If anyone disobeys my order and shoots, I’ll let Saida deal with you.”
Saida offered a friendly wave from behind her captive. She couldn’t see the deck behind the man she was holding, but it was clearly being evacuated. Finally, Captain called, “Standby, crew. Saida and I are going to walk this man back to his ship.”
Captain led the way, and Saida trailed after him. They walked all the way to the boarding dock, and then Saida stepped forward a few paces. She let the invading captain go, then walked backwards onto the Vagabond.
“Go,” Captain commanded. “We’re letting you leave with your lives. Maybe someday we’ll count on you as allies.”
The other crew stared at him, then lifted their boarding dock without a word. As they finally set sail, the crew of the Vagabond stood rooted in place.
Slowly, Captain turned to face Saida. He beamed at her before turning to face his crew.
“I think we have a new first mate.”