A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  (Part Seven: Blog Forty-Eight)

By Dan Watt and Taylor Norris, co-authors of the Rita Walker series

*Interview with Laura Suen, CEO of FireandSteel.ca will be posted this week!*

As soon as she sees “Unibrow” beside Janet, dipping arrow heads into the flammable plant oil, she turns to the others.  “Keep low and prepare your arrows,” she reminds them in a tense whisper.  “Remember, we are used to the movement of the boat but you’ll have to adjust when you let the string go.  First nock the arrow, then hold until you get a feel for the movement of the boat, and know which way the wind blows and how strong.  Ready.  Today we show,” she spits into the air, “Barthodrow what our Sisterhood can do.”

When the girls are arranged along the starboard gunwale she turns to the fo’c’sle and holds an inhaled breath as “Unibrow” nocks her bow.

“Ready,” Amelie whispers.  She raises her own bow and nocks an arrow.  She nods at “Unibrow”.

“Wait,” she whispers as the heavy arrow with its burning tip flies.

There are shots in both Spanish and English coming from the pinnace now.  “Wait until you can see,” she says.

There’s a bang followed by a cry from one of the girls near her.  “Steady,” she says not taking her eyes off the ocean.  Cannetta and Areso will do the best they can for the girl.  “Unibrows” flaming arrow drops right towards the centre of the pinnace.  “Shoot!” Amelie shouts not caring if the men on the pinnace can hear.  “Vengeance for the fallen!” she shouts nocking her second arrow.  This time she waits until “Unibrow” shoots her second flaming arrow before she shoots again.  Now in a rage she stands up and shouts in English but as her rage increases in French, “Good luck trying to shoot anyone else with arrows raining down on tu, vous connard!”

The other girls follow suit; screaming out as they stand and shoot arrow after arrow into the pinnace.  The only ones who are silent are “Unibrow” and Janet.  When her arrows are all gone Amelie glances up at the fo’c’sle.  She sees “Unibrow” and Janet hugging each other.

“It’s done,” she says to the others with a croak in her voice.  Exhausted she turns to “Unibrow” and nods.  She sees “Unibrow” discussing something with Janet.  Janet points into the distance.  She watches as “Unibrow” launches another arrow followed by an even heavier arrow with a fish eyehook at its end.  Attached through the eyehook is a strong string.  Janet continues to stare starboard and talk as “Unibrow’s” arm quivers from adjusting her aim.  Finally “Unibrow” shoots.  Amelie feels like her heart has stopped as she waits.  If “Unibrows” arrow doesn’t stick someone will have to swim out to the pinnace.

As she waits she feels a bump from the portside of the Nague.   She didn’t think the Captain and others were arriving quite yet.  She hurries over to the portside.  As she glances over the gunwale her instinct tells her to turn to the side.  A bolt whizzes by her.  “Nous sommes attaqués—we attacked!” she shouts.  She pulls out a throwing knife from her bandana and is about to throw it when a grappling hook nearly hits her.

Furious now, she simultaneously pokes her head over the gunwale throws the knife.  This time there’s a bang and where her head was a moment ago there’s now a chunk of wood missing from the gunwale.  Her heart is pounding so hard it feels like it will erupt out of her chest.  She draws out her ninjato and starts sawing away at the grappling hook’s rope.  A few feet away from her there is another thunk and another grappling hook latches onto the gunwale.  “One Eye” and some of the others are near her. 

“Nippi and Janet are on the portside of the fo’c’sle now,” “One Eye” tells her.

“You three,” Amelie whispers to the girls with bows.  Step back ten paces and take aim.  You are too close here.  The rest of you draw your stabbing weapons.  Cut the other hook’s rope,” she says to “One Eye”.

“Good thinking,” “One Eye” says with an encouraging wink.

“Que es eso!” she hears one of the sailors shout in Spanish.

“Kraken!”  Another sailor shouts in English.

“My friend is aboard,” she says to the others with a smirk on her face.  “I always wanted to do this.”

“No Amelie!” she hears her sisters cry out.  Some try to grab her but she is too fast. 

“La mort arrive!” she bellows out as she leaps overboard with her ninjato grasped in both hands with the tip pointed down.

Dan Watt is the author of the epic dark fantasy fiction book BARD

Taylor Norris, RMT, as First Mate ‘One Eye’ Olanis:  taynorris@gmail.com (Kitchener-Waterloo)

With thanks to Joanne Gosling (Navigator ‘Storm Caller’ Master Jo Anne): Joanne is an Interior Decorator who specializes in closets: Jgosling@calclosets.com Calclosetsjoanne or Joannegosling22@gmail.com

Leah Weir (Helmswoman ‘Wheel Turner’ Synthia): model and cover editor;

Andraya Watt as Assistant-Master-at-Arms, Amelie

With Thanks To:

Fire & Steel for the Medieval Rapier:  http://fireandsteel.ca/

Alex Watt for background pictures

Daiana Duca for background pictures

Krissy Karmaschek for background pictures