A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK Three  (Part Fourteen: Blog Seventy-five)

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

Note:  I still haven’t got the artwork down for Umi but all the necessary images are there.  The experimental artwork will continue until we get someone to represent a Japanese Ama.

Umi sets down her floating bucket and knocks on “Dizzying Blade’s” door.  As soon as Zala told her “Storm Caller” saw the signal from the Freya she gathered everything she would need for the mission into a canvas bag and placed it into the bucket.  “Time,” Master-at-arms, she says towards the door.

She steps back as Sadie steps out of her room with a floating basket in her arms.  She notices a short bow and a quiver of arrows tucked beside a tied canvas bag.  “Oh!” she exclaims and runs to gather her own short bow and quiver.

Together they get into a rowboat.  Umi strips down and ties her fundushi around her hips then ties her tengui around her forehead.  Next, she checks the semi-U-shaped gourds she and “Dizzying Blade” will use to swim under water.

“Do I have to wear this?” “Dizzying Blade” scoffs. 

“I’ll help you,” Umi offers.

“I’ll do it myself,” “Dizzying Blade” snarls, “Just show me how.”

Umi also shows her how to tie the ropes to secure the weapons they’ll wear when swimming, and a separate one attached to the floating buckets.  “Unibrow and Janice also made a cream for us to cover ourselves and weapons with,” she tells “Dizzying Blade”.  “It will help us swim better and keep the weapons from rusting.” 

“You can do my back, but I’ll cover the rest of me,” “Dizzying Blade” says with a warning in her voice.  “My skin does not like to be bare.”

“Okay,” Umi replies gruffly.  She’s terrified of the pale skinned Master-at-arms but finds her attitude impolite, considering this is her specialty. 

As Umi needs the ointment onto “Dizzying Blade’s” back, she notices how fit the Master-at-arms is.  “Your so muscular,” she says.

“Don’t get used to it,” “Dizzying Blade” replies and her back goes rigid.

“Now you need to do mine,” Umi says with a grin. 

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 (pictures by: professional family and baby photographer Kimberley Lee (kimberleyleephotography.co.uk); (El Cid Rapier by blades-uk.com)

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

Maegan Curlyo as Master-at-Arms “Dizzying Blade” Sadie (pictures of Maegan by Ben Kraehling)

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

Tags: Science Fiction, Story Telling, Weapons