the Dark shall do what Light cannot (LiGa Book 2) Read online

  “Fine,” Bruce continued. “I get that part, but how does the Guardian protect the trees?”

  “I told you. The Chosen Ship is the only vessel that can traverse across the Veil. My ship is the only link between my world and yours. The link is important, not only to maintain communication with LiGa, for instance, but also to gauge any potential threats from outside.”

  “But, if it’s not possible to cross it any other way, what threat can there be?” Cat spread her hands.

  “One never knows,” Patron replied, crossing her arms and thrusting out her chin. “After all, Shadow called Orion to take care of some problem or other. We have people from this side – the LiGa immortals, mostly, coming across so the border’s not sealed.”

  “You were telling us about how you were selected?” Father Griffith prompted.

  “Yes…” Patron explained that during the first step of the selection process each of Pera’s seven sections – called branches – nominates a candidate. The branches do this by means of a vote. Anyone who wishes to participate submits up to three names by secret ballot and the name with the most votes is the nominee for that branch–” She paused as a self-satisfied smile spread about her features. “I was the nominee in three branches, and I have it on good authority that I had the second most votes in three others. None of the other nominees came even close!

  “But that’s just the initial nomination stage,” Patron explained, holding aloft a be-ringed index finger for emphasis. “During the second stage all the nominees – there were five of us – were interviewed by the Light Veil Committee. There were six of them–” She began to count: “Judge Hakan from the Justices, The Rooster, Selcan Bell for the blind policemen, Xavier Redd from the LiGa Immortals and … let me see, who was it from the mayor’s side? Was it Fiona Manx?” she wondered out loud. “No, it couldn’t have been as she’s an immortal and there can only be one immortal on the committee,” she muttered thoughtfully.

  “Oh!” cried Father Griffith as Patron uttered the name, for it had jogged a recent memory: it was the name that poor Mr. Nightshade had mentioned during their labored conversation. “I’m so sorry. I did not mean to interrupt. Please go on.”

  “Do you know Fiona, Father?” Patron asked sharply.

  “Oh no,” he replied quickly, sensing an undercurrent, a tension he did not understand. “I don’t know her, or anything about her. It’s just that a man I met a few days ago mentioned her name during our conversation. Who is she?” he asked innocently.

  Patron’s smile was guarded. “She is one of the LiGa Immortals who has made her home in Pera.”

  Who is Fiona? They all wondered.

  “Since none of us have ever met this woman, do let’s get back to more interesting matters!” Cat cried.

  Patron took a deep breath and shook her head as if to clear away polluting thoughts and launched into her narrative…

  There had been interviews with each of the committee members, who in turn submitted the full transcript of the interviews of all five candidates for voting in all seven branches. Patron smiled a faraway smile in remembrance.

  “I knew it would take a month,” Patron admitted, “but I didn’t realize how long and nerve-wracking it was going to be…

  “The voting in each branch took place after nightfall, right after Evening Song. I stayed up all night,” she chuckled self-consciously. “I don’t remember when I’ve been that nervous…”

  “But they did vote for you?” Father Griffith asked gently.

  “Yes,” Patron replied quietly. “All seven branches voted for me to captain the Chosen Ship.”

  After that, it was up to Shadow. In the final stage, Shadow could still have vetoed the nomination, and then the process would have had to restart.

  “Shadow…” Father Griffith mused.

  “I went to Shadow,” Patron said slowly. “In the Cistern. And I stood there and looked into the water. It was midnight. I stood before the water and waited…”

  Cat shifted impatiently. “What for?”

  “For Shadow to sing the Song of the Chosen Ship,” Patron said gently with a wistful look.

  “Who is this Shadow?” Cat asked. “Is that a title? Like mayor? Blanca said he was the soul of Pera.” She looked quizzically at Patron.

  “I can’t tell you,” Patron replied, shaking her head with an expression of regret. “I mean I can, but I won’t because I cannot possibly do justice – that’s something you have to personally experience.” She paused, and continued somberly. “I waited… for hours. I stood there in total silence and waited. There were no more questions. Shadow does not need to ask questions.

  “And then I heard it. At dawn. I couldn’t see the Sun but I know that if the Song is sung, it is sung at dawn. I remember it perfectly…”

  The Song of the Guardian

  You are only one

  But you are the Guarding One

  You are the only one

  The one and only sailing one

  We who have chosen you

  We who believe in you

  We have put our trust in you

  So you are the chosen one

  The one and only crossing one…

  “I’m proud of you, Patron, darling!” Cat cried, clapping. “Well done!”

  “Yes, it is obviously a great honor,” Father Griffith said graciously. “There is something that puzzles me, though: you mentioned that the Veil is there to protect Pera’s light trees from – from prying eyes, I suppose, but does that mean that the Light Veil encloses Pera completely?”

  “Certainly not,” Patron replied. “The Veil is just the entry point from your version of the world.” She paused to let out a loud, rolling laugh. “Yes, your version of the world,” she nodded happily. “That’s a good way of putting it, I must say.”

  Cat and Bruce exchanged puzzled looks. “Our version? Pardon?” Cat began. “Do elaborate my dear Patron.”

  “Well, it’s simple: the world on either side of the Veil is identical geographically. If we were to sail on and avoid the coordinates of the Veil, we would remain here, in the world you are all familiar with. On the other side too, apart from this ship, everyone just goes about their business sailing and traveling in the world they know there. It has the landmass, the same seas and oceans… the same rivers…

  “But of course, there are differences. And you should explore. If you have time, if you decide to stay in Pera, I would urge you to step out of our wonderful city and out into the wider world of the Rivers. You see, on my side of the Veil, people have organized themselves naturally about water – rivers and seas, for instance. It’s normal, I think – at least it was – on your side of the Veil too, but now things seem to be different. People on your side of the Veil live in countries, but so often these seem to have arbitrary boundaries without any true regard to the natural communities that flourished on those lands.

  “We don’t have countries in the same way.” She glanced around the assembled group. “Believe me, your countries took some getting used to for me. So much of it didn’t make sense.” She shook her head. “For instance, Pera circles the Marble Sea – the Marmara on your side of the Veil.”

  “And the light tree?” Bruce began, “does it only grow in Pera?”

  Patron nodded. “Yes, but other communities either have their own natural energy source, or even if they don’t, we have long established trade agreements, and in any event we do not expect them to encroach on Pera’s territory or its light trees! I could not be so confident on your side of the Veil,” she added indignantly. “And until we – more accurately, Shadow – feels otherwise Pera will remain behind the Veil, and only one vessel – currently mine – shall be permitted to traverse back and forth.”

  “But you are carrying a cargo of the lightberry,” Cat pointed out. “Well, at least you claim that the empty ‘fuel room’ is actually full of this precious berry,” she added dubiously. “Isn’t that rather dangerous?”

  “Of course not. We wouldn
’t take such a risk! The Light Veil doesn’t only make Pera and the light tree – as well as its fruit, of course – invisible, it also renders the light tree inoperable, so even if you could see a lightberry, it would be of no more use than a pebble here.”

  Cat took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “This certainly is a lovely ship,” she said brightly, looking around to change the subject. “And interestingly built,” she added pointedly. “I mean I know nothing about ships, of course, so do excuse my ignorance… but what are those metal bits and pieces?” she asked, waving her hands vaguely. “You know, all around the ship. I saw something that looked like metal shutters above the windows in my cabin.” Her blue eyes had narrowed to slits.

  Patron remained unruffled. “Ah, you noticed the armor plating,” she said slyly.

  “The what?” they asked in unison.

  “Metal plating around the ship, of course!” Patron looked at them, scandalized. “What? Didn’t Xavier tell you anything?”

  “Tell us anything about what?” Bruce hazarded cautiously.

  “Well, first of all, that you’re traveling on the premier, the preeminent, pirate ship in Pera and all the seas beyond, of course!” Patron replied, grinning.

  Taking advantage of their speechlessness, she explained earnestly and in detail, the way piracy worked in Pera and its neighboring countries.

  “Well, yes, we do board merchant vessels – mostly – and take goods from them,” she nodded vigorously. “Certainly. That’s the definition of a pirate!”

  “But, Madam!” Father Griffith finally managed. “It is criminal. What about those people whom you have robbed? Do you care not at all what happens to them?”

  “No,” Patron shook her head, and explained the strict rules of piracy in Pera. “There’s often a lot of negotiating back and forth between the pirate and the target – I mean merchant,” she said. “The merchant is the target of course. You see the target is permitted to write off in taxes in his own country the value of the property taken, but–” Patron raised an index finger for attention, “the value is determined by how much the pirate has paid for the object in question. The target is only allowed to write off the difference between the amount originally paid for the goods and the amount paid by the pirate. To keep the target honest, the pirate gives him a receipt stamped with the pirate’s insignia.

  “Every pirate ship has its own insignia, of course. Ours is a flying fish, naturally–” She pulled off a thick gold ring from her right thumb. It was encrusted with an enormous, sea green emerald. Cat pounced upon Patron’s outstretched hand and peered closely at the ring.

  “Goodness!” Cat cried, “It’s beautiful! And it’s enormous…oh, it has something etched in it–”

  “The flying fish, of course!” Patron laughed. “That’s our signet ring,” she said with pride.

  “Oh do you mind, Patron, darling?” Cat refused to release the pirate’s hand as she busily examined the other rings. “You have the most beautiful jewelry,” she sighed.

  “Perks of the job!” Patron smirked. “In any event,” she continued, brushing aside the momentary diversion to resume her explanations. “Getting back to Father Griffith’s question about the so-called victims–” she smiled mischievously. “Would you believe me if I told you that they enjoy the process of haggling with a pirate – well, me in particular,” she added with a smirk. “It’s an adventure, and it’s certainly better than staring at the horizon day after day. It’s a story to tell… Besides, they get a tax break,” she beamed.

  “I’m sorry, Patron. I don’t know that I heard that properly,” Bruce interjected. “Tax break? What sort of tax break?” he continued, with a note of disbelief.

  “Ah! Good question!” Patron regarded Bruce appreciatively. “Well, we get a copy of the receipt too, and use it to file taxes in that country – the target’s home country.”

  “Really?” Cat asked, not bothering to disguise her disbelief. “You mean you call yourself a pirate and you pay taxes?”

  “Why not?” Patron demanded indignantly. “Do I not use the roads and drinking water of Pera? Do I not use the medical services? I mean I have a right to, don’t I? And I pay my fair portion for that right.”

  “Well… it seems unusual…” Cat said weakly.

  “I was born and raised in Pera,” Patron said, tossing her head. “Perhaps not technically ‘raised’–” she corrected herself. “I was essentially raised on the high seas, but I come from a long established family from Pera. Been there for generations and generations…

  “Of course there are pirates who don’t pay taxes,” Patron conceded reluctantly. “But such persons are punished by the APCU. Heavily punished. And repeat offenders are thrown out of the APCU, and not permitted to re-enter.”

  “What is the APCU?” Bruce asked.

  “The Assembly of Pirate Captains United. I am the president,” Patron said, explaining that she had been elected the previous year for a six-year term. She did not care for the name particularly, noting that it was clumsy and cumbersome. Until ten years ago there had been two distinct organizations: the APC – the ‘Assembly of Pirate Captains’ – of which Patron had been a full member – and the PU, which stood for ‘Pirates United.’ They were both international organizations, with separate charters and structures, although both were governed by the universal Law of the Sea.

  “The APC was sound – well, you may think me biased, but there it is – basically because we were an assembly of the actual captains. You see: the crew of a pirate ship is apt to be transitory. The ship and her captain are intertwined, and various pirates-in-training go from ship to ship in search of experience–” Patron paused. “Except of course, for the crew of the Chosen Ship – like this one,” she continued, tapping her foot lightly on the deck boards. “Each of my crew of ten men went through a lengthy vetting process after the ship was chosen, and they will remain with the ship until another ship takes her place. In the event a crew member has to be replaced – if he dies that is–”

  Cat managed to half-stifle a laugh.

  “I’m sorry, what’s wrong?” Patron rounded on her.

  “Oh dear, Patron, I didn’t mean to laugh,” Cat replied, looking at the pirate captain appealingly. “I was simply taken aback by the notion that a member of this crew might only leave the ship by dying.”

  “Oh? Why is that surprising? Why else would anyone leave?” Patron asked, sounding genuinely astonished.

  “I couldn’t imagine,” Cat managed weakly.

  “Well, if a crewmember dies, a replacement has to be found, but only after the same vetting process. We are very careful who we let on these ships.” She nodded seriously, her arms folded. “Anyway, where was I?” Patron shook her head to clear her mind of such unexpected thoughts as her crew leaving the Flying Fish.

  “You were talking about the PU, I think,” Bruce suggested.

  “Ah good, yes,” Patron beamed. “The PU was formed with the half-baked idea that the crew needed representation too.” Patron waved her bejeweled hands, accentuating her expression of disbelief. “Well, there was some overlap between the two as some of the member captains of the APC decided to join the ranks of the PU in some misdirected effort to recognize the needs and rights of the pirates-in-training – who, quite frankly, and as every pirate knows, is not a true pirate until he or she captains a ship. It was simply ludicrous!”

  “Well, I see it didn’t last long,” Bruce said, with a mischievous half-smile.

  “No. It did not.” Patron folded her arms and drew herself to her full height. “The PU was always seeking concessions from us because of course the members of the APC actually controlled the ships–” She paused and shook her head slowly.

  “Then, ten years ago there was a mutiny on the Barracuda. Her captain was Saltuk,” she continued. “I knew him a long time ago. Not the brightest…” Patron wrinkled her nose. “Anyway, Saltuk was a member of both the APC and the PU, which, as I mentioned, was not entirely unusual as a num
ber of pirate captains had joined the PU – as a matter of fact, I held a sort of associate membership for two years. They would invite me to give talks and training sessions for the young pirates.

  “But Saltuk–” Patron continued, rolling her eyes. “He had this bizarre notion of insisting that every member of his crew join the PU. Even the boy who cut the potatoes, I heard!” She shook her head in disbelief. “Anyway, getting back to the mutiny on the Barracuda…” Patron pursed her lips.

  “The ship had been cruising along the outer reaches of the Marble Sea when it happened. The crew had grown discontented. That’s what happens when you give them – even the boy who cuts the potatoes – too much power!” the pirate snorted derisively. “The catalyst was an encounter with a merchant ship – the Purplene – carrying a cargo of frozen fish. Hmph! Even Saltuk had the sense to decline to board her. Well, at least he resisted.”

  “Frozen fish?” Father Griffith asked, looking puzzled.

  Patron nodded vehemently. “Yes! Can you imagine?”

  “But why frozen fish?” Father Griffith persisted. “I’m sorry. I don’t understand.”

  “What do you mean why?” Patron asked, perplexed. “The ship was carrying frozen fish.”

  “Yes, that’s what I thought you said... Is frozen fish valuable?” Father Griffith hazarded uncertainly.

  Patron laughed. “No! Of course not, as I am sure Saltuk tried to explain, but the inexperienced members of his crew had this idea that they would hold the crew for ransom–” she paused and regarded them carefully. “I know you think that would be par for the course for a bunch of pirates, and perhaps–” she sniffed, wearing an expression of contempt, “in this world, it would be, but we do things quite differently beyond the Veil. Saltuk knew very well that holding a ship or its crew for ransom would have had him – and his crew – banished from piracy altogether, whatever else might have happened to him under the Law of the Sea.”

  “I don’t understand why the crew would have wanted to do it then,” Father Griffith observed.