Miya Black, Pirate Princess I: Adventure Dawns (26 page)

"That's how I felt, too," said Miya. Sola smiled.

"I was impressed with you," he said. "I think you may be better than you judge yourself."

"What, in there? No ... no way, I was just ... if I sounded confident or acted correctly you can thank Mum, she's the one who forced me to study etiquette and proper speaking and all that kind of stuff. But you! I mean, you did so well, SO well."

"I may have looked like I did well but inside I felt like I was dying."

"That's balls for you," said Miya. "I was kind of worried for a bit there, with that maths problem. I didn't think it'd be so difficult."

"Once I realised the trick it was simple."

"What trick?"

"The square root of a number multiplied by itself will always be the original number."

"Huh?"

"If you multiply nine by nine then you get eighty one. The square root of eighty one is nine. So although the question seemed difficult at first, really it was just a simple matter of multiplying eighty one by nine. The entire square root part could be ignored."

"I see," said Miya, who didn't. "I wonder if that guy actually realised it was like a trick question? Or if he was just trying to make it really complicated and just made it a trick by accident."

Sola shrugged.

"Anyway, you were great," Miya said. "Even though it was foolish of me to even play their stupid games."

"I understand why you did."

"Do you? Because I don't, not really. That's part of why I hate these things so much, they just suck you in to their little world, make everything outside of it not matter, trick you into playing their silly games. Anyway, let's not talk about it any more, it's over with now. We can go find Mr Pearson."

"He doesn't attend the parties here?"

"Hah. Not if he can help it. Come on, I know the way. He and Dad get on well, we usually end up hiding in his office."

Miya led Sola through the empty corridors behind the ballroom, up several flights of stairs and past numerous closed doors.

"What are all these rooms?" Sola asked. Miya glanced at the doors.

"Some are offices, some are meeting rooms, but mostly they're bedrooms, or like whole indoor houses in some cases. Like I said, a lot of 'important' people from the Highland come here with their families."

"Ah."

"Here it is." Miya nodded at a door which had 'Bartholomew P. Pearson, Embassy Island Caretaker' written on a little brass plaque beside it. She knocked.

"Yes?" came a voice from inside. "Who is it?"

"Refugees from the social war," said Miya, remembering a favourite phrase of her father's. There was a pause, and then the sound of a chair being pushed back. A few seconds later the door opened, and a bushy-eyebrowed man with white hair and small, square glasses looked out.

"Ah ... Maya? Mina? Miya! Miya, of course," he said, smiling as he recognised her. "
Princess
Miya Black, I correct myself, of Clover Island. You've grown since I saw you last. And who is this?"

"This is my brother Sola, from Tonfa-Tonfa," said Miya. Mr Pearson held his hand out to Sola, who shook it solemnly.

"A pleasure to meet you," said Sola.

"And a very great pleasure to meet you," Mr Pearson replied, before peering at Miya over his glasses. "Brother?"

"Yes," said Miya. "Brother."

Mr Pearson raised his eyebrows, then shrugged. "Well, it's a brave new world, I suppose. Come in, both of you. May I say, Princess Black, that your dress is rather stunning?"

"You may," said Miya, beaming. "And please, do call me Miya."

"Have a seat. Can I offer you anything? A drink, some food? I keep a small supply here in case of emergencies."

"Such as in the sudden event of a ball?" asked Miya, as she and Sola sat down.

"Heh," said Mr Pearson, as he sat opposite them, on the other side of his desk. It was piled high with papers and letters, both opened and unopened. "Yes, precisely."

"Anyway, I'm fine. Sola?"

Sola shook his head.

"Well, if you should change your minds ..."

"You seem busy as always," said Miya, nodding at the paperwork covering Mr Pearson's desk. He sighed.

"Yes, yes, 'as always', exactly ... it can be a blessing at times, though. Tonight, for example, I made a brief, perfunctory appearance at the ball and then gave the entirely truthful excuse that I was overloaded with work and gracefully slipped away."

"I wish I'd had an excuse," said Miya. Mr Pearson looked at her sympathetically.

"Tough night?"

"You have no idea."

"Unfortunately, I rather think I do. Your family ... well, perhaps better not to talk about it."

"Yes," said Miya, rather curtly. "Um. Can I ask something important?"

"Of course."

"Why is Badger Pete here?"

Mr Pearson's expression hardened.

"Ah," he said. "Him."

"He's a terrible man! He's a pirate! I mean ... a BAD pirate! He's trying to take over the whole Rainbow Archipelago—and his daughter's just as bad. And this is a party for HER? What's going on here?"

"Well, ah, Miya, I ..."

Mr Pearson hesitated, then leaned forward.

"Officially I cannot hold any opinions of any kind. As the caretaker of this island, I am entirely neutral."

"But surely this is an extreme case, the whole archipelago is in danger! Clover Island's in danger!"

Mr Pearson grimaced. "As I said, officially I can hold no opinion."

He held up a finger as Miya opened her mouth to argue, then stood up and walked to the door, locking it. He then went to the window and glanced out before closing the curtains.

"I know how awful this all is," he whispered, returning to his seat. "I know about Pete's ridiculous little crusade and I cannot even express how strongly I oppose it, as any sane man would. His enslavement of the northern islanders alone, well," he looked at Sola. "I'm sorry, my boy."

Sola bowed his head a moment.

"Can't you do anything?" Miya asked.

"I've been doing what I can. I've been able to take in some of the enslaved islanders—unfortunately none from Tonfa-Tonfa I'm afraid, ah, Sola—and I have caused some minor bureaucratic delays, which would be rather complicated to explain—rather ineffectual too, I'm afraid."

"Do you know anything about his plans?" asked Miya.

"Not much, only that he intends to conquer the Rainbow Archipelago."

"But why?"

Mr Pearson looked at Miya a moment, then shook his head and leaned back in his chair, taking his glasses off to wipe his eyes with the back of his hand.

"Good question," he said. "And one with a rather unpleasant answer, I fear."

"What do you mean?"

Mr Pearson rubbed his forehead.

"What is the Highland's official opinion of the Rainbow Archipelago, Princess Black?"

"Officially? They hate us."

"How do you think they'd feel about a proposal from an independent party, perhaps an independent party with an eye towards power, regarding the systematic conquering of every inhabited island within the archipelago?"

Miya narrowed her eyes.

"Are you saying—"

"Let me tell you right now, at this moment, that I have heard nothing, official or otherwise, regarding the Highland's intentions towards the Rainbow Archipelago," said Mr Pearson. "These are simply my thoughts based on years of experience being ground up in the gears of Highland politics and bureaucracy."

"But you think that ... that the Highland is supporting Badger Pete? That they're working together somehow?" Miya thought a moment. "Mr Pearson, the reason we came here ... today we were attacked by a number of ships flying Highland colours."

"To the south? The blockade?"

Miya nodded.

"Grace Morgon's ship was flying Highland colours also," she said.

"It would be, yes."

"So the ships to the south, are they Badger Pete's, or ... or—"

"Officially? That is one of several blockades set up to stop smugglers from entering or leaving the Rainbow Archipelago. Also to protect Embassy Island in the event of attack—although attack from who, I have noticed, is never mentioned."

"So they ARE Highland?"

Mr Pearson sighed. "Miya, you are thirteen now?"

"Fourteen."

"My apologies. Fourteen. Goodness, how time flies, I remember when you were born—I digress, apologies. Your father has a small navy, I seem to remember, how many ships?"

"Ten. Brigs and corvettes."

"Good crews?" Mr Pearson asked. "Good captains?"

Miya's expression grew hard and proud.

"The best," she said, firmly.

"I hope so. Do you think it possible to get more help from somewhere, anywhere?"

"That's kind of why I'm out here," said Miya. "I'm searching for someone."

"I hope that you find them."

"You may be able to help me, actually."

"I must warn you that I'm a bureaucrat, I may not be able to offer much in the way of practical assistance," said Mr Pearson, with a small smile.

"My ship was damaged in the attack," said Miya, "the mast and sails mostly, if you could help with repairs—or just supplies, really—I can—"

"Is that all? Of course, of course. Over the last few weeks I've given aid to several ships that have had a run-in with the blockades—none of them even remotely 'smugglers', I might add. I'll rouse some of the carpenters and get them to have a look at your ship. That would be the Black Swan, yes?"

Miya smiled and nodded.

"I imagine they'll be rather pleased to work on such an unusual ship," said Mr Pearson, smiling back at Miya. "Ah, there is one more 'practical' thing I may be able to help you with, just a moment ..."

Mr Pearson went to a chest in the corner of his office and looked through it a few moments before pulling out a large, folded yellow cloth. He unfurled this, revealing it to be a Highland flag.

"A little threadbare, but it'll do in a pinch. If Badger Pete and the Highland are working together, I'd say flying a Highland flag may help you remain inconspicuous."

"Oh, sailing under false colours!" said Miya, taking the flag. "That's SO pirate-y. Thanks Mr Pearson."

"Think nothing of it, Princess Black. It's all anarchy, as the popular saying went in my younger days. Besides which I would hate for anything to happen to these islands. I rather enjoy my life here—well, parts of it. Certainly I have no complaints at all regarding the actual location. Funny, really, considering I was sent here as 'punishment'. In my younger days I was rather like your father, in a sense—perhaps the reason we get along so well now. I'm not sure if there is such thing as a 'renegade bureaucrat', but if there were, I would have been one—spoke up when I should have kept quiet, insisted on doing the 'right' thing, even when it was most definitely not the 'smart' thing. You don't keep a career for long with that kind of attitude, let me tell you. So, they shipped me out here, where I couldn't do any real damage."

Mr Pearson paused a moment, his gaze on a small painting that hung on the wall—a city skyline at night.

"I can't say I have no regrets," he said. "And dealing with all these 'very important people' is rarely enjoyable. But it's a good life, all in all. And I must admit ... I love getting an opportunity to put the boot in to these self-important snobs!"

*

Mr Pearson arranged for Miya's ship to be moved to the dry dock for repairs, then invited her to stay and talk until the party had quietened down. Miya and Sola spent a few hours chatting with Mr Pearson, mostly about Clover Island and Miya's family, and about life on Tonfa-Tonfa. After the party had wound down and most of the guests had left or retired for the night, Mr Pearson took them to his own quarters and they spent a few hours sleeping in his guest room.

Around two hours before sunrise they made their way down to the dry docks, where the newly repaired Black Swan was waiting for them. Miya inspected the repairs critically, but even with the absurdly high standards she held regarding her ship she could find no fault. Mr Pearson's people had also stocked the hold with more food and water.

"Thank you again, Mr Pearson. I won't forget this," said Miya. "If all the idiots and snobs get too much for you, you'll always be welcome on Clover Island."

"Thank you, Princess Black. Please give my warmest regards to your mother and father, once you see them again."

Miya nodded. "I will," she said, trying to keep the tears from her eyes.

"And Sola. What can I say, my boy. Good luck. The very best of luck."

"Thank you, sir," said Sola. "Once Tonfa-Tonfa is strong once more I hope you will visit."

"It would be my honour to do so," said Mr Pearson. He shook Sola's hand, then laughed in surprise as Miya hugged him and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Goodness, a hug and kiss from a genuine princess, it certainly must be my lucky day."

"No more than you deserve, Mr Pearson," said Miya, in her best 'princess' voice, before turning and jumping onto her ship.

Miya and Sola waved to Mr Pearson as they sailed out from the dock, and he waved back.

"He's, um, actually even a lot nicer than I remember him being," said Miya. "Then again I never really talked to him much before. I mostly just played with his box of flags while he and Dad talked about, y'know, Grown-Up Stuff. He always gave me a chocolate biscuit, though. I guess that should have been kind of a clue."

Miya's first priority, after Mr Pearson was out of sight and they were well on their way, was to change clothes. She carefully folded and packed the dress, putting on a clean white shirt and comfortable black trousers instead. As she tightened her sword belt around her waist she gave a contented sigh.

"Should we change the flag?" Sola asked as Miya emerged from her cabin. He had also changed, keeping the trousers but removing the shirt and sandals. Miya looked up, at the flag of her island, biting her lip.

"I know we should ... I mean, I will, it's just ... I feel really weird, flying the Highland flag."

Miya looked up for a moment, then sighed and lowered the flag of Clover Island. She looked at it a moment, then carefully folded and stowed it in the chest by her cabin, before taking out the flag Mr Pearson had given her. She held it for a moment, then looked at Sola.