Heyna's Tale - Chapter Eleven

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“As for the danger from the sea, we have a plan for dealing with it,” said Tooly.

Sansir and the Elders were not placated. They did not like the idea of creating a navy. They argued amongst themselves, and with Tooly and Sronban. Heyna listened for a while, but she was tired from the night before. It was their business to work out.

Tired or not, she had never been happier. She was going home, home to Xico. She loved her new friends, but it was time.

“We can keep the Misty Isle safe,” Sronban said.

“With so many knowing about us, how is that possible?” Sansir said.

“Our secret was never our greatest defense,” said Tooly. “Frankly, based on our adventures in the wide world, we’re not sure the Fennec are entirely secret. There are those who know about us. Friends or potential friends who do not seek to exploit us or dominate us. The truth is, we’ve been lucky for a long time. Now, we’ve got to adapt. As Beetah says, the world is the world.”

“Heyna came up with the idea of expanding our protective perimeter with glamoured shuuikan. We can take a few of the undersea boats and use them to extend the glamour.”

“You are proposing we form a navy. Really? We have never had a military in all the centuries we’ve been on this island.”

“First time for everything,” Keeva said.

“It would not be an armed force,” Tooly said. “Just an extension of what we already have. Just out to the range of cannon fire.”

“And who do you propose to be in charge of this… this navy?” Sansir asked.

“Tooly,” Sronban said, and added quickly, “You should have seen him in command of the Leviathan. He was magnificent!”

“And fearless. Don’t forget fearless,” Tooly said and the friends laughed.

Sansir wasn’t laughing.

“Seriously, we have a Ryujin ally who can help us ah… acquire a few more boats. She’s the one who sank our attacker.”

“Speaking of that scoundrel, we need to decide what to do with him.”

“We’ll take him with us,” Heyna said.

“What? He is our prisoner.”

“No. He is my prisoner. He is a Ryujin noble. We might use him as a bargaining chip. He might be useful to us in placating Prince Hazu. We’ll keep him with us until or unless he proves unhelpful or a danger.”

“He attacked our island.”

“Pretty sure were not the only one’s he’s attacked,” Tooly said.

“We’ll put it to a vote of the Elders,” Sansir said.

“We will not,” Heyna said.

“What Heyna means to say,” Sronban said, is the prisoner is aboard the Tachizame.”

“And we’re not giving him up,” Heyna stood up and banged the table.

“Well… Er… Since he isn’t in our custody…” said Sansir. “So, as for this navy…” He looked around at the elders. “All in favor of creating a naval defense force, and appointing Tooly as… what?”

“Admiral,” Heyna said.

“Yes, yes, Admiral, so signify.”

All the Elders jewels glowed brightly and the decision was taken.

“Congratulations Admiral,” Sronban said. “Now you’re really in it.”

“Congratulations, Captain, you’re in it with me,” Tooly replied.

*

“Come on! It’s just one house.”

“I need to get home. You have your gems. Jakintu has her new rooms and her bag of ursae shite. Eaa… the Kelpie has its Gryphish armor. Ak’ne is waiting. I need… want to go home!”

“Pleeeeese! It will put us in good with the Elders!”

Sronban was hopping up and down. Tooly was on his knees. Keeva was standing off to one side laughing. Heyna looked at the scene and couldn’t help laughing herself.

“Alright, alright! One house! And then, I’m out of here.”

Tooly and Sronban jumped around cheering. They led Heyna down a wide street running the through center of town. As they walked a large two-story house came into view. The street ended at its doorstep.

“Wait! This house? It’s twice as big as any house in town! Who’s is…?” then she remembered.

The front door opened and Sansir stood there. Heyna’s mouth dropped open. Tooly and Sronban both started talking at once, before she could say anything.

“Thank you,” Sansir said, in a voice with no warmth. “The old house needs a little attention. Nothing fancy, mind. I’d like something…”

“Traditional?” Tooly said.

“Precisely. Nothing too modern, but not old fashioned. Colorful, but not too gaudy. Nothing ostentatious or too showy. Just basic. Classic. Something in good taste.”

“Thanks, Sansir! That narrows it down nicely. We’ll get started right away.”

Sronban pranced all the way to her workshop. Heyna followed glumly. She knew Sansir was going to be a picky customer. His guidance was clear as mud.

“You know this is a trap, right?”

“Sure!” Tooly said.

“Sansir’s not going to like anything we design.”

“That’s the idea,” Sronban said.

“Wait!” Keeva said. “What are you up to?”

“Just like Heyna said,” Sronban said, laughing.

“It’s a trap,” Tooly said.

“Am I missing something?” Heyna said.

“Nope, It’s a trap… for Sansir!”

Tooly and Sronban were laughing so hard, the group had to stop. Keeva started to chuckle, then laugh out loud.

“Would one of you please tell me what’s so funny.”

“Sorry…” Tooly said. “It’s just, Sansir already has the most ostentatious house in town. People already talk him down for it. He pretends he’s humble, but everyone knows how house proud he is. It’s his weakness.”

“He’s the most conservative member of the Elders, and …”

“And, we need some new blood to help us deal with the new realities we have to face,” Keeva said.

“We’ve got a plan to get him voted out, and some of the more closed minded Elders with him.”

“I thought,” Heyna said, “you got to be an Elder by being old.”

“Ha!” said Sronban. “It’s what everybody thinks. But I found a book amongst my parents things. It’s a book about how our government was formed. Nothing about being oldest or even old. Anyone who’s Ascended can be an Elder.”

“Tooly’s going to be an admiral,” Keeva said. “Sronban’s going to be an Elder. We have a couple of friends… they’re older, but not hidebound, who will run as well.”

“Wow!” Heyna said. “So that’s why you want me to paint Sansir’s house. Not going to be the tasteful design that he wants, I take it.”

“Oh, no!” Tooly said. “It’s going to be a masterwork. We’re going to do a magnificent job. He will love it. But people will look at it as a sign he thinks he’s better than everyone else. People already believe it. He already has the largest house and one of the smallest families.”

“It’s going to be a hoot!” Keeva said.

When they reached Sronban’s workshop, Tooly laid out a page with his ideas. Heyna liked the design. It was classic, but instead of plants and flowers, it had impressionistic representations of Sansir’s family woven into the pattern. Heyna had some ideas about the color scheme, and she and Tooly worked out the details while Keeva and Sronban prepared the paint.

When they started to paint, they worked quickly. A great crowd gathered to watch the artists at work, and the young ones made it their task to keep Sansir back. When they were done, it was as Tooly had said. Sansir was fairly bursting with pride. He walked around the house, making little satisfied noises. The crowd followed him and there was a little grumbling. Finally, Sansir addressed the artists.

“Fair job,” he said. “Adequate. Somewhat more than adequate, perhaps.” Someone hissed in the crowd.

“You are too full of praise,” Tooly said. “Surely, you honor our humble effort.”

“No. You are to be commended for a fine er… attempt.”

“Thank you,” Tooly said, but was drowned out by the laughter of the crowd.

The towns folk lifted Tooly onto their shoulders, and patted Heyna on the back. Since she was too heavy by far to be lifted by the Fennec, they contented themselves with singing her praises. They paraded to the town square where music was played and another massive feast was laid out. The brews flowed and the party lasted late into the night.

*

The morning was full of goodbyes. Tooly was sad, but did his best to be cheerful. Sronban wept openly. A large crowd followed them down to the harbor. Heyna had her trusty carryall. It was filled to bursting with food, gifts and a bottle of the sweet alcoholic brew called beoir. Heyna was sad to be leaving her friends, but she was glad to be finally heading home.

Sronban was looking more and more likely to become an elder. She was cheered wherever she went. She and Tooly were instant heroes. Everyone was excited by the new possibilities their exploits seemed ready to bring. Heyna heard young and old speaking of what was outside of the mist. She heard people talk of the, “wide world,” wherever she went.

No more Ryujin boats had shown up, but they couldn’t be sure they never would. Tooly and Ak’ne had a long conference aboard the Tachi and made plans for putting together a Fennec navy. She still didn’t know what she was going to do with Screeble, but she’d think about it later.

They were leaving the Leviathan at here in the Misty Isle until Ak’ne brought the Tachi back. Also, the Leviathan’s deck gun might come in handy if they were attacked again. Tooly wanted to make sure the little steamer was ship shape and was ready for action. He asked for Fennec volunteers to train with the glamoured Dreki crew. Once they were no longer needed, the Dreki were to be given a choice to join the Tachi crew, or to be dropped off in Merkataritza-hiria.

The dock was so crowded she could barely make it to the little sailboat to take her out to the Tachi. Suddenly, she remembered she hadn’t seen Keeva since the party. She wanted to say goodbye. She scanned the crowd but couldn’t spot her. She was sad at the thought. Keeva was such a cheerful soul and Heyna loved her sense of humor. Well, I’ll be back someday. Yes, I must come back with Xico.

She and Beetah walked to the end of the dock, turned and hugged Tooly and Sronban one more time. The crowd cheered, all but Sansir, who was there, of course. He gave a little grimace Heyna was sure he thought was a smile, and waved. She gave him a little mock salute and stepped into the sailboat. A tall Fennec took her hand and steadied her as she stepped down. Then he helped Beetah aboard. When she sat, she saw Keeva was at the tiller.

“I was looking for you!” Heyna said. “I wanted to say goodbye. It’s nice of you to sail me out to the Tachi.”

“Don’t mention it. It’s my pleasure. Do you know Nik?”

“No, I don’t think we’ve met.”

“I’m a fisher. This is my boat. I’ve wanted to meet you, but you’re so famous and all.”

“He’s shy. But he can fish like nobody’s business. Finest on the Misty Isle.”

“Enough chatter! Why don’t I take the tiller on my own boat.”

“Fair enough.”

Nik and Keeva changed places. She slouched down next to Heyna.

“I’m glad you’re here,” Heyna said. “I’m going to miss this place. I’ve been happier here than almost anywhere, and more terrified.”

“Me too,” Keeva said. “I love living here, but things are going to change now. When the big gun began shooting, I hid in my root cellar. I can’t imagine what war must be like, how anyone could survive it.”

“Her crew is at the bottom of the ocean, somewhere over…” Heyna gestured to the East. “I’m sure they didn’t expect it would happen to them.”

“Heyna, I can’t tell you what it’s meant to me and so many of the young Fennec you came to our island, and then came back. I admire you and Tooly and Sronban so much. Thank you. Thank you a million times. Don’t be surprised if there’s a statue of you when you come back.”

Heyna was embarrassed by the praise, but she found she liked it. She liked Keeva, and was sorry they would be parting in a few minutes.

“That’d be the Tachi, I reckon,” Nik said. He pointed towards the North. Sunlight glinted off the conn which bobbed like a tall black cork in the waves. Heyna scented the Ryujin on the breeze. She was surprised she no longer had the same automatic revulsion she used to at the smell. She now knew all Ryujin were not the same. She was more ready to judge people on their actions, not on their looks or scent.

Nik piloted his boat expertly alongside the Tachi and he helped Heyna and Beetah aboard. Ak’ne grabbed her hand. Then Nik handed her carryall to her. Then Keeva jumped aboard the Tachi. Nik threw a bag to her.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Beetah asked.

“Why, I’m going with you!” Keeva said with a laugh. “Admiral said he didn’t want Heyna going anywhere without a Fennec escort.”

“Tooly didn’t say anything to me,” Heyna said.

“Knew you’d balk. Thought it was best to spring it on you.”

“Well my adventures are over. I’m just going home.”

“Then I’ll have a nice little vacation in Paititi. The stories you told make it sound wonderful.”

“Enough jabberin’” Ak’ne shouted. Then to her crew she said, “We’re for Paititi! Look lively.” Crew scrambled and the Tachizame was soon underway.

Later, Heyna, Beetah and Keeva were lounging on the observation deck. Keeva was wide eyed at the underwater view. She pointed and marveled at the schools of fish.

“It’s quite a sight,” Beetah said.

“I want to see it all. The ocean, the forest, Paititi, the Dragon Isles, Merkataritza-hiria. All the places from your adventures.”

“Well, like I said. I don’t know why Tooly thought he needed to send you with me. My adventuring days are done. I just want to get home and have a boring life with Xico.”

“Yes… about that… I lied.”