BooksBarbecue
Back The Ring of Wind Save as PDF
Chapters (71)
  1. CHRIS BRADFORD
  2. Contents
  3. Map: The Japans – 17th Century
  4. The Letter
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
  27. 23
  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. 49
  54. 50
  55. 51
  56. 52
  57. 53
  58. 54
  59. 55
  60. 56
  61. 57
  62. 58
  63. 59
  64. 60
  65. 61
  66. 62
  67. 63
  68. Notes on the Sources
  69. Ninja Pirate Ship Competition
  70. Japanese Glossary
  71. Acknowledgements

Strong and immense as the Nihon Maru was, he’d realized its design was top-heavy and unstable. The command ship’s superstructure was its Achilles heel. Like a harpooned whale, the Nihon Maru keeled over. A final pull from the Koketsu’s oarsmen sent it crashing into the Seto Sea.

With their command ship down and sinking slowly beneath the waves, the remaining Sea Samurai ships floundered in confusion and panic. Their fighting spirit crushed by their daimyo’s defeat, they turned tail and fled.

The Wind Demons on the Koketsu gave a triumphant battle cry. Their call was echoed by cheers from the Black Spider and the other surviving pirate ships. The battle for Pirate Island had been won.

57

Image Missing
Second Wave

‘The Wind Demons are forever in your debt, Jack,’ declared Tatsumaki. ‘And so am I.’

They stood upon the armoured roof, the Wind Demons hailing their victory as the Koketsu docked at the lagoon jetty. More pirate ships limped in, their crews battleworn but jubilant.

Jack bowed respectfully to the Pirate Queen. ‘You can easily repay that debt.’

Tatsumaki raised an eyebrow. ‘Really?’

‘Release me and my friends.’

She pursed her lips, apparently reluctant.

‘Do you think I should, Saru?’ she asked, turning to the monkey upon her shoulder. Saru bobbed her head enthusiastically and Tatsumaki smiled at Jack. ‘Your request is granted.’

‘Also, hand back my swords and our weapons.’

‘That’s acceptable to me,’ replied Tatsumaki, nodding amiably, ‘though it might be harder to persuade Captain Kurogumo to part with those Shizu swords of yours.’

‘And return my father’s rutter.’

Tatsumaki laughed at his audacity. ‘Next you’ll be asking for a boat!’

‘That had crossed my mind,’ replied Jack.

The Pirate Queen studied him. ‘Are you certain you don’t want to stay here as a Wind Demon? We can protect you from the Shogun. And you’ve proved yourself a fine pirate. I’d even make you captain of your own ship.’

It was Jack who laughed out loud this time. His father would turn in his grave at the thought of his son becoming a pirate. He shook his head. ‘I have to get to Nagasaki. I must return home to my sister.’

Tatsumaki nodded. ‘I suppose we all seek different treasures in life,’ she replied wistfully. ‘I’ll arrange a boat for you.’

‘And the rutter?’ pressed Jack.

The Pirate Queen’s expression became hard as a diamond. ‘I’m afraid that belongs to me.’

‘But we made a blood oath!’ exclaimed Jack, holding up his scarred hand.

‘I only promised to set you free,’ replied Tatsumaki coolly. ‘And that’s exactly what I’ve agreed to do. Think yourself fortunate that you and your friends are escaping with your lives.’