Disclaimer: I'd like to apologize for the somewhat rambling nature of this post. I just really needed to vent and get this off my chest. Thank you for your understanding.
There is a show, dear reader. A very popular show that airs on an esteemed TV network. Since it premiered way back in 2011, this show has garnered multiple awards as well as popular and critical acclaim. Like The Simpsons, its not just a show, its veritable god-damn phenomenon. Being the astute person that you are, you have no doubt already guessed which show I'm referring to. That's right; I'm talking about Game of Thrones.
Dear reader, I have a confession to make: I do not like Game of Thrones, and since the show is ending soon (no, I have no interest in watching the final season, thank you very much) I decided to make a brief post as to why I don't like it.
Before that though, I'm going to give credit where credit is due and acknowledge the aspects of Game of Thrones that I actually do admire. For one thing, the soundtrack is very good, with the opening theme in particular being appropriately grandiose and, of course, the show's take on the Rains of Castamere deserves a mention as well. I still find myself humming both on occasion.
Second, this is a very well-cast show and the majority of the actors fit their roles like a hand in a glove, whether its seasoned veterans like Charles Dance or young talent like Jack Gleason. That's it for positive opinions regarding this show, as far as I'm concerned.
So, what's my problem with this show exactly? Why do I dislike it? Well, it mostly has to do with its relationship vis-a-vis the original A Song of Ice and Fire; a series of books which I happen to be quite fond of, at one point, it was actually my favorite book-series. Now, before anyone start writing angry comments, accusing me of being a purist or something similar, I want to make one thing clear: I do not expect an adaptation to be one-hundred percent faithful to the source material, that would be ridiculous. I understand that what may work in a book may not necessarily work on-screen; scenes are going to be altered, characters will get cut out. I get that, I'm not one of those fans who complained that Peter Jackson left out Tom Bombadill when he filmed the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Case in point, I Claudius excises the entire subplot concerning the life of Herod Agrippa, which took up a huge part of the second novel and that is one of my favorite TV-shows ever.
No, the problem with Game of Thrones is that the changes come off as completely arbitrary and without much thought put behind them. I can't think of a single change made to the story that was for the better and the further the show strayed from the novels, the worse it became with characters being turned into caricatures, nonsensical plot-developments and terrible dialogue, until eventually, I couldn't stand it anymore.
Game of Thrones is not the worst show that I've seen, far from it, but it is a strong candidate for being the most disappointing as well as my least favorite out of the HBO drama shows that I have seen. If you like it, that's fine. To be perfectly honest, part of me wish that I could like it, but there's too much dragging it down for me and very little about it that I find appealing. I'll stick to the books, thank you very much.
Oh, and in case you are wondering about the title: It comes from a quote by the great Ian McShane who in interview coinciding with his appearance on GoT referred to the show as "its only tits and dragons".
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
The Rose of Versailles: The Manga
The Late 1970s anime The Rose of Versailles is one of my favorite animated shows of all time; I've watched it all the way through twice and will surely watch it again.
However, despite my deeply held affection for the show, I had yet to read the Ryoko Ikeda manga that it was based on. Of course I realize that this is a gross oversight on my part. After all, if you are a fan of an adaptation than sooner or later, you should ideally want to acquaint yourself with its source material (incidentally, that is why I can't understand those fans of Game of Thrones who refuse to read A Song of Ice and Fire, but I digress).
Now, since I can't read Japanese and the manga has yet to be officially translated into English, I thought at first that I would have to rely on fan-translations. Fortunately, it turns out that there is in official release outside of Japan in a language I can read, courtesy of the French manga publisher Kana. I immediately ordered the first volume and having read it, can now share my thoughts on it with you.
The First volume from Kana is a massive tome, clocking in at over 900 pages. It begins with a look at the early life of a young Marie Antoinette, shortly before she is betrothed to the future Louis XVI and sent to France and it ends on a cliffhanger with Louis having received an anonymous letter saying that the Royal couple's younger son is the result of an affair between the Queen and the Swedish nobleman Hans Axel von Fersen.
Coming in to the manga via the anime, I mostly found myself on familiar ground while reading the source-material. The Volume covers several story-lines that were adapted for the anime, such as The Necklace Affair and The Black Knight Arc and they play out in pretty much the same way on page as they did on screen. The Characters, whether they are based on real-life figures or are purely fictional, such as Oscar and Andre are recognizable. Well, Oscar is perhaps a bit more prone to snark than her animated counterpart.
That said, there are ways in which the manga differs significantly from the anime. For one thing, the manga is a lot more comedic. Now, don't get me wrong, this is still first and foremost a dramatic work, with the focus being on the schemes of the nobility and the hardship of the people, as well as the Revolution which is lurking silently at the background. However, at times, Ikeda sometimes has her characters sport over-the-top cartoonish expressions as a reaction something that they've heard or read and these moments are clearly played for comedic effect. At first, I found this stylistic choice to be a bit distracting, since its absent from the anime, but eventually I got used to it. And to be fair, its not as if The Rose of Versailles is the first manga I've read that does this.
The Second difference lies with a certain character; namely, the Duke of Orleans. In the anime, this guy is basically the main villain for a good part of the story, always plotting to overthrow his cousin Louis and seize power. Here though, while definitely an antagonistic character, his role is dramatically reduced and he only appears in a minor supporting role.
So, which version of The Rose of Versailles do I like more? Well, I will admit that I have a bit of a preference for the anime, thanks in no small part to Osamu Dezaki's directing once he came on board. However, this does not in any way diminish the source material. I found this volume to be a thoroughly entertaining read and definitely deserves its status as one of the foremost shoujo manga. If look forward to reading the rest of it in due time and think that anyone with an interest in Japanese comics should check it out.
However, despite my deeply held affection for the show, I had yet to read the Ryoko Ikeda manga that it was based on. Of course I realize that this is a gross oversight on my part. After all, if you are a fan of an adaptation than sooner or later, you should ideally want to acquaint yourself with its source material (incidentally, that is why I can't understand those fans of Game of Thrones who refuse to read A Song of Ice and Fire, but I digress).
Now, since I can't read Japanese and the manga has yet to be officially translated into English, I thought at first that I would have to rely on fan-translations. Fortunately, it turns out that there is in official release outside of Japan in a language I can read, courtesy of the French manga publisher Kana. I immediately ordered the first volume and having read it, can now share my thoughts on it with you.
The First volume from Kana is a massive tome, clocking in at over 900 pages. It begins with a look at the early life of a young Marie Antoinette, shortly before she is betrothed to the future Louis XVI and sent to France and it ends on a cliffhanger with Louis having received an anonymous letter saying that the Royal couple's younger son is the result of an affair between the Queen and the Swedish nobleman Hans Axel von Fersen.
Coming in to the manga via the anime, I mostly found myself on familiar ground while reading the source-material. The Volume covers several story-lines that were adapted for the anime, such as The Necklace Affair and The Black Knight Arc and they play out in pretty much the same way on page as they did on screen. The Characters, whether they are based on real-life figures or are purely fictional, such as Oscar and Andre are recognizable. Well, Oscar is perhaps a bit more prone to snark than her animated counterpart.
That said, there are ways in which the manga differs significantly from the anime. For one thing, the manga is a lot more comedic. Now, don't get me wrong, this is still first and foremost a dramatic work, with the focus being on the schemes of the nobility and the hardship of the people, as well as the Revolution which is lurking silently at the background. However, at times, Ikeda sometimes has her characters sport over-the-top cartoonish expressions as a reaction something that they've heard or read and these moments are clearly played for comedic effect. At first, I found this stylistic choice to be a bit distracting, since its absent from the anime, but eventually I got used to it. And to be fair, its not as if The Rose of Versailles is the first manga I've read that does this.
The Second difference lies with a certain character; namely, the Duke of Orleans. In the anime, this guy is basically the main villain for a good part of the story, always plotting to overthrow his cousin Louis and seize power. Here though, while definitely an antagonistic character, his role is dramatically reduced and he only appears in a minor supporting role.
So, which version of The Rose of Versailles do I like more? Well, I will admit that I have a bit of a preference for the anime, thanks in no small part to Osamu Dezaki's directing once he came on board. However, this does not in any way diminish the source material. I found this volume to be a thoroughly entertaining read and definitely deserves its status as one of the foremost shoujo manga. If look forward to reading the rest of it in due time and think that anyone with an interest in Japanese comics should check it out.
Monday, March 25, 2019
The Jerusalem Quartet
There are some authors who never achieve fame during their lifetime and unfortunately, remains largely obscure even after they have passed. And yet, proving that popularity does not necessary equal quality, these authors tend to be highly regarded; both by critics and those of us fortunate to be familiar with their works. One such author was the American Edward Whittemore.
By all accounts, Whittemore; who was born in 1933 and died in 1995, lived a rich and varied life, having, during his lifetime, occupied such varied positions as reporter, photocopy assistant, US marine officer and CIA agent. What he is most remembered for though (when he is remembered) is as a writer of novels.
Whittemore's bibliography consists of five novels. Out of these five, the first one: Quin's Shanghai Circus, is a stand-alone and the remaining four form a sequence called The Jerusalem Quartet (although a few of the characters in Shanghai Circus turn up in The Quartet as well). Its the latter which is the focus of this post.
In the first volume of The Quartet, titled Sinai Tapestry, Whittemore introduces the reader to a cast of memorable, larger-than-life characters:
Plantagenet Strongbow, the British explorer who becomes the secret owner of the entire Ottoman Empire during its twilight years. Joe O'Sullivan Beare, an Irish freedom-fighter who flees his country by disguising himself as a nun. Stern, son to Plantagenet Strongbow, who grows up with a dream of creating a country where the three religious groups of the Middle East: Moslems, Jews and Christians can live in harmony. Haj Harun, an old shop-keeper who claims to have defended the city of Jerusalem for more than 2000 years, always on the losing side. Because, as Harun himself puts it, when you are defending Jerusalem, you are always on the losing side.
These are not the only characters to populate the pages of this book, but they are the most important ones and so, I mention them here.
Although Sinai Tapestry is the most light-hearted and optimistic book in the series, its not without its dark moments. The Pivotal sequence of the novel is the Turkish army's massacre of Smyrna. An atrocious event which haunts the characters that get caught up in it for the remainder of their lives and which Whittemore describes in horrific detail.
Moving on to the next novel, Jerusalem Poker. This volume, which may well be my personal favorite of The Jerusalem Quartet, revolves around a poker-game, with the entire Holy City at stake. The Main players in this high stakes game are Joe, Munk Szondi and Cairo Martyr, a character newly introduced in this volume. However, its not long until the game attracts the attention of certain sinister figures.
One notable aspect of the Jerusalem Quarter is that, as it draws closer to the present day (meaning the 1970's, in this case), the more fantastical elements become less and less prominent. This does not mean that the remaining books aren't up to the standards set by their predecessors, but they are different in tone, belonging more firmly in the realm of mystery and spy-fiction than the books before them. Volume no. 3, Nile Shadows takes place during World War 2 and opens with a hand-grenade being thrown into a bar and the investigation into the life of the only man killed in the explosion: Who wanted him dead and why?
Finally, we have Jericho Mosiac. With one single exception, this volume features none of the characters from the previous volume, choosing instead to introduce a completely new cast. At first, the reader may feel disappointed knowing that the characters they've come to know and care about during the course of this series are absent from its ultimate installment. However, the new characters soon prove themselves to be just as compelling as Joe, Harun and the others.
This final volume revolves around Halim, a Syrian businessman who returns to his homeland after having lived most of his life in Argentina. In Syria, Halim's likable personality soon earns him the friendships of several people in high circles. No-one suspects that this Syrian patriot is in fact, a deep-cover spy for the Mossad, operating under the code-name The Runner.
As a whole, The Jerusalem Quartet definitely ranks among my favorite works of literature and I recommend it strongly to everyone who is a fan of historical fiction, spy-fiction, magic realism or just great storytelling in general. Hopefully, this post has made at least some of you interested in checking it out, because it and Quin's Shanghai Circus, deserves to be more widely known.
By all accounts, Whittemore; who was born in 1933 and died in 1995, lived a rich and varied life, having, during his lifetime, occupied such varied positions as reporter, photocopy assistant, US marine officer and CIA agent. What he is most remembered for though (when he is remembered) is as a writer of novels.
Whittemore's bibliography consists of five novels. Out of these five, the first one: Quin's Shanghai Circus, is a stand-alone and the remaining four form a sequence called The Jerusalem Quartet (although a few of the characters in Shanghai Circus turn up in The Quartet as well). Its the latter which is the focus of this post.
In the first volume of The Quartet, titled Sinai Tapestry, Whittemore introduces the reader to a cast of memorable, larger-than-life characters:
Plantagenet Strongbow, the British explorer who becomes the secret owner of the entire Ottoman Empire during its twilight years. Joe O'Sullivan Beare, an Irish freedom-fighter who flees his country by disguising himself as a nun. Stern, son to Plantagenet Strongbow, who grows up with a dream of creating a country where the three religious groups of the Middle East: Moslems, Jews and Christians can live in harmony. Haj Harun, an old shop-keeper who claims to have defended the city of Jerusalem for more than 2000 years, always on the losing side. Because, as Harun himself puts it, when you are defending Jerusalem, you are always on the losing side.
These are not the only characters to populate the pages of this book, but they are the most important ones and so, I mention them here.
Although Sinai Tapestry is the most light-hearted and optimistic book in the series, its not without its dark moments. The Pivotal sequence of the novel is the Turkish army's massacre of Smyrna. An atrocious event which haunts the characters that get caught up in it for the remainder of their lives and which Whittemore describes in horrific detail.
Moving on to the next novel, Jerusalem Poker. This volume, which may well be my personal favorite of The Jerusalem Quartet, revolves around a poker-game, with the entire Holy City at stake. The Main players in this high stakes game are Joe, Munk Szondi and Cairo Martyr, a character newly introduced in this volume. However, its not long until the game attracts the attention of certain sinister figures.
One notable aspect of the Jerusalem Quarter is that, as it draws closer to the present day (meaning the 1970's, in this case), the more fantastical elements become less and less prominent. This does not mean that the remaining books aren't up to the standards set by their predecessors, but they are different in tone, belonging more firmly in the realm of mystery and spy-fiction than the books before them. Volume no. 3, Nile Shadows takes place during World War 2 and opens with a hand-grenade being thrown into a bar and the investigation into the life of the only man killed in the explosion: Who wanted him dead and why?
Finally, we have Jericho Mosiac. With one single exception, this volume features none of the characters from the previous volume, choosing instead to introduce a completely new cast. At first, the reader may feel disappointed knowing that the characters they've come to know and care about during the course of this series are absent from its ultimate installment. However, the new characters soon prove themselves to be just as compelling as Joe, Harun and the others.
This final volume revolves around Halim, a Syrian businessman who returns to his homeland after having lived most of his life in Argentina. In Syria, Halim's likable personality soon earns him the friendships of several people in high circles. No-one suspects that this Syrian patriot is in fact, a deep-cover spy for the Mossad, operating under the code-name The Runner.
As a whole, The Jerusalem Quartet definitely ranks among my favorite works of literature and I recommend it strongly to everyone who is a fan of historical fiction, spy-fiction, magic realism or just great storytelling in general. Hopefully, this post has made at least some of you interested in checking it out, because it and Quin's Shanghai Circus, deserves to be more widely known.
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
Wrath of the Ninja
I am not sure why I decided to watch the obscure 80's anime movie Wrath of the Ninja, but I did (thanks to FantasyAnime - a site I recommend, by the way) and so, I figured I might as well write a little something about it.
The Plot of the movie? That scamp Oda Nobunaga is at it again and....OK, hold on, I have quick question: Has any figure in Japanese history been as villainized as Nobunaga? I get that the guy was a warlord, but if one was to believe some anime, he was pretty much the most evil person to ever be evil.
Anyway, this version of Nobunaga is in control of an army of demons, including a group of demonic ninja, with which he aims to conquer Japan. Only a good group of ninja, including a young female one, who happens to be our protagonist, can stand against this threat.
The Movie which Wrath of the Ninja most closely resembles is, undoubtedly, Ninja Scroll. Although, Wrath actually predates that cult classic by a few years. That said, Ninja Scroll is definitely the better film in my eyes. Wrath of the Ninja is nowhere near as graphic as Ninja Scroll is (there's no rape-scene, for one thing), but its also less engaging. Which is not to say that the story or characters of this film are bad by any means, both are perfectly serviceable. Its just that neither stands out all that much.
Character-wise, the best character is definitely Ayame, whom I found to be a pretty solid heroine. On the flip-side, we have the villains, who are by far the weakest aspect of this movie. Even Nobunaga, who is ostensibly the chief bad guy, does not really have much presence and never goes beyond being the generic evil overlord. Again, one can't help but compare the villains of this movie to the members of Ninja Scroll's gallery of rogues; all of whom were evil, certainly, but with much more memorable designs, powers and personalities.
Lastly, let me say that the negative reviews of this movie that you can find on MyAnimeList, comes across as quite hyperbolic. Wrath of the Ninja is not a great movie by any stretch, but its also far from being one of the worst anime ever. Basically, if you have a thing for obscure old-school anime and you should happen upon this movie during your travels on the World Wide Web, I'd say that Wrath of the Ninja is a perfectly acceptable way to kill an hour and a half, but its not a movie that you need to go out of your way to watch.
Saturday, March 9, 2019
Chapter 39
Risha looked down at the crumpled pile lying at her feet, the first person she had ever killed. She did not know it yet, but he wouldn't be the last.
Around her the battle between the troupe and the pirates raged on, but the lynx-girl took no notice of it: She was struck dumb as the enormity of what she had just done dawned on her.
Having grown up with her father telling her stories about his exploits on the battlefield, Risha had always thought that she had had at least an idea of what it would be like to take the life of another person.
She realized now that she had been mistaken. Despite everything she had told herself, nothing had prepared her for this.
Staring at the dead pirate, Risha found herself wondering what sort of life he had lived and the circumstances which had one day lead him down this path? Would he have taken it if he had known that it would have ended with him dead at the paws of some girl, all because his captain decided that he could not let one small ship pass him by?
If only her first kill had been someone else: A hardened freebooter with a scarred face and cold, dead eyes, for example. Such a person; a cold-hearted rogue, experienced in villainy, Risha thought for sure that she would have been able to kill without any lingering sense of remorse.
Unfortunately, this pirate did not fit that description at all. He had been a youth, barely older than Risha herself. What's more, he could have been her twin; the two of them resembled each other so much that it had been like gazing into a mirror.
Risha was not exactly sure what had happened next, all she knew with certainty was that one moment they had both stood there staring at each other in stunned silence and the next her blade had been embedded in her reflection's chest.
As she bent down to close the other lynx's eyes, Risha noticed someone behind her. Quickly, she spun around and was confronted by another pirate. This one was a jackal, looking about ten years older than his colleague. The Older pirate held a cutlass, which almost slipped out of his paw as he stared at the scene in front of him.
"You killed him" the jackal muttered, as though he couldn't quite believe his own eyes. Then, the expression of disbelief on his face was changed into one of cold rage.
Their swords clashed and Risha soon found herself outclassed by her opponent. As their duel took the two of them around the bloodstained deck, it was all she could do to keep up. Sweat broke out on her brow as she desperately blocked her adversary's attacks.
"You are quite talented, girl" growled the jackal, . "There are not many who have been able to keep up with me for this long. You have potential, its to bad that it will remain unfulfilled."
With a flick of his wrist, the jackal sent Risha's sword flying from her grip and over the side of the ship. The Lynx could hear the splash it made as it sunk into the depths. Risha had never heard a more dreadful sound. To her, it seemed to be the signal for her demise.
It was in that moment that an idea came into Risha's head and, knowing that it was a matter of seconds, she converted that idea into action immediately: Just as the jackal raised his sword , Risha lowered her head and with a roar rushed her foe, headbutting him in the stomach. The Blow took the air out of the jackal's lungs, causing him to drop his sword and land on his back with Risha on top of him.
The Two antagonists fought furiously and desperately: One to avenge his fallen comrade, the other because she did not want to die. They grabbed hold of each other's fur and tore of clumps of it, causing their eyes to water. They scratched with their claws until the blood ran. Eventually, though, the jackal proved himself to be the stronger of the two and Risha struggled as she was pinned down by her foe.
"You could have had a clean death by my sword" the jackal hissed. "I would have granted you that at least, but now, I'll just squeeze your filthy neck until your eyes pop out of their sockets!"
With that he wrapped his paws around Risha's throat and squeezed, his claws digging into her soft flesh. The Lynx-girl tried to loosen the jackal's vise-like grip, but to no avail. Her strength was beginning to ebb and her vision started to get blurry. Then, just as she was about to let go, she could make out a figure approaching through the haze, the next moment, she was able to breathe again.
Gasping for air, Risha sat up and massaged her sore throat. She looked up and saw her would-be killer struggling desperately, legs flailing, as Merees held him in an iron grip. Smoke came out of the dragon's nostrils and the white of her eyes had turned red.
It was clear that Merees was about to kill the jackal and for a moment, Risha considered letting her do it. Wasn't it what he deserved after all? Then, something in her consciousness rebelled against this.
"Mer! Stop!" She called out.
Risha's voice reached Merees' ears and she turned her head the way the sound had come from. The Dragon stared at her beloved, her eyes having regained their normal color.
"Risha...you are alive?" She said, as if she almost did not dare believe it possible. "I thought I was too late."
Risha shook her head.
"No, I'm fine. Mer, darling?"
"Yes?"
"Let him go, will you?"
Merees' relief upon seeing that Risha was alive had been so great that she had temporarily forgotten about the jackal, now she was reminded of his existence.
"He tried to kill you" she said, as though she could not believe what she'd just heard.
"I know, but he didn't succeed: Thanks to you. I really don't want anyone else to die today, if I can prevent it."
With a sigh, Merees relaxed her grip, dropping the jackal who was just as surprised as her by this development.
"You should have let her kill me" the jackal said. "When we take this ship, I will..."
Before the jackal could finish his sentence, a powerful voice rang out. A voice that both Risha and Merees recognized as belonging to Rufus.
"Pirates!" The Fox bellowed. "Your Captain is dead!"
A sound much like the wind in the trees could be heard all over the ship. Rufus held up a paw in the air and the sound died out.
"In short, you are leaderless" he continued. "What's more, look around you: You came aboard this ship with the intention to kill us all, but from what I can see you've suffered heavier losses. Still, we shall give you the choice you were never going to give us: Lay down your weapons and your lives will be spared."
The Pirates glanced at each other. Then they looked at the body of their chief lying at Rufus' feet. Finally, they looked at their enemies and saw the determination in their eyes and as one creature, they laid down their weapons.
While all this took place, Leorin and Sara sat in their hiding place, listening to the sounds of the battle which could be heard faintly somewhere above their heads.
"We'll win, won't we?" Leorin asked.
"Of course" Sara replied. "This isn't the first time we've been involved in something like this. Trust me, those pirates won't know who they are messing with."
The Porcupine's confidence did assuage Leorin's concerns somewhat, though they did not make them go away entirely. Sara noticed this and so, to take his mind off things and also, because she was curious, decided to ask Leorin how he and the others had ended up on Hieronymus' island.
"That is, if you don't mind telling me" she said.
Leorin did not mind and so, he told his new friend everything that had transpired in our narrative thus far. Or at least, the parts he was there for. Sara edged herself closer to Leo, taking care not to accidentally prick him with her quills and listened intensely.
"That's quite something" She said, once Leo had finished. "I guess you miss your parents, huh?" She added, after a brief pause.
Leorin nodded.
"I do, especially my mom. I love my sister, even if she can be a jerk sometimes, but its not really the same thing."
"I suppose not. Of course, my parents are dead so I wouldn't know."
This revelation had been accompanied by a shrug, as though the fact that she was an orphan did not mean much to Sara. Leorin, however, could not help but feel for her:
Around her the battle between the troupe and the pirates raged on, but the lynx-girl took no notice of it: She was struck dumb as the enormity of what she had just done dawned on her.
Having grown up with her father telling her stories about his exploits on the battlefield, Risha had always thought that she had had at least an idea of what it would be like to take the life of another person.
She realized now that she had been mistaken. Despite everything she had told herself, nothing had prepared her for this.
Staring at the dead pirate, Risha found herself wondering what sort of life he had lived and the circumstances which had one day lead him down this path? Would he have taken it if he had known that it would have ended with him dead at the paws of some girl, all because his captain decided that he could not let one small ship pass him by?
If only her first kill had been someone else: A hardened freebooter with a scarred face and cold, dead eyes, for example. Such a person; a cold-hearted rogue, experienced in villainy, Risha thought for sure that she would have been able to kill without any lingering sense of remorse.
Unfortunately, this pirate did not fit that description at all. He had been a youth, barely older than Risha herself. What's more, he could have been her twin; the two of them resembled each other so much that it had been like gazing into a mirror.
Risha was not exactly sure what had happened next, all she knew with certainty was that one moment they had both stood there staring at each other in stunned silence and the next her blade had been embedded in her reflection's chest.
As she bent down to close the other lynx's eyes, Risha noticed someone behind her. Quickly, she spun around and was confronted by another pirate. This one was a jackal, looking about ten years older than his colleague. The Older pirate held a cutlass, which almost slipped out of his paw as he stared at the scene in front of him.
"You killed him" the jackal muttered, as though he couldn't quite believe his own eyes. Then, the expression of disbelief on his face was changed into one of cold rage.
Their swords clashed and Risha soon found herself outclassed by her opponent. As their duel took the two of them around the bloodstained deck, it was all she could do to keep up. Sweat broke out on her brow as she desperately blocked her adversary's attacks.
"You are quite talented, girl" growled the jackal, . "There are not many who have been able to keep up with me for this long. You have potential, its to bad that it will remain unfulfilled."
With a flick of his wrist, the jackal sent Risha's sword flying from her grip and over the side of the ship. The Lynx could hear the splash it made as it sunk into the depths. Risha had never heard a more dreadful sound. To her, it seemed to be the signal for her demise.
It was in that moment that an idea came into Risha's head and, knowing that it was a matter of seconds, she converted that idea into action immediately: Just as the jackal raised his sword , Risha lowered her head and with a roar rushed her foe, headbutting him in the stomach. The Blow took the air out of the jackal's lungs, causing him to drop his sword and land on his back with Risha on top of him.
The Two antagonists fought furiously and desperately: One to avenge his fallen comrade, the other because she did not want to die. They grabbed hold of each other's fur and tore of clumps of it, causing their eyes to water. They scratched with their claws until the blood ran. Eventually, though, the jackal proved himself to be the stronger of the two and Risha struggled as she was pinned down by her foe.
"You could have had a clean death by my sword" the jackal hissed. "I would have granted you that at least, but now, I'll just squeeze your filthy neck until your eyes pop out of their sockets!"
With that he wrapped his paws around Risha's throat and squeezed, his claws digging into her soft flesh. The Lynx-girl tried to loosen the jackal's vise-like grip, but to no avail. Her strength was beginning to ebb and her vision started to get blurry. Then, just as she was about to let go, she could make out a figure approaching through the haze, the next moment, she was able to breathe again.
Gasping for air, Risha sat up and massaged her sore throat. She looked up and saw her would-be killer struggling desperately, legs flailing, as Merees held him in an iron grip. Smoke came out of the dragon's nostrils and the white of her eyes had turned red.
It was clear that Merees was about to kill the jackal and for a moment, Risha considered letting her do it. Wasn't it what he deserved after all? Then, something in her consciousness rebelled against this.
"Mer! Stop!" She called out.
Risha's voice reached Merees' ears and she turned her head the way the sound had come from. The Dragon stared at her beloved, her eyes having regained their normal color.
"Risha...you are alive?" She said, as if she almost did not dare believe it possible. "I thought I was too late."
Risha shook her head.
"No, I'm fine. Mer, darling?"
"Yes?"
"Let him go, will you?"
Merees' relief upon seeing that Risha was alive had been so great that she had temporarily forgotten about the jackal, now she was reminded of his existence.
"He tried to kill you" she said, as though she could not believe what she'd just heard.
"I know, but he didn't succeed: Thanks to you. I really don't want anyone else to die today, if I can prevent it."
With a sigh, Merees relaxed her grip, dropping the jackal who was just as surprised as her by this development.
"You should have let her kill me" the jackal said. "When we take this ship, I will..."
Before the jackal could finish his sentence, a powerful voice rang out. A voice that both Risha and Merees recognized as belonging to Rufus.
"Pirates!" The Fox bellowed. "Your Captain is dead!"
A sound much like the wind in the trees could be heard all over the ship. Rufus held up a paw in the air and the sound died out.
"In short, you are leaderless" he continued. "What's more, look around you: You came aboard this ship with the intention to kill us all, but from what I can see you've suffered heavier losses. Still, we shall give you the choice you were never going to give us: Lay down your weapons and your lives will be spared."
The Pirates glanced at each other. Then they looked at the body of their chief lying at Rufus' feet. Finally, they looked at their enemies and saw the determination in their eyes and as one creature, they laid down their weapons.
****
While all this took place, Leorin and Sara sat in their hiding place, listening to the sounds of the battle which could be heard faintly somewhere above their heads.
"We'll win, won't we?" Leorin asked.
"Of course" Sara replied. "This isn't the first time we've been involved in something like this. Trust me, those pirates won't know who they are messing with."
The Porcupine's confidence did assuage Leorin's concerns somewhat, though they did not make them go away entirely. Sara noticed this and so, to take his mind off things and also, because she was curious, decided to ask Leorin how he and the others had ended up on Hieronymus' island.
"That is, if you don't mind telling me" she said.
Leorin did not mind and so, he told his new friend everything that had transpired in our narrative thus far. Or at least, the parts he was there for. Sara edged herself closer to Leo, taking care not to accidentally prick him with her quills and listened intensely.
"That's quite something" She said, once Leo had finished. "I guess you miss your parents, huh?" She added, after a brief pause.
Leorin nodded.
"I do, especially my mom. I love my sister, even if she can be a jerk sometimes, but its not really the same thing."
"I suppose not. Of course, my parents are dead so I wouldn't know."
This revelation had been accompanied by a shrug, as though the fact that she was an orphan did not mean much to Sara. Leorin, however, could not help but feel for her:
"I'm sorry" he said, with genuine sympathy.
"Don't worry, they died when I was very young, I can barely remember them. Honestly, I consider the Troupe to be my parents. After all, they are the ones who raised me."
Leorin did not say anything. Sara's words had struck a cord. Deep down, he knew that the chances of him seeing either of his parents again were slim. With that in mind, weren't Risha and the Princess the closest he had to parents, right now? And they would probably continue to hold that position longer than his real mother and father had.
"What's the matter?" Sara asked and Leorin told her.
"Just don't slip up and call either of them mom" the porcupine said teasingly. "That would be weird."
Despite everything, Leorin could not help but let out a small laugh. That was followed by another sound, coming from his stomach. The Second after, Sara's stomach made a similar noise.
"I guess we better eat something" Sara said.
She took out some of the food they had taken with them from the galley and spread it out on a cloth. She and Leorin each took an apple, a bread and a piece of cheese, which they consumed in silence. Now that he was sated, Leorin stretched and let out a yawn.
He knew he shouldn't sleep at a time like this, but his eyelids felt as though they had turned into lead. Unable to resist the call of the Sandman, he curled himself up into a ball and was soon lost to the world around him.
So, cats really can sleep anywhere, Sara mused.
She herself didn't feel tired, but since there was nothing else to do but wait, she laid down next to Leorin and stared up in the ceiling. She had preferred that he had remained awake, so they could talk more. You see, the truth is that despite what she had told Leorin, Sara was just as worried as he had been, but putting up a brave front for his sake had helped ease her own anxiety. After all, its not as if the Troupe fought pirates all that often. In fact, the last time it had happened Sara had been no more than three years old and she could hardly remember anything except that there had been fewer members of the Troupe when the battle was finished.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. The next moment there was a series of knocks on the door to their hiding place. It was the correct series of knocks. Feeling as though she could cry with relief, Sara reached out and shook Leorin by the shoulder.
"What is it?" He muttered.
"Didn't you hear?" Sara said excitedly. "Our friends have come to get us. We are out of here!"
She was just about to unlock the door, when Leorin stopped her.
"What if" he said, "the pirates won and one member of the troupe told us about this place and the correct way to knock so that they could save their own skin?"
Sara shot him an angry look. She was just about to tell him that he was being ridiculous and that no actor would ever do such a thing, when a voice called out:
"Are you two asleep in there? Open up!"
The Cat and the porcupine both looked at each other, there was no doubt as to the owner's of that voice identity. They scrambled towards the door and unlocked it. The Next second, Leorin rushed into his sister's outstretched arms.
"See?" Sara said, resting one paw on her hip. "I told you we'd win."
Risha thanked Sara for looking after her brother. At that moment, Leorin let out a tiny gasp.
"Sis" he said, his eyes wide. "You are hurt."
"Its just a few bruises" His sister reassured him. "There are others on deck who are in much worse shape than I am. Though I would have been dead if not for Mer."
She shot Merees, who was standing behind her, an adoring look.
"I told you that nothing would happen to her when I was around" Merees said to Leorin.
"You are the best, Princess" Leorin said, smiling at the dragon.
"She's the best?" Risha said, shaking her head in feigned offense. "What about me? Your sister? Who changed your diapers when you were a baby and gave you piggyback rides?"
"You're great too" Leorin reassured her, giving her another hug.
"Let us not remain here anymore" Merees said. "There are still the dead and the wounded to take care of."
Everyone agreed and so, the four of them climbed up from the hold and out onto the deck and into the sunlight.
"Don't worry, they died when I was very young, I can barely remember them. Honestly, I consider the Troupe to be my parents. After all, they are the ones who raised me."
Leorin did not say anything. Sara's words had struck a cord. Deep down, he knew that the chances of him seeing either of his parents again were slim. With that in mind, weren't Risha and the Princess the closest he had to parents, right now? And they would probably continue to hold that position longer than his real mother and father had.
"What's the matter?" Sara asked and Leorin told her.
"Just don't slip up and call either of them mom" the porcupine said teasingly. "That would be weird."
Despite everything, Leorin could not help but let out a small laugh. That was followed by another sound, coming from his stomach. The Second after, Sara's stomach made a similar noise.
"I guess we better eat something" Sara said.
She took out some of the food they had taken with them from the galley and spread it out on a cloth. She and Leorin each took an apple, a bread and a piece of cheese, which they consumed in silence. Now that he was sated, Leorin stretched and let out a yawn.
He knew he shouldn't sleep at a time like this, but his eyelids felt as though they had turned into lead. Unable to resist the call of the Sandman, he curled himself up into a ball and was soon lost to the world around him.
So, cats really can sleep anywhere, Sara mused.
She herself didn't feel tired, but since there was nothing else to do but wait, she laid down next to Leorin and stared up in the ceiling. She had preferred that he had remained awake, so they could talk more. You see, the truth is that despite what she had told Leorin, Sara was just as worried as he had been, but putting up a brave front for his sake had helped ease her own anxiety. After all, its not as if the Troupe fought pirates all that often. In fact, the last time it had happened Sara had been no more than three years old and she could hardly remember anything except that there had been fewer members of the Troupe when the battle was finished.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. The next moment there was a series of knocks on the door to their hiding place. It was the correct series of knocks. Feeling as though she could cry with relief, Sara reached out and shook Leorin by the shoulder.
"What is it?" He muttered.
"Didn't you hear?" Sara said excitedly. "Our friends have come to get us. We are out of here!"
She was just about to unlock the door, when Leorin stopped her.
"What if" he said, "the pirates won and one member of the troupe told us about this place and the correct way to knock so that they could save their own skin?"
Sara shot him an angry look. She was just about to tell him that he was being ridiculous and that no actor would ever do such a thing, when a voice called out:
"Are you two asleep in there? Open up!"
The Cat and the porcupine both looked at each other, there was no doubt as to the owner's of that voice identity. They scrambled towards the door and unlocked it. The Next second, Leorin rushed into his sister's outstretched arms.
"See?" Sara said, resting one paw on her hip. "I told you we'd win."
Risha thanked Sara for looking after her brother. At that moment, Leorin let out a tiny gasp.
"Sis" he said, his eyes wide. "You are hurt."
"Its just a few bruises" His sister reassured him. "There are others on deck who are in much worse shape than I am. Though I would have been dead if not for Mer."
She shot Merees, who was standing behind her, an adoring look.
"I told you that nothing would happen to her when I was around" Merees said to Leorin.
"You are the best, Princess" Leorin said, smiling at the dragon.
"She's the best?" Risha said, shaking her head in feigned offense. "What about me? Your sister? Who changed your diapers when you were a baby and gave you piggyback rides?"
"You're great too" Leorin reassured her, giving her another hug.
"Let us not remain here anymore" Merees said. "There are still the dead and the wounded to take care of."
Everyone agreed and so, the four of them climbed up from the hold and out onto the deck and into the sunlight.
Saturday, February 16, 2019
The Favourite
I don't go to the movies as often as perhaps I ought to. Mostly because its rare that the local cinema shows a movie that I am actually really interested in seeing on the big screen. However, every once in a while, a movie like that comes out. One such film was The Favourite which originally came out in 2018 and had its Swedish premiere fairly recently. I read some reviews of the film (such as this one), saw the trailer on YouTube and said to myself: "Well, this looks like it should be right up my alley" and so, I went to see the movie in question, accompanied by my mother and sister.
Anyway, The Favourite is a British historical drama film, made by the Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos after a script by Debora Davis and Tony MacNamara and starring Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz and Olivia Colman. The Movie takes place in England at the court of Queen Anne during the early years of the 18th Century and concerns the rivalry between two women for the position of being, well, the Queen's Favourite.
The First of these two women is Sarah, wife to the Duke of Marlborough and Anne's current Favourite. Anne, being a nice, but not exactly what you'd call emotionally stable lady, Sarah and her husband has more or less been running things, much to the chagrin of Robert Harley, who is the leader of the opposition.
(Quick sidenote: Sarah and her husband are both ancestors of Winston Churchill, something I was completely unaware of going into the movie. In my defense, I will point out that the name Churchill is never mentioned in the film itself).
The Other woman is Abigial, a younger cousin of Sarah's who arrives at court looking for a job. Initially relegated to the kitchen, circumstances lead to Sarah taking Abigail under her wing. A decision she soon comes to regret as Abigail soon catches Anne's eye and grows closer to the Queen, threatening Sarah's position.
Watching The Favourite the movie that came to mind the most for me was The Lion in Winter.
Granted, Lanthimos' film features is a lot grimier and more lurid than Lion, but the similarities are definitely there. Both movies takes place in a historical setting and features a cast of characters who, when they are not trading barbs, are busy plotting to stab each other in the back. This is of course, very entertaining to watch.
Last, but certainly not least, one can't talk about The Favourite without mentioning its trio of lead actresses, who all bring their characters to life wonderfully. The Three women this film revolves around must surely count among the most memorable characters in contemporary cinema. I also like the fact that the movie subverted expectations in the way the two rivals were portrayed. Basically, when they are first introduced Abigail comes off as the spirited, plucky heroine to Sarah's calculating villain, but as the film progresses we learn that things are not so clear cut.
In conclusion, I found The Favourite to be a terrific movie that well lived up to my expectations and it made me interested in checking out more of Lanthimos' filmography. There's one movie of his in particular that I'm interested in: The Killing of a Sacred Deer, which is apparently a modern day re-telling of the Iphgenia myth. Sounds like it could be up my alley.
Monday, January 21, 2019
Chapter 38
"Pirates" Rufus muttered, gazing through the spyglass Eramus had handed him. "That's just what we need and this is usually such a peaceful route."
By now everyone on the ship was awake, though some of them were still drowsy from the sudden awakening and so, several yawns could be heard across the deck.
Rufus turned to Eramus.
"You are our leader, what do you suggest we do?"
The Faun tugged on his goatee as he looked with serious eyes on the approaching menace.
"I say that our most apt course of action would be to try to shake off our pursuers."
Rufus nodded and turned to the others.
"You heard him" he said, voice rising. "Heave the anchor and hoist the mainsail! We are getting out of here!"
At once, the members of the troupe discarded their weariness as though it was an old coat and scrambled to their positions. Soon, the theater-ship was riding on the waves again,with Rufus at the helm. However, the pirates were not willing to let such a choise morsel slip out of their grasp so easily and gave chase.
"We have to scare them off" Eramus said. "Hopefully, a warning shot will suffice."
Among other things, the theater-ship also happened to be outfitted with a small cannon. Eramus now headed down the hold where the cannon was located, accompanied by Isso and another member of the troupe. Shortly thereafter, a thunderous noise could be heard and a black object came flying through the air, nearly hitting the broadside of the pirate ship.
By now everyone on the ship was awake, though some of them were still drowsy from the sudden awakening and so, several yawns could be heard across the deck.
Rufus turned to Eramus.
"You are our leader, what do you suggest we do?"
The Faun tugged on his goatee as he looked with serious eyes on the approaching menace.
"I say that our most apt course of action would be to try to shake off our pursuers."
Rufus nodded and turned to the others.
"You heard him" he said, voice rising. "Heave the anchor and hoist the mainsail! We are getting out of here!"
At once, the members of the troupe discarded their weariness as though it was an old coat and scrambled to their positions. Soon, the theater-ship was riding on the waves again,with Rufus at the helm. However, the pirates were not willing to let such a choise morsel slip out of their grasp so easily and gave chase.
"We have to scare them off" Eramus said. "Hopefully, a warning shot will suffice."
Among other things, the theater-ship also happened to be outfitted with a small cannon. Eramus now headed down the hold where the cannon was located, accompanied by Isso and another member of the troupe. Shortly thereafter, a thunderous noise could be heard and a black object came flying through the air, nearly hitting the broadside of the pirate ship.
Unfortunately, this did not deter the pirates and they answered by firing off a shot of their own. However, whereas Eramus had only fired the cannon in order to frighten their pursuers, the pirates had done so with the full intention of hitting their target. It was only thanks to Rufus' skilled captaining that the theater-ship was able to escape any damage. But how long would he be able to evade their antagonists and which side would run out of cannonballs first?
The Chase continued for what seemed like an eternity, with both pirates and actors caught up in a dance of endless attacks and evasions. Eventually, Eramus emerged from the hold and walked up to Rufus. They talked in hushed voices for awhile and then Eramus called for everyone to gather around, while Rufus kept steering the ship.
"My friends" he began. "We don't have much time and so, I shall be brief: Our situation is dire, we are almost out of ammunition and our pursuers seems intent on following us to the very end's of the World."
"Yeah, they're on us like flies on shit" muttered Leorin.
"Don't be so vulgar" Risha admonished him. "Where did you learn such an expression anyway?"
The Black kitten gazed up innocently at his sister.
"I heard you use it once" he said, in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Yes, well" Risha replied, flustered, feeling her cheeks turn red. "You should do as I say not as I do."
"Once they've caught up with us" Eramus continued, paying no heed to the sibling's whispered conversation. "Who knows what the pirates will do? There's a chance that they will show mercy and will only strip us of our valuables and then let us proceed on our way. If we are lucky, that is. However, I somehow doubt that we'll be that lucky. Rather than stay still and wait to be boarded, we have tried to escape the pirates and have even fired upon their ship! I think its more likely that once they reach us, they will either slaughter us, or sell us as slaves."
"Then let us fight" growled a canine member of the troupe. "We have working weapons aboard this ship, besides the canon and even if they haven't been used in awhile, we've always kept them in good shape."
Everyone agreed to this and with their leader at their head they went into the captain's cabin. There, a large cabinet filled with various weapons were being kept. Eramus hastily opened it and began handing out the weapons in questions. Just then, a voice spoke up:
"One moment."
It was Griselda. Eramus turned to her.
"Yes?"
"Surely, dahling, you can not mean for the youngest among us to risk their lives as well?" She pointed with her sun-feather, first at Leorin and then at the youngest member of the troupe; a female porcupine about the age of ten.
"You are quite right" Eramus agreed and turned to the girl. "Sara, do you remember where the hidden compartment in the hold is?"
"I do."
"Go there and hide. Lock the compartment from the inside, do not open until you hear a knocking like this..." Eramus knocked twice in rapid succession. Paused, and knocked once more.. "Understood?"
Sara nodded, her face serious. She walked up to Leorin and took him by the paw.
"Come" she said.
"I want to stay and fight" he said, petulantly.
"Don't be silly" his sister said. "You are going to stay where its safe."
"I don't want to" Leorin whined. He stomped his foot and seemed to be on the verge of crying.
Resisting an urge to slap her brother, Risha crouched in front of him.
"Leo, this is not a game, this is real."
"I know that..." He began, but his sister cut him off.
"Then you must know that people are going to die. I don't want there to be any possibility that you will be among them."
Leorin looked at Risha. For a moment, he thought about arguing further, but then his more mature side won out.
"Fine" he said, nodding and as he did, a terrible thought came over him. "Just, promise me something."
"Whatever you want."
"Don't die." Leorin then turned to Merees. "Look after my sister" he said, with a serious look on his face.
"I will."
Moments later, everyone stood on deck, weapon in hand.
The Pirate ship approached slowly, as if to draw out the tension. The Pirates grinned menacingly, brandishing the tools of their trade. Towering over them was their chief; a huge walrus, terrible to behold: His coat was the color of blood and one of his long teeth were made out of steel; the original had been lost many years ago in a fearsome battle with another buccaneer.
Now, the pirate captain inhaled, put his flippers at the side of his mouth and bellowed in a voice which caused the sails to shake.
"So, you've decided to quit running?! Good! Surrender and we'll promise that we shall only kill half of you for having inconvenienced us!"
"Go to Hell! Came the answer.
"So be it" the captain said, his voice was lower now, but no less menacing. Quite the opposite, actually.
On deck, Risha could feel Merees fingers brush against her own.
"Are you ready?" The Dragon asked.
Risha took a deep breath. Whatever happened, she was glad that Merees was by her side and that Leorin was safe. Before entering the hold, he and Cara had taken some biscuits and fruit from the galley's stores, so the two of them wouldn't go hungry.
Assuming a stance her father had taught her, the lynx-girl took a firmer grip on the blade which had been issued to her.
"Ready as I'll ever be" she replied.
The Chase continued for what seemed like an eternity, with both pirates and actors caught up in a dance of endless attacks and evasions. Eventually, Eramus emerged from the hold and walked up to Rufus. They talked in hushed voices for awhile and then Eramus called for everyone to gather around, while Rufus kept steering the ship.
"My friends" he began. "We don't have much time and so, I shall be brief: Our situation is dire, we are almost out of ammunition and our pursuers seems intent on following us to the very end's of the World."
"Yeah, they're on us like flies on shit" muttered Leorin.
"Don't be so vulgar" Risha admonished him. "Where did you learn such an expression anyway?"
The Black kitten gazed up innocently at his sister.
"I heard you use it once" he said, in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Yes, well" Risha replied, flustered, feeling her cheeks turn red. "You should do as I say not as I do."
"Once they've caught up with us" Eramus continued, paying no heed to the sibling's whispered conversation. "Who knows what the pirates will do? There's a chance that they will show mercy and will only strip us of our valuables and then let us proceed on our way. If we are lucky, that is. However, I somehow doubt that we'll be that lucky. Rather than stay still and wait to be boarded, we have tried to escape the pirates and have even fired upon their ship! I think its more likely that once they reach us, they will either slaughter us, or sell us as slaves."
"Then let us fight" growled a canine member of the troupe. "We have working weapons aboard this ship, besides the canon and even if they haven't been used in awhile, we've always kept them in good shape."
Everyone agreed to this and with their leader at their head they went into the captain's cabin. There, a large cabinet filled with various weapons were being kept. Eramus hastily opened it and began handing out the weapons in questions. Just then, a voice spoke up:
"One moment."
It was Griselda. Eramus turned to her.
"Yes?"
"Surely, dahling, you can not mean for the youngest among us to risk their lives as well?" She pointed with her sun-feather, first at Leorin and then at the youngest member of the troupe; a female porcupine about the age of ten.
"You are quite right" Eramus agreed and turned to the girl. "Sara, do you remember where the hidden compartment in the hold is?"
"I do."
"Go there and hide. Lock the compartment from the inside, do not open until you hear a knocking like this..." Eramus knocked twice in rapid succession. Paused, and knocked once more.. "Understood?"
Sara nodded, her face serious. She walked up to Leorin and took him by the paw.
"Come" she said.
"I want to stay and fight" he said, petulantly.
"Don't be silly" his sister said. "You are going to stay where its safe."
"I don't want to" Leorin whined. He stomped his foot and seemed to be on the verge of crying.
Resisting an urge to slap her brother, Risha crouched in front of him.
"Leo, this is not a game, this is real."
"I know that..." He began, but his sister cut him off.
"Then you must know that people are going to die. I don't want there to be any possibility that you will be among them."
Leorin looked at Risha. For a moment, he thought about arguing further, but then his more mature side won out.
"Fine" he said, nodding and as he did, a terrible thought came over him. "Just, promise me something."
"Whatever you want."
"Don't die." Leorin then turned to Merees. "Look after my sister" he said, with a serious look on his face.
"I will."
****
Moments later, everyone stood on deck, weapon in hand.
The Pirate ship approached slowly, as if to draw out the tension. The Pirates grinned menacingly, brandishing the tools of their trade. Towering over them was their chief; a huge walrus, terrible to behold: His coat was the color of blood and one of his long teeth were made out of steel; the original had been lost many years ago in a fearsome battle with another buccaneer.
Now, the pirate captain inhaled, put his flippers at the side of his mouth and bellowed in a voice which caused the sails to shake.
"So, you've decided to quit running?! Good! Surrender and we'll promise that we shall only kill half of you for having inconvenienced us!"
"Go to Hell! Came the answer.
"So be it" the captain said, his voice was lower now, but no less menacing. Quite the opposite, actually.
On deck, Risha could feel Merees fingers brush against her own.
"Are you ready?" The Dragon asked.
Risha took a deep breath. Whatever happened, she was glad that Merees was by her side and that Leorin was safe. Before entering the hold, he and Cara had taken some biscuits and fruit from the galley's stores, so the two of them wouldn't go hungry.
Assuming a stance her father had taught her, the lynx-girl took a firmer grip on the blade which had been issued to her.
"Ready as I'll ever be" she replied.
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