Witness if you will the continuing tale of Zabiki, a minstrel of sound, mind, and body. Kindly note that all gender-specific pronouns have been replaced with “ze” and “zer”. For those joining the story late; too bad for you. You’ll have to buy the book when it’s done.

 

 

 

 

Zabiki glanced around one last time at the room full of staggering, amiable sailors. There were faces ze would miss, and some that would pass from zer mind like a summer breeze. Ze caught the bartender’s eye with a meaningful glance toward zer server, and placed a handful of coins on the bar, then ze turned for the door. Ze strode briskly back toward the Elephant  to retrieve zer belongings. Along the way, ze heard the light scuffle of feet behind zer, and turned into an alley to lay in wait. Ze pulled out zer good dirk and held it behind zer leg. The hackles rose on zer neck when ze heard the soft ring of steel and a light tread. The Steward slunk around the corner!

Zabiki drew forth zer dirk just as ze was accosted. Blades rang together, and the Steward’s angry leer melted into apprehension. Still, ze was no novice with the sword, so ze continued the attack. “I meant to slit your throat unawares, Zabiki, but it seems you are too sharp for that. So I will carve you up in full combat!” The two were evenly matched in height and weight, but the Steward’s skills were stronger. With every lunge and parry, every riposte and feint, Zabiki could feel the wind of his adversary’s thrusts drawing nearer. All the while, ze kept up a steady rant if bile and accusation. “You are a sweet little sailor, aren’t you, to covet the attentions of my Captain? You think the Mate and I did not see your design? Ze was ours, you filthy interloper! We shared our Captain’s bed and zer appreciations until you came along. Now ze will never see us in the same light again!” Inexorably, ze backed Zabiki down the alley until zer back struck against its blind end, constantly haranguing zer as they battled.  Ze could see that the Steward was playing with zer, relishing zer  struggles; nicking zer shoulders and arms, slashing rents in zer clothes. “Even now, your ardent Captain no doubt lays with a great wide smile under zer chin in the very bed ze intended to consummate your vile tryst in!” This galvanized Zabiki into greater effort, brothers and sisters, for ze did care for the Captain. Zer blade whirled, albeit clumsily, in a fashion that took the Steward aback, and ze slipped backward on some slimy refuse that lay on the cobblestones. As Zabiki pressed forward, zer toe hooked behind the Steward’s heel, and pulled zer feet out from under zer. Shock glazed the Steward’s eyes, and ze flipped headlong to the street. Zabiki heard a sickening crunch, then zer foe twitched mightily and went rigid, then slack. Heart a’banging in zer ribcage, Zabiki turned to see if anyone had witnessed the battle.  The alley was deadly silent. Sheathing zer unbloodied dirk, ze composed zerself and strode purposefully into the street. Ze tried to appear unhurried in zer pace as ze made for the Pilot’s Wheel. Ze found the suite door, looked around, and slipped in.

It was a grim sight that met our fair minstrel there, siblings. Ze saw the Captain, hunched over at a corner desk. Ze saw a great puddle of blood on the books and maps that lay open there, and ze saw how it had cascaded over zer Captain’s knees and onto the rug below. There was no doubt that ze was dead. Zabiki put zer hands to zer temples and stood a moment; silent, shaking, stunned. Then ze composed zerself, and walked boldly out the door. Zer eyes scanned constantly as ze made zer way back to the Elephant; risky as it was, ze must retrieve zer lute.

The pier was quiet and the sun was setting when ze strode up the gangplank of the Elephant. The deck watch greeted zer in comradely fashion, bemoaning the duty that kept zer from the festivities. Zabiki managed to choke out a friendly rejoinder, then made for zer berth. Ze took zer things and left the barge, glad of the darkness that now covered zer tattered clothes and zer mournful and apprehensive face. The Mate must be lurking out there somewhere. Zabiki, numb as ze was, knew ze would be no match for the jealous spite ze would face. Shoulders sagging, ze wended through the streets of Elemis in search of a place to rest.