The throne chamber was more of a tower than a hall. The round wall rose endlessly, hiding the ceiling behind rays that filtered through gaps hidden amongst thousands of carved sculptures of Hanan’s sea demons. It was a wicked sign, Uri thought. Wicked and blasphemous. Everything in the Palace of Skulls, where the new Queen Harpy wad been crowned, was.

Uri didn’t believe in any of that old-fashioned nonsense, of course. But being planted under such a display of ignorance infuriated the true gods, and that made her nervous. Far more than the gathering of scum from all parts of the Ring of Commerce that crowded around.

Mercenary chiefs, pirate captains and gang leaders were all with their eyes fixed on the circle of thrones, right in the centre of the room. When the old Harpy had reigned, her throne, though more elaborate than the mere chairs of her daughters, had always been at the same height as the others. Now, the new Queen had ordered that her seat, won by blood and fire, was to be raised over a platform covered with the most exquisite rugs from the Red Island. Her new throne, bathed in gold and precious stones, was as vain as it was ostentatious.

Uri hated vanity and ostentation, as well as cowardice and treachery. All that was dishonourable. And the youngest of the sisters, who now sat higher than the remaining others, amassed all.

“She’s just a toddler,” whispered a hoarse voice, raising a nervous and subtle shush from behind her. The new Queen was around her fifteenth year, but none of the qualities of a womanhood had graced her yet, and although she knew how to behave cold and calculating like any adult, she did not look as like. She was dressed in a red Ceremony Han outfit and, although not married, she tied her black hair in a high bun, held by the golden comb her stepmother wore as the supreme Queen of the seas. Lee Ping, as the old Mama’thumbs had baptised her, was showing a safe and confident pose, raising her chin and smirking every time one of her sisters joined the thrones to declare absolute submission. She did it when Indri, the fifth daughter, bowed to the floor, and she did it when Otoke-Dan, Uri’s Master, bent the knees .

Uri detested the little brat for that. Even from the other side of the hall, how easy it could have been to blow her head with her breach loader. She was an excellent shot. Or even rush towards the centre, Tagee knifes at hand, kill the two oversized guards at her side and any scumbag who dared to interfere and then cut her throat. She could do that easily. She’d never brag: That was sinful. She’d die with honour taking the rascal with her, giving her Master a chance to gain what was her rightful place. Sadly for her but lucky for the new Queen, weapons were not allowed and her precious Jô daggers and Northerner rifle were outside.

The keeper of the Ruler’s seal hit the ground with his staff and shouted. “Samalia, The Blue Siren of the Red Island.” It was the first time Uri had seen the fourth daughter. She was wearing a novelty dress of the Al-Madassi. The blue silk barely hid her figure. A body as perfectly shaped as Inri’s who, being younger and prone to physical work, was by far the one with the best proportions, although she always hid it under men’s fashion. Inri was a fierce and courageous fighter, values Uri held dear. Once, when she was young, Uri was deeply in love with her, but with time and experience, she realised how little the fifth sister cared about honour and loyalty.

Today, dressed with her usual rags except for a ceremonial bucko’s red sash over her waist, Inri was challenging her older sisters with an arrogant stance, leaning on her back exaggeratedly as if she had fallen from the roof. Inri’s purple-like eyes followed Samalia up to her chair. The Blue siren sat with extreme elegance that yet, couldn’t match Uri’s Master either. Otoke-Dan was by far the most graceful woman in the southern cluster. And even being the third oldest, she was still as gorgeous as her sisters. Of course, that wasn’t only what made that woman Uri’s whole world. Master was a person of commitment, who valued trust, discipline and honour amongst everything else, and for that, she’d always loved her.

Samalia, who wore a deep dark makeup to enhance her blue eyes, let out a glimpse of frustration. The Hall was a battlefield fought not with swords, but with subtleties. The slightest move, a jewellery choice, or even a perfume were all hints, tricks and warnings. Court matters a simple peasant like Uri would never understand. The Siren, who for sure prepared for hours to look and move at her best, didn’t match her sisters, and she knew it.

The next to enter was Damayana, the Purple star of Tampraparni. She was even bigger than Uri remembered. She plodded to the centre of the chamber, accompanied by two assistants that made sure she didn’t entangle her fat legs over the Parni long dress. The Purple star, once as beautiful as her sisters, had never been a true pirate and because of that, she had always been a disappointment to the Harpy. Years of distrust and neglect pushed the second daughter into a life of debauchery. Too busy preparing banquets and romancing lords, she avoided any involvement with family affairs and only joined her sisters when the laws of piracy required.

With an exaggerated grin, Damayana bent to a bow without success. Lee Ping, openly disgusted, dismissed her with a repeated hand wave. The Purple star, trying not to lose the little composure she still had, collapsed on the chair resoundingly. Then, she gifted each of her siblings with an embarrassing and clearly contrived beam, none but Otoke-Dan greeted back. Uri wished her Master was the one sitting on the Throne. She was, after all, who deserved it the most. A destiny taken from her hands only because they had to plunder the same waters of the Terrible Uwe, a formidable adversary that drained her Master’s forces for years. Instead, now they had a despicable kid. The person she detested the most in that room. Or that she taught. As the purple star trone squeezed, the hoarse voice from behind buffed a curse, unmasking who had been silencing him for a while. The voice of the man that Uri had hated to extremes only the true gods could understand.

“Shut up, J.J. You’re going to execute us all, idiot,” William whispered. Uri clenched her teeth and held her breath. She closed her eyes and released the air slowly, holding an urge to turn and kill that man with her bare hands. She could not curse her gods, not even question them, but Uri asked, humbly, why did they punish her with that man’s presence. William had been behind her all afternoon, so it was certain he knew she was there. It was just a matter of when he was going to approach.

After everyone who hadn’t opposed the new queen entered, it was the turn of who had. Two fought The Queen for the seat. Inisha, The Lady of Cards, who after the betrayal of the lizards was punished and imprisoned, and Lei Shi, the Wind of the East, who fought until all her ships sunk. Lei, the eldest of the sisters, was one of the strongest and savage women Uri ever met. Now, naked and in chains, she was nothing buta frail and broken elder. Bitten and exhausted. And yet , her gaze was still fierce and full of pride.

The Keeper spoke. “The traitor, seeing the immeasurable disadvantage she had against the Queen of Queens, has surrendered. She agreed to remain a prisoner in the Tower of Laments in exchange for the forgiveness of all her remaining forces.

“Let it be this way, as the Queen of Queens wishes.”

The older sister was turning away when the young Queen spoke with a shrill voice. “No.”

As the Keeper could not hide his surprise, a rumble broke around Uri. The fear of a sororicide that could return the pirate wars into the Ring, engulfed the hall. It was the law of the old Harpy. No sister would kill another. If that happened, deals, alliances and truces would break into pieces forever. With tension rising to the hidden ceilings, the Queen spoke again.

“I indeed wish you to remain the rest of your days in the tower. But we are not done.

“Your actions against all of us cannot go unpunished. You, like the Lady of Cards, who dared to challenge me, will get the cat o’nine. That’s my will.”

The Keeper of Seals sighed with relief to don't have to order the execution and inspected the room, studying any subtlety, terrified of finding a hint of discontent. “Let it be this way,” he mumbled. “As the Queen of Queens wishes.”

With no more delay, a strong, tall man brought a multi-tailed flail with a small claw on each thong’s end and began the punishment. The eldest sister didn’t blink. Didn’t knee. As she took the punishment stoically, her sisters reacted in different ways each.

While the little Queen seemed to enjoy the spectacle, The Purple star turned her head without shame. Indri’s eyes were fixed on her motionless older sister with the amusement of her resilience. Otoke-Dan, the way she was, didn’t show any hint of either approval or disapproval for that unnecessary punishment, only intended to remind everyone the Queen was as powerful as heartless.

The echo of each scourge sounded loud and sharp. It took over twenty lashes to weaken the Wind of the East legs, and with blood surrounding her feet, she slipped and fell on her knees. Only then, satisfied, the Queen made it stop with a finger.

After the gruesomes ended, with the Lei Shi gone and slaves cleaning the floor, Uri’s worst nightmare arrived with silent steps. William was a sneaky bastard, but not good enough to surprise her. Uri was never surprised. Before his hideous breath could caress her skin, she raised her fist menacingly, gaze fixed up front. “Close enough. What do you want?”

“Just to say hi to an old friend,” answered William.

“William Brock has no friends.” muttered her.

Glancing sideways to keep his hands in check, Uri saw Brock’s shoulders lifting. “I once had. You were one of them, remember?”

“I only remember a silly girl that you manipulated. You already said hello, now get out. Or do I have to take out your intestines and make you chew them?”

Brock hissed. “You need your, what is the name of that wood hilt dagger, Tagee? Saw them outside, not here.”

Before Uri could spit more rage through her teeth, the hoarse voice men stepped forward. He was as hideous as foetid. “Hey Broccoli, the Swan’s turn.”

In front of the throne, the Gecko’s new ruler, a big cumbersome Parni man, was kneeling to the Queen. Everyone knew by now how the Geckos had betrayed the Lady of Cards and in doing so, they were now the right hand of the Queen. Another betrayer: Another dishonourable scum Uri put in her list of soon-to-be-dead. A list that Brock headed.

“I know you well.” Brock said. “ But you cannot do a thing. Your master has sworn obedience to the Queen, so we are on the same side.” Uri squeezed her pants, holding the will of her fist. She gazed at him straight, willing to pest him out with the rage of her soul. Brock didn’t react as she wished, and sighed deeply instead.

He somehow didn’t change much over the years. His face was more tired and slightly wrinkled and, his eyes, were empty of youth and hope. “You let your hair grow really long,” he said. “What happened to the ‘I like the Indri style’?.”

Uri checked on the warrior sister. Her black hair was held by a bandana tied over the forehead, falling over it to chin length. She once wore it in the same fashion as she admired the woman. That was before she realised who she really was.

“Indri is a cunning and dishonourable person. Like your Swan and like you.” Uri glanced at the side of his incredibly long curls, where the half of the ear she once chewed off was supposed to be. “You let yours grow to match your ridiculous nickname. And to hide your shame.”

With the stab of Uri’s words showing over his face, Brock nervously pulled his curls to cover the side better. Uri showed her amusement openly, rejoicing at Brock’s discomfort on the matter.

“Did you notice the Queen’s reaction to Samalia?” He asked, still pulling his hair down. “I think the Siren still has something to say on this. Your Hama must-”

“You are not one to refer to my Master that way!” Uri said with a volume that drew complaints and disapproving looks from around her. Embarrassed at losing her temper, she lowered her tone and continued. “Your continuous attempts to speak the words of my language embarrass my ancestors. Do not do it again or-”

“Or I’ll chew my intestines, I got it.” whispered Brock with a hint of sadness.

The man with the dreadful scared face took a step closer and whispered excitedly. “Eighty percent Broccoli, eighty!”

“Piracy in the sou-west of the ring is almost impossible. Eighty percent of nothing is nothing, J.J.”

“I will take care of that,” J.J. said after a proud growl.

Finished the ceremony, the Queen left in view of a crowd of bowing heads. Next was the Purple star, who retired as fast as her clumsy legs allowed. The rest of the sisters gathered. The fight of subtleties was over. Now was the time of an exchange of sweet poisoned words.

“Well, as much as I'd like to catch up, we will leave first,” Brock said. “I’m not hungry yet.” The gecko chuckled slightly at Uri’s huff. “See you around,” he added, now from a distance.

“Hope not,” she whispered, more to herself.

The Queen’s guards, inviting everyone to leave the hall, didn’t bother with her. They knew well enough she wouldn’t leave her master alone. She waited and waited until the room was only for the sisters and their respective bodyguards. The lights from outside turned orange and then red, fading completely by the time Master was finished. “The Stingray is on the run.” Otoke-Dan said in her melodic voice, almost as if she was singing. “Indri is taking the South East. That places pressure on us. We need to put an end to the Uwe threat once and for all.”

Uri would have liked to say that was impossible. To defeat them, she needed more ships and men. She remained silent. She’d never dared talk to her Master of such weakness. She took a few steps forward to cross the exit arch first, observing every detail. After the corridor, her team was waiting at the ready with her rifle and daggers. Armed, she felt whole again. “Master,”

“I know, I know. That’s why I’m going to make an alliance with him.” Uri’s guts twisted. Nor the sight of the new Queen or even the voice of William felt so nauseating as the words she knew were coming. Her soul broke. Her world, crushed. Tensing her body, she took the next sentence like the stab of a dagger. “I will send a marriage proposal as soon as we return.”