The Sea Is Ours by Jaymee Goh

captain’s room in order to stay awake.
    The New Manila princess entered soon after Dato left. She had changed back to her baro’t saya, her hair re-braided into one side, neat and clean. She had looked almost like the young woman who had traipsed in near Bulkang Mayon to proffer a deal. Smooth-skinned and pale, unblemished by nature. Almost.
    Mixa caught Caliso’s gaze upon her marked face and arms, upon the tattoo of the carabao, which had been boiled out of existence. The princess forced a smile to her face. “Dato says you call them trophies.” She placed a hand reflexively on a peeling patch of skin on her upper arm and winced. “Your medic could only do so much to soften the blow, but I suppose there was still going to be some pain.”
    â€œThe burns are a sign of respect,” Caliso said. “The more unevenly colored your skin, the more telling your life.”
    â€œThen I will bear it proudly,” Mixa said. She remained standing by the doorway. Some moments of silence ensued, then, “Why?”
    The rest of the question was easy to guess. Caliso looked at Mixa, at the princess worth a hefty Cebuano ransom. Why indeed? Mixa had only been on the Amihan for less than a day, and yet she stood there as casually as though she’d been part of the crew for years.
    She belonged on the Amihan.
    Easy now, think it through
, her inner voice said. But a captain did not have room for doubt. She did not answer Mixa’s question. Instead, “I have a proposal for you.”
    Mixa nodded, walking inside, her hands resting upon the back of a high chair.
    â€œYou left out a few things about your work on your brother’s ship.”
    â€œSadly yes,” Mixa admitted. “It is the curse of being the only daughter of a royal line. I am meant to be wed, not to learn tricks. Father wanted me to be aware of volcanoes, yes, but I did so in the safety of Kuya Raksan’s cabins. I spent most of my time with the strategists and engineers. I most near lived in the boiler rooms where I heard stories of how kuya’s crew siphoned gases from exploding mountains. I helped with some of the designs myself. But that does not seem terribly important anymore.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œAs you can see,” the princess crooked half her mouth in a small smile. “I’ve left Kuya Raksan’s care. I chose to help the settlers rebuild, to start a life beyond the one Cebu City offered northerners. My tatay and kuyas all believe that to beat the Cebuanos, one must retain the power of the volcanoes. It is why the Kalibutan chases eruptions so doggedly across the north. One day, they will amass the power they want. Perhaps they might even regain their rightful place as monarchs.”
    â€œBut you don’t believe this?”
    The New Manila princess shrugged. “I think they forget how many people there are still trying to make ends meet. Not everyone lives in cities and airships. The Legazpi settlers have taught me that.” Mixa removed her hands from the chair and sat. “They’re back on the Hills now, and I’ve already said my goodbyes. So you can collect your fee any which way you want.”
    Caliso raised an eyebrow. Mixa must have known what she’d planned to do all along. “Did Dato tell you?”
    â€œNo,” Mixa said. “But it was easy enough to guess. Everyone knows how much it costs to harbor northern royalty. It would be stupid not to hand me over. That was your proposal, wasn’t it?”
    It had seemed so long since Caliso’s last good laugh. The sound had been hoarse, a result from the poison that had just been recently purged out of her system. But she laughed, much to Mixa’s consternation. When she finally stopped, she wiped her tears with her thin covering.
    â€œI’m so glad you find this amusing,” Mixa said drily.
    â€œI do,” Caliso said. She smiled at the woman. “I’m here to