by Simon Archer
More muttering and nervous shifting went through the room, and I stayed silent until it settled down again, then continued. “She’s a deep-water craft an’ bigger than anythin’. Hundreds o’ cannons, likely thousands o’ crew. One broadside could easily send even Cap’n Markland’s ship to the bottom o’ the sea in pieces.”
“How do you mean to fight that, then?” someone asked.
“I mean to board her, find the Admiral, an’ kill him,” I replied. That silenced everyone. All eyes focused on the barmy orc that stood on the dais between Sturmgar Ironhand and Bloody Bill Markland. I allowed a small grin to tease over my face. “My coven o’ witches, Tabitha Binx, and I will enter The Pale Horse through a breach in the lower hull and fight our way to where Layne is holed up.”
“Hell, Cap’n,” someone else called out, “how do ye mean to breach her hull?”
“I think most o’ ye say that odd ship that followed mine an’ moved without sail or oar, aye? She’s a dwarven ironclad, an’ with enough of a distraction holding the eyes an’ guns o’ The Pale Horse an’ her guardians, she can make the breach.” I spread my arms and shrugged. “But I can’t get her close enough without the largest naval assault the Archipelago’s ever seen.”
“That’s ye lads,” Bill spoke up.
“Aye,” I said. “Now before ye go askin’ what’s in it for ye, I’ve heard tell that some smart sons-of-bitches approached Bloody Bill here with a thought to create a town ruled by pirates. Ye want Avion, an’ I’m willing to hand it to ye on a bloody platter o’ fire an’ powder smoke.”
I leaned forward and glared at each and every one there. “So, I’m askin’, do ye bastards stand up an’ follow me to glory? Or do ye slink off to yer holes and profit from the blood an’ sweat o’ yer betters? Be ye pirates, or be ye cowards?”
“Before ye answer, lads,” Sturmgar boomed out, silencing the sudden swell of conversation with his powerful voice. “Let me tell ye that there be fisherfolk and merchants out there willin’ to fight an’ die for this, an’ if ye pull craven, then I’ll make sure yer name finds its way to every port o’ call ye might seek out among the free towns. So, I’d consider choosin’ yer words carefully.”
I nodded to Bill and Sturmgar, then crossed my arms and looked imperiously out over the crowd as conversations bloomed.
“I’m in,” Kieran Stannmos called out in a clear voice as she stood and faced me. “The Coral Spear stands ready.”
I met the elven woman’s gaze thoughtfully and gave her a respectful incline of my head. She returned it with a faint smirk and a nod of her own.
“Why the hell not?” Von Kolter bellowed. “Hellmaw stands ready.”
With that, the dam opened, and one by one, the assembled pirate captains threw their lot in with my crazy plan and asserted the readiness of their ships. Occasionally, they spoke over or interrupted each other, but the proceedings remained unusually peaceful. The pirates’ code in action, I supposed.
When things finally settled, I picked up the figurative gavel once more and laid out my plan.
“Unless the tide had turned,” I said, “most o’ Layne’s forces are mustered at the shipyard an’ the fort of Avion, about five miles from where The Pale Horse floats. My inclination is that he’s expectin’ us to focus on him an’ ignore the land.”
I shook my head. “I ain’t of a mind to do that. The siren, Ligeia, will see to a fog that’ll block the view an’ sing to the assembled ships of the Admiralty. I’d like some volunteers to take the fort, and some others to board or disable the ships while they be under her spell.”
Several captains raised their hands, and I nodded. “See me after this.” I turned to the others. “Now, for the rest o’ ye, we’ll want to draw off any ships protectin’ The Pale Horse to clear the way for a charge straight at her. This’ll be the most dangerous part o’ the plan, I reckon, so I’m takin’ my folks: Jimmy Mocker on The Hullbreaker, me on The Echo, Shrike an’ The Wasp, Kargad on’ Sirensong, an’ Jenny Nettles on The Black Cat. If anyone else be interested in joinin’ the spearhead, speak now.”
“Me,” Bloody Bill volunteered, catching me completely by surprise.
Then Kieran spoke up, and I had to work hard to keep my jaw from dropping all the way to the floor. “I want in on this, too.”
“That’s two.” I nodded to each of the captains who’d just volunteered. “The rest o’ ye will engage the ships protectin’ Layne’s vessel to try an’ sink ‘em or draw ‘em off. I’m expectin’ half o’ the fleet to go around Avion on the west an’ the other half around the east. We’ll hit the bastards from both sides. I ain’t expectin’ to surprise ‘em, but with any fortune, The Pale Horse won’t be ready to sail. She’s been sittin’ at anchor these past months while workmen attend her.”
I glanced over at Sturmgar, then Bill, and looked out at the gathered captains. “However, I ain’t gonna assume that Layne isn’t trying to rope us in on a full assault o’ his ship, so he can tear us apart with ease. Splittin’ up an’ staying spread out will give us the best chance to survive an’ win this. That be it for me. Any questions?”
Peter Wry raised his hand.
“Aye?” I said, acknowledging him.
“What about capturin’ ships?” he wanted to know. “We allowed to board, or do ye just want us to sink or disable everythin’ we can?”
“Do whatever ye do best,” I said after a moment’s thought.
Peter nodded and leaned back in his chair. I could see his jaw working as he mulled over his options.
I gave the assembled group a few more minutes, but no other hands went up. Most of them, in fact, had started to huddle together and discuss their options. Bill leaned back and stretched out languidly in his chair as he watched the room with hooded eyes and a vaguely amused expression.
Sturmgar met my eyes when I looked his way and smiled reassuringly. “I’ll organize the free town’s ships,” he said quietly. “Don’t ye worry none, lad.”
“I ain’t,” I said to him. “Ye, I trust.”
He chuckled, and I turned back to the room at large. “All right, ye lot, set to. We sail in the mornin’ o’ the day after tomorrow. If ye ain’t ready to go, ye don’t get a share o’ the spoils, so off with ye.”
32
It was after the meeting that Commodore Potts caught up with me. He marched straight up as the other pirates filed out and fixed me with a steely gaze. I hardly recognized him. Not a lot of time had passed, but the heavyset man had lost a fair bit of his once-soft edges. He was still bearded and broad-shouldered, with clear eyes and a steel cap where his right hand had been.
“Commodore,” I said, acknowledging him. “I hope ye realize that I be right glad ye survived our fight.”
“As am I, son,” he said with a snort of laughter.
“What happened?” I asked.
“I blacked out when I hit the water,” he explained. “Next thing I know, I’m being dragged out of the surf by a couple of Imperials on this nice little island outside the shipping lanes. They patched me up and showed me where, lo and behold, the remains of my galleon had been dragged up on the shore. A couple of my flotilla had survived the attack and followed at a safe distance, and we were rescued in short order. Quite a series of coincidences, though I can’t say I was happy that much of my ship was rendered down for parts.”
“My apologies,” I said, not feeling the least bit sorry. “It seems as if my ships took a bit of damage in that fight an’ needed some repair work. Lumber an’ fittin’s were a bit short, an’ we had a nigh-sunk galleon laying around.”
Potts snorted again. “Spoils of war and all that. I’d have done the same to you, and we both know it. Thing is, I ended up on the losing side of that.”
I just nodded and waited. The man had a point, and I wished he’d get to it.
“You mean to attack Avion and turn it over to the pirates?” he asked.
“That be the nature o’ our agreement,” I said with a nod.
“Wha
t about the non-combatants living there?” The commodore tucked the thumb of his remaining hand in his belt and regarded me.
“If I ask Ligeia, she’ll allow no harm to come to them if that be what ye are askin’.”
Potts nodded slowly. “Admiral Layne has gone rogue. I partook in his operation to attempt recovery of that damned treasure ship in hopes of gaining more information to take back to the Emperor about the man’s operations here in the Archipelago. I have seen his insane attempt at a floating dreadnought with my own eyes, and if not for certain familial traits, I would have fallen under the spell of his man, Lack.”
He shook his head slowly before he continued. “What I would like to propose is an alliance of convenience, Captain. I am, it seems, without a ship. Give me one and assign me part of the effort to take the fort, and provided no civilians are grossly threatened, I’ll stand down, return to the Emperor, and recommend pardons for every bastard privateer and fisherman with delusions of grandeur that partakes in this insanity.”
I pointed towards a familiar face. “Ye recognize Edison Sloan?”
“Oh, aye,” he replied. “Promising young captain there. Changed sides?”
“Aye, after I spared an’ saved his life. Seems the Admiral’s madness isn’t the best kept secret in the isles.” I shrugged. “He’s got two ships under his command. Tell him I want him helpin’ with the fort, an’ that ye will be takin’ command o’ one o’ his ships.”
“You believe he’ll go along with that?” Potts asked.
“If I tell him to, aye,” I replied.
The commodore nodded slowly and turned to me and inclined his head before giving me a formal, Imperial salute. “We have a deal then? I understand that this is customary.” With that, he spat into his left hand and held it out to me.
“Aye, we do,” I replied, clasping hands with him. “Though I be thinkin’ a pardon might not be for me. The rest’ll tell ye yea or nay depending, once this fightin’ be done.”
“Understood. Well met, Captain. I hope to see you again afterward.”
I grinned back at Potts. “Ye will, one way or another.”
He nodded pensively and stalked off to speak with Sloan. I reached up to rub the bridge of my nose, then left to go about my business. There was a lot to do, and precious little time left to do it in.
The rest of that day and night was a blur of preparation and organization. I think I talked myself hoarse answering questions and giving orders to the largest group of infants I’d ever had the displeasure of babysitting. By the time I retired on the night before we sailed, I was ready to leave fully two-thirds of my so-called allies behind and take my chances.
Pragmatism won out, though. I needed this entire force, despite the aggravation they provided me. At least I was able to take comfort with my wives and forget, at least for a little while, the yammering of the captains and their quartermasters forgotten.
In the early morning hours, I formally passed off the captaincy of The Hullbreaker to Jimmy Mocker, then rowed out to where the silent ironclad sat in the harbor. Mary, Ember, Rhianne, and Tabitha were with me. I’d weighed the possibility of bringing Daka and Dogar but decided against it. They were the best with the cannon crew short of Bord and his dwarves who’d be steaming with me on the ironclad.
Adra would be aboard Sirensong, working her magic, while Nagra, Kargad’s daughter, would be on The Wasp. The two of them would be filling a major role, as there was little witchiness left, with me taking most of them on the mission into The Pale Horse. Ligeia, though, would be underwater with Tiny and the King Narwhal, who seemed more or less content to stay with the siren. I’d seen no sign of the lascu, but since they weren’t the monstrosities that their mother had been, perhaps they already lurked below.
No townsfolk or errant sailors had disappeared near the water’s edge, at least.
Everyone’s nerves were on edge at this point, and I witnessed a few fistfights the night before. For my part, I was a bit over-eager, perhaps. I was ready for this to be over with, whether I won or went out in a blaze of glory in battle against a terrible foe.
Soon, everything would be decided.
“Alright, Bord,” I said. “Signal Jimmy on The Hullbreaker. ‘Tis time.”
“Aye, Cap’n,” the old dwarf grumbled and stomped off out of the wheelhouse. Mary and Tabitha both watched him go as I turned my attention to the open shutters.
“Less than two days,” I said, “and we’ll finally see the end o’ this.”
“Do ye think The Pale Horse be ready to sail?” Tabitha asked.
“Like as not,” I replied. “I ain’t even sure killin’ Lack set Ol’ Layne back any. If anything, the bastard probably means to trap us.”
“But we are expecting trouble, so at least it won’t come as a surprise,” Mary observed, then smiled. “Our strategy is strong, our fleet is large. Perhaps ‘tis we who will surprise the Admiral, instead of the other way around.”
“That’s the hope, at least,” I said.
Bord poked his head in. “Signal sent, Cap’n. Boilers at pressure. The crew stands ready for yer orders.”
I reached over and wrapped my fingers around the lever that controlled the ironclad’s speed. “Raise the anchor, cannonmaster, an’ let’s be off.”
“Aye, Cap’n,” the dwarf said and pulled down the speaking bell. “Raise the anchor,” he commanded.
Moments later, a mechanical clanking reverberated through the hull for a few minutes, then stopped with a heavy, echoing thud. “Anchor’s up, Cap’n.”
I nodded and eased the lever forward until it settled into the first notch. A low pulsing began as the engines started to chug along faster. Slowly, The Echo began to gather speed, and I turned the wheel to angle us out towards the open sea.
“Keep lookouts posted,” I commanded. “I want to know what the other ships are doing.”
“Aye, Cap’n,” Bord answered.
That was the problem with this armored hulk. It traded field of view for protection and raw speed, despite a loss of maneuverability at the upper notches of the throttle. If we survived this fight, I meant to speak with Bord about ways to improve that. Perhaps a larger rudder would help. With the gold from the treasure ship and further salvage from the wrecks we’d sunk, money certainly wouldn’t be nearly the problem it had been.
We steamed out into the open sea and turned south. The large island of Avion loomed just over the horizon, but she’d take a full day to sail around, even under full steam. Once again, the slowest ship in the fleet set our pace. The rendezvous with Admiral Justin Layne would wait a couple of days, unfortunately.
Meanwhile, we’d all stew in our own juices for a while. The Echo lacked a few amenities I’d have liked, such as my luxurious cabin on The Hullbreaker and the baths. I let out a sigh. At least the open shutters admitted enough of a breeze to provide some relief from the heat generated by the furnace below in the bowels of the ship.
“I have to say,” Tabitha said, leaning on the unshielded opening to peer out at the sea ahead. “Havin’ the wheelhouse at this spot on the ship kinda makes more sense to me than puttin’ it all the way to the back.”
“That has to do with how the mechanics o’ the rudder works, ye know,” I commented.
“Aye, an’ the prow be most likely to take cannonfire when ye charge at a ship broadside,” she mused. “But with the bloody armor this thing be havin’, it ain’t like most cannons will do more’n ring yer bells.”
“That makes me wonder how bloody loud it gets in here when the balls start bouncin’,” I said, eyeing the six-inch thick plates of the shutters.
“Methinks quite,” Bord chortled as he stepped into the wheelhouse.
“‘Tis funny,” Mary opined. “I rather like being inside and out of the wind. The warmth is nice, too.”
“Ye won’t like it so much when we be buttoned up, lass,” the cannonmaster said. “She gets a might ripe, an’ if anyone’s been diggin’ into the beans, well…”
My witch laughed softly. “I see your point.”
I snorted and shook my head after glancing back at the two of them, then peered out to the front. The pale shape of the King Narwhal breached and blew and went under, then Tiny followed in his example, only with a hissing roar.
At least the two monsters seemed to be getting along. I sighed and scowled. I’d forgotten to ask Ligeia about the lascu, and there’d likely be no time for a discussion as we plunged ahead. The ships would be heading straight into combat as soon as we rounded Avion and approached the fort and shipyard. Most of us would be hitting The Pale Horse and her escort from the front and rear while the siren, Edison Sloan, and Commodore Potts would command the expeditionary force slated to take the landside emplacements and disable the reinforcements.
We’d planned our courses and speeds as precisely as possible. The slower ships made for the shortest path around the island while I spearheaded the run around the longer side. We’d arrive close to the same time if all went well, and I didn’t want to think about what might happen if it didn’t, or if the weather turned foul on us.
Adra and I were convinced we’d reach our goal under the typical cloud cover that plagued the Archipelago and limited agriculture across the islands. To satisfy myself, I refocused my gaze to peer across the barrier and into the world of spirits.
Elementals of air and water coursed along with us. Life teemed in the nearby seas, a small army of bright-burning spots coursing after the larger, vital forms of Tiny, King, and Ligeia. High above, the clouds scudded along, following the path of the winds wherever it carried them. There was no sign of a growing tempest, though we might encounter some rain as we ran close to the island.
That was satisfactory.
“Where be Ember?” I asked once I’d returned my sight to the material world.
“Down below,” Bord answered before Tabitha could. “The lass seems fascinated by the furnace, an’ she actually had some suggestions for enhancin’ it, so I figured I’d let her be. Never figured that ye’d set me so at ease with witches that I’d let one fuck with my engines.”
