by Jaxon Reed
He took a deep breath, his barrel chest expanding dramatically. He held it for a moment, then blew it out in a long gusty gale. The canvas in the sails snapped and the ship rocked sharply to one side.
Quent said, “Cut it out, Plinny. You’ll capsize us!”
Plinny stopped and glanced around, a self-satisfied smile on his face. He said, “See? Me blowhard spell! Cap’n likes to have me along in case the wind dies. One time, we was becalmed after capturing a ship filled with goods from the southern islands. Had her in tow, but there was nary a breeze in sight. Neither ship could catch a breath o’ wind. The water were flat that day. Ne’er seen the likes afore nor since.
“Cap’n calls me up to his quarters and says, ‘Plinny, I hears ye gots a spell that can blow like a sneeze from Old Man Winter!’ An’ I says, ‘Aye, but ’tain’t near as cold!’
“He put me out near the foremast, an’ I blew us home, the prize in tow! I blew all day and mos’ the night. By morning light the Cap’n could open the way to Corsairs Cove again!”
Grom looked up at him and said, “Alright, alright. You gots magic. Now hush and let’s play another hand. I wants a chance at winning back me silver.”
As the next round started, young Cuppers wandered up to the two officers. He seemed bright-eyed and fresh, despite the hour, and beaming with happiness. Stin noticed with some envy the boy did not seem the least bit seasick.
Quent said, “Mm. All finished with the cleaning?”
Cuppers nodded.
“The cook give you something to eat?”
Cuppers nodded again.
“Very well then. I suppose you can dawdle a while until bedtime.”
Cuppers sat on the deck and watched as the sailors played more rounds. Grom won three in a row. He smiled slyly at Plinny, who now sat with his armed crossed, frowning.
Stin quirked an eyebrow at Quent, who shook his head and said, “Grom’s not using magic. He’s just having a string of good luck.”
Cuppers said, “I want to play bone-cards!”
Quent said, “Mm. You’re too young to play games of chance. Besides, you don’t have any money.”
“Soon as we capture our prize ship, sirrah, I’ll be rich as all get out! Then I can play games of chance, and buy me mum a new house, and have boys drive me around in a cart for a change!”
Stin said, “Noble ambitions.”
He had a half a mind to give the boy a few silver just to let him get the taste of the game, but he decided against it since Quent had already spoken against the matter.
Instead, the three of them continued watching. In the end, Grom ended up with the most winnings. Plinny demanded another game. The other two players left, to be replaced by Veeroy and another pirate Stin did not recognize. The game continued. By the end of the third one, Plinny had no more money and Grom looked happy as the proverbial cat with a mouth of feathers.
Nobody else seemed inclined to play, so the game broke up. A few stayed out on deck, talking softly, staring at the moon and stars.
Plinny stretched out with his hands behind his head for a pillow. He started singing, his voice smooth and melodious, a deep bass carrying out over the water.
Alas, me bonnie lass, from Coral . . .
She left, so deft, on a sorrel
Me lass were bon, me lass were fine . . .
Me lass be gone, no longer mine
The song continued, lamenting the loss of lovers from all the lands. Grom picked up the next verse.
Alas, me bonnie lass, from Em’ral’ . . .
She cared aught for me, in gen’ral
Me lass has lef’, me lass were fine . . .
Lef’ me beref’, no longer mine
When most of the lands had been sung, Plinny looked over at the officers. His voice bellowed out. “Steck! Lord Fortune! Sing us a verse o’ ‘Bonnie Lass.’ Sing it, Steck! Sing fer us!”
Others joined in. “Aye, Lord Fortune! Let’s here ye sing.”
“You’re not too good to sing now you’re an officer!”
Stin smiled and raised his hands in acquiescence. He cleared his throat and began singing. Badly, and off key.
Alas, me bonnie lass from the isles . . .
When she left, she took ’way my smiles
Plinny’s face dropped. He shared a horrified look with Veeroy.
Me lass were gran’, me lass were fine . . .
With ’nother man, no longer mine
Plinny bellowed, “By the High Tower, make it stop! Sounds like a strangled seagull! Dear Creator, that’s the worst singin’ I ever heard!”
Others agreed, shaking their heads in disgust.
Stin chuckled at their reaction. He said, “You asked for it, boys. You got it.”
“Don’t worry,” Plinny said. “We’ll never ask ye to sing again!”
Quent smiled at Stin and said, “I think we found a new punishment for when they act up. We’ll let you sing at them a few hours. Might be worse than the whip.”
-+-
“Sail ho! Sail to the port side!”
The sun had just climbed above the horizon when the lookout’s call rang out. Stin joined the others in hurrying to the side for a glimpse, even though he knew it might be half an hour or so before those on deck would be able to see a hint of the other ship. Everyone strained for a look anyway.
Several minutes passed, and at last the tops of distant sails could be seen by all. The sighting put the men in good spirits, especially since it happened so quickly after leaving home. Later at breakfast, the officers decided it was a good omen.
Quent said to Stin, “We didn’t see your ship until six days out, last time.”
As the morning progressed, the men made ready for fighting and boarding, sharpening blades, oiling armor, fletching arrows.
By lunchtime, the other ship floated nearby, plainly visible, her sails catching the breeze. Stin and Quent joined Cessic and Melton at the prow to observe their prey.
“An express boat, by the looks of her,” Cessic said. “What do you think, Melton?”
Melton stomped his peg leg once on the deck and crossed his arms. He said, “I don’t like it, Captain.”
Cessic twirled his mustache for a moment. Then he smiled, the sun glinting off his golden tooth. He said, “What’s not to like?”
“It’s too easy. We found her too fast. I smell a trap.”
“Well of course we found her fast, she’s where she’s supposed to be. We came looking in the right place at the right time. I’d say that’s a good sign.”
Melton furrowed his brows. He said, “So you say. I wonder. Perchance finding her this fast is an ill portent.”
Cessic shrugged and said, “Last time out we almost burned up with Steck’s ship. You said nothing before we went for her. I’m not so sure your powers of foresight are the best, Melton.”
“Begging the Captain’s pardon, but at least be sure and check for a trap before we board her. I’ve a bad feeling about this one.”
“I always do, Melton. I always do.”
Melton saluted half-heartedly and tromped away, his peg leg stomping a rhythm as he walked.
Stin said, “Check for a trap? What did he mean by that?”
Cessic grabbed the silver key hanging around his neck and said, “The Keys to Corsairs Cove give us certain capabilities. Each captain wears one. We can find the hidden ways back home with it, and cast gateways for our ships. We can also detect other doorways. And traps, after a fashion.”
“After a fashion?”
“Yes. It seems to work differently for each captain. For instance, I can detect the presence of hidden men. That’s usually the way the Coral Navy tries to catch us, when they bother. They’ll send a boat out that will wander through pirate waters for days. When we notice it, they wait until we close in to take it, and then a bunch of soldiers jump out of hiding.
“It worked once, years ago. They still try on occasion. Melton is worried about this one having a trick up its sleeve, too.”
Cessic said, “It’s not. It’s an express boat. If fortune favors us, she’ll be carrying a decent amount of gold and several important people to ransom.” He gave the smaller vessel another long look and said, “It certainly doesn’t have any soldiers hiding onboard.”
-+-
Late in the afternoon, the sun dropping down to the horizon, Cessic brought Waverider in for the capture. He ordered the flag of Coral taken down and the black flag of Corsairs Cove raised. The first few ropes snaked over, grappling hooks finding purchase on the smaller ship’s rails.
Cessic stood on the top deck of the Waverider, looking out above his men preparing to board. Melton, Stin, and Quent stood with him. The first mate gave Cessic a final nervous glance.
The captain said, “Don’t worry, Melton. I can sense no hidden men onboard her. Everyone with a weapon is out on deck.”
Melton nodded, reluctantly, and headed over to lead the boarding party. More ropes flew across. Pirates pulled on them while the defenders ran to cut the lines with axes. Arrows flew, taking some of them out before they could cut the ropes.
The ships grew steadily closer. More ropes flew over and connected them. Pirates began crawling the lines. A few of the bolder ones made flying leaps, landing and rolling, only to come up fighting in a sea of axes.
Whumpf!
Everybody’s attention snapped to the water behind the two ships. A huge globe of hazy yellow light burst into existence over the sea.
The defenders cheered.
Cessic said, “What is that?”
“Looks like a wizard’s transport globe,” Stin said. “Biggest one I’ve ever seen.”
“I think you’re right. It’s similar to what we use to get back to Corsairs Cove.”
“The same magic, I bet.”
The prow of a huge Coral Navy ship slipped through the sphere, its battering ram speeding straight for the stern of Waverider. The cheer from the merchant defenders grew louder.
Cessic’s face fell as realization dawned on him. He said, “It’s a trap. Melton! Call the men back!”
But Melton had already jumped aboard the other ship, leading a pack of pirates.
KUBRUNCH!
Wavecrest lurched forward as the battering ram slammed into her stern, knocking everybody off their feet.
Cessic, Quent and Stin scrambled up, trying to stand. The loud, high-pitched battle cries of the Coral Marines sent chills up their spines. They turned to the stern to see a huge wave of men, clad in orange-red leather vests and carrying shortswords jumping over to their boat.
They could also see Wavecrest’s stern had crumpled in the impact, planks askew, splintered and broken. The sea rushed in, and already her prow shifted upward at a perceptible angle as water filled the rear hold.
A hundred arrows whizzed through the air, clearing a path for the marines. Stin dove to one side as three chunked into the deck next to him. He scurried for cover, trying to find something that blocked their aim.
Quent hid behind a mast, turning sideways so the archers couldn’t see him as another round of arrows flew over. One of their own up in Wavecrest’s riggings fell screaming down to the deck, landing with a bloody thud, half a dozen arrows sticking out of his chest and legs.
“Steck . . .”
Stin turned and spied Cessic, raising a bloody arm. Stin crawled on his belly as another round of arrows whizzed over. When he reached the captain, he pulled him to an open hatch, seeking cover from the murderous archers.
Three arrows stuck out of Cessic, one in in his neck and two in his chest. Blood covered his front. He opened pain-filled eyes and looked at Stin while the thief held his head. He moved his lips, trying to speak around the arrow in his throat.
“You’re . . . you’re . . .”
“Don’t talk, Captain. We’ll find a healer.”
Cessic shook his head, and grimaced in pain at the movement.
He said, “You’re Captain . . . now.”
His eyes rolled up into the back of his head. Stin set him down gently on the blood-slicked deck.
The screams of the marines grew closer as they swarmed aboard Wavecrest. On impulse, Stin reached down and pulled the chain with the silver key over Cessic’s head and around the arrow sticking out of his neck. He placed it over his own head. As soon as the key touched his chest, he felt the world shift around him.
Everything seem to glow in a different light, along with the sun. He could see a small group of pirates hiding in the rear hold, the water creeping steadily higher. He could see Veeroy hiding behind Wavecrest’s shore launch, his back to the water. He could see, sense, or feel every person on all three boats.
He had no more chance to take it in as the first marine rounded a corner.
Stin jumped up and yelled, “Abandon ship! Abandon ship!”
The marine charged him, the point of his shortsword aimed for Stin’s belly.
The prow lurched further into the air suddenly as the stern completely filled with water. The screaming marines fell back a bit, including the one focused on Stin.
In the confusion, Stin saw Quent. He motioned toward Quent to follow and ran for the side, leaping over the rail and into the water. Stin surfaced in time to hear Quent’s splash as he jumped in nearby.
About thirty paces away they found a large chunk of Wavecrest’s deck that had broken off in the collision. They swam over and grabbed hold of it. They floated some ways from the scene, slowly drifting from the ship, and watched the battle unfold. The pirates were a rough lot, but more used to fighting nervous merchants armed with axes rather than trained marines with swords. Most who had not been struck down by arrows elected to surrender rather than go down fighting.
One small group managed to get Wavecrest’s launch into the water before she sank. By that time, Stin and Quent had floated too far away to be seen and rescued. He watched Plinny jump into the boat, followed quickly by Veeroy and half a dozen other men. The pirates began to pull away from the wreck by oar. The marines saw them and called for archers. Two rushed up to the edge and began loosing arrows after them.
Plinny and Veeroy struggled with the little craft’s sail. As soon as they got it up Plinny sat in the back of the boat and drew a deep breath. He held it for a moment as he conjured his spell, then blew it out in a gust. The little sail snapped taught, and the tiny launch skimmed over the water, away from the battle and the sinking ship.
Stin and Quent shared a smile as the boat sped toward the horizon and the setting sun.
They floated through a larger debris field now, as most of the remaining pirates were marched back to the navy ship. The last of the marines and pirates made their way over as Wavecrest’s prow slid below the waves. A loud gurgling sound came out as water rushed into the remaining air pockets on the submerged ship, and debris and bodies popped up to the surface. They soon mixed with other bodies, including a few marines and merchants.
A cry of anguish shot out from the naval ship, attracting their attention. They watched as a dozen ropes were strung up from a large boom. At the point of a blade, several pirates were strung up by the neck. Then the boom was swung out over the water.
Stin watched in horror as twelve pairs of legs dangled and twitched. He said, “What are they doing? Why bother saving them if they’re just going to kill them?”
Quent said, “Looks like the Coralians are still upset over the Lightfish.”
The marines pulled the boom back in, cut the ropes, and let the dead men drop unceremoniously into the water. They quickly strung up a dozen more pirates and swung the boom out over the side again.
One of the many bodies floating nearby gasped and thrashed around a bit, ripping their attention away from the hangings.
Stin said, “This one’s alive. Easy there! I’ll get you.”
He pushed off and swam over to the fellow
. He decided the survivor was from the merchant ship, based on his clothing. The man wore a brown cassock. Stin wrapped one arm around him and paddled with his free arm back toward Quent. He lifted the man from the water while Quent dragged him up onto their makeshift raft, sprawling him out on his back.
Quent said, “Quarl!”
Stin pulled up onto the wood and looked down at the man. Sure enough, Quent’s twin stared back with weak eyes. He was a near perfect duplicate of Quent, down to the same length of beard and hair.
Quarl said, “Brother. I shoulda known . . . you’d be onboard . . .”
“What is this, Quarl? What have you done? This was a deliberate trap.”
Quarl smiled, and coughed. Some blood and phlegm came up, smearing his sandy blond beard. He said, “You and your pirate friends angered the King. Stole too much gold from his brother-in-law. They decided to . . . get revenge.”
He stopped to cough again and more blood came up.
A launch splashed down from the naval ship, attracting Quent and Stin’s attention for a moment. A group of marines paddled out into the debris field. A couple of them reached over and pulled a survivor out of the water and into the small boat.
“Rest easy, Quarl. We’ll get you to a healer.”
“I am a healer, brother. I’ve lost too much blood.”
Quent looked up. The launch slowly paddled forward, the men onboard searching the water. When he looked back down at Quarl, his brother had closed his eyes.
He shook Quarl gently. “No. Don’t leave. Don’t leave me Quarl.”
Quarl’s breaths grew shallow. His lips moved before he spoke. He said, “I’ll see you . . . after Judgment, brother.”
Quent’s eyes teared up and he reached down to hug his brother.
“Quarl!”
“Don’t waste . . . don’t waste what time you have left . . . You’ll be judged too . . . like all of us.”
Quarl stopped breathing. As his life left him, a look of peace took over his face.
The men on the launch grew closer. Stin and Quent could hear them talk among themselves, now, a few hundred paces across the water. Stin could see an older man standing in the middle of the boat with the marines. One of the bodies thrashed in the water as the boat passed by, trying to reach it.
