by K Hanson
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Brynja and the other captains of the headquarters formation stood on the deck of the flagship of the Western Cambisian Fleet, listening to Admiral Mansur go over their strategy for facing the Stalstan fleet. Around them, the other squadrons of ships bobbed in the water, awaiting their orders.
“If our scouts are correct,” he said as he paced the deck, “the enemy fleet is not far over the horizon. We are mere miles away from our chance to punish Stalsta and cripple them for years to come.” He gazed out over the water before returning his attention to them. “What we need is someone to draw them to us.” His eyes fell on Brynja. “You, pirate; you’ll do.”
“Wait, aren’t we supposed to be part of your headquarters formation?”
“The headquarters squadron is for the most important ships. And wouldn’t you agree that this is a critical role to play? You get to lure our enemy into our trap. That’s quite an honor. Do you really want to refuse such a prestigious assignment?” He looked down on her with an arrogant smirk, challenging her to dissent.
Brynja knew better than to try to argue her way out of it. “No, sir. We’ll do it. Gladly.”
“I knew it. Now get going, and the rest of us will be behind you as soon as you’ve gotten them to engage you.”
Brynja gave a weak salute then strode across the bridge linking her ship to the flagship, Ilker at her heels. “I thought you said we were going to be in one of the safest spots for the battle. Now we’re stuck doing the most dangerous job.”
“I know what I said,” he snapped. “And I’m not any happier about this than you are. I’m loyal to the Empire, and I’ll make sure you do your job, but that doesn’t mean I have to be excited about putting my life at the tip of the spear.”
“Now you see how much the Empire really cares about returning your loyalty.”
Ilker didn’t have a response, so Brynja set about ordering her crew to get ready to sail over the horizon in search of a fight. They made their preparations in silence, a nervous air hovering over them. She eyed the flagship and the rest of the fleet, in case an opening had been left open. She hated the idea of her crew being used as bait and would escape if she could. Unfortunately, no escape route presented itself. As soon as they were ready, they set full sail and cruised away from the rest of the fleet.
After several minutes, she spotted a forest of masts poking above the horizon, then specks of color from the Stalstan flags waving in the wind. As the enemy fleet came into view, her heart accelerated as she counted its ships. The Stalstans must have had several dozen vessels. Looking back, Brynja could barely see the Cambisian fleet and hoped that she and her crew weren’t being sent to their deaths.
She returned her gaze to the Stalstans. Her hands grew clammy and she wiped them on her shirt before gripping the wheel tight. Three ships had broken formation and zoomed out from the larger fleet, which had also started cruising in Brynja’s direction.
“Half sail,” she commanded.
Their ship slowed down, and she waited for the Stalstan ships to approach. As they surged closer at full sail, they came into focus as frigates. Two dozen guns, divided between two rows, protruded from both sides of each ship. Marines scurried about the decks and formed up into boarding parties.
One ship aimed straight for the Tavara, while the other two maneuvered around to either side. Brynja and her crew would soon be surrounded. When they were almost within firing range, Brynja turned the ship and headed back toward the main Cambisian fleet.
Shots sounded behind them, followed by the splash of cannonballs landing in water. A couple of droplets landed on the back of Brynja’s neck. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw that the other ships gained quickly.
“Full sail!” she yelled. The Tavara sprinted over the water, though the Stalstans kept pace. Ahead, the Cambisian fleet had started to close the distance.
The three pursuit ships fired their deck guns toward the Tavara again and again, still falling short of their target. Through the portholes on their lower decks, gun crews watched, waiting for the chance to deliver a broadside.
A distant barrage of cannon fire sounded. A second later, the three ships around them exploded. Two shots also struck the hull of the Tavara.
Brynja was momentarily confused about the source of the fire, but then she glanced toward the Cambisian fleet. The heavy ships of the line had formed a wall of ships, their broadsides aiming at Brynja and the Stalstan ships behind her. Plumes of smoke billowed from the guns of several of the ships. They had fired on the Stalstans, not caring that Brynja and the Tavara were in the strike zone.
Even though they couldn’t see her, she scowled in the direction of the Cambisians. The Stalstan fleet loomed ever closer as it continued sailing toward Brynja and whatever had destroyed its vanguard. Stuck between the two large groups of ships, Brynja had no choice. She would sail back to the Cambisians and get ready for the larger fight.
A minute later, the Cambisian ships of the line fired again as the Stalstan fleet entered their range. As before, they showed little regard for the privateer ship that sailed in the middle. This time, three shots struck the Tavara, one damaging the foremast, another striking just above the waterline off the port bow. The last smashed across the deck, killing and wounding several members of her crew.
With the next shuddering barrage that rocked the Tavara, Brynja stumbled and her momentum carried her over the railing and into the sea below.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Nereyda’s initial elation about sailing subsided as they drew nearer to the Shattered Sea. The gray peaks of islands poked above the horizon, shrouded in a thin mist that Nereyda knew would only grow thicker and darker. When they drew near, she had the crew go to half sail to maneuver through the tight spaces. Nereyda had only been to the Shattered Sea once and not long enough to learn every nook and cranny or where every passage led, so Jax stood next to her and shared what tips he could.
Now, unlike her time with the Imperial prisoner ship, she didn’t even have a map to help guide her or help her plot a course. The Empire held those maps closely, not letting just anyone have access to them, not even—in fact, especially not—traders. The Emperor didn’t want the average person to be able to associate with Islanders. It made it easier to demonize them and portray them as inhuman monsters set on marauding and destroying anyone who got close, Nereyda supposed.
During her time with Jax and the others, she hadn’t seen any sign of the violence they supposedly were capable of. She supposed that it was similar to the church’s lies about her. She was a victim of a massive misinformation effort to fool the population into hating her, as the Islanders were.
She turned to Jax and asked him, “So where do we go? I’ve only piloted a ship for a bit in these waters.”
“I can only help you find where the capital was the last time I was there.”
“Why wouldn’t it still be there?”
“It can move. You’ll see when we get there.”
“And if it isn’t there?”
“Then we hope for a clue about where it went. For now, keep wending your way north.” He pointed in that direction. “I’ll let you know if I think you’re heading down a dead end or going the wrong way.”
“That’s reassuring. I don’t want to end up smashing against any rocks.”
“Didn’t you tell me you went through here at full speed before? If so, this should be nothing.” He winked at her.
“I did, and that was crazy, even by my own standards,” she admitted. “I had to do it, though. That Stalstan ship had burned a village to the ground. We weren’t in a good place to fight them, but at least we were able to determine who the culprits were. I don’t know what the Empire planned on doing with that information, though.”
As the Morgiana pierced through the fog and slid through the channels, the mountainous islands consisted of dark rocks along the water’s edge, then sharp cliffs that led up to dense, tall forests.
“Whatever
the Empire’s purpose, it wasn’t to protect the lives of some random Islanders. They only care about Stalsta being here because they don’t want them moving in on their territory.” His voice took on a growl as he spoke of the Empire. “If Stalsta figured out how to ally with the Islanders, or take the territory for themselves, it would give them a massive edge against the Cambisians. The only reason the Empire cared about what happened to that village is so they know whom to fight for their own sake.”
In a relatively straight passage, Nereyda took a moment to stretch her arms and fingers before she gripped the wheel again. “It’s strange. Erhan, the commander I was with, the one who convinced Brynja to betray me and had me whipped in the mines—he hates me. He hates us. Well, at least my crew because they’re pirates. I don’t know if he cares one way or another about you aside from the fact that you’re with me. But he actually did seem to care about the lives of those villagers. He seemed genuinely distraught when we were there, among the charred houses and burnt corpses.”
Jax shook his head with a disbelieving look. “I’m sure it was all an act to gain your sympathy. Didn’t he also murder your friend in front of your eyes? I was there outside the mines when he did that.”
Nereyda sighed and nodded. “That was the second time he’d done that, actually. The first time, when we were brought to Manisa right after being caught, he killed one of my best friends. Jovan hadn’t even been a pirate, just my fence, but Erhan didn’t know that. He only came along with us after a rival pirate burned down his warehouse. We always got along well and made sure to get a drink or two whenever I was in port. Jovan hadn’t even done anything wrong. I had tried to run away, and Erhan murdered my friend in order to punish me.” She squeezed the wheel for a second as she recalled her friend’s death.
Jax leaned against the railing near the helm. “He doesn’t seem like someone who could truly care about what happened to the Islanders, to my people. He’s the sort of person who can kill in cold blood, like the person who killed my Avra was.”
“You’re right. I don’t know why I keep trying to redeem him in my mind. And I don’t know why I saved his life when we crashed on that island. I should have left him to die.”
“No, I don’t think you should have left him, even though he’s caused a lot of pain for you. You’re loyal to your crew, or anyone whom you view as your crew. And Erhan, for all of his faults and even though he was your captor, had become a part of your crew, at least for a bit. That’s why you did that. Don’t lose that. It’s going to help keep your friends with you. It’s why we stick around. We believe that you’re going to help us. And it makes us want to help you. That said, don’t lose sight of the fact that Erhan has convinced a lot of people who haven’t even met you that you’re evil, just because you can do some fancy tricks with your hands.”
“Oh, I can do quite a bit with my hands,” she said with a laugh.
“That’s not what I meant. Get your head out of the gutter.” He stifled a chuckle as his face turned red. “Where was I? Oh, those people need to see that you’re there to help them. That means doing things that make their lives better without scaring them.”
Nereyda arched an eyebrow. “You mean without destroying a temple with a lightning bolt in front of their eyes?”
“That would probably help,” Jax said with a smirk.
Nereyda chewed on her lip for a moment. “I’ll keep that in mind. At least I don’t have to go back at all now that Devrim gave me a ship and told me I’ve held up my end of the bargain.”
“Do you miss him at all?” Jax tilted his head.
“I do.” Nereyda frowned. “I would like to go back someday, once things settle down. For now, though, it’s too dangerous for all of us. And your lot have earned their trip home. And maybe I can stick around for a while and see what the life of an Islander is really like.”
“Good, and I can show you around.” He clapped her on the shoulder. “You can worry about what to do about the people of the Empire if and when you decide to go back. Try not to dwell too much on it.”
“I hope they give me a chance without throwing stones at me and demanding my execution.”
“At the very least, fear might keep them at bay until they see the good things you can do. I’m sure the rumors about what you did at the temple will only spread and grow. Even as amazing as what you did was, you know how rumors tend to get pretty crazy.”
“You’re with a bunch of pirates.” She waved toward her pirates working on deck. “Every time we tell a story about a raid, the ship is bigger, there are more guards, and the size of the loot grows. At this point, I can hardly remember the truth of some of our stories.”
“Ah, you’re not too different from some of our own then.”
“Maybe we can compete to see who can tell the most outlandish tale sometime.”
“I’d like that. Besides, we’ll have plenty of time while we’re sailing the Shattered Sea.”
“Let’s get farther in first and get comfortable, then we can do it when we’re stopped for the night.”
After a few days of traveling through the Shattered Sea, Nereyda felt lonely in the expanse of mazelike islands. They had yet to see a single other ship or even hear any sounds of life, aside from the bird calls and random wolf howls from the islands, way up in the forested peaks. Many of the islands were quite barren—whether from the great force that had broken up the sea or from exploitation by the Cambisians or others, Nereyda didn’t know, and probably never would. They only took a few wrong turns that took them to dead ends where they had to turn around. At least they always kept their bearings though, and kept their heading generally in a northern direction.
One afternoon, a shadow appeared on their tail. As Nereyda glanced back from the helm, the vague shape of a ship lingered behind them, just at the edge of their vision in the fog.
“Jax,” she said, “do you recognize that ship?”
“No, I don’t,” he said.
“You were one of them; don’t you know how they greet outsiders?”
“I didn’t serve on a patrol ship. We’re not all marauders, like your emperor would have everyone believe.” He gave her a wry smile.
“I know most of that was bullshit. I only figured you might know something.”
“I’m afraid not. And things might have changed. It’s been many months since I was here. After the Imperial attack on our settlement, and the Stalstan attack you’ve described, the Islanders may have become more reclusive and defensive.”
“Keep an eye on that ship and let me know if anything changes.”
Nereyda focused on piloting her ship through the narrow passages ahead, winding between the twisted and jagged islands.
She couldn’t afford to watch behind her. Too many hazards lay in wait for them, from unexpected rocks and sudden changes in the coastline to sudden strong currents that she would need to counter with her steering and orders to her crew.
“Captain,” said Jax. “I think they’re closing. Not fast, but their shape is gradually becoming clearer.”
“They are tailing us, then?”
“It seems that way. They don’t seem to be making any aggressive moves. Probably keeping an eye on us and determining if we’re friendly, hostile, or otherwise.”
“Okay, then we have to not make any crazy moves to provoke them into thinking we’re an enemy, and we should be fine.”
“Sounds good.”
As the Morgiana pulled into an intersection between passages, Nereyda heard a whoosh behind them. “Nereyda,” said Jax, “something’s changed. They launched a flare and started accelerating.”
“Shit.” Nereyda turned down one of the side passages to evade the ship.
“Are they pursuing us?” she asked.
“Let me see,” said Jax.
They continued down the new direction for a second.
“Yeah, they’re turning down to follow us,” he said. “They’re still picking up speed, too. Are you sure you want to run fro
m them?”
“We haven’t determined who they are, have we?”
“No, we haven’t. They could be friendly Islanders.”
As Jax finished talking, a shot echoed from behind and splashed into the water immediately behind them.
“Does that settle the question of whether they’re friendly?” asked Nereyda.
“I suppose so. I don’t see any flags or any other attempt to communicate with us.”
“Neither do I. And a cannon shot is generally a form of communication that says ‘we want you dead.’”
“True. Let’s keep going then.”
“That’s what I’m doing,” said Nereyda through gritted teeth.
Against her better judgment, Nereyda ordered the ship to go to full sail.
Her stunned crew hesitated for a second, then followed her orders.
The ship picked up to a reckless speed as Nereyda focused entirely on what was in front of her.
“Let me know what they do. I need to concentrate on not getting us killed on these rocks.”
“Yeah, I’ll do that.”
The Morgiana twisted as it flew past the rocks and islands on either side of them. She gripped the wheel with white knuckles and remembered the last time she had done this. This time, an even thicker fog clouded her vision. Another shot rang out from behind them, followed by another. They didn’t come close to striking their ship, landing in the water behind them with a pair of splashes.
They came to another intersection of watery passages, and Nereyda had to choose a direction to go. She could take a sharp right to head southeast, or a gradual left to take them back toward the north.
She chose left and sped into the new direction.
“Are they with us, Jax?” she asked.
“Oh yes, they are definitely with us. They’re picking up speed, too. They’re still closing.”
“How?”
“They’ve gone to full sail to match you, and they’re taking the corners closer. They must know these waters. I think they’re Islanders, though why they’re reacting this way rather than flagging us down to talk, I don’t know.”
