by Rosie Scott
A light colorful glow called attention to Hassan's down-turned body from a sunrise he would never see. With the battle over, the worst anguish I suffered was that of loss and mourning. I tore my fatigued eyes from the body of a good friend and to the ever-growing group of survivors before us.
Vallen, Jayce, and Cyrene were in their elven forms, though they had tugged on clothes that currently sopped up the blood and sweat stuck to their skin. They were all relieved to see Koby and me safe, and Vallen's eyes flicked down to the organ that still oozed blood from my left hand. Though he said nothing of the macabre display, understanding crossed his eyes.
Neliah, Sage, Hilly, Jaecar, and the rest of our surviving crew members appeared fatigued, and some of them had injuries that needed mending. Yet, as Koby and I came to a stop in the middle of the camp, they still watched us with expectation. They knew what Koby and I would propose, and they did not dread it. They expected and accepted it with open arms.
It was the few hundred mercenary survivors we had to convince. Men and women of many races, skills, and backgrounds who had just risked their lives battling an invasion of power-obsessed pirates. Many of them likely lost friends or loved ones in the last few hours. I understood what that was like. Who was I to ask them for more?
I raised my left arm, holding Cale's brutalized heart above my head for all to see. “This is Cale Woodburn,” I announced, my raspy voice heavy with fatigue but bold with my pride. “Over the last twenty or so years he built a pirate empire before losing his mind to drugs and unintentionally handing the reins over to his partner, Vruyk Kleng. Vruyk currently lives safely in Llyr, Nahara, and runs a variety of criminal enterprises using ships and supplies he steals from hardworking people like you. For years these pirates have stifled trade in the east with the coincidental help of a monster in the deep. Our crew has developed a plan to seize this ill-gotten power from these pirates and give it back to mercenary traders and smugglers.”
I lowered my arm and threw Cale's heart in an underhanded toss. The organ hit moist earth with a splat and rolled over twice before going still. “That is all that's left of one of the most well-regarded pirates on the seas, my friends. I can kill these bastards one at a time and knock this problem out within decades or even a century, but with your trust and partnership, we can tear this problem out by the roots far sooner.”
“So what's next?” called out a woman in the crowd, sounding eager.
Koby and I exchanged an optimistic glance. “What's next?” Koby repeated, elevating his voice for all to hear. “We've only stemmed the tide. These pirates will continue to grow in power unless we take the fight to them. We already have business partners in Killick and Silvi waiting to extend offers to you to make gold and strengthen trade in the wildlands once more. Thanks to Vallen's foresight in capturing a pirate dissenter in the last battle here, we also have intelligence into this gang's slave routes, hideouts, and shady business associates. We know enough about the sea monster to anticipate its movements. All we need is your help exploiting all of this valuable information. Our crew have already destroyed trafficking routes and pirate ships, and now Cale is dead. We can do this alone, but we are asking for your aid. For glory, for our pride, for freedom. Freedom of travel, freedom to trade, and freedom from fear.”
“Whether it's killing pirates, sabotaging slave routes, offering naval aid, or strengthening our peers here in the wildlands with imports,” I began, “there's something to tickle everyone's fancy.”
Gratefully, the mercenaries didn't deride us. They were angry. Fed up. Rejuvenated from protecting their land and its resources from an invading force. Their efforts and victories here only encouraged them.
“Pirates control the seas,” I stated. “While the so-called official navies of the world turn a blind eye to their dominance, it is the independents and unaffiliated like us who suffer under this ill-gotten authority as it impedes on our lives and livelihoods. It's time to stop being compliant. Let's mutiny.”
A mercenary at the front of the group smirked like the idea excited him. “When do we start?”
✽✽✽
Thank you for reading Book 2 of Calder Cerberius's origin trilogy! Of Monsters and Mutiny (Book 3) is coming soon. In the meantime, you can check out more books in the Six Elements universe and tons of extra content including official/fan artwork, interviews, and exclusive behind-the-scenes lore and world-building details by going to my website.
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Stemming the Tide Timeline
358 – Cale Woodburn & crew catch up to the Wobblin' Woody near Killick. The destruction of the Wobblin' Woody by Cale Woodburn. Calder & crew stranded. End of book Origins of the Tainted Bloodline. (17th of New Moon)
358 – Stemming the Tide (Shapeshifting Seas Trilogy Book 2) begins (30th of New Moon), Shaft Raft (caravel) acquired in Killick
358 – Business partnership created between Calder's crew and Rik Sbarjo of Killick (31st of New Moon)
358 – Shaft Raft sunk by sirens (78th of High Star)
358 – Vallen, Jayce, and rescue group meet Calder's crew at eastern wildland rivers (11th of Red Moon)
358 – Calder & crew return to Tenesea, commission work for their next vessel (36th of Red Moon)
358 – Cyrene Chase introduced, requests Tenesea hunting party (58th of Dark Star)
358 – Cale Woodburn's crew raids ferris paddies (63rd of Dark Star)
358 – Cale Woodburn's crew establishes ferris operation in the Forks (90th of Dark Star)
359 – Cale Woodburn sends a group of ferris smugglers west of wildlands in his galleon to deliver slaves/ferris to Llyr and bring more pirates to the Forks. Cale travels east to Silvi to recruit men and steal ship to return to danger zone (10th of New Moon)
359 – Calder & crew reach Misu to aid Cyrene Chase in afanc hunting mission (13th of New Moon)
359 – Afanc battle in lagoon (14th of New Moon)
359 – Calder & crew return to Tenesea and learn ferris deliveries from paddies have halted (61st of New Moon)
359 – Cale Woodburn arrives in Silvi. Hires mercenaries, steals ship, and heads east to raid the danger zone (6th of High Star)
359 – Calder & crew reach northern ferris paddies, find them raided (17th of High Star)
359 – Calder & crew rest and resupply in Silvi on their way to the Forks (77th of High Star)
359 – Cale Woodburn arrives in the danger zone (3rd of Red Moon)
359 – Cale Woodburn's pirate ferris smugglers arrive in Llyr. Sell slaves, recruit more pirates, and head back to the Forks (4-10th of Red Moon)
359 – Cunning Linguist (barque) completed in Silvi (75th of Red Moon)
359 – Calder & crew arrive at Cale's base. Battle with pirates, reveal of Cale's major plan. Calder & crew decide to pick up ship in Silvi and go on voyage to Killick. Vallen & beastmen stay to defend area and request reinforcements. (38th of Dark Star)
360 – Pirate ferris smugglers arrive in the Forks. Battle between pirates and Vallen's beastmen. (7th of New Moon)
360 – Calder & crew arrive in Silvi. Pick up Cunning Linguist and sail for Killick (27th of New Moon)
360 – Calder & crew come across Cale & crew on the seas while pirates are attacking mercenaries (Ajax Dunn's crew). Join the battle. Cale kills Kali, battle irritates the leviathan, two leviathan tentacles reveal themselves and take out multiple pirate ships. Surviving crews flee. (74th of New Moon)
360 – Calder & Ajax's crews arrive on Killick's western shores to trade. Calder begins plotting to use leviathan in a master plan to take out pirates. Starts spreading word of mutiny. (76th of New Moon)
360 – Calder & crew leave Killick for Silv
i. (1st of High Star)
360 – Cale Woodburn returns to Llyr. Gathers crew, galleon, reinforcement ships, and leaves for the Forks (28-35th of High Star)
360 – Calder & crew arrive in Silvi (88th of High Star)
360 – Calder & crew leave Silvi on foot for the Forks (1st of Red Moon)
360 – Bjorn Berg from main Six Elements series born in Oeric, Hammerton (64th of Red Moon)
360 – Calder & crew meet up with Vallen & Jayce's men in the Forks. (81st of Red Moon)
360 – Cale Woodburn & crew arrive in the Forks. Climax battle with Calder & crew. Cale kills Hassan, Calder kills Cale. Calder and Koby spread their plans of mutiny to agreeable wildland natives and mercenaries. End of book Stemming the Tide. (34th of Dark Star)
361 – Of Monsters and Mutiny (Shapeshifting Seas Trilogy Book 3) begins
