The Final Battle

by Stuart Daly

  Caspan regarded his friend a moment longer. Knowing they had no option but to return to the headland to restock on bladders, he steered Frostbite around and headed for the coast.

  CHAPTER 6

  THE MANGY DOG

  Their baskets full again with incendiary bombs, the friends flew back out to sea and tried to take out as many ships as possible. As Caspan had anticipated, the enemy vessels were even more dispersed, many sailing with a gap of one hundred yards between them. Valuable time was wasted as the friends hunted down individual boats. It was also made more difficult by the fact that they were missing Bandit. Caspan tried his best to steer Frostbite into position so that Roland, sitting in the rear of his saddle, could drop a final bladder, but the drake and pegasus were starting to tire.

  To make matters worse, the wind had become a howling gale that whipped the sea into a frenzy. The Roon used this to their advantage, riding the massive swells that surged towards the coast. The powerful wind also buffeted the riders and their Wardens, and blew many of their incendiary bombs off target.

  In spite of this, the friends managed to destroy a further two dozen boats before they exhausted their supplies and were forced to return to land. They dismounted at Haven’s Watch and warmed themselves before the signal pyre. Nobody felt like speaking, particularly after what had happened to Bandit, and they stared grimly out to sea, watching the twenty Andalonian sloops head out to intercept the fifty or so remaining Roon boats.

  ‘They won’t stand a chance against so many.’ Sara lowered her gaze. ‘We failed them.’

  Caspan stood motionless, wondering if perhaps they could have utilised their Wardens more affectively. ‘We did the best we could. And we had no way of knowing the Roon were going to use rocs against us. When you think about it, we’re lucky we came out as well as we did.’

  ‘Tell that to Bandit,’ Roland muttered, and brushed irritably at a fine layer of sleet on his shoulders. ‘Well, I don’t know about you lot, but I can’t just stand here and watch. Can one of you give me a lift down there?’

  Sara regarded him sombrely. ‘Your sword won’t change the outcome of the fight.’

  ‘I know, but I can at least try.’ Roland’s eyes gathered darkly. ‘Besides, I’ve got a score to settle with the Roon for hurting Bandit.’

  Caspan too wanted revenge for what had happened to the manticore, but he also felt that he’d let Baron Saxon down. He’d hoped that his aerial attack would have destroyed the enemy fleet, but half of the Roon invasion force still remained. Caspan was tired and frustrated, but was determined to return to the fight. He felt he owed it to Bandit and the Baron.

  ‘I’ll take you down,’ he said to Roland, then turned to Sara and placed a hand on her elbow. ‘But I want you to stay here. I’m sure Saxon will appreciate an extra pair of eyes – if things don’t go in our favour in the naval engagement, you can warn General Liam and tell him to get ready. You’re also a good shot with a bow, and could join the archers further back down the headland.’

  There were three signal pyre sentries, who stood in the shade of a tree near the cliff top, carefully watching the Andalonian fleet sail out. Their mounts were tethered nearby, and they would ride down to the beach to give reports to the General. But it was a distance of over a mile and would take a few valuable minutes to travel. In contrast, Sara could easily fly Cloud Dancer off the cliff and over the cove, arriving at the beach in no time at all.

  Sara nodded in agreement. Caspan pointed at the longsword sheathed by her side.

  ‘I might need that, though.’

  Sara unbuckled her blade and handed it to him. ‘You’re probably sick to death of hearing me say this, but promise you’ll be careful.’

  Caspan smiled softly. ‘I cross my heart.’

  ‘And don’t do anything foolish,’ Sara warned Roland. ‘I know you’re worried about Bandit, we all are. But getting yourself killed isn’t going to make him any better.’

  Roland snickered and glanced at Caspan. ‘I’m ready whenever you are.’

  Caspan raised a wary eyebrow at Sara and strapped on the sword. ‘We should get going.’ He climbed atop Frostbite and gave Roland a hand up onto the saddle, then leaned forward to pat his Warden on the neck. ‘I know you’ve done a lot today, Frostbite. Just one more flight, I promise. Then I’ll give you a well-earned rest.’

  Frostbite turned and stared at him flatly with his ruby-red eyes. He shook off the sleet coating his wings, leapt into the sky and flew towards the Andalonian fleet.

  Caspan felt a twinge of dread as he gripped the haft of his new sword. Hopefully no more of his companions or their magical guardians would be injured.

  It didn’t take Caspan and Roland long to catch up to the sloops. They circled above them until they spotted Shanty, Kilt and their Wardens. Caspan set Frostbite down near the ship’s bow, and they were quickly joined by their friends. Shanty greeted the boys with an outstretched, gauntleted hand. The dwarf’s grip was as strong as a vice at the best of times, and Caspan winced as he shook his hand.

  ‘Ah, toughen up,’ Shanty said, grinning at Caspan’s discomfort and reaching up to clap him on the shoulder. ‘You’ve spent too much time thieving and picking locks. You’ve got the delicate fingers of a girl.’

  Kilt cleared her throat, prompting the dwarf to raise a conciliatory palm. ‘There’s no need to get offended, lass. I was merely making a point.’

  Kilt stared at him fixedly and held up her hands. ‘Like it or not, these delicate things will be fighting by your side and might well end up saving your life.’ Her panther, Whisper, stood beside her and growled disdainfully at the dwarf.

  Shanty tugged uneasily at the collar of his cloak. ‘Well said, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Spoken like a true shield maiden.’ He turned to Roland, evidently eager to change the topic of discussion. ‘We saw what happened to Bandit. I’m so sorry. If there’s any consolation, at least you managed to dismiss him before he fell to his death. Hopefully he’ll make a full recovery.’

  ‘You two will be back to your usual pranks in no time at all,’ Kilt added. ‘Although, I’m not sure I’m looking forward to that.’

  A faint smirk played at the edges of Roland’s lips and he gave a slight nod of thanks. He looked around the boat, his gaze resting on a man dressed in scarlet leather and wearing a wide-brimmed hat. A fancy jewel-encrusted cutlass was sheathed by his side in a well-oiled leather scabbard. He stood at the helm, his gloved hands gripping the wheel, guiding the boat over a swell.

  Roland’s eyes flashed with recognition. He pointed, speechless, at the man.

  Shanty chortled and clicked his fingers in front of the boy, snapping him out of his trance. ‘Yes, it’s your hero, Captain Panter Grinn, Lord of the Pirates of the Black Isles. And in case you hadn’t noticed, we’re aboard his boat, the Mangy Dog. It’s our command ship.’

  ‘And a finer vessel you won’t find anywhere,’ a familiar voice commented, and the boys turned to find Saxon standing behind them. The young baron ran his hand across the side rail. ‘We’ve been hunting this ship for over two decades and never once have we come close to catching it.’ He chuckled wryly to himself. ‘And here I am now, standing at its bow, sailing off to fight the Roon. Who would have thought it possible?’

  ‘And with Captain Grinn at the helm,’ Roland added, still staring admiringly at the pirate.

  Caspan smiled, relieved to see Roland returning to his normal self. He leaned in close and whispered in his ear, ‘Maybe you should see if he wants to trade hats.’

  Roland shook his head adamantly. ‘Not on your life. I’ll never give up my Strathboogie bonnet.’ He chewed his bottom lip thoughtfully as he regarded the pirate. ‘Still, I reckon I’d look dashing in that get-up.’

  Saxon barked some commands at a group of nearby soldiers, instructing them to secure pieces of loose rigging, then looked back at the boys. ‘I’m glad to have you aboard. Feel free to help the men manning the ballistae. They’re always in need of an ex
tra pair of hands. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to discuss tactics with Captain Grinn.’

  Roland licked his lips eagerly. ‘Um, you don’t mind if I tag along? I promise I’ll be as quiet as a mouse and won’t get in the way.’

  ‘I’ll believe that when I see it,’ Kilt muttered.

  Saxon beckoned for Roland to follow him. ‘I can’t see any harm in that.’

  ‘All right!’ Roland said excitedly, and hurried after the Baron.

  ‘The poor baron doesn’t know what he’s got himself into,’ Kilt commented before turning to Caspan. ‘Roland seems to be coping okay with what happened to Bandit.’

  ‘He’s doing better now, but there’s no way I was going to let him come here by himself,’ Caspan replied. ‘He’s been momentarily dazzled by Captain Grinn, but he’s out for revenge. I was going to fly back up to the headland, but I’ll stay to keep an eye on him.’

  Kilt nodded, then pointed at Caspan’s sword. ‘I’m surprised you didn’t choose a bow.’

  Caspan pulled a sour face. ‘I wish I did, but I didn’t have time to find one.’

  ‘I know where there’s some. There’s a particularly nice longbow I’m sure you’ll like. Come on, I’ll take you there.’ Kilt glanced at Shanty. ‘I’m going to take Cas below deck to the storage room.’

  ‘Don’t be long,’ the dwarf cautioned, staring boldly at the approaching Roon ships, which were no more than three hundred yards away. ‘Things are going to heat up very soon.’

  Caspan instructed Frostbite to wait beside Shanty and his guardian faun, Ferris, then hurried after Kilt and Whisper. They climbed down a staircase beneath the forecastle and walked along a corridor until they reached a room full of barrels and sacks. A few weapons racks stood against the rear wall, and it was here that Caspan found the longbow. It was indeed a nice weapon, constructed from a single stave of yew, with a back of taut sapwood and a belly of pliant heartwood. He tested its draw weight and gave Kilt a satisfied nod.

  ‘I thought you’d like it,’ Kilt said.

  Caspan slung the bow over his shoulder, grabbed two full quivers from a nearby hook and attached them to the side of his belt. ‘I prefer not letting the enemy get too close. Although, I don’t know how effective I’ll be out here. I’ve never used a bow on a boat before, and certainly not in a gale. The bobbing might spoil my aim.’

  ‘You’ll do fine. Besides, the Roon present large targets.’

  Caspan murmured in agreement and turned to head back up to the deck, when Kilt held him by the wrist. ‘What’s up?’ he asked.

  The green-eyed girl regarded him earnestly and slowly released his hand. ‘I’ve never really said sorry to you, have I?’

  ‘For what?’ Caspan feigned ignorance, even though he’d often wondered if Kilt would ever apologise for how she had bullied him during the first few weeks of their training with the Brotherhood.

  ‘Don’t act dumb with me. What do you think I’m talking about? I treated you terribly when we first met, and you were so undeserving. You never did anything to hurt me. And for all the nasty things I did to you, you never once bit back.’ Kilt lowered her gaze ashamedly. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever treated anybody so badly. That is, anybody who didn’t deserve it. So I’m really sorry for how I behaved.’

  Caspan punched her playfully on the shoulder. ‘Hey, water off a duck’s back.’

  Kilt smiled softly. ‘Thanks, Cas. You know, you were right about me.’

  ‘About what?’

  ‘Once, back at the House of Whispers, you asked me if I’d been wronged by a footpad. I can’t remember what I said.’ Kilt laughed softly to herself and gave Caspan a sheepish look. ‘I probably tried to beat you up. But the truth of the matter is that my father and I were robbed at knifepoint by a street thief in Briston. We were on our way to purchase property, and had all our life savings on us. We’d even mortgaged the small hut where we were living. We lost everything in an instant, and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it.’ She stared hard at the ground. ‘Until then, everything had been fine between me and my parents. But the next month they decided to marry me off to a rich merchant in exchange for a large dowry. That’s when I ran away and hid in a cadet academy.’

  ‘I don’t blame you.’ Caspan reached out, lifted her chin, and waited patiently for her to meet his gaze. ‘But that’s behind you now. My life wasn’t exactly all sunshine and roses before I joined the Brotherhood. I often think back to what my life was like and I’m amazed I managed to survive. But that was the past. I’ve got a new life now, with great friends who I trust and respect. We’re about to fight the most feared enemy to have ever invaded these lands, but I’ll be standing alongside my closest friends, and I wouldn’t change that for the world.’

  Kilt’s eyes softened. ‘I saw how you saved Roland from falling to certain death. You risked your life to save me once too, back at the House of Whispers, when I fell from the rope. You’re always looking out for us, prepared to put your life on the line to help us out. You’re a good person, Cas. Don’t let anybody ever tell you otherwise.’

  Caspan had forgotten that Whisper had accompanied them down to the weapons racks. The snow panther had watched them from the shadows near the doorway. She now padded over to Caspan and did something that left him stunned.

  She nuzzled against him and licked his cheek.

  Kilt grinned. ‘You see. Even Whisper thinks you’re not too bad.’

  Caspan smiled proudly and, for the first time, patted the great cat. Whisper purred, rubbed her flank against him and let her tail brush against his neck. Caspan grinned at Kilt and opened his mouth to comment, when a horn sounded from the deck, signalling everybody to prepare for combat.

  The treasure hunters rushed back up the stairs.

  CHAPTER 7

  DRAGON SHIPS AND SQUALLS

  Caspan was alarmed at how close the Roon boats were. Riding the enormous swells, they had come close to within fifty yards of the Andalonian sloops. He slipped the longbow from his shoulder and nocked an arrow as he raced after Kilt and Whisper to the front of the ship, where they joined Shanty, Ferris and Frostbite. Soldiers bustled all around them, manning ballistae, tightening rigging and readying their weapons. Officers strode by, barking commands and maintaining order. At the helm, Captain Grinn steered hard to the right, turning the Mangy Dog around until its starboard side faced three approaching Roon vessels.

  Their dragon-headed bows burst over the waves like sea serpents rising out of the deep. The Roon handled their oars expertly, their strokes synchronised, setting a fast pace through the churning water. Several giants stood at the front of each boat, spears and axes gripped in their hands, ready to hurl at the crew of the Mangy Dog. They would then throw grappling hooks over and draw their boats alongside the pirate sloop. Once boarded, the slaughter would begin.

  But they never got close enough to put their plan into action.

  Rising over the crest of a large swell, the three Roon boats in perfect view, Baron Saxon bellowed the order for the ballistae on the starboard side to shoot. They fired, sending iron-headed bolts the size of harpoons soaring through the air. Two missed their targets, but the rest hit the fronts of the Roon ships. One smashed a wooden dragon head into a thousand splinters. Another skimmed off the curved side of the bow with no impact, but the others punctured gaping holes into two of the ships’ hulls. Giants abandoned their oars and tried to stop the vessels from flooding, but water gushed on board and it wasn’t long before the boats sank beneath the waves.

  The Andalonian soldiers and pirates reloaded the ballistae in time to set off another round of shots at the remaining enemy boat. The Roon were only twenty yards away by now and closing fast, and the giants at the bow hurled their spears, one of which hit a Mangy Dog crew member in the chest and knocked him overboard. As the giants readied their grappling hooks, the ballistae targeted the sides of the boat. Upon Saxon’s command they fired. This time all six metal-headed bolts blasted through the hull of the ene
my ship. By the time Captain Grinn steered away to engage another pack of Roon boats, all that was left of the stricken ship was its mast, which sunk slowly into its watery grave.

  The crew of the Mangy Dog cheered, but not all the Andalonian sloops fared as well. Six other Roon boats were sinking, their hulls breached, but three had managed to draw alongside Andalonian ships and board them. Their crews fought valiantly, but the Roon were too powerful and swarmed across their decks, cutting down those who stood before them.

  His features set in a fierce grimace, Panter set a course between two enemy ships. The Roon helmsmen saw him coming and tried to intercept the Mangy Dog. They dug their rudders deep into the water, bringing their boats around and driving them through large swells, which showered their crews with spray. The Roon turned sharply, but the pirate sloop was sleek and faster, its sails full of wind and its keel slicing through the water like a knife. Saxon roared, giving the order to fire again. Ballistae bolts shot simultaneously from both sides of the Mangy Dog, blasting gaping holes into the enemy vessels.

  Caspan held tightly to the bow rail with his free hand and stared grimly about him. Although the naval battle had only just begun, it had already degenerated into a chaotic mess of hurled spears, streaking ballistae bolts, ploughing oars and billowing sails. Everywhere he looked ships were being boarded or sinking, their crews being cut down or leaping overboard and swimming for their lives in the rough sea.

  The sloops were larger and quicker than the enemy vessels, but they were completely dependent upon having the wind in their sails. Once they tried turning too sharply or changed direction they ran the risk of momentarily stalling. And this was when they became easy prey for the Roon.

  Caspan was brought back to his senses by a gargled cry. He turned to find a soldier lying near his feet, killed by an enemy axe. Alarmed, he looked up, wondering from where the attack had come. His blood turned to ice. A Roon boat had skilfully concealed itself in a deep trough between two large swells and was heading straight for the Mangy Dog. Its crew straining on their oars, the Roon vessel burst out, barely twenty yards from the unsuspecting sloop.