by Kat Mandu
“Go investigate!” one ordered while two of them grumbled and slowly got up from the log they were sitting on.
“You’re damn paranoid,” one griped.
“I swear, if this is another rabbit,” the other grumbled. But that was all they got to complain about. The sudden noise from both sides split the pair as one moved closer to both pirates.
“AH!” Boss screamed, letting out a battle cry. Richard using chief as a distraction pushed off the sand, drawing his sword with his left hand. He rolled his eyes when he noticed that Boss didn’t wait to draw blood. Boss’s blade stabbed into one man’s torso, slicing clean through. Blood spilled and Richard felt his back spasm but kept moving regardless. He leapt out with his blade, and with just the tip, sliced open the other man’s throat, however nobody noticed as the rest were all watching Boss.
The faces of his former shipmates twisted in horror while the body fell. They made their way towards the makeshift camp and Boss impaled his weapon into another chest. The overhead motion forced the man onto his back before he pulled the blade out, both weapons stained with blood.
The remaining pirate began to draw closer to Cheif but Richard impaled another in the back, pushing the sword up and catching a bit of his face before letting the dead man drop. There were still about five men around them, each with their swords out and ready to fight. The group spilt and three aimed at Boss, one ran for the rowboat and the final man noticed Richard.
“Richard, so nice to see you, you bloody traitor,” he said, adjusting his blue salt-stained coat. Richard blinked, eyes adjusting until he recognized the face.
“One-Eyed Team,” he thought to himself. The man seemed to swell with self-satisfaction. Team was one of the willing men and no doubt one of the loyal forty that was deemed to survive.
“I have been hoping you would be fool enough to come back. The Cap’n put a bit of a reward on you and a bonus for the map, you lazy bildgerat,” he said, the point of his blade aiming for Richard’s chest. Richard didn’t respond, but tightened the grip on his sword. As their two blades connected, Richard twisted around soon found himself falling back. His feet moved on autopilot, allowing the pirate to keep his footing. “I have to admit, I always wondered why you were allowed to live. Was it your cowardly behavior, because we sure didn’t keep you around for your work ethic,” he said with a mocking smile and still trying to goad Richard into responding.
Richard gritted his teeth while his blade was swatted away like a ragdoll. He was no longer falling back but began pushing. The crash of steel on steel rang in his ears. Richard’s left hand moved stiffly as he tried to keep up a defense. He wasn’t sure what Boss was doing, but could hear movement to the far left. However, trying to find out what was happening would be too much of a risk.
“What the hell? I know you suck with a blade, but this is just pitiful,” Team hollered. The last slash came down hard, knocking the blade loose in Richard’s hand. Team raised his blade and attacked with an overhead strike. Richard gripped the hilt tighter, the blade facing down. Steel rang against steel again when the two hilts connected, Richard stepping to the side and releasing the block. Team stumbled into the sand. The man turned, his blade already arching but stopped suddenly with a grunt. Richard pulled his blade out, blood spilling to the sand and looked down at the man as he went limp on the ground. A pirate, a marauder and a peaty man – he felt nothing. He glanced over at the other two bodies and couldn’t help but feel a twinge in his chest.
The sound of a body being dragged along the shore snapped him back while Boss finished off his final opponent.
“I do believe that is six to three,” Boss said confidently as he strutted over to were the row boats were shored
“It’s nae a game, Boss,” Richard said, more concerned with the second hand of the plan.
“Life is a game,” he said, pushing the row boat into the water. “Some just like to keep score,” he said.
“Indeed, pray forgive us,” Richard said, looking at the corpses. Boss just shook his head.
“All in the name of survival. You don’t want to be stuck here, do you?” he asked, voice sounded a bit barbed.
“Ay,” Richard agreed. “And they did deserve it, but I just don’t care much for breaking personal rules, no matter the reason. Still, I have hope. Now let’s get this boat into the water.”
“I take it you’re not big on Killing?” Boss asked casually
“Maybe for self-defense, I find it disheartening that it’s gotten as easy as it has,” Richard admitted as the two sat down in the boat each taking an oar.
“You know, for a pirate, you’re not nearly as blood thirsty as I would have thought,” Boss commented.
“I am nae a pirate by choice, and I would rather not be at all. So let’s get moving. If they don’t suspect something now, they should soon. I just hope the clouds hold,” he said, glancing up. The moon had been slipping between clouds for a while.
When they reached the ship, Richard grabbed onto a ladder hanging from the side and glanced down at Boss. After a slight nod of encouragement, he slowly pulled himself up to eye level with the deck.
“Well, it looks like the sentry is either asleep on the job or someone managed to get everyone to cooperate with an ambush. Nae sure which one would be more likely,” Richard admitted, glancing around.
“Well, hurry up! I don’t much care for staring at your ass,” Boss hissed. Richard pulled himself on board, keeping low to the surface of the ship. Despite being an up and coming Pirate Lord ship, it wasn’t all that big – only able to hold about thirty tons of cargo. There was one level on the back of the ship so the Captain could reside on deck.
“You know how to pick locks?” Richard asked,
“In a way,” Boss replied but Richard caught his undertone.
“Alright, how about a leg restraint? One made of chain,” Richard clarified. Boss only shrugged.
“Not sure,” he said, pulling himself on deck. They remained crouched as Boss nodded towards the island. “I think our stone friend is still hunting,” he said. Richard glanced over to see a spec of a creature flying over the island.
“Aye, seems to me we need to get moving before he decides it’s time to go after the ship. Head down, we should be clear. Most of the crew should be on the island.
“Well, I like those odds,” Boss said. Richard quickly moved to the stairs, leaping down silent as a mouse. The bunks were all but empty, he noted.
“See how many people are around. Start hunting for a key, also a shield with a lion on it and a long sword. You may want to check the Captain’s quarters for both,” Richard said, walking up to a massive door. It was a special brig, built directly under the Captain’s quarters. Boss nodded and Richard moved to the door and gave it a low tap.
Nothing. Richard reached out and slowly turned the handle. It was still locked and he nodded, satisfied. The last thing he needed was to hunt for her on the island. Bracing his weight against it and lifted. The door cracked and slid out of the way causing Richard to smirk. The door was only opened when Madison needed food but he had been shaving away at the doorway, allowing him to bypass the lock with no issue. Richard opened the door and noticed the chain was limp on the floor.
“Well, so much for the key,” he said to himself. Then a cold chill hit the back of his neck and spread through his spine. He took a small step backwards.
“You there, what are you doing?” a voice called. Richard turned to see a rather salty old man approaching him.
“I think the prisoners escaped,” Richard said, doing his best to keep his face out of the lamp light in his hand.
“I don’t see why. The Cap’n was pretty sure she wouldn’t, no place to go, said she be too valuable to kill,” he said, pushing him. “Out of the way, brat,” he said, walking in. After a moment, Richard felt his face twitch when a spatter of blood hit him.
“I kind of figured,” Richard admitted, pulling a red rag from his coat and starting to dab at his head. “
Madison, I mean Dame Madison,” he said, correcting himself.
“It’s Sir, I am not a Dame,” said a calm female voice. “Ah, Richard. I take it you are making another visit?” she asked, walking into view. She was holding a worn butter knife in her hand, sharpened until she could slice the man’s throat.
“Sir Madison then, but I do need your help. And I have a boat ready as well. This is the island that will be giving the Captain his voodoo powers, so please?” Richard asked, trying not to make it a demand of the Noble House of Felis.
“Well, now is better than never. I am happy to see you were not just whispering honey in my ear,” she said, walking past him into view. Madison was a woman, tall but muscular with pointed tips to her ears that showed her Elfish ancestry. But there were little of the traits that added to the legend. She also sported a purple tunic with one belt around her waist and another across her shoulder.
“I am a man of ma word. Now then, I hope ma companion has nae gotten into too much trouble,” Richard said right before a cannon explosion rocked the ship. “I could almost feel that happening as soon as I said it,” he cursed, racing up the stairs.
Madison rushed past Richard, drawing his sword from his belt as she passed up and onto the deck. Richard kept his mouth shut while the gears in his mind began to spin. Boss kicked off his attacker, dropping him to the deck when Richard and Madison appeared.
“Do me a favor and find my sword and shield. I have some pent up aggression that I need to lose,” she said in a rather pleasant tone.
“Sure, you do that,” Richard said, giving her a smile. The pounding of footsteps rumbled below before a mass of men appeared on the deck. Boss drew his blades while Madison brandished her sword.
“Boss,” Richard greeted, holding out his hand.
“Madison Felis, pleasure to meet you,” she said as they were surrounded. “Do you mind?” she asked. Boss gestured with an open hand.
“Ladies first,” he said. The pirates began to look nervous, each drawing a blade even as they were unsure of what to do.
“Looks like I was mistaken. There are some gentlemen on board,” she said with a kind smile. Her short blonde hair flicked when she raced forward. Her blade connected with three separate blades but the swing only knocked them all away. One of the dozen or so attackers retaliated. He stabbed out at her, only for the tip to hit the flat of Richard’s blade. The air erupted with a horrible screech as the tip was drawn across the side. She flicked her wrist and slashed the man’s wrist, knocking his sword into the air.
Boss didn’t need to be told twice. He rushed her opposite, screaming as he charged in. Richard paused for a second, watching the two battle it out against a much larger group. He reached into his bag when one of the men broke off to go after him. Richard pulled out a small black sphere with a fuse.
“Heh, heh,” Richard chuckled slowly, pulling out some flint and quickly sparking a flame. The man paled when he looked at the bomb. “Bombs away!” he shouted, pulling out another and allowing both fuses to crackle. The man quickly turned tail and ran away. Richard launched one into the air where it blew up and hit three men who were on their way up the stairs onto the deck. Richard pulled out a long fuse and bit down on it, he light up the fuse in his mouth letting lose another small explosive. He grabbed out a handful of bombs lighting each one as he launched one at the ship’s wheel and another at the life boats.
“He’s mad,” Madison noted when he began launching them around randomly. She glanced over at Boss. He smiled when another explosion took out a good portion of a main mast. Wood chips rained around them and Madison blocked the particles with her arm. “You’re both mad,” she said as Richard vanished from sight.
The crowd of attackers, however, had been severely broken. Richard broke down the door to the Captain’s quarters.
“Oh, nice, it’s on the wall. Boss! Did you even bother looking for it?” he shouted out but he didn’t hear a response. He spotted the hand-and-a-half sword and grabbed it and the lion crested shield. He dropped another bomb onto the Captain’s wooden desk, letting off one more explosion as he left the cabin. He glanced down to see both warriors panting, but there wasn’t a single pirate standing.
“So, care to fill me in?” she asked. Richard set her shield and sword on the ground. Gladly, she picked up her gear and handed Richard back his own blade, which he promptly sheathed. Her shield clicked into place on her back, her sword swinging from her left hip.
“It’s a long story and you’re going to have to take ma word on a few things. But for now, we need to get moving. We don’t have the man power for this ship,” Richard replied, as he took the fuse out of his mouth and with a lick of his fingers put the flame out.
“Regardless of man power you just blew the ship apart,” she said calmly.
“The damage is a stalling tactic,” he said waving her concerns off.” Besides I’ve got a plan, well more than one besides. We just have to see which one lines up first. And if this doesn’t put a kink in his plan, then nothing will,” Richard replied as they headed for the rowboat. Madison frowned as the group sat down.
“What happened to your wrist? I was wondering why your sword was on the wrong side,” she asked. Boss raised his hand when the oars were put into the water.
“It’s a long story,” Richard replied.
“I’ve got time, spill,” she said, clearly not wanting Richard to beat around the bush.
“Women,” he grumbled. “Well, it happened about three days ago…” he said, starting the long and tedious process of getting Madison up to speed.
Chapter 11 A Bump In The Night
Richard glanced back, watching as another ball of flame erupted on the ship. The rowboat they were sitting in was bobbing gently on the waves.
“I thought you wanted to keep it in one piece?” Boss asked, looking at him.
“It’s just a display,” he replied. “I’ve already done the damage now, this is just to let them know something is wrong. If I risk that ship, I am going to need it repaired. “It’s just a little play for time.”
“That seems more like a failed attempt to blow it up,” Boss commented.
“Look, just go with it. Richard has a time management thing, he doesn’t like to be late and he doesn’t like taking a risk he isn’t confident in,” Madison clarified, looking at Richard.
“I may have gone a bit overboard,” he admitted with a soft shrug of his shoulders. With that, the three fell silent as the rowboat cut through the water. Richard leaned into the bow of the boat as the neared the shore and scanned the area. He looked over each bush in particular, in case they had unwanted guests. He spotted something moving from the corner of his eyes and automatically reached for his blade.
“Something wrong?” Boss asked, picking up on the sudden movement. Richard stayed silent when the other two paused their rowing. The water lapped at the edges of the boat, but Richard kept a close eye on the tree. Eventually they began rowing again and it wasn’t long before Boss hopped out to pull the boat onto the beach. There was a small rustle and Sam rushed out of the leaves. Richard bent down to one knee and Sam stopped. But he didn’t even seem remotely panicked; Richard blew out of his noise a silent sigh as he shook his head.
“So, got a base of operations?” Madison asked, looking at Richard. “And Who’s the kid?”
“In one Yes, and that is Sam we kind of picked him up on accident,” Boss admitted, rubbing at the back of his head. “So – ” But Richard rushed off along the coast before he could say anything. “That answers that question,” Boss sighed, following after him with Madison and Sam.
“So now what?” Madison breathed out. “Dear void shaper, I need to start training again. I shouldn’t be this out of breath,” she admitted, watching as Richard made his way towards a broken ship that had been beached at the cliff’s edge.
It looked like it had once been a relatively small ship, with no more than two cargo holds with a deck above them. What should have been the captain�
��s quarters sat on the main deck with the ship’s wheel above it. The bow of the ship was missing completely and all that remained on the beach was the stern.
Richard was still silent as he crept along the coast, watching the leaves when they suddenly began to move. A low shadow slowly moved out into the moonlight. Madison copied Boss in drawing weapons before Boss put his back.
“It’s your dog,” he commented, snapping his fingers. Madison but her blade away.
“Hi, Jill,” Richard said as the dog padded over with her head low. “Something wrong?” he asked. She sat down and began to lick at his hands. “It’s okay,” he said, scratching behind her large ears. She perked up at his touch and Richard stood back to his full height.
“So, a good night’s sleep and some more planning in the morning?” Madison asked.
“Hopefully, But I have a promise to deliver on,” he admitted. “I may need a new way off the island, but that’s ma own damn fault. But it would be easier if I had that map back,” Richard admitted. Everybody, including the dog, all looked at him. “I made a promise and I plan on seeing it through,” he said. “Let’s leave it at that.”
“Something to do with the talisman – you leave anything out of your story?” Madison asked. Richard didn’t respond but walked back into the bottom of the broken ship and dropped into his hammock. He began to rock back and forth.
There was silence as everyone laid down as well. Boss fell into a dark corner while Madison found a spot beside an empty crate, she rested next to the wood box her hands gripped on her sword. Jill laid by the hammock and began to whimper.
“No,” Richard growled, twisting away. Jill only crawled underneath and looked up at him. Richard let out a throaty groan. “Fine,” he grunted, rolling onto his back. Jill happily leapt up into the hammock, curling into a tight ball while Richard absently stroked her fur. “I always seem to be on the bad end of these deals,” he muttered, closing his eyes.
