CRY HAVOC (Jack Frey Book 1)

by Mike Morris

  "We're ready," Jack replied. "We won't let you down."

  "I'm sure you won't," said Nial. Lin could feel the man scrutinizing her as he spoke. "Now get some sleep. God knows when the next opportunity will be. And watch Robert here. I'm fond of the lummox but he could get the Abbot into trouble."

  "Ah, boss, you warm my heart," Robert smirked. "You can always try and win back your money from the other night."

  "Get some sleep!" laughed Nial before walking to another group. He spoke to each group one by one. It was only a few words of no importance but Lin saw how everyone brightened up, sitting straighter or jumping to their feet as he put them at ease.

  Robert wrapped his fur around himself and, judging by his snores, was quickly asleep. There was something about the man that Lin really liked. A man like that went full charge through life not letting anything stand in his way. She looked at the large hammer lying underneath Robert's left hand. Even the Masters would fear Robert Hammer. It was a comforting thought.

  Jack buried his head amongst the kit, deep in the shadows. He covered his face with a scarf. What was that for? It was the only time she had ever seen him be secretive.

  She watched him sleep for a while. As the night drew on, she huddled under her own blanket to ward off the cold. She didn't think she'd be able to sleep the way her stomach churned but suddenly a hand was shaking her awake.

  Robert loomed over her. "Get up. We're here."

  All around, black shapes rose from the deck. No one spoke. Only the odd rustle of kit broke the silence. Jack lowered the scarf. Lin raised an eyebrow at him but he ignored it.

  To the west, silver slashed the dark sky in the distance. Morning wasn't far away. The Middle Kingdoms and the cliffs of Grosnar lurked straight ahead.

  The ship slowly moved towards the mouth of the harbor. Cliffs reared up on ether side. Directly in front of them, the Castle was visible at the heart of the port despite the darkness. Lin’s stomach flipped a dozen times at the familiar sight. The sea wall blocked any view of the armada but she knew it was there, bobbing in the water. Voices drifted over the sea towards them, mixed with the sounds of a city at work. The sounds of her people at work.

  Lin had never seen Grosnar from this direction before. As she saw the sea wall, she imagined Old Jahn and the crew toiling away on it. She remembered the long nights working amongst them, sharing a joke or complaining about the graft. The heavy cloak and uniform she wore now were in marked contrast to the rags she wore as a Sweat.

  The tension rose on deck as the teams prepared to take to the water. Lin could feel the anticipation bubbling away inside all of them. A few deep breaths steadied her at least. Robert grinned at her, teeth flashing in the black night. Everyone began to make their way to the boats.

  Her eyes flicked up and down the various crews trying to spot a space she could slip into.

  An explosion shattered the silence, like a crack of thunder.

  High pitched whistling followed.

  Lin looked up as did everyone around her.

  "Take cover!" someone screamed.

  Water erupted as something smashed into the sea just off to the port side.

  Another boom erupted from the shore, quickly followed by one, two, three more. Small flashes of flame appeared in the darkness along the top of the sea wall.

  "They've got fucking cannon!"

  Again all eyes shot skyward.

  "Get down!" A hand pushed Lin from behind and she hit the deck. She went down hard, knocking the wind from her lungs but she had no time to recover. All hell broke loose. Something ripped through the mast and main sail. The deck erupted around her. Wood and splinters flew in all directions. Screams of agony came from everywhere. The ship rocked as it was pounded again and again.

  Something punched the starboard rail.

  "What's happening?" shouted Lin. Her ears rang from the explosions. They continued in a never-ending cycle across their little fleet.

  All three ships were under attack.

  "Cannon," said Jack. "They are going to smash us apart."

  Nial stormed across the deck, bellowing orders, ignoring the danger around him. "Get the canoes into the water. We still go! Get the canoes in the water."

  The Black Dogs scrambled around on deck, throwing canoes overboard and whistling down ropes after them as cannonballs continued to rain in on them, pulverizing the Revelation.

  "Come on you two," shouted Robert. "Let's get a boat and get off this death trap."

  "I'm not in your crew," replied Lin. "I don't..."

  "We've got no time to mess about. Either we get off this boat now or we're dead. Got it?"

  They raced to the starboard side, claiming one of the canoes secured there and quickly freed it.

  Nial still bellowed orders from the center of the deck. "Tell the Great Hope to pull back and wait for our signal to pick us up. Then tell the Savior to off load all their men into the water to join us." The signalman jerked as a cannonball smashed into the deck no more than ten feet from where they were standing but Nial was unmoved. "Move it!" The small man scurried to unfurl the signal flags.

  As Robert and Jack lowered their canoe over the side, Robert called back to his commander. "You want a ride with us?"

  "No. I'm going with Alan," replied Nial.

  "Best be quick, boss," shouted Robert over the chaos. "This old boat's not got much time left."

  "God be with you and I'll see you ashore." Nial sprinted off to join his team.

  Lin and Jack slipped down the rope into the canoe, followed by Robert. A cannonball punched a hole through the side of the ship just above the water line. They ducked their heads as splinters exploded out toward them. The ocean rushed into the gap, and tried dragging their canoe in after it. Robert and Jack thrust their oars into the water, fighting the ocean, struggling against the chaos. They paddled towards Grosnar as more cannonballs smashed into the water around them. The Revelation groaned and creaked as it slowly slipped below the water. Ahead of them, dotted across the ocean were the rest of the Black Dogs already on their way.

  "Not the best start," said Robert. For once, he wasn't smiling. Lin sat in the boat, shocked at how quickly it had all gone wrong. The Masters had proved once more they were in control.

  36

  713 PN

  The canoe raced through the water. Cannonballs whistled overhead, pummeling what was left of the Revelation behind them. Screams of the injured and dying filled the space between explosions.

  Robert sat at the rear of the canoe behind Jack with Lin in the front. All three rowed with grim determination. A cannonball crashed into the water five yards from them, showering the boat with water.

  "Come on, dig deeper. We're not going to die in this fucking thing," urged Robert.

  Jack shook the seawater from his face, then wiped it with his sleeve. They were positioned towards the rear of the canoes making their way to Grosnar. By the time they reached the castle, most of the Black Dogs would be engaged in combat. "We'll get there," he replied, more to himself than anyone else.

  "Now it's just us three in this merry old situation," said Robert, "how about you introduce me to your friend in the front there and tell me why you've brought a girl to a bloody war."

  The question stopped Jack and Lin mid-stroke.

  "Don't bloody stop," hissed Robert. "You can row and answer."

  Their oars hit the water again. Jack stared at Lin's back. His mind raced. "How did you know?"

  Robert laughed. "How? The moment I laid eyes on her I knew. I may be a priest but I'm not blind. I know a girl when I see one."

  "My name's Lin." She glanced back over her shoulder. Her eyes met Jack's momentarily. Jack sensed her apology.

  "Lin? Not the Lin that Jack brought back from Grosnar?" asked Robert.

  "The same," said Jack.

  'What? You couldn't bare being apart from your girlfriend for a few days?" said Robert.

  "She's not..." began Jack.

  "He didn't know I w
as onboard. He told me not to come when I asked him for his help," replied Lin.

  "Then why’re you here, lassie? Surely there’re better ways to spend your day," said Robert.

  "I have to help my people in Grosnar. Try to set them free. You Dogs had no interest in helping them," answered Lin.

  "No one asked me what I want, girl," said Robert. "But I trust in those wiser than me to do the right thing. This thing is bigger than you, my brothers, your friends or me. Abios is the last free land left in this sad old world and, in my mind, worth sacrificing anything and anyone to protect."

  The three rowed in silence as the cannons boomed above. Some of the canoes ahead neared the entrance in the sea wall.

  "I won't do anything to jeopardize you or Jack or any of the others," said Lin. "But I have to try to help my friends. I can't just leave them to die. They’ve as much right as you and me to be free."

  "I'm not going to stop you," said Robert. "But the boy and me have jobs to do and we can't let you get in the way. You stick with us, you fight with us. That's fine by me as well. Time comes when there’s an opportunity for you to go do whatever you need to do, take it with my blessing. I won't stop you but I need to know you're not going to drag the boy here off on some damn foolish crusade when he needs to be protecting my back."

  "That won't happen," interjected Jack.

  "Won't it, lad?" replied Robert. "If it comes down to a choice between your lady-friend or me and the mission?"

  "I know my duty," said Jack.

  "Good. Now let’s get our heads back in the game," said Robert. "It looks like it's getting pretty heated ahead."

  Another cannonball sailed overhead, smashing into the Revelation. All three looked back at the sound of the impact to see the ship lurch once more in the water. The stern suddenly dipped down.

  "God protect them," said Jack. "The ship's not long for the world."

  "Another reason why we do what we need to do," said Robert. "You understand, girl?"

  Jack's eyes bored into the back of Lin's head, willing her to answer. Finally he saw her shoulders dip.

  "I understand," she replied.

  Jack watched the cannon belch death from the upper ramparts of the castle as they moved steadily closer. There were four cannon stationed across the wall judging by the flames roaring out. Whoever was firing them knew what they were doing. They fired one after the other, providing almost continual bombardement.

  "When did the Nostros get gunpowder?" said Jack.

  "God knows lad but it was going to happen one day or another. We've been using it long enough. Could even be some of our own guns up there, firing at us," replied Robert.

  Through the gap in the sea wall, the armada loomed before them. So many ships. They were impossible to count. Each one was larger than any ship Jack had ever seen before. Over sixty feet in length, their sides littered with cannon ports and the sky bristled with their masts.

  "Keep your eyes nice and wide," said Robert. "They're expecting us."

  Jack's eyes flicked over the silhouettes of the enemy ships, searching for anything breaking the straight lines. The last of the night hung over them all. Dark enough still for the Nostros themselves to be waiting. If only it were an hour later than it was. If only they had managed to arrive in secret as they planned. If. If. If. He pushed the thoughts from his head. He had to concentrate on the there and then and not think about what might’ve been.

  From the Castle walls, high above them, the cannons still roared in fury at the last remaining ship. Two ships down and God knows how many men. Jack ground his teeth. No one had expected those bastard guns.

  The sea wall was five feet away. The canoes bunched closer together in order to make it through the entrance. Jack shook his head. A bottleneck was all they needed.

  "Faster. Dig in lads," called out Nial from a nearby canoe. Alan was with him and Bryan too. It was good to see them alive. With Nial still leading the attack, perhaps they had a chance.

  Jack pushed down hard on his oar. The canoe leapt forward slightly.

  Three feet to go and the perfect target for the enemy.

  Alan's bowstring twanged and the arrow flew into the night. A grunt confirmed it hit its target. A shadow fell into the water before them. Already Alan was nocking another arrow.

  More movement. Alan let fly again. Once more a body fell.

  Then, from the darkness, the enemy all rose as one. Time slowed. One more push with the oars propelled them closer to the moored armada. Jack could see bows being raised, aimed. Arrow tips caught the first streaks of early morning light. He threw his oar onto his lap and grasped the handle of his pistol. Bowstrings creaked as he pulled it clear of his holster. He picked his target.

  One of the shadows stood further out from cover. The red dragon sigil across his chest looked like bloody wound. Jack shifted his aim, sighted on the guard and fired. The hammer hit the flint, igniting the gunpowder with a bang. There was a slight kick as the bullet left the barrel in a cloud of smoke. The shadow was punched off his feet. A small spray of blood traced the man's fall backwards.

  All around him, other Black Dogs fired their weapons. Arrows flew down at them. Gunshots echoed across the harbor and off the sides of the ships. Acrid smoke followed. Screams came from everywhere as bullets and arrows found their targets. An arrow zipped in front of Jack’s face but there could be no hesitation of any kind. They had to keep moving.

  "Make for the ships," cried Nial. "Get your arses out of the water."

  The time for stealth was gone. Only speed mattered. A moving target was harder to hit.

  Men screamed in pain and died but Jack couldn't stop. His eyes locked onto the anchor line of ship. It loomed ever closer with each stroke.

  Men scrambled over the ships surrounding him, popping up out of cover to shoot before ducking back down to avoid any return fire. The Black Dogs had to get on board those ships. They’d a much better chance of survival on deck, fighting the enemy rather than staying down in the water.

  Lin screamed as a falling body nearly hit their canoe.

  "This is war, girl," said Robert through gritted teeth. "It's messy and dangerous. Keep your eyes open and your head down. And keep fucking paddling."

  Arrows flew down around them. They zipped past like angry bees. One struck the bottom of the canoe between Jack's legs. Another clipped the starboard side near Lin.

  Robert fired one of his pistols. A man cried out somewhere in the darkness as the bullet hit home.

  "Let's get out of this death trap."

  "Over there," said Jack, pointing to a space between two hulking ships. From the water, he couldn't see any movement on either deck.

  Arrows chased the canoe. As it slipped between the two ships, darkness swallowed them. It was a narrow space but the canoe squeezed its way through to reach the anchor line.

  Lin reached for the rope but Jack stopped her leaving the canoe.

  "I'll go first," he said. He swung himself out of the canoe and began to climb the rough-hewn rope.

  He clambered up quickly, aware of Lin following. Then the rope sagged with Robert's weight.

  Just before he reached the top, a cough from above halted him. A sentry. He waited inches below the gunwale. He let go of the rope with his right hand, and pulled a blade from its sheath.

  An unseen man spat over the side. Jack watched it drop to the water below. The guard appeared at the gunwale, watching the battle below him. Jack could just make out the top of his shoulders and head. He held his breath, grateful for the darkness around him.

  Jack was just about to move when the guard looked down. His eyes widened just as Jack stabbed him in the heart. An oh of surprise left the guard's mouth with his last breath. With the blade firmly embedded in the man's chest, Jack tugged him over the rail and let him drop into the water. The splash was lost in the chaos of the battle.

  Jack clambered over the rail, dropping into a crouch on the deck. His pistol already in his hand.

  It was a
ll clear. He gave a low whistle, signaling the others.

  Jack pressed himself against the side of the upper decking.and unsheathed his sword. He watched Lin slip over the rail with barely a sound. She slotted in beside Jack. Robert followed with a grunt as he heaved himself over, landing heavily on the deck. He smiled apologetically as he joined them.

  The big man slipped the large hammer off his back as he took position at the rear of the group. Lin's Nostros blade looked delicate in her hands but Jack didn’t doubt its sharpness. He signaled them to move forward and they nodded their agreement. He took a deep breath, counted to three inside his head and rose into a half crouch.

  They’d taken no more than a few steps when, on the opposite ship, three guards came into view. They spotted the Black Dogs instantly. A Nostros guard snapped into action, nocked an arrow and pulled back the bowstring, taking aim.

  Jack shot him in the head.

  Robert's pistol roared next to him and another guard fell. The third ducked behind cover.

  "So much for keeping it quiet," said Robert.

  "I thought saving your life was worth the noise," replied Jack, holstering the spent pistol.

  Shouts came from below deck and the sound of running feet.

  Jack turned to face the door leading below, sword gripped in both hands.

  The door smashed open and guards rushed through.

  "For Abios!" Jack screamed and ran to meet them.

  The first guard swung his axe wildly at Jack, with neither thought nor skill. Jack ducked under it, bringing his own sword round the swinging arm. The blade sliced deeply into the man's stomach.

  A second man stabbed at Jack with a spear. He pivoted around the point until he was back-to-back with the guard. He thrust his sword behind him, through the man's chest, felt the smack as the hilt hit bone. Just as quickly, he pulled the blade free, bringing a spray of blood and guts with it.

  He moved towards his next enemy. A stationary man in a fight was either dead or dying and Jack had no intention of being either.

  In the periphery of his vision, he saw more guards jump onto the deck from neighboring ships. Robert went to them, his hammer singing through the air. Lin stood in the middle ground ready for any enemy that might slip past the two men.