by Skyler Grant
There was no answer this time, but I knew that she heard me. She was a little bit weak at the moment, but I hoped that she would be strong enough to find some way to assist.
“I’ll help you plan,” Ashley said.
“Me too,” Walt said.
“I’ll glare at you all and call you useless sacks of flesh and bone,” Dara said.
“Terribly helpful as always,” I said.
Ashley glowered and for once it wasn’t at me.
I didn’t try to calm her down. I wanted her angry. Ashley was at her best when murderous and in the wake of this defeat I needed her at her best.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Pirates are neither subtle or subdued. I expected people to be dwelling on our recent losses. I know I couldn’t stop thinking about them, but it was a raucous gathering that met back at the Dead Man’s Drink.
I’ll not go into the full details of that planning session. Frankly, I no longer recall them. The rum flowed freely and between the captains Bloody Mary, Sneaky Sahara, and Crazy Eyed Nika there was a truly absurd amount of flirting.
In between all of the intoxication and seduction checks however we actually did come up with a plan. Storm had the advantage at sea, her ability to summon storms was devastating and her captains were far more used to working together. It wasn’t a fluke she hit our fleet hard and pulled away with barely a scratch.
Pirates relied on their ports, friendly harbors where they could put in and seek repairs and unload their loot. For us it was Madrosa, for them it was Anik Harbor. Heavily forested with wooden docks and buildings, supposedly it was a picturesque and free-spirited place. We wanted to burn it to the ground—fire was kind of our thing and spawn camping could go both ways. They hit us close to home and now it was our turn.
We were in port for a day while we carried out repairs. It wouldn’t seem like nearly enough time, but craft skills were their own sort of magic and there were those that specialized in taking care of ships and earned a lucrative living as a result. It wasn’t long until we could again set sail.
*****
The Phantasma, The Spry Lass, and The Mouse were responsible for the first part of our plan. Each of their captains had abilities that granted their ships far greater mobility than usual. Storm would be expecting retaliation and would be watchful for approaching ships—we were going to let her find some. The plan was for the three to engage just long enough to get their fleet into motion and then to make their escape, guiding them away from port. If all went as it should they would think our scouts were returning to the fleet and follow, allowing us to slip in behind them and take out the port.
Although out of range on my fleet display I could see when the ships began to take some damage, and then based on their distance from us we would make our move.
“We’re good to go,” I said.
Dara nodded, the undead crew unfurled our sails, and beneath us the ship lurched when they caught the wind.
We were a small force of only five ships, all with decent maneuverability and punch. The most versatile members of our fleet. Two heavy damage dealers would rendezvous with our ships playing the bait. If any of Storm’s captains had equal abilities to match their pace they’d find themselves in more of a fight than they had planned.
The rest of our fleet was either at sea nearby ready to assist as needed or were playing defense on Madrosa. I’d become a little too aware of my failings lately and wasn’t about to make what seemed a clever play for an enemy’s port, only to have them take ours. After all, hitting fast, pulling back and then striking the port behind was pretty much our plan. It might be Storm’s plan too.
Long hours passed as we sailed through the darkness and soon the port was coming into view. The waters were empty, it seemed that our bait had been taken.
“We just need to get close enough to the shore to teleport over. We’ll sow some chaos and then get away while they’re still trying to figure out what happened.”
Walt might have a unique class, but he wasn’t the only mage with some sort of teleportation magic and I’d made certain each of the ships on this leg had one. While we couldn’t go in with a huge force that way, I figured the mobility and the element of surprise would more than make up for the lack of numbers.
I was so intent on watching the shore I just caught the shifting of the air out of the corner of my eye. Several ships appeared out of nowhere in the water nearby. The air filled with echoing booms as they began to fire their cannons into us.
I turned furiously towards Dara. “Where did they come from?”
“Why are you asking me?”
Why was I asking her? I knew why, because I wanted somebody to blame and to yell at, and I didn’t like her very much. It wasn’t her fault though, it was mine for again underestimating my opponent. Not only had she been smart enough not to leave her port undefended, she’d left vessels that could hide their presence and ambush any attackers. I wished I’d thought of it.
The Raven lurched once more as another volley of cannon fire pummeled the ship.
“If we don’t go ashore we’re getting fucked up the ass for nothing,” Ashley said.
“Another minute on this heading and I can drop us into the surf,” Walt said.
“Go,” Dara said. “I’ll re-purpose part two of the plan.”
We’d planned to burn the harbor and kill enough of the population for our necromancers to raise as zombies on the theory a zombie infestation would make it hard to rebuild. I didn’t know what Dara had in mind, but for all that I didn’t like her, I had come to trust in her skills.
“Let’s not waste any time then. Walt, let’s go.”
“Give me a minute.”
The ship rumbled as another burst of cannon fire caught our side.
“Now would be better.”
Group Teleport
The world spun and I found myself in the air above the water, a place I wasn't to remain for long as I crashed into the surf. A sodden Walt clutched at his hat and Ashley scowled.
“Really?” I said.
“You want fast and inaccurate, you get fast and inaccurate.”
We had rushed him. Still, this was sloppier than I’d come to expect.
Shocking Grasp
Before I could voice that sentiment I was wracked with pain from my left leg. Looking down I saw a gelatinous mass wrapped around it.
Voltic Jellyfish
Level 9: Type: Creature HP: 30/30
Voltic Jellyfish are deadly predators capable of stunning their prey with electric shocks. Although their bodies are fragile, striking them can be hazardous.
Fantastic. I stabbed at the creature with Intemperance, the flames surrounding the blade flickering out as it is plunged into the water. Wrenching pain engulfed my arm and my sword slipped out of my fingers.
Shocking Grasp
Pain surged up my other leg and I stumbled as I worked to stay on my feet and keep from plunging into the water.
Ashley had a pistol out and was shooting into the water near her. That was smart. I plunged my hand into the water searching about for Intemperance and after a moment my fingers curled around the hilt.
Shocking Grasp
Shocking Grasp
Shocking Grasp
I was still conscious, but my body was no longer responding and I could do nothing more than stare as I slumped face-first into the water.
Despite having no control over my body I didn’t start to drown straight away. A breath bar came up in my display, quickly going down.
Savage Feast
A jellyfish latched onto my face and seemed to be eating it. The virtue of having your nerves fried by electric shocks is that you don’t feel your face being eaten. I was finding the absolute worst things to be thankful about since stepping into this game.
Group Teleport
I coughed up water as we materialized on shore, my breath bar began to rapidly refill although I wasn’t able to speak.
“What the hell took so long?�
� Ashley said.
“The power was on cool-down.”
“Don’t you have a short range one?”
“Not that will take all of us.”
I found my hand was still clenched around Intemperance. Oh good, I could feel my hand again. I groaned and wobbled a bit as I got back to my feet.
“Yvera is right. The water sucks.”
“You’d like it, if there were topless mermaids,” Ashley said.
“Well, sure, but instead there are murderous jellyfish.”
Walt said in a deadpan tone, “They weren’t wearing tops.”
I gave him my best ‘don’t go there’ look.
“Think Storm planned that?” I said.
“Bitch has been one step ahead of us this whole time. Of course, she planned it.”
“Then she’s probably going to keep being one step ahead. Ashley, can you scout ahead?”
“On it.”
Vanishing Act
Ashley faded out of sight and I was grateful for the chance to rest and let my health regenerate. Away from combat, wounds here faded quickly, a virtue most times but especially so when you’ve just recently had a part of your nose devoured.
It would be several minutes while she scouted. Walt was busy wringing out his hat.
I said, “How are you doing?”
“I’m soaked through and sick and tired of being yelled at for what nobody else can do.”
“I meant more with being here still. I know why I’m here and I know Ashley is having fun and getting something out of it.”
“And you worry that because I’m not getting kissy-face with every unspeakable evil or lying in bed with pirates that I’m not having fun?”
They weren’t really unspeakable evils, each and every one had a name. That probably wasn’t his point.
“Yeah. None of us meant to be away from our lives this long, but Ashley and I both found interesting ones here.”
“So you’re really saying that you’re concerned, because my life seems to be boring. Liam, puzzles are my sex. My new class is complex in ways I couldn’t even explain to you. There is a pattern and a beauty to the way spells come together and I have nowhere near unlocked its potential. Then there is this world itself and the secrets it harbors. I’m anything but bored.”
That was one of the longest speeches I’d ever heard Walt say and it all sounded very reasonable, but I wasn’t buying it. Something was off with Walt. Ashley had once had a dagger to my throat, but I understood her reasons for that. Walt was something different. I didn’t get a chance to probe more as Ashley chose that moment to fade back into view.
“You guys have to see this.”
A ragged footpath led from this stretch of the shore and it wasn’t long until the port town came into view. Storm had planned a surprise here. Electricity arced between large rods driven into the ground.
Corpses littered the ground, robed figures in blue adorned with lightning bolts.
“Did another group make it to shore?” I said.
“It’s like this deeper into the town. Everyone is dead. There aren’t enough of us to do this.”
Walt bent down to inspect the corpses, “We’ve seen this before.”
“Cobalt?”
“They were killed with pistol and sword. It’s just guesswork, but we haven’t met anyone else that can do this.”
“What would she be doing here?”
“We could just ask her,” Ashley said.
I took a moment to curse her Perception, even after investing some points into mine I was still missing things.
Ashley grew weary of my looking around and spun me to face one of the buildings and the figure emerging from it. Oh.
The figure raised a pistol and I started to scramble for my shield, but a moment later she was tucking it into her waistband and ambling our way.
Cobalt was dressed as skimpily as ever, an effect made disturbing by the alarming amount of blood splatter. It would be almost comically excessive were it not for the proof all around us how very real it was.
Cobalt’s words were slurred. “Liam!” A rum-scented kiss took me by surprise. She reeked of booze and slaughter. I shouldn’t find that a turn-on, but I did. That really was fucked-up.
“Really?” Ashley asked.
I tried to break off the kiss, but Cobalt wasn’t having it, letting that hungered touch linger.
“Really?” Walt asked.
I wasn’t listening. I was lost in the kiss.
It was Cobalt who finally broke things off, wobbling unsteadily.
“You’re drunk,” I said.
“Just a little tipsy. Rum. Not the cheap stuff. Treasure chamber is full of it.”
Ashley perked right up. “Treasure chamber?”
Cobalt gestured vaguely back in the direction she came from.
“Err… With everyone you know, dead, you don’t really need me here, right?”
“Go. If the building catches on fire it’s time to come back.”
Ashley ran off and I was impressed at how quickly she could move when there was treasure involved.
Cobalt peered unsteadily after her. “She’s after the rum?”
“I think she’s more of a gear girl.”
Cobalt considered that and finally shrugged. “That’s alright then.”
Walt cleared his throat. “What are you doing here? Apart from slaughtering everyone.”
“Didn’t mean to slaughter everyone. Just wanted a map Storm had, but they didn’t like that and they just kept coming. Not my fault.”
I wouldn’t take someone storming my home and stealing my property very well either. It was a stolen cargo that had brought me into these waters in the first place after all.
“What map?” I asked.
“To the resting place of Stonebeard’s treasure.”
Walt glowered at me. “Now that is a decent pirate name.”
“Ember is badass.”
“Really not,” Cobalt said.
“Fine. I could be better on naming. Moving on.”
Walt didn’t seem quite willing to move on, but after a moment grudgingly said, “So you’re treasure hunting.”
“If I wanted treasure I’d just kill someone and take theirs. No, this is all about you guys and getting past the water wall.”
She really did have quite the murderous view of the world. I needed to focus and stop thinking of how strangely attractive that was. “How does that treasure get us past the wall?”
“It’s not the treasure itself, it’s his ship the Earthshaker. Come on, some fire magic will make things easier.”
“Sort of waging a war against another admiral right now.”
Flames swirled and Yvera materialized nearby. It was becoming a familiar sight for me, but it surprised me how calmly Cobalt took the sight.
“Getting through the wall takes priority,” Yvera said.
“The whole reason we are here is getting supplies for the castle. My fleet needs me.”
“Atlantia is hiding. The storm, her protector. The greatest threat to me in this world is terrified and we must find out why.”
I studied those perfect features and saw something there common in Cobalt’s as well. “You intend to kill her.”
“Well, of course we’re going to kill her.”
I don’t know what else I’d expected when it came to the Goddess of Fire and the Goddess of Water, I’d just been so focused on building the fleet I hadn’t even considered the more cosmological matters.
Walt was giving us both a disapproving look. “Liam, you know this is a foolish idea.”
Cobalt said, “If you’re worried about Storm, think about it. She’s about to return to her home port to find everyone dead and things in flames.”
“She is going to be really pissed.”
“Oh yeah, she is going to want to cut your balls off and feed them to you. She is also not going to push for a fight when she’s at her weakest. She isn’t that stupid.”
I wish she were
. I’d have a much easier time of things with stupid enemies.
“I’m going with Cobalt and finding a way past the water all. Walt, can you get Ashley back to the ship?”
“You are so making the wrong call. If your mind is made up, I can do that. We’ll loot and burn before we go.”
I looked to Yvera. “Done, you are getting your way.”
“Of course I am.”
Yvera vanished in a gout of flames.
Cobalt flashed a smile. “She’s a charmer. Let’s get to the Vainglory.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The Vainglory was hovering behind a nearby hill and at our approach tossed a ladder over the side. Cobalt scrambled up, I followed with less grace.
“I found the map, and a Liam,” Cobalt announced.
Riggs caught a parchment Cobalt tossed to him. “Well, we needed one of those things.”
Hmph. I could be useful.
“Things will go a lot quicker with some fire magic,” Cobalt said.
“So what is the plan anyways?” I asked.
Riggs made his way off with the parchment and Cobalt gestured for me to follow her towards her cabin, stripping off bloodied clothing as she went. She might have waited until she was there, I wondered who did the cleaning up.
“What do you know about the elements?”
It was difficult to focus on conversation with a woman undressing in front of you, although given my life of late I should be getting used to it. “Earth, Air, Water, Fire? I got my asses kicked by elementals of each once.”
Cobalt made a face as if I’d said something unpleasant. “Genea and the four elemental system, I never liked it. Let’s focus on the five or seven elemental systems instead.”
Different games did sometimes have different elements, usually the more you had, the more complex their interactions became.
