by Eden Redd
The pink-haired elf waited until the other elf approached. The two stood in the shadows of the alley, the male with green spiked hair giving the pink-haired elf an angry and amused look.
“I almost left,” the female elf smirked.
“Yea, you know I have what you need,” the male elf said with a guttural growl.
“Give it to me,” the elf laughed.
The odd elf reached into a side satchel and pulled out a bag. He handed it over and the pink-haired elf hefted it in her hand.
“Feels light.”
“Count it. It’s all there.”
The female elf put the bag in her satchel and closed it shut. “They’re in the master suite of the Laughing Rat.”
The elf with the mohawk grinned, his eyes lightning up.
“The bounty only wants her alive, but I suggest you keep her crew alive as well. You may get more gold for whatever information they may have.”
“It depends on how quietly they surrender.”
The pink-haired elf shook her head. “The man with them, there is something about him. Be on your guard.”
“Getting soft or superstitious? It doesn’t matter. I’m going to get paid and my pound of flesh, all in one shot. Go back to your ship and forget we even met. Tonight, her rebellion dies.”
The pink-haired elf raised her gaze, catching the moons as they rose higher in the sky.
“If you’re right, may Vala watch over our cursed souls,” the elf sighed.
Eleven
Oval eyes opened to a dark room filled with inky shadows. Lilly blinked, feeling warmth at her back and the gentle breathing of her crew. Shafts of moonlight filtered through the glass window and painted the wooden floor.
Lilly turned her body slightly and looked over to the others in bed. Jon slept in the middle, Syndra, and Zelda draped on him. The young man had a stupid smile on his face, even as he slept. Glancing to the others, they too had warm, happy smiles. Zelda whispered in her sleep, talking to dreams and snuggling closer to Jon.
Memories washed on the shores of Lilly’s mind as she remembered being exhausted as Zelda and Syndra couldn’t stop themselves. Jon seemed to have extra energy, the three of them making love even as Lilly fell to slumber’s embrace. She had her fill of lovemaking and knew she needed a good night’s sleep for the plans of the day. Biting her lip, she wished their time here was a little more relaxed. The thought of the four of them making love for days curled along her heart. It would have been magical, if duty didn’t dictate their futures.
A pointed ear twitched. Something touched Lilly’s senses and her warm smile vanished. Gently moving to the edge of the bed, her long legs bent over the side and touched the floor. She moved silently, picking up her satchel, clothes and pistol. With haste, she made her way to the private washroom and closed the door behind her.
Jon’s eyes fluttered open. He wasn’t sure why he woke up until he turned his gaze to the washroom door closing and Lilly no longer in the bed. Syndra kissed Jon’s chest as Zelda pressed her face to the side of his head. Trapped, he did nothing but lay there, enjoying their bodies pressed to his. Serenity filled his muscles, the hours of debauchery filling his thoughts and his manhood rising one again.
Not now or we’ll never get any sleep.
Despite Jon’s internal protests, his manhood refused direct orders, standing at attention and begging to wake the beautiful elves on each side of him.
Maybe one more time? Two more times? What time is it? Do we have enough time for three more times?
Jon silently chuckled to himself until a loud creak was heard in the distance.
Zelda and Syndra woke immediately. The two elves rose up, looking around and their long ears twitching.
Jon parted his lips to speak, only for Zelda to press a finger to him, signaling to be quiet. Syndra flowed out of the bed, grabbed her clothes and began to dress. Zelda and Jon moved to the edge of the bed when the washroom door opened.
Lilly stepped out fully dressed and her hat on. “Get dressed. We’re leaving,” the Captain said with a commanding whisper.
Everyone dressed in a hurry. Lilly moved closer to the door, pistol in hand. She stood silently, her ears taking in the sounds of boots and the drawing of blades and daggers. A click of a pistol caused her ears to stiffen.
The Captain lifted her arm and pointed to the window. Syndra nodded and stepped over. Fingers opened the lock and lifted it slowly, as to not make a sound. Another creak filled the building, followed by another.
Lilly’s eyes narrowed as she counted twenty, maybe twenty-five elves. Checking her pistol, tiny tendrils of mists flowed from the sides as a frost round was locked and loaded.
The last piece of clothing on, the crew stood with heightened senses. Syndra opened the window just as a loud creak filled the hall beyond the door. Lilly motioned them to move when something crashed into the thick door, shaking it violently. The sounds of stealth fell away to a storm of boots as several bodies banded together and rushed the door. Lilly pointed her pistol and pulled the trigger just as the door crashed opened. The frost round struck the edge of the door, ice blasting in all directions and momentarily halting the enemies on the other side.
With timed skill, the pistol clicked open, the spent shell ejecting and Lilly sliding in a new one. “Out the window, now!”
Syndra was about to go first when Zelda grabbed the witch’s shoulder. The lanky sea elf crawled out of the window onto a small ledge. With a simple leap, she was on the ground when several elves rushed out of the darkness and toward her. Webbed hands formed into fists as the elves charged, blades and daggers in hands. Zelda smirked as her long arm swung out, crashing into an elf’s cheek and sent him spiraling sideways.
Syndra was next, climbing out and jumping. She landed next to Zelda as several elves tried to cut the sea elf. Words of power bloomed as nearby water shot into the air, formed orbs and shot down to the witch’s commands. Zelda grabbed an elf, lifted him up by the shoulder and threw him at one of his compatriots when orbs of water spun around her, knocking away elves with each pass.
Upstairs, the door crashed open and sent ice shards across the floor. Elves rushed in as Lilly pulled the trigger. An ice bolt struck an elf in the chest, causing him to grunt and fly back into his companions. Lilly was already reloading and Jon was at her side.
“Get out of here!” Lilly commanded.
“Not without you!” Jon shot back.
The pair backed up as more elves spilled in, sizing up the situation. An elf with a green spiky mohawk stepped in, his mouth twisted into an evil smile.
“Captain Sawblade,” Lilly hissed as she and Jon backed up to the window.
“You remembered,” Sawblade grinned. “Here I thought you forgot about me.”
Lilly looked down at Sawblade’s left hand, seeing nothing more than a strange metal stump and a wicked looking round saw blade.
“I did, but seeing your stump again, I know you never forgot about me,” Lilly smirked.
Sawblade’s smile vanished and was replaced with contained rage. “I need you alive, but the bounty didn’t say anything about you being in one piece.”
Jon watched as the elf with the pointed green mohawk lifted his left arm. A gem along the metal encasing his stump glowed and the round saw blade began to spin like a carpenter’s saw. The vibrating whirl filled the bedroom as he took a step closer.
The rest of his crew stepped in just behind and to the sides of their Captain, bodies eager for violence.
“What’s the plan?” Jon asked as he was ready to go toe to toe with the elves.
“We run,” Lilly smiled and pulled the trigger.
The frost bolt streaked through the room and shattered as Sawblade’s saw sliced in in midair. The resulting magical explosions stunned everyone, but Lilly and Jon as they turned and jumped out of the window.
Jon’s eyes widened as he fell. Zelda turned, arms out as she caught Jon and the Captain. The sea elf gently put them down as elves littered the road around
them.
“To the ship! We are leaving!” Lilly commanded as she broke into a run and reloaded her pistol.
The group dashed down the road as bodies spilled out of the Laughing Rat. Sawblade growled as he gave chase, his crew close behind.
Moonlight painted the town between the lantern lights as three elves and an Urthling pumped their legs. Jon glanced back to see a large group of elves chasing them, one of them lifting a pistol and pulling the trigger. An energy bolt cut through the air, Jon pushing Lilly to the side and the bolt missing her by inches.
Lilly gave Jon a quick, small smile as they rushed through the town of Soul Drink. Zelda and Syndra moved behind Jon and Lilly. The witch commanded her water orbs to shoot backwards. Six orbs crashed into six elves with the force of heavy stones. Bodies were thrown back, their legs swinging into the air. Other elves pushed their falling comrades away as they pressed on, murderous intent in their eyes.
A small crowd of townsfolk were mulling about when Lilly, Jon, and the others ran past. Lilly made a sharp whistle, the group of townsfolk seeing them run with mugs of coffee in their hands. When they turned their attention to the large group of elves pursuing Lilly’s group, brows hardened.
“They’re trying to hurt Captain Silk! Get em!” one of the taller elves shouted.
The group came at Sawblade’s group from the side, tackling several of them and punching with reckless intent. Sawblade’s growl grew louder as he led the charge, half of his crew falling to townsfolk as an open brawl filled the dirt road.
“What the?” Jon huffed as he glanced over his shoulder at the fighting on the street.
“Never hurt anyone who brings gifts,” Lilly smiled as she swiveled her upper body, aimed and pulled the trigger.
Sawblade’s blade shot up, slicing away the frost round in another explosion of light and ice.
“What’s the plan, Captain?” Zelda asked as they continued to run.
Lilly turned, ejecting a spent shell and sliding in a fire round. She looked ahead to the docks, seeing the Dark Heart and on the other side of the very same dock, a larger vessel with a green flag and a round white saw blade.
“It’s going to be a fight. Board the Dark Heart. Zelda, pull up the anchor. Syndra, ready the cannons. Jon, stay at my side as we fight onto the ship and defend it,” Lilly shouted.
“Bloody Silk! I’m coming for you!” Sawblade howled as he pumped his legs.
Jon pushed himself to move faster when a memory hit him. “Sawblade is the captain whose hand you cut off!”
Lilly smirked and nodded.
Jon let out a laugh and a huff as they powered down the road toward the docks.
Syndra’s hands were up and arcane words filled the air. Water rushed up from nearby barrels and troughs, forming spears and darting toward Sawblade’s crew. Elves leapt to the side. One was skewered in the leg, his body collapsing and screaming in pain. Sawblade sliced one water spear down the middle, his eyes wild with manic glee as he was gaining on them.
Ahead, thirty elves stormed off Sawblade’s ship and filled the dock, blocking the path to Lilly’s ship. Chains filled their hands as they waited with confident sneers.
“Syndra, we need to get on our ship!”
The witch nodded as she whispered another incantation. Once the word of power was spoken, magical power flared. Large orbs of water burst up from all around. The orbs rushed to the crew of four. Water wrapped around arms and legs and with a small leap, all four were floating through the air.
Jon stared down as he sailed through the air. Zelda grinned as Lilly kept her eyes on the prize. Syndra grunted as she tried to maintain control. The four flew over the edge of town and soared closer to the ship.
On the dock, several elves pulled out crossbows, lifted them up and aimed. Lilly pointed her pistol at the dead center of the dock and pulled the trigger. Sawblade’s crew pulled on the triggers, bolts shooting up at the soaring crew. A fireball streaked down as bolts shot past it. The bolts missed as the Lilly’s crew began to descend.
The fireball streaked toward the dock, many elves diving for the water as it struck the dock and exploded. Lilly reloaded as flames and smoke billowed up from the dock, preventing Sawblade’s crew from climbing back on.
Jon and the rest landed on the deck of the Dark Heart. Syndra fell onto her hands and knees, breathing heavy as if she used a great deal of her power.
“We can rest when we’re dead! To your duties!” Lilly shouted.
Zelda helped Syndra up to her feet before rushing to the anchor mechanism. Webbed hands took hold and she began to push.
Syndra weaved as she made her way to the door to the deck below. She glanced over her shoulder to Jon and Lilly as they stood by the railing. The shadow elf turned her attention to her orders and rushed down the stairs to the cannons.
“Stay by me and put your luck to our defense,” Lilly ordered as she reloaded a new fire round.
“Gangplank is up, how are they…” Jon didn’t finish as a spear shot past him and stabbed into the deck floor.
Jon followed the rope attached to it, crossing over to high platforms on Sawblade’s ship. Elves shouted and laughed as a few more lifted up round cylinders, spear points gleaming in the firelight of the burning dock. With a shout, three more spears blasted out, two stabbing into the deck and another into the mast.
“Pull them out!” Lilly commanded as she aimed and fired off a round.
Jon rushed to a spear, took hold and pulled. Muscles strained and luckily, the spear came loose, Jon chucking it over the side. He rushed to another, but the moment he took hold, several more stabbed into the deck.
“There’s too many!” Jon shouted.
“Keep pulling them out! We just have to keep them busy long enough for the cannons,” Lilly shouted back over the chaos and fired her pistol.
Zelda grunted as she rushed to pull up the anchor. Thick chains clinked as the anchor slowly rose up. A spear shot past the sea elf’s head, but she stayed to task, pushing with all her might to bring the anchor up.
Below deck, Syndra moved to a chest and slammed it open. Hands took hold of a cannonball covered in arcane symbols. The witch moved to the starboard cannons, opened the first one and shoved the cannonball in. She closed it and cocked back the hammer before moving to the chest again and pulling out another cannonball. She glanced at the three cannons on this side, two more to load.
Outside, Sawblade rushed to the edge of the burning dock. With his good hand, he pointed at the flames. Several of his crew were at the railing of their ship, tossing buckets of water to douse the flames. Elves in the water, climbed onto the dock while others splashed water on the flames to put them out.
“I want them alive you fools!” Sawblade shouted as he watched the chaos before him.
On the Dark Heart, Lilly fired her pistol again, a fireball hitting the side of the ship and blackening a small section of the hull and forcing some of the elves along the railing to retreat from the smoke.
“Syndra!” Lilly shouted.
The witch pushed the last cannonball in, slammed the end closed and pulled back on the hammer.
“Fully loaded Captain!” Syndra shouted from below deck.
Jon pulled a spear loose as he turned. Light and smoke rose up from the dock as Lilly stared at the other elves with no hint of fear. The red-headed Captain aimed her pistol, her appearance making her powerful. Hope bloomed as Lilly’s mouth opened to give the command to fire.
Zelda pushed until she heard a loud click. The sea elf grabbed the chain and hooked it onto the anchor wheel. Turning around, she was ready to fight when pain stabbed through her shoulder.
Jon turned his gaze from Lilly, horror chilling his heart. A spear stabbed through Zelda’s shoulder as a webbed hand rose up to grab it. The rope connected to the spear became taut. Zelda’s gaze connected with Jon’s eyes before a hint of sadness touched her expression.
“Forget about me and keep figh…” Zelda managed before the rope yanked bac
k and lifted the sea elf off the deck.
Jon watched as pulleys on the other ship trembled, pulling the tall sea elf over the smoldering dock, swinging over to the enemy ship and falling to the deck.
“Syndra! Hold your fire!” Lilly shouted.
“NO!” Jon shouted as he rushed to the edge of the deck.
Stepping on a pressure plate, the gangplank from the Dark Heart slid out and slammed down on the blackened dock, knocking one enemy elf back into the water.
Jon was already running down the gangplank, fists ready as he crashed into a bunch of elves and knocked them off their feet. Fists shot out, somehow missing him as he charged like a boulder. Jon’s heart beat like an engine as each swing of his fist connected, sending an elf crashing into others. Purpose and conviction blasted away any other thought as he barreled toward the enemy ship’s gangplank and set foot on it.
“Syndra! Rescue mission! Fire on my command!” Lilly said as she stepped over to a spear.
The Captain took hold of the taut rope, her boot slamming into the side of the spear and forcing it from the wood. Pistol in other hand, the rope pulled, sending Lilly straight into the air and swinging to the enemy ship. Eyes glowed like cold pools of light as Sawblade’s crew shouted for her to come down. Lilly swung, catching a glimpse of Sawblade marching across the dock and Jon fighting his way onto the ship.
Zelda rose up slightly from the deck before legs and fists came crashing down. The sea elf struggled, a dozen limbs pounding on her. Muscles gave out and she crashed face first onto the deck.
“Fucking sea trash!” an elf shouted, pulled back a leg and went to kick her in the face.
Zelda turned her face to the kick, her mouth instantly growing larger and rows of teeth stabbed out along the insides. The elf’s boot went into her mouth and the sea elf clamped down, severing the foot as blood sprayed across her face. The elf screamed as he fell, clutching at his leg.
Zelda swallowed the whole boot and foot as she rose up to her webbed feet, her face painted in blood. Her eyes turned black as the crew hesitated.
“Feeding time,” Zelda said with a bloody grin with the spear still in her shoulder before she charged into the fray.
