by K Hanson
“The Empire is going to attack its own city? Why?”
The general shrugged, with a menacing grin on his face. “One of two things will happen. Either you’ll give up, and the barrage will stop. Of course, everyone who has rebelled will be executed. If you don’t give up, the city will be destroyed, and no other city will ever think of doing something similar. Even if they want to, they’ll remember what happened to Antalia.”
The door opened, and Jax burst into the room, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath, the strand of beads swaying in his hair.
“What is it?” Nereyda asked.
“We did it.” His broad smile radiated energy. “The gates are open.”
“Good. But we have another problem. Let’s go get Elvar.”
“What about him?” Jax pointed at the general.
She glanced down and plunged her sword into the general’s chest. “Can’t afford to leave him alive.”
Nereyda and Jax ran down to find Elvar directing people in colorful costumes into a large warehouse full of crates of ammunition, barrels of gunpowder, and racks of rifles, pistols, and swords. In the corner, a man in a red and blue jester’s outfit checked the balance of a rapier.
“Elvar,” said Nereyda, “we need to do something about the fleet in the harbor. They’re going to start bombarding the city.”
His eyes widened. “Why would they do that?”
“It doesn’t matter why. We just need to stop it. Elvar, help me gather the crew. We’re going to go take one of the frigates that are still docked and see what we can do about the ships that are already out. Jax, can you take your people to stop the rest of the frigates from leaving? One versus five is going to be hard enough, and I don’t want to worry about the odds getting worse.”
Jax nodded, then ran off to organize the other Islanders.
Nereyda and Elvar found the Storm Raven crew members and led them off into the city. Nereyda ran as fast as she could without tumbling down the hill that sloped to the docks. In the gaps between the buildings, she saw the five frigates lining up in the harbor. When they were halfway down the hill, cannon shots sounded. A second later, a cannonball hit a tower to Nereyda’s left. She dodged the stone debris that rained down.
Some buildings had gaping holes in their walls. Others teetered on the verge of collapse. Civilians in the streets screamed and ran for whatever cover they could find. When Nereyda arrived at the bottom of the hill, she surveyed the docks. A couple of docks down, one of the frigates sat mostly unmanned, except for a few guards standing on the dock next to it.
Nereyda led the charge toward the guards. When she reached them, she quickly defeated one while her crew members took care of the others.
“Elvar, make sure there is plenty of ammunition and powder. Everyone else, start getting her ready to sail. You don’t need to be fancy, just get it done as quickly as you can.”
Her crew began preparations for sailing. The frigate was a little larger than the Storm Raven, but it shouldn’t be too difficult for them to pilot.
Nereyda stepped up to the helm and untied the line that held the wheel in place. As she finished, Elvar joined her.
“The ammunition stores are about half full. I’ve got the gunners getting the cannons ready now.”
“Half full is fine. We can make that work. And make sure the guns are all manned, even if it means taking people from other parts of the ship. We need every cannon ready.”
“Aye.” Elvar shouted orders to some of the crew to report to the guns, taking them away from less essential stations.
Within a few minutes, the ship was ready to sail. At least, it was ready enough for what they needed to do.
“Okay, cast off and full sail,” Nereyda commanded.
One crew member chopped the line connecting the frigate to the dock, then the sails fell from the yardarms, snapping in the wind. The ship pulled away from the dock and into the harbor. The other frigates in the water seemed to pay them no attention as they kept blasting the city with barrage after barrage of fire.
Nereyda piloted the frigate toward the space between two of the ships. “Prepare to fire!” she called, and the order was relayed to the gun crews below. “Aim at the waterline.”
She waited until they were in the middle of the ships and angled the ship to deliver two broadsides at once.
“Fire!” she ordered.
The cannons on each side roared as they blasted the ships nearby. The frigate shuddered from the simultaneous broadsides. Ships weren’t normally designed for that kind of stress.
The barrages tore through the aft of one target and the bow of the other. The cannonballs struck just where Nereyda had ordered her crew to aim, creating gaping holes in each hull along the surface of the water. Both frigates angled down into the waves as their holds filled with water. The crews abandoned their bombardment of the city and hurried to deal with their sinking vessels.
That still left three other enemy ships. As their captured frigate pulled out beyond the line of ships, toward the open sea, one of the other ships stopped firing and dropped its sails, then turned out toward Nereyda’s frigate.
“Full speed,” she ordered. At least she could lead one of them away from the city.
From the harbor, a narrow strait led out to the ocean. Nereyda piloted her frigate toward the gap, as the other ship stayed on their tail.
When they were a short distance from the opening, a chain sprung from under the water, spanning the whole gap.
“Full stop! Hard port!” she ordered.
As the sails were furled, Nereyda spun the wheel hard to the port. The frigate tilted hard to the starboard as it strained against the change in direction. When it stabilized in the water, the Imperial ship was heading straight for them. The ram on the prow of the ship would smash right through the middle of their exposed side.
“Fire!” she ordered.
The guns on the port side blasted a volley at their target. Some struck their mark on the bow of the ship, and it started to tilt forward and slowed down. It didn’t slow enough though. Before Nereyda could give the order to bring the vessel back up to speed, the Imperial ship struck them low on the port side. The slow speed minimized the damage, but Nereyda’s ship became sluggish as it took on water. They needed to defeat the other ships quickly.
“Drop the sails!” she yelled.
Once again, the sails filled with wind and they started moving. They pulled away from the ship that had rammed them, which continued to take on water. Three ships had been disabled, but the remaining two had turned away from the docks and sailed for them. Nereyda wasn’t quite sure where to go in the confined harbor. She felt the frigate begin to lean to port, and it was becoming more difficult to maneuver.
Despite her best efforts, the two ships closed in from behind, one pointing toward their port side and the other heading starboard.
“Prepare to fire,” she ordered. Their best shot might be another double-sided broadside.
Before Nereyda’s crew was ready, however, the two enemy frigates pulled up alongside the captured frigate, aiming their own broadsides at it.
Nereyda ducked just as a combined volley erupted from the two ships and blasted into the side of her frigate. Crew members screamed as splinters tore into them. The mainmast cracked and collapsed over the side. Their entire ship tipped forward as water poured into the hull.
A cry sounded from her left. When the dust cleared, she saw that Elvar lay on the deck with a spike of wood sticking out of his belly, blood pooling next to him. His face had turned pale.
Nereyda rushed to his side and knelt down, wrapped her arms around him, and rested his head on her lap. “Elvar, hold on. We’ve almost won, and we’ll get you out of this.”
He shook his head. “No, I don’t think so,” he said as he gasped for air, blood trickling from the corners of his mouth. “Don’t fuss over me. I’ve had a good life. And I’ve had the privilege of watching you become the best captain I’ve ever known.
Now, go finish this and get back to the sea where you belong.”
Elvar’s eyes glazed over and he went limp in Nereyda’s arms.
As the life of her friend and mentor faded, a dam broke inside of Nereyda. The storm inside of her demanded an escape. And she didn’t want to contain it.
By this point, the two Imperial ships had pulled past the front of their ship. She had neglected to give the order to fire as she had tended to Elvar.
Nereyda ran the length of the ship and stood at the bow, now just feet from slipping beneath the waves, where she could see both of the remaining enemy frigates. As the storm swelled inside of her, she held out her hands and let everything out.
A torrent of energy surged from within and her nerves sizzled as electricity blasted through her arms. From each hand, a lightning bolt shot through the air with a crack of thunder. The scent of a storm permeated the air as the energy bolted toward the enemy ships.
Lightning struck the frigates. They erupted in plumes of fire and splinters. An odor of charred wood and flesh invaded the harbor. Once the energy inside of her was expended, Nereyda collapsed on the deck and passed out.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
A bolt of lightning flashed in the corner of Limbani’s eye, followed by a huge boom of thunder, which was strange because there were no clouds in the sky at all. She turned toward the harbor and saw two broken and burning frigates, with bits of debris still flying through the air and splashing down in the water. She hadn’t been paying attention to the sea battle, but the only ship left floating seemed to be the one that Nereyda and her pirates had commandeered.
The squad of Imperial troops that Limbani and her own soldiers had been facing threw down their weapons, their eyes wide with terror. “We surrender!” said their sergeant as they came forward, their hands raised. “I don’t know who you are, but I want no part of fighting you.”
Limbani and her troops held their weapons on the Imperials as the sounds of gunfire and violence subsided in the rest of the city.
“Lieutenant, take these prisoners and secure them in one of these houses. Hold them there until I send for you. And you, Private,” she addressed another soldier in her platoon. “Leave the city and go find Lord Devrim. Tell him that the city is ours.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said before running off toward the gate.
Adnan directed the other soldiers to bring the prisoners into one of the houses.
Limbani kept her pistol drawn as she made her way through the city in the direction of the harbor. As she wound through alleys and side streets, she saw that other groups of rebels had captured Imperial soldiers. She instructed them to take shelter and hold position. No more pockets of resistance remained. It seemed that whatever had destroyed the ships had frightened the Imperials into giving up the fight.
In the harbor, the pirates’ frigate limped its way toward the dock. Some of the Islanders milled about near the city administration building. Jax waved at Limbani before approaching.
“Quite a fight,” he said. “How did you do?”
“It was dicey when they started bombarding the city, but once they stopped to deal with Nereyda, it went pretty well. They’re all surrendering now.”
Jax laughed with a booming voice. “I think they got nervous when their ships blew up.”
“Get anyone important when you took the headquarters?”
“I don’t think so. Mostly just officers and bureaucrats who keep the city running. The admiral who was in charge left with the main fleet and the replacement hasn’t arrived yet.”
“Lucky for him.”
“I suppose so. Looks like our pirate friends finally made it to the dock.”
Limbani and Jax hurried toward the heavily damaged frigate as it pulled up next to the dock. As soon as the gangway had been extended from the ship, two of the pirates rushed across carrying a limp body.
Nereyda.
###
A few hours later, Limbani stood at the front of the assembled crowd as Devrim approached the central platform with the three gallows that rose above the square. Next to her stood Jax, who shifted back and forth uneasily.
“Stand still. I’m sure Nereyda will be fine soon.” That was a lie, though. Limbani was far from certain of anything.
Jax frowned at her, but settled a bit.
As Devrim neared the short staircase up to the stage, he stopped in front of one of the Islanders. “May I borrow your ax, friend?” he asked with a hand on the man’s shoulder.
The Islander nodded and handed over his weapon.
“Thank you,” said Devrim as he accepted the ax and ascended the platform. He stepped next to the gallows on the left and hefted the ax behind him and swung it at the wood. The post shook as Devrim’s powerful stroke bit into it. Wordlessly, he struck it with swing after swing. His strong arms wielded the ax with practiced precision. Soon, the post fell onto the ground behind the platform. He wiped beads of sweat from his forehead as he paused to catch his breath. He hoisted the ax up to rest on his shoulder and turned to face the crowd of assembled rebel soldiers, pirates, Islanders, and captured Imperials.
“I’ll finish chopping down the other two later, but that is exactly what I came here to do. The time of the Empire’s reign of terror in Antalia has come to an end.”
The crowd erupted in cheers.
He nodded for a moment, then waved to them to quiet down. “Yes, it is a day to celebrate. But I’m not the one who deserves your cheers. I might have helped organize this, but it’s the people who actually led the charge, the people who fought, and the people who gave their lives who deserve the most praise. I cheer for all of you standing in this square here today. You all chose to rise up and throw off the heavy boot that the Empire had stomped down on you.” He strode the length of the platform, his head held high.
“I especially want to recognize someone who isn’t even here right now. You might remember the thunder and lightning in the harbor. That was our own Captain Nereyda, who managed to destroy two frigates with power from her own hands. She also led the triumphant rebels from within the city.”
They cheered at the mention of Nereyda, especially the citizens of Antalia.
“Yes, she was heroic. However, her act of courage has left her unconscious.” His head drooped.
The crowd fell into silence.
He spoke in a low tone, yet it still carried over the crowd. “The very act that ended this battle took her to the threshold of death itself. I dearly hope that she will recover soon and will be ready to lead us to future victories.” His voice rose in a crescendo as he lifted his gaze to the crowd once again. “If we have someone with her abilities on our side, nobody can stand in our way. When the Emperor and his allies hear about Nereyda and about the rest of you and what you’re capable of, they will tremble even in their comfortable mansions because they’ll know that we can’t be stopped.”
Cheers roared again.
“Now, I want to talk to our Imperial friends who have surrendered to us.”
Boos murmured through the crowd.
Devrim waved for them to settle down. “No, no. Do not boo these people. They are not our enemies anymore. At least not right now. Many have been raised in a darkness that hides the true nature of the Empire. They’ve been indoctrinated to believe that the Emperor is right in all things. Some of them have been forced into service, or perhaps they found that it was the only job available and they had a family to provide for. No, soldiers may fight for our enemies, but they are not our enemies themselves. Our true enemies cower behind high walls and refuse to put themselves at risk, letting others do so for them as if their lives somehow matter more.”
He stared at the portion of the square where the captured Imperials stood. “So, Imperial soldiers who have surrendered to us, I want to give you a choice. If you are tired of following orders from people who don’t care about you and only use you to further their own positions without sharing the benefits with you, stay with us. We will find a place for yo
u within our movement, and you can enjoy newfound freedom. And any soldiers who don’t join us will be free to go. We will not keep you as prisoners, nor will we murder you for our own convenience. We will give you enough supplies to journey to the nearest town and escort you out of the walls. I give you this option because we can’t truly say that we’re fighting for freedom if we won’t let you have yours, even if we disagree with what you do with it.
“Those of you who wish to join our cause, step up into this open area here.” Devrim indicated a space directly in front of the stage to his left. “If you wish to leave and return to your life as an Imperial soldier, remain where you are.”
After a moment, about half of the captured soldiers moved toward the open space, while the other half stayed where they were. Devrim waited for them to finish moving.
“Excellent. To those who have chosen to join us, welcome. You are now a part of our ever-growing family, and we will take care of you. Those of you who want to leave, I have some final instructions for you. Please make a full report of what you saw here today to your superior officers and any nobility that you encounter. I do not want this battle or how we won to be a secret. Tell them that the people are rising up and that we are bringing a storm with us. They need to know what they are about to face so that they can choose where they want to stand.
“Everyone else, we’ll have at least a few days before we think about where we’re going next. So enjoy yourselves in this new free city for a while so that you’re well rested when we go to liberate the next city from the Emperor. Because now that we’re started, we won’t stop until we take this straight to the gates of the Imperial Palace itself.”
As the crowd roared its approval of his conclusion, Devrim waved Limbani to the edge of the stage and knelt down to speak to her. “Have four days of rations and a bedroll prepared for each of the soldiers who are leaving. Let’s get them out of Antalia as soon as possible.”