by Heath Pfaff
"Movement to port!" He was a human man. I didn't know his real name, but I knew him by face. He was friendly, and a hard worker. His crew mates called him Sticky, I'd been told, because he was so sure footed climbing up and down the masts and lines of ships. I'd never imagined hearing such a terrible portent from a man named "Sticky."
The crew made their way to the port side deck, everyone gathering and straining their eyes to catch a glimpse of what had caught the attention of the watch. It was Tower who saw it first. He pointed.
"I can see it, just barely. It's still far away, but it's coming in this direction, no doubt about that." His voice was grim, and his face seemed paler than it normally was. Again, fear.
"Sticky," I called to the high-watch. "can you guess as to how long we have until it gets here?"
"An hour, maybe less. It's hard to say, Noble. It's easier to judge things moving on the surface of the water, this just looks like a bubble with only part at the surface. If the water wasn't so still. . ." His words trailed off.
"Telistera?" I called. Her voice answered from a little way down the deck.
"That's it. It travels just below the surface, but it'll come further out of the water as it gets closer." She said, her voice had taken on an unearthly calm. "We should man the port guns, and prep the sinker cannon."
I'd heard of the sinker cannon, but I did not know what it was, or what it did. I knew that it was a downward facing weapon that could fire below the deck of the ship but I wasn't sure about how that functioned practically. Telistera had seen to its installation, and she was certain of its importance. That was good enough for me.
"How can you be sure it will attack from port? What if it swings around, and comes from another side?" It was the voice of another of the human crew. Who exactly, I couldn't' tell amidst the crowd.
"It won't swing around. It's not worried about strategy, and it's not afraid of us or anything else on this ocean. It has no reason to fear. It will not deviate from its course. They never do." Telistera's answer silenced any more questions.
"To battle ready positions, men." I gave the order over the silence, and the crew exploded into motion. The men on duty knew where they were supposed to be, and everyone got there as quickly as they could. In doing their duty, they could take their minds off of the situation for at least a few moments.
The main mast was levered such that it could be folded down, and that preparation was underway. I had never known why Telistera had designed such a difficult feature into the ship, but she had explained that it was to keep the mast from shearing off during an attack. As the men prepared the ship for battle, the great mast tucked down, the sail folding away with it. Without the sail up, the ship really did seem vulnerable, though I knew the windless fabric offered no real protection.
I felt a pressure at my side, and knew without looking that it was Malice. In times of trouble, she was always as close to me as she could possibly be. I turned to face her. She was looking out over the port railing, her hood pulled low so I couldn't see the expression on her face. I felt no shaking in her body. She was as firm at my side as ever she was. The only indication that she was at all anxious was how close she'd gotten to me, but perhaps she was doing that for my benefit? As that thought struck me, it occurred to me that maybe something of the old Malice was beginning to return.
"We've fought monsters before. This one will be no different." I told her, trying to infuse as much confidence into my voice as possible. I spoke loudly, so all those around me could hear, though the comment was primarily for Malice's benefit. Being in charge meant that I had to put on a brave face, even when I felt terrified inside. Of all times, it was in the face of death that being calm was most important.
No one had ever told me that, but I had seen it in those around me throughout my life. I had seen it in Tempest, the Knight of Ethan who had fought off the Shao Geok to save Kyeia and myself years before. I had seen it so often in Malice, throughout the years, when we'd fought in battles that could have easily been our last, and even as she stood by me at that moment, apparently stoic and at ease. That calm, Lucidil had possessed it, Ethaniel possessed it, all of the great men and women I'd known had mastered it. It was my turn to try. I wouldn't know if I succeeded, because there was no mark by which to compare, but if I did succeed, my men would fight better. They would be stronger in the face of fear. We all might survive yet another battle.
So, with fear biting away at my spirit, I stood with my back stiff, my shoulders firm, and my eyes fixed on the coming threat. I kept my face as calm and indifferent as possible, and told myself, "This is just another battle, and you do not lose in battle. You are unstoppable. You will save Kaylien."
"I know. Lowin never loses." I heard Malice say, and for a moment I thought she was talking directly to my inner voice, but then I realized that she was actually replying to what I'd said a few moments before.
"Never." I agreed. At the horizon, and moving with slow but meaningful progress, the great bulge in the Seep was now obvious for everyone to see.
Time no longer passed slowly. It seemed that the great swell moving towards us came with increasing speed as it grew nearer. It wasn't until it began to draw close that I fully came to appreciate just how large it was. Our ship was massive, but the swell that approached us, and whatever lay beneath it, was several times the size of our ship.
The water, normally a brilliant blue-green under the light of the sun, was black where the bubble began. A low rumble coursed through the water, and the vibrations hit our ship and made the timber groan in reply. The depth of the sound was such that it made my bones shake inside my skin.
"Stand strong!" I called out to the men standing on deck. I had felt the bone chilling sound all the way to the core of my person, and I was sure everyone else had felt the same. If ever they needed encouragement, it was then. The mass grew larger, and suddenly the bubble broke, and something began to emerge from the water, still multiple ship lengths away from us.
"Listen for Telistera's signal. Do not fire until you have Telistera's word!" I called out loudly. They all knew what to do, but in times of stress people could make mistakes. By reaffirming the orders, I was both establishing a verbal presence that let the crew know I was still leading, and reaffirming the orders, making sure that everyone remembered what they were supposed to be doing during the most stressful of times.
A massive form erupted up from the depths of the ocean, stretching upward into the sky as though an entire castle, some impossibly large structure, was clawing its way up from the depths of the sea. The ocean heaved in answer to its movement, and for the first time in a long while, the entire ship moved across the surface of the water, propelled by the wave produced by the demon creature emerging from the ocean waters.
Though I had seen many monsters in my life, I had witnessed none as terrible as what drew itself up from the depths of the Great Salt Seep. Its body was a gray so dark that it was almost black, but for its underside that was a sickly gray-white. It stretched as long as four or more ships the size of ours, and was wider at the mouth than any ship was long, bow to stern. It had fins that were larger that our ship by far. Stranger still, it had no eyes, but depthless pits along its fore-body, deep black holes, each large enough to swallow a smaller vessel, puncturing the skin like tunnels to the beast's insides. There were six of these holes, three on each side of the creature's terrible head.
Around its mouth were appendages, long and reaching, like massive writhing snakes, but barbed with vicious claws that looked sharp enough to rend flesh, wood, and possibly metal. It mouth, though, was the worst part of all. As it drew closer it opened that orifice, and I looked into the depths of a horror I had never before imagined. Its teeth were layered, each larger than two hands put together, and there were thousands upon thousands of them lining its mouth, and going back into the darkness of its insides. By some mechanism of life that I have never before witnessed, those teeth churned about inside of the thing's maw, undulating i
n a fashion that I knew would devastate anything that came in contact with them. The beast was bearing down upon us.
"Men, make ready!" I called out loudly so that my voice could clear the sound of crashing water, and that terrible bass rumble that I took to be the voice of the monster before us. To their credit, no man had yet fired their cannon. The ship had been tossed by the wave from the beast rising out of the water, but we still faced it on the port side. I was relieved. I had feared we would be turned in the suddenly turbulent waters. Our cannons were ready. We were just waiting on Telistera's word. I looked to the silver-eyed woman. She seemed surprisingly calm, but I could see the sheen of sweat on her brow. She was terrified. I thought no less of her for that.
I was terrified as well.
I have never felt so completely powerless before, as I did in the face of that monster of the sea. I drew my sword and stood transfixed as it approached, though I quickly sheathed my weapon again, realizing it would do nothing against the foe before me. My strength would be as meaningless to that beast, as a leaf is to an autumn breeze. I had faced opponents of such monstrous size that men considered them nigh indestructible, but the dragon of the ocean was a beast to rule all others.
Cavernous jaws, wide enough to engulf a portion of the ship, gaped off the port railing. As they loomed nearer, I found myself suddenly certain that I was staring into the abyss of death. A deep bass rumble sounded once more, and the world reverberated, shaking so hard that even my vision trembled.
"Fire port cannons!" I heard Telistera yell. Her voice was followed by the explosive percussion of our ship's armaments. They were twice as powerful as normal ship cannons, but would they have any effect against the enemy before us? I would have my answer soon enough.
I did not see the cannonballs in flight, but I saw the damage their impacts wrought upon the beast. The heavy metal shot tore away massive pieces of flesh, many larger than any three or four men combined. Where the leaden projectiles hit inside the creatures mouth, teeth shattered and skin ripped like fabric under a sharp knife. Another bass note tore through the air, shaking the boat, and making me feel as though my bones were trying to jump out of my skin. I knew that the cannon teams would be readying to fire again. Time was getting short. The creature was still drawing nearer. It had not slowed in its progression. Our weapons, for all the damage they had dealt, had not fazed our attacker.
The sun was still low in the sky, and as the beast drew nearer, its massive bulk blocked out the light, so that it seemed suddenly dark. Morning had become night in an instant. I did not know how much time passed, but cannon fire shook the ship once more, again tearing into putrid gray flesh, and again not slowing the creature's advance. Our cannons would get one, maybe two, more shots before it was upon us, and any further shooting would be done directly into the monster as it devoured our vessel.
"How did your people escape when this happened?" I asked Telistera while we stood in the shadow of death, the smell of cannon powder filling the air, as well as a terrible rotting stench coming from the mouth of the beast before us.
"Our people did not escape. No ship that was targeted by those demons broke free, Noble. Not one." Her words were like the chiming of a burial bell, clear and infinitely heart rending.
The percussive sound of our cannons firing again filled the air, for a moment, dulling the terrible bass rumble that threatened to rend our ship apart before the creature was even upon us. The gaping mouth of the thing now loomed overhead, and I could see with exquisite detail the undulating teeth within that terrible maw. I felt a pressure at my side.
"Laouna, get below decks." I yelled, realizing that I did not want her to see what was coming. "Clear the deck!" I called to the crew in general. The creature was upon us, and being atop the ship was no longer a good idea. The crew fled at my command, the few top-side cannons abandoned. Those below deck might get another chance to fire, and we still had Telistera's secret weapon. Would we get a chance to use it before our ship was consumed?
While the crew was running below decks, I noticed that Laouna was still at my side. The sound of cannon fire echoed again, and I looked up, and toward the port rail. All I could see was the terrifying jaws of the demon that wanted to consume our craft and everyone aboard. I would not go below until everyone else was safe.
"Laouna, get below decks. Go to our quarters." I told her again, this time more firmly.
"I'm not going to leave you." She said.
"Get below decks, now." I told her again, anger touching my voice. I wanted her to be safe, or at least some place safer than where we stood at that moment. I was certain we were going to die, and I did not want to see her death. So long as I could believe that she was safely below decks, in our room, I could keep functioning, but if she perished before me, I knew I would lose myself entirely.
"I don't want to die alone, Lowin." She pleaded, her eyes welling up with tears.
"Below decks now!" I shouted, that Fell Beast part of me coming through in my voice, making it a dangerous growl. She started, looked at me with eyes wide with shock, and then turned and fled down the hatch amidst the crowd of crew members. She was gone, and I felt little better for it. Would those be the last words I said to her? What if I did not see her again before. . .
I made myself stop that thought before I finished it. We would not die.
"Everyone off the deck!" I yelled once more, though the last few people were already filtering below. They did not need my encouragement. The great jaws were descending, falling slowly through the air towards the ship. What more could I do out in the open myself? I looked around to make certain everyone was below, and then I retreated. I stood at the door for a moment, and watched as the massive mouth of the creature collapsed upon our ship. Those terrible teeth, churning and grinding, would soon be rending our vessel to dust and debris. The entire ship shook as the powerful jaws took hold. I closed the door and went below. The creature's mouth had latched onto nearly a quarter of our ship.
The crew, black cloaks, Knights, and humans, lined the halls, those that were not manning cannons. All eyes were on me, as though they expected I would have something insightful, or hopeful to say. At that moment, I should have had something to give them, words, a smile, anything, but though I searched myself for some tiny morsel to hand them, I could find nothing.
"To the cannons, I want every cannon that can hit that thing, firing." I said quietly, but it was loud enough. People heard and they sprang to action. I had only told them to do what was logical, but apparently it had been what they needed. I looked for Malice, but I did not see her among the crew in the hall. I made my way downward, to the bowels of the ship. Telistera would be there, along with our one remaining, untried weapon. The ship rocked ominously around me, and the sound of wood splintering echoed through the hull. Would we stay afloat, or be dragged to the bottom of the sea?
I found Telistera where I thought I would, in the very bottom of the ship. She was near the firing mechanism for the sinker cannon, and I immediately knew something was wrong. She was flustered, and for the first time ever, I saw outward panic on her face. There were two black cloaks standing near her, watching her, and they too looked uneasy. It was strange seeing them so.
"Telistera?" I asked as I approached. The hull groaned loudly around us, and a loud crack sounded from somewhere far away. How much time did we have left? I didn't know, but I guessed it wasn't much.
"The firing mechanism is locked from the outside." Telistera explained, without me needing to prompt her at all. "We locked it at the dock when we loaded it, for the safety of the crew there. When we left, because of the trouble we had, we never unlocked it. We can't fire the weapon. She slammed her fist on the wood console in front of her. The wood there groaned at her abuse, but did not give. I only hoped the rest of the ship was holding up so well. It was a strong ship.
"Can this be fixed?" I asked, trying to maintain my outward calm. The news that our final weapon wasn't working, was a devastating hit.
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"The locking pins need to be pulled from outside the hull. Until then, we can't aim, and we can't fire." To punctuate her words, another loud crack sounded, and was followed by the sounds of surprisingly large amounts of water gushing into places that no water should be.
"Tell me what I need to do, and I'll go out and do it." I told her. It was a rash decision, but circumstances were dire. I had no desire to leave the ship, but soon enough it would be destroyed, along with everyone aboard it. I wasn't ready to lose them all. Their lives were my responsibility, and more, if the ship sank, Kay would have no one left to save her.
"You can't go out there, you'll be eaten alive. What will. . ." The hull creaked loudly and another splintering crack sounded from somewhere distant.
"Tell me now, and tell me fast Telistera, how do I do what needs to be done? Once you've explained it to me, get as many men fixing punctures as you can until I get the weapon ready. Do you understand?" I filled my voice with command, and Telistera nodded numbly.
She pulled out a technical drawing from beside the wooden firing console and showed me the points that were secured by pins. Three pins were in place to lock the cannon in its tucked away position, and one pin locked the firing mechanism from engaging. I would need to remove all four, from the underside of the ship, before we could use the cannon.