Alone - Episode 9: Battle of King's Harbor

by Hugo C. Bygott

I was about to turn and hold the railing, but the blast came from nowhere, ripping through the mast of the ship and knocking several Sea Kings overboard. Splinters of wood bounced off my craggy skin, but others were not so lucky as large pieces pierced their bodies, killing them instantly.

  Tomon ran over to the side of the ship.

  “What’s going on? Hey, hey, don’t leave me here,” begged Barnabas.

  Siana and some Sea Kings rushed to the side of the ship where the blast occurred. Something terrible had happened.

  I ran over to where they were. In the water, Mega was struggling to stay afloat, holding onto the remains of the mast.

  “I cannot swim,” cried Mega. “Mega cannot swim.”

  Captain Risen ordered his crew away. “There is nothing we can do. A Geoling is not meant for the sea. He will sink soon.”

  I glared at him. “There is always something that can be done.”

  “Little Forlon, little Forlon, help Mega,” Mega pleaded.

  Siana lowered her eyes. “I cannot go in. My armor would sink me faster than I could save him.”

  “We can’t just let him die,” I shouted.

  Everyone seemed surprised by my outburst. Tomon touched my hand, saying nothing. He then ran below deck.

  Before I could understand what Tomon was doing, Captain Risen cried out. “We are being boarded. Prepare, Sea Kings, the swords of our enemies approach.”

  Siana held her sword in two hands. Mega was barely staying afloat. A gigantic black ship, the biggest ship we had seen so far was approaching the bow of the Salutem. Dozens of hooks with ropes latched onto the side. And with the hooks came dozens of robed figures, wielding two scimitars. Each robed figure had a black mask which covered his face. Only the eyes were visible, showing intent to kill.

  “For Sacrantos, for Magnus,” shouted Captain Risen. “Sea Kings to war.” He drew his sword with many others, rushing to meet the enemy.

  There was no one to help us. There was no one to help Mega, who would sink to the bottom of the ocean within moments.

  “Oooahh,” shouted the Sea Kings as their swords clashed against the unknown enemy.

  ****

  “I cannot hold on any longer.” Mega would soon drown, and the waves caused by the movement of ships only made it worse. Not only that, but a storm was approaching from the distance. Dark clouds with an ominous feeling and roaring thunder were going to overwhelm the battle soon enough.

  “Hold on, Mega,” I pleaded.

  The invaders were flooding the ship, and the Sea Kings were doing their best to fight them off. Siana sliced through them like butter, her giant sword forcing them back. She gave a battle cry and thrust her blade into the chests of the robed figures.

  “What’s going on? Captain Barnabas is stuck on the floor. Let me at ’em!”

  I ran to the book and opened its pages. “Barnabas, help us. We need to get Mega out of the water.”

  Tomon appeared from the decks below. He carried a large coil of rope and soon began to tie one end on the tail of Blue Eyes, who was growling and swiping his claws and thrusting his tusks at the enemy.

  “Blue Eyes, hold still a moment,” urged Tomon.

  With the book under my arm, I rushed over to them. “Tomon, what are you doing?”

  Tomon struggled to keep Blue Eyes steady as he tied the rope. I patted and rubbed Blue Eyes’s hide to keep him calm while Tomon finished tying the rope. Tomon then tugged on it to make sure it was tight enough and, without saying another word, took the other end and ran toward the edge of the boat and leaped off, diving into the water.

  I rushed after him and saw Tomon pushing through the waves and debris to reach Mega. “Barnabas, while Tomon helps Mega, I need you to distract the enemy as long as you can. Can you do that?”

  Barnabas chuckled. “Can I do that? Please, this is the great Barnabas you are talking to. I can do anything. I am Captain Barnabas, leader and renowned wizard of House Barnabas, destined to head to the city of Balimoor and find out my origin of why I was locked in that chamber for so long.”

  I wasn’t going to argue with the book as long as he could help in any way. “Just do what you can.” Behind me, two robed figures had gotten past the Sea Kings, clashing their scimitars together as they approached. Siana was surrounded by a dozen of them, and Blue Eyes was battling several while keeping its tail steady with Tomon on the other end.

  “Barnabas, if you can help, do it now,” I implored.

  The figures ran toward us. I pulled my dagger and deflected the blades. One of them looked over the side of the boat and saw the rope attached. He then began to cut the rope. An overwhelming anger overcame me. I ran at him, ducking under the other, and sliding across to him with dagger point first. He turned just in time to deflect my dagger and kicked me backward.

  “Why, you dirty dog,” said Barnabas. “That’s not how you treat a lady.”

  The book then dazzled in an array of colors, but the figures came for me. Their weapons were sharp, and I wasn’t even sure my rocky skin would withstand the attacks. I deflected their blades, trying to keep them distracted from Tomon and Mega. The robed figures attacked at the same time, and I knew I couldn’t deflect all four scimitars. As their blades came down, a cloud of purple dust fell on them, turning their weapons into bananas.

  “Haha. Ahoy, matey! You ain’t so tough now, are you, you unmannered banana-eaters,” said Barnabas in triumph.

  I sliced the bananas in two and, with innate reflexes, spun my dagger into the neck of one of the masked figures. The other was still holding his bananas, looking at them with confusion. He chucked them away and clenched his fists, but Barnabas was laughing as another cloud of dust fell on him. The robed invader’s fists then merged as one, each hand locked onto the other. Barnabas then leaped from my hand and struck the attacker’s groin, causing him to crash to his knees. With his hands magically tied, he couldn’t even hold his lower area for comfort. I gripped my dagger and pierced his heart, knowing that I couldn’t allow him to stay alive. I picked Barnabas up and ran to the side to see if Tomon and Mega were still afloat.

  Destruction was everywhere. Ships of both fleets were being boarded, and many were sinking into the depths of the ocean. I did not know how we were going to win this battle. At this point, Tomon had already reached Mega. This four-feet high creature had risked his life to save another, a creature who was almost three times his size. Mega did not look like the dominant rock creature as he once did – he looked vulnerable. It was Tomon who now looked the strong one as he swam around Mega, tying the rope around his waist.

  “Cannonballs,” I cried, the balls of iron crashing into the water.

  Mega pulled Tomon close to him, covering him with his body and taking the brunt of the impact.

  The cannonballs continued to rain down, creating massive waves against the side of the ship.

  “Woooohoooo. Crazy, crazy,” exclaimed Barnabas.

  I was struggling to keep my balance. My heart was pounding as I prayed that Mega and Tomon would survive. Mega was gripping the broken mast with one arm.

  “Tomon?” I asked, my voice just a whisper.

  Mega straightened himself as a head popped out of the water underneath his chest. Tomon spurted out water and, without wasting any time, finished wrapping the rope around Mega. I wanted to jump in joy, knowing that they were both unharmed. On the Salutem, the Sea Kings were losing the battle, the figures fighting their way to the center of the ship. Siana continued to carve her way through them, but the Sea Kings were not as skilled with their swords as she was.

  “Blue Eyes, pull,” I shouted. “Press forward. You need to bring Mega and Tomon back on board.”

  Tomon stood on Mega’s shoulders as Blue Eyes hauled them up using its mighty tail. More masked figures were attacking, trying to stop Blue Eyes. The drokc used its tusks to force them back as he pulled Mega and Tomon up.

  “Barnabas, we need your help. Protect Blue Eyes,” I commanded.

  Barnabas f
lipped his pages. “Easy, easy, easy. Easy, peasy, Sea Kings never get wheezy.”

  I joined Blue Eyes and Siana in fighting off the invaders, while Barnabas prepared a spell. With each heave, Blue Eyes grunted. Even with its strength and size, Mega was just as big and heavy, but only Blue Eyes could do it.

  Barnabas fired green bolts of energy at the robed figures, disintegrating them as each one landed. “Wow. Powwow. Did you see that? That was awesome.”

  “Just keep doing it,” I encouraged.

  The storm had now reached us, and heavy rain began to soak my hair. Thunder and lightning filled the sky, creating an even more chaotic battle. I placed Barnabas under my arms to keep him as dry as possible.

  “Arrghh, I hate the rain,” complained Barnabas. “Stupid, stupid rain.” He then fired blue projectiles at the enemy, blasting dozens off the ship. “Haha. I still got some oomph!”

  “Good work,” I said. Blue Eyes had now almost pulled Mega and Tomon back up. “Just a little bit more.”

  Another ship then crashed into the side of the Salutem. I fell to the floor along with many others. Blue Eyes struggled to keep its balance, the rope almost slipping.

  I jumped to my feet and knew things were getting worse as more figures jumped on board. “Blue Eyes, we need Mega.”

  Blue Ryes roared as loudly as the thunder in the sky and ran to meet the enemy, pulling Mega back in one big heave. Tomon leaped from Mega’s shoulders as they both landed on top of the ship. Water was dripping from them both, and Tomon’s fur was drenched. Without wasting time, Tomon untied the rope around Mega.

  Mega looked down at Tomon, his black eyes searching for words. “My Forlon friend. Thank you.”

  Tomon tilted his head. “You did not call me ‘little’ this time.”

  Mega stood up on his massive legs, overshadowing Tomon. “You are not little. You are bigger than I. You proved that just now.”

  Tomon was staring up at Mega’s giant frame, not quite sure if that were true.

  “Tomon, Mega, we are being overrun,” I said. “We need you now.”

  Captain Risen rushed over to us with blood smearing his sword and hands. “If we can hold on long enough, this storm may just give us a chance.”

  Mega slammed his fists together. “Time for some payback.”

  Tomon grabbed his spear and pointed it into the air. The two of them rushed into the fray, aiding Siana and Blue Eyes. Mega crashed into several attackers, throwing them into the sea with ease. He was a raging giant, crashing his way through the enemy. The figures were in disarray at having to fight this new monster of a Geoling. Even Tomon was menacing as he leaped onto Mega’s shoulders and then to Blue Eyes’ hide, thrusting his spear into the air at the attackers, cutting their throats and hitting them in their most vulnerable positions.

  “It was a good move to bring you and your friends on board. I do not think we could have survived this long without your companions,” said Captain Risen.

  “It is not over yet, Captain. Who are these people?” I asked.

  “I don’t know. Their clothes and weapons are unfamiliar to me. Their ships are also foreign. But the Sea Kings will not—”

  Captain Risen collapsed to the floor, blood spurting from his mouth.

  “Captain!” I shouted.

  A glowing green arrow was protruding from his back. He was struggling to speak. I placed my hand over the entry wound, creating the golden aura. Another crew member rushed over, trying to pull the arrow out, but it would not budge. Captain Risen was in severe pain as the green energy soon began to seep into his body. I tried to heal him, but the golden aura wasn’t working. The green energy dominated the wound, inflicting further damage.

  Captain Risen reached up with his hand, caressing my hair, his eyes expressing his fear of leaving this world.

  “I can’t heal you for some reason.” I tried to give more to him, but the wound wasn’t healing, so long as the arrow was firmly in his back.

  Lightning flashed, and thunder roared as the battle was nowhere near its conclusion. I held Captain Risen’s hand, trying to keep him conscious. “Barnabas, do you have any spells that can help him?”

  The book opened wide. “Green energy, foul magic filled with corruption. This is from a powerful sorcerer, perhaps even greater than I. Oh, woe is me.”

  “By whom?” I asked, my pain turning to anger.

  There was another lightning strike from the sky, and then the ship jolted from side to side. I held onto Captain Risen, his eyelids closing. A blinding light then enveloped the ship. When it passed, a creature with scaly skin and a long tail was standing at the stern of the ship behind us.

  “Reptala,” whispered Captain Risen, his lips stained with blood.

  The creature held a wooden staff with a glowing green orb at the top. His robe was as black as his hair, but his skin had a greenish hue similar to the color of its orb. His fingers were like claws, straddling the staff with power. Suddenly, a burst of wind then struck the ship, blowing many Sea Kings across the deck along with the enemy. Mega pushed back against the wind as did Blue Eyes, but Siana and Tomon were thrown aside.

  “We have come for the compass. I know this ship has it. I can feel its presence close by. We will not leave until we have what we came for.” The scaled figure stamped his staff on the ground.

  Captain Risen put his hand on his chest. From under his coat, he revealed to me a golden-coated compass. He then hid it again.

  “The Volentium Empire claims the compass. Give it to me now, or you will all die. If you do not, then after we have destroyed your fleet, we will destroy your island homes. This is your only chance.” The Reptala stamped his staff on the ground twice more.

  His accent was strange and unlike what I had heard from the Evandarian people, but he was speaking the same language. He slammed his staff into the ground again, and then another blast of wind blew over the ship, knocking both the Sea Kings and his own troops over the side.

  “We are many. We are never-ending. We are unmatched. The Volentium Empire will claim this world, and Evandaria and Sacrantos are just the beginning if we do not get the compass,” said the Reptala.

  Mega cracked his knuckles. “A Geoling hates nothing more than a grimy, cowardly sorcerer.” He then stampeded toward him, and almost reached the stern before the sorcerer directed a green bolt from his staff, the energy wrapping around Mega, paralyzing him.

  “A Geoling,” mocked the Reptala. “How ridiculous one such as you would be on a ship in the middle of the ocean. Well, unlike your kin, you will not return to the volcano but will perish in the depths of this ocean.”

  Mega was unable to break free. Blue Eyes rushed forward, thrusting its tusks toward the powerful sorcerer, but another green flash of magic blasted into the drokc’s hide, and Blue Eyes was knocked back, rolling across the deck and stopping at Mega’s feet. Siana and Tomon were about to try next, but I raised my hand for them to stop. They looked at me with uncertainty.

  “A Geoling and a wild drokc. Both of these disgusting creatures should not be on a Sea King’s ship. The Volentium Empire and our God will punish you if you continue to wait and not deliver the compass. I know one of you has it. Tell me who,” the Reptala demanded.

  The storm was now at its peak, and it looked as if the Salutem was beginning to move further away from the other ships, rising and falling in the violent sea.

  The orb of the sorcerer’s staff glowed and began to move and twist toward our direction. Captain Risen coughed blood, and I knew that he would not last much longer.

  The staff stopped moving as the orb pointed to Captain Risen and me. “The compass. You have it. Give it to me.”

  Captain Risen shook his head. I knew how important the compass was to his people. I rose and turned toward the sorcerer. “Why do you want this compass so much?”

  The sorcerer narrowed his eyes and glared. “One as low as you does not question a Reptala and not one of my power. You Evandarians are poison to this world, and we wil
l cleanse the land of you.”

  The wind was so strong that I had to keep pushing the hair out of my eyes. “First, I will question who I wish. And secondly, I’m not an Evandarian. I’m a human.”

  The sorcerer studied me carefully, his face twisting with a strange expression. He then widened his eyes as he saw the book.

  “The book, you have the book! You’re the one who killed Sivan,” hissed the Reptala.

  “Don’t let them take me again,” yelped Barnabas. “It was horrible. Please, anything but that smelly, grubby, scaly, smelly – I said smelly already, didn’t I?

  “The book and the compass together,” said the Reptala with glee. “I’ll be praised by our God. Give them to me, and I’ll spare this ship and your friends.”

  I held Barnabas close to my breast. “I do not believe you. Why would you spare us?”

  The sorcerer laughed. “You are right. Enough of this.” He raised his staff and fired a ray of green energy at me.

  Siana ran toward me, but the ray was faster than she was. I did not move; I did not scream; I was not afraid. I raised my hand as if my mind and body knew what I was supposed to do. A bright, golden aura came from my hands, repelling the energy, pushing it back toward the sorcerer.

  The sorcerer raged and directed more power, but I pushed back, my golden light overcoming the dark corruption of magic from his staff. A ray of light was between us – his end green, my end golden – and at the center was the power struggle of our magic.

  “Yes,” piped Barnabas. “Defeat that smelly Reptala, so smelly.”

  My heartbeat slowed; my hands did not tremble. I was calm; I was in control. The storm around us grew stronger, and the waves and wind continued to move our ship away from the battle. The sounds of cannon shots faded, and the remaining Sea Kings fought off the last invaders. Only the sorcerer remained, still pressing forward with his energy, but then he stumbled.

  With a mighty scream, the sorcerer was thrown backward as I moved forward.

  He returned to his feet, realizing that he was alone. “Human,” he hissed. “I will remember you. A Reptala never forgets.” He disappeared in a flash of light.