Elias stood on the stern of the ship, his back to the port, looking out to sea. He wore new clothing, purchased with his share of the spoils. The brown leather tunic that he wore over a white cotton shirt was tooled with the intricate geometric designs favored by the Northerners back on the mainland. By comparison, his plain leather trousers were quite simple, but they had been made with double reinforced knees, which made them quite functional. The tooling returned on his boots, the thick, rough leather still not fitting him quite right. They would break in, but until then, they would rub uncomfortably.
He had his sword harness on over his tunic, the weight of the huge sword oddly comforting. He was completely unable to draw it in this position, but the harness was for transportation, not combat.
He felt good in new clothes, clean, well fed. His hair had grown out a bit during his time at the oars, so he had gotten it clipped short again. Now, a slight evening breeze cooled him, a welcome respite from the stifling heat of the day.
“I wonder how many slaves died this day, rowing under the whips of their masters.”
Elias turned to see Jenna reaching the top of the stairs. “I don't know. Too many, no doubt.”
She stood next to him at the railing. “Do you aim to change that?”
Elias nodded, still looking out to sea. “I do.”
“And the girl? What role does Coral play in that?”
“She is a fine woman. I am lucky that she finds me acceptable.”
Jenna looked up at him. “Really? Is that what you have to say?”
Elias looked down. “Look, I don't know what I have to say. I just met her yesterday. I got drunk, she says I'm her promised, Marl says I'm the ordained liberator of his people, and here I am. What am I supposed to think? Do I like her? Yes, I like her very much. I have no idea who she is. I know that she likes swimming, she loves pearls, and her favorite feeling is laying on the sand in the morning sun. She like mangoes and oysters, and her tongue is sharper than this sword.“
Jenna smirked. “She does have a way with words.”
Elias nodded, staring intently at the railing. “She does at that.” He turned, leaning against the rail, crossing his arms over his chest. “Everyone is so concerned over whether or not I like her. Yes, I like her. Do I love her? By all the gods, I don't know. I don't know what love is. My mother died when I was very young, and I never knew my father. I don't know that I have ever loved anyone, so I don't know if I can say that I do love her, or will love her. I don't know that I am worth her love.”
Jenna was quiet for a moment. She sighed and turned to face Elias. “I understand.“
Elias looked down at her, his crystal blue eyes bright in the last light of the setting sun. “Do you? Because I sure don't.”
“That is to be expected.”
Elias chuckled mirthlessly. “I suppose it is.”
“Not for the reasons you think. You're still young, for your kind, as is she. These sorts of things happen. Just make sure that you're doing this for what's in your heart, not what's between her legs.”
Elias frowned. “Quite the subtle one, aren't you?” he said sarcastically.
She shook her head. “Life has not afforded me subtlety.”
They stood side by side, watching the sun vanish into the waves. Jenna reached out, setting her hand on Elias's elbow.
“Tomorrow, as per Delain's orders, we will start fitting the ship for war. He and Jonas are already negotiating the marque with the bounty commission here in Port Greenreef. We're all on board. Marl has pledged fifty warriors for every vessel we capture, to flesh out our armada. He says his kind are adept mariners, and can learn to sail our ships quickly. I believe him.”
Elias raised an eyebrow. “Jonas is negotiating as well?”
Jenna smirked a bit. “We've built an understanding, he and I. When I told him I was going to help, his tune changed dramatically.”
Elias pushed off the rail, pacing the deck. “Well now. I did not expect that, I'll admit.”
Jenna smiled at him. “That too is to be expected.”
Chapter Fourteen
10th Waning Grain Moon, Year 4368
The sea spray flew behind the ship as it raced across the waves. Elias had no idea that a ship could move as fast as this, but Delain was more than a competent captain, he was a master. Even the years he spent under the deck rowing hadn't dulled his skill. With a full complement of sea elves crewing this vessel, the water rushed under the bow like a roaring river, the slow bob of the waves completely muted by the speed at which they traveled.
In the distance, growing ever closer, was a ship identified by the Port Authority as guilty of piracy. Smaller than the Iron Oar, as Delain had rechristened her, this ship was barely two-thirds the length, and half the width. She had only two masts to the Oar's three, but should have been faster, due to how shallow she was.
Delain roared orders to the sailors as he manned the helm, keeping the Iron Oar's bearing true. Every scrap of sail was unfurled, and the wind was at their back. Men and elves rushed about, hauling ropes, tying them off, untying them, and all sorts of things that Elias had no inkling what they were.
Knowing what they were wasn't his job. He was heading up the boarding crew. He stood ready, rope and hook in hand, next to a dozen other elves, each armed to the teeth. Each rope was attached to an anchor on the starboard side. The ropes ran through a pulley on either side of the ship, bolted to the thick timbers of the deck.
The plan was to hook the other ship, kick the anchors overboard, and let the ropes pull the other ship into the Oar. She had been reinforced beneath the decks for this purpose, and had large rolls of sailcloth ready to be slung over the side to pad the impact of the other ship colliding with them.
Before long, the other ship drew close. Elias could see the men rushing about on deck, brandishing cutlasses and boarding axes, shouting at them. He could not hear them over the rush of the water, but it didn't matter anyways. These were the enemy, and they were about to be conquered.
The sails slacked as they drew alongside the enemy ship, and the Iron Oar slowed.
“Aim over the ship!“ Elias shouted, whirling his hook above his head, standing with one foot on the rail. He let it fly, overshooting the enemy ship by a solid twenty feet. He hauled on the rope, dragging in the slack until he felt the three-pronged hook catch firm. On either side of him, other sailors were doing the same.
“Now!”
The anchors were thrown overboard, the rope hissing across the deck like insane snakes. Both ships shuddered as the anchors hit the end of the ropes, hauling the two ships together. A few of the ropes had hooked the railing of the other ship, rather than anything sturdy, and ripped it off, sending it through the gathered pirates, bowling some of them over.
Elias drew his sword, tossing the sheath aside. He didn't have the harness on this time, as trying to draw it would be impossible, opting instead to carry it in his hands. Several crew members heaved the rolled sailcloth over the side as the distance between the ships closed.
Ten feet.
Six feet.
Four.
Elias got a running start and leapt over the railings, swinging his sword in a powerful downward arc. The cutlass in his path didn't stand a chance, nor did the man wielding it. The giant blade shattered the cutlass, driving itself into the man's shoulder and down into his guts. Bracing a boot against the man's shoulder, Elias kicked him off his blade. Around him, elves and men clashed, hooks and swords beating against spears and axes. The shouts of battle drowned out even the sea as Elias carved a path through the pirates towards the helm.
A man brandished an axe at him, howling and swinging like a madman. Elias caught the swing with his blade, turning it aside. He followed it with a powerful backhanded blow with his right hand. The man's head snapped to the side, impacting the mast before he fell to the ground, unconscious or dead.
Another pirate shoved past him, a panicked look on his face. Elias's boot caught him in the sto
mach, doubling him over. A warrior from Elias's ship clubbed the man on the back of the head, and he stopped moving. Elias stepped over him as he mounted the stairs to the small aftcastle.
Before he even reached to top, the man at the helm threw up his hands, and screamed, “I yield! I yield! Don't kill me!”
Elias grabbed the short, fat man by the front of the shirt and dragged him towards the main deck. “Command your men to surrender! Do it now!”
The captain started waving his arms above his head. “Throw down your weapons or they'll kill us all! Hurry! Throw down your weapons!”
In the chaos, not everyone heard the order, and a few kept fighting. Those were either killed outright or subdued in short order. After the last man dropped his weapon, Elias released the captain.
“On the deck, with your men. Now. Fight back, and I'll cut you in half. Reach for a weapon, and I'll cut you in half. Make a single move I do not like, and...?”
The captain nodded his understanding. “I get it, I get it. You'll cut me in half.”
Elias pushed him towards the stairs. “You're not as stupid as you look.”
The elves on both ships raised a cheer. The battle had been brief, very brief, but was won.
~ ~ ~
Jonas walked amongst the corpses that were laid out on the captured ship. He eyeballed the one that Elias had struck with his first blow, shattered cutlass still in hand. He looked up at Elias and raised an eyebrow. “What, were you trying to make two out of him? I don't think the bounty works that way.”
Elias shrugged, wiping the blood off of his blade onto the shirt of a dead pirate. “Twenty-seven captured, twelve killed. What does that come to?“
Jonas did some quick figuring in his head. “Seven hundred and twenty. Not a bad take.”
“Not to mention the cargo. What's the Port's cut?”
Jonas sighed. “A solid fourth of whatever is on board. Absolute robbery, if you ask me. They're worse than the pirates who stole it in the first place.” He snorted. “We're paying for the privilege of saving their necks from this scum.”
Elias chuckled. “No, we're paying a fee to be able to have the rest of the property be declared spoils of war. Otherwise, we'd be obligated to track down whoever they took this from.”
Jonas grumbled as he inspected the ship. “Say it however you want to, the fact is they're taking money from us against our will. Hide it behind a parchment, it's still robbery.”
Martin called to Elias from the other side of the deck. “Redwood! You should come see this.”
Elias and Jonas stepped over the bodies between them and Martin. Laid out separately from the rest of the pirates were four men clad in black leather armor. On their chests were eight-pointed stars, embossed into the black leather, with a red patch in the middle.
Jonas frowned. “What do you make of this?”
Elias pondered for a moment. “Felle Army, obviously. Marl said they were working with the pirates. These must have been on board for travel or oversight or something. Are they carrying anything? Notes, orders, anything?”
Martin rifled through their pockets, tossing the contents onto the deck. “Just some gold, jerky, trash... that's it.”
Elias shook his head. “They'll fetch a bounty just as well as the pirates. We'll turn them in with the rest.“ He left Martin and the elves to the cleanup and climbed up a rope back onto the Iron Oar. Their ship was significantly taller than the one they had just taken, so there was a bit of difference between the heights of the decks.
Delain was directing the crew on where to stow the prisoners for the voyage back to port. The oar deck had been left as an impromptu holding cell, while the blacksmiths back at port fashioned the iron grates needed for proper containment. For now, though, the shackles and benches that were already in place worked.
About twenty of the warriors and Martin stayed behind on the enemy ship, preparing it for the return to Port Greenreef. There didn't seem to be any major structural damage, and the rail that was torn off in the battle could be easily replaced. The only troublesome damage was that the section of rail was generally used with belaying pins to anchor ropes to. After surveying the damage, Delain instructed the elves how to repair it well enough to limp the ship home, and returned to his position at the helm of the Oar.
When everything was said and done, Elias was surprised at how easy it had been. He had expected a lot more resistance, a whole lot more combat, and a whole lot more blood. They had taken the other ship so completely, so quickly, he almost felt like it was a setup, like there was something that was going to go wrong. Was the ship going to sink? Was it bait? Had they been lured away so that another pirate vessel could attack the port or one of the villages on the island?
It wasn't until he saw Coral waving to him from the end of the pier that he let himself relax. It really had gone that smooth. Maybe this wasn't going to be as hard as he thought. After all, they hadn't even lost one member of their crew. A few wounds, some of them serious, but nobody was dead. Even Jonas, as sour as he was about the percentage that was due to the Port, had to admit how well it had gone. Everyone seemed to be in good spirits.
Before they had even had a chance to tie off, there was a representative of the Port waiting on the pier, parchment and quill in hand. He and two assistants went through the captured vessel, writing down every item aboard. Delain had two deckhands helping the auditor, both to speed up the process and to protect their interests.
The whole process took a day, keeping both ships moored to the pier. Elias took this opportunity to spend some time with Coral. There was a small papaya grove on the western side of town that provided shade, and a spring that provided clean water. They walked through the trees, enjoying the mild weather, chatting about this and that. Elias found the small talk comforting, though he often didn't know what to say. Coral was talkative enough for both of them, though, and that kept the conversation flowing easily.
Elias reclined against a mango tree, Coral laying on her back, pillowing her head on his lap, He ran his fingers through her hair as he gazed out to sea.
“What was your mother like?”
Elias frowned, pondering. “I don't really remember. She died when I was barely thirty. She had black hair and very pale skin, I think. I was told that she had violet eyes. She had a reputation for being very kind, very loving.”
“How did she die?”
Elias shrugged. “I honestly don't know for certain. Nobody would tell me about it, and I left Silva Aestas before I was old enough to know which questions to ask. All they would tell me was that I was the firstborn twin, but my brother didn't live. It was suggested that she died of a broken heart.”
“And your father? Was he a giant like you?”
Elias laughed. “No, not as far as I know. He died before I was born. He was a scout for the king, and was out on patrol when he was killed. A band of orcs, I think they said it was. He was blonde, with blue eyes like mine. I was told that I took more after him than my mother, at least as far as my looks.”
Coral smiled up at him, her eyes twinkling. “Then I would have to say that your mother was a very lucky woman if your father looked like you.“
Elias blushed at the compliment and smiled. “Thank you, Coral. You're not half bad yourself.“
She rolled over, giggling and shoving him. “Not half bad? So only half of me is not bad? Which half would that be?”
He grinned, catching her wrists. “That would probably be the half starting below your neck and above your knees.”
She feigned shock. “Augh! You monster! I knew it! You sailed to Greenreef just to despoil our maidens with your rapacious ways!” She threw a leg over his lap, straddling his waist. “I shall battle you for my honor!”
Elias released her wrists and wrapped his hands around her slender waist. “Never have I faced such a terrifying foe! I shall have to redouble my efforts!“
Coral wrapped her arms around his shoulders, kissing him passionately. “It shall be of no
avail! I've already got you surrounded!”
He spread his hands meekly. “I admit it! You are better than I am! Mercy, I surrender!”
Coral's hands worked their way down his chest and to his trousers, undoing the tie there. “Twas a battle too easy to win. I expect a ruse! No, best to finish the deed!” Her hands found him, and he immediately responded.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Hidden weaponry! What treachery is this?”
He reached down, gripping her backside, spreading it under her skirt before releasing her. “Ah! You've discovered my flanking maneuver!”
She lifted up on her knees, her hands running along his length. “I think we'd better disarm this foe, just to be certain.” She positioned him underneath her, and lowered herself onto his tip. As he felt himself slipping into her, he caught his breath a little, his hands moving to gently rest on her waist.
She settled her hands back on his shoulders. She lifted herself back up again, then settled further, lower than the first time, causing him to release his breath. “I think we have them on the run.”
He slid his hands up her sides, pushing her halter up, his thumbs grazing across her nipples. “Truly, I am no match for you.”
She leaned forward, kissing him again as she rocked her hips up and down. “Yes you are,” she purred, nipping at his lower lip as she increased her rhythm. “You're the perfect match for me.” She settled down on his length fully, wincing only slightly at the end. She stopped, resting her full weight on his lap.
Elias lifted her chin to look into her eyes. “Are you alright?” he asked her, concern showing on his face.
She opened her eyes, the crystal green deeming to drink him in as he looked into them. “I am perfect,“ she said, leaning into him, resting her head on his right shoulder. Her right arm came up, and she ran her fingers through the short-cropped hair on the back of his head. Arching her back, she slowly resumed her motions.
He could feel her slickness increase with each thrust, and soon his urge was building. Setting his hands on her hips again, he started lifting with her motions, thrusting with his hips to meet her. The speed of their rhythm increased, and she leaned back, clutching his head to her breast.
Rising Thunder (Dynasty of Storms Book 1) Page 17