by Jamie Davis
* * *
Health damage — health -12
* * *
She gritted her teeth against the pain in her head and turned the wheel, matching the course once again. She was back in the groove and the twisting currents helped push the Vengeance along once again.
Cari made the next course correction.
* * *
Health damage — health -12
* * *
The shooting pain in her head drove like a spike into her brain. She wanted to close her eyes, knowing the light pouring into them exacerbated the pain.
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Cari pulled the wheel around to adjust the course again.
* * *
Health damage — health -12
* * *
Another spike drove more pain into her, distracting her from her focus for a split second. She snarled in anger and forced herself to return to the task at hand.
More pain came as she made the next course correction.
* * *
Health damage — health -12
* * *
Peering ahead through a haze of both her agony and the surrounding fog, she judged there were only three more turns to go.
Cari checked her health status.
* * *
Health: 62/110
* * *
Three more course adjustments wouldn’t kill her, but the pain might make it impossible for her to complete her task. She shook her head, trying to clear the fog shrouding her mind.
Cari spun the wheel once again. Another red-hot spike shot through her consciousness.
* * *
Health damage — health -12
* * *
Her legs buckled and only her grip on the spokes of the ship’s wheel held her up.
“Cari, are you alright?” Helen’s tone and use of her first name told Cari how worried the first mate must be.
Cari straightened her legs again and stared straight ahead, trying to press on.
“I’m fine, Helen. I don’t suppose you could find a cold compress to put on my neck?”
“Ma’am?”
“Never mind, we’re almost there. I can make do.”
Cari heard Helen bark another order, but she couldn’t make out the meaning of the words even though the first mate stood next to her. The part of her brain that processed words had apparently shut down. How strange, she thought.
The glittering trail ahead flashed red, pulling Cari’s awareness back to the task at hand. She turned the ship again, just in time.
* * *
Health damage — health -12
* * *
Her vision blackened around the edges when the pain hit this time, threatening to blind her. Cari squinted against the pain, peering forward.
One. More. Turn.
She felt something cold and damp press against her neck. The cold sensation lifted some of the fog encroaching on her mind and allowed her to focus once more.
“Thank you, Helen,” Cari muttered through clenched teeth.
“Not a problem, ma’am. You’ve got this. You can stay the course.”
“Yes. I. Can!” Cari shouted the final word, defying the pain in her head as she made the final course correction.
* * *
Health damage — health -12
* * *
The Vengeance caught the final current and shot free of the last rocky gap to the open sea on the other side.
The fog cleared away from around the ship, though not from Cari’s mind. In fact, the mist there thickened, threatening to pull her under.
Cari struggled against the urge to fall asleep and give in to the pain’s call. She had to let her weary, overtaxed brain rest. She watched as the ship raced out of the gap and passed through the final portion of the glittering gold path she’d followed.
* * *
Quest completed — navigate the Maelstrom Shoals
10,000 experience
Seamanship skill to master status
Navigation skill to master status
* * *
The crew let out a resounding cheer as they cleared the Maelstrom Shoals.
Cari forced a grim smile on her face. She’d done it.
Something pulled at her hands, prying them from their white-knuckled grip on the ship’s wheel.
“Let go, Cari. Katie’s got it from here,” Helen said.
“Yes, of course. Perhaps someone could help me below. I think I need to lie down for a bit.”
Helen pulled one of Cari’s arms over her head, pulling her captain close and helping her down the steep ladder to the passage leading to her cabin. In the midst of the haze over her mind, she scanned her personal stats as she stumbled down the passageway to her cabin.
They’d done it. They’d made their escape.
* * *
Name: Cari Dix
Class: Duelist
Level: 11
* * *
Attributes:
Brawn: 12 - +2 to hit/damage
Wisdom: 10 - +1
Luck: 10 - +1 to all saving throws
Speed: 22 - +7 defense
Charm: 16 - +4 personal reaction
Health: 26/110
* * *
Skills: Two-Weapon Combat, Acrobatic Dodge — 2, Multi-Foe Tactics — 2, Feint — 2, Taunt, Bladesmith — Master, Prescience — 3, Taunt, Ambidexterity, Seamanship — Master, Navigation — Master, Aimed Cannon Shot
Master Duelist Bonus — Projectile Dodge (50% chance of activation)
Experience: 286,500/300,000
Chapter 13
It took almost a week for Cari to recover from her exertion during the passage through the Maelstrom Shoals. During that time, they started north with minimal sails aloft while they repaired the damage they took during the run through the rocky straits.
Cari moved about the ship once she was well enough to walk without aid. She found the crew almost deferential to her, treating her with a level of reverence she had not seen in them before the passage.
Cari asked Helen about the crew’s reaction in a private moment in her cabin.
“There was always talk about you being the Lost Princess returned to Fantasma, but for the most part, it was a bit of a joke and a point of crew pride. Now, after what the crew witnessed crossing the Shoals, what used to be a joke is now taken as gospel. The crew believes you are the Lost Princess Cari Dix.”
“What do you believe, Helen?”
Helen met Cari’s eyes and searched them as if seeking some sort of proof there before she answered.
“I don’t know what to think or believe, Cari, but I know you’re the best captain I’ve ever served under. If you’re the Lost Princess returned, as they say, it doesn’t change that. I think that’s the way the crew feels as well. They would’ve done pretty much anything you asked before we crossed through the Maelstrom Shoals. Now, they’ll go to hell and back again on your say so. I’ll be right there with them.”
“That’s good because now we have to take the Raider families back home to the Cairn Island chain.”
“But the Raider captains have put a price on your head, Cari. They’ll sink us on sight. I always thought you’d put the families ashore and send the council of captains a message through a neutral party of their whereabouts. Why do we have to take them directly home ourselves?”
“Because the Raiders are helping to tear apart the Empire and it is my hope we can break the Duke of Charon’s hold on them. Do that and the Western Sea’s merchant lanes return to the peaceful trading routes they used to be. The only people who will stand up to the Duke are those here in the west. With the Raider captains on their side for a change, there might be a chance to wrestle away his hold on the Empress before it’s too late.”
Helen laughed. “If you’re not the real Lost Princess, you sure act like her.”
“I just want to make the world a better place. What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing’s wrong with it at all, your Highness.”
A tap on the door broke through their laughter. Cari called out.
“Come in.”
Percy stepped into the captain’s cabin, followed by Rodrigo and Stefan.
Rodrigo cleared his throat, apparently a little uncomfortable with interrupting whatever had Cari and her first mate laughing.
“Cari, I just came from helping the carpenter and his mates. They’ve finished patching the sprung planks in the hull. He said it will hold well enough, but the ship will need a dry dock eventually to fully repair the damage.”
Stefan chimed in with his report when Rodrigo finished.
“The rigging lines that broke apart during the passage have all been replaced with fresh lines and the bosun has personally checked all replacements to ensure the sails and masts will hold.”
“Good news. We’re finally ready to head north at a better pace than we’ve been using so far. I’ll chart out a new course and bring it to the helmsman. It’s time we were on our way.”
“Way where ma’am?” Stefan asked.
“Cairn Island, Mr. Claridge. It’s time to take these poor people home.”
Stefan and Rodrigo exchanged alarmed glances.
“I know you both are concerned about the reception we’ll receive when we get there. Let me worry about that. I think once the raider families share the lengths to which we went to free them, we’ll get a different welcome from the council of captains.”
“I hope you’re right,” Rodrigo said. “It’ll be a very short journey if you’re wrong.”
* * *
Quest accepted — return raider families to Cairn Island
* * *
———
* * *
Cari caught herself standing with her fists clenched at her sides, each hand gripping a hilt, sword on one side and dagger on the other. She forced her fingers to relax and pulled her hands away from her weapons.
A fifth raider ship had sailed up to join the others escorting the Vengeance into the harbor at Cairn Island. Cari forced a smile on her face as if there was nothing to worry about. She did steal a glance upward to ensure the white flag still flew from the top of the mainmast.
So far, her luck held.
The first raider ship to approach had not fired on the Vengeance, honoring the white flag. The captain had pulled alongside and insisted he and a large boarding party come across to Cari’s ship.
It was a good thing she’d made sure to have all the adults from among the former hostages on deck. One of them rushed forward and threw her arms around the raider captain’s neck.
It was his wife.
“My love, you must honor the truce and assist Captain Cari and her crew. They saved all of us, at great cost to themselves. Many of their crew were lost in the rescue.”
“This woman has hunted down and destroyed several Raider ships, Jackie. I cannot simply let her get away. The council of captains would have my head.”
Cari stepped forward to interrupt the couple.
“Captain, all I ask is you offer us an escort to take us safely to Cairn Island. I have an urgent need to talk directly to the council of captains. If they insist on taking me prisoner after I have had my say, all I ask is that my crew be allowed to leave in peace.”
The black-bearded raider captain eyed her as if he tried to decide if she was crazy, suicidal, or both. He made up his mind at some point and held out his hand.
Cari reached out and clasped wrists with him.
* * *
Charm Attempt Successful
* * *
“I’m Captain Hitchcock. You are the famous Dread Raider Cari, though I have to admit, I thought you’d be a lot older.”
Cari chuckled. “I get that all the time, Captain. So, you accept my terms? On your honor?”
“I accept your terms. Your crew will be spared, regardless of the decision of the council of captains on your fate.”
Cari heard Helen grumbling under her breath behind her. Her first mate had not liked the plan. She’d expressed her displeasure at length in Cari’s cabin the night before.
In the end, Cari had required the first mate to swear not to mount a rescue. She was to use the safe passage earned under the flag of truce to safely sale away back to Tandon.
Captain Hitchcock nodded at Helen and the rest of the ship’s officers standing behind Cari. “Judging from the looks on the faces of your crew, they are not happy with this arrangement. What is to stop them from failing to uphold your end of the bargain?”
“My crew will follow my orders, even if I’m not here to reinforce them. Isn’t that correct Miss Doolan?”
“We will honor the words of your pledge and your orders to us, ma’am,” Helen said in a loud, clear voice so the whole crew could hear her.
Cari nodded. “Will that suffice, Captain?”
“It will. I will take my wife and children back to my ship and we will proceed to the island. Stay close to me, so it is clear I’m your escort.”
“Will do, Captain. Let us hope all your comrades are as agreeable.”
They’d reached the harbor and the five raider ships each headed to a berth at one of the piers while Cari directed Katie at the helm to head for the one Captain Hitchcock indicated to her from the deck of his ship. He had her dock directly behind his vessel.
Now it was time to test her luck. She’d never given much credence to the importance of luck and hadn’t done much to improve that particular stat. Cari hoped that wasn’t a mistake because luck was what she needed now more than anything else.
Before long, the pier beside the Vengeance was filled with raider sailors and captains. Wives and husbands rushed down the gangplank with their children to rejoin their loved ones on the docks. Cari watched until all the rescued hostages had been reunited with their families ashore.
“Helen, you have the command of the Vengeance until I return. You have your orders.”
“Aye, ma’am. I do have to report two members of the crew who asked to be put ashore here to leave our service.”
“Who?” Cari asked.
Rodrigo and Stefan stepped forward, their weapons at the ready, their few belongings in packs on their shoulders. That answered that question.
“No,” Cari said.
“I’m sorry, Cari,” Rodrigo said. “We are no longer on your crew. We are just private citizens now.”
“Yes,” Stefan agreed. “And, no matter what you say, we’re accompanying you to the council of captains to ensure your safety.”
Cari’s emotions warred within her. Part of her boiled with anger at them for defying her orders. Both lieutenants were needed here aboard the Vengeance, especially if she didn’t return.
Another part of her wanted to breathe a sigh of relief. It would be good to have at least a little backup in what she would soon face ashore.
Rodrigo stepped over to the gangplank and pointed to Captain Hitchcock waiting for them on the dock. “Shall we go, Cari? We mustn’t keep the good Captain waiting.”
Cari gritted her teeth at the smug smile on his face. He and Stefan had found a way around her orders. She vowed to make them pay for disobeying her if she survived to do so.
“Very well, come along.” Cari pushed past Rodrigo and strolled down the gangplank as if she didn’t have a care in the world.
Captain Hitchcock, joined by a large group of other captains and raider sailors, waited for her at the bottom.
It was time to see if her plan worked.
* * *
Quest completed — return raider families to Cairn Island
4,000 experience
Quest accepted — convince the council to adopt peace
Chapter 14
The seventeen men and women who captained the raider ships in port convened to assemble the council of captains. Now they all shouted ba
ck and forth at each other, deeply divided over the issue before them. Cari found it hard to hear or sort out what was being said.
More than one captain pointed at her in the midst of making whatever point they had. She wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad one. Cari didn’t even know if the meeting of the council had even officially started yet.
After several minutes of back and forth, the loud bang of a gunshot broke through the shouting, and everyone stopped to look at the center of the assembly hall’s central platform.
A gray-haired man, his long, white beard braided and tied off with red ribbons, stood at the podium with a smoking pistol pointed at the ceiling.
“Sit down you mangy dogs. We’ll never get anything decided with you arguing back and forth like competing fishmongers. Cap’n Hitchcock, you brought this woman here under your protection. It is for you to tell us what business she has here that is so urgent we don’t string her up and sink her ship right now.”
“Cap’n Wheldon, I encountered her vessel headed this way. It flew the white flag, and I was honor bound to offer her escort.”
“Bah! No, you weren’t. You could’ve sunk her right then and there and saved us the trouble of this council meeting.”
“I’m glad I did not, Cap’n. She had my wife and children aboard. She and her crew rescued them from the secret prison where the Duke of Charon sent them. I felt that required me to honor the flag and bring her here. More than half the captains here have now reunited with their loved ones, taken five years ago almost to the day.”