by K Hanson
“This must be for the score he was talking about. How the hell did Flint get something like this?” Nereyda asked.
“No idea,” said Brynja.
Nereyda examined the map further and noticed a circle in a part of the ocean, with a date and the words “double forged steel” written next to it.
“What’s double forged steel?” she asked.
“You haven’t heard of double forged steel?” asked Jovan.
“No, I don’t think so. What makes it double forged?”
“Nobody knows for sure. At least nobody that I’ve talked to. All I’ve heard is that, after the usual forging process, they do something to the steel. It’s lighter and tougher than normal steel. If you believe the stories, just using a sword made of it can make you stronger and faster.”
“Sounds like it’s worth a lot. Where does it come from?”
“It comes from Stalsta, and they’ve only been making it for ten years or so. It’s still very rare, especially outside of Stalsta itself. They don’t allow it to be sold beyond their own borders."
“What’s a Cambisian map doing with it marked?” asked Brynja.
“I don’t know,” said Jovan.
“Maybe it’s worth checking it out,” said Neryda. “We should be able to get there by the date on the map. I know it’s risky, but what do you think, Brynja?”
The first mate nodded. “They’ll probably have guards with them, and maybe even an escort ship, but something like this is hard to pass up.”
“Are you sure?” asked Jovan. “They’ll know how valuable their cargo is. What if they have escorts?”
“If it looks too tough, we’ll just turn around and find something else to hunt,” said Nereyda. “Settle down. Soon, your warehouse will be full of that double fired steel.”
“Double forged,” said Jovan.
Shouting on the street broke up their conversation. Nereyda turned toward the door as someone ran into the tavern.
Between gasps for air, he shouted, “Fire! A warehouse is on fire!”
Nereyda ran out the door, with Jovan and Brynja following on her heels. Looking down the street, a smoky orange glow hung over the city of Freyport. Based on where it was in the city, Nereyda had an idea of where the fire was. The three of them sprinted through the streets until they got close enough to see what she feared.
Flames engulfed Jovan’s warehouse.
“Flint must have done this after our fight,” said Nereyda. “I’m sorry, Jovan. I shouldn’t have provoked him.”
Jovan didn’t respond for a moment, his gaze fixed on the burning building. Without turning his eyes toward her, he said, “It’s not your fault. You couldn’t have known he would do this.”
“Freyport isn’t going to be safe for you for a while. Why don’t you come with us?”
He looked away from the fire and at Nereyda. “You want me on the Storm Raven? What would I do?”
She didn’t really know what she would have him do on the ship, but she just wanted to get her friend out of there. “I’ll find something to keep you busy. But we can go get that shipment of double forged steel. You can keep fifty percent of what we sell it for.”
Jovan, at last, looked away from the fire and looked at her with wide eyes. “Fifty percent? That’s more the twice the usual rate.”
“I know. Consider it an apology fee for getting your warehouse burned down.” She gave him a weak smile.
After gazing at the warehouse again for a moment, he turned back to her and gave her a quick nod. “I’ll do it. I’ll come along. It’ll get me out of this damn place.”
CHAPTER SIX
After days of cruising toward the destination marked on the map, the Storm Raven had arrived at the marked location exactly on the date written next to the mark. A sail rose at the edge of Nereyda’s vision. At a distance, she couldn’t tell exactly what kind of ship it belonged to. From its profile, it lacked the regal stature of a naval vessel. Instead, the wide squat ship cruised low in the water, as if laden with heavy cargo. The shipment of double forged steel had arrived.
She turned toward Jovan and Brynja standing next to her. “That looks like what we’re here for,” said Nereyda. “Jovan, just keep your head down while we get to work.”
“I won’t get in your way,” he said.
“Good,” Nereyda said before turning to look over the rest of the ship. “Ahoy! There’s our target!” she shouted from behind the helm as she pointed toward the small barge on the horizon, off of her ship’s starboard bow. Her purple eyes tracked the vessel as it sailed over the rolling blue waves. She inhaled the salty ocean air as it blew off the ocean and ruffled through her raven black hair. Her heart thumped with anticipation as the Storm Raven approached her new prey.
“Full sail!” she ordered.
Cries of “Aye, captain!” rang across the deck. The crew ran about the ship to adjust the lines, letting the ship’s sails unfurl in all of their glory. As the wind filled the sails, they stretched taut and propelled the ship forward with a pull of acceleration.
“Coming about starboard!” Nereyda yelled as she turned the helm wheel to the right. The crew adjusted the sails accordingly as the Storm Raven changed her heading slightly. Now she was set on a perfect heading to intercept the barge.
She called out “Raise the flag!” and watched as the black banner rose to the top of the main mast. Most ships that saw the black flag of a pirate ship would surrender and pay tribute rather than risk open combat. This ship didn’t even look like it had any guns. Yet, as the Storm Raven approached to within a few hundred yards of the cargo vessel, Nereyda saw no signs of it slowing or moving to yield.
“Gun master, send them a warning shot.”
The scruffily bearded master of arms relayed the order. After a moment, a cannon shot boomed and sent water splashing just ahead of the bow of the barge. That should get their attention.
Now, the Storm Raven had gotten close enough that Nereyda could see the crew of the other vessel. At the helm, two men stood arguing. She guessed that the man at the wheel must be the captain. The man yelling at him wore rich clothes, possibly a merchant who owned or had hired the ship. As the rich man continued to gesture wildly, the captain shook his head and turned away to ignore the merchant. He then yelled at the crew, where a pair of them carried a white flag toward the mast. The merchant stormed off and disappeared below deck.
The captain, wisely, wanted to surrender to Nereyda and her pirates rather than get any of his crew killed. That suited the pirate captain just fine. Her crew would take their cargo of the double forged steel and leave plenty of supplies for them to return to port. It really worked out better for everyone this way. Nobody on the other ship would have to die, and Nereyda wouldn’t have to clean blood from her cutlass.
As the freighter’s white flag rose and fluttered at the top of the mast, Nereyda called to her crew, “Ready the boarding hooks. Looks like we have an easy one today.”
“Aye, captain!”
Just as the Storm Raven had closed to less than fifty yards, a hatch on the barge’s deck flew open. Twenty or so men in rugged brown jackets poured out and occupied the deck. Each of them carried a musket and had a saber strapped to his hip. Mercenaries, hired to protect whatever precious cargo the merchant transported. Two of them rushed to the bridge and aimed their guns at the captain, who held his hands up in submission.
The well-dressed man emerged from the hold and strode to the main mast. He pulled a knife from his belt and cut one of the lines. The white flag floated down and settled into the ocean water. With a gesture from the merchant, the mercenaries forced the entire sailing crew and the captain into the hold.
Fool, thought Nereyda. With his mutiny, the merchant had just made the greatest mistake of his life. Nereyda and her band of rogues would cut them down to a man.
“Looks like they want to play after all! To arms!” she called, and a cheer rang across the deck as the crew grabbed pistols, knives, and cutlasses.
“Cast the boarding lines!” ordered Nereyda. Four lines with hooks flew across the space between the vessels. With five men pulling on each line, the distance between the ships shrank ever smaller.
A man with a silver belt yelled, “To port, men. Take aim at the marauders.” The mercenaries ran to the side of their ship that faced the Storm Raven. In a row, they aimed their muskets across the gap.
“Take cover!” roared Nereyda.
As the crew ducked and dove behind any available protection, the lead mercenary yelled, “Fire!” and the line of musketeers pulled their triggers. A yell told Nereyda that at least one of her crew had been struck in the volley.
“Brynja,” said the captain, “you have the helm.”
“Aye, captain,” responded the golden-haired first mate.
Despite the five yards still between the ships, Nereyda sprinted across the aftercastle of the Storm Raven and vaulted herself over the railing. She flew through the air and landed with a roll on the deck of the schooner, just aft of the helm.
Still crouching from her roll, Nereyda pulled a pistol from the holster across her chest. She took aim at the back of the nearest mercenary, who remained focused on the Storm Raven as it closed the final feet.
Nereyda fired, and the shot tore through the man’s torso. With a cry of agony, he slumped onto the deck.
The rest of the mercenaries jerked their heads toward the shot. A fatal distraction, as Nereyda’s crew leaped aboard and fell upon the hired guns.
The man with the silver belt spotted Nereyda and drew his sword as he hurried across the deck toward her. As she rose, she holstered her pistol and drew her cutlass from her hip with her right hand.
“One day, you’ll pay for this, rogue,” spat the mercenary leader, pointing the tip of his blade toward her chest.
“Maybe,” she shrugged as she strutted across the deck, her sword hanging in her hand by her side, “but I won’t be paying you.”
The mercenary lunged at her. With a swish, Nereyda brought up her sword and batted her enemy’s thrust to the side.
He attempted to slide away from her blade with a slash, but it fell short of her body.
The mercenary looped his sword around to deliver a blow down toward Nereyda’s head. Their swords sang as she raised her own blade to block the strike.
As his blade slid to the side, Nereyda launched a counterattack, slicing at his stomach.
Her opponent retreated just out of the path of the blade and slashed at her shoulder.
She knocked the attack to the side, then advanced into the new opening and smashed her elbow into his nose.
He stared at her with shock and pain, surprised by the dirty blow. Before he could counterattack, she grabbed his sword arm with her left hand. Defenseless and pinned against the ship’s railing, he called “I yield! I yield!”
Nereyda ignored his pleas and pulled her blade across his belly, then plunged it into his chest before shoving his body into the sea.
She looked across the deck to see her crew mopping up the rest of the mercenaries. At the other end of the ship, she spotted the merchant cowering behind a crate. She sprinted across the length of the deck. Grabbing him by the collar, she shoved his back against the railing and held her blade across his throat.
“Please! Please let me go!” he cried as he held his hand up.
“Why should I do that?” Nereyda asked.
“You can have half of my shipment.”
“Half? If you had surrendered, I would have taken half. Fighting back increases our price. Now, we’ll take it all. You should have listened to the captain.”
“I had to protect my investment.”
“How’d that work out for you? Now, the mercs you hired are dead, and you go home with nothing.”
“Go home? You mean you aren’t going to kill me?” He sighed with relief and lowered his hands.
Nereyda let go of his collar and lowered her sword. “No, I’m not going to kill you. Though, I can’t speak for what this ship’s captain and his men will do when we hand you over to them.” She held out her left hand. “The key to the hatch.”
The merchant fumbled through his pockets and pulled out an iron key. He nearly dropped it with his shaking hands as he passed it to Nereyda.
She strode over to the hatch and knelt to fit the key into the slot. Pulling it open, she called down into the hold, “Come on out, the ship is yours.”
One by one, the ship’s crew emerged from below deck with their hands raised. They kept their distance from the pirates milling about the ship. When the captain stepped out, Nereyda approached him.
“Is this ship yours, friend?”
“It was, but it looks like it might be yours now.”
“No, I don’t want your ship, though she is a fine freighter. What I want is food, supplies, and any valuable cargo that you’re carrying, especially the double forged steel. I’ll leave you with enough for you to get back to port, along with twice what the merchant promised to pay you and your crew. What do you say?”
“For our lives, I’d say that is a bargain. Speaking of that bastard, where is he? Dead, I hope.”
“No, he’s just over there.” Nereyda gestured toward where the merchant cowered by the railing. “I left him for you since he did lead a mutiny against you. Captain’s courtesy.”
“It’s a strange day when a pirate does better by me and my crew than a merchant. You have honor, ma’am.”
Nereyda narrowed her eyes and gave him a wry smile. “Careful what you say. Keep accusing me of being honorable, and I might change my mind.”
“I just mean thank you.”
“This is the first time anyone has ever thanked me for attacking their ship, but I suppose you’re welcome. We’ll just take our loot and be on our way.”
---
“Alright, crew, let’s get the cargo hauled over to the Raven and then we’ll be –” Bang! The sound of doors slamming open rang across the deck. Nereyda whirled around to see the cabin doors open, and a stream of armed marines rushed out. Another group poured out from a hatch near the bow of the ship. As they moved to surround the pirates, Nereyda realized there were far too many to fight. They lined the railings in rows on either side and pointed their muskets toward the pirates between them.
A tall man with broad shoulders, wearing a bright blue officer’s uniform, strode out after them. “So,” he said, “this is the crew of the legendary Storm Raven. Who is your captain?” he asked as he glanced around the deck.
“That would be me,” replied Nereyda. She strutted up to the officer, a hand on her sword.
“Really?” He sneered at her. “You must be joking. How does a wench like you become the captain of such a terror of the seas?”
“Why don’t you draw that sword and you can find out?” Nereyda spat back, pulling her sword a few inches from its scabbard at her hip. With the gesture, a few of the closer marines shifted their aim toward her. With a wave from the officer, they turned back to their original positions.
The man chuckled. “While I’m sure I would enjoy that, that will have to wait for another day, I am afraid. What do I call you, pirate?”
“You can call me Captain Nereyda. Captain will be just fine, though. Who the hell are you?”
“Well, Nereyda, I am Commander Erhan of the Imperial Navy. Now, would you and your crew kindly drop their weapons and surrender?”
“Why should we do that? Even if you kill all of us that are on this ship, the Raven will blow you out of the water before you can go anywhere.”
“Ah, yes, I forgot about something.” He gestured toward the aft of the ship. Over the railing, a Cambisian frigate approached. In the fighting on the barge, it had slipped toward them unnoticed. As i
t closed on the two ships, it slowed and turned so that all of its guns were pointed at the Storm Raven.
“Now,” he continued, “dozens of guns are pointing at your precious Storm Raven. If you don’t believe me, go ahead and count them.”
Nereyda didn’t need to waste her time counting the enemy guns. She knew that they were more than outmatched. Despite the odds, the crew on the Storm Raven scurried about as they prepared their own guns and readied for battle. However, the pirate captain knew that any fight would start and end with the Raven getting shredded in a broadside from the much larger vessel.
“Now,” said the smug voice of the commander, “if you would please drop your weapons, tell your crew to stand down, and surrender, we can avoid any unnecessary bloodshed.”
Nereyda sighed and slumped her shoulders, then nodded and waved to her boarding party. Weapons thudded and clanged to the deck. Turning toward the Storm Raven, she yelled over the railing “Stand down.”
The members of her crew that she could see all looked up with faces full of astonishment. After a moment, they too stepped away from their stations and dropped their weapons.
“You, too, Captain. Drop your pistols, and bring me your sword.”
Nereyda fixed his eyes with a glare as she unstrapped her brace of pistols that lay across her chest. She took her time setting them on the ground. Next, she drew her sword and strode across the deck toward the commander. As she drew nearer to him, with her hand still on the grip and blade toward him, the marines stirred.
When she stood a few steps from him, she flipped the cutlass so that the hilt pointed toward him. Nereyda watched as this Erhan grasped the grip, and took the cutlass that Captain Nogre had given her on her sixteenth birthday.
It had been her first real sword, aside from the training blade she had used as a child. From the moment she had gotten it, it had been at her hip through everything. And after Nogre’s death, it had been her constant reminder of the example he had set as captain. As Nereyda relinquished the blade to this commander, it felt like she was surrendering part of herself.