by Jeremy Dwyer
“The storm water is going to sink the ships more probably and thoroughly. At altitude, our chances of avoiding cannon fire and the tempest are relatively high. A single large wave could destroy half of the fleet at sea level,” Pradrock said.
“I agree,” Claudia said.
Akantha reached out into the spirit world again, and was able to get more information. She knew that there was more to this, and now she knew the name. And she sensed that the ghost of Captain Tychon did, too.
“Baroness Irina. You know who that is, don’t you?” Akantha asked of the ghost of Captain Tychon.
“Oh. Centuries have passed! That’s a name I haven’t heard in so long,” the ghost of Captain Tychon said, seeming to cherish the moment.
“She’s here and you want to see her again, don’t you?” Akantha asked.
“Who is Baroness Irina?” Claudia asked.
“She died six (6) centuries ago. She was a wealthy baroness – a robber baroness, actually. She terrorized ships at sea and villagers on land,” Akantha said.
“How do you know?” Claudia asked.
“I’m reading her spirit. The blood of her victims is written all over it,” Akantha said.
“More ghost stories! This is ridiculous! It’s probably just pirates trying to exploit the situation by attacking anyone who escaped the storm,” Caroline said.
“She was a sort of pirate, on land,” Akantha said.
“I never heard of her before,” Akylas said. He knew many of his sister’s ghost stories, but Akantha had never mentioned this one to him before.
“Neither did I,” Pradrock said.
“I just found out now. But you knew, didn’t you?” Akantha asked the ghost of Captain Tychon.
“Let’s set the ship down and find out together what might be the matter, shall we,” the ghost of Captain Tychon said, smirking.
The wall of water struck at the land below, yet no ships were caught in it, and everyone on land in that area was already dead.
“Yes. Let’s. There’s more here that we ought to know,” Akantha said.
“Endangering the crew and the ships for curiosity is not an option,” Pradrock said.
Another three (3) cannon balls flew through the air, sinking two (2) more ships in the Feasting Dragons fleet.
“I think we need to stop those cannons,” Akantha said.
“Landing the ship is going to stop the cannons? By what logic?” Pradrock asked.
“I communicate with the spirits. That’s what I do,” Akantha said.
“They don’t always cooperate!” Pradrock said.
“I’m a spirit and I’ve never let you down, have I, captain?” the ghost of Captain Tychon asked, smugly.
“This Baroness Irina is not under a binding – not to me, anyway,” Pradrock said.
“No. But she wants something. And it’s more than money, this time,” Akantha said.
“I want this ghost talk to stop. It sounds insane. If you land, you’re going to be attacked by whatever pirates are firing the cannons, or washed away by storm waters. We need to leave the area,” Caroline said.
“I’m starting to agree with you – about leaving, anyway,” Claudia said.
“We have to act if Victoria is to be stopped. Running away from the primary threat is the wrong choice. We need to position ourselves…carefully,” Pradrock said.
“Right! We need to confront the dangers. And an even more immediate threat is down there! We have to deal with that, now!” Akantha said.
Another twenty (20) cannon balls flew through the air, striking and sinking twelve (12) more of the ships in the Feasting Dragons fleet.
“We need to act decisively! Staying in this spot is not an option. The fleet keeps getting smaller. This ship could be hit next!” Claudia said.
Pradrock considered the matter.
“Land the ship, away from the water’s edge. Between those two hills,” Pradrock said, pointing to an area that he believed would be shielded from the storm waters.
“Excellent choice, captain,” the ghost of Captain Tychon said, not meaning it at all. He steered the ship by Pradrock’s orders, as he was bound to obey them. He was hoping for foolish orders, however, so that the ship would be destroyed.
The Everlasting Pain came to rest in the designated area between the hills and the crew disembarked. The remaining ships in the Feasting Dragons fleet followed them, landing nearby.
Akantha reached out through her spirit sensitivity and knew where to go.
“Over there,” Akantha said.
“Where is over there?” Torin asked, not able to see where she pointed, as he was blind.
“Take my arm,” Caroline said, and Torin walked with her.
The entire crew walked toward a large building – an estate of immense size, that had fallen into unsightly disrepair over a period of six (6) centuries. It was surrounded by an array of many large cannons – almost too big to mount on a ship.
“I sense her presence. And she senses us,” Akantha said.
“She knew we were coming the moment we landed,” the ghost of Captain Tychon said.
As they walked on a cobblestone path toward the front door of the enormous estate, a ghost of a woman appeared on the path, dressed like a corsair, with a sword in hand.
“What is this? Who are you?” Caroline asked.
“Who is who?” Torin asked.
“A pirate woman just came out of her hiding spot,” Caroline said.
“A ghost of a pirate woman,” Akantha said.
“After all these centuries, you dare visit this place, Tychon?” the ghost woman asked, angrily.
“It’s been far too long since I’ve had the displeasure of your company, Irina,” the ghost of Captain Tychon said to the ghost woman, burning with sarcasm in his voice.
“It’s been far too long since I’ve seen him. But I never wanted to see you again!” the ghost of Baroness Irina said.
“Him who?” Torin asked, not knowing or seeing any of what was going on.
“My husband, Baron Volker. He was a great and wealthy man, who ruled this land until Captain Tychon murdered him,” the ghost of Baroness Irina said.
“Wealthy indeed. But a great man? You jest, dearest Irina. He was as bloodthirsty as they come. Volker killed thousands (1000) of villagers on land. Thousands (1000) more sailors at sea. He had the finest arsenal of cannons – I’ll grant you that, if that’s your measure of a great man,” the ghost of Captain Tychon said, in a voice that clearly mocked her.
“Who are you to call anyone bloodthirsty? In your day, you ripped children from the wombs of pregnant women. You killed more women because they tempted the pirates on your crew so you didn’t have enough to set sail. You murdered tens of thousands (10000) for the treasure in their ships’ holds or just because you could,” the ghost of Baroness Irina said.
“Your great man is most likely waiting for you in the Maelstrom. You’ll see him, eventually, as you are nearly a match in your rotten core. You’re every bit the murderer and thief that he was. Don’t pretend innocence,” the ghost of Captain Tychon said.
“How dare you! If Baron Volker is in the Maelstrom, you should have been sent there the very moment of your death! You deserve it as much as anyone,” the ghost of Baroness Irina said.
“I’m sure I’ll spend my eternity fighting to stay out of there, don’t you worry about that,” the ghost of Captain Tychon said.
“Why are you even here?” the ghost of Baroness Irina asked.
“Because I told him to come,” Pradrock said.
“Is this true?” the ghost of Baroness Irina asked, looking at the ghost of Captain Tychon and clearly confused.
“Sadly, it is. I am under a binding,” the ghost of Captain Tychon answered.
“Interesting. How could that be?” the ghost of Baroness Irina asked.
“He won a wager over a game, and I am under his orders, now,” the ghost of Captain Tychon said.
“Why would a mortal man tell t
his bloodthirsty old fiend to come here?” the ghost of Baroness Irina asked, looking at Pradrock.
“Because I asked him to. We had to find out why the cannon fire was being directed at our ships,” Akantha said.
“A spirit girl! You’re the one who’s been reading my soul, aren’t you?” the ghost of Baroness Irina asked, recognizing Akantha by an unseen connection when Akantha had probed the spirit world.
“That’s right. What grudge do you have against us that you should be firing cannons at our ship?” Akantha asked.
“No grudge that I know of. I was awakened by a power so great that I couldn’t resist its commands,” the ghost of Baroness Irina said.
“What power could awaken you?” Akantha asked.
“Most likely it was the tiara. It has the power of every ocean, including this one. It used the Zovvin Ocean waters to call to the spirit world, and roused many of the spirits,” Pradrock said.
“What is this tiara? How could something have the power of every ocean?” the ghost of Baroness Irina asked, intrigued.
“It is true, dearest Irina. The one who wears the tiara is indeed a queen of the seas, bringing death by tempest to each ocean,” the ghost of Captain Tychon said.
“The woman is named Victoria. She’s of the old Ahitan Empire,” Akantha said.
“The Ahitan! They were dead a hundred (100) millennia ago, or so I thought. I heard their screams coming out of the Maelstrom – they were the loudest ones! They were the worst of them all!” the ghost of Baroness Irina said.
“They dealt with demons. That’s why they’re condemned to the Maelstrom,” Akantha said.
“That’s good to know! I would hate to think that we’re up against nice people who are just misunderstood,” Claudia said, sarcastically.
“This is the most incredible nonsense I’ve ever heard. Ghosts and demons are just echoes of the energy of the living. We’re debating all this while the storms rage in the oceans around us, killing I don’t know how many millions of people!” Caroline said.
“You see us, don’t you? Then how can you call us echoes?” the ghost of Baroness Irina asked.
“She believes only what she wishes to believe, despite the truth all around, in front of her eyes,” the ghost of Captain Tychon said.
“Foolish woman! You will learn the truth in the most terrible way, and come to believe it! Beware this pirate! This Captain Tychon is the worst of them, no matter what he says,” the ghost of Baroness Irina said.
“We need to worry about the future of a world where storms like that rage across the oceans – that is real! Look out there!” Caroline said, pointing to the coastline past the hills.
The Zovvin Ocean was still stormy, and powerful waves could be seen moving in different directions. Even the ghost of Baroness Irina looked out with her ghostly eyes and saw it.
“That is quite a horror. This tiara is something a woman would like, if it does what you say,” the ghost of Baroness Irina said, looking to Pradrock, who had first told her of it.
“It needs to be destroyed, along with the filth who wears it!” Claudia said.
“Angry and ready to murder! I like that in a woman! You know how to kill – I can see it in you,” the ghost of Baroness Irina said.
“I’ve seen you fight. You would have been good on my crew in my living days, if only you had a few more scars so your pretty face didn’t tempt my men,” the ghost of Captain Tychon said, looking at Claudia.
“The cute is just for distraction. Some men are fool enough to stare and I can see right through them. They’re an easy knockout, almost disappointing,” Claudia said.
“I do like her, very much,” the ghost of Baroness Irina said, smiling and surprised at Claudia’s fearsome nature.
“Be assured that you’re the only one,” the ghost of Captain Tychon said, not at all liking powerful women.
“You seemed eager to come here,” Akantha said, looking toward the ghost of Captain Tychon.
“Yes. Why didn’t you try to avoid coming back? Why didn’t you tell them this was a dangerous place? You knew that I wouldn’t want to see you. You didn’t think I forgot how much I hated you, did you?” the ghost of Baroness Irina asked, looking at the ghost of Captain Tychon.
“I was hoping you’d have better aim and sink more of the ships. I’ve been bound here too long,” the ghost of Captain Tychon said.
“So I’ve disappointed you?” the ghost of Baroness Irina asked.
“Indeed you have,” the ghost of Captain Tychon said.
“Good! You’re bound to this mortal’s commands until he dies or releases you. That much you’ve admitted. I know it makes you suffer, and, for that, I love it. I will do you no favors,” the ghost of Baroness Irina said to the ghost of Captain Tychon.
“You, mortal captain, take care of yourself. Don’t take any unnecessary risks. Not that I care about you. I just want him to suffer for as long as possible,” the ghost of Baroness Irina said to Pradrock.
“There’s a ship approaching. I believe it is that of Victoria,” Va’Qileren said, looking far out to sea, around the hills, using the powers given to him by the waters of the Lujladia Ocean.
“Good. This is our chance,” Pradrock said.
“What are you talking about? We’re not going into that storm!” Claudia said.
“Correct. Victoria is coming to us, and she will move the storm out of her own way. We only need to get close enough when that happens,” Pradrock said.
~~~
The Tidal Sovereign approached the coast of the Way of Raza’Deptorum and Victoria was on board expecting to meet with a sympathetic ally who had fired upon those who escaped the tempest.
“We must find our new ally, so that the cannons sink many more ships,” Victoria said.
“Be careful. We do not know who this could be, or if their allegiance is true,” one of the light scouts said, looking to see who might be ahead.
“I shall search in the darkness,” another of the light scouts said, scanning the darkness for a trap.
“Whoever strikes at our enemies may still be a useful servant, if not an ally,” Victoria said.
~~~
“Let’s board the ship, now! When you see her, in a clearing, we have to move in quickly!” Pradrock said to Va’Qileren and the rest of the crew.
He, the ghost of Captain Tychon and the crew returned to the Everlasting Pain. The ship rose up into the air, followed by the remaining ships of the Feasting Dragons fleet.
“I see her approaching, and the area around her ship is calm, both the wind and the water,” Va’Qileren said.
“Now! Strike with the bowsprit, directly piercing her heart!” Pradrock ordered.
“No daggers? How unsporting!” the ghost of Captain Tychon said, mockingly.
The Everlasting Pain moved quickly through the air, around the hill, and then down to Victoria. The bowsprit of the ship struck her heart and nearly ripped it in half. A gaping hole was in her chest.
~~~
Victoria’s heart would have stopped at that moment, and she screamed as if it were going to, saying: “the dream of the ship that pierced my heart has come true!”
However, the demon, Matatirot, kept the heart beating within her, holding it together and preventing the blood from spilling out of her.
“Master! Take me from here!” Victoria called out.
Matatirot opened a portal and sent the Tidal Sovereign through the portal, where it disappeared from sight.
The water and wind on the Zovvin Ocean calmed thereafter, as they were no longer controlled by the tiara.
~~~
In that brief encounter, Akantha was able to see the demonic force surrounding Victoria and sustaining her.
“I could see the demon in her. It kept her heart beating or she would be dead! She spoke after being struck, so we know she is alive!” Akantha said.
“You crashed the ship into her and she lets out a dying breath and you think she’s alive?!” Caroline asked, stunned.
“She disappeared! Like that! Didn’t you see it?” Akantha asked.
“I wish that I saw it! That had to be amazing! If she survived, it won’t be for long,” Torin said.
“Don’t be so sure, Torin. Demons have a lot of power, and they can use it to do things you wouldn’t believe, like keeping people alive through war,” Akantha said.
“Indeed. You know very little, boy. Keep an open mind, even if your eyes are closed, and you might see and understand more than the one who has her eyes open but doesn’t believe them,” the ghost of Captain Tychon said, looking toward Caroline.
“Wherever she might reappear, one of the Redfire Sentinels will see by light, and another will send a signal by way of the red suns. Then, the signal will be sensed by me, and I will tell you,” Farovaxen said.
“I need you to teach me how to do that,” Akylas said to Farovaxen.
~~~
The Persistent arrived at the northwestern coast of the Road of Kovoxotu. The coast of that land bridge faced the Zovvin Ocean, but the tempest had already ended there.
“The tempest was here. We can see that by the wreckage of many ships,” Judith said, and wrote all that she saw in her book.
Ovid also looked around and surveyed the damage, writing records of it his own book.
“I see no sign of Victoria’s ship in the distance,” Zoe said, using the powers of far sight given to her by the waters of the Lujladia Ocean that she drank.
“So where is she?” Emerond asked.
“Were we too slow getting here?” Brant asked.
“That’s a little scary to think, but it might be true,” Rayner said.
“Someone else may have struck her first. She departs quickly after receiving wounds,” Joshua said.
“There’s a bit of encouragement. I’ll take all the help we can get,” Emerond said.
Romana knelt down on the deck of the ship and started praying: “I pray sincerely, to the One True God, that we might encounter this enemy and be given Thy Blessing to bring her to Your Justice, that this reign of terror would end soon, if it is Thy Will.”
“What’s that going to do?” Brant asked.
“More than you know. You just have to believe in a strength that is immeasurably greater and wiser than your own,” Romana said.