by J D Franx
“That sounds fine, Captain,” she said. “I will remain aboard your ship until the last rowboat leaves.”
“Would you not rather be the first of your kind to step foot on the soil of your homeland?” he asked.
“On the contrary, Captain Havarrow,” she replied. “My people believe in never leaving anyone behind unless it absolutely necessary. Had the units beyond the Fae seal been normal warriors, you would have sailed us to the Fae islands now that they are back in-phase with Talohna. Your cannons would have leveled Vaenaria to get our people out. As it is, the Arna Kem will wreak havoc for the Fae until they can get to the mainland.”
“Fair enough,” he said as Shasta stopped at his side. “Oversee the loading, first mate.”
“Yes, Captain,” she replied. “This way, if you would like to join me, Vikress Illara.”
Illara nodded and began to follow Shasta but turned back. “Thank you, Captain,” she said. “For everything.”
He offered a slight bow, and Shasta winked at him, letting him know that his message had been passed among the other ships.
Relaxing against the helm, he sighed. It would take a couple of hours to offload the Ancients and there was nothing more to do until they were gone from his ships.
UNNAMED BEACH
ANCIENT KINGDOM
Vikress Illara stepped from the water onto the soil of her homeland for the first time in thousands of years.
“Welcome home, Vikress,” Commander Tuz said.
“Are they ready?” she asked.
“Archers and magic users are both ready for you to give the order. Dominique Havarrow and all of his ships will be on the ocean floor before the longboats return.”
“It is a shame,” she said and turned to the bay full of pirate ships. “His armada would have been nice.”
“I agree,” Tuz said. “But those weapons… the cannons. He is also a Northman. Wherever they came from is irrelevant. I understand they are loyal to a fault.”
“And his loyalty does not lie with us,” Ghul reminded them as he approached. “He may not be aware that Kael is alive yet, but when he finds he is, that armada will turn on us when he finds out what actually happened.”
“True,” Illara agreed. “And we will need years to deal with the Kasym—even longer to heal it. We are safe up here from Kael’s wrath if Havarrow is not alive to bring him here and hopefully our own armada remains safe in dry-dock storage. Give the order, Commander.” Illara turned on her heel and headed over the ridge of sand to help her people prepare for their long journey ahead.
“What is Havarrow doing?” Ghul barked as the returning longboats lurched ahead and raced across the bay. They were back to Havarrow’s ships in only seconds.
Commander Tuz shielded his eyes from the sun. “Niis’ curse,” he swore. “The longboats were tied to the anchor winches...”
“The formation of the cannon ships...” Ghul began.
“Signal the retreat!” Tuz shrieked as he and Ghul rushed for the far side of the sand ridge on the beach, but it was already too late
The beach erupted with explosions and roaring thunder.
“Our men are aboard, Captain,” Shasta hollered.
“Fire, Eamon!” Dominique roared. “Every gods-damned cannon we have!”
Cannon fire from his own and the seven other ships rocked his vessel. The concussion of so many cannons lighting off around them nearly brought him to his knees.
Prepared for the betrayal, Havarrow’s ships unleashed a hell-storm of cannon fire. All eight ships’ sixteen broadside cannons belched flame and cannonballs peppered the beach full of Ancient warriors and wizards. A dozen wild spells arched away harmlessly as the few Ancient wizards already casting magic died screaming among the explosions.
“Cut the fucking anchors and get us out of here!” Shasta yelled. “Move it men! Before they recover! Talvira, you know what to do!”
The four ships without cannons crossed the western point of the bay and reached safety while Havarrow’s ship brought up the rear. Talvira tapped into her abnormal magic and unleashed a massive wall of wind. It blew across all eight ships. Shasta took over the helm, and Dominique stepped to the stern to stand beside his new sorceress. He stared at the carnage on the beach. The surviving Ancients scrambled to get away from another volley. Because the distance had been too far to effectively aim the cannons, he doubted more than a handful died in his initial attack. He snorted and turned back to the helm as all his ships lurched ahead, powered by Talvira’s magic.
Havarrow knew the moment Ghul and Tuz remained on the beach that the Ancients would attack his fleet. He had not just expected it but planned for it.
“Good thing we were ready,” Shasta stated as if reading his mind.
“Never doubted for a moment they’d betray us—whether or not we had discovered they killed Kael.”
A second ship slowed and came alongside. “Where now, boss?” Cassel Morena shouted from the second ship’s railing.
“Any leads on Yrlissa?” Dominique yelled back.
“If the Blades believe she is dead or if they are actively hunting her, she will be where they have the least influence.”
“Cass!” Shasta shouted. “That is in DormaSai now. The White Cabal has made it their mission to wipe the Blades from existence.” She glanced at Dominique. “We’ll have to dock at Fathom’s Deep. We cannot begin to guess the influence the Ancients might have in the Twin Cities and even Cormack WhiteFrost may not be able to help us.”
“I agree.” Dominique nodded. “We will have to get to DormaSai by land until we know that a headman’s axe is not waiting for us in Alegra or Argela.”
“To Fathom’s Deep?” Cass hollered.
Dominique nodded to Shasta at the helm. “To Fathom’s Deep, first mate. The Reaver’s Curse is yours.”
“Yes, brother.”
“I’ll be in my cabin if you need me.”
A blaze of white magic rocked the main deck as the Vikress, Ghul, and an Ancient wizard stepped from the realm jump.
“You are a fool pirate,” Illara growled as the wizard held the realm jump open. Without warning, she leapt forward and grabbed Eamon by the throat. “You should have just died,” she added and dragged the alchemist backwards through the portal.
“No!” Shasta yelled as she vaulted the railing and dove for the Vikress a second too late.
The Vikress, Ghul and Eamon O’Leary vanished into the white light as the wizard followed them. The portal snapped shut.
“By the gods,” Shasta whispered. She turned and stared at Dominique, helpless. “What have we done, brother?”
Unable to find the words, Dominique shook his head and stared at the blackened smoking beach.
The Ancients had one of Talohna’s deadliest weapons, and they had all the time they needed to exploit him.