The Merchant Navy [TMN]
A Story of Bravery
Chapter 1 - The ReturnAs the sloop flew across the waves the crew huddled down, it'd been a long journey and pickings had been scarce to say the least. War had been rife for the past few months and now many honest traders dare not venture from port for fear of pirates taking their wares and sometimes their ship. Those that weren't sent to Old Davy Jones to mind, and few of those would ever surface again without a high price being paid.
This time of year not many people choose to make the journey from Goroum to Aiora, while it was a relatively straight line there were small islands and hidden dangers a plenty on that stretch. Pirates were known to raid out from Tortuga and engage viscous battles on the seas, there were rumours the Leviathan made its home in an undersea cave close by and some even say Davy Jones himself sails there, looking for lost ships to claim and weary seamen to enlist in his crew.
But they were just tales told by the mast to new recruits on their first voyage with the navy, tales to scare boys and make old men chuckle to themselves when they saw them jump at shadows.
As it was thanks to the increase in pirate activity merchants weren't delivering much need supplies around Avonmora and there were reports of Aiora's food supplies running low. While normally this wasn’t a problem as New Land was closer to Aiora than we were in Goroum, the increase in pirate activity around Tortuga made the trip too dangerous to be undertaken without a heavy guard and at present the navy couldn't afford to spare enough ships. Too many were off trying to keep the Regis to Caspian straight free from pirates so much needed supplies could get through. Unfortunately this left us playing the part of the trade ship on its way to deliver food to Aiora and pick up Wood so the navy could continue building more ships.
Plotting the route had been simple enough, we were to sail south until we saw Neapolis of the Port bow and then turn 40 degrees starboard on a course for Vaasburg. We were to re-supply there enough for the remainder of the journey. Once sailing from Vaasburg we were to sail south east for Thorakas until we saw Whale isle, then we were to sail south keeping her to our port side on a 10 degree bearing west. After that it was a straight sail to Aiora followed by the long journey home, or so we were told when we sailed out of port...
The journey started normal enough, we were to be sailing on one of the navy's new Sloops of War, freshly built in the main ship yard at Goroum. It was a new design built upon the original sloop frame but redesigned to allow more manoeuvrability and an increase in the amount of cannons she could carry, the down side was she lost a bit of speed in the wind but she was still one of the fastest vessels to grace the seas.
The legendary admiral Jouga was to return from retirement and take the helm for this long voyage, few knew the seas as well as he did and fewer still could hold a ship to a storm and see clear skies.
Retiro was to be his second mate in charge of crew and moral, he'd sailed the seas for many years and if this voyage went well he may see himself promoted and captain of this very vessel.
The long journey warranted a doctor on board to see to the crews’ health and to try and keep enough of us alive to bring this nice new ship home. Quillazo was to be taking up the position, I’d sailed with him before, he knew his trade and he cared for his patients, I’m glad they'd decided he was to join us, a few of the naval bone men weren't so kind to their patients, didn't stock enough rum if you follow me.
Our quarter master this voyage is a rather strange fellow, a chap by the name of Mr23, I’m sure I’ve sailed with him before under a different name but I can't place his face, maybe he's picked up a few fresh scares to hide himself. Anyway, so far I’ve found him passed out asleep while supposedly checking we have enough provisions for the journey and on another occasion leaning so far over the side of the ship he nearly ended up kissing the dock just to get a better look at a pretty lass that was happening by on the street.
They'd sent a couple of experienced boys Khan and Bronze to be the main gunners on the voyage, be their job to make sure the other gunners know their lines and that everything was going to be ready to use should we need it. Normally I’d be happy sailing with gunners who actually knew which end the ball came out of, but sending them on this voyage made me uneasy, it's as if they knew we were going to get into trouble before they'd even seen the last of our wake.
A few scrub boys were sent on board as well to keep the ship clean and climb around the rigging like falling wouldn't most likely mean death. Xanadu had been on a few boats I’d been on and I’d seen Mains in the ranks before. Funzel was a new face to me but I figured he must have served in the navy for a while already if they were sending him on this voyage.
And I’m the ships Navigation officer, it's my job to make sure were on the correct coarse and not about to either sail into an island in the total dark or appear in the middle of pirate controlled waters, neither would likely end well for me or the rest of the crew.
There's many rumours surrounding the odd assembly of this crew, I was enlisted because I recently found a way to map the journey times between ports accurately and this allowed us to stock exactly enough provisions for the journey so the rest of the space could be crammed with powder and food, which was essential for this trip.
It's said that when they called Jouga out of retirement, he requested of the sea lords that they grant him his old crew back for the voyage, however only a few faces still sailed within the navy's ranks. Some were said to be working with the large traders helping secure their merchant ships and another was drifting the seas from nation to nation. It was said a few had also taken their leave to Davy Jones and wouldn't be sailing the seas under the sun nor moon again.
Those holes in the ranks of Jouga's original crew were filed by those of us that hadn't sailed with him before, we'd heard the stories and the tales of the legendary admiral but few of us had ever though to serve before the mast with him. We were experienced men for sure, but few had stood against what his crew had and been able to cheer it in the tavern.
Chapter 2 - BlessedWe sailed out of Goroum to favorable winds as if the spiral of time were on our side; we made good speed heading for Neapolis. It wasn't long before I was taking bearings and telling captain Jouga to turn a line for starboard 40 degrees. I'm nay sure if I need have bothered though, I swear he was already turning before I told him the bearing; it is as if the seas were telling him the way where he wished to go. The wind was on our side blowing the ship's sails on the right line, either the seas favour this man or magic surrounds him, either way it seems to be a blessing for now.
We made for Vaasburg and our final stop before heading to the very south and Aiora, this was to be a quick turn around and as such the crew were confined to ship. "I'd rather not lose any men before I really have to" I believe were the captains words on that matter the one time a crewmen was brave enough to mention it in ear shot.
We'd made good wind and were only about a day out of Vaasburg as twilight was setting when there was the responding crack of cannon fire. The captain called to arms and the crew went scurrying about the deck, removing the oil covers from the powder and rolling out the cannons. Mains scurried up the rigging and into the crow’s nest to look for white on the horizon, the sound that cannon made though they had to be right on top of us, but we could see nothing.
Mains reported that there was nothing in any direction just sea and sky. At this the captain started stalking the deck sniffing the air and stopping at odd intervals, I looked on bemused wondering what had gotten to his mind when he suddenly stopped in front of bronze and stared at him. He made no move to do anything; he just met his eye and looked through him. Bronze became red of face and suddenly started looking around nervously. Suddenly the captain barked "Where is it!” to this bronze just looked at him and seemed to shrink inside. "Where... Is... It...!” the captains’ very presence seemed to puncture his words. Suddenly and yet rather slowly bronze produced a pipe from within his tunic and handed it over to the captain. With this the captain spun about, held it aloft in one hand and declared "This be another reason why you don't smoke on a ship, especially one laden with powder" the captain gestured around, "That was no enemy cannon we herd, nor was it Davy Jones himself come to enlist us, it was Bronze here having a puff on his pipe. Tell me bronze was it the wind that blew an ember or did you try tap your pipe out on the cannon...?"". "Um...Welll... Captain..." Bronze began, "It matters not" Jouga cut over, "No one is to smoke aboard my vessel, anyone found attempting to can spend the rest of the journey getting the barnacles of the side of the ship, can smoke as much as you want hanging over the sea...".
With that the captain stalked off to the aft castle and shouted for the guns to be stowed, it would appear Bronze had gotten off lightly from the captains fabled wrath. The remainder of the journey into Vaasburg passed by without incident, and we sailed into port just as the sun was peaking over the horizon.
Chapter 3 - SuppliesIt seemed word had traveled ahead that we were to make port before heading south; provisions were already sitting at an empty space on the dock when we sailed into port and an official form the Governors palace was there to meet us.
As soon as hull kissed dock, Jouga grabbed a rope, swung himself over the side of the ship and dropped down to land next to the Official, he was informed that word had traveled ahead of their arrival and they were to be supplied with 15% of the resources currently held at the warehouse in port, this would be sufficient for them to reach their destination should they not encounter rotten food in any of the crates.
"Mr23 would you wake up, stop gawking at the lady folk and kindly get these goods stowed as quickly as possible, I wish to leave this port to our rudder on the next tide." Jouga shouted from the docks.
I looked round to see Mr23's head appear back over the railings were previously only his boots had been with a dejected look on his face, apparently gawking at the lady folk had been his entire intention while in port, not spending it below decks moving boxes.
Under Mr23's direction the crew began stowing the boxes below deck at a rapid pace, apparently no one wanted to see what would happen if they missed the next tide, not with the memory of bronze and the cannon fresh in their minds.
Quillazo appeared on deck and wondered over to have a quite word with the captain, I caught the words "Medical supplies" uttered by Quillazo, the captain appeared to agree with him about something and gave him leave to depart the ship for a short time.
"Retiro, make sure the cargo is stowed and the crew are ready to make waves as soon as the good bone man returns, also make sure Mr23 hasn't fallen over board please, I’d hate to leave him lying face first on the docks as we sail out of port."
******************
Quillazo wandered up the street until the found the shop he sought; it was away from the main through fare, not many people passed by this way. A sign showing what appeared to be herbs and animal teeth hung above the door, yes this should be the shop he sought for the journey. With that he opened the door and stepped into the shops dimly lit interior, a cloud of smoke enveloped him and the smell of herbs washed over him as the breeze stirred the air in the shop. "I've come to purchase supplies for a journey south, I sent a message ahead with my request, I trust everything is in order?” he announced.
"Ahh yes, Quillazo, your message was received, a journey south, all the supplies you requested have been gathered although not all of them were easy to get, please follow me this way." the smoke seemed to reply.
Chapter 4 - ShadowsWe caught the next tide out of Vaasburg and proceeded to make a course south east towards Thorakas. The good bone man had returned to the ship in time, bearing a small brown sack, and after a brief conversation with the captain had gone below decks to prepare and store his medical herbs for the voyage.
We sailed for a few days not encountering any ships nor seeing any sails on the horizon, it was as if the seas themselves were deserted. The recent pirate activity really had taken its toll, the occasional barrel or crate sometimes floated past, probably once part of some merchants’ wares being peddled between ports, now providing nothing more than a place for the birds to rest while flying between lands.
"Land Ho, Starboard side" Bronze bellowed from the crow’s nest. We must have been coming up to whale isle then for I knew of no other land masses in this area. The captain Strode up to the aft castle and took the helm.
"Shaydo, Bearing" he called.
"Were to turn south before we reach her captain and keep her to our port side while bearing 10 degrees west" I replied.
With that the captain grabbed the wheel and cut the ship a starboard turn. "Draw in some sail, I want to keep my speed down while passing here, many a good captain has sent his ship to the rocks in these waters", he said, already scanning the sea ahead for signs of underwater rocks or wrecks.
As the crew flew around the rigging drawing in sails and trying to cut her speed, Quillazo appeared on deck, and strode over to the captain, neither man spoke both just seemed to stand solid at the helm staring out over the seas ahead, an eerie peace started to settle across the decks at this point and the winds dropped suddenly, a slight breeze began blowing back against our sails as if someone had control of the very skies themselves and was attempting to knock our speed to what the captain wished.
As we sailed closer to whale isle stray timbers started to become visible dashed up on the rocks, the odd bit off torn sail cloth snagged on a rock was fluttering in the breeze and I got the sense that many sailors had met their end in this very place.
"Keep her steady and keep her tight men, we’ll sail past her like she's just another rock in this ocean." The captain told the crew from the wheel.
As we were coming past the island I looked over the side of the ship and wished I hadn't, I saw a forest of masts below the waves, many snapped and broken, a few weren't even anywhere near a wreck, as if they'd been torn from the ship and thrown into the seas, nay this was a foreboding place and the sooner she was to our wake the better.
"Man Overboard." Xanadu shouted from the crow’s nest.
"Where?" Retiro shouted up to him, "I heard no splash and I see no missing face, who’s overboard man?"
"Nay Sir!" Xanadu Replied. "I think I can see stranded sailors perched on a rock of our port side, must be from a ship that wrecked herself here. Sir."
"Are they moving or be you seeing corpse’s boy? Not many men could survive out here more than a day and I’ve seen no other sails since we left Vaasburg." Retiro Called to him, already half way up the rigging to take a look himself.
Looks like we might have need of our bone man on this journey after all, I thought to myself. Any man found stranded out here would be in a grave condition if he managed to cling on till rescue arrived that was.
"Captain" Retiro called from the nest, "I can see what looks like stranded sailors for sure, although their moving slowly, and rather strangely." He said, slowing down the speed of his words as if to almost trail off.
"SHADOW" Retiro suddenly bellowed from the nest, I turned startled and slightly confused, Shadow? But before I could begin to ask what he was talking about the captain was screaming orders.
"TO DECK! Unfurl full cloth and give me as much speed as she's got. Khan" he seemed to pause "Roll out the guns. Retiro Where be the shadow, how close is it? Quillazo, are you prepared to ply your trade should we need of you?"
"Aye captain" Quillazo nodded, seemingly unfazed by all the activity around him.
"Captain, about 300 meters off the port side, and she’s a fair size" Retiro called down from the nest.
The captain cursed "With her that close we'll never out run her, she got the advantage on us now.... Khan, Fire of the port side, range 300m. Let’s see if we can't give her pause for thought."
The deck shook as the cannons unleashed their first burbs of fire. Cannon balls sailed off into the distance to splash seemingly wasted into the waves.
"Good Line" Retiro called down. "Second wave"
Khan turned to his gunners, "I have no idea what we’re shooting but if you don't get them guns loaded faster I’ll fire you out the damn cannons". With that the gun crews scuttled across the deck reloading the cannons for a second wave of what appeared to still be, Shoot the wave.
The second round of cannon balls flew off and again splashed into the ocean, although this time a strange feeling came over the waves, as if that last round had hit the very sea herself, the waters began to turn hostile and I got the feeling the very seas themselves wanted to send us to Davy Jones.
"Hit" Retiro called down "But I nay think it helped, she be gaining on us and captain and the seas are getting rougher, I think we angered someone"
The captain though for a moment then spoke to the air around him, his words calm and measured, "I need a favorable wind; this ship needs to fly like the very Dutchman himself"
I looked round and Quillazo was already lost, eyes closed, lips moving, as if speaking the very winds themselves.
There was a resounding crack, as the sails suddenly snapped open and filled with wind. The ship near took flight her belly nay touching the waves as she skimmed along, faster than any ship I’d travelled on, indeed faster than I thought it possible for a ship to go.
A Few brief moments passed, Khan paused ready to tell the gun crews to fire, Jouga was holding the wheel firm, starring ahead not blinking, Quillazo opened his eyes, looking slightly drawn and tired.
"She's in our wake now captain, we keep this line and she'll nay catch us in time." Retiro said as he swung down onto the deck.
"Good" Jouga replied he seemed to visibly relax at Retiros’ words.
"I thank you good bone doctor for your help, I'm glad you choose to sail with me on this voyage." Jouga said, half turning to Quillazo.
"The gods said I would be needed" Quillazo said calmly as he began walking back to his quarters.
Chapter 5 - FableAs the ship flew across the waves I tried to take stock of what had just happened to us. Retiro had shouted Shadow, and the captain had acted as if death himself had asked to dice, bellowing orders and pushing the ship as hard as he could, harder than she should be able to handle, the builders must have truly been master craftsmen, for she held together.
As the winds slacked off the sails seemed to drop slightly, as if previously enhanced by another source. The crew seemed nervous, strange things had just happened, and I don't think anyone ever expected to see the captain act like that. I wondered over to him, still clutching the wheel and guiding us true.
"Captain, what was that back their?" I asked, still confused by the recent events.
"That was a demon." Replied Jouga, never breaking his gaze from the sea.
I paused to see if he would continue.
"What do you mean a demon?" I asked, when it appeared he wasn't going to offer anything else up on the subject.
"That was the beast of the seas, a demon of a creature capable of sinking entire battle fleets, be they on the seas or sitting safe at anchor" Retiro said, leaning on the ships rail and staring out over the waves, as if remembering times gone by.
"The Leviathan?" I asked, slightly bemused that this seasoned sailor could be frightened of a mere tale.
"Aye the shadow. I'd wish no man to be her pray, for none survive if she seeks to take them." Retiro replied, eyes lost in memories and time.
"But we survived mate, if she really was on us then she nay be insight now and we be alive, maybe it was just a large school of fish passing the rocks." I fired back, still not sure how this veteran seaman could be scared by stories.
"Aye for now..." the captain cut in slowly, still staring out over the sea.
I wondered off shaking my head, the leviathan I thought to myself, simply a tale told to new seamen, not a demon of the waves. Granted, there had been some strange events this day, the sudden change in the seas and then the winds, the captain jumping when Retiro shouted Shadow, the ship near flying over the seas and the drawn tired expression that had appeared on Quillazos' face after the event, almost as if it had taken something out of him. But I’m sure there was a reasonable explanation for it all, and not just a mere story.
I checked the charts and made sure we were still following the correct course, 10 degrees off the southern star known as Achillies Fleet, so named it's said, after a captain who used to sail these very straights, hunting pirates and helping honest merchant through troublesome waters, if one supposedly sailed towards straight towards the star, they would find the legendary fleets of Achillies and the man himself still hunting pirates to this day. I noted our current position on the chart and made for my bunk, the events of the last day still playing in my head.
Chapter 6 - The RangeI woke to the sound of gulls announcing their presence overhead, that must mean we be nearing land I thought to myself, but we should have still been a day’s sail away from the Seaglory cliffs, one of the biggest cliff ranges in Avonmora, it stretched from Pirates cove, to the west of whale isle, all the way round to Seaglory itself, nay space to make land along the range unless you moored to the very rocks themselves.
I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and wandered up on deck, Mr23 I noticed was leaning against a crate on the foredeck snoozing in the sun, seems all that boy did was sleep. Retiro was nowhere in sight so I assumed he had finally taken to his bunk in the night. Jouga still held the wheel firm, almost like a statue, I could have sworn he hadn't shifted a muscle while I’d been asleep, but surely the man had rested. Quillazo was not around as seemed usual this voyage, keeping to his quarters unless needed, I was sure when I’d sailed with him before he'd been more lively, it was as if this very journey were sapping away his energy. Xanadu was in the Crow's nest again, the man seemed happy up there, as if he had nay fear of heights or the strong winds that could knock a man off is he wasn't careful. Khan and Bronze were near the aft castle, it seemed like they were trying to teach some of our less experienced gunners the proper way to clean the cannons, I’m sure that could be amusing to watch. As I began walking towards the Captain I caught pieces of their conversation "No before you stick your face in front of that end make sure there’s no powder in it, someone decides to smoke a pipe again and your little head will be replaced with a big round metal one." I heard Khan say to someone. I chuckled to myself; hopefully we wouldn't lose any men to our own cannons.
"Ho captain" I said as I made my way up the steps, "we must have made good wind this last cycle for the Seaglory range to be insight already."
"Aye winds helped us greatly in our flight." He replied, his eyes looking drawn.
"Captain go below and get some rest, I can hold her past this range" I suggested, still unsure if the captain had rested.
"Nay, this be a place for pirates to stalk the unwary, I can hold the wheel yet" He replied,
"Surely no one can stalk us out here, there's open ocean over there" I gestured off the port side of the ship, "And a solid range there" I pointed towards the Seaglory cliffs, “We’d see anyone coming before they were close"
"That range nay be solid face" he interjected "their be folds and nooks all the way along that range a ship could hide in, if her captain had the steels to try" His eyes seemed to momentarily go distant "And the wits to pull it off. One wrong move through and you'll be ground between the cliff faces like wheat through a grind stone"
I looked over at the range, trying to see any of these folds and nooks the captain mentioned, all my eyes could see was a flat range starring back at me.
"You'll nay see them from here" The captain said, as if noticing me staring at the cliffs. "You need to be right on top of them too be seeing them, only by luck or misfortune you'll find yourself in one."
I carried on starring at the range, hoping to spot one of the folds the captain had mentioned. If I hadn't been starring so intently I don't think I’d have seen it, I don't think anyone would have seen it in time.
Chapter 7 - Sails Ho! “SHIP” I shouted, as I noticed a vessel sweeping out as if from the cliff face itself.
"Where" I heard the captain ask.
"Coming out of the very cliff face itself captain" I called back, still not really believing what I was seeing
I heard the captain curse, and then start peeling off orders to the crew. "Khan, Bronze, Roll out the guns and prepare to unleash hell on them. Mains, Funzel, prepare the grapples and axes. Xanadu what’s their range and bearing. Mr23...MR23" The captain finally shouted.
"Captain?" a rather bleary eyed Mr23 replied when he popped up.
"Would you kindly go below and get Retiro and the good doctor, if you’re tired there's no rush mind, it's just" The captain paused momentarily "WERE UNDER ATTACK", he bellowed loud enough to startle the birds roosting in the cliffs.
Mr23 took off towards the hatch and I just caught the words "I think they just heard you" as he disappeared below deck, it appeared the captain hadn't noticed however.
"There about 500 meters out captain and making good wind" Xanadu called down from the nest.
"Guns ready captain" I heard Bronze and Khan both shout as the gun crews got the last of the cannons into position.
"Here captain" Retiro said as he jogged up the steps onto the aft castle, walked over and immediately took the wheel from Jouga.
Jouga walked over to the rail and eyed the approaching ship; he spent a moment just staring over the sea before he spoke.
"I recognize that flag although I nay thought to see it again" He announced "That flag belongs to Sky King of Pirates"
"Sky" Retiro piped in, "I thought we sunk his fleets round this very spot, left him a half floating ship headed for the range."
"Aye, so did I" the captain replied, "but apparently we only succeeded in helping him find a better hole to hide in" he finished, almost biting of each word.
"Shall we finish what we started mates?" Quillazo joined in, I half turned to face him, not wanting to let the ship out of my sight, I hadn't heard him approach.
"Delivering these supplies is our main priority" Jouga replied "However, there's no saying we can't poke a few more holes in them first" He faced the crew "Have the cannons ready to fire on my signal not before, and be ready for anything"
"Aye captain" the crew chorused.
"Raking fire. Retiro double turn, hard a starboard, hard a port, guns crews be ready to fire just as we swing back port" Jouga said.
"200 Meters captain" Xanadu shouted from the nest.
"Wait...Wait…Now" Jouga called to Retiro.
Retiro swung the wheel hard to starboard and the ship lurched sideways across the sea.
"Steady, wait for it" Jouga told the gun crews.
As Retiro swung the wheel hard a port there was a momentary pause in the motion of the ship before she lurched back around, this was the window the guns crews had been waiting on.
"FIRE" Bellowed Jouga, which was quickly taken up by Khan and Bronze. The starboard guns burst to life spewing fire and metal at the approaching ship.
As the gun crews scuttled around trying to get the cannons reloaded, Xanadu shouted down an update "Looks like one went straight through her sails and landed on her deck captain but it appears most missed the mark" The rhythmic sound of drums slowly came across the water from Sky's ship.
"Ahh so it’s that’s the game now is it. Quillazo, if you please" Jouga asked the doctor.
Quillazo closed his eyes and started whispering, I could nay make out any of the words but I got the feeling they were nay kind words to be heard, they seemed to drift out across the ocean. His eyes suddenly snapped open and he stared straight at the oncoming ship, as if he could see her decks clear as day. I looked intently at the other ship, to try make out what Quillazo was seeing, that's when I saw them, sea slugs, climbing up her hull, little beasts they were weighing her down and cracking her timbers, I could see her draft start deepening, and her sails seemed to lose all wind, as if the sea was turning on her, finally a glowing haze seemed to surround the ship and a figure on her decks seemed to glow brighter than the rest, as if whatever was effecting the ship was effecting him.
"That should bar his attempts to counter us" Quillazo announced, opening his eyes and visibly sagging.
"Aye, let’s hope that's the last of them" I said, as I watched Sky fall behind and drift towards the range.
"2 cutters coming in fast" Xanadu suddenly shouted from the nest, the battle with Sky had distracted everyone's focus.
"Bearing" Retiro called up to him.
"Straight for us... Looks like they might try get either side of us" Xanadu replied
"Insignia?" I ask, wondering who else was coming for us now.
"Looks like the flying foxes" He called to me. I'd heard of them, small, fast vessels were their choice, hit and run tactics.
"I don't fancy being the filling in a sandwich with those two" Mr23 piped in, part way up the rigging trying to get a better view of the approaching vessels. "Looks like it's their leader and a general"
"Suggestions anyone?" Jouga asked, turning back to the crew.
"Fire of both sets of cannons and hope we do more damage?" Khan suggested, an optimistic look on his face.
"We could try to out run them?" I asked, hoping for another miracle.
"Their faster than us, nothing we do to can out run them" Retiro chimed in, “only way to stop them is to beat them.”
"I've got an idea, have we got spare anchor and rope?" I asked, turning to Mr23.
"Aye spare for each side and rope to match" Mr23 replied "how come?"
I explained my idea to the crew and was met with mixed reactions.
"That's nigh suicide!"
"We'd likely get cut to shreds."
"It'd be amazing if it worked!"
"Worth a gamble?"
"It's seems like our best option." the captain finally said, get her ready.
The crew scurried about the ship getting everything in order, loading cannons and rolling them into position, scaling the rigging and checking the anchor lines.
"We got one shot at this lads, let’s get it right first time eh" the captain said optimistically, trying to keep the crews spirits up, he finished speaking just as the flying foxes pulled up either side of us.
"Good day gentlemen." Their leader shouted over.
"What'd you want?" Retiro shouted back
"Why we've come to liberate you of your cargo and make sure you spend a few days in port so as not to follow us, failing that we'll fill you so full of cannon balls you sink" Their leader said, as if confident there’d be no opposition.
"I'm none too sure we can allow that" Retiro said to him, a smile on his face "Captain?"
"Afraid not, these supplies have to get through you see, matter of urgency" Jouga said, loosely gripping the rail.
"Well we can't have that so I guess we'll hook them out of the water as they spill out your cracked hull. I'd rather have got them dry but, no bother" Their leader said, already turning to his own gun crews as they prepared the cannons, the gun crews on his generals ship following suit, they were efficient and organized at it, at least that was the plan.
"Ready lads" Jouga called, and then more quietly added "first one away please Mr23."
"Aye captain" Mr23 replied, befor running off to the back of the ship. A moment later there was as light tug on the vessel as if she'd been gripped from behind.
"Prepare" The Flying fox leader shouted.
"Now" Jouga shouted to his crew.
"FIRE" the flying fox leader shouted loud enough for both his generals’ ship to hear.
All of a sudden everything in the ship lurched forward as the main beam of the sails slammed into the mast and the main anchors, kicked lose by Mains and Funzel, hit the sea bed and got purchase. The 2 enemy ships sailed past just as 8 cannons erupted fire and death, the cannon balls flew across empty ocean where we should have been and slammed into the opposite ship, reigning destruction on their allies, the main mast on the leaders ship was knocked clean through near her base and fell straight through the rigging of her counterpart, tangling both ships, and sending them drifting towards the range.
"Away" Jouga called.
Retiro spun the wheel hard a port away from the range and Mains and Funzel quickly cut the anchor ropes before they ripped the ship apart.
"Quickly hoist the main sail and lets be gone, I don't think they'll be following us any time soon" Jouga said, looking at the 2 tangled ships.
Chapter 8 - AioraWe got the sails back up in short order and made for Aiora, the seas stayed calm and we made good time, encountering no other ships coming over the horizon for the remainder of the voyage.
We arrived at Aiora just as the sun was cresting for noon and were guided into port by a local naval vessel, exchanging information and telling them of the pirates we'd encountered on our journey; the captain had said to make no mention of the shadow as it may make the port authorities edgy.
The stay over in port was going to last a few days, emptying the cargo out and re-supplying for the journey home, the captain had given the crew leave to enjoy their time ashore before we headed home.
As the crew began leaving the ship I turned to Retiro, "That Quillazo is no ordinary doctor." I said.
"Witch doctor?" Retiro asked.
"That Quillazo chap he's no ordinary bone man?", I replied, unsure why he'd asked which doctor.
"Ahh" Retiro smiled, "he's the best doctor I’ve ever sailed with, knows his trade" as he went walking towards the gang plank.
I wondered over to the captain, as he stood by the starboard rail, starring out over the waves.
"Well we made it to port goods intact captain" I said to him, looking back the way we’d just come "I'd say that was a success"
"Aye lad, but we've still got to get home" Jouga replied.
The End of Part 1 of A Story of Bravery
