‘They were tricky,’ said Wyvera when they had killed all the monsters. ‘You must be convinced that we’re strong enough to protect you on the journey to the Frozen Waste now!’

Antonio stuck out his bottom lip in a thoughtful frown and wobbled his hand from side to side to indicate “sort of”.

Horatio’s heart sank within him.

‘Mmm, I’m still not fully convinced. You’re competent fighters, yes, but nothing these monsters have thrown at you has really put you to the test, or been on the level that we would encounter around the Frozen Wastes!’

Olivia exploded with fury. ‘Then what was the point of making us fight all of these monsters? I’ve had enough of this meaningless errand! This is pointless!’

Antonio raised his shoulders in a shrug and took a long draw on his pipe. ‘Hey, I wouldn’t say it was pointless… You got some good exercise and experience, I got to sample your battle skills, and I also got to watch you girls having a nice workout.’ He grinned lasciviously.

‘You sick creep! I can’t believe you’ve made us run around wasting all this time for nothing! I’ve half a mind to fight you, and steal your stupid ship!’

To Horatio’s surprise, Antonio’s expression lit up.

‘Hey, that’s not actually a bad idea!’ he said. ‘Great! Why don’t you fight me? I’ll give you a real run for your money! If you can beat me, then I’ll definitely know that you are strong enough to protect my ship in the frozen north.’

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

‘Huh?’ said Egea. ‘You can fight? You have battle skills?’

‘Why yes, of course!’ said Antonio. ‘How do you think I got to be captain of my own ship in the first place? Of course I’m not strong enough to defeat all of the monsters that would attack us in the Frozen Waste, but if you lot fight me then I’ll certainly be able to judge if you are!’

‘Fine!’ said Olivia on everybody’s behalf. ‘I’m more than ready to fight you. Right here on the sand?’

‘Right here on the sand. Bring it!’

Boss battle: Antonio

Antonio the sea captain had fallen over on his face, his magnificent hat hiding his head.

Uh-oh. Had they killed him?

The captain just about managed to raise a hand. ‘Okay then…’ he said weakly from underneath the hat. ‘I accept that you are strong enough to protect my ship in the Frozen Wastes… I will take you there, for the agreed price. Now, priest-lady, could you please heal me?’

Horatio barely suppressed a smirk. About time. At last they had satisfied the capricious sailor’s whims, and shown him what they were capable of.

Ceres ran over to Antonio and the air shimmered white as she cast a heal spell on him. She helped him to his feet.

The Captain stood shakily. ‘Let’s get back to my ship,’ he said without further ado. He seemed to have lost his swagger. Horatio and the party hadn’t exactly gone easy on him during the fight. He had been strong, and skilled with a sword, so they hadn’t been able to.

The party walked with him back along the beach the way they had come, back to Vishay and its dock. The sea lapped at the sand as they walked, catching the moonlight and flinging it up to them in glittering fragments. Horatio hunched his shoulders against the cold night air.

When they got back to Antonio’s ship, two men were stood waiting for them on the wooden jetty.