Xander sat on his ship lazily regarding the magical and human troops on the shore. Earlier a bunch of the humans had gone swimming, which was quite curious to the pirate.
"Maybe they just want one last thing to remember before they die?" His first mate had suggested.
"Perhaps," the Captain was unconvinced, but as the men eventually exited the water, he had given up trying to figure out the uncommon behavior.
Now he stood leaning on the deck's railing trying to decide why he was there at all. It was the question he had been asking himself over and over. When he watched Baak die, Xander was almost positive that Cafer had aimed Ravenna to hit the gnome king. The pirate was already wary of the crafty advisor, and to see him so easily become king without having to lift a finger was both impressive and concerning.
How easily would the magical gnome be able to take him out if things went south? This is what bothered the Captain the most. He did not like feeling helpless. With the Emperor being drugged and Baak dead, Xander was the only uncontrolled member in Cafer's scheme. That is why the pirate had rushed back out to sea: to put distance between himself and the threat.
However, the handsome sailor was not a fool. He did not cut off communication completely. Whenever the little red messengers appeared aboard his ship, Xander told them what they needed and cooperated easily. But he was careful not to give them any more information than was necessary. Brevity was his greatest ally.
So when a message came calling the pirate to join in the battle, he had been reluctant to comply. Were the roles reversed, Xander doubted that Cafer would come to his aid. The pirate had already served his purpose. But now that the gnome was in need of men to fight, Xander was once again required.
The pirate had considered just sailing off into the distance until things ended, but if Cafer should win, Xander would be putting a large target on his own back. The path of least resistance was to promise to keep anyone from escaping into the sea, with no intention of ever actually battling. If things ever went poorly, the pirates would simply disappear into the sea and return to their life of marauding with the Merpearl.
Scanning the water, the Captain sighed in relief. The Imperial Army had not brought a navy with them. It was further confirmation that he had made the right choice. No one could fight him and his fleet of ships without at least a small armada. That would be crazy.
On top of everything else, the gnomes hated water, so Xander's service was indispensable to them. He would be doing nothing while still looking like he was a great ally. Perhaps he might even request further reward for his daring deeds. The more Xander thought about it, the better he felt. There did not seem to be a downside.
"Bring me something to eat and a chair," Xander ordered the first mate. "I think the show will be beginning soon, and I want to have a good seat.
------------------------------
Unlike the confrontation with the New Emperor's Army and the gnomes, which Aurora hoped she could end in peace, the pirates were a long-standing issue which needed to be handled no matter what. After meeting with the selkies, merfolk and Wai the night before, the Emperor was very ready to take down the scourge of the seas.
Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
After the sun rose that morning, Devrim had given his last goodbyes to his wife on the shoreline. Then, with Junayd and many more troops than he required, the Emperor went for a swim in his uniform.
As it was winter, the water and air were cold, but not overly so. The summer fairies had made a small area of pleasant weather for the men who would be going through the water, but not so big that it would upset the winter season. It was the least they could do to keep the men from freezing.
Hidden among the salty waves, the selkies popped their noses and mouths above the water and greeted the men who would ride on their smooth backs. While decoy soldiers were splashing and yelling, the selkie riders covered their heads in dark cloth to match the water, grabbed onto the lovely seal-like ladies, and dipped beneath the waves. One by one soldiers began to disappear from the boisterous group until only Devrim and Junayd were the last ones ready to leave.
"After we are gone, give us five minutes before the rest of you exit the water and head to the battle lines," the Emperor ordered. He and Junayd swam as deep into the water as they could without sinking from their clothes. They had chosen not to wear their armor, but had tied sheathed swords to their sides.
Phoca and Luna appeared in the water beside them. "Everyone else waiting beyond the ships in a low sand bar. The pirates are so lazy that not a one has looked backwards," Phoca scoffed.
"They are too busy watching our spectacle," Devrim answered as he saw one man do a kickflip into the water off another's shoulders.
"Yes, well, it is hard to look away...even if they aren't the gentleman I hoped to see," Phoca's shiny sealskin still managed to blush beneath the waves. "Now, are we ready?"
Devrim nodded and straddled Phoca before wrapping his arms around her neck. Junayd did the same to Luna.
"We shouldn't make a habit of this," Luna said to the general, her voice shy.
"Really? I am quite enjoying myself." Junayd smiled wickedly.
"Be a gentleman," Devrim warned as he shook his head and wrapped the dark cloth around his face and neck. There were gaps for his eyes and mouth only.
Luna smiled gently at the general, "I only hope you enjoy the next part just as much. Hold your breath!"
The two men took a huge gulp of air as the selkies below them plunged beneath the surface. The salty water forced Devrim's eyes shut at first, but the disorienting feeling of being pulled at high speed without having any sense of which way was up finally got the better of him.
With his lungs beginning to burn and his head feeling like he would pass out, Devrim finally forced open his eyes against the sting of the salt. Overhead a dark shape looked like a dark cloud on the surface of the water. 'A ship!' They were passing under the pirate ships. That meant it would not be long before they reached the sand bar.
However, Devrim could not hold his breath any longer. All too quickly, he could feel his consciousness fading. He squeezed Phoca's flipper and she immediately headed to the surface.
Fortunately by the time they broke into the open air, Phoca had turned and managed to get behind the shadow of the sandbar. With the help of a couple of soldiers, Devrim was pulled onto the far side of the low island where the pirates could not see.
Junayd, who was also dazed, quickly made his way to the Emperor's side as he tried to clear his own head. He pushed Devrim on his side and hit him on the back. The man spit out water, but stayed still with his eyes closed. "Come on, Sire," Junayd urged.
"I can fix it!" the mermaid Darya said as she popped up from the sea next to them.
The general looked at her anxiously. "What can you do?"
"Kiss him, of course. I will breathe life into him. We used to do it to dying sailors." Darya's beautiful eyes shone with desire.
"I don't think..." Junayd struggled to think of another solution when Devrim vomited more water and groaned. "Thank the Fates," the general said, making a Fate's symbol with his hand.
"What did I miss?" the Emperor wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
"I was about to breathe life into you. Seems like there was no need," Darya pouted. She leaned close enough to him that her shell-filled hair brushed up against his arm. He rolled away from her and ran into Junayd.
"Did she...?" the grey-eyed man choked on his words.
"Nothing happened," the burly soldier assured him.
"My wife can never know about this," he whispered, watching Darya's seductive smile trying to tempt him. "She might declare war on the merfolk just for the offer."
Junayd nodded, unwilling to look the beautiful mermaid in the eye. "Agreed."
Devrim looked out at the soldiers. "Did everyone make it with their weapons and corkscrews?" He watched as the couple hundred men nodded back at him.
"Very good. We will go in small groups. Stay on this side of the ship and bore as many hole as you can without being noticed. Once the boats are beginning to sink, take out as many of the pirates as you can and free any captives they might have on board. Don't forget your orange glasses!" The soldiers all dutifully unwrapped the black cloth from their faces and dawned the colored spectacles. "Are you sure you are immune to the Merpearl's effects?" the Emperor asked both the selkies and merfolk.
"That magic doesn't work on us," Phoca confirmed.
"And we made the Merpearl," Darya reminded him.
Devrim nodded. "Very well. There is no time to waste. Let's go!"