Chapter 3

Sea Dagger plowed through the ocean waves, spraying up whitewater as it exited the Gulf of Kesaya. Further away from shore, Sannan spotted several sizable, jagged rock formations protruding from the water’s surface like giant carved spears. Nearby, he could just make out the shape of dolphins close to breaching the surface with their rounded fins. Port Besaar was barely visible at this point, and being so far from home Sannan could only say he felt excitement. Sure, there was a great deal of anxiety mixed in, but the young engineer wanted to experience foreign lands in person, rather than hear about them through stories or gossip. Emra... ideally if I were to bring Khanrea to life, I would want you to be there to witness it.

The ship rocked back and forth traversing the open ocean, and Sannan could not help but feel nauseated. Although he spoke confidently about not throwing up back at the docks, Sannan only knew how embarrassing it would be to throw up and have the smuggler chew him out for it. As he took a look around at Rahlif’s crew, it seemed none of them had any complaints. They were a diverse mix from various localities; dark Ra’shalri with shaved heads save for a braid hanging down their backs, a Zaran with a tattoo of a hammerhead shark depicted across his shoulder, a local Kesani helmsman with baggy breeches gathered up into leather boots working the rudder, all accustomed to life at sea. Hoping to take his mind off the dizziness, Sannan took out his rocket launching cannon and fired a test round at one of the nearby rock formations. Drawn upon with a shark-like face, the shell lost momentum before it could hit the rock formation, instead landing in the ocean.

A quiet voice spoke behind him, “A clumsy weapon you have there.”

Sannan turned around to see Arakh leaning to the side of a cabin door, sharpening a hooked blade against a smooth black rock. It did not produce any grating sound, as if friction did not apply to the stone.

Arakh added, “but with enough modification, I am sure you will make something out of it.” A pair of dockworkers were also staring at Sannan’s cannon in awe, seemingly abandoning their duties. With a glare directed to them from Arakh, they scurried back to work.

Sannan replied nervously, “Well, the power of this cannon should not mean much for someone who can manipulate fire.”

The elemental gave a hint of a smile. “Why yes. Unfortunately, elementals have historically outmatched ordinary folk such as yourself. But with Osveta rediscovering the technology lost after the Second Age, that might change.”

A powerful ocean breeze ruffled Sannan’s hair, and he tried his best to smooth it over. “Surely there are tactics that can neutralize the power of elementals?”

Arakh inspected the hooked blade for a bit, sheathed it at his side and turned his full attention to Sannan. He responded blandly, “we live in an unfair world, Sannan. Even the best swordmasters or archers could hardly compete with elementals. The difference in power is simply too great. But as I said, the world is changing. Soon you may find yourself besting elementals.”

It was the first time speaking to someone like Arakh, yet it felt like Sannan was just having a normal conversation. Strange as it sounds, Sannan felt like with enough time, this Arakh could possibly be a close acquaintance. He took a look at his cannon, imagining what it would be like if it held the power of a Lumix core.

“Of course, Arakh. I am sure that with the potential of the Lumix cores, weapons could be developed that would allow many people a fighting chance.”

For a while, Arakh stood staring at Sannan’s rocket launcher, apparently lost in thought. In an effort to break the silence, Sannan added, “I don’t want to always be designing combat devices. There is always the possibility some may use them for malicious intent. You see, I have always intended for this cannon to be for my own self defense.”

Arakh looked Sannan eye to eye with a solemn expression. “You would be surprised, Sannan. Even harmless innovations can be twisted for the sake of malicious intent.”

Shortly after Arakh left to head back to his cabin, Sannan resumed the rocket launcher tests. The galleon was too far away from the rock formations now, but Sannan could still try and estimate the distance based on the trajectory. He continued to reflect over the exchange he had with the Sarhidian. No matter what, Sannan continued to remind himself that his projects were undertaken for the sake of his own curiosity, and the hope they could better the lives of others. But Arakh did have a point. It was beyond his control, the possibility of someone seizing his modified cannon and making a copy of their own.

…

That same night, Sannan stood by the ship’s railing overlooking a moonlit sea. A gibbous moon shone tonight, casting just enough light to allow Sannan to make out a black sea, the water’s surface eerily calm. Once Tuahn would invite over a fishing mate to stay over at a time Sannan was too young to recall. What he did remember, however, was a tattered book he would bring over to show the young fisherman’s son. The almanac contained all sorts of fantastical sea creatures Sannan thought at the time were entirely fictional. Nevertheless, as he witnessed the corpses of some of these creatures in person, he now felt inclined to believe the almanac was not a fabrication. Moon jellyfish, in particular, he wished he could see on a night like this; creatures that glowed in a myriad of colors that would gather on rare occasions near the water’s surface.

“Aye, the sea at night gives me the creeps.” Rahlif’s helmsman suddenly appeared to Sannan’s right, leaning his thick arms across the top of the railing. Under the moonlight, it was difficult to make out the helmsman’s features, yet Sannan was sure he was scowling.

The helmsman inquired, “you ever heard of Armalinths? Apex predator in these parts, resembling armored sharks the size of small whales. And they only hunt at night.”

“No, I don’t believe I have heard of them,” Sannan replied. You would think an apex predator like that was mentioned in the almanac, but perhaps that one he overlooked.

Looking straight down at the dark, murky water, the helmsman gave a wry chuckle. “The thought of one of those things swimming around under the surface is enough to give most people nightmares. I’m Azar, by the way. No need to be concerned that I am slacking on the job. I got a lackey who maintains the ship’s course at night.”

Sannan smiled. “Azar, as an experienced sailor I am sure you have seen plenty of sea creatures during your lifetime, including this Arma… Armalith? Were there any that stood out to you in particular? Fantastical beasts straight from an epic poem, or a gleeman’s tale?”

“Hmm…” Azar twisted his long mustache in contemplation. “The dragon oarfish. But kid, you really have to see it to believe it. Details alone do not do it justice. I mean, you could consider life as a seafaring man. You certainly have the build.” The helmsman leaned in to whisper, “but take it from me, do not get tied up in the smuggling business. See if Rahlif is found out, me and the rest of the crew go down under as well.” Azar let out a yawn.

“Oh my, I better get to sleep. It was nice chatting with you, Sannan.” Upon waving goodnight, Sannan felt his eyelids getting heavy, and made his way down to his own cabin. Along the way, he passed by cabins with open doors, some revealing as many as six crew members crammed into a single room. Through the opening of one, Sannan briefly glimpsed Arakh practicing his sword play, and through another he glimpsed four grizzled sailors playing a game of dice. Sannan knew it would be wrong to feel attached to a smuggler’s crew. After all, who knows what Rahlif had to do to acquire that substance… pearlseed was it? In all likelihood that man has more than just pearlseed locked up in those containers. Yet in the days to come, Sannan wanted to get to know the crew better. Assuming most are like Arakh or Azar, he did not see there being much of a problem. As Sannan entered his cabin, with the moonlit window casting the room in a silvery glow, he took a moment to look over Khanrea before going to bed. The automaton’s singular hollow eye socket stared back at him, just waiting to be filled with the life-giving glow of the Lumix core.

…

A flash of lightning illuminated the view outside Sannan’s cabin, revealing an endless expanse of roiling waves. Ocean storms were the bane of any seafaring vessel, and Sannan could only hope that Sea Dagger would make it out of this one. Churning waves were swelled to gargantuan proportions, jostling the galleon like a child’s wooden boat caught in a riptide. The cabin window was nailed shut, but Sannan could only guess how much rainwater would come flying in if it were open. Mounted wall lamps flickered fitfully throughout the night, failing to provide Sannan with the light he needed to inspect Khanrea. As of late he was imagining what it would be like if he could equip his automaton with the rocket launching cannon.

I still need a weapon of my own though. There is no way to ensure I would always have Khanrea at the ready. One of the lamp torches gave out, and Sannan gave up on inspecting the automaton as half of his light source winked out. Faded shouts resonated from up above deck; Rahlif barking orders, he would have guessed. Booming thunder sounded across the sky, nearly deafening given the proximity of the lightning and drowning out the noise from up above. With hesitation, Sannan took out the meager rations the crew provided him, which came in the form of hard, salty biscuits that almost broke his teeth the first time he tried biting down on them. He nevertheless willed himself to finish the rations, then laid back on the cabin bed to stare up at the ceiling.

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Oh, did he despise idleness. Sannan’s mind worked like a nonstop engine, with every invention, failure or not, providing a sense of fulfillment. Minutes passed by, turning into hours. Trying to get any real sleep was near impossible due to the raging storm outside. Rainy days did help him relax, but this downpour was too much. It was then that Sannan took out the Lumix core, glowing faintly in the dark room. Something about the way the orb rhythmically pulsed was oddly entrancing, and might he say soothing.

“Wake up, kid!”

Sannan jerked awake to the sound of Rahlif’s gruff voice. Groggily opening his eyes, he saw the portly man standing at the cabin door scowling, hands on hips. Beams of sunlight slanted through the cabin window, blinding if Sannan was to look in that direction.

Rahlif growled, “You know, if I were a dishonest man, I would have taken the Lumix core in your sleep and chucked you into the ocean.” His coat was still drenched from yesterday night’s storm, his wet beard and hair disheveled.

In response to Sannan’s expression, the smuggler burst out laughing. “Gwahohohoho!! I wasn’t being serious now, kid. Come, I would like to invite you to dine with me for breakfast. The crew’s all mostly done with theirs, and I’m in the mood for a nice chat.”

Following Rahlif to his cabin, Sannan passed by crew members soaking wet to their boots, much like Rahlif himself. The Zaran with the shark tattoo was idly chewing through a blackened chicken leg, and a Kesani deck sweeper was staring disconsolately at his half eaten fish stew. Once seated across from Rahlif at his desk, Sannan asked, “just how well do you feed your crew members?”

“Enough so they perform their duties without complaint.” Rahlif’s eyes hardened. “Oh, you want them better fed? You try commandeering your own crew. Give someone good food, even if it’s your trusted first mate, and they will all be clamoring for it.” Rahlif gestured to a platter of salted pork laid out on the table.

“You, on the other hand, I consider a guest. This pork here is just a little better than what a crew member typically eats.”

Although he felt for Rahlif’s crew, Sannan finished the salted pork in record time just as Rahlif started on his fish stew. After all, he desperately wanted to indulge after the horrible biscuits he was used to having.

Rahlif chuckled. “Sea Dagger has braced countless storms throughout all the years she has sailed for me. It will take something truly vicious to break her.”

Sannan replied, “I have heard that sailors pray to Summanus, the Thunder Goddess, to provide them safe passage from such storms.”

“Bah! I don’t need the blessing of a goddess to ensure the safety of my ship. Though on that note, I am sure you have heard of an item known as Goddess Amber. It is every smuggler’s dream to acquire Goddess Amber, and with a few more pearlseed deals, I will be one step closer to finding a broker I hear sells the stuff.”

Sannan was browsing the smuggler’s shelf of trinkets, and he thought he saw a sample of Goddess Amber on the top row, but it had to be an imitation. Goddess Amber was said to originate from the Age of Divinity, rarer than any gemstone, and the mere rumor of one being in Port Besaar had all the merchants talking for weeks.

“Why are you telling me all this?”

Rahlif shrugged. “I suppose it goes to show we both have a dream. You want to explore the High City, and I seek the fabled Goddess Amber.”

He grimaced at the imitation displayed on his shelf. “The swindler who sold me that, deserves to be hanged. But there’s just something so beautiful about it, that I would even keep an imitation.” Indeed, staring at Goddess Amber was like looking into a kaleidoscope, a multitude of colors that was a feast for the eyes.

Sannan was about to open his mouth to inquire more on the imitation, when the door to the cabin burst open and Rahlif’s first mate came rushing in. Hallmas was sun dark as any Kesani and framed with wide shoulders. A crimson bandanna was tied around his bald head, which Sannan overheard he would tighten when stressed. His pronounced jaw was now clenched, and he was sweating profusely as if he had run a marathon.

“Pirates, three points off our starboard quarter.” Hallmas reported in a deep bass tone tinged with worry.

Rahlif grinned in reply. “Excellent, just some idiots for Arakh to cut down!”

“Their flag indicates they are allied with the Pirate Empress.”

The smuggler’s grin abruptly faded, and his skin paled. “Blast. Can we outrun them?”

Hallmas shook his head wearily. Sannan nearly flinched at the mention of the Pirate Empress moniker. A fearsome woman with a reputation for slaying Sea Beasts, with one of the largest fleets amongst the pirate lords. And this attacking crew was strong enough for her to call them an ally.

Rahlif gritted his teeth in resolve. “Order all men to their battle stations,” he bellowed, “we will fight to the bitter end against these pirates, do you hear me?”

“Yes, captain!” Hallmas left just as quickly as he came in, and within moments, the crew was in pandemonium. Shouts echoed throughout the vessel, accompanied by the sounds of boots thundering above deck. All the firing tests have led up to this!

Sannan rushed over to his cabin to retrieve his cannon, jostling past panic stricken crew members along the way. Upon reaching his room, Sannan pulled his weapon out of its sack and checked to see if the shells were loaded. As of now he only had three shells left, given the limited supplies he had to work with and all prior tests conducted thus far. Three is likely not going to be enough. How did it come down to this? He racked his brain for an answer, but none came. After using up the three shells, he would have to hunker down in the ship’s hull. Or use the cannon like a melee weapon. Sannan chuckled to himself. What an absurd thought!

As he heard the door creak open, Sannan turned to see Hallmas standing there already with a sword in hand and a grave expression on his face. Beautifully engraved with falcons on the hilt, Hallmas’s blade looked too pristine for a weapon meant to draw blood.

The first mate grunted, “you’re really serious about charging out there with your cannon? This isn’t some child’s adventure story. Those pirates can and will kill you.” Sannan’s grip tensed around the handle of his weapon.

In an effort to mask his anxiety, Sannan tried for a reassuring smirk. “Rahlif needs all the help he can get, now doesn’t he? Besides, I have been fine tuning this weapon for some time. All of that in preparation for an event like this.”

Hallmas’s expression never changed. Without a word, he ran back out into the hallway to issue more commands. Taking a few deep breaths to calm himself, Sannan loaded in the remaining shells and hefted his weapon onto his broad shoulder. The weight felt just right and perfectly balanced, just as he had intended. Sannan then set the weapon onto his back, latching it in place using a strap attached to his bandolier. Before long he was out on deck amongst twenty of Rahlif’s best fighters, including Arakh. Azar was one of the last crewmates to retreat into the safety of the hull, his eyes widening in shock upon noticing Sannan among the defenders. Arakh had his veil up, eyes burning with a cold fire at the sight of the approaching vessel. His grip on the hilt of his hooked blade was such that his knuckles were almost white.

The approaching vessel was not what Sannan expected. In his mind he imagined something akin to a Zaran warship packed with pirates; a crew whose strategy was to overwhelm their quarry with sheer numbers. No, it was a Sarhidian lancer no larger than Sea Dagger, built for speed with a narrow hull that tapered to a point at the front dominated by a figurehead of some strange animal. It was outfitted with a pair of sleek, ribbed sails that billowed with the ocean breeze and displayed Pirate Empress’s Jolly Roger: a pair of intertwined sea serpents. Sannan had difficulty making out the crew of the approaching ship, though it was a sizable lot. In his estimation, they must have some surprise in store to account for their status.

One of Rahlif’s crew, a burly Ra’shalri with a scar above his upper lip, motioned a signal once the lancer was within range. “FIRE!”

A volley of cannonballs were fired straight at the lancer, streaking through the air only for most to land in the sea in a series of loud splashes. The lancer deftly pivoted away from most of the shots, and the few that appeared to have hit exploded in midair as if they were intercepted by something. Without warning, the lancer shot forth at an unnatural speed to impale Sea Dagger on its side. A thick rhustra swung down and embedded itself into Sea Dagger’s hull, forming a bridge that several pirates immediately boarded.

Most of Rahlif’s crew charged forward with swords and lances while the remaining few stood behind crossbows at the ready. Broadswords clashed with cutlasses as the fighting spread throughout the deck. Reflexively, Sannan hefted his cannon and launched a shell straight at an attacking pirate. With an explosive blast, the pirate was sent hurtling off the deck of the ship with a strangled yell. In the distance, Arakh was tearing through the attackers with ease. One moment he had his hooked blade drawn, and the next moment several pirates were screaming as fiery cuts enveloped their bodies. An electric arrow flew towards him from the enemy ship, let loose by a young girl perched near the capstan.

Wishing to maximize the impact of his next shot, Sannan scanned the pirate crew for its captain but to no avail. He would have a coat to distinguish himself at the very least! Now was not the time for hesitation. Another shot rang out, this time aimed toward the rhustra. This one, however, was soundly intercepted by a tall man sporting a well-trimmed justaucorps coat. The man had to be the captain, judging from the way he carried himself as well as his gilded epaulets. In his hands was a greatsword of the likes Sannan had never seen before. It bore a segmented design reminiscent of a serpent’s spine, with a glowing red central vein down the middle. How did I miss him earlier?

Sannan was about to reposition himself further away from the action when a sudden pain began radiating from his right shoulder. He did not have time to realize that a crossbow bolt was embedded in there until it was too late. Squinting to see where the shot came from, Sannan’s eyes were led to a row of crossbowmen lined up on the deck of the lancer. No, this cannot be happening. What are these pirates going to do to me?

The pirate captain prepared to deal a finishing blow to the scarred Ra’shalri before Arakh caught his blade within the curved edge of his own. There was a brief exchange of words that Sannan did not catch, before the two came to blows; a deadly dance of ringing blades. His vision was blurring and the sounds of fighting were growing distant. No, not like this…

Sannan blacked out.