Meanwhile at the ship that was carrying the Zarosian girls, the moon was full and shining bright over the ship. Theia was sitting at the base of the bow mast of the ship, singing a Jericosan folk song as she stared at the night sky and its many brilliant stars.

As Theia was singing, Osamu walked up behind her and listened to her almost angelic sounding voice, “You have a beautiful voice, my lady.” he said.

Theia gasped and turned around, “You startled me.” she said.

“Forgive me, I just wanted to make sure you were comfortable.”

“Thank you, Kyokou. But, I’m fine.”

“I see.” he said, starting to walk away. Osamu then turned back to her and asked, “If you don’t mind me asking, I was wondering: do you know any A’Kumenian by any chance?”

“No. None.” Theia calmly replied.

‘Do you mind if I teach you, A’Kumenian is like a second language to me. You need to be able to speak the language if you want to speak to the people there.”

‘That would be great, Kyokou.”

“Please, call me Osamu.”

“Ok.”

Osamu sat down with Theia and taught her a few A’Kumenian words like the word “Jran” which meant hello, and “Draal, Voos, and Yaar” meaning food, good, and yes.

“How did you come to know A'Kumenian?”

“When I left Xain, I met a man in Eitra who taught me the language. After that, I became a mercenary, traveled the world a bit, then was hired to serve you.”

“You must have quite a reputation, huh? Being all over the world that is.”

“I wouldn’t say that I’m well-known or anything. I’ve done things that I’m proud of and other things I still regret to this day.”

“Do you like being a mercenary, Osamu?”

“It’s an alright profession. It wasn’t my first choice, but it’s too late to be anything else.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I think that’s enough backstory for one day. We should get back to your lessons.”

The two continued, meanwhile at the helm of the ship, Kiera was talking to the A’Kumenian representative.

“Once my sister is married to your lord, I will get my army?”

“Yes, if my lord likes what you have to offer, he will give you an army capable of taking Oriana.”

“Good, you will not believe how long I’ve craved ruling Oriana and the rest of Sorim.”

“Forgive me for asking, but how is it that you are still alive?”

“Oh, you mean how a Zarosian is still walking around instead of swinging from a gallow? It’s simple, The goddess of light chose my mother to bear her children that they might rule Sorim and cleanse it of impurities.”

“You might not want to mention the goddess in front of lord Hamaza. Most of the people of A’Kumen believe in only one God and to believe in any other god is a disgrace punishable by death.”

“Some religion, kill those that believe in something other than what they believe in. Well, once I take the throne of Oriana and conquer Sorim, My mother and I will be the only gods to worship.”

“What of your sister? Is she not a part of you mother’s plan?”

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

“Why of course. She’s to be the tool that gets me my army.”

Just then one of the crew members of the ship that was in the crows nest yelled alerted everyone on deck that another ship was right behind them. Osamu hearing this, stood up, telling Theia to stay where she was before rushing over to the aft and looking at the ship that was perusing them. He looked down at the sound of water splashing, “Curious.” he said as he saw what made the slashing noise was a barrel being thrown into the ocean. He took a closer look and saw another barrel twenty feet away from the first barrel, “A trail? Who wants us found?”

“Osamu, what is it?” Kiera asked.

“I don’t know, I’m going to go below deck. I believe we may have a traitor among us.”

Osamu went below deck, walking past crew members, “Hey, Xain. What’s going on up top?” asked one crew member. Osamu didn’t answer and kept walking to where the barrels were being thrown from. He entered a room filled with five barrels tucked away in a corner, the room had been previously filled to the roof with barrels that contained food, “Someone’s been dumping our food supply out and using it for a breadcrumb trail for that ship to follow, why?” Osamu said to himself as he looked out through the window the barrels were thrown from. Just then, Osamu heard the door to the room closing.

Turning around, Osamu went to open the door but found that it was locked from the outside. Osamu attempted to break down the door but before he could, fire rose from the threshold of the door, engulfing it in a wall of fire. Osamu backed up and thinking fast, climbed through the window of the room and climbing up to the deck.

As soon as he got up on deck, his eyes widened in shock as he saw the crew of the ship fighting each other and that the A'Kumenian and the robed man were dead on the floor in a puddle of their own blood. He also saw Theia still at the bow, hiding behind a box. He got up and grabbed his rifle that he had placed under a cloth sheet and made his way to Theia.

With his rifle at the ready, Osamu cautiously walked through the brutal fighting. As he walked, two men charged at him, Osamu shot both men in the head, killing them instantly. He continued to walk until arriving at the bow.

“My lady,” Osamu said as he kneeled down to check if Theia was hurt. “are you alright?”

“I’m not hurt. They have my sister. They took her below deck.” Theia said.

Osamu stood up and said, “Alight, I’m going to find your sister. You stay right here.” before giving her a pistol from his side holster.

“You know how to use this?”

“No.”

“Just point and shoot. Keep your finger off the trigger unless you plan on using it.”

Osamu ran off to find Kiera, leaving Theia behind. After avoiding the fighting as best as he could, Osamu reached the stairs to below deck, shooting some men on the stairs that attempted to charge him. Osamu slowly moved through the dimly lit, narrow hallway, checking his corners and making sure no one was hidden in the darkness to jump him.

He heard the sound of Kiera grunting as if she was struggling to be free from someone’s grip. He quickly made his way to the sounds, entering a room where he saw three men, one had Kiera’s arm in his grip and the other two were trying to restrain her. The men were alerted to Osamu but before they had any time to react, Osamu shot one of the men in the head and another in the chest. The last remaining man that was standing quickly disarmed Osamu and pulled out a knife, swinging it at him. Osamu dodged each swing and rolled to the other side of the room just as the man with the knife made a thrusting attack.

Osamu semi-kneeling on the ground, pulled out his katana and ran at the man. With one clean swing, Osamu decapitated the man, ending the threat and making the room to fall quiet, the only noise being the sound of the men fighting and the fire raging up top. Osamu approached Kiera, “Are you alright, my lady?” he asked.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“We need to get out of here, now.”

Osamu helped Kiera up but just as they headed out of the room, the man Osamu shot in the chest weakly sprang to life, alerting Osamu. The man and pulled a cylinder-shaped device from his belt, “Hail Xanith.” he said, pulling a pin from the device. The device started to glow orange and release a high-pitched whining sound from it. Osamu and Kiera ran for the top deck as the sound made from the device got higher and higher until exploding into a fiery inferno. Destroying the entire aft side of the ship. The fire created by the explosion quickly started spreading.

Osamu quickly ran to the box and took the sphere, shoving it into one of his belt pouches, “Be careful with that!” Kiera snapped at him. The two quickly got back back to Theia who almost shot them out of fright. Osamu calmed Theia down and took the gun from her. “What do we do now?” Kiera asked. Osamu looked around, he looked over the edge of the ship and saw a row boat hanging from one support rope. Osamu quickly cut the rope, sending the rowboat crashing down on the water. Osamu helped Theia to her feet and said, “We have to jump.”

“Jump? Are you mad?” Kiera asked.

Osamu picked Theia up in his arms and jumped into the water. Osamu then helped Theia on the boat and once she got on, Osamu entered the boat.

“Lady Kiera, jump.” he called out.

Kiera hesitated for a few seconds before seeing the fire getting closer and closer, “Come on, my lady. You can’t stay there. Jump now!” Osamu continued.

Kiera jumped into the water near the boat, Osamu and Theia helped Kiera up into the boat. The boat floated away from the ship as it burned bright and slowly started to sink. Watching the flaming ship, Osamu took a breath and said, “I hope whoever was trying to kill you two now thinks we’re dead.”

“Thank you, Osamu. For saving me.” Theia said.

“You’re welcome, my lady.” Osamu replied with a head bow.