Days later, Sahshir retched over the ship's side into the bright blue sea. When he'd first seen it, it had been beautiful. Now that he was used to it, it was only a moderate distraction from his pain.

A hand went to his shoulder. Retching once more, he finished and pulled his mask back on. Then, looking back to Narcissa, he saw her gazing at him in concern. She'd shed her armor for the moment and was clad in simple brown clothes that suited her far better. "Sahshir, are you alright?"

"I am... well..." said Sahshir.

"Seasickness is a common problem for those who first set foot on a ship," said Narcissa, who hadn't suffered. "Or so people tell me."

Laughter came from the rest of the crew. Sahshir glanced over to where Raj was directing his men. It wasn't worth the trouble of killing them all, especially at sea. He might need this scum for something.

"He fights like a demon in battle, but he has the sea legs of a lamb," noted Raj.

"Watch your tone, Raj." snarled Sahshir.

"Oh, far be it from me to offend you," said Raj. "I threw my guts up into the sea when I first rode her waves. It's a custom among sailors."

"How far are we from Chaminus?" asked Sahshir, scaling the steps.

"Close enough," said Raj. "Assuming Dinis meets us there, we should see their fleets soon. Though I doubt we will."

"What makes you say that?" asked Narcissa.

Raj shrugged. "Eh, Dinis has never been what one could call a naval power. They've won one or two battles but never enough to gain dominance. Mostly they hold their own or get routed.""It is true, Narcissa," said Sahshir. "Dinis has mostly won wars on land."

"Shouldn't a leader know all this?" asked Raj. "Or are you more of a figurehead?"

"The latter, actually," admitted Narcissa. "I don't have much in the way of firsthand experience in leadership. Alkela is the one who has a flair for documentation; she always used to help Zarana with paperwork.

"Though she really hates communicating with anyone. She prefers to just observe things as they play out. And it's the youngers who really run things."

"Youngers?" asked Raj.

"Well, if someone gets old, as in ugly and wrinkled, they generally burned alive. If old people all die, they don't take up resources, and we don't have to look at them. We used to have burning festivals back when Zigilus was still standing.

"There'd be all kinds of good food and hangings. They can't work anyway, so it's a much more efficient system," said Narcissa. "Or it was until somebody outlawed the practice." She glared at Sahshir, who glared back.

"I make no apology. It's a barbaric practice, and you are barbaric," said Sahshir flatly. "Old age is part of the natural order, and it is the responsibility of youth to respect and care for the aged. Deal with it."

"What are these 'youngers' though?" asked Raj.

"Those who pleased Zigildrazia enough that they ascended into demonhood," said Narcissa. "Many of them were killed. But, Zigildrazia was able to bring back some of them. I'm a figurehead."

"Yes, what would your people do without their eternal and neverending depravity?" asked Sahshir sarcastically. "And if you decide to have them all murdered, you have my full support."

"Well, leave the matter to us then," said Raj. "Posing seductively is far more feminine a pursuit."

"Zigildrazia's texts say you ought to combine the two," said Narcissa.

"Seems a waste of effort," said Raj. "I mean, you might end up permanently scarred or something. Waste of valuable property. Unless you're an elf, they don't scar at all."

"There are spells for that," said Narcissa.

They looked to the other ships within the fleet. They were several dozen in number. More a loose coalition of pirates loyal to Baltoth than a true fleet. Sahshir would eventually have to see some kind of organized command structure set up. If this campaign went well, he might arrange it.

"Captain-" called a lookout.

"Admiral to you, lad!" snapped Raj.

"Admiral; we've a Sorn fleet approaching us!" said the lookout.

"How many?" asked Raj.

"Two dozen!" said the man.

"Then we've got numbers," said Raj. "Set up the signal, mates! Prepare for war! We'll see the curs running before the end!

"Whose symbol is it above the mast?"

"...House Magnious and their retainers." said the man.

"Right, right," said Raj, "that makes sense. Kaba likes easy targets, so he wouldn't try for this."

"What do you mean by that?" asked Narcissa.

"Well," said Raj, "Sorn is ruled by a council of nobles; well, they call them 'merchant lords,' but they're basically nobles. They just got their titles cause of how many people they cheated instead of how many people they killed. So all these merchants are always jockeying for power. Kaba and Magnious are the only ones with the power to get this kind of invasion down." He looked down. "Acton, get the sorcerers who lost the card game! Have them prepare to dose with malas!"

"Malas?" asked Narcissa, voice horrified. "Do you know what that can do to people?"

"Yes, but he won't have to worry about it," said Raj. "Loser of the card game takes a massive dose and kill themselves, burning a ship."

"We are not yet officially at war with Sorn," noted Sahshir, watching as the ships came into sight. Sure enough, there were two dozen of them. "It may be wise to let them strike first."

"Well, we'll have to get close for that," said Raj.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

The men worked, and Sahshir watched as Raj's men on the ship painted pentacles on the surface of the wood. They did it quickly, and several men went forward and set foot within each. As they did, a box of golden powder was opened, and each inhaled it. Their eyes went blank as they began to chant.

At the same time, Raj gave orders, and the fleets charged toward eachother.

Then a spear was launched from one of the ships. It shot straight toward Sahshir at lightning speed. Moving out of the way, he caught it under one elbow and turned the shaft in mid-air to plunge into the ground. Arrows landed, and one of the sorcerers was caught in the throat, along with several crewmen.

Men with shields came to screen them, and the ritual was complete. "Well, I'd say that counts as a declaration," said Raj. "Set to work, lads!"

"Yes, sir!" cried the sorcerers.

Then they glowed with a bright, white light. As they did, they screamed, and six massive waves shot toward six Sornian ships. They collided, and hulls splintered as men were thrown from the fighting top. Some of the ships turned over completely as men floundered in the water. But the wind blew one of the ships away from the wave, saving it from destruction.

Then the ships were closing.

"Prepare to board!" cried Raj, looking like he was having the time of his life.

Sahshir drew his sword, even as Narcissa returned in her armor, axe in hand. Already the Sornians were meeting with the other ships. Battles were being waged as men swung over the decks. Others threw down bridges and rushed over them to hack at one another. Sahshir deflected several arrows as they came up alongside the enemy vessel.

A gangplank was thrown down, and Sahshir raised the Sword of Order. "FOR CALISHA!!"

Then he charged across the plank before anyone else was ready. Two men went to meet him and lost their heads. Another blocked his sword with a shield. The blade cleaved through wood and body to cut him in half lengthwise. The enemy surrounded him as he weaved and slashed.

Then Narcissa came in from behind, laying about her with her axe. The Silent Guard came as a shadow behind him. The others came afterward, and the enemy line buckled. Chaos overtook the deck as the battle continued.

As Sahshir hacked his way through the enemy, he caught sight of a Calishan ship. The banner of Kalthak was being lowered and, in its place, was the symbol of House Magnious.

Turning, he parried a thrust and hacked another man down.

Sahshir fought all the harder, cutting down all he could. Soon the enemy crew was dead or taken captive.

"Victory is ours!" cried Raj. "Now, let's see if we can find another enemy to fight!"

But the battle was largely over. The enemy fleet drew away, pausing only to pull men from the ocean. They had lost many ships but taken several as well. Sahshir could see the wreckage of several of his vessels on the water as though they'd been capsized.

There wasn't a bit of wind in the air.

"The wind, it's stopped," said Raj thoughtfully.

"It doesn't seem to have stopped for the enemy," said Narcissa.

Sahshir looked out and saw the enemy retreating at an alarming rate. As though all the wind were being drawn into their sails. "Far from it."

"Well then, that explains it," muttered Raj. "Garrick's on that vessel. I suppose we'll call this a draw."

"On the contrary," said Sahshir. "The field is ours. Victory for Baltoth!"

"Victory for Baltoth!" echoed the men with a cry.

"Put back up those sails and let's head for Chaminus," said Raj. "We'll need to beach and repair ourselves at a port."

"Who is Garrick?" asked Narcissa.

"Worst enemy I ever faced," said Raj. "He has contacts with the spirits of the winds. A mercenary who works for the highest bidder. Even worse, you can't bribe him to go away."

"Well, I-" began Sahshir.

Then he felt the agony return, all the stronger. He fell to one knee, shuddering as he tried to stand. Narcissa kneeled by him. "Sahshir, are you alright?"

"...The pain is worse. It used to be numb," said Sahshir, feeling as if his skin would fall off.

"What happened to you to make you like that?" asked Raj. "If you don't mind me asking."

"A curse from the goddess Laevian. It was passed down through Tuor's descendants," said Sahshir."I'm sorry," said Raj.

It was the first time Raj had seemed anything close to contemplative.

They saw no sign of the Sornian Fleet for the next few days. Even so, Sahshir was worried. While it had been a victory, the Sornians had given as well as they had gotten despite being outnumbered. Worse still, Sahshir suspected this was merely a vanguard for a far larger fleet.

"What's wrong?" asked Narcissa.

"I'm not certain we can win this war," said Sahshir after a moment.

"Why not?" asked Narcissa.

"Sorn has far more experience with ships than us," said Sahshir. "They also have greater numbers at that. So even cooperating with Dinis, we may well be overwhelmed."

"So do you want to seek terms?" asked Narcissa.

"Of course not." scoffed Sahshir. "One does not give ground to the enemy except to destroy them later. Besides, the very fact that Sorn has overwhelming power indicates that we must fight them now.

"Let them take McShore, and they'll target Chaminus next. From there, they'll be able to strike out shores with impunity.

"Better to risk bad odds now than face impossible odds later."

"So, what is our plan?" asked Narcissa. "Dictate terms in Suvera?"

"No," said Sahshir. "Not yet.

"We'll put ourselves as allies to Dinis. This is their war. We'll act in their interest and let them handle the diplomacy. If they are wise, they'll agree to terms that restore the old borders and give Sorn some benefits. From there, they can renegotiate by the sword later when they are stronger.

"If not, they'll die gloriously."

"So you don't think they can win," said Narcissa.

"Simple analysis dictates the futility of their cause," said Sahshir. "They've got monsters roaming their lands. So they will be unable to focus their full power on the sea. Moreover, their fleet is less numerous and less skilled than Sorn's.

"Even if a stunning victory is won against Sorn, Sorn will recover and return for blood. If Dinis suffers one major defeat, they'll be out of the war. Our assistance will probably prolong the war to an extent. But I fully expect we'll all be dead by this end."

"Then why did you march to war?" asked Narcissa.

"All men die," said Sahshir. "And I will die soon. So why not die in glory?"

"That's it?" asked Narcissa.

"I've also dispatched letters to Ruscow informing them of the situation," admitted Sahshir. "If we stalemate the enemy long enough, the main Calishan Kingdoms may become involved. Then we may have a chance of victory."

"You don't sound enthusiastic," noted Narcissa.

"If Calisha takes Dinis' side, Sorn will probably go to Harlenor for support," said Sahshir. "Our vendetta with them is as old as their Kingdoms. They will not want Calisha to destroy Sorn for fear of a beachhead. This would result in a massive war between the east and west. One that would likely annihilate entire nations. Millions could die.

"So, I hope you don't take it personally when I say that I sincerely hope we die to little effect."

Silence fell over them then as they stared into the mist. Then, suddenly, it cleared, and they saw a great island. There was a mountain at the center of it, with several towns upon it. The towns were built in a strange style, like that of Kalthak, but with red stone. There were many trees throughout the cities. Sahshir saw that harbor had little in the way of fortifications on it.

"Is that Chaminus?" asked Narcissa.

"Yes," said Sahshir. "Macshore is some leagues beyond. There is the banner of Dinis, but I do not see many ships."

"Run up the flag of parley and bring our vessel forward," said Raj, coming forward. "We'll see how well they like us before we approach."

"We have permission from their Emperor," noted Narcissa.

"Oh, true enough." began Raj. "That doesn't mean that-"

And then, a massive serpent emerged from the water with shimmering scales. It rose high above, with golden frills rising around it. It looked down on them with swirling, multicolored eyes as a forked tongue hissing. Behind the head rose a vast body that towered over them.

Sahshir had never seen a golden dragon before. Now he realized why they were so famed in Kalthak. Yet he had always thought they dwelled in the wastes between East and West Kalthak. What was it doing in the ocean?

"What is your business in Chaminus, Kalthakian?" asked the serpent, voice a low hiss.

"I am Abdul Sahshir, King of Eastern Kalthak, and I have come to aid Dinis against the fleets of Sorn," said Sahshir. "Who am I speaking to?"

"I am Shalteth, Servant of Chaminus," said Shalteth. "You are expected. You may dock with all the rest of your fleets."

"Where are the fleets of Dinis?" asked Sahshir.

"They have not yet come," said Sheltath. "The Emperor will be leading his forces here soon.""So be it," said Sahshir. Just like the Emperor to be late.

"A warning," said Sheltath. "Do not harm any upon this land, or it will be the last thing you ever do."

Sahshir nodded. "I understand."

If it came to it, he expected he could kill Sheltath. But there was no reason to be discourteous. And he had no intention of starting a fight anyway. Chances were the island would be burned up with or without his help anyway.