> Morning of first of Ultimus, winter of 193 NC
>
> Near the turn at Duck’s Head Peninsula,
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> In the southernmost edge of Ripel’s Island
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> The cold waters naval route between Ripel’s and Cliffson Cay islands,
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> seventy nautical miles from the Free Isles port of Atri.
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> Shallow Sea.
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> “They are running sire!” Thies Bell, the first mate of the ‘Foresight’ yelled hanging from the foremast’s line and Captain Nelis Oost nodded afore raising his hand to wipe his cut face from all the blood and brines. Smarting eyes trying to discern the rest of the enemy ships beyond the angry cold waves splashing over their deck. The ‘Foresight’ banked hard port side, sailors losing their balance and crashing on rails. Pier Hakker’s marines trying to secure their injured off of the gutted Khanate galley.
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> A mast snapped in two, sails flapping loose and the swinging boom decapitating a Cofol officer like a butcher’s cleaver. Blood and froth mixing in and the sound of mounted Scorpios firing at the retreating Khanate’s remaining war galleys muffled from the roaring waves.
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> “Tyeus curse them,” Nelis grunted and put a hand on the horrific wound, half his left cheek missing where the wooden splinter from the catapult shot had gotten him.
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> A mere graze gods be praised all things considered, he thought. The bastards had surprised them in the hailstorm.
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> “A shameful display,” Thies Bell agreed and hurled insults at the enemy sailors.
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> Of the eight ships that had ambushed them only four remained, for the loss of two of their own. The ‘Hardrock’ and the ‘Ambrose’. They were on half-crew but still over four hundred people had gone under, else this would have been a total victory.
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> Still it was a victory.
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> “Turn to port!” He boomed and a soaked Bell blinked trying to approach the dancing quarterdeck. A risky effort due to the bad seas and weather that had plagued them for the last couple of weeks and showed no sign of slowing down.
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> No one makes a raid in the middle of winter, he thought. The Khan has lost it or he’s desperate.
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> Be that as it may he needed to pass this up the chain of command.
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> “We could pursue them captain!” Bell yelled to be heard.
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> “Not in this weather. They are running for Rida,” he replied with a grimace of pain and a loud groan. “Make the turn for Ripel’s Island,” Nelis ordered the helmsman. “Help him out Mister Bell. I need to stop the plaguing bleeding.”
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> “That’ll leave a scar captain, but despite our losses this is good day,” Bell yelled to lift his spirits and made way for him to reach the quarterdeck’s stairs.
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> “Aye,” a weary Nelis agreed.
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> They were both wrong.
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>
[https://i.postimg.cc/hK1S0jwJ/Shallow-Sea-194-nc.jpg]
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Elsanne Eikenaar
Princess Heiress
‘Fair’ Anne Burton
A captain’s duties
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“WHAT’S THIS THEN?” Bugs croaked loudly from the open window, black beady eyes snapping energetically left and right, large beak kept open to show its red tongue.
“Shush you!” Elsanne admonished the almost a meter tall raven with a hiss and it flapped its wings once annoyed, while maintaining its balance on the window’s stool. She had moved slowly out of bed in the meantime, not to disturb the sound asleep male figure. The princess paused for a moment to allow her eyes to roam on the warm naked extremely fit body.
“Oil in the cunt!” The raven squeaked –a horrible dissonant sound- but not as loud and she glared its way incensed.
“Get out!” Elsanne warned the large bird and the door cracked open, the eunuch Jasi’s shaved head poking through the chasm.
“Is the princess decent? Half-decent?” He asked and Elsanne stared at her naked self in the blurry mirror. It was cleaned but the old bronze just couldn’t be polished more and glass was a rarity in Lord’s Burrow.
The princess is mighty fine.
“In a moment. Don’t make noise,” she ordered and found a shirt. Elsanne put in on quickly, then paused to fix her long disheveled hair.
“That’s two moments,” Jasi commented pointedly. “I’m waiting for her highness,” he explained to someone standing with him outside.
“Is that Sir Klaas?” Elsanne asked with a glance at the still sleeping Gust. He needed his rest after the last night.
“That’s all of him,” Jasi murmured.
“Send the good knight to the stables for my horse.”
“That’s a street away… fine,” Jasi griped. “Dear knight, would you please fetch the princess’ horse? Yes, it’s an order.”
Gust stirred on the bed making a lot of noise and Elsanne rushed to his side.
“Princess… what—?”
“You need to get out of the window,” Elsanne explained quickly.
Gust furrowed his thick white brows. “Why… eh, that’s a six meter drop your highness.” He grunted, thought about it for a moment afore giving her a nod. He turned his eyes about looking for his pants.
Uher bless him. He’s so brave and strong, Elsanne thought staring at the manliness on display. But he’ll kill himself.
“Stay where you are,” she decided and leaped towards the door, the half-buttoned short shirt showing off a lot of leg and two dark-skinned full buttocks.
“Ah,” Gust gasped at the sight fully waking up which was heartwarming.
“Is Sir Klaas gone?” Elsanne asked and Jasi cracked the door open again.
“Yes your highness,” he said and tried to catch a glimpse of the naked knight on her bed but Elsanne shoved his head back out of the door’s opening. “Luthos’ gonads!” Jasi cursed irate.
“Check the road downstairs,” Elsanne cut him off.
“It’s clear, but it is a road your grace.”
She breathed out. It’ll have to do. Gust had stood up and approached her in the meantime. Elsanne stared in his solemn face and sighed.
“You can go out the front door,” the princess murmured, touching the chiseled chest, deft fingers tracing an old wound, then a toned peck afore traveling down the muscular arm attached to it.
Gods have mercy.
“I’ll get dressed,” Gust yielded oblivious to her turmoil and made to turn but Elsanne’s fingers clutched at his large forearm like a blacksmith’s vise and stopped him.
No you won’t.
She stepped into his familiar embrace and reached to bring the square jaw near her flushed face. “Not before you bid us a proper farewell Sir Gust,” Elsanne purred throatily and the knight’s mouth found hers the next moment.
Strong hands following, one wrapping around her waist, the other reaching for her heaving breasts but finding the shirt in between. While Gust tried to be gentle about it, his fingers gripped the cloth and ripped it away with ease, the action mashing their bodies together. It made the moisture dribbling down the folds of her pulsating labia gush like a river’s sources.
Arr.
“Apologies for the shirt,” Gust grunted hoarsely interrupting their kiss.
“It’s yours,” an extremely aroused Elsanne reassured him and sealed his mouth with hers forcefully. “We don’t have much time,” she explained between nibbles and kisses, the ceiling spinning over her head as Gust carried the smaller princess back to bed.
Jasi, who had poked his head through the door again and could now see them, groaned in frustration but the two lovers paid him no attention.
“Fresh dough is in the oven!” Bugs commented, let out a thunderous snort, eyes blinking rapidly and then flew away.
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Sigurd Bach, the Baron of Colle among other things, stared at the large carafe of rum unsure.
“It’s a morning meeting dear tavern woman,” he told Adele and the owner of the ‘Purser’ tavern –and inn- slid an empty goblet in front of him.
“Ye wanna be talking and meet in this venue in private, then you drink me rum dear Baron,” she responded and Sigurd signed for Katers to usher her away. His man thought about it and then opted to ask Adele to join him at a distant table instead.
“This is getting out of hand,” Sigurd griped and rubbed the top of his head. He’d stopped shaving his skull for months now but kept the hair short. Elsanne blinked at his angry stare and watched Axel ‘Mudriver’, who was Sir Gust’s squire even though he was a bastard, bring a map-stand inside the emptied out inn.
The man set it up quickly, everyone still half-drowsy at the table. From the dashing Sir Jan Reuten, the scarred Sir Wim Cramer, Captain Gel De Moss of Scaldingport, Captain Mads Struder of Castalor, merchant and captain of the ‘Conrad’ Echo Ardes who had just arrived. The pirate captain ‘Salty’ Reed was escorting ‘Mutiny’ Carter and was there for Lord’s Burrow as the recuperating Captain Van Fleet had taken the Princess’ Heiress suggestion, his huge dog Pete and had moved to Eikenport.
Elsanne had named him a Governor there. A Lord of the ‘pirate territories’ no less. She glanced at the rigid and slightly angry figure of Gust two chairs from her. Jasi had insisted to sit between them to keep some of the affair a secret. Sir Klaas was absent as he had taken her horse back to the stables, with Elsanne opting to walk the short distance to the ‘Purser’ instead.
Gust was pissed at Lord Sigurd’s presence and he wasn’t that good at hiding it. She thought of reaching under the table and pinch his leg but Jasi stooped near her ear and whispered stopping her.
“Eyes to the front your grace and stay still.”
“Why?” Elsanne whispered and felt the eunuch’s fingers on her back. She had outwear black leather front-laced corset on, over a fresh white satin shirt with three-quarter length lace bell-sleeves.
“Your pants need fixing,” Jasi replied in the same tone and worked to bring everything in line. “And you need to tighten the binds.”
Nonsense, she could barely breathe. On the contrary, Elsanne had pulled at them too hard.
“That’s as much squeezing as we are willing to endure,” Elsanne retorted and the table turned silent. “Proceed Lord Sigurd,” she ordered and the Baron stared at the stack of scrolls the ‘Conrad’ had brought them from Scaldingport, along with birds and even several dresses for the princess. Elsanne was not eager to be put in a conservative Issir dress anytime soon, or if she could avoid it, but it was a lovely gesture by Lord Ruud.
Gust believed the clothes to be his sister’s, who was serving as the Queen of Regia. Janneke had given birth to a boy and a girl. Alistair the second and Patience, the name of the Scaldingport plateau chosen to honor Janneke’s origins. Since both children had dark skin Lord Ruud was satisfied for not being considered as an option although he mentioned it in the letter in colorful terms.
Elsanne was shocked at the hoarse language used to describe his own daughter and at first she thought it a mistake mayhap even a sign the old man’s sanity was slipping away, but Gust assured her Ruud was of perfectly sound mind. He was just a horrible human being.
“The navy won a skirmish near Ripel’s Island,” Sigurd started with a grimace of distaste for the eunuch’s ministrations. Elsanne glanced at the others present but everyone appeared not to pay attention or pretending they weren’t other than Mutiny, who smiled at Sir Jan and the knight of Colle who returned it.
The former Master of Secrets had gotten up and pointed with a thin wooden ruler at the map of Jelin’s west coast. “It was a minor engagement and the problem with the crews persists. If Lord Anker fails to find a solution, I believe he’ll retreat from Colle altogether. It is an auspicious time for Lord De Weer or Lord Van Oord to move on the offensive.”
“Lord Ruud makes no mention of such preparations,” Gust rustled from his spot. Elsanne could spot the scars left by her nails on his neck. Some light scratching the knight had brushed off, apologizing for the bruising he’d caused on her instead.
Elsanne crossed her legs under the table trying to concentrate on the discussion. She tried to take the matter lightly but it wasn’t easy. One sinful tryst had turned to a couple of all-nighters and then the princess realized she wanted the hale knight in her bed every night. It was a different kind of possessiveness this, more fierce and sweet.
Uher hated extramarital affairs and His light brought shame to those practicing it but Elsanne just couldn’t put a stop to it and the freedom Lord’s Burrow provided the couple was difficult to resist.
“He’s worried of a raid in Caspo O’ Bor,” Sigurd continued. He was talking of Lord Anker. “So he’s distracted now. This is an opportunity we can’t miss.”
“Where were the Khan’s ships going?” Gust asked.
“Rida? Rumor is the Khan is there.”
“Why venture so far from the east coast of Eplas then?”
“They got lost,” Sigurd grunted. “Sir Gust these were a small number of warships, hardly a bother for the navy.”
“It was a close thing Baron,” Gust spat and Lord Bach crumpled his face in frustration.
“Colle is destroyed,” he hissed, as angry as Elsanne had ever seen him. “Yet you want to dance around your father’s unwillingness to offer assistance for a common cause or even risk troops to save old friends in need,” Gust clenched his jaw, veins bulging on his neck. “And hide here behind the Princess’ skirts?”
Sir Gust got up abruptly and Elsanne had to stoop over the table, almost shoving a yelping on his chair Jasi out of the way, to reach him.
“Gust, please don’t,” she blurted out and Gust stared at the small fingers touching his elbow. “Lord Sigurd,” Elsanne continued hoarsely, forcing herself to look away from the silent knight, her face flushed. “Sir Gust’s courage is unrivaled. Retract your words.”
Sigurd narrowed his eyes having spotted the intimate gesture.
‘Salty’ Reed, the Pillager’s new captain, cracked his neck right and left then arched forward. “Ye better parley the fuck out of this matey,” he cautioned the Lord of Colle.
“People are still struggling in the ruins your grace. Many have already perished,” Sigurd said with a weary sigh. “The rest live in forests, sick from cold and those that have made it to Castalor are suddenly beggars. Lord Ruud owes my family and I always delivered on my end of the bargains.”
“What do you mean? Say what you’re thinking Baron,” Gust grunted threateningly eyeing the scowling Baron over the table. Captain Reed was sitting at the other edge of the one Elsanne had occupied. It was just a large tavern table so Sigurd wasn’t that far away from the knight.
Elsanne intervened again. “There is a problem in our present,” she said raising her voice. “Lord Sigurd what can we do to take Colle back?”
“Push against Lord Anker while he’s distracted,” Sigurd replied.
“Colle isn’t important,” Gust argued earning another glare from the Baron. “But knowing what the Khan is doing is vital.”
“The Khan, Sir Gust?” Sigurd snarled. “Even if that is the case, how is her grace to assume the throne when we are vacationing in Lord’s Burrow?”
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“I’ll talk with Lord Ruud,” Elsanne replied to prevent Gust from continuing a conversation that could turn violent soon. “See if I can convince him.”
“Ruud will move when it’s favorable to Scaldingport,” Gust answered stiffly. “He knows better Princess.”
Elsanne stared in his hard-edged dark face. “I can order him Sir Gust,” she finally reminded the knight who replied immediately.
“Better that you didn’t,” Gust warned her.
Elsanne didn’t like his tone and while they had dropped decorum between them –understandably- this wasn’t a private moment.
Why are you going against me? Elsanne’s jade eyes asked him a little hurt but very pissed. She breathed out not wanting to create a scene, as Elsanne feared she’d lose control of her tongue and voice something she shouldn’t or Gust would.
“Could the Blood Raiders be of assistance? We also have our troops roaming the port your grace,” Sir Wim Cramer asked breaking the tense moment.
“Only as a marine force,” Reed replied and Mutiny nodded staring at the gloomy Elsanne quizzical but also in understanding. “You don’t want them against regular infantry or Knights on Jelin.”
“Could you bring us all across?” Sigurd asked him and the pirate captain shrugged his shoulders.
“It’ll be a packed deck but we could do it in a couple of runs,” he replied.
“You can’t fight Lord Anker without my father’s help or Van Oord’s,” Gust rustled through his teeth.
“Would Lord Robert be of help?” Elsanne asked him tensely.
Gust grimaced. “You can’t expect Robert to fight for Colle with Badum’s fate on the line. He may do it but then you need more men to push out from there.”
“We could try for Issir’s Eagle,” Elsanne argued.
“Not with the royal guard back in the city,” Gust countered. “Lord Anker's forces are nearer and he has an heir ready to assume the throne. If Antoon dies then the guard will protect the one on the throne.”
“Can we sway the guard?” Elsanne insisted.
“I have difficulty reaching their commander. Kobus Van Eunen is a stickler for protocol,” Sigurd replied.
“Princess you can’t fight a campaign without knowing what you’re up against,” Gust retorted grimacing.
Elsanne stood back sporting an angry pout of her own. “We shall revisit the matter later,” she announced. “When our heads are clearer.”
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An upset Elsanne walked to Adele’s bar and grabbed a tall stool to sit on, putting her back at the lip of the wooden counter. Mutiny approached her a moment later working her fingers nervously on the golden loops hanging from her right ear.
“Fancy a cup of grog Anne?” she asked and Elsanne scrunched her face staring at Gust arguing with the other knights and captains still at the table.
“I must go to Jelin,” she murmured pressing back against the counter while clasping it with both hands.
“What keeps you?” the pirate woman asked. “Scaldingport is a fine place the brothers say.”
“Scaldingport is a gloomy place run by a dirty old man,” Elsanne retorted.
“People smell milady,” Mutiny jested.
“Not that kind of dirt,” Elsanne snapped but then smiled seeing the woman’s face.
“There’s that grin that moves mountains,” Mutiny teased and reached over the bar to grab a bottle. She shook it a couple of times and eyed the faded label. “This looks dangerous,” she decided and poured herself a cup. “Whiskey. Eh, that’s pretty nice actually.”
“I need to be seen on Jelin,” Elsanne said looking away.
“No you don’t,” Mutiny replied. “People know who you are.”
“It doesn’t feel like it sometimes.”
“People know of your name,” Mutiny rephrased her words. “The woman underneath isn’t important to them nor do you have to reveal it.”
“What if I want to?”
“I think you already have. Those you fancy know you Anne,” Mutiny said and grimaced after taking another sip of the whiskey. “Damn. It makes my toes tingle,” she added and then asked with a teary glance. “Does he?”
“What?” Elsanne gasped taken by surprise. “We don’t understand your meaning.”
“I only gaze our Anne here,” Mutiny said. “I know your before and I know your after, because it shows. People are not blind.”
Elsanne pursed her lips. “You delve in rumors?”
“It’s a pirate port milady. All we have is rumors and tall tales. Some fancier than others,” Mutiny teased seeing her flushed face.
“What is the word then?” Elsanne croaked.
“Stop it, there is no word,” the pirate woman replied calmly. “But some of us know.”
“I see,” Elsanne said rigidly.
“I hope you do Anne,” Mutiny replied and finished her cup. “I need to go see a rope-maker myself about a rope,” she added and when Elsanne furrowed her trimmed white brows confused, Mutiny pointed at the lavatory. “Adele is known to spike them bottles,” she explained and walked stiffly to the back of the tavern.
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“Your grace,” Sir Klaas reported when they returned to her house a street away. “The horse is returned to the stable.”
Ugh?
What horse?
Ah, yes.
“Excellent. Remain by the door Sir Klaas,” Elsanne ordered haughtily and walked inside but stopped immediately to turn around. Gust paused at the door stiffly, Elsanne hadn’t talked to him at all on their return and Jasi groaned in frustration squeezing himself past the broad-backed knight blocking the path. “Sir Gust will have an audience,” Elsanne added and Gust raised a thick brow.
You think you’re forgiven?
“In two hours,” she decided revising her order. “I need to freshen up before lunch.”
“I want to talk with the princess,” Gust grunted at his former squire stepping in front of him. “Step aside Klaas.”
“The princess is indisposed Sir Gust,” Klaas retorted firmly and Gust blinked, his eyes on Elsanne standing not two meters away inside the doorway. “Come back in a couple of hours.”
“Let him through Sir Klaas,” Elsanne said after a moment.
Gust was going to walk over the young knight anyway.
Klaas dutifully stepped aside and Gust walked in and followed Elsanne down the corridor towards the stairs going to the second floor, while Jasi took a left turn and disappeared inside the kitchen.
Elsanne walked upstairs in silence, the knight’s footsteps thudding on the creaking steps behind her.
She opened the door to her humble quarters and went straight for the window to crack it open and allow some light inside the dark room. Cold air and the smell of sea entering as well, but it felt refreshing on her flushed skin.
Elsanne turned around and stared at the sulking knight. Gust made her small room appear smaller in his armour.
Stupid brute.
Orc.
A handsome orc at times sure but always very stupid.
“We are not pleased,” she stated pursing her mouth.
“Elsanne,” Gust grumbled. “Sigurd wants you in Jelin but your presence there shall put you in danger.”
Elsanne blinked not expecting his words. “Explain.”
“They tried to kill you one time and they will try again,” Gust grunted. “It’s the easiest way to get rid of you. Here they have no pull, but on Jelin? Another assassin will come and I can’t allow this to happen.”
That was a lot of words coming out of him all of a sudden.
Elsanne licked her lips unsure on how to reply.
“You went against me in front of everyone,” she finally said austerely. “We are angered Sir Gust.”
“Good. When you’re angry, you always take a moment to calm down. Then you make the correct decision,” Gust replied with a pained grimace. “Usually.”
“I do that?” Elsanne frowned.
Gust nodded with a weary sigh, his eyes roaming the bedroom and then blinked seeing his helm at the nightstand. He’d forgotten it there.
“We can’t be together openly,” Elsanne started and Gust nodded. He walked to the sculpted helm, took it in his large hands and made to turn around but she stopped him. “What are you doing?” She hissed in shock.
“It’s unseemly a practice princess, I agree.”
What?
“Put that helm down!” Elsanne snapped, feeling twice more angry than she felt a moment before.
Gust grimaced but returned the helm on the nightstand.
Elsanne was breathing heavy all of a sudden. “You were going to leave?” She snarled through her teeth.
“You said—”
“You should have protested!” Elsanne snapped interrupting him. “You’ll do it in front of others but now you’ll yield to our wishes without a fight?”
“I wish not to fight you,” Gust grunted clenching his jaw.
“I don’t care about your wishes!” She screamed but then grimaced immediately, nails digging in her flesh, both fists closed tightly.
This wasn’t true.
Elsanne turned around showing him her back and took a deep greedy breath to calm herself down. The fact she was doing it, made Gust’s words all the more heavy on her psyche. She shook her head and wiped a tear of frustration from her eyes.
“I don’t really care about politics or appearances. I know this might sound horrible but this is the happiest period of my life,” she croaked trying to get the words out. “But unfortunately the Princess of Kaltha does.”
“I know,” Gust replied hoarsely. “You don’t need to worry about me Elsanne. I’m in your corner.”
Gods.
Stop sobbing you weakling! She admonished herself. Wipe your face, suck the snot in. Elsanne used her laced sleeve to do it.
“I need a moment,” she murmured and then turned around to glare at the gloomy knight. “Don’t move.”
“I won’t.”
“Good.” Elsanne took another deep breath under Gust’s worried scrutiny. “I’m fine.”
“We can bring our forces to Scaldingport,” Gust said while she fanned her face not daring to look at the mirror.
“Umm.”
“Ruud might move if the Barony of Colle returns under his yoke.”
“Aha,” Elsanne murmured using the other sleeve to finish the job on her face.
“But he has an eye on Regia’s affairs also,” Gust continued. “This war will end badly for one of the brothers. Ruud might want Jeremy on the throne.”
There is that of course, Elsanne thought now breathing easier. “Will he fight Lucius?”
“That’s not how the ‘Old Crow’ operates. But Rik is in Alden with Janneke. He won’t allow anyone harming her or the children.”
“You think Lucius will kill them too?” The thought was horrifying.
“I only know what’s in my head princess,” Gust replied stiffly. “I could guess on another man’s thoughts but never assume I’m correct until his actions match.”
Elsanne smiled unwittingly.
My wise orc knight, she thought a nice warmth spreading in her heart.
And other places.
“What?” Gust queried seeing the change in her demeanor. “It wasn’t a jest.”
“We are allowed our private thoughts,” the princess retorted vaguely.
“Of course. I shall leave you alone,” Gust said and Elsanne’s eyes narrowed menacingly which alarmed the large man.
“Are you not my knight Sir Gust?” She now asked in a steady voice.
Gust stood back trying to gauge her thoughts. “I am,” he finally replied.
“Goodness me,” the princess murmured. “Good Sir, you took your sweet time there. Answer assertively and in a rapider manner in the future,” she puffed out exasperated. “Now I need to change my clothes,” Elsanne decided changing the subject and before a confused Gust could move the princess added firmly. “Close the door but do linger some more to help us for we lack in servants. This bust is a difficult garb to discard.”
Gust came to her assistance but took her words literally and the leather corset died a violent death in his hands.
The freedom bestowed upon her abused chest half-worth the destroyed piece of clothing.
“The leather strips were tied too tight and the leather gave,” the knight explained looking to mend the two broken flaps much to her elated nipples approval.
“Let’s play a little game afore lunch is served,” Elsanne purred in Gust’s face. She’d forgiven him already. “You’ll be a pirate ship captain returning a cold winter night.”
“A pirate ship captain? I rather be a knight,” Gust rustled, his fingers now working under the loose bust and over the thin shirt covering her heaving bosom. The cold breeze coming from the open window almost hurting the tender nubs on the fleshy orbs center.
Mmm.
“Aye. Just indulge our person. Now, can you perform your duties?” She asked raspingly.
“What are they?”
“You need to enter the port and anchor safely,” a blushing Elsanne explained and guided his callused swordsman’s hand over her left shivering breast, used the other to make him follow her towards the bed as she backtracked.
“Enter the port,” Gust repeated hoarsely while she guided his hand to snap the buttons keeping the shirt decent, down to her navel.
The princess small wardrobe’s casualties mounting.
“I’ll play the port, but it’s a narrow entrance and difficult to moor on first try,” the excited princess breathed in his face when the knight lowered himself over her burning body. “It may take a while for yer ship to find the route in the dark. So you’ll have to try again and again.”
Boom, went the captain’s ship.
And then it pulled back only to return again.
Boom.
Boom.
>
> At the dying throes of the New Calendar year 193, either the 4th or 5th day of the month Ultimus, Captain Nelis Oost commanding the Kaltha’s Main Fleet 2nd navy patrol flotilla was ambushed by the Khanate transport fleet’s flank-guarding wing during a hailstorm. The eight bulky war-galleys of the Khanate reacted to the perceived threat and attacked on the open seas just outside Duck’s Head Peninsula of Ripel’s Island.
>
> The Kaltha warships were outnumbered (the patrol had four armoured Carracks each with six heavy Scorpios per side and a fast Caravel), and initially faced trouble with the longer ranged catapult equipped Khanate ships. The Carrack Hardrock was targeted by the majority of the Khanate’s ships being at the flank and the first to emerge out of the mist. It immediately started taking water due to heavy damage and the rough seas and capsized.
>
> The Caravel Ambrose attempted to assist (three hundred sailors and marines had found themselves struggling with the cold waves) but received a hail of volleys from the Galleys (they had two heavy catapults per at the stern and six Scorpios, three per side) the iron bolts ravaging its slim deck from the port side and killing most of the crew that had rushed there to assist their drowning compatriots.
>
> The galleys opted to approach to arrow shot range and they circled around the two hurt ships firing on the strugglers. This caused them to split up in two groups while they reloaded the heavier weapons. Whereas the crews were probably well-trained the unfamiliar harshness of the weather or a matter of exhaustion (the Khanate’s fleet had been at sea for a year with only one stop at Abe Era Fort in Eplas far north) they were slow to do it. Captain Nelis timely reaction took them out one by one. The engagement turned ugly as the waves brought the two flotillas impossibly close and while the galleys could deploy oars the weather wasn’t proper for this action.
>
> In the confusion Captain Nelis Scorpios fired from point blank range in the guts of the galleys, the two meter long iron bolts ripping through the slaves operating the oars and disrupting the ships maneuvering. The Kaltha marines tied up the next two galleys and attacked the shattered decks. Nelis Oost was operating with half-crew but auspiciously the battle’s sequence of events had given him the opportunity to best the Khanate’s fleet. The four remaining galleys that were circling didn’t want to fire on the entangled ships and opted to retreat heading straight for Rida to draw Kaltha’s warships away from the transports.
>
> They messaged Osahar of Shao Na-Lan in Rida, the Khan’s Master of Sea (promoted after Lord Letakin had rebelled against Radpour the previous year) who was about to embark himself after the seventy heavily laden transports he’d sent south earlier that week (twenty he’d added to his fleet in Rida that month) about the development. The massive six kilometers long slow-moving convoy had been hugging the east coast of Eplas and was scheduled to head further east in two weeks’ time. It would have brought it near Bayspell of the Free Isles, following a well-known sea trade route.
>
> Osahar jumped on a fast sloop and raced after the transports sending two missives in advance. The first to Admiral Binra-Kot of Rin An Pur commander of Khanate’s Attack Fleet, who had just been gifted Princess Rashida Radpour (the Khan’s youngest daughter) as his reward for circumnavigating the Great Cold Turn of the continent and making it through the Ice Route just before winter. The Admiral was holding outside the Free Isles Straits with the bulk of his fleet to cover the transports approach (their number was estimated being around forty war galleys) being rather torn as he couldn’t celebrate his good fortune given they had received the news of Prince Nout’s fate.
>
> Upon learning of the situation Binra-Kot moved swiftly to attack Bayspell and take control of the port. He managed it in a day, the local non-militarized population of the neutral isles shocked at the Khanate marines pouring out of the war vessels. Since he couldn’t reach the Khan who didn’t want to speak to anyone during his grieving period, the admiral devised a plan to lure the Kaltha Fleet in a decisive engagement inside the straits where the waters were calmer and he would have the range advantage.
>
> There are several versions of this event and it is disputed whether the Khan was aware of his plan or not.
>
> Osahar in the meantime reached the trailing transports of the long convoy rather propitiously in three days. Propitiously because his second bird got lost in bad weather or died and never made it. He immediately changed the route after speaking with the Khan (the Khan’s war galley was leading the convoy along with its two escorts) and directed it further south avoiding the Free Isles. The change in course brought them near Oakenfalls and Lazuli Peninsula which was a problem as it also changed the target of their landings.
>
> After contemplating aboard the Khan’s galley on a course of action poring over the accurate maps of Jelin they had found in Rida, it was decided that an attack on Issir’s Eagle immediately was suicidal given that Kaltha had been alerted. While the transport fleet had remained invisible for now, the presence of war galleys in the Shallow Sea would have made the Kaltha Admiralty wary for certain. So the die was cast for a more complicated but also more realistic plan that split the distance down the middle.
>
> An idyllic beach at Seagull’s Neck remote south side. Thirty kilometers across the narrow woods-covered peninsula lay the Gulf of Colle and the city port bearing its name.
> Lord Sirio Veturius
>
> Circa 206 NC
>
> The Fall of Heroes
>
>
>
> (Lord Anker Est Ravn,
>
> Grand Duke of Midlanor,
>
> Keeper of the Forests, Guardian of Nordland Pass,
>
> Uher’s First Sentinel and High Regent of the Realm.
>
>
>
> Chapter XXXV
>
> A ghastly year
>
> Volumes I-II-III
>
> -The navy revolt and a painful resolution. The King in Midlanor, the landings at Seagull’s Neck and Deadmen’s Watch. Prelude to the massive Bayspell’s approach naval battle (Cofol name, Battle of the Shallow Straits)
>
> & the ‘Massacre at the Three Roads’.-
>
>
>
>
>
> Circa,
>
> Late 193 NC, summer of 194 NC
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The chapters are re-edited and re-posted regularly at both places