The sun was still below the horizon when the three conspirators left the Rusty Screw. Whalen led them down a small alleyway and stopped just before he reached the docks. He gestured for Maya and Cyll to step up next to him.

“Do you see the Charbrand?” Whalen asked.

The ship in question floated peacefully at the far end of the dock. The boat was small, but large enough to weather the sea. It had a beautiful redwood hull with a golden trim, and it seemed to shimmer slightly in the water. The ship’s name was emblazed with gold letters on its side.

“We see her,” Cyll said, licking his lips eagerly. “And I like what we see.”

“Good. Now, here’s the plan. I have been watching Heral and his group. After studying their habits, I am confident they will be emerging from the guardhouse beside the dock in several minutes. I will distract them. In the meantime, you get on the ship and leave immidately. Understood?” Whalen asked.

“Your plan seems very optimistic,” Maya said. “Are you–”

“You have no faith. It will work. Full refund if it doesn’t,” Whalen said with a firm glare.

“We’ll all be dead if it doesn’t work,” Maya grumbled, but she gave Whalen a nod. “I’ll trust you, although I’m not sure why. And you never said how you figured out exactly how much money we had!”

“Troubles for another time,” Whalen said dismissively. “Get ready.”

With that, the tall man strode away from the alley. He walked down the docks and glanced around the area, tapping his foot impatiently.

“So, how do you think he knows when Heral will come out?” Cyll whispered.

Maya was mid shrug when water lurched up from the sea and funneled towards Whalen. A step later, the thin man was holding a sword that was easily two times his size. He swung it into the guardhouse, blowing it apart with a single swing. There was a bang as his sword crashed against something sturdy.

“Ah. That might be how,” Maya said. “That’s a really cool ability.”

Cyll just nodded, too engrossed in staring at the massive sword to say anything else.

As the dust settled around the guardhouse, Maya quickly recognized Overseer Heral. There were several other people behind him including Axel, but Maya couldn’t make out the others.

Heral had blocked Whalen’s attack with a sword. The Overseer frowned at Whalen and flicked his weapon, pushing the tall man and his oversized weapon back several steps.

“Who are you to dare attack the Ashwind family?” Heral growled.

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“Nobody of concern. I’m afraid I’m just rather clumsy. Oh, look out!” Whalen said.

His sword whistled through the air and Heral barely managed to raise his sword in time to block it. The massive weapon thundered against him, spraying everyone with saltwater. The people behind him screamed.

“Let’s go!” Maya hissed, tugging on Cyll’s arm. “They’re distracted. This is our chance!”

Cyll snapped out of his reverie and nodded. The two of them darted for the Charbrand as silently as they could.

Whalen was doing a fantastic job of keeping Heral occupied. Each swing he took shook the Overseer’s arms just a little bit more, and he was gaining ground. Whalen smirked at his weakening opponent.

“And I heard Overseers were strong. Don’t you have an ability? Even a backwater town such as Ashwind should have enough recourses for that!”

Heral gritted his teeth. His thoughts drifted to the locket containing nearly five years of work that Maya had stolen from him when she fell into the hole. He’d been just months away from absorbing the Essence and jumping upwards in power.

The group of people hiding behind Heral had started to distance themselves from him a bit when it became clear that the Overseer was losing the fight.

“Why don’t you use your strength ability? Don’t let this weakling push you around!” Axel yelled from behind him.

“I am using my strength, fool!” Heral yelled back. “I can’t do anything while protecting you idiots. Get back to the ship!”

Axel paled. Heral had never talked so strongly to him before, and the boy looked like he wanted to bite back tears. Instead, he just nodded and jerked his head towards the ship. The group joined him in his retreat.

However, by the time they’d reached the docks, Maya and Cyll had already boarded the Charbrand. The anchor had been raised and, while the sails weren’t down yet, the ship was moments from setting sail. Maya glanced over the railing and smirked down at Axel.

“Have you come to bid me farewell? I have to say, I appreciate the ship and the axe! It was very kind of you to donate so much,” she called down to him.

“Get off that ship!” Axel screamed. “I’ll kill you for this!”

“You’ve already tried that twice,” Maya reminded him. “How’s that going for you?”

Axel spun towards the group of Ashwind retainers traveling behind him. He gestured furiously to them and turned back to Maya with a sadistic grin.

“Yeah? Well, I figured you’d be scummy enough to leave your friend behind. I’ll just settle for her instead,” he said.

Maya glanced back at the dock, but Cyll just shrugged at her. He was still on the boat and in the process of lowering the sails.

“He’s on the boat next to me, moron!” Maya called down, laughing.

The laugh caught in her throat as Axel’s retainers stepped up beside him, holding a small form tightly bound in heavy black chains. Bits of a blue dress peeked out from the metal.

“We found her walking the road toward Hook bay,” Axel mocked. “She mentioned you two were her friends, so Overseer Heral fixed her up for us. Isn’t that right?”

The retainers shook Patty firmly. She tried to say something, but a gag over her mouth prevented the puppet from speaking. Axel glanced over to make sure Maya was watching, then punched Patty violently in the face. Her head snapped back, and she let out a muffled grunt of pain.

“That little shit,” Cyll hissed, dropping the rope and stepping away from the sails.

Axel reared back and struck Patty again. He smirked, glancing back to make sure Maya was watching before cracking his knuckles and preparing to punch her again.

“We’re coming back for the ship,” Maya growled, drawing her sickle.

Cyll nodded silently. Without taking his eyes from Axel, he released the latch on the ship’s capstan, allowing the anchor to fall back into the sea.

“Better get your last bit of enjoyment out of those fists, boy,” Cyll yelled, drawing his axe and charging across the deck of the ship. “It’s the last time you’re going to use them!”