Somewhere in the Raiss Ocean. 501 years ago.
A sharp pain tore at Raine’s left hand. There weren't any markings or bandages to suggest injury, but it burned and gnawed at her attention until it suddenly stopped.
She flexed her hand and it worked as it should. But that wasn't what chilled her. Raine had seen something in that second she'd touched that sword. The image was fleeting, a figure in grey light armor with a grey head with no features. No features except for the pattern of ink-like swirls that danced across where its face should have been. But in that pattern, Raine knew it had been looking at her. Studying her. And then it was gone.
And then she was in Stray II's healer’s quarters. She knew the space well. Plenty of past plundering had brought Raine to this room. Moira only had a single healer as most of the others preferred to stay on Stray or Executioner where they were more likely to be needed.
But how had she gotten here? The last thing she remembered, she had attempted to take the sword of that Serethi man and push him overboard before she herself jumped into her makeshift ice raft. But that hadn't gone that way. She had been the one falling, right? So why was she here now?
Raine turned to see Avanyu sitting beside her bedside. He was only a handful of years older than her, but right there in the dim light escaping through the closed shutters, Avanyu's weary face looked to have aged two or more decades.
“How bad, Avanyu?” Raine remembered seeing the burning Moira and her damaged consorts.
He glanced at her, looking a bit surprised, but quickly recovered. “Moira’s gone. Her whole crew except for you, Turner, and I.”
Raine sucked in a breath, taking in the crushing reminder that nearly all her shipmates were dead. “What happened?”
“The ship we ambushed was carrying booby trapped chests. They exploded, spreading oil that immediately caught fire after they were brought on board. Killed damn near everyone on the topside deck almost immediately. Someone from the gun decks ordered retaliatory fire from the cannons. Moira and Thirza slugged it out before sinking each other. Stray II and Her Executioner got hit badly, but they sank the escort they were watching. We're actually towing Executioner back to Respite Island as we had to take down her fore mast to have enough rigging for Stray. Not that it would matter if Executioner could sail on her own, she has zero rudder control.
“But Raine, Executioner lost every one of her officers when the magazine blew and Stray only the helmsman and the gunner's mates. You and I are the two highest ranking members left between our two surviving ships.”
Avanyu paused and allowed that to sink in.
“We’re it?”
“Yes,” Avanyu replied solemnly. “We’re going to hold a vote to decide who leads us from here. But it sounds to me like they're going to pick you for captain of the fleet.”
“Me? Why me?” Raine had always wanted to lead a ship, Captain Grimme had been grooming her to take over on Executioner when Asa became too old to keep doing it. But not like this. Not with so much death all at once to have the position thrust upon her.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
“They liked you as Moira’s quartermaster. They liked Captain Grimme and he liked you. Seems like you’re the best choice,” Avanyu shrugged. “I know I don’t want that responsibility. They need you, Raine.”
“I will lead our friends and family if I am asked to.” Raine paused. “But I need to know… How am I here? I was going down with Thirza. How did I get here?”
“One of the four survivors, a Serethi Elf, dragged you to the ice raft you made.” Avanyu laughed as though remembering a joke. “The other three said you tried to push him over and take his sword before just dropping like a stone. I think he has a crush on you. Wouldn't shut up about wanting to see you when you came to.”
Raine rolled her eyes. “Where's he now?”
“Down in the bilge with the other three.”
“Can you have someone bring him here? I have a few questions for him.”
Avanyu stood and left the room. Raine tried to remember more of that vision she had seen. Of the grey-faced man. But nothing came to her.
The door opened and Avanyu returned with the Serethi Elf. He didn't have his iron sword, but the gold-hilted one remained in its scabbard at his side.
“Can you give us a moment?”
Avanyu nodded, then turned to the Serethi Elf. “Try anything and you die. I'll be right outside the door.”
The Serethi made no response.
When Avanyu left, Raine broke the momentary silence. “I thought your kind didn't like mixing with outsiders. You said you were a passenger on Thirza. What were you doing on that ship?”
“My business is my own.”
“Your business is mine, if you want to live,” Raine flared, but quickly pulled herself under control. “You live because my crew says you brought me here after I tried to kill you. Why bother?”
“Why did you bother to turn back to save those three men? Despite the way you portray yourself, I believe there is good in you.”
“Your belief is misplaced,” Raine said coldly, “By saving them, you only prolonged their borrowed time. We gave their ships every opportunity to hand off their goods peacefully, then they killed my crew with such an honorless tactic. No, you and they will go overboard for the deaths of my crew.”
“You saw him, did you not?” The Serethi Elf asked. “That is my evidence that my belief is not misplaced. That is why I saved you.”
Raine’s heartbeat quickened. She forced herself to keep composure. Did he know something of the grey man? “Saw who?”
“Thoth, Remnant of Anathi. The spirit which dwells within the twin blades Caliburn and Clarent that together form Excalibur.” He took the sword from its scabbard and set it at Raine’s side.
A single longsword, one half of its blade scarlet and the other cerulean. The sword split down its length, both halves becoming rapiers.
“I am Rien Lograine,” He announced, and with a solemn bow, added, “and the Order of the Revi is at your service.”
Raine hesitantly reached out and touched the sword. There was no light, no grey-faced man. Nothing.
The scarlet blade was hot to the touch and the cerulean blade icy cold. Enchanted, then. The only enchanted weapons they'd recovered from this mess.
This man was obviously making fun of her. He had to have booby trapped the sword with a charm spell or something to knock her out. That's how he knew about what she'd seen. Raine flared with anger.
“Avanyu!” Raine called.
“Yes, Raine?” Avanyu asked as he re-entered the room.
“I want Rien here—” Raine pointed to the man. “—thrown in whatever cage we've got that will hold him. Prep the other three to go overboard. I want to carry as little dead weight as possible back to Respite.”