The crew looked at the dark clouds above them, the waves beginning to grow in strength. The clouds looked like a moving landmass above their heads, a continent in the sky that encompassed everything in sight, separating the sea from the light given by the moon and the sun. In their absence, only the storm's shadow was left, and the ominous darkness it lent the sea around them.
The crew prayed fervently to the Sea Mother, as Kalot and Ashton both stood next to Calian. The former had a firm grip on his son's shoulder, and Calian swallowed.
He had never seen a storm so large before.
"The rain hasn't broken yet." Ashton murmured, as a wave crashed against the ship. It wasn't strong enough to pose danger, but it was enough to serve as a warning of what was to come. "I'll head to the helm."
"If I may…" A voice spoke, and the crew turned as one to see Gallow emerging from below deck. He cleared his throat as he glanced upwards, at the looming threat above them all, and turned to Ashton. "I would like to lead a prayer. For all of us."
There was a brief moment of silence, before the crew began to whisper their assent. A prayer led by an apostle, even one of a sister faith, would have great effect. Ashton seemed to think it over for a few moments, and nodded. "That would be greatly appreciated, Brother Gallow." He said, and a sense of relief washed over the crew.
Gallow nodded his thanks, and everyone bowed their heads as he began to speak, Ashton's footsteps trailing away to the helm.
"Oh graceful Sea Mother, first wife to the Sun Father, Lady of the Sea and mother to all who call it home." Gallow began. "Please keep your watchful eye over this ship and her crew. Extend your hand to us, and lead us through the storm. Let your mercy be granted to the children of your faith, and find in your heart the love to shield them from the Storm Emperor's wrath. Amen."
"Amen." The crew chorused with him, Calian echoing it both in speech and deep in his heart. Almost immediately afterwards a low rumble of thunder made its presence known in the storm, as if to mock their prayer. Calian opened his eyes and raised his head to see everyone looking at Gallow gratefully, who smiled and nodded his head.
"Everyone gathered here has been blessed with Lady Ha'Kor's guidance." He said, his tone filled with conviction. So much so that even Calian could feel the tightness in his chest loosen ever so slightly, despite the first droplets of rain beginning to patter against the deck and land on his arms. "Have faith in the Sea Mother. She will lead her children to safety."
"You heard the man!" Kalot yelled. "Now, face the storm with confidence. Get to work!"
"AYE SIR" They all shouted in unison, Gallow's prayer filling them with the confidence to sail in the storm. Kalot and Calian stayed behind with Gallow as the other crew members hurried to their stations on the deck, ready to follow the captain's orders. Kalot approached the Chaplain, clapping him on the shoulder with a large hand.
"My thanks, Brother Gallow." He said, glancing towards Calian's father at the helm. "As good of a sailor and captain he is, my brother's not the best at giving rousing speeches. Your prayer has certainly helped to calm the crew."
Calian nodded along with Kalot, but Gallow shook his head, his brow furrowing as the rain began to fall harder. "No thanks necessary, my friend. I only hope it was enough to steer us through the storm."
"I'm sure it will be." Kalot said, clapping his shoulder before turning around and walking off. "Boras! You lousy chickenshit, let go of that damn rope! It's already been tied down!"
Calian took a breath, as another rumble of thunder echoed through the sky. "A word, Calian?" Gallow said, causing him to pause and look at him. The Chaplain glanced around, before leaning in close.
"I've heard from some of the crew that you've been talking in your sleep." He whispered, and Calian pursed his lips.
Tikan! He cursed his friend mentally, but nodded. "I have, Brother Gallow. Dreams have been troubling me, as of late."
"What were these dreams about?" He asked, and Calian thought for a few moments. He debated between telling the truth or lying, but the man in front of him had earned his honesty.
"I can't recall them clearly." He answered, frowning as even now the memory of it slipped from his grasp. "It all fades by the time I wake up. But I have flashes. Feelings."
Gallow nodded. "What are these flashes?" He questioned, and Calian looked up at the clouds. They roiled and turned, threatening at any moment to turn the light spatters of rain into a downpour.
"A storm, like this one." He said finally, looking back at Gallow. "A flash of lightning. A scream, I think? Maybe mine, maybe someone else's. And then… I fall overboard. That's the one thing I remember clearly. I always fall into the water."
Gallow nodded thoughtfully, and a quiet unease wormed its way into Calian's mind. He opened his mouth, then closed it. Afraid to ask the question, but it needed to be asked.
"I have heard, Brother Gallow, that dreams are sometimes a message from the gods." He said hesitantly, suddenly unsure of himself. "Do you think I'm truly in danger of…" The question remained unasked, as Calian felt ridiculous. Most sailors often had nightmares about falling overboard. It was a terrible fate that too many at sea suffered, and remained a fear ingrained in all who sailed in the Sea Mother's domain.
Gallow shook his head, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I think you'll be fine." He said confidently, glancing towards Calian's father and uncle. "I don't think either them, or the crew, would allow you to fall overboard. While the gods do sometimes give their children messages, dreams are often just dreams."
Calian nodded, and Gallow gave his shoulder one last squeeze before turning to head below deck. The young man watched the Chaplain's back as he descended below, then he too turned and went to stand by his father. Across the deck he gave reassuring smiles to the crew, and when Tikan nodded to him he nodded back. When he finally approached his father, the Baron gave him a look before once again looking out at sea. Calian looked with him, mentally preparing for the long battle they would have against the wrath of the Storm Emperor.
Calian gripped the rail tight as the ship slammed downwards into the water, the boat's tip digging into the wave and rocking it, sending salt spray across the edge. His legs nearly buckled from the impact, but he managed to remain steady as the rest of the crew ran across the deck to their stations. The rain was now in full downpour, reducing Calian's ability to see as it pelted his skin and stung his eyes. He squinted, the wind screaming around him as lightning flashed through the sky.
Since the death of his mother, Calian had rarely felt afraid. Life was too short of a thing to be ruled by fear, and death too close to be dreaded. Instead he embraced every moment, and threw himself into the Sea Mother's loving guidance as a sailor. But as the storm wrought its fury against their ship, Calian felt it.
For the first time in a long time, full, unbridled terror coursed through his veins.
"ALL HANDS MAKE READY!" Ashton roared over the thunder that followed the flash of lightning. Calian made his way to stand next to his father, gripping the railing of the helm tight enough to turn his knuckles white. "THE APPARENT WIND HAS CHANGED, WE'RE SAILING INTO IT! TACK AND BEAT TO WINDWARD ON MY MARK!"
The crew repeated the message down the line one after the other in an attempt to be heard over the storm, knowing that the howling wind would steal Ashton's voice before it reached other members of the crew. Ashton pointed at Calian and then at the helm, who took it with grim determination. His father then stood off to the side, watching the sails carefully, Kalot standing by to repeat his order down the line.
Tacking was one of the first things Calian learned while sailing on a ship, as it was one of the most important skills to have when sailing upwind. In a storm, the direction of the wind changed often, meaning at any moment they could need to tack. It involved steering the ship and turning the sails to catch wind and sail at a 45 degree angle, before rapidly turning to the other diagonal so as not to sail too far off course.
His grip tightening around the handles of the wheel, he waited for his father's orders as the crew began to loosen the ropes of the foresail and storm jib.
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"READY ABOUT!" His father yelled, and Calian prepared for the turn as the crew pulled the ropes. "LEE-HO!"
He spun the wheel, ensuring to control it tightly so it didn't turn too fast. "Fast snaps the mast" his father would often tell him when sailing in a storm, and it was something that sounded especially true as he heard the sound of timber creaking loudly over the roaring gale.
"SWELL!" He heard the line call back to his father, who nodded to Calian. Another flash of lightning illuminated the dark sea around them, and sure enough there was a large wave quickly approaching them from the front, growing in size with every passing moment. Thankfully they were already sailing into it at an angle, and he bowed his legs as the ship began to ride it uphill.
When they approached the crest of the wave, his father looked at the sails, nodding.
"APPARENT WIND HAS CHANGED AGAIN! TRIM THE SAILS, SHEET IN!"
More rope rigging was pulled, the foresail turning to catch the wind fully as the ship picked up speed sailing downhill. Again and again this process repeated, the crest of each wave crashing along the side railing of the ship as they sailed. One of the crew members stumbled as a wave caught them unprepared, before his legs buckled completely as they slammed downwards. He lost his footing, slipping away from the line and skittering along the deck with a blood curdling scream that sent Calian's heart up into his throat. That was until his uncle sprinted across the length of the ship, slamming to his knees and sliding to the crewmate, catching him just a few feet away from the edge of the ship.
He yanked the man to his feet, and together they both ran back to the line as another flash of lightning coursed through the sky. The thunder was deafening, tearing the air apart like a whip crack from the gods.
The storm, thankfully, grew no worse as they continued to sail, but that didn't make the job any easier. Again and again they had to make constant adjustments to the sails and their course, all to avoid being capsized by the treacherous waves. It seemed to go on without end.
Until another report came down the line.
"SHIP SPOTTED STARBOARD!" Kalot yelled back to Ashton, who paused, just about to give another order. Calian scanned the horizon, but through the rain stinging his eyes and the darkness of the area, he was unable to see the reported ship.
Then his father pointed, and he could just barely make it out in the distance. Lightning flashed behind it, illuminating its sails. Although the brief moment of light wasn't enough to allow him to examine it with any detail, it was large. That much was clear, almost twice the size of their own ship.
And it was sailing straight toward them.
His father frowned, as did he. Did they not notice them? Sailing close to another ship in a storm this size would be a disaster.
"SEND A MAN TO GRAB A FLARE! SIGNAL OUR PRESENCE!" He shouted, and Kalot nodded, echoing the order down the line. He saw someone rush below deck, a few moments passing before they came back topside. The man raised the flare in the air, pulling the trigger.
Instantly bright white light flashed across the ship as the flare rocketed upwards. It hovered in the air for a few moments before exploding, illuminating the sky and sea around them. Beyond it was only darkness, and Calian had lost sight of the ship in the distance. He squinted his eyes, trying to make out anything, but he couldn't.
"SHIP STILL APPROACHING!" Came the message down the line, and Ashton cursed. The flare died slowly, its light fading away and leaving them alone in the dark that followed. Until again a bolt of lightning tore its way through the sky, and the other ship was now far closer than it had been. They lost sight of it behind a swell, their own ship climbing the wave steadily.
At the crest of the wave, Calian could swear he heard Gallow's voice. As he turned to look, he found he was right. The Chaplain was running across the deck towards the helm, waving his arms until he was close enough to be heard.
"Do not let that ship get near us!" Gallow yelled as he ran up the steps towards Calian and Ashton. They looked at each other, bracing themselves as the ship slammed into the water off of the wave, Calian's legs nearly buckling. He paused as he noticed Gallow didn't so much as flinch, despite not holding onto the railing.
"Of course we won't!" His father yelled back, shaking his head. "We might cras-"
"They intend to board us!" Gallow interrupted, his eyes wide and…
Silver?
Calian did a double take, but sure enough the Chaplain's usually amber eyes were glowing a bright silver. As he stared into them, he was assailed by a vision. A vision of sitting in the cabin below deck, looking underneath the hood of a woman, her eyes that same startling silver color.
But that wasn't right. Her eyes were green in his-
He was assailed by a sudden, skull splitting headache, memories flooding through his mind. Of his chat. Of the direction their topic of conversation had led, how it had been implied they not only knew his mother, but that his relation to her gave them pause. And of those silver eyes boring into his own, the symbol of the Moon Sister spinning rapidly inside of a bowl of water.
He was brought to his knees as the headache grew far worse, almost turning his vision white, before it cleared just as suddenly as it came. The previous memories he'd had now faded like a lie, and now that they did he realized how flimsy they were. There was no topic of conversation past the first part. Only the false, implied notion that he'd had a good chat with them.
But he had no time to think about any of it, as Gallow was looking off to the side, his face pallid. His father was turned the same direction, and he looked with them.
The ship that had been last seen in the distance was now right next to them, rising with a wave that passed underneath both ships. Their sails counted as nearly one and a half times their own, though most were reefed tightly to match their ship in speed. It was a behemoth of a vessel, twice their size and lined with dozens of cannons.
A Brig of War.
Calian swallowed, his fear of the storm now replaced by fear of this monstrous ship. All along its side, he could see dark figures staring down at their own vessel. He squinted, trying to make out any features, but was unable to in the darkness of the storm.
"HELLO!" His father yelled upwards, though Calian was unsure if they would even be able to hear him over the wind. "YOU ARE SAILING NEXT TO A VESSEL OWNED BY A TRADE BARON OF THE KINGDOM OF HAVOR! PLEASE STATE YOUR INTENTION!"
Calian blinked, suddenly aware that the ferocity of the waves had lessened considerably. He glanced around, and found that although the gale was still strong, the rain still pelting, the sea's waves had calmed. Unnaturally so.
And Gallow was nowhere to be seen.
"GREETINGS, SIR BARON OF HAVOR!" He heard a voice call down to them. It was deep but jovial, upbeat in a way unsuited to the nature of the ship it came from. "THE SHIP THAT SAILS NEXT TO YOURS IS OWNED BY EARL NAVOS OF THE GALLORAN EMPIRE, AND I AM IN HIS EMPLOY! WE ARE MAKING A FORMAL REQUEST TO BOARD YOUR VESSEL!"
He and his father both made simultaneous scoffs of disbelief. Board? In this storm? Were they insane? The waves had lessened, but there was no telling when the sea would rise up to swallow both of their ships if they were to sail in boarding formation.
"NEGATIVE! YOU DO NOT HAVE PERMISSION TO BOARD! PLEASE TURN YOUR SAIL FORTY FIVE DEGREES TO STARBOARD AND DISENGAGE! I REPEAT, TURN YOUR SAILS AND DISENGAGE!" His father shouted back, and there was only a moment's pause before the sound of cannons being lowered rang out over the wind.
Calian looked up, and saw that one by one the mouths of the cannons were being pointed at their ship. His mouth dried, Gallow's warning surfacing in his mind. Too late they realized that this ship had not come in peace.
"WE ARE MAKING ANOTHER FORMAL REQUEST TO BOARD!" The voice called back down, still jovial. But despite the lightness of the tone, Calian could now hear the underlying threat in it.
The crew looked at each other, then at Kalot, who in turn looked at Ashton. Kalot subtly shook his head, his hand moving to the sabre at his belt. Calian also placed a hand on the hilt of his sabre, despite the terror besetting him. If the Brig of War wished to end them, they wouldn't even have the chance to use their weapons. They would simply be blown apart, left to sink to the bottom of the ocean on a broken ship.
Ashton looked up at the Brig of War, his jaw clenching as his nostrils flared with rage.
"What are we doing, Ash?" Kalot asked, and Ashton looked at him. Then at Calian, who looked at him fearfully. He heaved a sigh, turning back to the warship.
"PERMISSION GRANTED!" He answered, and instantly hooks were thrown from the war ship, catching onto their railing and pulling the two vessels closer together. The sea remained eerily calm, even as the wind continued to scream. Gangplanks were lowered, and one by one the figures began to board their ship. First sailors that wore the uniform of Earl Navos' navy, though the stitching in their collars denoted them as still subservient to the Galloran Empire. They all carried swords at their hips, sabres and cutlasses, and more than a few of them had pistols holstered at their hip. There were three dozen total that boarded them, but Calian could still see more aboard the Brig.
After the sailors came two notable figures. One wore a uniform different to the others, denoting him as a royal officer. He had a small smile plastered on his face, the jubilance in his features evident. His platinum blonde hair was slicked back, defying the wind and rain as it refused to move from its position. His green eyes observed them with a barely veiled threat behind his gaze, and Calian immediately knew he had been the one who'd been speaking.
Behind him was a tall figure, though he couldn't make out his features on account of the purple hooded robe he wore. He frowned momentarily, finding this person strangely familiar for some reason. The robe was similar to one that Gallow and the woman he traveled with wore, though it bore a symbol he didn't recognize.
The man wearing the royal officer's uniform bowed his head, his hand resting on the pommel of a decorated rapier at his hip. "Greetings, Sir Baron. I apologize for the manner in which we've requested to be permitted on your ship, but it was necessary. I am Viscount Toye, a Vassal of Earl Navos."
Ashton returned the bow stiffly, not even the tracest hint of a smile on his features. "What is it that you want, Lord Viscount?" He asked, his hand still on the hilt of his sabre. If Toye found the lack of an introduction or welcome on Ashton's part rude, he didn't show it.
"I'll be brief, since it seems that's what you would prefer." He said, his smile unable to hide the malice in his eyes. "Two people claiming to be followers of the Moon Sister boarded your ship just before you left Caenis. Where are they?"