The churning gray and brown sky lit as a lance of lightning struck the foremast, illuminating the chaotic deck in eerie white light. Wooden splinters and cinders rained down overhead as the mast ripped from its rigging and fell. Ashwyn yanked Daana to the side. They huddled against the railing, watching wide-eyed as the broken mast toppled over the side of the Ducky Luck and hung limp above the raging sea.
Ashwyn’s face was drained of color. Daana knew it wasn’t the state of the ship that concerned her. She gave the orc’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “I’ve seen Ellisar survive worse than that.”
“Yeah. Probably just makin’ a mess to prove a point. I’m sure Snag will slap some sense into her shortly.” Despite her bold words, Ashwyn’s voice had lost its brazen confidence. Still watching the churning sky, the orc rose and pulled Daana back onto her feet with her. “Come on. We’ve got to get to that boat, pronto.”
Daana followed Ashwyn’s bulky form through the swirl of fog and ash without protest. From her evenings spent absentmindedly wandering the upper deck, Daana knew the Ducky Luck had two workboats designed to pull double duty as emergency crafts in a pinch. Unfortunately, she was not alone in this knowledge. When she and Ashwyn arrived at the first davit, they found the boat missing, having already been deployed.
Although Ashwyn didn’t voice her trepidation, Daana could hear the orc’s tusks grinding against the flat of her upper teeth. Ashwyn changed course, dodging bits of fallen mast and burning debris in the direction of the second longboat station. Sailors and pirates alike darted through the misty gloom around them.
“Why aren’t they retreating?” Daana demanded between ragged breaths. With their captain slain and their best fighter, the air elemental, set on exacting her revenge at any cost, including the lives of everyone around her, Daana was surprised the rest of the pirates hadn’t simply called it quits. “Even I can see this is a lost cause.”
“Desperation, Peaches.” The pirates were not alone in their desperation, apparently. The distress in Ashwyn’s tone was damn near palpable. “I noticed it when the mast fell. Didn’t want to say anything to get you riled, but we might be in a pickle here if that other longboat’s gone.”
“How so?”
“To your left, Peaches. Look, but don’t stop moving your feet.” Ashwyn slowed down beside her, looping her arm through Daana’s. She guided the elf’s steps, allowing her to take in the scene without sacrificing their speed. A decrepit galley bucked on the churning waters beside them, tethered to the Ducky Luck via a twisted tangle of ropes and grappling hooks. Something was wrong with the stern, however. It sat abnormally low in the water.
Daana may not have been an expert, but even she could see something was amiss. “It’s sinking?”
“Yeah, well you know, Ellie. Couldn’t leave well enough alone. Had to go put a hole in the enemy ship. Unfortunately for us, that means these buggers are more desperate than usual to seize this one for themselves.” With Daana’s attention back on her feet, Ashwyn released her arm and assumed the lead once more. “Which is why we need to get that last longboat. Even if it means I have to toss you overboard to swim for it.”
Daana tensed at what she sincerely hoped was an offhanded jest. While she had come a long way with her deep mistrust of boats, her disdain for water and any activity short of bathing had yet to improve. “Now that definitely qualifies as something stupid.”
The pair were nearing the second davit when Ashwyn’s fast footsteps ground to a halt. She ducked down beside the taffrail and signaled for Daana to do the same. Wordlessly, Daana slipped into the shadows beside her.
To her relief, she saw the second longboat was not yet deployed. Not from a lack of trying, from the looks of it. Judging from the blood and bodies scattered haphazardly on the deck, several of the crew had been in the process of lowering the longboat when they were set upon by the enemy. The pirates may have won, but their victory had come at a loss. The left arm of the davit had snapped away during the scuffle. Without two functioning arms, the pirates were forced to guide the longboat down by hand. A feat made significantly harder by the raging swell that threatened to smash the smaller boat to pieces against Ducky Luck’s barnacled side.
Daana whispered to Ashwyn, “Is there a reason we’re hiding and not seizing the boat?”
“Never work harder than you have to.” Ashwyn’s gaze was cold and calculating, watching the progress across from her with the expression of a hungry scavenger about to capitalize one someone else’s hard earned kill. “We’ll wait here, catch our breath, and as soon as they’ve got it in the water, we’ll jump ‘em. Remember, wait for the lead to be secured first. The last thing we need is for the current to whisk our ride away without anybody in it.”
A second lightning bolt erupted against the quarter deck above them, sending a shockwave of smoldering wood and splinters in its wake. Startled by the blast, one of the pirates glanced worriedly over his shoulder at the destruction. His frightened gaze dropped lower, settling over Ashwyn and Daana.
“Change of plans!” Ashwyn surged forward, her sword already drawn and ready to taste blood. “Go for the rope, Peaches! I’ll take care of the sea dogs.”
The pirates dropped the rope in favor of their swords. Throwing herself into a dive, Daana seized the end of the lead before it disappeared over the side. The rope bit into her hands, splitting open the calloused blisters that marred the inside of each palm. Screaming, being dragged on her ass along the rough deck, Daana kicked out with her legs and braced them against the siding. The boat jerked to a stop below her. Every muscle in her back and legs shuddered in protest as she slowly guided the rope down, hand over hand, until the lead went slack, signifying the boat had reached the water.
By the time Daana had the lead tied, there were already two pirates dead on the ground, soon to be followed by a third. The remaining pair decided it wasn’t worth their lives and turned tail and ran. Finished with her opponent, Ashwyn’s broad shoulders dropped in exhaustion as she trudged back over to the davit. In lieu of the ‘excellent work, Daana. Way to save our boat and our bacon’ the orc’s disgruntled stare settled onto the knot Daana had used to secure the lead to the ship’s rail.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
“Who the fuck taught you to tie rope? That’s just shameful.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah, yeah, you did good. Soak it all in and get a fat head, why don’t you?” Ashwyn slung her leg over the side of the railing, preparing to climb down. “Good news. Subpar knot work aside, thanks to you, we’re not going to have to swim for it after all.”
Daana didn’t trust the orc’s unnerving grin. “Why do I get the feeling you’re about to deliver some bad news?”
Ashwyn’s pearly smile widened past the point of comfort. “I sincerely hope you’re better at climbing than you are at cards, because this next bit might get a little hairy.”
Another blast rocked the ship from stern to bow, stealing’s Daana’s words from her mouth. She whipped her head in the direction of the commotion. The fog parted, revealing the navigation room fire had spread across the quarterdeck, steadily working its way up the mizzenmast. A single figure stood backlit by the flames with arms thrown wide, whipping the wind into a frenzy to encourage the flames higher.
Ashwyn called to Daana from below, her voice muffled by both the distance and the roar of elements. “What’s the hold up?”
“It’s the air elemental.” The witch’s magic rippled so thick in the air, the sheer weight of it took Daana’s breath away. She took a breath and held her palm out, closing her eyes as she opened her sixth sense to her surroundings. Undulating waves of static buzzed across Daana’s skin, warning her of what was to come.
Her eyes shot open with a gasp. “She’s about to lose control.”
“So no time like the present to get on the lifeboat then, yeah?” Ashwyn waited for a response and, when none came, issued a disgruntled sigh. “Shit. I think I know what Snag was warning me about now.”
Tearing her gaze from the quarterdeck, Daana leaned over the heaving side of the ship and looked down. Ashwyn was almost all the way to the longboat now. The rickety boat bucked and heaved amongst the choppy waves, pulling at the rope tethering it to the bigger ship like an unruly dog. Daana raised her voice in order to be heard over the raging din. “I think I have to go do something stupid.”
Ashwyn glanced back up at her, face wet and dripping from the ocean spray. “Sweet goddess, Snag is gonna kill me.”
“I don’t think he or Ellisar are going to get away if I don’t.”
‘Ugh, fine!” Ashwyn dropped the remaining distance into the small boat, gripping the sides for dear life as it heaved beneath her. “I’m not your nanny. If you want to go get yourself killed, have at it.”
Daana would have wished for something more encouraging, but it would have to do. Ensuring her sword was still secured at her side, she sprinted across the main deck, unwilling to waste any precious time utilizing the shadows. The magic grew stronger as she neared. The black lines under her skin pulled harder, and harder, like a ravenous tiger on a chain.
Daana climbed halfway up the splintered stairs to the quarterdeck and peeked over the side. The elemental paced back and forth across the destroyed deck with her head tilted upwards at the sails, scanning the yards for telltale signs of life. Even with the mist and smoke to cloak Daana’s movement, the deck was too open to risk it. The witch would obliterate her before she even got halfway.
Daana searched the area around her for an alternative form of cover, silently cursing herself for not finding a shield along the way. Just as she was considering something really stupid, a small spherical object rolled off of the roof of the navigation room and clattered towards the pacing figure. The witch leapt out of the way, throwing up a protective gust of wind a split second before the powder charge erupted.
Seizing her opportunity, Daana flew up and over the stairs without thinking. She pounded across the smoky deck, avoiding the small pockets of scattered fire. Alerted by her footsteps, the witch spun around and threw up her hands the same moment Daana slammed into her. They struck the upturned deck and rolled. Daana kicked, clawed, and punched to gain the upper hand. A close-fisted strike to the windpipe left the witch temporarily stunned, gasping for air.
Daana straddled the witch’s squirming body beneath her, using her knees to pin her to the deck. Magic crackled between the witch’s hands as she threw them forward, choking on a spell lodged in her swollen throat. Daana caught the witch by the wrists, skin burning as the magic poured into her, and screamed, “Exhaurire!”
Blistering heat surged up her arms in waves, burning its way through her body until each nerve ending screamed in agony. The witch struggled beneath her, attempting to wrestle free, but Daana held strong. Power pooled in her chest, crushing her lungs as it whipped, whirled, and swelled, threatening to burst free. Bright lights popped across Daana’s vision as hot stomach acid scalded the inside of mouth.
Too much, her mind screamed. Cold panic surged forth, snapping Daana back to her senses. She released the witch’s limp hands to sever the connection, but the power disobeyed. Blue magic arced between them, independent of a conductor. The dark veins within Daana’s wrists squirmed with hunger. They pulled, pulled, pulled, draining the witch who had since gone still beneath her.
Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck!
Head swimming, Daana staggered to her feet but her sense of balance was gone. The once solid deck undulated like ripples across water beneath her unsteady feet. Release it, the small part of her mind that was still functioning commanded. Now! Before the darkness takes control.
A spell danced across her tongue unbidden. Dazed, barely able to keep her eyes open, Daana threw her arms into the air and screamed. Lightning erupted from her hands and rocketed high into the air. The magic erupted with a blast so loud, it canceled out Daana’s hearing altogether. The force of the explosion pulsed downwards, bowling Daana backwards like a dry leaf in the wind.
She staggered, catching herself against the railing, her world still spinning. Ash and embers rained down from above, catching the remaining sails alight in flame. Daana still couldn’t hear, but her sense of touch felt magnified tenfold. Every creak and groan from the ship reverberated through her screaming bones. Behind her, a steady clump, clump, clump grew stronger. Confused, Daana turned and could just make out the shape of a little horse as it burst from the companionway towards her.
A familiar hand reached for her. Some nagging instinct ordered Daana to jump and her legs obeyed. She mounted, managing to not slide off the other side of the horse as the ship shot past. Wormy didn’t stop when the deck ran out. Clinging to Snag, unable to hear the shrill scream that leapt from her mouth, they sailed over the side of the ship and plummeted for several heartbeats before plunging into the icy depths below.