“Incredible!” Cira’s legs hung out of the end of the cannon’s barrel as her voice echoed from inside. “There’s barely a trace of any wear. No wonder they went with a traditional cannon design when it’s not even a cannon… The entire barrel forms an array to contain and direct the mana to a point.”
With the Lamplight Ring to see, she inspected the spiraling glyphs up close, running her finger along them. It was still warm, and she could feel the heat against her back like a sunny day.
“It’s the smallest gift I could offer you!” Captain Shores shouted from outside, “I’m glad to see it bring you joy!”
While this was likely just his cannon and not intended in any way as a gift for Cira, it wasn’t like she was going to unbolt it and take it home with her. Unless… No, Cira thought she would replicate it to a degree at some point, but she appreciated the gesture all the same.
“Who made this thing?” Cira popped out of the cannon and stood herself up. “It’s the real deal.”
“I took it from some paladins.” His expression was uneasy, “I’ve prayed to the Lord of Skies Afar, but I do not know if he has forgiven me.”
“Allow me to personally forgive you.” I can at least do this much in my capacity as not a saint, right? “The paladins have great resources.” Whoever they are, I’m certain of it. “If this cannon were not present today, more lives may have been lost.”
Cira wasn’t being impartial here. In fact, more lives were lost because they won the battle if you counted the royals too. Those captains she expertly wounded went down with their ships along with any of their injured, and their forces were quickly thinned out in the ensuing panic.
Still, her heart was in turmoil, especially after those memories reared their head but there was only so much she could do. Cira tried to imagine what her father would do and came up blank. Surely the mighty Gazen wouldn’t let his friends die, but he wouldn’t commit injustice to do so. Nor would he turn a blind eye to those that that, as Joe would put it, were ‘real pieces o’ shit’.
If I had mana, I could send bad guys to the Sorcerous Gaol of Kyrnsbad Rift, but I think that’s more reserved for crimes of the sorcerous nature. What happens if I abuse that spell again…?
She found it hard to believe that her father had never killed someone before, as he had notably dodged the question in the past. Even though he instructed Cira never to take a life unless she had to, he must have known this day would come. I had to… right?
Captain Reverand Shores grinned with glee at the unilateral forgiveness and unexpected praise, “Then it must have been fate that we came when we did.”
“What about the treasure hunt?” That does sound important, to a degree.
“It’s still underway.” He grinned at the chance to surprise her again, “The Far Shore’s got more boats than this one. I just came back as soon I heard you woke up from one of the guys James sent us. I knew there would be trouble.”
“Ordinarily I may be offended at the implication, but well done.” His smile made her uncomfortable, so she walked away and looked out over the island. They were high up and just passed Hangman’s cove. Jimbo was flying directly above them and captaining the treasure barge as they crawled through the mist.
Incidentally, Wick must have expected a great deal of smoke. The palace was pointed out to her, but she could only see its peak behind the hills it was nestled within. It was just over the ridge from town and their abandoned hideout, a little further inland.
They seemed to be high up enough that no one noticed them, though it was nerve-wracking to hide in plain sight like this with only the mist to obfuscate them. Cira was hardly the only one watching, but there were no signs of movement yet. No more ships ascended to follow up on the raid or chase after them. Captain Wick couldn’t have fathomed ever losing, so they likely had plenty of time to escape.
“Thar she blows.” Cira spied Breeze Haven through her golden spyglass and returned it to her pocket. “I’ve always wanted to try this.”
It would be nice to get off her legs for a while—namely the wooden one. Cira fiddled with a flimsy wooden glider and tried to get it strapped to her back. It felt brittle, but the light weight would help her stay aloft.
“You sure about this, Captain?” Shores approached with concern dripping from his voice, “We got a few rafts that’ll take you down no problem.”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything,” Cira slipped some goggles down over her head and spread out the glider’s wings before she stepped up onto the railing, “in at least a few weeks.”
With a leap of faith, Cira plummeted. The glider struggled to pick up wind as she tried to turn up from a straight nosedive. Her speed increased exponentially until she finally managed to pull up in a slight arc. The ground approached rapidly as she finally started to catch wind. Her eyes were peeled open as the winds whipped the sweat right off her face, but by the time she was comfortably aloft, her mouth had formed a broad smile. She felt just like a bird as she flew in a circle around her intended target, slowing herself down as she got ever closer to the ground.
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With a flick of her body, the glider arched, and she bobbed up. Her momentum nearly stopped until she stalled and had to keep gliding, but that was how she planned to land when the time came to make an entrance.
Cira circled Breeze Haven like a nimbus shark, ready to pounce from above. Soon she could see the faces of the kill crew who still helplessly pelted her barrier—it was a wonder they hadn’t run out of ammo by this point, though there were many who tirelessly attacked the barrier with their swords.
From what she could see nobody was outside in the yard, so she sped up for the final descent just as the royal pirates started to point and shout at her. She made one final dip upwards and passed through the barrier.
Up high in the air, it seemed as if her momentum had stopped, but Cira was actually travelling with great speed. She knew this now as she flew clear across the garden and would have entirely missed Breeze Haven if it weren’t for her trusty wooden shed to catch her fall.
“Ahhhhh…” Cira groaned after she came to an abrupt stop. “That hurts so much worse without magic. Piece of crap rings… Can’t stop a bullet or soften my landing.”
She took a moment to rest, buried in splintered wood as gardening tools poked into her backside. It wasn’t comfortable, but coming to a stop from high speeds was surprisingly exhausting, despite how little time it often took. She needed a moment to catch her breath.
“Wh-who goes there?!” Cira heard a familiar voice—the reliable second fleet’s Captain James.
With an awkward smile, Cira pushed herself out of the rubble and offered a wave, “Just me, guys… No need to be alarmed.”
“Wh—the hell happened?!” The glider was reduced to woodchips so there was no way of discerning the nature of her appearance.
I’m so glad nobody was watching that. Cira pointed straight up, “We gotta go.”
He followed and saw the Far Shore’s flagship directly overhead. Even at that height, it was hard to miss. Even the palace must have noticed by now unless they were utterly incompetent.
James’ eyes went wide, “What did you do?!”
“It’s not what I did, asshole. Well, maybe it is to a degree, but Wick attacked the hideout. One thing led to another and, we have a war to deal with at a later point in time.”
Cira took off running inside, ordering a goon to bring snacks from the garden as she climbed the stairs of her helm spire. At the top she realized there was no time to waste as a ship finally peaked over the hills bearing the black and gold sails everyone eagerly waited for. James, of course, rushed to keep up and hammered her with questions.
“Why though?! Why did any of this happen?” He was justifiable perplexed.
“That Gerald guy that I shot told everyone we were trying to kill Captain Wick and I guess he got scared,” she shrugged, putting her hand on the orichalcum wheel. “A lot of our men died today, James… I owe you an apology.”
“For what…?” He gave her a dumb look as Breeze Haven gently rose from the ground. “Even if you’re the idiot that got us into this mess, it’s obviously Wick’s doing. This is no new thing for us here on Lost Cloud—why do you think I tried to move the gang to Uru?”
“Oh… That’s also my bad.” Am I actually the worst? I do have a habit of completely uprooting people’s lives for the greater good and apt compensation. Usually, they’re at least locals and don’t get driven out, though.
“Oooh, woe is me,” James pulled a fat coin purse from his pocket, and it jingled as he wiped fake tears with it. “I was poor as hell in Uru. Everyone’s welcome to walk away at their own discretion. Pirates up here are always chasin’ promise. Money, power, women, whatever they want. They know the risks, and whoever died today, did so expecting it. Besides, half of our guys were Don’s anyway.”
He may have been putting on a front, but Cira could tell the news troubled him. “Well, I intend to have a very stern word with Captain Wick once my soul is restored. For now…”
As she turned the helm, Breeze Have rocked towards the shore, hovering in place as her flagship and treasure barge slowly descended. This was a dangerous game because if she forced the kill crew on the ground to keep chasing her across the island, they would be in ridiculously good shape when they arrived. It was unbelievable how adamantly they nipped at her heels as Breeze Haven took off and followed without skipping a beat. Even now, some stray bullets reached her barrier.
What drives them? This is either the depths of loyalty or blackmail. Either way, that was not Cira’s concern as of yet. Nothing would be her concern anymore if she kept getting blown off course. There was no matter as pressing as a broken soul, so she hardened her heart for the time being.
Captain Shores passed her first and fell below the island and she waved as the ship disappeared from view. Following that was Jimbo at the helm of a stout vessel she hadn’t yet boarded, and she waved at him too. The ship was like a box of chocolates kept in the cupboard. Eventually, reaching within would be a pleasant surprise, but neglecting it for a short while made it all somewhat sweeter.
The way they talk about it, I probably shouldn’t expect any mithril. A ship full of gold would be so drab, though. Surely, there’s some quality materials on board. One could also compare it to one of her baskets in the forge.
With the flagship leading the way and Jimbo’s basket o’ gold in the middle, Cira fell below the shore as well to trail the caravan. The royals were out of luck as they disappeared into the mist, and hopefully they would think they escaped into the southern skies.
“Which way to Kuja’s?” It took a few minutes to breach the underside of the island, but now they sailed through its shadow beneath bulging columns of stone and between jagged points that hung into the clouds.
“North by Northeast,” James leaned against the open sill with his back and turned into the breeze before pulling out a studded flask from inside his coat. “What a day…”
She watched him take a few hearty swigs and let out a deep breath. “I didn’t know you were one to drink while the sun was up.”
“Depends on the day.” He shrugged. “Want some?”
“Maybe later… I’m still sobering up from the fight.” She noticed James kept glancing at the wheel but looked away when she met his eyes. “What?”
“Do you think…” his voice was strangely nervous—it was out of character. “I could take the wheel for a while?”
“Hmm…” Cira squinted her eyes suspiciously. No one but my Father and I have steered this ship. Perhaps before he found me, but none since he passed for certain. “I don’t necessarily see an issue with it. I’m due for a bath anyway.” She stepped away and motioned for him to take over. “If you crash, though, my perception of you will be forever tarnished.”