From aboard the pirate vessel Firewing, a finely-made brass spyglass points at the approaching Reckoning. Captain Draco, viewing the oncoming ship, rumbles, in his deep mocking voice, "Ah, there they are. Old friends. Ha! By the Warrior's holy trousers, hasn't young Rhyll turned into quite the Captain?..Good thing we happened along when we did, or that prize over there would fall into the wrong hands..." He chuckles.
Nearby, Kugg, the massive Urag, cracks his knuckles. "We gonna sink 'em, sir?"
Draco smirks, snapping shut his spyglass. "That's what I like about you, Kugg old boy, your directness. What a capital idea! Sink 'em!" He roars with laughter. "Summon Masryn to the deck. "
On board the Reckoning, the crew makes ready to engage. Rough seas, a strong headwind, and shallow waters makes for trouble. The Reckoning slams down hard on a wave that batters her prow, splashing the foredeck with water.
Rhyll turns to Revas . "Let's make our way toward the merchant, we make Draco follow us in, with any luck he will beach that ship of his, once in we turn to fight. Baj, make sure those scorpion are ready to fire and find out if we're still holed."
Baj turns to Rhyll and nods, "I think that you should handle this encounter, Captain. The men may accept my command for a minor target, but they will need your leadership for this."
Izmeralda asks Rhyll, "But Captain? I was told we won the battle..."
Rhyll spares Izmeralda a look. "We did--this is a new one."
Revas says, "She's answerin' better now, sar! Our bearin's nor-nor east, that merchant o'er yonder!"
Rhyll calls out "Steady as she goes Mister Revas!"
Baj turns and scrambles down the ladder belowdecks.
Koster calls to Baj as he passes, "The Firewing, Mister Mirko? Is he mad?"
Baj turns and grabs Koster by the front of his shirt, headbutting him sharply before tossing him hard against a bulkhead, "If you ever question the Captain in my presence again, I will personally flog every inch of skin from you back before I feed you to the sharks. Is that understood, Koster?"
Slamming into the bulkhead, Koster's head snaps back and he gives a choked-off yelp. He slumps against the deck, not rising. But the message gets through.
Baj pauses a moment to gaze around and make sure that his speech has reached the audience he intended it for before he speeds off on his errand belowdecks.
Baj bounds down the ladder and splashes into the dark water swirling in the bilges, "What is our condition, Mister Otho?"
Otho, his clothes soaked with the filthy water, is drying his hands on a rag and indicates the patched hole. "She'll hold, sir. Mister Dacien's help was most welcome."
Baj nods sharply, "Excellent job, all around! I suggest you all return to your stations, the Firewing is approaching and she means to fight." He bounds off up the ladder again.
The Reckoning passes the outer islet, the deep green of the Sunrise Sea lightening with the shallower bottom. A sandbar the size of a house is plainly visible a bowshot to starboard and juts from the water. Low tide is coming on. Ahead, the Queen Amoret is well and truly stranded now, careened on a sandbar tilted 20 degrees to port, the efforts of her crew to push her clear no use. Hands crowd about on the shingle about a mile from you, not sure what to do with two pirate ships oncoming.
Dacien stands at the rail gazing off toward the Firewing, aimlessly spinning the spiked end of his chain and grinning, "Yer ass is mine this time, Kugg. Nobody t'save ye this time, laddie."
Rhyll says, "Mister Benning how is my Wizard doing? We may have need of him." He takes out his spy glass and scans over at the Firewing. On board the Firewing, Captain Draco is visible, leaning on his walking stick, gesturing animatedly at his mage, Masryn. One-eared Guldas, who fought Rhyll recently in the Crouching Lion, is also visible, poring over charts, near the Captain.
Benning stands over Almira nearby. "He's weakened, Captain, but I believe he will live."
Almira stands, unsteadily. His dried blood stains the front of his white robes. "There is a Tol Nedran mage on board that vessel, Captain, as you know...thus, you will have need of my services."
Rhyll turns to Revas again. "She sits a bit lower in the water than us--perhaps we can use that to our advantage." Offering the spyglass to the mage, he asks, "Mister Almira, care to take a look at your competition?"
Almira declines, replying, "He and I have met before, Captain. You remember the time off Taunis, three summers ago..."
Rhyll says, "Aye, I do Master Wizard, I hope you're still up to showing this Nedri a thing or two."
Dacien turns and runs up to the quarterdeck, "Cap'n Rhyll, sir, with yer permission, I'd like t'go with the boarding party. If there's anything left t'board, o'course."
Without turning Rhyll says, "Granted Dace, just make sure you bring Draco's pet Urag down."
Dacien grins an evil grin, "Y'know what they say, sir, 'The bigger they are, the harder they fall'."
Almira sniffs, "Do you doubt my competence, Captain?" He sways unsteadily on the deck.
Rhyll says, "Never, my good mage, but if you remember mere moments ago you had a bolt sticking out of your chest."
Baj takes the ladder steps up to the quarterdeck three at a time and slides to a top next to Rhyll, "The hole is patched, sir."
Rhyll says, "Good--make sure they keep the bilge pumps going. I want this ship as high in the water as we can get her."
Baj says, "Aye, Captain." He leans over the railing and bellows down the ladder, "Otho! Ayrn! Keep the pumps moving, get us high in the water!" At Baj's command, Ayrn and some other hands pump madly to lighten the bilges.
Baj says, "Farlan! Ferlan! Get those weapons reloaded and make sure you have bolts to spare! This will be a fight to tell all the whores about the next time we hit port!"
On the quarterdeck, Revas is grumbling to himself as the ship speeds through the narrow, sandy channel. The ship is racing along swift as a dolphin now. A broad islet is to port; ahead is a large lagoon over a mile across, with the Queen Amoret near Azora Cay itself. The Firewing is visible in the morning mist far to port, about to enter the lagoon itself.
Rhyll leans over his charts and studies the layout. Revas calls over his shoulder, "Charts are no good, sar, with these sands, they change every day and night. Man's gotta steer w'his heart!"
Izmeralda clings to a rail, looking unsure. Baj turns to her. "Miss, you might want to wait this one out in my cabin, you will find a fine cutlass and a sturdy chair to bar the door if the need for either might arise."
Izmeralda nods to Baj. "Thank you for your courtesy, Mister Mirko, but I would prefer to watch from here. May I assist in some way?"
Baj frowns and then pulls a long dagger from his boot, "You may need this if you stay topside. Perhaps Mister Talon and Mister Benning could use some assistance."
Izmeralda takes the dagger. "Thanks to you, Mister Mirko. You are a credit to your people." The former whore turns to seek out Benning and Talon.
Baj smiles, baring his fangs, "I hope that you still hold that opinion at the end of this day."
Dacien grabs hold of the ratlines in the portside shrouds and climbs up into the rigging like he was born there, his chain draped about his neck.
Near Dacien, the badly wounded Erris draws his sword. He staggers and blanches. "Can't wait t'battle those bastards, Mister Dacien!" he cries.
Dacien laughs a sharp, barking laugh and smiles down to Erris, "I told ye we'd fight 'em t'gether some day, lad. Just remember, the big greenie is all mine."
Erris says, pale and sweating, "You'll have to fight me for that chance, Mister Dacien!"
Dacien grins, "Well, if ye insist, there's enough o'the bastard for us to split between us."
Benning makes his way to Talon. He says quietly, "We may be very busy in a short time, my friend."
Talon says, "Aye, or we might be dead." Then he smiles.
Benning says, "Make sure that doesn't happen, my friend. Our shipmates have need of us."
Talon draws his sword and checks the edge then says to Benning, "But before the healing can begin I may have other duties to attend to."
Almira makes a gesture in the air with his hands, and says something in his harsh native language. He looks off into the air as if viewing something in detail. "Captain, I will scry the enemy vessel. They are quite ready for a fight, it seems."
Rhyll says, "Mister Revas, I want to try and cut it close. If we can beach the Firewing or at least force them to expose themselves to avoid a sandbar, we may have a better chance to win this encounter."
Revas nods. "Aye, sar! That fat Firewing, she's no match for us in the clinch!"
Rhyll turns to Revas . "What's your heart telling you old timer? Can you feel out a course that will trip up the Firewing?"
Deeshon calls down, "Sir! Firewing's turnin' t' engage!" The great ship rounds the northernmost islet and heads into the lagoon. You are eastbound, and now they are southbound, but far from weapons range yet.
Revas says, "At this speed, we're both likely t'beach, sar, and be walkin' home t'Port Arjuri!"
Baj turns and looks out over the maindeck, loosening his rapiers in their scabbards, "Remember, lads, it is not your job to die for your shipmates, but to make the other bastards die for theirs!"
Rhyll replies to Revas, "We can afford to slow her down if it will help, Mister Revas."
Dacien climbs higher in the rigging and calls up to the masthead, "Dees, lad, toss me down a coil of that small stuff, would'ya?"
Deeshon shakes off his pet tern and drops Dacien a clutch of rope. "Not gonna hang yourself afore the battle, are you? More loot for me if you do..."
Rhyll calls up to Dacien, "Dace tighten those sheets! I want to slow her down a bit."
Dacien catches the coil and drapes it around his neck, calling down to the maindeck, "Aye-aye, Captain!"
The Firewing comes on, sails piled on, her crew lining the rails.
Rhyll scans the water ahead of them. "Once we find the right sandbar I want you to swing her around."
In the distance to the east, the crew of the Queen Amoret decides on the better part of Sarrie valor. They turn to flee, grabbing what they can from the stranded vessel, then jumping to the sand and heading for the green shores of the Cay.
Revas says, "What's the right one, sar?"
Rhyll says, "One we can pass over--but they can't!"
Dacien issues orders among the men in the rigging, "Look sharp, lads, tighten up the tops'l's and the sheets on the mains, take a bit o'wind off her."
Baj walks the maindeck among the crew, passing along words of encouragement.
Almira says, staring into midair. "They have a nearly full complement, Captain. They plan to pull close, board us, and then take us...and...Oh, my ancestors. What a savage lot they are."
The two ships are about to cross into scorpion and bow range.
Rhyll says, "Think you can call up a sandbar to strand them when I say so?"
Almira says, distractedly, "No, Captain. That I cannot do."
Baj returns to the quarterdeck, calling down to the twins, "Gentlemen, make your weapons ready!"
Revas spins the wheel hard over to avoid a treacherous shoal. The ship swings hard to port, tilting the deck and spilling loose debris from the battle overboard. The last of the ice wall clinging to the hull slides away into the green sea.
Rhyll nods then says to Revas, "Mister Revas! Bring her about, it looks like it's time to make a stand." He grabs the rail to steady himself.
Dacien finishes tightening the sheets along the port side of the mizzen topsail, and gets to work securing one end of the coil of line Deeshon tossed him to the end of the yardarm he's perched upon. He pays out his line and gauges how far he will be able to swing over the Firewing when the time comes to board.
Revas says, as a cluster of sandbars shows ahead, "She's gettin' narrow, sar! If she followed us in here, not sure ol'Draco'd be able t'take her out again! But we'd need t'get her in close!"
Rhyll says, "Let's give it a try."
The Firewing raises her weapon ports, preparing for battle. On her deck, a line of archers takes formation.
Rhyll calls "Mister Mirko, are we prepared to return fire?"
The undulating sandbars run north to south, each about a hundred fathoms and twenty wide, anywhere from a fathom to three deep. The water here is crystal clear and you can see fish swimming in the lapping waters.
Ferlan and Farlan signal all ready on both broadsides. Baj says, "Aye-aye, Captain! All weapons ready!"
Rhyll says, "Baj, let's slow here down just a hair. I want to draw the Firewing in."
Baj says, "Aye, sir!"
Baj looks up to the tops, "Mister Nettleburr, slow us down a bit more!"
Dacien says, "Aye, sir!" He again moves along the yardarm passing orders, "Take 'em in a bit more, lads! A few more knots off her!"
Rhyll says, "Has Candra readied her marines, Mister Mirko?"
Baj nods sharply, never taking his eyes off the Firewing, "Aye, Captain. The crew is ready."
Rhyll nods to Baj . "Well done, Mister Mirko, may the Powers be with us then."
Baj nods, "And if they are not, we will take their seats at the Warrior's table, sir!"
On board the Firewing, Draco scans the Reckoning. "Who's he got on board, eh?" he asks no one in particular. "Yes, yes, I see. A little prize of his own for Captain Rhyll, after all, the Governor threw her away...What's he about, anyway?" He scans the surface of the water with his spyglass, not seeing anything amiss. He snaps shut the glass and asks the pale Masryn, "Are you ready, then, mage?"
The Reckoning slow and Revas spins the wheel, bringing her in between two long sandbars. The great ship drifts forward now, on the lowering tide. Without care, she could easily wind up stranded here as well.The Firewing charges forward.
Prilehn flashes a signal to Baj that you are now in bowshot range. Baj says, "Bow range, Captain!"
Almira lets off his scrying spell, since the Captain does not seem to be interested. Still, knowledge is useful for its own sake.
Rhyll steps to the rail and shouts down to his crew, "Men of the Reckoning! Today we are forced to fight twice as hard and against an enemy we well know. Know this then, I know you men are the finest crew on this ocean and today we shall see the crew of the Firewing sent down to the depths." Then he lifts his arm and yells, "It is time for the Reckoning!"
The crew answers their Captain. "The Reckoning!!"
Baj takes up the call, "The Reckoning!!!"
Dacien moves back along the yardarm, now paying out his line along the yard itself and taking a spot in readiness to swing over to the Firewing.
Rhyll returns and says to Almira, "Wizard what do you have for me?"
The Firewing's archers draw and loose their arrows. A volley of thirty darts arcs high over the water towards the Reckoning.
Rhyll says, "Mister Mirko, fire on your discretion."
Baj snaps out, "Prilehn! Return fire and continue at will!"
Prilehn's gang of archers draw and loose now, sending a salvo of arrows towards the approaching Firewing.
Almira says, "They are slightly depleted, Captain, but no less ready for all that. Their Captain is most puzzled by your strategem and is overconfident. Their mage prepares...ah, yes...on schedule..." There is a thunderous roar. From the Firewing, there is a blinding light and a fireball as large as a man lances across the gap between the two ships.
Rhyll shouts, "Wizard, can you send it back at them or divert it?"
The fireball crashes into the tops of the Reckoning with an enormous bang, tongues of flame licking everywhere. Luckily, the sails, furled as they are, are mostly untouched, but the foremast and yards take a heavy hit. Flaming bits shower onto the quarterdeck where Rhyll, Revas and the others stand.
Rhyll dodges a shard of flaming wreckage, and shouts to Almira, "Don't just stand there! At least return fire."
The Firewing's arrows follow, raining down on the deck with deadly accuracy. Two of the Reckoning's hands die at once.
Rhyll shouts, "Water crew! Let's get these bits out before they cause more damage!"
Dacien snaps out orders as he points, "Secure those lines! Tie off that yard! Move, damn yer hides!"
Almira raises his hand and looses a fireball of his own. There's an explosion acros the water. This one slams hard into the side of the enemy ship, rocking her and causing her crew to scuttle about madly.
Rhyll says, "Time to return fire I'd say Mister Mirko."
Baj smiles, "Aye, Captain."
The Reckoning's arrows land now on the Firewing's deck. Draco steps idly under cover, watching the battle and sipping tea from a fancy china cup. The looming shape of Kugg is visible on the enemy deck, a huge spiked mace in his hand. Dacien marks Kugg's place on the deck of the Firewing and smiles to himself, "Split ye between us, we will, y'green lump."
Candra leads a bucket brigade, hurling water onto the flaming debris.
Another volley of arrows lands on the Reckoning, this time on the quarterdeck. One spikes through Revas' hand, stapling it to the wheel. The old man gives a shriek of pain.
Rhyll moves to take the wheel, then shouts "Benning! Get up here."
Baj steps closer to the old man and tears a strip from his own shirt. He carefully snaps the arrow off close to the skin and allows Revas to pull his hand free. He hands the cloth to the old man as Rhyll takes the wheel.
Revas nods. "I be fine, damn your eyes!" he says, but blood is gouting down his hand and dripping onto the deck as he swabs it.
The two ships approach, now only twenty fathoms apart but prow to prow, the angle too steep for broadsides yet. The Firewing turns hard over to port, to bring her starboard scorpion into the battle, angling for a shot at the Reckoning.
Rhyll bellows with genuine concern: "Benning, if you don't get up here now and fix my pilot I'll have you overboard, I will!" With that, he spins the wheel hard to port, to bring the Reckoning's own starboard weapons into battle.
Benning is close at hand. He calmly takes Revas' hand and bows over it in prayer.
Rhyll says, "Prepare to fire Mister Mirko!"
Baj says, "Aye, sir!"
As the Firewing wheels about, there's a horrific grinding noise from her keel. Her nose raises, then slaps down into the water again. Her prow dips and her forward progress halts. She has turned her nose for a starboard broadside, but she's grounded herself in the process. Her crew race back and forth in rage and confusion.
The two ships now face each other starboard on, and can loose a volley into one another. But the Firewing appears to have run aground.
Rhyll says with a triumphant grin, "Mister Mirko, let's take the Firewing down a few notches, shall we?"