Shadow Magic, page 29
“I’m not sure it’s following us, but there’s something odd about it. That I am sure of.”
“Please explain.” The captain suddenly seemed all business now that his ship might be in danger.
“It’s probably nothing,” Robert said. He felt very grateful that the captain seemed to be over his stammering spell. “I noticed she only had two masts and about seventy-five feet less cloth out than us, but she’s still gaining. That just doesn’t seem right for a fully loaded cargo ship.”
“It certainly doesn’t.” The captain reached into his pocket and took out a short tubular object. He extended it to three times its length and held it to his good eye. After scanning the horizon for a few seconds his hand steadied. He studied the other ship for half a minute muttering to himself.
“Have a look.”
Robert took the farseer and brought it to his eye. It took a moment to find the ship but when he did the first thing he noted was a ballista mounted in the forecastle. Just below the ballista was the figurehead of a mermaid.
Robert swallowed. Maybe it wasn’t the same ship, after all mermaids were popular for figureheads. He looked up to the top of the main mast to see what colors she was flying. He found a black flag with a set of white manacles painted on it. He took the farseer from his eye and handed it back to the captain.
“Does that flag mean what I think?” he asked.
“If you think it means that ship is full of slavers then yes,” Captain Haram said. Robert thought he sounded worried. He looked Robert square in the face. “I’d like to know, do you think they’re after you?”
Robert hesitated, trying to decide what he should tell the captain.
Before Robert could make up his mind Captain Haram said, “It doesn’t make any difference mind you. When I agreed to take you people on as passengers I was told there’d be risks. I took the money and the chance. I said I’d get you to the High Kingdom and I will. I just wondered if my luck’s gone south or there’s something more behind that ship.”
Robert sighed. “The plain truth, Captain, is I just don’t know. Let’s say it’s possible. Not many knew we’d be aboard this ship but if someone talked…”
Robert threw up his hands leaving the thought unfinished.
Captain Haram nodded his understanding. “Fair enough, sir. I think you’ve been honest with me and that’s all a man can ask.”
“How soon do you think they’ll catch us?” Robert asked.
The captain thought for a moment. “If the weather holds, we have a day at most. If the weather gets ugly, who knows.”
Robert nodded. “I’d better go tell Blade. If we can do anything to help just ask.”
The captain clapped him on the shoulder. “I appreciate it. If they catch up it’s gonna get ugly and any help’ll be welcome.”
“Do you know that ship?” Robert asked.
“Only by reputation. She’s called the Bound Hope. Worst bunch of pirates and slavers a man could hope to meet. They take at least three ships every year around here. If they manage to board us, well, my men are all good lads, but we’re no match for those pirates.”
Robert left feeling slightly sick and no longer enjoying the nice weather in the least. He’d known Argus was up to something, but handing them over to slavers? That seemed a bit much even for his old friend. Though if they had something to do with his rise to a lordship, Argus might have had debts of his own to repay.
He’d just have to pay with someone else's hide. Robert’s plan didn’t include ending up shackled in the hold of a slave ship.
Chapter 58
Robert and Blade stood in the rear of the ship watching as the slavers drew ever closer. Blade had donned her new armor and wore her sword at the ready. During the night, the Bound Hope had cut the distance between them in half. It was just after dawn and the wind had let up a bit. The day was clear and Robert had abandoned all hope of a storm dissuading the pirates from attacking, slim hope though it was.
The sailors working on deck now carried cutlasses in their belts. Heavy crossbows had been placed in strategic locations around the ship. With any luck they could get off a couple volleys before the slavers boarded.
“What do you think?” Blade asked.
Robert sighed. “I think it would be a terrible irony to lose the kid now to a bunch of half-assed slavers after everything we’ve been through.”
“They won’t take her,” Blade said. “How soon till they catch us?”
“We should be in ballista range by noon. An hour after that, we’d best be ready to repel boarders.”
Blade shook her head. “With that ballista they could thin us down enough that we won’t have enough people to resist when they board.”
“That’s not too likely. They’ll want to take as many of us alive as possible. Corpses don’t make very good slaves after all,” Robert said.
“Once they board the fun really begins.” Blade had a fierce smile.
“What do you mean?” Robert asked. He wasn’t certain he liked the look she gave him.
“I’ve fought slavers before. Often times they’ll pass up a killing blow that might end a fight quick because they don’t want to damage their merchandise. It makes the job of fighting them much easier since I don’t have any problem with killing them.”
The captain ordered an early lunch prepared. No one wanted to eat but most forced themselves to choke down a little. Once the battle started no one knew when or if they’d get another meal. The slavers’ ship was now so close they could make out individuals climbing in the ship’s rigging.
Robert sighed, not long now.
He descended the steps to their cabin. He carried two bowls of soup; behind him Blade carried a third bowl and a small loaf of bread. Robert kicked the door of their cabin. “Lunch time, kid.”
Shara opened the door and accepted one of the bowls from him. “How close?” she asked.
“Too close,” Blade said as she tore the bread into three roughly equal chunks and handed them out.
Robert and Blade sat on either side of Shara.
Robert noticed Shara tore into her food with considerable enthusiasm. He took that to be a good sign. “How you feeling, kid?”
“Scared,” she said. “A bunch more people are going to get killed because of me.”
“Not because of you,” he said. Shara was staring at the floor as he spoke. “Look at me.”
She slowly looked up at him.
“This isn’t your fault.”
“You’re just saying that to make me feel better. None of this would be happening if not for me.”
“Don’t say that and don’t think it. No one but us and the hunters know you’re on this ship. The hunters wouldn’t tell a bunch of slavers you were on board, they’d just have a pack waiting in port to grab you. I figure when we didn’t arrive to board Argus’s ship, he told his slaver friends which one we were on. It’s just coincidence you’re here, nothing more.”
“But the others, so many have died over the last few months.” Shara started sniffling softly.
Robert tried to think what he could say but nothing came to him.
Finally, Blade said, “Those who came after you chose their path. They saw the bounty on your head and tried to claim it. When you live by the sword you take the risk that your opponent may be better than you. If you stay at it long enough, it’s a sure thing. Trust me, kid, I know.”
Shara nodded though Robert couldn’t tell if she felt any better. He slurped down the rest of his soup. As he started to sop up the rest of it with his bread something thumped against the hull.
“Was that what I think it was?” Robert asked.
“Afraid so.” Blade swallowed the last of her soup and dropped the bowl. “We’d best get up on deck.”
Robert kissed Shara on the forehead. “Stay down here where you’ll be safe.”
“Be careful,” Shara said.
Blade paused by the door. “Don’t worry. We look out for each other.”
Robert grinned. “Actually she looks out for me and I try and stay out of the way.”
Shara laughed slightly and managed a weak smile.
“That’s a girl, chin up. This will be over before you know it.” Hopefully with all of us still in one piece, Robert added to himself.
Robert caught up with Blade at the top step. “Be careful,” he said.
“You too.” They kissed and Robert went to take his position in the rear castle where he’d have the best field of fire.
The Bound Hope was about a hundred yards to starboard and fifty yards behind them. Robert could see individual faces in the crowd along the ship’s rail. They were a gruesome-looking lot, many lacking a piece or two of their anatomy. Most were armed with thick wooden clubs.
Robert smiled to himself; Blade was right, they did mean to take as many of them alive as they could.
At the front of the slavers’ ship the ballista crew was busy loading a second bolt. Robert picked up his borrowed crossbow, sighted on the artillerist, and fired. It was likely he’d miss at this range, but at least he could give them something to think about.
The bolt streaked away. He’d done his best to allow for the bobbing of the ships but still missed low by two feet.
The bolt struck one of the ballista crew in the lower back, dropping him to the deck.
Better than a clean miss anyway. He began reloading his weapon. Taking their cue from him other sailors began plinking at the ballista crew and slavers lining the rail.
Soon the ballista sported so many bolts it looked like a porcupine. The sailors cheered when the slavers abandoned the weapon and took cover below the rail. Robert just shook his head and took one last shot.
It was still way too soon for cheers.
The enemy ship drew alongside the Fox. As planned, most of the sailors drew their cutlasses to repel boarders while the rest reloaded their crossbows and waited for a clear shot.
When the slavers’ ship was almost even with the Fox a row of men bearing heavy rope popped up above the ship’s rail.
The crossbowmen fired, dropping four of them.
The remaining men threw lines tipped with iron hooks that sailed out toward the Fox.
Eight hooks landed over the rail.
Blade led the sailors toward the rail, sword raised. They hesitated just long enough for the slavers to pull the ropes tight then sword and cutlasses came down.
Only the line Blade hit cut through cleanly. The others continued hacking but every second the enemy got closer.
Robert finished reloading his crossbow and watched as the sailors struggled to cut the thick ropes. Where their blades hit something shiny appeared. Wires, the slavers had woven wires into the rope to make it harder to cut and to dull the weapons of their enemies.
Very clever.
The sailors managed to cut all but three of the ropes.
It didn’t matter; the Bound Hope was now only six feet away. Two heavy planks with iron spikes on the underside fell from the slavers’ ship. The spikes hammered through the deck locking the two ships together.
“Fall back,” Blade yelled.
The sailors backpedaled away from the planks as slavers stormed across.
Blade led fifteen sailors against twenty-five slavers.
Not a very even fight, but Blade was worth at least five slavers so that made it close.
Only two sailors, the best shots, remained with him in the rear castle. Their job was to put a bolt in any slaver that presented a clean target and protect the captain where he manned the helm.
Easier said than done. As the melee spread across the deck, telling friend from foe grew harder by the moment.
Robert held his crossbow tight and ready. Try as he might, he couldn’t take his eyes off of Blade.
As long as she survived, nothing else mattered.
Chapter 59
Blade awaited the first wave of slavers. She stood near the center of the Desert Fox’s defenders, so she could respond to whatever the enemy tried.
Two men separated themselves from the mob and came toward her. One lacked an eye and the other had a peg leg from the knee down. As with many others they approached her with their weapons low, obviously smelling easy prey.
She took a step back letting them think she was afraid.
For a moment they looked away from her and grinned at each other.
That was all the opening she needed.
With a single lightning slash she opened both their throats spilling a river of blood on the deck.
She had no time to celebrate the small victory. To her right she spotted a young sailor go to his knees under heavy assault from a huge slaver.
The attacker looked like he weighed at least three hundred pounds, all of it muscle.
With a savage blow he knocked the young man’s cutlass away and probably broke his arm as well.
Blade raced over as he raised his arm for the knockout blow.
Before it could fall she slashed across the back of his knees, severing tendons and dropping him to the deck.
A quick stomp crushed his throat.
Blade leaned down to help the sailor up.
A look of fear filled his face.
She thought for a moment Robert’s stupid story was causing her trouble then she sensed someone behind her.
She whirled but there was no way she could get her sword up in time to block the man’s club.
Before it could fall he shuddered and a crossbow bolt appeared in his chest.
The slaver collapsed and Blade glanced toward the rear castle.
Robert shot her a little salute and began to reload his crossbow.
She smiled to herself, just for a moment reveling in how good it felt to have someone worry about her.
The moment passed quickly and she rejoined the battle.
Blade looked around. Instead of one big melee the battle had broken up into half a dozen small skirmishes. The slavers had a slight numbers advantage and were pressing the sailors hard. Only the lack of lethal weapons on the slavers’ side allowed the men any chance.
Blade swore as a pair of pirates broke away from the melee and headed toward the stairs that led belowdecks.
She ran toward them sword ready.
They must have heard her coming because they both turned to face her.
These two didn’t rush blindly in, instead they separated, one going left and the other right.
She couldn’t let one get behind her.
She lunged at the one on the left forcing him back then quickly spun to deflect the second slaver’s attack.
Her arm went numb under the force of the blow.
Blade spun left and slashed at her opponent’s leg hoping to put him out of the battle before his comrade could recover.
He anticipated her attack and jumped over her sword.
The ship lurched and he stumbled, falling to the deck.
Before Blade could finish him, the second slaver came roaring back into the fray.
She retreated a step and let his hard overhead swing pass by her and slam into the deck.
Not allowing him to recover she stepped on the club pinning it down.
The slaver let go and retreated.
He drew a short curved dagger from his belt but hesitated.
Behind her Blade heard the patter of feet. The other fighter must have recovered.
She reversed the grip on her sword and leapt thrusting behind her. The sword bit deep into the man’s body.
She threw her head back into his face for good measure, crushing his nose with the back of her skull.
A backward roll brought her to her feet, ripping her sword free in the process.
The man with the dagger was staring at her.
“Sure you want to continue with that little knife?” she asked with a wicked grin, almost willing him to attack.
The slaver looked at his weapon, then at her, and then ran toward his ship.
She smiled; he wouldn’t be back.
Just to be safe she watched as he crossed the deck, hopped up on the boarding planks and ran across to the other ship.
He was met on the other side by a man dressed in a pirate costume. That was all Blade could think of. He looked like the pirates described in the bad tales told by bards for drinks in Reaper’s Crossing: billowing pants, an open vest showing off his hairy chest, and leather boots.
The only thing not amusing about him was the heavy curved cutlass he carried.
He raised the weapon and the slaver started to retreat. He moved two steps before the pirate captain, for that was what Blade assumed he was, lopped his head off.
He looked over toward Blade as his gold hoop earrings flashed in the sun.
He smiled, grabbed a rope, and swung over to land on the Fox’s deck a few feet from Blade.
“You must be captain of that ship,” she said.
He smiled again and she noticed one of his teeth was gold. That would make an interesting souvenir of her first sea journey.
“I am.” He swirled his cutlass with a flourish and bowed to her. “I believe when I’ve killed you all the fight will go out of your shipmates.”
Blade laughed in his face. Cocky bastard. “You mean if you kill me.”
“I’ve been fighting for more years than you’ve been around. I mean when, not if.”
Blade smacked the flat of her sword on her gloved hand. It made a wet sound as the sticky blood splattered on her gauntlet. “Let’s find out.”
The pirate roared and slashed at her head then thrust at her midsection before reversing direction with another high slash.
Blade batted them all aside with three quick flicks of her sword.
He took a step back from her and she yawned. “Decided to try and bore me to death instead of using your sword? A wise change in strategy.”
He ground his teeth in frustration then smiled. All around them the other battles had stopped and the combatants turned to watch the duel.
“You’ll not goad me into a rash attack, wench.”
“Any attack at this point would be welcome. Are you hoping I’ll die of old age?”
