Part 6!
On deck, men were grim faced as the storm clouds approached. The sails were taut as a drum and ropes and hull creaked in counterpoint to one another. Behind them was a featureless wall of grey where sea met sky, each as tumultuous as the other, whiteheads chasing the ship as lightning crashed in the sky. Captain and First Mate both called orders, all joking aside and men jumped to do their bidding. The Lady of Snakes was leaping ahead, travelling at speeds bordering on dangerous. Two men stood ready with axes to cut the ropes if the order came down. From the crows nest came a cry.
“Ship ahoy!”
“Where away?” bellowed the captain.
“Behind Cap’n!” came the reply.
Xeno rushed to the back of the ship. Stood beside the Captain once more, he could see a tiny speck, all but obscured by the clouds. It seemed impossible that anything could survive in that grey chaos, but there she was, an unknown vessel, and she was gaining on them.
“Break out weapons!” bellowed Captain Unto “Keep sails set!”
Turning to Xeno, Unto grabbed him by the unmarked shoulder.
“Golden m’lad, if you’ve spells in you, bring them out now. Fix this storm for me or fix their ship or you won’t live to be killed by another man.” He growled.
“I can’t!” shouted Xeno “I don’t know how I did it! I swear Captain, I don’t know!”
The Captain struck him with the back of his hand, knocking him to the deck, pain ringing through his face, coppery blood on his lip. Again, the words of fire formed in his mind, but he held them at bay, knowing full well that his power wasn’t enough to do anything more than anger the man before him
“What good are ye to me then? Get yourself a weapon and prepare to die like a man at least.”
The Captain turned on his heel and went back to shouting orders. His hand itched where the fairy creature had touched him and the echo of his dream rang in his ears.
“Choose…”
A man thrust a long thin dagger into his hand, grinned at him manically and rushed off, laden with weapons. Holding the cold metal in his hand, Xeno made his choice.
An hour passed, then two. The storm grew overhead, reaching out with grasping talons of shining silver to strike at the sea. The shape behind them became more and more visible until it could be identified.
“Elves cap’n!” shouted the lookout.
“Well lads, there’s something eh? Scrawny things elves and I hear tell they let women sail with them. We’ll have some killin’ and then we’ll have some sport! Trim sails! Prepare to receive boarders! Kill ‘em all, unless they’ve tits!”
A cheer went up from the men and they trimmed the sails, furling them down and clearing the decks for fighting. The elven ship lurched closer, revealing a figure in robes standing on the foredeck, hands alight with eldritch energies.
“Archers!” shouted the Captain “Kill me that wizard!”
From the stern a volley of arrows sailed towards the elven ship, scattering in the wind, falling short and missing. One reached the deck and bounced harmlessly off into the sea. Seconds later, a return volley had the opposite effect. Four men died instantly, precision shots puncturing skull or throat or heart.
“Catapult!” roared the Captain.
A barrel of burning tar was fired from the stern towards the approaching elves. As it neared their vessel, the figure on the deck gestured and fire sprang from his hand, bursting the barrel and causing the remains to splash harmless into the sea.
“All hands on deck!” called the Captain.
Xeno acted. Slapping his hand down onto the fresh Mark on his shoulder brought pain and fire to his eyes. Shaping the fire with his will, he reached out, manipulating the air and causing the key to the hold to drop from the Captains belt. In the rush and clamour, Unto didn’t notice and Xeno was able to scurry after him and scoop it up. The Captain struck him again.
“Out of my way boy, I’ll not be dying because you’re underfoot!”