“No, just tired. Best to take a breather before jumping back in.” Keelin had already killed eight men aboard the Man of War, and he’d injured a few more. Such brutal combat took its toll on both body and mind. He suspected he would need some dark rum to go with his dark thoughts once all was said and done.
“Don’t think you’ll need to,” Jojo said with a grin. “Looks like they’re surrendering.”
The sailor was right. As the soldiers fell further and further back and their numbers dwindled, the two pirate crews merged together and the numbers made the victory clear. The soldiers were already starting to lay down their arms and beg for mercy. Keelin was happy to give it to them. The day was far from done, and he’d already seen too much killing. He’d already been the cause of too many deaths.
“That’s enough,” he roared as he strode forwards, leaving Jojo behind. “Let the bastards live.”
“And why should we do that?” Captain Burn said. He had a nasty, jagged-bladed axe in his hand and a grimace on his skull face.
“Because I say so,” Keelin said, grabbing hold of the Riverlander’s shoulder and pulling him around. “No sense in any more killing than is needed. The cowards have surrendered, and we ain’t without mercy.”
“And just leave them behind to sail on and attack us again.” Burn punctuated the statement with a growl. “I think not.”
“We disable the ship. Cut the rudder. They’ll be stuck here for hours. Far too long to be of any help with the rest of the battle.”
“Safer to kill them.”
“Ain’t about what’s safe this time, Deun,” Keelin said, hoping his voice held as much steel as he knew his eyes did. “It’s about what’s right. Let’s show them we’re not savages. That we can be reasonable and merciful.”
Deun held Keelin’s gaze for a few moments before nodding. He turned to the cowering soldiers. “If it were up to me, I’d eat you all.”
Keelin clapped his fellow captain on the shoulder before turning to the soldiers. “He’s not joking. He really would eat you. We’re disabling your ship, leaving you alive. Once the battle is over you will be free to return home. Just sit quiet ’til then and you’ll all survive this yet. Where’s your captain?”
A few of the soldiers gave each other a look and then quickly dropped their heads. A bad feeling began to creep its way through Keelin’s gut.
“Where is your captain?” he said again, putting as much command into his voice as he could.
The Man of War erupted in smoke, flame, noise, and death.
Chapter 65 - North Storm
Nerine knelt upon the starboard side of the poop deck and dipped her hands into a bucket of seawater. The two pirates tasked with guarding her were nearby, fidgeting nervously and watching the approaching Man of War.
“Rin,” she said, staring into the bucket. “I invoke your name and demand your attention.” The water began to ripple. Nerine hated invoking gods; demons were so much more amiable.
“What’s she doing?” said one of the pirates. “What are you doing?”
“This sacrifice I give to you.” Nerine tore her eyes away from the bucket of water and fixed them on the pirate who had questioned her. “Grant me permission to give you more.”
The pirate’s face went slack and his arms dropped to his sides. His body swayed a little as Nerine dominated his will. The pirate was still inside somewhere, watching as if from very far away, but he no longer had any control of his actions. He was now her minion to do with as she pleased.
“Burton?” said the other pirate. “Burton, you alright?”
“Give yourself to Rin,” Nerine said to Burton, and the man walked calmly towards the starboard railing and flung himself overboard.
“Burton!” The other pirate ran to the railing and looked down. “Man over board. Man over…” His voice trailed away and he staggered back from the railing, waving a hand in the air in a foolish attempt at a protective sign. Nerine pitied the ignorant.
“M-m-merfolk,” he stuttered, his eyes wide with fear.
Nerine drew her hands from the bucket and wiped them on her trousers, then walked over to the railing and looked down. Burton was gone. Lithe shapes darted about beneath the surface, waiting for the rest of the sacrifices they’d been promised.
The Man of War flying Sarth colours was drawing close now, close enough that Nerine could make out the sailors rushing to and fro. Soldiers crowded the deck, armed with all manner of weaponry. Bows were a problem. Those with swords and axes would never get close enough to be a threat to Nerine, but those with arrows needn’t get close.
“Protect me,” she said to the cowering pirate. “Or join your friend in Rin’s court.” He inched forwards, shield and sword held in front of him.
“You won’t need the weapon,” Nerine said with a lopsided grin. “Just the shield. I will be the weapon.”
The first of the arrows from the Man of War started to fly over as the ship sailed up from behind, attempting to run parallel to North Storm, where it would be easiest to board the crippled vessel. Captain Khan’s crew were too busy to fight, either getting the ship back in order or tending to the dead and wounded.
Nerine began to chant and opened herself up, requesting power. Her request never reached the Void. No sooner had she made herself ready than she felt Rin rush into her, the sea goddess’ power filling her.
Bits of Nerine’s shadow began to peel away from the deck, slithering towards the railing and disappearing over the side. It was Rin’s power inside her, and the goddess had dominion over the water and many of its more terrifying aspects, but Nerine shaped that power. She was the Keeper of Shadows, a title earned and jealously guarded.
An arrow hit the deck close by, and the pirate with the shield stepped a little closer to Nerine, his circle of wood held high. More and more shadows were detaching themselves from her now as she directed all of the power gifted to her by Rin into one sorcery. With the sun on the ship’s port side, North Storm’s shadow became hers, a vast weapon to be used against their enemies.
“Captain,” shouted one of the pirates. “Uh… the… uh… Captain!”
Nerine looked sideways to see Captain Khan rush to the railing and look down. The bronzed northerner blanched visibly; he’d seen Nerine’s monster.
“Are you doing this?” Khan shouted at Nerine over the noise. She smiled back at him, still chanting the words of her sorcery, still directing the power of the sea goddess.
The captain on the Man of War saw it too, a mass of shadow bubbling and writhing at the base of North Storm, thrashing the water to foamy white. A few more arrows flitted across the divide; one headed straight towards Nerine but was caught in her guard’s shield. The Man of War started to turn away, trying to flee the shadows. Nerine couldn’t allow it; she’d promised Rin further sacrifice, and the sea goddess would have her payment one way or another.
A dark tentacle shot out from the writhing mass beneath the boat. It darted in and out of the water, as thick as a main mast and as strong as steel. Panic hit the deck of the Man of War, but it was too late for them to get out of the way and the shadowy tendril punched through the hull and started to drag the huge ship down.
With the sorcery finished, Nerine closed herself off from the power of the sea goddess. Her limbs grew heavy, exhaustion flooding her body. She wanted to rest, to close her eyes and sleep, but the battle was far from over and she had to see what her shadow monster could do. It was almost as large as the shadow she’d once defeated in order to gain its power.
Another dark tentacle shot out from North Storm and ripped its way into the other ship’s hull, followed quickly by another. Screams floated over the water along with a final few arrows. Then the bulk of the monster detached itself from the North Storm and rushed across the waves. It slammed into the Man of War, sending it rocking and reeling.