Close to Khan’s ship was an enemy Man of War swamped beneath some sort of dark mass that was tearing at the ship. At first Elaina thought it was Everfire, but it didn’t appear to be burning, just ripping the ship to pieces.
The Black Death was free of enemies and sailing fast towards the fighting to the north. Elaina knew her father well enough to know the man would be itching to get into every fight he could find and sow as much chaos as possible, furthering his own dark reputation. Elaina wished she could be beside him, but she wished to be queen even more.
Ocean Deep was slowing beside them, and from up high Elaina could see Blu’s crew on deck and armed, many of them looking like they were about to board an enemy. A nasty feeling started crawling its way through her gut.
Half swinging, half falling, Elaina raced down ropes and rigging to the deck of her ship. She arrived just as Blu’s men starting to board. Her brother’s crew were armed and fresh and ready for a fight. Elaina’s crew were weary from battle and not expecting an ambush from those they considered allies.
Ocean Deep’s pirates started moving forwards, overwhelming Starry Dawn’s crew with sheer numbers. None of Elaina’s pirates fought back; they knew when they were well and truly fucked, and this was most definitely one of those times. Swords were taken, knives confiscated, and any who fought back were given an efficient beating.
As soon as Elaina’s crew had not a weapon to share among them, Blu appeared. He leapt down from his bigger vessel with a cruel grin.
“What’s the meaning of this, Blu?” Elaina shouted up to her brother. She was itching to get her hands on a sword. Unfortunately the traitorous pirates had taken hers, and it didn’t look like they were considering giving it back.
“Ho, little sister,” Blu said with a smug grin. He was wearing his finest clothing. There was a battle raging around them, and here was her brother, dressed up like a peacock, staying far clear of the fighting.
“Get off my ship, Blu,” Elaina hissed.
“Um… no,” Blu said, following up with a dramatic laugh that many of his crew picked up and carried on.
“Cap?” Surge said. “What do we do?”
“You do nothing,” Blu shouted. “What can you do? This ship is mine now, taken in battle, and all you on board are my prisoners. I expect them back at Land’s End will want a few pirates to hang once all this is over.”
“You’re siding with them?” Elaina said.
Blu looked at his sister and laughed. “Da said you were as good as queen already. Reckoned the only thing that’d keep ya from it is death. Time to test that.”
Chapter 68 - King’s Justice
“That one seems to be coming right for us,” Daimen said. “Looks like Tanner ta me.”
Admiral Wulfden shouldered Daimen out of the way and stared at the approaching ship. Their escorts had been forced to peel away, and now there was nothing between them and the angry pirates bearing down upon them.
“How can you be sure it’s that black-hearted wretch?” Wulfden said.
“Well, mate, the first thing to give it away would be that it’s his ship.”
Wulfden growled and shoved past Daimen again. It appeared that no matter where he stood, it was always in the man’s way. The admiral ran a hand through his perfectly groomed hair, messing it out of place, and sent a worried glance towards one of his officers, who looked nervously at one of the other officers.
They were in trouble, and no mistake. Two other Man of Wars had been assigned to escort the admiral and his ship. One of them was busy suffering at the hands of North Storm, and the other had been sunk by what looked like a kraken. The wind had gone right out of the admiral’s sails when the beasty rose up from the water and ripped the ship to pieces.
“His ship is smaller,” Wulfden said. “We will outnumber his forces.”
“Aye,” Daimen said. “Reckon ya will. Of course, Tanner Black ain’t exactly a stranger to taking on shitty odds, mate. His men are rabid blood drinkers. Half of them ain’t even rightly people. Least, not like you and me. Civilised folk, ya know. Word is he uses some dark magics too.”
The admiral glared at Daimen, who almost laughed. The wind was already turning, and he was about to find himself on the wrong side of it again. He needed a way out, and it was unlikely Tanner would provide one for him. He needed to convince Wulfden to turn tail and flee.
“I’ve heard…” Daimen started.
“Shut up, Poole,” Admiral Wulfden hissed. “Turn us into them. I want all hands armed and ready. Tanner Black in chains will be a fitting prize to present to the king.”
The officers jumped to their admiral’s orders while Daimen stood nearby, trying to figure out a way to get the man to change his mind.
“Battle don’t look to be going too well,” he ventured.
“It could still go either way,” Wulfden growled. “See there.” He pointed towards North Storm and the Man of War locked together. “We have weakened the vessel. She falls apart as my soldiers cut down her crew.”
“Ya ships are burning, Admiral.”
“So are yours.” Wulfden glared scathingly at Daimen. “Do you really think yourself so subtle, pirate? Your loyalties are finally made clear. Don’t worry, I assure you you will live to see your people die.”
“My loyalties are to myself, mate. And I’m not responsible for this shit storm you think you’re winning. You are.”
The admiral turned and drew his sabre from its sheath.
“Ah, fuck me.” Daimen backed away. “What happened to keeping me alive to witness the downfall of me people?”
“I find myself no longer able to abide your presence, Poole.” Wulfden took a wild swing in Daimen’s direction.
“Admiral?” shouted one of the officers.
“Just ridding myself of this pest.” Wulfden took another swing.
Daimen again dodged backwards out of his reach, well aware that he would soon run out of places to run. The man led forwards with a lazy thrust and Daimen turned away from the attack, again moving out of his range. Wulfden was already starting to redden in the cheeks.
“Stand still and die,” he said with another swipe.
“Aye, fuck that.” Daimen stepped into the next thrust. The blade missed him by a breath and he punched the admiral hard in the face, and then again because he really wanted to.
Stunned and reeling, Wulfden was in no condition to stop Daimen as he plucked the sabre from his fat hand and spun him around. He held him tight, sword to chubby neck.
The soldiers and sailors who had rushed to their commander’s aid quickly slowed when they saw shining steel threatening to murder the man in charge.
“Aye, I reckon ya all got the right of it now. Any of you fuckers take another step my way and I’ll bleed this bastard like the fat fucking pig he is.”
The admiral groaned.
“Ah, fuck you too. I’ll curse all I fucking want.”
Wulfden was starting to recover from the punches, no doubt realising exactly what was happening and how much shit he was in. “You’ll hang for this, Poole.”
Daimen pulled the sabre a little closer to the man’s throat, pressing it tight against his skin. “Well, seeing as you were about to kill me anyway, I reckon I’ll take my bloody chances. ’Sides, all I’m trying to do is save all our lives. You, ya fat fuck, should be shitting grateful, not trying to skewer me.”
“Uh, Admiral…” said one of the officers, the one with the shifty eyes.
“Turn us around,” Daimen shouted. “Back ta the Five Kingdoms, I reckon. Haste and all that.”
“They’ll broadside us.”
Daimen risked a glanced behind. The Black Death was closer than he’d have liked and bearing down on them with speed. For a brief moment he thought he could even see Tanner Black standing on the bow, grinning with mad abandon as he came on.