James West - Shadow and Steel

Rallin’s gaze darted from the lively rats held in Ulmek’s hands, and back to Leitos. “I … I’ll tell you … just don’t put those rats on me. I swear, to all the gods that heed men, I’ll tell!”

And so he did, telling of Kelren strategies and how to overcome them, of signals and how to answer them. He also revealed that Telmon intended to lead the Brothers into a trap that would get them all killed.

When he finished, fresh tears were spilling from his eyes. “You will let me live, a man whole … as you promised, yes?”

“No,” Ulmek said, and tossed the rats onto the slaver.

Rallin began screaming before Ulmek hustled a stunned Leitos up out of the hold. His initial shrieks were merely cries of fear. By the time Ulmek shut the hatch, the sounds of agony filled the hold.

“Do not fret,” Ulmek said to the chained Kelrens. “Do as you are told, and I promise you will fare better than your mate.”

Naked terror shone in the eyes of the sea-wolves, and Ulmek laughed.

Back on the main deck, under the cover of night, Rallin’s cries vanished beneath the sounds of the sea, and the wind singing through taut stays and shrouds.

“Telmon!” Ulmek shouted good-naturedly. He cast about, found Telmon, and strode aft under a sky bursting with bright stars.

The sea-wolf looked up from tying off a stay to a wooden cleat, suspicion flitting across his face. “Where is Rallin … what did you do to him?”

Nearby, Sumahn leaned against the rail, talking quietly to Daris. They fell silent at Ulmek’s approach, and the two young warriors gaped when their leader dropped a friendly hand on Telmon’s shoulder.

“I want to thank you,” Ulmek said, smiling broadly.

“For what?” Telmon’s suspicion had grown palpable.

“For making this so much easier.”

Before Telmon could react, Ulmek’s sword found a home in his guts. With a vicious sawing motion, Ulmek disemboweled the Kelren, and thrust him over the rail.

The lanterns hung about the deck of the Night Blade came into view beyond a spit of land covered in lush foliage that served as natural breakwater for a shallow cove. It was just as Rallin had told. The Bloody Whore’s sails billowed, as if eager to join her anchored sister.

Word passed among the Brothers to make ready. In a hushed voice, Daris called for more speed through the open hatchway. The remaining Kelrens-faced with the threat of suffering as Rallin had-put their backs to the oars, propelling the ship to greater speed. With Ulmek manning the rudder, the Bloody Whore rounded the breakwater. Like a black swan, the ship glided through calm waters glimmering in the light of the moon.

Hunkered behind a cluster of barrels near the portside bow, Leitos searched the darkness, but could not see anyone aboard the Night Blade .

“They will stay hidden,” Rallin had warned. “Only after the proper signals are given, will my mates respond.”

He had gone on to explain those signals, and what to expect in return. Ulmek had cautioned the Brothers that they should believe little, if any, of what the man claimed. “However, we will do as he said, while expecting the worst. But no matter what happens, our task is to free our brethren….”

Now the Bloody Whore veered toward the Night Blade , rapidly cutting the distance. Halan, standing at the bowsprit, signaled the other ship with a shuttered lantern, as Rallin had said they should.

After a long moment, a lantern on the Night Blade blinked in response. Halan signaled again. More quickly than before, he received two slow blinks, followed by four rapid flashes.

“They want us to come abreast,” Halan said over his shoulder.

Again, Daris commanded more speed, and Leitos heard the sweep and splash of oars increase their pace.

Keeping low, he moved to the rail. Sumahn nodded his readiness. More Brothers shifted amid the shadows, blades bared. As Leitos went over Ulmek’s plan again, his fingers tightened around the hilts of his sword and dagger.

Over the rail, he could make out the Bloody Whore’s ram, a great bronze beak cutting a path to their target. An emaciated harridan of wrought iron stood upon the ram’s top edge, her corroded hair swept back, and mouth spread wide around long fangs. It was an ugly thing, forged by Kelren hands, but this night it would serve the will of the Brothers of the Crimson Shield.

“Make ready,” Halan called softly, drawing his great scimitar.

Leitos’s heart began to thump.

Shouts erupted from the deck of the Night Blade , then a sea-wolf cried, “They mean to ram us!”

A moment later, the Bloody Whore speared the Night Blade’s hull at the waterline, and a thunderous crash of rupturing planks and timbers spilled out over the cove.

“Now!” Halan bellowed.

Leitos leaped a breath too late, and the jarring collision sent him flying over the rail. He landed on his face, and flipped across the Night Blade’s deck.

Sumahn, Daris, and the others rolled expertly, coming up in the midst of stunned Kelrens. The peals of clashing swords erupted an instant later, but were faint under the crackling din of the Bloody Whore impaling her sister’s bowels and breaking her keel. The mangled remains of the wrought iron harridan ripped a splintery gash through the Night Blade’s deck, splitting the ship in half.

Leitos gained his feet as the Bloody Whore ground to a halt. The Night Blade’s bow began to rise precipitously, and battling warriors stumbled down the deck. Deep groans and the rush of water told Leitos he had only moments to reach the hold before the front half of the ship sank.

Leitos raced forward, flung open the hatch, and jumped through. A single guard, dazed and bleeding, staggered drunkenly in the wavering light of a firemoss lantern. Leitos attacked without hesitation. The sea-wolf blocked his sword stroke, but missed his slashing dagger. Gagging on the blood filling his throat, the slaver plummeted into the hold through the second hatchway.

Leitos caught the lantern, and clambered down the ladder. He dropped into water deep as his knees. Aft, the splintered hulls of both the Bloody Whore and Night Blade strained against one another in mingled destruction. Seawater boiled into the hold, floating the dead guard, and rats by the score.

Chasing the lantern’s light, Leitos made for the sound of shouting men. Kicking apart a jammed bulkhead door, he found the prisoners. Filthy, scabbed, and hollow-eyed, they all squinted against the sudden light.

“Father!” Leitos cried.

“Leitos?” came the disbelieving response. Then, “Get the key! The guard wears it around his neck.”

Leitos splashed back through the doorway. The bobbing Kelren now served as a raft for a handful of chittering vermin. Leitos swept them aside, and found the key attached to a leather cord. He ripped it free, and made his way back to the prisoners.

By now, the rush of seawater had submerged the lower bunks. The Brothers chained to them fought to thrust their faces clear, their eyes wide with terror.

“There’s no time to free us all!” Ba’Sel shouted. “Unbind those you can, and escape before we sink!”

Leitos found him, a dark face almost lost amongst the others. Beside him stood Adham.

Forcing himself to remain calm, Leitos made his way forward, unlocking those Brothers’ shackles who were nearly underwater, then those who were chained to higher bunks. Where other men might have fled in panic, the freed Brothers stood fast, some guarding the doorway, the rest helping find locks for Leitos to unfasten.

“Fool, boy,” Ba’Sel grumbled when Leitos reached him.