Song and Branch: Chapter 15

he next morning Dale woke with the worst headache of her life. The swinging of the hammock as the ship breasted the waves of the open ocean was entirely too much. She groaned and curled into a tight ball around the molten lump that was her belly. Despite the fighting, the running and the excitement of the desert, she now wondered if she was nimble enough to get out of the hammock. She heard a sympathetic groan from Hebek’s hammock nearby.

“I could probably make a mint if I made you two pay for my more palliative prayers right now.” Kail whispered from where he was sitting on the floor reading. “You look awful Dale.”

“Can you do something for me?”

“Maybe.” Kail stretched and looked up at the beams. “Though you have to promise not to carouse with your sworn enemies and not to touch that rot again.”

“I promise not to do it again.”

“Ah, then Dwayna be with you, daughter.”

A breeze of azure relief swept through her body and the headache and its accompanying cramps vanished. Dale gasped with relief as her vision expanded to include the rest of the hold beside the corner she had been staring at to keep herself from vomiting. She rolled smoothly out of the hammock and landed solidly on the deck. Kail nodded to Hebek and the necromancer stopped moaning.

“Thanks.” Hebek mumbled. “No more wine for me either…”

“Where’s Arn?”

“Up on deck with Daneska and Demen. I stayed here to watch over you two.” Kail glanced up to the dim sunlight coming through the hatchway. “Storm coming apparently…but we are making good time to the Battle Isles.”

“Twistwood leaving us alone?”

“Well if Leth really knows, he has not made a move yet.” Kail said with a shrug. “I think the captain would have a thing to say if we started an all out battle on the ship…I imagine when we reach the Temple of Balthazar there will be fireworks.”

“Well with any luck, Red Claw will be there to meet us…Twistwood never attacks unless they have numbers…” Hebek had finally flopped out of her hammock and was running a hoary hand over her ivory cane. “Besides I think they like me currently. That Leth is a honey.”

“Heb…” Kail made a long suffering face.

The three of them climbed the ladders to the deck where the pitch of the waves was much more pronounced. Dale smiled to see Serul standing on the prow, his bright form silhouetted against the dark sea. She wondered what he saw out there. Daneska was laying on the deck nearby, one arm hanging through the rail so that the spray of the prow just brushed her fingers. Dale could hear her singing softly; dolphins were riding the bow. The mesmer laughed each time they leapt and Dale could not help but be drawn to them, even though the ship was headed into a sky that looked angry. She did not disturb Daneska, but sat for a long while watching as the wind gathered and the dolphins played on the dark waves. The mesmer did not seem to care she was getting wet.

“Oh Dale…aren’t they marvelous?” The mesmer finally sat up, a cheerful gleam in her eyes. “I would just like to play like them…they are so free.”

“They are beautiful.” Dale responded, continuing to admire them as they somersaulted and crashed into the foaming waves. Her reverie was interrupted by a shout from the sailors as they rushed to trim the sails; the wind had risen to a threatening howl.

“Tyrians! Get down below!” The captain growled as he strode across deck. He snapped orders to shorten the sails further as he walked towards him. Dale saw him look at the dolphins and his dark eyes took in the seabirds following them and the squall ahead. “Go on, you two best get below…perhaps the dolphins keep us safe.”

They obediently shuffled along the increasingly hazardous deck and down the companionway, past a couple of Twistwood men who were looking very ill. Dale found a perch among the wool bales as the crashing of waves on timbers increased. Soon all six of them were perched among the cargo and listening with concern to the tormented groaning of the ship and its rigging.

“It’s never sounded this bad.” Arn commented as the ship lurched over a swell and slapped side on into the trough. “Then again I never sailed this early in the year before…”

Some of the bales slid across the deck, plowing through their equipment and pinning Hebek to the wall. Cursing, Hebek fought free and before perched on the wool with the rest of them. The ship continued fighting the ocean until a crash and a thump followed by the flapping of torn canvas informed them that a mast was down. The rigging in the ocean dragged the ship about and they floundered in the trough of the wave. Dale heard an ax thumping as the wreckage was cut away. She could hear water sloshing in the bilge below them and slowly became worried the ship was coming apart. Water was dripping down through the hatch and their deck was awash with a trickling veneer of water.

“Oh gods this does not sound good.” Hebek whined next to her. “I never liked the ocean.”

“The wind is falling.” Arn said, and indeed the rocking was less intense. For a moment the ship wallowed and then Dale could feel it turn; the captain had control of the helm again. After another tense half hour the wind had died to a choppy breeze. For another day the ship fought for survival. Then, on the morning of the next day she heard the sailors up on deck working. The ship was steady on a becalmed sea.

Dale crept up on deck with Kail in the late afternoon and saw that the mainmast was no more. A makeshift drift of sails were stretched on bamboo poles to catch what little wind remained and the Black Lion limped along. The sea was flat and there were no clouds to be seen.

“This is not good.”

“Its so calm.”

“There are ships that can take advantage of this little breeze, but without our mainsail…we aren’t one of them.” Kail sighed as he sat on the rail; the dolphins had abandoned them, perhaps for a faster ship. The sun climbed and shone fiercely on them. As they retreated to some shade she was surprised to see one of the Twistwood men come on to the deck. He was a weedy person that she’d hardly remarked upon, for he hardly spoke and Leth kept him in his place, which seemed to be at the bottom of the pecking order.

Now he was alone in the sun she saw the glitter of his silvery robes and noticed how his hair was almost white though he had a young man’s face. He seemed to sense her staring at her and turned to regard her with a soft gaze.

“Their aeromancer. He gets seasick easy. Rosie, their monk, complained to me about him…name’s Huon Tahl.” Kail commented. “Surprised to see the little worm in full sunlight.”

Dale found herself staring at him recklessly; he reminded her of a white fawn she’d seen in the forests of Ascalon as a young girl. He seemed just as nervous, delicate and flighty. Presently he raised his hands and summoned a strong breeze, the ship shifted a little and moved forward, the jury rigged mast creaked gently. The effect only lasted for a few minutes before sweat beaded on his brow and he was forced to lower his hands. His little figure slumped; maybe they made an additional hundred yard’s progress.

“I guess it was worth a try.” Dale said, approaching him from the precious shade. Huon observed her with a wry smile.

“So you are the ranger Leth was talking about?”

“Why would he talk about me?”

“Well now he mentions it…it is easy to see you are just a girl.” Houn smirked, reached down to his belt and opened a water bottle. He took a long sip before continuing. “He was asking us how best to kidnap you without bloodshed from your group.”

“Red Claw will be meeting us at the Battle Isles, tell him that. They’ll protect us!” Dale was smarting at the just in regards to her gender and she made sure her posture was threatening. Houn did not step away from her or even look alarmed. It was quite possible, Dale reflected, that her dirty and battered form was not very impressive. An impulse to get her bow and shoot a gull out of the sky to display her prowess seized Dale for a moment and then faded. Dale realized guiltily that some part of her wished Houn had liked her as much on sight as she had him. She felt heat in her cheeks as embarrassment as her feelings came to the fore.

“Hmm, what and put Twistwood’s mark on them? Maybe you would rather I didn’t.”

“Why tell me then?”

“Because I want to…and I hate being in the guild everyone hates. They talked about you like an animal. I think Leth means to hurt you.” Houn shrugged, bowing his head in a sudden studeous examination of the deck boards.

“I meet so many people who stay where they do not belong.”

The elementalist raised a silvery brow and shook his head. “I’m just a boy…I grew up there. It’s home.”

“If you are just a boy you couldn’t move a ship.”

“If they see me talking to you, they’ll likely cane me.” Dale could see he was blushing now. He had eyes like the sun through summer leaves; green and brown shot through with gold. She looked down at her feet when she realized she was staring. There was a long awkward silence.

“Uhm.” He shuffled and held out his hand. “Look, I’ll make sure they can’t get you. Friends?”

She took his hand and jumped away when an electrical jolt traveled up her arm. She saw the look of alarm in his eyes; he was now brilliant red in the face and looked ready to bolt for cover. She could smell burning and quickly patted out a small fire in the fur fringe of her armor.

“I’m so sorry! Sometimes I cannot control myself…I…I…oh…are you hurt?” He hugged his hands to himself, as if to hide the offending fingers from her. “Sorry.”

“I’m ok.”

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

He nodded to her, arms still folded around his thin frame as he headed for the hatchway. Still feeling somewhat flushed, she walked to the bow of the ship. She scanned the horizon and saw dark objects out on the silvery rim of the ocean. At first nothing but specs, but then black sailed and sleek, foam on their bow as their sharkfin sharp sails caught the soft breeze.

“Other ships.” Dale pointed. Kail wandered over and leaned on the rail, squinting his eyes in the harsh light.

The monk groaned. “They don’t look friendly…there’s hundreds of guilds in the isles and most of them won’t say no to easy prey.”

“Tyrians! Get your people up…and wake up the Kurzicks!” The captain shouted. “Gods be damned raiders. You, archer…get your bow…”

Dale rushed below with Kail, raising a shout with him. She heard the cabin doors slam open. The Twistwood group surged out of their lodgings, forcing Dale to spring down the hatch to the hold where the rest of her party was stirring. Arn shoved her bow into her hands as he dashed past. She was the last on the deck, standing behind the others as one sailor unraveled a length of red silk and began waving it over the bow of the ship. The breeze carried it up and it fluttered like a flame. The closest of the dark ships flickered and there was a boom. Something splashed into the water off to her left.

“Strike the sails!” The captain yelled, running past them and motioning wildly at his men. The adventurers huddled as the canvas came down and the ship came to a dead stop, hull slapping on the gentle waves. The sailors knelt around the wheelhouse, each of them picking up a bow and waiting.

“One of them has cannon.” Leth muttered. “And they fired on us even though we showed the distress flag.”

“I guess we don’t need to guess about their intentions.” Hebek mused as the three smaller ships drew closer. “Are we fighting?”

“Up to the captain.”

The captain was standing on the bow, his shoulders rounded and weary. He turned back to his crew and walked the length of the deck. The first ship had trimmed its sail so that a second ship could sail closer while it kept its cannon trained on the Black Lion. Soon the second boat was close enough to make out the large boarding crew.

“They have a couple fire mages as well…and the cannon. We’ll just let them take what they want…they’ll likely let us go.” The captain said with a shrug. “Disarm yourselves.”

“Balthazar damn that.” Leth snorted. “They touch my sword and I’ll kill them.”

“They’ll sink us if we fight.” The captain snapped. “The ship and crew is more important that any loot you may have found in the desert.”

“I’d rather live, personally.” Arn commented as they all watched the cannon being reloaded.

“Black Lion!” Came a sharp voice. “We are going to board, do not resist us and you’ll reach your port.”

“Come aboard then.” The captain shouted back. “Take what you want and then leave us in peace…we are missing a mast…how much bad luck can you thrust upon a poor captain?”

“I am drying my tears, Rodigo.” The figure on the prow of the other vessel was clearly laughing now. “You have passengers I see.”

“Yeah, some Twistwood guild and some others.”

“Ah, you take livestock now? Wonderful! Maybe I make some money on this run.”

“Malagoy, someday you’ll meet a bigger pirate and you’ll regret picking on honest men.”

“Ah Rodigo…we meet so seldom and have I ever killed a single one of your men?” The dark ship inched closer. Gaff hooks from the boarding party pulled it side by side with the Black Lion. Several ragged figures climbed up to the higher decks of their ship. The captain turned back to face the adventurers.

“Please disarm now…if he sees anything to make him nervous, they will fire.”
Cursing, the twelve of them dropped their weapons into a pile. Dale noticed that the Black Lion’s sailors did not drop their bows, but were watching the proceedings quietly. She watched as the red clad pirate pulled himself aboard the ship. He strutted across the deck and looked at the stack of weapons. His small greedy eyes took in the passengers.

“Purses…pretty please.” The man’s gaze paused on the pretty little female monk in the Twistwood group and he pointed. “You are coming with us.”

“Lay a hand on her and I will kill you.” Leth snarled. “She stays with us.”

“No, you fight and we sink the ship.” Malagoy commented. “Money. Mesmer…jewels m’dear…you are so plain…a shame.”

Dale pulled off her own purse and added it to the stack. She saw now that Rodigo’s sailors had knocked arrows and had trained on to Leth; the warrior seemed completely oblivious and was seething, his hand on his unsurrendered sword’s hilt. A pair of Malagoy’s men gathered up the loot while another gang had gone below to search for other valuables.

“The monk goes on my ship. Now.”

“Go with him…please, I rather this be bloodless. He treats his prisoners well enough. I will not allow you to resist at the expense of my ship.” Rodigo said, gesturing up to his own men, who were fidgeting with their bows. Leth suddenly sprang at the pirate, drawing his blade. Dale and the others sprang back as a dozen arrows hissed like deadly rain. The warrior froze mid attack, spun slightly and collapsed on the deck. The monk made a mewing noise of horror as one of the raiders grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards the corsair. They cringed under the sailors’ bows until Malagoy’s eye fell on Kail.

“Another monk. Excellent. Yes, you come with me as well.”

“I serve Dwayna…not at your will.”

“Well then, we will teach you otherwise. I require healers. You will do. Get on my ship…or I will kill the little mesmer…she’s an affront to beauty. I am amazed her own mother did not drown her.”

Kail dropped his head and was guided on to the ship. The stack of weapons, down to the sword that had fallen from Leth’s lifeless hand had now been transferred to the corsair. Other pirates returned with barrels of spirits, bolts of silk and the captain’s supply of wine. Malagoy loitered near the rail, his eyes on the passengers; Dale disliked his calculating expression. She tried to keep her expression clear of emotion, but tears were creeping into her eyes. Kail sat on the bow of the pirate captain’s ship; she met his eyes for a moment and he shook his head slowly. She saw not only his own fear but Kail's fear for his friends.

“Rodigo, have your men launch your longboat. We’ll put the Twistwood on it. I will have revenge today for all the ships of mine they have burned…and your deck is too good for more of their blood. Let them die alone on the drift…it’s a good hot day.”

Three sailors set to work on shipping the longboat that hung at the side of the Black Lion; it was a decrepit looking affair meant for short excursions ashore. Dale thought that when Malagoy said Twistwood he meant only those aboard wearing the red and gold knot cloaks, but a raider shoved her towards the port side where the longboat lolled in the calm water. She turned to face the pirate.

“I am not Twistwood, just a mercenary!”

“Too bad…choose your companions better.”

“They were not with us…I protest…” Dale continued.

“Do you want to be spiked?"

The pirate seized her arm and shoved her towards the rail. Before she could try to balance she tumbled through the air for a moment before striking the water. Dale struggled in the jade bright water for a moment, gasping at the sudden cold and the weight of her sodden armor. Someone shoved a paddle at her and she gripped it gratefully, sputtering and coughing. Arn grabbed her by the collar and hauled her aboard. Eight others huddled on the little shell of a boat. One of Rodigo’s sailors used a pike to shove them away from the Black Lion and they were adrift with just the one paddle to guide them.

“They’ll come back for us once the pirates are gone, right?” Daneska said as he ship grew further away. Dale was hardly listening to her; she was staring at the deck of the Black Lion where a silvery form was dashing to and fro desperately. Dale’s guts wrenched as she sensed the wolf’s terror of the deep ocean. He had not dived off of the ship in Lion’s Arch, but chosen to fight instead.

“Serul! Come! They’ll kill you.” She thought, trying to send the message clearly to him. Yet his thoughts were a jumble of instinctual fear; torn between losing her and drowning in the dark water. She saw now the sailors turning to watch the wolf and several of the pirates approaching in a cautious semicircle. Dale winced as she heard a loud roar of amusement; Serul had caught their fancy as a target of cruelty.

“If you don’t come, I’ll swim back to the ship to get you.”

“No Dale…they will shoot you, don’t come back.” The wolf’s thoughts finally focused. She saw him pause and put his forefeet on the rail. A sailor made a swipe at him with an axe. He vaulted forward and slapped awkwardly into the water. For a terrible moment she couldn’t see him and then saw his head pop above the water as he swam towards them.

“The wolf won’t fit.” Arn said as some of the others started noticing Serul’s approach. Serul’s weight tipped the boat precipitously when he tried to scramble aboard. The passengers screamed at her to make him go away. There was no room on the boat. Dale had to admit this; there was hardly enough for nine people, let alone an animal that weighed as much as any two of them.

“Serul. I will think of something, but don’t tip the boat.” She had no reply from him, but he sank miserably back into the water, his head barely above the surface. He circled the boat a couple times and then settled into paddling after the boat as it continued to drift. The passengers settled into a low drone of complaints at the cowardly nature of pirates, the lack of water and the unrelenting afternoon sun.

“Bloody Twistwood.” Demen grumbled. “Weren’t for your cowardly guild, we’d be poorer but at least still on the ship.”

“Shut up your filthy mercenary hole.” The Twistwood mesmer snapped. “They would have just slit your throats instead…they reserved this as a special honor.”

“Is the Black Lion coming back for us?” Daneska asked, gazing back at the diminishing hulk of the caravel.

“They seem to be sailing away…. The corsairs are with them.”

“That’s enough complaining…” Dale demanded after listening for a while; nothing constructive was happening and the Twistwoods, outnumbered, were beginning to get hostile. It was very apparent that no one was coming to rescue them. Surprizingly, everyone on the boat stopped talking and looked at her meekly. Dale could see the lurking fear in their eyes. “Everyone who has cloaks should put them across the boat so we can lay under them for shade. We cannot stay out in the sun.”

“Why? We are just going to die.” Renard the mesmer snarled. “We have no supplies.”

“Because when it gets dark we are going to use the oar and try to go towards that island.”

“Island?”

“See…over there?” Dale gestured to a dark smudge on the horizon to the north of where the ships were disappearing. “I think we are drifting that way.”

“Oh yeah.” Daneska said. “Well at least someone is being sensible.”

“In the meantime will someone help me pull out this bench? My wolf needs something to rest on, he's tired now, but if we do make a shore he'll be useful.”