Hearing a sudden rush of activity accompanied by frenzied shouting, Kasui groaned and opened her eyes as she swayed slowly in her hammock. She looked across at Ryan and the youth, each in their own hammocks, both with their own eyes open, and senses straining to understand what was happening. As the noise and activity continued, Kasui gave up trying to guess what was going on. So she just swung her legs out of the hammock.
"You stay with the kid Ryan, I will go see what's happening" Kasui grumbled as her stomach lurched. Sea sickness was one of her weaknesses, even as mild as this case was. Ryan nodded to her and just swung out of his own hammock. Kasui turned away and made her way to the end of the crew quarters, and climbed the short staircase to the deck. As she came out onto it, she was hit with the smell of salt, and the feeling of the sun and wind upon her skin, both harsh out in the open ocean.
Looking around, Kasui saw sailors hard at work, in a sort of organized chaos. She had never really been one for sailing, so had no idea what they were doing. Looking around, she saw Captain Jon at the helm of the ship, occasionally looking backwards and up. She turned her gaze to follow his, and her heart leapt as she saw an Airship behind them, slowly dropping altitude in their direction. Gritting her teeth, Kasui made her way up to the helm to stand beside the Captain, who turned to look at her.
"Guess you came to check on what the commotion was eh? That there is an Imperial warship. Not a coast guard. A warship. And its been signaling us to halt so they can inspect us. We have ignored their signals of course because they have no legal right to stop us, but now they look like they are going to attempt to board us" Jon stated as he once more anxiously looked behind him, watching the airship slowly descend. His eyes shot briefly to the side to one of his crew who was looking through a telescope at the the ship, no doubt reading the flag signals and translating them.
"Well that's a problem. How far are we out from the rendezvous in the islands?" Kasui asked and the Captain just grimaced.
"Less than an hour before we cross into The S.I.Rs maritime borders. There is supposed to be an escort waiting for us near an outlying island. Its a damn shame this Imperial caught up to us when we are so close" the Captain stated, his shoulders slumped slightly, a look of defeat on his face. Kasui scowled and slapped the man on the back. A man that was at least a full head taller than her.
"We ain't boarded yet. We can still get there right?" Kasui asked, looking out over the crew, sensing their nervousness. The captain grimaced and shook his head.
"I doubt it. We are beating to windward, sailing against the wind, so we are slower than that Imperial warship. From what my spotter has said, they have at least a half dozen mages feeding their sails with wind magic to catch us. And if they board us, my crew ain't soldiers. We are smugglers, not professional fighters" the Captain let out and just gripped the ships wheel hard, the whites of his knuckles showing.
"Well, if we are getting boarded no matter what, just leave that to me then" Kasui snapped, feeling a wash of irritation course through her. The captain shot her a worried look and tensed up.
"We don' have to fight, we can just put you in the false hold where we usually put contraband. That's the whole point of smuggling" the Captain stated and then looked back once more. Kasui followed his gaze, noting the warship was much closer now, to the point she could see the tiny figures of people looking over its railings.
"My understanding of maritime laws is pretty lacking, but from what I know, military vessels have no authority to stop ships in international waters like you said. And if they do, that becomes piracy right? These fucks ain't just gonna let you go" Kasui snapped and watched the Captain wince.
"Aye, that's the case usually. They can stop us if they think we are breaking sanctions or something. There is a lot more to it than that though. Not a conversation for now" the Captain replied and Kasui shrugged.
"Whatever, just sail the ship. I will give us the time we need to cross the border. Don't you fucken worry about that" Kasui stated, and before the Captain could reply, she just turned on the ball of her foot and headed back below the deck, going back to Ryan. When he saw her, Ryan just pushed off of a support he had been leaning against, arms folded. He raised a brow in query.
"An Imperial airship is gaining on us, and is going to board us. We are under an hour from S.I.R waters. I am going to delay the Imperial vessel. For that, I need the amplifier's" Kasui stated, filling in Ryan before holding out a hand. Ryan just looked at her, his gaze hard, and his body tense. After a moment he just swallowed and then turned to his back pack and rifled through it. After a moment, he pulled out two items. One a long cylindrical rod, about the length of Kasui's forearm and thickness of her thumb, and a single vial of a dust like powder.
Kasui took both of the items, feeling the heft of the rod. It was an item made entirely out of the light blue crystal Etherum, and was carved with various symbols, and adorned with a series of silver rings wrapped around it. The item was a magic amplifier, and hideously expensive to make. The other item, the vial of dust was essentially a combat stimulant for mages, and had its own series of consequences for use. She stared at them a few moments, feeling the trepidation, frozen as her mind whirred. She felt a hand land on her shoulder though, and she jolted back, her gaze snapping to Ryan.
"Get it done Kasui. Make those worthwhile" Ryan stated, gripping her shoulder a little. Kasui scowled and shook his hand from her.
"Don't fucken tell me what to do" she snapped in her usual dire manner, and Ryan just chuckled before pulling a flintlock pistol from his backpack, and starting to load it. No more need to be said, and Kasui turned away, her jaw set as she made her way back above deck.
As Kasui stepped out onto the deck once more, she looked around, and saw the vast majority of sailors standing still on the deck, a look of hopelessness on many a face. All staring in one direction. To the portside of the ship. Kasui turned to look, and saw the Imperial vessel practically parallel with them hovering slightly above the waves, a row of soldiers on its deck with muskets slung. She saw an officer behind them, calling orders. She could see them speaking, but could not hear them. Scanning them, she counted roughly fifty soldiers. There was no way they would get repulsed from boarding if they chose to. Continuing to scan, Kasui's eyes landed on the Helm, and she scowled as she saw Prince Bradley there.
"Mother Fucker, that's Prince Bradley" she muttered and a few of the sailors near her turned sharply to look at her. She had not really expected that, but regardless, it was not going to change her mind. She strode forward, stuffing the vial of dust into her pouch as she held the amplifier in her right hand and pointed it at the Imperial vessel, lining its tip to the starboard bow. She started chanting then, rhythmically in her native tongue as her left hand when to her belt, where her crystals were studded. She pressed her bare fingertips to one on her left hip, and felt it surge as she placed her minds eye on it, and pulled on the energy within. It was her sole lightning crystal and she had been saving it for a rainy day. Like now.
As Kasui felt the energy twist and turn in her grasp, she guided it with her mind and chants, through her core and into the amplification rod in her right hand. She felt it pulse through her, building up as she locked eyes on the target before her, sensing all the sailors around her start to scramble away. She saw realisation dawn on the soldiers on the Imperial vessel, now perhaps fifty or so meters away from her own ship. She saw a flurry of movement as six people at the helm of the ship surrounded Bradley and raised their arms chanting. She saw a faint shimmer in the air as a barrier formed around them and the helm of the ship.
No matter. That was not her target. With a concerted effort, she finished her chanting and feeling the energy coalesce in the tip of the rod, she stepped right up to the railing of the ship, and sighed, releasing the roiling energy.
There was a brilliant white flash of light, followed by a crack of thunder as a lightning bolt blasted from the tip of the amplifier, and Kasui twitched the road aiming it from the starboard bow, along the starboard beam all the way to the stern. The lightning bolt smashed into the bow first, chunks of wood exploding outwards, even as the beam of lightning was raked along the ship, arcing wildly. It blasted through the gathered soldiers and ship alike, scorching and exploding anything it hit. The beam finally reached the helm last and blasted into the barrier that had been erected by the casters on it, and colorful lights cascaded off and around in a brilliant show accompanied by another crack of thunder. Kasui watched as the last of the lightning energy left the rod, and buckled the enemy's barrier completely, two of the six casters collapsing to their knees as their energy was spent under the weight of the assault.
Stolen story; please report.
The entire attack had lasted seconds and Kasui just dropped the rod, hearing it clatter to the deck, a faint smell of burned flesh coming from her right hand. She ignored the pain, shutting off her sense of pain like she had been trained to, and pulled out the vial of dust even as screaming and shouting sounded out from the Imperial vessel as those aboard recovered from the blast. Grabbing the vials cork between her teeth, she pulled it out and spat it to the side before she held up her left hand and poured half the vials contents along the ridge of her left hand.
Pressing her right thumb to her right nostril, she then snorted the substance, and instantly felt it hit her senses. The substance blasted through her, making the entire world slow down as her senses sped up. Her magic energy seemed to explode inside her, and she looked down, holding her hands out in front of her, seeing her veins bulge, a luminescent, pale blue light emanating from them.
She felt unreal, powerful, full of energy. And she knew it would not last. She would crash eventually. So, she dropped the vial, watching it fall in slow motion even as she reached behind her and drew her blades from their sheaths. Her gaze whipped up to look at the Imperial vessel, fifty meters away. Her minds eye sensed everything around her, and locked on the wind crystal at her belt. And she pulled on the energy it held with her mind alone. She need not touch it in this state, or chant as everything simply felt easy. Like she was simply breathing. She guided the energy with her mind as she bent her knees and jumped, creating a blast of air beneath her feet with thought alone.
Kasui sailed through the air, fast and high, bridging the gap between the two vessels with ease. As she approached the halfway mark, her eyes scanned the Imperials, seeing the surviving soldiers lifting muskets to aim at her. She created a barrier around herself, holding it close to her skin, even as she twisted magic power around her, and vanished from view, cloaking herself in invisibility. And then with a thud, she landed in among the surviving soldiers, who had yet to fire their weapons. Then she became a whirlwind of death.
***
Standing at the Helm of his ship, Bradley crossed his hands behind his back while he stared at the cargo ship less than a hundred meters away, in front, slightly to port, and completely ignoring every single order he had had transmitted to them.
"I do not think they are going to stop My Lord" came a statement from Bradley's left, the tone practically oozing in sarcasm. Bradley could not help but scowl as he turned to look at the young man on his left, the mans face bearing a cheerful expression, set off by his short blond beard and long braided hair, hanging over his right shoulder.
"So it would seem Sir Basten. Though if I were you, I would cease stating the obvious in the event you irritate your liege" Bradley stated in a cool tone, and watched as the mans mirth vanished from his features.
"Ah, yes that would be a good idea my Lord. I shall note it" Sir Basten replied, his gaze sweeping away from Bradley only to lock on the sailing vessel they were quickly pulling up alongside. Bradley followed his gaze also, and let it linger on the ship, squinting his eyes against the oceans glare as he saw a number of figures moving about on the ships deck. He noticed the figure of a small dark skinned woman, departing the ships helm and disappearing beneath deck. He just narrowed his eyes at that a moment, thoughts trickling in as she seemed out of place among the others on the ship, who all looked like islanders and southern natives.
Noticing movement before him, Bradley moved to the railing at the helm, and saw a compliment of soldiers gathered on the deck of the sloop. It was a tight fit, as he had brought them in addition to the ships crew of one hundred, all of whom were moving about the ship in line with their duties. Looking at the commander, Bradley noted the man striding along the deck, and then up the stairs to the helm, where he stood at attention and saluted.
"My Lord, the marines are ready. Am I to assume we will be pursuing a boarding action?" the man asked, and Bradley focused his full attention on him.
"At ease Lieutenant. Yes, we will be. Though with the situation as it is, we will not clear the deck with the six pounders, as the vessel does not appear to be armed. My casters will join the boarding to assist in the capture of the vessel, and the fugitive. Once the vessel is captured, we will sail the vessel back to port. Keep casualties to a minimum, as I will need to question as many of the crew as possible" Bradley stated, standing ramrod straight hands clasped behind his back. Turning his gaze, Bradley looked to the ships commander, standing off to left at the helm, giving orders to the helmsman.
"Captain Grigor. Use only grapple shot and pull us in for boarding. The marines will handle everything else" Bradley stated, and saw the Captain nod. Not long after, orders began to be shouted, and passed about the vessel. Bradley turned his attention back to the fleeing ship, seeing they were now parallel with his own vessel, his starboard to their portside, and the distance closing fast. It was then that his gaze snapped to the dark skinned woman appearing back on the deck, and striding straight to the railing of the vessel. He saw a glinting rod in her hand, and his eyes widened. He was no caster, but he knew an amplification tool when he saw one.
"Sir Basten, caster on port" Bradley stated sharply, and pointed at the woman. His caster guards seemed to spring into action immediately, ceasing their control of the wind magic feeding the ships sails, and closed ranks around him, grasping hands and breaking into chanting. Bradley felt the hair on the back of his neck and forearms prickle as his eyes remained locked on the dark skinned woman, her features clear now, from what was thirty or forty meters. She looked like a Samite woman, small and slight in stature, dressed in mottled black and dark grey clothing. Clothing that was not normal of sailors. Bradley felt a knot form in his stomach, as well as a stab of anger in his heart. This woman had to be the one who had breached his facility. All thoughts vanished though as the woman lifted her amplification tool, and pointed it at his ship.
A crack of thunder split the air alongside a blinding white light as a bolt of lightning erupted from the Samite woman, and in mere seconds raked across the starboard side of his ship, scorching, splintering and exploding wood, sailors and marines alike. The streak of lightning slashed up the side, and blasted into those standing around Bradley, and he felt his heart tighten in his chest as he watched the wild energy ripple across the barrier created by his guards. He heard a sharp cry as two of the guards crumpled from the attack just as it ended. Basten stepped over them to cover them, both his hands now held high in the air, his face contorted in concentration.
"Protect the Prince with your lives" Basten cried out, his voice hoarse and cracking, and Bradley just ground his teeth, his left hand falling to rest on the hilt of his saber. Just in case. Looking past the guards, he locked eyes on the Samite woman, just as she drew two long knives from sheaths on her lower back. He just stared in shock as he saw her jump, and sail through the air, bridging the impossible gap between the two ships. And midway, she simply vanished from view. Not completely certain on what he had seen, Bradley traced what he thought her trajectory was, and looked to the deck of his ship, only to see and hear what was a whirlwind of death.
His marines were collapsing one after the other as they turned about themselves desperately, trying to fight what they could not see. Streaks of blood erupted, jugulars sliced, bright red sprays of blood painting the sails, the deck, other marines and sailors. Bradley saw ropes slashed and cannons hit with blasts of magic, sending them exploding from the ships deck to fall into the ocean. The whirlwind of death continued, and Bradley watched as three soldiers lined up and fired muskets in the direction of the whirlwind. There was a slight cackle of laughter as Bradley watched the bullets ricochet off of a barrier, right before all three of the soldiers collapsed to the deck gurgling as a spray of blood from their throats splashed across the deck.
Basten let out a roar as he twisted his hands before him, a streak of magic racing from him, and blasting a hole in the deck just in front of the fallen trio of soldiers. As wood splintered and cascaded around the deck and the surviving crew, another cackle of laughter erupted from somewhere in front of Bradley and his guards. Basten and the remaining casters stepped closer, almost crushing Bradley from how tight they were packed, murmuring chants as they weaved a their barrier tighter around the group, their hands once more clasped between each other.
It was then that someone appeared out of thin air, perched upon the railing in front of the helm and wheel, where both the Helmsman and Captain Grigor stood frozen, pale faced, free hands holding flintlock pistols. Both raised them on instinct and fired at the perched woman, who just stared grinning at Bradley manically. The shots slapped into a barrier around her and just pinged away, and completely unfazed, the woman lifted her right arm, and pointed a bloodied knife at the Helmsman and Grigor. Bradley saw the woman's bare arms then, toned and rippling in muscle, veins bulging and letting off a luminescent, pale blue light. It was eerie and terrifying, and for the first time in a long time, Bradley felt his knees twitch, and fear pulse through him. Then quite suddenly, from the tip of the woman's bloodied blade, a gout of wicked blue flame erupted, and blasted out over the Helmsman and Captain Grigor.
Screams of agony erupted from the two as they ignited under the scorching blast, cut off abruptly as their gunpowder packs exploded on their torso, a series of loud bangs and pops letting off. As chunks of the former sailors fell to the deck, the gout of flame stopped, and Bradley looked at the woman, staring into her eyes, her head tilted to the right somewhat, her face split into a wicked Cheshire grin, even as sweat and blood seemed to run in rivulets from the woman's wicked form.
