The next day, very early, Captain Olsen saw two ships in the distance. Immediately he ordered a series of maneuvers to distance themselves from them. Lasgol and his team woke to the shouts of the captain to his crew, and watched the ships in the distance. Olsen was trying to get away, but the two ships went on getting closer, which was not a good sign. Olsen ordered the ship to veer into the wind in order to lose them. The two other ships did the same.
“Who are they?” Gerd asked.
“I’d prefer to ask, what do they want?” said Viggo.
“They’re still approaching from starboard,” Ingrid said, “in spite of the Captain’s efforts.”
“I’ve got a feeling this is going to get ugly,” said Astrid.
“They’re not merchant ships, are they?” Nilsa asked.
“No, those are ships of war,” Ingrid said. “They look very much like the ones we use.”
“What kingdom are they from?” Gerd asked.
Lasgol had called upon his Hawk’s Eye skill. “They’re not carrying the flag of any kingdom. Their flag is black …”
The Captain’s voice thundered throughout the ship and confirmed their fears.
“Pirates!”
Chapter 20
“Pirates?” Viggo protested in disbelief. “You must be kidding, right? As if this mission weren’t complicated and dangerous enough already!”
“Well, it looks as though it’s just got a bit more dangerous still,” Ingrid said. “Run for your weapons, we’re going to need them!”
“You just wait and see,” Viggo muttered acidly. “We haven’t come across a giant sea monster in this mission yet!”
Ingrid was already leading the way, a few paces ahead. “You’re the real monster. Shut up and get your weapons.”
Viggo smiled. “Well, I seem to be improving. I’d rather be a monster than a numbskull.” He ran off.
Gerd shook his head. “Now that’s something I wasn’t expecting. Danger’s come before we’d expected it.” He followed Viggo with long strides, and the others ran after him.
“Trim the sail!” Captain Olsen shouted to his sailors.
Eicewald went to join him at the stern, to watch what was going on. “Will they attack us?”
“We’ll know very soon. If we don’t manage to leave them behind they’ll almost certainly attack.” Olsen was looking through his double spyglass as he spoke. “We’re a merchant ship with no escort on board. We’re too good a bite to pass up.”
“Are we going to leave them behind?”
“We’ll see. They have warships, and they’re fast,” the Captain commented as he looked through his spyglass again.
“How many?”
“About ninety in each ship, and they look like a well-equipped bunch of pirates.”
Eicewald shook his head. “Very bad business in that case.” He was thoughtful as he watched the enemy ships, which were beginning to narrow the distance which separated them.
“To the oars!” Olsen ordered his sailors. “Every man to the oars! We’ve got to leave them behind, and the wind’s not strong enough to let us do that. Hellfire!”
Ingrid came up to the Captain, with the others beside her. “Ready to repel the attack, Captain.”
Olsen glanced at the six of them, then at the pirate ships. He looked uncomfortable. “Don’t get me wrong, but you’re six against two hundred or thereabouts, and at sea, which is not exactly home ground for a Ranger. I don’t think we can keep them off if they catch up with us …”
Eicewald half-closed his eyes and showed his mage’s staff. “There are seven of us,” he pointed out.
“Even so. Best if they don’t catch up with us. Pirates aren’t like the soldiers you’re used to fighting. They’re a lot more daring, they always fight dirty, and they make the most of every advantage.”
“Then they’re like me, so there’s nothing for me to worry about,” Viggo muttered.
Gerd went white. “Well, there is for me.”
“Me too,” Nilsa joined in unsurely.
“Easy, pals,” Astrid said cheerfully. “No matter how dirty they fight, we’re way better than they are. Trust your training and your skill.”
Pirates? asked Camu, who did not know the word.
Attackers at sea. Bad people, bandits of the seas, Lasgol explained.
Fight?
Not for the moment. Wait for my signal. You go up the mast. Ona, you stay close to me, but be wary.
I go up mast, Camu agreed.
Ona growled, to show that she was ready to fight.
“Row! Row for your lives!” Olsen roared.
The crew was rowing as one, trying to outdistance the enemy ships. Unfortunately, the pirates had been given the same order. Since the pirate ships were faster and could count on more oarsmen, the chances of escaping were decreasing every moment, and Lasgol could see this immediately, as could Astrid. They glanced at one another, and she shook her head. No, they were not going to escape.
“They’re getting closer,” Eicewald observed. “They’re faster than we are.”
“They have faster ships and more oarsmen. We’re in a tight spot,” Olsen summarized gloomily.
Eicewald nodded. “Get yourselves in place. Three on one side of the dragon’s tail, three on the other. As soon as they’re within range, begin to release. We might make them a bit less enthusiastic about chasing us.”
“Right,” Ingrid said, and they took up their places. Eicewald moved a couple of paces back to stand between the two groups.
For a moment the sail swelled with the breath of the gods, bringing hope to Olsen and his people that they would be able to get away, but it did not last long. The sail slackened, and they could all feel that the wind was dying. Without it they had no escape-route.
“We’re losing the wind!” Olsen shouted to his crew. “Row! All together!” They were strong, experienced sailors, who were rowing skillfully and propelling the
