The pirate ship’s sail and mast, and now part of its deck, were in flames which sought to consume the entire vessel. The pirates were doing nothing to put it out, but instead had all given themselves over to the boarding, following the instructions of the pirate captain, who was shouting himself hoarse. He was a thin but tall man whose movements were agile. He was wielding a thin, elegant sword, its pommel encrusted with gems, in his right hand, and an equally thin, elegant and richly-decorated dagger in his left. He wore a strange hat decorated with red feathers. His clothes seemed to have been matched to his hat: a red corselet over black pants, and high boots, also black. He wore a large, crossed belt with a silver buckle, and on it, could be seen two other daggers.
The sailors repelled the pirates as best they could, but they were neither soldiers nor fighters, so they were falling behind. Olsen was leading them, and it was obvious that he himself had experience and skill with weapons. Many years at sea had taught him how to use them, since this was not his first encounter with pirates – although it might well be his last. In the chaos of the fighting on deck anything might happen, and it was not always the most skilled with weapons who survived. Olsen, who knew this, moved nimbly, making sure of his steps as he shouted orders to his crew.
At that moment Viggo reached the middle of the fray and began to deliver death with his two knives. He moved so fast that he killed the pirates even before they could see him. Those who tried to stab him were not even able to graze him.
Astrid gave Lasgol a swift kiss. “I see Viggo’s doing his thing. I’m going to help him. Be careful.” A moment later she was beside Viggo in the middle of the fray, and began to deliver death with him.
For a moment Lasgol feared for them in the chaos of the situation. Several pirates had now turned their attention on him, so it was time to worry a little less about the fate of his assassin friends and a little more about his own.
He threw himself into the fray, and Ona went with him.
It was time to fight and repel the enemy attack.
Chapter 21
Gerd joined him in the fray immediately, which Lasgol was very grateful for. There were too many enemies. Both friends began to fight together, wielding Ranger knife and axe, in harmony, back-to-back, against the pirates who seemed to be leaping on to the ship from every direction. Ona made up the third point of the triangle. At the sight of the snow panther, the pirates backed off in fear. The presence of an aggressive big cat was not something they were used to, least of all in a boarding raid.
Ingrid and Nilsa meanwhile were fighting shoulder to shoulder. Ingrid was not letting any pirate near her, bringing them all down with her tiny bow Punisher, ceaselessly moving from one side to another, hopping and rolling over herself. She used every movement to avoid being hit, and nocked and aimed so quickly and naturally that it looked as though she was making no effort at all, not even appearing to aim. Nilsa followed her and helped her, armed with her Ranger knife and axe. These were not her forte, but even so, she was more skilled than the pirates, who were no more than the scum of the seas: not exactly great fighters – although certainly dangerous, because they were both treacherous and experienced.
The pirate captain boarded the ship with the help of a rope, as if it were the easiest thing in the world, shouted several orders to his men and attacked. The sailors who stood up to him died under his accurate sword-strokes and slashes. The expression on his face showed that he had had plenty of experience. Olsen, seeing that his men were in danger, went to confront him.
“To me!” he shouted. “I challenge you! Captain against captain!”
He waited by the mast with his great sword at the ready, and the pirate captain walked confidently across to meet him. It was clear that he was a dangerous man.
He gave a respectful nod. “Captain against captain.”
“For the ship!” Olsen cried, and launched a powerful two-handed blow with his great Norghanian sword.
The pirate Captain slipped to one side easily. “For the ship,” he said in turn. He launched a swift thrust at Olsen’s heart, and the captain leapt back to avoid it. They exchanged cuts and strokes, taking one another’s measure, noting one another’s styles and weighing up possible strategies. Olsen fought in the Norghanian style, seeking to end the fight with a single brutal blow. The pirate captain, on the other hand, fought with skill and finesse, with neither brusque movements nor exaggerated strokes. They were two completely opposing styles. The fights between the sailors and pirates around them were very similar, showing the differences between both sides: the sailors clumsy, the pirates with more experience.
Lasgol and Gerd, on the other hand, fought with experience and skill, which allowed them to take down their enemies and make some progress. Gerd kicked
