Mikko was about to join in the group hug when D’rmas placed a restraining hand on his arm. Mikko faced him, and Hermon nodded in the negative. Mikko fell back in place beside D’rmas.
“Erm, guys,” Mikko called, the tone of alarm creeping into his voice. “I think we are…”
The ship lurched violently, throwing everybody to the side. Even Eldana, Siem, and Hermon, who were tangled in a hug, were broken apart.
Eldana groaned as her shoulder ached from the impact of her fall. She flexed it as she sat up, and then asked:
“What was that? Another storm?”
“Right now, I do not know if I would prefer the storm to this,” Siem said.
Eldana followed the direction of Siem’s gaze, and then caught sight of the company of two ships heading with unbelievable speed towards them. A sudden spume of water burst from the calm sea’s off their port bow.
“They’re shooting cannonballs at us!” D’rmas observed, before running for the steering wheel.
“Do you know how to do that!?” Mikko cried in alarm.
“Fear not, Mikko. You will not be swimming today. Not yet.”
“Do you know how to pilot a ship?” Eldana asked.
“A little.” the Free Warrior gruffly shouted back.
The rest of the company looked at each other unanimously in surprise.
“You could, and you did not say anything?” Siem asked. “Even when we almost died?”
D’rmas turned back to them. “First, we did not die. Second, I am familiar with the rubrics of piloting a ship! I do not know how to ride one professionally or steer efficiently out of a storm. But the occasion calls for desperate measures, and I am taking one.”
He turned and drew back a lever a little off the bottom left of the wheel. The lever controlled the steering of the ship between a physical manning, and the basic manning of the ship, where the ship steered itself. There was a grumbling sound within the ship, the only mechanical and rugged sound from a vessel which was sleek and tall, with the head of a swan as its prow.
“Now, get yourselves busy,” he said, as the ship lurched forward, beginning to pick up speed as they felt her slice through the waves.
Eldana, Siem, and Mikko turned towards the pursuing ships, and devoted their attention, in magic and strategy, to them. Mikko manipulated the water to try and parry the cannonballs from the air. With magic, raised an energy wall that should protect them from further damage. Siem went into attack mode and started to whisper magical power into her arrows. Though not as powerful over sea, demon arrows still could create damage. She decided to hit the bigger of the two boats. The arrow slit through the water like a knife through butter, but it never reached the destination. They had their own protection shield. Even the second or the third demon arrow never went through.
“They have powerful mages on board. I can tell you that.” Siem was saying, more to herself than anyone.
While all of them were on the offensive, Hermon just paced the ship, helpless, and furious at having to do nothing.
Suddenly, Eldana felt a sharp spike of pain in her ribs. She screamed and fell to her side. Siem abandoned the attack before her and stooped.
“What is the matter?” Siem asked, concern flooding her face.
“I do not know.” Eldana cried, turning, and clutching at her ribs. “I do not know.”
Mikko turned. “What is the problem?” he asked, still using his hands to wave tentacles of water wildly in the air.
“Mikko!” Hermon cried, pointing forward.
Mikko turned just in time to intercept a cannonball that was heading directly towards them. Mikko did not turn back anymore. He focused on the ships, who were now closer than before.
“D’rmas faster,” Hermon yelled. “They are gaining on us!”
Siem looked out at the pursuing ships. She could spot both a company of battle-eager orcs on the decks, as well as a company of the elite warriors of the Middle.
“Not now.” She moaned, turning to face Eldana who was still crying. “Where does it hurt?” she asked her.
“It burns. It burns.” Eldana cried.
“Where?” Siem asked. “Tell me, Eldana. Try. I need to do something.”
Just then, one of the cannonballs, slammed into the hull of a ship, smashing a gaping hole right through the hull.
“I do not know.” Mikko said, fear beginning to creep into his voice, “just what these balls are made of, but they are trumping any protection spells!”
“Mikko, watch out,” Hermon cried out again.
Mikko stared, rooted to the spot as a cannonball hurtled directly towards him.
Hermon dashed across the deck to him, and diving, pushed him out of the way of the incoming shot. The ball smashed a hole in the deck where Mikko had been standing.
The ship lurched forward, pushing Siem onto Eldana’s body. D’rmas turned and found that the pursuing ships had caught up with them. The ships behind were faster and were closing in. From fifty feet away, they had inched closer to six feet behind them, almost touching...
“They are here! They are on us!” the Free Warrior warned.
The first orc that jumped on to the board got a dagger to his forehead. He fell backwards into the waves without even making a sound.
Siem looked at the influx of orcs and soldiers and knew this was one attack they were less likely to hold off.
“Mikko.!” She called, getting to her feet.
Mikko ran to her.
“The Princess! Take her away from here!” Siem cried out.
“To where?” Mikko asked.
“To Piece Island.” Siem gasped as she fired one arrow into the throat of one boarding orc, then another, and another.
“That is going to be difficult. Extremely difficult. And we do not have the time for that nor can I jump that far.”
An orc roared as it stepped on board.
“Do it. I will give you time. Just jump from horizon to horizon.” Siem said.
Mikko nodded. Stooping, he hovered his hand over Eldana’s writhing body and began to cast a spell. Siem stood
