Yet I feel as though I’m forgetting something. Or as if my subconscious is recognizing some danger that my brain can’t quite place. But it has nothing to do with the land we’re approaching.
I turn in my seat to look over my shoulder. Vengeance is anchored far enough out that she’ll have plenty of warning if an attack comes from the shore. Then I look to my right and left, taking special notice of the shapes jutting out of the water. Now that we’re close to shore, I can see them all the more clearly. From the ocean, the land appears to curve with hills of snow and cliffs of ice. But from this angle, I can see that the solid block of ice to our left is hollow. The water within only had the appearance of solid ice. It’s actually an enormous water cave. Some trick of the light?
Whatever the case, I feel my heart sink toward the icy depths beneath me as I peer into that dark crevice. My eyes focus on the darkness, trying to make out any movement within.
And then I see it: a line of shadow more potent than the others. The shape of a bowsprit.
“Turn the boats around!” I shout. “Now!”
The order is followed immediately, despite Kearan facing the ship and having no reason to listen.
“What is it?” Enwen asks from the next boat over.
“Row faster,” I order.
And then we hear shouting. Roslyn yells something from atop the crow’s nest. Dimella barks out orders in return. Bodies scramble atop the deck of Vengeance.
I return my eyes to the left, and sure enough, a ship unlike any I’ve ever seen emerges from the ice.
The hull is pale white, the sails dark gray. Many of them are ripped and tattered, streaming uselessly in the sparse breeze. It doesn’t matter, because the mainsail is enormous and intact, and the sweeps carry it plenty fast. It approaches the bow of Vengeance, out of our cannon sights, which are only located at the starboard and port sides.
It is easily twice the size of our own ship, with two extra decks, and a massive forecastle.
A galleon big enough to do some serious damage.
The bows of the two ships face each other. One anchored, the other closing in fast.
As we try to race the new vessel to the ship, I force my tense shoulders to relax. The enemy ship will need time to get within range. Then they’ll need to turn and line up their cannons just so. They have more control with those sweeps, but we might have chance to reach Vengeance in time.
And then I hear a cannon fire. Confusion settles within me until I see smoke billowing just below the bowsprit of the enemy ship.
Fore cannons.
Shit.
The first shot misses, but the second lodges into the hull of Vengeance. I hear the anchor of my ship slowly cranking, as Dimella must be trying to get the crew to weigh fast enough to turn the ship so we can face it with our own cannons.
“Come on, come on, come on!” Philoria shouts beside me. Her fingers twitch, and I’m sure she’s just aching to get behind a cannon and return fire.
We’ve still a ways to go.
“Scoot to the left,” I order Kearan. He moves over, allowing me to take the right oar and help him row. He was doing just fine on his own, but I need to do something before I go mad with anticipation.
I hear more cannon fire. Water splashes as missed shots connect with the sea. Wood shatters as another cannon hits its target. I’m at my limit, rowing as fast as I possibly can, and it’s still not enough.
Stupid. So stupid. I should have seen the enemy’s hiding spot sooner.
Another blast of cannon fire has my heart pumping at impossible speeds. It’s followed by an earsplitting crash and the creak of wood. I look over my shoulder, already knowing what I’ll see.
They hit the foremast, and it falls to one side, ropes snapping, and sails tearing.
Some sound escapes me. A throaty shriek of frustration.
And then we’re finally there.
I fly up the rope ladder, land on the deck, and survey the crew. Four girls are at the capstan, trying to get the anchor raised. Meanwhile, Dimella is at the helm, cranking it for the turn that will finally get our cannons in range. Radita is nowhere in sight, likely already below seeing to the damage.
Girls race to prepare the cannons. The anchor finally comes free of the water. The enemy ship is almost lined up with our cannons.
I try to make out figures on the enemy ship, but all I see are heavy coats and gear, just like we wear, though in different colors and styles. And whoever wears them is definitely human, not that I really took Enwen’s fears into consideration.
“Return fire!” I shout.
Philoria sets the first cannon off, and it just barely skims the ship, as it’s not quite lined up with the cannon’s sight. Visylla’s shot goes wide, but Bayla’s strikes true. She takes out one of the enemy’s cannons at the fore, striking right through the gunport and destroying both the weapon and whoever was manning it.
There’s a small cheer on our side as we see the enemy scrabble out of the way and take longer to reload their weapons for the next bout.
But when it comes, it comes hard. Their cannons go off in rapid succession. There are still at least three at the fore, and Vengeance jolts from the hits she takes.
There’s a breathless, silent moment as both sides refill their cannons before firing once more. The ship finally comes within musket distance, though just barely. Shots ring out on our side, and crossbow bolts and gunshots answer from the enemy.
Another cannon hits us low, and the sound of rushing water is all I can hear for a moment.
Until another shattering boom sounds, and a cannonball streaks to us, skimming too high to hit the ship, dodging the mast.
It hits Bayla square in the chest and carries her off the ship.
She’s dead before she even hits the water.
I stare at the spot where she disappeared in stunned silence.
Radita is shrieking at me from below, and I barely make out her words.
I don’t want to believe what is happening. I want to go back in time, retrace my steps in such a way as to save the four—five now—we’ve lost on this journey.
I would have attacked the beastie the first time we saw bubbles in the water. I would never have left the ship to explore the shore until I was certain the crew I was leaving behind was safe.
But it’s too late for any of that, and regret will not save the souls who remain within my care. The truth strikes my heart like a physical blow.
We’re not going to win this fight.
Perhaps if we’d had the whole crew on deck. If we hadn’t anchored. If we’d had our weapons ready.
But it didn’t happen that way, and I know we’ve already lost.
“Dimella!” I shout. “Get the rest of the rowboats lowered. Now! Jadine!” I find the head cook somewhere in the bedlam, loading a musket for another shot.
“Captain?”
“Get as much food as you possibly can loaded into the boats.”
“We’re abandoning ship?”
“Preparing for the worst. Now go!”
Philoria gets her cannon reloaded and takes another shot. It strikes true, but the behemoth doesn’t slow.
I go belowdecks and call for Radita.