Dazed, Tristan looked around. The decks of The People's Revenge were overflowing with Minion warriors. Still more circled in the skies above, their numbers occasionally blotting out the sun. A Minion litter sat on the deck nearby.
He cast his eyes out over the sea. Not only had the pirate fleet been immobilized, but the Minion vessels had by now completely surrounded them, as well.
Thankful to be alive, he took a deep breath. It seemed they had done it, after all. But there were still difficult decisions to be made, and he knew it. Then he saw Geldon.
The hunchbacked dwarf was waiting patiently near the gunwale, his dark, intelligent eyes taking in everything. Tristan went to him on still-shaky legs, and they gratefully embraced one another. Smiling, Geldon looked up into the prince's eyes.
"We were very worried," he said simply. "We have been tearing our hair out trying to find you. The Sea of Whispers is a very big place." He smiled again, at the same time giving Tristan a knowing wink. "In case you didn't already know, the Minions can become very irritable when they are concerned for the safety of their lord."
A look of worry crossed Tristan's face. "And what of everyone at the palace?" he asked, his mind finally starting to clear. "Are they well?"
"As far as I know, yes, they are," Geldon answered. "But I have been at sea for nearly thirty days, bringing the fleet across. In any event, you will soon see them for yourself."
Looking back to the very confused Tyranny and Scars, Tristan beckoned them forward. But as he was introducing them to Geldon and Traax, he saw Tyranny's face turn dark.
"What's wrong?" he asked. "We've won. You should be happy."
Then he understood. She had just noticed her dead crewmembers hanging from the rigging of the pirate vessel that had rammed them.
Without speaking, she walked over to the nearby gunwale and looked up. No one followed her; no one spoke. After a time, Tristan walked up and put one arm around her, and she laid her head tiredly on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry," he said. "But at the same time I must tell you that if I were forced to make that same decision again, I would."
For a moment she did not speak. "I know," she finally answered. "And I am not angry with you. But no amount of kisa in the world can remedy this."
Tristan turned to Traax. "Have them cut down immediately," he ordered. "And have the bodies covered with sailcloth. Their remains are to be respected, and buried at sea." With a sharp click of his heels, Traax turned and began barking out orders.
Raising her head from Tristan's shoulder, Tyranny looked up into his dark eyes. "Thank you," she said softly. "For everything." Knowing there was little more to be said, Tristan only nodded.
Then another Minion officer approached, and Tristan recognized him as the one he had ordered to destroy the pirate sails and rigging. The warrior went to one knee, his head bowed.
"Permission to speak, my lord?" he asked politely.
"Granted," Tristan said.
The Minion stood. "My name is K'jarr, and I wanted you to know that it was my great honor to serve by your side in the skies over Farplain, just before the destruction of the Gates of Dawn. It was also my privilege to fight alongside you again here today."
Tristan smiled at K'jarr. Sometimes it seemed that the horrific battle over the fields of Farplain had been many years ago, rather than mere months.
"Thank you, K'jarr," he said with feeling. "I will not forget you in the days to come."
Traax reappeared then at Tristan's side, his face showing uncharacteristic concern.
"Forgive me, my lord, but my news is urgent. The People's Revenge is taking on water-a direct result of having been rammed. The leak is slow, but our shipwrights tell me that it is irreparable. It is imperative that we transfer all of the survivors to our other vessels, and that we do so quickly."
Looking forward, Tristan could see that Traax was right. In the heat of all the fighting, he hadn't noticed. But the ship was going nose-down, her bowsprit already nearing the waves.
"How long do we have?" Tristan asked.
"No more than one hour," Traax answered.
Tristan turned to look at Tyranny. He could use the Minions to force an evacuation, but he wouldn't. This was her ship, and it would be her decision.
Closing her eyes for a moment, Tyranny finally nodded.
Tristan turned back to Traax. "Very well," he answered. He looked back at Tyranny. "Is there anything you wish to take?" he asked.
"Only my charts and navigational tools," she answered. Looking over at Scars, she gave the faithful giant some silent commands with her eyes. In a moment, he was gone.
As Tristan cast his gaze back down the length of the stricken ship, another thought came to him. Pulling Tyranny nearer, he whispered something into one of her ears.
A relieved look came over her. "Of course," she said gratefully. "Especially if you think it will help. How could I have been so forgetful?"
Tristan gave her a smile. "You've had rather a lot on your mind lately, I'd say."
He beckoned K'jarr back to him, and the warrior was by his master's side in an instant. After hearing his new orders, the warrior selected two other officers to help him, and they walked dutifully away.
"Forgive me, my lord, but there remains one final issue to be dealt with," Traax said. Knowing full well that his lord understood what that was, he said nothing more.
Tristan's face darkened. He had to make his decision about the fate of the pirates. Walking over to the gunwale, he looked out to sea again.
The pirate vessels were clearly helpless, but the seething, violent men aboard them were not. They were killers and thieves of the highest order, and they had to be stopped. If he chose to, he could order his Minions to attack them, and they would no doubt prevail. But some of the Minions would lose their lives-as would all of the pirates, unless they surrendered. Deep in his heart, he knew he simply couldn't authorize a slaughter like that. Besides, he reasoned, he would likely need every single Minion he could muster in what might very soon become a struggle with Krassus and the demonslavers. Looking back, he beckoned to Tyranny and Traax to join him at the gunwale.
"I want you to take the pirates alive, if at all possible," he ordered Traax. "There is a sizable island just to the south of us, hidden in that fog bank. Take the pirates there and maroon them. I also want you to station enough Minion warships around the island's perimeter to ensure that none of them can escape. The remainder of the fleet is to make for Eutracia at the best possible speed. And tow the pirate vessels back with you-they're too valuable to waste. Anchor just off the Cavalon Delta, and then come to the palace with your report. Together with my wizards, we will arrive at some conclusion regarding the pirates." He looked back out at the opposing fleets for a time as he carefully considered his next words.
"If the pirates reject your terms, and it becomes a case of you or them, then you have my permission to kill them in a fair fight," he said quietly.
"It shall all be as you say," Traax replied.
Tyranny watched as Traax walked away. "They are amazing," she said. "I wish they had been at my side when I was hunting down demonslavers."
Upon hearing this, one corner of Tristan's mouth came up. He knew it may yet come to that.
"Where in the name of the Afterlife did they come from?" she asked quizzically. "And how is it that they obey you so unerringly? I have never seen anything like them."
Shaking his head, Tristan gave a short laugh. "That's a long story," he answered her. "One that I shall be happy to share with you on the way home."
"You should have plenty of time to tell it to me," she reflected. "It's still a two-day sail to the coast."