Dave glowers at the captain then stalks off to stand by himself near the rail.
Shaking his head, Miko wonders again what James sees in him. Maybe he was different back where they came from?
“Something’s been bothering me,” he says to Paul.
“What?” he asks.
“Back in Cardri, when we were being led away by Lord Colerain, where did all those guys who jumped him come from?” he asks, glancing at him. “I mean, they appeared in just the right spot and fast.”
Paul smiles as he says, “When we knew the girls were being taken to the ship, we spread the word that Gwynne and Daria were being taken. Those of us on the streets have a sort of brotherhood you might say, we look out for each other and take care of our own. The guys you saw had been there for awhile, they just kept their heads low until needed. Didn’t want to tip off anyone something might be up, just in case.”
Nodding, Miko says, “I see.” He certainly understands about the brotherhood those of the streets have.
They stand there continuing to watch the ship ahead of them as the sun drops lower to the horizon. After awhile Illan comes to join them. “The captain says that when it turns dark there’s a possibility of losing them,” he says quietly.
Miko turns a worried expression to him as he asks, “Lose them?”
Nodding, Illan replies, “A definite possibility. But the captain says they’ll most likely stay on this course through the night. That it’s dangerous to alter course unless you are familiar with the waters in the area. Something about hitting a reef. So once dawn comes we should be able to pick them up again.”
“Let’s hope so,” Paul says.
“Never did thank you for what you did for us back there,” Illan tells him.
“Didn’t do it for you guys,” he admits. “I figured you were the only hope Gwynne and Daria had.”
“Still, I appreciate it,” he says as he pats him on the shoulder.
“Where are Jiron and Fifer?” Miko asks.
Nodding his head to the rear of the ship, he says, “In the captain’s cabin, asleep. The Parvati is in there with them.”
“How can they sleep at a time like this?” questions Miko.
“It’s times like these when you get your sleep,” he explains. “So you’ll be rested when you need to be.”
“Maybe,” says Miko.
From the mid section, a bell begins ringing. “Dinner’s ready,” Illan tells them. Leaving their post at the bow, Miko and Paul follow Illan as he goes to get some food. A wooden bowl full of fish and vegetables along with a single cup of ale is all that’s allotted them.
They take their food from the cook and find a place near the stern where they have some shelter from the wind and spray while they eat. Jiron, Fifer, and Qyrll make their appearance as does Meliana and her father. Dave on the other hand takes his food and goes off to eat by himself on the other side of the ship.
When Meliana joins them with her food, she asks, “Have we gained on them any?”
“Not yet,” Miko informs her.
“We don’t exactly want to be noticed by them,” her father says. “It wouldn’t be good.”
“I know,” she says. Ever since they explained to her about the circumstances of James’ arrest and being given to the Empire, she’s held a deep fear for him. She understands her father’s logic, but her heart doesn’t care. She glances toward the fleeing ship and is thankful she can still see it in the fading light of dusk.
They sit there, quiet as each dwells silently on what the future may hold while they finish their meal.
“Captain!” a sailor hollers down from his position up in the rigging. “Vessel aflame!”
“Where away?” the captain hollers back.
“Dead ahead,” he replies.
“James!” Meliana cries as she drops her bowl and rushes to the bow. The others follow quickly. In the darkening gloom ahead of them, a bright orange light can be seen. “Full sails!” they hear the captain yell. The sailors in the rigging above begin unfurling the last of the sails.
“Mr. Bessin!” the captain hollers.
“Aye sir,” his second in command answers.
“Prepare to rescue survivors,” he says.
“Aye, aye sir,” Mr. Bessin replies and then begins barking orders as sailors prepare their dinghy should the need arise.
Their ship quickly gains upon the other and they can see where the sails have all but been consumed by the flames. It’s listing to the side and appears to be taking on water.
“She’s not going to last too much longer,” Meliana’s father says behind them.
“Oh, James,” she breathes as she looks for any sign of him.
A massive explosion from within the hold blasts the deck outward, debris sails through the air and splashes into the sea many yards away.
Bodies can be seen floating in the water among the flotsam, none appear to be alive.
“James!” Dave cries out from his position near the bow.
“Daria! Gwynne!” Paul cries as his voice joins Dave’s.
“Furl the sails!” the captain cries to those in the rigging and the sails begin to be taken in. Slowing down, the ship draws near the wreckage though the captain still maintains a safe distance so as not to suffer the same fate.
A rattle of chains and the anchor drops into the water with a splash. “Mr. Bessin, lower the boat and search for survivors.”
“Aye captain,” he replies.
“Incinerate!” James yells as another seaman erupts in flames. The sphere in his hand is now the size of a softball, a deep glow wells from within due to all the power it has stored.
All across the deck are charred remnants of the crew as well as withered husks from whom James drew the power necessary to maintain the spells. The Ambassador and captain lie among them.
At one point during the battle, the ships crew had taken a spare spar that was stored at the base of the ship’s rail. Using it as a battering ram, they tried to push him off the boat and into the sea.
Crying “Leech by a hundred,” he sucked them dry as they crashed to the deck, the spar hitting the deck and rolling to the side. So much power being absorbed by the sphere had caused it to crackle like static electricity. James begins incinerating crewmen simply to release the pressure. The last thing he wanted was to have it explode in his hand.
Fire rages throughout the ship, most of the crew either lies dead or has jumped over the side. A scream from below rips through the air. The Girls!
Racing for the hatch, he sees black smoke billowing up out of it like a chimney. A quick glance around the ship shows it to be almost completely engulfed in flames. Taking a deep breath, he steps through the hatch and begins making his way down to the hold through the black smoke.
Unable to see, he uses the sound of the girls coughing and crying to guide him. “Over here!” he calls to them. “To me!”
A hand reaches out through the thick smoke and takes hold of his shirt. He looks down and sees little Daria there with several other girls in tow. “Where are the others?” he cries out.
“B…b,” she says then a coughing fit robs her voice.
Taking her by the hand, he leads her to the stairs and says, “Go up on top. I’ll get the others.”
A quick nod of her head and she begins leading the others up the stairs.
Coughing badly now, James pulls off his shirt and uses it to try to filter out the smoke. Helping only slightly, he begins working his way further to the back. “Where are you?” he hollers but there’s no answer.
In the thick smoke, he can barely see anything. A crack from above and a portion of the flaming deck falls in, crashing to the bottom of the holds several yards away. “Girls!” he cries again.
Moving as quickly as he dares, he tries to see through the smoke but his eyes are so red and burning now it’s all a blur. Useless, he keeps them closed, only peering out of them every now and then.
Suddenly, he hears coughing from up ahead. The coughing and crying of a small child. Using the sound as a guide, he comes to the barrels he told the girls to hide behind earlier and finds a small girl lying with her head on the chest of a larger. The older girl looks to be unconscious, the smaller one not much better.