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Pixabay Port by Xibes under CCO
"Knight takes Pawn", Hades struck early and quickly putting Zeus on the defensive. Zeus has not changed his approach to the game for centuries and predictably plays the long game, he just changes his strategies. The knight, bishop and a pawn plunged deep into Zeus' right side of the grand board threatening to do more damage to his strategy but the game itself has a will of it's own.
K made the order, “Prepare to steer her towards the entrance of the harbor Steersman.”
"Aye aye Captain,” replied Khaman.
“Hoist the blue Atrean banner, drop Course sails only."
The main sail unfurled revealing in the golden sunrise Tessaria’s surprise gift of her art of the Silver Dragon beautifully sewn into the fabric of the Dragon Fire’s largest mainsail. It was modelled upon the Silver Version of Slak-Tor's Dragon he had kept with him since it was gifted to him by the Silver Wizard @dixiesilverminer.
It was an impressive sight to behold and clearly marks their distinctiveness from the other ships. The lines were cast off and the tide begins to turn outward as the Dragon Fire steers towards the harbor entrance to await her escort flotilla to assemble proper in the harbor.
Safety in numbers was an old adage. It was one reassuring factor. K watches the contingent of the Atrean second squadron maneuver into their sailing order under Captain Friar. He is dutiful man and was the kind of person that went by the book. His contingent was not the King's elite ships and crews as they were already charged in protecting the city’s water region. K felt some relief that Captain Friar is officially in charge. K was neither comfortable with managing an entire fleet or unfamiliar crews. The smaller Minoan contingent under Captain Spicer signals that his ships are all ready to depart. He met the officer and seems more the relaxed style of officer that valued results over rules.
Aboard the Dragon Fire hand signals were sent and received back and forth as Princess Amanda had issue with anyone disturbing her highnesse's sleep.
Tessaria made a passing comment inferring that the princess was not asleep but seeking an excuse to blame someone. K knew of Tessaria's empathic abilities. It wasn't a good precedent to peruse the privacy of the Royal Princess, but he was thankful that it may help save some grief later.
On the Imperial flagship the Dauntless, Admiral Kamaeus stood at the head of the Strategy table. Charts and reports strewn across the table in front of him. His flawless tailored navy uniform emblazoned with various distinguished service decorations, the largest dominant being the Golden Cobra.
Gathered around the large table are all his Captains of the Empire's Southern fleet, their attention rested upon his words.
The Preying Vulture nodded, "Signal the fleet, we must capture the Princess Atrea for the Empire and we begin now."
King Atrea gazed at the horizon over the harbor from his favorite observation balcony. The tall sails of the ships disappear over the horizon, "Farewell my daughter, for I will not see you again as a child but a grown woman and be all wiser for it."
He turns away from the view and scans the foyer for his Personal guard. "Guards!" But there was no answer.
One guard appeared from behind the large column, “I am here my King."
"Where is Staxxon?"
"He was not feeling well sir."
"Then where is his relief?" He looked at his sole guard then had become quite aware that nearby staircase guards were also missing. He felt his hair stand on end. Then he noticed stream of blood leading to the legs of a prone guard hastily concealed behind a column, a flower tucked in the lip of his boot. The flower represented Staxxon's daughter's daily wish for her father to return home safe. A promise today he will not be able to keep. King Atrea felt for his little golden dagger dangling on his wrist.
He slowly turned to his only guard. "You're voice is a little higher than I remember Bissoner." King Atrea knew his guards personally as friends and their families had long served his royal house for generations even before the Refusal wars.
The guard pursed his lips, "I do not understand what you mean my king."
"All Guards! We have an Assassin in my presence!" He shouted loudly stepping back as he clutched the silver shield shaped pendant. “Praesidio!”
A blue glow immediately washed over the king. The Black Widow emerged from her chameleon illusion, she now recognized the Shield of Zelda that provided a temporary impenetrable frontal protection. And another unseen charm present on his person that made her illusion difficult to maintain.
King Atrea snaps a charm from his bracelet, “Defendere!” the Golden Pendant Dagger of Menē was an idea match. Invoked it becomes a full enchanted Dagger of Agility that more than makes up for his advanced age but fights like a sword as its deadly tip invisibly extend well beyond it's physical one.
This was going to take longer than expected with the element of surprise lost. Time is short, she can hear the guards clamoring to the aide of king, she must strike fast.
The king faced his opponent with a staunch courage, "Exandra of the Withering forest I presume? I know of your reputation and I knew you'd come one day!"
K felt glad to have the ship out in the open seas. The accompanying flotilla looked quite grand with each group under an allied flag.
So far, only one bothersome event was that her morning meal was to be on the poop deck to take in the view and fresh air, but her rich diet wouldn't go over well as the crew were on a much less elegant menu. The presence of the Ambassador with the Cultural Minister at least made royal relations more bearable and minimized her bothering the crew.
K thought, "Aye, If the seas were any smoother and the winds equally swifter." Things were smooth so far, or not?
RKee Wee appeared flustered slamming the door behind her as she came on deck. "Sassenach!"
Noname turned to the agitated Mage, "What's eating you Kee Wee?"
"Ah am an Arch Mage, apprenticed under Merlin himself, champion archer of Camelot an' winna o' th' gold'n arroa fer three yars ronnin’!"
"Whoa, settle down my Lady and take a seat, relax." Noname slid a barrel over for a seat.
"Weel ah neva' be so treat'd like a 'ommon heathen! I donnae' do some nursin' fawncy toosh wipen’ Sassenach's lawndry wench!"
"Oh, so the Princess thinks you're the Laundry maid service." His patient grin and understanding nod seemed to help quell her Scottish fury. "Ever used one of these?"
"Nae, I always troosted me grawn fadder's long bow. It's been in me family fer faar generashuns since Agincourt."
"Wouldn't hurt to learn a new skill. Watch."
Noname checked the line of a new rifle inspecting his flint clasp action and positioning of the strike plate.
Kee Wee watched as he checked the sight of the barrel. "So doos th' bluudy ting werk?"
"Of course it should work, want to learn?"
"Shar, as Sain' McGibbon's woul' say!" replied Kee Wee.
Noname stared along the barrel to the makeshift target fifty yards off starboard dragged by the Minoan frigate. Slowly exhaled and squeezed the trigger. A flash accompanied by a muffled crack of fire as the lead ball shatters the upper left corner of the bullseye. Noname studies his results."This new rifle pulls a bit up and to the right."
A moment later an arrow strikes the target at the inner edge of the target just a few inches closer to the center than Noname's test shot. "I see, th' wind is blawin' a wee bit stiff too."
“Hmmm, very nice shot.” Noname picks up his favorite rifle. “This here’s my old Bessie, it belonged to a mentor who taught me.” He expertly muzzle loads the weapon, lifts the weapon upward, placed a small amount of powder in the pan, snaps the frizzen in place over the pan, fully cocks back the flintlock then leveled the weapon at the target. Letting out a steady breath he pulled the trigger. The rifle fired belching smoke sending the lead ball smashing a spot through the target between her arrow and the bullseye. “I think you’d be good at this. Give it a try.” With a wry grin he reloaded Bessie and held the rifle out to Kee Wee.”
Kee Wee smiled in reply, stood up then set her bow aside. Grasping the weapon she tested its weight in her hands. “Oh, feels a wee bit unwieldy.”
Noname placed his hands over hers as a guide steering the barrel up and away from their unsuspecting navigator, “Hold it upwards until you’re ready to fire. Don’t want an accident. It can fire even without the flintlock not fully cocked.”
“Aye,” Kee Wee gathered her long red hair away from the rifle over to her other shoulder.
Noname stepped in behind Kee Wee, again placed his hands upon her soft hands resting the stock on her right shoulder, leveling the gun down to the target bobbing in the water. “Like the arrow the ball will travel in a slight downward arc at about seventy five yards, it takes some practice to take account of the wind, motion of the ship and the target.”
“Nae too mua differen’ theen me bow.”
“Right, that’s why I think you’d be good at this. Now there’s gonna be a kick back from the rifle when you fire so you’ll have to grip pretty snug…”
Noname shifted up against Kee Wee’s back to check her line of sight; instead he took an unintentional whiff of her long soft curly red locks. It was a lavender scent. And it reminded him of his beloved Mother years ago before a Press gang forced him into naval service and haven’t seen her since.
“Theen I fyre, no?”
Noname lingered in the fragrance, his soul unwilling to relinquish Kee Wee’s sweet scent for a few seconds more. “When you are satisfied with your aim, expel your breath slowly and squeeze, don’t pull, just squeeze the trigger.” He had to let her hands go to let her experience the feel of the rifle.
The Rifle fired loud releasing another puff of acrid smoke, the buck of the weapon almost pushing her off balance. The projectile shearing the top edge of the target sending a few telltale splinters flying.
She lowered the rifle barrel to see the result, “Is tha’ guud?”
Noname studied the bobbing target, “Much better than anyone that held one for the first time…I…” His sharp eye spots a tiny sail upon the distant horizon. Then there was two, and then three. He looked up to the Crow’s nest and cupped his mouth with his hands. “Crow’s nest, look due Starboard and report!”
"Aye Sir, sighting confirmed seeing five sails Sir!" Replied the Crow's nest.
Kee Wee looked at Noname, “Wha’s wrong?”
He pointed to the specks on the horizon, “Look, I think we got company.”
Below deck, Lady Ravenhill woke to the odd sound of quill upon paper coming from her drawing table. She sat up from her bunk to see no one there. Lighting her lamp, she checked the mysterious chart that laid across her drawing table. There was new writing on the Chart of the Moon Goddess.
R
R“Et lux in tenebris to serve laboro, sum sicarius” “I work in the shadows to serve the Light, I am an Assassin”
