Chapter 194: Escape through the Storm

Book 4, Chapter 35 - Escape through the Storm

Harsh rains battered Eksa.

The deckhands struggled to hold the sails to their current half raised position. Harsh winds lashed them at every turn. The ropes were slick and the waves angered. The men struggled to keep their balance as is, let alone tying knots to keep the sails steady. Eksa had spent too long cursing Crow beneath her breath than utter the commands her ship needed.

She steered the helm against the waters trying to wash The Scarlet Reaver away to some unknown direction. Eksa tried taking measure of the sea's weather patterns as she'd done so many times, but all she heard when she closed her eyes were the rapid thumps of her heart radiating panic throughout her body. She flinched with every crash of thunder, shivered with every gust cutting through her wet clothes, and jumped each time the hull let out eerie groans.

Eksa ground her palms into the holds of the helm. Everything was lost. Crow had taken it all in a fell sweep. She could almost imagine his vile, yellow teethed grin. Her numbers had so easily been taken over. She looked back to take measure of all that remained of her once large fleet.

Bren and Malk grit their teeth as they held on to thick ropes for dear life. Next to, the Foura twins and the wiry Qisa were doing much the same for another of the ship's sails. Severum was up in the crow's nest, screaming incoherent words about how near the pursuers were with every flash of lightning showing them closer than before. And that was it. Six were all she had of those she recognized. The rest were made of Azul and his fighters, who struggled with the ropes as well.

Eksa spun the helm hard portside as a great wave rolled to the height of a large hillside. The Reaver slowly turned toward it, climbing up its steep side from an angle, tilting dangerously to the side. The wave rolled away beneath, and the ship fell back down with a mighty crash sending sea water high into the air.

Eksa's ankle slipped in that instant. She clutched the helm to steady herself, but the holds were slippery and she lost them, falling hard upon the boards. Her shoulder hit the wood first, followed by the side of her head bouncing against it once. She let out a groan as she rolled over, clothes matted against her skin, and hair falling around her head in wet clumps. A thick hand reached out to her and Eksa grasped it.

“Steady,” Azul said, pulling her up.

Eksa pushed aside bands of hair from her eyes, and rubbed a wet sleeve along her face. “Thank you,” she grumbled, wondering how long this loyalty would last. Azul could cause a mutiny and turn her over for safety. Any of them could start it for that matter. They were alone and their supplies limited. There was no Jackrin here to keep them in line. They would turn, and Eksa knew it. All that mattered was when.

“Let me take the helm,” Azul said. “Just tell me where to steer and when. Shuari knows I've always been a poor hand in storms.”

Eksa hesitated. He could easily steer them toward Kovar. But that throb in her shoulder was great enough for her to desire a brief respite. She nodded slowly, holding her aching shoulder as she stumbled toward a mast.

Severum screamed something from above. Eksa ignored him. Seconds later, an iron bolt crashed into the side rails of her ship, punching through one of her ballistae.

“They're on us!” Eksa heard Severum vaguely cry. It was as if every aspect of the storm were working in tandem to silence him at that moment.

“Azul, steer with the waters!” Eksa commanded. “Let it sweep us in its current. We need to get away.”

Several more bolts whistled toward the Reaver crashing into the waters mere meters from the boat's side. A single hole in this storm could be fatal. The ship followed the flow of the waves, moving swiftly to the right. Another flash of lightning revealed an enemy ship lying in wait there, its image blurred by the harsh and unrelenting rainfall.

A bolt flew over deck, passing through empty air scant inches before Eksa's face. Her breath caught before she had time enough to process what had just occurred. Her feet reacted a second late, sliding from beneath her and forcing her to take another hard fall on her rear.

Another mountainous wave approached, and Azul steered into it without having to be told. The Reaver conquered it while the hidden enemy ship was swept away in its size, disappearing from sight entirely behind the curtain that was hard rainfall.

“We have to lose them in this storm or never,” Azul shouted.

Eksa knew that better than anyone. Crow would hound her to the ends of the earth just to prove a point. He could never be a better sailor than her. Never be a better captain . So he lowered himself to petty scheming to break her spirit.

It's not that easy , Eksa thought. The seas were hers. She crawled toward a mast and sat against it, closing her eyes, letting the rains pelt her face endlessly. Eksa ignored the stinging pain each droplet brought, ignored the aches plaguing her shoulder, rear, and head, and focused. She felt the winds as a cold breeze gliding across her skin. She heard the thunder as a distant rumbling vibrating through her bones. Eksa became one with both air and sea. She read its patterns and bound such knowledge into her blood. The sea was hers , and in it she found solace.

Eksa pulled herself to her feet. “Starboard,” she commanded with a level tone. “The storm will take us northward. Stay the course for a several minutes before releasing all sails and turning portside. A gale will pass through and carry us west.” The Reaver would be able to outrun her pursuers that way. Once out of sight in this storm, she could turn south. Is my only chance to enlist the aid of the giant serpent?

Would it even help her without Aaron around?

That seaborne beast had the ability to lay waste to ships in her way. A single breath of fire, or the bottom of a ship ground down within her jaws, and all would end. A terrifying force Eksa did not want to rely on. The creature had seemed friendly at the end. Inviting even. But the serpent had her own young to take care of. Would she even get involved in human affairs?

Have I any other option?

Blessed of Katri, the sea deity . The serpent claimed Eksa possessed such a blessing. Was that where her sea reading abilities stemmed from? Is that all she had at her disposal?

Crow was here in full force. That could only mean there'd be no place for her back on Kovar. A part of her wanted to flee northward, and sail along the coastline. Maybe stop at a fishing village and then disappear from the world of waters forever. But the stubbornness that came with her Estraean pride would not allow her to succumb to defeat so easily. The sea was her home, her place. If truly she'd been born blessed by the ocean's God, then running from the waters would be to spite such a blessing. This was where Eksa was meant to be.

This was why she could never chase after Aaron after his departure. If only he could return.

Captain Azul steered to the left as the gale Eksa had predicted began rolling through. The Scarlet Reaver glided harmlessly over high waves. Each conquered wave saw the ship teeter to dangerous angles, but Eksa saw confidence in the eyes of her crew with each trial bested. They no longer feared more of the same. Iron bolts were fired still, whistling through the air and landing harmlessly in the waters behind the ship.

“All sails loosed!” Eksa commanded. The orders were followed and the ship picked up speed. A calm followed thereafter. Not a mellow turn of the waters below or the easing of the skies above, but a serenity Eksa felt in her bones for the proper commands uttered. She was assured of their escape, and thus her immediate worries eased.

“They're getting farther!” Severum called as lightning lit the skies again.

All according to plan. Now came deciding what would be done afterwards.

The storm would persist for some hours yet. Perhaps into night as well. Crow's ships would be well out of sight by that time. “Azul,” Eksa said. “I trust you can handle things from here? Just stay the course until we're free of the storm.”

Azul nodded.

Eksa gauged the sincerity in his eyes. She judged the potential for betrayal. “We'll get through this,” she assured. “I haven't lost all my cards yet. The Red Serpent will have her vengeance.”

“I assume the masked jester has some brilliant surprise awaiting Crow as you said?” Azul asked.

Eksa smirked. Her name carried enough weight to sway this man for now. “Of course,” she lied. “And more. What if I told you the great Serpent we slew is actually still alive, and, well, very prone to convincing.”

“I would hesitate,” Azul said.

Eksa folded her arms, suddenly becoming aware that her undergarments beneath her damp white shirt would show rather clearly if not for the constant rain. She felt a sudden flush of heat in her cheeks.

“But I'm a curious man,” Azul went on. “And I've a debt to return for the treachery at Assak. I'll be there to see your vengeance through, Red Serpent. As will everyone else.”

Eksa nodded. She could feel his confidence through that grin of his and that straight backed posture that allowed his muscles to stand out even more. The way rain water dribbled down those sharp lines…

Eksa turned away, shaking her head as she headed below deck for some much needed rest.