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Tales from the Ghostsea Chapter 8 Love and Mutiny (Updated 11/05/05)
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<blockquote data-quote="Tolen Mar" data-source="post: 2660134" data-attributes="member: 1295"><p><strong>Chapter 4: It came from the Deep...</strong></p><p></p><p>Chapter 4: It came from the deep…</p><p></p><p>The crew was in a lively mood for the next three days. The newly captured ship was taken to the cove, where Captain Perri decided he was going to keep it and use it to supplement his own ship during raids. The crew, most at least, got more shore leave, and rushed ashore to spend their ill-gotten gains. Perri had the new ship repainted, a few modifications made, in order that any Malasian warships in the area might not recognize it as one of their own.</p><p></p><p>In her bunk area, after everyone left, Charity carefully wrapped the gems in a spare cloth from her trunk. She stored the bundle under everything else, saving it for a rainy day. Little did she know, she’d never get a chance to spend it.</p><p></p><p>Shore leave ended, and as usual, the captain called a meeting of the crew on the deck.</p><p></p><p>“I’ve decided to keep the new ship. The governors themselves don’t care what happens to it, so it defaults to me. My ship is faster, but this new one is pretty sturdy. From now on, when we go on a raid, I’ll take my ship to draw away any defense, and give you time to get into position.”</p><p></p><p>Captain Perri then separated the crew into two smaller groups, and he indicated the group Charity ended up in. Standing with her was Aoife, Khadija, Lorenzo, and Orange.</p><p></p><p>“You lot will stay aboard the new ship, Samson and Kor will accompany you. You’ll take your orders from Samson, knowing they come from me.”</p><p></p><p>“I guess I’ll have to transfer the medical gear over.” Lorenzo whispered to no one in particular.</p><p></p><p>“Don’t do so on my account, Ren.” Charity smiled at him. “I don’t plan to need your expertise.”</p><p></p><p>“Everyone gets hurt once in a while.”</p><p></p><p>“Not me, I’m too good.”</p><p></p><p>“As it happens,” the captain resumed, “we have another mission. Seems some Samu scholars are looking at some old ruins on a couple of islands not far from here. Since we’ve ticked off the Malasian navy, heading East might be a good idea, let the dust settle a bit. We’ll do this in two stages. First I’ll take my ship in and draw off their escorts. That’ll give you a chance to land, grab whatever treasures they’ve dug up and get out of there. It’s a simple smash and grab, so don’t hang around and wait for me. You get your stuff, you head out. We’ll meet back here.”</p><p></p><p>“No problem, Cap’n!” Orange shouted. “They won’t know what happened to ‘em.”</p><p></p><p>“Actually, there is a problem. Word has it that Ottoman is out there.”</p><p></p><p>Several of the crew paled, and then cursed, others made the sign of the evil eye. Charity had never heard of Ottoman before.</p><p></p><p>“Who’s ‘Ottoman’?” she asked. Lorenzo shrugged, the rest of her friends didn’t know either.</p><p></p><p>“Ottoman is supposed to be an old sea god.” Kor answered. “It seems that some time ago, he was tricked by a sailor, who was able to blind his single eye. The tales say he lurks in the ghostsea, attacking ships, looking for the one who got away.”</p><p></p><p>“Aye.” Perri agreed. “I don’t believe in that nonsense myself, but as so many of my crew are superstitious…” he looked at several crewmembers with a wry look in his eyes. “I want a party to go to town. Find Mad Erwin’s shop. I’ve asked him to make a talisman that should appease Old Ottoman, and get us past without incident. At least, that’s what he claims. Volunteers?”</p><p></p><p>“I’ll go.” Said Ren.</p><p></p><p>“Aye, and me.” Answered Charity. </p><p></p><p>“For one more chance to go ashore, I’ll volunteer.” Called Orange.</p><p></p><p>Before long, five of them were ready to go. As they made to leave the ship, Perri tossed a bag of coins to Orange. “Be sure to pay him with this.”</p><p></p><p>***************************************</p><p></p><p>Mad Erwin’s was located in the part of town called ‘Black Row’. It was the poor section. The streets were grimy, covered with the soot of decades of oil lamps burning night and day. Every street corner had either a lady of ill repute or a beggar missing a hand or a foot, or worse. The streets here were narrow, as well. A single wagon might fit through but only if everyone got out of its way to let it past. Sounds of scuffles came from near and far at every intersection and alleyway.</p><p></p><p>Mad Erwin’s shop looked much like the rest of the buildings in this part of town, which is to say, run down. It had windows covered in dirt, with only the occasional vague attempt to wipe away the grime in evidence. There was a sign over the door that read ‘Mad Erwin’s cures and curses’. It hung from only one of its two hooks. </p><p></p><p>As Ren opened the door, a blackened brass bell over the door rang. The party stepped inside, to see rows of shelves filled with a large variety of bottles, flasks, small statuettes, and so forth. None of them looked to have been moved in ages. Dust lay in a thick layer on most of it.</p><p></p><p>A voice drifted out from behind a thick curtain in the back telling them someone would be out in just a few minutes. With nothing to do but wait, the group began looking at the items on the shelves. In one jar was a hand and arm floating in some sort of liquid. It was missing most of its flesh, as well as a few of the finger bones. Next to it, sat a box of blackroot, and Ren picked it up.</p><p></p><p>“I’m always running out of this.” He said. “I wonder how much Erwin wants for it?”</p><p></p><p>As if waiting for that cue, Erwin came out of the back. He was an older fellow, portly, and going bald. He had on an apron that was smudged with something, the odor of which drifted quickly to where Charity was standing. He was limping, and the scraggly facial hair looked as if he had tried to grow a beard, but failed miserably.</p><p></p><p>“How can I help ye?” he asked.</p><p></p><p>“Captain Perri sent us.” Charity answered. “He says you have made something for us.”</p><p></p><p>“Ah yes! In fact, I just finished. Let me go get it for you.”</p><p></p><p>He limped into the back again, and a few minutes later came back holding four bags made of animal skins, each about the size of a persons head. Each pair was bound together by a cord, and was accompanied both by a terrible smell, and by a cloud of flies. He also produced a pair of rods with stones, teeth and feathers hanging from them.</p><p></p><p>“When you get within sight of the beast, nail what’s in these bags to the totems, and hang’em off the front of your ship. Should keep the thing at bay.”</p><p></p><p>Charity backed away at the scent, and Ren looked reluctant to touch them. Aoife made a gagging sound and made for the door. Orange rolled his eyes, and took the rods, draping the bags over them. Then he handed the pouch of coins to the man.</p><p></p><p>Everyone began to file out, except Lorenzo, who haggled out a price for the blackroot before he left.</p><p></p><p>*********************************</p><p></p><p>“Took you long enough!” Samson yelled as he saw the group returning.</p><p></p><p>“Next time, you go.” Charity shouted back. “You think you could do it faster. You aren’t the one who had to carry these smelly things back.”</p><p></p><p>“Get aboard, then! The captain’s itching to get moving.”</p><p></p><p>Orange set one of the talismans on the foredeck of their ship, then took the other over to Perri’s ship. Charity climbed to the crow’s nest. A few minutes later, they cast off, and headed east.</p><p></p><p>**************************************</p><p></p><p>A few hours later, the ships drew close to the island that was reputed to be the island Ottoman hailed from. Up on her perch, Charity saw one of the crew on Perri’s ship break out the totem and hang it off the bowsprit. She leaned over the rail and shouted down to Samson.</p><p></p><p>“Sir! Looks like time to break out the totem!”</p><p></p><p>Samson looked over the waves to Perri’s ship, nodded, then called to Orange, “Mister Orange! Would you be so kind?”</p><p></p><p>Orange tied off the rope he had been working on and unwrapped the totems. They looked like enormous fish eyes. He hung them in place as instructed.</p><p></p><p>Nothing happened that anyone could see. The ships passed by the island without anything appearing. Perhaps it was just an old tale after all, or maybe the talismans worked. Either way, the ships continued on their way. </p><p></p><p>After night fell, a signal shone out from Perri’s ship, indicating that the island they were after was not far ahead and that the crew should prepare for battle.</p><p></p><p>“Damn it all!” Samson cursed. “That took longer than I thought. Sailing back at night is going to be difficult, especially if we take another route home.”</p><p></p><p>Charity could make out the shape of the island on the horizon. From here she could see pin-point sized flickers of campfires. She turned to report down to Samson, when she caught a flicker of movement out in the water. Peering as hard as she could, she just made out in the dim moonlight the shape of a whale, at least that’s what she thought it was. It was underwater and coming fast.</p><p></p><p>“Creature below!” she shouted.</p><p></p><p>Several of the crew ran to the railings on the side she indicated, trying to spot what she had. The shape cruised under the ship, and as it did so, the boat lurched sickeningly. Several of the crew were knocked off their feet. Then tentacles broke the surface of the water, and began sweeping the deck, feeling for anything they could grab. Before anyone could react, one of the crew was yanked overboard by a particularly large one.</p><p></p><p>Kor rushed up on deck, cursing. “Ottoman! What the hell is he doing all the way out here?”</p><p></p><p>“That doesn’t exactly matter now, Kor!” Samson shouted. “Get your weapon, and help out!”</p><p></p><p>Below her, Charity could see most of the crew fighting tentacles, one or two at a time for each one. Occasionally one would grab a crewman and drag him overboard. Samson struggled at the wheel, trying to keep the ship upright. The largest tentacle of them all rose up out of the water then, and on its end was a large eyeball. It rose up to almost the same height Charity was at. </p><p></p><p>“Holy gods!” she whispered as it darted down toward the deck.</p><p></p><p>Frantically, she began to tie a rope around her waist. Balancing atop the shifting mast, she coiled the rope around and around, until she had almost all of it around her.</p><p></p><p>Below, Kor was trying to arrange a proper defense, shouting instructions, he had several of the crew into a tight box formation, the outer edges of which would strike at tentacles as they tried to reach in.</p><p></p><p>Lorenzo sprinted across the deck to where the totems were hanging, he snapped a dagger out of one of its hidden holsters, and cut the thing lose, tossing the eyes out to sea. A tentacle whipped up and wrapped itself around Aoife. Orange and Khadija rushed up, and split it open. There was a pained howling from beneath the ship as the tentacle slipped back under.</p><p></p><p>The eye-tentacle made a move toward Khadija as Charity balanced out to the end of the yardarm. Once there, she drew her rapier, took a deep breath and jumped. The rope caught, causing charity to spin, slowing down her fall, and bringing her around in a large arc that took her past the top of the big tentacle. As she went by, she slashed out with her blade, opening a tremendous gash along its top side. She landed, slightly dizzy, on the deck on the other side of Khadija. Orange stepped up, and buried his trident in the center of the eye. Another howl came from below, and the sea foamed, as the tentacles began to slip back into the sea. </p><p></p><p>Just as the crew thought they had defeated the thing, two more tentacles came up, wrapped themselves around Kor and Khadija, and yanked them overboard.</p><p></p><p>Charity ran across the deck, dropping her rapier, and drawing her knife. She jumped onto the rail, into the water. She swam for all she was worth, and moments later heard Lorenzo splash in as well. She made for Khadija, when Orange, trying to help, drove his trident at the tentacle holding her. The thing shifted at the last moment, and the big fork impaled the girl instead. Orange shouted a curse, and pulled. Khadija came free of the tentacle, and Orange lifted her aboard like some kind of fish. Charity turned, and joined Ren in trying to save Kor.</p><p></p><p>Her dagger blade wasn’t strong enough to penetrate the beast’s skin, but between the two of them, they freed Kor and began heading back for the surface, Kor looking the worst for wear. Another tentacle shot up and tried to grab Charity by the ankle. She kicked at it, and swam harder, getting away before it could grab her.</p><p></p><p>Several hands helped her back onto the deck, where she slumped down, dripping to catch her breath. Near the back of the ship, Orange was kneeling over Khadija, weeping. Between sobs, she could hear him saying “Oh god, Im sorry! I’m so sorry!”</p><p></p><p>Ren went over to look at her. “She’s lucky. She’s alive. Someone get my kit, now!” Ren stopped the bleeding, and began to stitch the biggest of the wounds. “You’ll be okay, but it looks like you’ll be out of the action for a while.”</p><p></p><p>“Nonsense, doc.” She said, her strength beginning to return. “I’m tougher than you think. He missed anything vital.”</p><p></p><p>“Still, if you try too much, these will tear open, and you’ll probably die.”</p><p></p><p>“You worry too much.”</p><p></p><p>“I really hate to bring this up right now, but we are almost there, and it looks like Perri can’t hold them off much longer.” Samson called out. “Get everyone bandaged up, and get ready, you still have to hit that camp.”</p><p></p><p>“Nice to know how much he cares for his crew.” Aofie said, snidely.</p><p></p><p>“Anyone else hurt?” Ren asked. Everyone else shook their heads.</p><p></p><p>“Not enough to worry about.” Charity replied.</p><p></p><p>Khadija sat up, new bandages over her wounds. “We’re all fine, we have work to do.”</p><p></p><p>*******************************************</p><p></p><p>The rowboat drifted toward the camp. It had guards, and they had time to be ready for an attack. Arrows started to rain down on them, mostly missing everyone. One hit Charity, but deflected off her rapier hilt.</p><p></p><p>“I’d suggest,” Charity called out, “That you drop your weapons! We’ve just defeated Ottoman, and the likes of you won’t pose even the threat of a challenge!”</p><p></p><p>Two of the guards looked at each other before raising their bows again. The crew made it to the shallow waters, and then rushed up through the water to the beach.</p><p></p><p>As she approached the guards, Charity began to sing a dirge. In it, pirates came to raid a small fortress. The defenders were all slaughtered. The guards, on hearing it, began to become a bit nervous.</p><p></p><p>Orange rushed ashore, and speared one of the guards with his trident. Aoife gutted another, and Khadija ran to take cover behind one of the tents. </p><p></p><p>“If you don’t give up now,” Charity said, “These two will do the same to all of you. It wont do you any good to die over this.”</p><p></p><p>“What do you want?” An older man stepped out of one of the tents, he wore the work clothes of a Samu teacher.</p><p></p><p>Charity smiled. “We just want the treasure.”</p><p></p><p>“And if we let you have it? You’ll leave?”</p><p></p><p>“That’s the plan.”</p><p></p><p>The man thought about it for a moment, and as the guards made to attack again, he stopped them. “Give them what they want.”</p><p></p><p>“But sir!” one of the soldiers protested.</p><p></p><p>“No, do you feel like dying? We’re outnumbered here.”</p><p></p><p>“Wise man. Put all of your weapons on the ground here.” </p><p></p><p>As the men started to comply, under the watchful eye of the pirates, Charity noticed one of the scholars try to sneak out of the back of one of the tents and run off into the woods.</p><p></p><p>“Stop him!” Charity shouted.</p><p></p><p>Khadija bounded after the man. Even wounded, she was much more swift, and she brought him down at the edge of the treeline. She searched his body, and came back carrying something.</p><p></p><p>“You see what foolishness gets you?” Charity asked the scholar. “Now, we are going to take these weapons, and a few other things, and we’ll leave. Anyone who tries to follow us will suffer the same fate.”</p><p></p><p>Orange grabbed up the bundle of weapons, while the rest ransacked the tents. Once everyone was loaded up, they boarded the rowboat, and headed back for the ship.</p><p></p><p>“And remember lads!” Charity taunted, “When you get back home, and your employers ask what happened, be sure to tell them that you were bested by Lady Charity, queen of the seas!”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Tolen Mar, post: 2660134, member: 1295"] [b]Chapter 4: It came from the Deep...[/b] Chapter 4: It came from the deep… The crew was in a lively mood for the next three days. The newly captured ship was taken to the cove, where Captain Perri decided he was going to keep it and use it to supplement his own ship during raids. The crew, most at least, got more shore leave, and rushed ashore to spend their ill-gotten gains. Perri had the new ship repainted, a few modifications made, in order that any Malasian warships in the area might not recognize it as one of their own. In her bunk area, after everyone left, Charity carefully wrapped the gems in a spare cloth from her trunk. She stored the bundle under everything else, saving it for a rainy day. Little did she know, she’d never get a chance to spend it. Shore leave ended, and as usual, the captain called a meeting of the crew on the deck. “I’ve decided to keep the new ship. The governors themselves don’t care what happens to it, so it defaults to me. My ship is faster, but this new one is pretty sturdy. From now on, when we go on a raid, I’ll take my ship to draw away any defense, and give you time to get into position.” Captain Perri then separated the crew into two smaller groups, and he indicated the group Charity ended up in. Standing with her was Aoife, Khadija, Lorenzo, and Orange. “You lot will stay aboard the new ship, Samson and Kor will accompany you. You’ll take your orders from Samson, knowing they come from me.” “I guess I’ll have to transfer the medical gear over.” Lorenzo whispered to no one in particular. “Don’t do so on my account, Ren.” Charity smiled at him. “I don’t plan to need your expertise.” “Everyone gets hurt once in a while.” “Not me, I’m too good.” “As it happens,” the captain resumed, “we have another mission. Seems some Samu scholars are looking at some old ruins on a couple of islands not far from here. Since we’ve ticked off the Malasian navy, heading East might be a good idea, let the dust settle a bit. We’ll do this in two stages. First I’ll take my ship in and draw off their escorts. That’ll give you a chance to land, grab whatever treasures they’ve dug up and get out of there. It’s a simple smash and grab, so don’t hang around and wait for me. You get your stuff, you head out. We’ll meet back here.” “No problem, Cap’n!” Orange shouted. “They won’t know what happened to ‘em.” “Actually, there is a problem. Word has it that Ottoman is out there.” Several of the crew paled, and then cursed, others made the sign of the evil eye. Charity had never heard of Ottoman before. “Who’s ‘Ottoman’?” she asked. Lorenzo shrugged, the rest of her friends didn’t know either. “Ottoman is supposed to be an old sea god.” Kor answered. “It seems that some time ago, he was tricked by a sailor, who was able to blind his single eye. The tales say he lurks in the ghostsea, attacking ships, looking for the one who got away.” “Aye.” Perri agreed. “I don’t believe in that nonsense myself, but as so many of my crew are superstitious…” he looked at several crewmembers with a wry look in his eyes. “I want a party to go to town. Find Mad Erwin’s shop. I’ve asked him to make a talisman that should appease Old Ottoman, and get us past without incident. At least, that’s what he claims. Volunteers?” “I’ll go.” Said Ren. “Aye, and me.” Answered Charity. “For one more chance to go ashore, I’ll volunteer.” Called Orange. Before long, five of them were ready to go. As they made to leave the ship, Perri tossed a bag of coins to Orange. “Be sure to pay him with this.” *************************************** Mad Erwin’s was located in the part of town called ‘Black Row’. It was the poor section. The streets were grimy, covered with the soot of decades of oil lamps burning night and day. Every street corner had either a lady of ill repute or a beggar missing a hand or a foot, or worse. The streets here were narrow, as well. A single wagon might fit through but only if everyone got out of its way to let it past. Sounds of scuffles came from near and far at every intersection and alleyway. Mad Erwin’s shop looked much like the rest of the buildings in this part of town, which is to say, run down. It had windows covered in dirt, with only the occasional vague attempt to wipe away the grime in evidence. There was a sign over the door that read ‘Mad Erwin’s cures and curses’. It hung from only one of its two hooks. As Ren opened the door, a blackened brass bell over the door rang. The party stepped inside, to see rows of shelves filled with a large variety of bottles, flasks, small statuettes, and so forth. None of them looked to have been moved in ages. Dust lay in a thick layer on most of it. A voice drifted out from behind a thick curtain in the back telling them someone would be out in just a few minutes. With nothing to do but wait, the group began looking at the items on the shelves. In one jar was a hand and arm floating in some sort of liquid. It was missing most of its flesh, as well as a few of the finger bones. Next to it, sat a box of blackroot, and Ren picked it up. “I’m always running out of this.” He said. “I wonder how much Erwin wants for it?” As if waiting for that cue, Erwin came out of the back. He was an older fellow, portly, and going bald. He had on an apron that was smudged with something, the odor of which drifted quickly to where Charity was standing. He was limping, and the scraggly facial hair looked as if he had tried to grow a beard, but failed miserably. “How can I help ye?” he asked. “Captain Perri sent us.” Charity answered. “He says you have made something for us.” “Ah yes! In fact, I just finished. Let me go get it for you.” He limped into the back again, and a few minutes later came back holding four bags made of animal skins, each about the size of a persons head. Each pair was bound together by a cord, and was accompanied both by a terrible smell, and by a cloud of flies. He also produced a pair of rods with stones, teeth and feathers hanging from them. “When you get within sight of the beast, nail what’s in these bags to the totems, and hang’em off the front of your ship. Should keep the thing at bay.” Charity backed away at the scent, and Ren looked reluctant to touch them. Aoife made a gagging sound and made for the door. Orange rolled his eyes, and took the rods, draping the bags over them. Then he handed the pouch of coins to the man. Everyone began to file out, except Lorenzo, who haggled out a price for the blackroot before he left. ********************************* “Took you long enough!” Samson yelled as he saw the group returning. “Next time, you go.” Charity shouted back. “You think you could do it faster. You aren’t the one who had to carry these smelly things back.” “Get aboard, then! The captain’s itching to get moving.” Orange set one of the talismans on the foredeck of their ship, then took the other over to Perri’s ship. Charity climbed to the crow’s nest. A few minutes later, they cast off, and headed east. ************************************** A few hours later, the ships drew close to the island that was reputed to be the island Ottoman hailed from. Up on her perch, Charity saw one of the crew on Perri’s ship break out the totem and hang it off the bowsprit. She leaned over the rail and shouted down to Samson. “Sir! Looks like time to break out the totem!” Samson looked over the waves to Perri’s ship, nodded, then called to Orange, “Mister Orange! Would you be so kind?” Orange tied off the rope he had been working on and unwrapped the totems. They looked like enormous fish eyes. He hung them in place as instructed. Nothing happened that anyone could see. The ships passed by the island without anything appearing. Perhaps it was just an old tale after all, or maybe the talismans worked. Either way, the ships continued on their way. After night fell, a signal shone out from Perri’s ship, indicating that the island they were after was not far ahead and that the crew should prepare for battle. “Damn it all!” Samson cursed. “That took longer than I thought. Sailing back at night is going to be difficult, especially if we take another route home.” Charity could make out the shape of the island on the horizon. From here she could see pin-point sized flickers of campfires. She turned to report down to Samson, when she caught a flicker of movement out in the water. Peering as hard as she could, she just made out in the dim moonlight the shape of a whale, at least that’s what she thought it was. It was underwater and coming fast. “Creature below!” she shouted. Several of the crew ran to the railings on the side she indicated, trying to spot what she had. The shape cruised under the ship, and as it did so, the boat lurched sickeningly. Several of the crew were knocked off their feet. Then tentacles broke the surface of the water, and began sweeping the deck, feeling for anything they could grab. Before anyone could react, one of the crew was yanked overboard by a particularly large one. Kor rushed up on deck, cursing. “Ottoman! What the hell is he doing all the way out here?” “That doesn’t exactly matter now, Kor!” Samson shouted. “Get your weapon, and help out!” Below her, Charity could see most of the crew fighting tentacles, one or two at a time for each one. Occasionally one would grab a crewman and drag him overboard. Samson struggled at the wheel, trying to keep the ship upright. The largest tentacle of them all rose up out of the water then, and on its end was a large eyeball. It rose up to almost the same height Charity was at. “Holy gods!” she whispered as it darted down toward the deck. Frantically, she began to tie a rope around her waist. Balancing atop the shifting mast, she coiled the rope around and around, until she had almost all of it around her. Below, Kor was trying to arrange a proper defense, shouting instructions, he had several of the crew into a tight box formation, the outer edges of which would strike at tentacles as they tried to reach in. Lorenzo sprinted across the deck to where the totems were hanging, he snapped a dagger out of one of its hidden holsters, and cut the thing lose, tossing the eyes out to sea. A tentacle whipped up and wrapped itself around Aoife. Orange and Khadija rushed up, and split it open. There was a pained howling from beneath the ship as the tentacle slipped back under. The eye-tentacle made a move toward Khadija as Charity balanced out to the end of the yardarm. Once there, she drew her rapier, took a deep breath and jumped. The rope caught, causing charity to spin, slowing down her fall, and bringing her around in a large arc that took her past the top of the big tentacle. As she went by, she slashed out with her blade, opening a tremendous gash along its top side. She landed, slightly dizzy, on the deck on the other side of Khadija. Orange stepped up, and buried his trident in the center of the eye. Another howl came from below, and the sea foamed, as the tentacles began to slip back into the sea. Just as the crew thought they had defeated the thing, two more tentacles came up, wrapped themselves around Kor and Khadija, and yanked them overboard. Charity ran across the deck, dropping her rapier, and drawing her knife. She jumped onto the rail, into the water. She swam for all she was worth, and moments later heard Lorenzo splash in as well. She made for Khadija, when Orange, trying to help, drove his trident at the tentacle holding her. The thing shifted at the last moment, and the big fork impaled the girl instead. Orange shouted a curse, and pulled. Khadija came free of the tentacle, and Orange lifted her aboard like some kind of fish. Charity turned, and joined Ren in trying to save Kor. Her dagger blade wasn’t strong enough to penetrate the beast’s skin, but between the two of them, they freed Kor and began heading back for the surface, Kor looking the worst for wear. Another tentacle shot up and tried to grab Charity by the ankle. She kicked at it, and swam harder, getting away before it could grab her. Several hands helped her back onto the deck, where she slumped down, dripping to catch her breath. Near the back of the ship, Orange was kneeling over Khadija, weeping. Between sobs, she could hear him saying “Oh god, Im sorry! I’m so sorry!” Ren went over to look at her. “She’s lucky. She’s alive. Someone get my kit, now!” Ren stopped the bleeding, and began to stitch the biggest of the wounds. “You’ll be okay, but it looks like you’ll be out of the action for a while.” “Nonsense, doc.” She said, her strength beginning to return. “I’m tougher than you think. He missed anything vital.” “Still, if you try too much, these will tear open, and you’ll probably die.” “You worry too much.” “I really hate to bring this up right now, but we are almost there, and it looks like Perri can’t hold them off much longer.” Samson called out. “Get everyone bandaged up, and get ready, you still have to hit that camp.” “Nice to know how much he cares for his crew.” Aofie said, snidely. “Anyone else hurt?” Ren asked. Everyone else shook their heads. “Not enough to worry about.” Charity replied. Khadija sat up, new bandages over her wounds. “We’re all fine, we have work to do.” ******************************************* The rowboat drifted toward the camp. It had guards, and they had time to be ready for an attack. Arrows started to rain down on them, mostly missing everyone. One hit Charity, but deflected off her rapier hilt. “I’d suggest,” Charity called out, “That you drop your weapons! We’ve just defeated Ottoman, and the likes of you won’t pose even the threat of a challenge!” Two of the guards looked at each other before raising their bows again. The crew made it to the shallow waters, and then rushed up through the water to the beach. As she approached the guards, Charity began to sing a dirge. In it, pirates came to raid a small fortress. The defenders were all slaughtered. The guards, on hearing it, began to become a bit nervous. Orange rushed ashore, and speared one of the guards with his trident. Aoife gutted another, and Khadija ran to take cover behind one of the tents. “If you don’t give up now,” Charity said, “These two will do the same to all of you. It wont do you any good to die over this.” “What do you want?” An older man stepped out of one of the tents, he wore the work clothes of a Samu teacher. Charity smiled. “We just want the treasure.” “And if we let you have it? You’ll leave?” “That’s the plan.” The man thought about it for a moment, and as the guards made to attack again, he stopped them. “Give them what they want.” “But sir!” one of the soldiers protested. “No, do you feel like dying? We’re outnumbered here.” “Wise man. Put all of your weapons on the ground here.” As the men started to comply, under the watchful eye of the pirates, Charity noticed one of the scholars try to sneak out of the back of one of the tents and run off into the woods. “Stop him!” Charity shouted. Khadija bounded after the man. Even wounded, she was much more swift, and she brought him down at the edge of the treeline. She searched his body, and came back carrying something. “You see what foolishness gets you?” Charity asked the scholar. “Now, we are going to take these weapons, and a few other things, and we’ll leave. Anyone who tries to follow us will suffer the same fate.” Orange grabbed up the bundle of weapons, while the rest ransacked the tents. Once everyone was loaded up, they boarded the rowboat, and headed back for the ship. “And remember lads!” Charity taunted, “When you get back home, and your employers ask what happened, be sure to tell them that you were bested by Lady Charity, queen of the seas!” [/QUOTE]
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Tales from the Ghostsea Chapter 8 Love and Mutiny (Updated 11/05/05)
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