Akira stood on the top deck of K.S. SeaSurfer. The ship was one of the large naval ships that Kodria owned. She, along with the two medium ships K.S. Pointy and K.S. Hail had led the delegation of Kodria, Saberfang, and Coldpelts up the river to continue their discussions with the various coastal werewolf clans.
Each ship had its own marine detachment to assist in defending the ships as well as boarding any enemy ships or landing onshore for land battles.
Akira had taken his normal guards with their mounts along with Graar, Fluffball, Klyn, and Zundar.
Chack and Pii’per had been tasked with helping and protecting Mileena who was staying inside Kodria’s castle while Akira was gone. Both prince Gobbers and Varbu had been given separate important tasks that made it so they could not join this excursion.
They had already stopped at the Saberfang’s clan and had taken care of everything there. Now they were headed for the Coldpelt’s territories.
Fluffball stood next to Akira, his front paws on the wooden rail of the ship as he snapped at the cold wind, trying to bite it as it blew into his furry face.
“Lord, we are nearing the territory of Froit. Since it is now controlled by demigods, I suggest we take a curving detour further out away from the land so that we are not seen and attacked,” said captain Walcott, who had taken command of the flagship K.S SeaSurfer.
“For the safety of everyone we should take every precaution that we can,” said Akira, looking out over the sea that now had several large broken ice chunks floating everywhere.
With the warmer winds already reaching the north of Foradverold, the ice was easily plowed through by KS Pointy which received her name from the large reinforced metal ramming prow at her front that also allowed her to clear the way for the other ships. The warm months would soon reach Kodria as well, Akira just hoped that he would be able to arrive in time to oversee everything he had planned.
He watched the crows-nest where the signaler of KS SeaSurfer silently waved his various flags in different motions and speeds to convey the new orders for the other two ships.
KS Pointy acknowledged the orders and was the first to turn to port plowing through the harder ice clearing a path away from the enemy-controlled territory.
Akira admired the skill of the captains that were navigating in such troublesome waters, they had not run into any problems yet, due to their skilled maneuvering along with the warnings of the lookouts in the crow’s nest.
For over an hour Akira silently listened to the cracking sound of ice as they continued to sail for the Coldpelt territories.
The signaler in the crows-nest started to converse with the other ships ordering them to return to their previous course now that they were well away from the enemy territory.
As the ships turned to the starboard and started to approach the land several distant flashes caught Akira’s eye.
He looked to the sky to see if it had been lighting that he had seen, but the sky was still a dreary gray calm winter day with no dark storm clouds.
“Captain Walcott please lend me your spyglass,” said Akira, his hand reaching out waiting for the collapsible telescope.
Captain Walcott looked to the area Akira was focused on as he handed over the spyglass.
With Akira’s keen sight and the added range given by the spyglass, Akira could now make out two separate groups running near the shore quite a distance behind the ships.
The first group looked to be a human and a dwarf, both males, who were running for their lives. For some reason, each of them was carrying a small wooden chest.
Behind them was a small group of 5 or more demigods that were chasing them with smiles on their faces. Behind this group was a larger group that looked to be following the first group of demigods at a distance.
“Captain, please position your ships so they can support those two. Ready the whaleboats so that I can lead the marines to the shore,” said Akira, handing the spyglass back to Captain Walcott.
Captain Walcott used the spyglass to see what it was that they were up against.
“Signaler! Relay these orders! In ten minutes drop your anchors. KS Hail will take point and aim her two smaller ballistas and marine archers at the approaching demigods!”
When the orders were passed along KS SeaSurfer slowed down allowing KS Hail to pass through the narrow ice clearing to get into a better position.
Each ship’s sails began to be raised as the end of ten minutes drew closer. The fast-moving ships began to slow down before coming to a complete stop when the anchor splashed down into the icy water where it dragged on the sandy floor for a short time until it caught on a rock.
Both KS SeaSurfer and KS Hail readied their ballista, the numerous skilled marine archers lined the starboard side of KS Hail which was closer to shore than the other ships allowing them to stay in range to shoot at the approaching targets. KS pointy began to lower its whaleboats filled with marines.
With the ships not moving Captain Walcott changed his method of communication to the silent whistle.
When he deemed the enemy to be in range, he blew into the whistle with all he had. The sound traveled out from his ship, reaching the others quickly.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Each of the ship’s ballista fired, sending several large bolts flying through the air.
Swoosh!
Burkin tripped over his feet frightened by the large bolts that had come from the sea and flew right over his head.
“GAH!”
The pained cry of a demigod echoed across the snowy shore as he was impaled in the stomach and sent tumbling backward before disappearing into thousands of bright lights.
“Get up! They’re right behind us!” shouted Jas as he grabbed Burkin’s fur coat and pulled him forward just barely avoiding getting hit by a wind blade that had been shot by one of the Demigods.
“Damn it! It’s bad enough those maniacs are toying with us but now someone else is shooting at us!” growled Burkin, as he stood back up with the help of Jas.
They did not dare to look back as they were too focused on looking ahead to not trip on the icy rocks of the beach. But they did glance out to the sea ahead of them to look at the new harassers.
Burkin saw several dozen arrows arch up into the sky and lost sight of them as they passed overhead. Seconds later, he heard the sounds of arrows hitting the metal and leather armor of the chasing demigods along with the grunts and groans of pain.
Still, the demigods continued to chase them not wanting to let such juicy targets get away.
Burkin looked closer at the large whaleboats that were now in the water heading towards the shore.
In the lead whaleboat stood a man in full black armor with a large shield. Behind him stood a familiar large horned muscled fighter Burkin was well acquainted with.
“It’s them!” shouted Burkin excitedly, almost tripping a second time.
“Who?” asked Jas as he held Burkin up.
“Kodria! We need to run to them!”
They were still a long distance away from the ships and the whaleboats were not all that fast, although they had started to angle towards the shore to land just ahead of Jas and Burkin.
More ballista bolts flew dangerously close over their heads and pierced several demigods along with the hail of arrows, only two demigods that had been in the lead party chasing were unharmed the rest had disappeared into thousands of lights.
The demigods trailing behind them had already stopped their pursuit not wanting to suffer the same fate.
With great reluctance, the remaining two demigods turned around to escape the deadly ballista and hail of arrows. Unfortunately only one of them made it back to hunker down with the other group.
Akira jumped from the whaleboat and waded to shore in the knee-deep icy water where he waited for the exhausted Jas and Burkin to arrive.
He watched the demigods in the distance for several moments as his guards and the marines joined him onshore. The demigods may have stopped following Jas and Burkin but they did not show any sign of leaving. They continued to loiter just out of range of the ballista and arrows.
“Akira! Boy am I ever glad to see you!” said a huffing Burkin, when he reached Akira and the marines.
“Likewise, I’m sure the two of you have a long tale to tell about how you ended up like this but it’s not safe to chat here,” said Akira as he waved the two to follow him.
“Sure, sure, best that we hurry up and get to safety first! Oh, by the way, this is Jas. You met him several years ago.”
Akira gave Jas a nod and the man returned one to him. He was too exhausted to speak now that they had finally reached friendlies.
