Kingdom's Quest (16 page)

TEMPESTS!

The weather was fair, but the winds were not favorable for their trek. Captain Dante was not pleased with their progress. After two weeks at sea, the
Raven
and her crew were only little more than halfway to the ports of Namor. Gavinaugh and Captain Dante engaged themselves in lengthy discussions regarding the Prince and the future of Arrethtrae. Although Dante was intrigued by the bizarre story of a man who had risen from death to return one day to rule the kingdom, he was certainly far from becoming a Follower. Occasionally he reminded Gavinaugh sternly, usually in the presence of his crew, that he was a prisoner destined to spend the rest of his life in the dungeons of Namor. In the solitude of their evening discussions, however, Gavinaugh sensed that Dante looked fondly upon his prisoner.

Captain Dante's first mate was a gruff character named Huntly. The man had little time for silly discussions of affairs that had nothing to do with sailing the
Raven
. He was the perfect man for his position, for the crew both feared and respected him. He was the fierce disciplinarian of the command duo, which allowed the captain to appear more conciliatory toward the men without appearing weak. Gavinaugh noted that this gave the captain an effective tool to hold in reserve for
times of retribution or adversity. His demeanor was seldom unpleasant, so when he became grave in his speech or bearing, the men took his commands as though their lives depended on it … and often this was true. Such was the case on a blisteringly hot afternoon when the lookout shouted a warning cry from the crow's nest that sent chills up the spines of all the crew.

“Tempests!” the man shouted and pointed off the starboard.

In that single warning, the tension onboard escalated to a state that amazed Gavinaugh. All hands instantly became still, and the focus of the entire crew went to the direction indicated by the lookout. Gavinaugh joined Captain Dante and First Mate Huntly at the starboard rail and scanned the horizon.

“How many?” Huntly shouted up to the lookout.

“Three … at least!”

“Do you think they've made us, Cap'n?” Huntly asked.

“We wouldn't be seeing them if they hadn't first seen us,” Dante said with great concern on his face.

“What are Tempests?” Gavinaugh asked.

“They're the piranhas of the open seas.” Dante didn't take his eyes from the black specks on the horizon. “Their ships are light and fast. They sail in fleets to overwhelm the ships they attack. Every man aboard will wish he was in the dungeons of Namor rather than to fall prey to the likes of these barbarians.”

Dante turned to Huntly. “Set sail with the winds, no matter the direction. Lighten the ship and make for speed, Huntly!”

“Aye, aye, sir!” Huntly began barking orders to the men. It took no small effort to break them from their fearful trance, but once the reality of the situation sank in, their fervor in their duties was apparent.

As the afternoon passed, the specks on the horizon became the distinct forms of sailing vessels, and there was no doubt as to their course. The lookout in the crow's nest had been replaced and appeared nearly overcome with apprehension as he stepped onto the ship's deck.

“Anything else to report, Denton?” Dante asked.

“I saw at least six ships, and they're gaining on us fast! What are we going to do, Cap'n?” The man's fear was rising with each word he spoke.

“Be at ease, seaman,” Dante said.

“Is it true about what they do to their captives?” Denton asked.

“Report to Huntly,” the captain said without responding to his question.

The man lowered his eyes. “Aye, aye, sir.”

Gavinaugh waited for the man to leave. “Where do they come from?” he asked Dante.

“No one knows for sure. The myth is that they rise up out of the sea like monsters from the deep. I have never encountered the Tempests before, but I've seen the remains of those who have.” Dante nearly shuddered. “The Tempests are less than human, Gavinaugh. My men would rather drown in the depths of the sea than fall into their hands.”

As evening approached, the black flags of the pursuing Tempest ships were unmistakable. The captain called the first mate and two other men into his cabin to discuss their fate. Gavinaugh was allowed to stand by and listen.

“I can hardly contain the men, Cap'n,” Huntly said.

“Keep them focused on their duties,” Dante said. “How long before the Tempests overtake us?”

“Late afternoon tomorrow, if the winds stay as they are.”

The captain focused his attention on the map before them. “Our course takes us near the Isles of Melogne. It is our only hope.”

The men stared at the captain in disbelief.

“Captain, navigating through the Isles of Melogne is suicide,” Huntly said. “Not to mention that the islands themselves are haunted. No man who has set foot on the islands has ever returned.”

“Huntly's right, Captain,” one of the other men said. “I was a shipmate onboard the
Charlotte Louise
. When we went to rescue the shipwreck of the
Peconic
, not a soul was found.”

The captain looked solemnly at each of the men. “There are six Tempest ships on our heels, men. If they should catch and board us … well, I'll take my chances on the Isles of Melogne. As far as navigating through the waters, we've got the best crew in Namor. And as for the islands, I'll believe your stories of ghosts when I see them. We'll just have to keep a steady eye, a firm hand, and a stout heart. Set course for the islands, Huntly. Cast off whatever you need to in order to make the isles before the Tempests overtake us. Dismissed!”

“Aye, aye, sir,” the three men said in unison as they departed.

That evening, Gavinaugh heard the splash of wares being tossed overboard as the men attempted to lighten the ship's load. By morning, however, the Tempests' ships were ominously close. One ship had outdistanced the others and was nearly upon them. The Isles of Melogne were visible ahead, but the distance was too far and the time was too short. The crew began casting everything that was not absolutely necessary overboard, but the lead Tempest ship continued to gain on them. By noon, the two ships were nearly side by side, and the grisly flag of the sinister Tempest ship matched its dark crew. Over sixty vicious seamen stood in silence with swords drawn as their shipmates brought the vessel abreast of the
Raven
. The silence of their pursuit was eerie, and the crew of the
Raven
readied themselves for the fight of their lives. If by some miracle they survived the attack of this vessel, there would still be five more to come.

Dante approached Gavinaugh. “I understand you handle a sword well.”

“I can hold my own,” Gavinaugh replied.

“Never before have I released a prisoner's sword to him, even when I thought I might die. But you are different, Gavinaugh.” Dante loosened the scabbard and sword from about his waist and gave Gavinaugh his sword. “My death could mean your freedom.”

“My freedom is not worth the death of a good man,” Gavinaugh said as he secured the sword about his waist. It made him feel complete.

Dante gave a slight smile and turned his attention to the impending fight.

The two vessels were now side by side. The Tempests cast a half dozen binding ropes with hooks across the remaining distance and bound the vessels together. In an instant, the crews of the ships were entwined in a ferocious battle of flashing swords. The Tempests were merciless in their cause, and the crew of the
Raven
fought desperately against the evil sea warriors.

Gavinaugh fought gallantly and saved the lives of many men during the battle. He tried to stay close to Captain Dante, for he knew that the survival of the crew depended on this man's leadership. As the fighting progressed, Gavinaugh felt the power of the sword of the Prince pulsing through him. He sensed the tides of battle and dominated with each blow he struck.

Dante was embroiled in a desperate fight with a large Tempest who seemed impossible to defeat. Gavinaugh deflected the blade of an adversary just as the captain narrowly dodged the thrust of his grisly opponent. Gavinaugh brought a deadly slice across the torso of his enemy and then went to give aid to Dante. By the time he reached the captain, Dante had ducked beneath a high slice and executed a deadly thrust to end the life of the massive Tempest. Just then a spear flew from the Tempest ship directly at Captain Dante.

“Captain!” Huntly shouted, but the warning was too late. The speed of the spear was great, but Gavinaugh had already initiated a response. He took one more step and timed an incredibly powerful slice downward to meet the spear as it passed by him on its path to Dante's chest. Gavinaugh's blade severed the shaft of the spear and deflected the tip so that it embedded into the main mast beside Dante.

Gavinaugh's influence in the battle was significant, for his skill and courage rallied the men to overcome in the fight against the Tempests. As the fighting lessened, Gavinaugh maneuvered his way along the starboard rail and cut the binding ropes that held the
Raven
to the Tempest
ship. The ships broke apart, and the remaining Tempests onboard were quickly eliminated and cast overboard. A cheer rose up from the crew of the
Raven
because of their victory, and Gavinaugh was heralded as a hero of the battle.

Captain Dante approached Gavinaugh and thanked him for saving his life. “Why don't you hang on to that sword for a bit … just in case,” Dante said as he slapped Gavinaugh on the back.

The fanfare was brief, however, for the battle had significantly slowed them, and the other five vessels were closing fast. They recovered their speed and raced on toward the Isles of Melogne.

By midafternoon, the Isles of Melogne loomed large before them, and it looked as though they might make them before they were overtaken. There were five islands, all very close to each other. The main island was large with steep, rocky cliffs that comprised the northern shoreline. One of the smaller islands sat just a few hundred feet off the north shore of the main island, and the two steep cliffs on the islands formed a water canal between them.

As their ship approached, large rock outcroppings began to appear above and below the waterline.

“Captain, we will tear the hull apart if we hit these rocks,” Huntly said.

Death pursued them from behind, and calamity awaited them ahead. It was a precarious situation, and Gavinaugh could feel the crew's apprehension.

“Slow our speed and mark the depth,” Dante ordered. “There must be a canal deep enough. The cliffs of those islands surely go deeper than the waterline. Make our way for the canal.”

Although the Tempest ships continued to gain, it was apparent that they too had slowed their approach in the treacherous waters of the isles.

The crew worked intently, and everyone held their breath at one point as the hull scraped along the jagged edge of an unseen rock formation. As they navigated their way to the channel between the two islands,
the Tempest vessels stopped their pursuit, but did not retreat. The ships formed a barricade between the open sea and the channel of the two islands, thereby trapping the
Raven
within the confines of the islands. They were now at the mercy of the legends of the Isles of Melogne. Most of their supplies had been cast off and their route blocked, but they were alive. They turned their attention from the perils of the sea to the challenges of survival in a haunted land.