Malspire (28 page)

The night drew on. The waters were still rough but seemed to be calming a little. The drizzle had stopped. The engine was not running smoothly. It clanked and jarred, the hull shuddered every now and then, but it was holding. If we survived this battle, I intended to take the Lady Ocean back to Norlan where I would give it a proper refit and fill the crew whatever the cost, even if I had to sail her all the way back to Ardalrion and scour the villages for eager eyed young men.

Suddenly Veinara and my brother came to mind. Where was my brother? It did not look as though he was part of the fleet and so I assumed he had returned to Norlan to see his new wife and never heard the call to arms. Lord Pavantu's words now seemed ridiculous. How could Ajator be in any trouble? Even if he was, I knew my brother would find a way out of it.

“Coming about, Captain,” said Harl.

The dim light was moving eastwards. It had been three hours since we left the cove. Willan had made his rounds of the castle handing out warm broth and bread, it being important to keep the men well fed before battle. It looked as though Olvan was correct and we were to strike at the heart of the enemy fleet from the west.

“Mister Harl. I want you on deck. Clear the deck. Run out the guns and make ready for battle.”

“Sir,” said Harl, handing over the wheel to Mister Owman. A couple of young lads were also helping to hold the wheel as it was tiring work in troubled waters. What were their names again? One of them was the boy who had tried to repaint the name of the ship in the stormy waters. I had wanted to get to know the crew better but so far had not found the time. If we survived the night, I would find out later.

“Sergeant! Place men in the crow's-nest and up here in the aftcastle. If we are boarded, we will stand a better chance if we concentrate out defences here.”

“Yes, sir!” Sergeant Lamtak saluted, and then turned to gather his men.

“What can I do?” This was the Lady Lamient. I had not noticed her on the castle. She had been hidden in the darkness.

“What can’t you do?” I asked in response.

She smiled at that, taking it as a compliment although I was referring to her probable lack of any humanity. Perhaps she understood that and still considered it a compliment.

“I have a rifle in my bag.”

“That certainly is a bag of tricks. Perhaps the lady would rather stay below while the men dispatch these rebel buggers,” I said, fulfilling my duty as an officer to offer protection to any women aboard my ship. I was however damned if I was going to pretty my language for this one.

“There is probably room in the crow's-nest where I can put my rifle to use.”

Rifles were not common. The Calionvar had developed the technology and as far as I knew it entailed adding groves to the inside of a musket’s barrel. It made the ball spin which greatly increased the accuracy. Muskets where poor weapons at a range over fifty yards, and many a ship would hold off firing such weapons until the range was closed, and even then men were not expected to hit a specific target but instead fire at an enemy crew in general and fire as often as possible and just hope the odd shot would find a target. Rifles however could be used to hit individual targets, and a captain always feared them for the captains and officers where always prime targets in any crew. In fact few Imperial captains allowed their use and even I was not happy with such a weapon aboard my ship. I knew it was a boon to my ship’s small firepower however and I was not usually one for convention, but if we started using one then why would the enemy not start using them? Then I would be the first of my crew to die should an enemy poses such a weapon. Ever the craven puppy! Be thankful for the ladies contribution.

She went below and returned shortly with the rifle. It was too dark to see it as everything was just a shade of black upon another shade of black, but she slung the long barrel on her back and climbed the rigging to the crow's-nest.

“I had best prepare,” said Doctor Eebel. He was in a sullen mood and smelt of spirits. He had found some and was drunk, but not too drunk to forget his duties thankfully. Even though I wanted to, I could not blame the man.

“Have plenty of lanterns ready, doctor. When the fight begins, you will need the light to work by.”

“Good luck, Captain Ardalrion. I hope not to see you tonight at least.”

I nodded and the surgeon made his way forward.

Sergeant Lamtak then marched up and saluted.

"Sergeant?"

"The men are ready, sir."

"Good. It will probably be a while yet, but I want to be prepared to move at a moment’s notice. Load and be ready, but hold fire till I give the command."

"Very well, sir. Private Ekstam requests permission to string his bow, sir."

"A bow?" It was not uncommon for men to use the bow, but marines had long ago taken to the musket.

"A longbow, sir. He is a fine shot and always has it to hand."

I looked at the marines lined up on the castle and saw one man looking expectantly back at us. He was a big man but more to the point he was broad of shoulder. It took a huge strength to draw the longbow, and years of training to acquire the combination of strength and skill to use the weapon. Most bows were shorter, of the hunting variety, but the longbow was made for war - far more accurate than the musket and in the right hands, a deadlier weapon. Years ago, I had tried one and managed to pull the string as far back as my elbow using all my strength. The owner, one of the duke's woodsmen, a barrel chested old dog had laughed, then pulled it back to his ear before releasing the arrow which went on to pierce an old iron breastplate we were using as a target.

"Granted, Sergeant."

Lamtak saluted again, then turned and marched back to his marines.

“How long, sir?” asked Olvan, taking his place by my side.

“Hard to say. If the enemy changed course or speed we might well have lost them. We might overshoot them. We might be many miles behind them. I just don’t know.”

“A three breasted mermaid,” was Olvan’s response.

I looked at the silhouette that was Olvan. Had he lost his mind? “Would you care to explain?”

“Your idea for a figurehead, Captain. The three breasted mermaid.”

I remembered the discussion. I had asked Olvan to come up with an original figurehead and the three breasted mermaid was only an example.

“I have thought about it, sir. I thought long and hard and the more I thought about it, the more I realised that it’s perfect. I can’t come up with a better idea, sir,” explained Mister Olvan. “You see - this is your ship. It was your idea and it suits you. Please forgive my presumption, sir, but anything I can think of would just be absurd or rude or tasteless.”

“And a three breasted mermaid is not absurd, rude and tasteless?”

“Well, yes, but it’s you. It marks the ship as yours. It reeks… erm, sings of Captain Malspire Ardalrion, sir.” Olvan looked worried as though he had said too much, and he had.

I was taken aback, slightly hurt at the idea that even my first officer looked down upon me, his captain. I liked Olvan and yet he said these things that cut me.

“It’s hard to explain, sir. I respect you…”

“Respect me? You have a funny way of showing it. Reeks?”

Olvan had a pleading look. He was trying to find the right words. “You are… different. I grew up with every man adhering to the rules of society. I was taught to be polite and kind to women and the needy. I was given a proper education where I was taught that I was above most men and should act as such. I thought I was above most men, at least any men not born to money or nobility. Then I met you and you introduced me to the most vulgar, dirty, rude and savage men I have ever met. The crew,” added Olvan. “At first I hated it. I hated the language and manner and filth of these men. I hated the way they gamble and drink and swear and spit.”

I was listening.

“Then I changed. It was not fast. It took a while, but slowly I realised that I’m not as clever as I thought. At first it rankled, sir. The very thought that the low born can outwit me! But they can. I have met simple men with simple needs, but they aren’t stupid, nor basic. They’re cunning, and some probably far more intelligent than I.” He gestured towards Harl who was out of earshot.

“What I’m trying to say, Captain, is that you already knew this. You were born far above me and yet you know a man’s worth. Not by his blood and name, but by his skill and wit and character. I know I’m presuming a lot, sir, but you are different and only a three breasted mermaid would now suit your ship and only you could think of such a…”

“Reeking monstrosity?” I helped him.

Olvan smiled. “Exactly that, sir. It takes a monstrosity to tell the world that this ship belongs to Captain Ardalrion, and the captain is proud of it.” He shook his head, frustrated with his inability to put into words the subtle concept. “It needs to be a three breasted mermaid,” he concluded.

I nodded. I no longer felt hurt but rather flattered in an odd way. I did not know why, but Olvan had seen something in me that few others have, which I had long wanted the world to see, which was… So what? So what if you have money or powerful family. But what does matter then? I could only think of wine, women and gambling. That was not the full answer but it was certainly more valid than many. “I see, Mister Olvan.”

“So we shall have a three breasted mermaid?” asked the younger officer with a hopeful smile.

I considered this. “Yes. I plan to take us to Norlan for a proper refit. We shall commission it there. If we survive that is.”

“Very good, sir.”

“Absurd, rude and tasteless?”

“Not… no... just…”

“Enough, Mister Olvan. I thank you for your effort.”

There was a short silence then I added, “Just make sure not to forget the horn and beard.”

***

More hours passed and there had been no sign of the enemy. I was worried that the fleet had lost them. All the men had been on standby, and the fleet had even made a slight course change to a south easterly heading. Cups of warm broth had been passed around again to keep the men both warm and fit for fight. The paddle wheel endlessly thrashed the water. The engine thump thump thumped to a monotonous beat. I cradled my cup, letting the heat of the drink warm my fingers. The darkness was an endless maw of hidden threats, yet in places the sky was a subtle grade of darkest grey. There was a moon up there, and I had a feeling that the clouds were thinning. The lantern we followed was still a hundred or so yards ahead as it had been since we left the cove.

Harl, who I could just make out in the gloom, was on the main deck, standing at the starboard gunwale scanning the blackness of the surrounding night that enveloped us so utterly. He turned his head one way, then turned it the other. He was listening. Sudlas joined him.

I looked to my right and just then saw a tiny flash in the distance. It only lasted half a second, yet it was there. I knew exactly what I saw. It was the flash of a pipe being lit and I knew there was a ship a few hundred yards off to starboard. Harl had seen it too and signalled to me. I nodded. The enemy were blacked out but someone had lit a pipe. That someone had just unwittingly signalled the probable location of his fleet. I thanked the careless rebel bastard.

"Not long now lads! Rebels are off the starboard side. Pass the word." This was met by the odd muted cheer. Men still felt they should not make too much noise, funny considering the racket a steam engine and paddle wheel made.

"I'm looking forward to seeing the Tempest in action, sir," said Olvan.

"She has more firepower than a large fortress, Mister Olvan. She will light up the night like an angry god!"

"I'm pleased we joined the fleet, sir. This should make a story worth telling in the taverns or over dinner when I get old."

"It will." If we survive. "Hopefully we can be more than mere spectators though."

Conditions were clearing. The wind had been dying since we left the cove. I could see a very long chain of lights ahead of us now. Whatever ship was out there to the Lady Ocean's starboard could probably see a few of them itself which meant that it was only a matter of time now before the alarm was raised.

The fleet was accelerating. The Lady Ocean was set to full speed. She was not running as well as she could, but it was enough. I kept a weather eye on the darkness to starboard. I thought he could hear the distant thrumming of an engine and paddle wheel somewhere out there, but it was hard to make it out over the urgent pounding of the Lady Ocean's own engine. Then all of a sudden the clouds parted and as bright as a sun's ray of light it seemed, the moon pierced the heavens to cast a patch of light that illuminated the seas for miles around. I ran to the gunwale and looked out over the saturated seascape of silver speckled waves, black heavens and white edged ships.

"Gods preserve us," said Olvan who too was staring at the picture before us.

I hoped they would try, but would have preferred more ships and guns for there were at least twice our number of rebels out there. We had found the enemy, and the War Tempest was shooting like a lance for the ver
y heart of the rebel formation.

Chapter Thirteen

“For Ardalrion. For the Empire! Death to the rebels!” I shouted.

“Death to the rebels!” returned the crew.

The rebels were travelling in a rough oval formation with the battleships and transports at its heart and frigates surrounding them. The Imperial line, now curving round was already well inside the oval and it was but minutes before the War Tempest would be able to engage the enemy.

I saw that the rebels were not ready and were completely unaware until this point of impending danger, like a hunter turning to find a lion about to leap upon his back. Another minute passed. Still the enemy did nothing. Still the fleet moved in. Then suddenly I saw one of the rebel grand battleships veer to port. There were two of them. The second now turned too but in the other direction. I could well imagine the panic taking place on the enemy ships as they realised the gravity of the situation that was now upon them - one minute all was quiet and dark, the next, the heavens opened to reveal the sickly sight of an enemy fleet in battle formation so close you could spit at them.

Then there was darkness again. The clouds hid the moon and the fleets of both the Empire and rebellion vanished. Things fell oddly calm, then after what seemed an age, into this darkness came the sudden and brilliant shock of a double broadside from the distant War Tempest which lit up the night like a god’s hammer striking a white hot iron upon the anvil. She had managed to work her way between the two enemy grand battleships. This was quickly followed by the chest pounding, rolling boom of cannon fire, like the rolling thunder of a lightning bolt ponderously crawling through the clouds.

Witnessing the awe inspiring full force of a grand battleship’s double broadside brought home to me just how devastating these ships truly are. The enemy responded with the guns they could bring to bear but having turned away, their response was pitiful next to the War Tempest’s full fury.

Again there was darkness, but this was short lived, as soon fresh cannon fire started up and this time it did not stop. The Imperial fleet stayed in a line of battle and as each ship came within range of any enemy ship, they opened fire. All I could do was follow the light, follow the frigate in front of me and soon it would be the turn of the Lady Ocean to engage the enemy. Soon we would be put through the grinding mill of the line.

With the thunder and flash of gunfire ahead, I could now see the frigate that was close to starboard. It was not closing but heading for its flagship. Eventually it would close the gap as we both reached the same spot where the War tempest was carving a path through the enemy. What worried me was that we could not match the rebels for firepower.

The Lady Ocean was not a ship of the line. Not in her current state, and the question was whether or not to pull out of the line and see if we couldn’t find other ways to hurt the rebels? The enemy were still confused. Perhaps we could add a little more by doing the unexpected.  I searched ahead and saw the Imperial line moving inexorably through the heart of the rebels. Astonishingly the two enemy grand battleships seemed to be manoeuvring and none the worse for wear after the initial Imperial hammer blow. It was of course hard to tell from this distance, but it was a wonder that anything could survive such a barrage.

I saw that there was going to be a short lull in the battle as there was a gap between the two foremost Imperial battleships and the next. I waited. The cannons went silent. I made my choice.

“Hard to starboard, Mister Owman.”

“Hard to starboard!”

Owman turned the large wheel and the Lady Ocean leaned into the direction she was travelling as the ship turned away from the line and cut a new path through the waves.

“Captain?” this was Olvan who gave me a questioning look.

“Make ready to board the enemy, Mister Olvan. We’re going to board that frigate!”

“But, the line, sir?”

“Bugger the line. What difference can we make? You have your orders.”

“Starboard cannons ready to fire!” shouted Olvan as the battle lit up with renewed cannon fire. “Make ready to board the enemy!”

The whole ship came to life as those men not needed by the cannons went to fetch weapons and armour. Sergeant Lamtak readied twelve marines to go over the aftcastle.

“Send over the lot, sergeant. We don’t have enough men to prepare a retreat. All or nothing!” I said, drawing my cutlass and checking that my gutting knife was to hand.

As the flashes of light lit up the night and the crackling booms thundered over the waves, the Lady Ocean closed quickly with the enemy frigate. One such flash illuminated the enemy ship's name. The Dragonfly! It was the very same frigate that had tried to stop us from entering Sulenfir. Both vessels where probably at full speed, but the Dragonfly was the faster ship. The crew of the Lady Ocean would have to time it well as we came in fast and hard.

“Ready grappling hooks!” called Olvan who had drawn his sword, anticipation written on his face when he glanced back at me. He looked like a boy. He was a boy. I nodded.

Jodlin appeared on the aftcastle fully armed and armoured and smiled at me. It seemed that Jodlin had taken to being my personal body guard. It was not requested, but I was pleased to have him close. Harl had probably sent him again.

Then I addressed the ship. “I want this done quickly and without mercy. Once you're on that ship,” I pointed and was having to shout over the din of engine and guns. “I want you to have at them like the murdering bastards I know you are. Give them steel and lead. Make them bleed and beg for mercy. Drive them off that deck and into the sea!” The men roared with approval. “Kill the rebel turds. Gut them and hammer them. Stab them, kick them, punch them and bite'em! Make them piss their breaches and then call for their mothers. No mercy! Kill them all!” Again they cheered for their captain.

With only fifty yards now separating the two ships, I saw as the enemy realised that the Lady Ocean had left the line and how close she was. I saw men running along the deck, and others raising muskets. The damned buggers would probably manage a broadside before the Lady Ocean hit them. I toyed with the idea of turning away and delivering our own broadside when parallel with them but we would be outgunned. We would have to get lucky to hurt the enemy, while the enemy would be in a good position to deliver a full salvo. No. It was all or nothing. Take the broadside, then savage them.

As I watched the enemy, I saw an officer standing next to three enemy marines. The marines vanished in a cloud of smoke and stabbing fire as they fired at us. This was followed by a single smack as one of the shots hit the funnel instantly followed by the crackling noise of the small volley.

There was a faint snap then crack from the crow's-nest and I saw the enemy officer fall, his head thrown back in a spray of blood. Looking up, I could just make out the Lady Lamient admiring her work. It was all viewed through the flash and glare of the cannon fire. Nothing moved but just changed places from flash of light to flash of light. It was nightmarish and I felt the familiar pang of fear festering in my gut.

“Remember to aim low," commanded Sergeant Lamtak. "Aim for their balls! Fire!”  He had organised his men into a line. The volley crackled deafeningly and again my view was obscured by a stinking cloud of gunpowder smoke which was soon left behind in the breeze.

“Brace yourselves!” I roared as I saw another rebel officer raise his arm. It dropped.

There was a sudden silence. The world stopped. The crew of the Lady Ocean stood motionless. I held my breath and gritted my teeth. The enemy ship erupted in a cloud of smoke and jets of fire. It was no more than five guns, the rest probably not ready yet, but the effect was brutal. The crash of thunderous noise hit us as the cannon balls ploughed into the Lady Ocean, cutting great shards of splintered wood that flew across the deck, smashing through both timber and flesh. One man had his leg ripped clean off. Another was impaled and thrown overboard. A ball went right through the aftcastle just below my feet. There were screams and shouts. The effect was demoralising, but it could have been a lot worse. The enemy had used round shot rather than grapeshot - the tins of lead balls and scrap metal that would disintegrate into a cloud of lethal particles when fired and could reduce a deck of men to a mass of broken and bloody bodies. The enemy had not expected our manoeuvre. They were not prepared, and now they would pay for that mistake. The grappling hooks where thrown across. Gunfire was now being exchanged in a constant crack and rattle, a shot hissing close by my head. Another tugged at my coat sleeve. I was a prime target and felt exposed, but forced myself to remain composed, not to duck.

"Permission to fire?" called Harl who was standing by the row of cannons.

The Lady Ocean had turned alongside the rebel and Harl wanted to put a broadside into her before we embraced.

"Send them to the deepest hell, Mister Harl!"

Again the world of vision and sounds were dulled as Harl had the five cannons of the Lady Ocean fire at point blank range. It was all I could do just to stay on my feet as the concussive blast enveloped both ships. I thanked the gods for Harl's initiative, for I was not thinking clearly. I was standing at death's door and realised that the next few minutes could be the last of my miserable life.

“Fix bayonets,” called the marine sergeant.

"Now. Grappling hooks!" This was Olvan. We were upon the rebels.

Go! I thought. Go now or run away. I gritted my teeth again and thumbed my gutting knife. I had to go now or the fear would overcome me. I looked at Jodlin who was watching me. The big man was waiting to be let loose. He wanted to go. So be it!

“The Empire rules these oceans! Have at them! Kill the rebels. Kill them all!” and I ran at the gunwale between two marines. I took the side of my ship with my right boot and leapt into the air. In my eagerness, I had charged earlier than I should have as there was still a distance between the two ships, but I just about made the jump, landing just inside the enemy gunwale and fell upon the enemy with a fury and bitter brutality born of a fear that the instant I showed any timidity, I would be a dead man.

The rebels were still reeling from the cannon fire and Harl, bless the cunning bugger, had used grapeshot. The deck of the Dragonfly was a slaughterhouse of flayed bodies, blood and death. A score of men had been shredded and killed instantly. The stink of gunpowder mixed with blood and piss was what met me, but it only took a second for the rebels to regain their composure after the initial shock. A young marine charged me with his two foot long bayonet. The side of the boy's face was covered in blood and ichor. He had tears in his red eyes and a look of mixed panic and hatred. He screamed as he lunged. I turned away, parrying the bayonet, and then barged into the young marine who, off balance, went over the side of the ship into the dwindling space between the two frigates. Another man hacked at me with a cutlass and I had to step back but managed to slash my gutting knife across the enemy’s face as he did so. The sailor fell back, moaning. Then all of a sudden I was surrounded by my own men. Within seconds, Sergeant Lamtak managed to organise a single volley, then all together we charged at the rebels. Jodlin was now at my side and bellowing a fearful war cry.

All along the ship, the crew of the Lady Ocean fell upon the enemy, led further down by Sudlas. I knew I had to keep the momentum going in order to overcome the greater odds and so shouted all the while. “Kill them! Don’t stop. Keep killing!” I lunged my cutlass at a scarred sailor who with some skill parried the blow then kicked me, but I just managed to twist away to take the blow on the shin. It hurt like mad but I swung again and again until the enemy was shoved by a fellow seaman and fell upon my blade. I twisted it and pulled it free from the rebel's sucking guts and at the same time drove the gutting knife into the man’s eye. He died instantly with his guts on the deck and blood pouring from his mangled eye socket. Jodlin’s hammer came down on another’s head and crushed the man’s helmet like an egg shell, sending the contents of the rebel's skull down through his neck. Seargeant Lamtak and his men thrust, then stepped forwards, thrust again and stepped forwards. Like a butchering machine, they systematically cleared the aftcastle of the Dragonfly. It was grim but effective work.

I looked up and saw the crow's-nest of the Dragonfly was silenced with a couple of bodies hanging over the sides. The Lady Lamient and the other sharp shooters must have dispatched them. We drove on, hacking and cursing. Kicking and stabbing. My men and I had managed to drive the enemy crew on the aftcastle back to the steps that lead down to the main deck.

“A volley I think, Sergeant Lamtak!” I called over the shouting, ragged crackle of gunfire and ring of steel.

With the aid of some seamen, I took the brunt of the fight as the sergeant ordered his men to stand back and reload. I half saw those men, ten or so, put their muskets before them, and perform the actions required as rehearsed time and time again. It was done quickly and efficiently. Sergeant Lamtak was to be commended.

“Present!” shouted Lamtak.

My men and I fell back and out of the way. Those that could not, threw themselves down.

“Fire!” The ear splitting volley was at such close range that not a single shot missed. Many even passed through two men. The enemy were thrown back down the stairs - some dead, many wounded.

“Kill them! Charge!” We were on them again. We had secured the aftcastle, but I wanted to keep the momentum going and so I pushed on down the steps. At the foot of the steps we formed a battle line and fought on. I was losing men though. I saw a rebel officer put a pistol shot into the chest of a seaman. The man fell back and began to cough up blood. One of my marines took a cutlass thrust in the neck. It was bloody work for both sides, but the enemy were falling back. They were disorganised and demoralised, stunned by the ferocity of our assault.