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The Misfits of DametreosChapter 16: A Bull Is Always Charging
Back aboard the crippled Shadow, Bjarn, Drakko, Barbod and Willem held a hasty council in the shattered captain's quarters.
Drakko stared around at the forlorn faces. “The pirates have Reno. What are we going to do?”
Barbod pounded his large fist on the table. “We’re gonna catch up to those bloody pirates and save Reno, that's what!”
Bjarn scratched at a bandaged wound. “That may be more difficult than it sounds Barbod. I may know almost nothing about ships, but I do know ships need sails to travel fast, and the pirates succeeded in burning our only one.”
“Are there any spares below deck?” asked Willem.
Bjarn shook his head. “We stole this ship before it had to time to restock fully. All we have is a rat-eaten sail left in the bilges.”
“Does this ship have oars?” asked Drakko.
“No, none at all.” replied Barbod.
There was a pause, and then Bjarn said, “There is one bright aspect. I've studied the charts and it seem we have landed ourselves in a current heading directly west. That's the same direction the pirates have taken.”
“But the pirate would be on the current as well!” pointed out Willem.
“Yes, but this ship is much smaller than that ship. I figure the Shadow is nothing more than a small brig or large cutter. That pirate ship is at least a medium sloop-of-war,” explained Bjarn.
“Yes...that might just work!” Drakko exclaimed, “If we threw anything we didn’t need overboard we could catch them!”
“What about that ballista we hauled aboard?” asked Willem.
“We should keep that,” replied Barbod, “Anything we can use against those bloody pirates should stay.”
“Right!” Bjarn exclaimed, “Let’s get to work!”
Soon the Shadow was stripped bare and riding high in the water. Sporting makeshift sails and a formidable ballista, the Shadow was ready for battle.
Reno was bound and gagged. The boat seemed to speed up. Georgie said to Reno, “Ya goin’ for a change laddy!”
Georgie pulled Reno up. “Your li'l friends are gonna come after ya, an we are not gonna, not gonna be ‘ere!”
A ship pulled up next to the boat Reno was on and Georgie threw Reno onto the ship, jumping on after him. Georgie set the old boat ablaze, and sped off towards the ever-advancing Hornet.
“Can you see anything?” Bjarn shouted at Willem.
“I can see the ship ahead!” replied Willem, “The ship seems to be on fire!”
“Oh no, Reno,” Drakko said worriedly.
As the Shadow approached the burned ship, there was no trace of Reno.
“I doubt Reno was on that ship when it was on fire!” exclaimed Lord Barbod.
“Well...we've got no time to lose. We need to track the ship that Reno is aboard,” answered Drakko.
“I think another ship is following us!” shouted Willem, looking far back.
“Must be the Crusaders! We need to flee from this area now!” Bjarn shouted.
“But where do we head to?” Drakko asked.
“We will head west. We might be able to lose them there…” Bjarn answered.
The group got busy changing the course of the ship. The Crusader were a far back but gaining on them. Bjarn was at the helm, peering at the sight before him. He uttered an oath and beckoned the others.
“What is it, Bjarn?” asked Drakko.
Bjarn glared and swung his hand around 360 degrees. He muttered gruffly, “A Crusader ship at our rear, a burning hulk drifting past our stern, a vanished pirate ship holding Reno captive....and two more ships straight ahead.”
“What?!?!” Lord Barbod leaped forward and swore. “We're caught in a bloody trap!!”
“We have no choice but to continue.” advised Willem, “This current is at least keeping us a head of that Crusader ship, and that is our main worry.”
“Aye, that ‘tis.…” Bjarn muttered grimly. Suddenly his eyes narrowed. “Got it,” he whispered.
“What?”
“I've found our missing pirate ship that has Reno,” said Bjarn slowly, “It's sailing right next to one of those ships ahead of us.”
“Good eye, Bjarn,” said Barbod, who was readying the ballista, “Aye, ‘tis them. Well, speed up then!”
“We can't Barbod. We only have the current here.” Drakko said wordily.
“Indeed, Drakko.” Barbod turned his back to the group and continued to work on the ballista. The Crusader ship was gaining on them and they would need a defense badly if it were to catch up. Barbod ran into the cabin for a moment, then came out with some wood, probably in case of emergency for repairs. He stood up another plank and hammered it in vertically. He wrapped his cape around this plank and faced the group.
“I will lighten your load and slow down the Crusaders,” Barbod explained, putting a small stack of spears onto his makeshift raft.
“But Barbod…” Drakko began.
“I will not here of it, my friend.” Barbod said calmly, “Drakko, hold this for me until I get back.”
He handed Drakko his Bull Crest shield. He then looked at the misfits one last time and began to carry his raft to the side of the ship. Before Drakko, Bjarn and Willem could react, Lord Barbod had thrown the makeshift raft and had jumped overboard.
“...And then there were three.” murmured Bjarn.
Drakko raised his hand in farewell. Barbod nodded and smiled as his raft drifted toward the looming Crusader ship.
“The last of his kind…” Willem said, “Brave to the end.”
“He’s not going to die!” Drakko said defensively, “If there’s any one who can whip a shipload of Crusaders it’s Lord Barbod!”
“Aye,” agreed Bjarn, “And if there’s someone to defeat three ships and reclaim the pendants it's us!”
The three remaining crew of the Shadow cheered. The Hornet loomed closer...
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