Author's Preface
As Ash and Oak made their way back to the Rhytidome, horns could be heard coming from the docks. What followed after were cannon fire from the sea towards the docks. The Royal Guard flag sailed high into the sky.
“We need to hurry; someone must have caught wind that we would be in Deckkers Port,” Ash said.
“Boso, get the men to weigh anchor and tell Khayri to prime the cannons. We don’t want to be stuck at the docks between Gulliver’s men and the Guard.” Oak commanded.
“Ey, captain.” Replied Boso.
“Ash and Tiko, run ahead and make sure the ship and crew are ready to make an escape. I need to make one last run somewhere.” Captain Oak said.
“If you plan on refilling your bottle, you'd better wait til we get out of here captain,” Ash said as she drew her pistols, ready for a fight with anyone in her way.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make it in time; just make sure to sail along the port. I doubt the Guard wants to ruin their image by firing at their own town.” Oak said, reassuring his crew.
Tiko grabbed Ash’s coat and gestured to come along. He pulled out his pistol and handed it to Oak. Staring at Oak’s bullet wound, he held up his now freed hand showing four fingers.
“You have four minutes.” Sighed Tiko. “When you get to the ship, I will stitch that arm of yours up.”
Oak grinned and winked at the both of them, and they went their separate ways.
A second round of cannon fire was shot at the docks as water splashed in the air, wetting the nearby boats, fishermen, and cargo. Boso quickly ran up the gangway and started ordering the crew to weigh anchor, and like a well-oiled machine, each person had their job done in a rhythmic system. This wasn’t the first time the Royal Guard had tried to capture Oak and his crew, and this wouldn’t be the last. A few moments later, Ash and Tiko could be seen returning fire towards Gulliver’s men, trying to gain cover and make it back to the ship.
“Khayri! Fire shots towards the Guard. Have them not get any closer than they already are!” Boso said, untying some ropes to let the sails down.
“Already on it.” A small voice said from below deck. Another moment passed before three loud blasts came from below the deck. Cannonball flew with such power and speed towards the guard. Two balls landed short on the right side of the attacking ship, and one made contact, scraping along the port side.
“Good going, more of that now,” Boso said, looking down the side of the ship where smoke lingered for a bit.
“Alright, men, load them up! They ain't going to wait for another round.” The small voice said over the clanking of cannonballs and chains.
Meanwhile, Oak ran back towards Fisherman’s Pond. He kicked open the door as he was met with a half-filled room now. Most of the patrons have fled and ran back to their ships or inland away from cannon fire. Those who stayed were ladies and fishermen who found this place home, hoping to stand their ground for whatever fight might come their way.
“Where is the barman?” Oak asked the people in the tavern.
“He ran out the back.” Said a woman behind a table, hiding for cover.
Oak quickly jumped over the bar and threw the backdoor only to find the hairy barman running down the alleyway and turning into the door of the Howling Wolves. Oak’s face fell knowing he would have to go through that temptress of a building as he chased after the hairy man.
Oak busted through the door and was greeted with the sounds of giggling women followed by gasps. The scent of lavenders, roses, and musk filled his nose. The pink walls matched the outside walls, and the mirrors reflecting every inch of the room made Oak shake his head to regain his senses. Oak ran through the building following the trail of pushed people and sounds of shrilling women that echoed down the hall. He saw a door swing open that led outside to another alleyway. As he was about to run out the door catching up to the hairy man, an arm held him back for a second. What came next was the sounds of whistles and metal arms marching down the alleyway.
“He’s in there.” A raspy voice said.
“Thank you for your service; we will take it from here.” A louder and more proper-sounding voice came through the chorus of marching footsteps.
The arm that stopped Oak pulled him into the room. A young woman dressed in a silkened gown with long black hair that could put a raven's feather to shame pushed Oak in the direction of a ladder in the corner of the room.
“Quickly, this will take you to the next floor. There is a set of stairs down the hall that lead to the roof.” The woman said.
Oak couldn’t help but look at the woman for a brief second. Her beauty stood out and confused Oak as to why she would be locked up in a brothel like this. Let alone even be free to live in Deckkers Port.
“Come with me.” Oak blurted and grabbed her hand. “You don’t belong in a dump like this.”
The woman blushed and took her hand back. Her eyes showed a hopefulness of escape for this place and a longing for adventure, but that soon faded away as she took steps backwards to the door.
“Please go. I will distract the men for as long as I can, but please do come back for me.” She said, turning to hold the door.
Oak started climbing the ladder, and just as he was about to poke his head back down to ask for her name, the door to her room forced its way open. Two men decorated in light armor and spears rushed into the room, flipping over the little furniture in the room.
“How can I be of service to some handsome guardsmen?” The woman said, attempting to latch onto the chest of one of the guards.
One of the guards started to climb up the ladder. Once the guard’s head popped up through the clearing, Oak gave a swift kick to his head and pulled the ladder up from the guards.
“He’s upstairs!” Yelled the other guardsmen.
Oak ran through the door leading to the roof of the Howling Wolves and could see the Rhytidome’s sails open and moving along the port. Cannon fire, screams from the townspeople, and guardsmen yelling were all singing in a chaotic chorus of battle and thrills. Captain Oak could see a path to his ship along the rooftops. With the momentum he built running along the roof, he jumped over alleyways, chimneys, and poles that helped him swing from roof to roof. As Oak looked back, he could see the guardsmen trying to catch up with him. Some use their spears to help them vault over to neighboring roofs. Bullets zoomed past Oak’s head, and some made contact with the edge of the roofs. A man more decorated than the other guards, with a pencil stash and spectacles, looked up at Oak from the streets below.
“Come now, Mr. Krook, we don’t need to pick up your remains if you just surrender yourself, your crew and your ship,” the decorated man said, taking off his spectacles and rubbing them with a piece of cloth he pulled from his chest pocket.
“Mr. Crowley! Long time no see. I would love to talk, but my crew, ship, and I, that you love so well, are needing to go. You see, you and your men are making it a bit difficult to stay and enjoy ourselves,” said Oak, continuing to hop from rooftop to rooftop.
“Suit yourself,” replied the man, turning to his firing squad, “Shoot to kill, and signal to the other vessel to cut them off from their escape.”
More bullets flew past Oak, and as he got closer to his ship, the space from the last building and the docks was too far to jump. He quickly looked for a way to make it to his ship and spotted a large stack of boxes looking to fall.
“Boso! Rope!” Yelled Oak as he jumped on the falling boxes.
Boso threw a rope that was tied to the side of the ship. As Oak jumped, his arm shot with pain, and he was only able to grab the rope with one hand. He hung on the side of the Rhytidome, and a cannon hatch opened, and a small tan boy reached for Captain Oak to pull him onto the deck.
“Thank you, Khayri. I owe you a drink.” Oak said in between deep breaths.
“Not to worry, Captain. Just get me some new cannons, and we can be called even.” Replied Khayri, trying to help Captain Oak to his feet.
“You’ll get a new cannon when we can make it to Parlay Cay, but first get that darn ship to move out of our way.”
“Ey, captain!”
Up on the top deck, Ash and Boso can be seen giving orders to the men to fire shots at Gulliver’s men. Having both a vessel from Gulliver’s fleet and the Royal Guard would not be an easy task to escape. Cannons flew out of Gulliver’s ship, aimed at the Royal Guard. At least they knew that if that ship got any closer, it would be their necks hanging from the gallows as well, but little pot shots at a rival ship were fair game in battles like these. If you can trip your opponent and flee from the Guard, you would do the same.
“Ash, take Boso and some men and distract Gulliver’s crew to aim near the front of the ship. I’ll have Khayri fire the cannons from only the starboard. We’ll glide between the two and hope the guard and Gulliver’s men will fight.” Oak commanded.
“But, Captain, if we sail between both ships, we are just asking for a death wish,” Ash said with eyes widened with concern.
“Are you sure you didn’t lose too much blood, sir?” Boso mocked.
“We have Magnus. They won’t sink a ship that is holding their captain.” Oak responded, “Just prop him up on the main mast so he is in sight of his crew.”
Oak rushed up to the helm to steer the Rhytidome through the valley of bullets and cannons. As the ships sailed closer, Khayri had a few powder monkeys ready the top cannons while he had the cannons below deck primed and ready to fire.
“On my command, drop all sails and fire,” yelled Oak.
As Gulliver’s men ceased their cannons and drew aim at the bow, the Royal Guard aimed their cannons in line with the Rhytidome.
“Now!” Oak yelled.
The remaining sails flew down and jerked the ship forward as if she skipped along the water. The explosion of cannons cracked the air for all sides. The Royal Guard’s cannonballs missed the Rhytidome and blew holes through Gulliver’s vessel. Men from the now sinking vessel could be seen abandoning ship and trying to swim back to the docks. The cannonballs shot from the Rhytidome made contact with the main mast. The sails from the Royal Guard ship fluttered in the wind as it was shredded by the battle. The mast fell into the water, and the ship was no more of a threat.
As Oak’s crew began to cheer and run back to stations to sail towards Parlay Cay. The victory was short-lived as a second Guard vessel poked its head around the corner of the cliffs near the port. All that could be heard from the silence of the crew was a laugh coming from the main mast. Magnus couldn't help himself but laugh out loud. Tears rolled down his face at the sight of the second ship and the confused crewmen.
“Crew get ready-” Oak started to say.
“I can help you.” Interrupted Magnus. “Just sail west into Gulliver’s territory.”