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Chapter 24: Treasonous Perspective

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The room is chaos, sights, sounds, and smells, senses overwhelmed. Instinct reigned, a sword parried, a riposte, still alive, yet a spray of blood marked the death of another guard. Leo had accepted that he should be feeling something, but numbness owned his mind. His instructor always told him, ‘it is best to have as much steel between you and your opponent as possible.’ Yet, no amount of steel could save him from the unknown. He stepped backwards to execute a defensive push, his foot sliding on blood, the lack of control lasting until he was on one knee, his mighty Greatsword propping him up uselessly. A smug smirk adorned the red soldier who stood over him, the smirker raising his sword before sending it downwards. Time slowed, training kicked in, Leo’s blade sweeping upwards in a defence block, deaths imminent call registering at the edge of the fog. The very next happening far from possibility, his attacker collapsed, ending up beside his downed knee, his eyes vacant, smirking in ...
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Chapter 23: Blow the Man Down

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Morgan was adorned with her best and subsequently thickest leather armour. Pirates aren’t generally the biggest fans of any sort of armour; it gets in the way when ambling up and down the rigging. Weather by choice, or not, she had encountered her fair share of battle, the underlying butterflies sending her stomach on an unpleasant ride. Experience had long since taught her to channel any nerves into the task at hand, and so gripping the wheel tightly she went through a list in her mind, checking and double checking every item. The movement of the ship beneath her was unearthly, gone was the need to steer into, or out of waves, in its place fire, heat, and gas. Sails were now located on the fore and mizzenmasts, but they were just tools to further direct or slow, prevailing winds had considerably less impact on their journey, a fact that made her uneasy. Although, it helped to imagine that an invisible force was pushing, rather than the uncertainty of harnessed fire. “ Ho, Bastien si...
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Chapter 22: Rats of the Sky

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It was obviously a dream, the clouds comforting in their embrace, their ability to hold her up entirely surreal. Morgan rarely dreamed, although this was different. Feeling safe, she closed her eyes, letting the cool wind brush gently across her face she spread her arms wide and moved them back and forward through the cold vapours. She opened her eyes once again, eager to behold the dreams offering. A figure stood before her, Nia’s smile as welcoming as always, she moved her hands, ready to sign in greeting, “Hope soars Morgan,” Nia said, the serene words profound yet strange. Understanding dawned, the figure before her couldn’t be Nia, understanding met the realisation that she was falling, slicing through layers of vapour. Fear was absent, only a sense of serenity could be found, the apparition with Nia’s form was now a dot in the distance, and still she gained momentum. A harsh thump shunted her into wakefulness. At first, her moan was muted, then as the room came into focus the...
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Chapter 21: Skulduggery

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T he room was radiating impatience and anticipation in equal measure; all eyes cast in Aiden’s direction. Even though Morgan desperately needed answers, she had stipulated that the spy master be given the chance to recover before being made to speak. It was as they watched him take another agonisingly slow sip of water that the strangest thing occurred. Arlo, who had been supplying Aiden with water, went to move away, he grabbed Arlo’s arm, offering heartfelt words, “I’m sorry my friend, it isn’t excuse enough, that the way I treated you was outside my control.” Dazed, Arlo stumbled away, colliding with Brady as she walked into the hold. It was Marlo who said what they were all thinking, “Who are you and what have you done with the pompous arse.” Aiden stared back, a bewildered expression upon his face. Morgan could not quite believe all that was happening, it had already been a strange night and was shaping up to be a stranger day. The anticipation that answers would finally be forthc...
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Chapter 20: Despair

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Marlo watched the endless tiny bubbles hastening to the surface of the water, as if it was a race bright orange chunks of ship sunk in the opposite direction. The thoroughness of his sabotage bringing an unfortunate mix of satisfaction and sorrow. A boat filled with his favourite people, travelled on the downward sway of a white-capped wave, he gripped the rail letting out an audible sigh. “I’m glad you are on our side,” Aiden affirmed sounding rather impressed. Marlo thought about letting Aiden’s behaviour slide, but he turned towards his manservant and let out another rant of displeasure, “Damn it Arlo, I thought I asked for some cream for my sore wrists.” The usually boisterous spymaster flew silently after being helped overboard, thankfully the satisfying sound of him spluttering sea water could be heard upon surfacing. “ Well, I did warn you ,” Marlo lectured, wagging a finger towards the man below. “Ahhh, I needed that,” he affirmed to no one in particular. He noted Arlo inchin...
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Chapter 19: Anarchy

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Light shone through slits in the stone roof overhead, proof of a freer world above. Morgan’s gaze rested upon she who bore the weight of all schemes, clenched fists, hair bound, passive façade, these were all signs that Meena was deadly serious about the task at hand. Lips pressed together, Meena took decisive steps down an ominously sloped isle past dead eyed stares and indifferent stances. Morgan’s party reached the bottom step continuing onwards until they came to a stop at the centre of the arena, the stone walls around them tiered on two levels creating an underground amphitheatre. If it wasn’t for the oppressive occupants and the massive marble throne that dominated one end of the room, it would have been strangely beautiful. Morgan was sure however that a lot of lives had been discarded here, destroyed in entirely thoughtless acts. She mirrored Meena’s resolve, gritting her teeth in determination, there was nothing left to do but wait and hope that her plans would provide a semb...
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