“Row!” came a cacophony of shouting voices from the warriors on the top deck.
The Nightie lurched forward, causing more than one Lord Protector to steady themselves. All sixty oars quickly were in rhythm, pushing the trireme through the Lake of Mists on the nighttime sea. The sails had been released, but the unfavorable winds did little to help the ship’s speed.
My‑re watched from the aft section of the Nightie. A wave of water caused by the unseen beast parted the fog. “The monster is pursuing and gaining on us!”
Sheila Greywand and several of the Primus elite tower guards joined My‑re.
Captain Darien grabbed a torch and threw it toward the wave. It was indeed gaining fast.
For an instant, My‑re saw it or part of it. She didn’t see a body but the blurred form of a large, circular mouth with what appeared like serrated teeth under the waves, their purpose clear. The flaming torch hit the water and was extinguished.
“Is that Grumpy?” My‑re asked.
Sheila’s eyes grew wide, and she took a step back. “No, that is not him.” She aimed her wand, and a massive, blinding bolt of electricity shot out. A geyser of water exploded upwards upon impact.
Wincing from the brightness and clearing the stars from her eyes, My‑re asked, “Did you hit it?”
They stared out to sea. All remained quiet.
The sea bulged again, and the wave reemerged. Much closer now.
“Get some Lord Protector archers up here!” Captain Phetmolge yelled.
Darien, My‑re, and Sheila all looked to Phetmolge in perplexed confusion, like she had asked the warriors to come up and lob rocks.
“Gladiators aren’t taught archery,” Ssskah said, wincing.
“By the nine hells!”
Lady Greywand aimed again, but the creature swam too close to the water line, and within moments, it submerged under the Nightie again.
A dull echo came from underneath the vessel. Thud. Thud. Thud. CRACK!
“Breach!”
Rao emerged from below deck. “Breach! It’s breaking through the hull!”
“My‑re, assess the situation and report back,” Sheila ordered.
My‑re broke out of her internal thoughts of drowning, or worse, being eaten by some monster. Baffled and a little proud that Sheila had confidence in her. She hoped-
“Go!”
“Right,” My‑re scrambled across the deck and down the short flight of steps with Rao to the hull below.
“We have to shake this thing! Hard to starboard!” Captain Phetmolge bellowed. “Hang on!”
My‑re grabbed onto the stair railing, and the ship’s wood creaked in protest as it turned right. She slammed against the wall. Her shoulder bore the brunt. It would likely leave a nasty bruise if she lived long enough to see it. Proceeding down the stairs, the Lord Protector rowers were straining. Water spouted from the hull's side. One tried to envelope it with both his hands. With water coming in, the disciplined crew continued rowing.
“We’re taking on water, fast! We won’t make it to shore!”
Seeing panic spread across the rower’s faces, My‑re asked, “Can the hull be patched?”
“Uhh…maybe. It’d be temporary,” Rao said.
“Temporary will do. Get it patched. Everyone else, keep rowing, and if you wish to live, don’t stop!”
Taking two steps at a time, My‑re reemerged to the top deck. “The hull’s breached! We’re taking on water! We’re trying to patch it!”
“If we don’t shake the creature and continue taking on water, she’ll sink!” Ssskah yelled.
“Suggestions?” Sheila asked.
“Turn the ship around. With our backs to the wind, we can sail to the far western shore,” Ssskah said.
“No, stop the ship. Half the crew will patch the hull. The rest fight to draw it up. Once the creature shows itself, Lady Greywand blasts it with her wand,” Darien replied.
My‑re didn’t like either idea. Turning the ship to sail to the far shore would take time and allow the beast to do whatever it wanted. There was no certainty that they could outpace it in its natural habitat, even with the wind. Stopping the ship to fight would likely cause more casualties, and the creature might not come up. It could easily stay underwater, safe, and sink the craft. They had to flee. She wanted to escape.
Looking at the night sky stars and taking a deep breath, My‑re said, “The light and noise drew the creature to us. We need to extinguish the lights and, with the cloak of night and the lake’s mist, try to lose the creature. Then run silent and sail back to the Isle of the Eye.”
“There’s no guarantee we’d lose the creature with your plan,” Darien said.
“I didn’t give one.”
“What do you know about fighting on a ship?” Darien asked, scoffing his doubt.
“I’ve had some experience,” My‑re retorted.
Silent for several heartbeats, Sheila said, “Follow My‑re’s plan and extinguish the lights. Captain Phetmolge, once the lights are out, take us into the mist, and then, by the nine hells, lose this bloody creature!”