“By the nine hells! It’s back!”
My-re and the crew of the Nightie rushed to the starboard side as a wave of water pursued them and pushed through the mist. She ran to the opening below deck and yelled, “Row!”
Rao of the Skull Squadron stable yelled back, “Woman, what do you think we’re doing?”
“It’s coming!” My-re informed back.
Rao cursed out loud several times in the Rirorni native language of Rathiri, which roughly translated to ‘procreate with oneself’. The pace of the sixty Lord Protector rowers on the remaining thirty oars accelerated.
CRACK!
A bolt of electricity shot from Sheila’s wand and out to sea. Three more bolts following in rapid succession.
Tim the Enchanter of the Knights of Ni stable joined Sheila at the railing. Several balls of fire shot out from the end of his staff.
“Did you hit it?” My-re questioned as she joined them.
“Prepare for battle!” Sheila called out and moved past My-re. The command indicating there was still a threat. Tim the Enchanter followed her as she moved to the middle of the ship. Sheila continued, “Spread out! Form small defensive groups! Call out any contact! Do not bunch up!”
“My-re!” Ssskah the tuxedo colored were-cat of the Casataway stable called out from the massive navigation wheel.
Approaching, Ssskah said, “Watch my back.”
“It’s going under the ship!” The 7’ foot tall captain of the Nightie, Phetmolgue, yelled down from the crow’s nest.
Repeating Rao’s curse under her breath, My-re and the rest of the crews’ eyes scanned the railing’s boarder. She could hear Rao barking orders below deck, as the Nightie pushed faster down the narrow trench towards the abandoned western port of the Isle of the Eye, known as the Suicide Gate. Dawn had fully broke, the wind carried the scent of fresh seaweed in the air, while the oars pushed through the waters with a reassuring rhythm.
Silence for what seemed like ages passed. Knuckles turned white from gripping weapons, Sheila Greywand and Tim the Enchanter were back to back with wand and staff ready. Captain Phetmolgue kept turning all around from the crow’s nest watching everything from above.
“My-re, are you listening?”
Breaking from her concentration, Ssskah was whispering her name harshly. It seemed she had tried to get her attention a few times prior.
“What is it?”
“Watch,” Ssskah said and slightly released her grip on the navigational wheel. It was starting to turn on its own.
“The current?”
“Out to sea maybe, but the current in this trench isn’t strong. Besides, it’s going our direction,” Ssskah explained.
Ssshah’s eyes went wide, which likely mirrored her own. Ssskah latched on the wooden spokes of the wheel. “By the nine hells! The creature’s moving it!” Ssskah cursed as she strained holding the wheel. It had already turned two spokes translating to degrees worth to port side. “If we deviate more than five degrees, we’ll run aground!” The wheel began to move to the third spoke.
“My-re!” Ssskah yelled. “Help!”
Latching onto the wheel, My-re instantly felt the force pulling it. Moving to correct the course was like trying to pull a tree. It wasn’t budging.
“By the nine hells! Three degrees to starboard!” Phetmolgue yelled from the crow’s nest in panic. “Now!”
“It’s pushing the rudder! It’s trying to beach us!” Ssskah called back.
Phetmolgue began descending from the crow’s nest.
The two women strained against the wheel. It had moved three degrees. Progressing to a fourth when Phetmolgue arrived.
“I should have never left the wheel to a woman.” Phetmolgue gripped the spokes and said, “You don’t have the strength. Let go!”
Scoffing, the women backed away. The wheel instantly progressed a fourth degree and proceeding to the fifth. Phetmolgue strained trying to resist. The wheel continued to move.
“Don’t just stand there!” Phetmolgue bellowed. “Help me!”
Snorting at each other at the irony, My-re and Ssskah latched on. All three strained. The wheel held.
After several moments, Phetmolgue said, “Stupid creature. That’ll show—“
The resistance suddenly ceased. All three tumbled to the ground. The wheel spun starboard. The ship lurched to the right.
“Catch it!”
Falling, My-re grabbed a spoke. The ship listed as wood creaked in loud protest. Her grip slipped as she tumbled and slid across the slick deck. Everyone else was out of reach. The wheel spinning freely was the last thing…no, the last thing My-re saw was herself sliding towards a break in the wooden railing.