Ilus Rises: Chapter 10 Part 1 of 2

Chapter 10:

Petor landed on the deck of the Spindle and came up to standing.

“I can help with the wounded.”

The crew looked at him as if he was a demon from the deep, their weather beaten faces pale as they studied him in his full armor.

“Wounded, now.” He used the tone he might with gawping idiot privates.

“Get them up on deck!” A larger man with a large brimmed black hat said, a rag around his upper arm and blood on his face.

His growl got the people moving.

“Get the worst wounded first!” Petor yelled after those disappearing into the hatches.

“You got a healer here?”

“Nothing like that,” the black hatted man said, limping over. “Most we got is the bone saw  he got hit with a spray of wood, ain’t in a good way none.” He held out his hand. “Names’ Thalios.”

“Petor.” clasped his hand, careful to moderate his strength.

“Damn vice grip there,” Thalios shook his hand with a grin.

Petor grunted, even as he grimaced in his helmet, the increase in his core and the abating adrenaline, plus the armor. Dammit, need to watch that.

Wounded started to come out of the hatches and threw the new skylights to the lower decks.

Limbs were missing, bodies punctured with wood and debris.

Petor reached the first one, moaning lowly, their leg missing, their back covered in splinters.

He cut away the shirt, exposing the wood still in his back.

“You, pull the wood out of his back.”

Petor took off his gauntlet and touched the man.

He tightened the rope around the man’s missing leg with a half twist, stopping the slow but steady bleeding out of the stump.

Just healing him would force the leg to come back and pour out more blood.

The man’s breaths were ragged and wet, coughing between moans.

There! Bubbles spat out blood as Petor reached for it and injected mana into the wound, stimulating the man’s blood vessels to connect together again, then the lung, then the skin.

It was all about directing and focusing the mana into the right place, empowering the body beyond its natural limits.

The wounds were still open on his back but they’d heal naturally. By the sound he was going to need all of the mana he had on the other wounded.

“Make sure that he’s fed meat and water, he lost a lot of blood.”

So it started, him moving between people, mer-folk, sentient creatures, humans and a dozen of other varieties from the water plane.

***

Mya stepped across the last length of rope and onto the deck of the Pirate flagship.

The dead cleaned the decks, even the captain.

Mya snapped her fingers and he ran over to her, tripping and thudding into things till he was arms reach away.

She studied his gear and held out her hand.

“Valuables.”

The captain pulled the horn and its bandolier off and into her hand. She appraised it.

Bulette’s Clarion

Description: One can call on a dozen Rare grade Water Bulette’s per charge. Can command any Bullettes in the range of the horn.

Curren uses: 0/5

“That should be a few thousand gold. Say Ninety thousand. Take out each item one by one.”

Mya drew out a pencil and paper to take and accounting of the items.

Ocean's Grasp Cutlass Value: 7,500 GP

Description: A blade infused with water essence, able to unleash torrents with each swing.

Tidal Amulet Value: 12,000 GP

Description: Provides the wearer resistance to water-based magic and can create small localized whirlpools.

Navigational Spyglass of Farsight Value: 8,000 GP

Description: Allows viewing over great distances and can penetrate heavy fog and mist.

Abyssal Coin Pouch Value: 3,500 GP

Description: Contains coins from various planes, some of which are rare and valuable.

Cloak of the Mariner Value: 15,000 GP

Description: This cloak grants its wearer the ability to breathe underwater and swim at remarkable speeds.

Pirate Captain's Logbook Value: Priceless to the right buyer, but can be traded for favors or information.

Description: Contains details of hidden treasures, secret routes, and blackmail material on influential figures.

Map to the Siren's Lair Value: 10,000 GP for its information, but the actual treasure's worth is unknown.

Description: A detailed map leading to an underwater cavern reputed to be filled with treasures but guarded by sirens.

Elixir of Deep Diving Value: 2,500 GP per vial. (3 vials in total)

Description: Grants the user the ability to dive deep into the ocean without the need for air for several hours.

Obsidian Anchor Medallion Value: 6,000 GP

Description: A pendant that, when activated, anchors the user firmly in place, even underwater, preventing forced movement.

Mya clicked her tongue. All of them are useful.

“Gonna have to buy them all from the others aren’t I?”

The Dead Captain said nothing.

“Gather up all the other valuables in the ship and from the rest of the crew.”

The Captain rushed off to fulfill her commands.

Mya stored away the gear and moved over the deck of the ship.

It was decent under the years of neglect. In clearing the debris the undead were cleaning up the decking and taking it back to the wood.

A poke through the hatches to the lower levels made her wince some.

Yeah those ghostly shots are nasty.

Timbers were cracked in places and there was splinters everywhere. One undead was cleaning around the cannon that was crushing him on the ground.

Mya waved to a nearby group. “You ten, pick that cannon up and put it back into place. Then clean out all of the cannons.”

They dropped what they were doing and grabbed onto the cannon the first trying to pick it up, straining so hard its muscles started to tear.

The others joined in and they rolled it over the undead on the deck, breaking him into two as they got the cannon back into its position.

Mya reached out with her magic and threw the legs to the pirates torso, a knitting spell pulling it together. The undead working on his hands not noticing till he stood up and scooted the blood covered splinter pile he’d created to a larger one.

Simple undead took things rather literally.

A few of the timbers would need to be replaced, it wouldn’t be great in rough seas but the shots had killed the crew and the ship was still salvageable.

More death approached, dragging her out of the hatch.

Valter stood at the railing she had dropped down from, wearing his armor and ready if she needed it.

He caught her eyes and looked over her.

Mya checked as lines were thrown out from the second ship, latching onto the flagship. The crew manhandling the ship close.

Mya moved across the deck, the undead moving out of her way as she reached the railing looking into the ship.

“Looks a damn sight rougher,” Mya shook her head.

“third of the crew to repair any holes, a third to clean the decks below. Ten on the bilge pumps, Captain, first mate and any officers gather up all the valuables on the ship and bring them to me.”

Mya pushed off of the railing and walked over to Valter.

“They going to bring the ships with us?” Valter asked.

“The ships are in a decent condition, if you and the others are willing I’ll buy them from you.”

“Ships aren’t the easiest thing to carry around with you and we’re not guaranteed to be on the water all the time,” Valter said.

“Well I know a certain ritual that can help us with that.”

The Captain arrived with loot and dropped it infront of Mya before running off.

“Did he bring an arm?”

“Probably meant to get just the rings,” Mya pulled them off and threw the arm away.

“They’re not smart.”

“No, I used the bare minimum to hold their souls in place and empower them. I give them commands and it pulls from their memory to carry out what I mean, in a very literal sense.” She squatted down and moved through the loot, pulling out paper and pencil again.

“We got a fair bit of loot to move.”

“You were talking about some ritual for the ships?”

“Ah,” Mya moved some pieces around with her pencil, adding in a description. “So, there is a spell, one like Mesurial’s. It shrinks the ship and allows it to be stored like Mesurial was.”

“So you can store them in a bottle and carry them with you,” Valter nodded. “That’ll take a lot of power right?”

“Why did you think I kept them around,” Mya jerked her chin at the undead running around. “It’ll burn their bodies and their very souls apart, using all that fuel for the spell. Rituals make use of every scrap of power you give them.” An officer from the other ship dropped a chest on the decking, Mya stopped it with a hand. Got some weight and jingle to it, coins?

He dropped other things and then ran back in direction of the other ship.

“Using the dead to clean up the ship and make it decent before you make it small?” Valter said.

“Right, as soon as the ritual goes through then we’re going to lose all the help.”

Desari whistled from where she was on the back of Mesurial’s poop deck.

“What is it?” Mya projected her voice through Mesurial.

“That last merchant ship, it s got boats out and they’re pulling it in this direction,” Desari said.

“Well, that’ll take them a while. Should have these ships stored and be ready to get moving.”

***

Petor stood with a grunt, the last of the wounded moving from dying to badly wounded but recovering.

“You sure that the other ship is good?” Petor asked Thalios.

“The doc over there is half mad, but also kind of brilliant, between her and the experience we got from you killing off the pirates they’re doing well.”

“Alright, well look after your people they’re going to need plenty of food and water.”

“I don’t think we’re going to be headed far, missing a mast as we are. Probably headed back to port again.” Thalios offered his hand.

Petor grasped it, being even more careful than before.

“Safe travels.”

“Thank you Petor and may the seas know you as a friend and the liberator be there in your times of need as you have been for us.”

Petor bowed his head and looked over to Mesurial.

A rope shot out towards him. He ran for the railing and jumped, catching the line and swinging back over to the ship, the rope slowing so he jogged onto the deck.

There was a stack of crates chests and a few bags of items on the main deck. Mya and Valter were on the pirate flagship lines had been carved into the wood and a white paint applied. The undead were working on the ship still, carving an inscription.

Petor pulled off and then stored his helmet away. “What they up to?” He tilted his head at them while raising his voice to Desari just further up the ship on his right.

“Rituals and formations, how’d things go?”

“Bunch of wounded but they all got cores and are stronger now, enough food and time they’ll recover.” Petor ran his hand through his hair, and started taking his armor off. “’Bout near cooked my balls off in my armor.”

“Got a nice breeze over here,” Desari said.

“You controlling it?” Petor asked, leaving his leg guards he walked over.

“Yeah, the wind is coming right to us and after the first few minutes I started diverting it. Dead, even the freshly dead don’t smell amazing.”

Petor grimaced. Thankfully he’d been so focused on the wounded he didn’t really focus on the smells. “We going to be here a while?” He asked.

“Shouldn’t be much longer. The dead keep finishing up their carvings and turning back to repairing the ships.”

“You need a mana top up?”

“Sure?”

Petor linked to her, it was getting much easier now as he split his rate of recovery, half of the mana that he naturally drew from the world through his core, heading to her through their connection.

“Damn useful ability. Going to be able to cast some impressive damn spells with this.”

“Spell-maniac.”

“Walking core.” The slight grin at the corner of her mouth gave her away as she kept watching the two others.

It faded as she looked back over the ship.

“What is it?”

“That other merchant ship, they’re getting closer.”

“I got the feeling that Thalios wanted us gone before it got here.”

“Thalios?” Desari asked without looking back.

“The captain of the other merchant ship.” Petor headed for the poop deck stairs, using the railings to haul himself up. The after-battle weariness had settled into his bones.

Feels like when I had just joined the army though, damn I love having a core.

He reached the top of the stairs and looked over at the merchant ship.

Two boats were headed for Mesurial, Four others were in the water, pulling the other Merchant ship towards them.

“Any plans for those ships?”

“The rear canons are loaded and ready. When they get into earshot you want to talk to them, stall them long enough for Mya to do her thing?”

“You don’t want to?”

“I’m more about bringing the wrath of nature and magic down on someone’s head from a shadow than talking to people.”

“Yeah, that fits.”

Desari glowered at him.

“You said it and I’m just agreeing,” Petor raised up his hands in surrender while a grin worked its way across his face.

“Great, a smartass,” Desari rolled her eyes and leaned back on the railing.

Petor snorted and looked at the other ships, his mirth falling away.

“What you think their plan is?”

“Two ships sent out, their fastest ones? I think that they’re aiming for the pirate ships. See how the merchant ship getting hauled over is readying nets on their side and swinging around for the debris left by the other ship? Scavenging,” Desari said.

“Hey Mya! How long till we’re ready to go?” Petor yelled.

“I’ll need, say—twenty minutes?”

Petor glanced back at the ships.

“I think that the big merchant ship will be here by then.”

“Run interference,” Mya continued her work. Her and Valter moving over the ships.

“Great, and I just got out of my armor.” Petor chewed the inside of his cheek.

“Well you only nearly cooked your balls off in them last time.”

“Hardy har har,” He shot her an unamused look.

“That Magma must’ve really cooked them up well.”

Petor shivered. “Fucking magma. If I ever have to see that crap again in my lifetime it’ll be too long.”

Desari tensed slightly, her expression becoming neutral.

“Well, after Ilus.” He clicked his tongue. “What’s that thing, you know getting back on the horse and all… There has to be a joke with us being the horsemen right?”

Her shoulders stopped trying to pinch together.

“More like we keep getting thrown into all kinds of shit and we just keep pulling ourselves back up to do it all over again.”

Petor rested his forearms on the railing.

“Yeah it has been one hell of a ride.” He breathed in the salty sea air, a smile spreading on his face, taking on a wild edge. “Just starting I guess.”

“What’s got you smiling like that?” Desari turned her head but not her body.

“Well we’ve only just started and the things that we’ve already seen. The things that we’ve done. I don’t think I would have even hallucinated something as wild as this. Here we are, right in the midst of it all. Its fucking wild don’t get me wrong and well. It is kind of exciting.” His eagerness quelled in his chest.

“I joined the paladins of Yasseen because of this feeling. The feeling I get from being in the midst of the fighting in the midst of the action. There’s something visceral about it. That the part of my brain that does all of the worrying the overthinking. It just departs. Your actions have direct conseeqeuneces, working with the right team can meakn everything. You can change things, hell you feel like you can change the world.”

He took in a deep breath and let it out in a solid push. “I never been much good at anything else. Sure I farmed, sure I knew some carpentry. Though fighting, damn its just, I’m good at it and taking down fuckers that deserve it. I enjoy it. That doesn’t mean I want to fight all the time. Rather the opposite. I’ll do everything in my power to try and get out of a fight, but once things cross that line, then the gauntlets are on and we’re down to fighting.”

“Are there things that you enjoy other than fighting?” Desari turned, leaning her left side against the railing.

“Oh sure, there are so many things! I love learning more about places, about people. Learning about magic has been so much fun. I’d love to use my spells and my skills to raise a farm. Think of how badass that would be. A magical farm?” He chuckled and looked over.

Desari was smiling at him, the kind of smile of someone seeing into your core.