The Rogue Seawolves by Aaron Galvin

Author:Aaron Galvin [Galvin, Aaron]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aames & Abernathy Publishing
Published: 2020-04-28T22:00:00+00:00

8

KELLEN

Ishmael pulled Kellen and Marrero through the crowd. The former buyers teemed around them, some fighting with those they bought. Kellen wondered if he and Marrero shouldn’t try double-teaming Ishmael, taking him down and then trying at their own escape. His gaze fell on the Nomad’s scars and thought it best to wait. At least he seems to know where he’s going.

Ishmael stopped as they approached the stony shoreline.

Kellen stepped around him.

The buyers who had escaped to the water had now reversed course, turned to swim back for the safety of the shore. All were screaming as tall, black fins rose from the water like submarine periscopes. Their backsides rose and fell, in tandem, and air plumed from their blowholes.

Sneering, Ishmael drew the sword at his side. “Orcs . . .”

Kellen stepped back as a Killer Whale exploded from below the water and sent a Selkie flying into the air. Another jumped and landed atop the animal, squealing with what Kellen assumed was glee. Awestruck, he watched buyers dragged from one end of the cavern to the other, fighting for air, the playthings of the black-and-white beasts holding them from below.

Ishmael retreated from the shore and grabbed both Kellen and Marrero’s hoods. “With me, pups! Hurry!”

Again, Kellen glanced back in time to see another Killer Whale leap from the water. At first, he thought it meant to crush the pier. Then he saw the animal change into a man, larger than any he had ever seen. His patchwork skin of black and white made Kellen think of Garrett Weaver, though the comparisons stopped there. Barrel-chested and bald, Kellen thought of professional football lineman as five more Killer Whales leapt and morphed behind the first.

“Violovar! Find me our Orc brother!” the largest of them boomed. “Kill the rest.”

Kellen nearly wet himself and kept closer to Ishmael, now running toward the Block.

More of the two-toned Orc-men awaited them there. Orc-women fought beside them also, their hair wild and free.

“Fight with me, pups,” said Ishmael. “Time to earn your scars.”

Both Kellen and Marrero hung back as their owner ran into the midst of Orcs with a feral roar. Ishmael’s blade rose and fell, his blood lust insatiable as he hacked down Orc defenders, steadily clearing a path.

“Kell,” said Marrero. “Wh-what do we do?”

Kellen glanced around the area, sighting more Orcs behind them than in front. No chance we make it out that way. He knelt beside a dead Selkie guard and picked up his harpoon, then Kellen charged into the mix, stabbing an Orc in the back.

The wounded Orc spun to see its attacker and caught Kellen with a backhand that sent him reeling.

Kellen fell to the ground, dizzy.

The Orc dislodged the harpoon from its back as if Kellen’s blow had been little more than poking him with a toothpick. “You’ll die for that, Selk—”

Kellen shrunk as the Orc’s head tumbled off its shoulders, decapitated.

You scared, Kelly? His father’s voice rose to haunt him as the Orc’s massive body fell to the wayside. No son of mine would be scared.

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