Corsair by Chris Bunch

Author:Chris Bunch [Bunch, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781440553417
Publisher: F+W Media, Inc.
Published: 2012-09-01T06:00:00+00:00

Thirteen

The pirates, no longer wolves but the broken herd, fled in all directions under full sail, all organization broken.

“What orders, Cap’n?” Tehidy shouted.

The wind, possibly magical, was driving them toward shore, favoring the attacking Linyati who, offshore, now held the weather gauge.

“Due east,” Gareth ordered, and the Steadfast, flanked by the other four ships in his Company, drove away from the battle.

They weren’t sailing at top speed, all of them heavy-laden with treasure. The Naijak, missing its aft mast, was trailing to the rear.

“Look there,” Tehidy said, passing Gareth a glass. Gareth saw the Thruster, Dafflemere’s ship, being attacked by three Linyati warships, then something more important:

Five of the Linyati, holding close formation, were coming after him.

“Labala!”

“What?” the heavy magician shouted up from the main deck.

“Can you manage a weather spell? I could use a nice steady wind a bit off the port bow. We can sail closer to the wind than they can.”

“Dunno. Those spells are bastards, especially if there’s magicians on the other side, and I’m still studying. But I’ll try.”

“Steer a little to port,” Gareth ordered the helmsman. “We’ll run before the wind till we close on land.”

He thought of telling the watch quartermaster to be wary of steering close and being taken aback, then caught himself. The sailor was experienced and knew that if that happened, the Linyati might be down on them in less than a glass.

Thom Tehidy came close, so as not to be overheard. “Interesting the Slavers hit Dafflemere’s ship, then came after us. Far as I know, Dafflemere and Labala are the only magicians a-pirating around here.”

“You’re thinking their wizards sense our magic, and track us?”

“I’m not thinking anything,” Tehidy said. “I’m just worrying.”

“Let’s hope you’re wrong,” Gareth said, “and they’re merely after us because we look organized.”

“Let’s hope,” Tehidy agreed. “And as long as we’re hoping, let’s think good thoughts about being able to outsail them.”

Two turnings of the glass later, and hope was running short: The Linyati ships, their triple lateen sails full, were closing, the lead ship not half a dozen cannonshots distant.

Labala’s weather spell had not, so far, begun to work, although the weather had begun to worsen, the onshore wind gusting, and the seas choppy, which slowed down the less handy Linyati a bit.

But the Naijak was falling astern, in spite of all possible sail clapped on its two remaining masts.

Within another two glasses, it’d be within range of the Linyati. And then …

He was still watching the Naijak when he saw its foremast sway, crack, and fall, carrying all sails overboard. The ship rolled, out of control. He saw men with axes swarm the welter of canvas, wood, lines, trying to cut away the debris.

“Dismasted,” Tehidy said. “She’s done.”

Gareth nodded absently, thought a moment, made a decision, thought he was a softheaded fool.

“Put her about,” he said. “We’re going back to take off her men. If we can.”

Tehidy looked at Gareth, started to say something, then began shouting orders.

The hands stood, stupefied, then moved to obey. Except for one man, who came to the foot of the quarterdeck ladder.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.