Sea Serpent Attack Chapter

“Glad to see you’re up, my lady!” She stretched as she sat up now sitting on the couch. “Is the storm over?” she asked with a yawn.

“We hope so, I'm really not sure if that storm has anything else to throw at this ship!” He pulled up a stool placing it next to the couch. She sat there looking at floorboards thinking about the dream she just had. Olverd stared at her wondering if she was lying or not.

“You alright, cause you don’t seem to be?” She nodded not saying a word. The two sat there in silence. Olverd spoke once again after the long silence.

“You know what you said about getting help?” Olverd reminded Senestra. 

“Yes, you found the Crowsians?” She folded her arms looking at the Captain sternly.

“We didn’t find the Isles since we’re way off course from that route.”

Senestra closed her eyes and sighed, “So we’re lost THEN?” 

Olverd scratched his head shaking his head. “Not really!” he said waving his hands as if to fend something off. “We’ve just sighted land in the distance.”

“How far away?” Senestra moved from the couch to the dresser. Closing a curtain she gave herself some privacy from the Captain gathering some other garment to wear. He watched her undress behind the curtain.

“We’re not exactly sure how far away, but you could just barely see it from a distance through the telescope.” He said to the Medryn. 

Senestra picked out a purple stola to wear for the day. She put it on, it was tight around the waist the straps loosely held the upper part on her slender shoulders. Olverd remembered something or someone they came across at sea. He wasn’t sure if she remembered. As she fondled with the part covering her breast Olverd left the room to the other across from the room. It was the study he looked around for something. On the table was a rusty dagger with a glass tipped hilt he snatched it and walked back to the bedroom where Senestra was still occupied with the garment. Making sure the stola rested comfortably on her large breast Senestra was unaware of what Olverd was up to. Olverd placed the rusty dagger on the stool standing there watching the Emissary.

He spoke after a long hesitated pause “Remember those sailors we met?” She stopped ‘what sailors?’ she clearly did not remember meeting any sailors. Senestra came out of the curtain. 

“What sailors are you talking abo-“She did not finish, the girl already figured it out. She finally remembered the mysterious sailors they met while on the island of Vulcor. It was an island city mostly full of merchants and philosophers. The many inventions were magnificent but too few soldiers to hire.

“You mean those rough sailors that nearly killed Triaunes?”She asked turning her head in his direction.

The Captain nodded he also remembered the giant like men that had arms and legs as big as trees. Neither of them forgot that day, for a crew member’s life was nearly lost. Olverd remembered how the young lad aroused the big sailors into a brawl which he nearly lost. Senestra broke up his thoughts.

“I suppose we could try following the path they took. Didn’t they go farther west?” Olverd agreed with Senestra.

“We could try going west, but it’s been over a week since we last saw-" Something crashed into the ship shacking it violently. Both of them fell on the hard wooden floor. Senestra’s head slammed against the dresser knocking her out.

“CAPTAIN!” a voice hollered.

“What is it?” Olverd asked the person crying out to him.

Before the sailor spoke the ship started rocking as if something was smashing into it. A high screeching sound followed the collision; he knew that sound well. “Sea serpents!” Olverd hissed through gritted teeth. He fell over scrambling to his quarters the sailor following. Entering his quarters Olverd spots his trustee harpoon hanging on the wall. Snatching the weapon he sees a long knife sitting on a table. Grabbing the knife as well the captain rushes down to the deck.

On the deck Olverd found his men armed with harpoons, spears and sabers fending off the serpents scraping at the surface of the vessels’ thick wood with their long fangs. The monsters surrounded the ship chopping at the sailors with deadly jaws. Several sailors were eaten by the creatures. The captain yelled out orders to his crew to slay the beasts.

“C’mon lads kill those creatures we don’t want this ship torn apart!” He shouted at the crew encouraging them all to get rid of these monsters of the seas. The crew stabbed at the beasts driving them away from the ship. “All hands get your weapons ready and stab ‘em when they attack!”

He stood there ready for one monster to pounce upon him. It went for him, thrusting his harpoon forward Olverd jabbed the creature in the mouth. It was caught on the long harpoon he had the creature he pulled the monster forward not bothered by the horrendous smell of its breath.

“Quick cut its head off, NOW!” He ordered. One big fellow came forth with a large axe he slashed at the creature’s neck cutting the head off. Olverd twisted the harpoon free from the creature as the head fell upon the deck. Blood spewed from the headless body covering the captain and the large fellow.

“Excellent job Hrethor, let’s see if we can’t kill the rest of these cursed demons!” Again the captain did the same strategy as did his crew. They continued killing the creatures as heads fell onto the deck. There was now a dozen heads on the ship, but the monsters still kept coming. The sailors slashed and stabbed the creatures shoving the bodies and heads over board into the sea. The sea serpents resumed the attacks despite the efforts of the Lessiv’s crew and captain. The youth Olverd had talked to came over to aid his captain.

“Well Triaunes it looks like the ship has met its match.” Another sea serpent flung itself after the captain but was pierced by several crewmen they stabbed it all over trying to kill the monster. Triaunes stabbed his saber into the monster’s skull and brain slaying the fowl thing.

“Well done lad couldn’t have done it better myself.” Olverd slapped the youth on the back congratulating him on the perfect kill. They could only celebrate for a short while for the monsters soon came again.

“Look sharp gents there be more o’ them beasties!” yelled an aged sailor who was once a pirate.

A large sea serpent even bigger than the rest rose from the depths as the others backed off allowing their big brother to finish the prey. The monster prepared to attack the defending crew. Something unexpected happened, the monstrous creature squealed in pain as if someone or something sharp jabbed its flesh. It wiggled around attempting to shake off its attacker. The crew watched as a warrior climbed up the long scaly beast using his knife to stab into it pulling himself to the head. Olverd and his crew cheered the warrior on as he clambered up to its mighty jaws. The brave soul wrenched the monsters jaws open he held the monster’s jaws open as it tried to crush him. It seemed as if he were losing the struggle when the monster had him crouched in the center of its jaws. With a quick burst of strength the man stretched himself outward breaking the beast’s jaw now useless to the monster. The warrior did not hesitate with the advantage he twisted the monster’s head cracked the head from the spine. He disappeared into the sea with the monster into the depths.

Another monster came screaming out of the ocean it too had a warrior attacking it. He stabbed the inside of its mouth before he was gobbled up.

“So much for the help.” Hrother muttered to the captain. He nodded in agreement it was too bad for the warrior they were really counting on him. The monster turned its attention to the crew very hungry for meat. It was about to pounce when a blade suddenly stabbed through the inside the monster. The blade slid down cutting through the monster. The warrior sliced his way to freedom from the beast’s belly. He jumped onto the vessel from the dying creature, but slammed into the mast and fell before the feet of the crew unconscious. The battle with the sea serpents was over. From a distance Olverd spotted the creatures attacked another vessel just as the mist came to shade the scene from view.

A few other monsters came out this time going for the cabins. There were about six of them another group came on either side of the ship, three now adding it to nine monsters. The crew had to divide its force to protect the ship, the passengers and their guest. One of the monsters’ head fell onto the ship. Another stranger jumped up onto the Lessiiv. The Captain, unaware of the new comer spat out his orders. 
“Men you know our passenger Medryn Senestra? She mustn’t be harmed, now go fend those bastards off!” A large group of armed men charged forward to protect their precious cargo. Olverd himself turned the ones attacking from the side it was only then he realized the newcomer whom stepped forward beside him.
 “This is not your lucky day is it sir?” The man commented picking up a harpoon.

“If you’ll excuse me gentlemen.” The warrior raised the harpoon like a javelin. Taking careful aim he hurled the harpoon at a sea serpent, the javelin hitting its target went through the monster’s skull. The creature fell back into the sea dead from the thrust of the missile. One other serpent was killed by the crew. And one of the three was also slain. The Lessiiv crew fought viciously to kill the monsters only giving the new comer some targets to nail with harpoons. The battle continued until the last remaining two slithered back into the ocean retreating.

Every eye of the crew was fixed upon the new comer. He stood there with a friendly grin. He waved hello. “Hi there, I guess you men are lost or just gone Delkyr hunting.” A single Delkyr popped up from the sea, behind him. With swift motion he grabs a saber from a sailor’s sheath and began cutting the creature up into pieces as it sank back into the ocean.

Olverd stuck out a hand to the warrior. “Welcome aboard the Lessiiv sailor.” He greeted the man with a hand shake. Soon the rest of the crew followed the lead of their captain, showing gratitude and greeting the new comer. Hrothar approached the man. “Aye, that’s a good arm ye got there! Not to mention the way ye handle the others alone.” The other crew members nodded and grinned in agreement, patting the man on the shoulder. They all admired his skills. Even Olverd showed his approval.

“We could certainly use some men like you and your friend over there.” Olverd points at the young fellow still lying there motionless on the deck.

Triaunes walked over to talk to this new comer. “That was… Was AMAZING! I couldn’t believe what you’d done. I myself am not strong enough to handle a thing like that especially with only bare hands!” The warrior grinned rubbing the youth on the head dislocating the bandanna revealing shaggy blond hair.

Another Delkyr rose slowly from the sea eyes fixed upon the warrior. The warrior swung around a bout to kill it, but was beaten by Hrothar whom split open the serpent’s head with blows from his axe. The warrior gave him a surprised look nodding in approval. “Good job!” he said watching the corpse sink down into the ocean.

He looked down at the sea over the edge of the ship half expecting them to return. “I guess they won’t be coming back anytime…(long pause)……Soon.”

After a brief moment of silence Olverd called out his orders. “Alright men clear the deck and start repairs? First someone get that boy and send him to see about the other passengers!” They did as he told them clearing the decks of any heads or bodies of the serpents lying about. But the young boy was nowhere to be seen or found. 
“Jeskr come over here.” Olverd ordered for the sailor named Jeskr. 

“Yes Captain?” The old pirate stepped forward saluting him.

“Where’s that cabin boy of mine?” Before Jeskr spoke a voice hollered out.

“Captain!” The voice did not continue the speaker came forth as the crew made way for him bowing their heads and taking their caps off. The Captain expected to see a corpse of the boy, but all there was left was a severed hand of a small boy.

Blown out of his mind Olverd could not believe those monsters took the life of such a good boy. Holding the small hand in his own he gaped at it shaking his head in grief. The whole crew stood in a circle around their grief stricken captain. It was as if Olverd had lost a son his only child. His hand shook the piece throwing it to the floor he cried out to heavens in anger. 
“Should we tell the women sir?” asks Jeskr. The captain shook his head slowly. 
“No” he said looking down at the small hand as if someone had torn the life out of him. “Keep it secret until dinner.”

“Women? You bastards have women aboard? Well then count me a lucky bastard!” bellowed the warrior excited over the thought of women on board.

“Mr. Gallis.” A man in his thirties came forward. “Aye, Captain what r yer orders?”

He turned to the man standing out in front of the others. “Sign this man’s name into the crew membership and his comrade also.”

Gallis left entering the cabins to retrieve the code book of the Lessiiv.

Getting up, the captain turned to the warrior. “I am sorry what is your name, warrior?”

The warrior salutes smartly and replies. “Ilkabad, at your service Captain um…?”

“Olverd, Captain Olverd of the Lessiiv. Welcome to the crew!” The man was delighted to be admitted into the crew. “And what is this fellow’s name?” asks Olverd. Ilkabad looked at his companion unconscious on the deck.

“That is my cousin Evnar, I am usually sticking my neck out for him time to time.”

“Seems as though you’ve failed to do that!” roars Hrothar lifting the body up aided by another man. They took the body to the cabins to rest on a bed with the Captain following and Ilkabad at his heels.