Chapter 88: Decisions (2/2)
”How will we know?” Sera asked. She still looked a little queasy, but the last few days had done wonders on improving her sea legs.
”If they ignore us, they be traders. If they follow us they be raiders. Quite simple, miss.” The captain replied with a grin.
Mike took a moment to move the sleeping Audra into a pocket. Luckily, she was both compact and light.
[I'm going to have to think of something when she gets bigger. If she turns out to be anything like that skeleton down in the lake, no pocket is going to suffice.]
The group proceeded to watch as the ships drew steadily nearer. When it became clear the Theldon ships were changing course in order to intercept them, it became clear where they stood.
”Tis raiders, then.” The captain declared excitedly. He looked over at Mike. ”Sir Mage, what ye want to do?”
”Why do you ask me? Don't you have a plan?” He replied, slightly confused.
”Oh, aye. We could lead them on a merry chase, and if we swing close to the Isle of Pyrthos, we might even succeed in escaping, but it'd be a close thing.”
”So why don't we do that?”
”Well, here be the thing.....” He looked a little embarrassed. ”This ship may not be the most welcome in Bergell, or the Isle of Pyrthos in general, for that matter.”
Giving the captain a blank look, Mike asked, ”Why is that?”
”Ya see, there is a bit of a....misunderstanding. I be the subject of gross slander. Can ya believe that they accuse us of such terrible things as thievery?”
Speaking in a completely neutral tone, Mike asked, ”And not piracy?”
”Nay, Sir Mage. We be the farthest thing from pirates. Me crew be filled with honest men of business. Ain't that right, men?”
A raucous cheer sounded from the surrounding 'honest men of business.' A cheer mixed with a fair amount of laughter.
Sighing again, he decided it wasn't worth trying to argue this point again. ”Right, so what exactly are you trying to ask me?”
”It be like this, Sir Mage. We be stuck between two unfortunate outcomes. Either way would end poorly for all involved, so I ask, what do ya be willing to do to prevent it?” The captain replied. A dark, predatory glint shone in his eyes.
Mike was starting to get sick of being forced to violently solve problems. It had been little besides fighting and killing since he got to this world, and though he'd done little to prevent it, he was starting to get a little tired of it.
[I really need a break.]
He walked to the side of the gunwale and looked out at the ships. They were starting to get close, and he could barely make out the tiny figures of the crew. Summoning his mana, he started chanting. ”I let thee fly free...”
Brenden reacted first, ”Uh, Mike? What are you planning?”
He pushed as much mana into the spell as it could hold. The air around him seemed to shimmer with a mirage-like heat as a white-hot ball of flame started taking shape in his had. Even while concentrating, he noticed that Audra was stirring in his pocket, almost as if she found the magic distasteful.
”Mike? Are you sure you want to do this? Those are humanoids on that ship. Maybe we can find another way.” Sera was looking deeply concerned. Although he wasn't aware of it, Mike's face had become coldly emotionless as he chanted the deadly words.
Captain Bont was looking between the two of them, uncertainty starting to creep into his expression.
”....fury, [Fireball].” For a second, he debated about simply destroying the ships. After all, he was sure that they wouldn't spare any of the people on board if they caught up.
[Why not? If they get away, they'll probably go on to kill other people. Really, I would be doing the world a favor.]
At the last second, he pang of reproof from somewhere deep in his consciousness. Something that screamed that these thoughts were wrong.
He thought he heard the faintest strains of unearthly music.
With an effort of will, he redirected the spell.
The beach ball sized sphere of flame shot out over the water. As it reached a point above the leading ship, it detonated.
A second sun briefly appeared in the sky, shining with a brilliance that was almost overpowering. Immediately afterwards a shockwave of heated air and sound washed over the ship, flattening everyone on board.
Even as far away as Mike and the others were, the sound and light were stunning, causing everyone on board to recoil.
The ocean around the ship started steaming in the superheated air, and Mike could see that the ship's rigging was now burning, evidently still too close to the explosion.
Gritting his teeth, he walked back to his cabin long enough to grab is spear, before returning to the side of the ship.
Sounding overawed, Captain Bont hesitantly asked, ”Sir Mage? What be your plan? We should be free to continue, now. Only the insane would keep chasing us after that display.”
”That would just push the problem off on someone else. So, I'm going to try for a more permanent solution.” He tried flashing the others a reassuring smile, even though he was still a little unsettled that he'd come so close to committing mass murder.
He really needed that break.
With a blast of Air Magic, he threw himself forward, towards the leading ship.
With a cry of dismay, Sera had a sudden realization. ”AH! Delphi!”