30 Stella Maris 2 (1/2)
The merchants backed away; the Elder shielding the young man and pushing him up the gangplank.
”There's no need for this Milady. We'll just leave and make port somewhere up the coast.” He called down.
”That sounds very suspicious Elder Condotti. By my authority as a representative of the Emperor's will, I hereby impound your vessel for inspection.” Elya waved the decree with her free hand for emphasis. The Elder's eyes flashed, putting the pieces together. It made no sense for a Knight-Captain to appear with an Imperial decree unless they already knew what the Condotti's were involved in.
”Milady, there's been a misunderstanding! We're just harmless traders and we haven't even weighed anchor yet. I'm sure everyone would be best served if we just left.” Elya struggled to keep from frowning. She could call for an assault but it would be best if the Vezani made the first move.
”I order you in the name of the Emperor!” She shouted taking a few steps to threaten the Fanti da Mar as they retreated in formation. It didn't work. The marines were too disciplined, falling back in lockstep, merging into pairs that walked backwards and defending the passage to the galleon.
”The Condotti family does not bow!” The young man shrieked and Elya saw her chance. She waved furiously at Linea, whose eyes lit up at the gesture.
”Merchant scum, how dare you speak to the Captain like that!” She roared.
It set him off, insulted by a woman he'd just been arguing with.
”Capture that b**ch!” He screamed and the Elder Condotti reached back to clamp his mouth shut, screaming for the marines to hold their positions but it was too late.
The problem with disciplined, elite soldiers was their reactions. They responded like lightning, striking out at a moments notice. In a battle it was a necessary skill but in a tense situation with so many variables it meant their downfall.
The Fanti da Mar were definitely elite, and they lashed out the moment the order came down.
Elya unleashed a blistering horizontal slash that caught two of the charging marines with immense force. Their weapons shattered and the residual force hurled them into the water, plumes rising at the impact. Alexis screamed bloody murder, roaring they were under attack and as planned, soldiers poured out of the customs house, charging towards the galleon with weapons drawn. She hopped to the side to let Linea and her company smash into the Vezani. Blades flashed, and the outnumbered Vezani marines struggled to hold the pier until the gangplank could be raised. Linea smashed one of the marines with her shield and followed it with a strike that was deflected by the downed Vezani's partner. Growling, the sergeant engaged both of them in a flurry of cold steel.
Taking a deep breath, Elya gathered strength in her legs, drawing on all the force of a Dragon. With a grunt she launched into the air, drawing a screaming arc that would bring her to the deck of the galleon. Her instructors would have criticised the action. Showboating was frowned upon in the Order but she needed to draw the attention of her enemies, and at least it worked.
The Stella Maris seethed with activity, marines boiling onto the deck and dashing to battle stations. Screams resounded, traders fleeing below decks in panic. You had to hand it to the Vezani, their response was blistering, crossbow bolts fired at her even before she reached the zenith of her jump and she spun her sword to deflect two of them, electing to divert the rest with her armour. The dull clangs jarred her for a moment but she managed to regain control before hitting the deck.
The hull creaked when she crashed down, hundreds of pounds of enchanted steel making the galleon sway in agony. Soldiers and crew were tossed around by the force and Elya heard screams as the gangplank snapped, sending the unfortunate Condotti merchants into the bay. The deck was made of an insanely durable material capable of withstanding even greater forces but she'd managed to leave a dent in it.
Grappling hooks slashed in from every direction, latching onto rails, masts and the deck itself. They'd been magically enhanced by Jarek to make the ropes more durable, giving the boarders additional precious seconds before they could be cut.
The assault was underway, dozens of soldiers and squires scrambling up the ropes. In the distance Knights were dragging a massive assault ladder that had been cobbled together for the attack. All they needed was time. Which Elya would provide.
Even though the galleon still heaved in the water, the marines were setting up for another volley with their crossbows. She couldn't allow that. She exploded with a massive roar, shaking the galleon once more. The marines were scattered by the sound, like a Dragon had descended upon Konstanz. Her eyes flashed with purple fire and she streaked across the deck, cutting the Fanti da Mar down like paper. She had to protect the boarding parties until more troops could join her and in this environment a Dragonslayer was like a God.
The galleon flowed with blood as she rampaged from one side to the other, targeting any group of marines that looked like they were becoming organised. Dozens of corpses littered the shining wood, yet still more troops poured out from the lower decks.
She'd managed to hold on long enough though and her reinforcements were arriving, overrunning the railings from all sides. The guard formed into small squads of three each, anchored by a squire before charging to contain the surging mass of marines, pushing them back towards the stairs that led deeper into the galleon.
Elya staggered back against the railings, drained. Channelling the strength of a Dragon was never easy, and she'd needed to release a lot of power quickly. Troops flowed past her to join the combat, at a disadvantage in the face of crack troops, making up for the difference in quality in quantity.