Chapter 247 - The Burning Isle (2/2)

Alistair took two steps forward as he drew a second arrow. Will shouted out in a booming voice.

”Incoming!”

The crowd parted to give Alistair a straight shot as he dropped to one knee with his bow horizontal. He took a breath as the crowd finished making way then released.

The two guards, who were still confused over why the crowd was parting before them, dropped side by side with arrows in their chests.

Aegin passed Eros to Eon, then ran along the dock, grabbed one of the spears, and threw it right at the Pirate Lord. The Lord's eyes widened, but he didn't move, a slow smile coming onto his face.

The spear seemed to slow just ten centimetres from his chest for a split second, then a blue translucent shell-like shield seemed to burn and erode where the spear touched it. The spear continued its journey and the Pirate lord was impaled onto the main mast.

Aegin stepped onto the dock and yanked the spear back, the Pirate Lord dropping onto the deck.

”That's for Jeremiah”.

Then the other Reapers followed him onto the deck and started disposing of the pirate that were on board. They made the fight that had gotten Aegin and Ebony into this mess, the one aboard the Miranda, look like an even match. The way they slaughtered the other side mercilessly before dumping the bodies overboard in the process of readying the ship to launch. Ebony could hardly believed that this had become her norm as she contemplated the contrast between the two events.

”Get the rope on the dock!” Talo shouted, taking charge as he staked his trident into the deck beside the Wheel and started barking directions, ”Anyone coming on board play nice and do the work assigned to you. You make trouble you're going overboard with the rest of them! Now get up the ratlines and get those sails unfurled!”

Aegin paused in his work as he looked at where Ebony was preparing to climb the rat lines.

”You okay?” he asked.

Ebony smirked, ”After the last couple of years we've had, I think dealing with my fear of heights is going to be a piece of cake”.

He gave a half smile, though Ebony could tell he didn't feel like being amused, his eyes were serious, too serious for them nearly being out.

”I meant you didn't get cut did you?”

Ebony shook her head, ”I'm okay...are you?”

Aegin waved an arm, ”I'll be fine, I got lucky”.

He stepped away to help someone else as Talo shouted order at him, Ebony's eyes followed him. Was it just her or did he seem a little pale?

Ebony turned to look at where Eon was laying Eros's body.

No, if Aegin had been poisoned he would have gone down pretty quickly, Eros and Garrow had proved that as had many others that Ebony had seen. It was probably just the stress or the smoke.

Ebony scaled up the ratlines, her fear of heights barely bothering her anymore.