Heart of Black Ice

CHAPTER 74

The Chaser sailed out to the edge of the harbor in the morning sunlight. Standing on the deck of the krakener, Bannon wrapped his palm around the hilt of Nathan’s sword, his sword, and kept watch for the Norukai serpent ships, sure that soon enough they would see countless dark blue sails. Nathan had decided to stay with him and Lila aboard the Chaser, where they could face the first clash with the vile raiders. Captain Jared’s vessel was a scrappy little warship prepared for battle.

Bannon’s long ginger hair was loose, just like Nathan’s. Lila looked at them both. “You should cut your hair so no enemy can grab it.”

“I am rather fond of my hair,” Nathan said. “It makes me look dashing. One cannot sacrifice everything.”

Lila sniffed, but didn’t argue with him. Wearing only her morazeth leather, she planted her feet on the deck and stood ready. The studded soles of her high battle sandals would give her good traction even if the deck were tilted or covered with spilled blood.

Bannon looked across the sparkling waves, then turned to the wizard. “Thank you again for giving me the sword. I never wanted a better blade than Sturdy, but I will make you proud with this one.” He slid the weapon from its scabbard, and sunshine gleamed on the smooth steel.

“Use it well, my boy, and that will be thanks enough.”

Bannon turned back toward the city. “I bought Sturdy here in Tanimura after those thugs nearly killed me. I’m not so destitute anymore. I can’t believe Nicci rescued me instead of just leaving me to my fate. It was my own foolishness!”

Nathan mused, “The sorceress likes others to think she has an icy heart, but Richard taught her to help those in need. She can see the value of an investment. She made the effort to save you, and how many enemies have you slain to repay her for that one kindness?”

“Not enough,” Lila said. “But we will make up for it as soon as King Grieve arrives.”

Pounding drums and ringing bells set up a racket across the ships. Farther out to sea, patrol boats lit their smoky signals.

“Norukai are coming!” shouted Captain Jared. His grin showed the gap between his front teeth. “Set the sails! What are we waiting for?”

Bannon braced himself, and Lila stood beside him, wearing a satisfied smile. “Maybe the stink of this ship will kill the first line of attackers,” she said.

Jared brushed aside the teasing insult and stared ahead at the oncoming ships.

King Grieve stood behind the carved serpent figurehead and stared at the great city as it came into view. He let out a hissing roar when he saw the countless armored ships arrayed in a defensive line, blocking the harbor.

But they couldn’t stop him. Grieve was the serpent god. Every fighter in his fleet also carried the blood of the serpent god. His warriors had the energy and soul of their deity surging through their veins.

In the previous day, as they sailed with all possible speed toward Tanimura in pursuit of their prey, his warriors had seen a great omen that added fire to their veins. One of the lookouts had shouted, pointing off to the horizon where another huge snakelike form curled in the waves. Grieve had felt his heart swell to see another manifestation of the serpent god, and he let out a bellow that echoed across the choppy sea. The other Norukai joined in a resounding roar as the new serpent god swam off.

Grieve and his people would engage in this battle themselves, but they all carried its presence inside them. Their victory was now assured.

Grieve didn’t know where General Utros’s army was, nor did he care. Though they were supposedly allies, the pompous commander was worthless, and the Norukai would do what they already did so well. His raiders would smash Tanimura and claim all the surrounding lands by the time Utros and his exhausted army marched up the imperial road. By then, the Norukai might be ready for another fight and wipe them out.

The raider ships cut through the water like sea serpents. Warriors strained at the oars, pulling in perfect unison. The oar masters pounded their drums as hard and fast as the heartbeat of an angry fighter. Grieve’s fleet raced headlong toward the Tanimuran ships lined up to block him. They would all sink. He would smash them. Burn them.

Atta strode up behind him. “I fight at your side, Grieve. They will all grieve, while we laugh and feast. Afterward, we will make love like two animals in heat.”

Grieve let out a low rumble in his chest. Atta was a vigorous and exhausting lover, just what he needed to burn off the bloodlust from a good battle. Right now, he had to concentrate on killing instead of lust.

A sullen mood crossed him. He missed Chalk’s amusing antics and his chatter. The shaman could have foretold how this battle would end. Then again, Grieve often could not understand the albino’s confusing pronouncements. “The axe cleaves the wood, the sword cleaves the bone.”

As she looked toward the defensive ships braced outside of Tanimura, Atta snorted, “It is a trap. They lured us here.”

“We see their trap, but we will not be deterred.” Grieve’s raiders would careen like a battering ram into those warships. “The sharks will feed well tonight.”

“We all will,” Atta replied. Other crew members added their cheers.

As the ships approached, Grieve recognized a small gray vessel pulling ahead of the other Tanimuran ships. The krakener. “There, that ship! We will destroy every vessel that stands against us, but first…” He ground his teeth together, rippling his scarred jaws. “That ship is first. That ship is mine.”