The Journey To Acre

Chapter 11

Ill intent needs no explanation.

That Guy hardly knew the men currently closing in on him and Marian, did not matter, it was evident that a friendly round of introductions was not what was about to happen here.

Ill intent also cares nothing for bargaining, which is why Guy wastes no time in reasoning with the men, choosing instead to draw his weapon and put himself between them and Marian.

He scans the deck for Sully, who has been keeping watch, and is disturbed to find no trace of him.

Have we been betrayed?

If so, then he's been a prize fool, but it wouldn't be the first time would it?

That he would do this to Marian though...

He glances behind him to find that the lady in question has armed herself with a mop handle that had been lying on deck, and notes that the weasel-like individual edging ever closer to her is about to get the shock of his life.

He turns to find several of the weasel's colleagues on the point of ambushing him, and has them backing off and bleeding with one swing of his sword.

It's the start signal for pandemonium.

From all sides, men rush in and the whole thing resembles some sort of demented rugby scrum. If there is a plan of attack here, Guy cannot discern it, and despite being not as agile as he was (due to injury), he makes quick work of all who attempt to rush him – which is not difficult because in contrast to his opponents, he is armed, and trained in combat. Any who manage to avoid tangling with him, are dealt with by Marian, who with her lightning-fast reflexes, is more than a match for any brute sailor, and not a few men who thought they'd have it easier trying to overwhelm the lady, are left nursing their wounds (and egos) on the deck.

At the back of the pack, is a hysterical Oldham, who, having found consciousness at long last, is yelling at his fellow crewmen and entreating them to back off – Guy is not sure what that's all about, but is glad to have at least one crewman on his side, even if he is dressed in drag and looks like he's about to keel over.

It seems that Marian has noticed him also, the baffled expression on her otherwise determined features certainly seems to say so, and sadly, it is this distraction that heralds her first slip, causing her to be pounced upon by two sly individuals who'd been waiting for just such an opportunity. Guy hears her cry out as they wrestle her to the ground and charges like a battering ram through all who stand in his way. He is just about to tear the men from her, when a blitz of white obscures his vision, accompanied by a burst of excruciating pain to the head. Moments later, all fades to black.

.*.

The hatch swings open with a crash and a booming voice that every crewman recognises, calls to attention.

All movement ceases.

The captain takes in the scene and his eyebrows shoot up into his hairline.

Sully sprints to the centre of the melee and finds Marian cowering not far from where Guy lies unconscious. Her clothes are hanging off her in tatters. His stomach plummets.

He's seen things on this boat. Things he never wanted to see. Things no man should see. As the girl drags herself painstakingly over the boards to reach her protector, desperately trying to rouse him, sobbing his name all the while, he thinks this might be the worst of them.

He bends down to obscure her from prying eyes and covers her with his coat. He turns to face the gawping masses and an anger so all-consuming takes hold of him, he feels he could murder each and every one of them. Thankfully Oldham arrives to distract him before he can do anything rash, though when he hears what he has to say, he wishes he hadn't bothered.