PoraBora

Chapter Sixty-Four

As Akoni watched the koa place their weapons on the deck and lower themselves to their knees, hands forward, he could not help but think of Makaia's assurances. But it was too late to worry about the rig, about Ila'i, about the other safeguards the chief might have put into place.

It had to be done. Without Makaia, all of this would fall apart. This united Taipala, where koa and Akapuans and the rest stood side by side. Wasn't their ship only the truth of it?

For who would rally behind Ikaika and Noikoa, exactors of merciless, incisive strategies that left so many of the southern islands grieving?

And now the northern islands, too.

Akoni settled down amongst the koa.

Hurry, Hui, he thought. For he did not know how wide a window surrender will have purchased them.

The bat ray approached before they got to Noikoa's fleet. It had no signs of prisoners. Good men. Young men. He knew the koa around him were thinking it, how an earlier surrender would have saved lives. How it was his fault.

It was hard to begrudge them those thoughts.

Boarding planks came down and the Akapuans shouted their way across, brandishing weapons and threats. The koa flinched as they were surrounded. Akoni gripped his hidden weapon tightly and doubted now he'd even make it to Noikoa.

The Akapuans had barely made landing on their flagship before a thundering came from below. It rumbled its way up the ship. Then the hatch blew open and a body flopped out like a dying fish.

Akoni's heart dropped.

It was Poka.

Makaia wasn't seconds behind. His bulk led the way onto the deck and he dragged Tua up with him by the neck.

"Akoni!" the chief thundered, more sweat than blood rolling down his muscles. His shackles held his wrists, but there was no chain between them.

Nobody moved on the deck as the man took in everything before him.

Makaia tossed Tua towards the rest of the prisoners, and the syphon was quick to his feet, blood dripping down his nose. He had no weapon in hand. And now it was clear to Akoni, as more Akapuans came from below, those who had succeeded in boarding through portholes, he had no chance.

Makaia's eyes settled on Akoni and the rage that had born him up from the hatch carried him across the deck.

This was his. Akoni sprang from his knees, spearhead a flash in his hands, and then he was on his back. Next he knew Tua was flying over him, crashing into koa, and Akoni was watching his weapon slide to a stop too far to be of any use.

There was a ringing in his head, too.

Had he bought any time?

Then it was all shouts, all around him, koa on their feet, and all weapons, jabs and shots and screams, and whatever pressure held Akoni was relieved.

He got up. Four men were on Makaia, then three, then two, and the Akapuans were to his defense. A koa took a spear to the throat and Akoni his blood to his jacket. He didn't flatter himself to think the fight had erupted for the rigsmen. Whether they saw a chance for revenge or had abandoned hope of lasting as prisoners, every koa now struggled for the deck.

Akoni found a spear and added to.

It didn't amount to much as he found himself retreating one strike at a time towards the batray, and a view of the hammerhead's deck showed him koa dying. They gave a valiant fight, true to their legacy, hands and stolen weapons making corpses of Akapuans, and some joined Akoni's retreat. And died for it.

Tua made it to Akoni's side and Makaia found them in the brawl.

"Cross over!" Akoni commanded, to whatever men were left to do it.

By the time he had his feet on the batray, there weren't any but Tua. Together, and with great effort, they upended the boarding planks and cut down the Akapuans they had to deal with.

"The others," managed Tua, wiping his forehead. "They're..."

"What happened?" Akoni demanded.

"We got to him first, but Makaia, he--"

And then Makaia made the jump, every pound of him crashed onto the deck. He'd not brought a weapon, and his warriors hesitated to try the same leap.

Akoni wished it gave him confidence. He turned his spear on him.

The batray's crew inched closer.

"It won't be a swim for you," Makaia hissed.

Akoni reckoned he was right. He steeled himself, sharing a final glance with Tua. And seeing as he did so that Noikoa's fleet had made it at last across the cavern to their prize.

Jump, he thought. And leave Tua to his demise? Ikaika would spare him no quarter.

"Go," Tua whispered.

Makaia must have heard, for he was all action, an onslaught of power that snapped Akoni's spear in half and left Tua without his weapon. The batray's crew couldn't even approach. They didn't need to. Akoni kicked at the man's shins, grabbed at his hair, and struggled to do anything that would see him alive for another second. But the force was unfazed, undiminished, relentless, and Akoni was retreating, Tua was spinning, and—

Keasau breached.