Broken Souls (Book 1 of Seasons of the Cycle)

Chapter 24 - Bothvar Beorcolsson

The ship spots us, but it's too late we spread out to trap it. It's a smaller merchant ship with a single mast. The gunners prepare the ballistae to snag the other ship as it attempts to turn, but we cut off its retreat as Einar and Throst circle it while Koll and our crew move in to board.

There's nothing it can do, but draw up a white flag. Just as we board the ship, another ship comes out of the fog.

"Thorkel!" Varin howls as Thorkel and I walk the planks over to the other ship with our shields leading the way.

"I see them. They sail a black flag. Pirates!" he says as we storm the deck of the other ship. It's a bunch of merchants, and they do not put up a fight.

We rush through the merchant ship, taking the crew as slaves, and raiding their supplies and goods. I find a very shiny pendant on a crew member and take it from them to give to Arni. It has a huge white crystal inside it. However, suddenly five more large ships come out of the fog behind the pirate ship.

"Thorkel!" Varin shouts from our ship. "Those are Golden Elf ships!"

Thorkel turns to the rest of us. "Grab what you can, let's go!"

The men and I frantically take whatever we find and rush over to our own ship as the Pirate ship closes in on us with the elves chasing not too far behind. We take their cargo and the sailors for slaves along with the slaves they held while rushing back onto our own ship. Thorkel sounds the horn for retreat and the other ships go to turn around. Koll's ship pulls away and follows.

"We won't be able to get away," Varin says, continuing to watch the elven ships as they sail towards us.

Thorkel blows the horn several times. Signaling for the others to scatter. Einar draws off one of the elven ships as he sails east.

Throst takes two with him as he heads west, leaving two more as the pirate ship reaches us. It flies a black flag with a red dragon on it. It doesn't stop, but continues on.

Thorkel looks into my eyes and puts an arm on my shoulder. "Take care of my wife and child."

"What are you talking about?" I ask. What is he talking about? Tell me he doesn't plan on doing something stupid. He's the captain! He can't sacrifice himself. I can't lose my brother.

He turns away from me and to the men. "Who's ready to go to Valholl with me? I need three who are ready to die with me."

Styrkar and Saksis Hreinsson look at each other, giving each other nods before they step up. "We've got sons ready to take over our legacies."

Varin steps up. "I too have my legacy set with sons and grandsons. Besides, I'm getting too old for this. Most of my friends and kin are already in Valholl."

"Varin, you're too important. We can't lose a navigator," Thorkel says before he gives Styrkar and Saksis an apologetic look. "No offense."

The two old brothers shrug, but Varin seems to have taken offense. "You can't deny me Valholl. Besides, I've taught Skardi everything I know. He's ready to take over. And you're more important than I."

"Fine," my brother says.

"What are you planning?" I ask.

"We're going to ram that merchant ship into the elven ship left. That will let you all escape," Thorkel says as he walks over to the plank.

"You're the Captain. You can't sacrifice yourself. Who will take charge? Let me do it." I argue.

He turns to Rognvald. "Rognvald will take command. And you know I can't condemn men to die in place of myself. As father said, never order a crew member to do what you couldn't do. Besides, I planted another seed in my wife and I know I have a son on the way. My legacy is secured."