COMPLETED
Nereida has always been shackled to her royal duties as princess of Triteria, and when her kingdom becomes involved in a series of mysterious vanishings and deaths she begins to seek answers. Rebels soon shatter her world, and she finds he...
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"ALL HANDS ON DECK! Batten down the hatches! Ready the round cannons! Bring up the carcass ammunition! Every man is to be equipped with two swords and two pistols! MOVE, you sniveling band of halfwits. They think they've got the best of us! The Raft is hungry, lads; she requires more dead men! Are we going to deny her?" Captain Shelley shouted, a mixture of commands and comments surrounding us, while the men shouted back 'No's' and 'Arghs.'
As I readied myself for the looming battle, I secured my holster tightly around my waist and checked the ammunition for my weapons. My hands trembled as they brushed against my pistol, and I brought them to my face for a brief inspection. The tremors had persisted since my return. Despite my best efforts to maintain composure, my body betrayed me. Fear and anxiety had taken hold, putting themselves on display for all to see.
I had never been to battle before, and as I slowly looked at my surroundings, bodies floating in the water, the smell of rot, smoke, fire, and burning all in the air, it was polarizing. It should have destroyed me; no one would be surprised if it did, but instead, it just left me feeling blank.
There's a peacefulness unlike any other when you accept that you may die. Rhat you may not see the sunrise the following day. Even though throughout this journey, I had faced death many times, this one felt different. It was the first time I considered that I might not survive and that there was no one to save me. Everyone was fighting today; everyone's lives were in danger, and while we were together, we were alone.
Today, our lives don't matter as much as why we were fighting.
The sounds of war filled the air. The clash of metal and the roars of cannons brought me back from my thoughts. I took a deep breath and steadied myself for what was to come. The ship's crew worked frantically, and Captain Shelley calculatedly directed their efforts. A loud cannon fire caused everyone to turn and stand at attention, trying to scan the area to find out which direction it was coming from.
"BRACE FOR IMPACT!" Rodgers shouted as another barrage of cannonballs rained down. The ship shook violently, and I held onto the railing to maintain my balance. Despite its eerie appearance, the Raft proved a formidable opponent, but the damage we were taking would soon overwhelm us.
"Prepare the ballistae!" Captain Shelley commanded from the helm, his hands maneuvering the ship. The crew swiftly loaded the ballistae and aimed them at the approaching enemy ship. As the Raft drew nearer, I looked out into the water. First, Captain Fearcar and the Triteria army engaged in fierce battle above and underwater combat with the traitor's forces. "Gibbs, man the helm!"
"Captain Fearcar, our enemy has begun their approach," I called out, and he nodded.
"I will inform the king; we will prepare to charge. My queen, Pirate Captain Shelley!" Captain Fearcar saluted at us, and I nodded back, then descended under the water. I ran up the stairs and positioned myself near the helm, watching.
