The Winds of Tepr

Chapter 39

As the anchors of the pirate fleet plummet into the depths, the restless sea becomes a mere backdrop to the unfolding drama. Three sleek galleys, their dark sails billowing like the wings of predatory birds, flank the larger flagship that bears the indomitable Shan Xi. Black flags ripple above. The pirates, a fierce band of women under the command of "The Blood Lotus," ready their weapons with practiced ease, their movements sharp and sure, eager for the night's escapades.

The anticipation of an easy plunder fills the air, thick as the salt spray, but an unexpected challenge cuts through the excitement. From high in the hills, not from the predictable warning of a lighthouse or the city walls, the sound of horns shatters the quiet of the night. The blasts are urgent, piercing, a clear signal that their approach has not gone unnoticed.

High above the deck, a sailor stationed at the watch mast catches the first note of the alarm. Her eyes scanning the dark silhouette of the land, she quickly descends to inform her captain. "Horns from the hills, Captain!" she calls out, her voice carrying a mix of surprise and urgency.

On the deck, Shan Xi, standing tall and unflinching, receives the news with a scoff. A laugh, rich and confident, escapes her lips as she surveys the dark horizon. "Land monkeys," she muses aloud, her disdain palpable, "thinking their little noises will scare us off."

The alert does little to dampen her spirits or shake her resolve. If anything, it adds a spark to her fiery demeanor. "They think they can prepare against us with such trifles," Shan Xi declares to her crew, her voice booming over the sound of the waves and the distant warning. "Let them try. Tonight, we show them what it means to face the storm!"

Her confidence is infectious, spreading among her crew like wildfire. They rally around her, their shouts and cheers a testament to their unwavering faith in their leader and their own prowess.

On the hill, the discovery of the black flags has set off a flurry of activity. The two soldiers who first spotted the ominous insignia move quickly; their urgency palpable as they sound the alarm.

Jinlü Feng's previously calm evening is disrupted. He scrambles to don his uniform, his movements rushed and uncharacteristically clumsy in his haste. Naci observes him intently, a slight smirk playing at the corners of her mouth as she watches the usually composed commander succumb to the pressures of the impending threat. His distress, so stark against his usual facade of control, provides her with a grim satisfaction.

As he snaps orders to one of his soldiers to alert the garrison in the nearby barracks, Jinlü Feng's voice carries the strain of the situation. He then turns to the Tepr group, his face set in a stern mask. "We must move. We cannot stay here any longer," he states, the directive leaving no room for debate.

Naci, unflinching and bold, steps forward. "Are you running away from danger?"

Jinlü Feng's response is quick, his voice a blend of irritation and pragmatism. "I will not risk failing my mission for some pirates. It is the garrison's job to protect the city."

Naci's retort is sharp, her disdain evident. "So, on top of having no ethics, you don't have a sense of camaraderie either. Who between you and us are truly human?"

Jinlü Feng's face tightens as he snaps back at Naci, his voice a mix of defiance and conviction. "Moukopl camaraderie extends to trusting each other's abilities," he argues vehemently, "and some random pirates cannot hope to defeat trained soldiers."

Naci, undeterred by his retort, lets out a laugh that slices through the tension like a sharp blade. With a flourish, she unsheathes her sword, the steel glinting menacingly under the moonlight. She gestures towards Temej, Kalez, Lanau, and Fol, each of whom brandishes their weapons with equal confidence.