The three jumped back, hearts hammering as the creature pulled itself over the side of the ship. Its eyes glowed as they locked onto Robin.
Something was wrong. Before, the creature had seemed imposing, even in capture. Now it felt small and lethargic. More human and less monster, though nothing physical about it seemed to have changed. Its eyes drooped, and its entire body was covered in a silver substance that seeped into the wood as it dragged its way towards him. It offered Robin what he suspected was a smile, all teeth and razor sharp, but not as wide as before. Dinta swore and Freyr pulled a knife from nowhere.
He shot a glare their way, and they gestured wildly to the creature as if to say, are you insane?
"I thought the creature was upgraded to friend status," he whispered at them.
"That was when it was off the ship!" Dinta hissed back, and Freyr nodded vehemently.
"That is not the shape of a friend. That is something that wants to eat me."
The creature collapsed. Robin was at its side in moments, ignoring his pounding heart and the cold sweat on the back of his neck.
The creature did not move as he ran a careful hand over its body, and he felt a spark of relief to find out that it had only passed out. The silver substance coated his hands and seeped into his clothes as he knelt on the deck. It was blood, he realised. Wounds covered the creature's body: deep gashes along the side, what looked to be a bite mark along its back, and a nasty tear in its fin. Most of the wounds were a few days old at least, with the blood beginning to form metallic plates over the smaller injuries while the larger ones still oozed.
"Oh yes," he managed to drawl, "look at it. So threatening. It definitely wants to kill you."
Behind him, his sarcasm seemed to have no effect on Dinta and Freyr's rising panic.
"Throw it back overboard," Freyr suggested helpfully.
"I second the motion," Dinta nodded.
"We are not throwing it overboard, it's obviously injured," Robin balked, his mind working frantically. What was he supposed to do in this situation?
"Robin, I don't know what kind of trauma bond you've got going on over here. But unless you are are sleeping with the fish—"
"Excuse me?"
"—then the solution here is to throw it overboard and hope that, if it lives, it does not take offence. We have no idea what it is or what it wants—"
Robin suspected that what the creature wanted was a little bit of help with its deadly wounds, but alright.
"—and even if we did decide to help it, we have nowhere to hide it! Unless you expect me or Freyr to keep it invisible at all times, it is going to get discovered. And even if it doesn't, it'll probably die anyway if it stays too long out of water!"
Before he could reply, a board creaked to the side of them, and a cheerful, if croaky, voice sounded a moment later. "Robin? Everyone else is flat-out drunk or hiding belowdecks, so Patrick sent me to find you. He's drinking with the Captain tonight, and he wanted me to make sure you didn't get into any trouble while Parsenkn's chariot is out. I don't know what kind of trouble he thinks you could get into but—" Finn cut off suddenly, his eyes widening as they rested on the scene before him.
Robin, drenched in silver blood. An unknown sea creature sprawled across the deck. Two strangers caught between panicking and fighting, one of which was still wielding a knife.
Robin cursed. He tackled Finn to the ground (as carefully as a panicked tackle could allow), one hand under his head to steady it and ensure it didn't hit the deck and the other clamped over his mouth before he could sound an alarm. But Finn had not been allowed onto this ship through happenstance. Recovering as he was, he was still more competent than half the people on this ship. He was, after all, one of the few new recruits who had immediately been singled out for special combat training.
YOU ARE READING
Adarna
FantasySailing the seas is a dangerous job. So dangerous that only the most skilled, or those blessed by the gods, ever return. Despite this, it is the most honoured profession in the kingdom. The sea beasts that roam the waters bleed gold, and their blood...