The Champion *ON HOLD*

Chapter 26- Intercepted

A/N: Sorry this took so long to get out, I've had finals and they totally kicked my butt. Luckily though, finals are over and I have a few weeks to write so hopefully you'll all be seeing some new installments before the new year. This chapter is largely unedited and could probably do with some more content, but I wanted to get it out to you all before Christmas. Anyway, I hope y'all enjoy the newest chapter of The Champion.

Captain Dorik of the Fat Lady stood on the quarterdeck of his ship, watching his crew go about their duties. The Fat Lady was a slow, ponderous vessel, being a cargo ship made to carry large loads and go from port to port, trading goods. At the moment he was headed to Brittleburgh in Aslia. His next stop would be Norwich, where the remaining goods would find their way to Kaerndal, the Capitol of Aslia.

Circling the Fat Lady like protective hounds were three small war galleys, Velox, Ferus, and Iratus. They weren't usual fixtures when making trades, especially with Aslia. Mythros and Aslia had been on peaceful terms for hundreds of years, yet his King had stoutly demanded that Dorik take the warships with him for "protection."

Dorik wasn't a stupid man. He had to be quick witted and crafty to maintain his position as Captain, even on a ship such as the Fat Lady that almost never left the Northern Gulf. Her keel wasn't deep enough to traverse through deeper waters such as the Black Sea. No, Dorik knew why his King forced the warships on him.

He had nothing to fear from Aslia, the countries were too friendly with one another and pirates were non-existent in the Northern Gulf. The warships were to protect his crew and cargo from Einvean ships intercepting trade bound from Mythros to Aslia.

Dorik was smart enough to know that even though Mythros normally traded livestock, coal, semi-precious and precious jewels, and even weapons with Aslia for spices, cloth, grains, fruits and vegetables, and lumber, in times of war, King Adhemar of Einvea might not see trading goods such as weapons as a "neutral" act.

Dorik knew for a fact that Adhemar saw trading between Mythros and Aslia as a betrayal of King Randir's vow of neutrality. In fact, many Einvean ships had intercepted trade quite a few times along the Jagged Sea, pirating the goods from Mythran and Aslian trade ships.

It angered Dorik that Randir had done nothing to stop the pirating along the eastern coast, especially since his fleet of ships outnumbered both the Aslian and Einvean ships twofold. Instead of retaliating, he had simply moved all trade to the Northern Gulf in hopes that Einvean ships would not dare go so far away from their home country. So far, Randir had been right, but Dorik knew if Randir was confident that his ships would not be intercepted, he would not have assigned the Fat Lady with three warships.

Whatever his King was doing, Dorik had his doubts that he would succeed, but it wasn't really his duty to determine if his King's actions were wise or not. Those were for King Randir's advisors. With that thought, Dorik went back to his duty as Captain.

Glancing down at his compass, Dorik saw they were headed ever so slightly too far west. Keeping his eyes on his compass, Dorik pulled the wheel ever so slightly to the left and waited for the compass to point further south. When he had adjusted the wheel enough, he checked the wind. There was a nice, strong gale blowing southward, billowing out the sails in a satisfactory manner. Dorik smiled a gap-toothed smile. They were making excellent time. With luck they would be at Brittleburgh by nightfall where his men could get a chance to stretch their legs and their loins.

A sudden cry from the crow's nest brought his attention skyward.

"Riders!" Fincher shouted from his perch. For a short moment, Dorik was confused. How did one get horses out on open water without a ship? Then it hit him and his eyes scanned the skies. From the east he could see something heading towards his ship. Pulling the spyglass from his belt, he extended it and peered through the lens.