Tides

Chapter 14- Praxis

I hated waiting.

It was the worst thing in the world.

At first you find things to do to pass the time, but, the more time passes the more those things run out. Slowly, slowly, slowly you run out of things to do. And every time you finish something you look at the time and it seems to move slower. All that until your left with only the ticking of a clock.

Tick.

Tock.

Goes the clock.

Until I smash it open...

"Praxis!" Blair shouted when I threw the dam thing across the room of my cabin. "Dad gave mum that clock and now you've gone and broken the blasted thing." I shot her a horrid look to which she shrugged, "Cant say I liked it much anyway."

"I feel as if there is nothing I can do," I told her. "And it's the most stupid thing. I mean why cant this battle just hurry up and start? I can see them lining up the troops along the beach and harbour now. So why are we waiting!?"

Blair sighed and looked at me. "No one is enjoying this but you getting all het-up about it wont help anyone. Your our captain Praxis and sadly that means you above all other people on this ship have to keep your head.

I hummed my agreement. "You know I've been thinking-"

"Never a good thing," she scoffed.

"Well I have been. And I think once all this is over we should go away." I looked at her to gage the reaction. "Not just you and me but the entire crew. Somewhere nice to have some fun and relax. We all need it."

"That," she began but then seemed lost for words. "Well, it seem's like a nice idea. But have you considered what'l happen is we get there and Apollo isn't ok?"

I waved her off, "He'll be fine."

"But what if he isn't?" She asked placing a hand on my shoulder.

Turning I considered her a moment. I considered what she said and the possibility to it being true. But just as I opened my mouth to say, well, I don't even know what-

"Captain, the call's gone out. We're to get ready for battle."

~~~

We were ready to fight before any of the actual Navy ships were. I put it down to good practice though Blair reasoned with me that it was likely the crew were just desperate to raid the castle and find Apollo.

That would be our job after all.

When Eric gave the order we were quick. We dogged through the battle at sea, avoiding direct conflict and only engaging to defend ourselves as we headed for shore. Other ships followed us while the ones that were loaded with cannons drew the enemy fighting ships further out to sea.

Finding somewhere to dock was impossible though, they'd no doubt done that intentionally as soldier's lined the docks cutting any ropes and ready to kill any man we could send down.

"We need a new plan!" Blair shouted to me as we neared the inaccessible shore.

"We jump!" I shouted back. "Rowen take the helm. Blair, Archer, Tyler, come with me. The rest of you keep fighting. I want this ship in that dock by the time we get back understand?"

Several repeats of 'yes captain' were shouted back to me.

"Rowen steer for the cliff, we're jumping into the water. You want to be as far away from those soldiers as possible." I said as our cannon's started to fire towards land.