Poseidon's Guide: The First Adventure // #Wattys2018

Chapter 16

Edward held the wheel steady, the Guide flying across the ocean. The Salvation didn't try to move, but Charles had his men brace for impact. The trident figurehead of the Guide smashed into the Salvation, taking out a good portion of the undermanned ship. Edward captained majority of the Salvation's former men, now the pirates took up arms against the infamous Captain Charles as opposed to for him. The Salvation lurched backwards, the impact and force of the Guide pushing it a fair few metres across the water. Then, mimicking the action came the Falmouth, it's ramming had less than half the effect of the Guide's, yet still shook the ship.

Edward let got of the wheel, the trident firmly holding the Salvation between its fork. Edward charged forward, running across the large trident and leaping onto the Salvation, his crew following. Edward drew his sword, engaging into battle immediately. A skinny, scurvy-ridden pirate approached with sword in hand, shaking. Edward swung his sword, clashing it against the pirates before pushing him back. The man wasn't skilled, nor did he seem to want to fight. Edward punched the man and then turned his attention elsewhere, assuming he would be no problem. Edward pulled out his flintlock pistol, firing it at one of the opposing pirates.

Charles remained at the helm of Salvation, watching his loyal men fight his former men. A pirate from the Guide ascended the steps quickly, attacking Charles. He ducked the wild swing before pulling out his own sword. Comfortably, Charles stepped aside, hitting the pirate with the back of his swords handle. He slashed the pirate across the back and stood like a gargoyle waiting for the pirate to retaliate. He attempted to stab Charles through the chest, but he grabbed the man's lanky arm and pulled him into his own sword.

Maryanne leapt across the small gap between the Falmouth and Salvation, drawing both her swords. She duelled with two men, easily blocking their attacks with her two swords. She stabbed one through the belly with one sword and used the other to slit the second man's throat. She looked to her left, seeing a man with his sword raised about to hit her. But a clean, sleek blade halted him by appearing through his chest. The body dropped, Benjamin standing over it, smiling.

Benjamin held his hand out to the kneeling Maryanne. "Might want to watch all your ends!" He joked. Ironically, behind him ran a pirate. Maryanne shoved Benjamin aside and engaged the thin man, overwhelming him quickly with her duel wielding 'style'. She used a mighty swing with both swords to disarm her enemy before plunging both swords into his chest. She turned and held out one hand to help Benjamin up, with a cheeky grin. "Don't even say it..." Benjamin said with a hint of humiliation.

Maryanne and Benjamin fought their way to Edward in the centre of the deck. He took an odd satisfaction in duelling with his former fellow pirates, now his sworn enemies. The three stood together, fighting the pirates, swords clanging like there was no tomorrow. The Guide's crew, halved to man both Poseidon's Guide and the HMS Falmouth, were out numbered to begin with, but ramming The Salvation killed plenty of men and knocked even more overboard.

Edward kneed a pirate in the belly, then sunk his sword through the lanky man's back and said, "Try not to kill anyone not wanting to fight! We could use a larger crew!"

"A lot of these dogs don't want to fight, but fear for the infamous Captain Charles overwhelms that Cap'n!" Benjamin said in debate.

"Than leave him to me," Edward said. "We need the men!"

Edward charged into a bulky pirate, bouncing off him like he was a fluffy pillow. The solid man turned around, his eyes glaring into Edward's. He ducked a heavy blow from the pudgy, slow arms of this big pirate. Edward punched the pirate, sidestepping out of his swords way. Edward kicked him in one of his fat shins, knocking him onto the hard wooden deck with a thud. Edward met his face with his own leather boot to knock the man unconscious. Turning, he swiftly dropped to his knees as Billy aimed a gun in his direction.