The Black Ale

Taking the Stars (part II)

Before she knew it, Evilin, Caroline, Rachel and Henry were rushed int Victor's cabin. the rushing sound of people running about was not comforting in the slightest. 

Evilin felt her heart race within her chest and her breathing became harsh and rash. She didn't know what to think or what to do. 

Henry stood at the front of the group, waiting in case they were attacked at any given time. A sword in hand that he found next to their uncle's bed, was clutched within his hands. 

Men called out from beyond the doors as cannons fired at an alarming rate. 

Victor frowned his brow and narrowed his eyes at the fast approaching ship. 

The sails were black and the ship was covered in ash or suet. As the ship grew closer he could tell the sails were not black as intended, but black from intensive heat of some sort. The flag holding the back pole of the ship was large and held the colors and symbol of Captain Masa of the Black Ale. 

He and his men had heard the stories of such a ship rising from the north black cold waters, but never guessed to have seen it first hand. He merely thought that this was some sort of trick. A captain trying to use a name that was not his to scare his victims into surrendering. 

Victor knew nothing of the word and held his grown as more cannons opened fire upon the tall tail ship. 

As the ship started to close the gap Victor turned to his men. "Ready to be boarded!" he called out. 

A few men reached for their swords quickly while others seemed scared to even draw their blades. He could see it in their eyes that more than half of his crew was in fear for their lives. Those damn stories placed that there. 

"The Black Ale is only wives tales!" he called out. 

His men looked to him as the black ship was so close they could smell burnt wood. 

"They are cowards that hide behind lies and use other's for their gain. This day we shall show them no mercy and show no fear!" He started. "Today is the day..."

Victor's body dropped to the floor as an arrow struck him fast in the skull. 

The air was silent as their eyes looked to the other ship. It was much bigger than their own. Holding forty guns or more. 

The creaking sound of the Black Ale sent shivers down their spins as a thud told them that both ships were now touching one another. But the silence still came when no one came over the rails of the Black Ale. In fact the ship seemed manless. Not a soul was seen or heard from. 

Finally a figure emerged from the rails of the Black Ale. Small, frail. His hair and eyes were jet black and his skin was fair and pale. White and black paint covered his young features as he stood as tall as he could on the rails. 

He held a black steel bow in one hand and a black steel bow in the others. A strap rested tightly across his chest keeping his quiver locked onto his back. The quiver held more than enough black steel arrows for his use. 

The men didn't know what to think, instead of acting out they only watched as the young man with the skull painted on his face raised his bow and notched the arrow into the metal string. 

Fire erupted from the tip of the arrow making one of the sailors pray to god as if he had just looked at the devil. 

The pirate pulled back on the string as far as he could before releasing the arrow. 

The arrow zipped through the air making a sharp whistle sound before hitting a barrel of black powder used for the cannons. 

A large explosion ran panic through Victor's crew as they ran about. Some screaming while others rushed for their pistols. 

The pirate quickly notched another arrow and released it quickly, striking a man down who was aiming his pistol at the pirate. 

Black steel chains rained over the side of Victor's ship, holding grappling hooks. They were pulled until the hooks were nested deep into the wood of Victor's ship. 

More men started emerge from the Black Ale. All with skulls painted on their faces. All with jet black hair and black eyes. They rushed over the rails and onto the deck wielding weapons made from this black steel. 

As the pirates rushed over the side of the ship, pistols were quickly fired as metal meet metal. 

Evilin looked at the door with shock and fear. The sounds coming from the other side were nothing like she had heard before. 

"All of you will stay behind me." Henry told them in a hush yet serious tone. He gritted his teeth as his hands started to shake. He steadied himself as best as he could. 

There were pirates on the other side of that door and he had no idea what they were capable of. The sound of men screaming, explosions here or there... Henry had to defend his cousins as best as he could. 

No mercy was shown from the pirates as they boarded and were quick with running down the less experienced sailors. Those who knew how to fight or hold there own were more of a challenge it seemed. 

The battle raged but was quick to die down. 

A few men tossing their weapons to the ground to show they gave up in the fight were greeted with cold black blades. 

No survivors...

A wooden plank was dropped to connect both ships and a tall man with jet black hair and black eyes walked across. His boots were the only sound that was heard as both ships became quiet. He looked about licking his teeth in the process. 

"Search the hull." He stated as he looked over to one of his crew members. 

The pirate nodded and turned to others around him. He quickly pointed and started to bark orders at them. As the pirates rushed about the Captain of the Black Ale made his way towards the quarter deck. 

There he spotted the archer who started the raid standing by a door. His arms crossed over his chest as he bit on his thumb nail. 

The Captain looked from the archer and then to the door. He rose a brow to the archer, "Well?' he asked. 

The archer casually pointed to the door. "It's locked." he stated in a dull tone of voice. 

The Captain looked over the door and then looked back to the archer, "Then break it down." He stated.