The seas were choppy and the cold wind from the north east bit hard against the skin. Thugard, as always, was on deck facing into the sea. Behind him, spread out across the ocean were sixty three ships. A number of them were Islander Warships that had been placed under his command. The balance of the Islander ships were patrolling the north passage in case the Western Kingdom's fleet tried to sneak around and then south to the Citadel. Imagine. Only a few years ago we thought the Citadel was all there was to these Islanders. Now we realize it is just their easternmost military city.
Islander scouts had spotted the newly minted Western Kingdom fleet preparing to make sail so they had flitted in their quick little schooners to the nearest harbour and then sent riders to convey their message. Fortunately, Thugard's ships had already arrived. Barik, now Battle Leader Barik, added his five warships to the fleet. With the Islander warships alongside, Battle Master Thugard had ordered an immediate sailing to try and intercept the Western Kingdom's fleet. That they were outnumbered almost three to one didn't bother Thugard at all. Seasoned sailors on tried ships were worth at least three crewed by unseasoned crews any time, he declared.
The weather was their enemy right now. They were sailing into the wind while their enemies sailed with it. Keri had come up on deck and Thugard had asked her if she could change the weather. She shook her head. "You know better. Even Moiril would need all of us to put the slightest dent in this. Sorry, Thugard." He sighed. She was right but he preferred the advantage.
Thugard yelled back to Hogni, his new first mate, to signal the ships to tighten the line. It wouldn't do to have the enemy upon them and be unable to bring the fleet to bear. Turning back to Keri he asked, "How are you doing, Master Mage?"
"Master Mage? Truthfully, Thugard I am really scared. I have learned so much in the last year, I just hope it is enough. I don't want to let you down," Keri said.
"Scared? Keri, Aeronwyn would not have sent you into what we expect to be the biggest battle if you were not the right mage. I have watched and I agree with her assessment. You don't just use magic, it flows from you. Except for Aeronwyn, the other mages focus and think about what they want to see happen. You are like her. You just do it." Thugard said.
Keri looked up at him, surprised. "You really see me that way?" He nodded. As he was about to say something, a voice from the Crow's Nest called out. "Sails ahead off the starboard. Multiple ships."
"Where away?" Hogni yelled back. "Starboard at 2 o'clock" came back the answer.
Hogni reported to Thugard formally and a little louder than was required so the sailors could hear them, "Battle Master, I can report enemy sails in sight. What are your orders for the fleet?" Keri could see the sailors grin at the formal question. Thugard replied just a formally, "Order the fleet to attack from the east so the sun is behind us. Have archers and shipboard catapults at the ready to fire as soon as we close range. Command all ships to avoid boarding until we have reduced their effectiveness."
Keri stole a glance at the sun. It was deep in the west, perhaps a few hours from setting. At that angle, ships to the east would be blinded by the light, while the Sessailaine archers should be able to see perfectly. That should reduce the advantage they have in numbers she realized. The order flags went up and Keri could see the ships behind the Nereus changing their courses.
For a while, everything seemed to move in slow motion. Keri had always thought of sea battles as busy and exciting, which the actual battle was. She had never given thought to the time leading up to the battle. The Nereus led the line, angling in towards the enemy ships so that by the time she engaged the entire line of Sessailaine and Islander warships would be able to engage almost as one. Because they were outnumbered many of the ships behind those engaged would be able to come up afterwards. Thugard's order not to board showed that he was concerned that they could come up and engage while his ships were undermanned.
