The Pelican ploughed forward through the waves. It kept true to its course. Straight ahead, a frantic town was restless. The kidnapping of their King, and the death of his Captain, their hero, left Pleneasia in chaos. This chaos was the distraction, or at least, part of it.
Though Kail often complained about his misfortune, the fog that had spread over the sea was a benefit to his impromptu plan. Calling it “his” plan was not entirely accurate though. It was mainly Selestia’s, but Kail taking ownership was the only way the crew would go along with it. Even still, it was very unpopular.
Freijad and his men lamented over the death of their captain. His body had turned up, a few hours after they got back to the ship. The Neptune, a patrol boat from Gargantua had stayed just off the coast, close enough to hear the chatter. Freijad was in charge now, at least until Kail said otherwise.
With every passing second the Pelican swam closer to the shore. It started to peek its head through the fog, and spy over conspicuously on Pleneasia. Kail waited for the shouts that would undoubtedly come. In three… two… one… and there they were.
Kail looked at Selestia and smiled. This was the reaction they were expecting. This was the reaction that they needed.
It wasn’t the presence of his famous ship that caused the shouts of alarm. It was what was attached to the first visible part of the ship. The body of Adonius was chained to the bow. His robes which lie draped wet around him were the only identifying feature at the distance the ship was from the city. Kail knew the ship would soon be surrounded.
Gargantua stayed back in the mist, hoping not to be seen for a few moments longer.
Kail’s confidence began to dwindle as he watched the closest Pleneasian ships make their way toward them. Their quick response time was not what he had anticipated. He had hoped for shock and then the eventual realization that they needed to come to their King’s aid. As was, this gave McMillan very little time to maneuver the boat. He hoped Freijad and the Algathians were ready in their ship.
A cannonball tore through the hull on the left side. The Pelican splintered like a tooth pick being snapped in half. Kail flinched. This was something else he had not anticipated. His fear had been realized. They knew Adonius was dead. This was not a Pleneasian rescue mission. It was revenge.
A second cannonball struck, from the right side this time. The Pelican was surrounded. She couldn’t take more hits like that without finding a home at the bottom the sea shortly after.
The Pleneasian ships were braced for counter fire, but nothing. They loaded up and shot again at the Pelican. One cannonball flew through the mast, shattering it, along with any hopes of being able to sail away. Kail lowered his head. He couldn’t take it anymore. He needed the Gargantua and he needed it now. His prayers were answered.
Four rounds came from the mammoth ship, each one hitting precisely where they were intended. “About time,” Kail shouted, not that the Algathians could hear them anyway.
The Pleneasian ship tilted to its side, the hull exposing itself as it tipped and eventually succumbed to gravity. Kail envied the fire power of his now big brother ship. He had never seen a sea vessel capsize so quickly. He hoped this would turn the attention away from the Pelican. Either the other ships were too intent on his to notice, or they simply weren’t in position to counterattack, but the Pelican remained the target.
