Bandits

Chapter 8: TBD

She was massive. Six giant masts towered over the immense hull and seven undermasts held her steady. It looked to be nearly twice the size of the Wraith. It was painted a dull grey with black stripes running horizontally along the length of the vessel. Two massive banners hung from the mainmast and the stern. Gideon couldn't recognize the ensigns, but they were green with a golden crown. The ship's forecastle was big enough to house a grand ballroom, and the hull seemed big enough to mount hundreds of guns. Attacking a ship of this size would be suicide.

"That?" Gideon couldn't decide what amazed him more, the sheer size of the ship, or Vane's audacity to want to attack the monster. "That's your opportunity? Are you mad? It'll blow us to pieces!"

"With what, lad?" Vane didn't look at Gideon. He couldn't peel his eyes from the ship.

Gideon pulled out his spyglass and looked closer. Sure enough he didn't see hundreds of bores of cannons; he saw...windows. The multi-decked ship had portholes where a warship would house her guns. Only the top deck had any defenses, about a dozen cannons on either side.

"What is that?" Gideon gawked at the ship.

"She's a ship, boy! What in blazes did you think?" Vane still stared at his Opportunity, grinning like a madman.

"But what is she?" Gideon continued, confused. "I've never seen a ship like her."

"I'm not surprised, farm-brat, she's an ambassador's ship." Vane suddenly tore himself away from the railing and toward the ratlines. Just before he disappeared over the side, he added, "and she's mine."

Vane offered no further explanation as he scurried down toward the deck of the ship. Apparently no one else had noticed the behemoth yet. As Vane got farther and farther, all Gideon could do was stare at the Opportunity, and wonder what Vane had in mind.

Several minutes after Vane had left the crow's nest, a messenger came up to summon Gideon to the forecastle. As he made his way down the ropes, Gideon saw the crew readying the ship for a fight. Barrels of boarding-pikes and crates of ammunition were brought on deck, and the gun ports from the lower decks creaked open, revealing their deadly contents. Men stood, leaning against the railing, eagerly watching the swiftly approaching prey. Officers ran about organizing gun crews and forming boarding parties. An air of excitement and pent up aggression could be felt all around the Wraith.

Gideon jogged up the steps of the grand staircase leading to the ship's helm, the Captain's command station before an attack. Rain still whipped across the ship, and the wind gusted violently. At the top of the stairs, Gideon saw Captain Daedalus and Solomon standing near the wheel, along with several officers...and Vane.

"Ah, Gideon, there you are, my boy," Daedalus said. He collapsed the spyglass he had been looking through and handed it to Solomon. Daedalus strode over to Gideon, his steel breastplate shinning in the rain.

Vane quickly made eye contact with Gideon. It lasted less than a second but it was more than enough time for Vane's threats to come across. Looking away he melted seamlessly into the other officer's hurried conversation.

"I need you to tell me exactly what you saw. All we know is that there's a ship out there. I'm not sending my men headlong into battle against a phantom."

"It's a big one, sir. Bigger than any ship I've ever seen this far west."

Daedalus frowned. Looking concerned. "That could present a problem."

"I don't think so, sir," said Gideon. "She's big but I didn't see many guns. A few dozen at the most."

Daedalus looked surprised. He motioned to Solomon. The bodyguard quickly produced the spyglass from his coat pocket. "A few dozen, you say? And what of their Ensign? She's not from Solium, is she?"

"No, sir. I," Gideon hesitated for a moment, thinking. Vane casually shifted his attention to Gideon, discreetly watching him. "I actually don't know, sir. I've never seen the ensigns before. But they were green. Green with a golden crown, I believe, sir."

Daedalus nodded, concern evident in his face. "Temaritis. That's the insignia of the Temaritis Royal Court." Daedalus turned and walked toward the wheel, talking to himself. Gideon scurried to keep up. "Peculiar. Most peculiar."

"Excuse me, sir, but what's peculiar?"

"This whole thing, lad. Temaritis is clear on the other side of Regius. They have no business here, especially with the war in the east. And a ship like that rarely travels without escorts, especially flying the royal crest." Daedalus shook his head. He looked up at the distant ship, growing bigger by the minute. "I don't like this. Something isn't sitting right."

Gideon's stomach twisted. Somehow Vane had known the Opportunity would be here. There was something very wrong. Gideon's conscience screamed at him to say something, but what could he do? The brute was standing mere feet away, and he was watching.

A whistle blew from somewhere midship, a call to summon an officer. The men turned to Daedalus for instruction. Without turning to look in the direction of the whistle Daedalus gave his orders. "Vane, shove off. Go see what's the matter."

Vane frowned, his hand twitching. He didn't say anything and stood unmoving. Daedalus gave Vane a questioning look. The captain took a step toward him. "Did you hear me, Vane?" Daedalus' tone was agreeable enough but it was clearly not a question he wanted answered. "Go see what's the matter." He said it slowly and precisely in a way that sent chills down Gideon's spine.

"Aye, sir." Vane growled. He shuffled away from the captain toward the stairs. He gave Gideon a sidelong glance as his hulking form disappeared as he descended to the main deck. Daedalus watched Vane until he was gone.

"Well, Gideon, what's he up to?" Daedalus said. Gideon was surprised and tore his gaze away from the last spot he'd seen Vane to look at the captain. Gideon couldn't think of anything to say. Daedalus looked down at him. "Come on, lad. You're more uncomfortable around him than usual, what's gotten you?"

"That ship," Gideon started. He struggled to get the words out of his mouth. He found himself staring at the last spot he'd seen Vane before he'd sunk out of sight. He half expected to see the man's grinning face reemerge, followed by his tattooed body, a pistol in each hand; one for Daedalus, and one for him.

"Gideon, I need to know. What's going on?"

"That ship, sir, the Opportunity, somehow he knew. He knew she was there, he knew it."

Daedalus frowned, looking out ahead at the stern of the Opportunity. They were close now, less than two leagues. If the wind held, the Wraith would overtake her in fifteen minutes, at the most. They were close enough to see people on the other ship running about, trying to boost the sails, and the soldiers. Gideon could see dozens of soldiers in dark green uniforms preparing for a battle. A distant bell sounded on the ship, the sound barely carrying over through the emptiness that divided the two vessels.

"What do you mean he knew?"

"I don't know, sir. Last night he hinted that there'd be something we found today. He called it an opportunity. And now today, the ship, the Opportunity. I don't know how he knew, but he did."

Daedalus furrowed his brow in concentration. "I'm assuming he told you not to tell me, yes?"

Gideon nodded.

"He threatened me. He threatened," Gideon stuttered. The words lumped in his throat, choking him. "He threatened a mutiny..."

Daedalus was surprisingly calm. "I suspected as much. I knew there was something festering inside Vane. I confess I didn't know to what extent, but now it makes sense."

"So what do we do about the ship, captain?"

"We take her, boy. We seize the ship."