174 Opportunists, Cowards (1/2)
”We're receiving an emergency message from up ahead!”
*Nonsense, how could there be any problems?*
When he received the unexpected report, a worried Wacoca rushed up to the ship's bow and stared towards the horizon. At this distance he could see only some shadows against the glittering waves, so he took out his telescope, a present from his teacher upon his return. Now miraculously larger, the rest of their fleet came into clear view, and with it the image of his younger sister. Atop the largest vessel of the advanced fleet, Sumaci marched around like a queen and barked orders, much to Wacoca's dismay.
*Stubborn girl, what are you doing again?*
When they had left Saniya for the war camp of the southern armies next to Qarasi Castle, the girl had insisted that she follow along. Of course, Wacoca hadn't liked her insistence one bit. Still, he had relented to her constant pestering. He knew that she would come anyways, with his approval or without. At least this way, she would make less trouble, or so he had hoped. Despite the obvious futility of his actions, he had made her swear to stay out of anything resembling a fight and remain a pure observer. Yet here she was, taking the command of the ships by herself.
She had done this in the past already, on the Verdant Isles. Back then, it hadn't been a big deal and had even been encouraged by their father. A great navigator didn't need to be a man after all, so women from his home didn't have the low status they held here in Medala. With a knack for reading maps and her natural energy, no one could deny Sumaci's talents as a ship's captain. Still, they were not at home anymore, and he had promised his father that he would help her find a suitable Medalan husband to strengthen their alliance with King Corco. Which of these lords would ever want her when she broke all the common customs these people valued so much?
Even worse, although the girl liked to show off, Wacoca always felt that she was more at home in a library. She enjoyed the novelty and adventure that the travel on a ship would bring, but the battles, the danger and brutality were never to her tastes, no matter how much she tried to play tough.
Even so, despite all the warnings and against her own nature, there she stood again, and shouted her orders at the men. For now though, there was little Wacoca could do about her, what with all that water between them. Rather than focus on his unreasonable sister, Wacoca swung his spyglass to the side, to observe her ship's stern.
At the aft of the vessel stood one of their sailors, who transmitted a secret message through a series of flag movements. Semaphore, his teacher Corco had called them. They were a clever system indeed, and one Wacoca had been eager to adapt for his own fleet. As an experienced captain, he had understood their value right away and made sure that the only ones who could read the messages were the captains and the flag bearers. This would only increase the importance of the captain on the ship, and at the same time guarantee loyalty. Content with his care, Wacoca began to decipher the message. However, his confusion only increased as a result.
'Ships starboard. Ships port.' That was what the message said.
*Which one is it?*
For a while, he didn't know what his sister meant. What side was the ship coming from? Couldn't they tell somehow? Rather than give hasty orders and increase the confusion further, his eyes remained trained on the flag bearer, until he repeated his message and Wacoca finally saw it in its entirety.
'Enemy blockade ahead. Incomplete. Ships starboard. Ships port.'
*Damn.*
Though he didn't know how, somehow the enemy had moved much faster than they had expected. How were they already setting up a barricade? How could this have happened? With the safety of Rapra Castle at the mouth of the Narrow Sea, no enemy fleet should have been able to enter these waters to disrupt their operation. Now their plans seemed foiled.
”Full sails ahead! Everyone to the rudders! We need to catch up!”
He hadn't seen the enemy ships yet, but he needed to be decisive. After Wacoca had shouted his orders, he observed the fleet in the distance again, as they sped up just the same. At least if their fleets were together, this wouldn't have been so bad. However, when they had tried to set off, the local lords of southern Medala had caused problems again and again, which had led to multiple delays. As a result, the first half of their fleet, loaded with supplies, had been sent ahead. Wacoca had long been fed up with the arrogance and clear disinterest from their local allies, but now he really felt like throwing some idiots overboard to teach them a lesson. When he returned his sight to the flag bearer on Sumaci's ship, more bad news already awaited him.
'Too close. We slip through. You retreat.'
”Idiot!”
Why would she promise him to stay safe when this girl would go back on her word anyways? All by herself, his sister was planning to break through the incomplete blockade and drop off the supplies in the north, while he and the rest of the army would be left behind, forced to return the way they came. Wacoca was unresigned. Never would he let his sister embark on this dangerous journey by herself.
”Faster, damn it!” he shouted to his men. Already they had reached an impressive cadence, but he knew his men well, they were far from their limits. However, while Wacoca was focused on his sister's tail up front, his first mate looked behind.
”Captain, any faster and we will lose contact with half our fleet!”
When Wacoca turned, he saw the ships loaded with Medala's finest warriors and lords lag behind already. If they couldn't keep up, he would have to stay with them, to organize the retreat. In these dangerous waters, he didn't trust any of the local lords with the navigation.
”Blast it all!” he shouted. ”Tell them to hurry up then!”
However, despite their urgency, their distance to the supply ships barely reduced, even after an hour of effort. By the time they had almost caught their tail, Wacoca could see the enemy for himself. From the northeast and the northwest, unfamiliar sails peeked over the waves, closing in fast. Their course led them straight past the lonely Island of Prince Eclestius. Although this route had guaranteed their safe passage so far, there were reefs and sandbanks aplenty, and little room to maneuver. For a bit he estimated in his head, hoped that he would be able to make it before the enemies arrived.
”Captain! We need to turn!” his first mate shouted, but Wacoca remained determined.
*Somehow, someway.*
If only those lords weren't so useless. Since they had lacked the speed for a clean journey, they would have to get creative. He remembered a passage through the reefs. If only they showed enough boldness, they could fulfill their mission yet.
”Correct course three hands starboard. We're aiming for the reefs.”
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