The Righteous Way

Chapter 12

“This place looks promising.” James said,

“What about Isabelle?” Scarlett asked, “This is no place for a child,”

“Take her to the beach,” James said, “I’ll bet she’s never seen the ocean.”

Isabelle’s face lit up as she tugged on Scarlett’s cloak. “Can we? Please!?” Scarlett smiled. “Of course, let’s go for a swim.” The two ladies left for the bay. Guards soon arrived to break up the scuffle and after the fight was over James and Alex entered. Broken tables and chairs were strewn everywhere. Broken glass from the many smashed bottles littered the wet floor. As the patrons filed out with bruised bones and faces Alex approached the distraught tavern-master.

“Animals!” he shouted, “Every last one of ’em!”

“Would you like some help?” Alex asked,

“What help? Don’t you see my tavern!? It’s smashed to pieces,”

“Well sir,” said James , “My companion and I are skilled woodworkers, we can fix up your tables and chairs in no time,”

“And what would you ask in return?”

“Food, water and three rooms for the night.”

“What’s the catch?”

“No catch, we are simple travelers looking for a place to sleep and eat with service as our currency,”

“That sounds fair enough, Janae!” he suddenly shouted. A young woman with braided blond hair entered. “Clean up this mess!”

“Yes sir,” she said while grabbing a broom. While she swept up the glass and fragments of wood James and Alex got to work shaping new tables and chairs from a lumber pile out back. It took many hours, but as the sun set they placed the last set of chairs.

“That’s very good work,” said the barmaster, “Janae, make them a meal,”

“For four,” James said, “we have two others with us.”

Alex then got a worried look. “What is it?” James asked,

“Scarlett and Isabelle, they should have been here by now,”

“They’re probably just having too much fun in the sand,”

“Possibly, but we should go find them regardless,”

“Alright, Janae,” James said looking at the maiden, “Hold that food until we get back.”

Alex grabbed his shield and James his cloak as they made their way to the water. They arrived on the sandy beach, but there was no-one to be seen on the dark sand. “Now I’m worried,” James said,

The two ran through the town asking anyone they could find. Most didn’t know anything about them. They then came to an old beggar. “Have you seen a scanty hunter and a young child?” James asked, now panicked.

“I may have, what’s it to you?”

James grabbed some coins from his wallet and flashed them in front of the man’s face. “I did see some men carrying a woman and a girl through here. They went to their ship and left port.”

“Can you identify their ship?”

“Um...” he muttered prompting James to toss in a few more coins, “It had three masts and no flag, largest ship in the bay. Oh, it also had a saying carved into the sides: Videte Rubrum,”

“Beware Red?” Alex asked,

“What?”

“It’s Latin for Beware Red,”

“That shouldn’t be hard to find,”

“We’ll need a ship.”

James smiled. He led Alex to the docks where three ships were moored. “That’s the one,” he pointed at a vessel without a flag. He walked up to the young man guarding the ramp. “What business have ye?” he asked,

“We seek to chase down a ship,” James said,

“Leave, we have no interest in your needs,”

“We’ll pay,”

“I said get,” said the young man more firmly. Alex who was not in the mood for any delay drew his sword and held it to the man. “Get out of our way,” he said coldly. The young man saw the sharpness of the blade glistening in the moonlight. He quickly ran up the ramp while Alex and James followed. “What are you doing?” he asked,

“We have no time for this, Scarlett and Isabelle are in trouble, can two of us sail this ship?”

“Well yes, but--”

“What’s the meaning of this!?” bellowed the captain as he stepped out of his quarters,

“We’re commandeering your ship captain,” said Alex , “Cooperate or I will toss you and your crew into the bay, that is a promise not a threat,”

“Men!” shouted the captain. His crew surrounded the two.

“Wound only,” Alex said as James pulled out his daggers. Alex charged using his shield to tackle through the line near the side rails. James sprinted and vaulted over the other half of the men sprinting for the bow.

The captain drew his sword and swung at Alex who blocked it with his shield. He kicked the captain sending him to the ground before spinning to block another incoming blow. He grabbed the second man by the collar lifting him off the ground and tossed him overboard. Another sailor charged. Alex sidestepped and used his shield to shove him over as well.

James blocked and dodged three swordsmen at once dancing dangerously close to the front edge of the ship. He then dropped and swiped one of the men’s feet. He spun and dug his right dagger into another’s leg while sheathing his left. As the second man fell he grabbed the third’s belt and swung him around off the edge throwing him onto the dock feet below.

The first regained his pose, but James was too fast. He blocked and used his knee to impact the stomach. The winded crewman doubled over and James overtook him from behind, kicking him in the rear and sending him over. He then dragged the wounded to the walkway and down to the deck.

Alex locked blades and eyes with the captain. “You think you can steal my ship and live?” he asked,

“I don’t think it, I know it!” Alex pushed away, he then tossed his shield forward striking the man and stunning him. Alex dropped his sword and sprinted for him lifting him up without stopping and carried him across the deck before finally thrusting him off the deck. The captain crashed into some crates on the dock breaking them open and spilling fish everywhere across the wooden planks.

“Get us moving,” Alex said to James . The young man sprinted from station to station as Alex took the helm. They maneuvered out of the bay and towards the open waters as quickly as the vessel would allow. James then gave Alex a quick run through on the stations as he took the helm and changed direction. “Where would they have gone?”

“If they had no flag and are willing to kidnap we can assume they’re pirates or brigands of some sort, most likely they would sail to open waters before re-routing back to ports to avoid the trade-route patrols that run along the coast.” James navigated into the late hours of the night while Alex kept a sharp eye from the nest.

The duo didn’t notice how long it had been until the sun began to rise. The light gave Alex the clarity to see a second ship a few leagues out. He whistled to James and motioned the direction. James turned the ship trying to maximize their momentum. As they caught up Alex could see it was the ship they were looking for. Three masts and Videte Rubrum carved in bold letters and painted black on the side.

Alex climbed down and readied himself for the upcoming battle. James locked the wheel in place and then joined him as they sailed closer and closer. James could see Alex ’s rage. He put his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Breathe,” he said, “We’ll save them together,”

“I know we will, but these men will pay for anything wrongful they have done.”

The two braced for impact as the smaller vessel rammed into the enemy ship. They used the momentum to launch themselves onto the deck. Each rolled and charged. James sprinted for the lower decks while Alex used his shield as a ram to knock a crewman overboard.

James burst into the crew’s quarters and saw Scarlett tied to a pole in the center of the room. She was limp and looked beaten. He began to worry, but once he heard her breathing he sighed in relief. He quickly cut the ropes and caught her.

“Scarlett?” he tried to wake her,

“Fool?” she said weakly. He smiled at her and carried her to a nearby cot. A sailor then entered behind him raising his sword. James spun around with his dagger and struck the man across the face. He howled in pain falling to the floor, but James wasn’t done. He kicked him hard enough to hear a bone in his arm crunch. He then lifted him by the shirt and punched him square in the face breaking his nose and leaving him unconscious.

He then looked around for Isabelle. “Where’s Isabelle?” he asked Scarlett. She had fallen to sleep again. James began to panic and sprinted for the top deck again. Alex was surrounded by the dead and bloodied bodies of the crew. He fell to his knees and roared to the empty sky infuriated. When James re-emerged from below he stood near his friend.

“I found Scarlett, she’s alive but not well, I can’t find Isabelle however.”

Alex stood up letting the droplets of blood drip from his hands and sword as he made his way to the captain’s cabin. He kicked the sturdy door breaking the latch off and causing it to swing open. The captain had a sword to Isabelle’s neck, she looked unharmed otherwise.

“Stand down, or the girl dies,”

“The girl dies and you will learn what real pain is,” Alex warned, “Let her go and I’ll be merciful,”

“You wouldn’t dare let harm come to this child, move away and she’ll live,”

“Alex ,” James pulled him back out the door to the deck. The captain followed them keeping his blade tight to Isabelle. When he saw his dead men scattered across the red deck his eyes widened. “You think I’ll let this stand!” he shouted, “The Red Swords are vast, we will destroy you!”

“You will do nothing, now let the girl go,”

The captain dragged her to a lifeboat and pulled her in. “Alex , what do we do?” James asked,

Alex was silent looking at the captain. He kicked a lever and the boat dropped over the side. “No!” Alex shouted dropping his weapons and sprinting for the railing. He leaped off the side and saw the captain cranking an odd device with gears and paddles on the back of the boat propelling it forward. Alex hit the water and started swimming as quickly as his body could allow, but the boat was too fast.