Alone - Episode 9: Battle of King's Harbor Read online

  ALONE

  Serial Short Stories

  Episode 9

  Battle of King’s Harbor

  Written by Hugo C. Bygott

  Edited by Hugh Roger

  ALONE – Episode 9

  Battle of King’s Harbor

  Copyright © 2017 Hugo C. Bygott

  All rights reserved. This book is protected under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988. No part of this work may be used or reproduced, transmitted, stored or used in any form or by any means graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, scanning, digitizing, tapping, Web distribution, information networks or information storage and retrieval systems, or in any manner whatsoever without prior written permission from the publisher.

  The characters, names, and events as well as all places, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the writer’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  This book and other works by Hugo C. Bygott can be found at: hcbygott.com

  To Philippe and Patrick, a world of wonder and opportunities await you.

  Other Works by Hugo C. Bygott

  Children of War (The Ascended Book 1)

  Rise of the Young (The Ascended Book 2)

  First Seeker (The Ascended Book 3) – Coming Soon

  Aslo – Coming Soon

  Episode 9 – Battle of King’s Harbor

  “To the ships, to the ships,” commanded King Magnus.

  Captain Risen held my arm with force. He looked into my eyes with dread. Another explosion rocked the castle. Fireballs fell from the sky, destroying more and more Sea Kings’ ships. Anguish filled the air as the people of Sacrantos tried to avoid the falling fire.

  We ran to the port of King’s Harbor. Blood and death were everywhere. The surprise attack had already destroyed half the Sea Kings’ fleet. Captain Risen was ordering the Sea Kings to leave the burning ships and save the ones which had yet to catch fire.

  “Brother, get to the Astrolax, or all is lost,” said King Magnus.

  Captain Risen turned to me. “You will stay here. Once this battle is over, we will speak again.”

  I looked at him with determination. “No.”

  Captain Risen had no time to respond, pushing me aside as a giant ball of fire fell from the sky, exploding as it hit the ship tied to the wharf. My ears were ringing as I tried to get up. My hands were shaking, holding them against my ears.

  “Mother of this World,” shouted Tomon.

  His voice was faint as I tried to see where he was. There was another explosion, and I was thrown across the ground by the sheer power of the blast. Every part of my body was aching. A cloud of dust surrounded me. I was bleeding, but my regenerative ability was already healing the wounds. Everything was in chaos. From the dust, an arm picked me up and lifted me high into the air. The ringing in my ears eased, but tears fell from my eyes as I saw the destruction before me. The Astrolax was on fire, and thousands of Sea Kings were lying dead in pools of their own blood. Mega carried me, moving quickly through the rain of fire. Blue Eyes, Tomon, and Siana were running behind us.

  “Mega, where are you going?” I asked, trying to keep my balance.

  Mega pointed in the direction away from the destruction. He was taking us back to the Sea Kings’ castle.

  “No, Mega. Where are Captain Risen and King Magnus?” The smoke and fire clouded my vision. The cries of the Sea Kings were never ending.

  Tomon leaped up and grabbed Mega’s back, climbing onto his shoulder. “Mother of this World, are you hurt?”

  “Tomon, we need to go back. I have to help them,” I said.

  Mega grunted. “They did not listen. Now they will suffer the consequences of their arrogance. Half their fleet is destroyed, and the enemy has ships in the thousands.”

  I jumped down just as Siana and Blue Eyes reached us.

  “Matriarch, we must keep going. The safest place is in the castle,” said Siana.

  I seized her hand. “No, Siana.” I looked at each of them before pointing back toward the port. “I will not hide while people are dying. I have to go back and find Captain Risen.”

  Several more explosions filled the air as fireballs crashed into the port.

  “Only death awaits back there. Mother of this World, we cannot help them,” said Tomon.

  “The little Forlon is right. We will only get in the way,” added Mega.

  Blue Eyes growled each time there was an explosion, rattled by the sounds and the smoke rising into the sky.

  “Matriarch, whoever is attacking the Sea Kings has magic. I do not know how the Sea Kings can overcome this sudden and vicious attack,” said Siana, her voice lacking the confidence of a victory.

  I could not believe what they were saying and jumped on top of Blue Eyes. “The enemy has magic. The Sea Kings have us. I will not allow innocent people to die. Go, Blue Eyes, to the port.” I tapped my legs against its hide, and the drokc sped forward, rushing back toward the burning port.

  “Mother of this World!” cried Tomon.

  I did not look back. The wind brushed against my face, and my hair fell across my eyes, but I knew this was the right thing to do.

  Blue Eyes leaped into the air as a fireball crashed near us, but the agility of the drokc avoided the blast. Reaching the port, I could see that many were trying to put out fires on the Astrolax, but it was too late – this much I knew. Captain Risen was shouting orders as hundreds of Sea Kings’ ships were leaving the port, sailing toward the unknown enemy.

  Many Sea Kings were injured, holding their wounds, and trying to stem the flow of blood. There was so much death. For what? I climbed off Blue Eyes and went to the first of the Sea Kings who was groaning in pain.

  He looked up at me with blood dripping from his lips. His eyes told me that he knew he would die. I placed my hand over his wound and released the golden aura. Within seconds, his wound closed, and the bleeding stopped. He looked at his wound and then at me. Before he could reply, I rushed off to find another injured Sea King. The next one had a bone bent from his arm. He cried out as I placed my hand over his elbow, allowing the golden warmth to ease his pain. His arm returned to its normal position. I picked up my dress and ran to another, ignoring the explosions around me. I healed five more, each one speechless as their pain vanished and their wounds healed. I took a deep breath. My vision became blurred, and I rubbed my eyes in exhaustion.

  “Matriarch!”

  Siana was running toward me with Tomon and Mega close behind. I ignored her and went ahead, finding another wounded Sea King, placing my hands on his body.

  “You cannot heal them all,” shouted Siana. “You grow tired after each healing.”

  This Sea King was just as amazed as the last when his pain vanished. “Thank you,” he said, but I was already onto the next.

  Siana grabbed my wrist and turned me toward her. “There are too many. More are being injured than you can heal.”

  I pulled my hand away. “Then I have to work faster.”

  It was then that I saw Captain Risen coming toward me. His face was covered with dust, and his eyes were just as wet as mine.

  “Gaia, you were supposed to be back at the castle. King Magnus is there, too, with an attachment of guards to protect the mainland.” He then saw my hand which was shaking and glowing with a golden aura. “You are a healer?”

  “She is, and she is going to collapse with the amount of exhaustion she is putting herself under,” replied Siana.

  I held my hand up. “My pain and exhaustion is nothing to what these people are suffering. Captain Risen, please let me help.”

  He loo
ked at me with concern but then pointed to a large ship with white sails blowing in the wind, unharmed by the fire and destruction around it. The Sea Kings were preparing to set sail. “If you can heal, then we can use you. The Astrolax is lost, but we still have its sister ship, the Salutem.”

  Before anyone could object, I followed Captain Risen to the ship, healing any Sea King who was in our path, each one joining us and adding to the crew of the Salutem. I could hear the protests of Tomon and Siana, but Mega was strangely quiet.

  From Tomon’s backpack, Barnabas jumped out. “We go to fight. Yeah, Barnabas will show them who the real captain is. Down with the enemy.”

  Tomon slammed the book shut, struggling to hold him tight as we began to board the ship.

  “This is a bad idea,” declared Siana. “We are heading into a battle which is all but lost.”

  Captain Risen swung around. “It is not lost until every Sea Kings’ ship has sunk. We have half our fleet, and that is enough to fight back against this cowardly enemy. The Sea Kings have not yet been defeated at sea, and today will not be the start.” He shouted to his crew. “Set sail. We go to war.”

  Beneath the ship, I could hear the anchor being raised and the rudder starting to move.

  “War, war, war. Captain Barnabas says set sail. Ahoy, Mateys. To battle,” said Barnabas, leaping from Tomon’s grasp.

  Mega began helping the crew. “Mega has a bad feeling about this.”

  The Salutem was leaving the port with hundreds of other Sea Kings’ ships, the majority already sailing ahead into battle with the armada of black ships. In the distance, I could see the distinct flag of each enemy ship: a red star with black and white stripes. There were so many ships, and each side was returning cannon fire. The water spread apart as the Salutem and the Sea King fleet moved into battle formation. We were outnumbered, but there was no lack of Sea Kings’ courage.

  ****

  The drums of the Sea Kings’ fleet resounded over the ocean, each beat humming with power and energy as the ships grew in speed. Sea Kings were shouting with Captain Risen on the bridge, fists raised in the air. With each beat of the drums, the Sea Kings matched it with a chorus of words.

  “Sea Kings to war. In life or death, we return to the sea where we join our ancestors of old. Sea Kings to war. For Magnus, for Sacrantos. Sea Kings to war.”

  The water churned on both sides. Blue Eyes was unsettled as it prowled up and down the body of the ship. Siana and Tomon were at the bow, looking on with dread as the armada drew closer.

  Mega was apprehensive as he stood by my side. “Gaia, you have done much for all of us. You healed me when I was injured from the jackgore. You healed Tomon, Siana, and Blue Eyes. You even healed many of the Sea Kings.”

  The drum beats grew more intense. “What are you trying to say, Mega?”

  He crunched his shoulders and cracked his knuckles. “You try to do too much. And doing too much can lead to rash decisions such as this.”

  I could sense the disapproving tone in his voice. “There are no rash decisions when lives are at stake. If I have the power to help, I will.”

  “But you do not know these people. They are not your people,” replied Mega.

  His words hurt me more than he understood. I placed my hand on his arm. “You, Siana, Blue Eyes, Tomon, and even Barnabas are not my people, but I care for you all the same. They might not be my people, but that will not deter me to helping others. And one day, if and when I find my own people, I hope that they will be like me, willing to help others if they have the power to do so.”

  “I do not mean to offend. Mega simply states what he sees as odd.”

  “Then I am very odd, indeed,” I replied.

  Cannons were starting to fire across the water. Captain Risen shouted from the bridge. “Sea Kings, prepare to maneuver. The Sea Kings will not be defeated this day.”

  The Salutem made a hard left, dashing the water as it turned to avoid the raining balls of iron that now crashed into the ocean all around us, some damaging the Sea Kings’ fleet.

  “Fire,” shouted Captain Risen.

  Dozens of cannons fired from below, a cacophony of blasts, the hot iron driving into the hulls of the opposing fleet.

  “Fire,” repeated Captain Risen.

  The Salutem made another hard turn, firing the cannons with greater effect than the black ships. Other Sea Kings’ ships were doing the same, maneuvering with such flexibility and finesse that I could tell that these were experienced veterans of the sea.

  Pools of water splashed up around us as balls of iron and fire landed on either side of the Salutem. There were hundreds of flashing lights as the two fleets traded with each other, many sinking on both sides. I was helpless as I watched the Sea Kings work relentlessly to move the ships, turn the sails, and fire the cannons.

  “For Sacrantos, for Magnus,” roared Captain Risen.

  “Oooahh,” replied many Sea Kings in chorus.

  “Fire,” commanded Captain Risen.

  “Oooahh,” the Sea Kings repeated.

  “Again.”

  “Oooahh.”

  “Brace,” shouted Captain Risen.

  Mega spread his legs wide, while I held the railing of the ship. We were moving at exceptional speed, far faster than most of the fleet, but we were also the nearest to the oncoming enemy. I gripped the railing harder as I saw the never-ending black armada.

  Captain Risen held onto the wooden frame of the bridge. “Brace for impact.”

  My eyes widened, realizing that we were not stopping but heading straight into the middle of their fleet.

  “Oooahh.”

  Tomon ran toward me. “This is madness, Mother of this World. This is certain death.”

  I turned to Captain Risen for understanding, but he was too preoccupied with directing his crew. The Sea Kings’ fleet was increasing its speed and preparing to smash through the sea of blackness.

  “Brace,” roared Captain Risen.

  And then came the rain of fire. We smashed through the side of one of the opposing ships, the wood splintering and cracking in multiple directions. It happened so fast that I didn’t even see if there was anything left of the ship we had just destroyed. The Salutem pushed forward with the remaining Sea Kings’ fleet behind, smashing through the armada of black ships which were smaller and easily overwhelmed. Cannonballs rained down, descending on our fleet, destroying some of the Sea Kings’ ships as we continued to plow through.

  “Fire,” shouted Captain Risen.

  Cannons from both sides of the Salutem fired, damaging ships left and right. The enemy was taken by surprise. The black ships tried to move out of the way, but the Sea Kings’ ships were faster and bigger.

  Tomon rolled to the side, trying to hold onto the rails of the ship. “Mother of this World, if we survive this, remind me not to travel on a ship with you again.”

  Captain Risen yelled. “Get down.”

  The sky then turned dark, and the entire ship was covered in a thick shadow. I tried to find a place to hide, but there was nowhere to go. Mega stepped in front of Tomon and me and spread his arms wide as arrows rained down on the Salutem. The Sea Kings cried out as the arrows pierced their bodies.

  “Blue Eyes, Siana,” I shouted.

  There was blood everywhere. Dozens of Sea Kings had been killed by the first volley.

  “Return fire,” ordered Captain Risen.

  A detachment of Sea Kings lined the sides of the Salutem, returning their own volley of arrows. Other ships were doing the same, turning the sky into darkness, even as the cannons from both fleets continued to fire.

  Blue Eyes had protected Siana with its thick hide. I ran toward the center of the ship and pulled the arrows out of Blue Eyes. It growled each time I pulled an arrow out. I placed my hands over its body, healing the wounds.

  “Matriarch,” Siana looked into my eyes with anxiousness, “you must stay out of the line of fire.”

  “There are many injured and will die without
my help.” I dashed around the ship, healing as many as I could. Their eyes became wide with courage, looking at me with awe as they returned to their posts.

  “Oooahh,” shouted the Sea Kings.

  “Another volley,” warned Mega.

  Mega was too far away to protect me this time, and Blue Eyes was protecting Siana at the center. The cloud of shadow came. If this was my time to go, then it was my time. I closed my eyes, wishing I could have saved more. I braced for the arrows, but, instead, only heard the arrows striking around me. I reopened my eyes to the cries of dying Sea Kings. Captain Risen was looking at me with shock as did many others. Around me was a circle of arrows. I touched my body, feeling the hardened skin of rock, the same as Mega’s. It was then that I remembered how I had taken the Geoling’s ability after he had defeated the jackgore.

  “Gaia, you are an envoy from the Gods themselves. We’ll win this battle yet. Sea Kings to war,” shouted Captain Risen with renewed enthusiasm.

  “Gift from the gods, gift from the gods,” the Sea Kings responded, looking at me with wonder.

  With increased confidence, I returned to healing the wounded Sea Kings. The rain of death was everywhere, and ships were sinking on both sides, but for some reason, many of the black ships had stopped firing on the Salutem. The more I healed, the more I grew exhausted.

  One of the arrows had struck Tomon’s backpack, allowing Barnabas to escape. “This battle is crazy. If you lot don’t survive, I’ll remember you with my new companions. Whoever wins, I’m with them.”

  Siana pointed her sword at Barnabas. “There’s no red-haired beauty on those ships, book. If we go down with this boat, so do you.”

  “Drown? No, I can’t drown,” yelped Barnabas. “My pages don’t work underwater. I’ll be ruined, ruined.”

  “Then do something to help, you stupid book,” snapped Siana. “Throw some spells, something.”

  “Brace,” yelled Captain Risen.