75 The Low Seas

"Ahhhh!" There was a loud cry, followed by a thump as Percy fell from the rigging onto the deck. "Ouch!" said the zombie, picking himself up. "That hurt."

"Hurry up and get those sails secure!" shouted Tybalt, busy pulling on a rope. "They're going to be on us in moments!"

"Aye aye captain!" cried Sprat, climbing up the main mast like a particularly unhealthy monkey.

They were on a small ship that was moored in a space amongst many larger vessels. So far their activity had not attracted any unwarranted attention from the other craft. Above them the white sails flapped idly in the breeze, unfurled under Tybalt's guidance. Tybalt, Emerald and Cuthbert were on the raised aft deck, overlooking the main body of the ship. A corpse clad in a simple white top and matching pants lay to one side, a casualty of their sudden boarding and Dreth's sword.

Dreth stuck his head up from a hatch in the deck. "I've secured the ship," he said. "I only managed to find five more sailors though. That doesn't seem to be very many." He wiped Darkblood clean and sheathed the blade.

"That's why I suggested this vessel," said Tybalt, tying off a rope. "These schooners don't need a big crew, and they're fast. The rest of them are probably on shore getting drunk somewhere."

"You seem to know a lot about sailing," said Emerald, moving closer to him. She looking out at the dock and frowned. "I think those guards have broken through the door, or found another way in."

"I don't know how they located us so fast," said Tybalt as he examined the sails. "I was barely out of the warehouse when they saw me." He leaned over a railing and shouted at the wizard, who was standing inside a pentagram on the main deck and casting a spell. "How long?"

Frumble broke of his chant briefly. "Two minutes, maybe a few more," he shouted back.

"Going to be close," said Dreth. "I'll go and get ready to hold them off. Cuthbert, what are you doing?"

"I'm looking for the reverse on this thing!" said Cuthbert. The zombie was standing before the large ship's wheel and searching around in a puzzled fashion.

"Idiot! There's no reverse on a ship," said Tybalt. "Here, let the living steer."

"Oh, just because I'm dead I can't drive, is that it?" Cuthbert complained. Still, he moved to one side as Tybalt took the helm.

"Ware the mainsail! Hard to for'ad! Raise the yardarm!" said Percy enthusiastically from the mid-deck, attempting to get into the swing of things.

"Get those ropes untied," said Tybalt to Dreth, waving a hand.

Dreth nodded and skipped down to where the mooring lines were holding the ship in place. With a few quick slices of his sword they parted, and the vessel began to slowly move away from the dock.

Just in time too, as the main body of the city militia squad finally broke through the hasty barricade they had erected in front of the warehouse doors. Dreth leapt down off the ship and neatly beheaded the first, rather too enthusiastic, soldier. He quickly jumped back aboard and stood on the deck, whilst the rest of the group hesitated at this display of casual bloodshed.

"Avast landlubbers!" shouted Percy, shaking a fist. "Didn't like that so much did you? Ow!" He plucked an arrow out of his shoulder, and ducked down behind a barrel as others followed.

Dreth stood where he was, idly picking out the shafts that hit him. He raised his black sword and smiled. "You'll have to do better than that!" he called out grimly.

"Ready!" said Frumble suddenly.

Tybalt nodded, though the Halfling didn't see the gesture. "Now then!" he shouted.

The wizard made a complicated movement with his hands, and something only half visible roared up from the small mage into the sky above. With a sudden crack, the sails filled, and the ship jumped forward, leaving a trail of white water in its wake. Tybalt struggled to steer the vessel, narrowly missing a tug as they shot out of their berth and into the middle of the river.

"Woooo!" shouted Percy, leaning over the rail and nearly falling in. "Go team undead!"

"Only honorary undead," said Tybalt.

Emerald smiled at him and put a hand on his shoulder as the ship ploughed along the waterway.

Dreth climbed the narrow stairs of to the deck to join them. "How are we looking?" he asked.

"Well, I doubt anyone's going to catch up with us at this speed," replied the man, hanging onto the wheel for all he was worth. "We just have to hope we can make it to the sea before they block the river somehow."

"The sea?" asked Cuthbert.

"Of course. This river leads to the Sparklyblue Sea."

"Good," said Dreth. "We can sail north then. We'll get to that prophet if it kills us." He looked at Percy and added: "Again."

~ * ~

"They've stolen a ship," said Wilbur. The royal wizard was staring into his orb as the action unravelled within. "They're heading downriver towards the sea, at some speed I may add. Magic is evidently in play."

"Very well," said Harold. "Ready my fastest warship. Let's see where they're going shall we?"

Wilbur bowed. "At once sire." He backed out of the room and closed the door behind him, leaving Harold tapping his new black sword. For a moment it seemed like an aura extended from the weapon and expanded to engulf the king, but it might have just been a trick of the light.

~ * ~

Dreth stood at the railing, looking out across a sparkling blue sea. Behind them the land was a hazy smudge on the horizon. Ahead the water stretched out to meet the clear sky, a clash of blue against blue, old enemies in eternal battle. Above, the sails were extended, billowing, full with natural wind now, propelling the schooner along at a good clip. The sea breeze swept over him, blowing his cloak out in an impressive billowy display. It was a peaceful scene, and one that Dreth would have enjoyed a lot more if it wasn't for the small red form sitting on his shoulder.

"I know you had something to do with the guards finding us," Dreth accused it. "I'm going to get you Brandon, you see if I don't."

The devil grinned. "Try again loser," it said.

Dreth sighed. He'd run out of names beginning with 'B', and he was beginning to wonder if the whole thing hadn't been one of the devil's little tricks. Turning around, he joined the others on the aft deck.

Sprat and Percy were gazing out over the water. Tybalt was still at the wheel, piloting the vessel with some skill. Emerald was sprawled out in a chair she had moved outside from one of the cabins, and was dozing in the sun. Frumble wasn't enjoying himself so much though. The wizard was leaning over the rail, gagging and spitting and looking generally green about the gills. Cuthbert stood to one side making encouraging* comments.

"You're not looking so well there," said Percy, sauntering over and slapping the mage on the back, which produced another bout of coughing. "Land lobber." the zombie tutted knowingly.

"Lubber," corrected Dreth. "Land lubber."

"Bah, it's alright for you undead, standing there making jokes," said the wizard between bouts of heaving. "I don't find this so funny."

"The other living are alright," pointed out Cuthbert.

"Yes, well, we Halflings aren't a sea-going race as a rule. We burrow by nature. You can't burrow in water, it collapses." He gulped as a wave hit the ship, and leaned over the side again in a renewed round of vomiting.

Dreth shook his head and pulled out a telescope that he'd taken from one of the bodies. Raising it to his eye, he swept it around, more for the look of the thing than to actually see what was there.

"Oh cool! Let me have a go!" said Percy. Dreth handed the zombie the device, who squinted through it. "Is this working? I can barely see anything."

"You're holding it the wrong way round." Dreth did a good impression of a weary sigh.

"Well, how was I to know?" The zombie righted the device and peered through it again. "It's not much better even so. All I can see is blue."

"That would be the sea," said Dreth. "Or perhaps the sky."

"Well, there should be something out here. Other ships, sea monsters, mermaids and what not. I'm a little disappointed."

"There's a ship over there," said Cuthbert, nodding at a merchant vessel that was disappearing over the horizon.

"I can't see it." Percy said.

"That's because you stole your eyes from a dwarf, they're not renowned for their hawk like vision," the other zombie pointed out.

"But they're great for underground!" retorted Percy. "How was I supposed to know I'd end up in a boat in the middle of the ocean? How many zombie sailors do you know?"

"It's a sea, not an ocean," Tybalt interjected.

*Such as: "Woo that was a good lot! What did you eat that was purple?"