The Great War: Chapter 27
The ship makes its final approach
There’s a strong rap at the door.
“Enter,” Samuel’s father calls from the desk. Curious, from where he sits idly on his bed, Samuel pulls back the curtain that separates the little sleeping area from the rest of the room. As he does so, the door opens, and he watches Captain Edwin step into the room, his face stony and eyes dim.
“My king,” he speaks, giving an awkward half-bow, “we are approaching the fort. However…” The Captain hesitates, a shaky breath leaving his lips. “It’s best if you see for yourself what we’re entering.”
“Now?” Cero asks.
“Yes.”
With that, the king rises from the desk and follows the Captain outside. Once they’re out of sight, Samuel slides off his bed and quietly leaves the room as well, the hairs on his skin bristling as he goes. This is the first time the Captain appeared so troubled. What sort of Guardian forces did he see?
He emerges on the deck, where it’s crowded with most of the crew as they lean over the sides of the ship, staring on and quietly murmuring between themselves.
Off to their right is a small island, dotted with cottages and golden farmland. In front of them is another island, this one ringed with a grey stone wall. There are may other ships in the water that can be seen. Two vessels are anchored by the distant fort, their sails and flag adorned with embroidered golden four-pointed stars. From where he stands, he can just barely see beings rushing about on their decks, along with the glowing white armor of Guardians.
But that’s not all the ships in the water. There’s a third he can see, one that’s by far much larger than any ship he’s seen in his life. While distant, the long vessel still takes up most of the horizon, with cannon holes along its sides three or four times larger than normal. It, too, is adorned with the same sails and flags as the other two Guardian ships, although this one doesn’t seem to be heading towards the fort with how far out it still in, way on the right. What it’s doing here he can’t even begin to guess.
He spots his father and the Captain standing at the bow of the ship, pointing to the distant ship and talking. Cero turns his head ever so slightly, showing Samuel a glimpse of his troubled frown. Clearly that ship is making every being agitated, but why?
“Wow…” some being breathes next to him suddenly, and he turns to see Isaac standing shoulder to shoulder with him, his eyes also on the mystery ship.
“You know what that thing is?” Samuel can’t help but ask him.
The Illusionist narrows his eyes. “No. It doesn’t seem like any being does.”
Samuel folds his arms at the news. Such a large vessel… for what?
“Oh my,” Anya’s quiet voice mutters aloud.
“What a ship,” Ezra agrees.
“That makes for three Guardian ships,” Samuel comments, turning his attention back to the fort. He doesn’t want to call this all a trap just yet, but it certainly is starting to feel that way. “Stars only know if there’s a fourth hiding behind Etrerr.”
“We should have an escape plan if things wind up going wrong,” Isaac hums.
“I’m sure the Captain has one,” Samuel replies. “If not, they’re planning it now.”
“What a wonderful sight at first light,” a familiar sigh chimes in. Samuel turns to see Devin striding over towards the small group, with Killian making his way quietly to the bow. When he reaches the group, Devin stares out at the water and at the distant mystery ship. “That’s an Island Destroyer.”
Anya purses her lips, her hands clasping together in front of her. Isaac shifts his weight uncomfortably.
“Huh,” Ezra hums, eyeing the ship once more. “It doesn’t seem that big.”
“That’s because it’s still way over there,” Isaac mutters back.
“My father filled me in last night,” Devin continues to Samuel. “So far, we’re only aware of three of those kind of ships thus far, though I doubt they’ve made any more. Their sheer size would take at least a decade just to finish placing the planks, let alone installing the cannons and everything else. The Guardians have been using them to wipe out our smaller islands.” He gestures to the little farming island they are due to pass very soon. “No doubt they’re here to destroy that one, too. Maybe even Etrerr, too, if they can.”
“Can they really do that?” Samuel breathes.
“Those bottom cannons there do all of the work.”
Well, this sure complicates things.
“The good news is that it’s not a combat ship,” Devin adds. “I doubt it’ll give chase. That’s what those other ships are for.”
“So I was right,” Ezra comments with a grin. “This is a trap.”
Samuel takes another look at the farming island. He can see a large collection of beings on the beach, all huddled together they listen to who may be their leader standing on a crate, talking, presumably, about the impending ship.
“Why don’t we help evacuate them?” Samuel asks.
“That’s a lot of wizards,” Isaac speaks this time, “and the current crew and passengers were only taken into account when the Captain was preparing. If we took all of them aboard, we might have to start rationing our resources.”
“But their ships might not be able to move fast enough if the Guardians mobilize,” Samuel points out. “They’re all fishing boats.”
“We should ask the Captain,” Devin suggests. “This is his ship, after all.”
Samuel frowns but nods all the same. As much as he’d hate to leave those wizards to whatever fate may await them, this isn’t his ship, and they’re not here to evacuate an island. He doesn’t want to doom every being for the sake of a few.
“Captain.”
Captain Edwin pauses his stride, his gaze turning to Samuel in an instant, and he musters a weak smile.
“My prince,” he replies, “you came to see the fort, too?”
“Initially,” Samuel nods, pointing to the Island Destroyer. “Do you know what that ship is?”
The Captain folds his arms uncomfortably. “It’s an Island Destroyer. It shouldn’t give us much trouble, though.”
“What about the island?”
Edwin’s smile thins. “Stars only know where the ship is headed.”
“Is it possible for us to evacuate the island?”
There’s a long pause as the Captain turns his gaze from the royal to the island in the distance. He stares for the longest time, not saying a word, his smile turning to a distracted frown.
Finally, he shakes his head. “I don’t wish to stop the ship any more times than I have to. If the Guardians are going to give chase, we’ll need all the momentum we can get. Now, if they were to enter the water soon, then we could tie some of their ships to this one…” he trails off, his gaze once again returning to the island, thinking.
“I don’t wish to leave them there,” Samuel informs the Captain.
Edwin lets out a tired sigh. “Nor do I, but-”
“Is it possible for me to go and help them prepare?”
The question seems to take the Captain aback, his entire posture shifting around as he tries to stand comfortably again. For a moment, Edwin frowns, but over time it begins to lighten as he gives Samuel’s inquiry more thought.
“Probably. If the king allows it,” Edwin finally replies with a nod. “I’d also have you bring some of the crew with you as well-”
“I know who I want to bring already,” Samuel interrupts. “Thank you, Captain.”
“Make sure they bring extra rations if they can.”
“Of course.”
With one final nod of his head, the Captain wanders away, returning to manning his ship.