"I don’t believe you!" yelled the camp chief.
"Want to bet?" asked Kyren in a mocking tone. "We’ve conquered all the peaks of this island, and our artillery is aid directly at your camp. Didn’t you notice how easily our long-range attack subdued your watchtowers in just monts? Should you refuse to surrender, we will imdiately unleash a devastating assault that will reduce your camp to cinders. You won’t even have the slightest chance to retaliate."
Angered by the challenge, Danbar ordered the Pirate Captain, "Get your n ready to fight him! We will not adhere to his demand!"
"He wouldn’t dare raise his sword against ," said the Grand Duke as he glanced at Captain Blackmane and his n.
"Tell , Captain, do you still rember what Her Imperial Highness said? ’Touch a single hair of my people or , or take even a single grain from this ship, then you’ll face my wrath.’"
Kyren quoted Anna’s exact words just before she ’summoned’ the wild storm.
Captain Blackmane’s nerves were apparent as he recalled the dark clouds and the tempest that had nearly wrecked his ship upon escaping from the cog ship. The mory of that terrible storm, the worst he had ever faced in his pirate life, crept fear under his skin.
"Don’t listen to him! He’s playing tricks on you!" shouted Danbar, trying to dispel the hesitation that rose onto the pirate captain’s face.
"I’m not," Kyren calmly replied, his voice laced with persuasion. "You’ve experienced it yourself, Captain. Do you want to play the hard way, or do you want this to benefit you?"
The Pirate Captain hesitated, his mind torn between loyalty and self-interest.
Kyren continued, laying out an enticing offer, "I tell you what. If you agree to choose my side, my n will protect you from these Bargesians, and I will reward you generously."
The Pirate Captain’s eyes widened, intrigued by the prospect of protection and reward.
"Yer would?"
Danbar beca increasingly panicked at Captain Blackmane’s response.
"What the h*ll?" he cursed.
At the sa ti, Kyren nodded to the Pirate Captain, ignoring the camp chief reaction.
"Yes. We’ll give you the gold mine. You can have all the ores for yourself, but you’ll need to mine it on your own. You can leave so of your n here to guard it, and our army will also be here to ensure no theft occurs when we embark on Ardel. What say you?"
The Pirate Captain’s mind raced as he weighed the risks and rewards.
Sensing the gravity of the situation, the camp chief shouted angrily, "Are you stup*d? You believe what he says?"
At that mont, the quartermaster of the Calico Pirates approached his captain and whispered, "Cap’n, ’em of the Knights of Barges have already hoodwinked us once before. Do ye still wish to be followin’ ’em?"
He paused, searching the Captain’s weathered features.
"Furthermore, the Grand Duke has made us an offer we’d be fools to refuse. Ye know we can’t be laying a finger on ’im, don’t ye?"
The Pirate Captain pondered, considering the quartermaster’s words yet simultaneously thinking of the consequences of each choice.
"Ye make a fair point. But what if this Grand Duke be spinnin’ us another web of lies, aye?" he responded quietly.
The quartermaster continued, "Aye. However, we’ve seen the devastatin’ attacks, and this Grand Duke be comin’ prepared, no doubt. If we dare cross blades with ’im, our chances of survivin’ be slim to none. And even the green-eyed one’s wrath would rain down upon us if we were to lay a hand on ’im. He be her man, don’t ye recall?"
As the two pirates whispered, Danbar’s anxiety grew. Not wanting to take the chance of being betrayed, he pulled out his sword and swiftly grabbed one of Captain Blackmane’s subordinates by the neck.
Kyren’s n tensed, ready to attack, but the grand duke held out his hand, signalling them not to interfere as the threat was not posed to them.
"If you don’t listen to my order, I’ll kill your man!" Danbar yelled at the Pirate Captain.
Danbar knew that Kyren had his sights set on their forces, and the Grand Duke had no intention of keeping him and the other Bargesians alive. In his desperation, he had acted in such a way to ensure his safety.
The Pirate Captain’s eyes went wide with shock, his gnarled features twisting in anger.
"Ye scurvy dog! Ye dare to draw yer blade against my man?"
"I’ll do anything for my life! Knights, draw your swords against these useless pirates! We can find other pirates to replace Captain Blackmane and his n!" Danbar barked his orders to his n.
The Knights of Barges responded, unsheathing their blades and nacingly pointing them at the Calico Pirates of the East.
Captain Blackmane’s voice rose, "D*mn ye! Not only have ye lied through yer teeth to , but now ye threaten and turn yer back on , too!"
He turned around, his eyes scanning the crowd of his forces, a fierce determination burning in his gaze.
"Now, let us all be clear," Captain Blackmane declared, his voice commanding attention. "Lord Sygill has revealed his true colours for all to see! If ye be followin’ ’im, he’ll think nothin’ of castin’ ye aside like so much refuse. But if ye be under my colours, I’ll be protectin’ and rewardin’ ye far more than that landlubber ever could. So I ask ye now. Are ye with , lads?"
The response ca swiftly and resoundingly as the pirates shouted in unison, their voices echoing with loyalty.
"Aye, Cap’n!"
The rcenaries, too, acknowledged the shifting tides, recognising the overwhelming numbers of the united pirate forces. They followed with a nod and shared glances, aligning themselves with Captain Blackmane.
Defiance now gave way to acceptance as the Pirate Captain made his decision.
"Grand Duke! I be acceptin’ yer offer! If ye be sendin’ these Bargesians to Davy Jones’ locker and securin’ crew, then I’ll be givin’ ye allegiance and followin’ yer orders!"
A victorious smirk played on Kyren’s lips. His plan had finally succeeded.
"I’d be honoured. n, aim for your targets," the Grand Duke ordered his knights.
’Shing!’
The sound of steel sang out as swords were drawn from the Knights of Cassians’ scabbards.
"You’ve got to be kidding ! You and your... what? Only around twenty n want to fight against and my knights?" Danbar yelled.
Kyren twisted his neck, and a cracking sound erged as he gripped his sword.
"Obviously, you haven’t fought against the ’Guardians of the Blessed Land.’ Well, today is your lucky day. We don’t need a large army to face your numbers."
The Grand Duke raised his sword, and the pirates took a few steps back as he and his n charged forward, determined to confront the Bargesians head-on.
A second later, the sound of clashing steel was accompanied by screams and shouts. Spits of blood covered the ground. The well-known Knights of Cassian overca their adversaries quickly without a hitch.
The pirates and rcenaries stood in awe, their voices silenced by the sheer might of the northerners.
They now fully understood that their leader had made the right choice, sparing them from a potential massacre.
***
"What took them so long?"
Athillia’s worry lingered as she paced back and forth, unable to shake off her concern.
"Have faith in him. Lord Kyren is the best negotiator," reassured Adam, a steadfast confidence in his voice.
They, along with Cassian’s other armies, were stationed at their stronghold, awaiting the outco of Kyren’s mission.
"We should have followed them," voiced the Bargesian Princess impatiently.
"No. Lord Kyren specifically instructed us to stay here and await his signal," Adam reminded her.
Athillia couldn’t contain her anxiety.
"What if sothing happened to him? What if the pirate captain hard him and his team?"
The Admiral’s response was filled with pride.
"You clearly don’t know him. Lord Kyren, if provoked, can single-handedly eliminate twenty regular individuals in a blink. It would take four high-ranking knights of Cassian sparring him simultaneously to bring him down."
Surprised, Athillia questioned, "He’s that strong? But... how is that possible?"
Adam smirked.
"Well, let’s just say he’s truly exceptional, one of a kind."
Suddenly, a spark of a firework ignited the sky, its vibrant colours illuminating the darkness.
’Boom!’
Its sound followed a few monts later.
A smile spread across Adam’s face.
"He has succeeded! They have chosen his side! I told you he would!" he exclaid triumphantly.
Athillia’s eyes widened as she witnessed the dazzling display.
"He did it! Oh, thank goodness!"
Overwheld with relief, she almost jumped for joy. Her hands instinctively clasped over her heart, grateful for the positive outco.
"Now, let us descend and join them. We have tasks to fulfil," Adam ordered.
"Yes, Admiral! I am with you!" the Bargesian Princess responded eagerly, ready to play her part.
Adam gathered his n, and together with Athillia, they descended from the peak to join Kyren and his newly ford alliance.
Soon, they would face the reinforcents from Ardel, who were about to arrive...
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