After the fleet docked, the officers learned a shocking truth from Helgi:
Sunshine Island had recently suffered a massive attack and nearly fallen.
Naval Lieutenant Colonel Hadava frowned in confusion.
"Why would pirates ignore the rich targets in Italy and instead raid a newly developed island? That seems like a losing business."
Helgi sighed.
"The sugar produced in the Canary Islands has captured the markets of Britannia and Northern Europe. That has devastated the sugar industry in Iberia. So rchants and plantation owners have paid pirates to eliminate their competitors."
"And there's more—certain mariti traders are very interested in our new sailing ships. They've offered large rewards to anyone who can capture one."
The Pirate Base
Helgi then invited the officers into the castle hall and displayed a simple hand-drawn map.
"Take a look. These are the seven islands of the Canary chain."
"According to prisoner testimony, the pirates have established a base on this island to the northeast. Reinforcents are expected to arrive later."
Hadava studied the island labeled "Shark Island," then glanced across the sea toward Morocco.
Helgi imdiately noticed his concern and spoke first.
"The Idrisid Dynasty is currently dealing with a succession crisis. They have too many internal problems to interfere in what is essentially a comrcial dispute over sugar."
Even so, Hadava remained cautious.
His mission was escort duty, not launching an assault against an enemy-held island.
After so thought, he decided on a safer course:
He would conduct reconnaissance, then return to Londonium and let the king decide.
A Bold Proposal
At that mont, Baron Gallos, seated across the long table, made a daring suggestion:
"Allow to take a rchant ship to scout the area. We might lure the enemy into a prepared battlefield and deal a decisive blow to their fleet."
The officers murmured among themselves.
The plan sounded optimistic—pirates might not take the bait.
But Helgi firmly supported his subordinate.
"Colonel, pirates don't think like ordinary n. Their minds are consud by plunder. If they could restrain their greed, they wouldn't have fallen into this life in the first place."
Driven partly by ambition for military glory, the navy agreed to proceed.
After repeated discussions about local sea conditions, they finalized a detailed ambush plan.
The Trap Is Set
June 18 — Morning
Baron Gallos set sail aboard a rchant ship nad One-Legged Seagull, heading northeast.
That afternoon, the lookout shouted from the mast:
"Many Moorish pirate ships are anchored in the bay ahead! There are temporary houses on shore—enough for at least two thousand people! Turn around—they've spotted us!"
Gallos spun the helm, steering the heavy rchant vessel in a wide arc.
Soon enough, more than five pirate ships appeared in pursuit—
and their numbers kept increasing.
As the distance closed, crewn hauled heavy barrels from the cargo hold and began dumping them into the sea one after another.
The Long Pursuit
Ti passed.
The sun sank slowly, painting the sky and ocean a deep golden red.
In the fading light, the pirates' sails remained clearly visible—still pursuing relentlessly.
Night fell.
Darkness swallowed the sea.
Yet the chase continued.
The exhausted sailors aboard the One-Legged Seagull listened to the distant sound of waves striking the enemy ships behind them, not daring to relax.
The pursuit lasted:
from afternoon
into dusk
through the entire silent night
At dawn the next day, pale gray light appeared on the eastern horizon.
The silhouettes of the Moorish ships still clung stubbornly to the edge of the sea.
Gallos clicked his tongue.
"These n certainly have persistence."
Drawing the Enemy In
He handed the helm to the first mate and reviewed the night watch log.
Using half-hourly asurents of speed and direction, he plotted the ship's route and current position on the chart.
After a quick breakfast, he resud control and turned the ship south.
Two hours later, an island ca into view:
lush vegetation
rugged terrain
This was the westernmost island in the Canary chain.
The pirates had visited it before and found no Viking settlents. They assud the rchant ship was attempting to hide using the island's geography.
Accordingly, their fleet split into two groups:
Seven ships continued along the west coast in pursuit
Five ships sailed around the east side to cut off escape
The Ambush Springs
Around noon, the rchant ship rounded a steep cliff at the island's western tip and passed a hidden bay.
The pirates remained unconcerned, still chasing at full speed.
Monts later—
Four two-masted ships erged from the bay, blocking the northern escape route.
The pirates suddenly realized the danger.
"An ambush!"
Soon after, three warships flying black dragon banners appeared ahead, charging directly toward them.
The pirates were now trapped:
North: four two-masted ships
South: three warships and the One-Legged Seagull
East: a barren island
West: their only possible escape
Under frantic orders from their captains, the sailors adjusted their rigging, desperately trying to flee westward.
But it was already too late.
The Battle
The One-Legged Seagull charged toward the nearest pirate vessel.
As the distance closed, enemy arrows grew denser.
Baron Gallos roared:
"Forward! Britannian sailors never retreat!"
In truth, Gallos had grown up in Iberia and had lived in Britannia only a few months.
But the king and count paid extrely well.
In his heart, he now considered himself a Britannian.
As for the Moorish rulers of al-Andalus—he had no loyalty to them.
The Flagship Strikes
anwhile, Hadava commanded the flagship Red Falcon, steering straight toward the westernmost lateen-sailed ship.
"Crush their little boat!"
Warships differed from rchant ships:
more complex rigging
greater speed
better maneuverability
Thanks to superior naval training, the Red Falcon caught a fleeing pirate vessel.
Its reinforced ram smashed into the pirate ship's side, tearing open a massive hole.
From their elevated deck, Viking sailors:
fired crossbow bolts
hurled jars of quickli
They quickly cleared the enemy deck.
A small group of bold sailors boarded the ship and cut the ropes securing the mast.
The great white triangular sail collapsed onto the deck.
With its sail destroyed, the pirate ship lost all hope of escape—reduced to a helpless drifting hulk.
The Vikings ignored the remaining enemies below deck and returned to the Red Falcon to attack the next target.
Victory at Sea
By 2:00 PM, the battle was effectively over.
Results:
1 pirate ship burned by fire pots while attempting escape
6 pirate ships captured intact
Hadava ordered crews to tow the captured vessels into the bay under guard.
Then he led the Red Falcon and four other ships southward.
At 3:00 PM, they encountered the five pirate ships assigned to flank the island.
Outco:
3 ships captured
2 ships wrecked on reefs while fleeing
Watching the captured vessels floating on the sea, Hadava shook his head.
"These pirates are weaker than I expected," he remarked.
"I clearly overestimated them."
—------------------------------
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