Thunderous cannon booms echoed in the distance as Arilee walked onto the upper deck. Explosions lit up the fog surrounding the ship.

“Three ships in the distance! Raise the sails to half mast! Angle for the wind! Battle speed!”

A flurry of sailors raced by her. Ropes were untied. Knots were slipped. The ship groaned.

Arilee braced herself against a nearby railing as the ship turned. She looked up to see the Scout Marshall near by doing the same.

“What’s going?”

“Ships in the distance. Flying Black Flags. Probably after this Grimoire. Damn. We almost made it to the Capital too.”

“They haven’t caught us yet Bodwin!” shouted the Captain from the wheel above them.

“You told me no one could catch this ship! I am holding you to that!”

Another thunderous boom followed by a cannonball whirling by just over the deck of the ship, exploding in the water behind the,. The Captain raised his voice. “Protection ward on the ship! Now! Cannons starboard at the ready! Enchanters in position!”

Arilee watched as another flurry of sailors raced by. 6 cannons were mounted on each side of the ship. Each were manned by two people, followed by a third mage.

The mages began chanting, fire arcing from their hands into the piles of cannonballs. A second string of mages placed their hands against the deck of the ship, a glowing bubble of light growing until the whole ship was protected.

A tall barbarian stood behind the cannons shouting commands.

“First enemy ship at 1000 meters. Cannons at 50 degree angle. Prepare to fire!”

The cannoneers went to work loading the metallic balls into the cannons and packing in a fine black powder.

“Fire!”

Arilee covered ears but even still, the deafening boom rocked the ship, sending a ringing through her ears.

Beautiful orange magical glowing trails followed the cannonballs through the sky. Four of shot landed with a wooden crunch that echoed off the waves. Fire exploded around the ship as the fire enchantment went to work. Arilee could just barely see the small shapes of sailors leaping from the ship.

She looked beyond to see the other two ships closing in now. Their cannons sounded louder now as they returned fire.

A volley of cannonballs streaked through the air, harmlessly bouncing off the Protection Bubble around the ship.

Arilee sighed in relief.

A second volley of cannonballs came, this time with green colorful streaks behind them.

“Oh no.” Arilee heard a nearby sailor mutter under his breath.

“Everyone get down!” shouted the Captain.

Arilee threw herself to the deck of the ship, looking up in time to see at least a dozen green cannonballs pierce through the Protection Bubble as if it wasn’t there.

Chaos exploded. She held her head tightly against the ground as a cannonball whirled over her head, colliding with the Cannon behind her.

Three more explosive booms shook the lower hull. Splinters flew as another ball collided with one of the masts.

She could barely hear the orders being shouted over the ringing in her ears.

“Grab the planks! Repair the hull! Water is coming in! We need bailers!”

Arilee could feel someone helping her to her feet.

“Let’sss go Arilee. We are needed on the cannons,” said Slicks.

As Arilee followed Slicks, she saw Leela and Chip rushing below deck with buckets.

“Prepare to return fire! Sails to full! Mage Rethgar, put some wind in our sails!”

A robed barbarian held his wand up to the sails and began chanting, producing a continuous gust of wind from his wand.

Slicks tapped her on the shoulder and pointed. “You enchant thesssee. Like your arrowssss. I will shoot the cannon.”

Cold water splashed from over the side of the ship drenching her, but Arilee steeled herself, pushing the cold to the back of her mind for now. She focused on her in inner warmth and pushed outward. “Encanto Fiur”

“Fire!” shouted the Barbarian in charge of the cannons.

Slicks loaded the glowing red ball into the long metal tube, aimed, and lit the fuse.

The cannonball soared through the air, exploding into the enemy ships lower deck. Another two of the six shot landed in the upper deck.

“Grrr. Not enough!” she heard one of the other cannoneers say in frustration.

The two ships were approaching quickly.

“Oh no.” said Arilee.

Through the mist in the distance another four ships appeared behind the enemy.

“Four more ships in the distance!” shouted a man from the crow’s nest.”

“This isn’t going to be enough Slicks. We need a plan. I’m going to go find the Scout Marshall.” said Arilee.

A voice came up from behind them. “I was thinking the same thing.”

“There you are!” said Arilee. “Where have you been?”

“Calling for help.” he smiled, as he tucked a scroll back into his belt.

Another thunderous boom from the pursuing ships followed by a volley of green glowing cannonballs in the sky.

“I don’t think help is going to get here in time Scout Marshall.”

Another thunderous boom in the distance, this time from the other side echoed through the fog. Followed by another boom. Then another boom. Then all there was was booms. The fog erupted in fire and light. Silhouettes of ships stretched from horizon to horizon. A green light arced through the air towards the cannonballs, incinerating them into harmless ash. The two pursuing ships turned into a mass of splinters floating on the water. The shadow of a flock of cannonballs sunk into the four enemy ships in the distance.

“The Iron Line. The Naval Defense of The Overlord’s Empire.” said the Scout Marshall as they watched the enemy ships sink into the depths below.