My Holy Shield cooldown was thirty seconds away as the world retreated above us. Through the agony of my tattered legs, for some strange reason I had only one thought going through my mind; decompression. One of my fellow bouncers had experienced a very mild case of the bends and he swore it was the worst he’d ever felt. Was it caused by scuba diving or free diving too? Did my cheat constitute free diving, or was this something else entirely? Would I be able to swim to the surface without suffering any ill effects? As if it wanted to remind me what was happening, the creature holding me firmly in its mouth ground its teeth a little, shredding my muscles further. I was going into shock, that much was obvious. My health bar was dropping like a stone and the Bleed debuff was only eating into it faster. If I didn’t do something quick, nitrogen bubbles in my bloodstream would be the least of my problems. I treble mixed the health pots and popped it, seeing the dancing motes in my vision retreat a little.

Think!

By the feel of the water flowing against me, I was held in a sideways bite by the thing. I reached out with my left hand, feeling the frigid, smooth skin of the creature attacking me. My fingers slipped into a fluttering cleft, and I ripped at the flaps, praying they were gills. The pain I inflicted was returned threefold as it spasmed and bit down harder. The effects of the healing were rapidly fading, my bar flashing red again. There was only one area that might prove crippling to the beast, so I probed with my hand until I found the flexible orb of its eye. Dousing the coward’s blade with spider venom in my pack, I equipped it and plunged it in as deeply as I could. The creature spasmed again, except this time it was due to my blade hitting something vital. Thick blood jetted over my hand in the dark. The once powerful swoop of its tail fins weakened, then stopped completely. I swapped the dagger for my sword, jammed it into the partly open mouth, and cracked the jaws as wide as my increased strength would allow. The extra space wasn’t enough to prevent me tearing the muscle open a little further as I freed myself from the cavernous maw.

I activated my protective shell, pausing the damaging effects of the attack for a few valuable seconds while my health potion cooldown ticked away. It was going to be a close call whether I would be able to chug it before the final points drained away, leaving me as dead as the nearby creature. I had to know what it was, and loot the bloody thing for good measure in revenge. The murky water robbed all ability for my eyes or the golden light of my sphere to illuminate the enemy. When I pulled up the bestiary, I was glad.

Name – Kherrashi Deepdweller

Description – A giant fish not unlike the Great White Sharks found on earth. These monsters also carry four stubby legs, similar to an alligator, which allows them to hunt on the land should it wish. If you were scared by the Jaws theme tune before, that dun dun, dun dun, will haunt your dreams forever more.

Weakness – Poison

Immunities - None

I stripped it bare, promising to look through the goods later. I pulled out my Laerothi shield and floated in my amniotic sac, waiting. The glow faded, leaving me in utter darkness and with the effects of the attack working fully on my ravaged body again. I noticed a slight change to the debuff. The combination of pressure and cold had a delaying effect on Bleed. Coupled with the passive healing from my armour, these were the only things that would save me from the dwindling red bar that was my life. And even then it would be hit or miss if the timer would refresh in time.

The mixed potion was standing ready in my quickslot. As the last points of my health ebbed away, I spammed the button with my mind, knowing milliseconds would count. The slow seconds seemed to drag on forever, and I started to feel sleepy, my eyelids growing as heavy as lead.

Three percent.

Click, click, click.

Two percent.

So tired. Click, click.

One percent.

I figured I would sleep for a while. Nice and warm and cosy.

Click.

Darkness.

**********

I cracked my eyes open and squinted at the strong rays of sunlight which blinded me. The salt water which had crusted near my closed lids started to sting and I rolled sideways, blinking away the pain. I found myself on damp sand, the tide lapping against my feet as it began retreating out to sea. Panic hit me like a bolt of lightning and I jumped to my feet, whirling around in a circle. I was at the northern end of the Ishalon cove, the cliffs at my back.

I’d died!

Hadn’t I?

I checked my character tab and found nothing that hinted at my fate either way. The boosted health potion was nowhere to be found on my quickslot bar, so had I taken it in time or wasted it?

The roar of crashing oars carrying over the water brought me back to the moment. I turned out to sea and found the armada propelling itself towards the docks, the rhythmic chant of the coxswain timing each stroke expertly to reach the maximum speed. I shifted my gaze back to the port and found the horizon filled with scarlet tabards. Everyone was waiting to meet the barbarian force head on, do or die. I raced to join them, the soft sand robbing me of much needed momentum. Upon seeing me, an almighty cheer rose up, drowning the cries of the approaching army. Sand gave way to stones as I climbed the sea defences. I reached the port and jogged up the steps at the end of the dock. Following the frantically pointing fingers that directed me to the marshal’s position, I sprinted past soldiers and burned out buildings. Braziers blazed, ready to light the flame arrows which were nocked and ready to fire. I reached the command position and Sun nodded at me.

“Nice of you to join us,” she said.

“I thought I’d best put in an appearance. I was just sunbathing up the beach.”

“Your face is rather red,” Sun confirmed, looking me up and down. “You’re too pale to be out in it all day. You’ll get moles that bleed.”

That was a nice way of saying I was at greater risk of skin cancer. “Thanks for your concern.”

“I just don’t want you dying before the battle.”

The two leaders gave us strange looks before interjecting. “You’ll forgive my initial reluctance to follow Thomas’s request,” said the sober-ish marshal.

I had no clue about the back and forth they’d had prior to my arrival, only that they were here now. “No problem.”

“That was quite a show you put on. When their ships started to sink, I don’t think I’ve heard such a celebration amongst the men. How on earth did you accomplish it? I assume it was your doing?”

“It was, but it’s better you don’t know the how of it. I was hoping it would scare the hell out of them and have them see sense,” I replied miserably. “It looks like I’ve killed us all.”

Trystan grunted. “My men are eager for the fight. The spectacle of being taunted day after day was poison to morale. Even if we fall, they’ll remember this day in their histories. We’ll make them bleed until the water runs red.”

I caught the smell of burning logs and remembered the braziers. “What’s with the flaming arrows? Why haven’t you used them before?”

Trystan’s face darkened. “In truth? We did use them during the second attack. They burned my men alive in retaliation. After that, I’ve been dancing to their tune like a fool on strings. Well, that stops here!”

The men listening yelled their approval. Or should I say boys? I heard at least one voice break, hinting at their true age. Right then, it didn’t matter. We were warriors all. Ready to die for what was right.

“Shields!” yelled the commander, and the clattering of a thousand plates of steel echoed within the cove.

The men wielding them eyed the sky, watching for the first volley of arrows. I moved slightly to my right, preparing to protect both myself and Sun from the projectiles. The vessels were a couple of hundred feet away, cutting smoothly through the water like a shark’s fin.

Trystan looked perplexed, then raised a hand. “Draw.” The afternoon came alive with the strain of pulled bowstrings. “Loose!” he screamed, dropping his arm. The sky above our heads filled with the whistle of arrows, their fiery flight leaving thin trails of black smoke that were sucked away by the sea breeze. The enemy were ready, their own shield wall held high to negate the volley. Arrows thumped into the timber, sails, and rigging of the ship, but were quickly quenched.

“Draw!” roared Trystan. “Loose!”

The next volley came hot on the heels of the first, and some of the fires started to spread before the warriors could snap off the shaft or toss buckets of water on them.

“Why are they not firing?” demanded the commander.

“Too busy holding their shields?” I offered.

He shook his head in denial, scowled more deeply, and raised his arm again. “Draw! Loose!”

A return salvo was fired back, woefully inaccurate as the arrows landed harmlessly on the dock or in the water. At least a dozen of the proud ships were fully on fire and would not make it back out to open water. Their crews jumped overboard, swimming for the closest vessel to be dragged aboard.

“Ready yourselves!” Trystan yelled as the boats reached the long jetties. Swords were unsheathed. Spears were raised. Bows were swapped for the more lethal crossbows on the wall above.

I was no hero, but I wasn’t about to let others die first for my mistake. I moved forward, sword and shield in hand. I didn’t care who watched as I equipped my entire armour set.

“You look ready,” said Sun from my side. The axes were in her hands, and by god she looked the part of a warrior maiden.

“Sorry I got you into this.”

“This is the best day of my life,” she replied with absolute sincerity.

The war cry went up from the ogres and barbarians as they jumped the gunwales onto the docks. Dhaulf was wielding two full sized battle-axes, his face a mask of fury. Pointing one of the massive weapons at us, he yelled in rage, and charged like a bull. Thunderous footfalls carried up and down the huge port as hundreds of warriors joined the charge. I readied myself, leaning into the shield and preparing to summon my swarm. They would do little, but any damage was better than none. Suddenly, without rhyme or reason, the shrill cries and clomping feet came to a sudden halt. Only the patter of Dhaulf’s solitary footfalls could be heard. Becoming aware of it himself, the fearsome warlord came to an abrupt halt and turned back to his army.

“What are you doing?” he demanded.

The barbarian’s faces were impassive as they stared at him. The ogres to the rear looked around dumbly, waiting for a cue on whether to attack or pick their nose again.

“Attack, you dogs!” he bellowed.

They were mannequins, stiff and resolute.

“Now! Cut him down!” cried Trystan to the marksmen above.

“No!” Sun roared, stopping the execution. “He’s mine.”

I was like a rabbit caught in the headlights, unsure of what to do as I stood there in full battle regalia. The barbarians were scowling at me, but regarding Sun with something else entirely. Was it hope? Had my ruse actually triggered some religious introspection about their path? Sun made to walk forward, until I pulled her back with a clumsy half grip around my sword hilt. “We can take him together.”

“No,” she replied, pulling free of my grasp. “We fight with honour.” And that was that.

She marched down the jetty towards her mortal enemy.

Dhaulf slowly turned towards her and scoffed. “So you’ve managed to fool these weak minded fools? Do you think that will save you, Wolfbitch? Your parents will suffer unimaginable pain.”

Sun ignored the warlord and addressed the barbarian horde directly. “Some of you know me. Most of you know my father, Thorberg Wolfkin. He was always fair. Someone who could be relied upon to lead war parties against the ogre kingdoms without fear. But he wasn’t a cruel man. He wasn’t a pretender. A lunatic. I know Gundar weeps for what you’ve become. Some of his will flows through me and my friend. You’ve seen what he can do. Will you come back into the warmth of his fire?”

The warriors yelled their approval. The ogres joined in, unsure of why they were shouting but happy to be a part of it.

“They will do as I command, Wolfbitch!” Dhaulf mocked. “After I’ve killed you, a few flayings amongst my supposed generals will restore discipline.”

Once again, Sun ignored him. I didn’t miss the looks of hatred that burned into the back of the warlord’s head.

“I challenge you to single combat, Dhaulf. If Gundar favours me, you will fall. If he favours you, I will fall. Do you agree to put it to the gods?”

His answer was a cry of rage as he resumed the charge. Sun prepared to meet him head on. Dhaulf’s great-axe swooped overhead, crashing into Sun’s cross-braced weapons. He carried through with the second, narrowly missing her midriff as she slipped back out of danger.

“You’ve got some skill, girl,” Dhaulf said, shucking off the great bear cloak. “But it won’t save you.”

He lunged in, slashing down with the axe. Sun dodged back again, letting the hefty head embed itself in the dock.

“And your skills are failing,” Sun mocked, casually circling the warlord as he wrestled the weapon free.

I hadn’t noticed before, but everyone on both sides of the warring parties were holding their breath. The Dawnstar soldiers praying for their continuation. The barbarians praying for their souls.

He went at her again, the massive axes a blur as they slashed the air. Sun parried them with the dark stone of her blades, sparks flying like a struck flint.

“Fight me!” Dhaulf roared in frustration as the warrioress danced at his periphery.

I likened his fighting style to the berserkers of old, furious swipes that would be devastating in the midst of battle. Sun lacked the warlord’s strength, knowing a direct assault would be stupid. She was surgical in her movements and footwork, wasting little energy while Dhaulf was lashing out in a frenzy.

Sussing her strategy, Dhaulf held his weapons wide and charged in to grab her. Sun was hemmed in by the axes and the water at her back. She swiped at his head, but the warlord was ready and ducked the blow. Slamming into her body, he let the weapons fall clattering to the boards and wrapped his arms around her. Sun butted him in the face as he lifted her from the dock. He laughed through mashed lips and broken teeth, whipping her legs out and body slamming her.

The vibrations carried through to me and I almost summoned my rats. A sideways glance from Sun stayed my hand. This had to be completely fair or the fallout could be worse than if she genuinely fell. It took everything I had to leave my friend beneath Dhaulf’s bulk as he started to rain down blows into her face. She twisted left and right, avoiding some of the punches that cracked into the dock, but the damage was racking up. Her left eye was swollen shut. Her nose was badly broken. Purple bruising was blooming on her puffy cheeks.

“Come on, Sun!” I yelled.

Behind me, the Dawnstar soldiers cried their encouragement. On the jetty, the barbarians did the same. With a tremendous cry of fury, Sun bucked her hips and tossed Dhaulf headfirst over her body. With nothing but air waiting, the warlord somersaulted into the water below.

“Use a potion!” I urged, but Sun climbed to her feet and shook her head.

Blood was running freely from her crooked nose, drizzling onto the damp dock wood. Picking up her axes, she slipped them into her waistband and moved to collect Dhaulf’s abandoned weapons. The warlord was swimming frantically towards the nearest boat. On the order of one of the barbarian generals, half a dozen warriors ran back to the vessel and claimed their bows. They began firing warning shots into the sea around Dhaulf.

“You traitorous dogs! I’ll skin your families alive!” he yelled, changing direction.

“The fight isn’t done, Bearbane,” warned the general. “Climb and continue, or flee in disgrace.”

The warlord trod water, glaring up at the faces which scowled at him. “You’ll pay for this,” he grunted, angling for one of the ladders. He climbed the rungs, each step exaggerated with anger to the point I thought they would splinter and plunge him back into the sea. Water poured from his leather armour, a human made waterfall.

Sun was waiting patiently on the dock. I expected her to allow Dhaulf to regain his composure and then resume the battle.

“Sun!” I snapped in shock as she took three paces forward and lopped off the warlord’s head as soon as it appeared over the boardwalk. The blow sent it flying at the barbarians, blood spraying like a Catherine wheel as it spun in the air. The body hung on to the ladder, unaware it was dead. Sun grabbed the arms and yanked it up and onto the jetty where the stump continued to jet crimson for a few more beats of the dying heart.

The general, whose name I found to be Hæfnir Bjorgulfsson, lifted Dhaulf’s head by the long black hair and walked towards Sun. Bowing his head, he went to one knee at her feet, offering her prize. An almighty chorus of celebration erupted among the barbarians. Trystan joined in at my rear, cheering with his men for Sun’s victory.

My battered friend turned to me, and smiled a bloody smile. Her vengeance was complete.