Until three minutes ago, the city of Mavenport had been silent as a necropolis. Save for the glow emanating from the floating temple of Agis, the city was dark and empty, and that faint flickering only added to the haunted feel.

No voices filled the streets. No lamps shone from windows. The entire city appeared to have been evacuated.

Em supposed it made sense to go on curfew after your entire city was shaken by the assassination of several visiting dignitaries. Not to mention, the waterfront still remained in shambles from the attack by Black Heart’s pirates.

But all at once, the stillness evaporated.

Bells clanged in the distance, and indistinguishable cries of frustration and rage echoed behind them.

And with good reason. Em and her companions had left the Red Cloaks at the prison fort with a bit of a conflagration on their hands.

A tower of flames pierced the night sky behind them, trading the haunting glow for a hellish one that sent wild shadows dancing around the city like phantoms.

Alesandra—the in-game alias of Alex Keynes—led the way from the fort. Em followed closely, with a half dozen of Black Heart’s pirates trailing after.

Alex paused at the end of an alley, and a foul smell hit Em’s nostrils like something physical. They all pulled up beside Alex.

The sight in the square ahead sent chills up Em’s spine. An enormous gallows spanned what looked to normally be a vendor’s market. Half a dozen nooses hung rigid with as many rotting corpses. Crows cawed and snapped at one another as they fought over the good parts of a woman’s face.

A massive sign read:

Reward for information regarding Known Conspirators

Em took a deep breath to calm herself, and regretted it. She could taste rotting flesh.

Alex checked both ways like a nervous child, then sprinted across the square, angling toward another back street.

Em would have preferred the rooftops—fewer chances that someone would jump out unexpectedly—but speed was likely the better option in the end. From back alley to narrow side street, they swiftly descended from the heights of the city, approaching the harbor.

Em’s heart thundered in her chest, so loud she could sense every beat. Her lungs gulped down desperate breaths, and yet, she couldn’t help grinning as she raced down the deserted cobblestone streets.

She was free of that damn prison.

Her HUD was operational again.

And for the moment, her MiniNav showed no immediate threats.

They made their way toward the mouth of the harbor, avoiding the ruinous trading hubs, and making their way toward a small set of docks near the edge of the central city.

The only problem was their only means of exit lay beyond a tower-lined drawbridge up the harbor.

Alex led the way across a cluttered shipyard to a small boathouse. Before they reached it, the door opened for them, and they all slipped inside.

The impressively clean-cut young pirate who welcomed them lit a lantern, and all six of their pirate companions immediately crossed their noticeably muscular forearms across their chests in salute, dipping their chins in reverence.

“Meet Black Heart,” Alex said with a wide smile.

Em took stock of the man. He wore a tight-fitting cream-colored shirt with loose fastenings that left a deep V across his smooth brown chest. His hair was cropped short and his jawline chiseled, looking more like a pro soccer player than a sailor, minus the single golden earring in his left ear, which for whatever reason, felt very piratey.

“You freed him too?” Em asked, with a glance at Alex, who merely shrugged. “Well, I suppose I’ll forgive you for letting me rot in that cell for three days, then.”

“I’m grateful to you, ladies, for helping free my men.” Black Heart spoke with a thick heart-melting accent that Em couldn’t quite place.

Her cheeks flushed. “Er, no problem.”

“He’s arranged us a ship,” Alex said.

Black Heart grimaced. “Ship is—shall we say—a generous word. It is a small rundown schooner. Nothing like the magnificent frigates we are accustomed to. But with this crew, we will make do.”

“We are at the last drawbridge before the harbor spreads wide open,” Alex said. “So long as no one tails us, once we’re in the open water, we should be able to slip into the night and return to Thailen.”

“So, what?” Em asked. “We blow up the bridge behind us?”

“Much as I appreciate your dramatic spark,” Black Heart said. “No. You’ve already left a blaze at the prison fort. We don’t want to draw further attention to this escape. Not until we are free and clear. But we do need to open the bridge, and we definitely need to prevent it from opening behind us.”

Em glanced from the pirate captain to Alex.

“Come on,” Alex said. “You’re a chimera, right? You’ve got to be a decent climber.”

Before Em could finish a long sigh, a quest alert appeared.

Quest Alert - Bridge Over Imperial Waters

Quest Type: Uncommon

Description: You’ve nearly escaped this gods-forsaken city. But not without leaving your mark, and a host of Red Cloaks who want your neck in a noose. They will happily chase you into the Spawn’s Va-Jay-Jay itself to make this happen.

Objective: Kill all Red Cloaks manning the drawbridge and disable the bridge itself.

Reward: Maybe you’ll get back to that bratty little boy-toy of yours.

Do you wish to accept? Yes/No