Chapter 8:
For the next few days, the group sailed southeastward across the Adriatic Sea on the caravel they obtained from Dampierre. The chaos of Venice and the Fygul Cestemus seemed far behind now as the group set their sights forward, on Lemnos. The weather was good and the wind was favourable, though they still had a long trip ahead of them.
It was now their third night of travelling by sea; every evening, Sarpedon would tirelessly commandeer the boat under the guise of darkness. The moon and stars provided the only source of light, apart from a small lamp on the ship's deck.
"How are you feeling, Christine?" asked Thomas.
Christine had been standing at the port end, staring out at the black sea in deep thought. As Thomas approached her, she turned to face him.
"I'm fine," she replied, "Just exhausted."
"That necklace is draining you," said Thomas, "I can see it in your face. You're turning pale."
Christine sighed heavily.
"You know," she began, "When our last adventure ended, I told myself I never wanted to step foot on a boat ever again. All I wanted was for us to have a normal life together."
"Our quest is nearing its end," assured Thomas, "Another week or so of sailing and…"
"And then what? We reach Lemnos and everything goes back to normal? Thomas, we don't know for sure that the necklace will guide us to the forge, or if it we can even take it off there!"
"Kyria said…"
Christine backed away from Thomas and stared out at the sea again.
"You've trusted everything Kyria said from the moment you met her," said Christine, "How did you know she wasn't luring you into some trap?"
"Well," said Thomas, "Er, I..."
"The truth is, your faith in her has left you blinded. First, she made a deal with Greed, and he betrayed us. Then, she made a deal with Dampierre and he betrayed us. That's twice now she nearly got us killed and still you trust her? The woman who worships the same god who built this cursed necklace?"
As she spoke, Christine tugged at her necklace in a futile attempt to remove it.
"Stop it, Christine!" snapped Thomas, "You can't take it off, remember?"
Christine stopped and took a deep breath.
"I know you don't mean anything you said," Thomas continued, "It's that damned necklace talking."
"Thomas," began Christine, "Are you happy with me?"
"Of course I am!" said Thomas, "What kind of…"
"I see it in your eyes," elaborated Christine, "You don't feel at home with me. You yearn to escape. I don't blame you, Thomas, considering the way my family treats you. I'd like to believe the reason you were so quick to trust Kyria was the same reason you set off to find Soul Edge in the first place; the allure of adventure."
"Perhaps I was a little bored at home," admitted Thomas, "But that does not mean I am no longer happy with you. The reason I trusted Kyria is because she offered answers, and, more importantly, an escape from that cursed object. Believe me when I say that this is no dream come true for me; it's a curse!"
Tears formed in Christine's eyes as she and Thomas embraced for a moment.
"Christine," he whispered, "The burden you carry is something I would never wish upon anyone, let alone my own wife. I once nearly handed Soul Edge to a band of pirates just to save you. I know not what's in store for us, but saving you again is worth the risk!"
Christine sighed as she turned her head and stared out into the darkness.
"I don't feel well," she finally spoke, "I'm going to rest for the night. We will speak tomorrow morning."
"Of course," said Thomas, "Good night, Christine."
Thomas shook his head as he watched Christine head below decks. Just then, Kyria approached him.
"Is everything alright?" she asked.
"I'm fine," lied Thomas, "I just need some time alone to gather my thoughts."
"I understand," said Kyria, "I know how hard this must be for you. Do not hesitate to speak to me if you have any concerns."
"I know," said Thomas, "Thanks."
As Kyria made her way back to the other end of the ship, she passed by Sarpedon, who was still navigating.
"Sarpedon," said Kyria, "I highly recommend you get some sleep."
"You underestimate me, woman," laughed Sarpedon, "I never tire! I could go all night if I wanted to!"
"I know," said Kyria, rolling her eyes, "You know it's not for that. It's dark out and it's getting impossible to see where you are going."
"Yes, yes," said Sarpedon, "Don't you think I am aware of that? I'll call it a night once I move us away from this current. The last thing I'd want is for us to drift off-course while we rest."
"Of course," said Kyria.
Kyria then approached Pallene, who had been standing at the starboard end of the ship, watching Kyria and Thomas discuss.
"I cannot imagine how difficult this ordeal is for her," Pallene remarked.
"She's stronger than she looks," noted Kyria, "But yes, it is definitely rough for the both of them. Hopefully, once our quest is over, they will find the strength to put all of this ugliness behind them."
"Agreed…"
The two women stared out at the darkness momentarily.
"Kyria," began Pallene, "Do you think, once our quest is done, that we will finally get the chance to return to Athens? It seems like forever since we last stepped on Greek soil."
Kyria looked downwards in thought.
"I don't know," she replied, "Destroying the necklace will not stop the Fygul Cestemus for good. There is still much work to be done…And you still have much to learn."
"I suppose you are right. It's just, I look forward to standing atop the acropolis one more time with you by my side, watching the sun set over the city…You know, like we used to do every day after training?"
"One day, Pallene, one day. That is a promise…"
Pallene and Kyria smiled at each other momentarily before something caught their attention. Off in the distance, Kyria and Pallene saw a single light flickering over the water. One-by-one, more lights began to fade in next to the first one, as though someone in the distance was lighting multiple torches at once.
"What are those?" Pallene asked.
"I don't know," replied Kyria, "There's no land for miles. Ships, perhaps?"
"If so," said Pallene, "There must be at least two of them."
"And it looks like we're on a collision course...Sarpedon?"
"I see them!" proclaimed Sarpedon, as he manned the wheel, "I'm trying my best to sail out of the way, but the current is still very strong!"
"Keep trying!" ordered Kyria.
"Kyria!" cried Pallene, "They're coming right for us!"
Thomas came running to the Kyria's side of the ship.
"What in the world?" he asked.
"Hostile ships," replied Kyria, "Possibly pirate vessels. Thomas, get your sword. I have a feeling they are going to try to board us."
"What about Christine?" Thomas demanded, "She's still below decks!"
"Pallene," said Kyria, "Go get Christine."
Pallene nodded and ran to the hatch that led below decks.
"Hold on to something, Thomas," said Kyria, "They might try to ram us!"
The ships sailed rapidly towards the groups' own. They were caravels as well, not much bigger than the group's own, with a black paint job that helped them to blend in with the night sky. One of the boats was now mere inches away from the group, and despite Sarpedon's efforts, a collision was imminent.
"Brace for impact!" yelled Kyria.
"Christine!" yelled Pallene, as she ran down the stairs leading below decks, "Get up! We…"
The entire boat began to shake violently as the enemy caravel rammed it at full speed. Christine, who had been sleeping on one of the cots below decks, awoke suddenly as she was thrown to the floor. Pallene had fallen not far from her.
"Wh-What's happening?" asked Christine, recovering from her fall.
"We're being attacked," replied Pallene, as she ran towards Christine, "Come on, we have to…"
Just then, Pallene noticed the barrel of gunpowder sitting in the corner next to some rifles. Pallene glanced at the barrel, then at one of the nearby wall torches.
"Christine," she began, "How well do you trust me?"
Above decks, Thomas and Kyria were rocked by the impact and fell to the floor, with Kyria dropping her weapons. The robed men from the enemy ship began to swing over using grappling hooks while others used planks to walk across.
"No," said Thomas, standing up, "How is possible? It's them!"
The men from the enemy ship were indeed Fygul cultists. Somehow, the cult had caught the group by surprise and now had the upper hand. Close to a dozen men had boarded the ship, all with swords. A dozen more remained aboard their own ships, observing the chaos with crossbows drawn.
Thomas tried to fight them off, but was quickly overwhelmed and forced to drop his rapier. Elsewhere, Kyria tried to gather her fallen shield, but stopped once she felt cold steel touching the back of her neck.
"Don't be a hero," warned Sarpedon, holding his kopis close to her throat.
Kyria took a deep breath and stood up slowly, keeping her eyes on her traitorous comrade. The cultists kept their swords trained on Thomas and Kyria, forcing them to stand in the centre of the ship. Kunpaetku emerged from behind and stepped next to Sarpedon.
"Sarpedon," Kyria spoke through her teeth, "You led us straight to them!"
"Indeed," said Sarpedon, "Our Venice plan had failed, so we had no choice but to move on to Plan B. As I escorted Valnykuluk and Kunpaetku out of the cursed grotto, we set up an ambush point at these coordinates."
"How could you?" demanded Thomas, "How could you betray your friends like this - Not to mention your gods?"
"You know, Thomas," began Sarpedon, "If there's one thing you were right about, it's that who in their right mind would willingly worship someone considers us mere cattle? Zeus allowed my ancestor to die. For that, he will pay!"
"Do you honestly believe that the world will be better off under Ares?"
"Once the Great Palgaea reaches full strength, his loyal followers will be imbued with the fires of war. Humanity will achieve transcendence and reach a new golden age not seen since the days immortals walked among us!"
"You're mad!" snapped Kyria, "Soul Edge is evil! Humanity will never transcend under Ares! We will be nothing more than malfested slaves!"
Sarpedon approached Kyria and placed a hand on her face.
"I don't care much for the boy," he said, "But you hold a special place in my heart. I've travelled with you for many years and have gotten to know you well. If you join me, I promise I will allow you and your beloved Pallene to live."
Kyria responded by spitting in Sarpedon's face.
"I'd rather die than serve a fallen god!" she spat.
"Probably not the smartest thing to say when being threatened by armed men," remarked Thomas.
"Very entertaining," said Kunpaetku, dryly, "But we are wasting precious minutes. Thomas, where is your wife?"
"They are below decks," Sarpedon replied, wiping his face.
Kunpaetku snapped his fingers at two men, prompting them to head for the hatch leading below decks. Just as they opened it, Pallene and Christine emerged, holding their hands up.
"We're unarmed," said Pallene, "Don't shoot!"
The men forced Pallene and Christine to stand near the centre, across from Thomas and Kyria.
"Thomas," whispered Christine.
"It's okay," assured Thomas, "We're getting out of this. I promise."
"Oh no, you're not," laughed Sarpedon, "You see, your stupid lady-friend just signed your death warrant. I know you and I never got along, Thomas, but I truly am going to miss our little discussions."
As Sarpedon spoke, Pallene nodded to Kyria, prompting Kyria to nod back.
"Thomas," she whispered, "Brace yourself…"
"One last thing before I end your miserable life," said Sarpedon, placing his sword under Thomas' chin, "I want you to disgrace my ancestor one last time. Go on. It will make your death so much sweeter…"
Thomas swallowed hard and remained silent.
"Have it your way…" sneered Sarpedon, raising his weapon.
In the background, one of the cultists began looking around and sniffing the air.
"Does anyone else smell smoke?" he asked.
Just then, a large explosion rocked the boat. Several cultists tumbled off the side of the boat and into the water. Several others, including Thomas and Kyria, were knocked down. Sarpedon fell backwards and struck his head against the wall, leaving him slightly dazed.
"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?" demanded Kunpaetku, as his followers tried to help him back up.
The gunpowder that Pallene had ignited blew a massive hole in the caravel's side, causing water to pour in rapidly. Amidst the confusion, Thomas recovered his fallen rapier and used it to cut down the cultists closest to him.
Meanwhile, Kyria stomped on her fallen shield, flinging it into the air. As soon as she caught it, she used it to club two incoming cultists. She then drew her sword and fought off several more. Elsewhere, Pallene took on several men herself.
"Watch out!" yelled Thomas.
The cultists on the other boats fired crossbows, forcing the group to duck in cover.
"IDIOTS!" yelled Kunpaetku, "If you hit the girl, the necklace is useless to us! CEASE FIRE!"
Several cultists crowded around Christine and Kunpaetku began escorting them off the vessel and onto the planks connecting to the enemy boats.
"THOMAS!" she screamed, "HELP!"
"CHRISTINE!" Thomas yelled back.
"We have to go," said Kyria, "Or we'll be overwhelmed!"
"I'm not going anywhere without my wife!" said Thomas.
Thomas attempted to pursue the cultists, but found himself being dragged back by Kyria. With all her strength, she pulled Thomas away from the chaos towards the port end of the ship.
"You're not getting out of here alive!" sneered Sarpedon, as he came to.
Sarpedon grabbed his weapon and began pursuing Kyria and Thomas, only to be intercepted by Pallene.
"I cannot let you pass," she said, "Sarpedon, you will pay for your betrayal!"
"So," chuckled Sarpedon, "The child wishes to take on a demi-god? Fine. Have it your way!"
"Pallene!" called Kyria, "What are you doing?"
"Go," said Pallene, "I'll hold him off."
Mortified, Kyria watched as Pallene drew her short sword and entered a combat stance. She had left her spear below deck, leaving her with only her sword to defend herself.
"Pallene," Kyria whispered.
"Um," said Thomas, "Kyria?"
Kyria turned to face the other boats saw that the cultists had reloaded their crossbows and were ready to fire another round. With Kunpaetku and Christine safely out of harm's way, there was nothing to stop the cultists from shooting again.
"Jump!" yelled Kyria.
With nowhere else to go, Thomas and Kyria leapt overboard. The cultists fired their arrows into the sea, but missed as the duo swam deeper.
"Foolish child," laughed Sarpedon, "You are no match for me!"
Back on the sinking ship, Sarpedon and Pallene continued their battle. Both warriors pressed their swords firmly against each other, but Sarpedon's strength far exceeded Pallene's. He pushed her back, kicked her in the gut, and then swung his sword, slicing her right bicep.
"ACK!" she yelled.
Pallene tried to impale Sarpedon, only to have him sidestep and retaliate with a deep cut to her backside. Exhausted, and in agony, Pallene fell to the floor to catch her breath. Sarpedon stood above her, mocking her.
"Say it," he said, "Admit to me that you have lost, and I may let you live."
"We haven't lost yet," said Pallene, as she struggled to her feet, "Not as long as Kyria and Thomas are still alive! There is still hope."
"Even if they survive their little swim, there is nothing they can do now. We have what we came for. It is only a matter of time before we reach Lemnos and reconstruct Soul Edge. Hope is just a pathetic illusion now."
Pallene readied her sword once more, despite the pain she was in, and belted out a mighty battle cry. As she charged Sarpedon, the veteran warrior countered her assault and finished off with a horizontal blow that cut deep into her abdomen. As Sarpedon withdrew his sword, Pallene slowly collapsed to the floor.
"Kyria," she whispered before closing her eyes, "May the gods be with you…"
"Pathetic," muttered Sarpedon, "Time to get off this sinking piece of garbage."
As Pallene took her last breath, Kyria, who was being swept away by the powerful current, felt a sharp pain in her own gut, as if she had been stabbed herself. She slowly closed her eyes and allowed herself to be carried by the waves towards the unknown.
