Chapter 5: Bandits stole the whole boat.
The sun was setting on the Skagerrak strait, but in the dimming light, Decker sat and looked out over the waters off the back of the ship. This would be it. He had made it to Europe. After a brief stop in the Nordic kingdoms he was on his way to the continent. One more stop for the royal wedding in one of the small kingdoms on the Danish peninsula, then on to France and their magic floating bags. His diplomatic mission had sent him specifically to suss out the feelings of the small Nordic kingdoms—see what they thought of the new American country. All of the big countries afforded real diplomats, not disgraced army captains like himself. If he were to find a small kingdom with real promise in becoming the young republic's ally, the real diplomats would be called in.
That was fine with him. He planned on penning a letter to Austin as soon as he reached Denmark. Nothing interesting to report in the Nordic Kingdoms—well that ice magic was interesting, but Decker thought he would keep that one to himself. With that letter, he would tender his resignation, and strike it southward. At least, that was supposing France wasn't in another revolution—they seemed to be having a lot of those recently. If it was in revolution, well maybe he could wait it out in Norway. It was nice and chilly there, in welcome contrast to a Texan summer. But one way or another, he was going to find those magic floating bags. He was going to learn to fly.
He ran his hand over the smooth, polished wood—its elegance in such contrast to the simple ship he had sailed to Europe on, and in even starker contrast to his own appearance. Rough canvas uniform, prickly grey whiskers radiating out from an untidy mustache, no hat at all. His stipend for this trip and been pretty slim, but it didn't matter—it had gotten him here, and the folks in the Nordic kingdoms didn't seem to mind.
In fact, here came a couple of them now. The princess in her green sailing dress was followed by her magic snowman friend. Olaf was scanning the skies. Decker briefly looked up to see what he was looking for, but there was nothing up there. Instead he turned his attention to the princess. "Howdy, ma'am."
"Hi!" she responded. "So, mister… of Texas. Are you sure you can't work out a better trade deal between Arendelle? I mean, I've read all of the economic reports—there's ice, and fish, and, uh straw, and more ice!"
It was clear to Decker that she hadn't read the any economic reports. But it didn't matter anyway. He had already signed an agreement with her sister, and a copy of that agreement was on its way across the Atlantic. His one remaining act as a delegate would be to retire. "Sorry, honey. Trade deal's already official."
"Oh, well. Can't blame a girl for trying. Anyway, you fought for the independence. Does that mean you know how to swordfight. In fact, shouldn't that uniform come with a saber or something?"
Decker turned from her to look out over the water before answering. "I don't bear arms no more." He closed his eyes, trying to keep memories from resurfacing.
"Oh," she answered, a tinge of disappointment in her voice.
From in the air, Scuttle made his way down to the ship, thinking, Now, where is the best place to land? All that paneling looks too smooth, my feet would probably slide right off. Hey, that looks like a tree branch. Perfect.
"Hey Anna, I found a seagull!" Olaf shouted. Anna turned back and sure enough, there was a seagull, with head feathers askew, perched on Olaf's outstretched arm.
"That's great, Olaf." Anna replied. The snowman had a strange way with animals, but Anna didn't mind. She had to re-group, since her plans for both improving diplomacy and learning to swordfight had ended so abruptly.
Squack-swak! Yah-ya-hyah! she heard the seagull call, before hearing Olaf return the call in kind. Could he really talk to seagulls?
"Hey Anna, this seagull says he was sent by Prince Eric, to guide us to Denmark." Olaf translated for Anna. Apparently he could talk to seagulls. But if this ship's escort was just a bird, did that mean there wouldn't be a fleet of mermaids to usher them across the straight? This day was turning out to be a big disappointment.
Olaf continued, "He also says it'll be easier to guide us if our little boat were closer to the big boat."
"Wait, what? We have a little boat?" Anna asked.
The seagull squawked again to Olaf, before the snowman answered, "Yeah, I guess he saw a small boat off that way." He was pointing out behind the ship.
Anna turned and looked where Olaf's arm pointed, but she found herself staring into the reflection of the setting sun on the choppy water. She had to squint her eyes to try to see anything in the glare. Was that a small black speck? It could be a boat…
They were still two hundred yards away from the sailing ship, and Kjerstin decided that was close enough. The longboat was hiding in the glare of the setting sun, but if they floated much closer then their boat would be clearly visible. She turned and nodded to the six oarsmen. As one, they all pulled their midnight blue bandanas up, obscuring their faces. With one hand, Kjerstin grabbed the fire crystal around her neck, once again feeling the warmth spread through her body. She held out her free hand, and could feel the heat coalesce until the air ignited. Thrusting the arm forward, she launched the fireball at the ship. It arched through the air, before hitting the back of the ship. In a few movements, the magic fire would take out the rudder.
Kjerstin walked to the back of the longboat, and summoned another fireball, shooting it into the water behind their boat. The water boiled and spat, the plume of steam launching their boat forward. In a moment a stream of fire was spilling out of Kjerstin's hand, propelling their small vessel right at the Arendelle ship.
With twenty yards to go, she stopped her jet, and launched two more fireballs at the sails of the ship. With those burned away, the ship would be stuck. "Okay men, we board. Remember, we are here for one thing, but that doesn't mean we can't pick up a few extras," she commanded, as the boat glided the last few yards.
The men prepared to board.
It all happened so fast. First Anna was staring into the glare of the sun, looking at a dark spot that could have been something floating, then the dark spot turned bright orange, and then the back of the ship was on fire! Decker had seen it too. They scarcely had time to shout "fire!" before the crew started running about, sloshing buckets over the edge. But there was something strange about this fire.
Anna didn't have time to find out what it was, because she noticed that the dark spot in the sun's glare was definitely a boat, and one spilling out fire and steam, and speeding straight for them. She grabbed a passing sailor and pointed at it. "We're under attack!" she shouted at him.
His eyes went wide, then he ran off to the bridge of the ship, shouting, "Captain, we're under attack!"
Anna saw the captain turn and look at the sailor, but his gaze turned immediately to the sails as two fireballs set them alight. He looked to his first mate. "Pirates?"
The ship was rocked as the fire-and-steam hurtling longboat knocked into the side of the ship. Seven grappling hooks crossed the railing, and seven men in bandanas—make that six men and one woman—hopped over the edge with swords drawn.
The first mate turned to the captain and replied, "Worse. Bandits."
The bandit woman stepped forward, and called out in a commanding voice that seemed far too loud for her small stature. "I am Kjerstin, captain of the Boreal Bandits, and we are taking this ship."
Anna had read enough books that when this Kjerstin claimed to be taking the ship, she really meant she was kidnapping the princess. And Anna wasn't going to let herself become a kidnapped princess so easily. She started formulating escape plans, but before she could think further than swimming for it, a pair of sailors appeared form below deck, carrying a handful of swords each. They threw them up in the air, and it seemed like the entirety of the crew caught one. The first three now-armed sailors charged the trespassers. The fastest of them reached Kjerstin with his sword held high, but the bandit simply ducked low, swept at his ankles with her feet, and using his own momentum, threw him over the rail. A similar fate fell on the other two sailors at the hands of the other bandits.
Within a blink of her eye, a dozen armed sailors were around the half-dozen bandits, swords swinging and clanking. But the bandits wove and ducked between them with such agility that, slowly but surely the number of sailors was dropping as the bandits flung them over the rail and into the sea.
Anna realized that despite their greater number, the sailors didn't stand a chance—these were merchants, crossing swords with men (and a woman) that probably spent their whole lives training for fights like this. The sailors probably didn't have any practice at all with swordplay. That meant it would be up to Anna to defend herself.
Anna grabbed one of the sabers that had been tossed yet unclaimed. She turned to the nearest bandit, a dark-haired man, with broad shoulders. Well, he wasn't as big as Hans, and she had managed to punch him over a boat without a problem. She held her sword forward and looked at the bandit. The crinkles below his eyes betrayed a smile hiding below his bandana. He held his sword forward and charged.
Okay, Anna thought, he's attacking with his sword in fourth-position. That means I'll swing from third position and it should parry his—
Clank! The bandit's sword bounced off hers.
Hah! I can really do this! Anna though, lifting her sword up for to deflect another swing. Just like with a willow switch against a suit of—
Clank, clank, clank!
The bandit's swings came much faster than she was used to from practicing against inanimate suits of armor. One more swing from the bandit's sword, sweeping from the left, knocked the saber out of her hand. She fell backward, looking at the rolling sea now filled with swimming sailors. Looking back up, she saw a thick hand reaching down for her shoulder. Was this it—was she a kidnapped princess now?
Before the hand reached her shoulder, a sword appeared between it and her. "Sorry sonny, but you ain't takin' no princess today."
"Decker!" Anna shouted.
He spared a quick backward glance to wink at her, then swung his sword at the bandit. The two locked blades for just a moment, until the Texan jumped and kicked against the stomach of the masked man, finishing a twisty backward roll before standing up in repose. The bandit was doubled over, one hand holding his stomach, but the other still holding his sword high. Decker charged at him, and again the two locked swords.
But only for a moment, until a bright orange flash jolted their way. Decker dropped his sword, yelling out a "Yeoouch!" The sword lay on the deck, smoking. Anna looked in the direction the flash came from to see Kjerstin with one hand outstretched and the other holding a red crystal around her neck. There was something familiar with that crystal … with its persistent glow, it looked eerily similar to the ones the rock trolls wore.
"Very valiant, my dear sir," Kjerstin began, relaxing her posture. "And might I congratulate you for being the only sailor not currently in the water. But the ship is ours."
Anna stood up and looked around. It was true, the only people left on the deck were the seven bandits, herself, Decker, and Olaf—who still had that seagull on his shoulder, and a terrified look on his face.
"Johno," Kjerstin continued. "Drop a life-raft for our waterlogged prisoners. I think our Bandit Queen would find them excellent new recruits."
Squaaaak! The seagull had taken flight, but the sound had come from Olaf. Anna ran over and gave him the warmest hug she could.
"Oh, Olaf," she said, the beginnings of tears starting to well up in her eyes. "I think … I think we've become kidnapped."
"It's okay." Olaf replied. "Scuttle's going to get help."