Chapter Three The pirates had seen us coming, and were trying to make their escape as we came up. I scanned her deck carefully, and saw no ballistas, but the crew was clearly ready for a fight if need be. She sailed straight for us, and I turned Swanwhite so that the prow of the pirate galley rammed into her port side.
"We've got 'er lads! Hook her!"
Within moments several grappling hooks flew through the air, hooking the raider, now identified as Hawk, firmly against Swanwhite. I drew my sword and leapt from one deck to the other, bludgeoning a pirate as I went. The decks of both ships were in complete chaos as the crews battled. Swanwhite's crew and I had the advantage of height, as our deck stood several feet higher than their galley. Footwork was key, and the sides swayed back and forth, undulating as the ocean waves themselves. Up, down, slash, hack, thrust, dodge, was my world.
An hour passed, with neither side gaining an advantage. We needed leverage, and we needed it badly. Pirate after pirate fell, but the men were growing tired, and we were outnumbered. I chased one of the scoundrels below deck, and as I cut him down I noticed a set of keys on his belt.
"Let us out sir! Please! You've got the keys right there!"
I looked up, and saw dozens of benches, all of them crowded with unfortunate captives forced to man the galley's oars. I worked quickly, and the captives were on their feet in a moment, grabbing any handy weapon- hatchet, sword, billet of wood- and charging up on deck. With their help, the pirates were dead or captured within a quarter of an hour. The leader of the freed slaves came up and shook my hand.
"Aslan bless you sir knight! I owe you my life, and those of my friends."
"You owe me nothing good sir, save the knowledge of your name."
"Sir knight, I am Rand, Duke of Galma."
A/N: Edited, improved, and hopefully satisfactory. :)
-AoR