Forest child Chapter 16
On board the Rising Sun Alexander stood on deck, his head moving side to side scanning the horizon for the signal.
"There!" he called out when he saw the flames "Start the attack."
The Rising Sun jutted forwards as the rowers in perfect sync moved the warship towards the waiting enemy's fleet. The Sister ships to the Rising Sun began to follow their leader.
The Rising Sun began to pick up speed "Ram them!" Alexander screamed in a rage "Ram them."
The gap began to close "BRACE FOR IMPACT!"
Despite holding on as tightly as he could Alexander was flung forward as the Rising Sun plowed into an enemy ship. The ram smashed a hole in the wooden planks sending water flooded in. The Rising Sun carried on its forward momentum leaving the enemy ship to sink with all hands. Alexander had claimed the first victory of the battle but he had so much more to achieve before he won the war. Several hours into the bloody sea battle Alexander finally caught up with Demeas. It would appear his moral enemy had been lurking on the fringes of the battle waiting for this moment.
Demeas' ship was bigger than The Rising Sun who by now was heavily battle damaged with half her crew dead, injured or exhausted. The Fury was to, with heavily armed with a metal tip ram, soldier's of Greek and Persian origin as well as fire barrels and other projectile weapons.
But none of that frightened Alexander he wanted Demeas and it would seem that Demeas was thinking the same for as The Rising Sun came into challenge The Fury dropped out of ramming speed.
"Prepare for close quarters!" Alexander gave the order he grabbed an officer by the upper arm "Signal the Poseidon and The Hunter bring them here."
"Sire, the Hunter has been lost to us,"
"The Poseidon?"
"Is still with us, but heavily damaged."
"Do we have any ships left?" The officer nodded but shrugged at which ones "Then bring the Poseidon to us and whoever follows in her."
The Fury and the Rising Sun were now side by side, now it was a race to see who could get their boarding hooks into the other ship. Alexander landed on the deck of The Fury with his sword cutting down and enemy solider in the process. He fought until he was face to face with Demeas.
"Perhaps I shall call you brother." Alexander hissed
"Perhaps." Demeas replied with a smirk "But I am going to take from you everything that is and should be mine."
He let out a cry of rage as he brought up his sword and went on the defensive. Alexander saw him coming and brought up his own sword to defend but the suddenness of the attack unbalanced and caused him to stagger backward. He was quick to right himself and went on the offensive.
Sword clashed and fist and feet were also used, both were bleeding from wounds inflicted on each other.
"Tell me who you work for." Alexander demanded to know as he held off an attack
Demeas simply smirked as he pushed Alexander backwards. Though there was fighting all around it was just the two of them. For the time being it would seem that Alexander and his troops were out matched having suffered from earlier loses, the enemy aboard The Fury knew this, heightening the need to crush those they saw as their enemy. Until sudden a cry of delight went up, both Alexander and Demeas turned to look and saw to Demeas' dismay that it was the remainder of Alexander's war ships with The Poseidon leading the charge.
Alexander used this distraction to slam the butt of his sword into Demeas' head dropping him where he stood.
Alexander slung the prone man over his shoulder in a fireman's lift and gave the order to retreat. The Rising Sun pulled away just a the Poseidon and its sisters began to finish the Fury.