23rd Sun's Dusk… 2342…
The boat rocked smoothly under the woman as she gazed at the stars guiding her way. Her beloved sextant rested on her chest as she watched the twinkling constellations above her. She knew each as intimately as someone should know their lover's body. This was her favorite part of her job as the ship's navigator.
The warm breeze carried the scent of the dry desert on it.
She rested her head in her arm as she laid comfortably on the bow spirit forward of the forecastle. The jib sail flapped lazily in the soft breeze, occasionally obscuring her vision. The fluttering full sails were music to her ears as the night entertained her with is magic.
Ourania loved sailing.
It was in her blood, the taste of the salt on the air, the freshness of the wind, the blanket of stars… the night held everything on the open sea. The twin moons were behind her, but their soft light bathed the white sails with their ethereal glow all the same. The world moved as they bobbed along and she reveled in it.
She listened to the watchman whistle as he tended the lines.
The Velox dipped into the waves with her bow and Ourania smiled. She loved the feeling of hitting the rollers, the dash she felt in her gut as they reached the bottom of the trough and catapulted back up on the swell. It took her breath each and every single time. It was the only high she ever cared to have. The feeling of the open sea and life in the Imperial Navy suited her.
She looked to the port side and saw her sister ship the Fluctus, cutting along the same track. Ourania thoughts slipped to her brother, Eutychus the Trierarch of the Fluctus. She smiled thinking about how much gold rested on their swift sailing around each Province.
She looked back up at the sky.
The dark shadow cast on the jib sail caught her attention. It lasted only a few seconds, but she quickly sat up. Then she heard the roar.
Ourania jumped from the bow spirit to the bow and ran hard yelling for everyone to wake. The dragon circled overhead, this time breathing fire over a ship to the starboard side of the Velox.
From the weather deck, she could hear the screams from the vessel.
Their masts alight, the sails burning, Ourania finally saw it. The black ship was sailing straight towards their fleet. She could see from the light of the burning ship the figures moving around on the deck of the impossibly fast moving vessel.
She studied it as it cut through the water. The dark sails, the silence, it nagged at her mind. She had once heard a tale of an old Dremora pirate named Velehk Sain.
"It can't be…" She whispered as she gripped the gunnel. "The Abecean truly sails!"
Another ship burst into flames to the port side and Ourania raced to the aft cabin. She pounded on the Trierarch's cabin door. "We're under attack! Dragon!"
The men on the deck scrambled to the mounted ballistas. More came from below decks armed with bows pointed at the stars, searching desperately for the dragon.
The door to the cabin flew open and the Nibenean behind it stood clutching a quiver and ebony bow. Ourania backed away allowing the man room to exit his cabin. The Centurion was already shouting orders to the men and women as the dragon dove to attack again.
Flames erupted all around her and Ourania dove to the side to avoid being incinerated.
She rolled to her feet and sprinted to the racks that lined the cabin bulkhead. Pulling a bow herself she spun just as another jet of fire enfolded the sailors just below her and flowed rapidly up onto the Quarter Deck where she stood.
And there you have it. The Under the Sky chapters are finished... all 16 of them. This would have been way WAY too confusing as one chapter or even three... so mini-chapters worked out. Besides... 22K+ words is way too much for one damn chapter!
Hmmm... now let me think... anyone see three really hot women running around a creepy castle?
Anyways, please let me know what you thought of this chapter!