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Users of Tumblr.com are specifically granted the following rights. Â They may reblog the story provided that all author and copyright information remains intact. Â They may use the characters or original characters in my settings for fan fiction, fan art works, cosplay, or fan musical compositions.
All sorts of fan art, cosplay, music or fiction is actively encouraged.
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New to the story? Â Read from the beginning. Â PART 1 is here
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The Grandalor’s hailing drum called across the water between ships in Kurin’s characteristic hand, “Please don’t force us to harm you further!  Turn into the wind and slack sails.  Lower the fore sail and hold position with jibs and mizzen.  We will come to your aid if you do.”
Kotance stood still, shivering with rage and struggling with the concept of having lost — — — to the Grandalor.  He did nothing. Â
A familiar voice began calling orders and getting the ship organized. Sailors jumped to obey, turning the Longin into the wind and slacking and lowering sails. Â The injured were now being moved to the safety of the sickbay. Â Expert lofters and riggers from the rope walk began to survey the extent of the damage and report on what needed doing.
Kotance’s rage and frustration now found a focus.  He hit Mord Halyn in the back of the head with the hilt of his long, serrated edge knife. Stunned, Mord fell to his knees and was struck again.  As Mord collapsed to the deck, Kotance reversed his knife for a killing stroke when he too was dropped by a blow from behind.  Second Officer Marrik, the replacement helmsman, had left his post and wielded a marlin spike like a mallet to the back of Kotance’s head.
Kotance awoke to the shock of cold seawater thrown into his face. Â Trying to see the source of this affront brought blurry doubled images of a woman leaning over him and another few indistinct people behind her. Gathering his strength, Kotance finally brought the scene before him into focus. Â Trying to get up brought home the realization that he was bound.
Turning to the woman in front of him, he cried out angrily, “Mistress Daeron!  What is the meaning of this outrage!  Why am I bound?” Turning his attention to the rest of the group he got a horrible suspicion.  “How did we get Kurin back?  Why are the fugitives Barad and his woman here and unbound?”
“Barad and Captain Tanlin are our guests for the time being,” said Mistress Daeron icily.  “They, along with Master Juris, are supervising our repairs.  The Grandalor is also rendering medical aid to the injured.  Kurin has come aboard to acquire facts from our crew and officers.  She has informed us that she will be staying on board the Grandalor until she can present their case before the Council’s representative.  It further appears that there have been illegal actions committed by this ship under your command.
“You have been relieved.  As there are no others on board who have a Masters Certificate, the ship is presently under the command of the Combined Council of Masters and Officers.”
The sun climbing up from its low point near the horizon found the Soaring Bird slashing through the waters of the Dragon Sea, driven north by straining canvas. Â Her crew ate a light meal in preparation for action and went quietly to their battle stations. Â They knew that they would have contact by mid-morning at the latest.
Sarfin watched in disbelief as the crew unlimbered and tested the catapults. Others went about the dangerous business of hanging and securing a submerged ram at the bow of the longer hull. Â Huld directed everything quietly, without any excitement. Â If anything, he seemed a little sad.
The high lookouts began to call “Hai!  Sail!  Two points starboard!” Soon their calls changed, “Ships!  Two, engaged close!”
Sarfin saw Sula expostulating with Huld, apparently urging attack, though he failed to make out her exact words.  He did hear Huld though, “Captain are now you.  Right are you that wrong much is.  For battle prepared are we.  Time now to wait for news is.”  To his crew he ordered, “Hold in readiness weapons.  Alert stay.”  A horn picked up his order and turned it into a call that resounded across the ship.
Crew men and women carefully safetied the loaded catapults and other devices and secured their racked ammunition. Â Weapons were cocked, drawing cables remained attached to the cocking arms and to their winches. Â The weapon crews remained at their posts, relaxed but ready. Â This was clearly work that they had done before.
Now that Sarfin could see for himself the ships in question, there was no doubt that the Grandalor and the Longin were tied together.  The Longin’s mainsail could never get into the position that it was in unless her rigging was seriously damaged.  The damage became even more apparent as the Soaring Bird got closer to the drifting ships and reduced sail to the calls of horns.  She turned gently to bring the maximum amount of her deadly firepower into play in an instant. Crew folk calmly removed safeties and checked the arming and aiming of their weapons.
Hailing drums began to pound their talk across the waves. Â As Sula heard the situation, she felt a shock of disbelief. Â Her friend, Mord Halyn, relieved as Captain, was now injured and in sickbay. Â There had been a battle but it was the Longin that attacked the Grandalor in an apparent act of piracy. Â The Grandalor was now rendering aid to a defeated Longin.
Huld simply looked at Sula with a quizzically raised eyebrow and said, “Attack not now.  Information priceless is.  Lives saved, yes?”
Sula sighed and replied, “True, Honored One.  Let us join them and give assistance.”
Huld issued orders which were relayed by horn call about the ship. Weapons were unloaded and ammunition stowed. Â Damage control crews began to prepare their equipment to assist the Longin. Â Sarfin was relieved to see that this, too, was clearly work that they had done before.
Sula turned and said, “It looks like you have your work to do, now, Captain Sarfin.  I’m glad that I don’t have to sit in judgment on this mess.”
“I know what you mean, Captain Sula.  Still it should prove to be an interesting case,” Sarfin replied thoughtfully.  “I have to wonder just how the Grandalor managed to get permission to be here in the Dragon Sea.  The Great Sea Dragons don’t like being disturbed all that much.”
So silently that it almost went unnoticed by the lookouts, a huge dark, head rose up by the rail near to Sula. Â It was black, covered with frills, spines and fins and had massive tentacles about the hugely fanged mouth. Â Dark Iren regarded them with large, intelligent eyes for a moment before speaking.
“They asked for a safe refuge to assemble their case, Captain Sarfin.  We gave it to them.”
At first Sula could only gape.  Legend had come to life before her eyes. “You’re Dark Iren!” she managed to exclaim at last.
Tolerantly, the Dragon replied, “Of course I am.  You are Sula Corin Dark Dragon.  I have been wanting to meet you ever since you renamed the Sun’s Daughter.  According to your beliefs you risked much bad luck in doing so.  Yours remains the only ship on Sea that is named for one of us.”
Sula shrank a little at that.  “If it offends you, we can rename her.”
She was answered by a dragon’s grin, full of huge razor sharp fangs. “Don’t.  Given the circumstances and the belief system connected to it, I find it flattering.  Your conduct in combat and after is meritorious.  You have always rescued friend and foe alike when the battle is done.
“I wish that I did keep the Halls of Dead, beneath the sea.  I would give Davaros back to you if I could.  He was a good man.”
Sula shook herself and shut her eyes in pain at the mention of her husband’s name.  In a small voice, she said, “I never really believed the legend, yet I hunted half around the world hoping to find you so that I could ask.”  When she opened her eyes she found genuine concern and sympathy in the monstrous eyes that were looking back at her.
“That is very curious, Sula, because I came here to ask a favor of you.”
“What can I do for you?” Sula asked softly.
“Your help in sorting this all out according to human Laws, both Great and fleet, would be appreciated, Captain Sula.”
Past her awe, she replied, “Of course I will give assistance if Captain Sarfin requests it.”
The Great Sea Dragon responded, “Sula, I want you to do it. Please.  There are people involved who are unique on Sea, and they are important to the future of Sea as a place for people to live. Not to mention, my Orcas like some of them very much.”
“What do the Orcas have to do with this?” asked Sula curiously.
Dark Iren eyed her with consideration before answering, “Much.  Every ship on Sea has its attendant Orcas even if they are not seen.  They tell us all that happens on each ship.  They find some lives worthy of celebration and sing them.  I do not understand why they sing for one and not another.  It is sufficient that they understand their reasons.
“You humans have the Orcas to thank that you survived your first generations here on Sea.  They alerted us to your presence and let us know that your kind were dying out.  We were able to save your kind because of that timely information.  Now, something wholly new is happening.  We want it to go on. Â
“The problem, put simply, is this, human Laws need to be observed for humans.  Some have been broken.  These matters need redress.  You have shown yourself to be capable and fair.  I trust you.”
“What is the wholly new thing that is happening?” Sula asked, curiosity piqued.
Dark Iren answered carefully, “Mecat gave Captain Tanlin a Dragon’s Gift but there was an accident.  The Sea Hawks Skye and Thunderhead got included in the Gift.  Major and unforeseen changes have resulted.  The ecological results of all of this need the evaluation that only time can bring.”
“I will help, then, though I believe that the best help that you could get would be the Honored One, Captain Huld.”
The Great Dragon meditated on what she said and then replied thoughtfully, “If the trial were to be over points of honor or ethics, I would ask him.  You are more alert to the core legal issues.  Assist Kurin if she asks it.  Be a friend.”
“That’s the one thing that she can’t do, if she’s to assist me,” Sarfin injected into the conversation.  “A judge cannot be a friend, however much he may wish to be one.”
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
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Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
