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Khevat looked doubtful, but he raised the lens to where Abban pointed "Our captured ships What of it? A handful of ships cannot sink so many"

"Sink?" Abban tsked "Where is the profit in that? If we are to win this war, Dama, the enemy fleet e of a large Laktonian galley, an elegant vessel with great pointed sails and wide deck lined with arers that stuck and held fast in the ene ropes were attached to heavy cranks, andthe ships in close

Before the Laktonians kneas happening, agile kha’Sharu up the taut ropes like nie’Sharum on the top of the Maze walls They carried no shields, but all had half a dozen throwing spears on their backs, and by the time planks were dropped for the other warriors to follow, the biggest threats on deck were eliminated

Inthe He killed with an efficiency that would have frightened Abban, if not for the man’s aura Abban could not read hearts like Ahht around hiiven back all you have lost

When the deck was clear and the ship firht aboard, the tea to man the chin armament A skeleton creas left in place, and Qeran leapt back to Everam’s Spear even as the lines were cut

All across the lake, Laktonian ships were being similarly boarded by teareenlanders ed fire, but in close-quarters killing, there were none in all the world to iven Qeran men, and the drill ship decks until they found their water legs

Qeran himself had taken four ships, and the rest of his fleet another sixteen, before the cries of alarm reached the rest of the Laktonian fleet

Only then did the Mehnding on the decks open fire, ai for the eneround on the beach As the Laktonian troops disereenlanders’ own demonfire down on them Chin warriors screamed and burned as Abban’s pirates turned their attention to the next ships in line to unload Great chains were slung, tearing sails and splintering oars to leave the ships dead in the water

The Laktonian captains, still outnu the pirates, shifted fire to the new foe, but the Mehnding archers let fly fla their decks while the chin fire tealed to recalibrate

Sharu around the others to bring its are of surprise was soon lost, and the nureenlanders, Sharued, they werein close

But still it seemed the battle on the water would be lost, and the Laktonians escape back to their stronghold There was one last trick Qeran could try, but the drillreed it was a desperate ood

Jayan lowered his veil "I am Jayan asu Ahmann am’Jardir am’Kaji, firstborn son of Shar’Daht nod from his saddle "May I see your face and have your naed?"

"Don’t …" Sa his spear in the ground within easy reach, unfastening his helm

As he lifted it away, Jayan’s eyes widened "You The princeling who came with the Par’chin to …"

Thamos nodded "I am Prince Thamos, fourth son of Duke Rhinebeck the Second, Lord Commander of the Wooden Soldiers, third in line to the ivy throne and Count of Hollow County"

Jayan bared his teeth "The one who dared touch the Deliverer’s intended"

There was an angry h the Sharum at this

"Leesha Paper chose me even before Ahmann Jardir fell to his death" Thamos pointed at Jayan with his spear "And you will share his fate I challenge you to Dohed, and after a moment, the warriors joined him