MAN OF WAR

1

Thirteen years later…

            “Captain, I have the rebel vessel in sight,” his first mate said, handing over the spyglass. “To the east,” he pointed.

            Titus lifted the glass to his eye, locating the ship immediately. It was a mighty Galleon; a large, multi-decked, square-rigged vessel with a crew of over two hundred and seventy cannons over three decks, numerous swivel guns, and even archers' platforms on the masts. It was a virtual fort on the water with deadly broadsides.

            This did not sway Titus; the mighty ship topped out at eight knots. It was slow, heavy, and impossible to manoeuvre well in less than glassy seas. Its huge square sails prevented the ship from sailing into the wind. The hull was narrow at the top, broad at the bottom, and a tiny keel; it responded more like a washtub than a warship.

            It was no match for his Carrack, a three-masted ship, well-defended and large at over eleven hundred tons. The Raven was swift in the waters and unmatchable with the wind in its sails. It could easily overtake any other ship. It could most always defend itself well against rebel ships. The Raven was Titus’ one true love. He had joined the Imperial Navy at thirteen, working his way up from cabin boy to Captain of his own ship in nine years.

            The war had taken his father, a great soldier, from him while he was young, and as soon as Titus could find a Captain that would take him on board, Titus had left his mother and taken up arms—fighting the rebel horde that had taken his father’s life. At the age of twenty-three, Titus was an extraordinary soldier and sailor with the sea in his blood. He fought for the Empire and did so with such aptitude he had become the youngest man ever to earn his commission as an officer.

            “Hoist the colours,” Titus ordered, lowering the spyglass. “Bring us about, and fire above their heads. Take out the sails,” he instructed his first mate Gulliver.

            Gulliver was a man only a few years older than Titus. A good sailor and a great officer. “Man the guns!” He yelled to the crew. The men rushed to their stations while Gulliver barked orders. He was like the older brother Titus had never had.

            They dropped their sails, and the wind caught in the massive square canvas, launching the Raven forward. It did not take long to overtake the mighty Galleon. Through the spyglass, Titus watched the crewman their stations. They would take out the sails and ambush the ship from behind. They would not give them the chance to use their guns. They came up behind the ship and turned slightly to bring their cannons into range.

            Titus drew his sword and waved it in the air. “Fire!” He yelled. The cannons fired, blowing two holes in the stern and taking out the stern mast. The sails fell, engulfing many of the crew. His men quickly reloaded the cannons. “Fire!” He yelled again. The second shot took off a huge chunk of the stern and collapsed the mainmast.

            The crew on the other ship fired back with their muskets as the men reloaded the cannons a third time. “Fire!” The third shot took out the port side cannons and left a gaping hole in the hull. “Bring us abreast,” he ordered the helmsmen.

            “Aye, Captain.”

            The Raven came up alongside the Galleon. “Prepare to board,” he ordered, and Gulliver relayed the order to the crew. The men prepared the gangplanks to bridge between ships as they drew their weapons and boarded the Galleon, striking down any man that dared to rise up against them.

            Taking a rope in his hands, Titus swung across the distance and landed on the other quarterdeck. Titus crossed swords with the Captain, an older man who had betrayed his people. “You dare to attack me,” the Captain snarled as he struggled for his life.

            “You are a traitor,” Titus growled. “You deserve death,” he said, shoving the Captain into the helm, “and death, you shall receive,” he growled, plunging his sword through Captain. He moved on and dispatched the first mate and another crewman that came at him. Soon most of the ship’s crew was dead, and the few who survived had already surrendered or jumped ship.

            Titus wiped the blood from his sword. He stepped down the steep steps from the quarterdeck to the main deck, surveying the prisoners. More were being brought up from the decks below. It would appear the traitorous Captain had been taking on passengers. How very unfortunate for them. The Empire viewed anyone whom associated with the enemy themselves an enemy.

            As the smoke cleared, Titus paced in front of the surrendered crew. His black leather boots thudding heavily on the floorboards. Titus returned his sword to its sheath and clasped his hands behind his back. A wisp of his long dark hair blowing in his dark eyes as he scrutinized those left alive.

            “My name is Captain Titus. I am a naval officer with the Imperial Navy, and you are prisoners of war,” he spoke loudly and clearly, so to be heard by all. “Your ship is destroyed, and your Captain executed for treason to the crown. Today I offer those of you before me an option. You may die, or you may live. Stay here and go down with the ship or accept the mercy the Empire is willing to bestow upon you. You may come aboard my ship as prisoners; later, you will be presented to the court as slaves. Any prisoner on my ship that causes my men or me any trouble will be tossed overboard,” he explained, his eyes scanning the prisoners for any possible troublemakers. “Decide.”

            As expected, everyone opted to live, and his men began the process of shackling each prisoner and transporting them to his Carrack.

Titus placed his hand on his first mate’s shoulder. “Gulliver, see that the prisoner transfer is done quickly. The ship is sinking fast. I do not want any of our men left onboard when she goes under. Then see to it that the Raven gets a full damage check. I want a full report, and any serious damage tended to immediately.”

            “Aye Sir, it will be done,” Gulliver said with a nod of his bald head.

            Titus crossed the gangplank to his own ship and headed up to the quarterdeck to address the helmsmen. “Pete,” he addressed the grey-haired old sea dog. Pete had been on the sea for the last twenty years and was an accomplished helmsman. “See to it that we put some distance between us and this wreck once the prisoners are transferred. I do not want to get caught in the undertow.”

            “Aye, Sir.”

            “Do not touch her!” He heard a man scream. Titus came to the banister to see members of his crew dragging an elderly woman across the gangplank. She was short, her long grey hair tied back off her face and shoulders. Her face was lined with her advanced age. She clutched at her woollen wrap while they dragged her on deck. For an elderly woman, she struggled so vigorously.

            “That is a pretty bobble,” he heard his crewmen say about the necklace she wore. “No slave needs such a pretty trinket.”

            “Take your hands off her,” snarled another prisoner as his crewmen grabbed the woman’s necklace and ripped it from her neck.

            “No!” The male prisoner screamed. Titus jumped to full attention as did his men and the other prisoners when the elderly woman’s grey hair turned as black as a starless night sky, and her age faded by years before their very eyes. A beautiful young woman had taken the old lady’s place.

            “Witch!” The men screamed, grabbing the girl; they dragged her to the banister to throw her overboard. She struggled all the way as four men held her down and lifted her up over the banister. The iron shackles around her wrist would no doubt prevent her from swimming, and she would drown.

            “Let her go!” The other prisoner snarled in a deep, almost animalistic growl. His bright amber eyes began to glow like candles. Titus’ heart almost stopped as they all watched in horrified awe. The men released him, and the iron shackles broke and fell away as his body grew three sizes. His clothing tore, and black fur covered his body. His hands became claws, and his nose and jaw grew into a long snarling snout. The old man had transformed into some ungodly creature of both beast and man. The creature reared up on his hind legs and let out a deafening roar that could cause a man’s blood to run cold.

            The beast lashed out at the crewmen who dropped the girl on the deck and pulled their swords to defend themselves. Titus flew down the steps to the main deck, drawing his sword. The beast lashed out, knocking two men to the deck and almost hit Titus as he let out another roar.

            Titus stood his ground. He could not have this beast on his ship. He attacked, and the monster swiped at him. He dodged it and then slashed it with his sword. He watched horrified as the wound he inflicted immediately healed. How could he deal with this beast if he could not hurt it? He dodged another attack as the beast clawed at him, and he swung his sword, trying to cut its throat. He failed, but his sword sliced through the leather cord about its neck that held a dark blue crystal. The gem fell to the deck and rolled across the floorboards.

            Suddenly the beast jerked violently and reverted back to a human form. He fell to his knees, breathing heavily as if the transformation had taken a lot out of him. It was not the same man that had championed the woman before. Instead, standing before them was a young, strong man with the same black hair as the girl. He was much older than her, perhaps Titus’ age.

            What had changed? Titus looked at the man on his knees and then at the blue crystal he had cut from his neck. He had changed after losing it. “Give me what was taken from the woman,” he ordered with his hand out. The crewman stepped forward and handed him a red teardrop-shaped crystal pendant. The girl too hand changed after losing the crystal she wore around her neck. Titus picked up the blue crystal at his feet and sheathed his sword.

            “Should we toss the witches overboard, Captain?” Gulliver asked, eyeing the two of them.

            “Normally, I would say yes, but I think we have shifters among us. Imagine what we could get for them at court,” he said, looking at the crystals in his hand. They had taken on more than expected. Titus pointed at the man on his knees. “Lock him in the brig, and make sure he is well shackled. I do not want him to be able to move,” he then looked at the girl. “Take her to my stateroom and shackle her to the floor. I wish to speak with this one and search all the other prisoners for crystals. Confiscate any you find and bring them to me. Let us be sure these are the only two hiding among us,” he ordered, walking away. These crystals held some form of power, and he would learn their secret.

            “Captain,” Gulliver said, following Titus back up to the quarterdeck, “we cannot keep them on board. The men will be uneasy with a witch on board.”

            “They are not witches, old friend. They are shifters. I am sure of it,” he said excitedly.

            “Even if that is so, Captain, it will not ease the minds of the crew at all. We are talking about monsters with the power to become worse monsters. Beast that will kill us all,” Gulliver said, grabbing Titus’ arm and forcing him to face him. “You must think of the men.”

            “They are powerless without these,” he said, holding up the crystals. “So long as they remain chained, they will be of no further trouble.”

            “The men are superstitious.”

            “The men will do as I say. Now, check the ship for damages and get the repairs underway.”

***

            The first mate dragged Jade below deck. Her arms were shackled in irons. He tugged hard on the chain to force her to move faster. He was a very tall man; his head shaved bald and tattooed. His jaw was covered in short brown hair. His brow furrowed, and his lips set in a nasty scowl. “Move witch,” he snarled, tugging on the chain, almost causing her to fall.

            Fear filled Jade’s heart, but she refused to allow it to show. Her brother Miya had been taken to the brig, and Jade was set to face the Captain. Both left helpless without their crystals. Without the power of their crystals, they could not transform and were left in their original state. They had been exposed and would certainly be killed as so many of the others had been in the past. Over the years, the war had spread over into their lands, forcing them from their homes. Her people had been spread out, and many had died off. If they were exposed, they were often killed for witchcraft.

            The lower level of the ship was lined with more cannons and weapons. There was cargo secured in the center of the hold by ropes and nets so it would not shift during transport. She had little time to look when the first mate dragged her down to the next level below the cargo hold. There was a large open area with many hammocks she assumed were meant for the crewmen’s comfort. Farther down, there was a cramped hallway that led to three doors. The first mate opened the door at the end of the hall and forced Jade inside.

            There was a large wooden desk bolted to the floor so it would not move in choppy waters and a huge chest. A large bunk had been built inset in the wall with storage space beneath it. The first mate found an iron ring mounted to the floor in the corner and chained her to it. Jade pulled against the chains and tried to pry her wrist out of the shackles. “There is no getting out of there, witch,” he laughed as he walked out the door and closed it behind him.

            She pulled and pulled until her wrist ached. The iron started cutting into her skin. She very much hated being trapped. The door opened, and Jade backed against the wall defensively as the Captain entered the stateroom. He looked at her before shutting the door and crossing to his desk. He placed the crystals on the desktop then relaxed on the corner of the large oak piece watching her.         

            He was a tall man with broad shoulders and a strong build. A man of action, she was sure. His hair was dark ebony, long and tied back at the nape of the neck with a thick piece of tanned leather. He had dark eyes, and his skin was tanned from his time on deck. He wore a white linen blouse unbuttoned at the neck. Around his waist was a thick tanned leather belt, with a large brass buckle, and his sword sheathed on his left hip. Beneath the belt were black leather breeches wrapped tightly around long muscled legs and tucked into the top of his tall black bucket boots.

            His jaw was clean-shaven and solid, with chiselled features that made him look as if he had been carved from stone. His nose was straight, and his eyes were so dark that in the low light, they could have been black. He was a very attractive man; if he were not holding her prisoner. He was looking at her intently, studying her closely. Jade could feel his eyes rake over her; then, his gazes met hers. “Those eyes are breathtaking,” he finally spoke. “Brilliant amber, so unique. You are a shifter, are you not?” He asked. He sounded pretty sure of the answer. Jade was surprised. Most assumed they were witches. Few ever realized the truth about them. They had spent generations hiding in plain sight, living in secret as myths and legends.  

            Jade stood up straight and tilted her chin upward defiantly. She glared at the Captain but kept her back to the wall. The man picked up the crystals from the desk and swung them back and forth. “Explain this to me,” she said nothing, only glared at him. “Can you speak?” He asked, “the man could speak,” he said, placing the crystal on the desk once more. He observed her thoughtfully trying to decide if she were mute or just stubborn. “Perhaps I should ask him. You know I will not be so agreeable with him. I will beat the information out of him,” he threatened. Jade felt her pulse speed up at his threat. Without his crystal, Miya would not be able to regenerate. The Captain stood up and walked toward her. Jade backed up until her back pressed fully against the wall. “Do you fear me?” He asked, looking down at her.

            She stiffened her spine and narrowed her eyes. “I fear no one,” she snarled.

            “You do speak,” he smiled. “Now, tell me about the crystals.”

            “No,” Jade said defiantly.

            “Shall I beat your lover for the information?” Titus threatened.

            She tried not to show her nerves. “He will tell you nothing,” she was sure she was correct. Miya would die before telling this man their secrets. Her brother was strong and defiant.

            Titus watched her closely, sizing her up. “I imagine you are right,” he said, walking back to his desk and dropping onto the high-backed chair behind it. He palmed her crystal feeling it, studying it. “This is the source of your powers. Is it not?” He asked, eyeing her closely for her reaction. She did not believe he actually expected an answer. “You have not changed or attempted an escape since it has been taken from you.”

            “That pendant is mine, and I want it back,” Jade demanded.

            Titus chuckled. “No, I think I will be holding on to these,” he said, flipping it between his fingers. “Are you a spy?” He asked.

            “No.”

            “What were you doing on a warship then?”

            “Buying passage from a man who wished to pad his pockets.”

            She could tell from his expression he did not believe one word she said. “Why not buy passage on a passenger ship?”

            “Their manifest requires too many questions. My people prefer to travel discreetly,” she answered simply.

            “So do spies.”

            His insistence that she was a spy irritated Jade. She wanted nothing to do with his bloody war. All she had been trying to do was get from one coast to another without detection. A crooked sea Captain had seemed a perfect way to do so. She had not expected their ship to be sacked by this man during the passage. “I am no spy. I would have disappeared into the crowds once we made port, had you not brutally attacked us.”

            “I did as I was commissioned to by the Emperor. I tracked down a traitor, executed him, and destroyed his ship,” he said defensively.

            “Well, are you not the hero?” She snipped. “And what of all the innocent.”

            “Those who consort with traitors are far from innocent,” Titus said, leaning back and propping his booted feet up on the corner of his desk. “This is war, and if you are not an ally, then you are an enemy.”

            “This is not my war.”

            “This is everybody’s war,” he snapped. Jade could see the anger in his eyes. “The whole damn world is at war, and you are in league with the rebellion,” he accused. “I will hunt down every traitor to the crown myself if I must.”

            Jade smirked defiantly. “You may very well have to. As I understand it, your army is dwindling. The rebellion is winning this war.”

            The Captain slammed his fist on his desk, and everything shook. His handsome face was twisted with rage. “The rebellion is not winning, and our army is strong. We will put the rebellion down if it takes a hundred years.”

            Jade laughed. “Your army is weak. Is that not why your failing Emperor has sold off his daughter to a foreign prince? To forge an alliance, to obtain an infusion of fighting men for his army. Your precious Empire is falling, and it is only a matter of time before the rebellion overtakes it.”

            “Treasonous words for a woman who claims to be neutral,” he snarled.

            “Only an outsider’s observation,” she offered him a smile.

            “Well, I assure you the Empire will not be overthrown, and my men and I shall continue to do everything in our power to put down these villains.”

            Jade gave a tug on her iron chains, causing them to clang and rattle. “From where I stand, you appear as the villain.” 

            “What I do is good and righteous. I am a good man and a good soldier,” Titus argued. “I do what I must for the cause, for the good of my people.”

            “Everyone believes themselves to be righteous until history paints them as villains. History is written by those who win. When all is said and done, and the dust settles, what will history remember you as?” She asked smugly.

            Captain Titus grabbed the crystals from the desk and headed for the door. “You will remain where you are for the duration of our voyage. I do not need you causing further chaos on board my ship,” he said, reaching for the door.

            “What could I possibly do in chains?” She scoffed.

            Captain Titus quickly crossed the floor to her. Again, she retreated her back against the wall. He towered over her by a head and stared down at her. “You are a beautiful young woman with ample attributes on a ship filled with men who have been at sea for months. If you think for a moment that one of them will not decide to use that supple body of yours to slake his lust, you are mistaken. I do not need my men bickering over you, and I disprove of rape,” he said, glaring at her, “even of slave girls. So long as you are my responsibility, I would prefer to avoid the situation in its entirety upon my ship. So, I cannot possibly put you in the brig among all those men, now can I? You would not be safe. So, you will stay here, in my stateroom, where I can keep an ever-watchful eye on you.”

            “If you had not taken my protector, I would have been safe,” she snapped.

            “Yes, your lover,” he sighed. “Well, I am afraid he will be of no use to you anymore. I do not intend to allow the two of you to see each other again. My apologies for the inconvenience,” he snarled and headed back for the door. He flung it open and disappeared into the hall, the door closing behind him. She could hear a key in the lock as he locked her in or others out. She could not be sure which. Jade tugged again on the shackles, trying to pull her hands through without luck. She was hopelessly trapped.