Chapter 1


    <em>Hi!</em>


    <em>Were Pru and Formidable, the trantors of this novel. Were d to see that youre giving this great story a chance and hope you enjoy it as much as we do!</em>


    <em>To ensure a great reading experience, we wrote a small reading legend, in which we exin our different uses of punctuation marks. That way you know exactly in which setting the sentences are meant to be read!</em>


    <em>Also, at the , you will find a picture of a ship with its parts named. The story takes ce in a pirate setting, meaning there will be a lot of different pirate and navy terms used, who might be as unfamiliar to you as it was to us. The picture will give you a quick overview of the terms that might pass by in the story. And of course, let us know if parts of the story are still unclear to you, were happy to help!</em>


    <em>Happy reading and we hope to see you in thements  !</em>


    <em>Love, </em>


    <em>romPOM and Formidable</em>


    <em>     </em>


    <em>Readers legend: </em>


    Dialogue


    <em>Thoughts</em>


    [ Text or letters ]


    Fading of a sentences/dragging of words or a interruption


    Mumbling/muttering or voices of a crowd


    { Dialogue in the past or a memory }


    shback


    <em> Sound effects (sfx)  </em>


    <strong>ce/location next scene</strong>


    *** End scene


    Footnote¹Footnote added by the original author


    Footnote* Footnote added by the trantor


    Headnote Warning for chapter ahead


    <em>TN:</em><em></em><em></em>Trantor notes


    Border and end of chapter


    Were under attack!


    The watchmans cry ripped the sky. With no time to take out the telescope, Lil lifted her head.


    Smoking iron balls were flying through the air.


    Damn it! Get down!


    Lil fell onto the deck, pushing the sailor next to her.


    <em> Boom!  </em>


    With a loud noise, the railing was torn off. The rear deck, which was just two feet away, was also smashed. Upon impact, Lil rolled side by side with her triangle-shaped hat that almost flew away by the st.


    A fire caused the whole deck to be covered in smoke. Coughing, Lil pulled herself up by grabbing the wheel of the ship.


    Cesar!


    Due to firing back, the Bell Rock lost its bnce and started to swing back and forth. Lil called Cesar while grasping the remaining railing, but the upper deck between them was inplete chaos, her voice couldnt reach him.


    Fuck!


    Lil made her way through the mess, ordering everyone she passed to take cover. However, the sailors were too engrossed and instead of hiding as instructed, they just rushed by. After repeating this a couple of times, Lil got annoyed and decided to measure the reload speed.


    I can make it.


    Having made up her mind, she ran down the stairs of the stern¹. The helmsman, whod caught the wheel, called the captain to stop her. Yet Lil skilfully stepped on the upper deck, which was littered with split wood and broken ropes.


    The cannon fire stopped, but the yells and screams from the sailors struck the eardrums just as loud. Lil ran towards the bow² of the ship, going past a few distracted sailors who were still pulling themselves together. To get them to safety, she pushed a couple of them.


    You, you there, and you! Send the wounded down! Itll soon be over, so clear the deck. Get ready!


    After running so frantically, she finally reached Cesar. Lil pped the quartermasters shoulder who seemed to be busier than the captain herself.


    Cesar! Do I have to leave my seat?


    Sorry.


    My head got almost blown away by those 6-nwon cannons!


    They must be backed by the navy.


    What? Then is there a navy officer on board?


    I dont think so.


    In the meantime, the enemys ship opened fire again. Therefore, even while standing next to her, the words Cesar was trying to say got lost in the outbreak. Lil took out the long gun she was carrying on her back and shouted something at him.


    The world has changed! 6-nwon cannons are expensive!


    <em> Boom! </em>


    How did a tiny merchant ship get them?


    <em> Boom! </em>


    Cesar muttered while thetest cannonball hit.


    I cant believe she thinks this Garni merchant ship is tiny


    Theres no navy, right?


    No, and no other ship has been spotted nearby either.


    Good.


    Lil raised her loaded gun and waited. She focused her eyesight on the rudder³ of the enemys ship. As the Bell Rock continued to ride the waves, the gun sight aiming at the rudder went up and down. She took a deep breath, feeling the flow of the waves. When the wave goes down, the muzzle points toward the sea, and when it goes up, it faces the stern of the hull⁴. The rudder was right in the middle.


    Her eye expanded and she reflexively pulled the trigger.


    <em> Bang! </em>


    Her body stirred because of the recoil. Lil lowered the barrel and verified her target. Wood splinters broke off and flew through the air. The target waspletely destroyed. The rudder, which was attached to the stern like a tail to adjust its direction, was shattered, making the surface of the water scattered with debris.


    Sailors hanging from the watchtower and masts shouted excitedly.


    Captain! Its a hit!


    The rudder has been smashed!


    Even if I see it with my own eyes, I still cant believe it! How can he do that with those waves?


    Lil, raising a confident smile, fastened her gun on her back again.


    She then poked her head over the railing to face the upper deck.


    Marenzio! Gunner!


    Aye!


    Are you just going to stand there?


    Huh?


    Were in the wind⁵. Aim the gun! Were gonna lose the mast! And prepare to board their ship!


    All right! Ill take care of it, stop nagging!


    After hearing the annoyed reply, Lil raised her head. Looking over the deck, her eye fell on Courant, who was crouching next to Cesar, terrified.


    Courant, what are you doing?


    Yes? Ah, Captain


    What are you doing there? The battle is over and their sails need to be destroyed.


    Hurriedly, Courant began to load the chain gun. A couple of iling sailors helped him.


    Lil squinted and stared at the back of Courants head.


    <em>I allowed him on board because he had to support his sister after they lost their family. But hes still too young. Its not that there arent any younger sailors Anyway, why is the guy learning from the second-inmand on the artillery deck, ced on the upper deck where shells and guns fly around?</em>


    Why did you set up the gun like this? You need to raise it a little to aim for the deck below, think about the method from Marenzios training.


    Lil grunted, standing straight in the spot where Courant had been crouching.


    The rudders already smashed and if the sails torn, they have no choice but to surrender. Courant, aim well! Remember why Marenzio sent you to the upper deck!


    Aye, Aye Captain!


    After adjusting the angle of the gun with trembling hands, Courant fell t on the floor and covered his ears. At the same time, the chain gun was fired.


    <em> Bang! </em>


    Two rotating iron balls tore the square sail of the merchant ships mainmast.


    Raising a hand, Lil shouted excitedly.


    Courant! Its a hit!


    Lil expressed her joy by hitting Courants back.


    <em>He may be timid, but hes a talented guy. Marenzio has an excellent eye for sending Courant to the upper deck.</em>


    Bending over the half-broken railing, she beckoned in toe. in, the boatswain, went to stand next to Lil and raised his voice.


    Listen up Garni merchant ship, the seas ck Whales offering his final act of mercy, raise the white g! Ill give you 5 seconds!


    Like a drunkard using his teeth as a corkscrew, Lil expands the telescope between her mrs.


    Courant, raise your fingers.


    Courant, standing on the other side of her, raised 5 of his fingers.


    <em>No matter how loud in is, at this distance, his voice wont reach the enemys ship. It wasnt hard to figure out. However, anyone who would see those 5 fingers, would know what they mean.</em>


    5, 4, 3, 2!


    in vigorously shouted the numbers.


    Lil watched the upper deck of the merchant ship moving frantically through the lens of her telescope.


    1!


    White gs fluttered up as soon as Courant clenched his fist. As if confirming it, the crew of the Bell Rock started to shout and stomp their feet. The deck vibrated by their celebration.


    Lil raised her hand and silenced the noisy deck.


    in, Jericho!


    Yes, Captain.


    Aye! Captain!


    Well enter through the port. Get ready.


    Lil ran up the broken stairs of the stern, followed by in and first mate Jericho, and grabbed the wheel of the ship.


    Casualties?


    Two are already dead, nine are seriously injured and thirteen have minor injuries. The rest can recover on their own.


    All right. Tell them to hang in there for a bit. Lets clear out this merchant ship and well sail straight to Amiaeng.


    After a while, the merchant ship, which had all their sails down, lowered the anchor and waited for the Bell Rock.


    The ck Whale was ferocious but merciful to those putting down their swords and guns. Therefore, most of the merchant ships familiar with Amiaengs ck Whale, Lil Schweiz, knew they most likely would survive once they surrendered.


    <em>Footnote: </em>


    <em>1. Stern: Structure built at the back part of a ship.</em><em></em>


    <em>2. Bow: The front part of a ship.</em><em>


    </em>


    <em>3. Rudder: A device that adjusts the direction of the ship, like a tail attached to the stern.</em><em></em>


    <em>4. Hull: Back part of the ship. </em><em></em>


    <em>5. Were in the wind: Proverb: A situation in which the ship and the enemys ship are facing each other, and the ship is positioned in the direction of the wind.</em>


    The different parts and terms of a ship.


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