The Gathering

[Black Shadow]

Arrow after arrow released from the strings of Black Shadow’s bow, each one taking a new target, defending a friend, and removing another meaningless life from this wretched world. Arrows lodged deep within the bodies of the dead, blood spilling across the deck. Bodies scattered over top one another, limbs and heads separated from their torsos.

Black Shadow’s senses heightened. As he searched for his next target, he noticed another group of pirates gathered around a merchant, cutting him down. With one swift motion, Black Shadow knocked an explosive arrow and fired it upon the group. As the archers in the pirate’s tops realized that Black Shadow was the head archer, they focused all their attention on taking him out. Newly fired arrows flew at him from the enemy lofts.

He reacted swiftly, grabbing one arrow out of the air, restringing it, and shooting another arrow out of the sky - a trick he learned when he was fifteen. A loud crack rang out through the horrific sounds of battle. Suddenly the mast lurched forward, nearly throwing Black Shadow off the crows nest. Several men stumbled off the fighting tops into their watery grave below, while others hung for their dear lives, frantically trying to climb back onto the crow’s nest. Cannon fire directly struck the base of the mast, and the shears and stays began to snap. Black Shadow grabbed the edge of the crows nest and hung on as it plummeted towards the ocean. His senses heightened and time seemed to slow. He waited patiently as the mast gained speed, toppling over to his potential fate. At the last moment he dove forward, stabbing an arrow into the side of the pirates ship and preventing himself from falling into the frigid ocean.

Black Shadow reached into his quiver and grabbed another arrow - only two remaining. He pulled the steel tip and proceeded to climb the ship by gouging the arrows into the hull. As he kicked his legs over the railing, a pirate swung his sword at him. Without hesitating, the dark archer quickly threw the arrow at the pirate, his inhuman strength wizzing it at super speeds, impaling the fool in the chest.

Black Shadow took a breath and felt a sharp pain in his side, as though he had been stabbed. He looked down at his side and noticed a piece of 2 inch thick wood lodged into his abdomen. Black Shadow left it, knowing it may cause more harm to remove it himself. Instead he stood, the pain worsening with movement, and took the scimitar from the deceased pirate’s lifeless hand.

Gavner... where Is he? Black Shadow thought to himself, looking for his friend. He could not see Gavner on the pirate ship. Turning back to the R.S. Eluriand, he saw Gavner with an unfamiliar figure standing by the fallen mast.

Damnit Gavner, This wasn’t the plan! Black Shadow thought. The two ships already drifted ten feet apart, and the distance grew exponentially with every passing second. Black shadow feared this would be the last time he would see his friend.

Black Shadow cultivated his fear of losing his best friend into anger at the pirates and blamed them for the loss of the only one who truly understood him. He sought revenge on the pirates responsible and longed for their sufferable deaths. Black Shadow saw three pirates attacking a single defenseless merchant. Black Shadow advanced on the group of pirates, sword in hand, and engaged with a swift cut. The pirate let out a shrill scream as his forearm hit the deck with a loud thud, followed by the clanging of his sword against the hardwood. The sight of blood up close sent the dark archer into a trance. He no longer felt the pain of wood protruding into his body, only the sweet sensation of metal digging into flesh. With another quick slash of his sword, black shadow severed the head of the second pirate, and ran his sword through the third. The two pirates fell to the ground in a lifeless heap as blood gushed onto Black Shadow from their wounds.

The first lieutenant engaged a tall muscular pirate twenty meters in front of Black Shadow. Their swords deflected each blow with bright sparks. The first lieutenant struck with the power of a grizzly bear staggering the pirate backwards. The pirate threw a handful of gunpowder from a nearby barrel into the lieutenant's face and kicked him in the groin. The First lieutenant dropped to one knee, defeated. The pirate raised his sword to deliver the final blow.

“Pyle!” A voice rang out above the noise of the battle. The pirate froze and locked eyes with Callahan. “You never played fair.”

“Ah, if it isn’t the traitor. Finally ready to face your maker?” Pyle responded.

“You’ve never beaten me, Pyle.” Callahan countered.

“You’ve never taken me on in a duel! You destroyed my ship and left me for dead!”

“I wouldn’t let you take that cargo, you knew how fucked up it was”

“They were slaves, we sell them all the time.”

“Children, Pyle, they were children!” Callahan shouted back in anger. Pirates and merchants alike gathered around the captains listening intently.

“Enough talk Callahan, you’re mine.” Pyle said, raising his sword.

“A duel then. You and me, winner takes all.” Callahan responded. “You kill me, you can kill all of us. I kill you, and your men answer to me.”

“So be it.” Pyle answered, lunging at Callahan, wasting no time.