A good leader knows how to wield fear and respect in equal measure. If a people fears not their leader, why would they follow them into battle against fearsome foes? Yet fear alone is a worthless tool. Fear without respect leads to cowardice.

  -Excerpt from ‘Power and Influence: How to Run a Nation’ by Sea-Emperor Vadaris Neptuna

  Rose yelled out commands as the ship cut through the raging sea. Waves as tall as the walls of Greengate rolled across the ocean and crashed against the prow of their ship as they fought to keep it sailing straight.

  The storm had struck about three hours after they set sail, rushing in from starboard without warning. Rose wasn’t fazed. Daniel handled himself well having experienced poor conditions while fishing with his father.

  Jason seemed shaken but pushed onwards, a determination shared by Everyn and his guards. Under her command they managed to keep Silent End true to their original heading.

  The hull shook as a wave smashed into it, the ship dipping over the foamy crest. Rose narrowed her eyes as she gazed into the distance at the colossal wave heading their way.

  Looking down at the guys, she saw that despite their fierce expressions they were tired and wouldn’t be able to hold through the huge wave. She hadn’t expected them to face such struggles immediately, but it was a worthy baptism for their makeshift crew.

  Taking the single blade of Sunsplitter from her inventory, she ran a finger along the back edge of the cutlass. The other half had shattered and this one had cracks running along the blade.

  It had served her well, but not been up to the rigours that she had put it through. Constantly facing foes who outsripped her in experience and skill was incredible for progress but hard on her equipment.

  Rose suspected it wouldn’t last long if they were pitted against the Minenblum Royal Navy often, but she had other weapons to wield. A cutlass was an essential piece of equipment for a pirate however, and she would feel naked without one.

  She tied off the rudder, knowing it was risky during a storm but taking the risk nonetheless as she skipped towards the prow. The guys watched her as she deftly crossed the deck without a care in the world despite the raging winds and rain that battered them.

  “Rose, I don’t think we can make it over this wave!” Prince Everyn yelled, grunting as he pulled a rope taut in tandem with Jason.

  “Don’t worry,” she replied with a smile. “Keep us sailing true and I’ll handle the rest.”

  His face betrayed his nerves, but despite that he obeyed her commands and they fought against the wind and seas to keep the sail straight. Not furling it during a storm was a risk, but they had to make good time.

  Rose tiptoed all the way to the edge of the prow. As they rolled over a smaller wave she cackled at the sky as her upper body lurched.

  Skill up!

  Athletics 18 > 19

  The act of balance wasn’t particularly challenging, but Rose suspected the novelty of her actions had driven the skill to level up. Or perhaps it had simply been teetering on the edge.

  The giant wave approached, twice as high as the mast of their ship and carrying enough momentum to shatter it. Rose twirled the crystal cutlass in her right hand, faint beams of refracted light dancing across the deck.

  She raised her blade above her head as the wave approached, blocking out everything else in her vision. This is what life is all about, she thought to herself as she cut down sharply, right as the wave consumed Silent End.

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  ***

  Rose laid six sticks against the sand. Each of them had been stripped of bark and any protrusions had been whittled down with her knife.

  They were not the most beautiful practice swords, but they would suffice for the task she had in mind. Of the other five, only Daniel was also awake, scrawling in his notebook as he gazed out to sea.

  They had landed on a tiny island, not displayed on most maps but known to Rose because she’d taken note of it while learning from Captain Bradshawe. It was this island and a few other hidden islands that had given birth to the seeds of her plan.

  The sun was barely rising, the first rays of dawn creeping over the horizon as she finished her preparations. She lifted a wooden bucket that she’d had on the ship and strolled down to the water’s edge.

  Daniel stopped sketching to watch as she filled the bucket and walked over to the four sleeping men with a devious smirk on her face. He said nothing and made no move to stop her.

  Rose stopped beside Jason, sprawled on the sand on the outside edge of the sleeping men. Swinging the bucket back, she took a deep breath.

  “Enemy attack!” she roared as she tossed the water across the four men, drenching them as they jerked upright and scrambled in the sand.

  Their reactions differed drastically. The two guards reached for their swords, sheathed beside them on the sand as they spat saltwater from their mouths and leapt to their feet, eyes on a swivel.

  The shorter one was slower, but Rose nodded appreciatively. They were annoying, but at least they could handle themselves. Everyn on the other hand, performed poorly.

  He groaned and wiped water from his eyes while spluttering, scrabbling in the sand and taking a few seconds to realise what had happened. With a yelp he shot to his feet and began running away from Rose.

  “Idiot…” she mumbled. “Get back here, Everyn! There’s no enemies.”

  He turned and saw the rest of the group, his cheeks flushing red as a frown twisted across his face. Realising what had happened he cursed Rose under his breath and began walking back towards them.

  Rose looked down at Jason, sighing in disbelief. The boy was soaked, having caught the brunt of the water splash, but was somehow still fast asleep in the sand. She had her work cut out for her.

  As the water hadn’t worked, she resorted to gently kicking Jason in the side until he roused. He hovered in a half awake state for a while until she booted his thigh and he leapt up.

  Throwing her a betrayed look while rubbing his leg, he yawned. “What’s for breakfast?”

  “You’re hopeless,” she shot back, walking over to the six sticks she’d laid on the sand.

  “What was the point of that?” Everyn snapped. “I don’t see how drenching us this early in the morning is supposed to help repel the invasions.”

  “It’s that lack of foresight that is exactly why you need this,” Rose retorted, picking up the weakest and least structurally sound of the six sticks. “None of you will be able to face a real battle, when things get messy. You two might do alright, though,” she added, pointing the stick at the guards.

  “Now, each of you pick up a stick and make a circle around me,” she continued, waving the stick as she spoke. “We’re going to spar until you cough blood and your lungs are aflame. Show me your determination or I’ll leave you out here to make your own way home.”

  “All of us at once? Are you sure?” the tall guard asked, eyes glancing over the sticks before he picked the best one.

  Rose nodded as he did so, approving of his insight. “Yes, I’m sure. Let’s see if you’re still so confident after I knock you on your asses.”

  The rest of them scowled at that and raced to grab a stick, surrounding her as they all took combat stances. The first to lunge for her was Everyn, his pride wounded from the earlier embarrassment.

  Rose twirled her stick, avoiding his hapless lunge with ease as the next strike came from behind courtesy of Daniel. As the five men began to attack she settled into a rhythm.

  At first they were a disjointed mess, but over time they adapted to each other’s movements and attack patterns, gradually ramping up the pressure against her. Even then, it wasn’t enough to force her onto the back foot.

  She inhaled sharply and then shifted her weight. To the five men it seemed as if she vanished from the spot, her figure blurring. Five sharp cracks rang out as she smacked their sticks aside and swept their feet from beneath them.

  Breathing heavily on their asses, they glared at her with resentment. Of the five, Everyn was closest to Rose in strength and skill, which meant he felt the worst about the loss.

  “You’re so angry, Crown Prince,” she said. “That’s good. I know how much you care about the people of the Emerlan Isle. If you want to protect them and be their shield, you’ll need more than just rage. Again.”

  They shot to their feet, the anger simmering below the surface as they attacked in sync. Rose took a breath, leaning on her skills a little more as the pressure increased. It was a good start, but she wasn’t sure they would be ready to fight with the few days they had to prepare.

  However, they had no choice. Minenblum would not wait for them to be ready before it set sail to decimate their homes and slaughter their people. Failure was not an option.