Page 11

I hadn’t come this far to balk at the first sign of danger. After what I had done, I couldn’t go back to Valterra.

The pillar shifted toward the ship. Several bodies stretched from it, extending like tentacles. For now, they couldn’t reach the ship.

Yet more Shades rose from the depths. They chained themselves, hands and ankles, growing the tentacles. They braced, chest to chest, thickening the tentacles and building stability. They climbed each other like ladders.

Like a sea beast or kraken, the tentacles spread from the central pillar, its arms reaching for the deck.

I loosed my first arrow, striking a Shade. My aim was true, and my arrow ran deep into their chest. The Shade slowed, becoming idle—but rather than stopping the golem, the single Shade grew rigid, becoming a support.

Another Shade crawled over the one I hit. The tentacle grew longer.

Others shot their arrows, and it happened again. Again and again. All we did was strengthen the undead infrastructure. The horde was too large.

Maybe I needed my sword…

Before I could move, there was a blast of heat, a flare of light, as one of the fae mercenaries directed fire toward the Shades. It was a short-ranged attack, and the fire died out before reaching them.

“Don’t!” one of the ship’s crew shouted. “You’ll set the ship on fire!”

But it gave me an idea, and I shoved one of my arrows toward the fire-wielding fae. “Ignite it,” I commanded.

The fae touched my arrow, and the tip glowed. “It’ll catch fire upon impact,” they explained.

I nocked the arrow and shot, striking another Shade.

This time, my attack had impact. My target caught fire, flaring for a single bright moment. The Shade charred, cremated. Becoming ash.

My stomach lurched, and I swallowed bile, wondering if they had felt pain.

Separating myself from the horror, I nocked another bespelled arrow. I shot again. Again and again. The other archers followed suit while fae enchanted our weapons.

We slowed the kraken, but we couldn’t stop it.

There weren’t enough arrows. There weren’t enough archers. The golem was too big.

One tentacle snaked forward, reaching over our ship. The pillar shifted, coming closer. The first Shade dropped.

They boarded our ship.

Once the first Shade reached us, it wasn’t long until the second and third joined them. A fourth and fifth. The kraken arm connected with the ship. They boarded us with ease.

Those with swords and daggers joined the fight. Those wielding steel depended on those with magic.

I struck as many as I could. Soon I’d be out of arrows. Then I would draw my sword and join the fray.

Ashes from the fallen Shades whirled around us, fading until they disappeared.

It was battle. It was chaos.

No matter how many Shades we destroyed, new ones descended to take their place. The horde seemed to have no end.

This wasn’t a winning strategy. We had to retreat.

Already, the Rift seemed far away. The ship’s water sprites were busy, and the crew had angled the sails, keeping them full. We slowly shifted south… It was our only option.

Another tentacle reached for us. I shot it with my last arrow, slowing it, but the tentacle still made contact. More Shades boarded as a third arm reached for us…

Soon, we would be overcome. The crew needed time. I drew my sword and continued the fight.