Private Tales Combustible Waters

[Gihada Kierkegarde]

The sea sprayed beyond plank and coiled rope, to brush cold and damp against Tisikleos Miles’ cheek. Hands tight behind her back, the pirate stood as tall as her petite frame allowed, and refused, utterly refused indeed, to be swayed by the ocean’s salted tears. Let the spray weep on her all it liked. Tisikleos rose above such furtive emotional waves, just as their ship brushed upon the surface of the deep. Pink lips pursed on a quiet mouth, Tisikleos watched the edge of the next crest as the crew busied about. They would leave her be.

Not because of the inherent sense of bodily danger any being received when seeking to break the human mage’s solitude, but because ‘Kleos earned it. Years at sea and on their island opened such privileges through the toils they swept through together, and the families she cared for on their tiny isle. After years of hauling line, waying anchor and battling beside the crew, she proved herself capable of standing on deck, shifting as another sailor had need, eyes focused on the waves which churned her gut.

Such an unsettled sea.

As unsettled as a mother’s nerves at being separated from their son for so long. Tuuli remained on the isle with Tisikleos’ aging nurse Anatha, and while Kleos trusted those on the isle, her arms ached to hold their toddling boy. Yet, such reunions came and went, and it was to other meetings the bulk of Tisikleos’ mind lingered.

There was one in her mind, which strained free of her dreams and into the waking hours. A lost one brought home by Aedan Miles, fine of feature and… the image gone! Gone as oft clairvoyant images fled, with naught but flickers of a candle’s light against the wall. Was it the red of ginger hair, or a waft of flame? Her hair, piled atop her head in some form of plait, or something else?

The ocean sprayed her cheek again, and the images melted off Kleos’ skin. She breathed deep into her lungs and held it, until her lungs purged and Tisikleos tried again to see some useful tidbit of fate beyond a flicker of long hair, and the shadows dancing on a wall from flame. Soon, Aedan's ship and hers would reach the isle. Reese

 

[Aedan Miles]

A tall figure adorned in a leather coat that had a series of black and red chains hanging from it stood beside the wheel of the Hellscythe the Pirates first ship and a trusty frigate that he had stolen. One hand rested on the wheel as mismatched eyes looked over the deck watching the crew of his ship as the scurried about. Some working the sails while even others stood gathered about laughing and sparring as only pirates could. Some would find the lack of weapons odd as the young appearing man smirked out over the deck. Something caught his attention and he frowned before he turned his attention back to the deck and started to bark out orders. "Incoming Carrack flying merchant colours. Raise our colours lad they may have something useful. Remember we don't kill if they surrender just take what we need and release them to be on their way." Immediately the deck of the ship broke into action.

Through all this Aedan remained steady at the wheel spinning it as he started to draw them towards an intercept course against the Carrack. The crew scurried about on deck preparing cannons in case they were needed even as they broke weapons out of lockers where they were stored securely to keep them safe from weather and sea effects. Aedan turned away as his First Mate walked up taking hold of the wheel as the self proclaimed Pirate King made his way down to his cabin to inform his newest passenger of what was to come.

The door to a rather modestly decorated room opened and the young pirate walked in looking about for the Zorren female that was his newest companion. "Pet we have spotted a merchant vessel nearby. I plan to have us stop it to see if they have anything useful for the island I don't think there will be a fight but you can never know." He walks farther into his room to a mannequin that held his armor on it removing the coat long enough to pull the light weight leather armor on twisting his torso to make sure that everything fit correctly. Reese

Even as he prepared for this small fight his attention turned outward towards where his love was likely on her way back to their home as well her skills in foresight having already likely given her hints as to what the wayward King of Chains had ran into. Even as he donned a pair of greaves and bracers he heard the boatswains whistle ring out letting all who weren't on deck now they were closing with their target. Exhaling Aedan pulled his jacket on and turned towards his door grinning at Reese gently. "Stay here and safe little fox. I shall see you again shortly." With that the young man strode from his cabin closing the door as the chains on his jacket seemed to shift and move unnaturally in anticipation of the fight to come. Tisikleos Miles

 

[Reese]

Red hair. Ears that flickered and twitched at all of the sounds that came with a ship at sea. Loud crewmen that she was still not accustomed to. The creaking of wood and crashing of waves. They were all familiar sounds to her by this point, being on the sea for the last few weeks. Least now she was in a comfortable cabin, rather than a cage. Matter of fact, she even had the comfort of a bed. Curling up, her knees in her chest, the rocking of the sea shifting her ever so slightly from time to time. her ears twitch once more as the sound of heavy boots sound against the boards. The little fox clutched at her knees as the cabin door opened, the heavy boots stepping through the doorway. It...was the man who saved her. The one by whom she had now referred to as Master. The ship's captain, Aedan Miles. The little fox was still unsure exactly how to feel about the man. He had rescued her from the slave ship. Offered her freedom, a warm bed and even a home. He even removed her shackles. Such kindness was not common to her. It was actually rather suspicious. He wanted to be called Master and he called her Pet. Suppose it was not all without a condition, even if said with affection. Still she couldn't help but start to grow attached to him.

Reese watched, eyes peeking over her knees, a faint glow to them. She watched as he put on his armor. Listened to every word he said. The loud noise from outside the cabin and the roar of the crew. That is when she heard it. A battle may be upon them? She stood up and looked out of the nearby window. The crew was indeed scurrying about, getting ready and armed. Ears flat against her hair as her Master threw on his attire and got ready to set out. She looked at him with wide eyes and he just gave her a smile and a simple order. Stay here and stay safe. Giving him a nod and pulling her hood over her hair, eyes peeking over the rim of the window. Reese was not one to like conflict, so she did not mind that order. So stay there she did, a sinking feeling in her gut for whatever was bound to happen next.

 

[Tisikleos Miles]

Again the spray, the salt-tang, which curled her blonde locks and dappled pale skin in freckles from the reflected sun. Near enough to the isle to feel the itch of its’ cornucopia of needs crawl up her spine, Tisikleos found no comfort in the proximity. The fathoms brought with them a furrowed sense that behind her was the battle, the shield-din. But the world was a battlefield. Such sensations Kleos recognized could come from a far off war, a spat between spouses, a quarrel amongst the crew. If she chased every sensation, her beloved pirates would deem her mad and lock her behind the walls of their simple, but beautiful palace home.

In the beginning, she was the cautious body amongst the rigging learning of sailor’s knots and watching the man. The Captain-King. Either lover or monarch or waypoint, Aedan Miles was as significant as the oyster’s pearl. Those days, she kept her visions and sensations as hidden as her smile. One capricious serendipity too many, and she blossomed like the flowers she controlled. Nothing but flimsy images, but significant enough when the acts were completed.

“Helm, full about. Shift our course. Prepare the cannons.” No ships on the horizon, nor sound of a clash spouted across the waves, but still the crew stepped to. Arm around her chest, the other propped upon it, Tisikleos’s fingers played with her lip. This battle was Aedan’s, and his wife felt the heavy lidded foreboding course along her jaw like morning sickness.

“Mi’lady?” The grizzled Captain waited for a glimpse to her musings, offered his cloak when the spray and wind picked up.

“Splintered bows, crimson blood, or maybe… deep red hair? I see the flickers of surprise and loose chains on an immobile coat. Cargo spilt upon the sea amidst too many broken planks. My love ought take the southerly route, with these winds, Barnas?”

“Aye, weather we’ve had, he’s bound to take the southern passage… pray the goddess gave you a jot of a few boxes of plunder knocked overboard by a pretty face and nothing more.” He patted her shoulder, as the ship roared about, the folk about the rigging. Waves rushed aside.

“There. Sails on the horizon.” Two fast schooners zipped along the waves to flank the Hellscythe in their quarry, with such speed Kleos’ eyes narrowed. A mage or two? Water mages or perhaps a wind-breaker? “He’s moving into a trap.”

“Sound the horn!” Barnas whipped the crew into a frenzy Kleos was too stately to join, huddled inside her mind like a thick winter coat. Still, the crimson, the flames… what did they mean?

Two repeating blasts of the trumpet carried along the waves, faint but noticeable where Aedan Miles and Reese kept upon the Hellscythe: a warning, two blasts for two ships shifting the waves.

 

[Aedan Miles]

Aedan was preparing to call for the surrender of the Carrack even as two horn blasts split the air his head snapping about as mismatched eyes widened. For a moment he was caught off guard before this turned swiftly into rage and h e strode aft barking orders as he moved eyes blazing with rage even as the chains of his coat ratted ominously.

Even as he marched along the desk of the Hellscythe he started to bark orders swiftly. "8 men prepare to board that Carrack at first chance the crew is now hostages for this insult. Everyone else stand to your stations and prepare for anti mage combat. Spot the mages and call them out for me." He strides along calm on the exterior while within his mind he rages at this he was caught in a trap like a fool. Now his men were at risk he would do everything in his power to protect them. As he walked he turned and looked at the crew before calling out sharply. "Smithy forward now." A young man ran forward looking confused Aedan grinned at him reassuringly and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Blake prepare the skiff to launch. That horn could have only come from Kleos's ship. I want Smithy here to take the Zorren in my cabin and once the fight has started make for Kleos's ship. They won't be in the thick of it thats our job. Smithy your job is to get that young zorren to Kelos's ship safely. These lads will not get their hands on her is that clear." The young man nodded before he turned and hurried off.

Aedan exhaled slowly as he strode towards the rear of the ship barking out orders. "Steven break out the special cannon balls these fools want to attack us I will deal with them using my abilities." He stretched his arms and prepared his left eye glowing golden as he stares at the approaching ships eyes glaring at them as his chains already shifted into his combat form spikes appearing along their length as well as a spear like tip to the chains. Reese Tisikleos Miles

 

[Reese]

The sound of a horn caught her ears, making them stand up tall like an alerted animal. The little fox was unsure of what was going on, but it seemed to be getting more complicated. Her eyes darted around the deck at busy crewmen. Her sights narrowed in on her Master, who stood front and center, ordering the other around. He was talking and calling over others, looking towards the cabin as he said something that her ears, nor eyes could make out. Then one of the men came rushing towards the cabin. With a squeak and the speed of a startled creature escaping a predator, Reese darted away from the window.

As the man crashed through the door to fetch her, he just saw what looked like a red blur dive under the bed. He blinked for a moment, as he spied glowing golden eyes of the little Zorren. The very Zorren he was to fetch in this critical moment. Staring at the golden eyes that peeked out from the dark depths of the bunk, gesturing with his hand and shouting to her.

Smithy - "Come on! You need to come with me! The captain wants you out of here!"

She hissed, the golden hues dipping into shadow as the bunk shifted against the wood flooring. Naturally she didn't trust him. She did not know him, his intent, why she would be taken away from the safety of the cabin after her Master just told her to stay. He gestured and yelled to her again, stepping closer to the bunk. Another hiss met him. As Smithy knelt down, his eyes adjusted. There she was, curled up and cowering, her eyes locked onto him like golden spheres of terror. He beckoned again to her, to get a -no- gesture in return. Fed up and annoyed, he reached for her in an attempt to pull her from the depths. A sound that could only be described as a very upset and pissed off animal sounded from the cabin, followed by a pained yell of Smithy.

Smithy - "Fuck! She bit me!"

The red flash darting past him, a slight smear of blood speckled her lips. Her fangs, driven by fear, made short work of his arm, though nothing life threatening. Certainly hurt enough to piss him off though. On all fours she ran out of the cabin, coming to a sliding stop as her eyes widened and ears perked up, shifting in all sorts of directions as her hearing was barraged by the free space. Yelling, boots on wood, metal and controlled panic. Combined with the now blaring shine of the sun above. Crisp sea air that was saturated with salt. It was far different from the cozy cabin, or cell from earlier. Her eyes strained, getting adjusted, before they finally focused in on the captain, Aedan Miles once more. The only person she knew on this ship for the most part, her Master as they commented.

Reese's senses quickly returned to her, the brief reprieve of the outside washed away by a very pissed off Smithy, who had reached for her tail in an attempt to grab her. All he got was the feeling of a soft tail end as it whisked away, along with the rest of her. Running from him to her Master on all fours. Several crewmen could not help but be distracted by the sudden emergence, let alone the fact that it seemed a large beast was running across their ship. It took no time at all for the little fox to make it to Aadan's side, Smithy running after her, holding his arm. She gripped onto Aedan's coat, shifting herself behind him, head peeking out around his figure towards Smithy, who had come to a swearing stop before them.

Smithy - "You stupid girl! We need to go!"

Reese shook her head once more at him, her grip on Aedan's coat tightening as she grew closer to him. Reese was aware she had made him angry, which made her less willing to go anywhere with him. In fact, the safest place she felt, ironically so in that moment, was by the side of Aedan Miles. The man she questioned so much, but at least trusted enough to hide behind.

 

[Tisikleos Miles]

Bile rose in Tisikleos’ throat when the flashes of crimson and flame and broken planks in her vision began to clear in a quickened succession. A quick furrow of pain, scampering? No, a small fire whipping through wood. Proximity and perpetuity, mayhap? Tisikleos’ hand gripped the rail beside Barnas’ wheel, her face the neutral mask of a statue carved of dour, unyielding marble. Only the faster breaths alerted Barnas. Tom Corrigan swept up from the rigging, another man took his place, as he reached to tow his arm around Tisikleos’ shoulders. The visions bit at her eyes, as she bit her tongue, but the warmth around her back and shoulder centred her.

“Get me to the crows.” She needed only whisper, and Corrigan tugged her along, only insofar as Tisikleos required surety of footing. The sea pitched and rocked as she scaled the mast, Corrigan at her back in case an odd humour stole her equilibrium too far left or right. As the ship crested a wave and the tops of the Hellscythe’s sails peaked the horizon, Kleos sunk back on her hips, and Corrigan held firm to the rigging.

They scampered upward, and Tisikleos’ eyes scanned the caustic sea. Not that a common man dared touch their Pirate King’s wife, none were fool enough to try even with drink in their gizzards, but as Corrigan latched Tisikleos to the crows nest, then himself, he kept close enough to hear the string of whispers.

Wouldn’t do to have their Queen fall to the waters, when she was casting, now would it? Nor would it do if a stray arrow or cannonball blasted the boards from under her boots if her mind got cast to another vision. No, a guard was needed, a trusted man.

“Where.. where, pools in deeper… deeper colour, feel, I can’t bloody feel it!”

“S’awright, ma’am, I got’che.” Corrigan’s hand alit on her shoulder. With a staggered breath, Tisikleos released any pretence of normal tidings. The far sensations of the sea roiled into her, not in how the water moved, but the life it bore. Flora and fauna, only florae mattered to the plant-mage, the little earth-tiller queen. Hands outstretched, she pulled at clumps of seaweed loosed from their coastal forests, she allowed algae and tangle-leaves of aquatic plants to congregate. The sounds of the ship below faded, until the hum of the plants’ vibrations remained sole occupant of her ear. Helpless against the simplest harm, when she casted.

There and there. Algae on the hulls. Tisikleos’ hands flung outward, her balance maintained by Corrigan’s assistance as the seaweed surged through the water. Up into the keel, restraining both keels motion. Helmsmen would tug on their ship’s wheels and get nothing. The criss-crossed directions of the schooners could not, would not change.

Tisikleos entered the battle, with only her faith in Aedan’s understanding to trust all would go well.

Aedan Miles Reese

 

[Aedan Miles]

Aedan was preparing for combat even as he heard movement and than felt hands gripping at his coat glancing up he sighed and looked at Smithy mismatched eyes looking into his eyes. "Smithy go get looked at by the doc and than take up your position. Remember lad don't fight the mages if you see em call out." He gripped the younger mans shoulder firmly nodding once. Smithy nodded before he scurried away turning towards Reese he looked at her for a moment before exhaling slowly. "Alright little fox sense you insist on staying don't stray far from my side. We are being ambushed by water mages."

Aedan turned back towards the rear of the ship as two of the cannons roared firing black and red cannon balls. As they fired Aedan's eye flared brightly with power as he used his control over metal to reach out and adjust the angle of the cannonball down aiming to hit below the waterline wanting to hull the ships. Even as this happened he watched as the ships seemed to swerve around cannon balls continuing their charge at his own ship Eyes narrowing darkly as he bit back a curse and spun about nodding to the men manning the cannons. "Keep firing no more using the specials. The rest of you prepare for boarding actions. They are going to come after us we will take their ships and return home happily."

 

[Reese]

Reese's eyes shifted up, meeting Aedan's through strands of fiery red bangs. Fear gleamed within her golden, glowing eyes, as her ears twitched to his words. Giving a nod of understanding, as her eyes fell onto Smithy who was now heading to get his arm patched up. She stepped close, bumping into his chains, the rattling and sudden poke startling her enough to make her shift herself behind Aedan's figure. The little fox stood probably no more than 2/3 his height roughly, if one included her ears.

With the chaos around them returning to more pressing matters than that of a loose fox on deck, the crew followed up on orders from their captain. A fight was about to break out and they needed to be on their toes after all. Little did she know that she would have to as well. Being a shadow to the proclaimed Pirate King was not a safe option. The fact of the matter was Reese was about to get a front row seat to something she really didn't want to be in the middle of. Smithy and the little boat they were going to take was about to prove to be a far less terrifying option. Shame she didn't know that. For now she would get battle cries, strange magics and the sounds of blasting cannons. All the more reason why she would have to stay by Aedan's side. All the more reason to stay by her Master's side... If push came to shove, maybe even some fireworks would sound that day, if things got dangerous enough. Something that would make Smithy relieved that she only bit him.

 

[Tisikleos Miles]

From their vantage point in the Crow's Nest, Corrigan gripped a loop of stitched cloth on the back of Tisikleos' belt. He hollered as one of the attacking ships careened in an odd direction, the crew on deck scrambling so below them, barely pinpricks. Mages swept water about the sides of the vessel, two men on the wheel. The ship's momentum continued forth, in a direct course for their own fellow.

"Good on, oy aye, you've got one of 'em. Lot don't know what's happened, from the looks of 'em."

Deep in concentration, Tisikleos continued to work the seaweed along the three ship's keels, eradicating their abilities to steer and she could feel from the waning proximity of one ship, shifting the plan of the battle. Yet, if Tisikleos were to let go... she shook her head, more seaweed from the depths around them veered through the water, a fathom, another. More. Despite the breeze, Tisikleos' head slicked with moisture. She grit her teeth, hands poised above her shoulders, out toward the ships.

Plants grown in Aedan's quarters and along the Hellscythe's lower compartments gave Tisikleos a direct link to the ship's position. Vines spread up through cracks in the floorboards, enough to alert Aedan Miles to his wife's interference. And as she felt out for the Hellscythe, Tisikleos wrenched at the keel of the nearest ship.

It shuddered and turned into Aedan's cannon fire, glanced away from its' direct assault.

Yet, as Tisikleos' plant magic worked, one of the mages searched the horizon, then the water for the culprit. A clump of seaweed stretched ill in his eyes. Ice began to form around the seaweed, weighting it down, locking it from Tisikleos' usage. With so little strength in each plant, any intervention from her could shred it. Their ship alerted to her ship's presence, and cannons shifted to fire.

The Carrack deck rose with hidden sailors, armed with cutlases, harpoons and daggers. Some swung from the rigging, attempting to make purchase on the Hellscythe in the chaos. Reese

 

[Aedan Miles]

Aedan looked between the three ships his eyes narrowing dangerously before he took note of the flag they flew a harsh dark laugh sounding from his frame as the chains seemed to melt and flow until they formed a large scythe. He turned his attention towards his crew his voice ringing out as his eyes shined dangerously. "Alright lads rules have changed these lot aren't out to arrest us so we can escape again they are here to kill us. You all know what that means no mercy for em kill em and take their ships back to port."

Around the deck of his ship the first crew he had grinned widely before his 2nd in command raised up his cutlass calling out sharply. "FOR THE SCYTHE KING!" The crew snapped their attention back to Aedan seeing the signature Scythe in hand before they all roared with approval and surged forward blood thirst shining in their eyes.

Aedan smirked as he started to stride towards the aft end the Mages would be his to deal with and they would not be prepared to face an opponent like Aedan one who used his abilities as a mage to fight as a warrior. Standing on the deck as the first grappling hooks flew up to hook onto the railing he spun his scythe around before dropping into a combat stance. Crouched down his legs spread shoulder width apart the Scythe held low and even towards the ground. He started to drop into his combat persona most things shifting off to the side as he mentally prepared himself for the fight to come. Reese Tisikleos Miles

 

[Reese]

Reese's ears almost seemed to disappear within her hood with how flush to her head they were. Despite her Zorren blood, Reese was not one to like fighting. Sure she would defend herself, but if conflict had taught her anything over the years, it was better to turn tail and run. Lived longer that way after all. That wasn't a choice here in the open sea though. No trees to duck around, or brush to hide in. Just salty air, crushing waves and depths that reached the abyss. The ocean, not actually the place for a pyromancer to call home. It even held a bit of irony to it, as well as a bit of comfort. There was nothing else to catch fire. No wildlife to destroy. The sea would keep her in check. The only thing that mattered was her aim.

Reese's ears perked up a bit, the tips catching flame as her eyes glowed, casting the shadows of her hood from her face. She was of course still scared, but that survival instinct was kicking in. Tiny flames caught at her fingertips, like a matchlight in the night. The rules were simple, don't catch the boat on fire. Only use your flames on the enemy ships and keep close to her Master. The little fox did not know him all that well yet, but he was the kindest person she had come to meet thus far. She wanted to know. What? One could ask. Who? Why? All in good time. For now, they would fight and the enemies who stood against them would fall.

 

[Tisikleos Miles]

One ship cracked with a reverberant snap of its’ rudder, too chock full of vines and seaweed for the amount of pressure the helmsmen placed on the wheel. Screams rustled from the crew, as it slammed diagonally into the initial cargo vessel, the bait vessel. Wood splintered against wood, both vessels slid through the water, wobbled and creaked.

Tisikleos gasped as she returned her concentration to the battle, instead of her seaweed and vines. Her ship rocked upon the waves, as a battery of their cannons bit against the ship closest Aedan Miles ‘ beloved flagship.

“Swing us around. I want us on the other side of that Carrack, split their forces between the Hellscythe and defending their own ship. Lads! Laddies! To arms!” A roar went up through the ship, as the Captain Barnas set to the helm. The wind battered at their sails, the sea under their keel wobbled and pushed back. Tisikleos grit her teeth as the ship rocked and Corrigan’s hand was the only key to keeping her aloft. “A water mage. Can’t have that, now can we?”

As two of the enemy ships were tangled together, the seas churned beneath them. One might have a broken rudder, but the other swept the seas without sails. It could, perhaps, still maneuver.

“Ma’am? Ah… oh you ain’t doin’ the thing with… awwwwww ffff—“ Corrigan screamed as Tisikleos flung herself from the Crow’s Nest as the ship craned diagonal to the sea. He dove after her, a web of seaweed caught them and slowed them to the waters, Corrigan unsheathed his sabre and knelt to find his footing on the impromptu raft.

“They want a battle, we have to get our ship moving!” She surged through the water, until the Hellscythe came into view. The seaweed bundle overtook the side and pulled three of the attacking sailors into the waters and down beneath the waves. Nothing but bubbles would remain of them. Behind her, several planks of seaweed and driftwood dotted the waters, and sailors armed with cutlasses and various boarding axes ran and jumped from each of the impromptu rafts toward the two smaller attacking ships.

"Is... is Aedan's ship on... fire!?" From her vantage point, Tisikleos saw the flicker of flames from Reese 's fingertips, but could not truly see the beautiful vixen yet.

 

[Aedan Miles]

Aedan spins his scythe about himself as he darts forward leaping onto the railing he pauses for a moment before sending himself into a front flip. As he falls he swings the scythe slashing through the backs of the men climbing up as he passes before crouching to land on the deck of the opposing ship. A dark smirk on his lips a she stands slamming the haft of his scythe into the ground the spiked butt biting into the deck. "Alright than. Lets see this ship should have at most 100 men on board. Most likely one high class mage with a few lower class. Lets see if y'all can give me a work out." He grins teeth flashing as he darts forward eyes glinting with battle light as he swings his scythe again cutting through people as he dances around various strikes. He spins lifting the haft of his weapon to block on incoming strike towards his back before he spins around kicking at the chest of someone behind him before calling up to his ship. "Alright lads looks like Tisi is joining the fight keep an eye on the people trying to board from the Carrack the rest of you get down here and lets take a look at our new ship as we clean out the rats." His first mate lets out a quick order. "Ten of ya stay on the far side and keep an eye open for trouble. Another ten stay on our ship the rest of you slackers over the rail and join our King." The crew surges forward 20 of the older ones staying back with good steel weapons.

On the deck Aedan was cutting his way through those near his ship before he was hit in the side by a blast of water sending him skidding across the deck he smirked looking up. "Finally came out to play ehh?" He looked towards a trio of men in robes who stood there glaring at him the one in the middle slightly behind the other two shouting darkly. "You are a disgrace to mages and we are here to put you and your scum down." As he finishes the other two start to move their hands around throwing gusts of wind at Aedan as he ducks left and right eyes darkening. "Tch I fight the way I fight and those scum as you call them are my men they follow me willingly you will have to deal with me to get to them." He smirks as he throws his scythe forward the blade separating from the haft and spinning towards them as he drops the haft letting it form back into chains as he starts to walk forward the spiked chains writhing around his form as he smirks. Tisikleos Miles Reese

 

[Reese]

Fiery tuffs twitched in the sea breeze as the young fox watched in awe as her Aedan leapt into battle. His orders were to keep close yet...her feet would not follow. There was hesitation there, to be as bold and battle ready as the so-called Pirate King. Still the young Zorren at least made sure to keep a close eye on him. She would have to after all, as well as the others who looked to board the enemy vessel. She didn't want to be lectured for turning them into ash after all.

The flames forming along her fingers started to grow in size as they floated up like lanterns in the wind. Growing greater in size before dividing into small, more concentrated orbs. The sputtering reddish-orange flames turned a cool blue. There were about a dozen of them now, floating above Reese's fingers. Swirling like eager little sprites that would set entire groves a blaze at the slightest touch. With the roar of battle and boarding crewmen, Reese ran along the deck, towards the front mass, her Zorren legs carrying her quickly. In passing of each conflict, a flick of the finger and a blue orb would soar through the air towards angry foreign adversaries. Some were spooked by the flames. Others tried to block, or slash at them, though little would help change the outcome of their to be fates. The blue whisking flames attach to blades, clothing and men alike. While the few that did not make the mark settled on the ship. Patting, frantic hands. Worried screams of expected heat. Curious eyes of nearby crewmen who watched friends, comrades, enemies.

Snap

The subtle sound of the snap of fingers. Then...the screams of agony. Blue flames erupting, consuming all they had met contact with. Enveloping living souls in intense blue flames that made them look like specters, searching for wayward souls. However no souls gained this day, only bodies. Charred husks of men who slowly burnt along the deck, or fell into the waters below, not that it saved them. Those who watched the event, horror in their eyes. At least six men died on the deck. Another in the water, either already dead, or now drowning. The remaining flames, just small, contained fires that slowly faded, leaving smoldering black scorch marks against the wood. It did not burn like normal flames, no. This was magic and not exactly the friendliest of sorts.

Reese's eyes, bright under her hood, did not look to see the work she had committed. Hell she did not even like the sounds it made. Ironic really. How someone who did not relish in the killing of others, had such horrid ways to do so...

 

[Tisikleos Miles]

Tisikleos rose above the waters on a spire of seaweed in time to see Reese snap her fingers. The flame consumed all it touched, men screamed as they burned, and Tisikleos’ pert lips pressed together as she raised an eyebrow. But for the fact the enemies of her husband’s crew were the ones who burned, Tisikleos would leap to the Hellscythe’s defence against this pyromagical creature… but no.

“Has Aedan acquired another for our fold, I wonder?” She hazarded a glance at Aedan Miles, three mages in torrid battle against her husband-King. Every man needed the challenge of good exercise, and Tisikleos wouldn’t interfere with his entertainments for the world.

That left the mage currently hazarding her ship, a mage which must have been on the unfortunately listless ship so near.

“Hullo, what’s this? A pretty Zorren be ye?” From the leathers she wore, Aedan’s sigil on her upper sternum, and the salutes of the sailors, Tisikleos walked upon the Hellscythe as if it were her prize as well. One palm up, and Tisikleos nodded. “You will neither fear nor worry of me, little Zorren. I am Aedan’s wife, and if you have his blessing, then you have my welcome. Care to venture forth, help me kill another mage? Or, would you rather stay on board?”

Although the hand of potential friendship was an offer required quickly to survive a battlefield, it was to Tisikleos also a calculated tactic for the battle ahead. A water mage could, with proper education, recognize that plant life, being the majority liquid in nature, was little threat to the initiated. But fire? Now that was dichotically opposed.

“Tut, tut, now. What will it be?”

 

[Aedan Miles]

Aedan laughs wildly as he dances chains flashing out repeatedly piercing the legs or arms his body spinning and dancing around them. His mismatched eyes gleaming as he allows himself to fall into the fight letting the battle fill him with its music. Eyes flicking to the side he leapt over a series of attacks that blasted into the deck sending chips of wood. He lands and darts forward the chains forming into a pair of short swords as he dove forward sending himself into a spin as he enters melee combat with the two wind mages slashing at both of them. His eyes gleaming as he feels the swords bite into the body of the two sending a splatter of blood over the deck as he leaps backward watching as the wind mages drop to the ground turning to the water mage he slashes his swords sending blood in a circle around him even as his weapons return to their chain shape. "SO now its just you and I? What about this will ya surrender or will ya force me to cut you down? Either way it doesn't mean much to me and you are already in a dangerous spot." He smirks a bit as he starts to walk forward not noticing that around him his crew was finishing up the remainders of the pirate hunting crews.

He let a dark smirk cross his lips as he looks around spreading his arms wide with a short bark of wild laughter his eyes gleaming. "Look my crew have even finished up what remains of your mere pirate hunters. My wife's ship approaches with reinforcements and even now you are surrounded. What will it be?" Aedan tilts his head curiously as he looks at the man his chains moving around his form poised around him prepared to strike out if the man should refuse the offer to surrender. Tisikleos Miles Reese