Private Tales The Wrong Kind of Ship

[Ivar]

There were six of them now, by his count.

He did not know if they were all together, but they had filtered into the square and were all watching Finn as though she were a piece of meat in the middle of a yard of dogs. They wanted blood, or rather, they wanted gold and knew she had it. "I'm ready."

Ivar said slowly, his arms uncrossing as he stepped over towards her.

His hand slipped onto her shoulder gently, softly pushing her towards the left and away from the market down a path they had not tread yet.

"We're going to go this way." The Barbarian told her.

He did not know how well Finn could handle herself in a fight, but just from her size and general...well, aptitudes he guessed that she was not a shield maiden. He didn't want her to panic if he let slip word of who was following them. "Okay?"

 

[Finn]

She stumbled slightly even though his touch was gentle enough. "But," she craned her neck back the way they'd come. "That's the fastest way." A questioning look in her sky-blue eyes. Then an easy shrug of her narrow shoulders.

She liked being efficient but she was never un-open to ideas.

"Hmm," she had a pencil behind one of her ears and chewed on the end of it in thought. "Maybe I'll find some other things this way." One of the orce mirrored their steps and began cutting back around the docks. Some of the others not so sleuthily made their way toward them. Picking up their pace.

 

[Ivar]

Ivar wasn't as used to moving through a city as he was a forest or great Tundra, but his size and determination saw him through well enough.

Still holding on to Finn just in case the hulking Barbarian cleared a path through the crowd. He stepped quickly, moving along the wooden planks and gently brushing aside those who got in their way. Behind them he knew the Orcs and their fellows were following, but it was not yet time to turn. "What else do you need?"

Ivar asked, an attempt to distract Finn so she did not panic.

All the while his gaze flickered back and forth through the buildings. He was searching, quietly, for a place that he could make a stand.

He needed a spot where the numbers would not matter. Where it could be ten against one, and the one would be able to win. There was always a place like that, he just had to find it.

 

[Finn]

"Oh you know, this and that," a slim hand waved in front of her nose. She frowned at his paw touch on her shoulder. She shied away from physical touch and in this case, it was no different.

Her shoulder pulled away from his hand and she ducked slightly to the right, nearly tripping on an upraised wooden-plank and into a stall of fabrics. She caught herself at the last moment and walked as if nothing happened.

Very cat-like.

And if he went to bring his hand back, she would swat it lightly away. It was then that one of the two orcs who had circled them, stepped in front of their path three stalls down.

"Hey, what's with all this touchy-touch?" She finally asked the northerner.

 

[Ivar]

"Them." He motioned to the two orcs three stalls down.

At this point Ivar wasn't worried about scaring her, not when a conflict like this was inevitable. So he gestured subtly to the two Orcs who had fallen into step just a few stalls ahead of them, his lips thinning as he then half turned.

"And." He glanced back for just a moment. "Their four friends behind us."

This time the Barbarian didn't reach out to touch her, but he did motion to the alleyway nearby. "Go that way."

Ivar demanded with a quiet hiss.

 

[Finn]

Finn gulped. She'd been worried about the rumors that might spread when she set foot upon this floating island of stitched together ships and cargo. And it wasn't just about the dwarven gems that she had. A quick nod to Ivar, wondering if he'd save his own skin if things became too much.

Short steps hurriedly took her down the halley he pointed to. Inventor's mind recognized it for what it was. He was creating a bottleneck. A shot at defending against so many of them. It would work unless one of them knew the way around to the other end. She kept a wary eye out at their exit as the orc followed them into the alley from the way they'd just come.

Finn turned and peaked behind Ivar's shoulder.

"What do you want?"

Maybe they could settle this like rational adults.

 

[Ivar]

Ivar wasn't much for talk, not in situations like these.

After a life time of fighting to defend himself The Barbarian knew when it was time to back down and it was time to lash out. Right now it seemed the time to lash out. These men did not want to talk, these men wanted to cut Finn's throat and take the gems that she was carrying.

"Give us the gems and you live."

The words rang out predictably, and Ivar slowly ran a finger over his half moon ax. "Or, you leave and I let you walk away."

One of the Orcs seemed to step forward.

The threat however remained in the air, and Ivar pulled himself up to his full height. The orc wasn't much shorter than he, and they outnumbered him, but he would take his chances.

The handle of his half moon ax slipped into his palm from the loop on his belt.

 

[Finn]

Finn sniffed, wide-eyed.

A small frown on her lips. And he didn't run. Ivar didn't run. He could. Could've easily sold her out but he didn't.

"Wait, I'll give you," the orcs didn't wait as they attacked, lumbering down the alley with nasty looking clubs with spikes on them drawn. Finn backed up, eyes scanning the alley looking for anything she could use to do something. There were closelines with clothing hanging. A couple good anchor points. Her mind whirled as she turned to the rise of the wooden sides boxing them in from the right and left.

Then began to climb.

 

[Ivar]

Ivar didn't climb, he wasn't built for it.

Instead as the Orcs rushed forward he rushed them in tern. His steps were quick, his hand slipped down the handle of his ax in an instant. The Half moon blade flickered forward, and then low, slicing through the thigh of one of the orcs.

A loud echoing scream tore from the man's lips, pain lancing across his features before the haft of Ivar's weapon smashed into his teeth.

The other orc lashed out with his knife, catching Ivar's side and cutting into his flesh. The Barbarian quickly rebuked him, fingers twisting around the handle of his ax and sending the blade through his bicep. The limb clattered onto the floor, the orc screaming in pain.

 

[Finn]

Luckily, Finn was built for climbing and running away. This time she climbed not to run away, though. She made her way to multiple buckets tied off from other tiers of homes or shops stacked along this quarter. Buckets were tied with pulley systems to get rid of the dirty water.

As she braced along the boards, she slipped her knife from her boot, the only weapon she had on her, and began cutting through one of those ropes with the buckets. Sawing through that rope until it dropped onto one of the orc's heads below.

Right on target.

 

[Ivar]

The orcs thinned.

One of them even ran away as Ivar, splattered in blood, turned on him. A gnarled scowl turned on him, eyes focused so in depth that they seemed to pierce through flesh and everything else. He stared at the man, and he turned.

It was gratifying, though he knew that the fight was not over. "Head back to the ship!"

He called to her, briefly glancing up.

"I'll meet you there." Three more. Just three. He could kill them quickly enough, and Finn would be out of danger.

That would be something at least.

 

[Finn]

“What?” She cut through another bucket, her skinny arms working quickly. It fell and slammed down on one of the remaining three orcs. Knocked him out cold. The other one looked up at her and roared.

“I’m not leaving you.” She cut another even as the second orc dodged it.

 

[Ivar]

"GO!" He shouted as the two remaining Orcs stepped away, looking above themselves to make sure that there wasn't anything else that could be dropped on their head.

Ivar took the opportunity, rushing forward.

His steps thundered against the wooden decks of Teth, shifting beneath him as he dashed through the alleyway.

His ax clashed against a broadsword that one of the Orcs was holding, the two weapons throwing up sparks as they clashed together. His fist came out a second later, throwing against the Orc's face and sending him to the ground with a loud thud.

 

[Finn]

She frowned as she looked down. He was too close to the remaining two orcs to drop the waste buckets. She doubted he'd appreciate the smelly help. Scrambling down, she carefully lowered herself back to the docks. She knew they weren't just after the money. Sure it would help the crime lord but she imagined the crime lord heard rumors about her ship. And she figured he'd want one built for himself.

Finn retreated a few steps up the alley, looking over her shoulder at the northman.

"Come on!" She urged, unwilling to leave him completely.

 

[Ivar]

Ivar half turned around to hear the woman yell something, giving the orc in front of him a moment to grab onto him. He felt a skull bash into his nose, blood spilling over his beard and into his mouth.

A cough escaped his throat, the axe clattering to the floor as he grabbed the man's neck and pushed him back.

A curse escaped him, and he screamed. "JUST FUCKING GO!"

His voice boomed.

"I'LL CATCH UP!" Why was it so hard to fucking listen? Why couldn't people just do as they were told? Anger poured from him. Something burned through his eyes, a simmering rage that ripped through his muscles.

The Orc drew back his arm, aiming a punch towards Ivar's face.

Then the Northman pushed forward. His leg came up, smashing into the orc's knee as his hand extended and grabbed his arm. There was a loud snap, and then the man half stumbled into Ivar's arms. He was turned, the northman's bicep curling around his throat.

 

[Finn]

Finn flinched.

Not only at his voice but the blow he got for turning around. And the way he simmered. She turned and she ran. And now she didn't know if she was more scared of him or the orcs. People cursed and yelled as her skinny form dipped between around around them. A shoulder nudged against a startled elf.

A trip against a portly human.

A rebound against a shop wall.

And then a hard, solid, unforgiving chest that felt like a wall. A meaty hand enclosed around the collar of her shirt as he lifted her feet clear off the ground as if she weighed no more than a few pounds of fresh fish.

"Boss wants a word with you," the orc sneered. Finn's skinny arms lifted, small fingers going to push and claw at the orc's meaty wrist.

"Let me go," she grunted and swung a leg.

The orc only looked bored and mildly amused as he lifted her higher and began walking toward his boss' den.

 

[Ivar]

There was another loud crunch, and then the orc fell down onto the floor.

Ivar breathed heavily for a moment, blood still pouring from his nose, some of the splatter from the dead men covering him. There were a few people at the end of the alleyway looking at him, some children staring at him in wide eyed disbelief.

For a brief second the Berserker took a deep breath, then slowly he leaned down to pick up his ax. One of the men at the end of the alley called to him.

"Oi! Northman."

Ivar turned, ready for a fight, but he saw only an old man half crouched over. He did his best to reign in the rage for a moment, taking deep, heavy breaths. "Yes?"

There was a rasp to his voice.

"Your friend got nabbed, Criluks men."

Ivar stared for a moment, scowling, then slowly began to walk towards the end of the alleyway.

"What direction?" He asked.

"Don't think you wa-"

"What." Ivar prompted. "Direction."

 

[Finn]

She was carried down the docks, her fingers digging into his meaty arm as he dragged her along. She remained calm, blue eyes darting for something to use. Anything to her advantage.

She still had the welded metal in the pack on her back but she couldn't really get to it. Not with the way he was dragging her. Down another aisle, then a turn, and then another turn, he finally took her into a low-roofed room. Into the bowels of an old ship and deposited her on the floor.

"Oof," she wobbled and straightened, glaring at him.

A low chuckle sounded behind her. A jagged scar ran down one eye of the serpentine creature. Finn's sandy brows rose along her face.

A fricken Nagai. So this was Criluk.

"Ah, you must be Finn. Do you realize there's quite a bounty on your head from Elbion?"

"What if I told you I could pay you more than my bounty?" Finn's eyes still darted around, noting another exit behind him. The one behind her was blocked by that orc. There were some lit candles and the Nagai was sitting behind his desk. Some crates in the corner.

Not much for the little inventor to work with.

 

[Ivar]

Ivar practically marched through the streets.

He had always taken his roles in life seriously, no matter what they had been at that time. Sometimes he walked as a Warrior, sometimes a protector, others as a Son. It never mattered. All of them got the same level of devotion.

Including this one.

A smart man might have left Finn to her own devices, might have cut his losses. Might even have taken her ship for themselves. Ivar was no such man.

He would not abandon her. "Ciriluk's hideout?"

He stopped a man on the street, his clothes worn and rough, a tattoo on his neck that denoted some sort of of affiliation. The man looked at him for a brief moment, glancing at the blood on his clothes and then at his ax a moment later.

"Whose as-"

"I am." Ivar said as he grabbed the man and threw him up against the wall.

"J-just down there, can't miss it. His goons are perched outside."

The Barbarian nodded, releasing the man.

 

[Finn]

The nagai hissed a laugh.

"It's not jewels or coin I'm after. At least, not this time." He looked her up and down, closely. "My men saw what you did at the forge today. Rumors preceded you weeks ago. Didn't believe them until we decided to watch you this past week. There's no way that little boat of yours made it across the deep to get here, at least, sailing on the ssssssea."

Finn's head shook as she took a step toward the crates.

"There's nowhere for you to run, little mouse."

 

[Ivar]

A man flew through the door.

He was thrown with such violence, such force, that one might as well have thought he was shot out of a canon. Wood splintered, steel bent, and another man was forced to the floor as he crashed into him. A dozen faces immediately turned towards the door.

Blood spilled on the floor where the dead man had landed, Ivar stepping through the half shattered doorway still holding his ax.

Crimson splattered his face, an odd rage clinging to his eyes as he looked through the room and slowly cast his gaze towards those inside. Lips thinned for a moment as he saw the Naga, his eyes setting upon the snake like beast. "Step."

He breathed.

"Back." There was a slight glow to the edge of his ax, his fingers folding around the hilt of the blade as he peered at those inside.

 

[Finn]

Finn's sky-blue eyes widened. She hadn't expected him to come. And she'd been afraid slightly afraid of him. But here he was. He hadn't left her. And in this moment he reminded her so strongly of her street gang friend in Elbion. The one that had been like an older brother to her.

Slightly scarier BUT STILL.

"Take care of this inconvenience," the naga hissed, snapping at the men in his chambers and slowly sliding in front of Finn, to block her from Ivar. Finn saw the flash of a shadow behind the northman.

"Behind you!" She yelped a warning.

 

[Ivar]

His ax snapped backward in an instant.

It was quick, so quick that the blade chopped down before the man had even a second to notice. The half-moon swept through the man, cutting him in half instantly and pinning him to the wall as the blade buried itself in the wood behind.

There was only a second before the next man swept forward. He was quickly met with a fist to the face, the next a forehead to the nose, and the next a blade to the stomach.

Ivar was like a whirlwind, a mad storm within the room as he swept over for after foe. Blades cut him, knives stabbed into his flesh, blood spilled over his skin, but none of it stopped him. The Barbarian rushed through foe after foe, leaving a room full of broken men and corpses.

He stood, breathing, looking at the snake like beast ahead. "Let. Her. Go."

Ivar said.

 

[Finn]

"You've made the biggest mistake of your life, boy," the snake mobster hissed and draw his hands forward as if he was going to cast a spell. He frowned when nothing happened. Then tried again.

Finn had already moved behind the giant snake beast, hefting up a medium small crate in her arms and swung it at his back. He cried in pain and alarm as he turned toward her.

 

[Ivar]

Ivar burst forward as soon as Finn struck the man.

He was like a blur of blood and violence. With a berserker like strength he grasped the snake like monstrocity and ripped him forward. His head bashed into his nose, his fists dug into his side. The sound of snapping bone could be heard.

The beast opened his jaw, biting forward towards Ivar only to be caught on his forearm. He felt teeth sink into his flesh, digging, digging, and then suddenly wrenched his arm away.

Blood flowed, but his dagger came up and stabbed into the creatures skull. With a guttural cry of pain the Naga suddenly flinched, and then tumbled onto the ground with a loud thud. For a few seconds the Barbarian stood, breathing in and out as he looked up at Finn.

"Are you alright?" He asked, his head spinning.