No flag.
Long and narrow.
“Raiders!” someone shouted.
Arrows came through the rain.
One struck the mast.
Another hit a sailor’s shield.
The Captain drew his sword.
“Row!”
The enemy ship closed.
Hooks flew.
One caught the rail.
The Prince reached for his bow.
The Old Archer grabbed him.
“Below.”
“No.”
“Below!”
The Prince looked toward the enemy deck.
Men in black helmets prepared to board.
The Captain kicked one grappling hook free.
Another caught.
The enemy slammed against them.
Wood cracked.
Raiders jumped across.
Bronze met iron.
The Prince ducked as a spear passed overhead.
The Old Archer shoved him toward the mast.
“Stay behind me.”
A raider charged.
The Old Archer shot him at close range.
Another came from the side.
The Prince raised his bow instinctively.
Released.
The arrow struck the attacker’s shield, knocking it aside long enough for a royal soldier to tackle him.
The Prince stared.
The Old Archer shouted, “Don’t admire it!”
The Captain fought toward the enemy commander.
The two collided near the rail.
The commander swung an axe.
The Captain blocked.
The Prince saw another raider approaching behind him.
“Captain!”
Too late.
The Prince fired.
The arrow struck the raider’s shoulder armor, spinning him sideways.
The Captain turned and drove him back.
Then the enemy commander kicked the Captain in the chest.
He crashed into the mast.
The Prince ran forward.
The commander saw him.
A smile appeared beneath the helmet.
“There.”
The word chilled the boy.
Not prince.
There.
As if they had been looking specifically for him.
The commander shoved a royal guard aside and moved toward the Prince.
The Old Archer fired.
The commander caught the arrow on his shield.
The Prince stepped backward.
The man raised his axe.
Then the Captain slammed into him from the side.
Both crashed through the damaged rail.
The Prince rushed forward.
The Captain caught the edge with one hand.
The enemy commander fell into the sea.
The Prince dropped his bow and grabbed the Captain’s wrist.
The man was far too heavy.
The boy strained.
The Old Archer joined.
Together they dragged him aboard.
The Captain lay on deck breathing hard.
The Prince stared down.
“Now we’re even.”
The Captain laughed once.
“For the shove?”
“Yes.”
“You hold grudges.”
“My mother says the same.”
The remaining raiders retreated.
Their ship disengaged.
The storm swallowed it.
Later, they searched the bodies.
One raider carried a piece of black wax marked with the Regent’s private symbol.
The Captain looked at it.
“He knows where we’re going.”
The Prince stared west.
“How?”
No one answered.