In the Village of Shadows, Kain spun on his heels, eyes locked on Yariv's black sails slicing the gray horizon like sharp blades. The hot bracelet pulsed on his wrist, the Ruby Jewel vibrating in his pocket like a war drum, echoing the roar still shaking the rocks. "Ready?" Kain shouted to Torv, who hammered a loose plank on the speedboat, sweat dripping from his sun-scorched face. "Won't sink even if Tashkivor tries!" Torv shot back, landing a final blow on the edge, the sound ringing loud. "Then go!" Kain ordered, shoving the speedboat into the water with a firm kick to the bow. The group scrambled after, launching the other four speedboats, engines roaring as they sped toward Yariv's ship, black foam bursting against the hulls. Sira drew her bow on the second speedboat, the wind tossing her hair into her face. "They know we're coming! Look at the sails!" "I'll cut them in half!" Toren growled, his giant sword resting on his shoulder, accelerating the third speedboat with a rough shove of the helm. Vael twirled a dagger on the last speedboat, his crooked grin gleaming. "If that ship escapes, I'll swim over and rip the sails myself!"
The speedboats raced through the Shallows, bouncing over dark waves that crashed hard, saltwater soaking Kain's boots as he spun the helm to crest a high swell. Arrows flew from Yariv's ship—the crows, pirates in tattered cloaks, shouting from the deck as they fired. One arrow struck the edge of Toren's speedboat, wood splintering into shards that flew near his face. "These guys!" Toren bellowed, swerving the helm to dodge another volley. "Pull back to the sides!" Sira yelled, already aiming at a crow with her bow, the arrow flying and vanishing into the mist. "We'll flank them! Toren, left!" She adjusted the string, targeting the right flank, eyes sharp against the salty wind. "Get that speedboat!" Kain roared, spotting a dark shadow breaking away from the enemy ship, rowing fast toward the rocky shadows. "They're trying to throw us off!" Toren gunned it, his speedboat slicing a wave that splashed foam onto the deck. "I'll crush that speedboat!" He hefted the giant sword with one hand, the other on the helm, as an arrow whistled past his shoulder. Vael leaned from the bow of the last speedboat, hurling a dagger that struck the enemy speedboat's oar, snapping the wood in two. "No rowing for you, smart guy!" he laughed, spinning the second dagger.
But the crows fought back. An iron grappling hook shot from the ship, rope taut behind it, aiming for Sira's speedboat. She caught the glint of metal and leapt aside, the arrow on her string dropping as the hook grazed the edge, rocking the speedboat hard. "Almost got me!" she shouted, steadying herself against the helm, bow still in hand. Torv jumped from Kain's speedboat, wrench in fist, and rushed to the edge. "Hold tight!" He slammed the metal against the hook, dislodging it with a clang, the rope splashing into the water as Sira stood, already nocking another arrow. "Flank them now!" Kain commanded, turning the helm right, the speedboats arcing toward the fleeing craft. The engine sputtered under a high wave, but he held course, eyes fixed on the target. The speedboats scraped against an islet, hulls groaning on wet sand as they halted at the edge, waves lapping the sides. Kain jumped first, boots sinking into damp sand, the Ruby Jewel glowing in his hand as it transformed into the Ruby Sword with a hum that cut the salty air. Toren and Sira disembarked behind, weapons ready, while Vael and Torv braced the speedboats against the crashing waves.
The spy, one of Yariv's crows, waited near a moss-covered rock at the water's edge, twirling a knife between his fingers, a burlap sack thudding down and splashing shallow water around it. "Persistent, huh?" he laughed, his voice rough as iron on salt. "Yariv knew you'd come—sent me to slow you down." Kain leveled the Ruby at the spy's chest, hesitating as the red glow trembled on the blade, the memory of training on the docks still fresh in his mind. "Where's Selya?" he growled, the tip a hair's breadth from the spy's throat. "On the ship," he replied, his crooked smile widening. "A beacon for the relics—since Yariv took her, they shine brighter, guiding him to Tashkivor. Heard Shimon's messing with winds for his own plan." Lirien stepped forward, boots sloshing in wet sand, her chipped spear firm between her fingers. "How does she guide anything?" she demanded, voice sharp, eyes narrowed as she stood at the edge, shallow water lapping her heels. The spy faltered for a moment, his smile wavering, then flung the knife in a quick spin, aiming for Kain's shoulder. He sidestepped, the Ruby slicing the blade in half with a red arc that sparked in the mist. But the sword's glow pulsed too strong, a red bolt shooting wild and grazing the rock, shards splashing near Toren. "What was that?" Toren yelled, shaking water from his eyes as he charged with the giant sword raised. "Watch that sword, Kain!" The blow sank hard into wet sand as the spy rolled back, boots slipping on the slick edge.
"Too fast for you!" the spy shouted, yanking another knife from his belt and hurling it at Sira. She spun her bow, blocking the metal with the wood, the string trembling. "Try again!" she snapped, firing an arrow that zipped past his hood. Vael emerged from the shadows, rope in hand. "No rowing for you!" He lassoed the spy's wrists with a firm tug, but the spy twisted, slicing the rope with a swift knife motion. "Not that easy!" he laughed, kicking the sack toward Lirien. The sack tore open on the wet sand, a golden medallion rolling out, its warm glow sparking like Kain's bracelet, shallow water rippling around it. Lirien dropped her spear to snatch it, and the air erupted in a sudden whirlwind, shallow water swirling with sand up to her ankles. "This moves the air!" she yelled, eyes wide, gripping the medallion tight as the whirlwind rose, flinging droplets and sand into the spy's eyes. He coughed, rubbing his face, and stumbled toward the rocks, tripping on the slick edge where the wave broke. "Get him!" Kain bellowed, the Ruby trembling in his hand, the bracelet pulsing in response. He lunged, swinging the sword low to block the spy's path. The spy leapt back, but the medallion's wind threw him off balance, feet sloshing in shallow water.
"That medallion?" the spy shouted, pulling a third knife and throwing it at Lirien. "One of the relics Selya calls—Yariv's got more on the ship, all glowing like that bracelet!" She spun the medallion by instinct—the wind turned into a short gust, deflecting the knife into the sea with a shrill sound that cut through the foam. "Nice move," Kain stared at her, chest heaving, his tone softening, and she returned a look that lingered a beat longer before nodding. "Saved you from being a target again," she said, a crooked smile breaking through. Vael shouted, tossing another rope. "Now stay down!" The lasso caught the spy's ankle, yanking him face-first into the wet sand, water splashing around. He pulled hard, dragging the spy two meters as Sira rushed in, pressing her foot on his wrist until the knife sank into the mud. "Talk more!" Sira demanded, arrow tip a breath from his face, bow taut with steady arms. The spy spat water and sand, his hood falling to reveal old scars on a gaunt face. "You're too late," he laughed, eyes gleaming with malice. "Selya… she calls the relics. Yariv's using that for Tashkivor."
Toren stepped up, giant sword planted in the wet sand like a threat. "Too late? We'll see who sinks first." He nudged the spy's shoulder with his boot, drawing a grunt. Lirien spun the medallion again, the wind rising with a low hum that flung the spy's cloak into his face, scattering droplets at the edge. "If she calls the relics, we need to surround the ship," Kain said, sheathing the Ruby, its glow fading reluctantly. Lirien pointed west with her spear, the tip scraping wet sand. "Narrow channel—it'll take us to him." Her eyes met his, a plan forming between them, sealed in a long glance. Kain nodded, the hot bracelet tight against his skin. "We'll rip her from his hands." He swung the Ruby in a quick test, but the glow pulsed again, a smaller bolt zigzagging sideways and striking Torv's speedboat. A spark crackled on the wood, and Torv leapt to smother it with his sleeve. "This thing's too alive!" Torv warned, wrench in hand, pounding the edge to douse the flames. "I'll control it!" Kain shot back, but uncertainty crept into his voice as the sword's glow settled.
A deep roar tore from the depths, waves rising in dark peaks that slammed the speedboats, splashing hot water that hissed on the planks. The islet's ground shook, rocks rolling into the sea. Yariv's ship darted through the mist, its black sails swelling too fast. A blue flash cut across the deck, as if the sea answered Yariv, and Selya appeared at the railing—a slender figure struggling against glowing chains that bound her, blue light pulsing in her hands before she vanished into thick fog. Arrows flew from the ship, one striking the edge of Kain's speedboat, its black tip dripping a viscous liquid that burned the wood. "She's there!" Sira shouted, bow taut, arrow aimed at the fading shadow. She fired, but the wind threw it into the sea. A strange gust blew from the west, carrying a shrill sound that prickled Kain's arms. On a distant cliff, Shimon emerged as a shadow against the gray sky, the Raw Diamond glowing red in his hot ring. Wind swirled around him, whistling like a starving wolf, pushing Yariv's ship farther as he laughed low, eyes fixed on the group. The blue flash on the deck pulsed again, and a high wave crashed against the islet, nearly tipping Toren's speedboat. "What's this now?" Toren yelled, gripping the helm to steady it. "Shimon!" Sira warned, bow trembling in her hands. "He's toying with us!" Kain ran to his speedboat, the Ruby shaking in his hand as he swung it in a quick slash, red glow tearing the mist like a scream. "I'll rip her from his grip!" he roared, the bracelet pulsing like molten iron. Torv slammed the wrench on the speedboat's edge, firing the engine with a roar. "Engines up! Let's chase him before he's gone!" Vael twirled his dagger, leaping to his speedboat. "Smells like a trap, but I'm in!"