Chapter Ninety-Four
Peytor
“Throw everything you have at her—do not let her release that!” I screamed, voice cracking from the force.
Immediately, my Mages responded, releasing everything from giant fireballs to whirlwinds at Solace. The goddess simply grinned in response, the power continually building between her palms as the Mages on her ships launched counterattacks at our vessels.
Water shot into the sky as magic landed harmlessly, while others collided with sails and mainstays.
Chaos erupted as wood splintered apart, ships falling immediate victim to Solace’s army.
Fuck.
“Evasive maneuvers!” I shouted, sea spraying my face and wetting my body completely.
“Peytor! Peytor, what is happening?” Torin shouted. At some point, I’d accidentally activated my communication stone with Torin. I had no time to converse, however, and Torin was subjected to the sounds of battle and screams of dying.
I scampered down the rigging, ducking behind the rail, just evading as it sailed where my head once stood. I pressed my back against the railing, breathing hard as I watched my Water Mage quickly put out the fire, the magical attack leaving a dark scorch mark on the wood.
“Fuck! She’s going to tear straight through us to Alvor, Torin.
You have to get back to Alvor!” I shouted, hopefully loud enough for Torin to hear through the communication stone.
My steps faltered as a magical bomb landed on my ship, exploding outward and sending me careening back to the deck.
I lay still for a moment, wind knocked from my lungs as shards of wood and blood rained down upon me.
A quick glance showed my Earth Mage and Vessel were directly in the middle of the last attack, their bodies completely blown asunder. Chunks of flesh and bone stuck to the deck, and the rigging dripped with blood and tendons.
Fuck.
My stomach roiled at the sight.
I was not made for battle.
“Back to port, Peytor! Do you hear me? Pull everyone back!” Torin’s voice echoed from inside my pocket.
I scrambled across the careening deck, slipping on blood and water before grabbing desperately to the side of the ship. I pulled myself up to peer over the edge, the sight of battle stealing my breath.
Our fleet was splintered, a handful of vessels remaining. We’d hit their navy as well, but far fewer ships were felled or sinking, and Solace’s remaining fleet was slowly approaching, scorching ships and bombing Mages as they sailed.
But that was not even the worst of it.
My eyes locked on Solace’s ship—nearly half the distance it started—and I nearly lost control of my bladder.
“Fuck,” I whispered. “PULL BACK! PULL BACK TO ALVOR!” I screamed, my voice cracking with the force.
“PULL BA—”