Leroy Pini, the second-in-command of the Goldstar, stayed close to Vespera Thal as they were witnessing the vast armada approaching them. Leroy had been vocal about his disapproval when an elf woman was first inducted into their ranks- it had gone against every tradition they held. But he had watched her fight for the last few days. He had witnessed her cold, unyielding leadership under fire and a gallantry that would put many men to shame. That was the reason, when Admiral Vorlag Vane had appointed Vespera as the de facto Admiral, Leroy did not protest or object, despite being more eligible for the role himself. A true warrior values leadership, battle prowess, and gallantry above all else, and he- along with every other sailor, had developed a profound, unshakable respect for this woman.
Leroy leaned in, whispering in low raspy voice, "What do you think, Admiral? If you give the order, we will gladly fight by your side until our last breath. We won't die before we take most of these pirate scums along with us to a watery grave. Just give us the word."
Vespera's chest was overwhelmed with a mix of joy and pride. The respect and companionship she had always craved- the one thing her elven comrades had never wanted to give her, dismissing her as a woman before they ever considered her skill;- she had finally found here, in the blood and seawater of Veridia. Her heart swelled. She realized she could die here, among these men, with a smile on her face. That was the death every warrior dream of.
She looked at Leroy. A smile touched her face that betrayed her tired, worn appearance. "I can think of no better death than fighting against overwhelming odds, facing my enemies with my back to the people I am sworn to protect, and dying beside my comrades. It is poetic!"
Leroy grinned with a fierce expression on his battle-hardened face, "Spoken like a true warrior. It is an honor to fight and die beside you!"
Vespera hadn't noticed the other sailors on board were slowly gathering around her until they began to echo his sentiment. They were touched, brimming with a grim, defiant joy. They shouted in unison, "Tonight, we fight like lions before we answer the call of the deep!"
Vespera turned toward them and bowed low. In a voice choked with tears of joy and emotion, she said, "Thank you, everyone. For accepting me as one of your own. And for giving me the love and respect my soul hungered for ever. I wish, if I am ever reborn, that I can be born with you all again, to ride and die with you."
The sailors shouted in unison, "For Veridia!"
The electrifying excitement spread like a virulent plague to the rest of the six carracks. They were all ready to die a hero's death. But as they braced for the final clash, the great bell of the Auric Spire began to toll. They knew exactly what it meant. They were to abandon their ships immediately and head back to the Core. The Veridian Guards and Throne Guards would now take over the fighting.
The sailors looked to Vespera for command. They wanted to fight to the death; they were bustling with bloodlust. Vespera shared that same emotion, but the Lord's order was absolute. By now, everyone knew Lorian was strongly against senseless death, especially of his own people.
However, this command to abandon ship was not so simple. For others, the ship was just a vessel. But for the sailors, it was not a lifeless tool- it was their home, their comrades. Abandoning them to save their own lives was a decision that tore at their very souls. Someone who was not a sailor could never understand that emotion. But defying the Lord's order was akin to mutiny, and they were not about to become mutineers.
On Vespera's command, they began the extraction. It was not an easy process. They all knelt on their ships' decks and kissed the bloodstained, grimy wooden floor again and again, as if they were saying goodbye to a partner for the last time. With teary eyes and heavy hearts, they anchored their ships at the dock and descended at a slow, dragging pace. Upon landing, they turned to look at their ships one last time.
Although they were supposed to hurry, no Throne Guard or Valorian Guard rushed them. The sailors' sorrow touched their hearts, for only a soldier can truly understand the grief of another. They did not disturb the sailors as they bid their final farewells. The sailors knelt on the ground, touching their foreheads to the earth one last time for their fallen comrades, then began their walk back toward the Auric Spire.
Their return was not a silent procession. Every Throne Guard and Valorian Guard on their route stood at attention, removed their helmets, and raised their right hands as a sign of profound respect for the valiant sailors who had fought against impossible odds for the sake of the nation. The pain in the sailors' hearts was partially lifted by this gesture, receiving honor not only from the Veridian Guards but from the elite Throne Guards themselves was no small matter for them.
More surprise awaited them as they arrived in front of the Golden Gates. Lord Lorian Throne himself stood there to receive them, flanked by Grand Commander Lucien Lehance and Admiral Vorlag Vane. When the Lord himself welcomed them inside and thanked them for their inhuman fight, they literally broke into tears.
They walked inside amidst the claps and cheers from the commoners and nobles alike who were gathered on both sides of the road. On Lorian's command, all of them were immediately transferred to the Restoration Wing. As the last sailor entered, the Golden Gate closed behind them. The evacuation was complete. The city was now ready to brace for the impact of the pirate onslaught.
The pirates reached the coastal waters of Veridia by midnight. The coastal barrages proved to be a major deterrence; the darkness provided hard cover for the trebuchets and ballistae, as the pirates could not identify the firing points. However, the enemy's sheer numbers and density proved fatal for the armada. The coastal defenses had little trouble hitting the enemy ships in the dark, as they were packed so tightly that a miss was almost impossible. The armada realized too late that attacking the Veridian coast at the dead of night was a grave risk.
The army resting on the wall cheered for joy. For a moment, they believed the coastal barrages would be enough to break the pirate fleet. But their joy soon turned to ash in their mouths when fire erupted along the coast. Lorian watched in horror as balls of liquid fire were launched from a ship hidden behind the enemy line. With precise targeting, the fire rained down on the dock, washing over the wooden coastal batteries and setting them and their operators alight. The stench of burning wood, tar, and scorched flesh was carried by the sea breeze, filling the nostrils of the defenders with disgust and terror. The horrible cries of their comrades shook the souls of the people huddled behind the Gold Wall.
One operator, however, stayed on his feet, despite being covered in sticky, burning tar. With his dying breath, he cranked his ballista one last time and loosed a bolt toward the enemies. The fiery missile hit an enemy caravel, setting it ablaze. However, the dark flagship answered instantly, its own bolt perfectly penetrating the burning operator and ending his torment once and for all.
Lorian watched all of this closely. He gritted his teeth, his fists clenched so tightly they turned white. He would not let any of these pirates die an easy death. He would ensure they died a death so terrible they would think twice before ever being born again.