Golden Age (The Shifting Tides, #1)(72)

Half the crew and all the marines on the upper deck now rushed to the rails, scanning the sea, until another sailor pointed.

Dion saw a gush of water shoot into the air half a mile ahead of the Anoraxis. A moment later a humped sea monster with glossy silver scales plunged back down into the water, revealing a long tail at the end.

Roxana left Dion’s side to take command of the ship, bellowing for the oarsmen to increase speed. The pounding drum below resounded as it increased tempo, thudding along to the rhythm of Dion’s pulse. As he clutched his bow he remembered the serpent he had killed as it wrapped its length around the sailboat off the shore of Cinder Fen. His first arrow had bounced off the leathery hide. But his second had proven true: the creatures could be killed by arrows.

It was close to noon and the sea was calm, with little wind to create waves. The island of Ibris formed a distant landmass, further impeding large seas. The regular dip and pull, lift and drop of the oars hauled the warship ever faster through the water. Despite the breezeless day a wind now gusted against Dion’s skin as he felt the thrill of the chase.

He thought again about the huge leviathan that had swallowed Cob, his old friend. In Xanthos the vessels that traded with Phalesia were at the whim of the wildren, but in Ilea, the wildren were actively hunted. It was a prospect only made possible by ships like these.

The serpent disappeared again for a time and now every man was peering into the water as well as scanning the horizon. Dion wondered if the creature would flee their approach, or would be bold enough to attack.

The question was answered when he saw a dark, sinuous shape speeding underneath the water. It was directly ahead of the bireme. The serpent was heading straight for them.

‘Dead ahead!’ Dion cried. ‘It’s under the surface!’

He nocked an arrow but the serpent was too deep. As the silver silhouette passed out of sight beneath the ship, deep enough to avoid the ram, he only saw that the creature was fat, and longer than the ship by half a length. White-faced sailors peered down, hanging over the rail as they wondered where it would next appear.

Making a guess, Dion raced along the open deck to the ship’s stern. He stood on his toes as he leaned against the rail.

Fifty feet behind the vessel and slightly to port, a scaled triangular head shot to the surface. Dion immediately drew the bowstring to his cheek and sighted along the shaft, aiming for the soft skin between its jaw and the frill behind its neck. Releasing the arrow, he grabbed another from his quiver and loosed again.

The first arrow tore into the silver flesh just behind the frill but didn’t sink deep. The second bounced off its skull.

More arrows filled the air a moment later as half a dozen archers fired together. The serpent plunged back into the water, thrashing its huge paddled tail in agitation.

‘Turn us around!’ Roxana roared.

Executing the turn at practice was one thing, but to be traveling so fast and then have half the oarsmen back while the other half continued to push forward made the vessel groan like a wounded beast. The Anoraxis heeled to the side and anything loose rolled across the deck.

The mast creaked alarmingly and Dion ran to the ropes holding the top of the sail to the upper beam. He knew the risk of the ship turning so hard while on sail: if he didn’t act quickly the mast could snap. He unhitched one line after another, careful of his hands as the whistling rope shot away once it was unfastened.

‘Get that sail down!’

Sailors ran to take over and with most of the work done he left them to it, earning a quick grateful nod from the stocky captain. He now ran to the bow as the chase began in earnest.

‘Ramming speed!’ Roxana cried.

With the turn complete, the drum increased to a beat so fast that Dion wondered how any oarsman could keep up with it. He heard a whip crack below and winced: a slave had just lost part of his skin.

‘Where is it? Come on, men. Talk to me!’ Roxana bellowed.

‘Dead ahead, cap’n!’ a sailor shouted.

The oars tossed the sea into white foam, leaving surging swirls in their wake. The marine infantry hefted their spears. Archers waited with arrows nocked.

The serpent shot out of the water ahead, nearly leaping in its haste, flying forward as its head again submerged.

‘Two hundred paces!’ Dion called back.

‘Sail back on!’ Roxana shouted.

He turned in surprise. It was a bold move, for the extra speed the sail gave them would come with a risk if they needed to turn at short notice.

He heard a snap as the sail once more climbed the mast. With the vessel at ramming speed, the bireme flew over the water, her prow carving the waves like a knife.

‘One hundred paces!’ Dion cried as the serpent reared out of the water, sending a cloud of spray into the air behind it as the thick reptilian monster plunged back into the sea.

Roxana ran to the bow and then back to the stern to give orders to the helmsman. The Anoraxis turned slightly to bring them into a direct line with the wide body of their quarry.

The head came up at seventy paces and Dion pulled his bowstring to his ear. He again aimed behind its jaw, and his experience on boats came to the fore as he calmly rode the motion of the vessel beneath him. It was a difficult shot, at the limit of his ability.

He released and watched as the string thrummed. Someone nearby cheered, and he felt a sudden surge of pride as the arrow struck home.

The serpent shivered and its entire body came to the surface and into the path of the warship. The head turned and wild eyes glared back at them.