Without breaking his gaze, Captain Hal shouted, "All hands, prepare for battle!" At his words, those not manning other stations began to retrieve weapons; axes, maces and sabers; slings and bows; pikes and glaives. The assembly was haphazard but they moved quickly enough.
By now the pursuer was within spitting distance and Hal was breaking into a cold sweat. From a distance he had not seen it; could not make the men standing at the enemy forecastle. Now though, he realized the bulk of the force stood stock still, lifeless eyes staring into nothing. Dead. By know, death magic was largely unknown in the world, taboo in most lands. All that was left was stories of shambling cadavers, heedless of fear or pain.
The captain's second was shaking, moments away from breaking. Hal turned; he shared that same fear but was better able to hide it. Grabbing the trembling man by the neck, the captain shouted in his face; "Are you a man or a rat?" But the man's eyes had glazed over. Hal simply cut him down as an example, throwing the body overboard. Gesturing with his bloodstained sword, he addressed his other men. "This crew has no use for cowards! All who flee will share his fate!"
Leenane saw the body plummet past a port hole, listening to the Captain's tirade. The fool thought that more feat would bolster his men's resolve. That was fine; the more panicked her captors were, the easier it would be for the attackers to kill them. Still, the young woman took in her shackles and decided to get to work freeing herself, even as the assailing prow of the other vessel dug into the Valiant's side. The battle had begun...The Red Jewel had the initiative.