Kasim cut the wheel again in order to throw his ship out of range of the ropes that swung across the gap between the two ships, but he was too slow. He heard the thuds as heavy bodies landed on the deck of his ship and heard the cries of his men as they engaged in battle with their enemy. Kasim lurched away from the wheel seconds before another man landed on the deck nearby, putting distance between him and the newcomer.
Kasim fell into a crouch and drew his scimitar from its sheath at the same time, facing his enemy. The man was tall, taller than Kasim, and broader. His body rippled with muscles, gained from fighting the sea his entire life. His hair was salt and pepper and a thick beard made stiff by the sea's salt covered his face. A scar lined the man's face from left temple to right jaw, a scar Kasim knew well.
He'd put it there, after all.
Seder loomed over Kasim, his own massive scimitar drawn and ready for use. His lips split into a wide grin, insanity clear in his eyes, tinged with hate. Kasim didn't bother to exchange words with the older man; he simply engaged him in combat.
Their swords clashed with a terrible clamor, and Kasim found himself sliding back across his deck as Seder's sheer physical strength overpowered him. He shifted his weight and attacked again, this time going for a piercing thrust that would have sliced a deep line in Seder's waist if the man hadn't moved quickly to avoid it. As it was, Kasim still scored first blood, but the larger man quickly scored the second blow, cutting Kasim's shoulder when the young man couldn't evade fast enough. Kasim cursed and backed away, sparing a glance at the battle raging on deck. Blood was quickly soaking into the wood, both from his crew and the enemy's, and it looked like his side was coming out on top. It was one thing to fight to defend themselves; another to fight to defend their home.
Kasim focused on Seder again and bared his teeth in a growl, but he still spoke no words. There didn't need to be an exchange of meaningless prattle between the two of them; each knew that this time only one would walk away.
Kasim charged again, slashing left and right with his scimitar and finding himself blocked each time. He parried and Seder counterattacked, their blades flashing in the sunlight. How many blows they exchanged, Kasim didn't know, but then a loud report sounded in the air, and the deck beneath his feet shuddered as a cannonball from the galleon tore a hole in the side of his ship, and he heard screams from those below. Incensed, Kasim attacked harder, driving Seder back to the rail, but instead of going over, the man braced himself against the thick wood and lashed out with his leg, catching Kasim in the ribs and sending him flying down the short staircase to the larger deck.
"I once told you that you would bend the knee to me, boy," Seder growled, his deep voice ringing in Kasim's ears like thunder. "I once told you that I would take your head from your shoulders."
Kasim spat out blood and pushed himself to his feet, grabbing hold of another sword's hilt and pulling it free from the wood it had been lodged in. He set his stance, balanced for a two-handed sword style. It was one he hadn't used in some time, and one he used only when he was desperate to survive. And since he could feel that Seder was here to kill him and send him to the briny deep, he knew he needed to pull out all the stops to survive. He sent a prayer to any god who would listen, then charged Seder, blades flashing in the sunlight.
