Chapter 141 Muddy Waters - The Pirates on the bay (IV)
The dark night enveloped Frostwave Bay as the gentle glow of the torchlights cast long, dancing shadows on the icy ground, the flames fighting bravely against the cold wind. The stars twinkled in the sky, accompanied by the soft light of the full moon being reflected by the serene sea, like the eyes of an ice goddess. However, danger lurked beneath the calm facade.
The small ships navigated slowly through the waters surrounding the bay. The hulls barely made a ripple as they crossed the rocky barriers guarding the harbor entrance. Not a single light or sound came from the ships, shrouding them in an eerie darkness as they approached the city.
Each vessel carried a crew of about twenty men, huddled together with their eyes fixed on Frostwave's docks. Among the crew stood a figure with a scar etched across his cheek, crouched near the bow of the leading ship, his eyes emanating predatory intent.
The man's voice, barely above a whisper, carried across the freezing night air, lost amidst the silence - "Are you certain the king is residing in the main house?" - he asked.
"Aye, chief! I saw it with me own eyes! I swear by the sea!" - came the reply from a weathered sailor who had slipped away when the king's arrived on Frostwave Bay.
"Good. It will make our task easier" - the chief declared - "This distance is enough. Signal the others to halt and prepare for the assault on my command. We'll need a distraction to accomplish our task. We need to be swift and precise!"
With a silent nod, the chief's orders were conveyed, passed among the crew with knowing glances and subtle gestures. The other two ships came to a halt, their forms blending seamlessly into the night. Meanwhile, the chief's vessel continued its stealthy approach, creeping closer to the dock of the city with each passing moment.
The chief raised his hand and lightly pushed the unlocked wooden door, praying in his heart that no creaking sound would echo. Fortunately, no sound came from it, and they entered the house. The main door gave access to the reception room, where Henry had greeted the shipbuilders, where the reunions of the city took place.
As soon as he opened the door, a thought crossed the chief's mind - "It's too dark" - The darkness seemed to have swallowed the whole room - "Normally, the fireplace should be lit to ward off the cold and not make the house so dark." The chief was someone who knew well the village head's house since he had lived here once upon a time and commanded the whole city with his will. He knew where the two ladders behind the large table would lead and that the kitchen was on the right door, bathrooms were only accessible after labyrinthine corridors of the house. He understood the inns and outs of this house.
"Swift!" - Those words coursed through the chief's mind again.
But, suddenly, a noise shattered the silence and disturbed the darkness as the fireplace was suddenly lit, the glow of the fire faintly shining light upon the room. There, sitting on the chair in the middle of the large desk, a figure was there, looking at them as if it was expecting their visit for the whole day. Those gray eyes were looking at them with an amusing look.
"Welcome!" Henry said, opening his arms and pointing at the chair right in front of them. "One of the sailors saw a ship sailing away as soon as I and my troops reached here. I bet with Leier that you guys would come yesterday or today. I imagined that it was impossible for Iosif to take care of all soldiers so easily."
Henry gave a brief smile, but at that smile, the chief knew that everything went awry and that his plan had gone wrong. He looked around and saw that no one was inside the room and only the king himself. He was defenseless.
"We can still finish the task and capture the king," the chief thought as he took out a shell from his pocket and blew on it. A loud but soothing sound came out of the shell, a sound that traveled through the whole city and spread to the bay, reaching the ships stationed near the harbor.
Henry watched everything with interest, his smile growing bigger when the chief suddenly took out two daggers as he said, "I will get you and bring you to my ship, then, I will ask for a value for you."