Jeremiah Berek had never been one to overdo it; especially when it came to courage. That was the secret to heroism, he’d always thought – act brave enough, do what was needed – and no more. So when the scythe of the most dreaded madman in Theah had slid between his heart and his legs and protruded out his back, he did what came naturally: He conned.
Don’t overdo it, thought Berek, or he’ll suspect. Providence hasn’t seen fit to kill you just yet, but all he need do is twitch that blade left, or right, and your breathing days are over. So, he winced in pain, looked shocked at the blade, and went limp.
The shock was easy; having three feet of Synerth steel come within a hair of killing oneself led to a certain natural astonishment. And fighting dirty, exaggerating his wounds, even playing dead had come naturally to the noble turned merchant captain turned privateer. He’d needed every advantage he could get, and mercilessly exploited them. Others called him a rogue; he preferred to think of himself as a survivor.
It had taken every measure of willpower to not try for one last desperate thrust at Reis, but the monster had already proven itself more than human. He wasn’t certain a saber through the eye would kill the fiend, but he was uncannily certain it would make him very, very mad. When Reis had gripped the Synerth necklace from around his neck, and torn it free, he had wanted to use the last of his strength to fight.
“Oh…” he’d groaned, instead, as he slid down the blade. Laying it on a bit thick, chap. You’d be dead already if it struck your heart. He’d lain still, unnerved by the blood which had blossomed out of his heart. He heard Bonnie’s anguished screams. Sorry, love. I couldn’t let him take you and the crew along with the jewel. He’d never have stopped – I’ve no idea how much money that little trinket will fetch him in Caligari lands, but its cost too many lives already.
His thoughts went sadly to Celedoine. Sweet girl – you knew what I was going to do and played along. I never expected you to go toe to toe with that monster – I’d never even known you were capable of it. Now your dead, Meryth is wounded…but the Black Dawn is free.
Reis stood over him, staring at the jewel, entranced by its ruby colors and the shapes that swirled within it. “At last. At long last – the key is mine. Again.” He bent low over Jeremiah, who held still and stopped his breathing, playing the part of a corpse to dramatic perfection. “You’d delayed plans years in the making, little rogue. But you’ve filched your last treasure, now.”
Key? What bloody key? Jeremiah stilled himself not to tense. Bloody…bloody idiot.
Reis turned, strolling slowly back towards the aft, his mind on the future, and his plans for it. Berek opened one eye, peeking around long enough to notice his moment, hop to his hands and knees, and crawl silently to the end of the ship. He extended his hands over his head, and dove into the surprising heat of the water. It had ceased to boil, when Meryth had freed the blade from her eye, but his body still pushed through the corpses of sirens as he sunk down in the heated water. The saltwater tore into the cut in his chest and back, but the water muffled his screams.
Disgusting as it may be, he could hide amidst the corpses, surfacing occasionally for a breath, until the Crimson Rogers.
Now…just to find one of those nearby deserted islands or passing ships that always appear in an hour of dire need in the tales.
Alright, not your best plan, Jeremiah. But certainly better than dying right off.
He sunk back under the water to await the departure of the Black Dawn.
7th Sea copyright Alderac Entertainment Group. Dreamlyrics copyright ASCKEY Ltd.
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