"There are several ships following us!"
Howard, as the vice commander, rushed to the deck of the ship and asked the man standing on the mast:
"What flag do they raise?"
The sailor looked again carefully then turned at Howard saying:
"The sails have the bloodied rose, the Wilshire's crest!"
As soon as the men heard this, they prepared for the battle ahead. Vincent remarked to Albert:
"It seems that the Wilshire won't waste the chance to sink the ship and kill the young princess after their diplomatic tricks failed with Princess Hestia."
Albert could not hide his worried and nervous face; he had always wanted to travel the seas but never wished to be engaged in a naval battle. He looked to the side; there were five ships figured on their sails the Wilshire family crest that looked like a blooming rose, drenched in the color red as if bleeding. That woman who left the narcissus was probably onboard one of these ships. Howard asked the princess to seek protection in her room but she refused to let the men die for her sake while hiding, there was no time for arguing. Howard left her convinced that the Amphitrite will sink the Wilshire's ships before they become close to it and it seems that their ships also had the same intention, they immediately started to fire their cannons but the Amphitrite wasn't that frail, her cannons windows opened quickly in response like an entrance to a cave allowing the sleeping dragon to awake and puff out his deadly fire. Albert watched amazed how the Amphitrite's cannons took down one of the attacking ships, and turned it into a sinking wreck and ash in minutes. Howard ordered the men to prepare to shoot again as the Wilshire's ships continued to move toward the Amphitrite, Howard gritted his teeth:
"They don't learn easily... fire again!"
The huge wide - range cannons sank another ship but the remaining three didn't stay still and ignore the insolence this time, they opened their fire on the Amphitrite. Howard tried to avoid the cannonballs using the speed of the ship but it wasn't enough although it lessened the damage the cannonballs were ought to inflict. The Amphitrite replied by damaging the right flank of the third ship. Vincent turned at Albert saying:
"Don't you want to help them?"
Albert wasn't surprised; Vincent was a high ranking soldier after all, he wouldn't expect something different from him but for Albert, seeing such a great beautiful ship showing its other face, the destructive one, didn't please him... he always saw the ocean wide enough for all the different ships to sail together... he hated to see these elegant and beautiful vessels which his father loved the most used for the purpose of fighting and waging wars. For him, a ship was something to soar with above such dark intentions... it was a vessel to discover new places and connect between them...
"That's our Amphitrite, a death reaper for her enemies!"
Alice exclaimed proudly of the ship she's working onboard, but Albert didn't share her enthusiasm. Instead, he asked her driven by his fears for her:
"Alice, please hide somewhere safe!"
"What are saying, Albert? This isn't my first time in a naval battle... beside, I won't leave the crew alone, I'm part of it too!"
She was speaking with the same confident tone she spoke with when she promised Albert to support his dream, he wanted to tell her this but a cannonball that hit the ship's left side interrupted their conversation... this time, it took with it the lives of three men... Albert followed the falling men with his eyes, they couldn't but shed tears for the lost lives, the other sailors bowed their heads for their friends as Alice prayed for their souls... Howard ordered to prepare for a furious battle to avenge their fallen mates. Albert and his friends looked and saw the three remaining ship approaching closer from them. Howard noticed this declared brazenly:
"If it's a sword battle they want, then let them come!"
The men unsheathed their swords preparing for a close engaging but the three Wilshire's ships weren't all that remained, Albert looked closely at the horizon, there was about ten other ships following the remaining three. Even the mighty Amphitrite will be no match for them anymore with her damaged left side, he turned at Howard exclaiming:
"We can't let them board on the ship to fight with swords or we'll be completely overwhelmed! We can't defeat all these men and ships!"
" We - the Amphitrite crew - are not cowards like you, nobles! We respect our fellows!"
Howard replied in disdain, but Albert stopped him by the shoulder shouting at his face irritated:
"Can't you see their reinforcements? We have to escape before they surround us! And the princess, do not you care for her safety? She is the only one who can help us with the holy spring! She's the reason they want an onboard battle, to get her!"
Howard took his spyglass and looked; the boy was right yet he couldn't accept the idea of escaping during a battle with such an arrogant family... he ordered the men to keep on fighting until Albert shouted:
"I thought you wanted to help your family and theirs but you won't dying here!"
Howard looked at his men's faces; they seemed to agree with the royal officer despite saying nothing. Howard bowed his head ordering them to prepare to retreat. His assistant inquired urgently:
"But where to? We can keep on going forward but that won't help... they will stay on our tail... or we can try sailing through..."
The sailor didn't finish his proposal because everyone realized that the other option was impossible and deadly. Albert understood the situation... the other option was to sail through a narrow passage filled with huge sharp rocks, a death trap to any ship sailing it yet he completed what the assistant did not dare to say:
"Then, we'll go through the Triton Pass!"
Howard spat at the out of the blue full of himself young man:
"You think I'll risk my men's lives and set sail through that death trap?! No ship has ever come alive out of it!"
"It's better than letting them die in a meaningless unmatched battle... at least we have hope by going there, the Wilshire's ships are extremely huge and they appear to be slow, at least their speed isn't like the Amphitrite's... there's no way they can follow us through that passage!"
Albert argued back, no less concerned or worried than Howard, but a decision had to be made. A grave silent resided, even Alice didn't say anything because no ship had ever made it safely through that passage and were all sunk and wrecked. Albert couldn't wait anymore seeing the remaining Wilshire's ships shortening the distance separating them, he did not hesitate and put his hand on the first mate's shoulder, Howard opened his mouth to object but Albert spoke trustingly and honestly that the latter could not object or deceit through the officer's candid words:
"I know how you feel... but Alex did not choose you as his vice commander if he believed you were incapable of making the right choices or believed in your abilities and Alex is not here right now... so it's your responsibility and his wish but I won't let the responsibility of your comrades' lives fall on you alone... I'll be responsible for this decision and its outcomes no matter how grave they might be... your other mates are bust with the fight, so I will be your ears and eyes... and I will be your right hand leading the ship through that passage!"
Howard looked at the young man astonished, he spoke the truth and was obviously worried about the ship's fate, more so its people's. Nevertheless, he couldn't just let him risk the ship in that passage. The men waited for their vice captain's orders they did not come. He said nothing, neither did he order to help the royal officer nor to stop him. The chasing between the fighting ships began; it seemed the Wilshire's had understood their opponent's plan and intended to sink the ship before it reaches the Triton passage . The sharp spear-like rocks soon appeared welcoming the Amphitrite like the fangs of a mythical sea dragon reaching through thick fogs and low clouds. Albert screamed at the men:
"What are you doing? Someone... Fine I will do it!"
Albert declared like a man out of his mind, and rushed to the command cabin where the rudder was. He had no real experience and only new the basic. These facts simmered in his mind making his confident hurried steps toward the cabin shiver and come to a halt, as he turned one last time with pleading eyes at Howard and the men who were waiting their vice commander's orders. The crew was still against risking their lives by passing through that death trap, and most precisely was infuriated by the idea of letting an aristocrat officer they could not like or trust risk their lives and take command of them... Albert looked at them, he understood what they were thinking, he couldn't just ask them to simply trust someone they despised... this left him wondering if he was really able to sail through that deadly passage... what had come over his head to propose such arrogant words? His fervor was suddenly put out as he stopped at the cabin door, his hand shaking at the handle. Then, a strong voice returned his self confidence:
"I'll help you!"
Everyone turned their faces; Serena rushed to the main sail to unfold it to a beam reach with Vincent help and advice. Albert opened the cabin door casting one last encouraging smile at Howard and when he got no response he strode into the room and held the rudder with shaking hand but with determined eyes. At this sight, Howard's voice was finally heard.
"All men to to their stations! Few keep firing at the enemy to postpone them and the rest to your places! We are going through the Triton pass!"
Howard gave the command and followed Albert to inside the cabin. Few shots were heard as one of Wilshire's ships managed to approach the Amphitrite into rifle distance combat, but in doing so rashly it is only ensured its demise as the merciless giant cannons of the sea goddess sank it on the spot. At the sight of the drowning ship and dreadful passage entrance the Wilshire's ships stopped and followed no more, just as Albert predicted, they probably thought that the ship was waltzing to its certain demise, choosing to be doomed by the rocks and tapered edges than the enemy's fire. Alice joined her hands and cheered encouraging:
"Go on Albert... go on Howard... you can do it!"
Then, she turned at the men who stayed still and yelled at them:
"What do you think yourselves doing? Help your first mate and the new officer!"
The men took their appointed stations to steer the ship as safely as possible through the dreaded path. Howard took the wheel, gritting his teeth to prevent a certain sound from coming out, as Albert laid the map and relayed what was written and drawn and what the men on watch were shouting. The ship entered the den of death unable to avoid few scratches here and there, but they were nothing to worry about till this moment. Then he could no longer hold his voice in, and an agonized curse fell from his lips alerting Albert who was immersed in his maps.
"What is it, Howard?"
Albert left the table, and was mortified to see the vice commander directing the rudder with a wounded hand, his blood flowing and staining the magnificently crafted rudder.
"You are injured, you cannot keep on or you will bleed out and worsen your injury!"
Albert snipped his handkerchief and pressed on Howard's injury warping it tightly around his wounded arm, thinking he must have gotten injured by the last heard gunshots.
"I will tell the second mate..."
Albert announced prepared to leave the room but Howard stopped him with a firm grip.
"No, this will only make the men panic more... first losing their captain and then their first mate... they cannot know I can't handle the ship anymore!"
"But then who will steer the ship!!"
Albert inquired in the panic Howard was wishing to avoid. He spoke aiming as if to taunt the young man but not out of hatred, instead for the sake of encouragement.
"Were you just a few moments ago priding yourself of going to lead the Amphitrite? Were those words for show?"
"What? No... it is impossible... I cannot! I don't know..."
Howard went on, not packing down:
"You claim to be worried about the ship's fate and its crew... you claim to be selfless toward this mission and the people of our country... show me your true worth and adhere to my instructions... I will be your hands and eyes this time!"
Albert eyes shifted indecisively between the rudder and the first mate. It was indeed no time to cause further panic and disorder. Howard's injury had to be kept a secret, he was not wrong. Beside, did he not himself declare he will take responsibility for the decision of heading through the devilish path? He will not take responsibilities for words alone, he was not a kid anymore, he had finally accomplished the first step toward his dream and boarded the most famous ship in a strike of luck. He won't fail his dream, he won't let down the friends who did not hesitate to believe in him, Vincent, Alice and Serena, and he definitely will prove himself and his true worth and intentions to Howard and his crew... to his father who was a legendary sailor... he won't let his name die in the mud! For all of these reasons, more importantly, for his sake, he had to take this second step in the ladder. He nodded and grasped Howard's hand with the utmost trust.
"I believe you will guide me well!"
Albert took control of the rudder under Howard's instruction. Every time he had to take a deep breath, he was pulled back into full attention by Howard's scream at him, not knowing if it was contribution to ease the shaking of his hands or increasing it. After few moments of controlling the rudder like a marionette pulled by the first mate's strict orders, as he glued his eyes to the maps and his ears to the watchmen comments, the crafted wood finally felt natural under Albert's touch, with this sensation his heart lightened as if he was sailing through a dream until a loud cracking noise nudging the ship to the pointed rocks opposite side, awakened him accompanied by Howard's cruse and the crew's call for attention.
"I am sorry! I am sorry!"
Albert yelled in fear. He was not sailing through a dream, more precisely his first sale was through a nightmare on which hanged the life of an entire crew, two friends, a royal princess, and a beloved one. Albert focused his strength and his mind on the mission ahead, leading the ship more steadily, left and right as Howard commanded, not feeling belittled by the man's natural cursing tongue, but rather encouraged in a strange way. In the same sensation, Howard took few seconds to stare at the young man, ignorant of most way of sailing yet still managing to follow commands and old memories. It was the a long time since he'd seen a similar thing; Albert appeared like a part of the ship, a painful expression drown on his face every time the ship got a scratch, whispering an apology to the vessel. He had only seen this expression and determination when he first sailed with young Alex. Everyone's hearts were bouncing but no louder than the young man who held with both his hands the rudder directing the ship, the sight of the wreck - promising rocks surrounding the ship like the fangs of snakes squirting out their venom to blur the vision of safety. The path seemed endless and as he didn't dare to take his hands of the rudder for a second to wipe his sweat, he looked out of the command cabin... the sailors despite ignoring him and never acknowledging his appointment onboard the ship believed in him and entrusted their lives in his hands, and although Vincent was older and more experienced than him, he was standing with Serena helping the crew believing in his ability... even the young princess Selene, was kneeling and praying for their success in passing this passage and finally, there was Alice who stood looking at him through the side window realizing without a hint of fear in her eyes that he was the one directing the ship, merely smiling at his face when their eyes caught each other. This was enough to give him hope and trust in himself... he could never fail these good people and let the darkness of the sea's depths devour them, he closed his eyes, the end of the passage was finally glittering in the horizon, he whispered, more of a prayer:
"Amphitrite, please don't fail me... you allowed me to handle you and so I believe in you too!"
Perhaps the ship had been sailing this way since they first entered the passage but it was when Albert whispered these words when the sailors felt their own precious ship challenging the bad weather with its spread white sails and the sharp rocks with its bold body, putting a real fight and making a stance for itself. The carved goddess herself seemed to be protecting the ship bearing her name with her might and bless... Alice entered the cabin calling Albert's name and telling him to open his eyes, he did not realize when he had closed them... the spread clear horizon welcomed his sight... the glistening water of the sea was once again extended in front of them as the sun shined again lightening the white sails. Albert froze wordless as Alice rushed hugging him, with Howard congratulating him and patting him on the shoulder. He had no intention of concealing who had been sailing the ship, he was not one to seek glory. The whole crew gaped their mouths at the sight of the royal officer holding the rudder before they understood what had just transpired. Before they rushed to tend to their vice commander's injury, they all yelled a "hurrah" at the young officer. If their first mate had trusted him, so will they.
The celebration did not last long, the fear dragged by the situation calming everyone and knocking them back into their senses; there were repairs to be made, injuries to be taken care of, dead bodies to honor and an antidote to gather but that did not lessen of their joy at going through the Triton path and getting out alive, the first ship to do! Only one sight managed to dull their happiness.
Just as the Amphitrite's sails finally welcomed the sun beams like the wings of a butterfly that had just left its dark cocoon, flower calling to that butterfly to sit on its petals also bloomed after the vanishing of the passing storm... a fancy fast ship was strutting across the water distancing itself from the injured vessel. It resembled a water lily floating with its colorful sails. The men looked at that ship... it also carried the Wilshire's crest but it didn't seem willing on continuing the fight because it just went on its way, further from the Amphitrite's new destination. As firing cannonballs would only bring the ship more harm than good, they decided to let it be. After all, once they get the antidote to the poisoned captain and resume their assigned course, the score will be settled. Albert was breathing heavily as he ran away from the command cabin, not knowing if he was feeling proud, happy or frightened. Noticing the ship, Vincent who standing beside him and showering him with praise like a father, remarked:
"That ship is so fast; it arrived here taking the long path at the same time we got out of what is supposed to be a short cut passage! I can tell it is no battle ship, but a personal vessel. That woman is probably there."
Albert looked at the ship; Vincent's conclusion seemed logical. This meant that the woman he saw at the ball was onboard it... was she frustrated by the defeat or astonished by the unmatched deed the Amphitrite had just accomplished? Had had not seen her face, but grew familiar of her twisted methods yet, who could tell what expression lied on her unmasked face now?