The Misadventures of Ka-Ron the Knight (14 page)

All he could do now was to wait.

"You think them pirates, captain?" the helmsman inquired.

Squinting, Hathaway looked at the tiny black ship on the horizon.

"Pray they are pirates, son." Hathaway's voice turned hard.

"What else could they be in these waters, sir?"

The captain remained silent.

"No," the helmsman stated, to himself more than to anyone else. "They be not&slavers."

Hathaway ordered the seaman to silence his thoughts. "I have heard rumor of their return to these waters."

"They have not sailed in these waters since my father's father's time."

"I fear that they have returned."

As the men of the ship performed their duties, far below deck they could hear Ka-Ron crying out in pleasure. Her angelic voice echoed with the delight she and Jatel were experiencing. Some, more lonely than curious, momentarily paused, listening with a deep jealousy.

This last did not fail to catch Hathaway's attention.

"The woman could act more civilly."

"She is a bounty, is she not, captain?"

Hathaway shook his head in complete agreement.

A red lantern was placed near the entrance to the hall leading towards their passengers' cabin. Hathaway had placed the lantern there as a courtesy and a warning. No man was to approach that part of the ship, should they see the red light.

"The ship's a-rocking, captain." the helmsman stated, trying his best to control the wheel. "The sea is brutal this sun."

Hathaway let out a dry laugh, meekly pointing towards the red lantern. "You sure it's just the sea, seaman?"

It took a small while before the helmsman got the comment, but, once the light of understanding entered the old man's eyes, both he and his captain had a wonderful laugh.

Hathaway, however, never took his eyes off the black ship.

Jatel watched in awe as his master arched her back, lifting her long hair over her head, and smiled down at him in a pleasing manner. The gentle rocking of the ship aided her motions as she tried her skills at becoming one with the squire. Her movements were like heaven, and her skills at the ways of making love were matchless.

It was all the squire could do to keep his breath.

For cycles Ka-Ron and he had been making love. Their appetites for each other could not be quenched.

"Jatel&" Ka-Ron whispered, as she bent down, allowing him to gently suck on her nipples. Both grew incredibly pink and sensitive with Jatel's touch. Her ass moved up and down his sex, causing her to moan uncontrollably.

Jatel's eyes shut, as he also began to moan in Ka-Ron's ear.

The quivering of his body, as he realized that he had achieved the same level of bliss as she, caused Ka-Ron to giggle yet again. She had never felt so alive. There was an immeasurable joy welling up inside of her, unlike anything she had ever experienced as a man. The fulfillment of her lover had become her paramount goal. When he was happy, she was happy. Perhaps, Ka-Ron thought, this was the essence of being a woman. Was it? Only time would tell.

Jatel opened his eyes and gave Ka-Ron a long and profound stare. It was unlike any other gaze the squire had ever projected.

This, above all, caused her to worry.

"What?" the knight asked, rubbing the bottom of Jatel's chin with her own.

"Master, I&" Jatel became nervous.

"Speak, Jatel."

Ka-Ron, realizing that the moment of loving had passed, pulled herself off Jatel and rested by his side.

"What if we succeed?" the man asked.

"Then we succeed. All will be as it was."

Jatel's eyes started to well up with his own tears. His body began to shake. Ka-Ron was mortified upon realizing that the man was silently crying.

"No&Master, it will not&be&as it was."

"Jatel&?"

The squire swallowed hard, closing his eyes.

"This goes beyond the spell, Ka-Ron."

She cupped his face.

"In what manner?"

Jatel opened his eyes. "Master, I do&love you so."

Ka-Ron, Errant-Knight to the Kingdom of Idoshia, felt a sharp pain rip through her chest, causing her to lose her breath. Her pulse quickened, and she found it quite hard to look her lover in the eye. A great well of strong emotions rose to the top, making her feel both dead and quite alive. Her tears fought for their own right to run.

The knight could not form the words.

So, being wise, she remained quiet.

The name of the black slaver ship was
Skree
. She was a dirty, forgotten, and totally feared vessel of the sea. Great spirits were few on her decks, and freedom was nowhere to be found within her belly. She was nothing but rotted wood and sails, meant to make a profit off the sweat of those she carried. A floating blasphemy meant to do nothing but destroy.

So, it was only fitting that her captain be a Xow.

The Xow studied the Anubi-Class vessel ahead of him, and knew from experience that its captain was aware of his intentions. He silently laughed as he retracted his looking glass and placed it in his belt.

Below decks, screams of agony and unanswered prayers to gods who no longer listened echoed outward. Their sounds were like music to the captain's ears. He cherished his way of life.

"Strike the colors." the Xow Captain ordered. "Prepare for combat."

Ka-Ron lay on the bed, watching Jatel as he put his clothes back on. The squire was saying not much of anything, but his silence spoke volumes. He did not want Ka-Ron to change back.

"Jatel?" Ka-Ron asked, rubbing her stomach.

The squire failed to respond. He continued dressing.

"Jatel," the knight pleaded. "Please, answer me."

Jatel's shoulders sank.

"Sire, I betray my oath every single time I look at you."

"It's the spell from that evil woman." Ka-Ron tried to reassure him.

"No! It is not." Jatel was on the brink of tears. "I love you. I love your touch! Your eyes! Your smell! And, the gods damn me for being a man, your breasts!" he paused. "I could love you until I die, and even for an eternity afterwards."

"Then you just love me for my appearance."

Jatel turned, looking into Ka-Ron's eyes.

"For the gods! No! Ka-Ron, I love you for you." He walked over to the foot of the bed. "You are still the bravest person I have ever met. I love you for&you."

"You've said that twice."

There was a long, awkward silence. Neither allowed the other's eye contact to stray.

"Then we are a couple?" Ka-Ron inquired.

"Until your quest is finished."

"If we fail?"

"Then I will remain at your side."

"Always?"

Jatel shook his head with confirmation. "Always. On this I swear."

Ka-Ron wanted to pull herself over to him, grab him by his belt, drag him back into their bed, and love him once more. She had never felt so close to someone before, or so safe.

Their actions were sidetracked, however, by a violent series of explosions to port, and the ship being tossed about wildly. Above deck, several men shouted orders and conveyed panic to each other. The cabin echoed with the thundering sounds of dozens of sailors running about. The effect was enough to cause the oil paintings on the cabin walls to fall onto the floor, and for Jatel to lose his footing and land his face squarely between his master's legs.

Trying to regain his composure, Jatel looked up at Ka-Ron, embarrassed. His face was covered with the woman's excitement.

"Jatel, if you had wanted to do that," the knight joked, holding back a bold smile, "all you had to do was ask."

Again, the room filled with the sounds of attack.

Jatel looked up at the cabin's ceiling.

"They sound as if they need some help, sire."

Ka-Ron looked around the room. "Where is our armor?"

Jatel glanced back at his master.

"Shall we?"

Ka-Ron shook her head in agreement. For the first time since she had been changed into a woman, she was starting to once more feel like a knight of the blood.

"We shall!"

Both exited their cabin.

The attack on the
Raxziel
was brutal and well-calculated. She took three salvos midship, and one to the bow. Anubi-ships, having to deal with the unknown, because they were all exploration vessels, contained collapsible walls. The sailors on board did their best to contain the flooding. It was an uphill battle, but the incoming water was brought down to a trickle.

"Get some men up on the gazer-deck!" Captain Hathaway ordered. His face was an expression of controlled horror. He always knew that one day a slaver would cross his path, but in all his visions and daydreams, he had always pictured himself quite older. "I'll be damned if I get captured to become some wealthy bastard's door pet!"

The sailors scurried both bow and stern, some actually colliding with the other. The ship shook with power as several rebellious volleys thundered from the exploration ship's lower decks. The men did their best to protect both ship and captain.

Hathaway laughed. To hell with all that! The men were fighting to protect their own asses from the slave master's auction block. And, who could blame them?

The slaver ship aimed higher, striking at the heart of the
Raxziel
. With a fiery snap, and an even more painful shower of wooden splinters, the three main masts, holding the sea-shell shaped steel sails, collapsed. At best, Hathaway was looking at three phases in a nearby port for repairs.

"They got the wind-drive!" a fellow sailor announced.

Hathaway gave the man a surprised and insulting look. "You think!"

The ship was dead in the water.

"Here she comes!" someone yelled.

A dark shadow fell upon the
Raxziel
. Each sailor could feel the cold touch of his own personal destiny.

"Men!" Hathaway shouted. "It's every man for himself now. Live free or die!"

The men raised their swords in a victorious shout.

As the
Skree
came alongside, both Ka-Ron and Jatel made it to the main deck. The squire was dressed in his battle gear, while Ka-Ron, too small to wear hers, only carried her beloved sword.

Both soon realized that the fight was over before it had even started.

Then again, they had both been in this type of battle before!

"My Lady, what are you doing up on deck?"

Hathaway approached both Ka-Ron and Jatel. Panic was clearly visible on his face.

"You look like you could use a hand," Jatel stated, unsheathing his sword.

"Are you skilled in war, sir?"

Jatel huffed, dryly. "Can a fish live in water?"

Hathaway accepted the squire's claim. However, as he looked upon Ka-Ron's shapely form, his expression changed. "You, my lady, should go below. I do not wish to see you harmed."

Insulted, Ka-Ron looked up at the captain.

"I may be your last hope, captain."

Hathaway laughed. "We shall see, miss. We shall see!"

Jatel prepared himself for battle.

"Will you be able, sire?"

Ka-Ron held her sword outward. She swallowed hard. "I only hope that my tits don't get in the way."

Both ran out to join the battle.

It did not take long for Ka-Ron's sword to find someone to play with.

The Xow Captain could not count how many heads he had managed to chop off during his attack. He did not care. He did, however, evaluate each and all of his victims - the ones he killed were ones that would fetch no profit. He loved the hunt. It was the closest he would ever get to home.

"Bring me more blood!" the Xow shouted.

Bodies littered the decks, all bleeding out their life force. Freedom was too high a price to pay in order to keep from wearing chains. The Xow could not understand. Life made slaves of us all. The only difference between master and servant were the titles.

The two forces clashed heavily amidships, near what was left of the main mast. The
Raxzeil's
men fought the
Skree's.

Ka-Ron stood above the Xow Captain, stalking him. Her eyes were keen. Her hearts were calm. And, other than noting an irritating wind blowing up her skirt, she was all concentration.

The invading captain had no idea that he was a target.

With sword raised, Ka-Ron attacked.

"What the&?"

The
Xow
captain hit the deck. His nose started to bleed. His face had banged against the hard-polished woodwork.

"Who dares?"

The Xow turned, facing his attacker.

Ka-Ron, with one eye covered by a seductive strand of her beautiful dark hair, stood with her sword above her head, pointing straight into the chest of her invader. She was still wearing the bright red dress she had purchased back in Teal, and, because of the spell placed on her by Kai, her make-up and appearance were at their most-perfect. She was a vision!

"Do me the honor of getting the hell off this ship," the knight barked, her beauty magnified by her growing anger.

The men fighting between these two momentarily stopped. Was the Captain of the
Skree
being challenged by a woman? And, what a woman! Men glanced at Ka-Ron, looking her both up and down. One man, captivated by her beauty, couldn't wait and started to yell out suggestive comments. This last caught Jatel's attention, allowing him something to say on the matter. He threw the man overboard.

"Listen to me!" Jatel said, wiping his hands. "This woman is mine. Anyone who wants her will first have to talk with my sword."

The Xow Captain growled. He started walking towards Jatel.

Ka-Ron's sword flashed in front of his face.

The Xow paused.

"If you wish to talk with him, you first have to go through me."

"Well, and, why not?" the Xow Captain replied.

The Xow sneered as he took off his Captain's Cloak, handing it to his second without acknowledging him or glancing in his direction. The totality of his facial expressions were focused on Ka-Ron, who dared not flinch or deviate from her target. The tip of her sword stayed incredibly concentrated on the Xow.