THE STOWAWAY SON & THE BATTLE AT SEA
Golden morning light poured through the wooden window. Birds chirped. The peaceful silence broke as shadowy men crept past the window.
Akio noticed. "Huh...?"
He peeked through the curtain. His eyes widened.
"That's Dad on the ship… but—Wait... who are those guys?"
He watched the shadowy men talking suspiciously to each other, their eyes darting.
Akio clenched his fists. "They must be up to something… Dad… agh, those Knights… I've got to protect him."
He sprinted to the kitchen, opened a drawer, and pulled out his mother's kitchen knife. He slid it into his belt at his side, then dashed out the door.
Akio ran fast, breathing hard. Suddenly—he tripped and fell. Dirt smudged his face. He looked up.
Two of the King's Men stood ahead, watching.
They just smirked.
They ignored him.
Like he was meant to be there.
Akio kept running. He climbed aboard the ship silently and sneaked below deck—slipping into a wooden crate.
Villagers waved and cheered loudly as the boat began to pull away from the dock. Flags flapped in the wind. Music played.
Mizuki stepped outside, holding some things in her hands for cooking.
"Akio…?" she called softly.
No answer.
She scanned the area. Her eyes landed on the open knife drawer.
She gasped. "No... no…"
She dropped everything and ran.
She arrived panting, just as the ship sailed into the open water.
"Varnok!! Akio!!!" she screamed at the top of her lungs.
Varnok stood at the front of the ship, gazing toward the village. He saw her in the distance—faint and desperate—but he couldn't hear a word.
One of the King's Men leaned close.
"A beautiful wife you've got there, sire," one pirate said with a grin.
Varnok didn't respond. He kept staring.
"I know right... He has found Mivana," said another, slurring slightly.
The pirates laughed heartily and began to sing a deep warrior chant.
ALL (chanting very loud):
Raise your blades, let thunder roar!
Hearts of ice, we go to war!
Blood and bone, the battle drum,
The cold blood sons—our time has come!
Horns on the hills, the drums of dread,
Follow the banners of black and red.
With blood on the steel and frost on the skin,
We fight 'til the last of breath gives in.
All together (screaming):
Heave-ho, bring the fire,
Blade and bone, never tire!
Slay for the crown, drink for the throne,
We ride un'til the devils are gone!
Akio sat quietly inside the crate, listening to the sound above him. He could hear the pirates singing loudly and stomping their feet as they danced across the deck.
He furrowed his brow.
"Wait… Isn't Dad supposed to be with the Knights?" he whispered to himself.
Still confused, he leaned forward and slowly brought out his head, peeking through a small gap.
He saw them—pirates, dancing and singing, moving straight toward where he was hiding.
His eyes widened. He quickly pulled his head back in and hid inside the crate again.
The sea remembers
As Varnok listens to the pirate songs he gets into a flashback from years ago
He finds himself in a ship deck with a dinning set lots of Vikings are seated there, they were Laughter, Drinking, Fights, A hall full of Viking warriors. Varnok stood at the side of the long table as Vrokar walked up to him.
"Where next, my Lord?" Vrokar asked.
Varnok looked straight into the horizon.
"What village is goin' to tremble at the sound of our feet next?" a Viking shouted.
The hall erupted in laughter, mugs raised high.
Varnok grinned, eyes serious. "The wind calls us north. We set sail."
"North it is," Vrokar barked, turning to the crew. "Full speed ahead!!"
The hall burst into song, pirate hymns echoing as mugs clashed and voices rose.
Flashback shifts to a burning village, Blood splashes around, people Screams, Flames covers the village. Varnok watched helplessly as villagers died.
In the chaos, he saw... himself. Staring back.
Echoed screams filled the air.
"Help!! Ahhhh!!"
Varnok snapped out of the memory. The King's Men and pirates were still singing.
There were four ships in total. The first was the pirate ship with black sails, holding about five generals and thirty-five men in total.
The two massive ships on either side were lined with gold—these carried the knights, also known as the King's Men. Each was three times the size of the pirate ship.
The last ship was for medics. It returned injured and dead soldiers who could no longer fight. A med-ship.
The pirates and King's Men sang different songs, but if one listened closely, the King's Men lyrics could be heard:
They say the Ice King cannot feel pain,
But he'll kneel or bleed on the battlefield plain.
The king has spoken, his word is law,
Break the beast with tooth and claw.
Akio sat hidden at the edge of the ship inside his crate.
"He'll kneel or bleed on the battlefield plain..." he whispered to himself with a confused look.
Then came the full chorus:
Heave-ho, drink it down,
Burn the sea and crush the crown!
For gold and glory, blood and bone,
We ride for the King, we ride alone!
Varnok shook his head and marched toward the Captain and the generals gathered near the mast, they are 5 Generals, Lucien Marros, Caelum Virel, Alren Vos, Seraphine Drael, Aurex Vellor.
"Status?" Varnok asked.
"We're past the reefs. Clear weather ahead," said the Captain.
"We should cross the strait before midday," Lucien Marros added.
"And watch the east flank. It's too quiet there," Caelum Virel warned.
They nodded—until two guards arrived, holding Akio by his shirt. He dangled helplessly.
"Sire... look what we found," one guard said.
They dropped Akio in front of Varnok.
Akio grinned sheepishly. "Hehe... surprise?"
Varnok looked stunned… then furious.
"Akio!!"
"Turn the boat," Varnok barked.
"Sire, we can't—" the Captain started.
"I said—turn the ship around!!" Varnok shouted.
"Dad—no... I can help..." Akio stepped forward.
"Akio!!! Did you think of your mom before runnin' off?! Did you think how worried she'd be?!" Varnok's voice thundered. The deck beneath them quaked. His armor frosted over. A storm began to brew.
"Dad... I'm… I'm sorry…" Akio said, almost crying.
Varnok's breath came heavy. He calmed slightly.
"You're... (sighs deeply)...Turn the ship around."
"But sire..." the Captain tried again.
"I said... turn the ship arou—!!" Booooom!!!
A cannon hit the side of the ship, Kraaa-koooom!!! The deck tilted. Smoke filled the air.
"We're under attack!!" the pirates yelled.
Varnok immediately grabbed Akio and carried him into the Captain's cabin.