They'd entered waters where legitimate trade ships were preyed upon by vessels flying no flags and respecting no laws. Vara had known this was coming. These passages were unavoidable if they wanted to maintain their cover of charting new trade routes.
The attack came at dawn, three sleek vessels emerging from the early morning hazy fog in silent coordination. They moved with extreme efficiency, like crews who'd completed countless successful raids.
Vara was quick to respond, though. "All hands! Battle stations! Archers to the rails! Prepare for boarding!"
The crew burst into a flurry of action. Finn found himself swept up in it, his navigator's duties temporarily forgotten in favor of more immediate concerns. He grabbed a boarding pike someone thrust into his hands and took position along the starboard rail.
