They came to the big bend in the river than led southward. Nigel reported this was the halfway point. Just ahead they saw another boat approaching. Nigel directed the canoes to the right side of the river to allow the other boat passage. The other boat turned to intercept them. The craft was about thirty feet long and manned by oarsmen, but several armed men stood in the center of the large outrigger with bows pointed in their direction.
“River pirates! Show no quarter!” Nigel whispered to those in the first canoe.
Cara stopped Roscoe from sending the Lightning Bolt spell from his staff.
She said, “Let’s try to avoid revealing our powers to them.”
“My queen, they are ruthless. In a moment, their bows will be in range,” Nigel warned.
Knarra added, “Let’s allow them to believe we are helpless. Lie down, Eomore.”
The king squeezed down into the bottom of the wide outrigger.
Cara said, “Keep on the simple cloak Big Jon, and stand with me.”
The group in the second canoe could not hear the conversation but could see the purposeful behavior of the approaching boat. Cade and the young spell casters waited for direction from the leaders. To their surprise Cara stood and raised her hands into the air.
“What in the Lachinor is going on? They are surrendering,” Cade marveled.
Big Jon Loxly stood beside the queen and wore one of the simple robes they had used as disguises in Eaden.
The river pirates came alongside the first canoe. One of the pirates spoke.
“Give me your Dakin and I might let you live. My, my! You are a saucy one, lassie. You’re elfish. Why do you travel with such ilk?” he said.
“We are simple travelers. We seek a new start,” Cara said.
“That’s too bad. I’m afraid your journey is going to end right here. You are worth more than any baubles you might have,” the pirate sneered as he prepared to throw a grappling hook.
His mates drew their bowstrings taut.
Cara started to throw the pinch of sulfur she held between her thumb and index finger into the pirate ship when something leapt out of the water. A pi ranna ripped off the arm of the pirate who held the grappling hook.
A giant winged gar fish jumped from the river and snapped its jaws onto the same pirate. The unfortunate brigand screamed in agony.
The gar was seven feet long and had rows of razor sharp teeth that ripped into the man. The big fish fanned the air with its wings; the wings could propel the giant gar fifty paces or so out of the water. The pirate howled as the fish dragged him over the side of the boat and into the water. A second flying fish leapt from the water and attacked another pirate. He suffered a severe bite as the fish left him and reentered the water. A third gar flew through the air and knocked two pirates over the side of the boat. Several round-faced pi ranna ripped them apart. The pirates who had trained their bows on Cara’s party dropped the bows and drew their swords. Several flying fish attacked the pirates who ripped the air with their blades in futile attempts to ward off the fish.
Sounds of splintering wood permeated the air. A hammer head fish smashed his bony head against the frame of the pirate ship over and over again. The wood splintered as the boat began to break apart. A sword fish stabbed its blade-like proboscis into the wood of the doomed boat and opened more apertures. The boat rapidly took on water and sank.
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