Rakshasa's Wrath

by V. Ajinkya

Shipwrecked on her way to an arranged marriage, Lyliana McKenzie discovers that her rescuers are not the saviours she thought them to be. Amidst the dangers of a pirate coup, she must find a way to keep herself safe with the help of only a pixie and one pirate captain. After a failed escape attempt leads her to discover what she thinks are gems, she begins to realise that the stories she heard as a child might not be all just fantasy.

As Lyliana collects more allies, dark forces rise around her creating yet more enemies, both at home and in the pirate camp. Despite these hardships, her desire to escape becomes marred by newfound power and her mirky path grows complicated. Will she honour her family and friends, or will she accept this new life of hardship and adversity?

Excerpt

Preface

Several species in the Greatar and Lessar Lands of the new world survivors came to call the historic event “The Clash”, though most were reluctant to mention it during the early years, so vastly diverse was the loss of life. Humanity reverted to technology of a simpler time. Many believed that magic would take over, while others refused to believe at all.

What caused “The Clash” was never discovered mainly due to the extinction of the giants, but years later, as races began to recover and accept integration with their formerly unknown neighbours such as werecats and pixies, intriguing stories of untold horror emerged. Corrupted fairy magic became the favourite theory as to why much of the population suddenly died, but as the fairies died out with the giants, there was no one left to ask.

“The Awakening” brought forth a renewal of old traditions, such as arranged marriages intended to promote good genetics in the sudden absence of more advanced science. Discontented humans split off to create new factions, further weakening humanity and hobbling development.

As the years passed and the stories were diluted or lost, no one considered who or what might have filled the gaping holes in the world’s population. Old, hard-learned lessons were lost to history.

Prologue

Captain Kie gripped the bulwark until his fingers hurt. Where are they? They must be close. “Keep a good eye out, men. We don’t want to lose her.” His loud voice merged with the roaring gale, but his men leaned further ahead in response. Kie nodded briefly, tasting the coming victory. His rich prize had slipped away last time, escaping under the cover of darkness. Not again.

White foam, torn from the crashing waves, concealed their quarry. The wind howled in torment, goading the crew as Savage Heartbreak pounded against the thrashing water. Her timbers twisted and creaked in the eternal struggle with the sea.

Kie staggered to the ship’s violent movements, jamming his heavy gold ring into the flesh of his left hand. He had grown unaccustomed to such seas. In his younger years, this would not have fazed him, but these days, he preferred his office ashore.

Spray bounced over the deck and soaked him. Kie smiled, more a grimace than a grin. I will find them. They will pay for their escape.

They had first sighted Comnfe heading east, making good speed. Even so, she should have been easy prey for Savage Heartbreak. With her clean lines and tapered bow, even her large size did not slow her down.

Kie was a hard task master who drilled his crew well, but they were equally familiar with the potential rewards for a prize like the Comnfe. Savage Heartbreak had swooped down on the unsuspecting merchantman from the cover of the outlying islands and would have caught her easily but for the squall. They had been forced to haul off as the storm descended on them like a rampaging beast bent on revenge. The fates were not in their favour—again.

As night drew in and Savage Heartbreak’s black sails disappeared into the darkening sky, the chase continued. They lost her as the Comnfe’s heavy bulk disappeared behind a rolling wave and into the deepening gloom. The last time she had escaped amongst the islets. They were not the first to lose her. Similar yarns were told in taverns in the town; the stories of the riches she carried grew more outlandish with each tale.

Now they searched.

The first mate, known only as Stag, hauled himself up the ladder. “Guns ready, Cap’.”

Kie nodded, never taking his eyes from the sea, a strand of hair wisped across his vision and tickled his nose. He ignored the irritation. I will have her.

Stag stood beside him and followed his gaze. “We’ll find ‘em again, boss.” He jerked against the railing. “They can’t ‘ave got far in this.” A slash of spray left the mate gasping for breath.

“Get for’rard and keep watch. Make sure you have enough men there. I won’t lose this one,” Kie snapped, more annoyed with himself than the mate.

The mainsail flapped wildly to the gusting wind. Blocks high above the deck rattled in protest. Kie shook his head and clamped his jaw shut.

“Sail ho’,” came a sailor’s voice through the gale.

“Where away?” Kie leaned forward into the screaming wind, beckoning the miniscule hope that glimmered in his mind. Another failure would destroy the already dwindling confidence he commanded.

The lookout pointed ahead. Comnfe.

Savage Heartbreak struggled to starboard to a wave from Kie as though the ship was mirroring her captain’s eagerness.

The distance between the ships closed. Time stopped. Closer, closer, until finally...

“Stand to, larboard guns,” Kie shouted. The gun captains stood poised over their charges. “Fire as you bear!”

The guns thundered in slow succession. They echoed over the insanity and brought order to the wind’s chaos. Kie held his breath as the deck shook with the clashing of the great cannons. Savage Heartbreak rolled away from her victim.

Holes appeared like magic in the sails of the Comnfe. A sailor fell from the towering mainmast. His body thudded onto the arm of Comnfe’s main derrick and flopped to the deck.

Kie paused. The echo of the vibrating impact jarred his bones. “Again, hit ‘em again,” Kie screamed over the final rattle of the last gun being manhandled back into place. “Keep firing, you dogs.”

Smoke billowed from the port side, whisked away by the wind. For just a moment, a whiff of gunpowder reached Kie. His memory took over. The acrid stench of smoke was etched in his memory after years as a buccaneer.

He had volunteered to join the pirates. He had not volunteered for the torture and imprisonment that followed. Days of questioning, no food, minimal water, cramped in a hole. That was how he had begun, under the threat of a wizard’s wand. Later, as he had risen in importance, he had broken his own principles, killed, received injuries, and stood his ground. Heartbreak’s previous captain died under his blade, the stench of mutiny choking the air. Kie had gone through so much to get her then to keep her... It did not bear thinking about.

“Keep firing, lads,” he yelled.

The Comnfe appeared as the smoke cleared, much closer than expected. In physical size, the two ships were the same. Fighting strength was another matter.

They drew closer. Faces grew clearer. The crew of the Comnfe rushed about the deck in apparent panic. Kie knew better. Such assumptions could spell disaster for an attacking vessel.

“Keep at ‘em, lads. They’re on the run now.”

Metal balls crashed and threw splinters across the Comnfe that seemed to shy away from the onslaught.

“Alter to port!” Kie turned on the startled helmsmen. “To port, to port.” He waved in that direction and was rewarded with a nod from the senior steersman who shoved his weight against the wheel.

Savage Heartbreak hesitated for a moment before swinging wildly towards the other vessel. Kie glanced back at the steersmen.

Control was restored.

“Port guns, keep firing. Ready boarding party. Weapons! They might retaliate.” He took a breath and scoffed, “No’ that there is much chance of that.”

The guns banged out. Savage Heartbreak staggered and paused her upward motion as though shocked at the sound. With a tremble, she lowered her bow into the next shuddering wave, continuing her pursuit.

“The Comnfe’s altering course, Cap’,” said the lookout, repeating the message passed from up forward.

“Follow her,” Kie instructed the wheel. His memory surged back to their last encounter. He had given this same order, felt the same urgency, and yet the Comnfe had slipped away.

Thick inky air surrounded them. The reek of battle hung in the atmosphere as though unsure what to do next. Another gust cleared the smoke away. Kie took a deep breath for the next order.

“Land ahead, Cap’,” the mate panted. He pointed at the dark shadow breaking the waterline. “Comnfe still altering t’ star’oard Cap’.”

Kie nodded and exhaled. He judged the distance. Luckily, the spray had cleared long enough for the shore to become visible. His heart thumped. What if...

“We’ll have to ‘aul off, Cap’ain. We’ll be ashore else,” said the first mate unnecessarily.

A grinding sound growled across the wind. Comnfe shuddered and rolled dangerously towards them. Her turn slowed. They were too slow. Savage Heartbreak rocked, her bowsprit threatening to pierce the Comnfe’s hull. Kie signalled to the helmsman to alter slightly. Comnfe buried her bow into the wave as she settled down, dragged lower by the weight of her cargo. Her stern cleared their bow. She was too low in the water.

“Take it easy, or we will collide. Keep her going ahead. Wait for the speed.” Kie sharpened his tone. “Set jib on my mark.” His eyes traced the track Comnfe had taken.

The mate nodded and hurried forward, his hands reaching automatically for ropes to speed his progress. Savage Heartbreak lurched as the helmsmen got her under control and steadied her on a course clear of their prey.

“Raise the jib. Hard to port.” Savage Heartbreak responded. Stag took over giving orders from the bow.

Kie kept a close eye on the other ship. His people would ensure their own safety. A bitter taste tingled on his tongue. He was going to lose this one. Not again. Comnfe disappeared astern, shrouded in darkness. The minutes passed, and he strained his eyes to see the other ship. She was lost. Kie returned his attention to the Heartbreak. The helmsmen were struggling to hold her. He leant his weight to their fight against the wheel. Together, they managed to get her round and keep her steady before the waves. Kie heaved a breath, stretching the seams of his tight jacket. The wind stilled, a pause before a renewed effort. They turned, thrashing through the wind.

“Something ahead, Cap’,” shouted the lookout.

“Where away?” He turned sharply to find the lookout standing next to him.

“Right ahead, Cap’ain.” The sailor stumbled and grabbed his shoulder. “Coming on fast.”

She turned complete round! Heat flushed through Kie. Collision. “Alter course. To starboard, to starboard. Quick man!” His usual calm was gone, replaced by the urgency of protecting his love. Savage Heartbreak was his life. She could not be damaged. Even the sporadic gun shots from Comnfe twisted his neck muscles into knots, worse than anything he experienced in the past.

Heartbreak’s guns answered Comnfe’s.

Comnfe descended on them like an avenging spectre framed by angry flames. Her bowsprit nearly touched the Savage Heartbreak’s main stays. Kie wrenched the wheel hard over. He fought the ship and the stunned immobility of the helmsman. Slowly, slowly the bow turned. Heartbreak clawed off to starboard.

Kie held his breath.

“We’re gonna hit. Fend off, fend off.”

A loud crack and a scream sounded from forward, though from which ship Kie could not tell. A scraping sound vibrated through the hull and tore at Kie’s soul. He dug his nails into the wooden railing to transmit his will to Savage Heartbreak. He felt the pressure build. He watched, helpless, as the masts and stays ripped past the other vessel.

He stared, transfixed. Comnfe was even lower in the water. She was down by the head. We must get clear.

“All hands, standby to cut her away,” he yelled.

His crew moved, urgency spreading faster than the fire that threatened to engulf Comnfe. Axes rose and fell. Ropes were slashed and obstructions cleared away. A handgun banged. An able seaman fell to the deck. The flames on the Comnfe lit the desperate faces of his crew as they scurried to contain the blast.

Faster, faster.

Comnfe settled lower into the water. She was sinking. A battle between fire and water. It was only a question of which would claim her.

Stag’s voice sounded from the main deck. Cheers rose and stretched along the deck. Kie’s hand trembled. His lips parted, and he nodded to the steersmen. They needed no instructions as years of training and survival instinct took over. Savage Heartbreak swung away from the billowing inferno.

The Comnfe fell away astern. The sound of crackling fire followed them across the growing distance of water, threatening. Bodies, silhouetted against the flames, jumped overboard pursued by explosions from below the Comnfe’s deck. The water blackened as the distance between Savage Heartbreak and the dying Comnfe increased. A wave swallowed her bow.

Kie watched, waiting for the Comnfe to rise up again. Nothing. Water’s triumph over fire. Kie heaved a sigh. “Launch boats to pick up survivors.”

His prize was lost, defeated by land, fire, and sea.

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