A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates!  BOOK TWO  (Part Twelve: Blog Sixty-One)

By Dan Watt and Taylor Norris, co-authors of the Rita Walker series

Olanis is surprised to see The Cannibal in combat.  Melinda is using one of “Dizzying Blade’s” halberds.  Swinging the shaft to strike with the axe head one moment and thrusting with the spear tip the next.  There’s an arrow jutting out of her left thigh.  A short distance away she sees “Dizzying Blade”, nearly a blur as she fights two or more of the much larger foes.  Near the main mast of the ship “Storm Caller” is in combat with a very large sailor.  Olanis jumps back as the axe head of a much larger halberd swings at her neck.

She cocks her head as she looks up into the massive head of a bear sized enemy. He’s wearing boiled leather on most of his body and his gloves are covered in chain link.  In his hands he holds a much bigger version of the Cannibal’s halberd.

“Te partiré en dos con mi polla gigante,” the giants says down at her with a toothy grin.

She knows Spanish and French much better than she lets on but purposely mistranslates.  “Te partiré en dos con mi polla gigante?”

The giant roars with rage and stabs at her chest with the spear end of his halberd.

As she deeks away from the shaft of the halberd she recalls the wonderful fighting lessons she’s learned.  “Dizzying Blade” would tap her unkindly on different parts of her anatomy whenever she attacked and halted.  ‘Attack, attack, attack!’ “Dizzying Blade would admonish her.  ‘You hesitate you die, or worse, are captured.  Remember what they did to Janice.’

She spins along the shaft of the giant’s halberd, making it impossible for him to fight back.  The second spin allows her to stab into his elbow.  It’s not a good wound because the cloth he’s wearing there gives some protection.  On her third spin she’s behind him stabbing into the backs of his knees.  ‘Always the softest parts, the most tender areas.’  “Dizzying Blade” had repeated so many times it became a mantra she’s never forgotten.  She wanted to stab the giant under the armpit but he’s just too tall. 

His one hand reaches back to grab her.  He’s not wearing a helmet so she leaps out of the way and slices into the side of his neck.  He grabs the wound but the chainmail on his gloves won’t hinder the blood flow.  She stabs and stabs into his lower back and the back of his knees until he falls to his knees.  Without stopping she slices at his neck until he falls forward.

Gasping she throws up and smells the distinct sweet and strong odour of laudanum.  So that’s how they put her and the other girls out.  Well, now she feels much better.  A short distance away, near the capstan of the ship, she sees the Captain fending off two of the enemy sailors.  There’s a slash across the Captain’s right forearm.  Gritting her teeth she sheaths her daggers and grasps the thick shaft of the giant’s halberd.  “Time to even the odds,” she says to herself with a grin, and charges.

Dan Watt is the author of the epic dark fantasy fiction book BARD

Taylor Norris, RMT, as First Mate ‘One Eye’ Olanis:  taynorris@gmail.com (Kitchener-Waterloo)

With thanks to Joanne Gosling (Navigator ‘Storm Caller’ Master Jo Anne): Joanne is an Interior Decorator who specializes in closets: Jgosling@calclosets.com Calclosetsjoanne or Joannegosling22@gmail.com

Leah Weir (Helmswoman ‘Wheel Turner’ Synthia): model and cover editor;

Andraya Watt as Assistant-Master-at-Arms, Amelie

With Thanks To:

Fire & Steel for the Medieval Rapier:  http://fireandsteel.ca/

Alex Watt for background pictures

Daiana Duca for background pictures

Krissy Karmaschek for background pictures

Tags: Writing