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Salt and Blood - Chapter 46
🕑 Added 2024-10-16 11:18:38 +0000 UTC<< Chapter 45 | Table of Contents | Chapter 47 >>
1.46 - A Trial of Trust
A fearsome foe is often better than a cowardly crewmate.
-Excerpt from ‘Ten Laws of the Sea’, author unknown
As the lizard pounced at her, Felix rushed forward and swung the torch like a club. There was a meaty thud as the flaming stick smashed into the beast’s jaw and sent it tumbling into one of the rock pools with a splash.
“Take that, damn vicious lizard,” cackled Felix, right as they were plunged into darkness.
“Felix, I didn’t give you the torch so you could use it instead of your dagger,” snarled Rose.
The dim light from the entrance barely reached this far into the cave and her eyes were still adjusting to the dark. There was a splash followed by the sound of wet feet slapping against the rocks. She pointed her pistol at the sound and fired.
Skill up!
Precision 5 > 6
Skill up!
Pistols 9 > 10
You have earned a new trait!
Reliable Duelist: Pistols in your care feel the effects of use less severely and are highly unlikely to jam, backfire, or break in the midst of battle.
As if the cacophony of splashes wasn’t enough confirmation, a ferocious screech from the darkness told Rose her second shot had hit the mark. Which was a wonderful thing, because it was likely the last shot she’d get.
Without being able to see, reloading the pistol for a third wasn’t an option. Adapting, she replaced the weapon in her belt and for the first time, took up her twin cutlasses.
For all she had been hoping, the blades did little to light up the cavern. A few scattered beams of light sunk into the viscous darkness, but without a true source of radiance, Sunsplitter couldn’t live up to its name.
“Well, for now you’ll have to settle for being a lizard splitter,” she joked to herself, settling into a fighting stance.
As much as she felt ready to battle the beast, this would be her first time wielding two cutlasses at once. A fight in complete darkness would be a harsh baptism for Rose and her blades.
She heard steps from beside her; Felix was less steady on his feet but she had to remind herself that he’d been a sailor while she was still learning to fish. Despite his occasional cowardice and carefree nature he knew how to handle himself in a scrap.
A sharp crack was all the warning she got before the lizard’s tail whipped into her thigh. Her trousers were sliced open, leaving a red welt that rapidly turned purple.
Rose felt the sharp sting, but not wanting to let an opportunity go she lashed out with her cutlass. A slight shudder let her know her gambit was a success, but the impact was far from heavy enough to have been lethal.
Swinging Sunsplitter was worlds apart from the clumsy cutlass she’d wielded back on Unrequited Love. Her own inexperience in battle showed, but the blades felt like an extension of her body.
“Stick close, back to back,” she said softly. “Don’t leave any openings.”
Felix grunted and she steadily backed up until she felt his back against hers. Like that they traced a steady circle, listening out for the footfalls of the beast.
All the warning they got before the lizard’s fearsome tail struck out was a gentle patter of feet. While their defensive positioning was stopping the beast from making a real assault, it was slowly wearing them thin.
Knowing that something had to change, Rose decided to take a gamble. She slowly edged away from Felix, keeping her blades at the ready.
When she’d reached far enough away from him that she was confident the beast wouldn’t strike him by accident, Rose took her pistol from her belt. Then, she tossed it to the ground, carefully tracking where it fell.
As soon as it clattered against the ground, the lizard pounced. She heard its steps and without hesitating swung her cutlasses down with all her strength.
Her gambit paid off. Rose was rewarded with a meaty impact as Sunsplitter carved into the pink beast’s flesh. An ear splitting screech made her step away.
The lizard’s footfalls were irregular as it retreated. Her foot bumped into something soft—its leg. A trail of blue blood led into the darkness.
For the time being it seemed they would be left alone. Her first priority was relighting the torch and beating some sense into Felix.
Though she couldn’t wholly blame him; she’d also panicked during her first battle with a wild beast. Retrieving her pistol she shuffled back to where he stood.
“I scared it off for now,” she said. “Let’s try to get the torch aflame and keep exploring.”
“What! Are you out of your mind?” he exclaimed. “We barely beat that thing and you want to go even deeper? What if there’s something scarier further in?”
“Felix, are you forgetting that the only way we’re getting out of this cave is by finding an exit somewhere?” she scolded him.
After fiddling with the torch she managed to spark it, having to sacrifice some more of her limited gunpowder stocks. Handing it back to Felix she shot him a fierce glare, cowing the boy into submission.
He sulked for a few seconds, then followed after her. Rose decided to follow the trail of blood. The lizard had retreated into the depths of the cave and if anything knew how to escape it was probably the local beasts.
Additionally, she had a far more selfish reason to chase after her wounded prey. Rose wanted to see if she’d get the chance to harvest some treasure from its corpse.
If they were going to be stuck in a convergence once more, she was determined to turn a profit. She continued to follow the trail of blood, a faint sheen of sweat forming on her forehead.
Suddenly the trail ended. Confused, Rose waved the torch around looking for any other clues, but there was no evidence of the lizard’s passing.
“Is it just me or are you feeling rather hot?” asked Felix.
Rose felt a little warm, but the exercise combined with carrying the torch was the obvious source. “Stop complaining and look for the lizard,” she hissed.
A rock clattered to the ground, startling the pair. Right then she heard a familiar pattering against the rocks and spun around just in time to see a pink tail whizzing towards her.
Quick reactions saved her from a stinging slap. She slashed out with Sunsplitter and cleaved the tail in twain. The lizard seemed undeterred by the loss of its main weapon and pounced at her, claws bared.
What ensued was a fast paced clash, claws meeting cutlass in a clanging melee of furious proportions. Felix did his best to jump in, but the speed of battle was such that a wrong move could harm Rose more than it helped.
Before her eyes, the plump tail actually regrew! Seeing the lizard’s rapid regeneration she realised why they’d lost the trail. In fact, it had escaped her attention that it had four legs once more.
Such a trait was unbelievably potent for a predator. For most, losing a limb spelled death in the wild. With the ability to regenerate at such a rapid rate the lizard wouldn’t be doomed even if a hunt went awry.
However, the longer the battle went on the more the scales tipped in her favour. She was growing used to the weight of her weapons and each clash taught her more of dual wielding.
Even the way the lizard used its claws was enlightening. In essence, it too was dual wielding natural weapons akin to blades. The key was to never cease striking, creating a cage where your opponent couldn’t exploit the fact your defence was weaker than most.
Skill up!
Blades 7 > 8
In the midst of battle, her inspiration earned her another level in blades. The improvement was slight, but even a minor advantage helped in such a tight clash.
The tail whipped through the air and caught her left hand. Her grip on the blade loosened but she forced her fist shut. Lunging, she sliced the tail at the base, utterly depriving her foe of its long range attacks.
Her fury didn’t stop there. Losing the tail was more than just a nuisance, it completely threw the beast’s balance off kilter. Parrying the following strike was effortless and she darted between its legs before plunging her crystal blade right into its soft, pink head.
A squelching pop was the last sound to escape the creature as it fell defeated. Blue blood dripped from Sunsplitter onto the rocks, where the refracted torch-light painted a sparkling dance.
You have learned a new skill!
Dual Wielding 0 > 1
Skill up!
Blades 8 > 9
Leaning closer, she realised with disappointment there was no subtle tug, no familiar arcane pull. That meant no treasure to harvest.
“Next time you’re doing the heavy lifting,” she grunted, keeping Sunsplitter in her inventory.
Rose was about to continue down the tunnel. It was a shame to waste the corpse, but they didn’t have bags to carry the more mundane resources with them.
At that moment a loud growl echoed through the cavern, stunning them both.
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