The clouds parted slightly to show a sky full of stars. In the distance to the north, Gerrick could still see flashes of lightning among billowing, ominous clouds. Gerrick stood at the bow of the Glacier, a black sky around him as he sailed his airship south. To his left, the sky warmed to an impending dawn.

The rest of the crew was silent. Digs took lookout, hanging from the rigging with an apple in one hand, chewing on it thoughtfully. His skin now matched the gray of the wood and rigging. Sine and Giacomo went from person to person, inspecting their equipment and weapons. No doubt they would try to convince Spider to take on some manner of light armor.

No doubt he would decline.

Fearghas followed behind them, his black satchel open. From it, he despensed some odds and ends: black silk handkerchiefs, coils of rope with navy blue velvet covered grapples, wrist-sheaths, and to Sine he gave what looked to be two feet of wire with wooden pegs at either end. Sine grinned scarily.

Gerrick turned toward them. He said quietly, "What's all this?"

Sine held up her new toy. "A garrotte. Innit bonny?" She grinned big.

Gerrick pushed her hands down. "It's a scootin' mission. We're nae gannae fight."

"Oh, well, in that case," Sine shrugged. "If they spot us, we'll just tell 'em in reasonable fashion that we meant 'em no harm. I'm sure they'll understand."

"Besides," Fearghas dug in the pack, "Look what I got for you." He pulled out a small jar of clear, yellow, viscous liquid. He popped the cap off to reveal a thick cloth stretched over the top.

Gerrick squinted. "It smells like beer that's gone bad."

Fearghas smiled. "upend the bottle and run the cloth along the blade of your dagger. You so much as scratch your foe, he'll go dead numb in most of the area where you got him." He handed it to Gerrick. "Don't get yourself with it. Lasts about twenty minutes, give or take, and you'll need to reapply it if you stab someone. My big brother in the Brotherhood loved this stuff."

Gerrick raised both eyebrows, scowling in appreciation as he nodded. "Well I guess it never hurts tae be prepared."

Sine laughed. "Ye're a piece a' work, ye know that?"

Gerrick smirked. "Donald always says I'm a piece a' sommat, I'll gee ye that." He looked to Fearghas more seriously. "So ye brought this stuff tae outfit all of us?"

Fearghas nodded. "I figured if people were this scared, it was serious."

Gerrick nodded, smiling genuinely. He slapped Fearghas on the shoulder. "Good job, laddie."

Fearghas smiled.

Gerrick turned to go find Jonas.

Fearghas fell into step next to him. "Actually, if you got a moment..."

Gerrick stopped, looking.

Fearghas glanced back at Sine, worriedly, then leaned in a bit. "I um...I have a confession."

"Oh?"

"I'm...not much of a fighter." He looked hopefully at Gerrick.

Gerrick shrugged. "It's a scootin' mission. Ye'll be fine. If we do get in a bind, stick close tae me, Spider, Sine, Giacomo, Jonas, or Ansley." Gerrick thought a moment. "Or Rose, under the right circumstances."

Fearghas looked confused, and glanced over to the girl who sat against the railing, hugging a pillow. "What, her?"

Gerrick looked serious. "She knocked Donald on his back. I kid ye not. Her shriek woke up Da in his room in the northwest tower. he thought a demon got in."

Fearghas went wide-eyed. He glanced at Rose, then back to Gerrick. "Damn."

Gerrick nodded seriously. "Dinnae fuck wi' her, lad. All the same..." Gerrick studied her for a moment. "We'll keep ye and her on the back lines, if it comes to it. Yer skill is sommat else anyway. Ye'll probably be doin' more a' yer work wi' Digs."

"So uh...what's your skill?"

Gerick absently pulled out his dirk, picking a piece of dirt out of his fingernail with the point. "Public relations." he grinned in playful malice.

A sharp whistle from Digs in the rigging. He swung down, landing on both feet. "We got something coming in from the south and it's moving fast."

Gerrick felt his gut tense up. "What?"

There was a sound like Gerrick had never heard before, like cow mooing at high speed, if it could sound slick and efficient rather than dull and bovine. It started quiet, but quickly grew to deafening volume. Something black about the size of a horse-cart rocketed past them, causing the Glacier to shake in its wake. The glow of fire lit the dawn around them.

Digs pointed. "That."

Whatever it was, it spouted fire out of what must have been its backside. Gerrick squinted. "What the hells..."

Sine ran to the stern and leaned out, squinting. "Shyte. It's comin' aboot!"

Gerrick's brow wrinkled. "They spotted us! Brace fer a fight!" He pointed to the sails, bolting for the wheel. "Make fer land so we have sommat tae crash on!"

Fearghas and Sine spoke at the same time. "We're gonna crash?!"

Gerrick spun the wheel. The Glacier turned almost instantly. "Prepare tae drop twenty feet of altitude on my word! Sine, man the ballista! He's gonnae pass right o'er us!"

Ansley ran up on deck. "Gerrick?"

"Everyone secure yerselves!"

The sound again. Gerrick stared at the black ship. He could now see in the gleam of pre-dawn that it was shaped like an arrowhead, sleek and sable. His hands sweated on the wheel.

The sound began to crescendo again. Sine gripped the ballista, her eyes narrowed like a wolf about to pounce.

Gerrick licked his lips.

And then, it looked like sparks of fire emanating from points on the wings. Gerrick heard the wood of the ship popping with tiny impacts.

"NOW!"

Gerrick felt his stomach lurch and all the weight come off his feet. His crew screamed. He spun the wheel again and Sine took her shot.

A loud metalic popping sound split the air. Sparks rained down on the deck of the Glacier. Spider grabbed Fearghas and Rose, covering them with his body. The black ship spun alarmingly, as more fire spouted from what must now be a wound in its backside. Gerrick could smell smoke.

But now, they were going down.

"Shyte!"

Spider stood up, wincing at the black pockmarks on his back and shoulders. "What the hell was that!"

"Hold still!" Rose started to tend to him.

Sine leaned over the railing, looking down at the hull. "Gerrick, there's holes in our side as big as Jonas's dick!"

Gerrick grimaced. "Everyone tie off or get below!" He fixed his eye on the landmass ahead of them. "We're goin' doon!"

And Gerrick began to pray.