"Not long, I should think, but we must be ready to move quickly if we're to close the distance. I'll keep an eye out here and let you know when I spot them."

She made her way back down to the inlet, leaving the Therengian watching the coastline.

Athgar shifted his feet, full of nervous energy. It was a huge gamble, for the lives of the men on the Cormorant hung in the balance. He silently cursed the great merchant houses of Corassus. If they'd taken it upon themselves to rid the area of pirates, as they should have, then all of this wouldn't be necessary. There would be no need for slaves, and perhaps his own village would not have suffered. He pushed the thought from his head, concentrating instead on the sea.

Athgar spotted the galley soon after, its oars dipping into the water at a slow pace, hugging the coastline to conserve the strength of its rowers. The pirates aboard must be on the lookout for the Cormorant, no doubt warned by their observers on the cliff. He could almost imagine them standing at the railings, peering south for sight of their prize. With a sudden burst of energy from the rowers, the galley sped up. Clearly, they had seen their prey, and Athgar turned south to spot the Cormorant, becalmed, rolling in the gentle sway of the sea.

He looked back to the Zephyr. Captain Kopruli and the others were watching him intensely, their oars at the ready. Natalia sat at the back, while the captain knelt at the bow, his eyes locked on the Therengian. Athgar waved them onward, and the oar strokes began dipping silently into the shallow water, the Zephyr jumping forward. Athgar ran after it, splashing through the knee-deep water. Grabbing the side of the ship, he felt the strong arm of Garul snatch the back of his tunic to haul him aboard.

Athgar flopped to the bottom of the boat as it picked up speed. Sitting up, he spied Natalia readying a spell. Captain Kopruli, seeing deep water to either side, ordered the oars raised and they were carefully stowed on deck. Natalia cast her favourable seas spell, the water to either side of them responding with noticeable effect. As the Zephyr lurched forward unexpectedly, Athgar almost lost his balance.

The captain ordered a course correction, and the man at the tiller made the slight adjustment. They were now moving quickly, much faster than Athgar had thought possible, swiftly bearing down on the pirate galley.

The man on the bow of the galley loaded the ballista, unaware of the Zephyr's approach until someone farther back spotted them. Now alerted, a group of enemy archers started taking up positions by the railing.