Athgar grabbed his bow from the bottom of the Zephyr, having strung it much earlier in preparation. He nocked an arrow and took careful aim, then let loose. It sailed across the distance and struck true, hitting a pirate in the chest. The man staggered back, then fell from sight.

The others aboard the pirate galley let fly with a smattering of arrows. Two fell short while a third overshot, narrowly missing the Orc. Garul roared in defiance, his rich baritone echoing across the water.

The ships were converging quickly. Athgar recognized a look of indecision on the ballista man's face just before the weapon began swivelling towards the Zephyr. Dropping his bow, Athgar let loose with a streak of fire. It was almost impossible to miss at this range, and the shot struck the ballista, flames biting deep. With a bit of good fortune, some of the fire splattered, leaving the weapon's operator patting his arms in a vain attempt to put out the blaze.

Natalia cast again, forming ice on the pirate's oars, slowing their pace as water froze solid beneath them. The enemy vessel turned to the left, their starboard oars frozen while their port side kept rowing, bringing the galley parallel with the Zephyr.

Captain Kopruli moved alongside, his own hull freezing as it met the expanding ice. Natalia gave him a nod, and then the entire crew of the Zephyr exploded into action.

The ice now formed a bridge, and the Zephyr's crew scrambled across it, swarming up the side of the galley. The pirates, surprised by the sudden turn of events, tried to put up a fight, but the fire on the foredeck, along with the ice to their starboard, had already convinced most that this was a hopeless battle. Several dropped their weapons while at least two dove over on the starboard side, hoping to swim to the safety of the shore.

Athgar clambered up the side of the enemy vessel, his axe in hand, only to arrive at an empty railing. With his feet soon on deck, he was scanning across the pirate vessel when an arrow struck near his left foot. He looked up to see a man in the crow's nest, readying another shot. Before Athgar could even begin a spell, ice shards hit the man, sending him tumbling to his death.

Garul was soon beside the Therengian, striking out at a nearby foe. The Orc's axe was blocked by a sword, and then the enemy stabbed forward, causing the scholar to back up slightly. Athgar threw his axe and watched in satisfaction as it took the pirate in the arm. His foe slumped to the deck, clutching the wound, his sword lying untouched nearby, freeing the Orc to move about unhindered.