I looked at the invading soldier lifting his bow at me at the riverbank.
Quickly, I grabbed my bow and arrow to shoot right into his mouth, hollowing his head.
He fell back.
Ashwait raced even faster to reach the riverbank, which was lined with small, finely shaped stones. I patted Ashwait’s back to slow him down, attacking the invaders alone.
I hastened, shooting arrows one after another at them. Even the cannons were inching closer, and finally, a troop of soldiers arrived, loading the guns into the boats and running after them.
I yanked Ashwait’s reins to stop him and climbed down. Sprinting toward the river, I plunged into the water, swimming toward the ship.
The soldiers helped me climb it.
“Give me that!” I exclaimed, snatching the ball from the soldier’s hand. After putting it in the hole, I told another soldier to light the tail with the torch when I signalled. I aimed it at the running ship. The water chilled my fingers and soaked my clothes.
But the blood in my veins boiled with anger, hatred, and countless emotions I couldn’t comprehend at that moment.
“Light it,” I yelled.
My gaze, intense at the tail, sparkled before burning down. I tightened my fist on the cannon’s handle, aiming at the giant boat.
Boom!
It visibly shook me to the core.
The projectile’s release was so forceful that my entire body shook from the impact. I watched closely as it soared before landing directly on the ship’s bow, splitting it in two. The soldiers caught fire and leapt high into the air from the blast, and I raised my hand slightly to signal the archers to aim at them.
I didn’t want any of them alive.
A rain of arrows followed my command, killing almost all the invaders.
“One more,” I ordered, turning back to the soldiers. They put on another cannonball.
“Speed up the ship!” I yelled at the soldiers, and we began pursuing the enemy ships as they attempted to escape.
“Light it,” I commanded.
I aimed at the other boat, and boom.
It broke into pieces, and all the soldiers drowned in the river.
Motherfuckers!
“More,” I said, and we sailed after them, but my heart stopped instantly when I saw a massive boat, twice our size, speeding toward us.
And, suddenly, I noticed something else as well.
“Give me the binoculars!” My fingers trembled as I took them from a soldier.
I screamed when I held it up to my eyes and saw a massive cannon and a few soldiers on that giant ship.
“Fall back!!”
The cannon was not the same as the one we had.
I yelled to all the boats,“I said, turn around,” and exclaimed again,“Fucking get out of here!” My voice faded amidst the cannon fire, and suddenly, that enormous ship set to launch an assault.
I quickly drew my gun and aimed it at them. But, because of the distance and the waves rocking the boat, I couldn’t keep my aim steady. Still, I clenched my fists tightly, and suddenly, a roar erupted from the cannon.
