***
It was sad to watch, from the deck of the War Tempest, the Lady Ocean being cut away from the rebel grand battleship. How anyone had survived being on that frigate was a wonder as she was so battered and beaten and full of holes; yet survived we had. Harl had taken a shot in the arm, but it would heal. Jodlin was covered in splinter cuts, burns and bruises, yet seemed content with his cat, who had miraculously survived, in his arms. Olvan was the same, as well as being black and red on the side of his face from a blast, his fine clothing now in tatters. The doctor was unhurt but for some bruising. Mister Perti, the engineer was well although irritable and kept complaining at the way his ship had been treated and he was right - I had abused that ship from the very day I had taken command of her, but in her short service she had never let us down. She held on to the very end and I thanked her for it. She had served the Imperial and Ardalrion Navy well, and so what was left of the crew and I watched from the high deck of the War Tempest as she slowly sank and was consumed by the mighty ocean, golden under a morning sun.
I said a silent prayer for her and the dead. I said another for Mister Sudlas and thanked him again for having given his own life to save mine. The Lady Lamient had survived too but was nowhere to be seen now. Willan was in a cot recovering from concussion. I was alive. I breathed in the morning air, now clear of the stinking fog of gunpowder that had made the night's battle so treacherous.
In all it was considered a successful battle. The Imperial and Ardalrion Navy had taken a terrible beating, but the flagship had survived as had three of the other battleships. The same could not be said for the Battleship Frost Fang which after the gunfire had ended lost its battle with a fire and exploded violently when at last the flames reached the barrels of gunpowder hidden deep within her belly. The Battleship Wind Reaper sank with all hands. The Brave Mission simply vanished into the night. What had become of her was anybody's guess, but would undoubtedly become fable with tales of black sea monsters, summoned by the wicked rebel shamans, swallowing her whole. The frigates lost eight ships, burnt or buried at sea. One, the River of Fire was thought to be taken and driven west by the surviving rebels. The butcher's bill was still being counted but these many I knew of.
It took the better part of five days to make the return journey back to Umuron. We were in no hurry and many of the ships were listing and needed to go easy. Towing the prize ships was also slow work. The Admiral had personally thanked me and the crew for our sacrifice. I was even a little embarrassed when the Admiral had used the word, hero, and shook my hand, speaking of how the Lord Admiral and the Emperor himself would hear of how an Ardalrion had crippled a grand battleship. I had told him, I was no hero.
It was all glory and praise and relief, but it was short lived, for as soon as we made land, I was placed under arrest by Lord Mornight Pavantu of the Emperor’s Secret Servants.