I was lead at sword-point to beside Ran. The Duke was trying to put a spin on this, but I wasn't listening to him, I was listening to the air. There was no ringing, nothing as all the guards walked back and forward to keep the crowd at bay and keeping an eye on all the non-humans. "I will do you the honour and not make you watch your man die first," he said as he turned towards me. "Do you have any last words?"

"Last words?" I echoed before glancing back to Ran. I didn't even think he could get himself to the water, the plan would have to change. "I do," I started before I began to hum a low note.

The ship headed north as I sat down to wait,

I knew it wouldn't be long before I heard of his fate.

The waters weren't kind and beneath the wave,

Sung the fair maidens who would make him their slave.

Wo-ah, wo-ah, down down they go.

Wo-ah, wo-ah, down down they go.

I started to sing, pulling everyone who could hear into my trance. Ran was singing along, even in his weak state, his voice was still angelic. The few Elves who knew the song stomped to keep the beat and joined in. They knew what was to come.

My lover was gone with the ship by the waves,

I couldn't help but smile as I stood by their graves.

My lover was a drunk, a sailor, a thief,

As I stood by the sea I said a thank you so brief.

Wo-ah, wo-ah, down down they go.

Wo-ah, wo-ah, down down they go.

Letting the others take over the chorus, I took a deep breath as I motioned for the guards to follow me. The obeyed my command and started to undo the locks on the Elves and Ran. I pointed to two of the Elves to help Ran and bring him back to the water before I continued.

A new ship sails across the sea to our docks,

It wouldn't be long before it crashed on the rocks.

A new man I'd find, but it wouldn't be for long,

For soon he too will be entranced by the ocean's song.

Wo-ah, wo-ah, down down they go.

Wo-ah, wo-ah, down down they go.

By the time the song was over, everyone except myself was freed, Ran was back at the ocean, and we had may our way through the crowd. "Let us leave in peace, Duke. You will never hear from us again as long as you take no more slaves."

There was a moment of silence as the Duke shook the cobwebs out of his head and glared at me through the sea of civilians. "Kill them all!" He shouted at his guards.

"Takeh a arb!" I shouted in Elven and the slaves all scrambled leaving me against a dozen guards in handcuffs and without a weapon. It hardly seemed fair to them.

The first guard to take a swing at me was slow. It was easy to duck under his arm and get behind him, wrapping my chain around his neck before tugging until I heard a crack and he stopped fighting. My glare turned to the next closest guard, but before I could make my move, he went flying through the air and landed over 50 feet away. "See, I ain't out of practice!" A familiar voice laughed.

Turning around, I grinned and called out, "Mylo?" I didn't understand but was glad to see him. I could probably take on the Duke's men, but things were always better with magic on your side.

"Do not go giving him all the credit, they planned on listening to you and staying back."

"Thalian!" My heart felt lighter as he came running up a moment behind with sword in hand.

"Thanks later, fight now," Mylo suggested as he raised his staff again sending another guard flying back as his sister worked her hands together, creating a ball of air.

Thalian rushed over to me as Mylo kept them off of us for a second. "You alright?" He asked, raising his sword to shatter the chains. "This was your plan?" He questioned, offering me a small dagger.

Waving him off, I allowed my fangs to appear and nails to sharpen, "Keep it, I came prepared," I smirked as I turned around and we were back to back. "Just like old times," I chuckled as I swiped my claws at the first guard stupid enough to step close enough, they cut through his armour like butter.

Thalian fought harder to take down his man and eventually grabbed my arm, "And switch!" He called out, swinging me around to allow me to land a killing blow with my teeth deep into the guard's neck. The guard fell as blood filled my mouth and I landed on top of him, tearing away a larger chunk of flesh for good measures. "Stop playing with your food and help!" Thalian called; he obviously hadn't handled a blade in a long time and these trained soldiers were constantly getting the upper hand on him.

Mylo and Maya kept the others busy, but they too were quickly running out of energy. I doubted either of them had ever used their magic for more than parlour tricks. "Thalian, get Mylo out of here. Maya and I will finish this and make sure no one follows."

Thalian acted like he was going to argue, but I was already on my feet and rushing towards Maya as blood dripped down from my chin. "Wait, I ain't leaving my brother!"

The fraction of a second she was distracted was all it took. "Maya look out!" Mylo called, raising his staff, but he would have been too late.

I had no shield, so I used what I could. I stepped into the path of the blade with my back as I wrapped my arms around Maya, pulling her tight against me. Pieces of metal rained down on us as the sword shattered on my back and I let out a pained screech at the force. All air left my lungs as Maya and I collapsed to the ground, my body completely hiding her's as I gasped for air. "No!" Mylo shouting and the ground began to shake before a wave of air pushed everyone back, knocking civilian and soldier alike unconscious.

Maya shifted under me and I slowly rolled off, groaning as I did. My eyes were closed and I felt someone's shadow came over me. "Please tell me you knew that was a human blade?" Thalian sounded more annoyed than anything.

"I was pretty sure," I grumbled as I slowly opened my eyes to see the Elf shaking his head at me.

Mylo was slower to approach us, obviously out of breath and sweating from casting too powerful of a spell. "Maya?" Was all he was able to cough out as he looked at her. She was completely unharmed, mostly dirty from the fall, "You-You saved her?"

Thalian helped me to my feet as I cringed, "Remind me next time to find a better shield," I groaned, knowing that was going to leave a mark. Thalian released my hand, I walked over to Maya, "Come on, we need to keep moving." I said to her and she slowly got up, physically shaking as he did.

Despite the fact that I had just had the wind knocked out of me, I was in the best shape. My back was aching, but the siblings looked both scared and exhausted. "Use your staff for support, I got the other side," Thalian said softly to Mylo before wrapping an arm around him. Mylo was a tall man reaching just over 6 feet tall, but Thalian still towered a good foot over Mylo which made his assistance awkward.

Glancing to Maya, I kept her hand in mine as I tugged on it. "Come on, lean on me if you need to," I told her, but unlike Thalian I didn't willingly wrap my arm around Maya. My upper back was quickly turning into a fair sized bruise and I didn't need her pressing on it unless absolutely necessary. Maya seemed a bit hesitant and my bloody smile didn't reassure her. "Camp is not too far away, you can get rest when we get there," I promised all three of them, even Thalian seemed a bit out of breath - out of practice. 

****

Alright, a while back I made a deal to you guys and here it is! 

Truth be told, I am not a songwriter. I struggled to make this sea shanty, so if anyone wants to take a stab at it, feel free! If I like the sea shanty, I'll put it here, dedicate this chapter to you and give you a shout out both on my wall and in this chapter.