Chương 18: The Great Escape
Chapter: 17
Abeni and I perched on the roof of a warehouse overlooking the port. Moonlight illuminated the docks, and in the quiet of the night, the faint murmur of the sea and occasional shouts from guards were the only sounds breaking the silence. Security was light this time of night, but there were still a few redcoat guards patrolling along the wharf. Abeni nudged me and pointed to a smaller boat near the edge of the dock.
The boat wasn't grand, but it was serviceable. It had a single, white sail and a sturdy wooden frame that showed signs of wear but was solid enough. A small deck offered some shelter below, likely just a cramped space for storing supplies or sleeping quarters. It was built for short distances, probably used for moving supplies between ports—a perfect getaway.
"That's the one," I said, nodding. "Now we just need a distraction big enough to keep the guards occupied until we're out of sight."
Abeni raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "And how do you plan to do that?"
I gave a slight grin. "We're standing on it."
"Huh?" She looked down, finally catching on.
"Don't worry about it, just get to the boat. I'll meet you there soon," I reassured her.
Abeni gave a quick nod, activated her lightning cloak, and disappeared from the rooftop in a flash.
Moving in a blur, Abeni weaved her way across the docks, a streak of lightning in the night. She knew the guards would have no chance of spotting her until she was practically on top of them. She slowed only when she neared the boat, stopping a few feet away to survey her surroundings. She quietly tossed the bags she'd carried onto the boat, then went to work untying the anchor rope.
"Halt!" came a shout from behind her. "Raise your hands where I can see them!"
Abeni froze, raising her hands in the air. She glanced back at the guard, one of the redcoats that Kael had called them. He stood rigidly, musket pointed directly at her, his face a mixture of irritation and confusion as he took her in.
"Now, turn to face me. Slowly!" he barked.
Abeni turned, carefully pumping Mana into her legs in preparation. As she completed the turn, the guard's eyes widened in shock, recognition dawning.
"A slav—"
Before he could finish, Abeni moved, vanishing and reappearing behind him in an instant. She gripped his head and twisted sharply, breaking his neck with a practiced motion. His body crumpled to the ground, and she bent down to relieve him of his musket and belt pouch.
"You won't be needing these anymore," she muttered, casting one last glance at the guard before stepping onto the boat.
With a slight wave of her hand, she summoned a gust of wind to lower the sail. Her gaze shifted back to the port as she muttered, "Where is he?"
Just then, a loud explosion shattered the silence. One of the warehouses had erupted in flames, thick smoke billowing toward the sky. A streak of lightning appeared at the edge of the docks, materializing into Kael, a sack slung over his shoulder as he landed with a thud on the boat.
"Move!" he shouted.
Without hesitation, Abeni directed a surge of wind magic into the sails, propelling them away from the port with a strong gust.
"What the hell happened?" she demanded, shooting him an incredulous look.
"Well…" he started, catching his breath.
As soon as Abeni disappeared from sight, I turned my attention to the warehouse below. Taking a deep breath, I formed a sword with lightning magic and sliced through the roof, landing inside the dark space below. The scent of damp wood and mold filled the air. I conjured a small fireball in my hand, casting an orange glow over the interior.
The place was a treasure trove of supplies: sacks of grain, barrels of salted meat, crates stacked high with various foods. I grinned as a plan began to form in my mind.
"Jackpot," I muttered, extinguishing the fireball and grabbing an empty sack. I quickly loaded it with as much food as I could manage, securing the top and throwing it over my shoulder.
"This should last us a good while," I muttered to myself. Pumping Mana into my legs, I launched myself back through the hole in the roof, landing atop the warehouse. I activated my lightning cloak and darted over to the next building, pausing just long enough to conjure a large fireball in my hand. With a flick of my wrist, I launched it at the warehouse I'd just plundered.
The explosion shattered the stillness of the port, flames consuming the wooden structure as I sped off toward the boat.
"You're insane, you know that," Abeni said, eyes wide as she watched the blazing inferno we were leaving behind.
"Oh, I know," I replied, a grin tugging at my lips as I set down the sack of food and slung the musket off my shoulder.
I moved toward the tiller, gripping it firmly to steer us out of the harbor. The sails were already full, catching the strong, Mana-infused winds Abeni had summoned. We shot across the dark water, the port shrinking behind us as the fire consumed the docks.
"So…where are we headed?" Abeni asked, eyeing me curiously.
"America," I replied, steering us toward the open sea.
"Huh?"
"You'll see when we get there. But from now on, we speak only English unless it's a secret. Got it?"
She nodded, rolling her eyes slightly but smirking nonetheless. "Got it."
I returned the nod. "Good. We'll take shifts on the tiller. I'll wake you when it's your turn, alright?"
"Fine," she said, gathering the bags and disappearing below deck to stash them.
As I watched the last traces of the burning port fade into the distance, I felt a strange mixture of relief and determination. We were finally free, but the real journey was just beginning.
Chapter 17: End
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