The Argonian finished his song as Drayce began to drift off to sleep. Just as his eyes began to droop, a dull thunk echoed through the lower decks. The sound had apparently caught the Argonian's attention as well, as the scaly creature met Drayce at the base of the stairs to the deck,
"Did you hear that?" He asked, obvious notes of concern playing across his face. Drayce nodded,
"Any idea what that was?" The young Khajiit asked, a pit of worry rising in his stomach. The Argonian shook his head as an unfamilair voice reached their ears,
"Steady as she goes, boys. You know the drill." The Argonian's face lit up with concern, he'd obviously made the connection.
"Pirates," he breathed.
Drayce's eyes widened as the two darted back to their beds, grabbing their weapons.
"Everyone! Get up! We're under attack!" The Argonian yelled at the top of his lungs as another cry of warning came from Rhyfalim.
The two rushed to the deck, readying their weapons as pirates began to flow onto the ship.
"Argonian! Protect the ship! I will go help Rhyfalim!" The Argonian nodded as Drayce tore off towards the other ship and dove off the boat, barely catching the railing of the other ship. Drayce lined up a shot and killed a pirate that moved to kill the Argonian before he could get on the deck. The Argonian called his thanks as he noticed the dead pirate drop off the Northern Maiden.
Moments later, Drayce joined Rhyfalim on the other ship, diving into the melee and battling scores of pirates alongside the hulking Redguard.
A faint whistling sound caught Drayce's attention and he ducked just in time for a shadowy arrow to narrowly miss his head. He whirled around to see another Khajiit holding a bow aimed in his direction, his long hair fluttering menacingly behind him. Drayce locked eyes with this Khajiit and fired, his arrow aimed directly at the cat's heart.
The Khajiit deftly avoided the arrow and sent forth another, again missing Drayce by mere inches. The two fired arrow after arrow, narrowly missing each time.
The fight with the Khajiit had consumed all of Drayce's attention and a pirate charged towards him, mace raised high above his head. Drayce side-stepped the swing and drew another arrow, catching the pirate and dropping him at point-blank range. The other Khajiit had used the distraction and was mere inches from Drayce as he turned back around.
A meteor-like flying kick found it's mark on Drayce's chest, sending him reeling. He slammed into the railing of the new ship and went over the side, his beloved bow slipping from his grasp. Drayce grunted with effort as he pulled himself back onto the ship's deck. He was met with a swing from a mace, an evil Deadric mace weilded by a Khajiit in unnatural armor. The armor of shadows.
Drayce caught the swing with both hands and twisted around, ramming his elbow into the long-haired Khajiit's face. The grip on the mace faltered and Drayce tore it from the Khajiit's grasp, tossing it to the side. His attacker recovered much faster than Drayce realized and knocked the dagger from Drayce's grasp before he could fully draw the blade.
The two Khajiiti shoved the other away, having to resort to their claws. They rushed forward, a blur of speed and darkness. Each one masters of the same art. Their figures entwined in a flurry of impossibly fast strikes, each one blocked by the other.
The older Khajiit grips the other by the hood and rams a knee into his victim's face, letting go as his head snapped back, blood oozing from his nose. He rushes forward, vying to finish his opponent, but a roundhouse connects with the side of his skull, sending him reeling. The elder recovers in just enough time to recieve another kick to the chest. This time, he falls to the ground, rolling along the deck.
Years of experience have honed his skills and he snatches an arrow as he rolls along the ground, snapping it into place as he twists his body and propels himself into the air. His victim charges unaware of the arrow aimed for his heart, it's string already pulled tight. He fires.
The world slows to an impossible pace as the the long hair of the Khajiit is drawn back revealing an arrow hurtling towards Drayce.
Before Drayce can react to this new threat, his own arrow buries itself in his chest. Burrowing down to the fletching.
The impact throws Drayce to his back, his vision overcome by dancing black lights, his warm blood pooling around his crippled form.
Each of Drayce's limbs go numb and his breathing becomes painful and inadequate.
With a shaking hand now coated in his blood, he reaches up, each moment an endeavor. Each breath a lightning bolt inside his chest. His bloodied and bruised fingers caress the moon, the only light in his ever-receding vision.
The sea rises once more and Drayce's chest weakly grasps for air. As the waves fall, the outstretched hand does the same, crashing numbly back to the Earth.
Drayce's head rolls to the side, a final gasp of air escaping his lungs. A single tear falls out of his eye and the world fades to black.
