Excerpt: Erwyd the Bastard

Sigdara gripped her spear and ran out the door. A crew at least the size of that of Enbar’s Joy was boarding, with grappling hooks nearly ripping the ship apart. She saw Erwyd, swinging his broadsword wildly, and Anor deftly fighting with a pair of daggers. For a wizard, he was surprisingly useful. She leapt into the fray, slashing and stabbing. She felt the battle joy return to her as hot blood soaked her hands. The poor men of Enbar’s Joy did not have a chance though, as they fell under the raider’s blades. They were swarthy men, toughened by years at sea. One Hurskal man carrying a huge double-bladed axe, the rest of the raiders were mostly a mix of men from Morwyn, Peldenar and Danvenar. One or two had the distinct look of Pustinians. Their captain was an ugly, tattooed man with matted red hair. “Harrgh!” he cried. “Squeal, pigs! The Hounds of Gamtooth will make bastards by your mothers and orphans of your children!”
With cruel, hooked blades they cut the crew down in their panic. They had taken a few of the sea raiders, but were overwhelmed. The warrior king had lost sight of the captain Fenn, and soon found herself back-to-back-to-back with her friends. “What say you, Erwyd?” she said. “Shall we show these sea dogs how bastards and orphans fight?”
With that they gave one final push. Erwyd swung his blade broadly, his face and hair dyed crimson. At either side were his companions, finishing off fallen foes, providing cover for Erwyd as he waged a one-man war against piracy. Soon only the Hurskal man and their leader stood. The huge axeman sneered at Erwyd. “The blood of giants is in your veins, and here you stand, like a dog for this Peldene fop and his wench. You should be ashamed!”
Erwyd did not bother to respond, but simply launched himself at the man. As he did so a large wave rocked the ship, and he found himself flying with much greater force than anticipated. He flew headfirst into the man’s chest and together they rolled against the back of the ship. Across the deck they struggled as the red-haired captain fought off Sigdara and Anor at once, a blade in each hand. Erwyd lost his wind, and his opponent raised his weapon high to deliver a deadly blow. There was a loud crack and everything stopped. The huge man’s axe had unexpectedly found a home in the captain’s head. The moment of hesitation was all Erwyd needed. One huge swing of his broadsword and both men fell in a bloody heap.
A second, louder, more ominous crack was heard. “The ship!” exclaimed Anor. The rough seas were pulling the two ships apart from each other- but the raider’s vessel seemed determined to take a chunk of Enbar’s Joy with it. Abandoning all their belongings save the weapons in their hands, the three leapt aboard the raider vessel as the merchant ship was ripped to pieces. Spent, they collapsed, and night fell.