Captain Voromin handled Heart of Imrien beautifully.  His orders to his helmsman were crisp and not to be misunderstood.  Lookouts positioned along the lower fighting galleries kept up a constant stream of information regarding the movements and courses of the hostile vessels.  Our ship cut tightly around in a sweet one-eighty-degree turn and pounced.

The signal to release the flutduin squadron was passed.  Unfortunately I could see only one cavalry-carrying vessel, Nath's Hammer, still in company with us.  When the flyers took off the thought occurred to me they looked far more like the blown leaves in San Dweloin's poem than the "wide-winged birds breasting the wind."

They didn't bother to form up.  They simply flew headlong for the enemy ships.  I tore my gaze away.  They had their orders and they knew their business.  They would get on with what they had to do just as we were getting on with what the situation required here.

Inevitably, when fire is maneuvered and manhandled aboard ship, particularly a painted wooden ship, extreme caution and care must be taken, and sortie language is used.

The Ship-Deldar, purple and engorged, bashed his stick about and actually put a steadying hand to the carrying pole.  The fire went below in good order contained in its pottery and metal canister.  I decided against going below myself to the lower gallery.  I'd done my share of setting ships alight.

Voromin's reversal of course and immediate swoop into combat left the lead ships of the enemy force no chance whatsoever.  As they debouched from the clouds so we sailed above them.  One, two, three, the flaming pots of combustibles went over the side.  One, two, three, and then one, two three again.

"They've caught the leader!" screeched up the last in the chain of message relayers.  This was young Cadet Ortyg Thingol.  His higher voice near cracked with excitement.

And, a heartbeat later: "And number two's burning!"

We circled like a hawk above fluttering prey.  Alongside Delia I could look down from a perch in the bulwarks.  Captain Voromin occupied a similar niche on the other side, reserved for him.  I might be the emperor, but when Captain Voromin wanted to look over this side of his ship I'd have to shift out of the way sharpish.