"YOU IDIOT! WE ARE GOING TO DROWN!"
River water gushed into the boat. Gana felt his feet were harder to move on the boat. While being mindful of his balance, he held on to the edge of the boat. With a lot going on in his mind, Gana tried parrying a couple of sword swings and spear stabs. The three remaining pirates charged in on Gana being they are more seasoned in fighting on boats.
One loud-mouthed pirate swung his sword down across Gana. Gana's chest gashed diagonally from his right shoulder to the left side of his hip. Blood flooded out as he took a knee, still trying to hold his curved sword up. The three pirates attacked him simultaneously, Gana's heart pummeled furiously. "Is this it for me?" Gana thought.
Out of nowhere, the three pirates were knocked off the balance as one of them crashed into each other. Talu swiftly decapitated one, continuing his onslaught on the remaining two. One pirate got his stomach cut, with blood and intestines flowing out. The last pirate got his right arm amputated before being kicked by Talu out of the boat. Talu rushed to Gana, offering an arm and shoulder to lean onto.
"Hold on, kid. Can you still fight?"
Gana faintly smiled, "Heh, somewhat."
"Don't think too much about the water coming inside the boat, let's go help the captain."
"Right."
The duo carefully treaded the watery floor, attacking the messy crowd between the Besi Pirates and Dalna patrols. The ten pirates that were on Dede reduced to five as Gana and Talu pincered from behind. The fight soon settled, with the remaining pirates were dead or captured. The rest of the Dalna soldiers were scurrying to haul water from their boat and into the river. Dede and Talu let Gana leaned at the boat's stern. Dede ripped a piece of cloth from his tunic to press the wound on Gana.
"Thankfully it's not deep."
Gana coughed out some blood, "Fuck, it's been a while since I got injured this badly."
"Don't speak," Dede continued to press harder.
A horn sounded from about five to ten steps away. Another dragon-shaped boat approached them with an Ayak crest on it. The remaining files of soldiers panted a cold relieved breath. Another Dalna patrol boat that was tasked to take over their shift finally arrived. Talu just shook his head.
"We are fucking lucky, aren't we," Talu commented.
"Just in time as well," Dede nodded, "Watch over him, Talu, let this kid see the physician."
The reinforcements tied their boat to the Dede-led soldiers' boat. After everyone safely embark onto the new Dalna patrol boat, the damaged one was burnt to a crisp after the sailors threw multiple fire torches to it. Gana who smelled the smoke asked Talu,
"Why do they burn that boat?"
"So that the damn pirates can't steal it and repair it. We can't bring it with us, might as well destroy it, now hurry up, the physician is just there."
Talu let himself became the human crutch for Gana to walk on, they reached the physician who looked at them with an enquiring look. Talu nodded at him as Gana sat on a stool.
"How is he, Yaha?" Talu asked.
Yaha kept examining as he applied some herbal leaves on the wound after putting some cream that was made from clay. Gana hissed in pain while gritting his teeth. Yaha then wrapped some cloth over it, letting it be dressed over Gana half-naked body.
"Well, it's not so bad. Minimum two weeks rest. Do you understand, young man?"
Gana acquiesced," Yes sir. No physical labour for two weeks."
"Good, back in Dalna come visit me every two, three days. We need to redress the gash otherwise you are going to risk infection."
Gana nodded. Talu glanced over to his left, he saw Dede and the boat's captain having a secretive discussion near the bow of the boat while the oarsmen were rowing their way towards Dalna. Talu later glanced at Gana.
"Hey kid, you don't think the arrival of help is a bit too timely?"
"Huh? I don't really think much because I got hurt," Gana honestly replied.
Talu sighed, "Honestly kid, I am nearing fifty years old, I have yet to see such a young talented swordsman like you. Not to mention the fact that you are blind."
Gana smirked, " I have never once thought my blindness as a problem. It just changes the way of me doing things really."
Yaha simply smiled at the two of them. By sunset, the boat docked at Dalna. Yaha patted Gana shoulder, "Make sure you visit me, young man." Yaha strode with speed into the village. Gana was a bit astounded when he felt Yaha's presence dimmed in a mere second. Gana heard the footsteps of Dede and Talu drawing closer to him.
"Come with me, Gana," Dede commanded. Talu and Gana followed him closely behind. Gana felt the direction was familiar for the trio entered the Head Guard's office building.
Kazar greeted them as the guard who guided them inside dismissed himself.
"Well, Dede and Talu. I hope our newest addition here do not cause too much for you two."
Talu rolled his eyes, " Well, we almost drowned."
Dede chuckled, " It's just small hole. The boat was fucked anyways. With the lack of oars, we would have been immobilized."
Kazar nodded as he scanned Gana, "Well new guy, how's your first job."
Gana shrugged while as his mouth wrinkled in pain, "So-so."
"Not so alright with that injury, I see," Kazar smiled widely, "Oh, I forgot to mention Gana, you can only become an independant bounty hunter after reaching silver rank of your badge. Otherwise, you would have to serve for about five years here."
"Sure."
Kazar then switched his attention towards Dede and Talu, "I'm sure both of you wondering why the aid arrived at a very timely manner," Kazar heaved a hard grunt, "We received reports of an ambush from our intelligence. Some Nangguk troops got caught, so I decide to send some help just in case."
Talu turned his head over to Gana, "Is it fine for him to hear this?"
"Yep, no problem. His swordmanship will be useful in the future. He just needs experience."
Dede stroked his chin in contemplation, "The Besi Pirates usually shy away from the contact of any army, then, why do they start skulking the troops now?"
Both Kazar and Talu stayed quiet in agreement for they both also engaged in deep thought.
Gana pulled over a chair and sat down, carefully making sure his wound won't reopened. He sharpened his ears to concentrate on the dialogue.