“Nevermind that now, look!” I screamed with excitement.

Everyone followed my gaze and started whooping and laughing. The only thing left of the ship that had attacked us was the one mag anchor still attached to our hull, its chain, and some jagged metal on the other end of it. Far below, I could see the wreckage spread out for leagues.

“Looks like the damage from our cannons really shook them up. They couldn’t keep holding on.” Bannon said.

As our airship began to roll back into an upright position, I sighed with relief. We had driven off the pirates and I had survived my first tactical encounter aboard the Heart’s Desire. Weariness hit me like a shell from one our sidelines and I almost dropped to the floor. Catching myself on the rail, I merely staggered.

Bannon looked at me sharply. “You alright?”

“Just tired from fighting.” I smiled. “It’s been a mighty long night.”

“You mean a long cycle.” he corrected. “The night has just begun.”

With those words lingering in my ears, I headed to the bridge.