The Broken Blades Trilogy, #3
Three Shattered Souls
by Mai Corland
Contents
Chapter Sixty-One
Overview
Mikail uses the Water Scepter to locate and isolate Joon’s warship and leads a stealth boarding. After silently killing a guard, Aeri picks the captain’s lock for a surprise strike. When the door opens, lights flare and gunfire erupts, revealing a trap and throwing the assassination attempt into peril.
Summary
Guided by Aeri’s sensing of the crown and sword, Mikail rows their team toward a warship concealed to the west of the Wei-led fleet near the Strait of Teeth. Taking command of the sea with the Water Scepter, Mikail draws the vessel away from the others and lifts the rowboat to deck level, the relic briefly easing his chronic pain.
The group boards quietly. A patrolling guard approaches; Duval seizes him and Royo strangles him with a nunchuka chain, confirming by red plumes that he is a Yusanian palace guard. With the body dumped overboard, Mikail, Teo, and the rebels advance toward the cabin Mikail believes Joon occupies.
As Mikail restrains his impatience, Aeri produces lock picks and silently opens the door, aiming to preserve surprise. Fremo takes the handle while the team stacks for entry, with Mikail readying both sword and scepter.
When Fremo swings the door open, cabin lamps blaze to life and shooting immediately erupts. The sudden illumination and gunfire reveal an ambush, upending Mikail’s plan to execute Joon swiftly and throwing the strike team into immediate danger.
Who Appears
- MikailLeads the boarding of Joon’s ship using the Water Scepter; suppresses pain; orchestrates a stealth breach that triggers an ambush.
- AeriSenses the crown and sword to locate the target ship; picks the cabin lock to enable a silent entry.
- FremoVeteran ally; opens the cabin door, inadvertently springing the trap as lights ignite and gunfire starts.
- TeoLeads a second entry line with Calier, ready to assault the cabin during the breach.
- RoyoUses nunchuka chain to silently strangle a palace guard; helps clear the deck for the breach.
- DuvalYoung rebel who seizes the approaching guard, enabling the silent takedown.
- WanHousehold head who remains in the rowboat, holding position for the team’s extraction.
- CalierAllied fighter entering with Teo, prepared for the cabin assault.
- JoonTargeted ruler presumed inside the cabin; the lit-room ambush suggests foreknowledge or defensive preparation.