B8C5

A huge metal spike drove into the prow of our ship, puncturing through the decking and locking down below in the hold. Like the grappling hooks we'd used, but bigger than a man and with thick iron chains instead of rope. Two more came, fired by the ballistae. One hit the Wind's Fury in its hull and punctured through the hold with a horrifying sound of splintering wood. The third slammed down into the deck again a little further along the left-hand side and dragged the ship into a listing position as the pirate ship pulled to Starboard, wrapping around and broadsiding us.

"BLAKE!" Yang screamed. "You said it was okay!"

"You didn't…" I whispered.

"NO!" Blake looked back, mask down and eyes wide with shock and horror. "I told them we were allies, I swear it! They signalled for peace!"

It was the look in her eyes that convinced me. Without thinking, I handed her back her weapons, which she took and stored on her person. Blake hurried to Weiss and helped her up, her being the best for ship-to-ship combat. I grabbed and hauled Pyrrha to her feet.