The moment we left the shore behind, arrows started to peck the water around us. Black pirate boats emerged fr

The moment we left the shore behind, arrows started to peck the water around us. Black pirate boats emerged from the overgrowth along the opposite shore. Fortunately, they'd made their move too early, and we had enough time to turn back and reach the shore. If we'd swum a little further, the pirates would have caught us, and we'd all have met an inglorious death from a paddle blow to the head. The crossing was impossible, and we had no idea on how to deal with the bandits. Surely they'd prepared ambushes all along the opposite bank. But we were resolved that someday we would bring order to the Sellen.