[Earendil Halfelven]

Baroden came out on deck. His breath had caught when a few of the passangers passed him, but he kept his cool and nobody said anything.

It was raining hard now, and the ship rocked. He saw a young lady along with an elf gazing out into the storm. Another she-elf was giving orders. She must be the captain, thought Baroden. He looked around. Most of the crew was dealing with the sails. They were struggling to get them rolled up before the high winds ripped the sails to shreds.

A young lady with red hair was just leaving the quarter deck, and...Rangar was standing the mast and gazing upwards, watching the crew. Now was his time to strike.

He strode forward at an amazing pace. He only had a limited amount of time. He began formulating his plan. He would run Rangar through with his sword, slit his throat with the knife for good measure. Then, he would slash the ropes holding the nearest lifeboat and escape into the water.

He passed the elf captain, who was still shouting orders. Amazingly, nobody noticed him. The storm and rain was on his side.

"HEY! YOU, HALT!" It was the captain, but Baroden ignored her. He was close to Rangar. He drew his sword and dagger. He raised his sword to strike.

"STOP HIM! RANGAR! LOOK OUT!" she shouted. The captains shouting got everyone's attention. Rangar turned at the last moment to see Baroden bring his sword down in a slash to decapitate him. Rangar ducked just in time. Having no weapons on him, Rangar ran for the cabin for a weapon.

"WE HAVE A STOWAWAY!" rang out the cry.

"STOP HIM! ITS THE HUNTER!" Rangar cried.

Baroden would have pursued but it was too late. The companions of Rangar were coming to his aide. A young woman ran at him with sword drawn.

"AERIN! NO! STAY BACK!" Rangar cried, but the woman didn't listen.

"I"ll stop you," she yelled. Baroden dodged her blow, easily. He stepped. The deck was slippery, so he stuck his foot out, tripping the woman. He slashed downwards and caught the young woman in the back. She cried out in pain. Then he plunged his sword downwards into the back of her neck, silencing her cries. Then, just to make sure, he picked up the body and threw it overboard.

Rangar and his companions were stunned. One of their companions had just been slain. Baroden, taking advantage of their shock, slashed the ropes holding the nearest lifeboat and tossed it overboard also.

"HELP!" Rangar cried.

Then, without another glance, he jumped over the side and into the sea.
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Turthôl sat in his cabin, savoring his last licorice stick. Despite the storm, his stomach was fine.

"HELP!" came the cry from the deck. Even with the storm raging, Turthôl heard it clearly. It was Rangar.

Turthôl bolted out of his cabin, and bumped into Wren.

"What's going on?" she asked.

"I don't know but something's wrong. Let's go!" he said.

They ran out on deck, and almost slipped. They were immediately drenched with rain. He reached Rangar.

"What happened?" Turthôl said.

"It was..." but then before Rangar could finish, a cry rang out, "WATCH OUT!"

Turthôl, Wren, Rangar, and Ani Dao looked up to see a rope wildly swinging around from the mast. Somehow, it came loose, and was wildly swinging around with the wind. It had a loop in it, resembling a noose.

The four prepared to dodge it as it swung around. It would be a disaster if it tightened around somebody's neck. Just as Turthôl prepared to dodge it, the ship leaned hard to the right. Turthôl slipped into it's path. He had no time.

Fate must have been against the ranger because his head went right intot he noose and it tightened around his neck. Turthôl was yanked up into the air. He heard the startled cry of Rangar, Ani Dao, and Wren.

"Turthôl!" Rangar cried.

"Somebody save him!" Wren shouted.

Turthôl struggled to loose himself but his own body weight held the noose tight. He could feel his air cut off in his throat. He was being strangled to death. He had no weapons on him. All his gear was in the cabin, even his dagger. He was stuck.

He caught glimpses of people on deck struggling to reach him as he swung by, but the wind and sea worked against them. Turthôl knew he was in trouble. To Rangar and the others, he looked like a rag doll being swung around on a string.

Then, without warning, Turthôl slammed straight into the mast, knocking him unconscious.
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"Turthôl!" Rangar cried. He watching in vain as his friend swung helplessly through the air. Despite his tries, he was unable to reach his friend. He could see his friend struggle in vain to free himself.

Then to his and everyone's horror, the rope swung Turthôl straight into the mast. He knew Turthôl was unconcious because his arms dropped from his neck and he no longer struggled.

"NOOOOO!!!!!!" he cried. Wren beside him was sobbing, and Ani Dao called for an archer. The crew and everyone else could do nothing.

Calimir emerged on deck. Luckily, his arrows and bow were still slung on his back. The sight of Turthôl swinging in the storm caught his sight and he stared. Enien emerged from behind him. They were speechless.

"CALIMIR, QUICK! SHOOT THE ROPE!" Rangar yelled.

Without pause, Calimir strung an arrow and took aim. By this time, the whole company was on deck, watching.

Calimir fired but missed. Turthôl was still unconcious. Even in the dim light of the storm, Rangar could see that Turthôl's face was turning blue.

Calimir fired again. Miss. He strung a third arrow. He took aim. He fired.

The rope snapped, and Turthôl swung in the air towards the ground. But lady luck must have been working against them. The rope was in mid-swing when Calimir shot it. Turthôl swung straight over the rail and into the ocean.

The company and crew were shocked. Rangar stared helpless. He couldn't believe his eyes. His mind was blank with unbelief.

"MAN OVERBOARD!" he yelled.