Meanwhile, on the other side, aboard the *Storm Hunter*, a group of pirates in matching short tunics saw the crew of the *Ronan* take up their weapons. Excited, bloodthirsty expressions had just appeared on their faces when they watched the crew run back into their ship's cabin...
"So are they going to fight back or not?"
"Looks like they're not planning to fight."
"Well, that's no fun..."
"How about we have one of them come out and duel you?"
A pirate in heavy chainmail, holding a cutlass, pursed his lips. "Nah, forget it. Aboard the *Ronan*, only the captain has any real skill. I could cut down any of the others in a single blow."
"Same old rules. If they resist, we kill them all. If they don't, we kill half!"
Wei'en watched the *Storm Hunter* draw closer, sizing up the pirates on its deck. 'Never mind their actual strength,' he thought. 'Just based on their bearing, they're far stronger than the people on the *Ronan*.'
