(http://www.rb-29.net/html/04.paavtnart/PAShowScans/LateAdditions11/SailingShip3.gif)<br/><br/>Once the thick ropes were cut the ship lurched horribly. The already overcrowded ship rolled such that a mass of water tipped over the railings as all but the most trained horses toppled to slide across the deck smashing into barrels filled with rain water.  As the ship recovered its balance the horses struggled to their feet, snorting and whinnying feverishly. And they had reason to.<br/><br/>Guards buying those on board time which were on the harbor lasted a moment, slightly longer than what the odds should have implied, still brief but long enough it seemed. The hollow men jumped towards the ship, in leaps that shouldn't be possible. Most fell into the water  before attempting to swim to the last beacon of life they wished to steal. Some could swim, others couldn't. It didnt stop the ones that were sinking trying anyway as if they were afloat and watching their strange forms do so sent a shiver down the sailor's spines.<br/><br/>Perhaps six in all made the leap, which was met by swords and gun-fire... but still many did float many did swim. But the sailing ship needed time to gather speed, soon it would but not for some time. Sailors assumed those on board would see to the strange creatures while they were busy ensuring the ship was afloat at all. Decent design made most of the water spill back out to sea, but a lot had still made its way down lower areas... and a human-chain of sailors passing filled buckets up, and empty buckets down created a<br/>crude but effectively solution.<br/><br/>All looked scared. It was obvious the sailors and the captain alike would have left a long time ago if the guards didnt keep them here at sword-point. They knew their ship was dangerously over loaded. Murmors of throwing the horses overboard were ones all the sailors agreed to, loud enough for all to hear but not loud enough to be directed at any of the heros. for these sailors saw how well these hero's fought. They may not agree but a confrontation now was not what they wanted. Still those eyes of theirs, one would come sooner to later.  They didn't look happy to have such strangers aboard.<br/><br/><strong><br/>"Reward of the King for saving his life"</strong>one sniffed.<br/><br/><strong>"King of what?" </strong>replied another after unloaded one bucket's contents overboard  ...<strong>"that ?" </strong>then tilted his head to the scene they were leaving.<br/><br/>(http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090128045156/conmyth/images/0/07/Burning_City.jpg)<br/><br/><br/>