The prow of the pirate ship cut through the waves as it picked up speed, drawing towards the Naval ship. The canon fire was mistimed and fell too short to do any real damage, sending up plumes of water and knocking splinters out of the side of the ship but failing to make any proper holes. The captain cursed the crew for "a lot o' useless landlubbers" and ordered a party of boarders to cross. Aidan volunteered straightaway and ran to the railing, grabbing a rope. With a handful of other crew members to each side of him, he gripped the rope until his knuckles turned white as they swung out across the narrow expanse of churning water between the two ships. 

When the deck of the Naval ship was beneath him, Aidan let go of his rope and dropped to a crouch, then leapt up and drew his sword. His captain was shouting orders; "Kill every man on board and steal everything they have worth stealing!" With a cry he swung at the nearest sailor, catching the blue-jacketed arm as it drew a pistol. He fought his way across the deck alongside his fellows, crossing swords with every sailor to step in his path until he reached the ladder to the lower deck. A sword had grazed his cheek lightly and sent blood trickling down the side of his face, but the wound wasn't serious. He could already feel bruises forming on his hands and arms from catching the hilts of enemy swords, and sweat was trickling down his back. He loved every moment of it. He planned to fight his way belowdecks and see what treasure there was to be had.