Lora was driven back once again by two Arbor Spearmen, her back against the gunwale, moments away from being run through.
But an Ironborn had already circled around to the two spearmen's flank and sliced off one man's ear with a single stroke of his shortsword. The man screamed and let go of his spear. Lora seized the opening, ducking low and surging forward, her hand axe sweeping sideways to hack through the other spearman's knee.
Asha led more Ironborn aboard, leaping up through the breach where the ships had collided. Her battle axe felled the first Arbor Soldier who rushed at her by the rail, then she kicked his corpse through the gap between the ships into the churning sea below.
As her bloodied axe swung toward her next opponent, she caught movement at the enemy ship's stern out of the corner of her eye. Another Ironborn longship had drawn alongside, and men were boarding from there.
The captain of this great ship of the Arbor Fleet had already fallen on the deck, and many of its sailors were beginning to think of retreat.
She ordered the Ironborn warriors to seize the opportunity and advance along separate routes, while she personally led a group straight toward the stern.
In less than half a quarter-hour, beset by Ironborn from two ships, the large galleass had lost all its exposed decks to them.
Under the leadership of the ship's first officer, the remaining Arbor soldiers retreated to the entrance belowdecks. Only by blocking the narrow passage with shields and spears did they barely manage to hold their line.
Seeing that the Ironborn now had complete control of the battle, Asha had no intention of staying to oversee the fighting. Her gaze had already fixed on the Greenstone a short distance ahead,