Cole's swordsmanship was far more formidable than that of any of the other Ironborn. Unlike those brutes who relied on strength alone, every stroke of his blade struck precisely at an enemy's vital points, and every parry was perfectly timed.
The deck of the Greenstone soon rang with battle cries as Ironborn leaped across from the Daughter of the Sea Monster in a steady stream. Some sailors of the Arbor Fleet also tried to step forward and hold them off with oars and short blades.
But they were far more accustomed to sailing than fighting, and against these Ironborn, who had slaughtered countless men at sea, the gulf between them became immediately apparent.
Meanwhile, Halag's ships to the west finally dealt with the two vessels of the Arbor Fleet blocking their way and closed on the fleet's main force.
Though the old captain still had schemes of his own, once the blades came out, he did not hesitate.
He stood at the bow, clutching a bloodstained hand axe, directing his ships while roaring in a coarse, hoarse voice, "Don't bunch up! Spread out, spread out! Close in from every direction! Our job is to seize this chance to plunder supplies from as many ships as possible, not to fight!"
Halag's ships scattered swiftly from the west like a pack of unleashed hounds, leaving gaps in the Iron Islands' encirclement.
They even deliberately skirted several Arbor warships that clearly rode high in the water, letting them out of the ring before pressing on toward the heavily laden vessels, without another glance to see whether the others would escape.
To Halag, it was only a matter of time before the Iron Throne learned that they had plundered the Arbor Fleet. He might as well take as much as he could while he