Five windships hung in the air, their sails rippling in the controlled winds, flashes of colour emerging and vanishing as the Gaoithe Sidhe danced along the fabric. The largest vessel, an Akitanian hulk, sat placidly in the center of the pack, the Wheel of Taranis on its deck sparking with excess energy. Grisly emblems of severed hands clutching falchions on the sails were lit in the eerie twilight, the winds and crackling light making them appear animated.

"Flying the Thieveshand" Enora de Chinon clicked her serpentstone spyglass back into its compacted form, having satisfied herself with her scan. "They certainly are a confident lot." "But they're pirates!" Beside her, Antoinette shifted, the squire's nervous anticipation cracking through her attempts to replicate Enora's stoic manner. "They can't surely think of attacking the Radiant Dawn.. Not when they know that Lady Enora stands guard." "5 to 1 advantage, and a Wheel of Taranis on the hulk." The young man at the large helmwheel remarked, his expressionless face looking almost bored. "The hulk blasts the Dawn with that and the two Carracks close in with a full assault from both port and starboard. The two cogs are doubtlessly loaded down with as many men as they can muster and will close the distance while the Dawn fights off the ranged attacks. They come over the decks before the brassguard can respond. They have the right to be confident with their setup." Antoinette paled considerably, but Enora calmly walked to her seat behind them helm, holding up a gold and crystal glass. A crewmember poured the red wine into the goblet. "My my." she said with a smirk as she swished the red liquid. "It sounds like those pirates have us against a wall. Such a shame, that my family's ship will fall into the hands of those ruffians and used to attack our merchants in the Mor Bras." Antoinette's face turned as white as snow. "Milady..." "Of course, I suppose if my helmsman decided to stop scaring my maid and use that lovely dramatic buildup to show off why I allow him to remain on my ship, then perhaps there is hope for us yet. See to it that my Dawn is the last one that these murderers ever live to see, Albert."

Albert turned again to the wheel, his smirk widening. He flashed a confident smile at the nervous maid and with a dramatic flourish, spun the wheel.

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Kroashent is my upcoming story, a Celtic fantasy series inspired by the mythology and history of Brittany and Northwestern France.

Today's character is Albert de Tours, the hotshot pilot of Enora de Chinon and first mate of the Radiant Dawn, Enora's personal Windship. A dashing swashbuckler, Albert is a former smuggler who was drafted into the Anjevin Windguard, but later chose to stay on his own terms. Often brash and overconfident, he backs up his boastful and flashy nature with his piloting skills. Often plays pranks on the naive Azelma and Antoinette, but stands by his friends when the crew is threatened.

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You can read more about Albert here on my WorldAnvil Account: https://www.worldanvil.com/w/bedoua.....1?preview=true