There wasn't much walkway left between the leader of the pirates, Drogath, and the northern watchtower. Veshara kept pressing him toward it, trusting her four guards to keep the pirates at its doorway off her back.
She was drawing back for another punch when his lower palms came together. Water struck her square in the chest, and for an instant her boots scraped over empty air.
"Hah!"
Catching the broken railing with her tail saved her from the fall. The torrent still drove her against the wall's outer face, grinding a trench through the stone beneath her hooked tail as it forced her toward the harbor.
"Go back to checking cargo, gutter lizard!" Drogath roared, pouring more water over her.
Veshara swung out on her hooked tail until the stream passed her shoulder. That gave her room to plant both boots against the wall; her kick carried her onto the walkway, tail uncoiling behind her and one fist drawn back.
"Your mother must be proud to have raised such a fine gentleman!"
