*
“Stacy, is that you?”
The girl on the hammock peered up through sleepy eyes. The room was fully dark save for a beam of moonlight hazily shining through the fogged porthole.
Stacy closed the door slowly and grimaced as it creaked. “Sorry if I woke you.”
Melinda yawned, shrugged and lay back on the hammock. “I thought you’d be asleep on deck,” she whispered softly.
Stacy smiled, slipped out of her tunic and hung it on a hook. She sat on the parallel hammock and let her sandals drop to the floor. “I was asleep,” she admitted. “But a curious man woke me. Says he’s an astronomer. Calls himself Alryc.”
Melinda raised her head. “Alryc of the Blue Fires? Is he aboard?”
“You’ve heard of him?”
The Ranger girl nodded. “He’s well known in Rhonnda, Stacy. A strange man, they say.”
“A mystic,” offered the girl. “But he seems kind and gentle. I like him. He offered to teach me how to read the stars.”
Melinda looked at her in wonder. “Oh, Stacy! You have all the luck! The stories about Alryc that I’ve heard say he never speaks to anyone. Not anyone! They say he gazes at the stars from the spires at night, returns home at day and hardly passes a word. Some call him a lunatic.”
Stacy’s eyes flashed. “He’s not! Eccentric, perhaps. But surely not a madman. Anyway, he must be the best navigator in the Empire, otherwise Elias would never have brought him aboard.”
Melinda sighed. “Well, never mind what people say, Stacy. If you like him, and if he’s really going to teach you, you go right ahead. Maybe one night you’ll introduce him.” Melinda winked. “After all, he is an eligible bachelor. And I’ve always had an eye for older men.”
“Your hands are full enough already, I would think,” laughed Stacy.
The Ranger girl stared at her in mock surprise. “Why, my lady, whatever do you mean?”
“I mean I’ve seen the way the crew looks at you. Especially Mr. Ashcroft and that junior officer. What’s his name? Oddfellow? Why, I’ve even caught young Mr. Beecham in the crow’s nest following you with his eyes.”
“Look who’s talking! The whole ship knows about you and Elias. I mean he stares at you even when he’s looking the other way!” Melinda propped herself up with an elbow and glowered at her.
Stacy flushed. “That’s not true! We’re friends, but there’s never been anything at all besides that.”
“Tell that to Trevor,” gloated Melinda. “That poor soldier is green with envy. And he takes it out on his poor lads during afternoon drills. Why, he runs them ragged!”
“Now be fair, Melinda! Trevor knows I like him; I’ve told him as much. But my future is far too cloudy to be making romantic decisions. But when the time comes...” Her eyes gleamed.
“Now don’t get haughty with me, Lady Anastasia! You don’t pull wool over this Ranger’s eyes! Admit it, Stacy. You love them both, don’t you? And you can’t choose!”
Stacy fumed, but in a good-natured sort of way. She knew Melinda was really not so far off the mark. Her heart had raced the very first time she had set eyes on Elias. Dashing, ruggedly handsome, he was definitely everything a girl could wish for. Yet in his own way so was Trevor. Bright, level-headed, with boyish charm and the same kind of background as her own, he was certainly not one to be second best in anyone’s mind. She fell asleep in the confused excitement of having two men from whom to choose.
The long morning passed slowly. The captain had put a skiff, with Ashcroft at the helm, over the side at dawn, with orders to catch fresh fish to supplement the ship’s rations. Stacy stood at the rail, watching off the starboard quarters as the skiff rocked far out on the waves. It had been exciting to watch the brawny sailors haul in the giant cod at the end of their lines. Feeling good, she saw that they had hooked what she knew would be the last catch of the day. Then, suddenly, from behind the tiny boat she saw a great, dark lumbering form begin to rise to the surface. Her eyes opened wide, and she screamed.
Like lightning Elias was at her side. Stacy pointed frantically. “Look!”
Elias squinted. Off the portside bow, the creature rose higher and higher, then it dived and disappeared, leaving frantic waves in its wake. The skiff tossed about furiously. Ashcroft, now fully aware of the great thing below, began to shout for the sailors to row as fast as they could. A hundred meters from the Brora the fish rose again — huge, monstrous, water spouting from its back.
“What is it, Elias?” cried Stacy.
“A whale, I think,” replied the mariner coolly.
“A what?”
“A whale. A mammal that lives in the sea. It’s not dangerous, at least I don’t think it is. But we’ve got to worry about our lads in the skiff. The whale could capsize it and smash it to bits.”
From Beecham atop the mast: “Capt’n: She blows! Three points off the starboard!”
Elias turned. There, off against the darkening sky, he could see the mighty forms of not one but at least a dozen whales. A school of them, rising and diving, sending ripples all the way to the Brora. They pranced and danced, their spouts sending up great fountains of water. Stacy stared at the sight. Just then the whale near me skiff rose between it and the ship, causing near panic among the sailors. “Steady!” Ashcroft shouted as he tried to maintain his balance even as the skiff was knocked back under tumultuous waves. The sailors rowed frantically. Elias ordered lines thrown over the side, and eager hands began to clutch. For a long while again, the whale stayed out of sight and the skiff was hastily hoisted aboard.
Shivering and shaking, Ashcroft stood before the captain. His boots dripped and squeaked as he shifted his feet. His face was white and ashen; Stacy thought he looked about to faint. It was with great surprise then that he grinned and said, “All aboard safely, sir. But I fear our ‘friend’ will be with us for a while.”
Elias grimaced. Bewildered, Stacy asked, “What does he mean?”
The captain scowled. “He means that the whale is playing a game with us.”
No sooner had he spoken than the whale appeared again, this time right off the bow. It loomed like a giant and nearly shot into the sky before crashing beneath the water.
“This is a game?” asked an incredulous Stacy.
“I guess it is to a whale. Anyway, better for her to be on our side than against us. If she wanted to attack, our hull could have been torn to shreds.”
Stacy looked to the school of whales still prancing off the starboard side. “But why’s she staying with us?” she asked. “Why doesn’t she go and splash with her friends?”
Elias laughed. “Oh, Stacy, how do I know? Maybe she thinks we are her friends. Maybe she’s attracted by our sails. Maybe she’s in love. In any case, I’m afraid Mr. Ashcroft is right. We’ve found ourselves a companion — and I think it’ll be a while before she gets tired of us.”
*
It was a grand evening. The fish was fried, spiced, salted and served steaming. Trevor and others told tales of the Line and the forest; Boniface and Oddfellow countered with adventures of the river, A jolly sailor called Leech recounted the old days when ships such as the Snapdragon and Swordfish sailed the rugged coasts of the uncharted lands. But none was listened to with more attention than Alryc when he stood and spoke of the secrets of the stars and their meaning for the Empire. In him, Stacy saw what Bartok himself must have been like. His eyes blazed as he spoke. Everyone listened, transfixed. And after he had done, there was silence.
And so the Brora, entering her tenth day at sea, unfurled her sails again and reset her course: north — with the prevailing winds.
Chapter Seventeen
Captain’s Diary
Day seventeen of our voyage. The weather, as it has been for the past week, remains good. Strong westerly winds have allowed the ship to hold a steady course. We are maintaining good speed; the crew works at their best. The blue whale, Salome, as she is fondly called by most, still tags alongside. In one of her m
ore playful pranks she nearly caused a collision today when she dived directly off the bow. Fortunately no one was injured when her fin struck the rail. Day and night she remains within sight, never straying more than a few hundred meters in any direction. Sometimes I think that she actually considers herself our guide, flipping as she does and pointing her head in the course we take even before we take it.
Everyone aboard remains in cheerful spirits, although I am concerned that the first signs of tension are beginning to show. For all our efforts we have yet to see the slightest indication of land.
Commander Trevor has done a fine job of keeping his troops fit and trim. He maintains a daily program of exercise and drills on the main deck. The Rangers do likewise at different hours. All in all, they have high morale and genuine inspiration. Even our hunters are bearing up well.
One noteworthy development I have noticed is that Stacy has come to be regarded as a leader — not only for her wolves but also for the Ranger girls. She is beginning to show qualities that I had not known she possessed. Thoughtful and level-headed, she dutifully spends long hours at night with Alryc in the study of the stars. Alryc speaks quite highly of her, often referring to obscure lines of poetry written by Bartok. He says that Stacy already has a basic knowledge of navigation and can plot rough charts and fixes. If so, I must admit that she is far more astute than I gave her credit for. I think Alryc’s influence has been good for her — but what drives her with such intensity I cannot understand. But she at last seems fully able to blend both her human qualities and her forest ways — and with her natural aristocratic bearing she seems a born leader. I hope all this potential will not be wasted on a voyage that leads us nowhere.
Elias,
Ship’s Captain
“Good, Stacy! Good!”
The girl beamed as Alryc put down the roughly sketched chart. Overhead the stars sparkled in the black night sky.
“You’ve fixed our position well enough, little wolf princess. But see, you missed a point.” His fingers ran across the chart. “When you measure the angular height of the North Star with our latitude, you must make allowance not for where we expect to be but for our dead position. You got ahead of yourself.” He handed back the assignment.
Stacy sighed. “You’re right, of course. I guess I was trying to second-guess the stars. But I promise not to make that slip again.”
“Nonsense, girl! You’ve done well! By the Fates, you’ve done well! Every mariner errs from time to time, but you’ve shown real understanding, and that’s what counts.”
Stacy’s face brightened. “I’ve had a good teacher.”
Hands on hips, Alryc laughed. “That will not get you better marks in this class, wolf princess, but I thank you for the thought. Old astronomers love to be complimented, but enough for tonight. Why not go below and join your friends? I’m sure you have a good many stories to exchange.”
Stacy sat down beside her teacher and shook her head. “They’ll probably be asleep.”
Alryc looked at her oddly. “Melinda, asleep? That will be a change.”
Stacy laughed. “Well, if not quite asleep, they’ll be whispering about the ship’s officers and such. I don’t think I’m in the mood for all that.”
“Oh? And why not? Is there something wrong in pretty girls speaking of handsome sailors?”
“Of course not, Alryc. But tonight I feel as if my romantic dreams would be better spent under the constellations. Look. See how Antares shines! I feel I could watch for hours. Among wolves Antares is called AnaFara. Know what that means?”
The astronomer shook his head. “Now I’ll be the pupil and you’ll teach me the forest ways.”
“It means daughter of Fara. That’s the way stars are named. Each by their relationship to Fara.”
Looking at her seriously, Alryc asked, “Is that how you still view life, child? As Dwellers perceive it?”
Stacy rested her back against the rough wood of the bulwark and put her hands in her lap. Sad eyes flickered. “I don’t know anymore, Alryc. Since I left the Valley I’ve never felt, well, more human — but how shall I forget my other life? The forest means more than home to Dwellers — not at all like we think of a village, or a house as home. To them it’s everything. The universe. It’s hard to explain. I feel it, too, at least sometimes I do. The forest is my strength. Men and Dwellers die, but the forest remains. It’s all there is, or ever will be.”
“Yet you’re not a Dweller, Stacy. Don’t hide yourself behind a wolf’s façade.”
Stacy met his gaze. “What do you mean?”
“When the ways of men frighten you, as they sometimes do to all of us, you pretend that you’re not one of us. ’Tis an illusion, child. Digest what you have learned from Dwellers and be the better for it. Take the Empire for what it is. And respect yourself for being a part of it.”
“A lost soul finds shelter in wilderness,” the girl mumbled disconsolately.
Alryc suddenly stared keenly at her. “Why did you say that, child?”
Stacy shrugged. “I don’t know. It just sort of popped out.” She smiled wanly up at him.
“No one has said those words to you before?”
“No, not that I know of.”
The astronomer bowed his head and took Stacy’s small hands in his own. “Those words have great meaning for me, child. More than I could ever tell. They were whispered to me so many years ago when a great man lay dying.”
Stacy looked at him and felt a sudden chill. “Bartok?” she whispered. “Was it his thought?”
Alryc nodded. “The same words exactly as you spoke them.”
“Perhaps I read it in one of his poems. I’m quite fond — ”
The astronomer shook his head emphatically. “Those words are not written. But continue, Stacy. Finish the line!”
“I can’t,” she protested and looked away, feeling uneasy.
“Then I shall finish it for you.” Eyes shut, the navigator recalled the last words of the poet. A lost soul finds shelter in wilderness; and from that shelter shall come a dream fulfilled. For who but a lost soul can better lead? And the world shall be one.
For a long moment there was silence. Then Stacy, gazing at the prancing Salome, whispered softly, “I hope you’re not reading something into this, Alryc. If I said something that Bartok might have said, I’m sure it’s just coincidence.”
They smiled, the pall of mystery suddenly gone. “Of course not, Stacy. Coincidence it must be. Besides, who but the Fates can alter destiny? Only fools would even try.”
Alryc fell silent. It was not for him to tell her the rest of what Bartok had said. There had been more — much more. But to speak of it now might in some way alter its happening. And that must never be.
“I wonder what she’s thinking,” said Stacy.
Alryc snapped out of his thoughts. “Who?”
The girl smiled. “Salome. Look at her dive! She does it for hours on end. Don’t laugh, but sometimes I think she’s protecting us. The ship, I mean. Staying close and watching over us.”
“Maybe she is,” laughed the navigator. “Whales are odd creatures. Being mammals, they’re as close to humans as a sea-Dweller can be. Who knows? Maybe Salome does know of passing dangers. Her prancing may be some sort of signal. Too bad we don’t understand it.”
“I wonder if it were possible,” said the girl.
“Who can say? Perhaps the day will come when we can communicate with her. Just as we do with wolves.”
Stacy glowed with the thought. “Wouldn’t that be something! Imagine speaking with a whale! I’d wager she’d have a lot to say!”
Alryc laughed. “I’ve never met the female who didn’t. But look! The sky grows light! Why, we’ve sat here until dawn.”
Stacy stared over the side. “You’d better get below,” she said worriedly. “The sun will be up soon.”
Alryc nodded and was about to leave when from the shadows behind came a voice. “I wish you’d stay a moment. Both of you.”
Startled, they turned to see the tall figure of Elias, his usually chipper face sullen and troubled.
Alryc studied the sailor. He saw a deep look of worry behind Elias’s brooding eyes. “Does there seem to be a problem, Captain?”
“Perhaps you’d like to see this for yourselves. Come with me to the bridge.”
Stacy and Alryc shared puzzled glances as they followed him. On the bridge Boniface was standing with his hands clasped firmly behind his back. The biting of his lip indicated that things were not as in order as his firm stance might otherwise indicate.
“Now then,” said Alryc. “What is this all about?”
Boniface pointed out toward the west. Light was beginning to spread faster across the sky in the east. “Can you make that out?” he asked.
The navigator screwed his eyes and stared for a long while. “I...I see a haze. Is that what you mean?”
Boniface nodded. “I first noticed it several hours ago. It’s lying right in our course. What do you make of it?”
“Fog,” said Stacy without hesitation. “It looks like the mists that settle in the Valley.”
Elias agreed. “But look how dense it is. It’s spreading out like a wall across the horizon.”
“Yes, and look,” added Boniface, letting his worry become plain, “it’s blue — the color of an evening sky.”
“There’s no such thing as blue fog,” scoffed the girl. “It must be an illusion created either by the dawn or —”
“Or what?” asked Elias. “I’ve been in fog as thick as soup. But I’ve never seen anything like this before. And another thing — feel the breezes. They’re strong. But the fog’s not being broken up.”
“Winds can be tricky on open water,” explained Alryc. “The fog could be trapped by an inversion.”
“Can’t we avoid it?” asked Stacy.
“I don’t see how,” replied the captain. “It’s already spread across half the horizon. By the time we reach it, it’ll be all over us.”
Alryc quickly agreed. “Best sail through as rapidly as we can,” he said. “Perhaps by the time we reach it, the inversion will have lifted.” Even as he spoke, the mysterious fog loomed larger, closer.
Lady of the Haven (Empire Princess Book 1) Page 19