Quest for the White Wind

by Alan Black

  Teil said, “You said trouble. I don’t mind a good fight—”

  One of the other sailors grunted and said, “That’s what you said just before the fight that got you thrown out of the Dog and Rooster last night.”

  Teil said, “Shut your bung-hole, Bone. It was them soldiers,” he pointed at Tanden’s clothing “in that uniform, what done started it. Called King Krebbem a fool for turning to the green order. I’m no convert myself, but I don’t take to listening to insults to Krebbem. Captain, I wants to know where this trouble comes from. Like I said afore, I don’t mind a good fight, but I don’t fight against my own kind.”

  Bone snorted and laughed, but held his peace under Teil’s glare.

  Tanden said sharply, “All of you. Trouble can come at us from a hundred different directions. From bad weather to this city’s blue garrison. Teil, you stand with me or you don’t. I don’t have time to tell you my life’s history.”

  Teil said, “Captain. I didn’t say I wouldn’t stand with you. I just wanted to know what we might expect.”

  “That’s right and reasonable. But, I don’t have time to be right and reasonable. When trouble comes, it comes, whatever its uniform or disguise. Stand with this ship or get off.” Tanden glared at Teil until the man nodded.

  Tanden turned to Tuller and said, “Get their gear put away in ship’s stores. Prepare to make sail as fast as you can. Everyone. No delays!”

  The men followed Tuller to ship’s stores, tossed their belongings in a heap and began scurrying around the deck, performing tasks to make the ship ready to sail. At Tanden’s command, they coiled lines and untangled sheets. He sent two groups of men to prepare the main and jib sails, ensuring they were not tangled.

  Tanden wanted to give as little indication of departure as possible. He also needed to be positive that when they broke away from the docks, the White Wind would be able to raise her sails and pull away smoothly. Tangles in any of the running gear would cause her to wallow enabling them to be trapped.

  Tanden called Tuller and Seenger to him, “When we sail, we sail out as fast as we can. Tuller, when the time comes I want you at the helm. We face the wind, so back us until we’re free of the dock, bringing her around to catch the wind. Seenger, this is no time for niceties. Be prepared to cut the mooring lines. We should be ready to raise sail in another quarter of an hour or so.”

  Tuller pointed back up the dock, “We may not have a quarter of an hour.”

  Walking along the wharf was a small group of three men. One of them, a robed blue priest, was pointing out the White Wind to the other two. Following a short distance behind them was another group of fifteen common sailors, shoving each other and laughing, each carrying a bundle of belongings.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  “Tuller,” Tanden commanded, “Get us ready to sail. Now! Seenger, we have to keep those men off the White Wind.”

  Tanden and Seenger strode to the gangplank.

  Seenger halted at the top with his sword drawn.

  Tanden stepped down to stand by the three guards. He shook his head sadly. “Men, the blue priest was right. There are men coming to steal this ship and all her cargo. They’re coming now, as bold as you please, in the pure light of day.”

  One of the guards said, “Don’t you worry. We’ll stop them.”

  Tanden said, “Good. The Blue Wizard is counting on us to do the best we can and he can be a most generous man to those who serve him well. These men will pretend this is their ship, so don’t let them trick you. One of them is even pretending to be a blue priest, but he’s just another man in the gang of thieves, wearing stolen robes.”

  The priest and the two men came into view along the pier as Tanden raced back up the gangplank to stand next to Seenger. They watched as the guards moved along the pier. Standing shoulder to shoulder the guards completely blocked the pier.

  Longshoremen coming from the Allexian ship put their bundles on the ground and sat down again. The dockworkers going to the Allexian ship began to knot up behind the priest and the two men, unable to pass. The dock foremen at the end of the pier, threw up his hands, plowed into the gathering crowd and began shouting at his crew to clear the way.

  A man on the Allexian ship shouted curses about not being able to get his cargo unloaded before dark and shouted at his crew to clear the pier. The larger group of sailors, still laughing and shoving each other good-naturedly, collided into the back of a group of hot sweaty tired dockworkers who had long ago lost their sense of humor. A few heartbeats later, tempers flared. Pushing and shoving began in earnest. Fists flew in each direction; punches connected and, faster than a grass fire on a dry summer day, a melee spread across the dock area around both ships.

  The two men with the blue priest had the look of the captain and his first mate. Tanden could not hear what they were saying over the shouting, but the captain and the priest gestured wildly at the White Wind.

  The guards stood firm and unmoving, but Tanden doubted they could move more than a smidgeon with the press of bodies pushing at them from opposite directions. The priest tried to push his way between two guards. Raising his arms, a swirl of blue magic collected around the man’s hands. One of the dock guards raised his club out of the tangle of bodies and brought it smashing down across the shoulder of the priest. The robed man crumpled to the dock, his blue magic withering way in the bright daylight.

  The first mate grabbed the club, twisting it out of the guard’s hand. Holding it by the fat end, he jabbed the club into the stomach of the front guard. The guard folded in half, bent at the waist. The first mate brought his knee up into the guard’s face, sending him crashing backward into the press of dockworkers behind the guards.

  The first mate quickly reversed his hold on the club and sent it crashing into the head of another guard, sending him sideways. The guard slammed into the side of the White Wind and slid down, splashing into the harbor.

  The captain slid a knife from its sheath on his waistband. The remaining guard tried to back up but was unable to move as the captain shoved the blade at the guard’s midsection. The guard lifted his hands defensively and the blade sliced across his forearm. He crumpled to the pier, covering his head with his bleeding arm, pleading for mercy.

  The captain and his first mate shoved men out of their way and made for the gangplank. The captain stood on the bottom, raising his head over the crowd, shouting in a booming voice, “My crew. Hear this, my crew. Board this ship, up the sides. All others clear this pier now!”

  The first mate charged up the ramp. Seenger bellowed and threw him bodily back down the ramp.

  Tanden heard Tuller shout behind him. “Teil. Bone. To the rail. Prepare to repel boarders. All others set sail.”

  Tanden kept his eyes on the action along the side of the White Wind, though he wanted to turn and watch the progress of this new crew.

  A sailor had almost reached the rail by climbing along the bow mooring lines. Tanden pointed at the man and sent Seenger running forward, but before the ogre could reach the spot, Teil bashed the man in the side with a pike.

  Tanden felt the White Wind give a familiar jerk backward. The mainsail had set.

  “You,” the captain at the foot of the gangplank shouted at Tanden. “Clear the way. We’re on orders from Standtinstadt’s blue wizard. Help that priest or face the wrath of the Blue Wizard of Tunston.”

  “You speak for the Blue Wizard? I don’t think so. I assume he speaks for himself.” Tanden shouted, “Seenger, cut the bow lines.” He heard shouting from the bow and the clank of swords, but he kept his eyes focused on the scene before him.

  The man at the bottom of the gangplank stared at Tanden. “Are you a fool, soldier? This ship belongs to the Blue Wizard in Tunston. I’m Captain Yarro Herd. I command this ship in the name of the blue wizard of Stantinstadt. Stand aside or I’ll gut you myself.”

  Tanden laughed, “I work for Gregin, formerly of Tunston. This is now his ship. He’s decided the Blue Wizard and
his city wizard are rich enough. We take this ship and her full cargo as our own. Gregin says the Blue Wizard can go straight to hell and you’ll precede him if you try to gut me.”

  The ship slid backward moving away from the dock. It moved only inches, but it was enough to jerk the gangplank. Tanden felt the White Wind slipping free from the dock at the bow. The lines at the gangplank and the aft mooring lines were still attached.

  The first mate regained his feet and rushed Tanden. He swung his club at Tanden’s head but Tanden ducked under the blow. It missed his head, but sent the uniform hat flying through the air. From a crouch, Tanden kicked at the first mate. The flat sole of his boot connected with the mate’s chest, but the man braced himself and held his place. The first mate raised the club over his head and swung at Tanden with both hands.

  Tanden leaned back allowing the club to swish past his head. The man calling himself Captain Yarro Herd charged up the ramp, pushing his weight against his first mate, driving the man into Tanden. Two other men from the docks bounded up the gangplank, each man vaulting to the rail of the ship. One man jumped to the left and the other man jumped to the right. Tanden was unable to stop them. He had his hands full with the first mate and the captain.

  To his left Tanden saw I-Sheera drive a knife through a hand grasping the rail. When she jerked it loose, the man fell backward. The sailor hit the edge of the pier with a dull thud and dropped into the water.

  Tanden swung his sword at the first mate in a wild cut. He missed, but it was close enough to make him hesitate. He slashed at a man lifting himself over the rail and missed as the man threw himself onto the ship, rolling out of range of Tanden’s sword.

  Tanden roared and swung his sword in wild cuts at the first mate, forcing him and Yarro Herd back down the gangplank. Tanden leaped up and landed on the gangplank with his full weight. Jumping again, he brought both feet down on the ramp. His action and the movement of the ship caused the gangplank to jerk from side to side. The taut lines holding the gangplank in place strained against the ship. Her sails were catching the wind, pulling the lines tight against the dock. The ramp jiggled, but experienced sailors should have been able to keep their feet. Tanden currently faced experienced sailors. Landing hard the second time caused Tanden to bounce rearward into the air, landing on the deck of the ship.

  The first mate rushed up the gangplank again. Tanden thrust his sword point forward, but the man’s club deflected it. Tanden grabbed the man by his tunic, slammed the butt of his sword hilt against his head, and threw him to the side.

  Yarro Herd used the diversion to reach the deck of the ship. Holding only his knife, he danced in a circle out of Tanden’s sword range. Tanden turned to keep facing the captain. The gangplank was now wide open and he heard feet pounding up the ramp.

  Tanden spun around and severed the lines to the gangplank with one clean swipe of his blade. Continuing to spin from momentum, Tanden faced the captain’s knife. He felt the White Wind lurch away from the dock. The stern hawser held the ship. He heard the ramp and men on it crash to the dock and splash into the harbor.

  At the edge of his vision, Tanden saw Bone pushing against a pier pylon with a pike, driving the ship back, widening the gap between its bow and the dock. Teil was wildly swinging a pike at the men on the pier.

  Tanden heard Tuller shout, “Bring the mainsail about. Set the Jib.”

  Tanden smiled at Captain Yarro Herd, “I graciously give you approval to get off this ship. You can’t stop us from making sail, nor can you catch us once we’re underway. Gregin has decided to sail us to Allexia. We’ll all be rich and there’s nothing that you can do to stop us.”

  Yarro Herd’s eyes flicked to the side.

  Tanden dropped to the deck and rolled sideways. Completing the somersault, he rolled to his feet, sidestepping around the first mate. The man had regained his feet and retrieved his club. He charged at Tanden swinging the club, driving him away from Yarro Herd.

  Tanden flicked the point of the sword at the man to keep him away, but the first mate continued to swing wildly. He moved backward slowly, keeping the first mate between him and Yarro Herd. Tanden slipped a knife free from his waistband and threw it at the first mate. The throw was bad. He had not aimed and had released it too quickly. The flat of the knife struck the first mate in the stomach. The man flinched, taking his eyes off Tanden to glance down.

  Tanden drove his sword forward catching the man in the throat. The cut went deep. Tanden easily pulled the sword free and slashed the man across the face, driving him backward. From the side, Teil and Bone rushed at Yarro Herd. Teil grabbed the wrist holding the knife and in one swift motion, lifted him clear off his feet. They propelled him over the rail, into the water.

  Tanden stepped over to the first mate and drove the point of his sword through the man’s midsection. He felt it scrape bone as the point exited the man’s back. He dropped to the deck, dead before his knees touched wood. Tanden let the sword fall to the deck with him.

  The White Wind was straining to slip away from the dock. She was pushing herself sideways through the water. The wind and sails were struggling to drive her backward, but the aft mooring hawser held her to the pier. Tanden needed to cut the thick dock lines. He grabbed the handle of his sword and jerked, but the dead man’s body refused to release it.

  Tanden shouted, “Someone cut the aft hawser.”

  I-Sheera and Seenger raced past Tanden. The woman appeared to be uninjured though her short sword dripped red. The ogre was covered in blood and weaponless.

  Tanden yanked at his sword again, but the dead body held it tight. He saw Seenger grab I-Sheera’s sword and hack at the aft hawser, but the sword slid away from the thick rope, well seasoned by salt, sea, and hot sun.

  I-Sheera glanced seaward across the bay. The wind and tides were causing waves to skitter about in long evenly spaced rows. She shouted at Seenger. “Get us free!”

  Tanden was not sure if his eyes were tricking him, but he saw a pure white ball of light bathe the woman. She glowed, her eyes flashing determination as she glared at the offending line. He watched the pylon at the corner of the pier give way to the pull of the ship. The wood must have rotted below the water line. With a snap and a moan, the dock boards gave way, dropping men and cargo into the water.

  The pylon slowed the White Wind, acting like a sea anchor, until Seenger’s cut finally sliced through the mooring hawser. Tanden expected the White Wind to leap forward, but instead, little by little, she began picking up speed.

  Tanden shouted, “Loose the full jib. Re-set the main.” He turned to Tuller at the helm and commanded, “Set course east by north east. Get us out of this harbor.”

  Teil, Bone, and Kerrel raced past Tanden to respond to his commands. He grabbed Kerrel by the shoulder and pointed him toward the helm.

  “Take the helm. Hold the course Tuller sets.”

  Seenger was leaning against the rail at the stern of the ship, his chest heaving. Tanden shouted at Tuller and pointed to the ogre. Tanden’s eyes swept over the ship and her crew. He had lost track of the man who vaulted the rail to his right, but he was nowhere to be seen. He could not see any wounded among his sailors. One dead body lay at his feet and Greeta’s body still lay covered by the tarp.

  Tanden shouted commands to his new crew, telling this man to tighten a slack sheet and that man to coil the line tangled at his feet. The crew was rough, but for the most part the men looked as if they knew bow from stern and port from starboard. Under his constant attention, the White Wind was moving faster and faster through the water of the harbor, dancing through the waves.

  I-Sheera stood at the bow rail. Glancing from the sky to the sails and back again, she waved her hands like any little movement would help fill the sails. A smile escaped her lips as the sails puffed to their fullest with a suddenly gusting, fair wind.

  Tanden stared at I-Sheera. His heart swelled, knowing this woman was special, not just because she was his and he was hers. He could not
explain it. Tested time and again, he knew he had no magic. I-Sheera could not hold magic, she was a woman, and everyone knew that magic was denied to women.

  Standing in the sunlight, the wind whipping around her, I-Sheera stood with her arms outstretched. A tingle of white light shimmered from her fingertips as the sun lit the wave tops behind her. The wind whipped her wild black mane about alternately covering and uncovering her flashing eyes.

  It was late afternoon and all the fishing boats should be at anchor, well out of the main channel. With the new wind at their backs, the White Wind could easily pass by any incoming trade ships. Tanden did not expect anyone to lay chase. No ship could get underway fast enough to catch them. Even though the White Wind was fully loaded with cargo, she could slip the harbor and gain the horizon to drop out of sight before any other vessel could get under sail.

  Satisfied, he looked to Seenger. Tuller had the man stretched out on the deck, blood was running from his large, open, thigh wound. Tanden walked to the helm.

  He turned to Kerrel and said, “Two points to starboard.” Tanden was about to help Tuller with Seenger when he realized Kerrel had not obeyed the command. Tanden saw the confusion in the man’s eyes. “Easy does it, sailor. Is this your first time at the helm?”

  Kerrel gulped and nodded.

  Tanden continued, “It’s good to learn new things. Just turn the helm to starboard until I tell you to stop.”

  The sailor said, “Captain. That’s why I was thrown off my last ship. I can’t seem to learn which way is starboard and what way is port. I’m a good sailor otherwise. Honest, Captain. I ain’t gonna lie to you.”

  Tanden removed the knife from Kerrel’s waistband to slice a short length of leather from his soldier’s tunic. He slipped the knife back into its sheath and knotted the leather strap around Kerrel’s left wrist.

  “As you face the bow of the ship, that side is port. The side without this bracelet is starboard. Understood? Good.” Tanden jerked and spun the wheel two points to starboard. “And that is two points. Hold this course for now.”