Quest for the White Wind

by Alan Black

  “Captain?” Kerrel asked, “Maybe you should get someone else to stand the helm?”

  Tanden answered, “No. You do as I command. Kerrel, I won’t ask you to do a task you aren’t able to do. Don’t worry, I’ll be nearby to guide you.” With that, Tanden turned to Tuller and Seenger who were close enough to overhear his training session with Kerrel.

  Tuller shrugged as if to say, “I got the best I could find.”

  Tanden said, “Seenger, your leg is bleeding on my nice clean deck. I don’t know how things work in your country, but on a Holdenite ship, we don’t do such things.”

  Seenger replied, “I told Tuller to wrap it up. I’ll be all right.”

  Tuller snorted, “No. You will not. Captain, he pulled the stitches out of his wound. It won’t heal just wrapped up. Hold still, Seenger. You’re going to bleed to death if you keep wiggling around like a little boy with bugs in his pants.”

  Seenger said, “I would rather bleed to death than have you keep fussing over me.”

  “Quiet, you two,” Tanden shouted, “Kerrel, two more points to starboard. Excellent. Hold it there. Now, you two old ladies go bicker somewhere else. Tuller, take him to ship’s stores. Re-sew that leg. Then take him to the captain’s quarters to rest. He can help Gaden watch Gregin and Heraclius. No arguments from either of you. Move!”

  Tanden stepped back to the helm next to Kerrel. He said, “Again. Two more points to starboard, sailor. Very good, Kerrel. Just relax, the helm isn’t as hard a task as you think it is.”

  He looked out over the deck of the White Wind. Six crewmen stood anxiously around waiting for the next command. Tanden shouted, “Bone, take three men and reset the main to the wind. This breeze is stiffening and she’s luffing badly. I shouldn’t have to tell you everything. We’re short handed on this voyage, so use your head. Teil, bring another man with you and come here.” Tanden stepped forward to meet the men as Teil quickly dragged another man to stand with him before their new captain.

  Tanden said, “Teil, there are two dead men on the deck of my ship. That one,” he pointed at the dead first mate, “and one under this tarp. I want them off the White Wind before we clear the port, is that understood?”

  Teil answered with a grin, “Yes, Captain. As easy as taking a pee downwind.”

  Tanden smiled and added, “And Teil. We aren’t wasteful on this ship. Strip those bodies of anything of value and put it in ship’s stores. I’ve already watched you and Bone toss one man overboard and that man was probably the only one of the whole gang with coin in his pockets.”

  They were approaching the entrance of the harbor quickly. Watching Teil strip the dead bodies, Tanden was sure the man would make his deadline. Teil worked with the quickness of a man who had put his hands in other men’s pockets many times before.

  The White Wind would be hidden from the view of the city once they entered the strait.

  He shouted, “Prepare to come about.”

  The crewmen sorted themselves out and prepared for the course change. Without looking behind him, Tanden called to Kerrel, “Hard to port.” The ship’s deck shifted under his feet and the crew rushed to keep the main mast from jibbing across the centerboard. Tanden noted some missteps and shoving about with the new crew, but he was unconcerned. Even on such a short voyage, this crew should be working as a team before they reached Harkelle.

  He smiled, looking back at I-Sheera. Her eyes were closed and she was smiling, her face beaming in the sun.

  The wind shifted, following their course.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  Dusk was coming on them quickly by the time the White Wind entered into the area where the Oggy Strait took its water from the Black Sea. The White Wind had sailed a direct course from Stantinstadt to this point.

  Gregin and Heraclius, still bound and gagged, were brought up on deck and secured to the stern rail. Gregin’s hands were still bundled in thick burlap. Seenger and Gadon sat near them, loudly contesting which of them could think up the most gruesome punishment they could inflict on the pair of mutineers.

  Tuller and the rest of the crew organized and inventoried the ship’s stores. They also straightened lines and sheets. No sail was allowed to luff without a team of men going aloft to set it right.

  Tanden was as relaxed as he had been for days, but he was not yet ready to sail home. He shouted, “All eyes to sea. Watch for sail.”

  Before long, a man at the bow rail spotted a sail near the coastline.

  Tanden shouted, “Hove to.” Kerrel spun the helm to starboard dumping the air from the sails, and then back to port, facing the sails directly into the wind. Tanden nodded to the helmsman. The maneuver, smartly done, brought the ship from racing downwind, to standing dead in the water within her own length.

  Tuller’s crew raced to stations to drop the sails. Tanden waited patiently as the Wave Master plied the winds to join the larger ship. The little ship was faster with a shorter keel and made the approach without incident.

  Without orders, Tuller rallied the crew to the rail with ladders and pikes to assist the little boat in coming along side. In short order Lady Yasthera il-Aldigg stood on the deck. Beside her was Tuba. I-Sheera skipped up to take Yasthera in her arms, kissing her.

  Tanden said, “You and the Lady should retire to your cabin. You’ll find it in quite a state of disarray. It’ll take some doing to put your possessions right. I’ll come see you later if that’s acceptable to you?”

  I-Sheera grabbed him by the collar of his tunic and pulled his face down to her height, “You’d better come see me or I’ll come looking for you.”

  She kissed him. He kissed her back, his passion surprising both of them.

  Finally backing away, she took Yasthera by the hand and led her to the passageway door. She stopped and looked back, “And Gadon, I’ve decided you should buy me a black saurus with a white face.”

  The heavyset man sputtered, “Buy you a black saurus? Why in the name of my father’s old hunting dog would I want to buy you a saurus of any color?”

  I-Sheera smiled, “Didn’t we wager on whether Captain Tanden could swim while towing us both? As a man of honor, Gadon, I’m sure you pay an honest debt when you lose a wager, don’t you?”

  Gadon coughed and said, “Wager? No. Wagers made in caves to women aren’t valid.”

  Tuller laughed, “Buy the lady a saurus, you fat, old goat.”

  Laughing, Tanden said, “Gadon. You argue like a doddering old man. You wagered and lost.”

  Gadon jerked a thumb over his shoulder at the Wave Master. He asked, “What about this boat? I wouldn’t send it back to the man who tried to sell us into slavery.

  Tanden said, “I sold the boat to our good friend Bramme. Got a good deal, too. I got passage for Yasthera to here and enough fresh vegetables and salted beef to get us home. I even got a bottle of wine to ease your cough.”

  Bramme and his sons were swarming over the sides of the White Wind, carrying baskets of goods that immediately went into ship’s stores.

  Gadeon said, “You must be sick if that’s the best trade you could make. A whole ship for a few bundles of vegetables that I don’t want to eat anyway? Shame on you.”

  Tanden said, “Bramme, my friend, haggles with the wisdom of the ancients.”

  Bramme nodded, “It is true, but you pushed for a hard bargain. However, I offered you valuable nourishment for your crew and wine to lighten your spirits. All you had to trade was this puny fishing boat. To make a profit from this ship, my sons and I will have to work.”

  “Bramme, until next time, go with the red order, my friend.”

  Bramme smiled, “And you go with yours.”

  Tanden turned back to the men waiting on deck, shouting, “Someone tie Tuba to the stern rail with his friends. Prepare to make sail.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  Tanden stood on the mid-deck on the White Wind with his arm around I-Sheera, holding her close. Her clean white dress was dazzling in the morning su
n. Tearing his eyes away from her, he stared at the high rock walls on all three sides of the little bay. The ship was anchored deep in the bay only a few ship-lengths from shore. Gadon, Seenger, and Tuller stood near them with the rest of the crew standing around the deck watching.

  Tanden asked I-Sheera, “What of Lady il-Aldigg?”

  She said, “We’ve talked a lot, I think she’ll be all right. She’s sleeping now. The rest is good for her. She asked me to be her friend. I never had a friend before.”

  Tanden smiled and said, “Girl, look around you. You have more friends here than you know.”

  With a sad smile, I-Sheera said, “I know we have to do this, but I won’t watch.” Turning, she walked away.

  Gregin shouted, “Enough of this. Kill us and be done with it.” He was still tied to the stern rail. The Potato and Lumpy were both in the sky and the offshore wind was freshening. The blue priest’s hands were bound and bundled in thick burlap, preventing him from collecting any magic. Heraclius lay in a heap beside him, weeping and crying for mercy. Tuba sat quietly.

  Tanden said, “Kill you? Is that your wish? You’re well and truly guilty of mutiny, theft, and murder. I won’t give you a choice, Gregin. You deserve death, but you’ll take your chances in the sea and on land. Nothing more than you did for us.”

  He stepped toward the men and cut Tuba’s bonds. Tanden said, “No one of this ship will hurt you as I promised, but you’re not welcome aboard the White Wind. Never cross my eyes again or I’ll unsheath my sword.”

  He cut Heraclius lose and continued, “Over the side or I’ll throw you over like you did me. Alton didn’t survive the sea. Durrban didn’t survive the land beyond. Those of us standing before you did survive.” Both men went over the side, although Heraclius sobbed and required a shove to his chest to get him over the rail.

  Tanden looked at Gregin. “You might live as well. Your magic should stand you in good stead. However, if you are fortunate enough to live, remember this, the Blue Wizard believes you’re responsible for the theft of the White Wind and her cargo. I doubt you’ll ever again be received with open arms by your order.”

  Gregin held his hands out to be cut free. Tanden sliced the bonds. If the priest tried anything, he could not collect enough magic to protect himself from all of the crew. Still, the priest chuckled, raising his hands skyward as a strong wind began blowing offshore. A blue wall of light began building around him. It fizzled as quickly as it started. His magic failed. His face betrayed his shock as he stared at his hands.

  Tanden glanced behind him and looked up. I-Sheera had climbed the mainmast. She was standing on the topmast tresstletree with one hand braced against the mast. A smile lit her face as the sun reflected off her white dress, the light basked the whole ship in its glow. Wind blowing offshore pushed the White Wind. Even without sails, the ship strained at its sea anchors, like it was anxious to be free on the open seas.

  Seenger took one step toward Gregin, flicking his red tongue across his tusks. Rather than wait to see what the ogre had in mind, the priest turned and jumped into the sea.

  Tanden shouted, “Prepare to make sail before this kind wind pushes us there without our help. Tuller, help Kerrel set a course to Harkelle. We’re going home.”

  The End

  Books

  By

  Alan Black

  Fantasy

  Quest for the White Wind

  Science Fiction

  Metal Boxes (book one)

  Metal Boxes - Trapped Outside (book two)

  Metal Boxes - Rusty Hinges (book three)

  Chewing Rocks

  Empty Space

  Larry Goes To Space

  Steel Walls and Dirt Drops

  Titanium Texicans

  Christian Historical Fiction

  (An Ozark Mountain Series 1920 Trilogy)

  The Friendship Stones

  The Granite Heart

  The Heaviest Rock

  (An Ozark Mountain Series 1925 Trilogy)

  The Inconvenient Pebble

  The Jasper’s Courage

  The King’s Rock

  General Fiction

  Chasing Harpo

  Western

  A Cold Winter

  Non-Fiction

  How To Start, Write, and Finish Your First Novel

  About the author

  www.alanblackauthor.com

  Alan Black has been writing novels since 1996 when he started Eye on The Prize. He is an Amazon #1 bestselling science fiction author for Metal Boxes, Larry Goes To Space, and Metal Boxes Rusty Hinges. His novel Metal Boxes - Trapped Outside was awarded “Book of the Conference” at the Cirque du Livre Writer’s conference in Mesa, Arizona in 2016 where the judges specifically noted the novel did not read like a sequel even though it was the second book in a series. He’s a multi-genre writer who has never met a good story he didn't want to tell.

  Alan spent much of his adult life in the Kansas City area. The exception came at the orders from the U.S. Air Force when he was stationed in Texas, California, Maryland, and Japan. He and his wife were married in the late 70s and lived in Independence, Missouri, but now live in sunny Arizona.

  Alan Black's vision statement: "I want my readers amazed they missed sleep because they could not put down one of my books. I want my readers amazed I made them laugh on one page and cry on the next. I want to give my readers a pleasurable respite from the cares of the world for a few hours. I want to offer stories I would want to read."

  Praise for Alan Black’s books

  Chewing Rocks

  Chastity Snowden Whyte only has a small chip on her shoulder. No problem. She’s an asteroid miner and works alone. But author Alan Black knows that comfortable characters don’t make for good reading. From page one, he piles problem after problem on Sno, keeping the reader turning pages to find out what happens next. Chewing Rocks is engaging science fiction and a fun read.

  Goodreads review by Paul Bussard on July 06, 2014

  Empty Space

  Funny, disturbing, and poignant.

  Funny, disturbing, and poignant...not how I would usually describe a SF space novel. This book, while well written SF has a lot to say about social class, society, humanity, and the human condition. Our protagonist is almost an anti-hero as he's someone you root for throughout the novel, even though he's a serial killer at heart.

  This is a great book, and I didn't want to put it down but it has thought provoking components throughout the novel and intertwined with action, adventure, and technology.

  Amazon review by Fred on March 20, 2015

  Larry Goes To Space

  Easy read with some surprising depth

  This is a fun book full of wry humor. It's an easy read with what seems to be a fairly straight-forward plot. But, there is an underlying genius in the narrative. I think a lot of different types of readers can get something out of this. Definitely recommended.

  Amazon review by Greg Trickey on January 23, 2016

  Metal Boxes

  WOW!

  What a great rip-roaring adventure, I loved it from page one to the end. A grand space opera with a very likeable main character of Midshipman Stone.

  I am reminded of Heinlein's writing with the humor, drama and palpable love the characters show for each other, I felt like I was reading a Lazarus Long story. Which is very high praise! This is the first novel I've read by author Alan Black, but it won't be my last. I don't give very many five-star ratings but this one is well deserved, I'm sure it will come to be considered a classic of the sci-fi genre, it's that good.

  Amazon review by last spartan on April 28, 2015

  Metal Boxes - Trapped Outside

  Page Turner...who needs sleep?

  Shades of Heinlein and Ringo. I am hooked and can only pray that Alan Black continues to bless us with his yarns. So fresh in theme and direction reading his stories reminds me of so many firsts as a teenager. I've read each of his Boxes stories twice to glean any facet I may have missed the
first time. Sad to have come to an end...now I wait for sequels.

  Amazon review by Reg Tysonon on September 12, 2015

  Metal Boxes - Rusty Hinges

  Very good sequal in the Metal Boxes series

  Funny, thought provoking and action packed. Stone seems to grow up and take responsibility for his life instead of letting life be responsible for him. His relationship with Allie progress well and hopefully will become more permanent. I found it quite humorous when the author references the prior books and how he has one of the characters ask Stone to autograph his copy. There continues to be a mention of the 'Emperor's College' which make me wonder is Stone is a candidate. The ending of the book seems to move the Dracos out of further equals but i don't know for sure.

  Lloved it, want more.

  Amazon review by James R. Norton Sr on April 30, 2016

  Steel Walls and Dirt Drops

  Military sci-fi ground pounder action in space–so cool!

  A long time reader of military science fiction, I found this book to stand with the best like David Drake’s Hammer’s Slammers and Redline and anything by Dietmar Wehr. I hate spoilers in reviews so am in a turmoil because I very much want to shout out the so cool surprise ending – but I won’t.

  I thoroughly enjoyed how the author builds the story putting the hero in situation after situation that challenges her abilities causing her to grow and develop. Even more, she is a commander we can all like. She is smart, savvy, honest with herself, deals well with her people, has self-doubt where it makes sense to, and not automatically so beautiful she would be completely unbelievable. I even like her better than David Webber's Honor Harrington because she feels more real.