by Chris Ward
They were wary of him, this wild and unpredictable man, so quick to anger and rudeness, and yet he seemed so different. They climbed the dozen steps and stood respectfully to one side and looking forward over the bow were immediately impressed by the scene before them, one not readily visible from the lower mid-deck. The sea stretched endlessly away, wave crest upon crest, separated by deep and hidden valleys, unseen and coldly uninviting. The Scoria sat proudly on her wave; it was larger than the rest and yet it travelled in the endless procession at the same rate as all the others. Around them, every now and then, part of a wave crest would collapse in a roaring wall of foam, only to re-emerge once more as the energy from further along the wave transferred into the depleted section. It was as thought the sea were alive. The ship herself made a roaring sound which made any conversation difficult. Her bow wave continually waxed and waned but was never silent, and the wind in the rigging and enveloping the large canvas sails which flapped and pulled and slackened in a mighty untimed choreography, was almost deafening at times. But most extraordinary was the humming from the rudder directly beneath their feet, which made the wheel vibrate in the hands of Smig the helmsman so much that they were at times almost blurred. It was a most amazing thing, this surfing ship, and Rema and Serenna and possibly all the rest of the crew were transfixed into silent fascination.
The Captain said nothing. Finally Rema attempted to bridge the gap between them.
‘Wormwood says we are heading for an island called Lavas.’
Tyne looked over at Rema and their eyes meet seriously for the first time. Rema realised what he had begun to suspect, that the man was no fool, but he was right to be wary of him. In the same moment Lethyne Tyne also realised that his unwanted guest, whom he had so easily disregarded, was not to be taken lightly, for he had a certain presence about him which spoke of a deep and disciplined character who was not afraid of him. He mentally offered a grudging acceptance.
‘Wormwood would be right. I am pleased that he has learned something of my ways.’ He spoke with a gentle sarcasm which was meant to encourage further conversation. Rema sensed this and welcomed the opportunity.
‘Scion explained what you did just then, getting this ship to surf like it is. I am not a sailor, as you will have noticed; my skills lie elsewhere; however I am greatly impressed by all this.’ Here Rema gestured around him, ‘can you maintain this, this surfing? It seems rather precarious.’
Tyne’s immediate and normal response was to give a cutting remark to remind the man that he was in the presence of a master, and should not question or doubt his ability; but something restrained him, for he realised that it was a perfectly reasonable question if you knew little about the sea and sailing. He took a deep breath and willed himself to reply more civilly.
‘That it is lad, quite unstable actually. I’ve had her up and flying like this before, maybe three times, or four, I can’t recall, and the longest we could hold station was about four spans, and then I almost lost her coming off the wave. Today she feels like she’ll go all the way to Lavas.’ Helmsman Smig cast a sideways glance, raised his eyebrows, and smiled in surprise at the warmth in his Captain’s response. Tyne noticed.
‘Do you have a problem Smig?’ he growled.
‘No captain, I feel just fine.’ Smig stared straight ahead, still smiling and thought, That’s more like it, for a moment I thought you’d become human.
‘How far to Lavas, Lethyne?’ Serenna spoke, using his first name which seemed to please him.
‘From The Gates, by the Lights of Oudin it is near enough a hundred leagues direct to Lavas.’ He spoke gently now for he was grateful for her seeming warmth. ‘We’ve travelled about two dozen leagues since then.’ He rubbed his chin and thought for a moment. ‘At this speed we could get there by nightfall, but we’ll see her long before that.’ At that very moment, the sailor in the lookout high up on the foremast gave a cry which, whilst not heard down on the deck was noticed, for it was accompanied by a hand signal which pointed out off the port bow.
‘Seems to me our lookout has spied something, the top of the mount I’ll wager. Lavas is sighted. By the gods we are travelling faster than I thought.’ Captain Tyne sounded quite excited. Both Serena and Rema looked hard but could see nothing. ‘You must remember that Smallbone up there can see over the horizon whilst we down here must wait a bit before sharing his view, but his eyes are the best and I do not doubt him.’ Tyne spoke almost graciously. Smig smirked once more and risking his captain’s wrath, commented.
‘Perhaps our guest would like to use your private steps Captain? He might see the mountain top from there? ’ He sensed Tyne stiffen, for no one was allowed to use his special steps. Smig smiled, for he was a very powerful man and feared no one, not even the Captain, and was bemused in the sudden human side of the man. He wondered if he’d pushed too far, but apparently not for Tyne relaxed and took up on his helmsman’s suggestion.
‘Use the steps behind you lad, and you may find the extra height will bring Lavas into view.’
Two paces behind the wheel stood the third mast. It was not as high as the fore or mizzen masts, and it carried a different type of sail, but it was just as solid as the other two. Built onto its forward side was a simple set of steps which allowed the captain to stand on a tiny platform about his own height above the deck and which gave a wide view of his ship’s deck and working crew, and a superior view to the horizon. There was a single handhold in the shape of an iron hoop, high above on the mast. Rema glanced at the captain who indicated with a nod that he was welcome to use it if he wanted. From the new vantage point Rema stared hard in the direction that Smallbone the lookout had indicated. He saw nothing at first but then in the trough of a wave he caught a glimpse of a pale mountain top, roughly pointed, and a paler more constant blue than the ocean which was tinged with green.
‘I see it Captain Tyne,’ he exclaimed. ‘I see the mount. That would be Lavas then!’ Tyne just nodded his head, for it was nothing new to him. He had approached Lavas a hundred times. It was exactly where he expected it to be. After gazing into the distance at their destination for a short time, the glare of the sun reflecting off the sea proved too much, and Rema looked down upon the Scoria. He realised just what a good vantage point the tiny platform afforded the Captain, for he could see almost all of the ship’s mid-deck and none of the fore deck, which was raked slightly up towards the bow, was hidden at all.
Immediately below him was the ship’s wheel and the map table in front of it. It was quite a high table with built up sides and a fold back top at either end which allowed the maps to be locked away and protected from the weather. Rema was impressed at just how clearly he could see the map from the tiny platform. He also realised that the map lying open before the helmsman was one like Tyne had given Serenna for him to look at, except it had far more detail of the coast and ocean. Red lines marked passages between ports, and notes were scribbled in places, supposedly to assist in tricky navigation. The land mass of Revelyn was shaded lightly and from his ‘bird’s eye’ view he felt that he was almost flying over it. Suddenly he realised what he knew in an instant he’d always known. It came in a flash of recognition. There it was, the eagle’s eye. The place which the Prophecy mentioned and which even the mighty Wisden could not work out. Of course he thought, how did I miss it? I’ve always known. Without thinking he gave voice to his thoughts. ‘Of course!’ he exclaimed.
By chance Captain Tyne looked up at that very moment and noticed the look of satisfaction on Rema’s face, and heard his cry. He also realised that Rema was staring at the map of Revelyn and was immediately curious.
‘So lad, you’ve recognised something. Care to share it with us?’ Rema was about to excitedly explain his discovery, when the thought came to him that this part of the prophecy would be most valuable to his enemies, and Tyne was not yet to be trusted. No one was to be trusted. He hesitated, thinking fast.
‘Just an idea Captain, that’s all; something which migh
t be of use to me in the days ahead.’ He tried to sound casual about it all, but he knew immediately that Tyne was not convinced, and he was not the sort of man who liked to be thwarted, especially on his own ship where his word was law. Serenna looked up anxiously at him for she perceived something of his dilemma. Rema climbed down and stood on the rear deck with the others. An awkward silence fell upon them, but by some fortune other events intervened which diverted all their attention to more immediate matters, for Smig the helmsman had allowed himself a little too much latitude in his observance of Tyne’s improved demeanour and did not realise that the ship had slewed slightly off course, and suddenly the wave started to turn them hard to port, and dangerously beam-on to the crest upon which they surfed.
‘Smig hard starboard, we’re broaching.’ Tyne had realised the danger in an instant and gave the order, grabbing the wheel instinctively. Together the two men fought the ship and the sea, for the wave had grabbed the huge hull and had started to swing her around. Only the tiny rudder could bring her back on course, and keep her running before the wind, but the force on the wheel was immense.
Slowly, despite all their efforts Smig and Tyne found they could not hold her, and the ship began to broach. Rema jumped to the wheel and added his considerable strength to the battle. The rudder held and the ship skidded ungainly on her side for a moment, the masts leaning further and further over. Serenna suddenly screamed for she had seen Smallbone high up in his lookout fall from the platform. The three men at the wheel looked up and saw him fall. His fate was sealed. Had he fallen from an upright ship he would have hit the deck and been killed in an instant. With the ship heeled over he would miss the boat completely and land in the sea, but there would be no way the ship could stop for she was almost out of control. Nor would they find him again for he would be swept astern and lost to view immediately. The rest of the crew were all holding on for dear life as the Scoria heeled over even further, and could do nothing.
And then by luck or some mystical intervention beyond understanding, the ship shuddered to starboard just enough for one of the lower booms on the foremast to pivot around the mast toward the stern. In so doing the sail it carried passed beneath the falling sailor and he hit it hard enough to bounce clear out into space once more, but now back towards the ship where the waiting hands of the massive Scion grabbed him and held him fast. It was all over in an instant, from certain death to life. No one had any time to cheer or react for the ship was in the gravest danger.
‘Hold fast men,’ Tyne hissed to Smig and Rema, ‘give all you’ve got now or we are lost.’
The ship suddenly fell on its side and one boom on the mizzen speared into the water, its sail suddenly filled with water and swung the ship back on course. As she righted herself she managed by some marvellous luck to hold her course and continuing the surfing. In a moment she was upright and running downwind like a gracious lady of the sea, all thoughts of catastrophe blown well away.
Tyne and Rema fell to the deck exhausted and breathing hard. Smig maintained his station, but now with a ferocity of focus which spoke volumes for the embarrassment he felt at almost broaching the vessel.
‘That was fun,’ said Serenna in a nervous humour. Tyne gathered himself and stood up. He glowered at the helmsman who braced himself for a tirade of well deserved abuse. Surprisingly the captain composed himself; he turned away and looked straight ahead.
‘No harm done Smig,’ he said almost civilly, although the hard edge to his voice was clear enough, ‘but I think you should talk with Smallbone later and explain just what happened. I think he deserves an explanation.’ He turned to Rema. ‘I thank you for your assistance lad for without it we would not have held her. As it was we came as close as it is possible to go and not wind up a total shipwreck.’ Tyne paused and then continued in a rather awed voice...’and yet we are still surfing on the same wave. By the gods this is unheard of.’ And with that he stood and stared off into the distance, once more the captain in command of his ship. Rema and Serenna felt they had been dismissed and as they left the rear deck Captain Lethyne Tyne did not so much as glance at them, although Rema, feeling emboldened by his actions, turned and spoke from the top of the steps.
‘Captain, I am happy to address you as such, for this is your ship and you deserve that respect. I however am no lad, as you seem to like to call me. Perhaps you could remember this.’ He did not wait for a reply.
Tyne heard, but did not comment directly. However he whispered loudly as Rema’s back disappeared down to the mid-deck. ‘No lad eh! Well that remains to be seen.’
They chatted briefly with Scion who was consoling a much shaken Smallbone before heading below once more.
‘Next time you suggest we go and see what the Captain has planned I think I’ll stay in my cabin,’ chided Serenna once they were comfortably ensconced in their tiny cabin.
‘Who’s afraid of a little capsize!’ Rema mimicked in his best imitation of her, and they both laughed until they were breathless.
‘So what did you discover?’ Serenna asked when they regained some composure and were seated once more on their tiny bunks, and braced against the unpredictable motion of a ship running fast downwind. ‘You surely had Tyne curious and I could see it was something important.’ Rema nodded seriously.
‘You know, I was about to tell you both, but suddenly I knew I had to keep it from Tyne. I know he’s helped us, even saved us, at some risk to himself, but I still am not sure about where he stands, even what he stands for in the end. If it comes to it, I feel he will choose what’s best for him and the Scoria...and I can’t really blame him for that.’ He shrugged, ‘So that’s why I wouldn’t say. I know it upset him, but we have to be careful Serenna. I’m not sure who to trust, apart from you.’ She nodded in agreement.
‘You’re right. I wouldn’t be saying anything much to anyone just yet; but what was it you realised? Come on Rema this anticipation is killing me.’ He looked at her in excitement, for he was dying to share what he knew.
‘Give me the map,’ he commanded. She did so and he laid it out on the cabin floor once more. ‘Right, now stand on your bunk, get as high as you can.’ Serenna did so with some difficulty for the ship was moving endlessly and bracing herself was difficult. Finally she was able to look down upon the map from as far above as was possible in the confines of the cabin.
‘Alright, what am I looking for?’ she asked, with a frown of concentration.
‘Can you see what Revelyn looks like, the whole land mass I mean? What sort of shape does it look like?’ Serenna squinted and looked hard, but said nothing. Rema felt frustration, for he had seen it straight away.
‘I used to argue with Goodman Cantor about this. He couldn’t see it but I always could.’ Serenna just shook her head.
‘Sorry Rema, I can’t see it... hang on... yes,’ she half closed her eyes, ‘I see it, it’s an eagle! And eagle’s head...sort of!’ Rema punched the air enthusiastically.
‘Yes, it is; the beak is here,’ and he traced out the line, ‘and the eye, can you see the eye?’ Serenna got down and put her finger on it. The Eastern Upthrust. The eagle’s eye. You have to imagine a bit, but I can see it now.’
‘Remind me to get you to show Goodman Cantor one day,’ laughed Rema, ‘for no matter how I pointed it out he could never see it. I am amazed I didn’t think of it, but my first interpretation of the prophecy was for something far more serious than finding a shape in a map. This is like seeing figures in the clouds. It’s so simple I missed it.’
‘And maybe it’s another confirmation of your place in all this.’ Serenna whispered quietly. ‘The Wisden, for all their learning never discovered it, but you knew it all along.’ She looked up at him and in that moment, as their eyes met, Rema Bowman knew she was right. He nodded. They sat for a moment and looked quietly at the map, before Rema broke the silence in a far more serious tone.
‘Of course you know what this means Serenna.’ It was her turn to nod in serious contemplat
ion.
‘It means we have to visit the Edenwhood.’ She breathed the word quietly; for just the telling of it carried a weight which they both knew was enormous. ‘Sworn enemies of humans. A race apart. No one who has ever ventured into their domain has ever returned; at least those are the stories I was taught growing up, and that was far away in the highlands.’ Rema joined Serenna in a darker mood. ‘But if the prophecy is true, they will fight for us. It is incredible.’
‘Our path is growing clearer,’ said Serenna quietly. Rema was lost in thought, and continued to stare at the map and the intimidating features of the mighty Eastern Upthrust; a land within a land and a place no-one living could speak of without being overcome by an incredible awe., for it was the home of the legendry Edenwhood.
‘You wanted adventure Serenna; we’ll I guess this will test us to the ends of our strength.’ He reached over and took her hand and she did not try to prevent him, for she too was under the spell of it all.
Suddenly Rema sprang up with such an energy and purpose that Serenna froze in shock. Before she could say anything he was out the cabin door and she heard a strangled cry from the narrow passageway beyond, and an angry voice.
‘Wormwood, I might have known. How long have you been listening to our conversation?’ The only response was a choking gurgle. She leapt up and joined Rema who had the squirming Wormwood by the throat and had lifted him clean off his feet, pinning him to the wall. Rema was angry, almost beyond words, for he knew the importance of the matters they had discussed. Wormwood tried desperately to prise Rema’s hands from his throat, without success, and it was only by Serenna’s intervention that he was able at last to take a breath.