by Allan Joyal
"It's probably magicked in some way," I said. I glanced over the bow of the ship. "And I think we are close to the harbor. Should I get up?"
"No," Ushcail said. "Kaven, Panalope, stay here and stay out of the way. This only takes a couple of people. Lucis, you'll be on the foresail with Hadlor. Culax, you and I will be bringing the mainsail down once we enter the harbor. Jessop get on the tiller. You know the route."
"To the old pier?" Jessop said. "Been there too many times. But should I turn us around in the channel?"
"Just bring us alongside the end of the pier. It's long enough for this ship and you can easily sail right up to it," Ushcail said.
"What about securing the ship?" Jessop asked.
"Are you planning on visiting anyone on shore?" Ushcail asked.
Jessop snorted. "You know I have no one on this island. I can stay on the ship. And I'll work on storing everything."
I started. Jessop had mentioned a wife, but now said he had no one on the island. Before I could speak Panalope leaned forward.
"Storing?" Panalope asked as Lucis and Hadlor moved to grab the ropes attached to the foresail. They began moving the ropes toward the bow.
"What are they?" Panalope started to ask.
"We could bring the foresail down, but then we have to raise it. That takes time. Instead we are going to narrow it so that it can't really catch the wind. It will allow us to leave in a hurry if we need to," Ushcail said.
I nodded and just sat and watched as the men proceeded to maneuver until the sail was spread in a narrow band less than a handspan wide. They tied off the ropes and then moved to the boom.
By that time, we had already entered the harbor. Jessop kept us moving almost directly west as we approached what looked like a peninsula made out of stone.
"Kaven!" Panalope said urgently. "Look at the stones. They are all cut to the same size. How could they be so precise."
"It’s the old pier. Legends say it was the first pier built in the islands, back when the Empire first came here seeking new lands to conquer," Ushcail said.
"Why the islands? There are no trees and the soil isn't all that great," Panalope asked.
"There are no records of what they sought, or why," I replied. "Much of the knowledge we did have was lost in the first couple of generations after the last ship of the Empire left due to the war. After that, the lack of wood meant only a few galleys were left and none of the islands could supply all of the needs of the people living out here by itself."
Panalope sighed. "My father keeps saying that our island could if Sere Komptan would lower taxes."
Jessop snorted. He was looking ahead at the pier. "Captain," he said. "I see someone waving at us from the High Guard's pier? Should we turn around and head there?"
"It's impossible to get away from there quickly, even in a galley. We'd have to sail almost directly into the wind to get out of the harbor from there. Let's keep heading to the old pier," Ushcail said.
"The waving is getting more insistant," Jessop said calmly.
I looked over my shoulder. The railing blocked part of my view, but I could see several men standing on the end of a pier some forty or so boat lengths from the port stern. One of the men was wearing an ornate crown on his head. He was gesturing wildly to one of the others as they tried to get our attention.
"I see the High Guard expected us to visit his personal pier," Ushcail said softly.
"We live to disappoint the Seres," Jessop said with a laugh. "Hold tight everyone. This won't be a rough turn, but we'll probably see the ship lean to starboard."
I put my right hand on the railing and held on. The ship did tilt to starboard as the bow began to swing to the south. Panalope put her arms around my waist as we held on through the turn.
When we concluded the turn I could see that the starboard side of the ship was going to pass within two strides of the pier. Gypsy had slowed down considerably, and seemed to crawl forward as it approached the pier. Ushcail just laughed.
"Hadlor, throw the anchor onto the pier once we pass the midpoint. We'll use that to hold the ship in place," he called out.
"What about the stern?" I asked.
"Once we are alongside the pier we'll toss a rope. There should still be a few iron rings embedded in the ground. High Guard Chasterman hadn't had them removed last time I visited," Ushcail said.
There was a loud clang of metal landing on stone. I looked forward and could see that the metal wedge that was the anchor was resting on the pier. Hadlor was pulling on the rope, dragging the bow of the ship closer to the pier.
Ushcail watched the ship move closer. When the gap was only a few hand’s-spans wide, he jumped over the railing. Panalope grabbed my shoulder as we watched him soar over the gap and land on the pier.
"Toss me a rope," he shouted to me. And then tie the other end to the railing."
I looked under the stairs and found a coil of rope. I handed Panalope one end and tossed the rest over the railing. Ushcail just allowed it to land on the pier and then knelt down to pick it up. "The rings are still here," he said. "Just tie your end. It doesn't have to be tight. We just need to secure the stern so we can leave the ship safely."
"I'll get out the bladders," Jessop said.
I looked over to find that Panalope had already finished tying the rope to the railing. "Let's go. It might still be morning, but the market won't stay open all day."
"We have meetings to be at," I pointed out.
"You don't want to be here at the start," Ushcail said. "High Guard Chasterman is going to be livid that we didn't dock at his new pier. Look, he's already running to get here."
I looked across the harbor. The man was racing from the end of the pier he had been standing on. One of the men who had accompanied him was trying to keep up while the last continued to wave at us from the pier. His motions seemed to be resigned and slow as the High Guard continued to storm away.
"That is an angry man," Jessop said. "Don't worry; he'll probably realize that he needs to calm down before he passes the market. Get going."
I looked over at Panalope. The young lady winked at me and then launched herself over the railing. Her landing was more of a stumble than an action full of grace, but she jumped back to her feet and looked back at me. "Come Kaven!"
I stood up with a sigh. The ship was sitting almost motionless so the jump to shore was simple. I found that the sudden shift from a boat to solid ground disturbed my balance. My mind was saying that the ground should be swaying just a little. I fought down this feeling and started to walk down the pier.
"I'll have someone find you before any formal meetings," Ushcail said. "And I do recommend that you be on board tonight."
"Can do," I replied. I turned to look at Panalope only to see that she was looking down the pier and toward the shoreline.
"Kaven? Is that Marrisey?" she asked as she pointed.
I looked down the pier. I could see a stooped figure walking down the pier towards us. He was missing his left leg and walking on a peg that I knew had been fashioned out of a broken galley oar.
"That does look like him," I said. "Let's greet him."
I started walking toward the figure. He paused as I started to approach. When I was about twenty strides away he waved. "Kaven, I see you boarded safely."
"One of Sere Komptan's men was trying to keep us from leaving," I replied. "Ushcail ordered us to leave immediately. I'm afraid I didn't have a chance to bring anything with me."
Marrisey laughed. His tattered straw hat fell from his bald head as he waited for me to finish walking to him. "I expected that. Sere Komptan always had too much ambition and too little patience."
"Well, I'm here without a pack or any tools beyond my belt knife," I complained.
Marrisey nodded. "I expected Komptan to do something once he saw Gypsy on the water. That's why I built her on Isla Rondum."
"And you weren't raided?" Panalope asked.
"I'm not a fool. The men who do the raiding
know that they need working ships to move about. I am the best shipbuilder in the islands. I also would fix their ships if they brought them to my workshop. None of them would risk angering me," Marrisey said.
"That doesn't get me anything though," I muttered.
Marrisey reached for his belt. He used his right hand to unwind something. I stood watching as he tossed a small bag into the air.
Panalope reacted quickly and reached over my head to catch the bag. It made a scratching sound as she brought it down to her chest.
"What?" I asked.
Panalope looked at Marrisey. "Shells? Where did you get those?"
"What?" I asked again.
"There is a creature from the sea that grows a very unusual shell. They aren't found often, but many of the Seres take the shells they do find and turn them into coins. Marrisey, is that what's in this bag?" Panalope said.
"I should have known a merchant's daughter would recognize the sound," Marrisey said with a smile. "Just three, but that should be enough to equip both of you if you bargain hard in the market. You should get going. The market will be slow this time of day."
Panalope giggled. "And I was going to use some coin I took from my father. Thank you," she said.
"Get going," Ushcail shouted. "The sooner you return the better."
I turned and waved to him as Panalope ran to the shore. I could see Lucis and Hadlor waving back before I turned and took off after my friend, heading to the market.
Chapter 9: A Quick Pass Through the Market.
Panalope kept ahead of me. Every time I managed to close the distance she would speed up and dash away. I was wondering if I would catch her when she slowed down to a walk and held out her hand.
I ignored her hand as I slowed down to walk next to her. "I know we need some breeches and I'm sure the men will prefer you in a shirt of some kind, but what else?" I asked.
Panalope laughed. "We both could use new mugs and spoons. I'm also going to find something to use as a head covering. You might not mind the sun, but I'd like to protect my hair from the weather."
"And the sea will ruin it all," I pointed out.
"Probably," Panalope said. She turned to look at me and then pointedly looked down at her hand. "And you could act like we are a courting couple."
"We aren't courting," I growled as we entered the market. "I still can't believe you got on the ship."
"Why? Because I'm a weak woman who should be home making babies?" Panalope said sorrowfully. "That's what my father keeps saying. He wonders why I'm not already married."
"That isn't something I can fix," I said.
"You could," Panalope said as she tugged on my arm. "All you have to do is marry me."
I said nothing as Panalope approached a man sitting behind a stack of cloth. I looked more closely and realized that the man was selling undyed wool cloth. He sat up a bit straighter when Panalope approached.
"Hey missy. I don't recognize you. Did you come in from one of the farms on the south side of the island?" the merchant asked.
"No," Panalope said. "But I do see you have wool cloth. Do you have any light weaves?"
"Its all light weaves around here," the man said. "We don't see any ice storms, so the heavy weaves are never necessary."
Panalope looked over at the cloth. She picked up a corner and ran her fingers over it. "Not the highest quality," she said to me.
"This is the best goat's wool you can find in the islands," the merchant squawked. "I am sure you could find no better."
"You obviously don't see the wool from the goats on Isla Zieme," Panalope said. "But I do have to admit that the weave is better than some I've seen."
"Zieme?" I asked.
"Its just south of the lava lands. They get long periods where the ground is covered in ice. The goats there grow long coats and the cloth made from their wool tends to be very supple," Panalope said.
"And they rarely export it," the merchant said sitting up. "Which is why I don't have any. That said, you appear to be considering purchasing what I have."
Panalope nodded. "I need a piece as long as I am tall. That should cost no more than two shells."
"Two? For fine wool. Its usually three shells for such a long piece," the merchant said.
"Two," Panalope said firmly. "And I want it cut right now."
"Now?" the merchant said. "You are stealing food from the mouths of my children. I can't believe you are demanding so much for just two shells."
"For cloth I should be able to get for just one shell. You know you are profiting from this bargain," Panalope said scornfully.
The merchant looked at me. "Please, good sir. Can't you see that your wife is robbing me blind? My children, they already starve. My wife is ill because I can't bring home any meat to thicken the meager stews my eldest daughter makes. My son can't even come help because he is too weak to walk to the market. Please, mercy."
I just shrugged. "It seems she's driving a good bargain," I said.
The merchant moaned a few more times, but he got out a knotted rope and held one end just above Panalope's head. I watched him count the number of knots between the end he was holding and the ground. He then measured the same number of knots in the cloth and cut a large piece.
"Roll that up," Panalope ordered me. "I'll pay and then we can make another stop."
I glared at the young woman. She just smirked at me. "Oh, don't get upset," she said as she pulled a pair of shells out of the pouch Marrisey had thrown to her. I could see that the strange white octagons had metal inlaid in them. She flipped one over as the merchant examined it closely.
"You can take your cloth," he said grudgingly. "Who knew a maiden that young could have shells," he muttered as Panalope stepped back and waved for me to pick up the cut cloth.
I picked up the cloth. It was lighter than I expected. I staggered a bit as I used too much power to lift it up to my shoulder. Panalope had not waited for me and was running across the small square to visit another merchant.
She stopped at a merchant who had a bunch of different metal pans scattered on the ground. "We aren't going to be cooking," I thought as I started to follow her.
"You with that new ship?" someone asked me as I took a few steps away from the cloth merchant.
"What?" I asked.
"Did you arrive with the strange ship?" the same male voice repeated. I was facing Panalope and could not see the speaker. As I considered turning I heard boots scraping on the soil. A moment later a bearded man of about twenty-five summers walked into view. He was wearing a heavy leather vest over some woolen breeches. The man glared at me.
"You aren't a sailor," he said to me.
"I never claimed to be. You asked me if I came on the ship. That's all the communication we engaged in," I replied testily.
"But you aren't from the tower, and you are dressed as a sailor. The only new ship is that strange one with the triangle sails," the man pointed out. He poked me in the chest. "So I ask again, did you arrive with the strange ship?"
"If I did?" I replied in challenge. "Last I heard there was still free travel between the islands."
"The High Guard might dispute that," the man said.
"He can if he wants," I replied. "My captain decides my fate. He allowed my partner and me to come and purchase some items we need."
"Where do you sail to next?" the man asked.
"I am not fully aware of our destination. I do know that this ship is expected to show all the islands that we can improve travel. We made the journey here far quicker than I expected," I said.
"We need that ship," the man growled at me. "I need you to help me take it."
"Not happening," I said. I looked around and noticed that a couple armed men wearing High Guard Chasterman's colors were paying attention to the conversation. "And I don't want to spend the night in some dungeon or strung up on the beach, so I'd like you to leave."
"I'm not done talking to you," the man growled. "I'm serious."
I sighed
and then raised my free hand to wave at the guard. "And I was as well. Guards! This man plans treason against your Sere!"
The armed men moved in. All other activity in the market came to a halt as the bearded man put a hand on his knife. "You dare betray me! My friends will make you pay!"
I stepped back as the guards drew swords and marched towards the man. "Galishim," one of the guards called out. "You know that High Guard Chasterman has told you repeatedly that any more acts of insurrection will be punished. If you come quietly he might grant you mercy."
The bearded man spun as he drew his knife. "The High Guard has no right to rule over us. The Angel of the Sea has cast a shadow over the castle. It's time for a new dynasty."
"We've heard it before," the other guard said. "This mythical being you worship has told you that you are going to be the next ruler. You can preach it to the others in the dungeon."
"I'll never go with you," Galishim said. He swept the knife from side to side as the guards drew closer. One of the guards thrust with his sword and caught Galishim in the back of his arm.
The bearded man screamed in pain, but held onto his knife. "Blasphemy! The Angel of the Sea has anointed me as his chosen! You shall not touch me again!"
The man started glowing. He thrust the knife at the nearer guard and a beam of light shot from the tip of the knife to strike the guard in the shoulder.
Galishim was laughing as he watched the guard collapse to the ground. He took a step towards the remaining guard. I could see several people rushing away from the marketplace as the madman strode confidently through the square.
He was just in front of me when he turned to face the tower. "You are going down High Guard! You hear me! Your men here know! They won't even challenge me anymore!"
I lifted the bundle of cloth from my shoulder. It felt solid although it was not very firm. As Galishim continued to point his glowing knife at the tower I raised the bundle over my head.
"Kaven!" Panalope shouted at me.
Galishim started to turn around. I swung both of my arms forward and down bringing the bundle down on the back of his head. The soft cloth protected my hands as my fists crashed into the man's skull.