by Allan Joyal
“The are still heading towards us,” Hadlor called back. “As for the bank, I can see sand beneath the ship. It’s fairly close.”
“Toss the anchor and then furl the foresail,” Ushcail said.
I lifted the heavy anchor and then threw it over the railing. It splashed into the water and sank. Gypsy seemed to slow and then pull against the anchor cable.
“It caught a rock,” Hadlor said. “Let’s get on the sails.”
I joined Hadlor in bringing the foresail in. We were securing one of the lines when a voice rang out. “Hail! Ushcail are you the captain?”
“Is that you Tramus?” Ushcail shouted back. “I thought you vowed to leave the council and never return.”
“Frodmar decided to leave the island,” the voice called back. “Once he was gone the rest of his cronies begged for me to return. But what is this anyways? I thought you were keeping to the run between Isla Magestica and Isla Sworzta”
“I owed Marrisey a favor,” Ushcail said with a shrug.
“Well, this ship definitely looks a lot different and if the rumors are telling the truth you sailed west from Isla Oerste. I’m not sure how you got back here though. Sere Chasterman has put a bounty on your ship,” Tramus said.
“Not mine,” Ushcail said. “Or at least not yet. I was just asked to captain the maiden voyage and to evaluate the design.”
Tramus waved a hand. “And I’m sure you’ll say its terrible just to prevent anyone from wanting one.”
“Why would I do that?” Ushcail said. The man’s eyes narrowed. “And you can tell your rowers to stop trying to get closer. That’s enough for the moment.”
Hadlor tapped me on the shoulder. “Get a boat hook. I don’t think they’ll try much since I just see the two young rowers with three men as old as Jessop, but you never know.”
I kept my head down as I moved to the edge of the hold. I pulled out a boat hook and then stood up at the railing. This was the first time I took a close look the canoe and its passengers.
The canoe appeared to have been carved from a single tree. It was narrow, but had an outrigger on the port side. There were five men in the main part of the canoe. The one in the bow was standing. He had not hair on the top of his head, but the hair remaining on the side of his head was long and grey. He did have a hairband made out of some large plant leaves. It was elaborately woven and included what appeared to be gold threads.
Directly behind him there was another man wearing a similar if slightly less impressive plant headband. Then there were two heavily muscled men that appeared to be my age. The two men were sitting with their elbows on their thighs as they held their oars out of the water. The last man was standing at the stern and held onto a large oar-like rudder. The canoe was turning so that the outrigger would be towards us as they held position a short distance away.
“Sorry,” Tramus called back. “I figured you would be trying to leave quickly so I thought I’d come and greet you.”
“We came to trade,” I called back.
“Who are you?” Tramus asked. I could see the councilman behind him sit forward with interest written on his face.
“My name is Kaven,” I replied. “I found the plans that Marrisey used to build Gypsy. I also helped him obtain the wood he needed to build it.”
Tramus put a hand on his chin. “So what are you authorized to trade?”
I waved to Lucis. He and Lenoir climbed out of the hold. Lucis was carrying several of the wooden shafts we had. Lenoir was holding a pair of wooden planks. She turned them so that Tramus would be able to clearly see the size and shape of the planks.
“We have some wooden planks and shafts,” I said.
I could see the two rowers sit up in surprise. The man at the back was smiling. Tramus tried to appear unimpressed, but I could hear excitement in his response. “You know the islands I see,” he said. “How can I know that you’ll have more?”
“These easy,” Lenoir said in her accented voice. “Only carried what would fit. Need more ships.”
“What?” Tramus asked. “Ushcail, you are allowing women on your ship?”
“We discovered that the empire died years ago,” I called back. “However, Lenoir here is part of a small village that is established on the continent. They have the ability to make the shafts and planks.”
“Lots of trees,” Lenoir said. “And we are still clearing land for our ranches and farms.”
“But she hinted that this ship can’t carry much,” Tramus said.
“It can’t, but we’re planning on picking up Marrisey and bringing him to the continent. We found an old ruin of a harbor. There are signs that the harbor had the ability to make or repair ships. Hopefully he can set up and build more ships there,” I called out.
Tramus looked surprised. “You have put thought into this.”
“We had to,” I replied. “Once Gypsy launched the Seres were going to want to capture it and use it for themselves.”
“But if you can return to the continent you’ll build more?” Tramus asked.
“And larger,” I said. “But hopefully we’ll keep the Seres from using them in their endless battles. There is plenty of opportunity here in the islands if the Seres put effort into improving their lands.”
“Why stop here at all then?” Tramus asked.
“Ushcail tells me that your island is still a place of rich farmland. Gypsy and other ships like her will need to have a place they can stock up on food. If you have some salted fish and pickled vegetables we can trade today,” I called out.
The man behind Tramus stood up. He turned towards the island in the distance. His left hand went straight up over his head while his right hand was stuck out parallel to the surface of the water. He moved his left arm in a circular motion causing his hand to appear to circle his head.
“Will you panic if more canoes arrive?” Tramus asked.
“Not if only one approaches closely at a time,” Ushcail said. “And my sailors will be armed.”
Tramus nodded while the other two elders on the canoe frowned.
“You have never been trusting,” the elder in the stern muttered loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Of course not,” Ushcail replied with a laugh.
Tramus looked at me. He seemed to be measuring me with his eyes. “What?” I asked.
“I just didn’t know what to think of you. I was told that Ushcail would be in charge, and yet you appear to have taken over the mission,” Tramus said.
“It was his idea,” Panalope said as she rushed over and slipped a hand under my right arm.
“Ideas are nothing,” Tramus said. “I hear people with ideas every day. Only a few can turn those ideas into reality and your father thought Kaven couldn’t do that.”
“My father?” Panalope asked. “What?”
“You are Panalope are you not? Your father told me that you had left with Gypsy when it visited your home. He was sure you were just running to Isla Magestica, but I imagine he hoped you’d show up when the ship returned to these waters,” Tramus said firmly.
Panalope’s grip on my right arm tightened. I fought to keep a grimace on my face and looked at Tramus. “I have to admit that hearing you are in communication with Panalope’s father is a bit of a surprise. However, that shouldn’t affect our ability to get a trade conducted.”
Tramus just nodded. “We should have a full canoe coming out. It will have enough dried and salted fish to feed ten people for forty days. If the people ashore were paying attention, we’ll also be bringing out five barrels of pickled vegetables.”
I nodded. “Gypsy’s hold is limited, but we can provide about twenty shafts and thirty planks. That will leave enough for us to set up a trade outpost on Isla Oerste.”
“More than we expected,” Tramus said with a surprised look on his face. “That’s a generous offer.”
“Its one time,” I said. “Once we get our village set up and start building new ships, I expect the trades to be a bit more he
avily negotiated, but I know we have to show that we are willing to trade this trip.”
Tramus nodded. “I’ll let the trade canoe know the terms. The council needs to hear about the new opportunity. How long until you return again?”
“Getting to the harbor we plan to use is a long journey. Our first trip took eight days once we left Isla Oerste. From there you have to sail north for a day before you can catch a current and winds that bring a ship back to the islands near Mont Cors in the Lava Lands,” I replied. “But we’re still two...”
“If we get moving and can catch the Southern Slipstream, we might keep it down to two, but we have to visit Sere Komptan’s island,” Ushcail said helping me figure out the times involved. “And once we arrive at the ruin, I think we all plan to spent ten days getting houses set up. So, say thirty to forty days before we return.”
“If you came every forty days that would be more regular than any of the other traders we work with,” Tramus said. “Now I do need to get moving.”
I looked up and noticed that there were two canoes heading our way from the island. One had the two rowers and single man on the tiller Tramus told us to expect. The other had a tall man standing in the bow. He was wearing a brightly dyed vest.
“Father,” Panalope said in surprise. “What is he doing here?”
Tramus’s canoe had turned back towards the beach. The councilman was kneeling and rowing the canoe along with the two young men in the back. It skipped across the water as is headed for the island. We could hear some shouting as the canoe holding Panalope’s father passed, but they were too far for us to understand what was being said.
The trade canoe slowed down. The man at the helm was looking at Gypsy as we bobbed in the gentle swells.
“How do you want to handle this?” the helmsman asked.
“It would be better to keep the outriggers away from the ship,” Jessop said. “How about you come along our starboard side with your starboard side and we’ll use boat hooks to pull you close. Lucis and Hadlor can handle the transfer.”
I started walking towards Gypsy’s bow. Panalope did not release my arm and ended up stumbling after me.
“Kaven?” she asked.
“Jessop will handle the other ship’s bow, I’ll catch the stern. That should allow us to stabilize the two ships while we transfer the wood to them and the food to us,” I said.
“Why not dock?” Panalope asked.
“Because the Seres have spies and even some warriors on the island,” Panalope’s father shouted as his canoe continued to approach. It was already starting to slow and it was clear the helmsman was planning on halting about where Tramus’ canoe had been.
The trade canoe was close enough that I had to watch it carefully. The two rowers helped keep the ships apart as they slid forward. One of them grabbed at the boat hook I extended and then guided the hook into a slip carved on the inside of the dugout section of the wood.
“Got it,” Jessop said. “Lucis, Hadlor, work fast. There isn’t much current over this sandbar, but we don’t want to be here too long.”
The two men in the canoe stood up with practiced ease and started tossing bundles of green leaves over the railing of Gypsy. They worked quickly in clearing the bundles, revealing five large barrels. As I watched each barrel was carefully lifted up and then passed over to Hadlor and Lucis.
They were transferring the fourth barrel when Panalope’s father waved to get my attention.
“So Kaven, this is your magical ship,” he said. I noticed a ton of respect and surprise.
“I’m not sure it belongs to me. I never paid Marrisey for it, just found the plans and then assisted in the building of it,” I replied.
“If anyone is in charge of it, you are,” Panalope’s father said firmly. “So, what are you looking for now?”
“Your daughter and I want to establish a new home in a harbor we found on the old continent. There is a ruin, but the harbor itself is in excellent repair. We’ll have to fix up a house and warehouse and we’ll factor the trade from there,” I said.
“So, you’ll take my daughter from the islands?” the man said angrily.
“I’ll do it for her. She was stifled living with you. You would never allow her to be a merchant. Now she can grow into the trader she always wanted to be and I’ll make sure she has a place to live,” I replied.
“Kaven?” Panalope whispered excitedly into my ear.
Panalope’s father looked at me. “Do you promise to protect my daughter?”
“I am going to do my best. No man can offer more than that,’ I replied firmly.
The man nodded. “True, but its clear you have ideas and are willing to try.”
“That’s everything we’re transferring!” I heard Lucis call out. “You can pull away. Kaven, Jessop push the canoe off so they can use their oars.”
I slipped my boat hook from the side of the canoe and then used the back of the hook to gently push Gypsy away from the stern of the islander’s ship. The crew had jumped back to their original positions and were kneeling with their oars held over their heads.
“Stroke!” the helmsman called out. The two rowers thrust their oars into the water and the canoe accelerated away. They quickly turned towards the island, passing in front of the other canoe.
“I don’t know what ideas I have beyond what I’ve already shown,” I said. “And right now, we should probably get going,” I said. “The Seres will be looking for our ship and we want to make a couple of extra stops.”
“What if I could eliminate a couple of those stops?” Panalope’s father said.
“Father!” my wife cried out angrily. “What have you done?”
The man smiled. “Do you trust me so little?”
“You’ve given me no reason to trust you,” Panalope said with a hiss. “You were trying to convince me to marry one of your captains. You never even inquired as to what I wanted.”
“No one regrets that more than I do,” the man said calmly. “However, I think you’ll be happy with some of the things I’ve managed to do. I do have some bad news. Kaven, that friend of yours who worked in the bakery.”
“Garnge? What about him?” I asked.
“He was killed by Sere Komptan’s men. They decided to raid Thus’ tavern a couple of days after news arrived that you had escaped the forces of Sere Chasterman. Your friend was taken off to be executed for not preventing the escape of Gypsy,” Panalope’s father said. Sadness tinged his words.
I slumped against the railing. Garnge had been annoying, but hearing of his death left me without strength. Panalope hugged me as I tried to halt the tears. “Why?”
“You know the Seres. They also took Thus away, but he managed to convince them that he had no idea what you were doing,” Panalope’s father responded.
“That would have been easy,” I said. “Thus didn’t know. Marrisey and I knew that telling anyone might result in Sere Komptan or another Sere finding out before the ship could be launched.”
“Pultarc,” Ushcail said as he walked over to stand by me. “Is there a reason for this delay? Its bad enough you mock Kaven by telling him about the death of his friend.”
The man raised a hand. “I apologize for distressing Kaven, but we don’t really have time for me to spend hours discussing the decisions made on an island far from here. I wanted him to understand that I have taken some great risks and hope we can enter into a partnership.”
“What risks?” I asked. “You always just find someone in need and then set up contracts that help them while you profit.”
“Which is the way of the world is it not?” Pultarc said. “However, the risks I took this time had no promise of reward, only a hope of one. Look behind me at the approaching canoe.”
I looked up and could see a new canoe approaching. This one appeared to be a bit larger than the earlier ones. Five figures huddled near the bow. One noticed my gaze and nudged one of the others.
The group parted and I could see my sister
Jezibal waving. “Jez?” I asked.
“Hey, isn’t that Marrisey?” Lucis asked.
“What? How?” I asked as I could now recognize Marrisey, Kara and two of Marrisey’s assistants as the other four people huddled in the front of the canoe.
“As I said I took on some risk. Once I heard about Gypsy and how you absconded with my daughter, I realized that your friends were in danger. It took a bit of work to get Marrisey off Isla Magestica, but I managed. And I brought them here in the hopes you’d come here before trying to rescue them,” Pultarc said.
“And what do you want for doing this?” I asked cautiously.
“I’m not going to demand anything,” Pultarc replied carefully. “However, I’ll admit that I am a merchant and as you said earlier, I look for ways to profit. I’d love to arrange a deal where I provide trade goods for you. You would deliver my orders and pick up your orders here.”
“Do it,” Panalope whispered in my ear. “But make sure that he pays full value for the trades.”
“Rescuing my sister and Marrisey were the next stops we had planned,” I admitted. “But while I will definitely be willing to trade with you, the trades will have to be at full value. I won’t discount goods or ships simply based on goodwill.”
Pultarc laughed. “Would you guarantee that the first ship you sell is sold to me?”
“Can you protect it?” I asked.
“The Seres might be willing to chase your little ship for now, but once they learn that there is the opportunity to get their own ships, they’ll stop the attacks. None wants to be the one who can’t get a ship because you refuse to sell one,” Pultarc said.
“They attack Kaven’s Harbor, we no sell them wood,” Lenoir said.
“Who are you?” Pultarc asked as the canoe holding my sister and friends pulled up to the port side of Gypsy.
“Her name is Lenoir. She’s from Daytona, the village that provided the planks and wooden shafts we just traded to the council of Martinyx,” Panalope said.
“Why is she here?” Pultarc asked. “And do the Seres know? You realize they could try to take her hostage.”