by Allan Joyal
“So, either we head back towards Martinyx and give the Seres time to set up another ambush while we eat our limited food supplies or we risk getting hit by a catapult as we sail past a site the Seres control,” I said.
“We’ll escape,” Ushcail said. “I’m sure of it. Now get ready for my command.”
I rushed down the stairs. Jessop grabbed the boat hook from me and rammed it into the rack holding the ship’s tools as I passed him. Hadlor was explaining to Verlop what he would need to do.
Verlop looked upset. “I hope Nothelm is all right,” he moaned.
“Jezibal is actually fairly good with minor injuries,” I replied. “She’ll make sure he recovers.”
Hadlor was looking over the bow. “I didn’t know Komptan had such small galleys,” he muttered.
I glanced forward and realized what Hadlor was noticing. The galleys ahead of us only had fifteen oars on a side. Chasterman’s galley had at least thirty and the others all appeared to have twenty-five. The smaller galleys were approaching quickly and I could see soldiers running around on their decks.
“Still big enough that I don’t want to try to fight the crew,” I said.
“Now! Tack to starboard! Panalope aim for just south of true west before you halt the turn!” Ushcail shouted.
Gypsy seemed to get caught by the wind. The deck tilted to port alarmingly. I had to grab the railing to keep my footing as the ship started to turn.
Verlop slid down towards the port railing. I caught his shoulder with my right hand. The pull in my left hand caused me to scream in surprised pain as I tried to find a foothold on the slippery sloped deck.
Verlop’s flailing feet found purchase against the railing, relieving the pull on my arm. I struggled to get to my feet as Gypsy bounced over the waves.
“The waves are over the railing,” Verlop said in awed fear as Hadlor and I began to struggle with the lines for the foresail. I refused to look as we tried to find the right angle to catch the wind.
Gypsy then began to right itself. I looked up and realized that we had nearly completed the turn and were now heading for a rather large passage between two rocky outcroppings. There were several galleys ahead of us moving to try to block the opening.
My momentary look had not kept me from moving lines and even before Ushcail called for Panalope to hold the ship steady on course, Hadlor and I had finished securing the lines and were moving to see if Jessop and Lucis needed help.
Lucis was standing between Jessop and Marrisey. The two older men had smirks on their faces as Lucis just stared at the deck.
“Lucis?” Hadlor asked.
“I wasn’t ready for the tack and nearly slid into the ocean,” our fellow sailor said. “I couldn’t imagine a ship doing that and not capsizing.”
“I built a good ship,” Marrisey said proudly. He looked up at the mast.
“Sadly, everyone wants it,” I replied as I looked back at Chasterman’s galley. There was a lot of men rushing around on board the ship.
“Hey! Chasterman appears to have a second set of rowers!” Panalope called out. “They are switching who is on the oars.”
Jessop looked surprised. “He really wants this ship.”
Marrisey nodded as we all tried to catch our breath. “I heard a bit about this while trying to hide from his guards. Isla Magestica gained its power thanks to its location and control of a couple of iron mines in the pillars just south of the island. The last mine flooded two years ago, so Chasterman is looking for a new source of power.”
“Pumps,” Lenoir said. “He just needs some pumps to get enough water out that he can shore up the leaks and then resume mining. Although if the mine is below sea level even that might not work for long.”
Marrisey looked at Lenoir. “You are speaking much better suddenly.”
“Magic,” Jessop said. “But I thought that required that other girl.”
Lenoir smiled. “Natalie found a way to take the magic and instill it within a liquid. Once you drink the potion, you have the effects of the magic for about a quarter of a day. I had a couple potions for emergencies.”
“Magic is real?” Verlop asked.
“She really is not from the islands,” Marrisey said to his assistant. “I know you wondered, but she just proved it. I had never heard of such possibilities.”
“Meanwhile, we still have to escape this trap,” I pointed out as I glanced over the bow. We still had six galleys attempting to cut us off, and the angle of the wind meant that Gypsy was no faster than a well-crewed galley at the moment.
“This doesn’t look good,” Jessop said as we all stared at the ships moving to prevent our escape to the west.
I glanced back at the stern where Ushcail was still standing. Our captain had a worried expression on his face as he looked at the approaching galleys. Most of the ships were resting some of their rowers, allowing Gypsy to sail deeper into their clutches. It was clear that most of the captains were sure they could capture the ship.
“This is one time I wish we had more crew,” Ushcail said. “There’s no way we survive a boarding action with any of those ships.”
“Captain, Chasterman’s galley is moving again. They appear to be trying to get ahead of us on the starboard side,” Panalope called out.
I had to lean on the starboard railing to spot Chasterman’s ship. It was not far behind us. The oarsmen were working furiously to propel the ship. It was clear that they were faster than Gypsy, but the distance and angle did leave us the opportunity to tack to port and escape any ramming attempt.
“They can get ahead, but they can’t attack from that angle,” Ushcail said, echoing my own thoughts. “It’s the ships ahead that are the problem. We can’t avoid all six.”
“What do we do?” I asked.
“I’m looking for an opening,” Ushcail said. “Those galleys are going to get in each other’s way. That might allow us to slip through without getting grappled.”
I nodded as we continued to sail directly at the blockade. Lucis and Hadlor were standing near me. We were rechecking lines and constantly watching the sail looking for any signs that the wind was changing.
“What can we do?” Hadlor asked as he moved next to me. “I don’t see a way out. Those galleys have rested crews and there is no way we can turn to avoid all of them.
I was about to answer when I noticed that a spot in the ocean was foaming. It was right next to one of the galleys. As I watched a massive shark burst out of the water at that point. It bit down on two oars and dragged them into the water taking them under the ship as it slipped back into the ocean.
“What?” Hadlor said in a frightened whisper. He had obviously seen what I had.
“Ushcail! Are you going to surrender or will we have to slaughter everyone on that ship?” the captain of Chasterman’s ship shouted.
I turned to look at the large galley. “You’ll do that anyways. Or we’ll be locked up and never allowed to escape. The sad thing is that Gypsy was built just to prove we could and to explore for new lands. We’ve found a source of wood and can build larger ships, but if you steal this ship, you’ll never had the opportunity!”
“Who would stop us?” Chasterman’s captain shouted. “If you managed to find the wood, others can.
Lenoir stood up. “Kaven and his people we welcomed. They came in peace and came to trade. Your people would not come in peace.”
“So?” the captain shouted. “We can defeat them.”
Lenoir shook her head. “This ship can’t carry enough people and you can easily kill everyone if they try to enter that harbor. That’s why there is that ruined tower on the heights.”
“How did you know? And look ahead. Something is happening,” Hadlor said.
I turned back to look towards the bow. The galley that had lost a couple of oars to a shark had slowed. We could see men trying to transfer an oar to fill the empty space. Two other ships had foam circles growing near their oar banks.
One of the foam circl
es seemed to burst upwards. Once again, a massive shark leapt out of the water. This time the shark came out just in front of the galley. We could see its tail and then the massive creature crashed back into the water, falling on the oars on the starboard side of one of the galleys.
“What?” Hadlor said with a gasp.
“Syrina’s people,” I said in an awed whisper. “They must be.”
The crews of the other galleys had definitely noticed the shark. Cries of alarm rang out. Several galleys pulled their oars in. Men lined the rails. They held onto boat hooks, spears and even axes as they scanned the water around their ships.
“There’s the opening!” Ushcail called. “Make for the spot between the second and third galleys from the left. We’ll break through!”
The ship shifted slightly. We could feel the port side rise up, but it fell back down before anyone could take a step. I looked up at the sails to see that they were full.
“Not enough of a change to require we adjust the sails,” Hadlor said. “But good thought.”
“Ushcail!” we heard shouted from behind Gypsy. “That ship will be Chasterman’s.”
Two of the galleys ahead of us appeared to recover from their surprise. Oars were thrust into the water and the ships accelerated. I grabbed the railing expecting to hear a command.
One of the galleys appeared to jump out of the water. It fell back after the bow had moved to its starboard by more than an oar length. This put that galley’s starboard oars into contact with the portside oars of the other attacking galley.
The men on both galleys shouted in surprise and horror. The ships came to a halt as Gypsy began to pull away from the galleys trailing it.
“We can’t let them get away!” we heard shouted by Chasterman’s captain. “Row your hardest. We must catch that ship!”
“Don’t bother with Chasterman,” Ushcail shouted. “His ship is too far behind to catch us, even with a fresh crew. Watch the galleys ahead of us.”
“Archers on the deck ahead of us!” Hadlor shouted.
Lenoir leapt past me to get to the bow of Gypsy. She had her weapon raised and was whirling it when the galley holding archers suddenly stopped. The archers tumbled to the deck. As we watched a swarm of sharks started attacking the oars, ripping them from the galley and carrying them away.
“You have great friends,” I said to Ushcail. “I think that was the last galley to be in position to stop us.”
“She’s always stood by me,” Ushcail said. His voice was filled with awe. We watched the other galleys begin to turn away from our advance. It appeared that the captains had figured out that we had help from the sharks and they wanted no part of that battle.
Everyone on Gypsy relaxed slightly. We watched carefully as the galleys began to spread out. There were a few shouts of anger, but it appeared that the fighting had ended. A few moments later we passed between two galleys and entered the passage Ushcail said would lead to open water.
Chapter 37: Uneventful Moments
I will probably never find out if Chasterman or the other Seres had any more ambushes planned. After that battle Ushcail guided Gypsy away from the islands. Once we could no longer see land he waited for Syrina to show up. His mermaid wife was happy to lead us to Isla Oerste where a very short talk with the elders there secured the permanent use of a warehouse to store trade goods. I provided a list of acceptable trades to the chief as well as telling him that he could use half of the wood we left behind to trade for food and livestock to start revitalizing the island.
The islanders wanted to host a celebration once the negotiations were complete, but Verlop noticed sails approaching from the east. Not wanting to risk another confrontation, Ushcail had everyone board the ship and we left the islands behind heading towards our new home.
Once we were out of sight of Isla Oerste, two dozen merfolk joined up with Gypsy. Many carried bundles made from seaweed. Ushcail asked them to allow us to carry their goods so they could keep up with Gypsy as we sailed westward. It took some time to convince Critan that we were honest, but we soon had the merfolk’s goods stored in the hold as they swam alongside.
Having the merfolk proved to be beneficial. They could feel the ocean currents and often called out when Gypsy was going to leave the dominant westward current. None of us could feel a difference, but six days after leaving Isla Oerste we could see land in the distance.
“Last time this took eight days,” Hadlor said. “Too bad we can’t convince the merfolk to always journey with us.”
“You could,” we heard Undine said. “But do you want to pay that price?”
“Price?” I asked as Panalope gave me a hug. My sister Jezibal had grown bored during the passage and was on the tiller with Jessop watching.
“Marry me,” Undine said firmly.
“Undine!” we heard both Ushcail and Syrina call out. “Do you know what you are asking?”
“For him as well as for yourself,” Syrina said.
“I’m sure,” Undine said. “Nereid is going to ask Lucis.”
“I did not come on this trip to see my daughter marrying sailors,” Syrina said.
All of the nearby merfolk were openly laughing. I looked over and could see that Ushcail was doubled over and his shoulders were shaking.
“I think the attraction that Undine and Nereid have for Hadlor and Lucis isn’t entirely a surprise,” I said carefully. “Can you really expect anyone to believe you did not know this might happen.”
Syrina turned to look at me. She winked and then turned back to look at Ushcail. “Well, do you vouch for these sailors of yours. Are they careful men who value their lives? Will they return to their loves? Do they promise to never take another lover and do they really mean it?”
Hadlor had an expression of shock, but he leaned down and pointed at Syrina. “Now see. I may work for your husband, but I make my decisions. Your daughter is lovely and I have enjoyed our talks, but I need to get to know her.”
“Aw, but we’ve had such wonderful conversations every night,” Undine said.
“Ushcail?” Syrina asked shrilly.
“Hadlor has been sleeping at the bow and I thought I heard whispering, but I hardly know what he was saying,” Ushcail replied.
Syrina looked at Hadlor again. “We’ll talk later. But I’m willing to bless your marriage. If you do, we’ll see to having at least two merfolk escort Gypsy every time you return to the islands.”
I just nodded as Lucis rushed up the ladder. “Did I hear you’re marrying Undine?” he asked excitedly.
I walked back to visit with Ushcail. He was just standing and watching as Jezibal guided Gypsy into a gentle turn to starboard. The old man had a smile on his face. “Well, those two are in for an interesting life,” he said.
“All of us are,” I said as I scanned the coastline. I could see the massive grove of trees we had found the first time.
“Kaven!” Panalope shouted as she pointed northward. “I can see the cliffs and the opening leading to the harbor. We’re almost there!”
She was pointing off to the northwest. I could see that we were still many miles away, but the sheer cliffs were visible. As Gypsy settled on a course that appeared aimed slightly south of the opening smoke began to rise from the cliffs just north of the harbor opening.
“There will be a feast tonight,” I said quietly. “And tomorrow, lots of work, but now… we’re coming home.