by Alex Paul
Arken had a feeling someone was watching him. He turned to find Gart glaring at him from the main deck, where he was assigned to stand by the galley stairs as part of the reserve troops.
Arken shook his head. Why was Gart even bothering to be upset? Honestly, unless everything went perfectly, they would probably all be dead or slaves by the end of the day, no matter how confident the captains were acting. They were surrounded and outnumbered, and soon they were going to have to cross the river mouth. Arken patted the obsidian blade under his tunic. It gave him a small measure of confidence that he would survive this day if it were only Gart who was trying to kill him.
I’ll keep an eye out for you, Gart; don’t you worry, he thought.
“Did you recognize any of the Tookan ships when they were attacking you earlier?” Dunn asked Rallat as the two captains stood by the helmsman.
“Yes, Yolanta’s flagship is the large one.” Rallat’s long gray hair waved around as he pointed. “The one equipped with Mork’s fire catapults.”
“We assumed the large vessel was their flagship. But you’re saying that Yolanta himself is on board?”
“Yes, according to the temple priests we took on in Baltak,” Rallat confirmed.
“So we’re dealing with the king of that nation of thieves?” Captain Dunn asked.
“Yes.” Rallat shook his head. “And he’s a clever devil.”
Dunn grunted. “Facing such a powerful enemy is not a good prospect.”
“He’s followed us all the way across the Circle Sea. He wants that treasure chest.”
“Kal curse him!” Captain Dunn smacked his hands together in anger. The muscles in his forearms strained against the metal armor that covered his forearm from his wrist halfway to his elbow. “Well, now is the time to prepare for our sprint across the river mouth and past the spit. Talbu, assemble a select rowing crew and prepare to lead them at oars!”
“Sir!” Talbu went down the stairs and picked the best of the Sea Nymph’s rowers as well as the ones Rallat recommended from his crew.
The Sea Nymph soon filled with the sound of clanking armor and footfalls as sailors descended the common stairs to the rowing room. The pace drum stopped. Arken jumped up with Asher to watch over the side. The oars pulled up horizontal with the water, and then they bounced slightly, which Arken knew indicated the new men were taking their places on the benches. The drum began again, and the oars swept rhythmically once more into the water while the relieved rowing crew was led to the galley for feeding. They would be back at the oars too soon.
“We’re losing them now!” Rallat’s voice betrayed his excitement.
“By Kal, we may win this race,” Dunn said. “Lookout, report on the current.”
“Current’s stopped, sir. Slack tide on the bar!” The old sailor in the bird’s nest called out.
“Well, now the race turns deadly. If we make it all the way across at low slack, we’ll be fine.” Captain Dunn turned to Rallat. “But it’s a powerful river. If flood tide starts, it will wash us upstream and trap us.”
“Enemy ships are signaling,” the lookout yelled. Arken looked up and noticed that Talya had rejoined the old lookout in the bird’s nest. She was now wearing simple boy-cadet’s armor.
All eyes watched as one of the smaller ships behind them ran up flags and turned out to sea. The largest Tookan ship, Yolanta’s flagship, turned to come alongside the smaller ship. Both ships raised oars, and then some men climbed up ropes lowered from the flagship. Soon after, the flagship hoisted more signal flags.
“It looks like we’ll only have one ship pursuing us across the river mouth,” said Captain Dunn. “That might make our lives easier as we cross the river mouth, because we’ll have only one enemy to fend off if they try to grapple.”
“Excellent,” Captain Rallat said. The Sea Nymph sprinted toward the long river mouth with the sandy point and freedom to the south beyond. The slack tide held as they approached the river.
“Sir, I think there’s wind coming,” Talya shouted. “I can see on the water.”
“Prepare to drop sail.” Captain Dunn stepped forward from the helm. “By Kal, Rallat, we’ll show them our tails if we have the wind.”
The sailors worked quickly and stood ready to drop sail on the captain’s order.
“Look, the wind’s here.” Arken pointed at light pieces of string tied to the mast support ropes. “Those are wind telltales, Asher,” Arken explained. “They give the captain an idea of the wind’s strength.” At that moment the breeze hit the telltales, lifting them.
“Deploy sail!” Dunn bellowed. The stiff canvas- and leather-striped sail opened up as the lower boom dropped. Sailors braced themselves against the sail’s weight on the ropes running through the wooden pulleys hanging from the top boom.
“Oars lifted, but don’t run them in yet. Let’s make sure the wind stays!” Captain Dunn shouted. “Tighten starboard sail lines!”
Sailors pulled lines, drawing the sail’s right side back, making it billow and snap as it caught the freshening onshore breeze. The ship skidded sideways as it leaned over. It felt to Arken for a moment that they would run into the beach. But the helmsman adjusted, and the ship bit into the sea and surged forward. Pale, blue water lapped at the lower deck’s railing, and the turbulence made a hissing noise. They shot ahead like the angry dragon the Sea Nymph resembled.
“Lock catapult!” Captain Dunn ordered.
But Lancon Koman had anticipated the order, and the rotating catapult had already been locked into place, so that it wouldn’t over rotate and strain its housing as they sailed heeled over at such a steep angle.
“This is exciting,” Arken said to Asher as they sat, backs against the catapult walkway, with their feet pointed down the sloping deck to prevent them from sliding into the sea. But the look on Asher’s face spoke more of anxiety and seasickness than the thrill of a sailing race.
“We’ll beat the ship behind us across the river mouth to the point,” Asher shouted at Captain Dunn, who stood close by, “but what about Yolanta’s flagship and the small ship next to it? They’re setting their sails to match our speed.”
“If either one draws too close, we’ll fire on them with our catapults,” Captain Dunn assured Asher.
They entered the water of the river mouth. Unlike their first crossing, when they’d been fascinated by the klaks and other animals, now Arken and Asher were riveted by the enemy ships in pursuit.
“Enemy flagship and a second ship are drawing closer from offshore. The flagship is preparing their catapults,” the old lookout shouted. “And the single pursuer behind is closing.”
“Blast, I hoped they wouldn’t dare it!” Captain Rallat pounded the railing with his fist.
“Reduce sail to one half,” Captain Dunn ordered.
“What? You’re slowing? The ship behind will surely catch us!” Rallat objected.
“We have to slow down and reduce the angle of the ship’s tilt so we can fire the catapults accurately!” Dunn answered. “At this speed, we’re tipped over too far for them to fire level.”
“Ah, you’re right,” Rallat apologized.
“Unlock catapults, Koman. Prepare to fire at will,” the captain ordered. Lancon Koman tossed back the protective lid and jumped into the sighting chair after the Sea Nymph drew closer to level and the catapult stilled.
“Can we do anything to help, sir?” Asher asked Koman as he stood.
“Help me time my firing,” Lancon Koman grunted. “I’ll explain in a second.”
The catapult was ready, the lever arm cocked. The leather counterweight case filled with rocks rode high above the deck, ready to drop. A red ceramic Mork’s fire bomb rested in the leather catapult socket. The fuse candle had been relit after the last of the spilled Mork’s fire had been mixed with sand and swept overboard, leaving a black stain on the deck’s gray wood. The Tookans chasing them on the stern had their sails raised as they drew closer.
“Their flagship has drawn
within catapult range,” the lookout warned.
“Koman, can you switch targets and try for their flagship on our port side?” Captain Dunn yelled. “If we disable them, we’re free!”
“But, sir, the ship behind us is in range as well,” Koman argued.
“I don’t care, swivel around and aim for the flagship. He’s trying to trap us in the river. We have to keep a line of sail toward that far point.”
“Sir!” Koman turned the hand cranks that swung the catapult around to target the flagship. But at that instant, the gray-haired lookout screamed from above, “Arrows! The ship behind us is firing arrows! Take cover!”
Arken and Asher ducked beneath the walkway yet again. Lancon Koman’s protective lid slammed shut once more. The deluge of arrows rained down. Arken flinched with each thud of arrow hitting wood.
There were no screams of pain this time when Arken and Asher clambered from beneath the catapult walkway. Arken looked about the ship as sailors emerged from their positions of cover.
“Ha, their arrows are doing nothing for them now.” Arken pounded Asher on his back.
Suddenly, the body of the old lookout crashed down on the shield and sword rack that circled the mast’s base.
“Great Tol!” Asher screamed in surprise. They looked up to see Talya still safely in the bird’s nest and waving at them.
“He was hit by an arrow, we couldn’t get the lid closed, the hinge jammed,” Talya shouted.
“Come down, then!” Arken yelled. “It’s too dangerous for you.”
“No, I can fix it!” He heard a banging as she smashed at something, using her helmet in her hands like a hammer. “There. Got the pin back in and fixed the hatch!” Talya shouted triumphantly. “I can duck under now.”
“Be careful!” Arken warned. It surprised him to realize that he cared as much about her as if it were his sister or parents who had come close to death.
“Light the fuse for me, Arken!” Koman drew him back into the battle. “The candle’s lit and in the rack!”
“Sir!” Arken grabbed the candle and lit the fuse.
The catapult fired seconds later, but the bomb went wide of the flagship.
“What happened?” Koman yelled in dismay as he pulled his head away from the sight so that he could follow the bomb’s track.
“Bomb must be out of true shape,” Captain Dunn answered. “It’s curving, but look where it’s headed!”
To Arken’s amazement, the fire bomb just missed the cutter running by the flagship.
“Flagship and cutter offshore are bearing off,” Talya yelled. “Our fire has scared the cutter and big ship away.”
“Ha-ha!” Captain Dunn’s voice filled with triumph. “Well done, Koman! Now target the enemy cutter on our stern, Koman. We’ll have him sunk or running soon!”
“Yes, sir,” Koman shouted. “Winch the catapult arm and fetch another bomb, men. Double time! I want to sink that Tookan.” The sailors bent to their duty with a fury Arken hadn’t seen before, and within minutes, Koman was sighting his catapult.
“Prepare to light, Arken.” Koman looked up to make sure Arken was ready.
“Ready to light on command,” Arken confirmed.
“Enemy astern is raising sail and slowing,” Talya shouted from above.
“Blast!” Koman said. “He’s getting beyond my range.”
“Save the bomb,” Captain Dunn yelled. “It’s too hard to hit a still target as we sail from it!”
“If we stop the ship, I can hit him,” Koman suggested.
“We can’t stop. We need to cross the river before the current sweeps us back upstream,” Captain Dunn explained.
“Yes, sir, you’re right,” Koman agreed.
“Lock catapult, drop sail to full deployment, and head for that sandy point at the northern tip of the river!” Captain Dunn ordered. “Keep us aware of any changes in river current, young man,” Captain Dunn shouted up to Talya, not realizing he was addressing a girl in boy’s armor. “Will do, sir! No current yet,” Talya shouted.
“We’ve done it, Rallat!” Dunn clapped the Tolarian captain on the back, their earlier animosity apparently buried.
The far bank drew closer as the Sea Nymph escaped across the river under full sail. Arken could see white terns quickly drawing closer on the sand spit ahead.
“Turn the ship to port and into the wind just a bit more, we need to get around that sandy point,” Captain Dunn ordered the helmsman. “I need depth caller on a sounding line!”
A sailor standing at the railing by the galley stairs walked to the bow and withdrew a fist-size rock attached to a rope from a storage box. He dropped the stone off the ship’s side.
“Bottomless,” he reported.
The Sea Nymph raced on, the only sounds the sizzle of the sea rushing past the hull and the ripping wind on the sail.
“Ten legs,” the sailor shouted as the point drew near. “Ten. And I can see the bottom ahead! Turn to port!” The alarm in the man’s voice made Arken’s heart stop a beat, and he felt a shot of fear surge up from his stomach.
“Veer to port to deeper water.” Captain Dunn’s voice sounded anxious.
No one spoke as everyone listened for the sound of the hull scraping on the bottom to signal their doom.
“Tighten that starboard side line on the sail, loosen the port!” Captain Dunn shouted. “We’re slowing.”
“Sail’s as far as we can twist her!” A sailor pulled on the rope showing the sail wouldn’t twist further.
“She’s going to back on you!” Captain Rallat yelled a warning.
“Tie another line to the boom and cross tie it to the opposite rail. It will twist more,” Captain Dunn bellowed.
Two sailors ran to obey, and shortly after the sail stiffened with just enough wind in it. Still, they had to clear the sand bar ahead.
“Do you think we’ll make it?” Asher gripped Arken’s shoulder.
“Kal willing.” Arken tried to sound confident, but he didn’t feel it. “If we lose headway and start going backward, we’ll run aground before they can get the oars out!”
“Then why don’t they run the oars out now and be ready?” Asher asked.
“Because the ship is leaning into the water so much that they can’t deploy the oars unless we stop sailing. And if we do, we’ll run backward and aground for sure. Trusting the sails is our only chance.”
“All right,” Asher said, not sounding convinced but willing to believe.
“Eight feet now, feet not legs. Eight, seven,” the sailor called out the depth.
“The bottom is right there, I can see it!” Asher looked over the railing.
The wind puffed harder, giving them more speed. “Hold course,” Captain Dunn ordered.
“Five feet, five, four...” the sailor yelled.
“What does she draw?” Asher asked, his face almost white despite his tan.
“Three feet.” Arken had studied the ship’s specifications in class.
“Only one foot less and we are doomed?” Asher’s voice almost wailed in dismay. Arken understood Asher’s fear of running aground. He could imagine the hull barely clearing and then dragging on the white sand bottom.
Arken retied the gastag leather pulling back his hair. If they went aground, it meant a swim, and Arken didn’t want hair in his eyes. “I’m not sure, and we’re tipped with the wind, so probably less, more like two feet.”
Arken watched the waves break on the sandy point just five legs from the starboard side of the bow as they neared the point of the spit. They were outside the waves, which now peeled down the sandy spit away from him.
“Five feet! Back up to five.” The sailor’s voice grew hopeful. “Now six and holding.”
They were headed out to sea, almost clear of the point. There was hope, yet no one spoke. It was as if they all believed that by being quiet they could sneak past the shallow bottom without it reaching up and grabbing them.
“Six, seven... nine!” the sailor on the dept
h rope yelled.
“Ease her back to starboard and follow the coastline,” Captain Dunn ordered as they left the sandbar and its rushing waves behind.
“Sir!”
Cheers went up from the Sea Nymph’s crew as they rounded the point. The Tookan flagship and offshore cutter rounded the point quite a distance from shore, while the cutter that had been following astern rounded close to the point in order to keep up with the Sea Nymph.
Everything appeared to be going according to the plan Arken had overheard while they stood close to the captains. For the moment, it appeared that none of the Tookan ships was willing to get within catapult range of the Sea Nymph. As long as the flagship and the two cutters stayed out of Mork’s fire catapult range, the Sea Nymph could run south without interference until nightfall. Then they would turn east and run through the nightmist for the safety of the vast Circle Sea.
But running close to shore meant that the breaking waves loomed close to the starboard side of the ship. They seemed odd. Arken usually watched waves from shore, where they rose and then crashed on shore. But seen from behind, the waves rose slightly and then it seemed like the water just fell away, as if the ocean ended in a cliff. He felt nervous being in a ship so close to the cliff’s edge, because if a larger wave came, it would break on the ocean side of the ship and crash it into shore.
“She’s a fine ship running close to the wind.” Captain Rallat grinned, untied his hair tie, and let his long, gray hair fly behind him. His long nose and wild hair reminded Arken of a dog they’d had when he was younger. It loved to put its feet on the bow rail and sniff the air when they sailed into the wind. The force of the air would make its ears fly back, just like Rallat’s hair. “If we can hold this course until dark, we’ll escape them, by Tol!” Rallat shouted in triumph.
Yolanta’s flagship ran parallel to the Sea Nymph and out to sea far enough to be safely out of catapult range. A sudden flurry of flag waving prompted the small cutter offshore behind the flagship to tighten its sail and speed up.
“That cutter is drawing closer. It looks like he is going to risk our Mork’s fire as well as the shallows and try grappling us!” Captain Dunn exclaimed.