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Hidden Island Chapter 27, part 2 of 3
Hidden Island
Chapter 27, part 2 of 3
"People have been trying to figure out Quinn's people for centuries. The secret is that they aren't one people.
They look alike. I'm aware of three different... I'm not sure what to call them."
"Factions?" Will asked.
"That's inaccurate, but we'll go with it," Jack continued. "They all have somewhat similar views on serving people, so from the outside, it's hard to tell there are differences, but they have very different criteria and rules about who they serve. The rules for one faction don't apply to the others. I know more about it than most humans and still find it confusing."
"Sounds complicated," Will said, waiting for her to reach the point.
"If humans ever figure it out, they'd be able to manipulate Quinn's people in ways that would keep them from being able to leave the service of a master. They'd become enslaved," Jack said.
"Or they could just... stop living by those rules?" Will said.
"They can't. That's their curse," Jack said.
"Fuck," Will laughed. "How many curses are going around out there?"
"More than you think," Jack smiled.
"And it can't be broken?" Will asked. He had a feeling he knew the answer.
"I don't think so. Quinn was mysterious about that, but the feeling I got was that breaking it would be very bad
for him," Jack said.
Another low roll of thunder added itself to their conversation. The ship was starting to come alive. The handful of crew on duty through the night were checking knots across the deck. Lace and another rigger came up from below deck and headed up the main mast. Missus North came up a few moments later and headed for the helm. Will looked at the sky again. It looked like a pretty mild storm, but the crew was diligent. He decided not to worry about it. He wasn't assigned storm duties beyond being a backup swab when it was called for, so he kept talking.
"So what does Quinn's people's curse do with you or me?" Will asked.
"Part of the terms of Quinn serving me is that I am trusted to keep the secrets of his people. When he leaves my service, I'll forget the details. That's one of the good sides of his people's curse." Jack explained, "But if I tell someone else, and then Quinn leaves my service, the person I told won't forget. More information about his people will be out in the world."
Will nodded, understanding. "Enough information out there, and someone will eventually figure out how to use those rules to enslave Quinn's people."
"Exactly," Jack said grimly. "Humans have a real knack for solving puzzles."
"I hardly think I'm a risk to Quinn's people," Will said rhetorically.
"I agree. So does Quinn, actually," Jack smiled. "The thing is, if anyone suspects you know, you'll be a target.
You do not want that, I promise. Some of the most powerful people in the world have devoted a lot of time to figuring this out, and one way they do it is by finding people who have been told things secondhand.
Quinn's service protects me. They can't find me, and they can't read my mind or anything like that. You aren't protected. You might not think you are a threat, but people devote their lives to learning this. Imagine if a Magistrate Prelate, a N'madi Thoughtpicker, or a Master Inquisitor wanted to know something they thought you knew. Could you stop them from learning it?"
"No," Will said, suddenly understanding. The thought of being a target of people like that was chilling. "I think that's enough of an explanation. Not telling me anything keeps all of us safer."
"Thank you," Jack said earnestly. "I wish I could tell you."
"If you'd been willing to explain that part earlier, all this would have been a lot easier,' Will said.
"I was afraid you'd figure it out. I'm still afraid you will. If that happens, we will all become targets. You most of all," Jack explained.
"That's a pretty good reason," Will agreed. "I'd have done the same thing."
"And you'd have been pissed if I wasn't willing to take your word for it," Jack added.
"True," Will smiled.
"Are we better?" Jack asked.
"We're getting there," Will said.
"So what do you want now?" Jack asked.
"That wasn't a perfect test of my curse, was it?" Will laughed.
"No," Jack shook her head. "I think you'll have to pick something I can't just give you right now."
Will considered making an innuendo about that, but he was worried that Jack would take it as an offer. He wasn't quite ready for that yet. "I feel like I'm sailing blind. I want to know what's coming so I can plan for it."
"That is the most you answer to that question ever," Jack sighed. "You might need to be more specific."
Sheet lighting lit the sky and was reflected by the sea, briefly lighting everything from horizon to horizon.
"No, I don't think I do," Will said, staring at the horizon. "Go tell Mister Reeve to wake the crew. Now."
Jack whirled, looking where Will was, but she saw nothing in the storm-dimmed gloom.
"Ship ho!" Will bellowed across the deck. "South-easterly!" He was moving quickly across the deck.
"Don't see it!" a voice called down from the crow's nest.
"Keep looking! Wait for the lightning!" I will call up. Jack ran past him and down into the hold. He burst through the door to the Captain's cabin.
Bella was face down between Belita's thighs. The brunette's knees were bent, her feet aimed upward with her ankles crossed happily. The blond Captain had her head thrown back against the headboard and had her hands clenched in the Witch's hair as she writhed in the aftermath of an orgasm. In the mirror, Janie sat in a chair with her legs spread wide and her skirts gathered around her waist. Her hand was working furiously between her legs as she watched the two women coupling.
The entire erotic scene abruptly stopped as Will rushed in. Bella rolled to her side and looked down her body towards him. Janie threw her skirts down, looking embarrassed, like she'd been caught doing something she shouldn't. Captain Vex hadn't moved hardly, but she had a pistol aimed at Will. He had no idea where she'd pulled it from, but he stopped abruptly. She raised it upward with an exasperated sigh.
"Sorry to interrupt," Will said hurriedly. "That ship we've been seeing is behind us again and closer."
The Captain's brow knitted. "The weird one? The derelict?"
"Yes," Will said. "It's sails are down now. It's coming at us."
Belita gave Bella a nudge. The Witch rolled up to her knees and let the Captain swing her legs off the bed. "I'll be right there. Rouse the crew."
"Already done," Will ran back out the door and pulled it shut behind him.
Belita stood up and started getting dressed. "If you know any ways to bring us luck, now's the time," she told the concerned Witch.
"It... doesn't work that way, but I might be able to come up with some ways to help," Bella replied, reaching for her blouse.
"Whatever you can do," the Captain said.
"Is it that bad?" Bella asked, still not sure what was going on.
"Best case scenario, we're going to be running in the dark, away from pirates," Captain Vex said. Her words were simple, but her tone was deadly serious.
For Janie, not knowing was always worse than knowing. She had to ask. "What's the worst case?"
"Running in the dark away from a ghost ship, headlong into a storm, and getting caught by both," Belita said as she tucked in her shirt and reached for her weapon belt.
"There's a ghost ship?" Janie gasped.
"There's a storm?" Bella's eyes were wide.
"You didn't hear the thunder earlier?" Janie asked. "Even I heard it."
"I had thighs on my ears for quite a while," Bella said as if that should have been self-explanatory.
Belita couldn't help but laugh at that. It was what she needed to focus on. Suddenly grinning, she swept her coat around her shoulders. There was an excited light in her eyes. "It's going to be a long night, and we might die. Make some magic happen." Then she was out the door into the night.
Janie and Bella just stared at each other for a few long moments. Another roll of thunder echoed overhead.
"What can I do to help?" Janie asked.
Bella's mind was racing. "Is Tonya there?" she asked.
"I'll find her," Janie nodded frantically and rushed off.
"Caine, too!" Bella called as Janie left the frame of the mirror.
"Alright," a fading voice echoed from the other side.
Then Bella was alone.
"Weigh anchor!" Will called across the deck. "Double time!" A few sailors looked at him with expressions of confusion, but enough of them recognized the military term and started hustling. Will rushed up to the helm.
"Light all lanterns! Ready for night sailing!"
Danica North rose from below in time to hear Will shout. "Report!" she called.
"Ship sighted, south easterly!" the sailor in the crow's nest called down. "No confirmation yet!"
She headed up the stairs to meet Will, lighting a taper off the watch lamp and moving the fire to the larger rear-facing running lanterns. "What's going on, Sterling?"
"That ship we've been seeing. It's coming for us," Will said. "I have Jack rousing the crew."
Danica knew better than to question. If he were wrong, they'd sort it out later. "I'll take over here until the Captain's on deck. You figure out the best direction to run."
"Don't wait. As soon as the anchor's up, head north at full sail," Will said.
"Full sail at night, into a storm?" Danica looked at Will like he was crazy.
"Yes. We should have open waters for a while, and the storm hasn't broken yet," Will said. He closed the first lantern and opened the shutter, bathing the ocean behind them in light. As soon as it was done, he headed to the other side of the aftcastle and started working on the second lantern.
"It won't matter if that ship catches us if we capsize or hit a rock, Will," Danica said, unconvinced. "That other ship can't run at full sail right now either."
Another flash of sheet lighting lit the night. "Ship, ho!" the lookout called down. "South-easterly headed straight towards us at full sail!"
Danica's eyes went wide. "Stupid, crazy pirates."
"I don't think they're pirates," Will said as he shook his taper and opened the second lantern.
"Bosun on deck!" someone yelled.
"Report!" Mister Reeve's booming voice echoed across the deck.
"First Mate has the helm!" Danica called. "Get us ready for night sailing and storm running, Mister Reeve!"
"Aye!" Reeve boomed. "Everyone tie off! Get that anchor up!"
"So if they aren't pirates, who are they?" Danica asked.
"Grindylow," Will said gravely.
A chill ran up Danica's spine. "No fucking way." She looked at Will again to be sure he was serious, then jumped into action. "Rigging! I want full sail as soon as we are anchored up!"
"Aye!" Lace's called down. "Sails are ready!"
Sailors at the prow finished lighting the headlamp. Suddenly, they could see a way in front of them. The first heavy raindrops began to fall.
"Wonderful," Will muttered. He'd hoped they would still have a while before the storm broke.
"I need a heading, Will," Danica said firmly.
"I have nothing to triangulate from," Will said, clearly frustrated. "No stars, sun, moon, beacons or lighthouses!"
He was scanning the dark, but now that the running lights were lit, everything outside the light was just a wall of blackness. "The best I can do is use a compass and try to spot some landmarks on the horizon during lightning flashes."
"Fine," Danica said. "As soon as you can."
Will nodded and headed to the rigging to head up and get a better look around.
"Reeve! What's taking so long with that anchor?" Danica shouted.
"The storm has us at full tension! We're caught!" Reeve's voice boomed.
Sailors were trickling up on deck, most still pulling on their shirts and boots as they went. In the light from the ship's lanterns hanging from the masts, Danica could see her husband leading a group of hardy sailors to help Mister Reeve weigh anchor. "Lookout, where's that ship!?" she called up.
"No sight!" the lookout called down. "Still a ways off at last sighting."
"Heave!" came the rhythmic, unison voices of the men hauling on the anchor winch. "Heave!"
"Captain on deck!" a voice called. Belita Vex came out of her cabin, her blue coat and blond hair flapping in the wind. She scanned the deck without a word, then headed up the stairs to join Danica at the helm.
"Tell me," she said. Her voice was almost conversational despite the dire situation.
"Ship sighted and confirmed. There is no accurate distance yet. Anchor stuck. Sails standing by," Danica said.
"Sterling thinks it's Grindylow."
Vex's blond brows rose. "Hadn't even considered that."
"Yeah, because they aren't real!" Danica said, sounding more like she hoped they weren't accurate than she believed her words.
"Hope Ye're right. I'll take the helm. You coordinate," Captain Vex said.
Danica passed over the ship's wheel to the Captain. With a quick nod, she headed down the stairs to the deck to start organizing the sailors who had come up on deck and had not been given orders yet. "Don't just stand around; start tying off! We're about to head into a storm at full speed; if anyone goes overboard, they're gone!" she barked. Sailors started moving.
Will hauled himself into the crow's nest. The lookout was Harker, the first crewman who'd talked to him when he came aboard. "Sterling," he said with a wry grin. "Come up to enjoy the weather with me?"
"Trying to get our position in the water," he said. "Seen any islands or other markers?"
"A few, when the lightning hits. Not sure which direction we're pointed, though," Harker shrugged. He locked his eyes in the direction they'd last seen the other ship.
Will pulled out his old compass. "I do. Where are those markers?"
Harker started pointing, still looking in the direction of the other ship. "Last sighting, there, there, and there. If our nose hasn't turned much, that should still be accurate."
Will cross-referenced with his compass and jotted some notes on the back of his hand with a grease pencil.
"Good enough to start with. Give me new markers as you get them."
"I'm on ship-spotting duty. Only got two eyes," Harker said.
"Webber, can you spare a rigger for a second lookout?" Will called down.
"Until they free the anchor, I can spare as many as you want!" Lace called up.
"I need someone to spot landmarks for me," he said.
"You heard him!" Lace called out. "If you're not holding a line, get up top."
Will started climbing down out of the crow's nest again. He passed a wiry woman who gave him a nod. He nodded back and continued his way down.
Down below, he could see Reeve, Mister North, Colin Strong, and five other large sailors throwing everything they could at the four push-arms of the anchor winch. It looked like they weren't having an easy time of it.
Lightning lit the sky again. He saw the other ship approaching them from his vantage point in the rigging. It was still far enough off that the details of it were complicated to make out with the naked eye, but with them at a standstill, it would be on them soon.
"Captain, recommend casting off the anchor!" He called down.
There was a pause from below, then the Captain's Voice calling, "Cast off anchor!"
"Casting off!" Reeve boomed.
As Will climbed down, he saw Reeve and Colin hauling on the anchor line directly, giving it just enough slack to release the cotter and anchor pins. After about a minute, North called, "Ready to lose! Loose!" Collin and Reeve let go of the anchor line. It unspooled the rest of the way from the winch and came free. The thick, rope-wrapped chain slithered out of the reinforced bolthole to vanish into the water forever.
The Kestrel was free.
Reeve blew a sharp retort on his pipe that got the attention of the entire crew. "Brace for sails!" Reeve bellowed.
"Sails, go!" Lace called out.
The sails dropped, unfurling in a cascade of white. The ship lurched and creaked, the wood and ropes straining loudly at the sudden pressure of the wind. Sailors held onto ropes and masts or took a knee and grabbed large eyelets bolted to the deck. Will leaned back and had the ladder tight in case the ship's sudden movement threatened to dash him against the mast.
With the winds snapping her coat around her, Captain Vex steered the ship into the dark as fast as the winds would take them.
Will dropped the last few feet to the deck and was running. It wasn't safe. He should be tied off and moving slowly and carefully, but there was no time.
"Get those side lamps lit!" he heard Reeve bellow just before he ducked into the Captain's cabin. Bella was doing... something in a witch's circle, but he ignored it. He was too focused on the task at hand. He lowered the folding desk into place, looked at the map and the notes in his hand, drew a few quick lines on the glass, did some math in his head, and ran out the door again.
"Heading North by northeast!" he called out.
"North by northeast, aye!" Captain Vex echoed from above him.
He climbed the steps two at a time and grabbed the base of the helm to steady himself. "Within an hour, there's going to be an island coming up ahead to port. Stay near it. On the starboard side, just past it, there's a reef. If we're too far east, we'll catch the reef on our approach, so hug the shoreline. We will run right between the island and the reef so we don't have to swing wide around it. If the other ship doesn't follow us in, we might be able to get clear."
To be continued
Chapter 27, part 2 of 3
"People have been trying to figure out Quinn's people for centuries. The secret is that they aren't one people.
They look alike. I'm aware of three different... I'm not sure what to call them."
"Factions?" Will asked.
"That's inaccurate, but we'll go with it," Jack continued. "They all have somewhat similar views on serving people, so from the outside, it's hard to tell there are differences, but they have very different criteria and rules about who they serve. The rules for one faction don't apply to the others. I know more about it than most humans and still find it confusing."
"Sounds complicated," Will said, waiting for her to reach the point.
"If humans ever figure it out, they'd be able to manipulate Quinn's people in ways that would keep them from being able to leave the service of a master. They'd become enslaved," Jack said.
"Or they could just... stop living by those rules?" Will said.
"They can't. That's their curse," Jack said.
"Fuck," Will laughed. "How many curses are going around out there?"
"More than you think," Jack smiled.
"And it can't be broken?" Will asked. He had a feeling he knew the answer.
"I don't think so. Quinn was mysterious about that, but the feeling I got was that breaking it would be very bad
for him," Jack said.
Another low roll of thunder added itself to their conversation. The ship was starting to come alive. The handful of crew on duty through the night were checking knots across the deck. Lace and another rigger came up from below deck and headed up the main mast. Missus North came up a few moments later and headed for the helm. Will looked at the sky again. It looked like a pretty mild storm, but the crew was diligent. He decided not to worry about it. He wasn't assigned storm duties beyond being a backup swab when it was called for, so he kept talking.
"So what does Quinn's people's curse do with you or me?" Will asked.
"Part of the terms of Quinn serving me is that I am trusted to keep the secrets of his people. When he leaves my service, I'll forget the details. That's one of the good sides of his people's curse." Jack explained, "But if I tell someone else, and then Quinn leaves my service, the person I told won't forget. More information about his people will be out in the world."
Will nodded, understanding. "Enough information out there, and someone will eventually figure out how to use those rules to enslave Quinn's people."
"Exactly," Jack said grimly. "Humans have a real knack for solving puzzles."
"I hardly think I'm a risk to Quinn's people," Will said rhetorically.
"I agree. So does Quinn, actually," Jack smiled. "The thing is, if anyone suspects you know, you'll be a target.
You do not want that, I promise. Some of the most powerful people in the world have devoted a lot of time to figuring this out, and one way they do it is by finding people who have been told things secondhand.
Quinn's service protects me. They can't find me, and they can't read my mind or anything like that. You aren't protected. You might not think you are a threat, but people devote their lives to learning this. Imagine if a Magistrate Prelate, a N'madi Thoughtpicker, or a Master Inquisitor wanted to know something they thought you knew. Could you stop them from learning it?"
"No," Will said, suddenly understanding. The thought of being a target of people like that was chilling. "I think that's enough of an explanation. Not telling me anything keeps all of us safer."
"Thank you," Jack said earnestly. "I wish I could tell you."
"If you'd been willing to explain that part earlier, all this would have been a lot easier,' Will said.
"I was afraid you'd figure it out. I'm still afraid you will. If that happens, we will all become targets. You most of all," Jack explained.
"That's a pretty good reason," Will agreed. "I'd have done the same thing."
"And you'd have been pissed if I wasn't willing to take your word for it," Jack added.
"True," Will smiled.
"Are we better?" Jack asked.
"We're getting there," Will said.
"So what do you want now?" Jack asked.
"That wasn't a perfect test of my curse, was it?" Will laughed.
"No," Jack shook her head. "I think you'll have to pick something I can't just give you right now."
Will considered making an innuendo about that, but he was worried that Jack would take it as an offer. He wasn't quite ready for that yet. "I feel like I'm sailing blind. I want to know what's coming so I can plan for it."
"That is the most you answer to that question ever," Jack sighed. "You might need to be more specific."
Sheet lighting lit the sky and was reflected by the sea, briefly lighting everything from horizon to horizon.
"No, I don't think I do," Will said, staring at the horizon. "Go tell Mister Reeve to wake the crew. Now."
Jack whirled, looking where Will was, but she saw nothing in the storm-dimmed gloom.
"Ship ho!" Will bellowed across the deck. "South-easterly!" He was moving quickly across the deck.
"Don't see it!" a voice called down from the crow's nest.
"Keep looking! Wait for the lightning!" I will call up. Jack ran past him and down into the hold. He burst through the door to the Captain's cabin.
Bella was face down between Belita's thighs. The brunette's knees were bent, her feet aimed upward with her ankles crossed happily. The blond Captain had her head thrown back against the headboard and had her hands clenched in the Witch's hair as she writhed in the aftermath of an orgasm. In the mirror, Janie sat in a chair with her legs spread wide and her skirts gathered around her waist. Her hand was working furiously between her legs as she watched the two women coupling.
The entire erotic scene abruptly stopped as Will rushed in. Bella rolled to her side and looked down her body towards him. Janie threw her skirts down, looking embarrassed, like she'd been caught doing something she shouldn't. Captain Vex hadn't moved hardly, but she had a pistol aimed at Will. He had no idea where she'd pulled it from, but he stopped abruptly. She raised it upward with an exasperated sigh.
"Sorry to interrupt," Will said hurriedly. "That ship we've been seeing is behind us again and closer."
The Captain's brow knitted. "The weird one? The derelict?"
"Yes," Will said. "It's sails are down now. It's coming at us."
Belita gave Bella a nudge. The Witch rolled up to her knees and let the Captain swing her legs off the bed. "I'll be right there. Rouse the crew."
"Already done," Will ran back out the door and pulled it shut behind him.
Belita stood up and started getting dressed. "If you know any ways to bring us luck, now's the time," she told the concerned Witch.
"It... doesn't work that way, but I might be able to come up with some ways to help," Bella replied, reaching for her blouse.
"Whatever you can do," the Captain said.
"Is it that bad?" Bella asked, still not sure what was going on.
"Best case scenario, we're going to be running in the dark, away from pirates," Captain Vex said. Her words were simple, but her tone was deadly serious.
For Janie, not knowing was always worse than knowing. She had to ask. "What's the worst case?"
"Running in the dark away from a ghost ship, headlong into a storm, and getting caught by both," Belita said as she tucked in her shirt and reached for her weapon belt.
"There's a ghost ship?" Janie gasped.
"There's a storm?" Bella's eyes were wide.
"You didn't hear the thunder earlier?" Janie asked. "Even I heard it."
"I had thighs on my ears for quite a while," Bella said as if that should have been self-explanatory.
Belita couldn't help but laugh at that. It was what she needed to focus on. Suddenly grinning, she swept her coat around her shoulders. There was an excited light in her eyes. "It's going to be a long night, and we might die. Make some magic happen." Then she was out the door into the night.
Janie and Bella just stared at each other for a few long moments. Another roll of thunder echoed overhead.
"What can I do to help?" Janie asked.
Bella's mind was racing. "Is Tonya there?" she asked.
"I'll find her," Janie nodded frantically and rushed off.
"Caine, too!" Bella called as Janie left the frame of the mirror.
"Alright," a fading voice echoed from the other side.
Then Bella was alone.
"Weigh anchor!" Will called across the deck. "Double time!" A few sailors looked at him with expressions of confusion, but enough of them recognized the military term and started hustling. Will rushed up to the helm.
"Light all lanterns! Ready for night sailing!"
Danica North rose from below in time to hear Will shout. "Report!" she called.
"Ship sighted, south easterly!" the sailor in the crow's nest called down. "No confirmation yet!"
She headed up the stairs to meet Will, lighting a taper off the watch lamp and moving the fire to the larger rear-facing running lanterns. "What's going on, Sterling?"
"That ship we've been seeing. It's coming for us," Will said. "I have Jack rousing the crew."
Danica knew better than to question. If he were wrong, they'd sort it out later. "I'll take over here until the Captain's on deck. You figure out the best direction to run."
"Don't wait. As soon as the anchor's up, head north at full sail," Will said.
"Full sail at night, into a storm?" Danica looked at Will like he was crazy.
"Yes. We should have open waters for a while, and the storm hasn't broken yet," Will said. He closed the first lantern and opened the shutter, bathing the ocean behind them in light. As soon as it was done, he headed to the other side of the aftcastle and started working on the second lantern.
"It won't matter if that ship catches us if we capsize or hit a rock, Will," Danica said, unconvinced. "That other ship can't run at full sail right now either."
Another flash of sheet lighting lit the night. "Ship, ho!" the lookout called down. "South-easterly headed straight towards us at full sail!"
Danica's eyes went wide. "Stupid, crazy pirates."
"I don't think they're pirates," Will said as he shook his taper and opened the second lantern.
"Bosun on deck!" someone yelled.
"Report!" Mister Reeve's booming voice echoed across the deck.
"First Mate has the helm!" Danica called. "Get us ready for night sailing and storm running, Mister Reeve!"
"Aye!" Reeve boomed. "Everyone tie off! Get that anchor up!"
"So if they aren't pirates, who are they?" Danica asked.
"Grindylow," Will said gravely.
A chill ran up Danica's spine. "No fucking way." She looked at Will again to be sure he was serious, then jumped into action. "Rigging! I want full sail as soon as we are anchored up!"
"Aye!" Lace's called down. "Sails are ready!"
Sailors at the prow finished lighting the headlamp. Suddenly, they could see a way in front of them. The first heavy raindrops began to fall.
"Wonderful," Will muttered. He'd hoped they would still have a while before the storm broke.
"I need a heading, Will," Danica said firmly.
"I have nothing to triangulate from," Will said, clearly frustrated. "No stars, sun, moon, beacons or lighthouses!"
He was scanning the dark, but now that the running lights were lit, everything outside the light was just a wall of blackness. "The best I can do is use a compass and try to spot some landmarks on the horizon during lightning flashes."
"Fine," Danica said. "As soon as you can."
Will nodded and headed to the rigging to head up and get a better look around.
"Reeve! What's taking so long with that anchor?" Danica shouted.
"The storm has us at full tension! We're caught!" Reeve's voice boomed.
Sailors were trickling up on deck, most still pulling on their shirts and boots as they went. In the light from the ship's lanterns hanging from the masts, Danica could see her husband leading a group of hardy sailors to help Mister Reeve weigh anchor. "Lookout, where's that ship!?" she called up.
"No sight!" the lookout called down. "Still a ways off at last sighting."
"Heave!" came the rhythmic, unison voices of the men hauling on the anchor winch. "Heave!"
"Captain on deck!" a voice called. Belita Vex came out of her cabin, her blue coat and blond hair flapping in the wind. She scanned the deck without a word, then headed up the stairs to join Danica at the helm.
"Tell me," she said. Her voice was almost conversational despite the dire situation.
"Ship sighted and confirmed. There is no accurate distance yet. Anchor stuck. Sails standing by," Danica said.
"Sterling thinks it's Grindylow."
Vex's blond brows rose. "Hadn't even considered that."
"Yeah, because they aren't real!" Danica said, sounding more like she hoped they weren't accurate than she believed her words.
"Hope Ye're right. I'll take the helm. You coordinate," Captain Vex said.
Danica passed over the ship's wheel to the Captain. With a quick nod, she headed down the stairs to the deck to start organizing the sailors who had come up on deck and had not been given orders yet. "Don't just stand around; start tying off! We're about to head into a storm at full speed; if anyone goes overboard, they're gone!" she barked. Sailors started moving.
Will hauled himself into the crow's nest. The lookout was Harker, the first crewman who'd talked to him when he came aboard. "Sterling," he said with a wry grin. "Come up to enjoy the weather with me?"
"Trying to get our position in the water," he said. "Seen any islands or other markers?"
"A few, when the lightning hits. Not sure which direction we're pointed, though," Harker shrugged. He locked his eyes in the direction they'd last seen the other ship.
Will pulled out his old compass. "I do. Where are those markers?"
Harker started pointing, still looking in the direction of the other ship. "Last sighting, there, there, and there. If our nose hasn't turned much, that should still be accurate."
Will cross-referenced with his compass and jotted some notes on the back of his hand with a grease pencil.
"Good enough to start with. Give me new markers as you get them."
"I'm on ship-spotting duty. Only got two eyes," Harker said.
"Webber, can you spare a rigger for a second lookout?" Will called down.
"Until they free the anchor, I can spare as many as you want!" Lace called up.
"I need someone to spot landmarks for me," he said.
"You heard him!" Lace called out. "If you're not holding a line, get up top."
Will started climbing down out of the crow's nest again. He passed a wiry woman who gave him a nod. He nodded back and continued his way down.
Down below, he could see Reeve, Mister North, Colin Strong, and five other large sailors throwing everything they could at the four push-arms of the anchor winch. It looked like they weren't having an easy time of it.
Lightning lit the sky again. He saw the other ship approaching them from his vantage point in the rigging. It was still far enough off that the details of it were complicated to make out with the naked eye, but with them at a standstill, it would be on them soon.
"Captain, recommend casting off the anchor!" He called down.
There was a pause from below, then the Captain's Voice calling, "Cast off anchor!"
"Casting off!" Reeve boomed.
As Will climbed down, he saw Reeve and Colin hauling on the anchor line directly, giving it just enough slack to release the cotter and anchor pins. After about a minute, North called, "Ready to lose! Loose!" Collin and Reeve let go of the anchor line. It unspooled the rest of the way from the winch and came free. The thick, rope-wrapped chain slithered out of the reinforced bolthole to vanish into the water forever.
The Kestrel was free.
Reeve blew a sharp retort on his pipe that got the attention of the entire crew. "Brace for sails!" Reeve bellowed.
"Sails, go!" Lace called out.
The sails dropped, unfurling in a cascade of white. The ship lurched and creaked, the wood and ropes straining loudly at the sudden pressure of the wind. Sailors held onto ropes and masts or took a knee and grabbed large eyelets bolted to the deck. Will leaned back and had the ladder tight in case the ship's sudden movement threatened to dash him against the mast.
With the winds snapping her coat around her, Captain Vex steered the ship into the dark as fast as the winds would take them.
Will dropped the last few feet to the deck and was running. It wasn't safe. He should be tied off and moving slowly and carefully, but there was no time.
"Get those side lamps lit!" he heard Reeve bellow just before he ducked into the Captain's cabin. Bella was doing... something in a witch's circle, but he ignored it. He was too focused on the task at hand. He lowered the folding desk into place, looked at the map and the notes in his hand, drew a few quick lines on the glass, did some math in his head, and ran out the door again.
"Heading North by northeast!" he called out.
"North by northeast, aye!" Captain Vex echoed from above him.
He climbed the steps two at a time and grabbed the base of the helm to steady himself. "Within an hour, there's going to be an island coming up ahead to port. Stay near it. On the starboard side, just past it, there's a reef. If we're too far east, we'll catch the reef on our approach, so hug the shoreline. We will run right between the island and the reef so we don't have to swing wide around it. If the other ship doesn't follow us in, we might be able to get clear."
To be continued
Published 19th Aug 2024
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19th Aug 2024 8:36pm
Wooo..that was a maze for the mind my friend an invigorating chapter if I must add... I always like the name Danica, I do believe in of my novels has that name is within the pages, I suppose great intellects does think alike.
A very read with a great narrative that gives credence to your dialogue.
On that note of poetic appraisal, please enjoy the remainder of your Monday as I wish you a blessed evening and a fabulous Tuesday.
Love and Hugs, always,
SKC🐾🐾
A very read with a great narrative that gives credence to your dialogue.
On that note of poetic appraisal, please enjoy the remainder of your Monday as I wish you a blessed evening and a fabulous Tuesday.
Love and Hugs, always,
SKC🐾🐾
19th Aug 2024 8:52pm
Thank you for your kind words. Do enjoy the rest of this day, and be safe in your travels
19th Aug 2024 9:06pm
