‘Master Esteren,’ said Auum.
‘Auum,’ said Esteren. ‘Enjoying the view from aloft?’
‘It has improved considerably of late. You need your lookout up there to give you an accurate measure because there are sails a way off to the north-west. Distant yet but we don’t have time to waste.’
Esteren barely acknowledged Auum, switching his gaze along the deck.
‘Selas, to the nest. Sails reported north-west. Distance, course and closing speed, please.’
‘Done, skipper,’ came the reply.
‘The accepted term is aye, Selas. Be right or. .’
‘. . be off. Sorry, skipper.’ The lithe, small and very young iad streaked up the mainmast rigging and onto the iron spikes to the crow’s nest.
‘Auum, find me your chosen adept. We need to set up ship-to-ship communication.’
‘To back up your signals?’
‘No, to relay my true orders. When the time comes, all my signals are going to be lies.’
Auum smiled. ‘I like that.’
‘That’s why I’m in charge,’ said Esteren.
Selas’s voice echoed down from the crow’s nest.
‘Ten sails. Seven points off the port bow, heading south-south-east, on a run. Our speed, five knots on a long starboard tack, closing speed approximately nine knots. Distance sixty nautical. That’s all, skipper.’
‘Stay up, Selas.’ Esteren nodded. ‘Less than seven hours to contact. Enough time to set ourselves properly and come on them in the right formation. I need that adept. Have your people rest. If this goes right it’ll be over quickly enough, but even for a TaiGethen it’s going to be draining. I’ll call you when you need to prepare.’
‘Seven hours?’ said Ulysan. ‘I thought we were faster than that.’
‘We’re close-hauled, Ulysan,’ said Esteren. ‘And we aren’t going to get any quicker until we can turn with the wind for a return attack if we need it.’
‘Thank you, skipper,’ said Auum. He turned to go, but Esteren called him back.
‘They outnumber us comfortably, more than two to one. My crews are going to have to perform miracles to get us where we need to be to get you aboard and fighting. That means you have to be ready to go on my word. And the adepts have to be ready to combat any magic they deploy. We’re vulnerable when we’re close.’
‘So are they,’ said Auum.
‘Don’t let me down.’
‘Aye, skipper.’
Esteren almost smiled.
Takaar watched the enemy vessels approaching, and with them came a growing dread.
‘Can you feel that?’ asked Drech, standing by him near the bow.
Takaar stared at Drech and could only feel sorry for him.
‘I have been feeling it for some time,’ he said. ‘It is the energies of the Wytch Lords. An amazing force, isn’t it?’
‘You admire it?’
‘I respect it and I try to understand it. How else can we seek to defeat them?’
Drech looked forward. In a little less than two hours they would be in the thick of combat. Takaar could tell he was scared, although he sampled exhilaration and anticipation himself.
Until the first attack comes and you scurry below decks to cower under a tarpaulin. Were you ever a mighty warrior?
‘The very best,’ muttered Takaar, though the jibe had struck home.
Drech seemed not to have heard him. ‘Are they on board? The Wytch Lords?’
Takaar smiled indulgently. ‘No, Drech. Can you not feel how the energies are spread across the vessels? It is just as Stein said. Their shamen are conduits. There is no focus for the power, is there?’
‘So they’re weak,’ said Drech, and the shiver that had been running through his hands calmed.
Takaar sighed
How is he in charge of training?
‘I don’t know,’ said Takaar.
‘What?’ asked Drech.
You put him there.
‘He was the best we had. Still is, probably.’
‘You’re not. .’ began Drech. ‘Yniss preserve me, are you talking to me, Takaar?’
Takaar waved his hand in front of his face as if trying to deter a persistent fly.
‘Of course.’
‘So, are they weak?’ asked Drech.
‘Of course they aren’t weak!’ shouted Takaar. ‘And if you do not marshal your adepts correctly the shamen will tear this ship to splinters!’
Drech looked over Takaar’s shoulder. A few adepts were gathered there to watch the enemy approach. Drech lowered his voice.
‘Most on board this ship have no experience of combat. They are already scared and they do not need to hear from you that any mistake will lead to certain death.’
Takaar shrugged. ‘It is the truth.’
‘Maybe it is. But as their spiritual leader you need to tell them they are strong enough to get through and that you will stand by them every moment.’
‘They are strong enough.’
Drech jabbed a finger at the adepts, none of whom knew quite what to do.
‘So tell them!’ he snapped. ‘Please.’
Takaar felt stung. ‘Why are you shouting at me?’
Oh, shame, poor little Takaar being told off.
‘The fight is close,’ said Drech, his voice low once again. ‘We have to stand together confident of victory. So tell them what they need to hear.’
Takaar wasn’t sure what he meant. He’d laid it all out already. There was nothing more to say; they needed to prepare, rest if they could and focus their minds on how to build impenetrable shields against darker earth energies.
‘You all know what to do,’ said Takaar.
He waved them aside to make a path for him back to the base of the mainmast where Aviana was in communication with her sisters, one on each ship. He ignored the mutterings of the adepts as he passed, leaving Drech to attempt to pacify the fearful. It hardly mattered. In a short time they would either learn or they would die.
Takaar knelt by Aviana. She looked calm, her breathing was measured and her eyes were open.
‘What news?’ asked Takaar.
‘Manoeuvres will begin in an hour. We’re going to lead the second pair. Auum’s ship is the lead of the first pair. The skippers need shielding from mast tip to keel on the open sides. We are to keep out of the way of the sailors, and sit beneath the rails if we cannot sit below decks. We are being advised to move now. Some of the crews need to do final drills.’
Takaar nodded. ‘Then let’s move you first. Captain’s quarters, I think, beneath the wheel deck. Whatever happens, don’t lose contact. We’ll prevail, I promise you.’
Aviana nodded. ‘What can I report back?’
‘Acknowledge all your latest messages. We’ll do all that is asked. Say that the TaiGethen are praying and applying camouflage. Tell Auum we’re ready.’
Chapter 7
The earth’s energy runs through us all. The Il-Aryn use it to fashion castings. The TaiGethen use it to fashion great speed of mind and body.
The small elven fleet had split into two pairs. Esteren had taken his vessel, Soul of Yniss, and the Spirit of Tual on a long port tack. The second pair, Gyaam’s Blessing and Capricious continued on the starboard tack and would pass well in front of the oncoming fleet. The timing of their return tacks, to bring them into the enemy flanks, was going to be crucial.
Auum and Ulysan were back in the crow’s nest alongside Selas, who was providing a running commentary of their position relative to the enemy. They were still well to the north-west. If Auum was any judge, Selas had an extraordinary eye for distance and speed.