'Captain?' His helmsman indicated the starboard rail. Three mages were talking with Selik and, among them, Berian gestured behind him more than once at the wheel deck. It was an angry conversation and the skipper bit his lip.
'Come back to heading, lad,' he said, his lips barely moving. 'And keep yourself calm.'
The helmsman nodded, waited for the next pitch and edged the wheel away from the wind. The skipper felt the take on the sails, which were as light as he could argue, drive through the timbers at his feet. The four men left the rail and headed for the helm.
'Keep looking forward,' whispered the skipper, his face down looking at the compass.
'Aye, skipper.'
Footsteps rattled on the ladder and thumped across the wheel deck. The Captain was shoved aside and managed to assume an air of indignant surprise as he found Selik's sword resting on his chest.
'What have we done now, oversweetened your tea?' he asked, looking past the Black Wing at the mages who gathered around the compass.
Selik backhanded him across the cheek and he stepped back, rolling with the blow.
'You are testing my patience, elf,' drawled Selik. 'Berian?'
'Our direction is correct,' replied the old mage.
'But it wasn't always the way, was it Captain?' Selik pushed the point of his blade a little closer, the skipper aware that a sudden roll could end his life.
'Maintaining exact direction is impossible in these conditions,' he said. 'We are doing the best we can.'
Another slap. 'Liar.' Selik's good eye burned into the skipper's face. 'You think you're being clever, elf, but I have better men with me. They can see our destination through the mana trails, they can divine our position by light, wind and magic and they can sense an elf toying with the lives of his crew while he delays our purpose.'
The Captain said nothing. Selik drew back.
'Now we don't know exactly what you have cost us. We suspect it to be a good deal of time. And for every cost, there must be payment.' Selik moved his sword point higher where it wavered in front of the skipper's neck.
T could take the payment from you but I fear your crew might not accept your death. Fortunately, there are ample substitutes.'
He spun and drove his blade through the helmsman's neck; the young elf stiffened, gurgled and collapsed as Selik dragged the sword clear. The elf twitched as he lay dying on the deck, his blood flooding from the awful wound.
The Captain felt a surge of sickness and a greater one of fury. He made to spring forwards but found Selik's sword-point at his stomach once again.
'That's one step closer to your own death,' he said.
Selik didn't smile. 'You know, somehow I doubt it. The righteous are rewarded, the evil are cast down. It has always been the way. Now I suggest you take care of the wheel before we lose our course again. I'll have my men dispose of this body. After all, we can't afford the time for your ridiculous rituals, now can we?'
Selik strode to the ladder, the Captain's eyes following his every step. He wished for a wave to take him, for a slip to send him tumbling to the deck. Looking down now on the body of his fresh-faced young helmsman and seeing the renewed rain washing the blood from around his feet, the skipper mouthed a prayer to commend the elf s soul to the gods of the sea and gripped the bloodied wheel, his body on fire with hate.
Hirad was on deck early on the third day, scouring the way ahead for any sign of the Ocean Elm. He knew he wouldn't see anything before the elven lookouts but he had to do something. Denser and a marginally recovered Ilkar were tending The Unknown and Thraun, Ren was with Jevin as always and Darrick, well, Darrick was in a place of misery of his own invention. It was unlike the General but Hirad let him wallow. The time for bringing them together was not yet, and maybe not ever. Only when Erienne was on board would Hirad feel that there was a Raven to lead.
The weather had steadily worsened throughout the second day and Jevin had been forced to furl in some sail to retain control of his ship. It was frustrating but Hirad comforted himself in the knowledge that the Elm would be suffering the same and he trusted Jevin's assertion that they would still be travelling faster. But would it be fast enough?
Even if they sighted them now, would they be able to make up enough ground for a ShadowWing flight that night? Hirad thumped the rail and looked up into the rain and dark cloud, shivering. He had been cold for a day, the energy from his sleep gradually worn away by a growing sense of helplessness. The Unknown was relying on them to save him from being a crippled warrior the rest of his life. And there was nothing Hirad could do. Not until-
'Ship forward!' The shout came clear down from the crow's nest in the main mast. 'Ship forward!'
Hirad looked but could see nothing. He heard Jevin shouting up
from the wheel deck but his elvish was lost on the barbarian as was the answering call. Hirad half ran back along the length of the ship and hurried up the ladder.
'Careful, Hirad, more haste less speed on a pitching deck,' said Ren'erei.
'Yeah, yeah. Captain?'
'It's a definite sighting. We can't yet tell if it's the Elm but it's travelling across our starboard bow.'
'Meaning?'
'If it is them, they've been off course. Probably deliberately,' said Ren.
'Can we catch them?' asked Hirad.
'There's no doubt of it,' said Jevin. 'It's more a question of when.'
'By nightfall. We have to be close enough by nightfall.'
Jevin stared hard at him. 'I am aware of our timetable. And I will do everything I can that keeps this ship afloat. Do you understand?'
Hirad cast his gaze skywards. 'Yes, but-'
'But nothing, Hirad Coldheart,' said Jevin. 'Now, as I've mentioned before, kindly leave the wheel deck to the sailors. Why don't you prepare your plan, or eat something or whatever. Get Ilkar some more Lemiir.'
'Just get off your deck, eh?' said Hirad.
Jevin at last smiled. 'Now you're getting it,' he said.
Hirad turned and headed down the ladder, hearing Jevin's voice ring out across the ship.
'Bo'sun! I need more sail forward. Let's run this bitch of a storm! Let's show these ignorant humans what sailing really means!'
The barbarian shook his head, laughing as he strode across the main deck to the forward cabins and heading for the galley. The cook handed him his Lemiir wordlessly and he let himself quiedy into the cabin where both mages sat watching the sleeping forms of The Unknown and Thraun. The cabin was stuffy despite the part-open window and the stale air merged with the smells of urine and strong soap to make an unpalatable mix.
He poured water into a tankard and added the Lemiir powder, swirling it once and handing it to Ilkar.
'Surprised you can stand the smell in here,' he said.
'No choice really,' said Ilkar, accepting the tankard and continuing to mix its contents. 'Thanks. It's good stuff this. I wonder why I didn't get it earlier.'
T have a feeling it's both expensive and in short supply,' said Hirad. 'Lucky you're an elf or I reckon Jevin'd let you suffer.'
'Believe me, I'm still suffering,' said Ilkar. He drained the tankard in one swallow, screwing up his face in disgust. 'It's good but it tastes rank and sweet at the same time. It's like swallowing sugared tree bark.'
'So, are you fit to cast?' asked Hirad. Denser looked around and Hirad grinned broadly at him, clapping him on the shoulder. 'Because we've just sighted a ship ahead:'
'Is it the Elm?' Denser brightened, a light growing in his dull eyes.
'How many other single ships do you reckon are round here?' said Hirad.
'Precious few,' said Denser, nodding his head vigorously. 'So, Ilkar, what's the verdict?'