Someone Else's Kingdom, BOOK I - Chapter 24
The young boy that Prince Reach had ordered to Om Bay was standing on the shoreline, as the men that accompanied him readied a small boat. They'd arrived at quite a heady pace, but neither the boy, nor the men felt any need to pause for rest. A slight sense of adrenalin and urgency still rushing through them. As the boy stood impatiently, watching on, the word came. He headed down the small jetty and apprehensively stepped out onto the boat. Gauging the unsteadiness on the waves he felt a touch of panic as he placed his first foot down. The most senior of the four guards, Coulema Galina, head of the King's Household Guard - grabbed him firmly by the arm and helped him aboard. As they unmoored the little boat and pushed off they felt a few spots of rain spattering down. The boy was quickly ushered below deck and out of sight. Galina remaining up on deck, along with the ship's pilot.
As he looked around at the slightly greying horizon he wondered what state the city he'd just left would now be in. Was it still being bombarded? Had a full scale invasion taken place? Were similar attacks besieging places in the mainland kingdoms too? With so little information, and no way of knowing, he quickly put the thoughts away and refocused on the task at hand.
Out across the sea Essen also felt the few spots of rain hit his face. As he stood out on deck, his sea-going instincts told him just one thing: a storm was coming. They'd spent the previous hours hugging the coastline, harassing inhabitants and vessels. Even small fishing boats went unspared. Landing briefly once, terrifying the locals of a tiny finishing village, as they torched their petty sails. Now there was a possible storm brewing Essen wondered if it would be wise to find another inlet, where they could shelter and take stock until it passed.
The timing could not have been worse for Coulema Galina. As the four Brynnyfirdian ships came steadily lulling down through the water the first one distantly blurred into view. Looking out through the drizzle Galina could see the faded, but daunting image of the Dew Elizabeth. He hoped it would be a vessel from Eldbee, or perhaps one of the king's ships returning from the mainland. Yet, his gut feeling told him otherwise. An instinct amplified by the fact that the seas to the east of Tunida were normally some of the most empty. With nowhere for larger trading ships to be sailing to, making any large ship a rare presence indeed.
Fearing the worst he picked up the pilot's small telescope to get a better look. He then spotted a second, and what was perhaps a third ship. With the weather turning for the worse there was now a very pressing decision to make. Should they keep heading out as was their intention, and hope they'd go unnoticed? Or, should they turn around while they still had the chance? Ending their flight, at least for the present time. It was a shaky decision.
After calling the other men up to the deck there was a brief discussion. As they passed around the glass to look for themselves they all quickly came to the conclusion that these were indeed enemy ships - if not the exact same ones that had attacked Woodville. They pulled the boat around and began a retreat to the shoreline. With the rain now falling heavier the boat began to bob on the water as they tried to pick up the speed. The young boy came out on deck, curious to see what all the raised voices were for.
Out across the sea Essen also felt the few spots of rain hit his face. As he stood out on deck, his sea-going instincts told him just one thing: a storm was coming. They'd spent the previous hours hugging the coastline, harassing inhabitants and vessels. Even small fishing boats went unspared. Landing briefly once, terrifying the locals of a tiny finishing village, as they torched their petty sails. Now there was a possible storm brewing Essen wondered if it would be wise to find another inlet, where they could shelter and take stock until it passed.
The timing could not have been worse for Coulema Galina. As the four Brynnyfirdian ships came steadily lulling down through the water the first one distantly blurred into view. Looking out through the drizzle Galina could see the faded, but daunting image of the Dew Elizabeth. He hoped it would be a vessel from Eldbee, or perhaps one of the king's ships returning from the mainland. Yet, his gut feeling told him otherwise. An instinct amplified by the fact that the seas to the east of Tunida were normally some of the most empty. With nowhere for larger trading ships to be sailing to, making any large ship a rare presence indeed.
Fearing the worst he picked up the pilot's small telescope to get a better look. He then spotted a second, and what was perhaps a third ship. With the weather turning for the worse there was now a very pressing decision to make. Should they keep heading out as was their intention, and hope they'd go unnoticed? Or, should they turn around while they still had the chance? Ending their flight, at least for the present time. It was a shaky decision.
After calling the other men up to the deck there was a brief discussion. As they passed around the glass to look for themselves they all quickly came to the conclusion that these were indeed enemy ships - if not the exact same ones that had attacked Woodville. They pulled the boat around and began a retreat to the shoreline. With the rain now falling heavier the boat began to bob on the water as they tried to pick up the speed. The young boy came out on deck, curious to see what all the raised voices were for.
"We're heading back to land for a while ..we'll try to make the trip again next morning."
The boy didn't ask any questions and simply returned below deck.
With the storm picking up further out to sea too, Essen and Acalee had little choice but to find anchor. Signalling to the other three ships they then began to head towards the gentle curve of Om Bay. Seeking refuge. As their pace was much the greater than Galina's small boat, they soon began to eat away at the distance in between. Still, at this point, they were wholly unaware of its presence. As the little vessel rocked onwards the dismal weather at least offered a paintbrush of camouflage. Helping to distract the crews of the tailing ships, who by now were focused solely on the increasing wind and rain.
As the tempest gathered apace the winds rattled through the bowels of the ships, and the rain lashed down upon the decks. The quickness with which the weather can turn is a thing familiar to all experienced shipmen, but even so, as the storm took hold an unsettling doubt creeped in. That this may be the one that at last spells the end. It was a feeling foreign to Essen. He enjoyed the storms, and as he called out orders to his men he felt in his element. As the first thunder bolt cut through the cloudy churn of sky he remembered a phrase Colm would always use: "Godlike men love lightning; godless men love it not." The idea that a man of destiny would not fear the hand of Providence. That they exist with and within the worldly elements.
With the storm picking up further out to sea too, Essen and Acalee had little choice but to find anchor. Signalling to the other three ships they then began to head towards the gentle curve of Om Bay. Seeking refuge. As their pace was much the greater than Galina's small boat, they soon began to eat away at the distance in between. Still, at this point, they were wholly unaware of its presence. As the little vessel rocked onwards the dismal weather at least offered a paintbrush of camouflage. Helping to distract the crews of the tailing ships, who by now were focused solely on the increasing wind and rain.
As the tempest gathered apace the winds rattled through the bowels of the ships, and the rain lashed down upon the decks. The quickness with which the weather can turn is a thing familiar to all experienced shipmen, but even so, as the storm took hold an unsettling doubt creeped in. That this may be the one that at last spells the end. It was a feeling foreign to Essen. He enjoyed the storms, and as he called out orders to his men he felt in his element. As the first thunder bolt cut through the cloudy churn of sky he remembered a phrase Colm would always use: "Godlike men love lightning; godless men love it not." The idea that a man of destiny would not fear the hand of Providence. That they exist with and within the worldly elements.
As the Arbowlan swirled on the spill he held tight, and strained his eyes into the distance to try to glimpse the other three ships that were further in front. The Dracette was the closest to the bay. Small and nippy, it eased its way through the wet and mist. It was captained jointly by two brothers - Meamya and Eartaria - who revelled in the storm almost as much as Essen did. The eldest, Meamya, was the captain in name, though the two were so joined at the hip that any distinction was seldom necessary. As their nippy bark rolled along, Eartaria snatched the scope from his brother's hand to see what he was looking at. Not too far away, and clearly visible, was Galina's small boat, rocking in hope towards the drizzled shoreline.
"It'll just be fisherman," noted Meamya, as he relinquished the glass, though by now, as they gained ever closer, it was barely needed.
As Eartaria put his eye to the lens there was a sudden flash, followed an impulse later by a loud rush of thunder and waves. The boat swayed heavily to the side. As Eartaria recomposed himself and repositioned the glass he could see that the small boat had pitched over - the bottom of the boat upturned, as it snaked, lost in the swells.
"They're gone," acknowledged Eartaria laconically.
"Maybe," laughed Meamya, "They're not far from the shore though, so they could be okay ..if they're good swimmers."
At this point, not wanting to get too close to the shoreline themselves they held their position and dropped anchor. As suddenly as the storm had begun it began to subside. The wind easing to a brisk, but manageable breeze. The heavy downpour almost stopping entirely. Through a gap in the black-grey clouds, the evening sunlight then cast itself down.
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