With Reynardo In Exilio

"Everything all right, Elbron?"

"Well enough, though if the sea stays this smooth I’d like to break open some kegs for the men. Strange, though. I could have sworn I saw the shape of the old woman here on the ship, just for a moment..."

"Oh! She’s here all right. She wouldn’t hear of being left on shore. Can’t say I like it, old and frail looking as she is. She brought two retainers with her, Natan and Joram. Two strong, silent fellows...helped bring her things onboard. Peculiar folk. I’d almost say that Joram was deformed somewhat. A keg you say? For your men? Go forward and the deck below yours...there’s a ramp you can lower to roll it up to where your men are." He leaned out over the rail and shouted down to the deck below. "Amittai! Show Sergeant Elbron where the kegs lie in the forward spaces. Don’t keep him waiting!"

I thanked Averrendell and went below to gather up Manfred and Chance. Together we followed Amittai down into the belly of the ship. We rolled the kegs up and set them upright so Thagarok could crack them open with hard metal spouts. We all held bowls and flagons around and around until we’d had a draught or two or three or more. Then it was a fine day indeed and we all lay about the deck watching seabirds wheeling across the waves and whirling around in the blue heavens while sun burnt sailors working about the ship were cursing us for our day of ease.

The next day brought clouds obscuring the sun so I drilled the men as best I could around the deck, making them sweat to earn their pay. I spoke harshly to them so the sailors would look on us more approvingly, and the troop in turn put on a fine show for them. We slept with bellies filled with bad bread and fendle-fruit as small bands of rats scurried to and fro.

The small bands turned into a veritable army as the seas grew rough and rain began to pour down. We wrapped ourselves in our hammocks and endured the steady drip, drip, drip of water all around and the pitching of the deck. I ate little while the ship slithered and shuddered in the wind and tide. Thagorok’s appetite never abated, though. He ate heartily along with Aveck and Elpenor even while the rest of us lay with clenched teeth.

I woke at dawn, in the darkness. Some small drench of water had extinguished the torch we used to light our space in the upper hold. I pushed up on the wooden hatch and stepped out under a sky filled with broken uneasy clouds. The canvas tent was down and there was gear scattered about the deck being attended to by weary sailors. Averendell stood surveying the damage. To my eye the ship was not too much worse for the wear. Averendell turned and shook his head when he saw me.

"It’s a most peculiar thing," he said, pointing to the after castle. "Look after its shape...the curve there, how it fits the deck. And it’s definitely smaller. I’m going to measure it as soon as we’re all cleaned up."

The one they called Natan made his way toward us. His tunic, trousers and boots were black with a few extravagances of red running through them. He had wrapped himself in a cloak or cape that likewise advertised itself with patterns of stripling red.