“Base villain,” Lord Uriah said. “You dare to call us liars?”
“Any fool can claim the world when stepping off a rowboat,” countered Zem.
Lord Uriah put his hand to his longsword’s hilt.
Zem brought up his cutlass.
“Hold, “Captain Graz said.
Zem hesitated.
“You should have this cur whipped,” said Lord Uriah.
Adah wondered if he was overdoing his outraged noble act. Still, these men would expect such behavior. It would confirm Lord Uriah in their eyes as a superior form of humanity.
“Notice his sword, Zem,” Captain Graz said. “And look at his clothes. They’re sea-stained, no doubt, but of costly make. They all wear noble garments. I’ve seen Elonites before. These, or those four, are obviously Elonites. What of her, though?” Captain Graz asked nodding toward Adah.
“I am a singer, Captain, from far off Poseidonis.”
“Ah,” said Captain Graz. “That explains your outlandish appearance.” He gazed at Auroch. “You’re not from Poseidonis or from Elon.”
“He is from Ir,” Lord Uriah said.
Captain Graz seemed doubtful. He did ask their pardon, however, before he roared orders. The rowboat was tied behind the
Falan,
and the wind once again billowed the huge sail. Sailors brought wine, bread and cheese.
“Coarse fare,” said Captain Graz, “but no doubt refreshing to those who’ve been shipwrecked.”
Zem cleared his throat, and with his red-kerchiefed head, he nodded at Lord Uriah’s sword.
Captain Graz’s shrewd eyes tightened for only a moment. Turning to Lord Uriah, he said, “Now, sir, I would ask for your sword while you’re aboard my ship.”
“Is that truly necessary?” Lord Uriah asked.
“I’m afraid so,” said Captain Graz.
“What are your intentions?” Lord Uriah asked.
The Captain said, “First, your sword and the bodyguard’s spear.”
Lord Uriah hesitated. Zem motioned to several sailors watching in the lower waist.
Adah had already bolted some of the bread, and had drunk some water. She saw that battle might soon commence. Above all else, she wished to avoid that. She bowed therefore to Zillith, and asked, “Mother Protectress, may I speak to Captain Graz, and tell him the import of our mission?”
“Yes, my dear, that might be wisest.”
“Captain Graz,” Adah said, strengthened by the food.
“Before you speak, I must first demand the noble’s sword,” Captain Graz said.
“Even though Nidhogg attacked and sank our ships?” Adah asked.
“What?” Captain Graz asked in alarm. “The legendary Nidhogg? Impossible!”
“Not so. Nidhogg is the sea-monster who lairs in the Vergelmir Deep.” Adah said.
A few sailors in the waist made religious gestures and muttered prayers. Nidhogg was obviously not good to talk about while sailing across the Suttung Sea.
“It’s true,” Adah said boldly. “The fearsome Nidhogg arose from the depths and attacked us. Yet in the end, it was leviathan that saved us.”
The sailors seemed stunned, although Zem’s face flickered with doubt.
Adah heard a sailor whisper that maybe here was the reason for Gog’s galleys sinking traders and torturing honest merchants. Worry knotted her stomach. She raised her hands for silence, and launched into a swift story of giants, sliths, the civil war of Shamgar and the grim approach of Nidhogg. She told of Captain Maharbal’s horn and told how a leviathan had defeated Nidhogg, and the sailors soon stared at them in awe.
Captain Graz glanced back at the cluster of sails that had moved nearer. They were black, the color of Shamgar pirates.
Zem barked an ugly laugh. “Lads, think of the reward we’d gain from the pirates if we hand them these captives.”
“You’re right, Zem,” a greedy-faced sailor said.
“Fools!” Auroch said. “It’ll mean the victory of Gog, and the end of humanity as you know it.”
“I’ve been to the Oracle in Shamgar,” Zem sneered. “Those who serve Gog will gain great rewards. What do you say, boys?”
A few sailors cheered, putting their hands to their dagger-hilts.
“What should I do?” Captain Graz asked Zillith.
“Take us to Carthalo,” Zillith said. “The time of open war draws near.”
“Bah,” Zem shouted. “We in Dishon don’t serve Further Tarsh. We’re wise enough to join the coming victor. And you, Captain Graz, would do well to remember what the council decided.”
“Aye!” shouted a sailor, who drew his dagger, and took a step onto the ladder to the stern deck.
“Gog is evil!” Adah shouted to the wavering sailors. “Put your trust in Elohim!”
“Gog’s pirates hunt and destroy those who want to help these Elonites!” Zem roared. “We’ve already heard stories in Ott Harbor about what’s happened to unlucky traders. Look!” He pointed at the closing sails. “Soon, Gog’s galleys will be here. If you’re not friends of them, then you’ll die like swine. But, if we trussed these fools.” He gave a sharp laugh, and turned to the Captain. “What do you say, ship-merchant, are you with us? Are you with the council’s decision?”
Captain Graz wavered.
“Decide!” shouted Zem, inching toward the Captain.
“No!” Auroch roared as he lunged at Zem. Zem parried and jumped back. Many of the sailors shouted in rage and drew their knives. Auroch hurled his spear at Zem who took it full in the chest and toppled backward into the sailors in the waist, dead.
“Kill them!” shouted a one-eyed, toothless sailor.
“No!” roared Captain Graz, “Zem was a fool. Now, we must outrun the pirates. No matter what we do, they’ll butcher us.”
“Aye,” shouted other sailors.
“You heard the stories in Ott Harbor,” Captain Graz shouted. “The pirates are crazed. Our only hope is in flight.”
“The Captain’s right!” roared a man.
That seemed to do the trick. Some of those sailors who’d sided with Zem grumbled, but they sheathed their knives and went to work.
“You’ve freed me of Zem,” Captain Graz said, “but what about the pirates?”
“You should lighten your ship,” Auroch said.
Captain Graz studied huge Auroch. “You’re no Irian. You’re—”
“Captain,” Adah said, “Does it matter who he is? If you toss your cargo, I’m sure the Mother Protectress will reimburse you.”
“I’ll do that right now,” Lord Uriah said. He drew a jingling pouch from his shirt, and counted heavy gold coins, enough to buy the
Falan
.
Captain Graz laughed as he pocketed the coins. “My cargo belongs to you, Lord, to do as you will with it.” He roared at his men to begin heaving the cargo overboard. Afterward, Graz turned to Lord Uriah. “You can thank Fate, or the Luck of the Stars, that I’m one of the few captains of Dishon left who hates Gog. You took a risk in signaling us.”
“Luck had nothing to do with it,” Lord Uriah said. “We’re in Elohim’s service. Now, here’s what I suggest.”
Chapter Eighteen
Grappling Hooks
“Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army.”
-- 2 Chronicles 20:15
Baskets, barrels of fish and tin ingots plopped overboard. Many of the sailors complained, even when Captain Graz showed them the gold. A bonus was theirs, he told them, but the grumbling continued. Adah believed the grumblers were those who had backed Zem.
She watched the floating baskets they left behind. The pirates would surely wonder what was worth so much to the Captain that he’d throw away his profits. Many of the sailors shook their heads at the sight.
“You should take their daggers,” Auroch said.
“No,” Captain Graz said. “A sailor needs his knife for chores. Besides, there’d be a mutiny if I tried that.”
“You may have mutiny in any regard,” Auroch said.
Captain Graz eyed him. Auroch stood on the stern deck with his hands on hips, and surveyed the crew, as if born to it.
“Ever been a captain?” Graz asked.
Auroch grinned. He’d taken Zem’s cutlass, and after finding that Graz had a few extra bows, he’d slung one around his torso. It added to his martial image.
“Will the pirates follow us long?” Captain Graz asked.
“Yes,” Auroch said.
“You know these pirates well, eh?”
“I do.”
“Thought as much,” said Graz. “You’ve the feel of Shamgar.” When Auroch said nothing, Captain Graz added, “I suppose you were on the losing side of the civil war.”
The grin left Auroch’s face.
“No matter,” said Captain Graz. “I’ve no more wish to be caught by the pirates than you do.”
Adah sat, leaning against the gunwale. Lord Uriah, Zillith and Gens had all lain down on borrowed cloaks on the stern deck, where they’d fallen asleep. Amery watched the pirate ships.
“How many do you count?” Adah asked.
“Three,” Amery said.
“Are they big?”
“Small and fast, but they’re packed with pirates. And I think I see a bear.”
“A bear?” Adah asked, surprised.
Auroch turned, squinted and spat into the sea. “That’s no bear, girl. It’s a fiend.”
Adah went cold with fear.
“Something sparkles at his throat,” Amery said, “something golden.”
“Most likely a medallion,” Auroch said.
Frightened by the possibilities, Adah rose and studied the pirates. She could barely make out the dark, hairy one that could’ve been a bear. “A golden medallion?” she whispered.
Auroch shrugged.
“Do you know his name?” Adah asked.
“He’s Rog, one of Gog’s favorites.”
The fiend with the golden medallion, he was the one who had gone to Eden and back. He would be merciless. Adah tried to ease into a better position, tried to relax. She immersed herself in the groan of the mast and concentrated on keeping her breathing steady through the bump and shudder as they skimmed the waves. This was so much faster than the rowboat. Her eyelids grew heavy at the rhythm, but she couldn’t sleep. The fiend from Eden chased them, and someone had to keep an eye on Auroch.
“They keep closing the distance,” Amery said quietly.
Adah saw another island, one with tall trees and green-feathered birds. The
Falan
hove toward it.
“What are you doing?” Auroch asked.
“What Lord Uriah instructed,” said Captain Graz, who shouted orders. Sailors shifted the sail. The
Falan
moved faster. The ride grew bumpier.
Amery leaned over the gunwale. “I see rocks,” she said in surprise.
“These are the Tarren Shoals,” said Captain Graz. “They might give the pirates pause. At least that’s the plan. Pray to Elohim it works.”
“Your plan’s success seems doubtful,” Auroch said. He studied the following ships. “Those are pentekonters, shallow-drafted vessels like your coastal trader.”
“True enough,” Captain Graz said. “But notice the rowers and extra fighters. They’ve weighted themselves. They won’t be able to follow us over the shoals as easily as that. And the tide is out. You’ll see.” Captain Graz gave Auroch a sickly smile. “Pirate or not, sir, there’re tricks a trading Captain can teach you.”
Auroch gave a noncommittal grunt.
“The rocks look jagged,” Amery said.
Adah, from her sitting position, couldn’t see the rocks. Nor did she want too. All she saw was the green sea, the island with its swaying trees and the spume of foam that shot up among the island’s boulders. She winced, as she heard the wooden hull scrape rocks. It seemed, for just an instant, that everyone held their breath. The sound occurred again. Adah clenched her teeth. It was an ominous sound, and when it occurred a third time, the ship was bumped off course. Sailors groaned.
A sailor roared at the Captain, “Are you trying to kill us?”
Captain Graz ignored the remark.
“Have him beaten,” Auroch said.
Captain Graz shook his head.
“Do you fear your own men?”
“In fact, yes,” said Captain Graz. He took off his straw hat, scratched a bald head and put the hat on snugly. “Strange events have occurred in Dishon. Gog and his Oracle have swayed many of our nobility. Only a few weeks ago the Council, in its wisdom, added bodyguards to our various ship companies. All the bodyguards have visited the Oracle. Zem claimed to have received a vision, and that an Oracle Defender, named Lord Nummers, had become his patron.”
“Lord Nummers?” Auroch asked.
“You’ve heard of him?”
“He’s a savage Nephilim, noted for his bloodthirstiness. He’s another of Gog’s favorites.”
“Ah, then this Defender truly lives?” asked Graz.
“Unless Lod killed him in the swamps,” Auroch said.
“I see,” said Captain Graz. “Zem’s words were less of a pack of lies than I’d realized. In any regard, you must understand that many of my sailors listened to what Zem had to say. Too many of them, simple, greedy lads, have been swayed by the stories. The other sailors fear them. Only you, I suppose, and Lord Uriah, hold the unruly ones in check. That time may pass. The pirates following us will add strength to their resolve to mutiny.”
“You seem calm about it,” Auroch said.
“A captain must always be calm,” Graz said. “To show fear, or to act out of fear, would only strengthen the coming mutiny.”
Auroch touched his cutlass’s hilt. “Maybe a few simple, greedy lads need to take a journey overboard.”
“Maybe,” said Captain Graz, “but not just yet.”
Auroch sneered.
“I don’t have your taste for bloodshed,” Captain Graz said.
“Don’t apologize for that,” Adah said. “Few others have Auroch’s capacity for bloodshed.”
“Auroch?” Graz asked in alarm.
“Look!” Amery cried. “The lead ship is grounding on the shoals.”
Adah rose. Sure enough, the stern lifted out of the water and waves broke over the prow. The mast had snapped, and the sail lay draped over seething men and over the ram. The other pentekonters veered sharply. Since those galleys now moved against wind, their sails came down as oars slid into position.
“They’re swinging around the shoals,” Amery laughed. “They don’t dare enter them after us.”
Adah saw the bear-like fiend. Sunlight glinted off his medallion. He seemed enraged. “Will they leave the shipwrecked pentekonter to its fate?”
Auroch pointed at rowboats leaving the pentekonters. The grounded pentekonter’s rowboats were already loaded. Other pirates swam toward the island.
“Their orders must be stern,” Auroch said. “The shipwrecked men will have to fend for themselves until the others return for them.”
Captain Graz smiled as he leaned on the tiller. The
Falan
hove closer to the island, using it as a shield. He roared orders into the waist. To Auroch he said, “I’ve gained us another hour.”
Auroch studied the pirates. He nodded after a time. “You’re skilled.”
Captain Graz gave a curt nod.
“Unfortunately,” Auroch said, “one pentekonter will destroy us as surely as three.”
“Maybe,” said Captain Graz, “but the one will still have to catch up to us first in order to do so.”
***
Adah tried to make herself comfortable. Nothing would do it. White, wispy clouds floated across the sky, but the sail didn’t strain with the same urgency as before. She rubbed her tired eyes. Amery had fallen asleep, but Auroch kept his haughty station over the crew. His arms were folded, and his face stoic.
Captain Graz gave a worried glance over his shoulder. He pulled back on the tiller, and shouted an order into the waist.
Auroch growled under his breath.
Captain Graz shrugged.
“Give the order again,” Auroch whispered. “Only this time, add some names.”
Captain Graz repeated the order, ending it with, “Ballin, Jonah, Dan!”
Auroch drew his cutlass, as he glared at the named sailors. The sail was soon adjusted, and the
Falan
responded accordingly.
“That might not work again,” Captain Graz said.
“We’ll see.”
Adah fell back into her hazy state. She hoped Lord Uriah was right. He’d said before that anti-pirate flotillas prowled this sea-lane, the route from the archipelago to Carthalo. The League of Peace, whose treasure chests were kept in Further Tarsh, paid for the patrolling biremes. A bireme had two banks of oars instead of a pentekonter’s one. Captain Maharbal, who’d been high in Further Tarsh’s councils, had known many of the captains and admirals who manned the various ships. During the long idle hours of the previous voyage, he’d explained to Lord Uriah who in the fleet was sailing where.
“Look!” A leering sailor pointed skyward to a long dark crescent circling below the cloud wisps, the silhouette of a soaring slith.
“Now the fiend will follow us to the bitter end,” Auroch said. “He must.”
“Those are eyes of Gog?” Captain Graz asked.
“In essence, yes,” Auroch said.
Captain Graz sadly shook his head. “The end will happen in an hour, maybe less.”
Adah forced herself to stand. The pentekonters were four bowshots away. Men strained at the oars. Bow-armed pirates stood at the prow. Above the sound of surf came a regular crash of cymbals, urging pirate oarsmen to greater efforts. The fiend raced to the prow, and shook his huge sword at them.
“We’d better wake up the others,” Adah said.
Auroch shrugged. He seemed pensive, moody. “Don’t you have oars?” he asked Captain Graz.
“A few. They’re used for harbor work. I’m uncertain if I could make the sailors row.”
The sailors in the waist watched the approach of the other ships. Their hands hovered near their knife-hilts as they whispered fiercely among themselves and eyed Auroch.
Captain Graz said, “Zem told them that the pirates are our friends. Notice how they keep near his corpse. They plan to show the fiend they acted under duress.”
“That can be changed quickly enough,” Auroch said. He strode and jumped into the waist.
“Wait!” Adah said, who shook Lord Uriah awake.
Auroch strode among the smaller sailors, bulling them aside. They retreated, the way hyenas retreat from lions. “Pick up that corpse,” he growled.
Their eyes slid away from his.
He pricked a sailor with his cutlass.
“Do it yourself,” snarled the sailor.
Auroch smashed a fist into the sailor’s face. The sailor crumpled. Auroch lifted the man, and heaved him into the sea. “Now, Zem,” he growled, “or more of you are going overboard.” He pointed at various sailors.
Sullenly, afraid of the huge half-Nephilim, the sailors complied. Soon Zem’s corpse floated in the sea.
“What was that about?” Lord Uriah asked.
Auroch gave him a terse account.
Lord Uriah studied the pirate pentekonters and the fiend. He adjusted the borrowed cloak he’d slept on, belted his longsword and then strode into the waist. Despite his age, he shimmied up the mast. Atop it, he scanned the sea, disdainful of the mutinous murmurs of the sailors below.
“The legends say,” Gens whispered to Adah, “that Lord Uriah is almost impossible to kill. Unfortunately, that doesn’t apply to his companions.”
After a time, Lord Uriah returned. His white-bearded face appeared thoughtful. With his deep tan, he looked rugged, handsome and decisive. “That way,” he told Captain Graz, pointing south.
“What did you see?” Graz asked.
Lord Uriah shook his head. “It isn’t by sight that I’m instructing you, but by hope and faith.”
Captain Graz blanched.
“I don’t understand,” Auroch said.
Lord Uriah smiled serenely. “At times, a chance must be taken on a gut feeling.”
“Did you have a vision, Lord?” Gens asked.
Lord Uriah shook his head.
“Then it’s madness to turn south,” Auroch said. “The wind, as soft as it is, will slacken in the sail if we go that way. The fiend will capture us sooner, rather than later.”