Revelyn: 1st Chronicles - When the last arrow falls (34 page)

Tyne’s immediate and normal response was to give a cutting remark to remind the man that he was in the presence of a master, and should not question or doubt his ability; but something restrained him, for he realised that it was a perfectly reasonable question if you knew little about the sea and sailing. He took a deep breath and willed himself to reply more civilly.

‘That it is lad, quite unstable actually. I’ve had her up and flying like this before, maybe three times, or four, I can’t recall, and the longest we could hold station was about four spans, and then I almost lost her coming off the wave. Today she feels like she’ll go all the way to
Lavas
.’ Helmsman Smig cast a sideways glance, raised his eyebrows, and smiled in surprise at the warmth in his Captain’s response. Tyne noticed.

‘Do you have a problem Smig?’ he growled.

‘No captain, I feel just fine.’ Smig stared straight ahead, still smiling and thought,
That’s more like it, for a moment I thought you’d become human.

‘How far to
Lavas
, Lethyne?’ Serenna spoke, using his first name which seemed to please him.

‘From
The Gates
, by the
Lights of Oudin
it is near enough a hundred leagues direct to
Lavas
.’ He spoke gently now for he was grateful for her seeming warmth. ‘We’ve travelled about two dozen leagues since then.’ He rubbed his chin and thought for a moment. ‘At this speed we could get there by nightfall, but we’ll see her long before that.’ At that very moment, the sailor in the lookout high up on the foremast gave a cry which, whilst not heard down on the deck was noticed, for it was accompanied by a hand signal which pointed out off the port bow.

‘Seems to me our lookout has spied something, the top of the mount I’ll wager.
Lavas
is sighted. By the gods we are travelling faster than I thought.’ Captain Tyne sounded quite excited. Both Serena and Rema looked hard but could see nothing. ‘You must remember that Smallbone up there can see over the horizon whilst we down here must wait a bit before sharing his view, but his eyes are the best and I do not doubt him.’ Tyne spoke almost graciously. Smig smirked once more and risking his captain’s wrath, commented.

‘Perhaps our guest would like to use your private steps Captain? He might see the mountain top from there? ’ He sensed Tyne stiffen, for no one was allowed to use his special steps. Smig smiled, for he was a very powerful man and feared no one, not even the Captain, and was bemused in the sudden human side of the man. He wondered if he’d pushed too far, but apparently not for Tyne relaxed and took up on his helmsman’s suggestion.

‘Use the steps behind you lad, and you may find the extra height will bring
Lavas
into view.’

Two paces behind the wheel stood the third mast. It was not as high as the fore or mizzen masts, and it carried a different type of sail, but it was just as solid as the other two. Built onto its forward side was a simple set of steps which allowed the captain to stand on a tiny platform about his own height above the deck and which gave a wide view of his ship’s deck and working crew, and a superior view to the horizon. There was a single handhold in the shape of an iron hoop, high above on the mast. Rema glanced at the captain who indicated with a nod that he was welcome to use it if he wanted. From the new vantage point Rema stared hard in the direction that Smallbone the lookout had indicated. He saw nothing at first but then in the trough of a wave he caught a glimpse of a pale mountain top, roughly pointed, and a paler more constant blue than the ocean which was tinged with green.

‘I see it Captain Tyne,’ he exclaimed. ‘I see the mount. That would be
Lavas
then!’  Tyne just nodded his head, for it was nothing new to him. He had approached
Lavas
a hundred times. It was exactly where he expected it to be. After gazing into the distance at their destination for a short time, the glare of the sun reflecting off the sea proved too much, and Rema looked down upon the
Scoria.
He realised just what a good vantage point the tiny platform afforded the Captain, for he could see almost all of the ship’s mid-deck and none of the fore deck, which was raked slightly up towards the bow, was hidden at all.

Immediately below him was the ship’s wheel and the map table in front of it. It was quite a high table with built up sides and a fold back top at either end which allowed the maps to be locked away and protected from the weather. Rema was impressed at just how clearly he could see the map from the tiny platform. He also realised that the map lying open before the helmsman was one like Tyne had given Serenna for him to look at, except it had far more detail of the coast and ocean. Red lines marked passages between ports, and notes were scribbled in places, supposedly to assist in tricky navigation. The land mass of Revelyn was shaded lightly and from his ‘bird’s eye’ view he felt that he was almost flying over it. Suddenly he realised what he knew in an instant he’d always known. It came in a flash of recognition. There it was, the
eagle’s eye.
The place which the Prophecy mentioned and which even the mighty
Wisden
could not work out.
Of course
he thought,
how did I miss it? I’ve always known.
Without thinking he gave voice to his thoughts. ‘Of course!’ he exclaimed.

By chance Captain Tyne looked up at that very moment and noticed the look of satisfaction on Rema’s face, and heard his cry. He also realised that Rema was staring at the map of Revelyn and was immediately curious.

‘So lad, you’ve recognised something. Care to share it with us?’ Rema was about to excitedly explain his discovery, when the thought came to him that this part of the prophecy would be most valuable to his enemies, and Tyne was not yet to be trusted. No one was to be trusted. He hesitated, thinking fast.

‘Just an idea Captain, that’s all; something which might be of use to me in the days ahead.’ He tried to sound casual about it all, but he knew immediately that Tyne was not convinced, and he was not the sort of man who liked to be thwarted, especially on his own ship where his word was law. Serenna looked up anxiously at him for she perceived something of his dilemma. Rema climbed down and stood on the rear deck with the others. An awkward silence fell upon them, but by some fortune other events intervened which diverted all their attention to more immediate matters, for Smig the helmsman had allowed himself a little too much latitude in his observance of Tyne’s improved demeanour and did not realise that the ship had slewed slightly off course, and suddenly the wave started to turn them hard to port, and dangerously beam-on to the crest upon which they surfed.

‘Smig hard starboard, we’re broaching.’ Tyne had realised the danger in an instant and gave the order, grabbing the wheel instinctively. Together the two men fought the ship and the sea, for the wave had grabbed the huge hull and had started to swing her around. Only the tiny rudder could bring her back on course, and keep her running before the wind, but the force on the wheel was immense.

 Slowly, despite all their efforts Smig and Tyne found they could not hold her, and the ship began to broach. Rema jumped to the wheel and added his considerable strength to the battle. The rudder held and the ship skidded ungainly on her side for a moment, the masts leaning further and further over. Serenna suddenly screamed for she had seen Smallbone high up in his lookout fall from the platform. The three men at the wheel looked up and saw him fall. His fate was sealed. Had he fallen from an upright ship he would have hit the deck and been killed in an instant. With the ship heeled over he would miss the boat completely and land in the sea, but there would be no way the ship could stop for she was almost out of control. Nor would they find him again for he would be swept astern and lost to view immediately. The rest of the crew were all holding on for dear life as the
Scoria
heeled over even further, and could do nothing.

And then by luck or some mystical intervention beyond understanding, the ship shuddered to starboard just enough for one of the lower booms on the foremast to pivot around the mast toward the stern. In so doing the sail it carried passed beneath the falling sailor and he hit it hard enough to bounce clear out into space once more, but now back towards the ship where the waiting hands of the massive Scion grabbed him and held him fast. It was all over in an instant, from certain death to life. No one had any time to cheer or react for the ship was in the gravest danger.

‘Hold fast men,’ Tyne hissed to Smig and Rema, ‘give all you’ve got now or we are lost.’

The ship suddenly fell on its side and one boom on the mizzen speared into the water, its sail suddenly filled with water and swung the ship back on course. As she righted herself she managed by some marvellous luck to hold her course and continuing the surfing. In a moment she was upright and running downwind like a gracious lady of the sea, all thoughts of catastrophe blown well away.

Tyne and Rema fell to the deck exhausted and breathing hard. Smig maintained his station, but now with a ferocity of focus which spoke volumes for the embarrassment he felt at almost broaching the vessel.

‘That was fun,’ said Serenna in a nervous humour. Tyne gathered himself and stood up. He glowered at the helmsman who braced himself for a tirade of well deserved abuse. Surprisingly the captain composed himself; he turned away and looked straight ahead.

‘No harm done Smig,’ he said almost civilly, although the hard edge to his voice was clear enough, ‘but I think you should talk with Smallbone later and explain just what happened. I think he deserves an explanation.’ He turned to Rema. ‘I thank you for your assistance lad for without it we would not have held her. As it was we came as close as it is possible to go and not wind up a total shipwreck.’ Tyne paused and then continued in a rather awed voice...’and yet we are still surfing on the same wave. By the gods this is unheard of.’ And with that he stood and stared off into the distance, once more the captain in command of his ship. Rema and Serenna felt they had been dismissed and as they left the rear deck  Captain Lethyne Tyne did not so much as glance at them, although Rema, feeling emboldened by his actions, turned and spoke from the top of the steps.

‘Captain, I am happy to address you as such, for this is your ship and you deserve that respect. I however am no
lad
, as you seem to like to call me. Perhaps you could remember this.’ He did not wait for a reply.

Tyne heard, but did not comment directly. However he whispered loudly as Rema’s back disappeared down to the mid-deck. ‘No lad eh! Well that remains to be seen.’

They chatted briefly with Scion who was consoling a much shaken Smallbone before heading below once more.

‘Next time you suggest we go and see what the Captain has planned I think I’ll stay in my cabin,’ chided Serenna once they were comfortably ensconced in their tiny cabin.

‘Who’s afraid of a little capsize!’ Rema mimicked in his best imitation of her, and they both laughed until they were breathless.

 ‘So what did you discover?’ Serenna asked when they regained some composure and were seated once more on their tiny bunks, and braced against the unpredictable motion of a ship running fast downwind.  ‘You surely had Tyne curious and I could see it was something important.’ Rema nodded seriously.

‘You know, I was about to tell you both, but suddenly I knew I had to keep it from Tyne. I know he’s helped us, even saved us, at some risk to himself, but I still am not sure about where he stands, even what he stands for in the end.  If it comes to it, I feel he will choose what’s best for him and the
Scoria
...and I can’t really blame him for that.’ He shrugged, ‘So that’s why I wouldn’t say. I know it upset him, but we have to be careful Serenna. I’m not sure who to trust, apart from you.’ She nodded in agreement.

‘You’re right. I wouldn’t be saying anything much to anyone just yet; but what was it you realised? Come on Rema this anticipation is killing me.’ He looked at her in excitement, for he was dying to share what he knew.

‘Give me the map,’ he commanded. She did so and he laid it out on the cabin floor once more. ‘Right, now stand on your bunk, get as high as you can.’ Serenna did so with some difficulty for the ship was moving endlessly and bracing herself was difficult. Finally she was able to look down upon the map from as far above as was possible in the confines of the cabin.

‘Alright, what am I looking for?’ she asked, with a frown of concentration.

‘Can you see what Revelyn looks like, the whole land mass I mean? What sort of shape does it look like?’ Serenna squinted and looked hard, but said nothing. Rema felt frustration, for he had seen it straight away.

‘I used to argue with Goodman Cantor about this. He couldn’t see it but I always could.’ Serenna just shook her head.

‘Sorry Rema, I can’t see it... hang on... yes,’ she half closed her eyes, ‘I see it, it’s an eagle! And eagle’s head...sort of!’ Rema punched the air enthusiastically.

‘Yes, it is; the beak is here,’ and he traced out the line, ‘and the eye, can you see the eye?’ Serenna got down and put her finger on it. The Eastern Upthrust. The
eagle’s eye.
You have to imagine a bit, but I can see it now.’

‘Remind me to get you to show Goodman Cantor one day,’ laughed Rema, ‘for no matter how I pointed it out he could never see it. I am amazed I didn’t think of it, but my first interpretation of the prophecy was for something far more serious than finding a shape in a map. This is like seeing figures in the clouds. It’s so simple I missed it.’

‘And maybe it’s another confirmation of your place in all this.’ Serenna whispered quietly. ‘The
Wisden,
for all their learning never discovered it, but you knew it all along.’ She looked up at him and in that moment, as their eyes met, Rema Bowman knew she was right. He nodded. They sat for a moment and looked quietly at the map, before Rema broke the silence in a far more serious tone.