The Reckoning wheels hard about, tacking into the squall. Rhyll orders some hands, "Look alive! Hurry up with those lines!"
Across the darkened and rain-slicked ship, hands hurriedly begin emerging from belowdecks, looking quizzically about for orders from the officers. Some were stone asleep, some hung over.
Baj moves to the railing, a coiled line in hand, yelling to the men coming up on deck, "Man overboard, port side! Man overboard, port side! Man your stations!"
Crewmen begin tossing additional life-lines into the water as the ship wheels to port. Revas stands at the helm. Deeshon fell port astern, and the tiny shape of the mizzentop bobs fitfully there, barely visible, some ten yards out and receding into the darkness.
Rhyll says, "Don't lose them, Revas. Keep them in sight!"
Revas calls back, "Cap'n, sar, she's answerin' sluggish, sar!"
Rhyll glances up to access the damage. The mizzenmast, the aftmost of the ship's three masts, has suffered serious damage in the strike. The top ten feet of the mast has been shorn clean off, and below that the rigging is fouled, the lines cluttered, a ten-foot strip of canvas tangling the stays.
Dacien surfaces and gathers his bearings, looking for any sign of his friend. He spots the floating shape of the mizzentop in the stormy waters and begins to kick for it.
Lifeline gripped in one hand, he paddles for Deeshon, who floats in the water a few yards off.
The ship's lookout clings to the mizzentop, stunned by the lightning and the fall. Behind Dacien, the shape of the Reckoning looms in the dark.
Dacien says, "Hang on, Dees! I'm comin' for ya!"
Vendig calls to Dacien, far off in the rainy dark, "That's it, lad, swim for it!"
Rhyll barks out orders, "Bring down that twisted canvas and straighten out those lines!"
Baj looks up to the shattered mast and calls out, "Mister Erris! Clear that rigging and set it aright!"
Erris makes the thumbs-up gesture and clambers through the rigging towards the damaged portion of the mast.
Izmeralda emerges on deck, hooded cloak drawn up against the storm. "Captain, is there trouble? Some of the men came and demanded that I go on deck..."
Rhyll spares Izmeralda a brief look. "Aye a bit of trouble. Best you be below, but if you do remain topside make sure you grab hold of something stout." He turns back to the business at hand.
Izmeralda takes hold of the capstan near Rhyll.
Benning reaches his hands out and mutters a short prayer. A cloud of light issues from his hands and shines like daylight down on Dacien and Deeshon.
Rhyll calls out, "There they are boys, haul them in. Good work, Mister Benning!"
Baj calls out heading changes as the Reckoning closes on the men in the water, "Two more points to port, Mister Revas!"
Lurching through the waves, Dacien grabs hold of the dazed Deeshon and loops the lifeline around him, "Haul us in! Haul us in!"
Deeshon is unconscious, his baggy clothes entangled in the mast, the mast afloat and keeping the young Tobon's head above water. Dacien supports him, gathering his breath, looking back at the ship as it wheels to port.
Ferlan, Farlan, Koster and Drarn all haul on Dacien's lifeline, drawing the two Tobon closer. Rhyll shouts, "Put your backs into it, boys!"
The shroud of canvas and mast tangled about Deeshon make it difficult for the team to haul. Dacien struggles to free Deeshon from the tangled rigging. His knife makes short work of the tangle, slicing the ropes. He kicks the remains of the mast away as the rope hauls them towards the Reckoning.
The two Tobon are hauled bodily from the water, Deeshon still unconscious, and dropped like fishes on the maindeck.
Dacien rolls Deeshon onto his side and begins to pound his back.
In the tops above, Erris works to untangle the rigging. Erris' saber flashes in the night as he slices the lines.
Rhyll bellows more orders, "Benning, see to the Tobon, and take your new assistant with you!"
Otho limps up to Rhyll, his leg still injured. He squints into the driving rain, watching Erris at work. "Y'called. sir?"Rhyll says, "Yes Mister Otho see if there is anything you can do to help secure the rest of that mizzen mast."
Otho says, gesturing to his newly sewn wound in his thigh, "Wi'this leg, sir?"
Rhyll says, "I don't expect you to climb up in this weather, if that's what your thinking, Mister Otho! Just see to it that they get things secured as best possible."
Otho shouts orders to Erris and his men in the tops.
Benning crouches over Deeshon, Talon at his side. He is about to reach out to the young Tobon when Deeshon takes a huge gasping breath and chokes. He sits up, coughing seawater, clutching at Dacien.
Dacien slaps Deeshon on the shoulder, "Welcome back, mate, thought we lost you for a second there!"
Deeshon shakes his head, choking, his voice weak. "Lost...me?--cough cough--Never!..".
Rhyll looks for Baj then shouts, "Mister Mirko, lets get these sheets down."
Baj says, "Aye, Captain!" He turns his attention to the men standing about the deck, "Alright, now! Get aloft and secure the rigging! Set the storm anchor and tie down all loose gear!"
Rhyll strides to the wheel and addresses Revas, "What do you think, old timer? Should we drop a storm anchor or do we ride her out?"
Revas rubs his face. "She's a simple squall, sar, an easy ride. She'll blow over come sunup, me old bones feel it."
Rhyll spares a smile for the man who taught him more about sailing and piloting a ship than he ever learned in the Academy. "Aye aye Mister Revas, as you say. Those old bones haven't steered us wrong yet."
The ship rolls on the tide, Revas's spidery arms spinning the wheel with an ease born of long practice.
Rhyll calls out, "Hold off on the sea anchor Mister Mirko, Mister Revas and myself have decided to ride this one out."
Baj nods to Rhyll and calls back to the crew, "Belay that! No storm anchor!"
Izmeralda says, clinging to the capstan, "We never encountered such a storm on the Swiftsure!"
"Aye, Mister Mirko, belay the anchor!" comes the call back from Kell.
Benning wraps Deeshon in a blanket and passes him a canteen filled with brandy. Dacien helps Deeshon to his feet, "Let's go grab us some dry clothes and a mug o' somthin' hot. Maybe we can get ol' Vendig to hand out a tot o' the rum to take the chill off, eh?"
Talon stands next to the healer, waiting to help in any way called for.
Battling the wind, the Reckoning maintains a rough course north by northeasts, which will no doubt add a few days to their travel time towards the Yandar Isles.
Revas tells Rhyll, "She's answerin' better now, sar. She'll protect us, she will." He raps the wood of the rail before him with his knuckles.
The sails secured or furled, the lines tied neatly away, the deck lashed down, the Reckoning sails into the dark of the storm.
Rhyll says to his first mate, "Mister Mirko, have Mister Vendig had out a cup of rum to each man as he comes off duty."
Baj nods, "Aye, Captain."
The Reckoning weathers a rough night, but her crew's long training and discipline serves them well, and they are grateful for the sweet rum that is doled out.
Revas insists on standing his watch all night, the old man clinging to the wheel, swearing and cursing enough to turn the air blue.
As dawn approaches, the storm relents, the last rainspouts sweeping the deck clean, the squall headed west for the Mazirin coastline. The sun peers over the misty eastern horizon. Revas blinks at Baj next to him, wiping his wet face. "Another fine mornin' at sea, eh, Baj Mirko?" He looks drained and exhausted.
Baj says, "Aye, Mister Revas, a fine morning it is. If you would like to retire to your cabin, I would gladly take the wheel."
The ship's been blown off course, in a northerly direction. Today looks calm, the formerly storm-tossed sea now smooth and green. A skilled navigator will take some time to get his bearings.
Revas cracks his knuckles and flexes his neck. "Codswallop, ya greenskinned lubber." He glares sidelong at his old comrade.
Baj chuckles, "I meant no offense, sir, merely that you might like an opportunity to review your charts before plotting a new course."
Aside from missing the top ten feet, the mizzenmast is in fine shape. The sails have been neatly furled back and tied away, thanks to Erris' work.
Revas nods. "Aye, that's more like it." He releases his grip on the wheel and crosses the deck to open a small waterproof cabinet where he keeps his charts. The old navigator busies himself with compass and sextant.
Baj takes hold of the wheel with a practiced hand, keeping the Reckoning on the course set by Revas.
Erris has taken Deeshon's post, riding out the storm in the crow's nest in the foremast. He dozes there, wrapped in an oiled blanket, peering out from time to time to keep watch on the horizon.
Dacien bounds up the ladder to the quarterdeck, apparently no worse for his briny adventure, "A good mornin' t'you all, sirs. All water barrels are filled and bunged tight. We lost a coupla barrels o' flour to water damage, but nothing that'll put us in a bind."
Deeshon is right behind Dacien, eager to resume his duties and looking no worse for wear.
Rhyll appears on deck, eager to assess the night's damage and see what can be salvaged.
Otho says, limping along besides Rhyll, "She'll hold up, sir. But we could make do with a spot of repair when we make port. We will be makin' port, won't we?"
Rhyll says, "Aye Mister Otho, we'll be stopping in the Yandars for supplies."
Otho says, "Port Arjuri, I think, sir, bestest place to get a new spar for the mast."
Rhyll nods to Otho and says, "Yes I'd have to agree."
Dacien pipes in with a chuckle, "Cabnor might disagree, sir."
Deeshon chuckles. "His prices are high, but he's not half bad for all that." He breaks off a moment, looking out at the horizon with his clear blue eyes.
Baj says, "Captain, we might want to consider a stop in Port Terval instead. Blind Ruzi has the finest canvas in the Isles and we are missing a bit of sail.""
Rhyll says, "I'll give it some thought Mister Mirko. Mister Mirko, a word please."
Deeshon, on the quarterdeck, and Erris, in the crows nest, call out at the same time, "Ship ahoy, sir!"
Deeshon points towards the port bow, and Erris is gesturing to the starboard bow.
Baj stands a bit taller at the wheel and scans the horizon across the bow.
Rhyll hurries up to the quarter deck and says, "Can we see any colors yet?"
Dacien grabs a spyglass from a seachest and hands it to Rhyll, "Here ya go, Cap'n."He taps Deeshon on the sholder, "Time t' get back t' work, mate. "The Tobon trot down the ladder to the main deck and head up into the rigging.
Rhyll scans the horizon for the ship.
The ship to starboard is closer, looming out of the dawn mist to the east. She sails no more than a league off. A squat shape, low in the water, a large big-bellied ship with a high prow and triangular sails marking her as a vessel of the Burning Kingdoms. Oars jut from her sides, and figures in black livery man her decks. She is surely a Molossan slaver, rare in these waters, but the ships of Molossa sometimes prowl here, looking for slaves to kidnap back to their Kingdom far across the Sunrise Sea.
Rhyll, still looking through the glass says, "She's a slaver, probably out of the Burning Kingdoms."
The ship to port is farther off, emerging from the line of dark stormclouds receding to the west. A ship much like your own, of similar size and bearing. As Rhyll watches through the spyglass, the ship raises a black flag, the skull unfurling in the morning breeze. Too small to be the Firewing, and too narrow to be the Two Moons, she can only be the Redstar, Captained by the raider Kelyess.
Rhyll turns the glass to the other ship and says, "And the Redstar I'd wager."
Baj says, "Captain? Your orders, sir?"
The slaver is headed east, into the Isles, while the Redstar is changing course to intercept her. With your current courses, she will cross your path before the sun is too much higher in the sky. But the Redstar seems too small to be much of a challenger for the distant slave ship.
The crew looks towards Rhyll, watchful.
Rhyll considers their current situation.
The Redstar, her sails dyed bright blood red, is hoisting signal flags. GREETINGS TO RECKONING. ASK YOU STAND TO AND PARLEY.
Deeshon says, "I think he wants to talk, sir!"
Rhyll turns to Baj and says, "Well it seems like we have an invitation to talk."
Rhyll says, "Let's see what they want, Mister Mirko."
Baj says, "Aye, Captain." He spins the wheel slowly to alter the Reckoning's course to meet the Redstar.
Baj says, "I would advise caution, sir. Captain Tyree never had much use for Kelyess."
Rhyll says, "Aye Mister Mirko, that we will." He calls to Candra, who stands nearby watching the Redstar, "Candra, make sure your troops are ready, I want to be prepared for anything out of the Redstar."
Candra, ever wary, makes sure her troops are armed. Erris climbs down from the crow's nest, nibbles a biscuit, and draws his saber, readying for possible battle.
The slave ship, her sweeps churning by the muscle power of captives, makes headway for the isles, the two pirate vessels paralleling her course but at a safe remove.
The Redstar, a graceful, sleek vessel of narrow lines, slices through the water towards the larger, more substantial Reckoning.
Rhyll points out Dacien working on the deck, "By the way Mister Mirko, there goes your new bosun. I think Dace has proven himself big enough for the job."
Baj smiles, "Aye, sir. I have a feeling he will grow even larger in the job."
Izmeralda climbs to the quarterdeck as well, quietly watching the other pirate ship approach. She asks Talon. "What is going on?"
Talon looks to the lady and bows then says, "Two ships, my lady, one a slaver and one another pirate ship called the Redstar from what the Captain has said. The Redstar has requested a parley."
A group of Reith and Urag are visible on the deck of the Redstar, and a dark-skinned man at their head. He raises a hand in greeting. "Ahoy, Reckoning!" The man's Marreith is heavily accented.
The ships approach closely now, first within bowshot, and now close enough to throw a rock across the gap. The Redstar's crew looks a desperate hard-bitten bunch. The Redstar is crewed by renegades from many lands: hulking Urag, nautical Sarries, strong Angharans, pale Tol Nedrans fled their homeland, men and warriors from the Burning Kingdoms in exotic clothing, many tattooed or painted.
Dacien joins the rank of sailors on the Reckoning's main deck, their discliplined stillness seeming almost military in comparison to the mob on the deck of the Redstar.
Kelyess calls to Rhyll, "I propose to come aboard, Captain Tyree! To parley with you!"
Rhyll calls back "Row over then and come aboard, And it's Captain Rhyll if you please."
Baj calls down to the main deck, "Mister Nettleburr! Prepare to recieve Captain Kelyess."
A small boat is lowered into the sea from the Redstar, and Kelyess and some of his hands pile into it. They swiftly cross the gap between the two pirate ships and wait alongside the Reckoning.
Some of the Urag on the Redstar point to Candra, and make lewd gestures to one another.
Dacien taps four crewmen to assist him and quickly lowers a sturdy rope ladder to the small boat.
Rhyll turns to Baj and says, "Shall we go meet our guests Mister Mirko?"
Baj nods, "Aye, Captain."
Kelyess and two of his Urag scramble nimbly up the rope ladder and swing over the rail on deck. Kelyess asks, "Your permission to come aboard, Captain?"
As Kelyess' foot touches the deck, Dacien brings a bosun's pipe to his lips and blows a fourish before sounding off, "Redstar, arriving!"
Rhyll steps down from the quarter deck with Baj following. He looks over to Kelyess and says, "Permission granted. To what do we owe the honor, Captain Kelyess?"
Kelyess offers a bow, hands touched to his forehead. The man is ebony skinned, his knuckles marked with tattoos, teeth filed, his upper arm branded with the mark of a slave. The two Urag at his side do the same. Rhyll gives a slight bow in response. Baj follows Rhyll's example and bows to their visitors.
Kelyess raises his head. "Captain Tyree is no more?"
Rhyll shakes his head. "He was lost. I am Captain of the Reckoning now."
Kelyess says, "A great pity. His reputation was valiant. I wish him well in his journey to his fathers. But with you, Captain Rhyll, I propose an alliance. That ship--" he points to the receding Molossan--" is a slave vessel, and I am the sworn foe of all slavers.
Rhyll nods his understanding and says, "Yes, go on."
"And you are Free Men, like us." Kelyess says.
Rhyll says, "Last time I checked, correct. So why should we attack this slaver, as I'm sure you are proposing...What profit to us?""
Kelyess says, "I propose to send her to the bottom, and to split the spoils evenly between your crew and mine."
Rhyll says, "And what spoils would that be--slaves?"
Kelyess says, "Whatever the Powers see fit to grant us, Captain Rhyll."
Rhyll says, "You ask a lot, for perhaps not much return. What say you to this-- we split the crew, as you say, fifty-fifty. But the contents of the Captain's cabin we split seventy-thirty."
Kelyess considers, rubbing his cheek. "Done." He offers a forearm grasp in the pirate style.
Rhyll grins then takes the man's arm and shakes. "May the Powers make this venture profitable for our souls and our pockets."
Without another word, Kelyess and his Urag offer another bow, then turn and sidle back down the rope ladder to their small boat.
Baj grins as the Redstar pirates depart, "An excellent negotiation, Captain."
Dacien holds the bosun's pipe to his lips, again sounding a flourish, "Redstar, departing!"