The last man-sized bundle seems so small as it's dropped over the side. It sinks into the green sea, ballast pulling it deep into the green translucent water in the ship's wake.
The Swiftsure sank quickly, sending most of its treasure to the bottom before it could be borne across to the Reckoning. Though the entire crew of the Swiftsure and many aboard the Reckoning were killed, the ship itself was largely untouched, a testament to the skill of her crew.
This is the last bundle dropped overboard. Twenty men lost in the attack by the Dragha, twenty weighted bundles dropped over the side, then trailing behind and sinking as the Reckoning sails west. And Tyree the very last.
Benning mutters a last imprecation to Ardis and hangs his head in even deeper sorrow than usual.
The warm night has come on quickly, as it often does in these waters, and the ship tracks the night breeze, the moons rising swiftly and shining down on the Reckoning.
Baj moves to the fantail and stands at the rail, staring down at the dark water astern, lost in thought.
Rhyll steps up beside Baj, grips the rail and looks up at the stars. "Things change so quickly sometimes. I can't believe he's gone, Baj."
Baj nods and clears his throat before speaking softly, "Nor I, Rhyll. I was a slave when he took my master for ransom. He gave me the first taste of freedom I ever knew."
Rhyll punches the rail with his fist. "It's not fair, Baj, he had so much life in him."
Baj nods again, "That he did, that he did."
Dacien follows the rest of the crew as they disperse from the ceremony of burial, pausing to speak to Candra, "Thanks, Candra, fer pullin' me outta that mess."
Candra's expression is unreadable in the shadowed moonslight. "I had to. You owe me nine dragons. If you drowned, I'd never get it back."
Dacien smiles at Candra, "And don't think I forgot about it, missy."
Candra slaps Dacien on the shoulder in a comradely, gruff way, then turns to tend to her weapons.
Baj sighs deeply. "You bear a heavy load, friend. The crew will look to you now to take his place. Know that I will serve you as I served Tyree."
Baj speaks low, his words for Rhyll alone, "Take one word of advice, if I may offer it: Do not hesitate with these men. They look for a firm hand on the tiller, if you take my drift."
Revas calls from the helm, where he mans the wheel, "What're your orders, Mister Rhyll?"
Rhyll turns and looks at Revas, startled for a moment. Then he says, "Cup of brandy for each man, Mister Revas. We will toast our men and our Captain to their watery graves. Then back to work."
"First things first, boy," Vendig rumbles from the quarterdeck, booted foot on the brandy cask. The Vulkah cook appears all business and in deadly earnest, his voice ringing out over the deck. He hooks his thumb into his belt and glares at Rhyll. His other hand, with a hook attached, gestures out at the sea. "Tyree's swum to t'the Far Fields, and no finer pirate ever sailed these waters, but...We've an election t'tend to. A new Captain t'choose."
Drawing himself to his full height, Baj steps forward to address all those on deck, "As is my right, I nominate Rhyll for the job and cast my vote for him." Rhyll's name rings out across the deck as crewmen nod and take up the call. "Aye, Mister Rhyll!"
"Aye!" the cries echo across the deck. "A new Captain. Those are the rules!"
Baj's words sink in to Rhyll. He turns and nods to Baj, then turns back to Vulkah with a tired look and says, "I guess the dead can wait a bit." He gathers his strength then knowing this is no time to mourn yet. He looks from man to man ,taking their measure.
Dacien jumps up and calls out, "I second the nomination and cast my vote for Rhyll as well!"
"Mister Mirko, you take command, sir!" calls Deeshon, clinging to the mizzenmast. "Aye, let the Urag be Captain!" call scattered voices in reply to the lookout's nomination.
Out of all the men on board Baj is about the only one Rhyll would willingly follow. He nods to Baj smiles and says, "Age before beauty."
Baj looks to the masthead, a smile on his face, "Deeshon, you don't want me in charge, you'd never get a moment's rest!"
Vendig just scowls, arms folded.
The hands begin to jabber and argue about their new leadership.
Baj senses things getting out of control and steps up to the rail, his voice booming, "Order! Order, here! There is procedure to be followed and the nominees have the opportunity to speak."
Rhyll says, "Give your speech, friend."
Baj turns to Rhyll, a frown on his face, speaking quietly,"I do not want it to come to this, Rhyll. Let us see if we can turn this election downwind and get it to run true."
He turns back to face the crew and calls down, "Mister Vendig, as the senior member of the crew, you are in charge of maintaining order. Pick your deputies if you need them and quiet the crew so that the nominees may speak."
Vendig bellows, "Deputies I need not!" He turns to the crowd and roars, "This is a sacred time, you scum! Any man who's not quiet, I''ll cook up his liver and lights with onions fer me breakfast!"
The mob quiets with a collective gulp.
A voice speaks into the sudden quiet. "I nominate my own self!" Koster comes forward out of the crowd, smirking defiantly at those around him, hand on the haft of his dagger. "I've the right. Served Captain Tyree with my own blood." Some of Koster's cronies cheer, quietly.
Rhyll eyes Koster, "That you do, Mister Koster. You'll get a chance to say your piece like the rest of us."
Baj moves to face the crew, a stern look on his face, "Mister Vendig? I believe we have a third nominee."
Vendig folds his arms. "That's three. Any others?" There are none. He looks down at Koster. "Y're the last nominated, lad. Speak your piece." he says.
Baj moves to the rail and looks down on Koster, a faint smirk on his face, waiting for the man to speak.
Koster says, "Captain Tyree was like a father t'me, really. Told me once he thought I was the son he never had."
Howls of derision go up at these words. Koster senses he is losing them and continues, "You all know me. You'll get a square deal with me. Make me Captain, I'll run the ship by the Articles and make each one of you rich as King Lucard."
Dacien makes a loud rasping noise with his lips, "You'll have to make yourself twice as rich to pay us all back the money ye' borried from us!"
The crew laughs mockingly. Koster purples and glowers at the Tobon.
Vendig rolls his eyes at the scheming Koster and nods to Baj to speak.
Baj pauses a moment for the laughter to die down and then steps forward again, motioning with his hands for the crew to quiet.
Rhyll nods curtly to Koster then turns to hear Baj speak.
Baj says, "Shipmates, quiet, please." The Reckoning's crew go quiet and respectful.
Baj clears his throat loudly for attention, "Shipmates, I have served with you for many a journey since Captain Tyree pulled me from the life of a slave. He rescued many of you from lives that were worse than mine."
He pauses and looks around the deck, catching an eye here and there, nodding to crew members in recognition. "I am grateful for those of you who would give me your loyalty and trust. But if you trust me enough to think me worthy of being your Captain, then certainly you trust me enough to follow the man that I would follow to the very gates of the Far Fields. I followed Captain Tyree before and I will follow Captain Rhyll now."
All eyes swivel towards Rhyll. Torchlight and moonslight flicker over the deck.
Baj steps back and extends his hand to Rhyll, motioning for the man to step forward and claim the position of Captain.
Rhyll walks over to Baj and claps him on the back, then turns to look at the crew.
Rhyll says, "I came on booard the Reckoning when I was just a lad. After my Da got the chop, Cap'n Tyree took me on board and damn well raised me."
He laughs, "You men are my family, for good or worse. I guess I've done about every job on this ship and I've come to love her. When the Cap'n made me first it was the proudest day of my life. He told me, 'Treat her right boy, like the lady she is and she will never let you down.' I confess I've dreamed of taking command, but never like this. In those dreams Tyree was always old and happy."
The crew watches Rhyll, warming to his words.
Rhyll says, "And so, I swear to you all that if you make me your Captain I will always do all that is in my power to live up to the fine example Cap'n Tyree gave me. I will serve this ship and this crew with all I have and the Reckoning will be a force to contend with." He nods and steps back from the rail.
Vendig says to the crew, "How say you?"
Baj steps forward, "My vote for Captain Rhyll!"
Dacien shouts, "Rhyll for Captain!"
"Rhyll! Captain Rhyll!", cry Candra and Kell. Deeshon, Ferlan, and Farlan join in the general acclaim.
Koster and his cronies don't join in the cheering. Vendig waves quiets the crowd. "If you'll not hae Rhyll as Captain, then you're free t'go your way, lads."
Koster says, after a long thoughtful pause, and a sly sidelong glance at his companions, "We'll stay and serve Captain Rhyll."
Vendig nods, holding up his hand and hook. A snaggle-toothed grin crosses the old Vulkah's face. "It's settled. Captain Rhyll!"
Baj turns to his new Captain and extends a meaty hand, a sharp-toothed grin splitting his face, "Captain Rhyll, sir, what are your orders?"
Rhyll smiles then walks back to the rail and shouts, "Now how about that cup of brandy and a toast to the greatest free Cap'n to sail these seas, Cap'n Tyree!"
Rhyll turns and takes Baj's out stretched hand and shouts to the crowd, "And a toast to our new first mate, Baj the brave!"
Vendig grins and turns the spigot on the brandy cask, and the pirates crowd about eagerly for a cup of the sweet, burning liquor.
Goblets, flasks and cups are raised. "T'Captain Tyree! T'Captain Rhyll! T'Baj!"
Cup held high Rhyll calls out, "May the Triad see Captain Tyree and all that have fallen today to the Far Fields. May the seas tremble at the passing of a great man, may all pirates on every ship bow their heads in reverence!"
Vendig cheers, "So say we all!" The other pirates join in. "So say we all!"
Baj raises his cup, "To Captain Tyree, to Captain Rhyll, to the Reckoning!!!"
As cups are drained, Revas calls from the helm, in his usual charming manner, "Beggin' your high and mighty pardon, Captain, but what's our bloody course?"
Rhyll downs his brandy. "Revas, hoist the sheets! We head for Sarrik and our ransom!"
Revas replies, "Aye, sir, the course is Mazirin, towards the setting sun."
Baj turns and bellows up to the masthead, "Mister Deeshon! Keep an eye out for sails, we head for Mazirin and into the bluebellies' patrols." He tosses his cup to Vendig, "Great thanks for your service as elector, Mister Vendig, a smooth and bloodless job."
Vendig nods to Baj, not unkindly. He fills the Urag's cup himself with brandy and passes it back. "I always knew the lad would Captain his own one day, Baj. Just not so bloody soon." He served with Tyree longest and clearly misses him. "Rhyll's a good'un, and Tyree said so many times."
Baj nods to the old Vulkah, "He is that, Vendig. And he will be even better with the guidance of his elders."
Rhyll says, "When you have a moment, Mister Mirko, I'd like a word as well." Then he strolls off towards the wheel.
Baj nods pointedly to Vendig, "Aye, Captain, as you wish."
Baj moves to Rhyll's side at the wheel. "Sir?"
Rhyll says, "I owe you a lot Baj, my thanks. There are two pieces of business we need to attend to."
Baj nods and waits.
The wind kicks up, and Revas spins the wheel and tacks the vessel into the breeze. Clouds scud across the face of the twin moons as the ship sails on.
Rhyll says, "First we will need a new bosun, I would appreciate your recommendations. Second, we need to pay a little visit on our guest. Something there does not add up right and I'd like to find out what before we hit Mazirin."
Baj says, "You will have recommendations for the new bosun in your cabin by morning, sir. And I agree that something is afoul in that situation."
He steps forward and calls out, "Candra! A word, please? Dacien, come and see me as well."
Baj moves close to Rhyll, "Captain, sir? With your permission, I will have Candra gather a working party to move your effects into the Captains' Cabin."
Rhyll looks to Baj a pbit troubled by this prospect, then nods and says, "I suppose it's for the best."
Dacien stops his work faking line out on the deck and trots up to Baj near the wheel, "Yessir, Mister Mirko?"
Candra appears before Baj, ready for action as usual.
Baj nods and turns to Candra, "Pick three good men and move Captain Rhylls personal effects from his old cabin." He nods to Dacien, "I want you to pick two more men and move my gear into the First Mate's cabin. And make sure the Bosun's cabin is left clean, you'll be working for the one who moves into it."
Dacien nods, "Aye, Mister Mirko. I'll take care of your gear and the cabin personally."
Candra grunts orders to three chosen men, and the party gets busy moving personal effects to their new cabins.
Baj says, "No, Dacien, pick two men and supervise them closely. You need to learn to delegate."
Dacien looks at Baj oddly, "Delegate? Movin' a coupla your boxes and bags? Okay, Mister Mirko." He moves off among the crew and picks two of his mates to assist him in moving the new First Mate's gear.
Almira, in his long white robes, looms into view before Baj and Rhyll, a tall, painfully gaunt man. "I will continue my service to you as well, Captain Rhyll. I will miss Captain Tyree, but I would have you know, I did vote for you. I have found the journeys most rewarding, and today's encounter with the Dragha of great fascination. I have studied them in detail since I came to these lands."
Rhyll says, "My thanks, Mister Almira. Your service on the Reckoning is invaluable and I appreciate your support. But it seems rather odd to me that that a Dragha would attack us. What would you say the chances are it was a coinsidence?"
Almira looks down at Rhyll as if he has just sprouted a second nose. "Coincidence? There are no coincidences in the world of Aerryt, Captain. The Dragha clearly attacked for a reason." He seems to know what it is, too, but doesn't volunteer to tell you.
Rhyll says, "Would you care to chance a guess to why it attacked us, Master Almira?"
Almira looks with portent at Rhyll and Baj. "We were clearly chosen to send a message, Captain. It spoke of Aariidaaga." He continues, "It did not attack us. It attacked the Sarrik vessel, which it must have known by smell. We were merely the bystanders, and only spared because it chose us to deliver its message to whoever sent the Sarrik vessel. Possibly it thinks all we mammals serve the same master."
Rhyll says, "Are there wizards strong enough to make a Dragha do their bidding or do you think this was the work of the Dragha alone?"
Almira seems annoyed by the question. "No wizard is strong enough to bid a Dragha, my Captain."
Rhyll says, "Why would a Dragha be bothered by a Sarrik ship then?"
Almira shrugs. "The ship must have disturbed them in some way. And I say them, because there is definitely more than one Dragha involved." He says to Baj, "Is it true your people worship them as Powers?"
Baj shrugs. "I was raised in the house of a Sarrik noble. I worship the Triad."
Almira says, "Aaridaagaa was not who attacked the Sarrik vessel. This wyrm was too young and small to be Aariidaagaa himself."
Rhyll says, "What do you mean by that? Who then?"
Almira looks at his fingernails, then to Rhyll and Baj. "That remains to be seen. Aariidaagaa fought at the Battle of Aryemar. You have heard of that, surely?"
Rhyll says, "Of course, but if you would please refresh our memories?"
Baj nods gravely, "My youngs master's tutors read to him of it many times."
The Dhazir wizard sighs. "You of the Seven Kingdoms are so ignorant of your own history. The battle was the culmination of the Great Wrath, the final battle between the Selandri hosts and the Dragha and their allies. Over ten centuries past. Aariidaagaa is mentioned in the chronicles. So this wyrm from earlier cannot be him. Q.E.D."
Rhyll says, "Quite so, please continue."
The ship swings due west now, the seas becoming more choppy as the breeze piles up. It will be a sail of at least two days before you sight the coast.
Almira says, "I conjecture this is a servitor of the older Dragha, a herald of some kind in fealty to the older one."
Baj nods at the mage's words, "If this was only the messenger, I would not like to meet the master."
Almira says, turning away. "I find myself in concurrence, Mister Mirko. That would be most unpleasant."
Rhyll turns and looks into the wind, "Well, let's hope we've seen the end of him." Tired, with no time to mourn his losses, he pushes on.
Almira says, "But as you say, a piece of this puzzle is missing, and the girl will no doubt know more. I should be happy to put her to the question, my Captain."
Baj raises an eyebrow and looks to Rhyll.
Rhyll glances back, "If your skills are needed, Mister Almira, I will let you know. For now, she is precious cargo."
Almira bows in the style of his homeland. "As you wish." He drifts off, down the deck, in his weird solitary way.
Baj leans close to Rhyll and speaks into his ear, "By the way, I meant what I said, Cap'n. I will follow you straight into the Fires if you give the word. But if you endanger this ship and crew needlessly, I will break your back and toss you to the fish."
Rhyll turns to go below decks, "Care to share a brandy in my cabin, Mister Mirko? I know I can damn well use one."
Standing upright again, Baj nods, "It would be my pleasure, sir."
Rhyll nods and leads the way.