by Chris Ward
Harbourmaster Grech, search the Scoria. Two traitors suspected on board. A woman Serenna Menin red hair. A man Rema Bowman. Wanted for treason and murder. Report immediately.
Captain Lukas of the Night Guard. Commander in chief.
Grech smiled broadly. He could see the Scoria some distance offshore, waiting his inspection. He knew the captain. Lethyne Tyne was all Geddy Grech aspired to be. He was a legend to the seafarers of Revelyn; a hard man who knew no fear, who ruled his crew with an iron fist. His ship was sleek and fast, and his seamanship without equal. All this made Geddy Grech hate him with a passion borne of a long and deep jealousy. And today Captain Tyne had fallen into his hands. Geddy Grech rubbed his hands together in satisfaction and anticipation, then finished his dressing, ensuring that the uniform, which was his own design and brightly brocaded, was impeccable in its presentation. Every crease and fold was perfect. The white breeches were without blemish and the boots brightly polished. A silk handkerchief poked a little too ostentatiously from a coat pocket, for only the rich and powerful in Revelyn could afford such accessories. The only dark cloud on Grech’s triumphant horizon was the fact the he had to travel out to the Scoria. This meant being on the water, and even a short trip by rowboat was enough to turn him green; but today he prided himself on facing any danger to achieve his goal; the capture of two traitors for his King, and the humiliation and imprisonment of Lethyne Tyne with the consequent confiscation of the famous Scoria. For this he was prepared to face the water. He pulled on his smart cap, left the office, and walked down the cliff steps to the quay below where his private vessel waited, complete with three pairs of oarsmen and the same number of soldiers.
‘Ready men!’ He loved to have them stand to attention as he climbed aboard.
‘Ready sira!’ The large and long suffering crew leader had the boat slicing through the waters toward the distant Scoria in no time at all. Geddy Grech sat like at statue in the stern in his specially built high-seat which added substantially to his height, and gave him a view, for without it he would have found surveying his watery kingdom somewhat of a challenge. Unfortunately the waters were not smooth with the current against the tide, and before the crew had completed a dozen oar strokes, Geddy Grech was starting to feel distinctly nauseous.
Captain Lethyne Tyne stood on the rear deck of the Scoria waiting impatiently for his two guests to appear. He’d sent Wormwood for them as a matter of urgency, but that seemed an age ago, and every moment counted. He’d suspected that the ship might be checked, it was routine for most shipping before leaving Revelyn, but the flag station up river had signalled to him as they past just after sunrise that the Scoria was to be officially searched. This could only mean one thing. He was suspected of carrying a suspicious cargo. It was anyone’s guess as to why he’d been singled out, but with the two fugitives aboard he couldn’t take any chances. His whole livelihood depended on passing inspection. The lowlife Grech had been looking for a reason to destroy him for years, and if the woman and man were found on board, all hope of future work in Revelyn would disappear. Tyne knew he could escape, for his crew would stand by him, but that was a last resort. He needed the trade, and starting again in some far distant land was not something which appealed.
He had anchored the ship as far out as he dared in the river, not quite in the main channel, but almost. He wanted it rough for the mean little harbourmaster. The sicker he was the better. Everyone who had anything to do with shipping on the Luminos River knew that harbourmaster Grech couldn’t abide anything under his feet which wasn’t solid rock, and Captain Lethyne Tyne knew that any official inspection of the Scoria would involve the harbourmaster. It had been that way for years.
‘Finally!’ he growled as Serenna and Rema appeared on the lower mid-deck. They stood looking up at him, which he liked. He put all thoughts of his recent disastrous evening with Lady Serenna out of his mind. This was purely about his survival, nothing more.
‘We are to be inspected by the harbourmaster.’ Tyne began. Serenna and Rema listened with growing concern. ‘My belief is that a message has been sent that we might be carrying fugitives. The harbourmaster Grech is a malevolent wretch and has been after me for years. It’s a long story but we need to pass inspection for the sake of this ship and crew.’
‘And us!’ Serenna felt obliged to interject.
‘Obviously!’ Tyne retorted. ‘Now the ship will be thoroughly searched. Grech will ensure that, so we have to make you two disappear. I have a plan, but I hope that you both aren’t afraid of heights.’ Secretly Tyne hoped they were, and so was somewhat disappointed when his two guests looked at each other and smiled, before replying in unison.
‘No problem Captain.’ He hid his disappointment.
‘Right, well we have very little time. There is a small lookout platform on each of the two forward masts. The sides are not high but if you keep low you won’t be seen. Lady Serenna you take the foremast and you Bowman the middle mast. Don’t come down till I call out. There will be some movement up that high so if you are sick, do it quietly. Now off you go, get up there and wait. Do not look. They will have men crawling all over the place. Wait for me to call. Is that understood?’
Understood captain,’ Rema tried to sound enthusiastic but failed. Serenna just nodded.
‘Go on then!’ thundered Tyne, ‘they will be upon us at any moment.’
Serenna and Rema obeyed, realising just how agitated the Captain was. As they started their climb up the rigging to the tiny platforms high above, the loud and authoritative voice of the captain came clearly once more to their ears.
‘Wormwood, get Smallbone and report to me. I have a job for you both and I want it done immediately.’ He then turned and looked nervously back to the shore. It was going to be close.
Geddy Grech was feeling awful. He cursed himself that his stomach was so weak. He knew that his men were aware of his plight and were most probably laughing at him despite their very straight faces and hard work on the oars. He just knew. In the distance the Scoria sat like some unachievable goal. He gritted his teeth and stared longingly at it; he focused on the one thing that would bring him satisfaction. Today he would have the upper hand. Today he would show that superior Captain Tyne what authority and power was all about. Today.
Geddy Grech may have been small, and cursed with no sea legs at all, but nature had gifted him with exceptionally good vision. So good was his eyesight that he had often surprised his men by stating the arrival of a ship from far across the bay well before anyone else could discern it, and then he would give its name from his vast memory of all the ships which had ever come past his petty kingdom. Oh yes, Geddy Grech was a real eagle-eye. And so he saw as they approached the Scoria, what those with him did not, the two tiny figures climbing the rigging and disappearing onto the high observation cradles. He watched carefully, thinking they might be sailors sent aloft to tie off a rope, or fix some problem, but no, they remained hidden, and Geddy Grech felt a warm glow spread through his tortured torso.
‘Got you Tyne,’ he whispered softly to himself, ‘you’ll not wriggle out of this one. I’ll play it out to the end. This will be lovely. Oh yes this will be so fine.’ And he smiled so broadly that several of his crew looked at each other and shrugged, as if to say, now what’s he so happy about, and on the water and all?
Captain Tyne hated having officials on his ship, and Geddy Grech most of all. He welcomed him through clenched teeth.
‘Harbourmaster. Welcome aboard once more. I trust that your visit is simply routine, for we have nothing to hide as you will see.’
‘Oh we will see Captain Tyne.’ Grech spoke with an oily magnificence which only he found attractive. He turned to the six soldiers and three sailors who had followed him up the rough rope ladder.
‘Men we have authority to search this ship, on the King’s orders. We are looking for two fugitives, wanted for treason and murder. A woman, a red head, and a man by the name of Bowman. You will search the ship
and any resistance or lack of co-operation by any of the crew will be reported to me, in which case the ship will be delayed indefinitely and whatever consequences will follow as I decide. Off you go then. I will wait here with the captain and supervise.’ He waved a hand rather theatrically and his men left. He turned to Captain Tyne.
‘I suppose it only fair to allow you to speak of what you know of these two. If they are aboard it will be a serious crime, but if you hand them over we will of course take this into consideration when considering any punishment.’ He was not expecting the captain’s reply.
‘You can go to hell little man,’ growled Tyne, ‘You can search the ship all you like. You will not find any traitors on board, much less a red-headed woman.’ He stumped to the rail and spat ferociously into the water. Grech was not put out however, for he had dealt with Tyne on many occasions and knew his temper.
‘Well it won’t take long Captain and then we can all have a good laugh, although I expect I will be laughing loudest.’ At that moment the ship lurched as a large swell coming over the bar knocked the Scoria roughly on the beam. All the seamen on board reacted instinctively but it caught Geddy Grech by surprise, and he stumbled and fell heavily, sliding a few paces along the deck in such a fashion that he was immediately overcome by a powerful need to retch, which he did in spectacular fashion just moments after he managed to stand and stumble to the rail. After that the two enemies ignored each other rather pointedly, although Grech could not help but notice the nervous manner in which Captain Tyne looked aloft every now and then.
You are really worried Tyne. I bet you are shaking in your boots. Laugh at me for my lack of sea legs will you. Just you wait! He enjoyed the process, knowing that he held all the right cards and would lay them on the deck, quite literally, at just the right time.
When the sun reached the noon, almost all of his men had returned and reported nothing at all. They had looked in every cabin, every hiding place, and the main cargo spaces, from the keel to the main deck. Nothing at all. Grech feigned frustration, and sent them off again. He wanted Tyne to think that he was desperate, and staring humiliation in the face. As the day dragged on Tyne relaxed, but still risked those giveaway glances aloft.
You fool Tyne, you think you are so in control and yet you are giving them to me! Geddy Grech was enjoying himself immensely, and he had only visited the rail to relieve his tortured stomach twice more. It was a good day; and it was going to be much better before it was over. Finally his men reported that they had searched everywhere several times and the ship was clean, only crew on board. Tyne now stood proudly at the wheel, and smiled condescendingly at the harbourmaster. Grech shifted uncomfortably and questioned his men to the point of being ridiculous, until Captain Tyne could take it no longer.
‘Harbourmaster Grech I think we all know that you have found nothing. Stop berating your men, apologise for the trouble you have caused me and leave. I’ll even promise not to laugh. Just having you off my ship will be pleasure enough.’ Tyne tried hard not to growl but failed.
‘Well,’ said Grech slowly, shaking his head in apparent disappointment ‘I was sure we had you Captain Tyne but it looks like my men have searched thoroughly...’
‘They have indeed,’ Tyne interrupted sarcastically, ‘and a fine bunch of searchers they are, but as we can see they have found nothing. Let’s call an end to it. I’m sure the weather is worsening and your good self should be safe ashore where you’ll come to no harm.’
Grech bristled at this condescension, and closed in for the kill.
‘Of course we have not looked everywhere have we captain?’ He let the statement hang in the air for just the right amount of time before continuing. ‘My men did all that was expected of them, but to a man they don’t like heights.’ And with this he deliberately stared up into the mess of ropes and rigging which rose high above them. Turning back suddenly he saw the look of horror on Captain Tyne’s face. He leered triumphantly. ‘You are a fool captain. You think I am the fool, but no it is you. I saw those two climbing up there as we were rowing out here. I’ve known all along. And you! You can’t help yourself, looking up here all the time. You might as well have held out a sign.’
Captain Lethyne Tyne was speechless.
‘So do I need to send the soldiers up or will you at least do the decent thing and order them down. I think the last laugh is for me captain. What do you say?’ And with that he flourished his silk handkerchief triumphantly in a manner that spoke only of his great contempt for his crestfallen and hapless opponent.
‘I think there has been some misunderstanding,’ Tyne stammered.
‘On the contrary Captain there has been a great understanding. You knew exactly what you were doing. You gambled and you lost. To a superior opponent that is all. Now bring them down, for I weary of this game. It is over!’ His voice had become officious and meanly gleeful. ‘Now Captain!’
Captain Tyne took a deep breath and in a loud voice called aloft. ‘You have been discovered you two. You had better come down. There is no place to go. I am sorry.’ And with that he turned and went to the rail and waited. Geddy Grech would not look up. He wanted to savour the downfall of the great Captain Tyne. He watched the captain even as two figures appeared high up and began the climb back to the deck. He noticed the slump of the mighty shoulders and the clear look of worry which creased the weather beaten face. And he enjoyed it all immensely. And then he was taken completely by surprise when all of a sudden the Captain’s visage suddenly brightened.
‘Look Grech, here they come. You should at least be watching as these villains come before you!’
Perplexed, Grech turned and looked aloft. The two hideaways were halfway down and immediately he saw that these were not the two fugitives. His keen eyesight picked that out in an instant. They were just sailors, two of the crew. He flew into a huge rage.
‘Who are these men Tyne? What were they doing skulking up there?’ You have tricked me Tyne. Explain yourself. Do it now!’
‘Well,’ the captain spoke in a rather condescending fashion as he scratched his head theatrically in feigned confusion, ‘I had no idea what all the fuss was about. But these two sailors of mine, Wormwood and Smallbone. They were involved in a rather rowdy tavern brawl several days ago in Ramos. Lots of damage, lost teeth, broken glass, damaged pride, that sort of thing. Happens all the time for those who spend their life at sea. Anyhow they came to me when we heard that the Scoria was to be searched. They were worried about a warrant being put out for their arrest. Pure speculation of course, but they couldn’t face being hauled off the ship. It was my idea to send them aloft. I figured there was no harm in it, and beside you weren’t after them, in any case; and the ones you were looking for are not on the ship, like I told you. I guess you just made a mistake Grech. Like I said a misunderstanding all round. Now if you don’t mind I have a passage to make and want to be across the bar as the tide turns.’
And with that Captain Lethyne Tyne dismissed him and started giving orders to his crew at such a rate that the ship began to come to life around the visiting party. Grech was suddenly consumed with fear that he’d be caught at sea, and this brought on a final episode of retching over the side. His men helped him back to the row boat without another word, of which in any case he now incapable. Geddy Grech disappeared back toward shore as the Scoria lifted her anchor and made ready to cross the bar and sail out into the bay and then to freedom on the waiting ocean.
As the ship started to move and feel the swells coming across the bar, so different to the flat and turgid water of the Luminos River, and as the helmsman took her in hand, Captain Tyne went to the stern, and placing two huge hands well splayed on the solid rail, cried out in a booming voice...
‘And don’t ever come back you pathetic little man. I’m laughing at you, do you hear me. I’m laughing at you Geddy Grech.’ And he stood there for a time with a broad smile on his happy face, and in truth he was a man transformed, for once he smelt the ocean he became t
he sailor of legend, of fame and fortune, no longer the sombre and morose mariner trapped between the ever present banks of a captive river.
Geddy Grech heard his cry, faint though it was, for the wind carried it to him, and he cringed in humiliation, and vowed in the darkest anger that one day, one day he would destroy that man Tyne. It was at that moment that one of the soldiers spoke up.
‘I don’t suppose they were up there as well? I mean we never thought to look did we?’ Grech pretended not to hear, but he knew; he knew that was what had happened. He’d fallen for it. Such a simple ruse, and he’d come so close but failed at the last moment, distracted by his pride and anger. He felt the pain of it then like nothing he’d ever felt before. He said not a word, but he knew that in the days ahead it would eat away at him like a festering boil on his backside.
The Scoria was well out into the bay knifing easily through the gentle swells when Captain Tyne sent word for his two guests to come down from their cold and cramped hiding places. He accepted their thanks with a shrug and sent them below to get warm and well fed. He sent word to Wormwood and Smallbone that they would be issued with an extra mug of rum at sunset. And then he stood on the deck of his lovely ship and felt the life in her, and breathed easy with the wind in his face and the memory of a battle well won.
Chapter 11
Rema stretched once more to ease his aching limbs. The previous day hiding high above the deck in the small and cramped lookout for what seemed like endless hours, had taken its toll. His neck ached ferociously; recently damaged by the Wolver’s sword it had fared badly in the ordeal. Both he and Serenna had slept well but woken stiff and sore. They were surprised when they came on deck just after sunrise to find that the land was well behind them, no more than a smudge low down on the western horizon. Scion was at the helm and he informed them that they had crossed the Royal Waters with a favourable wind and passed out of The Gates between the famous Lights of Oudin just after midnight with the tide running strongly with them. Captain Tyne had been on deck till shortly before sunrise and had driven the ship hard.
