Mark’s meeting with Adalan ended when they heard a commotion on deck. Mark didn’t know what the Buldorian crewman on top of the main mast said. Mark suspected it was something like, “Sail ho, off the port bow,” judging by how Adalan and several crewmen rushed to the port side and looked forward. The captain called out, and moments later Allyr came running to hand Adalan a telescope.
Mark stood next to Adalan and joined the men staring over the sea. The captain said something in Buldorian to two of his officers, then turned to Mark.
“He’s spotted a Fuomi sloop.”
“Is there going to be trouble?” asked Mark. The image of another sea battle prompted lingering dread after they’d gotten this close to their destination.
“I doubt it, but we’ll proceed with caution. We outgun any Fuomi sloop, but they’re good seamen. There’s always the unknown. We don’t know what their orders are or if their captain is too aggressive. However, this may work to my advantage. I’m not enthused about sailing too close to Caedellium—given our shared history. It was a few years ago, but I’m sure the islanders still place Buldor just behind Narthon on their list of enemies.
“We’ll hoist a parley flag and see if they’ll stand off a few hundred yards. I’ll send one of my officers who speaks Suvalu out in a longboat to meet them halfway. If it works out, you and the others will then transfer to the Fuomi ship for the last part of the voyage, and I can stay clear of the Caedellium coast.”
The seas were moderate, with four-foot swells, and Mark wasn’t keen on a longboat-to-longboat transfer of the women and children. Still, it was Adalan’s ship, and Mark understood the caution. He went below to tell the others what was happening.
“I can’t swim,” said Heather, after Mark told her of the plan.
Mark stared for a moment. He was concerned about Alys and Onyla, but he hadn’t considered the adults. He cursed. “There’s no option, but I don’t think there will be a problem. We’re already going to be careful because of the children.”
Serwina dismissed the problems. “All three of us swim well, and the water is warm, so, at worst, if any of us go overboard we’ll just tread water until we can be picked up. I’m more concerned about transferring between two longboats. I’m tempted to want to swim between them instead.”
Swim, hell, thought Mark. It’ll be tricky enough to do it all the same way. Besides, Heather can’t swim, and I ain’t putting Maghen and Alys in the water. We should be able to lash the boats together and just step across.
“Well,” he said, “let’s keep that as an option, but I don’t think it’ll be necessary.”
Maghen hadn’t commented on the update. When Mark raised a questioning eyebrow at her, she shook her head. “Oh . . . I know you won’t put us in danger, so I’m not worried.”
Well, I’m glad one of us isn’t, thought Mark.
When the two ships were a mile apart, Adalan hoisted the parley flag, then reduced sail and turned 45 degrees.
Interesting, thought Mark. A white flag here signifies the offer to talk, same as on Earth. I wonder whether it’s something ingrained in us or simply that solid white has no distinguishing markings and is considered neutral?
When the two ships were just out of cannon range, the Fuomi ship changed course to parallel the Wicked Woman. Both ships reduced to the minimum sail required to maintain their relative positions. One of Adalan’s officers and six crewmen rowed to meet a similar number of Fuomi. The two longboats floated thirty or forty yards apart. Two men, one in each longboat, stood and gesticulated, presumably discussing the reason a Buldorian ship was in Caedellium waters. The Fuomi boat rowed back to the sloop. Mark saw a man climb up the netting onto the ship, then back down after a few minutes. Twenty minutes later, the Buldorian officer finished reporting to Adalan.
“They’ve agreed to take on a group of Caedelli whom we’re returning home,” said Adalan. “You can decide whether you want to correct that information with their captain or wait until you land on Caedellium. I figure you all either speak fluent Caedelli or good enough to fool a Fuomi.
“I think they were puzzled by why Buldorians would be transporting Caedelli home. If there’s any problem, you can always tell them you have important messages for Yozef Kolsko. That should eliminate any issues. Get your people ready, Kaldwel. I want to do this quickly and head back out of these waters.”
Mark hustled to the cabin. The women had everything packed and organized. He carried Alys and led them up onto the deck. Crewmen helped them and their possessions into the longboat, and they rowed out to meet the waiting Fuomi. Mark’s worries were unfounded. The transfer went quickly after the two boats were lashed together.
When the two longboats released their connection, Mark once again had the feeling of being cast away. Earth to Anyar. Tregallon to Nurburt. Frangel to Rumpas. Rustal to Sulako, Sulako to Buldor, and now, hopefully, the end coming—Caedellium.
While still approaching the Fuomi ship, Mark saw evidence of more discipline and attention to appearances than on the Buldorian ship: newer canvas, a wooden hull with fewer nicks, and the crew in uniforms.
Where the net hung down the hull, longboat crewmen pulled the boat tight against the ship. They let Mark and the boat’s officer pass Alys and Onyla to two crewmen who had interlaced their legs in the net to leave their arms free. They, in turn, handed the children on to more crew on the deck. Heather followed, then Serwina, and Maghen climbed the netting with the crewmen’s assistance. Allyr disdainfully waved off any help and scrambled up the net, followed by Mark.
Last to be passed up were their belongings. These were dropped into a pile, and the four adults and three children stood next to it, while the longboat was raised back onto the deck and fastened down. Shouts came from various directions, and the crew scrambled into the rigging and began setting full sail. Finally, a man wearing insignia that suggested an officer approached them, accompanied by three crewmen.
The man said something Mark assumed was in the Fuomi language. He didn’t understand a word and looked to Heather and Serwina. Both shook their heads. The man spoke again, with the same result.
“I’m afraid none of us speak whatever languages you were using,” said Mark, “but I speak Suvalu and Caedelli.”
“I’m Captain Maakon,” said the man in Suvalu, looking only at Mark. “Who are you, and tell me again why I’m taking you to Caedellium?”
“My name is Mark Kaldwel.” He indicated the others, as he introduced them. “This is my wife, Maghen, and our daughter, Alys. Here is Serwina Kardyl and her children Onyla and Allyr. Sitting on our possessions is Heather Chen. We’re Caedelli and appreciate your taking us on board and to the island.”
“How is it that a Caedelli speaks Suvalu? There are few enough people on this part of Anyar who speak the trade language, and I wouldn’t expect any Caedelli to know it.”
“That’s a long story, Captain, and one that is better left until we can speak with someone in authority on Caedellium.”
“And I suppose I’ll get same answer if I ask what are Caedelli doing riding in a Buldorian ship?”
“I’m afraid so, Captain, with apologies and no disrespect intended.”
“You’ll have to give me a little more information so I can decide where to take you. It will either be to our flotilla’s base, so you can be asked the same questions by our commander and his officers, or we can take you to Preddi City to be turned over to Caedelli authorities.”
Mark had hoped to reveal as little as possible, but he didn’t want to chance getting tied up in a military bureaucracy—he’d had enough of that on Earth.
“It’s vitally important that we get to the Caedelli authorities, Captain. I especially need to meet with Yozef Kolsko to give him an important message from the Buldorian leadership.”
“The Paramount?” said Captain Maakon, on hearing something unexpected. “What business do you have with the Paramount?”
Then he grunted. “Don’t tell me. It’s only for the Para
mount’s ears. Oh, well, I’ll let the Preddi hetman figure it out.”
Maakon called for a crewman, then told him something, and the man went below.
“Crewman Luminin will clear out a storage locker where you can put your belongings and keep the children. I don’t want them on deck. We’ll make straight for Preddi City and should arrive around mid-morning tomorrow. If you squeeze a little, I think all of you can lay out on the floor, but Luminin will see if we have a few extra hammocks.”
“I can hardly believe it, Mark,” said Maghen, when the Fuomi captain walked away. “After all these months and everything we went through, my mind is half afraid to accept that we’re actually going to do it—get to your Caedellium. Of course, now I wonder and worry what we’ll find there. From the maps you showed me, this is the end. There’s no place to go after this. That’s daunting if we find things on the island that make us not want to be there.”
He put an arm around her and pulled her tight against his side. “We’ve both talked to Serwina to get a sense of what we’ll find. The only problem is that she doesn’t know what changes have occurred during the islanders’ fight against the Narthani. Still, I’ve a good feeling that we’ll be able to find a place among the Caedelli. They have to have ranches, so I’ll be able to find work. It’ll be starting over again, but after what we’ve accomplished by getting here, I’ll never doubt we can’t deal with it.”
The four adults spent the remainder of the daylight hours taking turns being on deck and watching Alys and Onyla below deck. Allyr roamed the ship, freely inspecting every aspect of the Fuomi sloop. Within an hour, the crew had good-naturedly adopted him. Serwina had to all but drag him to their crowded cabin/closet when the last light of day faded.
A crewman brought them bread, dried meat, and water at twilight. It was the most uncomfortable night Mark’s family had spent on their long trek but also the shortest leg of the journey. Two hammocks were reserved for Serwina and Onyla in one and Maghen and Alys in the other. They accomplished elimination by using one of two semi-private alcoves on the deck and built into the aft hull. Which of the two they used depended on the direction of the wind. To overcome the awkwardness of using the “facility,” the three women took turns, themselves or helping a child, with Mark holding up a cloth screen, his back turned at the appropriate times. They managed to restrict their visits to once before sleep, once in the middle of the night, and in the morning, after Maghen draped their cloaks to provide more privacy.
At sunup the next morning, another crewman brought similar food as they’d eaten the previous night. An hour later, the lookout sighted land and sang out. Mark went to the forecastle, eager to finally see their destination. Maghen joined him minutes later, took one look at the distant coast, and went to relieve Serwina and Heather from watching Alys and Onyla below deck.
The two women reached the deck, and Serwina broke into tears when she saw land. Heather put an arm around her.
“I never thought I’d see home again,” Serwina said. “I gave up after the first year. After that, I only prayed for Allyr and Onyla, that I wouldn’t lose them entirely. Now that I’m here, I’m twisted. It’s a miracle to return, but I know my husband, Kort, was killed the night of the raid. He stayed behind to give the rest of us a chance to escape. He would have fought until they killed him, but I suppose there’s still a faint hope that somehow he survived.”
She paused as two crewmen passed by, then continued. “I keep forgetting that these men are Fuomi. On the last ship, I wondered every time I saw a Buldorian whether he might be the one who killed Kort.”
At first, Mark groped for something to say to comfort her, then settled for looking ahead.
“I’m sure the Preddi hetman will arrange for you to get to Seaborne Province, Serwina. It may take a few sixdays, but you will get home to the people you never expected to see again.”
She nodded and moved farther along the rail, deep in her own thoughts.
“Does she know that Adel Adalan was the leader of the raid?” asked Heather. “And it may well be that one or more of his crew killed her husband? Allyr told me he knows, but he hasn’t spoken of it to his mother.”
“I don’t know if Serwina is aware of that, and there’s no reason to ask her. What good would it do? And how about you? What are you feeling?”
“Scared. Hopeful. Lonely. Angry. Sad. Happy. You name it. Maybe not all at once, but I seem to cycle through every emotion and then repeat. I’m hoping it’s okay with you and Maghen that I stay fastened to your family. After being effectively alone for so long, I can’t imagine going back to not having someone I can be totally free with—at least occasionally.”
“Don’t worry about it. All three of us are in the same boat, as far as wondering what’s coming next. We’ll insist on staying near one another. A lot will depend on what happens when we meet this Yozef Kolsko. Despite what the Adalans told us, it may be too much to hope for that he’s another castaway. But who knows? After the last few years, I hesitate to say that anything is impossible.”
By mid-morning, they had coasts on both sides of the ship as they entered a bay. Another hour and a city appeared in the distance. Adalan’s estimate was only slightly off, and at mid-day they finished tying off on one of six long piers extending into the bay.
“These piers look new,” Mark said to Maakon. “Same with some of the buildings near the harbor and those two floating forts we passed.”
“No question the Caedelli are industrious,” said Maakon. “I’ve only been here a few months, but I understand that the islanders were on the bucolic side before the Narthani came. The war changed all that. Now, they act like they expect the Narthani back any time, and they’re making every effort to get ready. I’ve seen one of their army exercises, and it’s impressive. I don’t know if it’s true, but I’ve heard it said that in case of another invasion, they can put almost three hundred thousand armed people in the field, including tens of thousands of women. Many of those people may not be the best trained, but after what they did to a Narthani army, I wouldn’t want to bet against them. The one thing they lack is a navy. They’re just building their first sloop, and we’re helping train the men who will crew the ship.”
“Do they intend to develop a big enough navy to defend against another invasion?” Mark asked. He was thinking about European history and how, from the sixteenth century on, most of the best navies were of nations with strong maritime fleets and extensive trading economies. With Caedellium being relatively remote, he felt skeptical about what the island could support.
“I doubt it,” said Maakon. “My impression is they plan on being such a nasty target on land that the Narthani leave them alone. Personally, I think that strategy might work for a while, but if the Narthani conquer Landolin, they might then return to Caedellium, if only to erase the shame of being driven off by the islanders. It would be even worse for the Caedelli if the Iraquiniks also fell to Narthon, but who knows? Such things might never happen or could be too many years away to think about.”
At that moment, Maghen appeared from below deck, followed by the rest of their “Caedelli” party and crewmen who helped carry their belongings.
“Ah, here we go, Kaldwel. I’ll turn you people over to the harbor master, and he’ll probably take you to the hetman.”
Ten Miles West of Preddi City, Preddi Province, Island of Caedellium
Balwis Preddi was having a good day, according to his criterion that he wasn’t attending meetings or doing paperwork. This day seemed especially good with the weather a perfect temperature and only a few clouds in the sky. He sat on a horse he’d ridden nine miles to observe a training exercise for one of the Preddi Clan’s ready companies of dragoons.
“Not bad,” Balwis said to Captain Munmar Kellen. “Your company has markedly improved its coordination, although I notice the platoon in the right end of the position was slower than the other platoons in digging their position.”
Kellen smiled. “I put them at tha
t end because the ground is harder there. I announced that the platoon to finish last would have guard duty tonight. Third platoon is mainly fresh recruits, though they’re plenty eager. I want them to believe they have a ways to go to match the other platoons, so I didn’t want them to come out first in any competition yet.”
Kellen, originally a Narthani officer who had been wounded in the Battle of Orosz City, was subsequently protected by a Farkesh clansman and hidden until his wounds healed. His experiences living among the islanders led him to remain on Caedellium when the rest of the Narthani left. Balwis, on Yozef Kolsko’s recommendation, had enlisted Kellen as a company commander.
“What’s next on your schedule today, Munmar?”
This time, Kellen’s smile was demonic. “Now they’ll fill all the holes back in. Wouldn’t want anyone or any animal to step in a hole and break a leg. Anyway, I like this setting for this exercise, although we might not be able to use it much longer. It’s getting harder to remember where all the previous holes were dug.
“After that, we’ll break for an early, quick mid-day meal. Then we’ll start drilling with the two 12-pounders to be sure every dragoon knows enough to fill the positions of gun crew members who might be casualties in a battle.”
“Could I prevail on you to switch and do the artillery drills first? I’d like to watch awhile before I return to Preddi City. I’d just as soon forgo watching holes being filled.”
“No problem, Hetman, I’ll . . . ” Kellen broke off, as a rider reined in twenty feet away.
The wiry rider was missing most of one arm and had enough pistols and blades attached to his body and saddle for three normal men.
“Wyfor, if there’s some emergency back in Preddi City, I don’t want to hear about it unless it involves my family,” said Balwis.
“All right, you may be late for evening meal with your family because you need to get your ass back to Preddi City. That’s according to Savronel, and who am I, a lowly chief magistrate, to question an adviser to the hetman? There. Your family’s involved.”
Passages Page 60
