by Stevie Woods
It was mid-day and the sun hung high above. The wind had dropped, and the storm seemed to have stalled. We could still see lightning streaking through black clouds on the horizon, but it was less clear with each strike. It was with a sense of relief that I could stop bailing.
"Come, take the rudder a minute," Hollis said.
I was surprised at his abrupt tone, but did as he asked. He stood, balancing his weight carefully as he looked back the way we had come.
"What's wrong?" I queried as he cupped his eyes as if trying to improve his vision.
"The ship is getting closer. It could be a coincidence, but I don't like that it seems to be following us."
"Damn, I had hoped it was pure chance."
"Keep us steady," Hollis said sharply, and I watched as he worked on the sail. I didn't bother to ask him what he was doing. I knew whatever he was attempting was intended to help us get away from the ship. I closed my eyes long enough to send a quick prayer to the Lords of Creation we wouldn't be recaptured. I opened them again to find Hollis watching me.
"Say one for me, too?"
"I already did." I smiled, but Hollis didn't return it, and I was suddenly tense. He indicated he wanted to take the rudder again. I wanted to stay close to him, so I slid down into the bottom of the boat and leaned against his legs as he regained his seat. He hadn't let go of the rope he used to control the angle of the sail and he took the rudder in his other hand. He glanced at me for a moment before he turned his attention to sailing the boat.
"Liander, in case you've not realized, I'm aiming the boat straight at the storm."
"What?" I hadn't noticed. My attention on been wholly on him and now I understood his request for a prayer perhaps hadn't been as casual as I thought.
"There's no way we can outrun that ship, and I believe we have to assume it is looking for us. Going into the storm is a risk; I won't deny it. But there's no way I'm going to let us be taken again. No matter the consequences. You understand?"
"Yes, I do. I know what would happen if we were re-captured and I'd rather die now with you, Hollis, than be a prisoner of Briahm's whim; never seeing you again, yet knowing what they would do to you. You'd die before you'd tell them anything, I know."
"I'm glad you agree, my prince, because if you had ordered me otherwise, I'd have obeyed."
"I know." We were getting closer to the storm now.
"Take a look and see if they're still following us."
I twisted around to look and sure enough, the ship had tacked and was heading in our direction. "Yes, it is. If we weren't sure before, there's no doubt now." I squeezed his knee for a moment. "Guess I'd better get back to bailing."
After a few minutes, I asked Hollis, "Is there any spare rope on board?"
"There should be some in the sail locker, in the bow. Why?"
"I want to rope us together. We can look after each other that way."
"Liander, if I end up going overboard, the odds are I'd pull you after me."
"I know. But don't you see, if anything were to happen to you, I don't want to live without you. Does that make me a coward?"
"If it does, then I'm a coward, too." Hollis stared at me, and I saw the truth in his eyes. "Do it," he said. "As you said when we escaped from the citadel: together, always."
I roped us together leaving enough length it didn't hinder us as we worked.
We were inside the storm now and we were literally fighting for our lives. Hollis struggled to keep the wind filling the sail the way he wanted. The way he was cursing, I guessed it didn't always work the way he wanted, but he kept at it. I was bailing like crazy, but I was fighting a losing battle as the waves bombarded the boat faster than I could throw the water out again.
"It's no good," I cried.
"Keep at it, Liander. Every bit helps."
I looked at him, cowed by his determination, his strength of will. If we failed, it wouldn't be because I let him down. I re-doubled my efforts. My back and my right arm were already a sheet of pain, but I didn't doubt Hollis felt worse, struggling as he was with both the rudder and the sail with his injured back. I took a quick look behind us in the direction of where I had last seen the Diolis ship, but all I could see now were heaving seas, so dark as to be almost lost in the angry black clouds. Just at that moment, a lightning strike shot jagged white light through the storm clouds.
"Do you see anything?" Hollis shouted above the scream of the wind and the flapping of the sailcloth he struggled to control.
"No, but it's hard to see anything in this," I called back.
"I'm going to have to drop the sail. I can't hold it. I don't even know if I should have it up in a storm like this. I wanted to use the wind to get as far away from the ship as possible, but my knowledge of sailing is too damn limited. I could drown both of us."
"Whatever you think best."
"I wish I knew what was best! Grab the rudder," he said.
I did as he asked, while he got the sail down and tied it off. Then he took his seat at the rudder, and I went back to bailing, praying I could keep the water inside the boat at the present level. Much more and we'd probably founder. The boat was being tossed like a cork on the roiling sea. There was nothing we could do but hang on and pray we'd still be alive when the storm died.
"Hollis," I called to him, but I didn't think I could say how I felt. I wanted to be holding him, instead of crouching so near yet so far. If I was going to die, I wanted Hollis to be the last thing I touched. I wanted his scent in my nostrils, his body in my arms, his lips caressing mine.
"I know," Hollis said. "Have faith. We will survive."
"I wish I could believe that."
Hollis stared at me for a moment and then he said, "Come here."
"But the bailing?"
"I'd come to you, but I can't let go of the rudder."
I hurried to his side, and he put one arm around me and pulled me in close. His warmth sheltered me. I felt a quick brush of lips on my cheek, and I turned to capture Hollis' mouth. Breaking the kiss, Hollis said, "Now, get back to bailing, Your Highness!"
I laughed, and feeling better, I dropped to my knees in the cold water swilling back and forth in the bottom of the boat and started bailing again.
Chapter 14
I could see Liander was exhausted. He was hurting, too, but he never said a word. I had been fighting for hours to hold the boat steady in the storm and felt guilty I hadn't been able to help him with the bailing. It was a thankless task, seeming endless and useless, but the truth was his efforts kept the boat from foundering.
"Liander, come take the rudder," I called.
He looked up at me, his face white and his eyes red-rimmed. "The water's too high. I need to keep bailing."
"I know, but the storm is lessening. I think you can hold the rudder now. I'll carry on bailing."
"Lessened?" Liander looked up and around.
He'd never even noticed. He'd been so wrapped up in keeping the water down, in keeping us alive, nothing else had registered.
"Come here," I said, reaching out a hand.
Liander took it and joined me on the bench. It was so narrow he almost sat on my lap. I sighed and pushed the thought away. He gripped the rudder, and I released it. I was still holding his other hand and I squeezed it briefly before letting go to kneel in the bottom of the boat. I shrugged at him, and he smiled wanly as I began to bail.
"I'm somewhat surprised we're still afloat," Liander said a moment later.
"Me too. Especially as I didn't even know if I was doing the right thing."
"General Hollis Amin Destriore not doing the right thing? Unthinkable." Liander laughed.
I was glad to hear him sounding more like his normal self. I kept my eyes on what I was doing, so I wouldn't see how pale and worn he looked. "A general bailing a boat is unthinkable, but look, here I am on my knees."
"I can think of much better uses for the general on his knees," Liander said, and I barked out a laugh. I couldn't help but l
ook at him now and he was still pale, but he looked stronger and, in an odd way, he looked happy.
"The first chance we get, I'll get on my knees for you, and you can tell me what you'd like me to do first."
Liander opened his mouth as if to respond, but no words came. He half-stood, and I could tell he was straining to see. I twisted around to look where he was staring. Swells still made the sea rise and dip quite dramatically and, combined with the still falling rain and lowering clouds, it was difficult to see. Then there it was, just for a second before it disappeared again. A ship. The question now was: whose ship?
I had no idea how far the storm had blown us. When I had turned toward the storm, I estimated our direction had changed from due west to northwest and, as much as I tried to hold to that, I really had no idea how well--or not--I had managed. For all intents and purposes, we had gone the way the storm took us. I wondered if the ship we had just glimpsed had been the Diolis ship we had seen earlier. I estimated a larger vessel should have been able to fight the storm better than we had, so it could very easily be the same vessel.
"Do you know where we are?" Liander asked.
"Not really. The storm seemed to be moving northwest."
"That's good, right?"
"It might take us a little farther north than I would've liked. When the storm clouds clear and the sun shows itself, though, I'll head due west again. Hopefully, we'll make landfall in Shuin, but it might be Haflor."
"Any land that's not Dioland will suffice. And I've prayed to the Lords of Creation the ship out there is friendly."
"Yes. The sea is calming and I can see the vessel again," I answered.
"Can you see its flag?"
"Not yet...the wind is still too strong." I stretched up as high as I could and stared, fighting to see, praying it was any ship but one from Dioland. The wind swirled again and whipped the ship's flag forward before pushing it aside and out of view behind the sail. But it had been enough. "Your prayer is answered, Liander. It flies the Teslan flag!"
"Oh praise the Lords," Liander whispered.
Even as Liander's voice faded, a sharp crack followed by a heavy boom filled the air. A huge plume of water rose a little way in front of the Teslan ship.
"What the-- " I swung around and there in almost the same position as we had last seen it in relation to our small boat was the Diolis ship. It was firing at the Teslan vessel--and we were right in the middle.
"We have to row, Liander. We have to get to safety, now!"
Liander sat on the rowing bench and grabbed the oars, even as I was tying off the rudder so the boat was aimed at the Teslan ship. Of course, whether it would still be there in the next minute was questionable. I could imagine the Teslan ship's crew running to their battle stations to take on the enemy ship. It was our one hope. I joined Liander on the bench and took one of the oars from him. I matched his rhythm, and we rowed as hard as we could for the Teslan vessel. I was horrified to see just how fast the Diolis ship was gaining on us. I wanted to yell at Liander to row faster, but I knew there was no point. We were already going as fast as we could.
The Teslan ship returned fire, the explosive boom screaming overhead.
"Are we not putting ourselves in more danger?" Liander asked a moment later. I frowned at him, and he went on, "We're heading toward a battle."
"Don't see we have much choice," I said.
It was likely, I thought, the Diolis vessel was more interested in fighting the Teslan ship than chasing a small fishing boat, but if it kept coming directly for us, we would be ridden down anyway. The ship had tacked, and I knew the wake would capsize us if we didn't get out of the way.
"We need to go left," I shouted. "It's bearing down on us too fast."
Liander pursed his lips, but followed my lead as we forced the boat away from our original route. I felt our boat take a leap forward and realized we were being pushed by the surge from the enemy ship.
"Row, row," I yelled, and we bent our backs as we forced our screaming muscles to turn the boat aside.
"We're going to get swamped," Liander cried.
"Pray," I shouted back. "And keep rowing."
* * * *
My back was on fire, but I was determined not to give in. I'd die of exhaustion, I'd let the boat overturn, anything to keep Hollis and me out of their hands. I risked a glance and was relieved to see Hollis' plan was working; the Diolis ship was no longer right behind us. Unfortunately, we were no longer headed directly for our ship either. The route we were taking now would take us to the rear of the Teslan vessel.
"Hollis, could we possibly get around to the other side of our ship?"
Hollis grinned. "I always knew you could read my mind. I want to try and put the Teslan vessel between us and the Diolis ship."
"Do you suppose they were chasing us?"
"I don't know, but right now I don't care. Safety is right there and somehow I have to get you on board."
"Us, Hollis. I don't go anywhere without you." I looked at Hollis and he wouldn't meet my eyes. He appeared to be concentrating on what he was doing, but I knew him so well. "Promise me, Hollis, promise."
He looked at me then, and I knew I had read him right. He would risk his life to get me to safety, and I couldn't have that. I glared at him. He sighed. "I promise."
"Good."
Cannon fire reverberated around us, occasionally followed by the thud of splintering wood as a shot hit home, or the heavy splash as they hit water instead. I could just make out the crew on the Teslan ship as they manned their weapons or struggled with the rigging. The captain was on the upper deck directing the action; behind him the helmsman was fighting with the wheel as he turned the great ship as the captain ordered.
"Damn, they're moving too fast," I said.
"As long as we can get them between us and the Diolis ship," Hollis said.
"And pray the Teslan ship wins."
I felt the water sloshing over my lower legs and I looked down. "Lords, Hollis, the water is almost to my knees."
"I know. Keep rowing."
"But we need to get some of this water out."
"If we don't get clear, we'll have more than water in the boat to worry about."
The Teslan ship tacked again, maneuvering so its stern swung to face us, its bow now facing the enemy ship, which was almost broadside to the Teslan vessel--and consequently putting our ship between us and the Diolis ship. I knew enough about ship battles to understand the captain was providing the enemy vessel with a much smaller target, while giving his ship a good chance to get a few hits in.
"Take a rest," Hollis suddenly said. I looked at him. "Let's see if the captain can make good on his ploy," Hollis added, and I realized he had come to the same conclusion I had.
I took a breath and let go of the oar. My legs were shaking and I was unable to open my hands; they were curled as if I was still holding the oars.
"Give it a few minutes," he said, reaching to take my hands. Gently he massaged them.
His touch worked wonders. I stopped shaking and gripped his hands in return. "I'm all right."
Even as I spoke, there was a terrific thud, followed by a loud crack. We looked up and it was obvious the main mast of the Diolis ship had been hit. There was a split about halfway up and as I watched, I could see the split widening and spreading. There was shouting and screaming from the sailors on the shrouds. With the screech of breaking wood, the mast tore apart and the top half came crashing down, dragging the shrouds and sails with it. It landed across the main deck of the ship, shattering the bulwarks above the water line and tipping into the sea below, taking two of the ship's cannon overboard with it. I couldn't count the number of sailors thrown into the sea with the fallen mast.
There was a cheer from the crew of the Teslan vessel and the captain walked to the side of his ship to stare at his opponent. I raised a hand to shade my eyes as I tried to get a good look at him and it was only then I realized the clouds had gone and the sun was up.
"Quick!" Hollis cried. "Row...we need to get as close to the ship as we can. We don't want them to leave us behind. If they've even noticed us, they probably assume we are Diolis, too."
I took up the oar, but asked, "Will they not stay and take prisoners? Or something?"
"That would depend, but probably not. Even though we must be nearer to Tesla, it's possible another Diolis ship might be in the vicinity."
"So, it's safer to head back home," I concluded. I couldn't bear the thought of being left behind now when we were so close. We had gone through too much to fail now. I began to shout.
"Keep your breath for rowing; we're too far away yet for them to hear your words."
I clamped my mouth shut, but kept my eye on the ship, watching as we closed the space between us.
The crew of the Diolis ship were using axes to clear away the debris left from the ruined mast. I guessed it might be possible for them to limp home in the damaged vessel. It was certainly no longer a threat.
The Teslan ship had sustained some damage, but nothing compared to the other ship. The crew was running about on deck clearing away damage. I realized I had a much clearer view now of the men on the deck.
"Now?" I asked Hollis.
In answer, Hollis cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted. "Ahoy, Teslan ship. We need help. We have escaped from Dioland. I have Prince Liander on board." His voice carried much more than mine would have, and I smiled as I remembered his years of service in my father's army. He was using his general's voice.
"Ahoy," he repeated. "We are Tesla citizens in need of help."
A sailor leaned over the side and called, "Can you prove you are Teslan?"
"I have Prince Liander on board."
"General Destriore, is that you?" A new voice cut across Hollis' words.
Hollis lifted a hand to shade his eyes as he stared up at the deck. "Yes. Do I know you, sir?"
"Not personally, no, but I saw you at the palace a couple of years ago, during a presentation parade. I am Captain Dolato."
"Would you assist us aboard, please?"
