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18th Day in the 4th of Ründ’s Months, Dry Season, in the First Year of King Feyaz’s Reign, 126th Year of Reckoning
A strange and twisted form reaches from the bottom of the sea.
Pale, solid, white…
A gaunt and wretched stone stands stretching out to thee.
Not sail, nor stolid, nor right…
It beckons, unwavering, and it calls ships and sailors forth…
The strange pale shape, unknowable,
of Windrock Cairn of the north.
From “Windrock Cairn”, Filkish Poems for the Wanderer, Oullman Ushin in the Unreckoned Years
Harlan is leaning against the mizzenmast, quietly sharpening a menacing spear. Petsune is on his way to the hold where he’s pretty sure Mavis is, but Harlan stops him. “I saw you in town yesterday. With the blisker leaf addicts.”
Petsune is still a bit uncomfortable around Harlan, as he knows very little about him. Pet responds cautiously, “Oh? Yes, I was helping the Empty Hands serve a meal.”
Harlan stares critically into Petsune’s eyes. “Are you an honest man, priest?”
“Um, I don’t know…” Petsune looks away, “I would like to think so. But you would have to ask those around me.”
Harlan continues to stare at Petsune. “Do you know what blisker leaf is? What it does?”
Petsune answers questioningly. “It’s some type of fish-eating plant. It has fine nettles on the leaves that, I believe, paralyze and numb fish to that end.”
Harlan still stares unblinkingly. “The nettles don't paralyze or cause pain, like a millie’s or ghost fish. They cause pleasure, which makes the fish swim back after brushing against the leaves.”
Petsune returns Harlan’s stare, searching his intent. “Oh. That’s fascinating, but why are you telling me this?”
Harlan continues to lock eyes with Petsune. “Because sometimes the most effective way to eliminate an enemy is not to cause pain or suffering, but to give them what they want most.”
Petsune raises one eyebrow. “If the Kingdom of Dintash wishes to see the Coldor Cleave eradicated, then I can hardly agree that giving them what they want would be a wise choice.”
Harlan squints ever so slightly, and still seemingly has not blinked. Petsune meets his gaze, then walks away to find Mavis. Petsune is confused by the exchange, not certain what Harlan was trying to say or what his intentions were. On top of this, Harlan seems to be the type of person for whom violence is a typical response, if you get one at all. The only thing Petsune knows about him is that he was rescued by Chapel from being hanged, and Chapel said he didn’t deserve it. Petsune trusts Chapel’s judgment.
While Petsune ponders the exchange and the person of Harlan, he finds First Mate Mavis in the hold. He appears to be staring out at nothing, in more ways than one. He speaks, somehow aware that Pet is behind him. “Delód’s breath… Look at this, Pet. Not even a crate of goods down here… I haven’t seen it this empty in — well, I’ve never actually seen it this empty.”
“I haven’t been here long, but it’s strange even for me. How long have you been on the Lady?”
“Oh, well now, let me think… must be near 7 years now.”
“How did Chapel get you?” Petsune asks curiously, “it seems there is some strange tale behind his meeting each crew member.”
“Indeed. Not so for me though. He was looking for someone who knew their way around a ship. Said he would pay good, so I took the job.”
“Oh, is that so? Do you like the job?”
Mavis turns from the sparsely populated hold and looks at Petsune. “I’ve been a hired hand all my life, never calling anywheres home. Until the Lady. Chapel has yet to pay me a scale for my work, it’s somethin’ of a runnin’ joke… but I came to trust him, as I see you have.”
“Yes, I have. I’m not quite sure how he managed it.”
“He’s got guile, I’ll say that much. He dupes people by his honesty.”
“That is certainly true…”
Mavis turns to glance once more at the hold with no goods, and Petsune asks him a question. “Has Chapel ever, uh, discussed me with you? That is to say, do you know anything about me?”
Mavis eyes him from the side. “You mean like that you’re a Deepblood, or that you’re a Coldor?”
Petsune’s mouth opens slightly, and his eyebrows raise. “You knew this whole time?”
Mavis laughs lightly. “Well, I do now. It was just a lucky guess. I heard Sprig sayin’ how he saw you arguing with a crier on Thune.”
Petsune goes quiet, then looks to Mavis for advice. “Do you think — if I tell the crew, I mean — do you think they’ll be angry? Will they hate me?”
Mavis pats Petsune’s shoulder, more gently than he would’ve expected. “If you thought that was possible, I don’t think you’d have stayed.” And with that he walks up out of the hold.
Petsune feels the smallest bit of shame for doubting the crew of the Lady, but it is overpowered by a deep appreciation. He follows Mavis above deck and is greeted by most of the crew. Chapel swings down from somewhere above and says loudly enough for everyone to hear, “A Royal messenger beak just arrived. I saw it land aboard the King’s Fist docked off the Mass.” Chapel looks around then speaks again, “We will be leaving when the Saint’s sun sets in a few hours, that way we’re sailing into the light of the Small sun. It’s not much but it may give us an edge in visibility if we’re pursued.”
The Big Man speaks up. “Aye. An’ it seems we’ll be needing every advantage we can muster.” The Big Man gestures with a large hand toward the blue sails. The ships appear to be spreading out slightly, creating a berm against attackers — or deserters.
There are nods and murmurs from various crew members. Sprig speaks up unexpectedly. “Where’s the old goat? Ain’t seen ‘em since this mornin’.”
Cheese is the first to respond. “I’ll have ‘em here before we’re ready to weigh anchor, don’t worry Captain.” And with that, she hastens off the ship in search of General Tar. Concern is written acutely in the lines of Mavis’s face, and Chapel seems worried too. He shakes off his worry and looks to Petsune. “Pet, if you wish to send a messenger beak, now is the time.”
“I looked for a Roost yesterday, but I never found one. This Mass is too small to need one. Perhaps we could stop along the way?” Petsune appears sheepish.
The Captain answers, “While I appreciate your optimism, Pet, this doesn’t feel like a trip where we’ll be sightseeing along the way. But I’ll do what I can.”
Petsune nods in gratitude. Sprig speaks up again. “I’ve a prattlebeak I been trainin’ as a messenger? It can repeat whole sentences now.”
Petsune looks at Sprig’s deceptively innocent face with fondness. “Perhaps, Sprig. Thank you, it means a lot.” Sprig smiles his snaggle-toothed grin and then dashes off to raise mayhem somewhere alongside Bungle and Tussle. Petsune walks over to Chapel and inquires quietly, “Are you certain we should bring Sprig along for this? There’s a high chance of cannon and rifle fire. I don’t want him to get hurt.”
The Captain looks quizzically at Petsune. “Well, he could get hurt anywhere, Pet?”
“Yes, but aren’t we increasing his chances by bringing him?”
“He has a family of people here who wish to protect him. Pretty sure you won’t find that for him on this Mass.” The Captain walks away and Petsune gets the distinct feeling that Chapel has already wrestled with this same question.
Almost an hour later Cheese appears with The General. She has one of his arms over her shoulder as she supports his weight. They stumble off the gangway onto the ship and The Big Man catches them both. Petsune watches, saddened at the sight of an inebriated Tarlatan. The Big Man carries The General into the captain's quarters, no doubt depositing him into Chapel’s expansive bed. Shushilah comforts Cheese and asks, “Where did you find him?”
She sighs loudly. “At the second bar I went to, he were outside slumped against the wall. Poor old man…”
Petsune’s heart hurts for The General, and he has to beat back the feeling of failing. The Big Man returns from the captain's quarters and approaches Petsune. “He’ll be alright. Aye… Bor is bringing him a ficklewillow tincture. You must not be too hard on him, little Pet.”
The Big Man seems to mistake Petsune’s slight scowl for disappointment in The General. “I’m being hard on myself. I feel as though I let him down in some way. I spoke to him, tried encouraging him a few days ago. I thought maybe I had reached him, that he… I don’t know… that he would be better than before.”
The Big Man looks both fond and sad as he places his hands on Petsune’s shoulders. “Ah, little Pet. I am sure you helped. Aye, it is not so simple. I wish it were…”
The Big Man releases Pet and walks away to help Shushilah raise the gangway. The Captain calls out from behind the ship wheel. “Weigh anchor and ready the Lady! This might get tricky.”
Then the ship begins to move away from Misty Shoals Mass.
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