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20th Day in the 4th of Ründ’s Months, Dry Season, in the First Year of King Feyaz’s Reign, 126th Reckoned Year
There was once a man who found an ancient cave. Inside, there was a fire lit long ago, and it illuminated a large wooden sculpture wrought by unknown hands. The sculpture was perfect in every way, flawless and beautiful, and the man wept to see it. He sat and stared, transfixed and captivated by its form. The fire began to dwindle, and the cave grew steadily darker. The man could not bear to lose sight of the sculpture for even a moment, and so he burned anything he had that would light. It became so that he had nothing left, and the fire was bright for a time. But as he marveled at the sculpture, the fire again began to dim. And so it was that the man anxiously decided to shave wood off of the sculpture. He chose places where he would not notice or see. Each time, the fire brightened, only to dwindle quicker than before. And so it happened that the man whittled away at the once perfect sculpture until there was nothing left, and the man sat crying in the dark.
From ‘The Sculpture and the Fire’ Parable, King Wonum the Wise in his 4th Year of Reign and 7 Years Pre-reckoning
Petsune gasps as he falls toward the surface, sucking in a gulp of air just before he hits the water. It is surprisingly warm, and inexplicably soft. Once he stops sinking and the bubbles have all rolled off of him, he feels plants grabbing at his legs. He begins blindly kicking at the reaching vines, trying to swim up and away. Suddenly, Petsune feels Chapel take his arm and pull him upward, toward the surface. When he emerges from below, he is met with a world of noise and sound. The naval vessel has begun to approach the port side of the Lady. It sounds as though they are swinging alongside of it, likely to lash the two ships together and prevent another escape. Chapel listens and gazes blankly upward as he and Petsune float against the hull of the Lady. Petsune has one hand on the whaler’s platform and is trying not to make any noise.
The Captain looks a bit ridiculous with Pickett’s mask on, but Pet wouldn’t mind being able to see underwater. Chapel motions for Petsune to quietly follow, and the two of them pull themselves along the Lady’s hull toward her bow. When they get to the front of the ship, they can see the nose of the navy ship now fixed in a position to broadside the Painful Lady. Chapel silently disappears below the water, appearing again by the bow of the navy ship. Petsune remains hidden from view, waiting for an opportunity to swim across the gap, praying to the Saints that he isn’t spotted. Three soldiers cross the gangway, and then there’s a moment where no one is visible and Petsune dips below the water. He swims down and across, feeling the beginnings of that primal fear bubble in his stomach. Not being able to see what is around him yet knowing that something large and deadly could be just below.
Up on the decks of the Painful Lady, Mavis is doing a bad impression of being diplomatic. A gangway plank has been dropped and three soldiers cross the newly formed bridge. The one in front is a stern looking officer, the creases in his uniform and face, sharp enough to cut. He looks around, disparagingly assessing the ship he just acquired. After scoffing, he says loud enough to be heard by all, “Hardly a valuable asset, but I suppose every bit helps… even if it is minuscule.”
Mavis has left the helm and is descending the stairs off the quarter deck. He approaches the officer with a face like a pin whale.
The officer says to Mavis in a very bored way, “We received word from the Misty Shoals that a ship fled the conscription. It just so happens to be a very distinct ship, exactly like this one.”
Petsune pushes himself to stay below the surface and kick his way through the water, but he cannot stand it any longer. The blackened world of unknowns behind his eyelids becomes scarier by the second. Pet surfaces and breathes a deep but quiet breath. When he looks about, he sees nothing but a vast empty ocean and his fear begins to return, until Chapel grabs his shoulder and pulls him backward, out of sight. Chapel has the mask pulled up on top of his head and he moves a solitary finger over his lips, then points upward with it. Someone with an unfriendly voice is speaking with Mavis aboard the Painful Lady. When Petsune looks above them however, he can see a pair of hands draped over the railing of the navy ship. Slowly, hugging the hull of the ship, Chapel moves down its port side, out of earshot for Mavis's conversation. He slides along until he is treading water under a gun port, then motions for Pet to come.
On the deck of the Lady, Mavis crosses his arms and simply stares down the rigid Officer. The soldiers each stare down a crew member for a few moments before the Officer continues speaking. “The king has issued a proclamation of war against the Coldor Cleave, in retaliation for the assassination of our beloved King, Bornidin the Young. I’m sure you are aware, because I know you wouldn’t willingly flout your duty to the Kingdom, isn’t that so?”
Mavis remains a statue, his face as inscrutable as the deep. The other soldiers blanch, but the Officer still stares into Mavis’ hard eyes. “If you agree that there was some type of… misunderstanding, and respond accordingly, we are prepared to grant you leave of this vessel in the war against the Coldor Cleave.”
Mavis seems to grow a subtle shade of red and responds intensely. “And if we should not agree?”
“Well then,” the officer steps closer, and continues in a low threatening tone, “in that case Mister — I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name, brave merchant?”
“Mavis.”
“Well then, Mister Mavis, if such an egregious act was perpetrated willingly, the participants would all be quartered and hanged from their own yard arms.”
On the other side of the navy ship, Chapel whispers softly and Petsune turns his ear toward him. “We’re going to clip her wings.”
Petsune turns his head and looks at Chapel, dramatically mouthing words with little sound. “What in the depths does that even mean?” Chapel whispers a response and Petsune points his ear again. “We’re going to cut all the sail ties and rigging, so they can’t move.”
Chapel reaches up and grips the gun port. He pulls himself up so that his arms are inside, and then a moment later, so is the rest of him. Petsune waits a moment but when Chapel doesn't immediately return, he begins to worry. Pet whispers a raspy, desperate plea. “Captain? … Captain? … Chapel!”
Chapel’s head suddenly pops out from the port hole. “Shhh! Saints, Pet. Haven’t you ever snuck aboard a navy ship before?”
Petsune answers as Chapel extends a hand down to help him into the ship. “No! Have you?”
“I would’ve thought it was obvious. ‘Course I have.”
As Chapel pulls Pet into the navy ship’s orlop, Mavis continues his friendly chat with the officer. He doesn’t balk at the threatening manner, instead looking down into the officer’s sharp face. “I didn’t catch your name either, mister…”
The officer’s eyes burn as he bores holes into Mavis with his glare. The Officer responds in a clipped manner, “Officer Wittkinson.”
This time Mavis takes a subtle step forward, and the two soldiers behind the Officer take equally subtle shifts backward. Mavis speaks in a voice like the Cold Sea. “If this conscription is as the North War was, then the crew of all conscripted vessels will bear a naval rank equal to their standing prior to the war. Which means, I outrank you aboard this ship Officer Wittkinson.” The Officer blooms a brilliant purple color and his upper lip twitches slightly. “Am I to understand you have chosen to do your basic duty as citizens of Dintash then, rather than enjoy some sun on your yard arm?”
The power struggle is almost visible between the two. Mavis speaks in a louder voice that is clearly not meant for the Officer. “GeneralTarlatan: would you kindly remove our red colors and hoist the blue mainsails.”
The Officer stands silently for a few moments, likely contemplating Mavis’s usage of the ‘General’ title. When next he speaks, he appears to have gained some composure. “That is well and good, but due to the previous misunderstanding, two of my soldiers will remain aboard this vessel until we reach the Royal Mass, and two of your crew will remain on my ship — to ensure no more misunderstandings occur.” Wittkinson ascends the gangway, not bothering to turn and look as he speaks. “You may send whichever two of your rabble over to us, then we will set sail for Dintish Mass immediately.”
At the same time as the officer crosses the gangway back to his ship, Petsune attempts to sneak below decks. He tries to creep through the orlop, staying on Chapel’s tail and in the shadows. Petsune’s heart seems to be attempting to run out of his chest. “Where are we going?” He asks.
Chapel doesn’t turn around, opting instead for an unhelpful finger pointed up. They sneak through the underbelly of the ship, all the way back to the stern. There is some type of holding cell, likely for mutinous crew members. Petsune finds it speaks volumes that the Lady doesn’t even have one. Just outside the cell, within tantalizing view of the cell, is a porthole. Chapel points and Petsune comments exasperatedly. “Didn’t we just come from out there?”
Chapel turns with a half-smile. “Your job is to find the tiller line and cut it.”
“The what?”
“The rope that runs from the ship wheel to the rudder. It’ll be running through pulleys.”
“How will I know if I find the right thing?”
“Just cut any rope you find.”
Chapel places a finger in front of his lips, then winks his infuriating wink.
Back on the decks of the Lady, Mavis is worried and unsure of what to do. Chapel’s insane plan didn't work last time at Folders Fill, at least not how he thought, and it likely wouldn’t now either. Almost at the same time as Mavis thinks this, he sees the lithe form of the Captain crawl out of a porthole in the stern of the navy vessel. Chapel climbs out the porthole and up the back of the ship. When Pet sticks his head out and peers up, Chapel is already halfway up. Mavis begins waving his arms wildly, attempting to get Chapel’s attention, to tell him the plan has changed. Chapel sees this and gives a friendly wave back, completely missing the signal.
Inside the navy ship, Petsune quietly leaves the room with the cell and looks for anything that could be a tiller rope. Suddenly he hears a shout from behind him. “Hey! What’re you doing down here?”
Petsune goes wide eyed. “Uhhh… looking for the tiller line?”
The man grabs hold of Petsune and unceremoniously deposits him into the cell, confiscating the knife.
Above, Mavis watches as Chapel descends the side of the ship, evidently having understood the signal. Mavis breathes a sigh of relief and then walks up to the quarter deck. Inside the navy ship, the soldier locks the cell door on Petsune. As the key turns and the lock clicks Chapel's legs enter through the porthole and the man backs away in horror. Chapel slides back inside the hold, seeing Petsune first. “Pet, what are you doing? Did you —” Chapel sees the guard step back into view, “— Ohh. Hello.”
“You — time to join your friend, there.” The soldier gestures toward the cell door as he draws a flintlock pistol and points it at Chapel’s chest. The door locks again and this time Petsune and Chapel are both inside the cell. The soldier leaves the room to go and report to the Officer what he has managed to do all on his own. Chapel and Petsune can hear the shouts from two decks up as the Officer yells. “You did what? I sent for them; you drowned imbecile! Get them out and put them to work!” Chapel and Petsune exchange looks and Chapel merely says, “See, this plan works every time.”
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