At first being aboard the SS Helix was a marvel. However, the novelty wore off and Baldovo found himself tiring of the noisy twin engines. The vibrations were felt even in the railing Baldovo gripped as he stared out at the sea. There'd been reports of an unusual creature in the distance.

"I tell you! It disappeared and dropped something!"

"No! It dove into the sea. With wings folded it just looked smaller."

"I don't think it was a bird at all!"

"Not a bird? Are you daft, man?"

Baldovo listened to the arguments, but his eye was on the unforgiving coast and the sharp rocks ahead. This was the closest they had ever made it to the Blazing Crescent. But 'closest' wasn't enough for glory. Only he who found the way would win the prize.

"Maybe we'll find another mysterious person with a pocket of cockle stories," Baldovo mused out loud in jest. The men looked at him for a moment, then shook their heads and resumed their arguments. None of them spoke Lomanian. Baldovo took his turn with the eye glass, searching for the cove Trosyn had indicated. Just as he was about to fold up, something caught his attention. "By the light." Baldovo barked a shocked laugh. "This is too absurd."

Someone was treading water out there. Baldovo pointed and passed the spyglass to one of the crew. After a quick look the seafarer looked grim. "I'll get the commander."

"Well, bless my luck. Stars know I don't deserve it," Baldovo chuckled to himself wryly.

A half drowned man was rescued from the sea, and he was in no state to explain his presence there. "Wait until I tell Volente about this."

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Upon hearing that the drifter had regained consciousness, Baldovo loomed by his bedside. The man's blue eyes regarded him with unveiled contempt and suspicion, aided by dark furrowed brows which hooded his deep set eyes. The man spoke in a foreign language. Baldovo frowned, which resulted in an exasperated huff from the patient. The man threw out his hands, and then set them on his berth.

"Well, I suppose I won't be in for a series of stories this time." Baldovo looked at the man's hands. His nails were clean and his hands lacked callouses.

The man spoke again, then crossed his arms, bringing up his knees in a comical show of petulance. Baldovo could not help but laugh, which just soured the man's mood forward. "Alright, let's go to basics." Baldovo placed a hand to his chest, patting it. "I am Baldovo. Baldovo." He pointed to himself again and repeated his name slowly. The man raised an eyebrow at him and then rolled his eyes. "Come on. No need to be huffy."

"Baldovo," the man responded, his tone almost mocking.

"Very good! I am Baldovo. I," he pointed to himself, "am... Baldovo. And you are?" Baldovo pointed to the man. He stared at the finger as if it offended him. But then he sighed and pointed to himself.

"Benold."

"Wait, did you say Benold? Benold?" Baldovo repeated. The man nodded. "Of all the... this is too much of a coincidence. What chicanery is afoot?" The man crossed his arms again, a single finger tapping his upper arm. "You are Benold? Then do you know Trosyn? Trosyn?"

The wrinkles faded and the cold blue eyes lit up as the man's mouth hung open. "Trosyn?" He jabbered on in his native language, then sighed. "Trosyn."

"Sorry. I do not understand." Baldovo watched as the man leaned forward and rubbed his temples. "Ah, do not despair. It would be entertaining to see Volente's face when I show up with Benold Ovollar!" Baldovo chortled which earned a cross look from the man. "Alright." Baldovo cleared his throat. "I..." Baldovo thrust a thumb to his sternum, "will take..." Baldovo made a walking motion with his fingers, "you..." he pointed at Benold, "..to Trosyn."

Hearing the name again softened Benold's features considerably. "To... Trosyn..." Benold repeated. "Baldovo... will take... Benold... to Trosyn."

"If we must resort to third person. However, it will be a couple weeks before we get back to Lomany." Benold stared blankly. Baldovo shrugged. "Well, since we can't understand each other, I guess that's all I have to say."

Baldovo rubbed his chubby fingers together with barely contained glee. Even if they didn't find the cove Trosyn described, he at least would come back with a delightful surprise. Baldovo sauntered off to speak with the commander and take on responsibility for the foreigner.

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Once Benold was ambulatory, Baldovo often saw him out on the deck, squinting at the craggy coast. Sometimes Baldovo would try to teach him a few words in Lomanian, but frequently one or the other would tire or get frustrated at not being able to find ways to communicate complicated concepts.

On a particularly windy evening, Baldovo was examining the wheel barometer and muttering to himself. He sensed someone nearby and turned to see Benold squinting at the device, with his hands primly placed behind his back. "Ah, I see his Highness has decided to grace us with his presence, even in this foul weather," Baldovo remarked in a jovial tone as he stood aside, nodding to Benold. Benold raised his eyebrows and gave a curt nod in turn. "I can't decide whether my fun will end or truly begin once you understand me."

"Understand..." Benold repeated the word dryly.

"This is a barometer. BA-RO-ME-TER. Barometer," Baldovo said, gesturing to the dial which was slowly shifting. Benold cast him a dubious look, not deigning to repeat the word. "It measures air pressure. And it looks like a storm is on the way. A rather nasty one at that. How odd... last time there was a very similar reading. But that was before we found Trosyn."

At the mention of Trosyn's name Benold jerked his head back, looking at Baldovo with renewed interest. "Trosyn... We find Trosyn?"

"Ah, no. In the past. Found. Found, not find. We found Trosyn after a big storm. Storm... uh..." Baldovo paused, rotating his wrist as he tried to think of how to communicate a storm. He pointed to the waves, which were getting larger, and then to the cloudy sky. Benold followed his gestures with a crooked eyebrow. Baldovo waved his arms in circles and made a blowing sound, then, with more spittle than intended, tried to make crashing noises. Benold stepped back, face wrinkled. "Storm."

Benold stared at Baldovo with half lidded eyes and a faint frown. "Storm," he repeated and then looked out to sea. "You find, ah, found Trosyn... after a big storm?"

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

"Yes." Baldovo looked back at the dial, writing some notes down. "We found you before the storm."

"Before the Storm..." Benold repeated. He waited for Baldovo to look at him before repeating the word in his own language. Benold then repeated it a few more times, gesturing for Baldovo to say it. Baldovo sighed and said the word. "Yes, yes, storm. Hopefully we are teaching each other the right words. Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but I need to speak with the captain." Baldovo placed his pencil behind his ear and tucked his papers under his arm.

To Baldovo's consternation, Benold followed him. However, due to the language barrier, he decided it was not worth trying to shoo him off, as such attempts in the past proved to quickly lead to contention.

When Baldovo found the captain, he was already in conference with his head engineer and helmsman. "There's a storm brewing. My readings-"

"We know. We saw the signs," the helmsman cut off Baldovo.

"Well then we must make haste before it gets here!" Baldovo insisted.

"Are you mad? We must turn back!" the helmsman thundered.

Baldovo placed a hand on his hip, his other still clutching his notes. "If we can just navigate..." Baldovo flipped through his papers until he pulled out the map, "...here, we will be sheltered. Surely, Captain Plumont, it's a worthy risk?"

"I do not like the weight of that 'if'," Captain Plumont responded, running a finger along his pencil thin moustache. "Mr. Laciay, can her screws push us through the big waves?"

"The Helix is not easy to capsize. But as you know, I never offer guarantees," Mr. Laciay, the engineer, answered. "The trouble is she's far from any port that could properly service her should she take heavy damage."

The Helmsman snickered, which caused Baldovo to smile in spite of himself. Captain Plumont frowned disapprovingly at him while the engineer rolled his eyes.

Turning his mind back to important matters, Baldovo held out the map. "We're too close to just turn back!" Benold, who had been standing by quietly, grabbed a hold of the paper and took a look at it. His eyes darted around the page and Baldovo snatched it back. "A lack of language skills does not excuse grabby hands."

Benold lifted an eyebrow at Baldovo, giving him a deadpan glower. The captain and his crew looked at Benold and then shrugged. "There will be other expeditions."

"Bah! Not if the crown or private investors decide it's a waste. We need results to secure funding," Baldovo held the map to his chest while waving his free hand emphatically.

"You need results. I just need to ensure our safe return. I do not consider dying in a storm to be good stewardship," Captain Plumont countered dryly.

Not about to surrender easily, Baldovo held out the map again, pointing to the cove. "We will be safe if we can get here. And not only will the Helix be proven, but you, as her Captain, will also rise in glory. If this storm is as fierce as my readings predict, and we make it back in spite of it, it will also prove the superiority of the screw steamer. Everybody wins!"

Benold, who had been standing with his arms folded and eyes towards the rocky shore in the distance, shook his head, saying something in a very firm tone. Baldovo had the strong sense whatever he was saying, it was disagreeable and was relieved to claim ignorance. Benold them pointed to the very cove Baldovo had been insisting would give safe harbour.

"We go there..." Benold tailed off as his eyes darted side to side. He lifted his hand and slowly ran his index finger laterally across his throat. There was no doubt in his meaning.

"Is he making a threat?" the Helmsman asked. Baldovo shook his head.

"I do not believe so." Baldovo squinted at Benold, speaking to him in Lomanian, knowing not all present could understand. "I do not understand. Trosyn told us this cove was the way through. Do not ruin this for me. Do not..." Baldovo sighed, knowing Benold could not understand most of what he was saying. "Trosyn said go here. We go here," Baldovo said, pointing at the spot on the map.

Benold shook his head and refolded his arms. "No." Benold dipped his chin. "Trosyn not here." He nodded to the nap, and then gestured to the islands. "You take me to Trosyn."

Baldovo laughed lightly. "Ah, just a misunderstanding between us, do not concern yourselves." Baldovo explained to the Captain and his crew, who were looking between the two men impatiently. Baldovo turned back to Benold. "After! After we find a way to Siperon!" Baldovo

Benold stomped his foot. "NO!" The commanding tone of his voice irritated Baldovo, but he remained his unflappable cool. Trosyn had not been wrong in describing him as haughty and entitled. However, he felt she may not have done the man's ego justice in her tales. But it at least lent some credence to her story.

"Go back to your bunk, Benold," Baldovo ordered. It had no impact on Benold who straightened up and took in a deep breath, puffing out his chest like a ruffled cock ready to crow.

"No." Benold pointed to the map and made the same throat-slitting motion. He then gestured to everyone present and made the same gesture. "You go..." he motioned to the shore with an open hand. He then shook his head gravely. The three seamen looked at each other, seeming to hold some unspoken conference. Baldovo frowned as he felt his goal slipping out of his grasp again.

"Come now, Benold, you are making a scene," Baldovo knew he didn't understand every word he spoke, but hoped his entreating tone would calm the ornery Siperian. If this man weren't making his job harder, he'd be laughing at his antics.

Benold pointed to a particularly prominent peak. To make sure everyone knew of which he spoke, he held his hands straight, fingertips touching to form an inverse V. Once he had everyone's attention, he threw out his hands explosively while shouting some sort of loud onomatopoeia.

"Is he trying to warn us that the volcano will erupt?" Captain Plumont asked, now scanning the horizon. With the brewing dark clouds it was hard to tell what might be smoke and which was merely portents of the oncoming storm. "That settles it. Set in a new course, we're going back to port."

"Oh yes, this will make a valiant story you can share with your children. When you turned the ship around because a jabbering native who believes in magic and spirits gesticulated in a threatening manner." Captain Plumont's face puckered sourly at Baldovo's insinuations. He walked up until he was nose to bulbous nose with the scientist.

"Remember, I am the law on this ship. It'd do you well not to cross me." With that said, Captain Plumont clapped his hands and his engineer and helmsman quickly followed as he strode off.

Baldovo summoned up his most baleful sink-eye he could manage just for Benold. Benold, catching his look, was nonplussed. He clicked his tongue and placed his hands behind his back, standing straight and unashamed. Baldovo huffed and waved a hand dismissively. It was not even worth getting mad at the self-important goose. He had to prepare for a storm and focus on how to spin his meagre report to ensure there would be another expedition, and that he would be on it. He'd be damned if he ended up stretched thin and at the mercy of his family, like Volente. The only other option was to determine how best to exploit Benold for his own gain.

With this in mind, Baldovo retired to his cabin in defeat.