Seagulls mewed as overhead as the Vesper charged out into the bay under full sail. The Captain stood on the quarterdeck, studying his ship and the sea ahead of him with a critical eye. His passengers stood nearby while his crew busied themselves securing their provisions below deck save for Duglin, who was crouched by the stairs leading to the hold, trying to look busy.
Andar breathed in deeply before declaring. “It’s good to be finally underway.”
“We’ll stop at a nearby island to take on water fresh water. It shouldn’t take more than an hour,” Firch said. “You are to stay on board and out of sight while we are docked.”
“Understood, Captain,” Andar said. “Could you give me an idea of where we’ll be going after that?”
Firch looked over at the witch, who was still bound and blindfolded and kept on a tight leash by the witch hunter. “She’s older than I expected.”
“She is still a child,” Andar said sadly. “Would you feel better if she was younger?”
“Perhaps,” Firch allowed. “She’s too old to be trained, isn’t she?”
Andar looked at the witch for a moment before nodding. “Unfortunately, yes. Four years is the oldest. That was a hard learned lesson.”
“What will become of her?” Firch ventured.
The witch hunter looked at the pyramidal structure out in the bay and sighed. “I think you have an idea, Captain.”
A troubled look crossed Firch’s face, which Andar noticed. The witch hunter pushed his wide brimmed hat up and scratched his bald head. “You don’t approve?”
“It seems a horrific fate,” The Captain said.
“I take no pleasure in what I do, Captain, but it has to be done,” Andar said as he glanced at his prisoner. “For the good of the Empire.”
“Why take her to Darvigan, though?” Firch ventured. “There’s a Sentinel right here.”
Andar chuckled softly and nodded. “Yes, I was wondering when you would ask that question. I’m surprised it’s taken you this long.”
Firch arched an eyebrow. “And are you going to give me an answer?”
The witch hunter gave him a sideways glance and smiled coyly before nodding. “Yes, though it is a little embarrassing.”
Andar chuckled again before continuing. “This witch is exceedingly powerful, and intelligent.”
“Then wouldn’t she be of better use as an Imperial Sorceress?” Firch ventured.
“As I’ve said, Captain, she’s too old,” Andar began. “There isn’t time to teach her control and without control, the power could wreak terrible damage both to the people around her, and the witch herself.”
“So making her a fuel source for a Sentinel is an act of mercy?” Firch scoffed.
“In a way,” Andar replied cryptically. “At any rate, she is far more powerful than the witch chosen for Darvigan’s Sentinel.”
A wry smile twisted the witch hunter’s lips when he saw the look of disbelief on Firch’s face. “Ah, you can see where this is heading. Yes, it is as you suspect. The Lord Magistrate of the Viridian Sea couldn’t accept the fact that an Imperial stronghold would have an inferior Sentinel than one in a newly inducted port and demanded the witches be exchanged.”
“It doesn’t sound like this Lord Magistrate knows the dangers of transporting a witch,” Firch remarked.
“Isn’t that the truth?” Andar said with a shake of his head. “But he is Lord Magistrate, and I am but a lowly witch hunter who has no choice but to fetch when he orders me to fetch.”
Firch nodded thoughtfully and turned his gaze out to sea. Andar looked at him for a moment before speaking. “You know, the Empire could use a man of your talents.”
“What do you mean?” Firch asked without taking his eyes off the sea ahead.
“I know about you, Firch Seager,” Andar said. “The young cabin boy who led his crew through the Southern Maelstrom and back…”
“Is that why you were so desperate for me to take you to Darvingal?” Firch asked sharply.
Andar paused for a moment and nodded. “Mine is a dangerous task, though not as nearly as dangerous as what you went through, and I want a resourceful Captain to help me complete it.”
“Whatever stories you’ve heard about me are clearly overblown,” the Captain said before ringing the ship’s bell. “I’m afraid I need my crew on deck now, so if you’ll kindly take your ward and return to your cabin.”
Andar broke into a broad grin and tugged on the brim of his hat. “I look forward to speaking to you again tomorrow, Captain.”
After the witch hunter disappeared into the captain’s cabin with his prisoner, the Vesper’s crew emerged from below decks and assembled in front of the quarterdeck.
Raimala was the first to speak. “Where are we going, Skip?”
Firch watched the sun for a moment before taking a deep breath. “We’ll go to Jerning. They’ll know if anyone’s willing to buy our goods in that part of the sea.”
Inder blinked. “We’ll be taking a hell of a chance, Captain… Do we have enough left over to pay him?”
“Just about,” Firch replied. “If any of you have a better idea, I’m all ears.”
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The others shook their heads slowly, and the Captain nodded. “Raimala, set a course through the Maw.”
Raimala paused at the foot of the quarterdeck and looked up at him quizzically. “Did I hear you correctly, you want us to go through the Maw?”
“You heard me,” Firch said as he headed below decks. “It’ll cut a week off our journey, and the sooner we get paid, the sooner we can get those two off my ship.”
“Wait, what did you discuss with our passenger?” Bardrick asked.
Firch cocked his head at Duglin as he descended below decks. “Ask him, that’s why you told him to do busy work by the stairs, isn’t it?”
“Wake me up when we arrive at the Twins,” he ordered. “Bardrick, I’ll be taking your bunk.”
“Aye, Captain,” the large man sighed.
When the Captain was gone, everyone’s eyes went to Duglin, and the boy swallowed nervously. “So, what do you want to know?”
The Maw was a network of reefs and rocky ridges that lay in a shallow strait between two large, uninhabited islands. It lay on a direct path between Avarice, and the island of Jerning. The entrance to the Maw was marked by two tall rocks that reached out of the sea like a pair of giant’s fingers.
“Are you sure you want to do this, Captain?” Inder asked as he watched the small whirlpools and eddies in the water that were signs of submerged rocks lying in wait to dash any unsuspecting ships.
Firch looked over at Tash, whose bulging muscles seemed to quiver in anticipation at the task ahead and asked. “Are you up for this?”
The muscular woman licked her lips and nodded. “Always wanted to make an attempt at the Maw, Captain.”
“Are you going to need Bardrick’s help?” he ventured.
“Not at all,” she grinned.
“Good to hear,” Firch said before turning to Raimala. “You have us oriented?”
The dark skinned woman bit her lip as she looked between the Twins and a chart she had pinned to a small table. “I think so…”
“If you’re off by so much as a fathom, we’re sunk,” Inder warned.
“So don’t rush me,” she snapped as she mopped the sweat from her brow. “Whoever charted this route was insane.”
“You’ll have quite the story to tell when you get back home, then,” Firch remarked. “Duglin, let our guests know we’ll be in for a bumpy ride.”
“Aye, Cap’n!” the boy said as he tore his eyes off the churning sea that was less than a league ahead of them.
As he made his way from the prow to the Captain’s’ cabin, Inder pulled him aside. “Just tell them to hold onto something and don’t linger, do you hear me?”
Duglin nodded and the first mate released his arm. “Witch hunters and witches, no good will come of spending time in your company, do you hear?”
The boy nodded again and hesitantly continued on his way to the cabin. Once at the door, he took a deep breath and mustered his courage before knocking. He jumped when the door opened before he had readied himself and he found himself looking up at the witch hunter.
“Yes?” Andar asked.
The boy felt light headed and could only stare wide-eyed at the bald man. It felt as though he was enraptured by some sort of spell. An amused smile twisted the witch hunter’s lips.
“Did you come here to gawk or have you a message?” he asked.
In an instant, it felt as if the spell was broken. Duglin blinked before blurting, “The Captain says to hold onto something. We’re about to sail through some rough seas.”
“Yes, I gathered as much,” Andar nodded. “The water out our window has gone from clear blue to a churning green.”
The boy continued staring at the man, who offered a bemused smile. “Was there anything else?”
“Yes, he was supposed to pass the message and leave,” Inder said as he pulled the boy roughly aside. He was about to close the cabin door, but the witch hunter held it open.
“You are right, being in the presence of a witch is dangerous, some have the power to corrupt minds with a mere word,” Andar said sweetly. “But in the presence of a witch hunter, they are as harmless as… well I wouldn’t say a kitten… perhaps a rabid mouse.”
Inder forced a smile. “All the same, I’d rather the boy not be exposed unnecessarily.”
“A fair point,” Andar allowed without releasing his grip on the door. “You wouldn’t happen to know where we are, would you, Mister…”
“I thought we agreed that you were not to speak with my crew,” the Captain said sharply as he appeared behind Inder.
The witch hunter bowed his head apologetically. “Forgive me, but it does get a little… trying, not having anyone to speak to.”
Duglin looked over at the witch, who was still bound and gagged. The boy felt a shiver run down his spine when their eyes met and quickly looked away.
“I understand that, but I must insist you refrain from speaking with them,” Firch’s voice was firm, and Andar nodded in agreement.
“I apologize, Captain, it won’t happen again,” he said before closing the door.
Firch nodded and tapped his first mate on the shoulder. “Get below decks and see if Bardrick is done securing our cargo.”
“Aye, Captain.”
“Ms Raimala are you happy?” the Captain asked as he climbed up to the quarterdeck.
“No Captain, but I’m ready as I’ll ever be,” she said as she consulted her charts one last time.
“Tash?” he asked, looking at his helmswoman.
“Raring to go, Captain,” she beamed. “Just say the word.”
Soon, Inder appeared on deck with Bardrick following right behind. “Everything’s battened down and secure, Captain. We can go on your word.”
Firch nodded and rang the bell. “Everyone, to your stations, we’re going in.”
He watched Marsel rocket up the mast like a monkey and frowned in disapproval. “I thought you told her to wear a safety line whenever she goes up there.”
“You know what she’s like,” Inder said and shook his head as he glanced over at Tash, who was at the helm. “And if you give one a talking to, you’ll get an earful from both of them.”
“Well, work on her,” Firch ordered.
“Aye, Captain,” Inder sighed.
Once he was satisfied that everyone was in position, Firch turned to Raimala and nodded. “Pilot, take us in.”
The dark skinned young woman took a deep breath before barking orders. “Raise the trysail, helm, bring us two points to port.”
Firch watched with satisfaction as his crew sprang into action. Soon, the Vesper came about and shuddered as the current took her and accelerated her towards the Maw.
“Captain, two leagues off our port bow,” Marsel called down from the crow’s nest.
The crew looked in that direction and were sobered by what they saw. Even from that distance, they could make out the burnt out front half of a ship that had foundered on the rocks without the use of a spyglass.
“It looks like it was torn apart,” Duglin breathed.
“That’s cannon fire, lad,” Inder said as he studied the ship through a spyglass. “They blew her apart and set her on fire before letting her drift…”
“Who could have done such a thing?” Duglin asked.
“Only Imperial ships have enough firepower to do that in these waters,” Bardrick replied and turned to the quarterdeck. “Captain, maybe we shouldn’t…”
“We press on ahead,” Firch ordered.
“Could have been that ship we saw back at Avarice,” Bardrick offered nervously.
“There’s no turning back now anyway,” Raimala pointed out.
“Lookouts, you let us know the moment you see another ship out there!” Firch cried.
“Aye Captain!” Marsel and Fultern called back.
Soon, the currents carried the Vesper between the Twins. Duglin thought they were a little close to one of them when Fultern shouted a warning from the prow.
“Rocks ahead!”
He hadn’t time to finish his warning when Raimala shouted. “Helm, four points to starboard!”
“That won’t be enough!” Fultern warned.
Tash glanced at Raimala, who cried. “Do as I say!”
The Vesper shuddered as her keel rubbed against the submerged rocks. Tash gritted her teeth as she held onto the wheel and shot the Captain a quizzical look.
“The Pilot has the con,” Firch said.
After a few heart stopping seconds, the shuddering stopped as the Vesper cleared the Twins, and her crew began to breathe again.
“Helm, ten points to port!” Raimala said before giving the captain an apologetic look. “Sorry, Skip, this second turn is the tricky one and I cut it a little too close.”
Firch nodded. “Let’s have no more mistakes, please.”
“Easier said than done,” Raimala muttered without taking her eyes off the sea ahead of her.