[09:32p] › WaylandSmith changes topic to: A flat bottom shipped sailing the Vosk towards Port Kar - somewhere between 20-24 passangs from Port Kar
[09:32p] › WaylandSmith changes welcome message to: The weather has cleared up, it’s still fresh but the sun is less anaemic than it was. The Vosk itself is swollen and widening with increasing amounts of water submerging the marshes towards Port Kar.
[09:35p]
WaylandSmith The niggling would allow no further rest, so with a grunt of effort and a wheeze of pain the smith stood up and walked around the ship. Crab seemed in a trance like state - if it wasnt for the fact his arm held the helm and gave it an occasional steer - one might have thought the creature was dozing. Perhaps it is how it recuperated from its wounds? Who was to know, the smith admitted to ignorance in this respect.
[09:35p]
WaylandSmith : Do you thirst or hunger?
[09:36p]
WaylandSmith Crab turned its baleful eyes immediately towards Wayland, even if it had seemed it was dozing it wakened, or at least it was immediately alert.
[09:37p]
WaylandSmith : CRAB: If it pleases my Master, water and some meat would be welcome. My wounds take much of my vitality.
[09:40p]
WaylandSmith Wayland frowned, the words seemingly innocuous rankled him, there was an impertinence or insolence that rang from them that was irksome. Reckoning the creature was trying to get a rise out of him he turned around instead to recover some jerky from his cart. Not wanting the creature's lips to touch his water skin, a bucket was tied with some rope and hung overboard. With his right arm only he drew it up laboriously, steadying it on the side of the ship. Out of breath his verdigris eyes looked to port.
[09:41p]
WaylandSmith The Vosk was unusually wide, swollen with water or perhaps water had come from the sea and flooded the surroundings. In a way this suited him, the large flat area allowed few places to hide - just a little crest over there tufted with reedy plants and that sandbank where trees the Vosk had carried over time had piled up. Nothing to see, except...
[09:43p]
WaylandSmith His eyes narrowed as he thought to have spotted two pointed ears, piercing eyes and bristling fur regarding him. He blinked and when he looked again there was nothing to see - turning round he looked at Crab who seemed to be making some weird hand movement.
[09:44p]
WaylandSmith Pretending not to have noticed Wayland approached the creature at the helm and placed the jerky and bucket of water before the Kurri. The later did not speak but took part of both just giving an inscrutable look of subtle condescension to the smith.
[09:44p]
WaylandSmith : Crab: Stay clear of that clump of trees yonder, they might pierce the bottom of our ship.
[09:45p]
WaylandSmith A flicker of emotion, annoyance, surprise, Wayland was not sure flashed over the face of the Kurri. It was hard to guess what the creature was thinking, it set up a whining wheezing moan before speaking.
[09:46p]
WaylandSmith : Crab: The sandbank guarded by the trees, it is safer to stay close to it the Vosk is undeep and we might run aground.
[09:46p]
WaylandSmith Wayland made a dismissive gesture, making a conscious effort not to show his deeper understanding of the intent of creature.
[09:47p]
WaylandSmith : There is water aplenty in the Vosk and possibly from the sea - the Vosk is plenty deep for the likes of this ship. You will steer 50 ft clear of it at least - Crab.
[09:48p]
WaylandSmith The creature grew agitated and its whining wheezing moan was repeated several times over. When it next spoke its tone was mellifluous and subservient, a form of begging meant to sway a free:
[09:49p]
WaylandSmith : Crab: It is not safe Master, let us sail close to it - I would be remiss in serving you if I did otherwise...
[09:50p]
WaylandSmith It was unable to utter a further word as Wayland had taken the bucket still more than half filled with water and swung it sideways to striker the creature's face with a dull thud. On the return stroke, the smith made sure to empty the remainder of the water over his 'slave'.
[09:52p]
WaylandSmith : Foolish creature, dont lie to me. Even now collared and crippled you seek my doom. Do you think I failed to spot your ally amongst the tree stumps? You were hoping he would jump on board and overwhelm me, quit the servile tone. Just bring the ship to Port Kar and just maybe you will live. Already your treachery meant your life is forfeited.
[09:52p]
WaylandSmith Crab's wheezing whine was repeated but louder.
[09:54p]
WaylandSmith : Crab: You mistake my good care for you Master. 4 of my kind have been following us since the bend 3 passangs ago. If I had not been warning them away they would have boarded the ship already, they seek the ship that you hid at the landing. They presume you either stole or it or are in league with me to steal it - all I did was advise them of my loyalty and to stay away. If you die we will never recover the ship.
[09:55p]
WaylandSmith Wayland was ready to ram the bucket over the Kurri's head this time but something was different in the tone. There was a ring of truth or part truth at least. Still he did not fancy having four Kurri board his ship no matter what deal they might have on offer.
[09:56p]
WaylandSmith : You will steer clear of the trees. When we get to Port Kar, I will release you with the information you need.
[09:59p]
WaylandSmith With that he moved to the left side of Crab and settled down, this was the blinded side of his slave Kurri and he knew the latter could not see him unless he actively turned his head towards him. Settling down he pretended to close his eyes, watching the creature through narrow slits. After 30 ehn or so, he noticed Crab once again signalling with his fingers. A quick look round did not reveal where his pursuers might be but it seemed they were still close by. Could the creature be trusted? Doubtful.
[10:01p]
WaylandSmith Looking ahead, there was small bluff that was not submerged to starboard about half a passang away. Once again despite the ever increasing breadth of the Vosk and the certainly shallow draft of his ship, Crab seemed to have oriented the ship to pass it by. In the distance the higher grounds could be seen and although uncharacteristically no smoke seemed to be rising, the smith did not doubt Port Kar was now very near.
[10:03p]
WaylandSmith Returning to his surreptitious observation of Crab, he seemed to note a renewed nervousness or tic. The creature swung his head in a rapid twisting motion every few ehn, was he in pain? Most likely but the smith sensed the creature was increasingly agitated as if some plan was going awry or conversely might be coming to fruition He turned again to look at the bluff now only a 1/4 passang away and thought to see a shape on it. Or was there one?
[10:07p]
WaylandSmith Whatever it was had ducked away or never been there in the first place. Wayland started to doubt his own senses and felt infected by the real or perceived distress that was wracking his slave Kurr. Unable to repress the need for action, he rose suddenly to his feet and paced round the ship looking to all sides. Was that floating bit of jetsam hiding a lurking Kurri? That large tuft of marshy reeds to Port could it hide a pair of fast skiffs that would catch up with his boat?
[10:09p]
WaylandSmith He bit his lips - he was not a sailor nor was a marine - the only thing he trustedwas his instinct that he was in danger, clear, present and immediate danger. Yet what would it be? The Vosk seemed immeasurably wide, certainly a passang across now, the water seemed brakish and dirty. The smith guessed it had been brought in by the rising sea that had swept over the land in a destructive wave - yet this very breadth of water protected him from a surprise attack. His opponents had nowhere to hide. And yet...