Chapter 4
When Jake woke he knew he wasn’t alone. Someone was very near, so he kept his breathing slow, and let the AIA Mind assist him in regulating his body to simulate sleep, while his mind became sharplya alert. Taking the time ot orient himself, “Mind” very helpfully, pulled up a view of where he was to his inner eye.
He was in a small cramped narrow cabin, occupying a cot with a tall man working at a wood counter. He wore white leggings under a white canvas shirt and seemed to wear an apron around his neck as well.
He turned around and dark eyes glanced at Jake from over broad shoulders from a grizzled face. “Now lets see how you be doin young starvling.” The man stepped closer, his eyes taking in Jake from his feet up his boney legs to his concave stomach and ribs showing through his skin.
“I do believe you’l live, despite that nasty knot on your head that’s bruised your en-tire scalp, m-Lord.”
Jake was shocked and relieved. Shocked that he could understand him so well that he seemed to have far less of an accent then those sailors who had dragged me aboard their skiff. Relieved that, supposing this man was a ship’s doctor as the implements, vials and other paraphernalia in this room suggested he might be, the bruise the AIA had engineered, was apparently quite real, and unable to detect as a fake.
Deciding this had gone on long enough, Jake made the decision to more fully enter this world. He Heaved a deep breath and opened his eyes.
The doctor or physician, or whatever he was, started back and then said, “Well it's about time, lad. We’ve a nasty brig-war hunting this sloop, and only the shoal waters an this maze of little islets and shoals is protecting us.”
Jake started to gather himself to rise, but the doctor put out a hand to his chest. “ No, no, don’t get up. That hit to your head needs quiet.”
Jake let himself relax, taking in the older man. Unshaven and a bit unkempt as the physician was, he was attractive in a dissipated sort of way, and his dark eyes were alert under his grey flecked brows and salted dark curly hair, the latter of which was tied back in a rough que.
“I be Sim-Cothbit, for me ill ways, the saw-bits a this here vessel. And you… well… not that I make a habit of studying the seals on rings, but that ring on your hand declares you have some no so distant relation to the ruling family a Nor. Can you tell me your name, lad?”
Jake hesitated but then made the decision to respond, increasing the mystery of himself was probably not the best idea. Slowly and carefully, leaning on Mind to enunciate the way he thought the former Paraldon might have done, he said, “I am Par, Par-Aldon.” Jake's voice came out in a bass croak.
The other man nodded and grunted in a way that suggested he was not surprised by the name. “Aye, well we were sent out lookin for survivors and it appears we found one.” He grabbed a ten cup and handed it to Jake who saw it was half filled with water. He drank it thirstily.
The doctor or Saw-bits as the man referred to himself, nodded again. “Your half-starved and weak as a newborn kitten, but you’ll mend, m-lord. We didn’t find anyone else, and we been out here fer a hand at least. You stay here, m-Lord I’ll be telling our Mr. Wil-Kait, our senior officer, who you are, m-Lord. And… “he bent, picking up some folded clothing, putting them in a small pile by my side on the bed cot. Yid best be putting something on. From that ring yours, I told him what ya might be and he loaned out one of his spares for ya to wear. I, ah been spongin the ointment off ya I put on to heal the skin burns, but I think ya could manage clothing if yer careful. I’ll be back with the Captain in a only a bit. You dress but don’t move around much. Mind yer head injury.”
He gave Jake a nod, or something between an awkward nod and a bow to the gaunt young man whose face was somewhat hidden by long black hair, and with just a few steps turned and left what this ship had as an infirmary.
With him not watching, jake moved more quickly, examining the clothing. It comprised a blue waist coat with a single ring of yellow threading woven around each cuff. The waist coat was so weather warn the blue was a faded sky blue. The leggings were white and clean but worn and proved to be more of a leotard in that they had shoulder straps to keep them up. Jake pulled those on first and found that he was a bit tall for them, the material pulling up under him but otherwise fitting loosely, the result of Jake’s thinness. There was a canvas shirt of stained off white that tucked into the blue sash hooked on around his waist. The sash was this world’s answer to a belt and the straps and leotard an answer to trousers. Worn and faded as it was. Jake’s large cock was making a statement down the inside of his right thigh, which, considering how thin his legs were, was hardly flattering.
A pair of worn oiled boots waited for me to try. They were a touch snug but the leather or whatever it was, seemed to rubbery and stretchy to be leather. They came up to just below the knee and would do.
Jake was just pulling the second one on when the ship’s surgeon, Som-Cothbit stepped back in and moved aside for another.
The second man leaned in and then let his feet follow as their eyes met. His eyes were a striking set of turquoise that were startling in his dark lashes under light brown brows and a head of thick wavy golden hair.
He wore a far more richly and fresh version of what Jake wore, and Jake's eyes went right down his slender but well-made form to a very nice-looking outline of manhood tucked down his left thigh which Jake’s eyes glued themselves to. His own grey eyed gaze lifted back up the well-made body to that face and halted, mesmerized. The man, he guessed to be an officer, was beautiful. Jake’s lips parted as he took in the sensual mouth below flaring nostrils that dressed a narrow nose. To either side of the mouth dimples deepened laugh lines, the soft lines of a man who laughed often.
Jake found himself drawn to those lips but back again to the eyes which were beautiful, upturned at the outer corners, with an almost feline shape to them.
He started to get up, but Mind’s internal voice cautioned, “You are weak and injured.” Startled, Jake jerked, winced, and with a slight groan sat back again.
“Bits!” hissed the officer, and Cothbit said, “Easy their lad. Sudden moves will not do that injury any good.”
The officer studied Jake for a moment but then said, “I understand you have confirmed the surgeon’s guess that you are a member of the Nor royal family?”
Jake slowly nodded and said, “Yes.”
The officer nodded. “This ship, the four pult cutter SkyLark and crew were ordered to sea to look for survivors from the Waverlie, which sank after refusing to surrender to an Imperial Squadron. The battle was witnessed by fisherman off the West Coast. The swing this far south was our last attempt. Its been nearly sox hands since the sinking." And Jake didn't need "Mind" to translate that as nearly a month. It’s a miracle we found you and might not have if we weren’t being chased by an enemy wear brig with twice our pulting power.”
Jake just looked at the office, reluctant to plunge too far into something before he knew more. What he knew as buried in memories of the young dead Par-Aldan, retrievable only through AIA at need.
“M-Lord, Par? Master Cothbit said you had confirmed your name.”
Jake simply nodded and the very handsome office continued with an amazed smile. “we are .. overwhelmed to know you are alive. I believe your family and the navy fears you lost, an quite, ah, dead, sir.”
Jake decided a little personality might be offered and he managed a wry,. “Not quite.”
“Well, Sir, I am Light Lieutenant Wil-kait, the officer said, pronouncing his name in the elided way of “Wilkait.” He smiled a brief smile at Jake.
“With that brig hunting us, we sailed on a reach, as best point of sail, but the enemy clearly has a wethworker aboard, to judge by the speed in which they gained on us. The only thing I could think to do was head for this Bram-wood Isle cluster and nip in as close as we dare to the shallows behind the shoals. That brig will draw at least a meter more than us, and we are hidden by a thicket of Bram trees. To get to us they will need to enter the cove at high tide.”
Jake, a Commander in a far-flung space navy, accepted the officer’s deference as his due, listening to this report as he would any other. But he was not ready for what came next.
“My Lord, you are doubtless my senior I am a mere Light Lieutenant, and I believe you are a full Lieutenant or were, aboard the Waverlie. I will gladly relinquish command if you …”
Jake put up a hand and winced, feigning pain from his head. “No, I …this… is your ship.”
“Sir, you should…” L. Lt. Wil-kait began, but Jake shook his head, albeit slowly and carefully.
“I am in no condition.” Jake said, deliberately, and you are aware of your situation. Retain command.”
Wil-Kait vented a breath and looked visibly relieved, though he attempted to hide it. “Until you recover, then M-Lord.”
Jake closed his eyes and gave him a very slow nod. L. Lt. Wil-kait rose from where he perched on the countertop. “I will return to my duties then. Please rest, Sir and get better, and once again, we are very glad to have you back with us.” Wil-kait retreated from the little cabin.
Jake badly wanted to go up on deck, however long it might take to get himself there, but the surgeon returned and took a seat. “Let me put some soothing salve on that bump.”
Jake grunted assent.
Cothbit loomed over Jake, bending to peer at Jake’s eyes. “My Lord, pardon, but it be best if I asked you a few questions, see if that wound might have affected your memory.
Jake gathered himself and warned the AIA to be ready with whatever data was needed.
“Well let's start with an easy one. “Who is your mother?”
“My mother?” Jake repeated softly and slowly.
“Yes, her name.” Cothbit pressed, gently.
Jake let him wait as the AIA searched dead but recorded memory. The answer came quickly, so Jake, prompted by the AIA, said, “Alera.”
The surgeon looked at him, saying nothing and Jake finally said. “Is there a problem with that answer?”
Cothbit smiled wryly and shrugged. “I have no idea. I only know of the names of the Gre-Duchessa of Nor and her immediate children, and not her grand and great git and all their common mates. Oh, and every one knows the sigil of the Dukal line. So can you tell me your grand -mare’s name?”
“Which one?”
He shrugged. “Either, my Lord.”
“Lady… Tia is one… and “
Cothbit nodded. “That will do, my Lord. Now, do you remember how you got that wound to your head?”
Mind’s internal voice interjected. “Paraldon was aloft when the main mast of the ship he served on was dismasted. He fell into the sea and was killed when a piece of rigging followed him down and crushed some of his skull. And yet apparently, he survived at sea for many days. It is questionable that he would remember any of that if he had not eventually succumbed. The wound was extensive and part of the reason memory ingrams were taking so long to be imbedded into your biologically based flesh.
Jake waited a long moment, giving him time to consider how to play this. It was his back story for who he would be on this world. Vagueness was his safest option. “I don’t… there is … something. I remember the … mast… I was … aloft, I think. We fell… the ship…”
“Aye the Waverlie, a fine ship. A fine crew and her Captain one of our best. Sad to have lost them, but “at least we found you.” He smiled, and I carefully smile back.
“Do you remember anything more?”
“Something – heavy, hit me, and I remember bleeding slowly, trying to hang onto some rigging. I don’t know how long. I drifted away from other parts of the wreckage over many days.”
“It’s a miracle something didn’t come along, drawn by the blood.” The ship's saw-bits observed.
Jake closed his eyes and leaned back onto the bed.
Cothbit looked him over and nodded. “Your weak from lack of food, I expect, skin and bones, you are. Lets get you aft and maybe the Wil-Kait’s steward can get some food into ya. Here, now, I’ll help you.”
Leaning heavily on Som-Cothbit, Jake moved very slowly out into the lower deck of the little ship, moving past gear, two mess tables, hammocks slung to the low ceiling of the lower deck. Cothbit urged him aft to a wooden door and into what had to be the great cabin which included a small dining cabin. Jake glimpsed through a door a stern cabin with large ports, a large desk with charts, a few trunks, and not much else, though there were some chests.
Overhead he could hear the soft sounds of bare feet, and the sound of low orders.
“Clatty, lad were are ya?” Jake's companion called out as he helped Jake into a seat at the table.
“Here, Bits.”
A young man possibly not through his teens appeared wearing nothing but white leotard rolled down low on his hips and an apron. Freckled, red headed and sporting a gap in his front teeth, he looked Jake over with frank curiosity.
“Don’t stare, ya fool. Now get his Lordship here some bread, cheese, and a bit of the ship’s stew if ya got it handy, aye and a slice er two of fruit in a tankard of water.”
“Ee’s a Lord?”
‘An Alden Lad, related to the Gre-Duchessa Herself, he is. Now git to it.”
“Gor -fuckin all!” gasped the boy.
Jake raised a hand to hide a smile as the boy jerked into motion, scurrying out of sight. It seemed some ancient four-letter English words had survived as well on this planet as they had in space.
A few minutes later after Jake had been ensconced in a comfortable chair at the table, a tubby bear of a young man appeared carrying a tray with large bowl of something that smelled good if different. Whatever, Jake was more than willing to try it. This new body was gaining strength every second, but it craved food, just as a real body would.
“This is our ship’s cook, Wotlin, and the cabin boy, Clatty Renlibit, Cothbit introduced.
Jake was to learn that in this part of the world, many men and women had family names of Lin or Lit, or Bit, which considering the saw-bits was a Bit, he found vaguely amusing. the most common one of all being, as on old terra, Lee.
They three men hovered there and Jake realized they were waiting for Jake to try the food., lifting a hand to toss back his mane of hair, he picked up the wooden spoon like utensil, and dug in, taking a tentative bite. There was a definite consistency of shellfish mixed with a smattering of vegetables and green but crisped that crunched with a salty taste, he learned was a type of seaweed.
The doctor shooed both men away when Jake nodded satisfaction s those first bites quieted his unruly gut.
The surgeon sat across from him, watching him eat, cautioning him to go slowly. Jake did his best to comply.
Finally, as much to slow his eating as anything, he asked,
“Can you tell me more of our situation, Master Cothbit. Mr. Wil-kait said you are being hunted by an Empire ship.” Jake was careful to speak so as not to betray an otherworldly accent. The AIA, Mind, was coaching him, and let “Mind” shape his mouth words for him.
But Jake could feel some mental click of correctness when he managed an entire sentence correctly as if a vest age of the original Par -Alden approved. Indeed if he pronounced something oddly, he felt definite discomfort.
“Aye, we picked up that enemy brig a few days ago, and the Lieutenant has been doing what he can to keep us out of their clutches. Unfortunately, it's taken us away from Nor and any protection our ships might give us. We’ve no weather worker, so no way to grant ourselves extra speed.”
The physician paused as Jake continued to eat. He was really enjoying the taste of actual natural food.
“If they find us, do we have hand weapons?” Jake asked.
“Oh Aye, you might be wanting a sword, not that you're in any condition to fight.”
“Might not have a choice.” Jake said..
“I’ll be right back.” Som Cothbit said, and rising from across the table from me with a little bow he headed up some steps to the deck. Jake busied himself eating, pretending not to hear the just audible sounds of hushed discussion from above. By the time he was spooning up the last dregs of the stew, Coth0bit was back bearing a leather encased object that curved slightly, leaving a hand guard and handle made of some sort of cream-colored wood exposed. “We have a few spare Salcuts in storage taken from the enemy. The bosun went over the blade, giving it a quick go over, but the blade is yours, m-Lord, by order of our young Captain.”
A salcut was this worlds name for a bladed weapon like a sword, but also referred to a type of sword. Jake slowly drew the blade from its sheath and immediately recognized the fine forged quality of something very like the Japanese katana. It made sense. Everywhere Jake looked there were hints of old earth oriental culture, from some wood carving design in the wood trim of the cabin, to sigils on the edges of charts that Jake could see from my seat at the table.
He rose, slowly, blade in hand and moved the blade in a slow snake like dance. Jake had always delighted in martial arts training, even though one rarely needed it in Space unless facing an actual boarding action. But that, he suspected, was about to change.
He raised a wooden tankard and pouring water into it, gulped all that down in one tipping up gulping session. Awwhhh, that felt so good. He felt my body pulling energy from what he had taken in and knew he had never felt anything like it. This body didn’t just recharge, it took every erg of nutrient and made mountains out of it. Putting the empty tankard down and then sheathing the salcut with the other hand, Jake said to the Cothbit, “Thank you, but now I think I better go up and take a look at our situation.”
“Aye, my lord. And my lord you're looking better already. Never saw a man improve so fast with a single bowl of stew.”
“I am feeling much better, thank you.”
“Take care, my lord, from the look of that wound on your head you may have suffered a skull fracture. A slight one to be sure, but I daren’t recommend a lot of unnecessary fast movement.”
Jake nodded and gave the older man a bow, which seemed to fluster him, as he flushed and quickly bowed back.
Slowly, taking my time so as not to alarm the surgeon, Jake essayed the steps to the deck I had seen others use and shortly arrived above. A gentle breeze stirred his black hair, which contrary to the bruising beneath it, was not painful at all. He could see the day was marching on toward sunset. A dense canopy of trees stretched overhead close enough that only careful anchoring had kept the masts from being entangled. To one side he could see an opening that revealed a not-too-distant Island shore. A plant like bamboo grew everywhere out of the sea, tall and more massive than it’s earthly counterpart. Rooted into the sea, Jake realized were large floating brown boulders.
The AIA supplied the name of “Bramwood.”
Bram came to Jake from Par’s dim memories directly as well, something that startled Jake. He hoped more would come.
But Jake now remembered that Bram wood was a sea born wood that floated on the sea surface in huge forests of horizontal tree trunks with roots at both ends and springing up into the sky like the shoots of bamboo he was seeing now. Bram wood came in various colors and hardness. Brown Bram was the most basic wood and made up the trunks. Quite hard, it was used for ship hulls, and on Cerule, it was an inexhaustible supply. Black Bram was super hard, and used for armor, as was a somewhat less dense Grey Bram. Black Bram was also used for rigging, the ships masts and spars. White bram was often used as a solid form of trim and décor which was easily carved. From the looks of things, white Bram was used like teak on old earth or like jade. Gold Gram was also used for trim but was considered soft and quite vulnerable to damage, more like ivory or bone.
As all this information came to Jake, like a daydream, Jake took in the white Bramwood on the deck, the brown Bram on the side gunwales, and cabin works with new eyes tinged by familiarity from the original Par's memories.
“Lord Par-alden, I see you have a sword.” Came a hushed voice to my right, and I turned to see the Light Lieutenant, Wil-Kait. “And your looking much better, my Lord.”
“Appearances are deceiving.” Jake said, knowing he looked not much more substantial than a skin covered skeleton with black hair, weaving just a bit as if on weak legs. He put out a hand as if to be steadied, and Wil-kait was right there at his side, taking Jake’sjacket covered bicep in his firm grip. He guided Jake over to a corner of the main deck where there was a sort of wooden shelf not far from the ship’s wheel where Jake settled..
“What is happening?” Jake asked, looking around.
“Scouts have reported four long boats with seaman from the enemy brig, hunting through the shoals for us. They could be upon us at any time. We have anchored so as to give our Pelters a good range of sight toward the mouth of this cove, but it won’t take them long to charge in under our fire and board us, m-Lord. I wish we could set sail and attempt to escape, but we don’t have a wethwork aboard. And we can be certain that they do.”
“I see you have bowmen stationed in your own boat out by that opening.” Jake said observing six seamen, two of them with bows in the distance tucked just inside the opening in the Bram hollow their ship rested within.
“Aye m-lord. We can try to take some of them out before they reach us.”
Jake was still trying to get used to being referred to as “my lord” though a distant part of him was more than comfortable hearing it.
Looking at the handsome officer at his side, Jake had a sudden impulse to reach over squeeze the young man’s flank, which looked extremely hot in those skintight leggings. He had to smile, despite the attraction for men that was now so undeniable that kept surprising him.
Well at least that was consistent with the old Commander Jake. Jake’s libido had always been heightened by danger. Apparently, nothing had changed.
“I am sure you have the situation well in hand.” Jake told him. Even in the late day sun Jake saw him the Light Lieutenant blush. “Thank you, my Lord. If you have any suggestions…”
“If I do I will let you know.”
As the sun set and dusk moved in, Wil-Kait ordered ships boat with its archers back to the ship to rest. He reasoned that those enemy long boats would also return to their ship to rest before resuming their hunt at dawn. Jake was less convinced of that, thinking that the best time for the enemy to attack would be in the dark, but kept his own council. For all I knew, Wil-kait might well be right.
Jake did not have to sleep, not really. This body was like a ship. It needed fuel, but it could run for an eternity without any sort of rest if it had to. The only limit was that the more energy he expended, the more the body needed to absorb or digest to compensate. However the Ellumian crystalline material in every cell of his new body absorbed Ellumian in the very air of the planet. He felt stronger with every minute that passed, and with those minutes, could actually feel stringy sinew and thin muscle beginning to grow over his body.
Unseen by anyone in the gloom, Jake, Par-Alden grew stronger, readying himself for whatever needed to be done. His new friends, Wil-Kait and crew, left him alone, and thus could not see the subtle changes going on with their young Lord.
“Mind", where is the enemy?” Jake subvocalized.
The enemy ship is at anchor, 4 kilometers away to the east of our position, but four long boats still hunt among this configuration of shoals and Bramwood water plants. They have not turned back to their ship.
Jake got up from where he sat and walked over to the young Captain, making an effort to hide the spring in his step. Lightenant Wil-kait who stood silent watch by the helm as he sipped some hot cyder.
“I could do with a tankard of that myself.” Jake said. A seaman nearby answered. “I’ll get it for you, m-Lord.”
Jake stood beside Wil-Kait and became aware that the Lieutenant kept glancing at him. The Lightenant sighed. “Do you think I should have kept the men out there?”
Jake paused, but then allowed, “This is your ship. But I just have this nagging suspicion that they are more determined then might be usual for Imperial ships. Perhaps my experience has humbled my view.”
There was another long moment but then he jerked a nod. “Aye, I will let them eat their dinner, then send them out again.”
“Mind, can we give the crew time for food?” I silently asked the AIA.
The AIA’s answer was quick. “Affirmative. At their current slow pace, they are a few hours from discovering us.”
Jake mentally commanded, “Please review all best martial arts forms and prepare our muscles and flexibility. I may appear half starved to death, but I need full function.”
The AIA’s response was immediate, “You already have full function. When you were given the sul=cut sword, I prioritized bladed martial forms. I can speed your responses to up to three times human norm.”
Jake hid an urge to slump with relief.
The crew got their dinner, eating in silence in the mess below, many of them eating at their station by the pulters, this world's version of guns..
Jake himself, went below and retrieved a plate of salted meat, some more of the green seaweed which tasted surprisingly good, even if you had to chew it for a long time, and which Mind said was very rich in nutrients, a rice like bowl that was actually called “rice,” but which was dark brown. The meat was a pork like meat called gark, which was raised by large rodent like animal that ate pretty much anything from smaller slow animals to all sorts of vegetation and even fish, and which was very veined with fat, and quite delicious.
Wil-kait joined me on the deck, both of us eating from plates held by one hand while we forked up food with chop sticks.
To pass the time Jake asked him about his family, and was told that Wil-kait had a male Consort waiting for him. The Lieutenant’s mate worked as a designer of house robes for men and women, but who had lately been branching out with day wear for men, serving some of wealthy in Nor’s capital city of Accao.
Jake felt a sinking feeling as he heard from the first attractive man he’d met on this planet, or nearly, that the man was taken in some sort of wedlock.
Angie might have cheated on Jake, but he wasn’t going to tempt another man to cheat on his husband. On the other hand, Jake was relieved to find that man to man love was not frowned up at all in Cerulean culture but considered quite normal. Jake knew of worlds where bigotry against those of same sex orientation was common.
“I imagine he misses you very much.” He said.
“As I miss him,” Wil-kait said, “but Tel-en has an assistant in his shop who is very handsome, and very helpful, if you see what I mean.”
Jake did but was surprised by the young officers off hand tone. “You do not seem to mind?” he asked.
Wil-kait shook his head. “What can I do? I would not have Tel-en be deprived because I choose to serve at sea. I could be killed, taken prisoner. Anything could happen. It is best he has another to love in my absence, or to at least keep him from loneliness.”
He fell silent and Jake did not think he should pry further, but hen Wil-Kait said, “When we were consorted, he was just starting his business, and in need of a partner who could provide him with a steady subsistence to live on. I could do that. We were very romantically passionate at the time, and we eventually wish to adopt and raise children together, but we both know most of that work would fall to him, unless I am stationed ashore. That is unlikely, considering the pressure from the Empire on small nations like the Gre-duchy. Cri-set understands, that’s his assistant, and when I am home, he either steps back, or if I invite, joins us.”
Jake could almost feel Wil-kait’s grin in the darkness as the latter said, “Cris-et is a beautiful young man. I can understand what my consort sees in him. And, besides, he is very good in bed.”
That opened Jake's eyes and it came to him, suddenly, if dimly, through Par’s misty memories, that Cerule society was very complicated. The Par of old would have taken as a given that the birth rate of Cerule was imbalanced, with three men to one woman, more or less, and part of that was a very high ratio of miscarriages among women pregnant with a female fetus.
What it meant was that women tended to have both a formal spouse, a trusted consort called, a husband, a consort also, and a second consort referred to as a Paramount. A paramount was considered a temporary love interest. A consort was considered to be a second husband.
“Do you intend to marry a husband or raise you Tel-en to Husband?” I asked, once I was certain I had the ranks of those in my head correctly.
“Perhaps, but since I am so much at sea, it would be more proper to let him choose a husband who can be with him all the time. Cri-set is his paramount, but… he could raise him to husband. I would accept that and understand.”
Mind interrupted me, “Enemy boats are still moving and approaching this area of the network of Bram Isles. ETA, forty minutes if they remain on this course.”
“That was excellent food, but then again, I can’t eat enough after losing so much weight.” Jake said, rising. “Time to send the men out again?”
He sighed, get\ting up.. “Aye, aye.” Moments later, at his orders, the ship’s single long boat wasbeing prepared to take archers out to the bram cove's entrance. this time crowded with eight archers. That left only thirty two men to man the ship and it’s pulters. Jake strolled over close to one of the pulters, as if studying it. which put him deep in gloom.
There the last of four moons had descended and it was inky black. Jake looked around at the action of men moving in the dark, and realized it was time for him to perform a disappearing act. Slipping to the ship’s stern cabin, , Jake kickd off his boots and his borrowed jaket, stripping to just the sash and leggings, before climbing through the port out one of the three large stern ports and lowering himself ocer the side. He grasped his sword just before slipping into the water with as quiet a splash as he could manage. Tucking the sword through the sash, he slipped underwater and began to swim. All this he managed while the boat was being loaded with men. He hadn’t told Wil-Kait, or anyone else of his plans, but something had to be done.
Guided only by “Mind,” he swam for the exit of the Bram-boo hollow the ship hid within, clearing it in minutes before turning to port and arrowing out between bram floating Islands. He swam smoothly and powerfully, but with minimal splashing, ducking beneath as he drew close. The enemy row boats were not far off and closing. Within twenty minutes or so, he was slipping up under the first of the four. With his sword, he jabbed up into the rowboats underbelly just left of the slight keel through a seem between planks, that ran the length of the narrow hull. The sword stuck fast. Grasping the hilt in both hands he turned it. He heard startled voices from above filtering down through the water, but he paid little head, turning the blade a bit more while leveraging himself by holding onto the keel with one arm and turning with the other.
Once he was satisfied with his damage, pressed his feet against the bottom and pushed off downward, yanking the sword free, and leaving behind what he hoped would be a large enough leak to slow the enemy down.
Without surfacing he followed the sounds of oar blades, and managed to catch the fourth and last craft, and slammed the sword upward into that boat bottom, where he managed two twists through the Bram – wood plank seams. Once more, he pressed his feet to the boat bottom to push down, yanking the sword free.
Then he waited. He had no desire to cause deaths, but only to avoid them. From the thrashing of oars and changes of movement above, he suspected he had caused enough consternation. He smiled to himself as the other two boats returned to help. The sounds of men crowding the remaining craft became audible. No one had jumped into the sea to find out what was snagging the bottoms of their long boats, for which Jake was grateful.
Figureing he had caused enough problems for the enemy to deal with, Jake let the AIA guide him back to the Skylark. If his plan worked the enemy would have to double up on two boats. Either they would turn back, or come ahead far more slowly.
Undetected back at the Skylark when he emerged, he climbed the stern line up to the stern port and finding it unlatched still, slipped inside. Shrugging on his clothes, he slipped silently around onto the aft deck, appearing like a gaunt specter in the single small dim lamp light.
“My Lord you are up again. I thought perhaps you had sought your rest.”
"I can't sleep." He said, shrugging.
Jake moved to the stern rail, conscious of his wet leggings. grateful it was too dark for anyone to see how wet they were. He.returned to the stern rail away from the others where he could commune with the AIA and mumble to his hearts content. “Where are the enemy?”
“They have coalesced to two long boats. The two you gouged with a sword are slowly sinking, but the two remaining, are too overloaded to continue and have turned around.”
“Then it is time for plan b.” jake thought at the AIA.
He strolled back over the the Light Lieutenant, touched his arm and said, “With me, please, a moment.”
Wil-Kait didn’t argue but came quickly. At the stern rail, he turned to the other and said, “You offered me command of this ship.”
“I did, my Lord. You are a full Lieutenant and I…”
“I want you to keep command but trust me.”
“Of course?” Wil-kait stepped closer.
“I have been in these Islands for many days swimming here and there. I know the lay out well. Put me at the helm once we are clear of this Bram-boo inlet, and I will steer us out through the dark to open sea and the enemy need not be the wiser. If we wait till day light, we will surely have a fight on our hands we might not win.”
“The enemy could be upon us at any moment.” The Lt. Lieutenant said, softly.
“In which case we fight anyway. There is a breeze from the south, off the Island shore. We drop the anchor from the long boat at the entrance and winch us up to it picking it up at the mouth and should have steerage way to turn to starboard and catch the wind. . We will move and they would have to row hard to catch us, if indeed they are close enough this night to see us.”
Wil-kait still hesitated so Jake added, with a touch of the color in his voice of a man of greater experience. And fortunately, he did know how to sail quite well. Between that and the experience of the late Par-Alden to guide him, he felt reasonably sure he could carry it off.. "There is a time to fight, Mister Kait and a time to sail away for another day. This is that time.”
Wil-kait leaned closer and said, “You do realize, My Lord that if you are wrong, it will be the end of our careers?”
“If I am wrong, we will likely be dead, Mr. Wil-kait.”
“Aye Sir. Now?”
“Now.” he said and raised a hand to give his shoulder a squeeze. “The time is Now, Captain.”
The Light Lieutenant clasped Jake’s hand on his shoulder and raised it to his lips, kissing it. “I am glad you are feeling stronger, My Lord Par.”
Jake’s jaw dropped a bit as a bolt of pleasure plunged to his groin, his cock twitching.
The handsome Light Lieutenant looked as if he wanted to say more, but instead, he turned and moved away to the others. Jake soon heard the soft sound of whispered commands, all of which he listened to, very carefully, learning more of the seaman terminology. The Commands were soon followed by the sound of moving feet but no talking.
Within minutes the long boat had taken on the anchor, rowing it against the breeze out of the Bram-boo cove dropping it beyond the mouth entrance with a distant splash. Soon after the long boat was bumping the side as the men regained the ship, a few of them rushing to join the others at the capstan, to pull the Skylark on its anchor cable out of the cove.
Meanwhile other men scurried in the dark to set the fore and aft sails, which went creaking aloft to luff gently in the breeze, sheet lines slack as we began to glide along more quickly. The men at the capstan were walking fast now, round and around, gaining enough speed for the ship to ride over and pull up the anchor with its weight.
Jake waited with bated breath for the moment the anchor came loose.
There was the slightest tug, but it was up. Jake heard the chain clanking softly as the anchor was brought home. Taking a deep breath, he moved to the ship’s wheel.
“Lord Par has the helm,” Light Lieutenant Wil-kait said softly as Jake stepped in beside the helmsman, who stepped back.
Taking the wheel, Jake spun it to the right and after a brief moment the ship answered coming round to starboard and onto the port tack.
:Sheet home” Wil-kait commanded. All luffing stopped as the sails caught the wind.
All was black ahead, no stars in the sky, Now it was up the AIA in Jake’s head to estimate distance course and speed.
“Well Mind?” Shake uttered.
“Steady as you go for two minutes then port fifteen degrees for six to seven minutes, then hard to starboard forty degrees..”
“That’s enough for now. Feed to me at each time….” Jake thought quickly, getting an affirmative.
The first course change came rapidly. Jake made it, looking down at the dimly glowing compass, trying not to over steer as he got used to the way the ship handled.
A moment later the black was complimented by a looming lattice of black and the sound of rustling leaves, which passed harmlessly down their starboard side.
Whispers followed above the sound of the sea as the men could not contain their excitement at the near avoidance, “owe dee know t turn, its bloody black out.” One voice whispered in a half squeek.
“Silence there! Sound carries at sea.” Wil-Kait snapped daring to use more of his voice then a whisper.
Jake blocked the efforts at crew control from the others and concentrated on steering as the AIA guided him.
Several minutes later the AIA, said, “Caution, narrow gap ahead, you will need to steer hard to starboard and then reverse and hard to port instantly to have a chance of clearing on “Mind’s” mark, the AIA said, referring to itself.
Jake didn’t have time to ponder that, as the AIA commanded sharply. “Now!”
Jake spun the wheel over and held it in place and after three seconds was commanded, “Now to port”
Jake was spinning
A moment later a branches swept the port side, hitting the ratlin and port stays with strong brushes that did not, fortunately, crack a branch or damage the ship, which was already pivoting back to port to avoid another Bram floating Island.
No branches this time but there was a loud scrape rub along the starboard hull and looming darkness. The crew were petrified into shocked stillness.
“Clear deep waters ahead on a course for the Gre Duchy of Nor which lies North by North East. We are clear of all Bram Islands.” The AIA reported.
With a sense of overwhelming relief, Jake brought the ship on course.
“The enemy?” Jake thought.
((Scanning.)
Jake didn’t have long to wait.
“The remaining long boats have reached the enemy which appears anchored to the East of the fixed land Island inside the Bram Isles. There is no sign of detection.
Almost, he stepped back from the helm, but dammit, it felt good to have the ship under his hands, so he kept the helm for a few minutes until he realized the men around him on that ship had no idea that they were clear, and their tension was palpable.
“Gentlemen, Captain, we are clear. I relinquish the helm.”
Jakestepped back and the helmsman stepped back in with a whispered, “That was .. a bloody miracle, My-Lord.”
”You think so, do you? I for one thought we were fucked.” Jake said lightly and the men around him all laughed the sort of laugh one feels with hysterical relief, though Jake noted their laughter was still hushed. And that was just as well, he thought. Something told him they were not out of danger yet.
