Appease by Demelza Carlton

Author:Demelza Carlton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lost Plot Press
Published: 2018-01-23T05:00:00+00:00

NINETEEN

Sativa hugged the mast as she did the one part of her job she actually liked – keeping watch. Captain Zydrunas' Barbe had a sort of man-sized bucket built at the top of the mast for the lookout, and Sativa would stay there all day, if she could.

It also meant she'd be the first to spot... "Land!" she cried, pointing. It looked like a just a shadow on the horizon, but it was growing larger, and she was sure...

"Check and see if the boy is right," Captain Zydrunas ordered.

Sativa's face grew hot. Last time she'd thought she'd spotted land, it had been a bank of storm clouds. They'd steered well away from them, but the waves had been big enough for her to realise why the lookout had what the crew called a crow's nest: when the ship canted from one side to the other, it was easy for a lookout to fall into the sea and be lost, like the last cabin boy. Sativa had hung on with all her strength and stayed aboard. But today, she was sure she was right. And if she was, it would soon be time to go.

One of the younger men, barely older than Sativa herself, scaled the mast and peered in the direction she'd pointed. "The boy's right!" he shouted.

She was nameless to them, and she'd resolved they'd remain nameless to her, too. Pirate scum such as these did not deserve to be remembered. The moment she arrived on land, she would do her best to forget everything about them.

"That's the coast of Viken. You can see the Sea Tower on the cliff!"

Sativa stared across the sea, hungry for a glimpse of it. Was this the tower Reidar had promised to build for her?

But no matter how long she looked, she couldn't see it. Perhaps when they got closer.

The captain gave orders to make for Viken, and Sativa was ready to dance for joy. Perhaps she wouldn't need to steal a boat at all. Instead, she could simply walk ashore once they docked and vanish into the town. Once she was in Reidar's kingdom, surely his people would help her find him.

By the time the sun sank beneath the western waves, they were no closer to the shadowy land Sativa couldn't wait to call home, and she sank into her hammock distinctly dissatisfied.

Morning brought a renewal of hope, as she started to discern the shapes of trees and then buildings upon the shore.

"Search for somewhere we can go ashore for water," the captain directed. "We're running low."

They weren't headed for a port after all, Sativa realised with a sinking heart. Then she would have to make a run for it when she found the opportunity. When they went ashore for water, perhaps, or at night, if no suitable stream was found.

All day they watched, sailing so close to shore Sativa could count the sheep and cows on the cliffs. Alas, the streams they did find were too hard to reach, and so they sailed on.

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