Iron Will by James Maxwell

Author:James Maxwell [Maxwell, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
ISBN: 9781477805138
Publisher: 47North
Published: 2018-01-16T06:00:00+00:00

Snaking clouds crossed the waxing moon, occasionally shrouding the fleet in darkness but then passing to reveal it in sudden light. Ship after ship slid over the sea in a long, ragged column, with the smaller vessels trailing after the warships. Oars were muffled; men spoke in whispers. Only the splash of the paddles and the occasional sailor’s voice split the silence.

Dion stood near the mast of the Liberty, the largest of all the triremes. He glanced up at the sky, jaw clenched tightly, watching the last cloud as it drifted over the moon. As soon as it was gone, bright light glistened on the ripples of the dark sea, shining on the ship’s timbers and the steel weapons and armor of the soldiers. It lit up the faces of the people sitting on the deck, crowded close together, eyes wide with fear. From now on the moon and stars would reveal everything. There were no more clouds to come.

Dion crossed the deck to approach Roxana, standing at the stern and gripping the helm. The moonlight was both a curse and a blessing. It meant that the fleet could be seen easily. But it also aided the difficult task of navigating the Narrows.

Roxana nodded to Dion but kept quiet. Like him, she had one eye for the open sea and another for the vessels following behind. The cliffs on both sides of the narrow passage they had just passed through were far taller than the masts of the ships. The fleet was forced to go one at a time, in single file. Most Xanthian captains were familiar with the route, but few had ever attempted it at night.

Dion was tense as he grabbed hold of the rail and prayed to Silex for the fleet to make it through unscathed. The oars sprouting from both sides of the Liberty moved quietly, but constantly, and the ship’s motion developed a rolling sway as they began to travel the open channel that separated Xanthos from Phalesia. Peering intently, Dion saw that a handful of vessels had made it through already, but it was becoming difficult to make out the rest.

‘Roxana,’ he murmured. ‘Change our angle. I want to be able to see the rest of the fleet.’

‘Of course,’ Roxana replied. ‘Don’t worry, Dion,’ she said quietly. ‘I know every captain. They’ll make it through.’

The Liberty veered off, leaving the vessels behind it to continue the crossing to Phalesia. Dion moved from place to place, stepping with agility around his people, who all watched his face intently as if trying to read what he was thinking. He counted, and saw that all the bigger ships had emerged unscathed. Dozens of smaller boats now exited the Narrows to join the main fleet. There were fishing boats and tiny skiffs, goods barges and small sailing boats. Everything that floated had been assigned to the evacuation. Every vessel was full of pale white faces, drained of all color by the moonlight.

Dion clenched his fists at his sides.

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