Secrets of the Stonechaser (The Law of Eight Book 1) by Nicholas Andrews

Author:Nicholas Andrews [Andrews, Nicholas]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Stray Publishing
Published: 2014-07-17T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

CAPTAIN JORGA WAS a large man with a big belly, and a bushy beard which hung almost to his chest. His eyes were friendly, his demeanor genial, and he had taken them onto his ship for a mere pittance. But that did not mean Nerris had to like him.

He was fond of the man himself. However, Captain Jorga was loud, blustery, smelled of smoked fish, and his carelessness at sea gave Nerris nightmares whenever he chanced to sleep near open water. In his favor, Captain Jorga was a fast friend to the Thrillseekers and agreed to set sail two days before schedule. He greeted Nerris with a crushing bear hug as he reached the top of the gang plank.

“I couldn’t believe my eyes when Jhareth marched up to my ship,” he said, following with a big belly laugh. “What luck my love and me happened to be in the city when you needed my help!” He affectionately patted the rail of the ship he had named The Sea Tart.

“Yes, luck,” Nerris muttered, dreading the seasickness to come.

“And what have we here?” Jorga said, catching sight of Len-Ahl. “My, you are a pretty one. It’s not often one sees the Thrillseekers with a woman. Aye, haven’t seen a lass like you since we sailed the skies with the lovely faermaid Laria Salville.” He craned his neck in Jhareth’s direction. “Jhareth, didn’t you have a thing for her?”

Nerris rolled his eyes. Jorga would spend all day reminiscing if they let him. “Len-Ahl, this is our old friend Captain Jorga,” he said. “He’s helped us out in a few tight predicaments.”

“You said you sailed the skies?” Len-Ahl said with wonder.

“Aye!” Jorga turned back to them and beamed at Len-Ahl. “A skyship, wonder of the ancient world, based on a lost art of ship making. The Skylark, Jamellos Laveston dubbed her.”

“We had somewhere very high we needed to go,” Nerris explained. “Our benefactor at the time, Jamellos Laveston, spent several years researching ancient tomes and texts for clues on how to restore a ship which could fly through the air.” He jerked his head toward Jorga. “He finally succeeded, and then this lump crashed it.”

“Hey,” Jorga protested. “I was the one you picked to pilot, wasn’t I?”

“You were the only one fool enough to volunteer,” Dist said as he passed by.

“Jorga has this thing with his ships,” Nerris told Len-Ahl. “They tend to end up at the bottom of the ocean, sooner or later.”

“It’s my curse,” Jorga admitted.

“It’s because you like to drink behind the helm,” Dist said, looking around. “For the love of Clystam, Jorga, didn’t anyone ever tell you when you sink the old boat, you buy a better one? There are patches in the sails!”

Dist pointed up, and Nerris followed his finger. Sure enough, the main mast looked like it had succumbed to a bout of leprosy. All throughout the deck, as well, were quite a few spots where rotten wood had been replaced with planks and boards nailed over the holes.

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