The Forbidden Land by Kate Forsyth

Author:Kate Forsyth
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Publisher: Random House Australia
Published: 2000-03-25T16:00:00+00:00

Cannons boomed. ‘By the Centaur’s beard, that one was close!’ Dide coughed as black smoke enveloped the Speedwell. They leant the rail, staring at the ships that over pursued them, their yards straining under full sail. The lead ship was so close they could see the yawning black mouths of the cannons and see the men scurrying about on her deck.

‘They be big, those ships,’ Bran said anxiously. ‘Will they catch us, Dide?’

‘Nay, o’ course no’,’ he reassured her. ‘Ye can conjure a wind to sweep them away if they come close enough.’

Bran looked even more unhappy than before. The roar of the cannons sounded again and all were drenched by the lash of spray as the cannonballs missed the little caravel by a whisker.

‘Why do we no’ shoot back?’ Finn demanded.

‘Our range is no’ as long as those cannons,’ the young sailor Tam replied. ‘Why waste cannonballs shooting at the waves?’

‘Once we are past the Devil’s Vortex we should be safe,’ Dide said. ‘They will no’ dare follow us through the whirlpool.’

Finn’s stomach muscles clenched at the thought of facing that whirling maelstrom of water again. Somehow she had never given any thought to what would happen after they had rescued Killian the Listener. She had assumed their adventure would be over and Tìrsoilleir conquered. Yet she realised now how naive that assumption had been. They still had to take Killian the Listener and the other rescued prisoners to meet Lachlan and his army at the border with Tìrsoilleir. It could be months before the words of the earless prophet had ignited a fire strong enough to sweep away the Fealde and the General Assembly, and restore the monarchy. It could be years.

And in the meantime, they still had to escape the angry retribution of Tìrsoilleir’s ruling council, who had sent a fleet of great ships in pursuit. If the journey along the Skeleton Coast had been dangerous before, it was doubly so now, with the great galleons of Tìrsoilleir chasing them with all the power and speed of their massive, billowing sails and their decks of long-range cannons. Already the Speedwell had suffered some damage to her hull and rigging, but with all the extra willing hands, they had been able to repair the damage quickly, without slackening their headlong speed.

The Devil’s Vortex could only be crossed at high tide, when the rocks and reefs that caused the great tumult of water were almost fully submerged. The Speedwell had been tacking about waiting for the tide, and that was how the galleons had managed to come close enough to fire once more. The tide was running high now, though, and the Speedwell changed course once more, heading straight for the treacherous stretch of water. Finn sank down, gathered Goblin in her arms, and shut her eyes determinedly. She had no desire to watch.

‘Six times! Alphonsus the Sure will go down in legend!’ Jay shouted after an eternity of roaring, spinning darkness. ‘Open your eyes, Finn; we’re safe.’

Finn obeyed with alacrity, scrambling up to join the others at the rail.

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