The Scarlet Albatross by Abigail Hilton

Author:Abigail Hilton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Cowry Catchers, The Guild of the Cowry Catchers, epic fantasy, pirates, airships, steampunk
Publisher: Pavonine Books
Published: 2017-03-03T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 31. Before the Wind

They had not been boarded by pirates. However, prompt measures were needed to avoid such an outcome in the near future. Anaroo saw at a glance that the other ship was closer, sailing at a tack and altitude that would intercept the Albatross if they did not alter course soon. Gus heaved the sling over the side, muttering furiously, “I hope you two are done cuddling, because we have got to tack. That, or run hard in the wrong direction.”

Silas replied mildly. “Just so you know, we’re missing a ballonet port cover. There was a tear in the ballonet bladder itself, which I patched, and the butterfly valve is fixed.”

“A ballonet port cover is the least of our concerns,” muttered Gus and thrust the telescope into Silas’s hands.

Silas took it, but instead of using it at once, he moved towards the quarterdeck. “Anaroo, join us for a moment.” On the quarterdeck, Silas spent a long, silent moment looking at the other ship. Not even the tip of his tail twitched. Gus stood behind him, his own tail lashing so hard that it kept slapping Anaroo on the legs.

Finally, Silas said, “I think that’s the Ambergris.”

“I don’t recognize her,” said Gus, “but I don’t know the inner-island ships like you do.”

Silas nodded without taking his eye from the glass. “She’s from Mance, captain by the name of Madras, specializes in expensive perfumes and spices.”

“I doubt he specializes in anything anymore,” muttered Gus. “Is she as fast as she looks?”

“Faster,” said Silas.

Anaroo began to understand why Gus had been so immediately frightened. He had known at a glance that the Ambergris could outrun them. She was a smaller ship, but she had two masts and a long bowsprit like the Albatross. She could probably carry almost as much sail. She was certainly lighter, with only one enclosed deck—the area immediately below the main deck, where her crew probably berthed. Her entire hold was a skeleton, with open stairs and platforms for cargo amongst the air bladders.

Anaroo found herself thinking how vulnerable such a ship would be to arrows. Airships did not fight battles; that was obvious. I am not shooting at a zed ship, Anaroo told herself. Don’t ask me to, Silas.

He lowered the telescope and glanced at her. “How much do you think those zeds know about airships?”

So that’s why I’m up here. “If they’re pirates, they’ll be good sailors. They’ve got enough people over there to work the ship briskly and fight, too.” She hesitated. “But they can’t have had much experience with airships.”

Silas nodded. “They’re not using their pectoral sails properly, but they certainly have the other sails trimmed to perfection.” He glanced at Gus. “Have they changed altitude?”

Gus nodded. “The first thing I did was bring us aloft just to see whether they’d follow. They were a bit sluggish, but they managed it. They’ve figured out how to work their ballonet valves.” He hesitated. “And Anaroo is right. They were not sluggish in stays at all.

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