The Sorcerer's Return (The Sorcerer's Path) by Brock Deskins

Author:Brock Deskins [Deskins, Brock]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2013-04-25T05:00:00+00:00

***

Zeb turned the ship’s wheel a touch more to starboard to catch a little more wind. It was a favorable blow, and it put them significantly ahead of schedule. The ship had a hold full of fish on ice and other food stores, as well furs from the frozen north. Many of these they would trade in Southport for grain out of the Habberback Plains. They would then load up some cattle and take the grain and remaining furs to Bakhtaran to trade for copper, tin, and spices.

“Will, come grab the wheel!” Zeb called out into the darkness.

Will bounded nimbly across the gently rolling deck and took the steps to the wheelhouse two at a time. Will was younger than most everyone except the greenest crewmembers, but his mind was nearly as sharp as his renowned eyesight, which is why Zeb had made him first mate last year.

“Looks like we caught a good wind, Cap’n.”

“Aye, I think it’s the best I’m gonna pull out of her. Hold her steady while I catch some shuteye.”

“Aye, aye, Cap’n. Best you say thanks to Serron so you don’t blame me if we lose it on my watch,” Will joked.

“I’ll do that, and I’ll say a prayer to keep it the whole way. I think we’ll have us a record if we manage to hold it more than a few days.”

Zeb retired to his cabin and kept his promise by whispering a quick prayer of thanks to Serron for the calm sea and favorable wind. He was glad to be under sail once again. The militarization raging through North Haven and much of the kingdom made him long for the open ocean, where the only doomsday scenarios he had to face were sinking or pirates. An anxious rapping at his cabin door woke him from his troubled sleep. Looking out of the large window in the aft of his stateroom revealed the dull gray of the coming morning.

Zeb crossed the room and tore the door open. “We better be sinking for you to raise all this fuss!”

“Sorry, Cap’n,” Will said with a knuckled salute, “but we got us a stowaway.”

Zeb craned his neck and saw Daebian pinned between two of his sailors. Will stepped aside and the two sailors gave Daebian a push. The boy took a couple steps forward and smiled at Zeb.

“Hi, Zeb!”

“We caught him trying to sneak some food from the galley.”

Zeb took several deep breaths and rubbed his forehead with a calloused hand. “Damn it, boy! Do ya have any idea what ya done?”

“I hitched a ride one of my father’s ships,” Daebian answered easily.

“Does your father know you’re aboard?”

Daebian shrugged. “He might, if he even bothered to look for me.”

“Are you telling me you ran away?”

“It sounds so cowardly when you put it that way. I prefer to say I anonymously chose to no longer be in the same vicinity as my father.”

“I’ll lose at least three days if I have to turn this ship around, all on account of a spoiled boy who got his feelings hurt!”

“Then don’t turn around.

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