The Swords of Corium (Hyborean Dragons) by Larson B. V

Author:Larson, B. V. [Larson, B. V.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Fantasy
Published: 2011-04-27T16:00:00+00:00

-10-

Corium sat upon the sea. Along the seaboard side, the walls did not stand upon the edge of the ocean. South of the southern wall a large dock district existed. Between the docks and the rest of the city stood a heavy gate, which normally was left open all day and closed by night. To the west side of the gate was another archway. Seawater let into the structure there, into an enclosed naval base made of brick and natural stone. Half natural cavern and half built of carved granite bricks, the naval base hollowed out a great section of the nearest mountain that shouldered up to Corium. The caverns sheltered the great ships of the Hyborean navy from the bitter winters. The ceiling inside was fifty feet high and the channels were the same in width. The water was twenty feet deep, allowing the great ships to pass into safety each fall and exit during the late spring thaws.

When dawn rose over the city, turning the silver towers pink, a passage through the ice had been completed by the summoned beings of light. Dark seawater showed like a roadway, guiding the ships out to the open sea a mile away. The beings summoned by Therian had completed their long labor, and the ships were able to exit their frozen port two months before the summer thaw.

The Hyborean fleet sailed with the Royal Ark in the lead. Ten more war arks followed the flagship. Each massive vessel boasted nine masts, which were lowered to the decks until they could get under the archway and out onto the open seas. The men strained and cried out with exertion, using oars, small sails and great poles to drive the ships down the channel to the sea. Once out in the open, the crewmen strained and clockwork systems clicked until the great masts rose up. The masts, each carven from a tree trunk of Hyborea’s hardwood forests, were locked into place. Only then did the sailors unfurl the sails and catch the light breeze, gratefully setting aside their poles.

Each of the eleven vessels sailed out and immediately turned west. The plan was to head out to sea and wait until the barbarian fleet landed on the ice shelf. A signal would come then from Corium via flashing lights. When the signal came, they would rush forward and catch the invaders half on the land and half on the sea.

Therian and Viscount Bryg discussed the plan in the captain’s cabin. Gruum stood off in a discreet corner, watching everyone.

“What if the news does not come for days?” asked the Viscount. He was clearly distraught at being outside the city in her hour of need. “What if a heavy fog rolls in?”

“We will deal with such issues when the time comes,” Therian said. “The signalers must flash a beacon to us every hour. If they do not, we will know something is amiss.”

Viscount Bryg nodded. He stared down fiercely upon the rolled charts that laden the captain’s table.

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