The Strider and the Regulus (The Star of Atlantis Book 1) by Tricia D. Wagner

Author:Tricia D. Wagner [Wagner, Tricia D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-08-02T16:00:00+00:00

6

Swift lifted his hand into the current of wind and gathered a sense of its bearing.

Justus, though still watching him, had joined Trystan and Edric, sitting at the stern, more than an hour ago.

Swift eyed the telltales on each sail up the mainmast, spotted a flutter in the highest one, and pressed the block forward.

The Regulus, the great, strong Regulus Borealis, moved.

The ship’s strutting—from the power Swift harnessed—was as steady as if there’d been a burst of fuel from the engine.

“That’s it,” said Justus, now approaching.

Caius, seeing to sails on the foremast, called from across the ship, “Nice.”

Justus gazed up at the billowed sails. “You’ve got a winning day for this. The wind couldn’t be any steadier.”

“Then let’s sail north. That cove’s not far.” Swift dashed to the bow. “With a wind this good and how we’re catching it, we’d reach Sterncastle Cove in a quarter hour.”

They’d meandered far enough westward that Swift could see not just the outcropping rocks of Sterncastle Cove, but the curve they made, sweeping in.

The cove was almost completely enclosed by those rocks, but there was a clear sightline in through a passage at the southern crook, where the rocks broke square and even.

The water there was frothy-white, with eddies swirling, making a gateway. And beyond that, inside the cove, the waves softened to near stillness.

With the sun cresting straight above, raining glitter onto the sea from a blue topaz sky, it was easy to understand how some sailors really believed in mermaid lagoons. Sterncastle Cove’s water looked glassy and sparkling.

It was the perfect place for the Star of Atlantis to rest.

Swift glanced back at Justus. “If Trystan and Edric helped, if we all worked the Regulus together, we might reach the cove even faster.”

Justus gazed past Swift into the entrance of the cove.

If Swift himself had been born centuries ago, as the pirate he sometimes imagined he was, he couldn’t think of a better place on any coast to stow a treasure.

The way Justus was gazing at the cove, maybe he, too, was feeling its invitation. Maybe he was longing to explore it, as Swift was, and would even declare the lesson finished.

Maybe he’d let Trystan fire the engine and just hurry them right to it.

“No, Lad.” Justus waved Swift down from where he’d climbed onto the rail. “A change of course would fracture your momentum. You’re doing very well.”

He handed Swift back the line. “Keep at it. Keep us moving. I’d like to see more consistent control. Your tension’s still flagging in the bottom telltale of the main.”

Swift held taut the line and moved the block back while Justus retreated again to the stern.

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