Under the Suns of Antares by Tim Jones

Author:Tim Jones [Jones, Tim]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780982311646
Amazon: 0982311648
Publisher: Wild Cat Books
Published: 2009-05-18T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty Seven

I have lived a long, long life thus far, and in that time I have prided myself in my experience and knowledge of vessels that sail upon the seas of two worlds.

In truth, the galleys of the Zurcans were as nothing compared to the galleys of the inland sea of the eye of the world. A galley of the inner sea or a reiver from among the islands would roll over a Zurcan vessel in no time, smash it to pieces, out sail it, run it in circles, and smash an entire fleet of them in less time than it takes to say Blessed Mother.

These are simple facts.

Yes, in the many years I have lived on the seas of two worlds, I have amassed much knowledge of ships, in their sailing, their weaponry, their manufacture, and much more besides.

I have salt as well as blood running through my veins.

"But,” said Ave, his blue eyes looking at me most confused, “one mast? Just one!"

"Aye..."

He pulled his bottom lip in-between his teeth and bit. Then, “And more than one man to an oar?"

"Aye..."

We walked over to where the three hulls lay in dry dock.

"Rigging?” he asked.

"A single mast, stayed fore and aft, with a two-piece yard and a square sail."

"That sounds reasonable,” Ave said, quietly.

I pictured the classical Norse sail in my mind. Yes, that would do nicely. “Well, Ave,” I said, stopping to lean upon the rail of one of the hulls, “it has worked before. It can be made to work again.” And strike fear into their black, putrid hearts, with a touch of Zazz-forsaken luck, I thought to myself.

In all truth, I regarded this as all too judgemental. I had little experience of Zurcans. I had fought them, as you know. I had never met and spoken to one, without steel, that is. I had only the word of these men concerning the dark deeds and natures of the conquerors of Thelia Atis, and the instigators of slavery in this previously peaceful archipelago.

Ave, the blond-haired Thelian, gave me one of his looks, and in many ways, although a man so dissimilar to my old dom, Seg, he reminded me of him greatly. Presently he said, “You have seen this done?"

"Aye..."

"In his wine-soaked dreams, perchance,” shouted Thandor from down in the hull where he was checking for rot. A wooden vessel for a surety needs dragging up on the sands for a night, the rot would set in else.

Ignoring that jest, I said to Ave, “We need a fighting vessel, a ship that will not only outrun the zigging Zurcans, but turn the fight against them too. The ram you have planned; I can improve on that. The rowing arrangement; you would not believe what I have seen in my time. I have seen ships like this but many times bigger, with three banks of oarsmen atop each other, with three, six, eight men at each oar. I have sailed such ships, I have pulled at the oars, slave.

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