Wellspring of Chaos (saga of recluce Book 12) by Modesitt Jr. L. E

Author:Modesitt Jr., L. E.
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9781429913928
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 2010-08-23T16:00:00+00:00

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Even with the Lydian shipwright’s workforce, the crew of the Seastag, and the wood-handling skills of Kharl and Tarkyn, it took almost an eightday to replace the worm-damaged hull sections. The actual woodwork had only taken about a third of that time, but the caulking and the finish work, and then the trials in the Great North Bay, and the second round of caulking and ensuring that the hull was both sound and watertight, accounted for the majority of the repair time.

Hagen had not wasted that time, but had the crew work on other repairs that would not have been enough to warrant a dry docking. The rudder was cleaned and repaired, as were several paddle wheel spokes, and all the fittings and piping in the steam engine were checked and cleaned—as well as other small repairs that Kharl could not have explained. More coal was brought on board, and the bunkers refilled.

Kharl was kept busy with the hull work, and, at the end, with refitting the interior timbers and braces against the new hull. Hagen personally inspected every bit of work that affected the seaworthiness of the ship. The Seastag finally left Lydiar on a threeday.

Early afternoon on sixday found Kharl on the foredeck, just aft of the bowsprit, taking a break from the lathe. The wind was light, barely enough to puff out the sails, under a bright and cloudless sky that made the day seem warmer than it was. The swells were little more than a cubit and a half from trough to crest, and so long and flat that there was almost no foam at all, making the water look even darker.

Kharl stretched, then glanced to starboard, quickly taking in the headlands to the west and a pair of small islands, possibly as close as three kays away. He turned and looked off to port, out toward the seemingly endless Eastern Ocean. He frowned, seeing in the distance a speck of darkness. At first, he thought it might be the kind of darkness that he’d first seen in Nylan, but it resolved itself into a low black shape a good four kays east. The black ship cut through the choppy waters, moving swiftly northward, first passing abreast of the southward-bound Seastag, and then swiftly vanishing.

Kharl shook his head, still not certain he’d seen the ship.

“You saw it all right,” said Rhylla, from his right. “Move fast, don’t they?”

“That was one of the black warships?”

The third nodded. “Wish it had been headed south, instead of back to Nylan. Do us more good, specially with the wind so light.” She turned and crossed the main deck.

Musing on her words, Kharl started back down to the carpenter’s shop.

“Long for a short break,” Tarkyn said, stepping away from the lathe.

“I’m sorry. I saw one of the black ships. I couldn’t believe how fast it was.”

“You mark its heading?”

“It was headed north, maybe northeast. Third said it was going back to Nylan.” Kharl stepped up to the lathe and readjusted the

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