Enlightenment

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Prin devoured the book about Gallium and a prince. The boy who had not been born a prince served his king so well he married the beautiful princess and became a prince. There was no mention of intense palace intrigue, poison grapes that killed knights, or the convoluted line of succession for the throne. In the book-world of Gallium, if you worked hard and were brave, a beautiful princess and crown awaited. She didn’t believe a word of it—but refused to put the book down when the day’s light faded, and at every opportunity, the book was in front of her.

On the day before they expected to arrive in port, Sara sat with her after the mid-day meal, ready to open the journal, the third one she had studied. Prin now read a book about a woman and a daughter who would not obey the husband. If it was about a man and his son, it could have been the captain and Jam. Odd how so many books paralleled real life.

Whenever possible, she had avoided Jam the since the incident where she lost her temper, and it seemed he avoided her. She said, “That book about Gallium? I think it was all made up.”

“Fiction. The story was just a story, but it was set in Gallium, and the writer had to know something of the city, politics, and people to write it. Take away the individuals in the story, and I suspect you learned more than you realize about the city.”

“What if that part was also fiction?”

Sara gave her a superior smile. “Or what if it happened so long ago that Gallium has changed since it was written? But even then, there are many valuable things to draw from the book.”

“I don’t know. The city is old. The port has been important for thousands of years, and wars have been fought over it.”

“Because a fictional book says so? Haven’t we changed sides in this argument?”

Prin considered, then said, “From the book, I believe I know what the port will look like, and sort of what the city will be, at least the physical appearance. I think some of the ways of the people will be like in the book must be the same, or the writer wouldn’t have put them in.”

“I think we need to shave our heads again before arriving. Yours is getting fuzzy.”

“We also need to pack.”

“I’ve never seen you so excited,” Sara said. “Not even when we were forced to leave Indore.”

“We have at least thirty days on our own, probably more, in a new land. We have our books to study and spells to learn. Places to see and people we haven’t met. You never know what might happen.”

Sara settled back and gave her a hard look. “You know something that you’re not telling me?”

“Of Gallium? I do, but mostly, your reading lessons have let me begin to realize what you and I might do while we’re here. By the time we sail away, we will have all sorts of new things we’ve learned.” Prin cast a guilty look to the wheelhouse, and although she couldn’t see the captain, his warning of not telling anyone of Jam’s future rang in her ears.

“You’re still not telling me the whole truth.”

“Nope, and I swore not to.”

Sara’s attitude became stern. “Listen to me. You and I are in danger, and my life has been in your hands, so in a way, this whole thing is your fault. Keeping things from me cannot happen.”

“You were sent to teach me to read and write. Remember?”

“And you remember, I am twenty, and I know far more than you. I insist on sharing what you’re not telling me.”

Prin understood her concern, and in other circumstances, she would be correct. However, Prin had given her word to the captain. She saw a possible way out of the situation. “Sara, I will tell you all before the ship reaches the pier tomorrow. It really is not going to place us in danger, but I’m sworn to keep it to myself. Tomorrow, I’ll tell you anything, and you’ll understand my reason.”

Sara was obviously not satisfied.

Prin said, “Listen, instead of reading fiction, I want to learn about magic.”

Relenting, Sara said cautiously, “I think that’s an excellent idea, as long as you take precautions. While spells usually require herbs and such, there are incantations that need none. They only need be spoken aloud, and not very loud, so you must not say any words while you study.”

“I thought the notebooks would have her story in them. That’s what I wanted to read, a story about the shoemaker’s wife.”

“As I told you before, they are not diaries, but a series journal of achievements and failures. They don’t tell us much about the sorceress, herself. I wish they did, too.”

Sayed appeared in the doorway. “Excuse me, the captain told me to find everyone and tell them we’ve sighted land and identified it. We will arrive in port well before sundown.”

He rushed off before they could ask questions.

Sara said, “I guess we need to shave our heads and pack a few things instead of reading this morning.”

Prin leaped to her feet and looked from the single small window. “I see land.”

They went out on deck, feeding on each other’s excitement. A pair of ships sailed in their direction, and sailors waved a greeting as they passed. One blew a loud horn made from an unknown animal. A sailor raised it to his mouth and leaned back as he trumpeted the harsh sound. Then another ship crossed in front of them loaded with timber. The entire time, the definition of the land came clearer as the haze of the city cleared.

A strip of land gently rose to reveal craggy mountains rearing up behind, but as they drew nearer, the land was more brown than green. Areas of intense green indicated where the few rivers flowed. But otherwise, the land was rocky, dry, and usually without habitation.

They passed another ship outward bound, and Sara said, “Let’s go get our things together.”

“What about our crates?”

The question stalled Sara, then she leaned closer and said, “You have plenty of gold left, so we should speak to the captain and have them delivered to us—wherever that might be.”

“Where will the rest of the cargo be? They can’t work on the ship with it stored on the deck and in the holds, and I know there is cargo bound for other places, even a few crates destined for Indore.”

The bos’n was on the bow inspecting the anchor and the windlass. Prin walked up to him and asked about the cargo.

“A good question, but all taken care of. The shipyard where we’ll be drydocked will offload it and store it securely while the ship is worked on.”

“Drydocked?”

“They’ll put the Merry Princess into a long sort of bay, then pump the water out, leaving her sitting dry on some timbers. The workmen will get the outside of the hull done, first. Oh, some men will work inside, but most of that will wait until they move her again. Dry docks are in demand, so they’ll put her at a pier to complete the work.”

“If we want our crates, what do we do?”

“Now, that presents a problem. You could have them all unloaded and sent by wagon when we dock, but you need a place to send them. Or place to store your things. What is it you need that you can’t do without?”

“That is also a good question,” Prin said. “Are we free to open our crates and remove a few things?”

“They’re yours. Take what you want, just don’t interfere with the ship's operations.”

She went back to Sara and explained. There were a few items they’d like to take ashore, but the one small crate they’d set aside would keep them busy a month and a half. Still, she didn’t feel comfortable with them being out of her sight for such a long period.

The harbor came into view. At first, it was confusing because from a distance they could see the city built on both sides of bluffs that nearly touched, with the narrow channel between, but in the harbor, were upright spikes that eventually revealed themselves to be the masts of hundreds of ships.

Sara said, “I didn’t know there were that many ships in the world.”

“What is this place?” Prin echoed the mystery and awe. As they drew nearer, the ships too, became more defined. There were ships with single masts, double, triple, and a few with four. Others had none but were fitted for a dozen oars, one each side. The ships were narrow, wide, tall, and painted every possible color. “The book never said anything about this. There are so many masts the harbor looks like a forest in winter.”

Most ships were anchored near one end of the bay, with hundreds of small boats zipping between them. The bos’n slackened the mainsail, leaving only enough to maintain steerage. Two longboats with several men in each approached the Merry Princess, and one man asked for permission to come aboard. He quickly climbed to the wheelhouse and then after a brief discussion, back down. They towed the ship closer, then it anchored.

Sara said, “I expected to tie up at a pier and unload our cargo.”

The statement brought back the reason for anchoring to Prin. It had escaped her thinking until now. She spun and found the captain and Sayed lowering the small boat. They rowed away to the nearest pier, to the puzzlement of the crew, with only the bos’n giving Prin one warning look to remain quiet. After arriving, they climbed into a waiting carriage and rode out of sight.

Jam came from behind the wheelhouse, his preferred place to hide from work while chewing on his mind weed, and walked directly to Prin. He said, “I’ve been here in Gallium several times, you know.”

“No, I didn’t. What can you tell me? Any suggestions?”

“One. Why don’t you get off this ship and keep on going?”

Sara said, “Hey, you have no right.”

“It’s my father’s ship. I have every right.” He took a menacing step closer to Sara.

Prin leaped between them. In a voice, loud enough to be heard everywhere above decks, she shouted, “Stop it. Both of you.”

The bos’n came running.

Prin said, “Sara, go to the crew’s quarters and pack.”

“Wait, I was defending you. I didn’t start anything.”

Sara’s tone told she was hurt. He eyes teary, but Prin looked to the bos’n.

He snapped, “Do what she said.”

Sara shook her head in disbelief, then turned and fled. The bos’n said gently, “You did what you had to.”

“Damn right,” Jam snarled. “I was ready to stomp her to the deck and throw her over the side.

Instead of reprimanding Jam, the bos’n kept his eyes on Prin. He said, “You and that cat still getting along?”

“We’ll take her with us. If I can catch her.”

“Good,” he said, moving a step to be directly between them. He pointed, “Can’t really see it from here, but when you get closer, the walls are bluish, and they keep their streets clean, at least those away from the waterfront.”

“You said you’d point out places to stay away from.”

“That I did. Take nothing to rent near the water. Not at any port. Up near the high hill is where the Royalty lives, and there is a big fancy castle. Don’t go there either. But, over to your right, where the hillside sort of looks across the passage to the other half of the city, there you will find an excellent place to stay. There are many who rent rooms to sailors while their ships are being refitted.”

Prin looked off to the left where the city became more rural. “What about that way?”

“If you’re looking for peace and quiet, like a small farm, maybe. But who wants to rent a lovely, clean farm for a month or two? Nobody, that’s who.”

“How will we know when to return?”

The bos’n pointed to the top of the mast. “I’ll have a green flag hung ten days before we depart. You don’t have to do anything but look for that—then check with me. I’ll be staying aboard the whole time.”

“Not me,” Jam said. “I saved a bit and intend to have myself some fun.”

“You’re restricted to the ship.” The bos’n was shielding them from getting together, and Prin looked back at Gallium. Jam knew he’d been confined to the ship while in port, so he was taunting the bos’n with the remark, an insult the bos’n ignored. Prin asked, “What a sight. Both sides of the passage have cities, but only this one has a good port for ships. I learned that in a book. What’s over there?”

“Much the same, but also people from beyond. Those earning a living from this sea live here, and from the Green Sea over there.”

“Why would laws be made for that?” Prin asked.

“No laws. It’s just that people like to live near others who speak the same, have the same beliefs, and so on. We don’t like to live where things are too different.”

“So, if I wanted, I could rent a room over there?”

The bos’n said, “I suppose. You’d have to take a water taxi to get there, but no reason you cannot.”

Jam said, “My father will stay here and look after his ship. Sammy and I are going to the Red Bird as soon as our feet hit the ground. He says they have wine like nowhere else and tall, fat women who love sailors.”

“More like they love the coins in sailor’s pockets,” the bos’n warned.

“Like you never been there,” Jam said, winking.

Again, the bos’n refused to take the bait.

Prin said, “I better go find Sara and help her.”

She rushed off without turning back. Jam’s attitude had angered her again, and she didn’t want to say something she shouldn’t. In the crew quarters, Sara was busy separating her things, what she would take and what she would leave. The sailor suits were at one end, their long dresses and peaked hats the other.

Prin said, “The bos’n wants me to take the cat with me. He said if it gets away, we’ll get another, but it’s a good one, so I should care for it. He also said we can open our crates to get what we need.”

Sara’s attitude was cold, her anger held in check along with her words. They climbed into the hold, and the cat watched them. Prin fed it a small treat as she went to the crates, a prybar in her hand. She placed it under the lid and started to apply pressure when it came free without resistance.

The crate held jars and containers jumbled together, a few broken. The cloth wrapping them had been pulled away, and jars, along with the contents lay spilled, the continents mixed together at the bottom.

Sara moaned.

Prin said, “What happened?”

“This is irreplaceable,” Sara said, her temper rising. “That nasty boy did this.”

Prin drew a breath and felt like reaching for her knife, but hesitated. Sara spun and took a few steps to the hatch, and wherever Jam might be, but Prin snapped, “No.”

Sara stopped.

Prin said, “Help me save what we can. Some jars still have part of their contents. We must do what we can, then Jam will be taken care of. I promise. But imagine what will happen if they remove this crate from the ship and we don’t repack it.”

“Six demons dancing, I just thought about the others.”

“Crates?” Prin asked, then noticed they were not properly tied down. Someone, undoubtedly Jam, had untied all of them. She didn’t even need to use the prybar on the next, or the next. The contents were strewn, broken, and disheveled. Everything had been pawed through, opened, dumped, or broken.

“I’ll kill him,” Sara said.

Prin motioned for her to take the other end of the crate. They set it aside and found the next similarly violated. Soon, they had all the containers open and started repacking everything. They found little if anything missing, but there were several things wantonly broken. Pages were torn from a few books and strewn about on the inside, again to irritate them.

Sara and her selected six books to remove and take with them to Gallium, then they finished putting all the rest back inside. They placed the caps on jars and secured them so they were padded and wouldn’t break, and then they placed the lids on the crates securely. When Prin looked up at the sound of a shriek and thumping on the deck, she found darkness had already fallen.

“What was that?” Sara asked.

Prin thought she knew, but said nothing. She followed Sara to the rail where the bos’n stood. The small boat was there below, Sayed rowing, the captain sitting in the bow. There was another, larger rowboat, too. In it were two burly men with biceps that bulged even in the moonlight. They rowed two passengers, one sitting, and one curled up, crying, threatening, and cursing.

At the bottom of that boat were two sea bags, the belongings of the two men. Sammy looked up at them calmly, accepting the transfer to another ship. But Jam suddenly leaped upright and kicked at one of the rowers. The man dodged quickly, then brought the oar in his hand out of the water as he swung it.

The oar struck Jam solidly on the hip, almost sending him over the side, but Sammy grabbed him and pulled Jam down to the seat. Jam screamed more threats at them, and the rowers ignored him. As the two boats disappeared into the darkness of the night, the shouting and threats still could be heard.

Sara hissed, “What happened?”

The bos’n came up behind and said, “The captain’s son and Sammy are now part of the crew of another ship that sails tonight.”

Sara spun on the bos’n, but he had already turned away and was walking slowly to the wheelhouse. Sara grabbed Prin’s arm. “Did you know about this?”

Prin nodded.

“Why?”

“They had to do it. Jam thinks he’s above all of us. What do you expect the captain to do if he finds out about him going through our crates? How many other crates has he searched? This is a cargo ship. If people can’t trust their things to arrive safely, they will spread the word and stop using the Merry Princess.”

“That is his son,” Sara said in a disbelieving tone.

“No, it is a sailor who refuses to work for the ship. The captain had no choice. Perhaps on the next ship, Jam will learn to work and do his share and eventually return to Indore, a better man.”

“Sammy? He did his work.”

Prin said, “They plotted together to turn us in for the reward. They were going to try and sell us in Gallium by telling every one of the reward. For the captain and crew of a ship heading to Indore, it would be tempting, and we’d have traveled in chains.”

“You and the captain knew they were planning that?”

“Yes, and more. I promised the captain I’d not say anything until he left the ship. Sammy’s fate was undecided, but I guess the captain decided.”

Sara took an unsteady step back and sat on the hatch cover. “I had no idea.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you, but I promised.”

“I understand that, but for the captain to send his son away, it must really hurt,” Sara said.

“And the bos’n. He’s known Jam since he was a baby.”

“All because of us.”

Prin still stood at the rail. “No, none of this is because of us. Not one—what’s the smallest thing you know of?”

“Dribble? Speck? Hell, I don’t know.”

“Well, whatever it is, our involvement is less. It was going to happen, with or without us, but if the captain caught him going through other crates, he might have put Jam in chains.”

Sara looked up, tears in her eyes. “We have to tell the captain and bos’n about that, you know.”

“Tell them what?”

“I saw other crates in the hold that I know were tied down for rough weather that no longer have ropes. They have to know before shippers make complaints.”