The Crown of blood

II

"You're tying a line, not wrestling a whore!" Furlthia bellowed.

He ran down the deck and snatched the rope from the hands of a man struggling with one of the sail cables. For what seemed like the hundredth time, he showed the rebel how to properly secure the line through the starboard grommets and returned to his watchful position on the aft deck.

"Sorry," said Anglhan, joining the first mate from where he had been loitering at the aft rail. "Aroisius wouldn't let me keep more than ten men."

"Bunch of idiots," muttered Furlthia. He glanced over his shoulder. "At least he let us keep some decent steersmen."

The landship steadily shook with the clatter and rumbles from the cranks below, trundling along at a steady pace. It had been slow-going at first as Aroisius' men had been unaccustomed to the slow but methodical rhythm maintained by a good turnsman. The journey had been made all the longer by a diversion that took them further coldwards from Magilnada than would normally have been the case; Anglhan had been adamant that they keep clear of the city until they were ready to enter.

"We're going to Carlangh, aren't we?" said Furlthia. Anglhan nodded. "You're going to do business with Meaghran! I told you we shouldn't have anything to do with that dogfucker."

"There's no need to get personal," said the captain. "You really shouldn't pay heed to rumours."

"Rumours?" laughed Furlthia. "My cousin was there, he swears it by the spirits. Meaghran fucked a dog for a bet when he was drunk."

"He could have fucked a dozen dogs, he still has what we need," replied Anglhan.

"I still think this is madness," said Furlthia, keeping his voice quiet. He looked around the ship for Barias. The chieftain sat at the forward hatch, chatting with some of his men. "I can't believe you actually volunteered us for this nonsense. You're dragging us deeper into the shit, you realise that?"

"We were in the shit already, friend," said Anglhan, his voice also low. "We just have to keep paddling for the moment."

"And I suppose you have a scheme for getting us out of it later?"

"I think 'scheme' would be an exaggeration. I'm playing for time. At the moment this can end one of two ways. Either Aroisius's attack succeeds and he kills us because he doesn't need us anymore; or, the attack fails and we're hunted down and killed as rebels."

"Thanks for the encouraging news."

Anglhan gripped Furlthia's arm lightly, but kept his gaze ahead, looking at the crew.

"I have to make sure Aroisius doesn't attack before winter. His current plan is half-arsed and doomed to failure."

"So? Just let him fail, and we'll take our chances. The longer we're mixed up in this, the harder it's going to be to get out. Why supply him with weapons? We'll be flayed and our guts ripped out as soon as we get caught."

"Weapons are a means for bargaining," explained Anglhan. "You've seen how poorly equipped that 'army' is. They have numbers, but little else. Aroisius has his chiefs convinced that he can deliver what they want. When I return with a hold full of spears and shields, they'll start to realise that he can't give them shit compared to me."

Furlthia was horrified. He fought to keep his voice down, his next words coming out in a strangled squeak.

"You want to take control?"

Anglhan's grip on Furlthia's arm tightened painfully.

"I want to be in the position that I could take over if I need to. I've got no need of a ragtag army, but being in charge is better than not being in charge, which is where we are at the moment."

Furlthia pulled his arm away and shook his head.

"I don't think you've thought this through. You've got to convince the dogfucker to sell you some of his weapons. And if you manage that, the rebels will get them and they'll be more ready than ever to launch their attack. You're right when you say you don't have a plan."

Anglhan looked at his first mate with disappointment.

"I never said I didn't have a plan," the captain said, tapping the side of his nose. "Let's just make sure we survive until the winter. You never know what might come up."