DragonKnight - Donita K. Paul [73]
“I don’t like the eyes,” said Ahnek, his voice breaking with a squeak.
“Neither do I,” said N’Rae. “They look evil.”
“What eyes?” asked Bardon and Holt in unison.
“There,” said Bromptotterpindosset pointing to a crest of a wave. “It’s a sea serpent. The tail is over here.”
“It’s huge,” exclaimed N’Rae.
Holt rubbed his chin. “Perhaps there are two. The head of one here, and the tail of another over there.”
Ahnek put his hand on the older emerlindian’s shoulder. “Granny Kye, what do you think?”
“I think it is stalking us.” She reached for N’Rae’s hand. “Is it there now, dear?”
The younger emerlindian looked out across the gently swelling waves. After only a moment, she gasped.
“Yes!” She looked around her at the children. “You must go below. All of you! Now!” She pushed the little girls at her skirts toward the hatch. “Hurry now. Get below!”
Bardon ran to gather the youngsters playing on the forecastle. Holt whistled to the boys following after the sailors. Bromptotterpindosset and Granny Kye quickly collected her paints and tossed them in the canvas carrier. She held the wet painting away from her as she hastened after N’Rae. The tumanhofer carried her stool and easel as he hurried her toward safety. He stood at the top of the ladder while Holt and Bardon ushered the last of the children into the hold.
“What is this all about?” asked Holt.
Bromptotterpindosset shook his head and gazed out at the sea. “Legend says that sea serpents prefer tender flesh. In other words, children.”
Bardon stood with his hands on his hips. The fingers of one hand wrapped around the hilt of his sword. “Greer said a sea serpent gave him information about the migration of quiss. He didn’t indicate that the serpent had evil intentions toward our ship’s passengers.”
The tumanhofer shifted his load and put a foot on the top rung of the ladder. “There is more than one serpent in the sea, Squire Bardon.”
Holt looked down to where the top of the mapmaker’s head was disappearing. “In your travels, have you ever encountered a sea serpent?”
“Yes!” declared Bromptotterpindosset. “And I don’t wish to do so again.”
“What’s this commotion?” barked the captain as he strode across the deck. “My crew is whispering about a serpent. Is it true? Did the emerlindians spot the head and tail of a giant?”
“Not exactly,” said Bardon. “Both ladies have unusual talents. You can be assured the threat of attack is real.”
The seasoned captain nodded his head. “The important thing is to keep it from wrapping around the ship and pulling us down. The last third of its tail has no spine. You can slice through the muscle with your sword.” He nodded at Bardon’s weapon. “As the body comes over the deck, you need to sever the spinal cord. No need to hack all the way through. A point thrust into the vertebrae is your best defense.”
Heavy steps and grunts heralded the return of the tumanhofer. He hoisted himself out of the hold with a double-bladed battle-ax on his shoulder. He addressed Holt. “Do you have a weapon, boy?”
“No,” said Holt. “Not one that would count. I have a small knife. That’s all.”
“Come with me,” said the captain. “I’m breaking out arms for my men, and I can provide you with something more dangerous than a stickpin.”
With a nervous glance at Bardon and then at the water, Holt went after the captain.
“He’ll do all right,” proclaimed the tumanhofer. “The instinct to survive is strong in that one.”
The hours that passed during the long afternoon reminded Bardon of the time spent on the Morning Lady as they cruised down the Gilpen River. The seamen went about their business, but with many anxious looks to the water around them. Tension mounted. Every stir in the water caused the people on board the Tobit Grander to grab their weapons.
The wind stilled, and the sails hung limply from the yards. The captain ordered the men to strike and furl the sheets. The sun sank toward the western horizon, turning orange, then red, casting an eerie hue across the glassy surface.
“Blood sea,” muttered a sailor as he passed Holt and Bardon.