Warrior Priest of Dmon-Li - Brian Pratt [10]
Miko panics and grips the side of the hammock tightly as soon as James lets go, but soon realizes that he’s not going to immediately fall out. After a few moments of not falling out, he begins to relax. His nerves settle down and he starts to enjoy the swaying rhythm the hammock makes with the rocking of the ship.
“Ever been in a hammock before?” James asks Jiron.
Shaking his head, he says, “No, never even seen ‘em.”
“Want me to help you in?” he asks.
“No thank you. I’d just as soon sleep on the deck,” he says as he makes a space for himself over in the corner.
“Suit yourself,” James tells him.
Going back to the door, he makes to leave when he hears Miko holler, “Don’t leave me in here!”
Smiling, he goes back over and helps him to get out of the hammock. Taking Miko with him, he leaves the room and walks out on deck where the salt air whipping off the water almost knocks him over in its intensity. Gaining his balance, he moves to the edge of the ship by the rail where he gazes out over the water.
Back the way they’d come, the land is now only a thin line on the horizon. Everywhere as far as he can see is water, blue-green water with a sky of crystal blue above them. A grin breaks out upon his face, always happens when he’s riding a boat. Taking a ferry back home elicited the same reaction. It just feels good to have the wind whip around you with just the sound of the bow breaking the surf. He stands there mesmerized by the experience.
Miko stands beside him, affected the same way. Coming in on Nate’s cousin’s ship from the mines had been less enjoyable. He’d been sick plus had had the added worry of Nate’s condition on his mind as well. Now, though, he can truly experience it. Ever since Al-Kur when the slave wagon had stopped to pick up several more slaves from a ship at anchor, he’s wanted to do this.
After standing there in quiet contemplation, the captain comes up behind them and says, “We’re making for Maradan, a city on a local island near here. We have some cargo to unload and others to procure before leaving. We’ll be spending the night at dock before lifting anchor in the morning.”
“Maybe we could do some sightseeing?” James asks, turning around.
“Might not be a bad idea,” the captain agrees. “When we leave there, it’ll be four more days until we drop anchor again.”
“Anything worthwhile to see on the island?” he asks.
“Not really,” he tells him. “There are several nice inns if you want to take advantage of them while we’re there. It’s possible you may find something of interest, though my men tend to just stay on the ship while we’re there.”
“Thank you anyway, captain,” James says.
“No problem,” he replies, “just thought you might want to know.” He then turns, and climbs the stairs to the deck over their room where the helmsman stands at the tiller.
James glances to Miko, “Wanna do some sightseeing while we’re there?”
“Sure,” he replies, “better than being cooped up on this ship.”
Just then, a large creature similar in nature to a whale from back home, suddenly crests the water and falls back, causing water to geyser up into the air.
“What was that?” Miko asks, wide-eyed.
“Not sure,” James answers, awed. “Back home it might’ve been called a whale.”
“It was incredible,” he says as he gazes out across the water, hoping to see another.
James looks out over the water too, but he’s more interested in the serenity it brings to him than trying to locate another of the creatures. He’d always found great peacefulness in watching the waves whenever he’d been on a ferry or charter boat back home.
By this time, the island they’d left has completely disappeared behind them. James stays by the rail until he begins to see another island coming up ahead of them. As they approach it, the captain begins hollering orders to his crew as they trim some of the sails to slow their approach.
“Looks like we’re making for the island over there,” Jiron says as he comes up behind them.
“I think so too,” James replies. “Miko and I are going to go exploring