Warrior Priest of Dmon-Li - Brian Pratt [12]
Miko looks to the clouds, but doesn’t think too much of them, “They don’t look too bad.”
“Not now, true,” Jiron says. “But they could make the ride choppy tomorrow.”
When the day is almost over, they find an inn and everyone gets their own room. Miko said he was tired of hearing them snore. After settling in, they meet in the common room of the inn for dinner and entertainment. The bard up on the stage is decent but they couldn’t understand all the songs as most of his repertoire was in the Empire’s language. He did sing a few songs in the common tongue for those who spoke it.
The next morning, when James awakens, the rain is being blown hard against the side of the inn by the wind. The floor is wet over by the window from where the wind had blown it in throughout the night. Through the window, he sees the dark clouds that have blanketed the sky overnight. The ships at anchor bob with the motion of the waves rolling in, and he looks with trepidation at the choppy water. Not at all the calm placid scene of yesterday and most likely will make for an interesting ride. He hears a knock at the door and turns toward it just as it swings open.
Miko comes walking into the room, his pack slung over one shoulder. Seeing James at the window he walks over to him and says, “Looks like the storm came in after all.”
“Yeah,” replies James as he again glances back out the window. “We better hurry down to the docks before Captain Caril sails.”
James grabs his pack and then they go out to the hallway where they find Jiron exiting from his room. “You guys see the storm brewing outside?” he asks.
“Yeah,” replies James. “It’s going to make for a fun day.”
Giving James an odd look he says, “Fun? I don’t think so.”
“I was being sarcastic,” he explains.
They make their way out of the inn and the wind drives the rain into them as they hurry down to the docks. By the time they get to the ship, the rain has succeeded in thoroughly soaking them. Racing up the gangplank, they’re greeted by the captain who says, “’Bout ready to send someone to go look for you guys.”
“Sorry if we’re late,” James says apologetically.
“You’re not going to sail in this are you?” Miko asks.
The captain breaks into a laugh and replies, “It’ll take more than a little storm to keep us at dock.”
Miko looks over to the sea and sees the choppy waters and swallows hard. He looks to James who only shrugs.
“You boys get on into your room at the stern,” the captain says. “We’re casting off the lines now.” A sailor pulls in the gangplank.
The dockworkers untie the ship and toss the lines back to the crew aboard her. The captain begins barking out orders as his men hop to comply. The ship begins to turn slowly as it heads once more out to open waters.
Once the ship is away from the docks, the captain hollers to the crew up in the masts and the sails come down about halfway before they’re tied off. The wind fills the half sails and the ship lurches as it quickly picks up speed.
Huddled in their room under the steering house, they begin to feel the effects of the constant swaying of the ship upon the waves. James’ stomach begins to rebel and he says, “I’m going out to get some fresh air.”
“But you’ll get soaked,” Miko says from where he’s swaying in the hammock.
He looks down at himself and replies, “I’m already wet.” He opens the door and a gust of rain comes in before he manages to close it behind him.
Outside along the deck, he sees guidelines are now tied from bow to stern to help the sailors remain aboard in the storm. Grabbing onto one, he makes his way over to the rail and puts his face into the wind, which helps to settle his protesting stomach. Never been seasick before, but then, he’s never been out in this kind of storm before either.
As they continue out to open sea, he searches for other vessels that’ve braved such a storm but doesn’t see any. He looks around to the crew, but they don’t seem too worried, so he stops his worrying about the weather. If the professionals see nothing wrong, then