Blogtober 2022 Day 10 entry
“Ready the men on the deck,” Eila told Rhys. “Swords sheathed but at the ready. We don’t want a brawl, but they won’t board us without one.”
“Aye, Captain,” Rhys said. The Beaumaris crew numbered 78, 52 of them knights, but all were trained in combat down to the galley cooks.
The larger ships circled around and flanked them, while the smaller craft floated up to their bow. Like the vessel they followed, no means of propulsion was visible, though something churned wake behind them.
Eila’s crew lined the rails on both sides of the ship, but no people were visible on the two larger ships. She walked to the bow and looked down at the smaller ship, where one man, dressed in white trousers and tunic, held out a rope.
The man held the rope up, then pantomimed lowering the rope. Eila understood at once and ordered the anchor raised and mooring ropes to be lowered. The man tied off the ropes to cleats on both sides of the stern and disappeared into a midship cabin.
The small ship lurched forward, its wake increasing as it struggled against the inertia of the Beaumaris. It inched ahead and gained momentum as it towed them toward the strait. The two larger ships settled in single file behind them.
“So much for our reconnaissance,” Wynn said.
“Contact was inevitable,” Eila said. “This island is the only way we’re going to find our way back home.”
“Then let us hope they are hospitable.”
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