CHAPTER # 3

VOYAGE TO THE NEW WORLD

A s we leave the port of our homeland behind, the wind fills the sails we leave the only home we all have known for many years. We leave the safe waters of Voldain, and sail into the unknown waters of the Haltzeain Sea.

For the first week sailing is smooth, but as we went further out into the sea it got rough and the weather turned stormy. As we sailed farther into the unknown the storm got more violent. Bitheia rocked by the wave lurched from side to side; water rolling over the side rails washed across the main deck taking what ever was not tied down with it across to the other side rail and into the sea.

Thunder rolls across the sky, a bolt of lightning brightens the horizon a second bolt hits the Bitheia near the top of the misten mass, sparks and shards of wood rain down onto the sails ripping holes and gashes, the crew working agents the wind and rain brings the sails down and lashes them to the cross braces.

As lightning flashes Moon Dragon on top deck looks to the right the Gretcha she also has been hit one of the four masses have been damaged, but she is still sea worthy; lightning flashes again he looks to the left the Elvera also shows damage of lightning the misten mass missing maybe ten or more feet of the top, she also seems sea worthy.

Turning around he stares out tord the Elza she has not been hit.

Straining his eyes he cannot see the Esta or the Pagasa, knowing that both crews are green to the sea, he hopes for the best.

After three days the storm subsides allowing the crews of the damaged ships to survey the actual damage done by the lightning also to morn the loss of two ships and crew, and passengers.

Aboard the Esta Captain John Ikwit surveys his ship seeing little damage from the storm, sails torn but not in taters, with some time and thread they can be mended. The crew is unharmed looking to his right he sights the Pagasa.

Aboard the Pagasa Captain Philip O-Bryan surveys ship, and crew finding the sails torn but can be mended also the misten mass being shorter by seven feet, the crew is ok save for two that suffered broken bones. Looking to his left he sights the Esta. Taking the wheel in hand he steers the Pagasa tords the Esta to talk with Captain Ikwit, getting within plank reach he asks to talk to Ikwit, receiving permission to board he walks across the plank to the Esta.

Having been told to meet O-Bryan in the Captains quarters he walks to the door and knocks.

Hearing the knock upon the door O-Bryan opens the door to let Ikwit in. O-Bryan offers Ikwit a seat, and a drink. Taking the offered mug he sits down. O-Bryan clears his throat. " My fellow Captain I think that we should fix what we can of our ships and stay together for I could not see any of the other ships through the spyglass. The sextant and, the compass have been washed over board by the storm. But I do have charts, and also a map. You can see the damage from the storm. How fare your ship?"

" How did you get the map ? " " I purchased it from Vonn just before we set sail from Gray Stone .""My ship has sail, and mass damage, the crew only two have broken bones. I also have lost the same as you have, and I agree with you about fixing what we can."

Spreading out the map on top of the table. "I think we should sail up the river and try to reach the castle Elven Oak." "I think you are right O-Bryan we should sail that way, even though the other ships are going this way. We can make it to the castle if we stay together." "Than we agree Ikwit together we can do it, but apart we will not make it at all."

Ikwit and O-Bryan stand and shake hands, Ikwit leaves the Esta for his own ship. The two sail off tords the river.

Back on board the Elvera the Captain surveys ship and crew finding sails ripped, misten mass missing twelve feet from the top, also one crew member dead impaled by a long shard of mass. Ordering a burial crew to take care of the dead crewman. A funeral at sea is the first thing to be done. All crewmembers and passengers are summoned on deck. The Captain clears his throat. " My fellow ship mates we are gathered here today to bid farewell to Christofer Markis a fine crewman and friend." Bowing his head. "Lord we send you the soul of Christofer to hold in your right hand until we all meet you in Glory." "We send his body to the sea, Amen." At the saying of amen two crewmen lift the end of a plank and the body slides off into the sea. With that done he orders a longboat to be launched with a small crew to go to the Bitheia, and talk to her Captain.

On the Gretcha Captain Maxx Carman surveys his ship and crew. Sails torn but fixable, two crewmen have suffered a broken bone each. Ordering a longboat to launch with small crew he heads to the Bitheia to talk to Goloth.

On the Elza Captain Vonn Hammer is surprised to find that his ship has no damages. He has a longboat launched so he can talk to Goloth.

Back on board the Bitheia Moon Dragon talks to Goloth in the Captains quarters. " Goloth we have sustained sail and mass damages, also we have lost one crewman to the storm." On deck a lookout cries " Longboats off port and starboard sides!"

Upon hearing the call from the lookout, Goloth and Moon Dragon both come out of the captains quarters. "Ahoy captain permition to come aboard," shouts all three Captains at ounce.

With a wave of his arm Goloth gives permition to the three captains.

The crew of the Bitheia throws rope and ladder down over the sides. The three longboats are tied off, and the captain of each ship climb up, the crews are last to come onboard.

Meeting each captain with a firm hand Goloth welcomes him aboard the Bitheia. " Gentlemen please go to the captains quarters we must sit and talk, Moon Dragon you also."

The three captains enter first, Goloth enters after them. " Please seat yourselves." Moon Dragon enters last and closes the door.

"My ship the Elvera" explains Captain Thomas "has sails ripped, misten mass missing twelve feet from the top, also one crewmember dead impaled by a long shard of mass."

The Gretcha Captain Maxx Carman, explains. "Sails torn but fixable, two crewmen have suffered a broken bone each."

On the Elza Captain Vonn Hammer, explains. That his ship has no damages.

" Gentlemen the Bitheia as you can see has also been damaged near the top of the misten mass, sails ripped ." "Esta and the Pagasa are lost at sea I fear the worst." states Moon Dragon.

"What say we do?" Goloth asks them.

The three captains look at each other, talking among themselves. Vonn looks to Goloth. " My friend we all agree that we mend what we can and sail on to the New World, the other two ships will be at the mercy of the god of the sea Oceananos. I’ll burn some incents of prayer for there safety. I know that they will be alive and well. Oceananos will not let them die at sea, he is a kind and merciful god."

Working as one crew all hands mend the torn sails, and even fix the broken masts as best as they can, and get back under way tords the new land