Early in the morning, long before the sun had risen, Laren made his way to the docks Geoff and his possessions in tow. The Itani swayed at bay as the crew climbed over the rigging and sides checking the ship before she put out to sea. Laren took a deep breath and let it out smiling as if he could smell adventure ahead. Geoff followed rubbing the sleep from his eyes and trying vainly to ignore his protesting stomach. They made their way down the dock and up the gangplank to their destination.
The captain swaggered over accompanied by one of the crew. "Ye be welcome aboard the Itani. I trust this voyage will be uneventful and pleasurable to ye sirs. Velor will see your sacks stowed so ye may watch the casting off." Velor stepped forward just far enough to take the bags out of their hands none too gently. With their belongings flung over his shoulder he stumped off toward the fore deck where he disappeared through a hatchway.
Laren turned back to the captain. "So_ When do we head out?"
The captain made a show of studying the ship and then the sun that was just coming over the roof -tops. "Sometime around now I believe. I_ll jus_ check wit_ the first mate." He turned and in a voice that could be heard several piers away called up the mate. "Hi Creb, be we sea worthy?"
The sun browned head of Creb poked up from the hold. "Aye cap_in. Just shiftin_ the cargo _bout." At a nod from the captain to set out the mate levered himself out and turned back to yell down at the rest of the crew." In minutes close to a dozen men, inclusive a couple women were aloft, hauling up the anchor, and a number of other tasks as they made ready to sail.
A stocky man took the helm and waited as a team poled them out away from the docks into deeper waters. Once free he manipulated the wheel facing them out to see. From the riggings someone cried out for _full sail_ and the others willingly complied. The helms man directed the ship onto course catching as much wind as was possible, to speed them on their way.
An hour or so before midday one of the crew walked off toward the raised platform at the stern of the ship. When he noticed the scandalized looks from some of the others he shouted at them, "If ya wan_ sum_thin ta stuff down yer gullet ye_ll let me be, I_m cook ta_day." The others turned back to their work mending sails and recoiling line looking like a group of scolded children.
The meal was plain, dumplings and a cup of water per person. When Geoff saw they were eating the same as the crew he began to wonder suspiciously what the sleeping arrangements were to be. He spooned up the last of the lumps and returned the dishes to the assigned cook
The captain swaggered over accompanied by one of the crew. "Ye be welcome aboard the Itani. I trust this voyage will be uneventful and pleasurable to ye sirs. Velor will see your sacks stowed so ye may watch the casting off." Velor stepped forward just far enough to take the bags out of their hands none too gently. With their belongings flung over his shoulder he stumped off toward the fore deck where he disappeared through a hatchway.
Laren turned back to the captain. "So_ When do we head out?"
The captain made a show of studying the ship and then the sun that was just coming over the roof -tops. "Sometime around now I believe. I_ll jus_ check wit_ the first mate." He turned and in a voice that could be heard several piers away called up the mate. "Hi Creb, be we sea worthy?"
The sun browned head of Creb poked up from the hold. "Aye cap_in. Just shiftin_ the cargo _bout." At a nod from the captain to set out the mate levered himself out and turned back to yell down at the rest of the crew." In minutes close to a dozen men, inclusive a couple women were aloft, hauling up the anchor, and a number of other tasks as they made ready to sail.
A stocky man took the helm and waited as a team poled them out away from the docks into deeper waters. Once free he manipulated the wheel facing them out to see. From the riggings someone cried out for _full sail_ and the others willingly complied. The helms man directed the ship onto course catching as much wind as was possible, to speed them on their way.
An hour or so before midday one of the crew walked off toward the raised platform at the stern of the ship. When he noticed the scandalized looks from some of the others he shouted at them, "If ya wan_ sum_thin ta stuff down yer gullet ye_ll let me be, I_m cook ta_day." The others turned back to their work mending sails and recoiling line looking like a group of scolded children.
The meal was plain, dumplings and a cup of water per person. When Geoff saw they were eating the same as the crew he began to wonder suspiciously what the sleeping arrangements were to be. He spooned up the last of the lumps and returned the dishes to the assigned cook