This is an epic fantasy that I came up with. I have about 5 books of story already figured out, but I quickly realized that my skill was dwarfed by the project. I put it on hold, while I trained up my writing. This was before most of the pieces I posted here.
The wind howled.
It slashed across the deck of the small airship without mercy or relent. Jake leaned out relying on the line to keep his balance. He was responsible for drawing of the forth leesail. It was a tricky point to reach because the shape of the ships hull left no where to stand but the spar. Added that it received the main driving force of the winds made it the last desirable point on the ship to work.
"Come'on Jake!" Hanigan yelled across the deck. "We don't have time for sight seeing. If you don't draw the sail soon we will miss the turn wind."
Jake muttered under his breath as he lunged across the gap landing on the sail's spar. The wood protested his landing, but did not shift much. The wind shifted slightly as he regained his balance, but Jake didn't waste a second as he began to work the appropriate lines.
As the sail drew out from the side of the hull the winds force began to pull even harder at Jake. One burst almost lifted him off the spar, but it died down shortly before succeeding.
Jake scrambled back to the safety of the hull almost being pulled off by the cruel currents assailing him. Finally, he reached the safety line at the side of the hull and sighed in relief.
Hannigan's powerfull hand came to rest gently on Jake's shoulder. Jake turned to face him a huge smile on his face.
"I did it."
Hanigan laughed mirthfully, "That you did lad. It was a pretty nice piece of work that you just did to. I remember my first time drawing the number four sail. Although I think everyone does. At least you didn't need this."
Her gestured to the catch line in his hand, and Jake noticed that he still held it with a white knuckled grip.
Jake grinned happily. He wasn't actually a sailor at all, but a guardsman. He was pretty good with a breaching axe, and he could handle three of the ships crew in the daily wrestling bouts that took the place of the training drills.
Guardsmen traditionally didn't get involved in the operation of their airship, but Jake was a member of the Black Guard. They were an elite group of mercenaries that specialized in ship duty. They were specialized in that they were the only mercenary company to require the understanding of ship procedures. This meant that smaller ships often favored the black guard over other groups, as the guardsmen can function as an auxiliary crew men.
Even now, five years after the guards formal establishment they were starting to get largercontracts as the benefits became clear. This is why Jake had to face the fourth sail, not because he was expected to work the ship but rather to gain rank in the guard.
"At least it is all over now. I have to admit I would rather face an opponent in battle than work the fourth sail."Jake said after a moments pause.
Hanigan laughed heartily, "And that is why you are a mercenary and I am a sailor."
"Still that was a fine piece of work there mister mercenary. better than many of the young sailors coming off age like yourself."
A gruff voice spoke up. Jake grimaced at the sound of Mulligan's voice. Mulligan was the boson of the small ship 'Windrunner', and he had always disliked the young and inexperienced guardsman. Jake turned to see Mulligan walking the leeline of the ship with studied ease. The line was intended as a handhold and rail from the wind, but experienced sales could walk the line like a tight rope. It made Jake feel queasy just to watch, but it was an impressive feat to see. Mulligans body shifted his position on the line to counter the breeze, leaning out over the abyss of sky before them. Sailors always liked to talk about walking the ninety, walking completely horizontal to the world; but Jake suspected that it was just braggarts spreading such rumors.
"That it was." Hanigan said nodding in respect to Mulligan.
Jake nodded curtly toward Mulligan, "you really think I did a good job?"
"Aye lad, that I do." Mulligan smiled for the first time, "put it there for me. I didn't think you had it in you, but you proceed me wrong. I won't fault a lad for that."
Jake grinned broadly, "Really? Thanks a lot. How about you buy me a pint in port?"
Mulligans face returned to the oh-so-familiar scowl that Jake had come to expect, "Don't push your luck boy."
Hanigan laughed heartily, "For a minute there I almost thought you might have a heart in there Mulligan."
Mulligan just huffed noncommittally, but refrained from usual tirade. A sure sign off his good mood indeed, "Get back to work you lazy dogs."The wind howled.
It slashed across the deck of the small airship without mercy or relent. Jake leaned out relying on the line to keep his balance. He was responsible for drawing of the forth leesail. It was a tricky point to reach because the shape of the ships hull left no where to stand but the spar. Added that it received the main driving force of the winds made it the last desirable point on the ship to work.
"Come'on Jake!" Hanigan yelled across the deck. "We don't have time for sight seeing. If you don't draw the sail soon we will miss the turn wind."
Jake muttered under his breath as he lunged across the gap landing on the sail's spar. The wood protested his landing, but did not shift much. The wind shifted slightly as he regained his balance, but Jake didn't waste a second as he began to work the appropriate lines.
As the sail drew out from the side of the hull the winds force began to pull even harder at Jake. One burst almost lifted him off the spar, but it died down shortly before succeeding.
Jake scrambled back to the safety of the hull almost being pulled off by the cruel currents assailing him. Finally, he reached the safety line at the side of the hull and sighed in relief.
Hannigan's powerfull hand came to rest gently on Jake's shoulder. Jake turned to face him a huge smile on his face.
"I did it."
Hanigan laughed mirthfully, "That you did lad. It was a pretty nice piece of work that you just did to. I remember my first time drawing the number four sail. Although I think everyone does. At least you didn't need this."
Her gestured to the catch line in his hand, and Jake noticed that he still held it with a white knuckled grip.
Jake grinned happily. He wasn't actually a sailor at all, but a guardsman. He was pretty good with a breaching axe, and he could handle three of the ships crew in the daily wrestling bouts that took the place of the training drills.
Guardsmen traditionally didn't get involved in the operation of their airship, but Jake was a member of the Black Guard. They were an elite group of mercenaries that specialized in ship duty. They were specialized in that they were the only mercenary company to require the understanding of ship procedures. This meant that smaller ships often favored the black guard over other groups, as the guardsmen can function as an auxiliary crew men.
Even now, five years after the guards formal establishment they were starting to get largercontracts as the benefits became clear. This is why Jake had to face the fourth sail, not because he was expected to work the ship but rather to gain rank in the guard.
"At least it is all over now. I have to admit I would rather face an opponent in battle than work the fourth sail."Jake said after a moments pause.
Hanigan laughed heartily, "And that is why you are a mercenary and I am a sailor."
"Still that was a fine piece of work there mister mercenary. better than many of the young sailors coming off age like yourself."
A gruff voice spoke up. Jake grimaced at the sound of Mulligan's voice. Mulligan was the boson of the small ship 'Windrunner', and he had always disliked the young and inexperienced guardsman. Jake turned to see Mulligan walking the leeline of the ship with studied ease. The line was intended as a handhold and rail from the wind, but experienced sales could walk the line like a tight rope. It made Jake feel queasy just to watch, but it was an impressive feat to see. Mulligans body shifted his position on the line to counter the breeze, leaning out over the abyss of sky before them. Sailors always liked to talk about walking the ninety, walking completely horizontal to the world; but Jake suspected that it was just braggarts spreading such rumors.
"That it was." Hanigan said nodding in respect to Mulligan.
Jake nodded curtly toward Mulligan, "you really think I did a good job?"
"Aye lad, that I do." Mulligan smiled for the first time, "put it there for me. I didn't think you had it in you, but you proceed me wrong. I won't fault a lad for that."
Jake grinned broadly, "Really? Thanks a lot. How about you buy me a pint in port?"
Mulligans face returned to the oh-so-familiar scowl that Jake had come to expect, "Don't push your luck boy."
Hanigan laughed heartily, "For a minute there I almost thought you might have a heart in there Mulligan."
Mulligan just huffed noncommittally, but refrained from usual tirade. A sure sign off his good mood indeed, "Get back to work you lazy dogs."
***
It had been another series of hard long days for Jake. His duties on the Windrunner put a large work load on him so the majority of his time was spent working or sleeping. The remaining month if the trip passed much as the original one had, except that Mulligan was far less mean than he had been.
In short the second half of the trip was one of the best he had ever had. His time was filled with the wind, sun, and hard work. Jake had grown up in a rural mining town a, and so hard work was no stranger to him. This day was not too different, but he knew that they were about to arrive at their destination. It was the great city of Aminsul.
Jake had never been to any of the great cities, except for the city that housed the Black Guard. But that city didn't really count, it skyrockets on t the side of a mountain surrounded by forests and it's supplies were always brought in by air. It's only reason for existing was it's proximity to all of the mountain industries.
Aminsul was completely different. It was one of the three great cities, producing a resource of tremendous value: timber. Jake has no idea what kind of men would venture into the forest like that, but the must be ferocious men in deed.
Jake was in the middle of the morning's training routine when the call came up.
"Clear land sighted, five points to starboard!"
Jake dropped the man's leg he had been wrestling with and ran over to the side of the ship.
"Where is it? I don't see anything."
The nearby crew all laughed, and mulligan's voice came from behind him. "You can't see much yet. We have at least an hour before we see the city itself."
"But the spotter noticed cleared land..." Jake muttered, feeling stupid.
"And this is a great city lad. Your first I take it?"
"Well yeah."
"All the great cities have a lot of cleared land, but because of its industry it has five times the cleared land of most. Is not commonly known, but that amount of land is what allows the city to prosper. It actually produces more food than anything else, while they don't make as much off food, it is more reliable, and always in demand. There." Mulligan pointed to a distant patch of yellow among the vast, dark greens of the forest and the intermittent patches of lighter green cleared land.
"What is it?"
"A farm, probably growing wheat, and it looks like it's ready for harvest."
Jake felt his mouth drop open at the enormity of the thing before him. There had to be miles of open, cleared land between them and the city. Such a sight he had never imagined in all.
"There it is." A man down the row from Jake said suddenly.
"What?" asked Jake.
"The city tower. First one to spot it gets free drinks at the pub tonight."
"I don't see anything." Jake squinted in the direction.
"Give it some time you will see it clearer soon."
It was true, after a while a spot on the horizon began to grow, all the whole the land below them slowly turned into fields and farmland.
"What's that?"Jake asked excitedly.
"Uh...a town." Came the bored reply.
"There are towns in the clear area?"
"Well yeah, it's too far too walk in a single day."
"Is it safe down there?"
"Dunno, never been in one before, but I know there are families down there. So it can't be that dangerous."
Jake started down a at the tiny little spec that was at town. Actual towns in the clear area. It was something out of legend itself, and they didn't even seem to have wall.
When the town disappeared from sight, he looked back to where the city towers had been, and got his first look at a great city.
"Wow." Was ask that he managed to say.
"You got that right kid," Hanigan spoke up from beside him, "Something else isn't it?"
"Yeah."
The city didn't sprawl at all like the few cities he had seen, rather it rose into the sky like a line mountain. Seven column-like towers stretched all the way from the sky yards to the distant ground below. Threaded throughout the columns were layer after layer of structures built into their sides, like twisted spiderwebs.
As they grew ever close, it's sheer size only made the sight even more stunning. Even one later of the city was competitive with most towns or small cities, but there where easily hundreds of those layers.
"Welcome to the big city kid."
***
When they had finally arrived in the port Jake was given permission to just enjoy the sights. all around him there was a sea of activity. the docks were a complicated latticework designed to handle the endless tide of ship passing through to the city. It took them two hours to navigate their way to the assigned dock. All the while Jake stood there gaping at the sights. Merchants selling their wares to crews, crews unloading their various cargos. The site was rich with a thousand fragrances that Jake had never encountered.
Once they were docked massive boom arms swung over to the underbelly of the ship, and the crew deftly attached the cargo onto the arms. It took a meager thirty minutes to unload the cargo, and the crew was not working hurriedly. A simple switch off of the safety cables resulted in a push and gravity skid the cargo down the arm to the receiving dock below.
During this Jake saw the captain on the deck below, talking with a stern faced man. Eventually, after many gestures and the occasional drifting word playing by his ear, money exchanged hands. The captain pouched the money and went to the nearest climb line that hung from the belly of every docked ship. With the grace of a seasoned sailor he was up the line and on the ship again. Soon he takes down the boson and the money passed along again.
Jake smiled to himself his first payday as a black guard, he had spent four brutal years as a footman in the guard to receive his ranking, and this was why. Mercantile code required an armed guard on every ship, and it also set limits on their pay. Years back piracy had become a real problem for the free city merchant fleet, and so they had decided to just hire the toughest thugs they could find. This meant that the pay had to be 'significant'.
Mulligan finally reached Jake, "Here's your pay, as agreed. Plus a little extra, captain's regards to your passing the fourth sail."
Jake looked at the five gold pieces in his hand, one full piece higher than he was supposed to get, and five times a footman's yearly salary. He knew that mercenaries were important and paid well for it, but this was a huge amount of money.
Mulligan must have spotted Jake's reaction of surprise, "It is generally customary for the forth sail walker to pay for the first round at the pub. The rest is thanks for your good job, his way of saying you can always have a job here."
"I didn't do anything though."
Mulligan smiled, "Aye, there was no trouble from you. You didn't try and renegotiate, threaten, or cajole. Look, I may have been hard on you, but that's because most mercenaries are little more than honest pirates. I had heard you black guard types are a different cut, and you seemed to fit what I heard. Most mercenaries charge more than what we pay you, and they usually cause trouble for the whole trip."
With he extended his hand, offering to shake. Jake grasped it, and then the moment was over. Mulligans scowl returned as a sailor tangled lines, causing two crates too crash together with a loud thud, "Watch those lines you idiot. You want to lose some of your wage!"
It wasn't much longer before the crew has finished. Hanigan walked up to Jake and clasped him on the shoulder, "I hear you are a rich man."
Jake laughed, "It's yours if you want to try and take it."
Hanigan feigned sadness, "Is that any way to treat an old friend?"
Jake nodded soberly, gesturing at Hanigan's head, "I know your getting gray up there, but you still have a few more years till you retire."
Hanigan's face broke into rage, "Why you insolent pup. If I was half the man you are, and you weren't armed I would take your money."
Jake laughed happily, "No need 'old' friend. Drinks will be provided by me tonight."
"Hear that lads? He's buying us all drinks tonight!" A merry cheer rose from the crew around them, "To the pub!"
***
The pub was a dingey affair. There was very little memorable about the whole evening. It was mostly filled with the crew of the Windrunner, but rather then they had joked, they only accepted one drink from Jake. As the evening wore on Jake had managed to show progress on his second beer, it wasn't bad; but it wasn't as good as his family brew.
What made the evening good was the company, Jake realized that in a way these men were like a family, and they were in the mood to celebrate a successful trip. Mulligan even made an appearance, and offered a toast to the success of yet another sailor's fourth sail.
Hanigan was the best company though, he managed to keep Jake entertained with all sorts of interesting people and their stories. Tales of eastern cities made entirely of glass, and their sage's magics that held the cities together. Tales of the north and the long abandoned cities of ice, whose builders were lost to time. Tales of the west and the strange ships and cities that floated on water rather than air. Tales off the south and rumors of a new war.
"Bah," Hanigan scoffed," It's all just nonsense. The kings of the southern land learned not to trifle with us twenty years ago. they haven't even had time to rebuild a proper fleet."
"It isn't a proper fleet I tell you. They say the ships breath smoke and fire."
Hanigan scowled, "This isn't why I brought you over here. The boy here wants to know about the forest. I hear you know a thing or two about the woods."
The man shrugged with obvious disinterest, "It's true that I am a woodsman, and I know a thing or two about the woods."
Jake grinned happily, "You have been in the woods? Have you seen wood trolls or tree spirits?"
The man laughed, "Those are just kid stories lad. I have walked the woods for near on twenty years, and I haven't ever seen anything so strange. Maybe in the deep woods, but only mad folks venture into the deep places."
"Deep places? What does that mean? The woods are not all the same?"
The man grinned, "The deep places are where the forest lives wild and free. The differences between the regular forest and deep first are remarkable. Most men only travel into only the regular woods. It is still fairly dangerous, but we kill most of the wild animals and plants that venture from the deep parts."
Jake felt a bit disappointed, "Only animals and plants, no trolls."
The laughed jovially, "Don't let the absence of trolls ruin your day. There are creatures of legend that walk in the deep woods."
"What kind of creatures?"
"Devil cats are the most terrifying I have seen, as big as a horse with bright orange fur and black stripes. The cursed animal can sneak into a guarded camp and kill a man with no one being aware it was there. I have only seen one, and we were hunting it down. We had armored spearmen with us, and it still killed four of our number before it died. They say that the devil's spirit resides in the creature, and that it has no heart. Of course I saw the heart of the one we killed, but it fought on with two lances in its lung."
The man spat to the side, using a silent curse before he continued, "Then there are grey skins, big as a building and the temper of a fire troll. Never seen them, but I have seen the remains of an expedition that ran a foul of them. Men's bodies are turned to pulp under the step of those monsters, and neither pike or spear can slow them down."
"But that isn't anything, the most fantastic are twisters." He paused taking a dramatic breath, "Twisters are a nasty plant that they say can pull itself out of the ground and walk. They are said to use clusters of vines and poisoned barbs to grab and kill their prey."
Jake leaned forward, "Prey? What do they eat?"
The man grinned evilly, "People."
People. Too incredible to believe, but Jake couldn't stop from picturing the creatures that dwelled in the woods, "They can't really move, can they?"
The man paused to think, and then shrugged, "Only meet one man who claimed to have seen one, and he was the lone survivor of an expedition. Something out there killed close to fifty men and their pack animals. Most expositions are well armed for trouble, and yet expeditions still disappear all the time. I have seen many that encountered something from the deep and lost five maybe even ten men. It's usually damage to the supplies and equipment that forces them to turn back, but one in every ten disappears without a trace."
"What happens to them?"
The man licked his lips nervously. He obviously had a theory, but he didn't like to say it.
Hanigan brow was furrowed, "Spit it out woodsman."
The man looked around nervously, "Look, I don't think you want this. I can tell you about these lizards that can get as big as a house. I don't want trouble, I came to tell you stories about the wood, have a couple of drinks."
"What's the big deal?" Jake laughed, "Afraid a tree troll is going to jump out of the table and eat you?"
The man frowned looking at the wooden table, "Nothing like that. Just tales of wild men, not a big deal," he laughed joining with Jake, "They say that they are organized, and able to move large numbers of men with ease. Some say they have spies in the cities now."
"Wild men? What of them? What would they be able to do?"
The man darkened, "Be careful, the wild is a dangerous place, and men able to survive in that place are not normal."
Jake felt a chill run across his spine, his smile wavering at the dark look on the man's face.
Hanigan burst out laughing, "Boy, the look on your face is priceless. You should see that expression, now that is what I was looking for. Have another on me stranger."
***
The only thing of importance the next day was Jake's head. It throbbed in that unforgettable way of a hangover. Hanigan was as cheerful as ever, smiling broadly.
"A hangover? How is that possible after that tiny amount you had last night?"
Jake muttered angrily, hurling a handy object at the most man standing in the door. Unfortunately it was his pillow and his head hit solidly against the all too uncomfortable bed.
"Here this will do you wonders for your head."
Jake barely got an eye open as something cold and wet soaked him to the bone. Jake bolted up as a set of powerful hands dragged him all the way up.
"Careful boys, can't let our protector get scuffed up just before we leave."
"Leave?" A vice radioed out, it was vaguely like Jake's voice, "but we just got here."
"And it was a very interesting two days, wasn't it lads?"
A lot of laughter filled the small room.
"Now it is time for us to go."
And with that they were out and on there way down the street Jake trussed up like baggage on a crewman's shoulder.
The ship was a bustle with activity. Crewman rushed about organizing a vast array of crates and food stuffs.
With little ceremony, Jake was dumped on the deck, as the laughing sailors went to join the activity.
"Have a good time in port?" Mulligan asked with a hint of smile on his face.
Jake sat there, dazed as he thought about an answer, "Not really. It was pretty short."
"What so you mean? Two days is not enough for you?"
Jake shook his head. "I just don't remember that much."
Mulligan nodded knowingly, "Spent it with the ladies did ya?"
Jake felt a flush spread over his face. "No! At least, I don't think so. It's all kinda blank really."
"Drank to much eh? Hope you didn't get into any trouble."
Mulligan burst out with a hearty laugh, "Boy you should see your face. I am too bad at this whole game. The boys always play with the new guys like this, they spiked your drink."
The sea of emotions suddenly calmed down into a numbness. It explained a lot of what happened. Jake burst out with a laugh as relief flooded through him. "Thank goodness for that. I would die if my brothers heard I blacked out over two beers. So what is going on here, we already got a new cargo?"
"Aye, going to be hauling food to a port south of here. Rumor days that they had a bad harvest. It's or civic duty to make sure they have enough to eat."
Mulligans grin left no doubt that his civic duty was expecting to dollar for that service.
Jake shook his head, "Always looking to make money aren't you? What ever happened to decency."
A hint of the old Mulligan flashed as his anger slated up, "Watch yourself there. Kind words and deeds don't put food on the table. You don't need the money, but we sailors do."
Jake smiled nervously, "Don't forget it's my job to keep you safe Mulligan, not to be friendly."
Mulligan huffed, but said nothing more, returning to the papers he was scratching away at.
***
As the ship drifted out of the city, a fresh wind blew soothingly across Jake's nose. He hadn't realized how badly it stank, and the fresh air was clean and filled his lungs wonderfully.
It was strange how pleasant no smell had become in those few short days. Already Jake was glad to be clear of the constant assault on his senses. It had been fun, but now he yearned for the calm quiet of the open air.
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Topic: Collected Works of Me (Read 1345 times)