Chapter 6
The next few days were uneventful. They had some rain and were able to collect a little extra fresh water using spare sails rigged for the purpose over the main deck and although it only amounted to a couple of barrels it had reduced the chances of them actually running out. On the fifth day seabirds began to appear overhead and anticipation of landfall grew on board, with every man keen to be the first to sight the new coast. In the event the ship's bell sounded the alarm once again at first light and all those who had been asleep below quickly pulled on their clothes and raced up onto deck to see it for themselves. What had at first sight appeared to be a bank of low cloud in the pre dawn gloom had solidified into a shore of rolling hills, pale broken cliffs and sandy coves. Of the wide river mouth there was no sign, or any indication that this land might be inhabited. Nonetheless Lauriel was relieved for it meant they would be able to replenish their stores of water and could hope to rest and make repairs.
They reefed most of their sail and came in to shore slowly, taking soundings regularly and watching for signs of any submerged rocks. Although it might have been safer to drop the anchor further out from shore Lauriel had decided to risk taking the Gwael close in as it would make the job of taking on fresh water supplies much less laborious and time consuming. There was also the more remote risk on a strange shore that the landing party might be threatened by hostile inhabitants and would need to be able to return to the ship quickly, for nothing could be taken for granted.
With that in mind those who could armed themselves with the small motley collection of weapons that were kept on board along with a pair of hunting bows, and the ship's boat was lowered into the water. Lauriel dropped lightly down into the bow and the remainder of the landing party clambered down after her they and they took their places and cast off. It was only a short row before they were in the surf and the waves were driving them up onto the shingly beach, their keel grinding on the stones as they came to a stop. Ahead all was still and quiet and Lauriel sprang over the gunwhale and landed with a splash in the surf, striding quickly up on to dry land. She dropped to her knees and dug her hands into the pebbles and sand, offering up a silent prayer of thanks for their safe arrival.
Once the boat had been drawn up out of the surf Gildor and a five armed sailors moved up the beach at Lauriel's signal and began to scale the low broken cliff where a small stream splashed down in a number of steps before braiding its way through the shingle. They disappeared from view into the scrub and trees visible on the cliff top and a tense wait began.
After a short while they reappeared, and Gildor blew his whistle in a single long blast to confirm that all was well and to signal that they could take the boat back out and start bringing the water barrels ashore. He left his party as sentries on the cliff top before descending to report to Lauriel.
"All clear Captain so far as we can tell. Just woods and rolling hills lie beyond, and no sign of any farms or dwellings. I fancy there might be good hunting though, so if your ladyship permits it later I wouldn't mind seeing what we can get"
Lauriel smiled and nodded, thinking how welcome fresh roasted meat of any kind would be after the monotony of their diet on board ship. "Well done Bosun. Let us get some water on board first and then you will be more than welcome to try your hand"
With that they put the boat back into the surf and the slow labour of bringing empty barrels to shore, to be rolled up the beach, filled slowly at the waterfall and then returned to the ship began. All the crew joined in regardless of their rank, and as they worked the men sang familiar shanties. Lauriel was with those who were rolling the barrels up the beach and then back down once they were filled. It was tiring work in the loose shingle but she was enjoying losing herself in it, and experiencing the strange sensation of being back on dry land. She was waiting by the shore for the ship's boat to return for the third time when the air was suddenly rent by the sentries on the cliff top blowing their whistles.
She looked up alarmed, but they had not moved and were gesticulating wildly out to sea. She and her companions turned and a cry went up, for there, coming up from the south rapidly under full sail and maybe only half a league out to sea came a strange ship. Lauriel raced up the beach to where Amado had been waiting and they scrambled up the cliff together to the top to try and get a better view. It was three masted like the Gwael and appeared at that distance to be of a similar size and configuration. If the other ship had seen them at anchor, and they surely could not have failed to, then it clearly had not interested them for they did not waver in their northward course. Lauriel's heart leapt for here at last was evidence that this new land was indeed inhabited, and that those who dwelt there sailed ships just like theirs.
"Captain?" asked Amado.
"We follow them" was the prompt reply. "What we have taken aboard will suffice for now. Get everyone and everything back aboard with all possible haste and make ready to sail".
The order was given but it was a frustratingly slow job getting all of the crew and the remaining barrels back on board and the ship ready to sail, and the mysterious vessel was already well to the north by the time they finally hoisted the anchor. The others must surely have seen them, but had apparently paid them no heed.
There was an air of excitement on board and the crew had set to with a will releasing the sails and hoisting the anchor. The Gwael quickly picked up speed with a favourable wind and was soon skimming through the low swell in pursuit of the others. However much to her crew and captain's surprise it soon became clear that they were not gaining noticeably on the other ship.
They did however manage to keep her in sight, and as night began to fall the other vessel lit bright lanterns which allowed Adanor, and later that night his son to continue following them without difficulty through the darkness. As night fell they had passed a great wooded cape and then the wide mouth of a river but as yet there was still no sign of any harbour or village on this coast.
When Lauriel went up onto deck in the grey light of the following morning to start her watch the other ship was still there, now a considerable distance ahead of them, making better progress in the less favourable wind which had changed direction and strengthened during the night. Her sea sense told her there was bad weather on the way, but she was not overly concerned as yet though it did increase their chances of losing the others. The shores they now sailed had changed since the day before and forested hills now climbed towards distant mountain summits, which for a moment reminded Lauriel with a pang of more familiar shores now half a world away.
As Lauriel had expected the wind rose sharply bringing squalls of rain and increasing the swell dramatically as the day drew on. Reluctantly she gave the order to reef some sail while it was still safe to send men aloft, and as she had feared the other ship began to disappear into the growing murk until it was completely lost to them. They were alone once more.