Chapter 6: The Bite at Night
A fair breeze blew the sails of the Splendor Hyaline, and the passengers on board were merry as they traveled with the land on their right and the sea on their left. Their first day of sailing went easily enough, skirting the Bight of Calormen—the misleadingly calm gulf just south of Narnia where sudden storms were known to come with furious winds even on the balmiest days. But far out through the Bight, the sky was clear and the sun bright and warm, and none of them were concerned. "Though," said Corin when they were talking about the possibility of a storm with their captain, a dwarf from Narnia called Frystin, "We could do well with a storm—it promises to be quite boring without a little adventure."
"Your highness will forgive me for saying you're mad to wish a storm," said Frystin. "The less adventure we have on this voyage, the sooner we will get to Tashbaan—and the sooner we can return home."
"You are not very interested in Calormine, are you, Master Dwarf?" asked Cor with a smile.
"Your highness knows I'm not," said the dwarf. "But though I'd rather be at the anvil with a hammer and good piece of metal, there's nothing so fine as a two day voyage—even if it is to that accursed land."
Aravis nodded, and said, "It will be over in a week, Captain Frystin, then you may return to your mines."
"Still," said Corin, "What does one do aboard ship when there's a fair wind and nothing to occupy one? How pass the long hours?"
"Brother, you might simply sit and enjoy the voyage," said Cor. "Or read, or play chess."
"That's something more suited to your tastes, brother," said Corin. "But if only there was a battle to be joined, or…"
"Your highness may climb the main mast to sit aloft in the crow's nest, if you like," said Frystin. "And tell me if you can see Tashbaan yet."
"We've only been sailing half a day," said Cor, "Do you think it worth—"
"That's something like!" said Corin, and practically leapt across the deck to the mast, and began climbing the netting. As the ship pitched and heeled, he swayed on the nets, but Corin was not the type of young man to give up easily.
"You can climb faster than that, lad," said the dwarf with a hearty laugh.
"Not as easy as it looks," said Corin from about ten feet above them. He looked up, and sighed with dismay when he realized he'd only climbed about a seventh of the way to the crow's nest.
"What about you?" asked Cor, looking at Aravis. "Would you like to see the view from up there?"
"You couldn't get me up there if you threatened me with death," said Aravis. "I'm terrified of heights. Even as high as he is now… I'm sure I would fall." Cor chuckled slightly. "Don't let it stop you from going, though," she said, her eyebrows raised.
Cor cleared his throat. "I… don't much fancy heights myself, if it comes to that," he said, then turned his attention to the dwarf once more. "When will we dock, then, Captain?"
"Morning on the third day, highness," said Frystin. "Though perhaps a little sooner if—"
There was a shout, and all looked toward the mast head. Corin dangled from the nets, now about 20 feet up, his left leg caught in one of the holes, its angle skewed. "Tarnation!" Corin exclaimed, trying to hoist himself up, and grunting with pain. "A little help, please?"
Cor wordlessly leapt upon the netting and grasped the net, hand over hand, until he was at his brother's side. He looked down a moment, then again at his brother. Aravis could tell how uncomfortable he must be up there, but he was climbing with a sense of ease that was born from the need to assist his brother—he didn't have a choice. She watched with admiration, wondering that only a moment ago he'd declined to climb at all. "Easy," said Cor, lifting his brother so that he could grasp the ropes. "What happened?"
"The rope was slippery—there's water…" said Corin, his face red with pain from his leg. "I think I broke my leg. Help me down, would you?"
"Aye, that can happen, highness," said the Captain, who'd also climbed the rigging and began helping Cor bring his brother down. "The spray will spew up far sometimes—I ought to have warned you."
"I'll live," said Corin. "Unless my royal brother drops me. Have a care, would you, Cor?"
"If you weren't so blasted heavy this would be easier," said Cor, hoisting his brother down finally, onto the deck.
"Are you all right?" asked Aravis, who rushed to Corin's side and knelt down. She felt his leg, much to his pain, and saw that it was indeed broken, though the bone did not protrude from the skin. "You'll need it set," she said. "Captain, have you anything I can splint this with?"
"Certain, we have splints in the supplies below, my lady," said Frystin. "But let one of the sailors—"
"I'm not completely helpless, you know," said Aravis. "Hold him up, Cor."
Cor reached around to his brother's torso and pulled him to a sitting position. "What are you going to do?"
"Set it," said Aravis, and Cor nodded.
"Set it?" asked Corin, evidently alarmed at the prospect.
"Yes," said Aravis, "Unless you want to be lame the rest of your life from a leg that didn't heal properly.
"But… can you?"
"Trust her," said Cor. "She's visited the hermit more times than I—he's taught her all sorts of things about healing and medicine. She'll set you right."
Aravis placed her hands along Cor's lower leg, grasping it tightly. "This will hurt some," she said.
Corin nodded curtly but did not flinch, and a moment later, with a sickening crack, the leg was set, and he breathed deeply. "Lion's Mane!" he said through clenched teeth. "That smarts… but strangely it feels better. You're quite the physic, my lady."
"You'll need to rest that, Corin," said Aravis, taking the splints that Frystin gave to her and beginning to wrap his leg. "No climbing, fighting, of hoping for a storm."
"Makes reading sound much more enjoyable," said Corin sarcastically as he rose to his good leg and took a staff from the Captain.
"Not much of a crutch, highness, but it'll do," said Frystin. "My apologies—"
Corin waved him off, "My fault, not yours," he said, "If only I wasn't so keen on bolting to the top, I wouldn't have slipped."
"Well, it can't be helped now," said Aravis, "Would you like to lounge on a chair on the poop?"
"I think I'll lay in the cabin for a while," said Corin. "Though I thank you. Wake me for supper, won't you?" and he headed off to his and Cor's cabin to rest.
"Adventures or food," said Cor smiling, "Such is the entirety of my dear brother's thoughts."
"You have a bit of the adventurer in you as well, highness," said Frystin.
"Indeed," said Aravis. "The way you helped him—I thought you weren't keen on heights either?"
Cor laughed slightly. "It's another matter when someone's life is in danger. But let's not speak of it—I think I will take your idea of lounging on the poop—lovely day for it, isn't it?" He climbed up the stairs onto the poop and sat on one of the rough chairs that faced out to sea.
"His highness is modest," said Frystin.
"He is, indeed," said Aravis, her eyes on Cor and her heart beating thickly.
"And… a good kind he'll make…" said Frystin, his eyes sharp, noticing everything.
"He will," Aravis agreed.
"Would you like to sit with him, then?" asked Frystin.
"Oh," said Aravis, coming out of her reverie. "I suppose… actually, I think I'll go to my own cabin for a little…"
"Aye, lady," said the Captain with a nod and what Aravis swore was a wink.
OoOoOoOoO
Aravis wondered if she would get tired of Corin by the time the trip to Calormen was over. Though brave in battle, and filled with courtesy, he was intolerably infantile about his leg injury. Aravis wished she had Lucy's magic cordial—one drop would cure him—but it was not to be, and they simply had to deal with his complaining. "I'm certain we can have a Calormine physic come and help you," said Aravis at supper that first night. "Calormine medicine is quite advanced, you know."
"I'll take nothing offered by those devils," said Corin, who'd been in a foul mood since Cor woke him for supper.
"Buck up, brother," said Cor. "If you wish, you can stay aboard the entire time, and Aravis and I will go to the coronation ceremony by ourselves."
"And be bored here on the ship?" asked Corin. "No… I'll come ashore. And I'll see your Calormine physic if you insist…"
"Good," said Aravis cheerily. "Now do try and be content, Corin. It's a lovely night—no sign of storms anywhere." It was strange that she said those words at exactly that moment, because far of, in the very center of the Bight of Calormen, there was a bold of lightning, and roll of thunder a moment later.
"You were saying?" asked Corin with a half-smile.
"Bring those supper things to the galley!" shouted Captain Frystin from the ship's wheel. "And all hands on deck but their highnesses!"
Everything was very busy for the next few moments, and though Aravis did as she was told, the storm came upon them so quickly that she'd barely gotten down the stairs and onto the deck when a great wave soared over the side of the ship and swept her feet out from under her. She hit the floor of the deck, bruising her knees, and pushed herself up again. "Get inside!" shouted the Captain and Prince Corin at once.
"Let me help you, Prince!" shouted Aravis. She ran to his side, hoisted his arm over her shoulder, and half led, half dragged him to the cabin.
"I'll get him in!" shouted Cor over the storm. "You get inside now!" Aravis looked around, her hair whipping her face, and she saw Cor staggering toward them, waves rushing across the deck toward him. From seemingly out of nowhere, a beam came crashing down toward Cor.
"Watch out!" shouted a sailor. Too late, the beam hit Cor in the stomach, shoving him against the railing and over it.
"NO!" shouted Aravis. She let go of Corin and rushed to the side of the ship.
"Back inside!" shouted Captain Frystin, "We'll get him!"
Aravis did not obey. She saw Cor, over the side, dangling with his legs caught up in the rigging that had fallen. Without thinking, she grabbed hold of a rope, and holding it tightly she leapt over the side after him. It was for the sickening moment that she was in mid air that she realized how foolish this was, but she had no time to think about it as the rope tightened and her feet hit the side of the ship.
"What are you doing! You daft woman!" the captain and other sailors were at the side of the ship, all holding to the rope she'd jumped off with.
"I don't know!" Aravis called back. "I need some more rope! I can't reach him!" She looked below her, sickened by the swirling waves below, but found her courage when she saw Cor's limp form, tangled in ropes and netting, she became brave and attempted to lower herself again. Her hands slipped, and she felt the rope cut her palms. "I'm slipping!"
A second later Frystin was at her side, a robe around his waist, and another in his hands. "You'll be the death of us all!" he said, but as he spoke he quickly tied the second rope to Aravis' waist as well. She was now able to loosen her hold on the other rope and climb down a little more. "This will work for now—but we have to get you up. Prepare to heave, lads!"
"NO!" screamed Aravis. "We have to save him!"
Surprised by her scream, the Captain did not argue, and shouted, "Lower us a little, Lads!"
They were lowered on their ropes until they were level with Corin. His head moved, and Aravis felt a jolt in her stomach—he was alive! They grasped his arms and pulled him up—his feet easily came out of the rigging, and Aravis realized that perhaps a moment later, and he would have fallen to his death in the icy waves below. She wrapped her arms around his waist, and Frystin took one of his arms, and both heaved as the captain shouted, "Heave ho, boys!"
A moment later, they were on deck, and several people were ushering them to the cabin. Once inside, the door closed, Aravis and Captain Frystin dragged Cor over to a bunk.
"What's happened!" asked a white-faced Corin, sitting on the floor and clutching his leg.
"He's all right," said the captain, "But this lady ought to be whipped for her foolishness!" He sounded angry, furious, even, but then said, "And if it wasn't for her, you'd be next in line to be king, lad."
"Well, congratulations, then," said Corin, brightening. "What's the matter with him?
Aravis shook Cor where he lay on the bunk. "Wake up! Cor! Are you all right?"
"Now, now, let the man breathe," said Frystin.
Cor coughed and groaned. "What's happened?"
"You're alive!" shouted Aravis, and embraced him. A moment later, she pulled away, her face very red.
Cor sat up on the bunk and looked around, then held his head in his hands. "I feel like I've been clubbed," he said.
"Nearly," said Frystin. "You were knocked against the side of the ship—but you'll mend. Now, if you'll remain here, highnesses, I'm going out on deck to help steer us away from this wretched Bite." Without another word, the captain strode from the cabin, slamming the door behind him.
"You… saved me?" asked Cor.
"You need to rest," said Aravis.
"She did indeed," said Corin, smiling broadly. "She jumped over the side of the ship. Don't know what she was doing…"
"You… jumped over? You could have died. I… I…"
"No better than you rushing at a lion to save me," said Aravis, who was beginning to feel foolish.
"No better!" said Cor. "You… could've been killed!"
"I wasn't," said Aravis, and she stood up and crossed the cabin to a port hole. "The rain… it's died down. I suppose storms don't last long in the bite, do they?"
"You… saved me!"
"I believe the lady doesn't want to talk about it, brother," said Corin. "Nor do I, come to think. We ought to get some sleep—it must be well after midnight now."
"I… am not very tired," said Aravis. A moment later, Cor was at her side.
"Nor am I," he said softly. "Why did you jump over the railing?"
"It was… you were going to die," said Aravis.
"Did it occur to you that the Captain could have gotten me?"
"…No. Not at the time. Though… I suppose, if I'd thought about it…"
Cor folded his arms and said, "Do not put yourself in harm's way again."
"What?" asked Aravis. There was a loud snore behind them, and glancing at the sleeping Corin, sprawled out on a bunk, she lowered her voice. "What?"
"You should have gone to the cabin, Aravis. You will not put yourself in harm's way again."
"I 'will not?' Who are you to give me orders?"
"The future king of Archenland," said Cor.
"You arrogant—"
"I'm your friend, Aravis," said Cor fiercely. "And I… and just listen to me, all right?"
He stepped away and rushed to the door. Before he opened it, Aravis said, "Running away?" He paused a moment, then opened the door, and left.