From alt.pub.dragons-inn Fri Dec 3 07:42:10 1993 Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Path: netcom.com!netcomsv!decwrl!decwrl!nic.hookup.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!news.cyberstore.ca!vanbc.wimsey.com!deep.rsoft.bc.ca!kakwa.ucs.ualberta.ca!alberta!amisk.cs.ualberta.ca!aaron From: aaron@amisk.cs.ualberta.ca (Aaron V. Humphrey) Subject: [SQ] Lurking Beneath Message-ID: Originator: aaron@cab017.cs.ualberta.ca Sender: news@cs.UAlberta.CA (News Administrator) Reply-To: aaron@amisk.cs.ualberta.ca Organization: The Anna Amabiaca Fan Club Date: Wed, 1 Dec 1993 18:33:56 GMT Lines: 161 ADMIN: All these characters are mine, except for Angus, who is property of Bruce Lapham, Radan and Blythe, who are property of Timothy Vaughan, and Shade, who is property of Morgan Broman. This post is Copyright 1993 by me, and approved by the above. It had been a day since Radan had dived overboard, and there was still no sign of him. The Kelsie had returned to report that it had been warned off by some kind of mer-people. The news had excited Mistletoe. "I hope some of them come up here," she babbled to Bronwen as they ate lunch. "I've never seen a merman before. Or a mermaid, for that matter." Her face was filled with a childish curiosity that made Bronwen smile and almost forget their problems. She heard splashing as some of the sailors took the opportunity for a quick swim. The Kelsie watched over them, still in dolphin-form, and had reported an absence of sharks. Bronwen shuddered, remembering what had happened to the Seaguard ship. She wouldn't risk swimming in the ocean for a long, long time. Mistletoe, on the other hand, grinned and bounced off to find Maleiu. She couldn't seem to get enough swimming, especially all the creatures swimming around her. She'd spent almost an hour studying the barnacles starting to grow on the side of the ship. "May I join you?" Remi said. She turned and smiled at him. He looked more somber than usual, and almost furtive. "What's on your mind?" she asked, her joviality turning to concern. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Vanshar watching them narrowly. She suddenly realized that they were probably among the only ones on the deck. He bent close to her ear. "We can't go back to Generica," he whispered. "You know that. Piracy was bad enough, but escaping will be even worse. They might even hang us. And you won't get off much better, for helping us escape. You only wanted to rescue your friend." "What do you mean, Remi?" She was alarmed at his intensity and determination. "Radan wants us to go back once his friend is found. I think instead we should go off somewhere else. There are many places we could go. Ydoine, perhaps. Or the Dark Continent; your friend Maleiu could go home. Or down to Satosi. There are many ports in the world, my darling." She was confused. What was he talking about? "Radan should have been back by now," he continued. "What if he doesn't return? How long are we going to wait for the Seaguard pursuit to find us again? Remember, this is where your ship came through before--it's a regular route. It'll only be a matter of time if we stay here. And our food stores are getting low." She pulled away, suddenly shivering. "Remi, I--" "One more day," he said. "Then I'm afraid it won't be safe to wait any longer." He turned and walked back to where Vanshar stood waiting. For a moment she caught the Rameshander's eyes, and the cold look in them made her shiver more. Despite the warmth of the day, she went belowdecks to get a cloak. She started thinking of that Seaguard ship again... *** Bronwen had been frozen in horror as the drunk accosted Remi, and then Vanshar attacked the Seaguard who tried to break up the fight. She stifled a shriek when Maleiu picked her up unceremoniously, with a mumbled apology, and threw her over his shoulder as they dashed towards Radan's ship. Once they were aboard, and Radan shouted for them to cast off, Bronwen looked around for Angus. He looked somewhat dazed, and had a couple of fresh bruises. "Are you okay?" she asked. "What happened?" "I'm fine," he said, his brogue stronger than usual this morning. "I--I don't want to talk about it right now." He turned away, casting a black look at Remi. There was a lurch as the ship got underway. Bronwen went over to the railing and looked around. It didn't look like their chances of even getting out of the harbour were very good, let alone actually evading pursuit. Then she turned and saw the Kelsie fluttering around the rigging, enjoying herself. "Kelsie!" she yelled. "Can you get us some wind?" The Kelsie pouted for moment, then sighed. "Just a sec," she said, and disappeared. Bronwen knew she was talking to the air spirits, trying to secure their cooperation. Finally she reappeared, and their sails billowed under an unexpected gust. The sailors cursed as they tried to compensate for the sudden extra force. In comparison, none of the Seaguard ships even had all their sails raised yet. Of course, they were professionals at this, and they had strong magic on their side. For a moment, she wished Ornigan were here; he could probably cook up something. But she understood his obligation to his family. The Seaguard ships seemed to be having trouble getting started--apparently the air spirits the Kelsie had summoned included those who would have blown in the sails of other ships, as well. She could see mages gesticulating, apparently trying to summon up their own wind. Still, they had a bit of an edge. Then she heard a whistling sound and saw something flying through the air towards them. She instinctively ducked behind the railing as it hit the water fifty yards from their port side. A rowboat closer than they was almost swamped, and the man in the boat shook his fist at the tower the shot had come from. With a leap of hope Bronwen saw that the harbour was too crowded for them to risk more shooting, and presumably once they got out of the crush they'd be too far away to be an easy target. The Seaguard were losing more time, trying to clear the lanes so they could pursue. Sure enough, they managed to reach the edge of the harbour, with little more risk than a few near-misses. Their sails still puffed with wind, and the Seaguard were just starting to get organized for the chase. Then she heard raised voices from the foredeck and saw Remi arguing with Radan and Blythe. She walked closer, and heard Remi say, "...have experience with this. I've been chased by the Seaguard before." "I don't know..." Blythe said. The first mate looked at Remi with frank mistrust. "Give him a chance," Bronwen said. "He _has_ done this before, and after all, he's the one they're after. He might as well do something, rather than sit idle while others decide his fate." Radan nodded. "We did put ourselves at great risk, and maybe jeopardize our possibilities of returning to Generica, to get him as captain for this expedition. It's about time he took command." Blythe scowled, the sighed and saluted Remi. "Okay, Remi. You'll get your chance...sir." Then he turned and shouted to inform the other men of the shift in command. Vanshar, who had been standing nearby, grinned. His grin widened as Blythe's eyes shot daggers at him. Remi moved to the stern to gauge the oncoming craft. The wind in the sails had already put them hundreds of yards from the harbour, and the Seaguard hadn't even reached the entrance yet. Their wind still seemed to be stronger. Guess Fairies were more persuasive than Mages, Bronwen thought as she moved to stand beside the now-captain. He absently put an arm around her, then said, "You should go below. You won't be needed unless they close for battle, and with any luck they won't get close enough to do that." He grinned fiercely, as if daring them to try. She nodded and gave him a peck on the cheek, then went below. *** Out in the depths of the Great Blue, it swam about idly. It was starting to get hungry again, it realized dimly. Its last meal hadn't had as much meat as it liked, and a lot of it had been dead too long and gave him cramps. From experience, it knew that food was easier to find near the edges of the ocean. From the taste of the water it knew that it was near the place where it had crossed the not-water so long ago. There was often good food there. It made its decision and undulated towards Generica. -- --Alfvaen(Editor of Communique) Current Album--Todd Rundgren:Nearly Human Current Read--Arthur Conan Doyle:The Original Illustrated Sherlock Holmes "What you just spoke--was that a parable, or a very subtle joke?" --CTD