The Chronicles of Lumineia: Book 01 - Elseerian (8 page)

Even with only one sail, the prow of the large ship crashed through the water with tremendous force, tilting the vessel in either direction without warning. Standing on the deck the affect was slight, but the swaying crow’s nest could move up to ten feet to either side in an instant. When he’d first begun volunteering for the high watch, the other sailors had told frequent stories of men who had been catapulted out of the nest when an unexpected wave cracked the tip of the mainmast like a whip—sending the unfortunate men far from the boat.

Taryn enjoyed the tales, and laughed just as much as Liri and Trin. It didn’t occur to him until later that the stories were meant for him. By then, the sailors had taken his lack of response as self-assurance, and left him in the unnerving position of being welcomed into the sailors’ confidence. They had even begun inviting him to join their games below deck and letting him take the high watch whenever he wanted. One of crew, named Hunrin, or Hun, as the other sailors called him, a squat nugget of a man with a bushy beard and a wide smile to match a wide face, had even offered to show Taryn how to throw knives after seeing the set from his uncle the night before.

A shout from the deck pulled him away from the view. Looking down he saw Hunrin standing at the door to the aft cabin.

“Do ya want to learn how to throw a knife or what?” Hunrin called up.

Without answering, Taryn leapt out of the crow’s nest and caught a rope on the way down. With thick leather gloves protecting him from the burn, he slid down the rope almost as fast as he would have fallen. Tightening his grip as he neared the deck, he landed lightly in front of Hun.

Hun grunted. “Not bad. I can see you’ve picked up a few things since we set sail, but don't expect it to be so easy to fling a blade.” Hun walked across the deck and hung a crude target at about head height on the forecastle. “Not many people are very good, you know, mostly because no one has the coordination or the time to practice. It took me months to become skilled enough to actually
use
a knife throw in a fight.” He grinned broadly. “It sure comes in handy now and then.”

While he was talking, several more sailors appeared and began going about their morning routine, checking ropes or eating breakfast. Erix, the captain, settled onto the stairs next to the newly hung target and began eating a mess of potatoes. Taryn didn’t miss his nonchalance with the knife target only a few feet away.

Hunrin walked back to Taryn, who still stood next to the aft cabin. “I’m just about the best knife thrower I’ve ever met,” he proclaimed, with a smug smile and an over exaggerated wink. At the same time he idly flicked a knife towards the board on the other side of the deck. The small blade went several feet to the left and embedded next to the captain.

With a chagrined “Woah, sorry cap’n,” Hun bounded forward to get his knife while the captain glared at him even as the corners of his mouth twitched. The other men within view of the scene laughed until the captain glanced at them.

Hun returned and said with a straight face, “It always helps to look at where you’re throwing.” He nodded expansively to add emphasis.

Another sailor tightening a rope next to Taryn leaned over to him, “Don’t let him fool ya, he’s the best o’ the crew with a knife.”

It didn’t take long for Taryn to agree. Like an oiled hinge, Hun whipped out a knife and threw it straight into the board, sinking half the blade just to the left of center. Despite the quick movement, Taryn took careful note of how he threw it. The way he twisted it and tossed it underhand seemed simple enough. A few seconds later, two more knives were in the target within an inch of the first—thrown the same way.

Taryn whistled in appreciation. It was good throwing, and all the more impressive on a rocking boat.

“Are you sure you want to teach me? You never know, I may be a terrible,” he said as he pulled out one of the knives his uncle had given him. Even though he had only seen a knife thrown three times, he was pretty sure he could duplicate the move, even if he couldn’t do it as well. With a quick turn and throw he sent it digging into the target a hand’s breadth from Hunrin’s knives. It wasn’t quite as good a throw as Hunrin’s, but it nevertheless seemed to impress the small man.

 “By Ero’s staff!” Hunrin shouted in astonishment. “I’ve never seen anyone be able to do that so quickly.”

The sailor that had commented on Hunrin’s ability stopped and came over to Taryn. “Five copper says you can’t do that again.”

Ten coppers and two knives later the betting had spread like wildfire. When Liri and several others joined the group of spectators, Taryn began to regret he’d taken the bet. He didn’t care for this much attention, and it left him feeling uncomfortable enough to miss the next few throws. Growling under his breath, he focused on Hun instructing him to imagine sticking the knife into the target and showing him how to angle it down to get the best throw.

It only took a few repetitions of pulling out his knives before he was able to get each blade nearly where he wanted it. Although he felt the heavy scrutiny, he still felt confident that with some decent practice he could master the technique.

Hun seemed intent on teaching Taryn to throw from every possible angle, high or low, on the ship. By mid morning he had managed to strike his target from anywhere—even behind the back or with his body turned. Even though few hit near the center, he performed adequately enough during the fast paced lesson, but he wondered how many others the impatient sailor had successfully taught.

Having learned the basics of knife throwing so quickly, Taryn assumed that the lesson would be over, but Hun returned to where he was standing above the aft cabin and handed him his knives back.

“You’ve done great, kid, but the real challenge comes next. You need to learn how to avoid a knife getting thrown
at
you.”

“Are you serious? How are you going to teach me that?” Taryn began, but Hun was already pulling two wooden knives out of his pocket.

“I’m gunna throw these at you, and you’re gunna dodge them.” His smile broadened. “If you want to try to catch ̓em you can.” His face showed how foolhardy he thought that would be. “But I’ve only ever heard of one person able to do
that
, and he was a blasted thief. Now, go stand next to the target and I will see if I can hit you,” he said as he descended the stairs and took up a position in front of the aft cabin.

As Taryn stepped down to follow him, Liri sidled up close to him. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Why not? They are just wooden knives. Besides, it might prove useful.”

“OK . . .” Liri sounded uncertain. “But be careful, would you?”

Before he could answer, Hun called to him, “You need to be able to see what it looks like to have a knife coming at you, so I am going to throw these wooden knives a little slow, and then throw them faster once you have gotten used to it, OK?”

Taryn nodded, but he was suddenly very aware of how large the crowd had swelled. Nearly all of the crew lined the rails, smiling and talking to each other.
Let’s see you try this
, he thought, not particularly pleased at the turn of events. The flash of coins exchanging hands caused him to glance sideways, but then he did a double take.
Liri was betting too!
He was about to ask her what in
Skorn’s
name she was doing, but a quick movement brought his attention back to Hun and the wooden knife streaking towards him. Out of instinct he sidestepped and the fake blade clattered off the captains’ door and fell to the deck.

Cheers and laughter burst out from the spectators. Another quick glance showed that now nearly every one of the sailors appeared to be participating in the rampant gambling.
I’m glad I can provide some entertainment during your voyage,
he thought, his brow furrowed in annoyance. Right now, he just wanted the lesson to end so he could escape to the crow’s nest.

Like a flash of lightning, he realized for the first time that there might be some benefits to the anonymity he’d had his whole life. Recalling his conversation with Liri on the docks, he thought perhaps there was more truth to Liri’s words than he’d given credit.

A split second later the other knife came at him but he was still distracted and unprepared, ducking and spinning back to his original position.

Even distracted, he smiled to himself.
I can do this,
he thought while stooping to pick up the two wooden knives.

After tossing them back to Hun he readied himself again. This round he did better, and focused enough to watch the spinning knife slice through the air towards him. By the next attempt, Taryn wanted to see if he could catch it. He watched very carefully as Hun leaned forward and threw the knife. Poised as he was, it wasn’t difficult for him to sidestep again, but this time he reached out and picked it clean out of the air before it hit the door behind him. Even though he’d caught the wood halfway on the knife portion, he was pretty sure he could do better the next time.

Liri wasn’t the only one to applaud at that.

“Kid, you are just too good, ain’t ya!” Hun yelled, his voice exultant. “This time I am going to throw it as quick as I normally do.”

The next throw really came faster, although Taryn was still able to pick it out of the air without too much of a problem. It was also easier to catch it while he spun to one side or the other, because he didn’t have to stop the momentum, but could keep it going. He could imagine himself spinning and whipping the knife back at the thrower. The mental image made him smile inwardly, wondering if it would actually work.

By the time the next two throws came, Taryn was able to see the handle of the spinning knife and snatch it out of the air without even grabbing the “blade” portion of the fake knife.

The watching men were pointing and talking excitedly by now. Trin in particular appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the spectacle, while Mae had her usual inscrutable expression painted across her elven features.

Hunrin caught the two wooden knives that Taryn had just tossed to him. Without hesitation or warning he threw them right back at him in quick succession. On reflex, Taryn twisted and caught one, and then the other—and then without warning a
third
wooden knife appeared out of the corner of his eye.

Looking back at Hun showed him to be already releasing another fake knife in Taryn’s direction. Not only was Taryn off balance from the first two, but he was unprepared for the third. Despite this, he dropped the wooden knives and exploded into motion. In a single lightning move, he turned back towards Hun, caught the third wooden knife by the handle, twisted the way he’d imagined, and whipped it straight at Hun—off balance and slow, but still accurate. A split second later a wooden knife sunk quivering, embedded in the door behind Hun and hands breadth from his head.

For a moment everyone didn’t move, stunned. Then uninhibited applause broke out. Sailors shouted and called out. Hun grabbed his knives and came to Taryn, shouting to be heard over the din, “Well kid, I don’t think you still need lessons! Just don’t forget who taught you.”

Taryn forced a thank you, but what he had just done felt surreal, and caused his stomach to tighten. How did he just do that? It should have been impossible, and he knew he should have just dodged. It would have been the smart thing to do. Why did he try for more? Then he realized the more important question was, why did it work? Oddly, he felt more annoyed than anything else. He had no explanation why weapons came so naturally to him, but as he caught sight of Liri, he just wished something else would be as easy.

Without warning, someone began shouting in alarm, louder than the rest of the group. At first Taryn couldn’t pick out who it was, and then he saw the captain standing next to the helm. He was leaning on the rail and looking southward, out to sea. Taryn followed his gaze and caught a glimpse of sails in the distance. One by one the other men silenced themselves and found places against the rail to see.

“Can anyone see what color the sails are?” someone called out.

“Frey, get my glass,” the captain ordered. The first mate detached himself from the group and went into the captain’s cabin. A few seconds later he returned with the captain’s spyglass. As the captain put the distance viewer to his eye, Taryn leaned over to Hun.

“Why is everyone so concerned about sails?” he asked.

Liri, who appeared at his side, leaned in to hear the answer as well.

“We’re still a week out from the port at Keese. Too far out for a sailboat, only possibility is merchant or pirate.” He glanced at them. “There aren’t any
normal
shipping lanes to the south of us, and only a few inhabited islands, but nothing high traffic.”

“What about the color of the sails?” Liri asked.

“Pirates in this region like to use black sails so other pirates won’t needlessly follow them and attack them thinkin’ they’re a merchant vessel.”

“Honor among thieves, huh?” Taryn said skeptically.

Hun snorted at Taryn. “Yeah right.” Then his face grew serious again. “Pirates have been a little active of late—and they can be vicious. The last few ships have been found barely afloat, with either nothing left on board or dead sailors hanging from the mast as a warning to other ships.”

Then he caught sight of the grim expression on Liri’s face and his features softened. “Don’t worry. Pirates are notoriously greedy. You never see more than one or two ships. They just never seem to want to share, and our crew can easily handle one ship, maybe even two with the four of ya.”

“Black sails!” the captain called down.

The light humor evaporated in an instant, and most of the sailors left the rail grumbling before returning to their chores or finishing breakfast.

“Frey, I want you in the nest. You’ve got the best eyes. That ship moves a finger towards us, you let me know,” the captain said as he tossed the spyglass to Frey. “Sabriel, you’ve got the helm. Markham, Finn, grab some others, get the short sail ready to be raised at a moment’s notice and get the emergency canvas out of the hold and tied up, not open, just ready, in case we need it.”