Elfborn

Chapter 14: A Dark Core

While snow fell on distant Gaul, winter seas pounded the northern coasts of the Meridian as mid winter storms let loose their fury on seaside communities, which hunkered against their stone foundations and let the winds lash at them as the rains fell, hard and heavy. And further out to sea, beneath low, threatening clouds, the Dolphin struggled against five metre swells, reaching out of the Meridian's belly to clutch dangerously rough at the Dolphin's keel, threatening to cast both her and her crew down into the cold and watery depths.

Like a flimsy chip of wood on the edge of a maelstrom, the Dolphin narrowly cut her way between two towering waves to press resolutely on, her bow never wavering from her final course. Even as the cold north wind whipped the Meridian's currents into a frenzy, it filled the Dolphin's straining canvas sails, literally throwing her across the water fast enough to elude most of the storm's tempest. But not all.

Jase sputtered as another cold wave of seawater washed over the Dolphin's starboard gunwale, catching the young Hybernian almost by surprise. Almost, because he had been on deck for close to three hours now, serving his part of the watch schedule, and was getting to expect such cold dousings on a regular basis. That and the cold wind that drove the salty spray like daggers through his oiled cloak and tunic, cutting him right to the bone with the chill.

A vast claw of monstrous strength and giant proportions, the wave seemed to grab hold of the Dolphin, pulling it roughly to starboard. But, before it could get a good purchase on the slick deck and the smooth gunwales, it was gone, its liquid strength abruptly its defeating power, forcing the wave to retreat before it could do what it wanted: to pull the Dolphin under.

With a sigh of relief, Jase let go of his own purchase, a knotted rope tied about his waist and to a nearby stanchion to hold him in place, despite the vagrancies of the weather. Each time one of those waves hammered away at the seemingly fragile vessel, he swore it lasted longer than the last. And kept more and more of the Dolphin underwater. He felt a wash of intense relief each time a wave retreated, having unsuccessfully attempted to flip the Dolphin over.

"Good ship," he husked, spitting salt water out of his mouth when the whipping wind sprayed him with it. "Nice ship." He patted the railing beside him with a frozen hand. Then, with a shake of his head, he clutched his cloak more tightly to his already drenched body, praying that his watch would end soon.

Considering the rough conditions of the Meridian under the baleful gaze of a winter storm, the young Hesivan could hardly imagine what it would be like even out on the Straits of Hybernus now. The waves would be twice as high, the seas twice as heavy. And the winds, twice as sharp, without a doubt. And that wasn't even taking into account the mood of the Western Sea under the banner of winter's Storm King. If the weather was ravaging in the Straits, then it was tenfold more deadly on the water of the Western Sea. 'I simply pray that I never have to find out!' he darkly thought, shivering as his wet clothes clung to his skin without mercy.

A glance along the deck was enough to yield several more strapped-in sailors, each watching the surging seas with hawk-like gazes. Though the Dolphin was made for the Meridian, a sturdy and capable vessel, even she could be flipped over if the storm suddenly turned, changing the direction of the waves that pounded at them without mercy. If the tiller couldn't react in time, she would be done for. Although, with the rapid onset of evening and the darkening sky, the task became all that much more difficult.

Hence the storm watch which, foolishly done, now that he thought back on it, Jase volunteered for. 'At least it's better than traveling in the stinking hold!' he thought darkly, bracing himself as he saw another wave sweeping in. 'I swear I will never look at a rat in the same light again!'