Chapter 159: A Fast Ship (1/2)

His faded red cap was tilted showing his near bald scalp beneath and his darkened skin was weathered from years on the sea. Kysandre's father, the captain of a large fishing vessel considered me while puffing on a pipe.

”I will take you to the ship builder,” he said.

I nodded. ”Thanks. Do you have time for a trip north?”

”No,” he said. ”But we will make time.” He was short, wiry but deceptively strong. As he walked up the dry dock his gait made it seem like he was more accustomed to being on a rocking ship than stable land.

The ship builder's home was the largest on the docks. It stretched from the front of the dock all the way to the rear and was at the western most end. We entered through the wide door and I could see why. It was a home and workshop in one.

In the centre was a type of drydock. It was empty at the moment, but a ship could be raised and lowered into the water beneath using pulleys and ropes. Slats of wood covered the gap sporadically and if you weren't careful you could fall through the floor into the water. Either side of the dry dock were normal boards which we walked down to find the ship builder.

”Fernando,” the captain called.

An old man covered in sawdust appeared from the kitchen at the end of the workshop. There were stairs in the corner leading up to a second story which covered the rear section.

”Hola Captain,” Fernando said, and peered at us. ”I take it these are the forestfolk.”

He nodded.

”What sort of ship do you want with your fine wood?”

I was surprised, I looked at the Captain who nodded. ”We went north four days ago. We saw your docks and my daughters cabin, but she wasn't there. One of your people, Elred, told us the story and gave us wood to bring south.”

”How did you get it back here?”

”Wood floats,” the captain said dryly.

A young woman whisked down the stairs and said, ”Father.” She handed the ship builder a leather case. He opened it and pulled out a few sketches. He placed them on one of his several workbenches and spread them out.

”Take a look. These are my new designs.”

There were large and small ships. Some were wide and low and looked like they were built to haul cargo. Another was a fishing vessel like the captains and then there was a long thin boat with a tall sail.

”Is this the fastest?” I asked.

”Si, it will be a fast one that. You can row if there is dead wind but there is not much space for cargo or fish.”

”I think it will suit us,” I said. ”How many people can it carry.”

He looked me up and down. ”Four like you, six or seven regular folk.”

”It looks like its perfect for rivers,” I said.

”Si, she'll handle rivers beautifully. She turns on a coin only her length could be an issue on the smaller rivers.”

”How much?” I asked.

Fernando looked at the captain who nodded.

”You pay in qi?”

”Yes.”

”You provided the wood,” he said. ”It is too much wood, but I will need to purchase steel and cloth for the sails.”

”We can provide the cloth if you give me a drawing,” I said.

”It has to be strong. It's not some flimsy dress.”

I nodded. ”I'm sure our artisans can make the strongest. They are just novices when it comes to sail design.”

The captain leaned forward to look over the designs. ”Light and strong is the best. It needs to last, and you need spares. A sail can rip in a storm, or if mistreated or some monster decides to claw at it.”

Fernando nodded to his daughter. ”Chica, bring a sail design to suit the longboat.”