Chapter 123 A Potential Unknown (1/2)

Ebony's first glimpse of land was shortly after dawn on their fifth day at Sea. Several tiny islands appeared before them to the east, and she called down to the Quarter Deck.

”Land Ho!”

Over the days which she'd been at sea, she'd slowly grown accustomed to the height. To say that she'd conquered her fear was stretching it, but she'd grown somewhat used to the feeling of being in the Crow's Nest. Most of all, she'd been looking forward to that call.

”Islands dead ahead!”

Midas, who had heard her call, pulled out a looking glass from coat and extended it, looking out to the direction Ebony had indicated. After a moment he began giving orders to prepare the crew, and someone woke up a reluctant Isaac who'd been asleep for just over an hour.

Despite Ebony's quick learning, navigating around islands was far more difficult than the open sea, and hence Midas felt more comfortable with his experienced watchmen in the Crow's Nest helping Ebony.

Isaac yawned like a mighty beast as he pulled himself into the nest, squinting into the sunrise to see the islands.

”Are they...?”

”The Southern Isles,” Isaac informed her, ”A collection of over a hundred islands, many of which are too small to be inhabited to the point where they don't even possess fresh water”.

”So where is Rouke Island?” asked Ebony.

”We'll get there in another three hours or so, it's situated closer to the centre,” Isaac said, ”The biggest Island in the Southern Isles, the Island built up and inhabited by Traders”.

Isaac yawned again, rubbing his eyes.

”Sorry to wake you,” Ebony said guiltily.

Isaac chuckled, ”Better to wake me now than when we skewer the ship on some rocks thanks to you, newbie”.

Ebony frowned, ”I'm not that inept”.

”But you're not completely confident either, are you?” asked Isaac.

Ebony turned away, refusing to admit it. Isaac continued to smile lazily, ”Keep me awake for the next few hours, then I can go back and get some rest”.

***

”The Southern Isles are in sight, Captain,” Midas reported as Jeremiah stepped onto the Quarter Deck. Jeremiah took the looking glass that Midas offered and spied the Islands through it.