Part 7 (1/2)

Sadness settled on her as she thought again of Dios. She regretted missing the ritual farewell the next day but promised herself that wherever the Xanthos Xanthos beached that night, she would speak her own words of goodbye to his shade. The chariot lurched forward. Andromache grabbed the rail as the vehicle thundered toward the beach. beached that night, she would speak her own words of goodbye to his shade. The chariot lurched forward. Andromache grabbed the rail as the vehicle thundered toward the beach.

And there, in the distance, she saw the mighty Xanthos. Xanthos. Twice the size of any s.h.i.+p on the King's Beach, the Twice the size of any s.h.i.+p on the King's Beach, the Xanthos Xanthos lay half-in, half-out of the water, resting slightly to one side. Despite the great bulk, the wars.h.i.+p had grace and beauty. As the chariot clattered down to the beach, drawing up close to the lay half-in, half-out of the water, resting slightly to one side. Despite the great bulk, the wars.h.i.+p had grace and beauty. As the chariot clattered down to the beach, drawing up close to the Xanthos, Xanthos, the first rays of the rising sun speared over the horizon, turning the polished oak timbers to gold. the first rays of the rising sun speared over the horizon, turning the polished oak timbers to gold.

The Xanthos, Xanthos, still and serene, was surrounded by people: crewmen s.h.i.+nnying up ropes to the top deck, beachmasters and their workers loading cargo, early-rising fishermen and home-going wh.o.r.es lingering to watch the launch. still and serene, was surrounded by people: crewmen s.h.i.+nnying up ropes to the top deck, beachmasters and their workers loading cargo, early-rising fishermen and home-going wh.o.r.es lingering to watch the launch.

As she got down from the chariot, Andromache wondered for a moment how they were going to get on board, but as they neared the s.h.i.+p, a st.u.r.dy wooden ladder was pa.s.sed down to the sand at the stern. At the top she could see the rea.s.suring figure of Gershom leaning down over the rail. He waved and called out a greeting.

Then curly-haired Oniacus trudged across the sand. ”Can you manage, lady? You can sit in a sling if you prefer.”

”To be hauled up like livestock, Oniacus? My sister and I can manage a ladder.” She softened the sharp words with a smile, remembering that the man only recently had lost his family at Dardanos.

”The rest of your belongings are already aboard,” he said. ”They are stored at the rear of the lower deck.”

”And the ebony box?” she asked.

Oniacus nodded. ”Safe, lady, alongside your luggage. Your bow is there also, and two fine quivers. Let us hope you do not find use for them-beyond practice, I mean.”

Andromache saw that Ka.s.sandra was about to speak and cut across her. ”Thank you, Oniacus,” she said. ”We also took your advice and brought extra warm clothing. Oiled woolen cloaks and leggings.”

”That is good. The weather may be savagely cold and wet.”

Andromache took Ka.s.sandra by the arm and led her to the ladder. ”You go up first,” she told her. ”I will follow and steady your foot if you slip.”

Ka.s.sandra laughed. ”You think I am some drooling defective who has never climbed a ladder?” Lifting the hem of her dark ankle-length tunic, she almost ran up the ladder, taking Gershom's hand and leaping over the rail. Andromache followed her.

Safely on the aft deck by the carved steering oar, Andromache immediately glanced around for sight of Helikaon. He was not yet aboard, and she felt a pang of disappointment. The crewmen amids.h.i.+ps were hauling aboard cargo: bales of embroidered cloth, st.u.r.dy wooden chests, nets full of bread and fruit, and hundreds of small amphorae strung together with twine and padded with straw. Other crewmen then lowered the goods to the hold.

Oniacus vaulted over the deck rail and opened a hatch in the deck by Andromache's feet. Climbing down to the second oar deck, he called out greetings to the men below. The buzz of conversation continued as the oarsmen began to swap stories and catch up on news of their comrades. All of them seemed cheerful at the prospect of getting under way.

Andromache felt it, too, the exhilaration running through the golden s.h.i.+p. She glanced at Ka.s.sandra. The girl's eyes were bright, her cheeks flushed, and she gazed around with wonder. Because of her strangeness it was easy to forget that Ka.s.sandra was little more than a child-and a child about to embark on a great adventure.

”Let us get you both settled,” Gershom said. ”We are sailing soon.” He stared hard at Ka.s.sandra as if he knew her. ”Come,” he said, then led the two women along the central aisle.

Andromache could see some of the Xanthos Xanthos' battle scars. There were fire-blackened rows of decking that needed renewal, and part of the starboard rail had been repaired roughly with planks. Three carpenters were busy replacing a section of rail on the port side. They were hammering feverishly.

As she reached the tabernacle, the box at the center of the s.h.i.+p into which the mast sank securely, Andromache saw that a circular wooden seat had been built around the thick oak mast. Plaited ropes had been fixed as handholds. There were half-finished carvings around the edges of the seat.

”We are expecting some rough weather,” Gershom explained. ”Even the most experienced sailors can feel nausea in winter storms. The center of the s.h.i.+p heaves about least in rough seas. Come here if you feel unwell or if a storm is looming.”

Andromache nodded and glanced at Ka.s.sandra. She looked a little frightened now, and her face had turned pale. Gershom continued on toward the foredeck. Glancing down through open hatches, Andromache could see the oarsmen taking their places in the rowing seats on the lower deck. They were laughing and shouting and pa.s.sing water skins back and forth. They kept their eyes averted, but she knew they were all aware of the two princesses walking above their heads.

On the foredeck a yellow canopy had been set up to make a private s.p.a.ce for the women. Gershom explained that this was where the pair could sleep and spend their days during the voyage. Andromache was used to such arrangements on her trips to and from Thera, but Ka.s.sandra looked aghast.

”It's so small,” she whispered to Andromache.

Andromache was about to point out that the Xanthos Xanthos' foredeck was roomier than any other on the Great Green, when silence fell over the s.h.i.+p. She looked back to see Helikaon climbing onto the aft deck. His long dark hair had been tied back in a ponytail, and he was wearing a simple tunic of faded blue. A change came over the crew, a quiet that spoke more of respect than of fear, she believed. She sensed the power in him. It called out directly to her blood, and she tore her gaze away, her face reddening.

Eight burly crewmen ran to the foredeck and, splitting up into two teams of four, untied two long ropes fastened to a thick support. Andromache was intrigued. ”What are they doing?” she asked Gershom.

”Getting ready to haul up the anchors. The Xanthos Xanthos is a heavy beast and hard to launch. We drop the anchors a little way from our mooring place; then, when the men heave on the ropes, it helps pull the hull into the water.” is a heavy beast and hard to launch. We drop the anchors a little way from our mooring place; then, when the men heave on the ropes, it helps pull the hull into the water.”

From all over the King's Beach Andromache watched men come running. Crewmen from other s.h.i.+ps, fishermen, beachmasters, even foreign traders all worked together, putting their shoulders to the golden hull of the Xanthos Xanthos to push her out into the bay. to push her out into the bay.

For a moment it seemed the s.h.i.+p would not move. Then a voice shouted, ”Again!” There was a pause, the timbers creaked, there was a deep groaning sound, the s.h.i.+p moved forward a pace, then another, then suddenly slid into the water, and they were free and afloat. The men on the foredeck tied off their ropes, leaving the stone anchors sluicing water on specially strengthened sections of planking.

The people on the beach cheered as the eighty oars were run out. Then came the deep voice of Oniacus from belowdecks, supplying a rhythmic beat for the rowers.

”One was an oarsman, was an oarsman,They say he was a bad man,One was a slinger, was a slinger,And certainly a sad man.

One was a wh.o.r.eson, was a wh.o.r.eson,They say he was a madman,One was a singer was a singerWho never was a glad man.”

The Xanthos Xanthos moved smoothly away from the beach. The wind was from the north, from Thraki, and the galley made slow progress for a while as the oarsmen battled the strong headwind to get out of the shallow Bay of Troy. The s.h.i.+p moved as if through glue. moved smoothly away from the beach. The wind was from the north, from Thraki, and the galley made slow progress for a while as the oarsmen battled the strong headwind to get out of the shallow Bay of Troy. The s.h.i.+p moved as if through glue.

”Let's pick it up, you lazy cowsons!” Oniacus yelled. ”Mark of four!”

”One had a sword trick, had a sword trick,One had a treasure, had a treasure,One had a big p.r.i.c.k, had a big p.r.i.c.k,One had the pleasure.” had the pleasure.”

The oars sliced into the churning water and the s.h.i.+p picked up speed, but it was heavy going, the tide and the wind seeking to drive the great vessel back toward Troy. The two women stood hand in hand watching the Golden City recede slowly behind them.

”I will never see Troy again,” Ka.s.sandra said. Andromache had heard her speak those words before, and she had no answer, so she said nothing but put her arm around her and gently turned her so that they faced the way they were traveling.

”We must look forward,” she said, ”not dwell on our sadness.” The image of her son's sleeping face invaded her mind and tore at her heart.

”The s.h.i.+p is very slow,” Ka.s.sandra said, staring at the muddy water creeping by below them. She seemed disappointed.

”We will soon be reaching the cape,” Andromache replied. ”After that you will see your dolphin bay and King's Joy.”

The Cape of Tides was the farthest point north they had to travel. After that the s.h.i.+p would turn south for the long voyage down the coast. As the Xanthos Xanthos cleared the Bay of Troy, the fierce current in the straits s.n.a.t.c.hed at her. The vessel lurched and then picked up speed. The prow began to swing. The skill of the oarsmen came into play, with those on the port side, closest to the land, dipping their blades and pulling hard and those on the starboard lifting their oars clear. The cleared the Bay of Troy, the fierce current in the straits s.n.a.t.c.hed at her. The vessel lurched and then picked up speed. The prow began to swing. The skill of the oarsmen came into play, with those on the port side, closest to the land, dipping their blades and pulling hard and those on the starboard lifting their oars clear. The Xanthos Xanthos straightened. Gershom shouted an order, and six crewmen sprang to haul up the yard. The great sail was unfurled, flapping ferociously against its stays, and as the black horse came into view, the men all shouted. The rowers drew in their oars. The strong north wind filled the sail. straightened. Gershom shouted an order, and six crewmen sprang to haul up the yard. The great sail was unfurled, flapping ferociously against its stays, and as the black horse came into view, the men all shouted. The rowers drew in their oars. The strong north wind filled the sail.

And the Xanthos Xanthos leaped forward on its journey south. leaped forward on its journey south.

CHAPTER SIX.

THE GREAT CIRCLE.

Clouds had begun to gather as the Xanthos Xanthos sailed south down the coast, heading toward the distant chain of islands known as the Great Circle. Standing at the prow, Gershom stared at the sky, his mood brittle. Though he did not speak of it, he still had nightmares of s.h.i.+pwrecks and drowning in which he clung again to the driftwood with bleeding fingers as the storm raged around him. The big man s.h.i.+vered at the memory and focused on the dark, lowering clouds. sailed south down the coast, heading toward the distant chain of islands known as the Great Circle. Standing at the prow, Gershom stared at the sky, his mood brittle. Though he did not speak of it, he still had nightmares of s.h.i.+pwrecks and drowning in which he clung again to the driftwood with bleeding fingers as the storm raged around him. The big man s.h.i.+vered at the memory and focused on the dark, lowering clouds.

He had been an oarsman on a cargo s.h.i.+p overloaded with copper oxhide ingots. It had broken up in what sailors called a blow. Gershom had been the only survivor. He did not allow himself often to dwell on those dreadful days after the wreck, but he was feeling ill at ease on this voyage.

Gershom glanced back to where the pa.s.sengers were standing on the rear deck. Andromache was gazing out at the barren islands, but the dark-haired, moon-touched girl was staring at him again. He found her gaze unsettling.

Helikaon joined him at the prow. ”We'll find a secluded bay,” he said, ”and put out scouts.”