Part 8 (2/2)
”Yes,” Helikaon replied. ”What's wrong with him?”
”Hatch cover slammed on his finger. Nothing serious. Probably lose the nail.”
Gershom, who had joined them, stared over the side. ”I can see nothing wrong with oar six,” he commented.
”Look harder,” Helikaon told him.
The Egypteian narrowed his eyes. ”I cannot see what you see,” he admitted at last.
”The rhythm is fine, but the oar is not biting as deeply as it should. There is a slight imbalance in our forward motion. If you close your eyes, you will feel it.”
Helikaon saw Gershom staring at him disbelievingly. ”It is not a jest, my friend.”
Gershom swung to Oniacus. ”You could feel this...this imbalance from one oar in eighty? Speak truly now!”
Oniacus nodded. ”The pain in his hand is causing him to jerk slightly as he dips his oar. I told him to rest it today, but he is a proud man.”
Several black-headed gulls appeared overhead, swooping and diving. ”Did you feel that?” Gershom said suddenly.
”What?” Oniacus asked.
”One of the gulls s.h.i.+t on the deck. Wait while I adjust my stance to take in the new weight distribution.”
Oniacus laughed. ”We are not mocking you, Gershom. If you had spent as many years as we have aboard s.h.i.+p, you, too, would feel every small change in the performance of the Xanthos. Xanthos. As our supplies dwindle and we ride higher in the water, or if the sail is wet, or the oarsmen weary.” As our supplies dwindle and we ride higher in the water, or if the sail is wet, or the oarsmen weary.”
Gershom seemed unconvinced, but he shrugged. ”I will take you at your word. So where are we heading tonight?”
”Perhaps Naxos, perhaps Minoa. I have not yet decided,” Helikaon said.
”A good trading settlement on Kronos Beach,” Oniacus put in.
”And a Kretan garrison,” Helikaon replied.
”True, but local militia. I'll wager they wouldn't object to a little profit. And I am tired of dried meat and thin broth. You will recall there is a fine baker there.”
”Oniacus has convinced me,” Gershom said. ”Where is Kronos Beach?”
”On the island of Naxos,” Helikaon told him.
”The largest island of the Great Circle,” Oniacus added. ”A place of great beauty. It is where I met my wife.”
An uncomfortable silence followed. Then Helikaon spoke. ”Oniacus is right,” he told Gershom. ”It is a beautiful island, but Minoa may be the safer alternative. The king there has not yet declared himself in the war. He is a canny man and will wait until he is sure which side will be victorious. More important, he has only five war galleys and will be in no hurry to attack the Xanthos. Xanthos.”
Moving away from Gershom, Helikaon signaled the men standing by the mast to raise the yard and unfurl the sail. Once the black horse fluttered into view, Oniacus called out the order to s.h.i.+p oars.
The rain began again, lightly spattering the deck. Helikaon stared down toward the prow. The small tent had been repaired, and he could see Andromache and Ka.s.sandra standing by the rail.
”Has Andromache done something to offend you?” Gershom asked.
”Of course not. Why would you think that?”
”You have hardly spoken to her on the voyage.”
It was true, but he did not wish to speak of it to Gershom. Instead he strolled down the central aisle toward the two women. As he came closer, he saw they were watching a dolphin. Andromache looked up as he approached, and he felt the power of her green eyes. But it was Ka.s.sandra who spoke.
”Cavala is still with us,” she said, pointing at the dolphin.
”Did you hurt yourself when you fell?” he asked her.
”No. Gershom caught me. He is very strong.” She s.h.i.+vered. ”I wish we had a fire. It is very cold.”
Helikaon saw that her lips were blue. Shrugging off his heavy cloak, he draped it over her shoulders. She drew it tightly around her.
”Sit in the tent for a while, away from the wind,” he advised.
She smiled up at him. ”Are you worried about me? Or do you want to speak privately to Andromache?”
”I am worried about you, little cousin.”
”Then I will,” she said. ”For you.”
Ducking her head, she disappeared into the small tent. Helikaon was suddenly nervous. He met Andromache's gaze. ”I have rarely felt this awkward,” he said.
”Is this why you have avoided me since the voyage began?” Her gaze was cool, and there was suppressed anger in her voice.
”Yes,” he admitted. ”I do not know how to...” His voice tailed away. What could he say? That all his life he had dreamed of finding love and that she was the embodiment of that dream? That every day since he had met her she had been in his heart? That upon falling asleep at night her face s.h.i.+mmered in his mind, and upon waking his first thoughts were of her?
He sighed. ”I cannot say what is in my heart,” he said at last. ”Not to the wife of a dear friend and the mother of his son.”
”Yes,” she said, ”the son of the man I love-and love with all my heart.”
The words, spoken with such intensity and pa.s.sion, tore into him. He stepped back from her. ”I am glad for you,” he managed to say. He saw there were tears in her eyes.
Swinging away from her, he returned to the rear deck.
Gershom looked at him closely. ”Are you all right? You are ashen.”
Helikaon ignored him and turned to Oniacus. ”Southwest to Minoa,” he ordered.
CHAPTER SEVEN.
THE TRUTH OF PROPHECY.
Alkaios the king was not an ambitious man. The island of Minoa, with its rich fertile soil, supplied enough wealth to keep him and his three wives happy. Regular income from trading cattle and grain enabled him to maintain a small fighting force: five war galleys to patrol the coast and five hundred soldiers to defend the land. Neither the galleys nor the small army was strong enough to make the kings of neighboring islands fear invasion or so weak that they encouraged the same kings to consider attacking Minoa.
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