Cato and Jack take responsibility for the loading of the wagon. They are travelling light enough that they only need a single large, horse-drawn cart and it arrived early in the pre-dawn light of the morning. Once they had spent a couple of hours over dinner, chatting and telling tall stories of their journey to Eridan, Alex outlined his basic requirements for the journey. Everyone, even the inexperienced Tarmon, had worthy contributions to make to the discussion, but they all agreed that it was better to make final arrangements once they reached the northern continent.

“Honestly,” Alex pointed out to close the conversation. “If we can’t find what we need in the largest city on the planet, then we won’t find it anywhere.”

Now, however, the time has come to go to the ship. All six men are standing together in the garden, each with a small pack of more personal items. Cato and Tarmon are talking quietly, clearly discussing the book that Cato has in his hand.

Once he is sure that they are all ready, Alex gives a final nod of acknowledgement to Jack, standing just off to one side.

“Safe travels, my lords,” Jack says with a formal bow as Alex closes his eyes and studies the quayside on the west side of the river. The huge Mekallan ship is impossible to miss. She is by far the largest vessel in the whole port and is flying the standard of the Emperor proudly from the middle of three tall masts. Spotting a suitable empty space on the wharf, Alex shifts the six of them the short distance and opens his eyes.

Both Lee Shan and Jin Chao are on the deck of the ship when they arrive, but only Lee was paying attention to the wharf. Jin Chao was looking off towards the city, expecting them to come on foot or by horse. When he turns at a word from the older man, his eyes open in momentary confusion at their unannounced arrival. Still, he recovers his composure quickly and the two men move rapidly down the gangplank to greet their guests.

“Forgive me,” Jin Chao says as he greets the six of them. “I wasn’t expecting you to arrive so… Precipitously?”

None of the six companions know much about sailing vessels. Alex and Jamie see them entering or leaving the great port almost every day, but that is little more than familiarity with a sail on the ocean far from their beach.

Alex is, as always, relaxed about their proximity, but Jamie and Tarmon are fascinated by the bulk of the vessel before them. “It’s huge,” Tarmon manages after a few moments.

“My father insisted that we take the flagship,” Jin Chao tells them as he leads them up onto the main deck. The crew are busy, loading the last of some cargo and apparently fastening down hatches and preparing the rigging for departure. “We don’t have anything that could be considered a purely military vessel. The Wave-Piercer is a utilitarian ship. She is designed to be good at many tasks, even if she is mistress of none of them.”

“So, you carry cargo?” Cato asks, inevitably fascinated by all things new.

“Indeed, master engineer. About as much as 200 carts might carry. As you might guess, on this trip we are carrying grain, not wanting to waste the opportunity to add to our stockpiles. Designed for long deep-water voyages, we have a crew of about sixty men. Then, for defence we have twenty imperial guards. There are quarters for up to twenty passengers in reasonable comfort.”

“And we need guards?” Cato asks.

“Sometimes. There are corsairs across the oceans of the world, although few on the routes between Mekala and Fundis. Even the most brazen of them would think twice before attacking such a large ship, though.”

“I’m sure we will have time to learn much about the workings of the ship and the crew,” Cato muses.

“Indeed. The captain will, no doubt, be happy to talk endlessly about how the vessel handles and anything else that interests you. Now, as we are to have so much time at sea, why don’t I show you to your quarters.”

“Indeed,” Lee Shan agrees. I know that the captain is keen to get us away on this tide. I’m afraid that we only have three cabins available. We have been tasked with bringing several other passengers along for the journey.”

“That shouldn’t be an issue. Tarmon, are you comfortable sharing with Cato?” Jamie asks.

“Of course, Jamie.”

“This is the main deck,” Lee Shan tells them. “Everyone is welcome here at all times. When we are leaving or entering port, keep off the upper deck forward. Men will need to turn the winches and handle the lines. The upper deck aft is the domain of the captain. Seek permission from the captain, watch officer or the helmsman if you wish to go up there.”

“We understand,” Alex assures the ambassador. “We all know when to stay out of the way of professional men.”

“Now, this doorway leads into the passenger quarters.” Opening the door in the face of the raised stern, Lee Shan leads them all inside. The area is cleverly lit by a couple of glass tiles set in the deck above, being as it is, completely enclosed inside the ship near to the centre line. There are clearly lamps, unlit at present, for lighting at night. They are mounted carefully, allowing them to swing without knocking on anything.

“We have set these three cabins aside for you,” Jin Chao tells the group as they approach the stern. “They are all on the same side and all of a similar size. The ambassador and myself are situated opposite.”

“And the next door?” Alex asks.

“The one on the right is the washroom. We have to ration fresh water, I’m afraid. There’s enough for a wash and a shave, but bathing is either in cold salt water or not at all.”

“And on the left?”

“The galley. The cooking is quite tolerable, even if the choice of foodstuffs is limited by being at sea.”

“That leaves just this door to the stern,” Jamie asks.

“Indeed. This is the main common space for our passengers.” Lee Shan opens the door and leads them into the large space that spans the entire beam of the ship, right at the stern. It is well-lit by a full-width row of windows across the very back of the ship. The space appears to be almost square, almost thirty feet on a side. There are two long tables with fixed benches to one side and a few comfortable chairs to the other. One or two people are sitting here, relaxing or chatting with their fellows.”

“Well, that all seems to be most acceptable,” Alex tells his hosts. “There’s only one more member of the team to bring aboard.”

“Of course,” Lee Shan agrees. “I’m afraid that our facilities for non-human passengers are somewhat limited, but we have made space in the aft-most hold for your friend.”

“I’m sure that will be fine. He’s as fastidious as any cat and looking to spend most of his time on his own. Socialising with humans is always a little difficult for him. With your permission, I’ll step back on deck and bring him aboard.”

Where the arrival of the human travellers had met with little notice, Shara appearing in the middle of the main deck was a somewhat more interesting event. Quite a number of the crew on watch quickly crowded around, most never having seen a big cat up close, whether captive or otherwise.

It doesn’t take long for the captain, a short, slightly portly man dressed much more plainly than the ambassador or the prince, to put an end to their idling. Alex has no idea what is being said, but the gist of the order is clear: “Stop idling and get back to your work.” What’s also obvious is that the men are well-used to obeying their captain, as they immediately disperse and dash off to their tasks.

“Gentlemen,” Lee Shan says as the captain approaches them. “This is our captain. Tao Min. At sea, his authority is absolute, but feel free to ask him questions when he isn’t busy with his duties.”

“Welcome aboard,” the captain says with a much heavier accent than Alex has heard so far. “Please stand clear of the middle of the deck, as we are about to get underway.”

Sure enough, crew activity seems to be increasing rapidly. Everyone seems to know exactly what they are doing. Alex, Jamie and Shara step to the starboard rail and find a spot away from lines or rigging. They find that Tarmon and Jin Chao have joined them and that the others are on the port side in a similar position where Lee Shan is showing them how the ropes are loosed and the gangway raised.

The lines at the bow are released first, as a small sail is unfurled forward of the foremast. The slightest of breezes fills this vast white canvas, slowly pulling the nose of the ship away from the wharf. As the appropriate direction for departure is approached, the captain orders the aft lines released and the great ship slips slowly away from shore.

More than a dozen men swarm up into the rigging on the foremast as others appear to work the great winches and haul the first of three great sails. The feeling of increased power as each one fills with the wind is exhilarating. By the time the men move from the first to the main mast, the great ship is already picking up speed and moving steadily away from the city, out into the bay.

“It moves so fast,” Tarmon mutters as he leans out over the rail to watch the white spray thrown up by the slender bow as it cuts through the water.

“It’s a favourable wind and the tide is with us,” Jin Chao tells him with a smile. “I suspect the captain will put on all the sail we can manage. All are keen to get underway.”

“How fast can we go?” Tarmon asks.

“Well, on a good day, we might do 200 miles or a little more. A more normal day will be more like 100 miles or so.”

“Of course,” Alex says, more to himself than the others. “On land we must stop, to rest the horses and ourselves. Here at sea, you run twenty hours each day without stopping.”

“Indeed. That’s the biggest advantage. We run day and night, without having to stop. Against that is the ever-changing and unpredictable nature of the sea and the winds.”

As the decks have cleared of working sailors, Shara has wandered right up to the bow, leaping sure-footedly onto the rail and staring out to sea. Now under full sail on all three masts, the great ship is heeling into the surf, leaning slightly to starboard as she cuts through the deep blue of the great gulf that Fundis occupies the southern end of.

“Big fish,” he sends in thought as he looks down into the foaming water at the bow.

“Dolphins,” Alex tells him. “Not fish at all. They breathe air like you and I do, that is why they come to the surface.” More than twenty of the silver-grey dolphins are flying along on the push of the great bow-wave of the ship. They twist and turn among themselves, leaping clear of the water and diving off to either side.

“They are considered a good omen, particularly at the start of a journey,” Jin Chao tells everyone.

“I’ll take that,” Alex agrees with a grin.