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would have alerted the night creatures and, even if they couldn t see
those passing, their cries of alarm would have warned the warriors from
the marshes.
The warriors sheltered during the day, traveling only at night. They
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moved unnoticed over the plains and through the low hills arriving at
the port in the early hours of the morning. Security was no longer their
prime objective. By the time any news reached Thurgan, they would be
well on their way to their new sanctuary.
They rode openly through the small village to where the Sarabandi
vessels were moored to the jetty. The storage vessel to transport the
warriors and their horses was moored alongside with a bridge of planks
connecting the opening in the side of the vessel to the jetty. The riders
dismounted and led their horses through the gap in the ship s side.
Small temporary stalls had been built in the hold to restrict the animals
movements during the journey. The deck was covered with straw to
give them a more stable footing, and also to absorb their droppings
during the time it would take to cross the sea to their new home. The
planks were withdrawn and the side of the vessel closed after the last
rider entered.
The oars dipped and the vessel pulled slowly away from the port.
When it reached open water, the oars were pulled aboard and the sailors
set the vessel s sails. It slowly gathered speed, heading away from the
shore.
The pirate galley glided in silently to take its place at the jetty. A
wooden bridge was slung across the open gap between the vessel and
the jetty. Khuramani and Shartan crossed quickly to be greeted by Tarn,
who had remained on board during the loading. The bridge was
withdrawn and the vessel was pushed away from the jetty. The oars
dipped as it turned to follow the other vessel. It was much faster, a
sleek and menacing example of the ship maker s art. It didn t take long
to catch up, then it took station in front of its slower companion.
Khuramani looked around. He had never been to sea before. This
was a new experience to be floating on water with the land fast
disappearing into the distance. The pirate vessel sat low in the water but
curved up at the prow in the shape of a swan s neck, the graceful curve
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in stark contrast to the blunt stern. The sides of the vessel rose at least
two eters above the deck, giving the pirates protection from spears and
arrows when they were approaching their target. The banks of oars
were operated through slots in the side of the vessel, less than an eter
above the water line. The rowers were protected by the heavy planks
forming the walls.
Archers could fire over the top of the protecting walls on the deck.
They were hinged to the side of the vessel. To board target vessels, the
oars were driven under the side of the enemy, allowing the two vessels
to close on each other. At impact, the sides were released and fell over
the gap to rest on the deck of the enemy vessel and make a bridge for
the pirates to swarm over in hand-to-hand combat.
Each vessel carried up to fifty pirates, as well as the slaves who
manned the oars. Tarn s vessel was one of the fastest in the Sarabandi
fleet. It was powered by twenty oars on each side; it also carried a wide
range of sails. Each oar was pulled by two slaves chained to their posts
from the time that the vessel left port until the journey ended. If any of
them died at their post, they were fed to the sea animals and their places
were taken by other slaves captured during the voyage. It was not
uncommon for the pirates to lash female captives into the rowing
benches if male slaves were not available.
The slaves rowed naked, the heat and stench in the galley taking its
toll of all except the strongest. Seldom did all the slaves return alive
from a raiding trip.
Tarn pointed to the carved head at the prow. It was the head of a
dog, flowing down to the deck in the graceful shape of a swan s neck.
The wings of an eagle were painted on the sides of the prow.
Our God Anubis. He guides us on our journey.
How far to your lands? Khuramani asked, looking back at the
coast fast receding in the background.
We will sail for two days and one night before we reach our
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shores.
* * *
Jason was worried. It had been several days since he d received any
report from the lake. The last report had indicated everything was quiet
and the watchers had seen little activity on the island. That was
unusual. The naked slaves had been unchained and placed back in their
pens three days after the abortive attack. Little had been seen of the
Black Horsemen over the last two days. Thorsan assumed they were
remaining out of sight in case they became targets for archers from the
shore. What was concerning Thorsan was that few fires were being lit
at night, and those that were being lit were in the middle of the village,
out of sight of the watchers.
What was Khuramani playing at? Was he trying to lure the warriors
from Thurgan into a trap?
Herus doubted that. He felt that the Black Horsemen were merely
nursing their wounds, readying themselves for their next attack on
Thurgan or some other unsuspecting city!
Sento and Charni, however, both thought that something was amiss.
With the number of warriors encircling the lake, some sign of the Black
Horsemen would have been expected. Surely they wouldn t be able to
keep out of sight from all the watchers all the time.
Maybe Shartan has added the power of clouding the sight of others
with his mind screen, Sento mused.
But the watchers are out of the range of the screen, Jason
objected.
Could he have extended the range of the screen without our
knowledge? Charni asked.
That could be possible, I suppose, Sento mused. The range of
the screen depends on the power of the waves Shartan can spread. I
doubt if he could have expanded the range so dramatically he would
have to double the range to cover the shores all around the island.
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Then I suppose I had better go to the lake and investigate, Jason
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