{"id":95,"date":"2009-12-04T11:30:48","date_gmt":"2009-12-04T18:30:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/atfmb.com\/Evermist\/?p=95"},"modified":"2010-02-11T21:32:14","modified_gmt":"2010-02-12T04:32:14","slug":"chapter-eleven","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/atfmb.com\/Evermist\/2009\/12\/chapter-eleven\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter Eleven"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a9 2009, Patrick Hester.\u00a0 All Rights Reserved<\/p>\n

Chapter Eleven<\/h1>\n

Elias set his tray down and took his seat on the bench across from Narut and Broat.\u00a0 The root did<\/em> work, and his stomach was closer to normal, enough so that he managed to eat again without bringing it all up an hour later.<\/p>\n

“Narut was explaining to me why we have to take the long way to Evermist, Elias.\u00a0 Why we can’t just head straight North.”<\/p>\n

Elias nodded, sipping at his water.\u00a0 He hadn’t thought about that.\u00a0 Evermist should be a straight shot North from Valles, but they were heading in the opposite direction, down around the cape towards Southport and then up the backside of the island.<\/p>\n

“The Ilea Isles and the shallows,\u201d Narut announced.\u00a0 \u201cOnly flat bottomed boats like my father’s fisher can safely sail there.\u00a0 The water isn’t very deep, there’s lots of coral and sandbars.\u00a0 A ship like Seaspray<\/em> would run aground if she tried to go straight through, and navigating through would have her snaking back and forth and there’d always be the danger of running into something.”<\/p>\n

“So, the ‘long way’ is actually safer and faster?” Elias asked as he took a spoonful of the stew.\u00a0 It was heavy with fish and spices, but still good.\u00a0 He tore his bread apart and dipped it.<\/p>\n

“Yep.\u00a0 Plus, they can trade with the seaports along the way, drop one cargo and pick up another.”<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Broat shook his head.\u00a0 “It still seems silly to head south around the cape, then up the western side of Paerleon.”<\/p>\n

“It makes sense to take the safer route when the lives of so many people on board depend on you getting to where you’re going,” Narut said.\u00a0 “Not to mention getting your cargo there in one piece.\u00a0 Remember, the Ilea Isles are full of shallows, sandbars, coral reefs and pirates and a ship like Seaspray<\/em> would be a juicy target for them.”<\/p>\n

\u201cEven with all us Militia on board?\u201d Broat asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure,\u201d Narut answered.\u00a0 \u201cThey could ram us, sink us and take what they want from the wreck.\u00a0 They don\u2019t need to go toe to toe with us, and usually they don\u2019t.\u00a0 They\u2019re dangerous and crafty.\u00a0 My father has always been wary of those waters.”<\/p>\n

Elias nodded thoughtfully.\u00a0 Broat just shook his head.<\/p>\n

When the meal was over, Narut held his arm and Eli stayed where he sat until most of the people were gone from the room.\u00a0 Narut leaned over and, in a hushed tone asked, \u201cDo you know that man?\u00a0 Look casually.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eli nodded, then pretended to stretch.\u00a0 He caught sight of a rough looking crewman sitting off in a corner apparently watching the two of them.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t particularly remarkable; had a mess of jet-black hair, sun darkened skin and dark eyes.\u00a0 He wore the standard stuff that most of the crew wore; simple enough shirt, short-cut pants without shoes.\u00a0 Eli didn\u2019t think he\u2019d ever seen the man before.\u00a0 He told Narut as much.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt might just be a coincidence, but I see him watching you all the time,\u201d Narut whispered.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s strange.\u00a0 I thought maybe you knew him, owed him money or something.\u00a0 Have you been playing bones with the crew when I\u2019m not around?\u201d\u00a0 \u2018Bones\u2019 was a game played with dice for money that many in the Militia had started playing since coming aboard The Seaspray<\/em>, and no, Eli hadn\u2019t played it with the crew, which he told Narut.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think there\u2019s a problem?\u00a0 Should I talk to him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s leaving,\u201d Narut said.\u00a0 Eli turned just as the man left the room.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u00a0 I could be seeing things.\u00a0 It\u2019s just that, where I come from, someone you don\u2019t know taking too much interest in your comings and goings isn\u2019t a good thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Eli said, not entirely sure that it was.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll keep an eye on him.\u00a0 Just in case.\u00a0 And I\u2019ll ask about him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to do that!\u201d Eli argued.<\/p>\n

\u201cNonsense! We\u2019re in this together now.\u00a0 Have to watch each others back.\u00a0 Plus, I\u2019ve been wanting to talk to the second mate since we came on board and this will give me an excuse.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eli grinned.\u00a0 The second mate must be the woman he\u2019d noticed Narut watching once or twice.\u00a0 Shaking his head, he followed Narut up to the deck, his mind wondering why the strange crewman had been watching him.<\/p>\n

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\u00a9 2009, Patrick Hester.\u00a0 All Rights Reserved Chapter Eleven Elias set his tray down and took his seat on the bench across from Narut and Broat.\u00a0 The root did work, and his stomach was closer to normal, enough so that he managed to eat again without bringing it all up an hour later. “Narut was […]<\/p>\n

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