Sayed appeared in the doorway. “Excuse me, the captain told me to find everyone and tell them we’ve sighted land and identified it. We will arrive in port well before sundown.”
He rushed off before they could ask questions.
Sara said, “I guess we need to shave our heads and pack a few things instead of reading this morning.”
Prin leaped to her feet and looked from the single small window. “I see land.”
They went out on deck, feeding on each other’s excitement. A pair of ships sailed in their direction, and sailors waved a greeting as they passed. One blew a loud horn made from an unknown animal. A sailor raised it to his mouth and leaned back as he trumpeted the harsh sound. Then another ship crossed in front of them loaded with timber. The entire time, the definition of the land came clearer as the haze of the city cleared.
A strip of land gently rose to reveal craggy mountains rearing up behind, but as they drew nearer, the land was more brown than green. Areas of intense green indicated where the few rivers flowed. But otherwise, the land was rocky, dry, and usually without habitation.
They passed another ship outward bound, and Sara said, “Let’s go get our things together.”
“What about our crates?”
The question stalled Sara, then she leaned closer and said, “You have plenty of gold left, so we should speak to the captain and have them delivered to us—wherever that might be.”
“Where will the rest of the cargo be? They can’t work on the ship with it stored on the deck and in the holds, and I know there is cargo bound for other places, even a few crates destined for Indore.”
The bos’n was on the bow inspecting the anchor and the windlass. Prin walked up to him and asked about the cargo.
“A good question, but all taken care of. The shipyard where we’ll be drydocked will offload it and store it securely while the ship is worked on.”
“Drydocked?”
“They’ll put the Merry Princess into a long sort of bay, then pump the water out, leaving her sitting dry on some timbers. The workmen will get the outside of the hull done, first. Oh, some men will work inside, but most of that will wait until they move her again. Dry docks are in demand, so they’ll put her at a pier to complete the work.”
“If we want our crates, what do we do?”
“Now, that presents a problem. You could have them all unloaded and sent by wagon when we dock, but you need a place to send them. Or place to store your things. What is it you need that you can’t do without?”
“That is also a good question,” Prin said. “Are we free to open our crates and remove a few things?”
“They’re yours. Take what you want, just don’t interfere with the ship's operations.”
She went back to Sara and explained. There were a few items they’d like to take ashore, but the one small crate they’d set aside would keep them busy a month and a half. Still, she didn’t feel comfortable with them being out of her sight for such a long period.
The harbor came into view. At first, it was confusing because from a distance they could see the city built on both sides of bluffs that nearly touched, with the narrow channel between, but in the harbor, were upright spikes that eventually revealed themselves to be the masts of hundreds of ships.
Sara said, “I didn’t know there were that many ships in the world.”
“What is this place?” Prin echoed the mystery and awe. As they drew nearer, the ships too, became more defined. There were ships with single masts, double, triple, and a few with four. Others had none but were fitted for a dozen oars, one each side. The ships were narrow, wide, tall, and painted every possible color. “The book never said anything about this. There are so many masts the harbor looks like a forest in winter.”
Most ships were anchored near one end of the bay, with hundreds of small boats zipping between them. The bos’n slackened the mainsail, leaving only enough to maintain steerage. Two longboats with several men in each approached the Merry Princess, and one man asked for permission to come aboard. He quickly climbed to the wheelhouse and then after a brief discussion, back down. They towed the ship closer, then it anchored.
Sara said, “I expected to tie up at a pier and unload our cargo.”
The statement brought back the reason for anchoring to Prin. It had escaped her thinking until now. She spun and found the captain and Sayed lowering the small boat. They rowed away to the nearest pier, to the puzzlement of the crew, with only the bos’n giving Prin one warning look to remain quiet. After arriving, they climbed into a waiting carriage and rode out of sight.
Jam came from behind the wheelhouse, his preferred place to hide from work while chewing on his mind weed, and walked directly to Prin. He said, “I’ve been here in Gallium several times, you know.”
“No, I didn’t. What can you tell me? Any suggestions?”
“One. Why don’t you get off this ship and keep on going?”
Sara said, “Hey, you have no right.”
“It’s my father’s ship. I have every right.” He took a menacing step closer to Sara.
Prin leaped between them. In a voice, loud enough to be heard everywhere above decks, she shouted, “Stop it. Both of you.”
The bos’n came running.
Prin said, “Sara, go to the crew’s quarters and pack.”
“Wait, I was defending you. I didn’t start anything.”
Sara’s tone told she was hurt. He eyes teary, but Prin looked to the bos’n.
He snapped, “Do what she said.”
Sara shook her head in disbelief, then turned and fled. The bos’n said gently, “You did what you had to.”
“Damn right,” Jam snarled. “I was ready to stomp her to the deck and throw her over the side.
Instead of reprimanding Jam, the bos’n kept his eyes on Prin. He said, “You and that cat still getting along?”
“We’ll take her with us. If I can catch her.”
“Good,” he said, moving a step to be directly between them. He pointed, “Can’t really see it from here, but when you get closer, the walls are bluish, and they keep their streets clean, at least those away from the waterfront.”
“You said you’d point out places to stay away from.”
“That I did. Take nothing to rent near the water. Not at any port. Up near the high hill is where the Royalty lives, and there is a big fancy castle. Don’t go there either. But, over to your right, where the hillside sort of looks across the passage to the other half of the city, there you will find an excellent place to stay. There are many who rent rooms to sailors while their ships are being refitted.”
Prin looked off to the left where the city became more rural. “What about that way?”
“If you’re looking for peace and quiet, like a small farm, maybe. But who wants to rent a lovely, clean farm for a month or two? Nobody, that’s who.”
“How will we know when to return?”
The bos’n pointed to the top of the mast. “I’ll have a green flag hung ten days before we depart. You don’t have to do anything but look for that—then check with me. I’ll be staying aboard the whole time.”
“Not me,” Jam said. “I saved a bit and intend to have myself some fun.”
“You’re restricted to the ship.” The bos’n was shielding them from getting together, and Prin looked back at Gallium. Jam knew he’d been confined to the ship while in port, so he was taunting the bos’n with the remark, an insult the bos’n ignored. Prin asked, “What a sight. Both sides of the passage have cities, but only this one has a good port for ships. I learned that in a book. What’s over there?”
“Much the same, but also people from beyond. Those earning a living from this sea live here, and from the Green Sea over there.”