Chapter 4 Part 4

When the first of the two suns arose, its cresting light found Samson and Seymore sitting near the bow of the ship. Seymore had insisted on getting out into the air in spite of Avery's objections. He and Samson were watching the sunrise and talking quietly.

"That is about the size of it," Samson said as he completed an account of their happenings since the ambush. "The Oracle said that if we did not hurry, you would not live to make it home. The Oracle told us that three of us who were there would die here. And, to make matters worse, Avery has picked up an enchanted blade, which keeps secrets from us all."

"Avery's no threat, but I fear that much of what the Oracle said is true," Seymore said at length. "I find that I can’t stand for more than a few minutes without tiring, and I get very sleepy after only a few hours of activity." He pulled up his robe tightly around him.

"I’m cold and weak. I can’t even lift my war hammer without using two hands and the effort leaves me gasping for breath." He looked back at his friend. The bags under his eyes and the matted hair betrayed his true condition. "That cleric's work was only a short reprieve."

"I’m sorry, my friend," Samson said as he put a hand on the other's shoulder. "Such was my joy at seeing you conscious that I failed to see that you were not completely well." Seymore grimaced and Samson saw the expression. "Is there much pain?"

"Yes, but that at least tells me that I’m alive."

"Avery or Armegon could relieve it for you."

"No," Seymore waved the suggestion off. "Let ‘em be. They have enough to worry about as it is."

At about that time, Skimmer skipped merrily on deck and began setting the rigging to prepare for sailing. Samson stood and adjusted his coat. "Why don't we get you go back below old friend," he said to Seymore, "then, I’ll help this youngster prepare for the voyage." Seymore nodded and shuffled down the steps with the aid of Samson to the lower compartments.

Within an hour after sunrise, the Westward Cutter was tacking its way out of the harbor and onto the open ice. Seymore had come on deck out of curiosity to see the ice boat in action, but had soon grown weary and returned below. Only Norwind, Keeneye and Samson remained on deck to help the captain and Skimmer with the ship.

The old dwarf had estimated the return trip to be about four days due to the head winds they were going to travel against. After an hour of tacking and rigging, the captain turned the ship southward and moved perpendicular to the wind. As the gigantic airfoil caught the breeze and the ship began to pick up speed, the starboard runner came up off the ice causing the deck to tilt toward port. Under Skimmer's direction, the deck hands moved some sandbags to the starboard side and the ship slowly righted itself.

"No keel for counter balance, so you shift the weights to change the center of gravity," Norwind observed approvingly.

"You've been hanging around Ultrecht and Armegon too much," Keeneye observed disapprovingly.