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Belinna points out a saddle at the north end of the island that ascends about 200 feet above sea level between the steep volcanic stone peaks that range from 600 to over a 1,000 feet in altitude. "That looks to be the easiest pass to the interior. Lola and Onzu will row you over. We can wait here until you call us in."
Belinna nods considering Jim's plan. "So you four will sneak in and take out the officers? It seems risky but I can't come up with anything better. Do you want us to sail in before or after you attack? We'd need a signal either way. You could use the sending scroll."
Dingus didn't see any sailors beyond the base and ship. There did appear to be a good number of sailors though- maybe fifty or so split between the ship and base. Belinna frowns. "We're already at a skeleton crew, Jim. With the officers off ship, that leaves eleven including myself. We can do some basic sailing, but we're not going to be very maneuverable or be able to do much fighting. If we can take them in port, maybe, but I'm not thinking we're going to take them if they get underway." "We really need more crew."
"Eh. He's probably hiding below decks again." Belinna says with annoyance. Underway again, the Bloody Fortune sets a southerly course along the west coast of Chadoth's Tooth. Soon enough, the lookouts spot a small rocky island about two miles long off the coast of the Tooth. "That appears to be our target," Belinna notes. She asks the other officers how they'd like to approach the enemy base.
"That could have gone much worse. At least the fog is thinning. I don't like that they were able to get right up on us like that. Kaul get everyone ready for action. I want all the riggers aloft and swabbies ready for defense. Zossrov, ready the guns. Where did Moses go?"
"That sounds fine, Jim. Weren't we up here to find allies against Red Aesha anyway? Taking out a base sounds like a move in the right direction, too."
Belinna seems to hang on Jim's every word and after he finishes speaking, she keeps eye contact a bit too long. Jim thinks that he catches a bit of a blush as she quickly turns to the crew. "Well, then, all accounted for. Shall he get on to Halgrim? Bosun, get the crew ready to sail." She nods to Kaul and heads for her quarters. Not too long after, the Bloody Fortune sails northward leaving the foul ruins on Rivenrake Island behind.
Belinna follows Jim's gaze. "I've not been this far north before but I've heard tales. I had a mate once that talked about "Angry Lady Mountain" and that we'd do well to stay far from it. Old elf tales have a bit more to say about this area. They say that the lady on the mountain was a powerful warlord that summoned demons and created her army of twisted soldiers from vats of living flesh." Belinna shivers a little. "I know you can take care of yourself, Jim. But be careful. Hey?" she gives a slight smile as she mimics her first mate. "I don't know that I would eat any fish that we pulled up around here but running some drills wouldn't do the crew any harm after a couple weeks lazing about Riddleport."
"Riddleport does seem quite a bit rougher than Freeport even. I'd be glad to put it aft. The tide will start rolling out soon so what say we make ready to sail?" Belinna asks.
Belinna pulls Jim and Corliss aside while the crew is at chow. "It would be best to get Ed and Grund back quickly. Cobb, the ship's carpenter, jumped ship last night, likely after taking one look at Kaul. He always was a superstitious fool. He took his tools with him so I don't expect him back. Moses is looking shakier that usual as well. If we don't set sail soon we may not have much of a crew left and I'd rather not further deplete our remaining funds on hiring more." |
