Chaos Storm (The Flight of the Griffin Book 2) Read Online Free
Author: C.M. Gray
straining both boat and crew to their limits. As the ship rose to breach each great wave, those on deck were exposed to the constant misery of wind-driven, icy rain and sleet that numbed any skin left bare and made rags of coats and clothing. Once the ship had broken through the top of each colossal wave, it would abruptly drop away sending the ship surging down into the depths in an explosion of spray that washed across the decks seeking to claim anything and anyone for the sirens of the deep.
Bartholomew Bask, now reluctantly captaining his own vessel after the previous holder of the position had deserted was making up for his lack of nautical knowledge by being as hard as the weather. The merchant was exhibiting qualities of stamina and command previously undiscovered, pushing his crew on into the very teeth of each new storm.
The skulls had cost him plenty, but now they would make him rich for they were the key to the Kingdom and the Barbarian Queen's agents had promised she would pay handsomely for their safe delivery. Bartholomew held no allegiance to King Hugo Payne and the Kingdom; his only allegiance was to himself and to a profit, a profit that so far he considered long overdue on these skulls. He stared at the Hawk who was standing oblivious to the elements, the little black demon holding onto his shoulder trying to stay balanced as the ship and the weather sought to claim it.
Soon we shall part, Mr. 'awk, and good riddance it shall be,
thought Bartholomew.
I don't like a man so cold that money cannot warm his heart.
He was well aware that the Hawk wasn't doing this out of any thought of riches; power and revenge were all that drove that evil soul. Since he'd returned from his journey across the Great Expanse, the man was changed, changed into something altogether more evil and powerful, and Bartholomew was eager to see the last of him. He shivered, and it wasn't just from the cold.
'Soon be rid of him and his nasty demon, then I can get back to me own life instead of sailing to his beck and call' he muttered, the wind stealing the words from his mouth. He spat downwind then glanced up at the sheets of straining canvas driving the ship on.
'Sail… Sail ahead, sail ahead!' the cry came down from the crows-nest, and Bartholomew scrambled to find his telescope.
Staggering over to the side of the rolling ship, he joined the Hawk who was already scanning the waves with his own telescope, searching for sign of the sail on the horizon.
It wasn't easy to keep focused as
The Esmerelda
rose and fell, salty spray soon clouded the lens, but Bartholomew could just make out the sail in the distance as they rose to the peak of each new wave.
'It's a ship of the Queen,' rasped the Hawk still peering through his telescope. 'Let's hope they received your message, Mr. Bask, or we may have to defend ourselves.' He smiled down at Bartholomew. 'We may have to send the Queen's ship to a watery grave. Now that wouldn't do much for our cause, would it?' Bartholomew closed his telescope with a snap and glared at the Hawk saying nothing. It would be just like this fool to sink the Queen's ship and ruin any chance of a profit. He would just see it as some kind of fine entertainment to send it to the bottom of the sea with its crew still aboard and little chance of finding favour with the Queen. Bartholomew turned and shouted at the helmsman who was fighting to keep the wheel from spinning out of control.
'Bring us two points into the wind and keep her steady… run up our colours so she can identify us.' The sailor responded with a nod and
The Esmerelda
slowly turned to meet the Barbarian Queen's ship.
* * *
Pardigan, for his part, felt both Quint and Tarent were overly concerned about the golden rose and the effect the challenge might be having on him. He was almost sure he had allayed their suspicions concerning his interest, and after a few days they'd at least stopped talking about leaving Deniah.
'What possible reason could
Bartholomew Bask, now reluctantly captaining his own vessel after the previous holder of the position had deserted was making up for his lack of nautical knowledge by being as hard as the weather. The merchant was exhibiting qualities of stamina and command previously undiscovered, pushing his crew on into the very teeth of each new storm.
The skulls had cost him plenty, but now they would make him rich for they were the key to the Kingdom and the Barbarian Queen's agents had promised she would pay handsomely for their safe delivery. Bartholomew held no allegiance to King Hugo Payne and the Kingdom; his only allegiance was to himself and to a profit, a profit that so far he considered long overdue on these skulls. He stared at the Hawk who was standing oblivious to the elements, the little black demon holding onto his shoulder trying to stay balanced as the ship and the weather sought to claim it.
Soon we shall part, Mr. 'awk, and good riddance it shall be,
thought Bartholomew.
I don't like a man so cold that money cannot warm his heart.
He was well aware that the Hawk wasn't doing this out of any thought of riches; power and revenge were all that drove that evil soul. Since he'd returned from his journey across the Great Expanse, the man was changed, changed into something altogether more evil and powerful, and Bartholomew was eager to see the last of him. He shivered, and it wasn't just from the cold.
'Soon be rid of him and his nasty demon, then I can get back to me own life instead of sailing to his beck and call' he muttered, the wind stealing the words from his mouth. He spat downwind then glanced up at the sheets of straining canvas driving the ship on.
'Sail… Sail ahead, sail ahead!' the cry came down from the crows-nest, and Bartholomew scrambled to find his telescope.
Staggering over to the side of the rolling ship, he joined the Hawk who was already scanning the waves with his own telescope, searching for sign of the sail on the horizon.
It wasn't easy to keep focused as
The Esmerelda
rose and fell, salty spray soon clouded the lens, but Bartholomew could just make out the sail in the distance as they rose to the peak of each new wave.
'It's a ship of the Queen,' rasped the Hawk still peering through his telescope. 'Let's hope they received your message, Mr. Bask, or we may have to defend ourselves.' He smiled down at Bartholomew. 'We may have to send the Queen's ship to a watery grave. Now that wouldn't do much for our cause, would it?' Bartholomew closed his telescope with a snap and glared at the Hawk saying nothing. It would be just like this fool to sink the Queen's ship and ruin any chance of a profit. He would just see it as some kind of fine entertainment to send it to the bottom of the sea with its crew still aboard and little chance of finding favour with the Queen. Bartholomew turned and shouted at the helmsman who was fighting to keep the wheel from spinning out of control.
'Bring us two points into the wind and keep her steady… run up our colours so she can identify us.' The sailor responded with a nod and
The Esmerelda
slowly turned to meet the Barbarian Queen's ship.
* * *
Pardigan, for his part, felt both Quint and Tarent were overly concerned about the golden rose and the effect the challenge might be having on him. He was almost sure he had allayed their suspicions concerning his interest, and after a few days they'd at least stopped talking about leaving Deniah.
'What possible reason could
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