The Marquis Read Online Free Page A

cousin and almost laughed. ‘Of course, it would be a very cheap price to pay. Is that all you want?’
    ‘From you, yes, anything else I’ll get the Ancuman to pay.’
    They thought he was joking. They stopped laughing when neither he nor Derryth joined in.
    ~oo0oo~
    The mood was lighter the next morning when they saw their other two ships anchored off the coast – Njil had set up a temporary lighthouse overnight which was spotted. At dawn they sent in a whaleboat to see what help Njil needed in his attempt to re-float the junk, and soon a hundred men arrived with shovels and buckets.
    At first they utilized all available human resources to unload everything from the ship on to the beach. It was then Brys’ responsibility to have it all ready for transportation by horse to the village. Some 200 tons of goods was a lot of trips by horse, even with travois attached.
    After two days of hard work, they had a much lighter junk to deal with, and Njil then supervised the digging of a canal in the sand so that even at low tide, the vessel was almost floating upright in the water. Finally the long ropes were towed out to sea and connected to the two vessels as they lay at anchor. They waited for high tide.
    Efilda stood beside Conn and Derryth. ‘So you think this will work?’
    Conn nodded. ‘The hull of the ship is still sound; and with a high tide and a good breeze, we could be lucky. Nothing ventured…’
    It was like watching a kettle boil. As the tide came in the ship continued to rise in the water, while the waves started to batter it forward, the long ropes held it in position. As soon as it started to bob around, the order was given to engage the force of the wind, luckily strong and heading out to sea. With every sail set on the two ships, the ropes went taut and the junk started to move backwards, in spurts as the waves continued to push in towards the shore. After some time the last sandbar was cleared and she hit open water, finally safe from the waves.
    Efilda shook her head in amazement. ‘Marquis, you are a lucky man. I never expected to see that ship anywhere except in pieces.’
    They mounted their horses as they watched Njil hoisting his sails and heading out to sea. Derryth agreed. ‘He is the luckiest man I know. Never gamble against him. He never loses.’
    ‘I’ll take that under advisement.’ Efilda then led them south, towards the village that they had abandoned in fear, less than two days away.
    Derryth was the last to leave. He cantered up to join Conn and Efilda.
    ‘All this has reminded me why I don’t like ships. And oceans. I prefer forests. Forest never try to drown you.’
    ~oo0oo~
    It would take them more than two days to arrive in the village Efilda called home; their travel even slower with the large number of horses towing travois containing the cargo from the junk. A day after departing, however, they arrived at an abandoned village. Whilst many houses still stood, most of the building close to the water were blackened ruins, and the fields lay abandoned and overgrown.  
    Efilda explained with regret in her voice. ‘This town is the former home of the Marquis because it has an excellent harbour. It was also our home when we first arrived – but the regular attacks have rendered it indefensible. We now live in a smaller village inside the river mouth – not as convenient but they have yet to discover it.’
    Conn halted the column of riders as he rode to inspect the docks; largely still intact inside a small bay.
    He rode back to Efilda. ‘With your permission, I think that we will set up our camp here.’
    ‘Here? Of course, you are more than welcome – but my brother’s wiga will attack it again – it is very hard to defend. They have mangonel on their ships that rain down destruction and there is little we can do against them.’
    ‘Catapults you say. Well, that is something to consider, but I’m prepared to take my chances.’
    Conn gave the order, and his men set to