The Azure Bottle: Chapter 5
Thyra strode up the ramp with a pack slung over her shoulder. Her heart was pounding, basically throwing itself against her ribs. She wanted to run on deck and scurry up the ladders. Restraining herself by the skin of her teeth, she smiled broadly as the port grew further beneath her. The masts loomed over her like a cloud, ready to carry her away. Gruff men walked up behind her, their thick beards smelling potently of fish oil and rum. The king was already on deck. His loose white shirt was tucked into his black pants, his black boots were polished and went up to his knees, shining in the light of the sun.
The king ran a hand through his chestnut hair as Arne trudged up to him. Thyra followed, her boots clunking as they struck the clean deck of the ship. A young woman walked up beside them. The king smiled at her and gestured.
“This is my cousin, Hilda, I thought you might want a companion, Thyra.” The young woman smiled as she pushed her fiery red hair away from her face. Her green eyes shown with the same excitement Thyra felt.
“She’s been on several merchant voyages. When I mentioned this trip to her she begged me to let her come. You’ll be able to get further introduced later. For now, Arne and Thyra, I need to speak with you.” The king said, beckoning them with his hand. Thyra gave a last smiling glance at Hilda before following Arne and the king into the captain’s quarters.
The room was small but perfectly organized. There were two different beds: one for Arne, the other for the king. The moment the door closed, the king turned to them.
“No one beyond the council of lords can know I’m leaving on this voyage. So far as the people know I’m on a diplomatic mission and no one is to know more. The crew have not been told of my kingship and instead have been led to believe I’m the apprentice to you captain.” He turned his gaze straight to Arne, who nodded wordlessly.
“My cousin of course knows who I am, but she doesn’t know of the map. That especially can never slip; the crew doesn’t know about it, and they can not. If these men get a wind of treasure we’ll have a mutiny. Understood?” Arne nodded again and Thyra followed suit. “Then you’re free to go, Thyra. My cousin would be happy to show you your quarters. Captain, we must set off this voyage.” The two men hurried out the door and Thyra followed them.
Hilda was standing at the deck looking out at the shimmering waves. Her black flannel, made of a loose material, was being pressed against her sides from the touch of the wind. The leather band she wore around her head was weather-worn and had threads sticking out at odd angles. She stood slouched, her hands stuck in the front pockets of her baggy gray pants, which Thyra stared at, startled. A woman wearing pants? She had one leg crossed behind the other, her streaked, raven black boots rubbing against one another.
She turned as Thyra approached, her top two buttons were undone and a silver chain was wrapped around her neck, a small metal anchor hanging from it.
Hilda smiled and beckoned Thrya over.
“What did my cousin want?” she asked, peering back out at the open ocean before them. Thyra simply shrugged, she wasn’t sure exactly how much she could say. Sailors strode by them, crates and barrels in hand, loading them below deck. Hilda cast a glance over at them then turned her attention back to Thyra.
“I hope this trip is more eventful than my merchant voyages.” she leaned her back on the railing as she spoke. Thyra kept her gaze out over the ocean.
“You’re lucky you have sailed.” she muttered. Hilda raised an eyebrow, and Thyra winced. She hadn’t meant for Hilda to hear that.
“You mean you haven’t?”
Thyra bit her lip and shook her head,
“Well, heck, quite the trip to have for your first one!” Hilda laughed and slapped Thyra on the back, who stared at her, stunned. Had Hilda cursed? Hilda laughed again, guessing her thoughts.
“We all curse a bit ‘round here. Ha, you’re gonna have a lot to get used to, but you seem fiery enough. I think that we're going to get along fine.” She gave Thyra a wink and gently grabbed her wrist. “Come on, I’ll show you our bunks. We’re separate from the other sailors, private quarters are a rare luxury ‘round here. I’m eager to check 'em out.” She pulled Thyra away from the deck and down to the bunks below. Some of the space was filled with crates, but three different doors branched off near the ladder. Hilda pointed to each one and told her which was the kitchen, the sailor’s bunks, and their own quarters. She pushed open the door to their room.
It was small and certainly nothing elaborate. Two hammocks hung from the ceiling and a basin of fresh water stood on a desk off in the corner. There was a small window that was just above one of the hammocks. Hilda quickly moved to it.
“You can have this one. I’ll take the other, if you’re good with that?”
Thyra nodded and stepped up to her makeshift bed, throwing down her pack on the wooden deck. The whole room smelled faintly of mildew, and rat droppings sat molding in the corners. She wrinkled up her nose as she noticed them.
Hilda smirked. “Rats are a normal part of sailin’. You’re gonna have to get used to them too, they are our constant, unwelcome visitors. If you have any food in that pack it would be best to eat it now. They’ll find it, sure as daylight.”
Thyra nodded then picked up her pack and pulled out two limes.
“What are those for?” Hilda sat, cocking her head and sitting down on her hammock.
“I’ve heard that fruit prevents scurvy, I don't think the healers are fully sure why though.”
Hilda grinned. “Oh, land-dwellers. Always learning new things to replace the old. Here on the sea, things stay constant.” She swung her legs up into her bed, resting her arms behind her head. Thyra sat down on her own hammock and began tearing off the lime’s peel. The tough, rubbery skin was cold to the touch.
“When will we cast off?” She asked, looking over at Hilda.
“Don’t rightly know. The blithering merchants, who bring their goods to the port, are in no hurry to get here, but they’ll rush home.” Hilda answered. Her red hair draped over the side of her bed as she spoke. “We can go back above deck if you’d like, it can’t possibly take more than another hour.” Hilda pushed herself out of bed and smiled at Thyra.
“Yes, I’d like that.” She cast a glance over at the rat droppings and wrinkled up her nose as she stood up. Hilda wrapped a muscular arm around her shoulder and led the way back above deck. Thyra thought she seemed like an overall pleasant girl. A tad rough and untamed, but friendly.
Thyra played with the lime, the one she’d been peeling, as she stepped onto the deck. The sun greeted her, warming her face. Sailors bustled to and fro, some untying ropes, others rolling the last of the barrels on the deck. Arne stood at the stern near the ship's wheel and the king stood beside him. They were speaking in hushed tones and the captain’s face looked grave.
“Arne’s your father, right Thyra?” Hilda asked, pulling her over to the bow of the ship.
Thyra shook her head. “No, he’s taken care of me since my father, Captain Erik Clide, was drowned at sea.” she gulped down hard as the memories of grief washed back over her.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know. Erik Clide… well blimey, that is a famous captain if there ever be one!” Hilda proclaimed, “No wonder you want to be on the sea. Salt water probably flows in your veins.”
Thyra grinned. She sure hoped it did. Hilda seated herself on the deck and began poking her ring finger into a knoll in the wood. Thyra sat beside her.
“Was there any opposition to you sailing?” Thyra questioned. Hilda looked up at her, an eyebrow cocked.
“Whatcha mean?”
“Well, you’re a duchess. Was your family upset about your choice?” Thyra hoped the question wouldn’t bring back painful memories.
“Aye, they were. But, well, you fight hard enough and all walls crumble, eventually. I had to renounce my title and wealth, though. I’m not a duchess any longer, and to be frank, I’m relieved by that.”
Thyra nodded. That made perfect sense to her. She’d hated having the expectations that had fallen on her as a child due to her father’s fame. When Arne had taken her in, most of those shackles had been shed but not fully. She’d felt plenty of disapproving stares from men and women she’d passed by on the way here. That must have been twice as bad for someone of Hilda’s position.
Thyra let the conversation die away as silence ensued. It didn’t last long.
“Capin’! Wes be’s ready to cast er’ off!” called a sailor. Thyra’s ears pricked and she sat straighter.
“Bring up the anchor, unfurl the sails, and drop the ramp then!” Arne called, his gruff voice boomed over all other noises. Thyra hadn’t ever seen him like this before, so calm and in his element. He’d never felt like much of a captain on land, but now, on his ship, he was an obviously seaworthy man, prepared to sail the seas.
Hilda stood and hurried over to the ramp. Thyra followed. They and one other sailor heaved it up. Thyra’s arms shook, while the other two seemed unfazed. She ground her teeth, committing herself to growing stronger during this trip.
The three of them shoved the ramp over the side. There was an uproarious cry of approval and shouts of farewell from the crowds below. Thyra smiled down at them, grateful that for once, she wasn’t amongst them. The sailor’s waved their hats and shouted down to the crowd with sundry exclamations of “See ye’ soon me darling!”
Thyra searched and spotted her sister Tove, Thyra’s brother-in-law stood beside her, a hand wrapped around her waist. Thyra waved down, hoping Tove could see.
“Let loose the sails!” one of the sailors called.
Men scrambled up the shrouds. They pried free the rope that held the sails in place as the anchor emerged from the watery depths of the sea. They rushed back down as the ship pulled away from the port. The sails filled and the keel cut through the water like a knife.
Thyra bounded back to the bow and scurried onto the bowsprit. She clung to rope beside her as she rose to her feet. The wind pushed back her hair, and her eyes peered forward, dazzled by the wonder ahead of her. At last, she was sailing the seas.
great chapter! good sailor slang too! excited to read more about Thyra and her adventure on the sea.
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