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AFTER TURNING SOUTH east, they continued on for over a week, the landscape not changing as they travelled. The vast rolling grasslands continued to stretch out ahead of them seemingly forever and Rebecca grew tired of seeing the same thing day after day. In her mind she saw the high and cool mountains that her father called home, the smell of the pine trees nothing more than a faintly remembered scent. But while she missed the mountains, after making camp at the end of the day she looked forward to the sun going down. The view of the stars at night was unrivalled, their brilliance undimmed and stretching from horizon to horizon. For that alone she could forgive the endless journey.
The sight of gulls was the first hint that they were drawing closer to the coast. The grey and white birds soared in the sky, their bent wings still as they glided by in wide circles on the morning breeze. Daniel brought her attention to them as they trotted along, lifting his arm to point them out.
"Soon enough we'll be looking for a town so we can board a ship." he told her cheerfully. "I'll be glad for the rest."
Rebecca snorted sourly, trying vainly to keep her mind from the ache in her rear.
"You might look forward to it." she groused in return. "I'm not looking forward to being on a ship again."
Daniel laughed in reply.
"Do you think your sea sickness will return?"
Rebecca scowled at him but nodded grudgingly. They had travelled far enough for her memory of her first experience aboard a ship to have become fuzzy around the edges but her sickness the first few days aboard still soured the thought of rushing another sea journey.
"There won't be much I can do about it either." she muttered. "Not without risking being seen as a witch."
Daniel's amusement died and he looked forward to where William and Katherine were riding side by side well ahead of them.
"If it gets bad, maybe it will be worth the risk." he told her softly. "You looked terrible last time."
She frowned at him, not appreciating the reminder. Particularly when she remembered that he had looked completely unfazed by the trip.
"Do you think you can call the wind to speed our journey?" she asked.
Daniel nodded without a moment's hesitation.
"What wind there is I can coax to help." he told her. "It shouldn't take me long to get a feel for the season's wind patterns once we board ship. If the wind is mostly behind us all I need to do is make sure it stays fair. The sailors shouldn't notice anything."
Rebecca nodded faintly. The gentle breeze ticked her neck, picking up loose strands of hair to flutter around her head. The ghost of a whisper caressed her ear in passing, the soft voice there for only a moment before it was lost in the rustle of the long grass.
"The wind is at your call, Avatar."
The soft voiced promise gave her hope that perhaps her second time would be better than the first.
The sight of the fishing town that slowly rose from the distant horizon of the grasslands brought a welcome sigh of relief from Rebecca. It had been three days since the first sighting of the gulls and she had almost begun to think they had been lost. From a mile and a half away the town didn't look like much, a collection of buildings spread out along a low rise. As it drew closer, William's countenance became grim and he reined in well short of the first sun faded shacks.
"I don't know if we will be able to find a ship here." he told them when they had reined in beside him. "We may need to ride further down the coast in search of a true port."
Katherine reached out to lay a hand on his reassuringly.
"If that's what it takes, we can do that."
His grim expression didn't soften and after a few moments staring at the village, he shook his head and dismounted.
"Time we got ourselves decent for these damned people." he muttered sourly. Looking up at Rebecca, he gave her a wry smile. "A change of clothes ought to help."
Rebecca kept her head down as they led their horses along the dusty street. William had insisted that they walk the last quarter mile into the town, mumbling something in disgust about showing good faith. The smell of salt and fish hung heavy in the air and Rebecca glanced sideways at Daniel to see him smiling faintly. A muted burst of chanting drifted to them on the breeze and his smile disappeared at the sound, his head falling so that his eyes rested on the scuffed toes of his boots.
"Head up Daniel." William growled. "Stand proud and keep an eye out for trouble."
Daniel's head jerked up at the reprimand, his reply forced. "Yes sir."
William nodded once, his eyes sliding to Rebecca when she lifted her head. She didn't need him to say anything, his stern look enough for her to nod and turn her head back to the ground. Reaching up with her free hand, she tugged the hood of her cloak tighter around her face. The loose skirt swirled around her legs, the feeling making her shiver. After months riding in pants, having the breeze against her legs was a little unnerving. Glancing at Katherine, she could see that the older woman was just as uncomfortable as her. Neither of them had been thrilled at William's instruction to wear the skirts they had both had rolled up in their packs but Katherine had sourly agreed, leaving Rebecca little choice but to do the same.
"Stupid bloody One Cult bullshit." she muttered under her breath as the breeze toyed with the hem of her skirt, playfully threatening to lift it higher.
Daniel glanced at her questioningly and she shook her head irritably in return. The sooner they could find a ship or get out of this village the better.
As they moved deeper into the town, the buildings grew closer together until they were almost leaning over them. The streets remained quiet, very few people passing them. The few that did pass gave them dark looks, turning to watch them on their way. Rebecca glanced back at one, almost instantly regretting it when the man scowled at her.
"What day is it?" Katherine asked softly ahead of her.
Thinking about it, William counted back on his fingers. "Sabbat." he eventually returned shortly. "Their holy day of the week."
Katherine sighed in response, shaking her head.
"That would explain the dirty looks we're getting." she muttered, glancing back at Rebecca. "We obviously should be in church."
Daniel and Rebecca looked at each other, both thinking the same thing though Daniel was the first to voice it.
"Is it a sin to miss church here?"
William snorted in disgust. "Some places are more backward than others." he said sourly. "The worst of them think it's a punishable sin. Flogging usually."
Rebecca glanced around nervously, the skin on her back crawling at the thought. The clop of iron shod hooves on cobbles suddenly sounded far louder than it had a moment earlier, the echoes ringing in her ears seeming unnaturally loud in the near silence of the streets.
"Do you think there will be trouble for being out on their Sabbat?" Daniel asked.
William shrugged uneasily. His knowledge of the Old World was sadly dated and what he did know brought a frown to his face.
"We've already been seen." he pointed out. "If there is going to be trouble then it will come soon." His stride lengthened as he lifted a hand to point down the street. "Anyway," he added. "We might be in luck."
Between the last few houses, the glint of sunlight on water was crisscrossed by the rope rigging of a docked ship.
The single pier that jutted out into the sea was barely long enough for the one ship that was docked to it. The activity around the lone warehouse on the waterfront was at odds with the silence of the town and Rebecca breathed a sigh of relief as sailors and dock workers called out to each other. She waited with Katherine and Daniel while William went forward to a window cut into the side of the warehouse. After several minutes he returned, scowling but with a slip of paper in his hand.
"We have passage on board." he growled, looking back over his shoulder at the clerk sitting behind the window. "The price though..."
He trailed off as Katherine laid a hand on his arm.
"When do we leave?"
Taking the reins of his horse from Daniel, William turned toward the ship. "They leave as soon as we are aboard." he said over his shoulder. "Another hour and we would have missed them. And there won't be another ship for a week."
William had barely set foot on deck before a burly sailor held a hand out to stop him.
"All weapons will be deposited in the secure chest." he growled, his hard eyes on the pair of engraved revolvers holstered at William's waist. "There will be no arms allowed to passengers on this ship."
Rebecca looked at the thigh high chest beside the sailors feet, the heavy oak bound in dark iron. The silence that followed the sailors decree drew out and she began to wonder if William would submit to being disarmed. Her hand self consciously drifting to the revolvers holstered at her own waist, she jerked in surprise as an impatient scoff made her turn to look at Daniel behind her, his brows drawn down in disgust.
"Just give him your weapons Father. I don't have the patience to stand here all day."
William turned to glower at him and Daniel put a firm hand on Rebecca's back, pushing her ahead of him as he began to unbuckle his gun belt with the other. The sailor nodded to him shortly in approval as Daniel handed over his gun belt, turning his hard eyes to Rebecca as Daniel walked past them.
"The One God frowns on immoral women that bear arms like a man." he snapped, his hand reaching out toward the buckle of her gun belt. "Women have no reason nor right to bear arms. Nor to bare their heads like harlots." he added, his eyes flicking to Rebecca's hair.
Rebecca bristled at the insult, stepping back before he could touch her. Before the sailor could catch her, the snick of a revolver being cocked brought him to a halt and he slowly turned to William with a deep frown.
"This is why passengers do not have weapons aboard." he growled. "They cause trouble."
"The only trouble we have here is your attitude towards my daughter." William snapped back. "She has my permission to bear arms, as does my wife and for just this reason. I cannot be everywhere in this corrupted country and I expect them to be able to defend themselves."
The sailors frown turned into a tight grin. "Are you such a poor example of manhood that you cannot protect your own women?"
The sailor got no further before Daniel's fist connected with his jaw, the unexpected attack knocking him to the deck.
"If my father cannot protect them, I will." Daniel snarled, standing over the fallen sailor and glaring down at him. "The people of this cursed country need to remember their place."
The sailor ran a hand across his split lip, glancing at the blood that came away and looking up at Daniel.
"This is a long voyage, boy." he said softly. "And there is much water between here and our next port."
Daniel scowled down at him, his hands still clenched tightly into fists.
"I look forward to letting you get better acquainted with it then."
Dismissing the sailor, he looked at William, his eyes drifting to the revolver in his hand.
"I think we can rest assured that family heirlooms will be safe in this chest." he said pointedly.
With a faint grunt of disgust, William holstered the revolver and unbuckled the belt.
"One scratch on them and I take it out of your hide." he growled to the sailor.
Laying them inside the chest, he nodded shortly at Rebecca and Katherine.
"You as well. We will have to rely on these men to behave themselves while we are aboard."
Despite her misgivings, Rebecca complied. After a longer hesitation, Katherine nodded once and unbuckled her own belt. Taking her shotgun from her shoulder, she held it out to William and he took it, laying it beside his own rifle. Regaining his feet, the sailor scowled at the four of them.
"Welcome aboard." he growled, sounding anything but welcoming. "Your cabin is on the port side, midship below deck."
Turning his back on them in dismissal, he slammed the lid of the chest closed and turned the key in the lock with a loud snap.
"And cover your head, girl." he growled without turning around. "Only a whore walks around tempting men."
Rebecca woke in the middle of the night, a scream perched on the edge of her lips. Sweat dripped from her brow as she struggled to her feet, the sway of the ship through the swell throwing her against the wall. In the darkness of the cabin, only the faintly glowing lamp shed any light and by its feeble swaying light she saw something rise suddenly from the bunk beside her. The scream that she had barely held in finally found a voice, coming from her in a strangled moan as she backed away.
"Rebecca?"
Daniel's terrified voice cut her off and she reached out to him, weaving erratically across the tiny cabin with the rolling deck. Her unsteady gait caused her to crash into his chest as he straightened, sending them both tumbling back onto the bunk in an untidy heap. The noise woke William and Katherine, their confused and sleepy voices murmuring questioningly. Rebecca didn't hear them, the nightmare and the motion of the ship combining to overwhelm her fragile hold on what little she had managed to eat for dinner. Pushing herself away from Daniel, she bolted for the door.
Hanging over the railing, Rebecca groaned and straightened, wiping her mouth on her sleeve. The last vestiges of the nightmare still clung to her, lingering on in her mind to prolong the torture. The sound of footsteps followed by the warmth of Daniel's hand as he rested it on her back surprised her and she looked at him, wondering how he could look so calm already. The look on his face when they had both broken from the shared vision had mirrored her own terror.
"It's coming soon." she muttered to him thickly, turning back to the railing as her stomach rolled again slowly. The feeling ebbed and she straightened, her eyes wide and staring at him desperately. His answer was a simple nod and he turned away to stare out at the dark sea, the horizon only distinguishable by where the stars rose above the water.
"It's coming." he said softly. "But I think we still have a little time."
"But how much?" she pushed. "Days? Weeks?"
Daniel shrugged, not taking his eyes from the distant horizon.
"Weeks, maybe." he finally guessed. "But we will make it in time."
She frowned at him, wishing she had his confidence.
"What makes you think we will make it?"
Daniel turned back to her with a grim frown.
"What do you see in these nightmares?" he asked. "Other than the demon?"
Rebecca frowned, not wanting to delve into the nightmare. Daniel nudged her gently.
"Think about it. The dreams are always the same so you should be able to figure it out quickly."
She sighed and closed her eyes, reluctantly dredging up what she could remember beyond the sheer terror that had engulfed her mind.
"A temple." she finally muttered. "Trees, walls. Some sort of courtyard. On a hill."
She opened her eyes and looked at Daniel questioningly. He nodded shortly in answer.
"The dreams are always at that temple. Every detail is the same, right down to the marks on the cobblestones." he told her softly. "It's as though the Path has left no other road for us but the one that leads us to that moment and that's how I know we'll make it." he told her firmly. "But we still need to hurry."
They were interrupted by the heavy tread of feet on the deck and Daniel looked over his shoulder, his body stiffening as he abruptly turned and put Rebecca behind him.
"It is good that I find you here alone in the dark."
The accented voice of the sailor who had taken their weapons on boarding broke the stillness of the night and Rebecca glanced around Daniel's shoulder to see the towering sailor grinning menacingly.
"I told you there was much water." he snarled softly, his thick fingers flexing in anticipation. "And you even brought me a gift. But don't worry, she will join you when I am done with her."
Seeing his eyes flicker over her, Rebecca felt a flash of anger. The palms of her hands itched and for a moment she could have sworn she felt heat flare in her closed fists.
"Not here." Varya called a warning in her mind. "Calm yourself. There will come a time."
"The only gift I will give you is a free swim." Daniel shot back, unaware of Rebecca's fury and her struggle to stamp it back down.
The sailor grinned again and came closer, his eyes going from Daniel to Rebecca and back.
"You will swim." he murmured, his hands rising as he approached. "Until you sink."
"Karpov!"
The sailor froze at the sudden whip-like shout, the grin disappearing from his face. Scowling at Daniel, his hands fell back to his sides.
"The Captain will not always save you." he muttered darkly.
He turned to look up at the quarterdeck where a tall man stood at the top of the stairs, glaring down at the sailor. Despite the lateness of the hour, the Captain was still dressed in a crisp white shirt tucked neatly into dark trousers. He was missing only a coat to complete his ensemble. But what he lacked was immediately made up for by the dark scowl he levelled at Karpov.
"Get back to your quarters sailor. I will not tolerate misbehaviour aboard my ship."
Karpov saluted quickly, turning to glare back at Daniel briefly before striding away toward the forecastle. Rebecca watched him go until the Captain spoke again, his voice still sharp as he turned his glare to them.
"You two, get below. The deck is no place for improperly dressed women."
He didn't wait to see if they obeyed, turning on his heel and striding back to his cabin. Rebecca looked down at herself in dismay as the door closed, finally noticing that she wore only a long nightshirt. The grain of the wooden deck was rough against her bare feet, the tar caulking sticky. Daniel turned to her, his face pale but grim. They both realised how close they had come to being caught. Daniel tilted his head toward the door to the below deck's companionway.
"Come on. Let's get back before anyone else comes."
The next morning, William and Katherine were awake early. Rebecca heard them moving around the cramped cabin and opened an eye sleepily. The faint glow of the lamp barely illuminated the room.
"What time is it?" she murmured.
William paused, taking his watch from his pocket. In the dim glow he had to bring the watch close to his face to read the time.
"Half six." he finally grunted. "Breakfast soon."
Rebecca groaned softly and burrowed back into the blankets. The sickness that had gripped her during the night had faded and though the thought of food brought the faintest edge of it back, she found that she was hungry. But it wasn't enough to break through her exhaustion and tempt her out from her warm cocoon.
"Wake me when it's ten." she muttered.
She heard William chuckle and pulled the blanket down far enough to peer out at him.
"I'll give you another half hour." he told her. "Then I'm going to drag you out of bed."
Opening the cabin door, he and Katherine left the cabin.
"They have no idea what happened last night." Daniel told her once their footsteps faded away, his voice muffled from under his own blankets.
"I wish I could forget." she sighed in reply.
Despite not believing William's light threat, Rebecca still didn't risk the chance that he would follow through with it. After giving herself a few more minutes, she grudgingly threw the blankets aside and swung her feet out of bed and onto the floor. Daniel pulled back his own blankets enough to peer out at her.
"You're not seriously getting up, are you?"
Rebecca nodded, stifling a yawn. "He did say breakfast." she pointed out.
Daniel frowned and pulled the blankets up over his head again. "I can wait until lunch." came his muffled reply.
Taking the opportunity to change while Daniel had his head covered, Rebecca quickly pulled on the dress she was already beginning to hate. The conservativeness of the One God followers and their heavy handed control over women frustrated her. That the sailor, Karpov, had threatened her and Daniel made her wish that they had not turned over their weapons.
"You do not need them." Varya reminded her gently. "If there is no other choice, we shall be ready to serve."
The whispered agreement of other voices in the air around her made Daniel poke his head out again, a sour look on his face.
"Don't let William catch you doing that."
Rebecca scowled at him. "We're in the privacy of our own cabin. I can do what I want."
The rattle of the door handle made her jump, her hand going reflexively to her waist in search of her revolver. As the door opened, Daniel tossed back his blankets and stood beside her. Both of them breathed a sigh of relief when Katherine entered, a faintly irritated look on her face.
"Good. You're both up." she noted sourly. "We're wanted on deck."
Going to her bag, Katherine rummaged around in it for a moment then returned to Rebecca holding a scarf. "William thinks there may be trouble." she said sourly. "Put this over your head for now. It'll be one less thing for them to accuse us of."
William was waiting for them when Rebecca pushed the door open to the deck. Squinting in the bright early morning sunshine, it took her a moment to notice that Karpov was standing only feet away.
"All passengers to gather amidship for morning prayer." the hulking sailor growled, glaring at Daniel with genuine hatred when he passed through the door. "This is the will of the One God. Heathens are to be converted to the True Belief and shown the error of their ways."
William edged closer to Karpov, his flint grey eyes cold and hard.
"I've already told you, we will not be gathering for prayer." he said with finality. "Your religion is not mine and I will not be forced into converting. Nor will my family."
Karpov towered over him and reached out to push William toward the main mast. Surprise crossed his heavy features when his shove put himself off balance instead while barely making William sway. His surprise gave way to anger and he closed to push his face into William's.
"It is not negotiable." he ground out. "You will submit or I will throw you overboard. You and your whole family." His weatherbeaten face broke into a leering smile as he added. "Your women may be late in following you."
William's hand moved little more than six inches but Karpov suddenly grunted in pain, stepping back and clutching at his ribs. William didn't give him time to recover, following him and striking again with an iron hard fist. Karpov staggered, falling to one knee as he stared up at William.
"I will not be converting." William growled. "I will not tolerate threats against my family, nor will I allow someone like you to touch them."
Stepping forward again he reached out and took hold of Karpov's shirt, turning to drag the stricken sailor relentlessly toward the railing. Karpov struggled as William lifted him to his feet, the fabric of his shirt tearing. William looked at him in disgust as he shoved Karpov against the rail.
"You wanted to throw me overboard?" he hissed. "Well how about you go first?"
Karpov shrieked as William pushed, his cry cut off abruptly as he hit the water. The splash as the water closed over him was lost in the slap of the hull against the swell and William turned away.
There was a momentary shocked silence after Karpov's scream, one that was broken by a harsh cry from the rigging above them.
"Man overboard! Port side!"
Rebecca's head snapped up, her eyes drawn immediately to the sailor hanging out from the rigging, his hand flung out and down to the point where Karpov had disappeared. The loud thudding of many feet came from every quarter of the ship and sailors appeared, rushing to crowd the aft deck. Ropes were thrown over the railing, the sailors shouting encouragement and guidance. William watched them in disgust.
"If he gets back on deck, we may be in trouble." Katherine said softly.
William shook his head. "It doesn't matter whether he makes it back onto the ship or not. Someone had to have seen me throw him over so they will be after us very soon."
Rebecca watched the sailors closely, groaning when she saw several take hold of a rope and begin hauling it in. "I think it is time we found somewhere to hide." she murmured.
Daniel nodded, taking her hand to drag her toward the below deck companionway.
"Not our cabin." William told them. "They will search there first."
"In with the horses." Katherine added. "We might be able to barricade ourselves in there."
"We still need our gear." Daniel added quietly. "We can't leave it all in our cabin."
William frowned but nodded quick agreement. "Fine. You and Katherine go to our cabin and collect our things. Rebecca and I will secure the horse stalls."
Without waiting to see if anyone disagreed, William strode off. Letting go of Daniel's hand, Rebecca glanced once at him and Katherine then hurried after her father. A glance at the stern showed the sailors labouring to pull the rope in while two leaned far over the rail, their arms outstretched. As she watched, they reached down further and a shout rang across the deck. Her last glimpse of the stern before she ducked down into the poorly lit companionway was of the two sailors pulling a very wet and swearing Karpov up to the rail.
"We've run out of time." she groaned.
Ahead of her, William's footsteps echoed loudly in the confined space. "We will have a few more minutes." he answered, not looking back. "Perhaps long enough to get to safety."
Rebecca laughed in disbelief. "You think anywhere on this ship will be safe for us now?"
William's footsteps faltered briefly and his reply sounded as uncertain as she felt.
"We will do what we can."
They met no one as they hurried along, reaching the heavy oak door to the livestock pens without being seen. Looking back over his shoulder to make sure they were alone, William removed the heavy beam holding the door closed and laid his hands over the iron staples it had rested in. After a few seconds, he took his hands away and pulled the door open. Where the staples had been was now smooth unmarred wood. Rebecca turned to look at the inside of the door frame as she passed, seeing the thick staple had migrated from the outside to the inside.
"It will make it easier for us to secure the door." William muttered. "Keep a watch for the others while I check the other side of the pens for another access way."
Rebecca nodded and drew the door almost closed, leaving enough of a gap for her to peek through without being seen. The smell of the horses in the confined space was warm and heavy with the
smell of sweat and manure. She frowned slightly at the thought of being trapped in there for days, dismissing her worry with an effort. Better to be cooped up in a stinking stable than thrown overboard into the sea.
Rebecca breathed a sigh of relief when she saw first Katherine and then Daniel round the corner of the companionway, neither of them looking hurried. She opened the door and stood out of the way as they entered the stalls, Daniel giving her a faint smile as he passed. Looking down the corridor once more, Rebecca closed the heavy wooden door and dropped the oak bar into the iron staples. Concentrating on the iron, she forced it to contract against the bar to secure it in place. William's hand landed on her shoulder as she stepped back, the sudden touch making her jump.
"It is a heavy door." he observed. "And there is little room for them to bring a battering ram down."
"They have axes." Rebecca countered. "It may take them time but they can hack through."
William frowned at her pessimistic view but behind him, Daniel spoke first.
"We have our weapons back so we should be able to defend ourselves if it comes to it."
William and Rebecca turned to him in surprise.
"How did you manage that?" William asked.
Daniel shrugged, pulling aside the blanket in his arms to reveal their holstered revolvers, William's rifle and Katherine's shotgun.
"I saw the captain speaking with Karpov on the quarter deck so I went into his cabin and picked the lock on the weapons chest."
Taking the rifle from him, William looked it over slowly and sighed in relief when he could find no damage to it. Not that he had expected any.
"That was a risk." he murmured. "But one I am eternally grateful for."
Not wanting to be near the door, Rebecca slowly made her way down the row of tethered horses to where her own was boxed in. The animals snorted restlessly as the ship wallowed over the swells and Rebecca ran her hand down the long nose of her horse soothingly. It nudged into the touch, sniffing and then lipping at her fingers until she continued scratching between its eyes.
"We have perhaps another week until we reach port." she heard William growl. "I know it won't be comfortable down here but we should be safe enough."
Katherine looked at him sourly.
"We still have to get off this ship." she pointed out. "I am certain the crew will try to hold us here until the Church can send a delegation of priests along with a sizable force of soldiers to arrest us. What do you think they will do once they find out who we are?"
William scowled and looked away.
"I don't know why they're so angry." he muttered in disgust. "Karpov survived and I did nothing against the One God's ridiculous code of honour."
Katherine frowned at him until he sighed and nodded.
"Except I refused to go and pray." he added ruefully.
Grimacing at the position his decision had put them in, he raised his eyes to Katherine questioningly. Reading his look, she shook her head.
"I wouldn't have done it either." she admitted. "Their faith is not mine and I don't see why anyone should renounce their faith to please another."
Looking down at William, she frowned.
"But I also wouldn't have thrown him overboard." she admonished, pushing on over William's protest before he could begin. "Even if it was in response to a threat against us. We all know that you could have beaten him bloody, and perhaps the crew would have accepted it as you defending us."
William looked doubtful but didn't argue the point.
They weren't given time for further questions as the door rattled in its frame and voices rose in surprised dismay. Karpov's furious shout cut through above the multitude.
"Open this door foreigner! I know you are hiding in there! Open it now!"
William's doubtful look melted into one of anger. Before he could answer, Katherine laid her hand on his arm, drawing his attention.
"We are going to be safe enough in here." she reminded him, putting aside her own doubt. "We only need to reach port."
William subsided and glanced at Rebecca and Daniel, receiving nods of agreement from them both.
"Fine." he growled, his gaze levelled at the shuddering door. "But the first man through that door dies."
For over an hour the door shook and rattled as the sailors threw themselves at it. William had surprised them all when he had laid down against the wall of an empty stall and gone to sleep, his only concession to the racket being the drawn revolver resting in his lap. Rebecca couldn't understand how he could be so calm in the face of so much hate.
"The door is holding." Katherine had pointed out. "Until they actually break it down, there is no need to worry."
Rebecca watched her father as he slept, listening as Karpov's voice thundered on, exhorting the sailors to break down the door while hurling threats through the door at them at the same time. Her eyes were drawn to the door as a particularly heavy crash came from the other side but William continued to sleep. From further along the stalls she heard Daniel murmuring softly to the horses, many of which were nervous and agitated by the noise. Rebecca didn't blame them, wishing the sailors would give up and leave them in peace.
"They're persistent." Katherine said, joining her in the horse stall. Between Rebecca and her horse, there wasn't much space for Katherine to squeeze into but she managed. "But as far as I can tell, they're only beating at the door. An axe would have a much different sound."
Rebecca peered over the stall wall at the door, frowning as it shuddered in its frame. The iron staples were so deeply embedded in the frame that the oak bar hadn't budged in the slightest.
"Do they really think they can get in?" she asked.
Katherine shrugged.
"I think it is mostly Karpov that wants to get in." she suggested. "The others may just be humouring him until their captain calls them off."
Rebecca scowled at the thought. "It's been long enough, surely he would have called them back to their duty by now."
Katherine shrugged again. "If they want to use their free time off duty to bang at a door that won't open, that's their choice."
Rebecca turned her scowl on Katherine, the older woman giving her an amused smile in return as she said. "Sooner or later they will get tired of it and even Karpov's threats won't incite them further. Give them a few more hours and they will give up."
Turning her back on the door resolutely, Rebecca went back to stroking her horse's nose, the feel of coarse hair reassuring under her palm. "If you say so." she murmured.
Katherine laid a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently. "Things may seem grim right now but you'll see. The captain will restore order soon enough and we will be left in peace."
An especially vile curse drifted from the other side of the door and Katherine turned a sour look at it. "Mostly in peace." she amended. "Karpov may keep beating his fists against that door until he either wears a hole in it or he grinds his fists down to bloody nubs."
The sailors gave up their assault on the door as night fell, the sharp sound of the Captain's voice snapping through the racket. Karpov had been the loudest voice of dissent and Rebecca had listened to him ranting until the crack of a gunshot had ended his protests with an agonised howl of pain. The ship had fallen almost silent after that, the occasional muted shout from the deck above them the only thing that penetrated the thick timbers. She lost track of time as the ship sailed on, falling asleep several times after what felt like hours of boredom. Only William seemed to know how much time had passed as he continually checked his watch, calling them from their separate stalls from time to time to pass out meagre meals from what little food they had.
They weren't left entirely in peace though, the door being tested at random times. Sometimes it was only a brief tap as someone tested it, other times someone would pound at it for several minutes, causing it to jump and rattle noisily. Rebecca and Daniel knew that each time this happened, Karpov was on the other side. The faintest of breezes told them of fresh bandages wrapped around the sailors leg, blood seeping from the wound caused by the Captain's anger. To their relief these loud interruptions to their enforced captivity became less frequent as time passed until a breath of air announced to Daniel that Karpov was locked in their own cabin. The attacks on the door came to an abrupt stop after that.
Rebecca guessed they were still days away from reaching port when a flurry of shouts and running footsteps on the deck over their heads drew William's attention from his watch on the door.
"There's something going on." Katherine murmured beside him. "The ship is rolling far more than it has been for the last few days."
William raised a finger to his lips hurriedly, frowning as the footsteps died away. "Do you hear that?" he muttered.
Katherine closed her eyes, frowning as she strained to hear anything through the creaking of the ship. "Hear what?" she finally asked.
William leaned toward the door, his head cocked to listen. A sudden hammering at the door made the horses jump, their iron shod hooves stamping on the thick timber deck in a loud staccato beat. Rebecca ran her hand down her horse's nose, murmuring wordless nonsense to it until it calmed down. Katherine flung a hand at the door in exasperation as it rattled in its frame.
"That's what you were trying to listen for?" she snapped. "They've been trying to get in for days and they haven't managed to make the door do more than shake. All you had to say was, 'They're coming'."
A deep voice bellowed from the other side of the door, cutting Katherine off.
"Heathen! This is as far as we take you!"
William looked back at the others, his eyebrows drawn together. Katherine scowled at the door, her hand rising to the shotgun slung over her shoulder. Rebecca glanced at Daniel, seeing he was looking at her. She was surprised to see he was smiling faintly.
"Are you throwing us over the side?" William shouted in return.
A humourless chuckle came in response before the deep voice answered.
"We are as close to shore as we will allow on this tide. The cargo door will open and you will get out into chest deep water."
Daniel's smile dipped into a scowl at the thought, his eyes swiftly running up and down Rebecca. She sighed at the look, understanding exactly why he had looked at her. As the shortest of them, she had to wonder if the sailor meant chest deep on her or her father. If it was the latter, the difference would leave her barely above water and Katherine would not fare much better.
"I can swim." she muttered in resignation when her father's eyes turned to her as well.
"I will be fine as well." Katherine answered unperturbed.
William glanced from her to Rebecca and back, finally nodding shortly.
"We have your guarantee of safe passage to shore and out of your sight?" he called loudly through the door.
The voice sounded reluctant when it answered.
"You have the Captain's word." it returned. "His word is law so you will be safe from this crew."
Though Rebecca didn't trust the sailor, William nodded in relief.
"We thank you for the passage." he shouted back. "We will accept your Captain's word and leave."
They weren't given much time to prepare, the rattle of chains and a splash letting them know that the sailors had dropped anchor. Moments later a square of thick planking shuddered with the creak of heavy ropes, leaning outward from the hull and letting fresh salt laden air into the compartment. The horses jerked and fidgeted at the new development and Rebecca blinked as the light grew brighter. William quickly began saddling up his horse, throwing the saddle across his horse's back, deft fingers feeding straps through buckles and tightening the saddle girth before tossing his saddlebags over the horse's rump. He was almost done before anyone else moved, Katherine the first to get over her surprise. William glared at Rebecca and Daniel when they stared in amazement.
"Get moving while we've got this chance." he growled at them. "They might shoot at us as we leave but we've got to take the risk."
Though she didn't like the idea, Rebecca quickly moved to saddle her own horse, glad to at least have the opportunity to leave.
Rebecca stood at the top of the ramp, looking down at the crystal clear water below. The ship had bottomed out on the sand and rocked with the swell that pushed past it to the not too distant beach. Despite its shallow draught, the water was still quite deep and she shivered at the prospect of having to swim. Ahead of her William was already coaxing his horse down the ramp to where the water lapped over the last few inches. With a jerky leap, the horse plunged into the water and began ploughing through the surf toward shore. Pulled off balance, William toppled into the water, surfacing to the jeers and laughter of the sailors lining the rail above him. Casting them a deep scowl, he turned and swam after his horse. Katherine chuckled softly and led her horse down the ramp, both of them leaping into the water without a moment of hesitation.
"We'd better follow them." Daniel murmured beside her. "I don't feel like being left behind with this lot."
Rebecca glanced at him and nodded. Giving her horse's nose a reassuring stroke, she led it down the ramp.
"Don't fall in like your father, girl!" shouted a sailor above her, his companions roaring with laughter.
"Water's deep. She'll probably drown." called another.
She ignored them, drawing her horse's head down to whisper in its ear. "It's just a little swim."
It huffed at the sight and smell of the surging water, jerking its head briefly until Rebecca turned to walk backward the last few feet, resting her hand on its nose. Feeling the edge of the ramp, she let the reins go and patted its nose.
"Follow me in."
Turning, she looked down at the water for a moment then dived in.
She wasn't expecting the water to be so cold, its icy embrace stealing the breath from her lungs. Gasping for air as she surfaced, she looked back over her shoulder to see if her horse had followed. Instead of seeing the ship, she was caught in the splash from her horse entering the water right behind her. The salt water rushed down her throat, searing her lungs before she could stop it.
I don't want to drown! she thought desperately, thrashing for the surface as she sank. A moment later the water reversed its course, rushing back up as the sea pushed her gently up until her head was out of the water.
We are sorry, Avatar.
The water almost immediately felt warmer and the waves carried her away from the ship quickly, pushing her until she could feel the coarse sand under her feet. From behind her Rebecca could still hear the sailors laughing uproariously at her misfortune, and she growled softly at her mistake as she got her feet under her and started wading toward shore. William was already on the beach ahead of her, Katherine still knee deep as she gathered up the reins of her dripping horse.
"It's not your fault." she muttered to the water surrounding her. "I should have pushed the damned horse in first."
The animal in question lumbered past her onto the dry sand, shaking its head and spraying her with water. Turning her back on it, Rebecca watched as Daniel came ashore, his horse calmly following him out of the low surf.
"It's good to finally be out in the fresh air again." he told her, grinning as he lifted his head to breathe in deeply. "Good, clean sea air." he murmured appreciatively. Looking back at her, he lifted his chin toward where her horse was beginning to wander off. "Better catch that."
Rebecca scowled at him but hurried after her horse.
