Waterborne (Wanderlust 3)

Chapter Forty-Seven

"I don't know where he came from," Soren shouted up at the Walloxa, before Ivern could ask. His friend leaned over the bulwark, looking utterly shocked. Soren still felt shocked, even after the fight and the swim and the ride in the Waterborne. But his shock had sort of settled. It helped, probably, that he was used to Tanden shocking him.

"He needs attention," Soren continued.

"Right." Ivern blinked, and with that, he was back in action. The mystery of Tanden's appearance momentarily pushed aside. "Roan! We need a line!"

Roan appeared a moment later with a coil of rope. He tossed it down to Soren, who carefully tied it around Tanden's chest, under his arms. Then he hoisted Tanden up as high as he could, while Roan and Ivern pulled him up. As soon as the men had lifted Tanden over the bulwark, Soren scrambled to climb up the side of the Walloxa.

Ivern was on one knee, gingerly lifting the edge of the tunic wrapped around Tanden's waist. "It's a lot of blood, but I don't think he'll be leaving us." Ivern looked up. "I'll step up, if you want to see to him."

Soren was tempted, and he knew Ivern could handle the crew, but he also knew that he had to act like the Walloxa's captain. There was too much to do. "Take care of him."

"And your arm?"

"After."

Ivern nodded and waved at a few nearby sailors to join him. Gently, the three men picked Tanden up and Ivern guided them to the captain's quarters. Soren stood on the deck, watching them go. It wasn't until the door closed and Tanden was out of sight, that he managed to drag his focus away.

Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Ara swing himself over the bulwark. Assured that the Waterborne was taken care of, Soren briskly started for the quarterdeck. "Roan, report."

Roan fell in behind him. "We lost one, and a few injuries. We got the Walloxa off 'fore she took much damage, though. Oh, 'nd Naros came over with three others, talkin' 'bout surrenderin' themselves to Jerios. We tossed them below fo' now."

"Good." Soren ascended the last step. "Jerios?"

"All good, Captain," Jerios said. Soren could see the unasked question in his gaze, but Jerios resisted the urge to ask. "Elorie's opponent fled, but the ship wasn't in good condition. Kija signalled for her to come back. The Navirians seem to have taken their ship." He gestured.

Soren looked. The Navirian ship and the largest pirate ship were floating side by side. There were no sounds of battle. Elorie's ship was heading back towards them. Toliver's ship was gone, with just flotsam and bodies marking the place she had gone down. The air still smelled like smoke.

"So. What are we doing next?" Jerios asked. "The Navirians?"

With a heavy sigh, Soren ran his hand over his face. "Aye. But, we should check for survivors first."

"We can send the Waterborne over, Cap'n," Roan said. "'Nd we can flag Elorie down t' help. But you need t' talk t' the Navirians."

"I know." Soren dropped his hand. He was really starting the feel the wound on his arm, now that the immediately threat of the fight and drowning had waned. The Navirians were a different kind of challenge. A Tanden kind of challenge. "All right. Kija, signal Elorie to assist the Waterborne. And see if Kurias or one of the other Navirians knows how to signal the warship. I'll—"

His vision went dark, and the ship swayed under his feet. Soren felt arms catch him. "Right, Cap'n," Roan said. "Let us handle all that. You need to rest, mate."

Soren was too tired to argue.

***

He didn't have long to rest. He retreated to the captain's quarters to watch Ivern carefully clean and bandage Tanden's wound, then to endure Ivern doing the same to his arm. Ara fussed over him, wiping blood from his hands and face, slipping a new tunic over his head, and giving him water. Soren's exhaustion was held at bay by his nerves. He felt a little like he had before talking to the Xaoto coastguard. It was one thing to command his own crew, and by extension Elorie's. But facing off against navy sailors was much more intimidating, even though he knew the Navirians were on his side.