The Scarlet King Read Free Page A

evening meal was a feast to Jeremy and Edna, but to
those of the palaces—the envoys from the two kingdoms and the
military leader of those of the Red—it was a very simple meal
suitable for travel. The food and wine were plentiful and the
stories well received, but by the end of the evening the
approaching storm was making its presence known.
    Those who had imbibed too heavily now paid a
price as they made their way to their sleeping quarters. Edna was
not happy, having never experienced a storm before, and Jeremy
tried to reassure her. He requested some ginger tea, which they
brought back to their cabin. Jeremy was still full of energy, but
Edna was feeling the effects of the sea and had not yet learned to
dance with the ship. The ginger tea helped a little but lying
quietly in bed seemed to be the most effective remedy. Jeremy used
their capes under the sleeping pad to create more of a cocoon,
which would keep Edna from rolling about as she tried to sleep.
Then he went topside.
    Standing at the rail, for Jeremy the crashing
of the waves against the bow was invigorating. The clouds created a
greater blackness of the sky and almost all of the stars were now
gone. He enjoyed his solitude only a short while before Jason
joined him. For a long time they just stood and watched. Jason
finally said, "I know I should fear the storm but somehow it
invigorates my soul."
    Jeremy replied, "Captain Cook was always
saying how we needed to learn to dance with his mistress, the sea.
He seemed to enjoy the storms, but most of us of the Forest had
trouble with the sickness of the sea."
    "How is your bride handling these unsettled
seas?" asked Jason.
    "Only fair. The ginger tea seems to help
some."
    Jason said, "The Captain is unsure we can
make the harbor before the worst of the storm, and said we may need
to run before the storm. It seems he fears the envoy greatly and
wishes not to disturb him."
    Jeremy shrugged his shoulders and said, "It
is surprising how much fear that small man instills in others. I’d
best go check on Edna."
    Jason stood his watch in the darkness by
himself, watching the glow of the sea in the turbulence of the
waves. The freshness of the air seemed to bring the skin alive and
made his nose tingle ever so slightly when he breathed in. He had
never felt so alive while in the palace. The rain began ever so
gently but with the wind was enough to sting his face. He
maintained his watch at the rail until the chill of the air drove
him below.
    He returned to his cabin and tried to sleep,
but the pitching and rolling of the ship were now enough to keep
sleep at bay. The rolling of the ship was becoming ever more
pronounced and he began to worry. Things began to change and he
could feel the ship turning. Gradually the rolling subsided and he
had to deal only with a more gentle pitching of the ship. Sleep
finally came.
    When morning arrived the sounds of the storm
continued. Jason made his way slowly topside. His girth was a bit
of a problem in the narrow companion ways, and others would have to
make way for him. He held tightly to the rail as he climbed the
ladder topside. He was met with enough wind that it seemed to suck
the breath out of him. He concentrated on breathing slowly through
his nose and made his way to the pilot house. The Captain had
obviously been awake all night and appeared to be under great
stress. He began apologizing: "If only I had listened to that
fishermen we could've avoided this and Don the Great would not be
suffering. His suffering will undoubtedly increase everyone else's
suffering."
    Jason responded, "I would expect my desire to
see the island with the flightless bird is the cause of our present
trouble. I would speak to the envoy of this if you desire."
    The Captain nodded in appreciation, but said,
"The one you speak of as the envoy is not known for tolerating
discomfort. It is probably best if we not bring any further
attention to the matter."
    Jason asked, "Where are we?"
    "I was concerned