As the Rains ominously approach the Visunders make a last desperate dash for safety to their friends in Joth. Their path includes navigating the Cauldron, a fearsome eddy below the fortress of Boldan's Rock. Unfortunately, the low river levels have made the passage even more dangerous and the stress causes unexpected problems.

The Voyage of the Visund

A tale of Anmar by Penny Lane

103 - Maelstrom

Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This story is copyright (c) 2025 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

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Still feeling the effects of the fight two nights previously, the five women dressed and packed their chests ready for collection.

"Eriana, you don't look as though you had a good night's sleep," Ursula told her as they folded and stored. "I know we had an interruption but you should be young enough to cope with something like that. Is there something else worrying you?"

"Everything, Ursula," the Princess replied with a sigh. "Instead of sleeping my mind went around and around with all that must happen today. I feel like I am being pushed into a corner with no choices to make. I am not in control of my own life any more."

"Welcome to the world of adults, Eriana. We all face the same limitations but everyone does even if most do not realize it. You need to make an adjustment to your thinking so that you understand that what you are experiencing is actually normal."

Her reply was short. "Normal! If you say so."

"Is there anything particular that concerns you?"

The Princess showed her teeth in a grimace. "We may not remain here because of Denethar. I could deal with him were it not for Gathol. Should we depart, as we must, then we will likely face the full force of these Rains, a thought which terrifies me. It is my decision to stay or go, yet if we go we may all die in the storm and it will be my fault. It is a decision I must needs make but one I do not desire to."

"The Rains have not begun yet," Ursula pointed out, "and the awning should be enough to keep us safe until we reach Joth, we have already tested it against two storms. My feeling is that it will and we will arrive there later today wet but safe."

"If we may depart cleanly without interference," Eriana mused, "we should have an entire day to reach Joth and it is not so far. I cannot see that even a storm or two would deny us our destination."

"You would think so," cautioned Ursula, "but, in my experience, it is always factors you did not think of that can cause trouble. For instance -"

She paused. Telling Eriana about a problem caused by an aircraft being diverted to another airport and delaying her own departure would take half the morning to explain and nobody would understand most of it.

"Never mind," she said instead. "My own experiences will not help us here. Just be ready for the unexpected, that is all."

"As you say."

Ursula had a thought. "As a matter of interest, what are we going to do about lunch? Stopping almost anywhere today is going to be awkward."

"Indeed, Ursula. I believe that Adin is obtaining such supplies that we may eat and drink as we drift downstream with the current, as we did the other day. We have done so before, the food will be plain but it will only be for one day."

Ursula nodded. "That's good. That gives us options if nothing else."

"As you say. If you have finished packing, mayhap we should go and break our fast."

A little later, just as they were finishing their breakfast, a wagon pulled by four frayen entered the courtyard accompanied by a number of the crew.

"Ah! Good, they have come to collect our chests. Ladies, let us go upstairs and clear our chambers."

With all those who were from the Visund gathered downstairs in the porch, the way was cleared for manservants from the hostel to go and bring their chests downstairs, from where the Visund's crewmen could place them in the wagon. Ursula watched this with a frown.

"They are using frayen to pull the wagon," she muttered. "What happened to all the dranakhs?"

The hostel proprietor was there, observing, and overheard.

"By your leave, Mistress, when the Rains come all the dranakhs are released by their owners and left to fend for themselves while the Rains yet come. Did you not know this?"

"I did not, goodman. I am - most of us are - strangers to the Great Valley. Why? What do the dranakhs do? Is there some special reason?"

The proprietor spread his hands. "While it yet rains, Mistress, neither dranakh nor frayen can do much work, although at extreme need frayen may travel short distances in the downpour. The problem is feeding them, mainly. For frayen you may know we have compressed feed blocks, have you seen them? Aye? And we must needs keep our beasts sheltered inside with the rest of us.

"Dranakhs are of such a size that they must needs eat so much food every day. It is difficult for all but the richest noble to store enough food to feed all his dranakhs for so long as the Rains, and we cannot compress what they eat either. However, we have learned that dranakhs can forage in the fields even during the worst weather, so by custom their owners release them to find food where they will. It is said that they can even forage for food under water, so some farmers deliberately leave certain crops in the fields for any of the great beasts who may pass by."

That makes a kind of sense. Hippos can do that as well, so I understand. And, of course, wherever they roam they will always return to their owners when the Rains finally cease.

"Ah, thank you. That does make sense. I wondered why I hadn't seen any dranakhs for a while."

"As you say, Mistress. Are you traveling far today? From the change in the air I have no doubt that by tonight the Rains will be fully upon us."

"Her Highness intends to reach Joth. We have friends there. We think the journey will be straightforward."

"It should be, Mistress. I doubt you will find anyone else on the river today."

* * *

When the party arrived at the Visund the men from two of the other hostels were already there and they soon helped load all the baggage and secure it. As the wagon was taken away the men who had been in the third and fourth hostels arrived and soon there was a bustle of activity as the ship was made ready to depart. Eriana climbed the length of the ship checking that everyone and everything was ready and having a word with all as she passed.

"Matta, Vellana. You have survived visits to several hostels now, I deem. How comfortable do you feel amongst other men and women?"

"Highness," Matta replied, "it was hard at first but we came to understand that most people just wanted to go about their own business and had little interest in us. We have also visited more cities than we ever knew existed and discovered that the world is a different place than we imagined. We are still cautious around men, especially those who take an interest in us, but we have learned that usually we can deflect without causing offense."

"That is good," Eriana said with a nod. "I know it will still take time for you to adapt to your new circumstances but you both have the right attitude, I deem."

Vellana asked, "Highness, is there some special reason you ask us now? We have heard talk of Joth but know not what it is."

"Just as the cities you have visited have all been different so is the city of Joth. It is all made of brick and wood and completely surrounded by a high wall, which regrettably did little when those of Yod came to call. I ask because, as you are now my personal maids, you will likely be asked to reside with me in the mansion of His Grace Duke Wallesan. When we were there before we were his guests and his home is different than anywhere you will have stayed before. Be prepared for somewhere different but also be prepared to reside amongst friends."

"Ah. Thank you for telling us, Highness."

A little further on she found Kaldar who was eating a zurin roll and holding a beaker of fruit juice.

"Good morning, Kaldar. Did you have a peaceful night?"

"Good morning, Your Highness. I slept well though there were some interruptions."

"Oh?"

"The men said that some others came in the night but were made to go away once they discovered a guard had been set on the ship. There was an argument and the port Watch was called." He grinned. "I learned a few new words, Highness, though I won't use them in front of you or the other women."

Eriana smiled. "As you say. I would ask among the men quietly so that you know exactly what those new words mean, do you understand? It is possible to make mistakes when cursing someone, especially if you do not know them well."

"So the men have told me, Highness. I much prefer the Norse swearwords the men have been teaching me."

"What! Oh, it is only natural, I suppose. Will you be ready to help us as we make this last journey to Joth?"

"Of course, Highness. Between your men and Tyra I have learned much since I jumped aboard."

"And I am impressed that you have done so, Kaldar. It shows how right we were to accept you when you sought sanctuary with us."

"Thank you, Highness."

At the stern she found Hashim and Tor poring over the charts Hashim had obtained in the port office.

"Highness, these charts, while the latest available, do not show everything we might need to know as we travel downriver," Hashim began. "It seems that some strange things happen when the water level is so low, but since few care to travel in these times the information is scanty."

"Ah? Anything that should concern us, do you know?"

"The information about the Cauldron is... confused, Highness. It is said that it is passable, at least in the direction we are going, but it is also said that because the water level is so low the Cauldron may look different than when you passed on the way upstream."

"Yet we may pass downstream."

"So it is said, Highness." Hashim paused. "The water level is the lowest I can recall and many shoals are visible which have never been seen before." He looked her in the eye. "When we reach the Cauldron it may be necessary for quick decisions to be made, Highness."

"I understand, Hashim. Good work. I'll return to the bow ready to make those decisions. Tor? By your leave, I am going to ask for that extra awning over the foaksul to be rolled back so that the lookouts can see properly. It only occurred to me last night. From the stern deck, and without the mast in the way, you can see a man standing on the foaksul clearly, can you not? And if a storm comes the awning can be put back quickly enough."

Tor looked surprised. «True, Highness. Standing up there he can signal left or right by just stretching out an arm.»

Eriana frowned. «I had not thought about signals yet, Tor, but you are right.»

A simple set of arm signals was discussed.

«I'll go and tell the lookouts what we have decided,» she ended the conversation. «When can we depart?»

«Just as soon as I can stop gossiping, get up on the stern deck and issue casting off instructions, Admiral.»

She grinned at Tor. «I can take a hint, Captain. Go attend to your ship.»

As Eriana laboriously made her way forward Tor began the business of leaving port. With Stine on the drum again the Visund was pushed off the foreshore and turned, heading for the river. Soon they were back in a familiar routine. The longship headed north-west, downstream, aimed at the north Wall, from where they would turn north-east to pass between Forguland and Gylfi's Rest and then turn again below the brooding granite mass that bore the fortress of Boldan's Rock.

For this leg one of the forward lookouts was sitting on the foaksul with his legs dangling over the right-hand side of the bow while the other lookout was standing centrally behind him, braced against the post which held the end of the redeployed mast. Both had safety lines attached, secured to the post. Behind them, on the first few benches, sat Eriana, Ursula, Tyra, Bennet and also Porthan Swiftrider, whom Eriana was questioning about his knowledge of the river.

"I do not know this stretch at all, Director," the latter told Eriana. "Almost all my service has been in Yodan waters or upstream of Yod. Before the, ah, recent conflict our duties were mainly in keeping the river free for all traffic and countering interference from the galleys of Pakmal, who were generally obstructive to any vessel not bearing their own colors."

She nodded. "Aye. That has been our own experience as well. There are good men in Pakmal, it is true, but they are a minority among their fellows, it seems. But we discuss the waters this side of Yod. You have never traveled this far at all? Not even before you joined the military?"

"Director, I joined the water forces as soon as I finished my studies, I had a brief time at home and then I immediately began officer training. I will add that even by road I have never departed from Yodan lands, it was discouraged." Porthan's eyes flicked up at the distant wall of rock, now looming larger. "Ah, Director, where does the river go? We head directly for the cliff!"

"Ah. Below Yod, it seems, the river wanders completely from one side of the Valley to the other, making sharp turns when it approaches the walls closely. I am told that eventually the river can cut through where each land is attached to one side or other, making it first an island and then attaching it to the other side."

Porthan was startled. "Do you tell me? I have not heard of that happening!"

Eriana waved a hand. "The process may take many tens or even hundreds of years to happen so you might not be told of it in Yod. I have seen that above Yod the river's course is less extreme in some ways. It has happened to Palarand and that was many centuries ago."

Ursula added, "Captain Hashim was going to find me a map of the lower Valley but I have not seen it yet, he is too busy. Remind me later and we can have a look at it together, you will see what the Director is saying."

Eventually the Visund made the turn and headed, as it seemed, directly towards the Rock. Ursula was looking forward as they turned and she saw, above the usual skyline ahead, a curious thin darkened line which ran across the Great Valley and extended either side.

Strange. I do not remember seeing anything like that before. Some kind of atmospheric effect? If so, what of?

She looked straight up to see a mixture of dark rain clouds laden with water and bright sunshine.

You can get some odd effects in the distant air, I remember. Some kind of inversion layer? I was not very interested in meteorology.

Eriana joined Ursula to stand just behind the foaksul and gazed at the right side of the river. She appeared uncharacteristically unsure of herself and spoke quietly.

"Am I right to gamble our lives this way, Ursula? Should we not have accepted what others have said and taken shelter in one of the ports we have already passed? I like not the smell the air has now, surely we have left it too late?"

Ursula considered her answer. "Eriana, you have made your decision based on the facts that you know and I have no argument with that. If we make it to Joth, then good, but if we do not, then we are in the lap of the Gods, as you would say. I have trust in the Visund and the abilities of our crew to do their best should anything unfortunate happen. Personally, if I had been making the decision I might have chosen to stop earlier, but then I do not have your problem with Denethar." She gestured ahead. "This way may be the best way of all."

The Princess grimaced. "I still have this feeling -" She pointed to the rising ground becoming more pronounced on their right. "Should we try to land at Forguland? I know Hashim said that the docks were not approachable, but maybe we can -"

"If we cannot get the Visund out of the water and onto high ground, Eriana, then we are likely to lose it - permanently. Remember, the waters may reach as high as the uppermost levels of the Forguland docks by the end of the Rains. And if we hauled up on the mud we would be unable to unload everything in time. Landing nearby might save our lives but we could lose everything else."

"It is as you say, though I am reluctant to agree. Very well, we must accept whatever the Gods throw at us."

Eriana is deteriorating! I have never seen her like this before. Is this depression? Is she still safe to command, especially when our actions could be forced upon us? I have not the medical knowledge to handle this!

It may have been a trick of the light but the thin dark band across the north-east somehow looked a little larger. And were there flickers of lightning visible near the top edge?

Soon the mud flats which had been exposed by the low water levels became visible, showing that Forguland was indeed cut off for a time from the Sirrel. The dock area appeared, high and dry, all of the levels having been completely stripped of small craft, huts, derricks, flagpoles and anything else removeable, indicating that the locals expected the levels to be swept clean by the flood.

By now a growing noise could be heard, its source as yet undefined. On the left, they passed the wharfage of Gylfi's Rest, equally stripped, while on the right the low-lying island looked much wider than they had previously observed.

Porthan asked from behind them, "Director, what is that noise?"

"Oh, that must be the sound of the Cauldron," Eriana replied, "a fearsome eddy which lies just below Boldan's Rock. It is thought that the rock deflects the river and causes it to swirl. It looks dangerous but only if you do not know the region and approach it too close."

"The Cauldron? I have heard of it, Director, but of course I have never seen it."

"Director!" The call came from a lookout, the voice alarmed. "You must see this!"

Eriana leaned forward, resting her hands on the raised deck. The sitting lookout was now scrambling to his feet. Her face went as white as a sheet.

"Mother of the Gods, save us!"

- - -

On the stern deck Tor and Hashim were making similar remarks, each in his own native tongue. Ahead and to their right, the river turned and poured over what seemed like a broken weir with a thunderous sound, spray initially masking what lay beyond.

"Maker, I have never..! Tor, what do we do?"

"What is this? A waterfall? How?"

Perhaps hundreds of thousands of years previously a tall stack of the granite which composed Boldan's Rock had tumbled, falling right across the course of the Sirrel. The stack had shattered on the way down, causing a series of obstructions in the river bed. Over time the upstream side had been filled with deposits while the downstream side had been scoured away by the changed water flow. Normally concealed by the depth of water, only at the very lowest water level could this hidden feature become noticeable - and at a time when nobody would be on the river to notice and record it.

"It was not here when we came upriver," Hashim said. "I have never seen this before."

"We did not come this way," Tor said. "Came through docks."

"Maker, yes! Everybody goes that way, do they not? What exactly is all that?"

From this side the edge of the water surface was mostly smooth, just like a weir, but there were raised areas where the current forced its way through gaps in the obstructions. Just beyond, visible as the Visund came closer, was the Cauldron.

Tor pointed. "There. Those. Find largest one to go through."

This situation was entirely outside Hashim's experience. "Largest one? Why?"

Tor's finger lowered to the awning halfway along. "Ship widest there. Rocks either side, need room."

They both peered at the approaching hazard, their view partially obscured by the spray.

"There! It has to be the one right at the end, doesn't it?"

"Yah. We use that one. Safest. Need to avoid maelstrom."

"Maelstrom?"

Tor could not remember the local name in such circumstances. He described a horizontal circle with his finger. "In river. Like big pot."

"Oh, Maker, the Cauldron! We have to avoid that as well! Need a hand on that oar?"

"Yah."

- - -

Most of the crew had turned by now, alerted by the noise, and were watching the scene with horror. Ursula's question was directed to the lookouts.

«Can you see Tor and Hashim? What are they doing?»

One of the lookouts turned and waved, then ducked his head to reply to Ursula. «They wave back, Director. Know what they are doing.»

Eriana overheard and turned, frantic. "No! We cannot! The ship will be lost and we will all die!"

She turned and swiftly began climbing over the benches to make her way aft but the low roof of the awning made her passage difficult. She stumbled over the end of an oar.

Ursula looked at the river, then at the lookouts. «Hang on to something!» Turning, she shouted to the others, "Stop her! She'll kill us all!"

Bennet just managed to grab her trailing foot and Eriana tumbled. Tyra climbed back and tried to calm the struggling Princess but she fought them both off.

«Let me go! Let me go!»

Ursula arrived and added her weight to the others. «No, Eriana. Let the men do their jobs.»

The men immediately beyond turned and stared at the mass of women, uncertain what to do as their liege was apparently attacked.

Ursula looked up at them. «Do you trust me?» she panted.

There was a hesitation before the nearest answered, «Yah, Mistress. What is happening?»

She glanced at the weir, now only ten strides away. «No time. Trust Tor and Hashim. Hang on! This could be rough.»

Eriana tried to remove Ursula's hands. «Let! Me! Go!»

«Eriana, you are not safe, I cannot release you, not when the situation is so dangerous.»

The Visund tilted forward, cargo straining against ropes and loose items rattling below the seats. Eriana gripped Ursula's arms and closed her eyes tightly, tears streaming down both sides of her face. For a long moment the ship remained tilted and then it slid down perhaps two strides to the level on the downstream side of the weir. There was a shower of spray as the bow dug in and an ominous crack before everything righted again.

- - -

"Two maelstroms?"

"Maker! Tor, we have to go right down the middle between the two or we are dead either way."

"Yah."

On their right the Cauldron circled lazily like water going down a drain, the bottom still being out of sight despite the low level of the river. On their left was another whirlpool, circling the other direction, doubtless caused by that same low water level. A jumble of rocks showed at the bottom of that one, at least five strides below their own level. The two eddies were divided by a ridge of water upon which the Visund was precariously perched.

"At least the bow came up," Hashim muttered as the two fought to keep the steering steady, "I was afraid we would plow straight in."

"Yah. Heard something break though. Which way to go after?"

Hashim did a quick review of their options. "Left, I think, Tor, which means going around that thing. Can you see if there is enough water that side?"

Tor risked a glance to his left side. "Enough water for Visund, I think. Tell Princess?"

"Yes, but I don't think we have any choice which way to go. Look at that sky!"

"Thor's balls! Look, boy is down there, he can go."

- - -

A thin stream of water started coming up from between the first two seats and the two nearest crewmen squirmed past the mass of women to investigate the leak and begin bailing. Eriana's grip slackened but she still held on to Ursula. By now she was weeping uncontrollably.

Kaldar scrambled through from aft. "Mistress, Captain Hashim says - " He caught sight of the tableau. "What happened?"

"She is unwell," Ursula replied. This could be difficult to explain. "The stress is too much for her. Do you know where my basket is?" Kaldar looked at Tyra but Ursula shook her head. "We cannot leave her, she is too strong. I need something to calm her."

"I think your basket is back near Karan, Mistress. Shall I bring it?"

"Yes, please, and a bottle of water from Adin. I'll need to give her something to drink."

"Immediately, Mistress." Kaldar vanished.

- - -

Hashim briefly looked at Tor, then back at the water either side. The situation was too strange for him to take his eyes off it for any length of time. The water surface sloped away both sides, one leading to the depths of the Cauldron and the other down to the jagged rocks at the bottom of the Cauldron's evil twin sister. The Visund rode the ridge between two certain disasters - and had to be kept there. All too soon the decision had to be made and Tor carefully nudged the ship to the left, with the inevitable result.

- - -

The Visund lurched, this time with a tilt to the left.

Bennet asked, "Why are we tilting, Mistress? Are we sinking?"

We are tilted to the left, but the Cauldron goes clockwise, so we ought to be tilted the other way if we were caught by it. So what..?

Ursula raised slightly so that she could see over the left side. "Another one?"

Bennet risked a look. "Maker! Mistress, this cannot be good."

"But Kaldar came to give us a message. The captains must have seen this from the stern deck and are doing something about it."

"I hope you are right, Mistress."

"So do I, Bennet."

Eriana was now limp and sobbing quietly. Her grip was now slight enough that Ursula could free herself and sit more comfortably on the nearest seat. With Bennet's help she carefully raised an unresisting Eriana and laid her across two seats, the hull not being wide enough yet for her to be laid lengthways along one. One of the men who was not bailing arrived with dunnage bags to pack the gap between the seats.

Ursula sat up and looked out at the heart-stopping sight. The ship was going around the rim of a slightly smaller version of the Cauldron, but this one went counter-clockwise. Already they had managed a quarter of the circuit and she hoped the men steering would be strong enough to lift them off when they got round far enough.

We could have just gone straight ahead between these two eddies but that would have meant taking the long way around Joth to get to the city. This way is going to be quicker and - look at that sky! - maybe we can get far enough downstream before that hits us. I am glad that Tor and Hashim were level-headed enough to attempt this.

The sky had definitely become worse. What had been a thin line of darkness against the horizon had become a threatening black mass kilometers high which was rolling steadily up-valley, consuming everything in its path. The upper parts of the leading edge roiled with massive arcs of lightning - she could think of no other words to describe what she saw. Occasionally, some of those stabbed down at the ground below.

Now that is the Rains, no doubt about it! She tried to estimate distance and rate of advance. We might get as far as the home stretch before that lot hits us.

It abruptly dawned on her what she was looking at - and what was about to happen.

I have to take command, there is no choice. Eriana is not fit to command and would not be able to handle what is about to hit us. I am the logical second.

Before she could even open her mouth Karan climbed forward, carrying the basket, followed by Semma with a water bottle and a beaker.

"Kaldar told us," he told her, looking nervously outside. "I told him to go sit with Hashim's family and rig a safety line."

"Good idea, Karan. Thank you."

She took the basket and pulled the canvas lid open. Semma sat down beside her.

"Mistress, what happened to her?"

The Visund suddenly righted and headed straight for the cliffs beside the Rock.

"Difficult to know," Ursula replied, pulling out a small bottle, "a kind of mental breakdown, I think. She has had too many things to deal with, too much pressure and it was too much stress for her." She waved a hand outside. "Then that had to happen."

The younger guardswoman frowned. "Mental breakdown? A disease of the mind, you mean?"

"Something like that. Maybe we can talk about it whenever we get to Joth?"

"As you wish, Mistress. Uh, maybe it is a bad Call this time? I know some women can go crazy when their Call comes, if it is a bad one."

Ursula realized what Semma was suggesting and nodded. "It is possible. I do not know what day her... Calls... are supposed to come. Right. Can you fill that beaker about half with water, please?"

Karan did the pouring. When there was enough in the beaker Ursula estimated a dose and tipped a small amount of her bottle's contents in as well. She gave the potion bottle to Semma in exchange for the beaker.

"Can you put the stopper in it, please, while I try to get some of this into Eriana." She looked up. "Karan, give that water to Tyra, please. Karan, Bennet, I want you each to go down one side of the ship and tell everybody, Orders from Director Ursula. Everyone is to put on all their wet-weather clothing immediately. When you get to the stern tell the two captains as well - oh, and I want whoever goes on the stern deck to have a safety line rigged."

Karan nodded. "As you command, Director."

Bennet added, "I can see the need for it, Director."

The two disappeared aft, separating when they reached the line of cargo along the center, telling the crew as they passed.

"Semma, I have to get some of this into Her Highness." Around them the view wheeled as the Visund turned from north-west to north-east. "Can you help?"

"Surely, Director. If I lift her this side -"

They managed to prop Eriana half up, enough to enable her to drink.

"Eriana? I have something to help you here."

"It is too late," the Princess mumbled, exhausted. "We are all going to die."

"Well, maybe this will help you die peacefully." Ursula looked up and gave Semma a significant look.

She managed to get most of the contents into her patient, who then relaxed back and closed her eyes.

Semma asked low, "What did you give her, Director?"

"Just something to relax her and let her sleep," Ursula replied. "It shouldn't hurt her but we'll probably have to carry her out of the ship when we get to Joth."

Semma's eyes flicked briefly up at the oncoming storm. "Do you think we can still get there, Director?"

"This is the Visund. It withstood four storms out at sea bringing Her Highness and her men to Palarand, so I understand. I think we have a better chance than many of those river barges would."

Semma took a harder look at the storm front. "I believe you are right, Director. Maker! I have grown up living with the Rains every year and I have never seen it like that!"

Ursula turned around and climbed back towards the foaksul. «You two, get that awning back up and make certain it is secure, then come down one by one and get your wet weather gear on. It's going to get rough.»

"Yah, Director."

They had to move Eriana a little further aft to make room for the lookouts to come down and change while others carried on bailing from around the sprung boards. A pair of oars was shipped and those two men moved aft which meant that the Princess could, just, be laid flat across the width of the Visund. All around the crew and passengers were finding room to struggle into the standard wet weather outfits which were, fortunately, fairly easy to put on in the limited space.

Ursula decided that this was probably the best moment to ask for food and water to be served out, before the line of the storm front reached them. Soon everyone was munching on rolls and drinking water, not knowing when - or even if - their next meal would arrive. The storm would make everyone's activities much more difficult.

The Visund arrived at the end of the north-east reach and turned south-east, the last major course correction before arriving at Joth. Ursula knew that the Sirrel made several kinks and curves before then but hoped that staying in the main current would keep them out of trouble.

With the change of direction and the bow awning now set up again the view outside became restricted. No-one could now see the storm front approaching which may have been a good thing in the circumstances. What Ursula had not expected as they followed the current past the ferry port of Thorn was the sound, a roaring which sounded like a distant waterfall rapidly approaching.

If I am right that is a waterfall! Coming directly from the sky! However do these people survive in such extreme weather?

But she answered her own question.

Because it refreshes the land, that's why. The soil becomes so rich they can harvest two crops before the Rains and one afterwards. To grow such plenty, that frees them from many of the problems that other lands will have, they will risk much and reap the benefits.

With a tremendous BANG! that deafened everyone the storm hit the Visund. Everything outside the ship immediately disappeared, including the surface of the river. It was no longer possible to tell where the water ended and the atmosphere began. The rain pounded on the awning and poured off the sides in sheets. All sense of direction vanished.

With a word to Semma and Tyra to keep an eye on Eriana she climbed back forward, making her way past the two men bailing. Looking down she saw that, although water was coming in, the men appeared to be keeping pace with the flow. How long they could do that before tiring she did not know. She reached the foaksul and leaned forward to tug at the yellow wet weather gear of the nearest lookout.

He turned and said something but the noise was too great. She shook her head and he turned and leaned down. He tried again.

«Can see nothing, Director.»

«Didn't think you could. How are we going to know when we reach Joth?»

The look of alarm on his face told her that he had not considered that problem.

«We need to move over to that side of the river,» she shouted. «I'll go and talk to the captains. Keep looking out for shoals and debris in the water.»

And if they do spot anything, how are they going to tell anyone about it?

He nodded and turned back to speak to his companion. Ursula climbed back to where Semma sat beside Eriana.

The guardswoman shouted, "She sleeps, Director."

"Good. I don't think she can handle this. Look, I need to go back to the stern. Are you happy here just with Tyra? I'll send Bennet forward whenever I see her."

"As long as she stays asleep, Director. If she wakes and struggles -"

"Noted. I'll send help as soon as I can."

BOOM! Everybody flinched.

I am really, really glad we took the mast down!

"Director," Tyra shouted, "you, Semma and I are not wearing our wet weather gear."

If it isn't one thing...

"Where are our things?"

"I think they are somewhere closer to the stern."

"Right. Change of plan. You come with me to find our gear. When we reach Bennet she can bring Semma's gear back here with her."

The two clambered back along the ship, splitting when they reached the cargo to make sure that they did not pass Bennet going the other way before speaking to her. As it happened they found her near the stern pulling her own waterproofs on. The conversation had to be shouted.

"Director? Is Her Highness all right?"

"She is asleep which is probably best for her. Can you take Semma's wet weather gear forward and then keep watch over Eriana while she puts her gear on? I need to talk to the captains."

"Surely, Director."

"Do you know where ours are?"

"Here, Director." Bennet held up a dunnage bag. "I put yours, Tyra's and Semma's in here and was going to bring it forward once I had my own on."

Ursula gave her a smile. "Thank you, Bennet, good thinking. Let us have ours. I'll need mine to go right to the stern."

Bennet handed over their gear and then moved forward as the two helped each other wrap themselves in the waxed, yellow waterproofs. The hardest part was putting the boots on and making sure the tops were safely under the skirts of the 'pinafores'.

She asked Tyra, "Where is Karan? Have you seen him?"

"Yes, Director, he was with Aryam and the children."

"Good. Will you keep watch here while I speak to the captains?"

"One moment, Director."

Tyra moved forward and returned with a coil of thin line. She tied the end around Ursula's waist and then wrapped the rest around one of the rearmost seats.

"Safe now, Director."

At the stern deck Ursula found that someone had crudely nailed a short scrap of a plank, edge on, onto the edge of the stern deck, which meant that a prodigious volume of water gushed off both sides instead of filling the hull. Outside it was as if she glimpsed an unrecorded level of Hell. The volume of water descending was so great that the stern post, curling up behind the steering position, was almost out of vision. Two figures in waterproofs stood side by side, each with one hand on the steering oar. They noticed the yellow figure below, had some kind of conversation and then one carefully and awkwardly clambered down into the hull and under the edge of the awning, water streaming everywhere from his waterproofs.

"Director," Hashim shouted. "What happened?"

"Eriana had a mental breakdown," Ursula shouted back. "She is sleeping now. Look, soon we are going to reach Joth but how will we know? Can we edge over to that side of the river?"

He nodded. "We talked about that and are moving that way but carefully. The river is still low and we do not want to get stuck out here in this. There are supposed to be posts marking the entrance to the channel into Joth but if we will see them in this I could not say."

"We do not want to go past Joth! I doubt that even we could survive until the next available port."

"Agreed, Director. The next stop would likely be Smordan and it will be night by then as well - if darkness means much in this." He waved an arm at the downpour beyond the awning. The cloud layer was so thick that it could possibly be night already.

"Do your best. Could we anchor until this eases up? How long before that happens, do you know?"

Hashim grimaced. "That could be three days, it could be a week, Director. We have all too much water to drink but not enough food for that many days."

"Understood. Oh, what about that bucket thing? To keep us pointing in the right direction?"

"Tor sent it over the side the moment he saw the storm was coming, Director."

"Good. Keep looking. I'll stay down here for a while until we find Joth."

"As you say, Director. I'm going back up there, that steering oar is heavy."

Hashim laborously clambered back up and rejoined Tor with the oar.

This is impossible! It was madness to even consider sailing in this!

But we did not know... Now we do.

She tried to peer out from under the awning to see if there was anything visible which might indicate where they were but it was futile. Above them the lightning flashed almost continuously, lighting up the area and in theory giving them a better view, but the amount of water coming down made 'better' a moot point. Occasionally the view did lift but there was nothing but disturbed water in sight.

There was a movement forward and she saw someone making their way aft to her, climbing carefully around the rowers, all of whom were presently doing nothing. As the figure got closer the face resolved into that of Toshi. He looked disturbed.

"Director, there is... a face... in the river, watching us. I did not think that river spirits were supposed to exist any more."

"A what?"

He turned and pointed. "Off to our right, ahead. Two red eyes, moving."

Ursula crouched down to try and see this phenomenon for herself but the awning was lower right at the rear of the ship.

"I'll come and look."

She followed him down almost to the middle and then looked out where he pointed. Two red eyes showed themselves through the downpour, each flickering, each below a dark eyebrow. The skin along her spine began to raise goosebumps.

That's... impossible! That can't be anything alive, not in this downpour - and I was told there are no spirits or other magical beings on Anmar.

So what is it? Is it some kind of artifact of the storm? Something struck by lightning, perhaps? Unlikely, not two similar structures close together like that.

Then they flickered again and she knew. She leant close to Toshi's ear.

"Beacons! They have lit beacons to guide us in! Prepare the crew to get ready to row us in through the channel between those two fires."

"Beacons, Director? In this rain?"

"Those eyebrows are roofs over the fires to keep the rain off. I must go or we'll miss the channel."

"Hai. I'll order the oars out ready."

She hurried all the way back to the stern and attracted the attention of the two on the deck. Tor came forward and leaned down.

«Over there! Between those two fires!»

«What?» He looked up. «Yah. Wondered what those were. Steer between?»

«Yes! Toshi is getting the rowers ready.»

He stood, turned and immediately began hauling on a line which went over the stern, pulling in the 'sea bucket' that had been used to keep them facing the right direction. Then he stood and, with Hashim, began to steer towards the beacons and safety. Ursula turned to Stine and told him to start sounding the beat, but wondered whether anyone would be able to hear it.

Somebody further forward had a better idea and blew some blasts on a bugle. With those men nearest to Stine pulling their oars in a steady rhythm, those behind took their cue from them and began joining in. Soon it was obvious that they had turned out of the main stream and headed for the channel.

Reaching the beacons, she could see the sturdy construction with a wide roof over each to ensure that any downpour could not extinguish the fires yet still permit them to be visible from the river. Yellow-clad figures tended each, but as soon as the Visund came in sight they abandoned their posts and began walking back towards the city, their job done.

That was a clever thing to do, but they knew we were out there somewhere. We would have seen them if we had been forced to approach Joth from the other direction as well. I guess they'll just leave those to burn out, and in a week or two they might even be under water.

Ursula tried to remember what she could of the day they had sailed out of Joth but failed. Too much had been happening then and river navigation had not been her concern as it was now. She just hoped that there were no shoals along this channel!

After a while the dock piers loomed out of the gloom. At the end of each a brave yellow clad watcher waited for them, directing that the Visund should go to the left side of all the piers. Once they saw that their directions had been noticed those men made their way back to the hardstanding to join a crowd of others waiting for the ship to arrive.

Now that the situation was under control, and they were no longer at the mercy of river currents, Hashim climbed down to join Ursula.

"What do we do now, Director? Tor wants to run up on that slope but it is full of people!"

"They are waiting for us, they must have some kind of plan. I hope so! If we just beach the Visund as usual we'll have to unload in the rain and everything will be ruined. And then the river will rise..."

"Good point. I hope they have a clever plan, that is all."

"I'll go forward. Tell Tor we might have to stop rowing in a hurry."

"As you command."

It occurred to Ursula that there was one person aboard who might have some idea what was intended.

"Tyra? We have to go to the foaksul now."

"Coming, Director."

As they clambered over bench after bench she asked Tyra, "You must know what happens to the port when the Rains begin. Do you know what they might do with the Visund?"

"No, Director. I do know they clear everything off the area between the walls and the piers and even pull all the pontoons out of the water and store them. All the small boats get taken into the city. My father hangs his up in the space under our house."

They reached the bow just as the ship came to the present waterline. A long blast on a bugle behind them made everyone cease rowing and lift their oars out of the water. Several yellow-clad figures waded into the water and grabbed hold of the ends of the nearest oars, holding the ship in place. Others moved forward, pairs carrying long lengths of timber which puzzled Ursula at first. Two men came with a thick rope and passed it up to the two lookouts, making gestures which seemed to indicate they should pass it around the stem and then back down to them.

A light dawned. "Oh! Those timbers are rollers. They want to pull us completely out of the water."

"Can they do that, Director? This must be the largest ship ever to come to Joth."

"They are certainly going to try... but I still think everything and everybody is going to get wet."

The lookouts passed the rope around the stem and then threw the end back down to the crowd. It was somehow secured and then most of the crowd tailed onto the rope and began heaving. As the bow came out of the water other men slipped a roller underneath. This continued with more rollers being fed underneath. The Visund moved up surprisingly well for a while and then progress slowed.

"We are too heavy," Ursula said as she surveyed the lack of progress. "Of course, as more of the ship comes out of the water... Eirik! Blow a long blast on that bugle and try and get those below to stop pulling for a moment."

As the bugle sounded Ursula turned and began making her way aft, raising her voice over the roar of the downpour as she repeated what she wanted done.

"Men! We need to lighten the ship. As soon as you can, climb off and help those ashore by pulling or pushing the ship up onto land. Leave your gear here for now. Be careful those rollers don't trap your feet. Women and children stay aboard for now." Ursula repeated these instructions in Norse.

With most of the crew now ashore the Visund made rapid progress up onto the hardstanding. Ursula was surprised when the movement did not stop but watched as the ship was pulled towards the gate and then part way through it before coming to a stop. The gatehouse over the gate was perhaps four to five strides wide and provided some shelter for the bow end of the ship.

Ladders were placed against the hull so that the rest of the occupants could disembark under cover. Ursula and Tyra remained aboard, helping those who were unused to such activity. Getting Eriana out was difficult and required a stretcher to be brought aboard, with a loose tarpaulin as a temporary shelter. The last to come forward were the two captains.

Tor saluted. «Well handled, Director.»

Hashim added, "A well thought out plan, Director." He gestured at their surroundings. "I trust those of Joth have made provision for this ship but I cannot think what."

Ursula smiled. "I have no idea either, Hashim. This whole business is a total surprise to me but these folk obviously know what they are doing." She made her own gesture. "After you."

"As you wish, Director. Coming, Tor?"

"You go now. Family awaits. I must be last to leave."

"As you wish, Tor."

As Hashim climbed down Ursula said to Tor, «We're not sinking, you know! We have just docked, essentially.»

«I know, Director. Call it Captain's choice. You follow?»

Ursula looked over the side. «Might as well, they are all waiting.»

At the bottom she waited for Tyra and gave her a steadying hand, although the younger woman probably didn't need it, even wrapped up in waterproofs as everyone was.

"Welcome home to Joth, Tyra. We have returned as we said we would."