The Rains cause considerable limitations on what activities anyone can do but Toshi has some ideas to keep the men - and some women - fit. Ursula watches as both residents and visitors have fun in the never-ending deluge.

The Voyage of the Visund

A tale of Anmar by Penny Lane

112 - Life in the Wet

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) 2026 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

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"Go!"

The four Norse ran, carefully, along the balcony from where Ursula was standing to near the end, where a thick rope had been secured from a roof post to another on the other side of Foti Lane. The rope was at the top which meant that Torvin needed a boost from one of the others to grab the line. All four swung hand-over-hand to the other side, then ran to the next pair of ropes which had been fixed across just short of the center of the facing balconies.

These two ropes were at just below head height and at balcony level, meaning they could walk on the lower one and keep their balance with a hand on the upper one. The crossing was made with the lower rope swaying wildly but there were no accidents.

The third crossing, a little further along, was a single rope which went from roof height on the nearer side to near water level on the other side. Because of the angle it was necessary for each man to wrap their legs around the rope as they descended. When they reached the far side they had to avoid the water below and instead grab one of the rungs embedded in that particular post, pulling themselves up to balcony level.

Torvin's grab failed, his hand slipped and he fell into the water with a big spash. The lane's children, who had darted out from their doorways to watch the fun, all cheered and laughed as Torvin fell, then thrashed about as he tried to stand. He did so then made his way up the rungs to the balcony, helped by a hand from one of his fellows.

The fourth rope hung from the tops of the further posts, like the first one had, but instead of being almost taut this one hung in a great loop almost down to water level. Again, the aim was not to fall off but it meant carefully changing position while near the bottom - and no-one else could be on the rope at the same time. As the last man, Torvin, reached the balcony once more and stood, Ursula made a note of the 'time' for the exercise.

"Ninety-five, Toshi."

He added the number to a slate. "Ninety-five, Director. That's less than the counts I have from previous days with my own pulse."

Ursula shrugged. "It is probably a result of our different heart rates. At the moment my pulse may be slower than yours, that's all. Tomorrow it may be the other way around."

He nodded. "As you say. Of course, we haven't been doing this long so maybe the men are improving. How can we tell?"

She ruminated on the absence of accurate timekeeping methods. This society only has their big clocks, which make sounds every quarter of a bell, or hourglasses, which is almost as bad. I recall that Maralin mentioned that Princess Garia had arrived with a watch on her wrist, if that watch had a second-hand that I could have used, it would have been a great improvement.

It is unfortunate my own watch was smashed in Alberta when I missed my footing and slipped from that path. There was little point in keeping the remains so I buried it.

I would like to have used my cellphone instead but the nearest charger must be a thousand light years away now. Eriana talked about a water clock they use in Einnland but with all this rain no-one would ever hear the drips to count. It sounded like a complicated arrangement anyway.

She shrugged. "I doubt we can expect much real improvement, Toshi. Foti Lane is limited in what we can arrange for them. All I wanted to do was to make sure they aren't sitting around for two months, that they have something to keep their muscles active. And, perhaps, have a little fun as well."

The four men arrived, breathing a little more than normal but obviously not completely out of breath.

Eirik asked, "How good this time, Director?"

"Ninety-five," she replied, adding, "but I used my own pulse to count this time so we won't know who is quickest until the other four have tried. Go and dry yourselves off, boys, I don't think we can do much more this morning, the rain is becoming heavier."

"Yah, Director. Uh, can we wait to watch others do the run first?"

"I suppose so. It is just as well this rain is warm enough to let you stand around dripping wet."

"Director."

The other four Norse, who were the only other ones without injuries, ran the course.

"One hundred two this time, Toshi."

He noted it down, nodding. "Still very good, Director. The rain is definitely heavier since the first run so that might have made a difference." He shrugged. "I don't see any problems with either run today."

The three women stepped forward and Toshi eyed them apprehensively.

"You three still want to try this course? After watching the men do it?"

Bennet replied, "Aye, Master Toshi. In the Palace Guard no concessions are now made for women members. We know we will not do as well as the men have but feel it is worth the attempt. After all, we need exercise as much as the men do. I just hope we won't be too embarrassing."

He reluctantly nodded. "Very well. What about -" He pointed at the third woman.

Tyra responded, "Master Toshi, I have played here with the other children all my life. Have no fear I will not be able to complete this simple task."

Toshi made one last attempt to dissuade them. "But you are all women. Once you become wet out there all your... womanly attributes will become visible to all."

Bennet snorted. "Master Toshi, every one of these dwellings contains both men and women. Ah, excluding that which Her Highness now occupies, of course. I guarantee that everyone knows what everyone else looks like, especially when they are all used to being wet in the Rains. Have no fear that we abandon our modesty."

"But you are not attired as the men were."

"As all women do, we wear what is available and appropriate, Master Toshi. If our attire proves inadequate then we have plenty of time to attempt alternatives, even if we must needs sew them ourselves."

Bennet, Semma and Tyra were wearing sports bras under their regulation exercise tops but their lower halves were concealed only by their riding breeches. All expected damage to be caused by activities such as this but, in the rain, that was inevitable anyway.

"Very well. Prepare yourselves."

Tyra made a sign and the three went into a brief huddle. There were nods and then they all stood waiting in a line.

"Prepare... Go!"

To Toshi's surprise but no-one else's, Tyra led off at a run. She swarmed across the first line as Bennet was still lifting Semma up to reach it. By the time the two guardswomen reached the second line Tyra was already on the third, scrambling down backwards so as to be able to reach the rungs more easily. On the last line she went down head first which meant that she didn't have to change direction at the bottom or come up the other side awkwardly.

Ursula made a note of her time as she ran up but continued counting. Bennet and Semma arrived together a little later, Semma breathing a little harder than her more heavily built companion.

"Whoo," Bennet breathed. "Director, I hope we were not an embarrassment to womenkind by our times?"

"Hardly," Ursula replied, "Ninety-five, one hundred two and... ninety-one for yourselves."

"Hah," she said, trying to smile around her recovery breathing, "and what of Tyra?"

"Um, eighty-seven, but remember, she has been doing things like this for a long while and she's lighter than either of you."

Semma gasped, "As you say, Director, but we should become better with more training, I deem."

Toshi told them, "Well done, ladies, all of you. It is proof that any woman can be as good as any man with training though you each have different strengths and weaknesses. I know you serve a King and not the Navy but, from my point of view, you prove that we must recruit women as well as men to have a force which can meet all challenges."

He turned to include the men, who had all now gathered around them. "Go and dry out, ladies and gentlemen. I'm sure there will be pel waiting once you once you do." He jabbed a finger at Tyra. "Young lady, I must needs have words with you later. It is our men who are embarrassed and I want to know why. I feel that you have much to teach the Marines."

Tyra nodded. "With Mistress's leave, Master Toshi, I will tell all that I know. If I may ask for some of your own knowledge in return."

"By all means, Tyra. There are no secrets here and," he waved an upturned hand at the falling rain, "plenty of time to exchange experiences."

Ursula added, "Agreed. The more widely we can spread this knowledge the better. Go home now, get yourself dry. I have to have some words with Master Toshi and I should be finished before lunchtime."

"Mistress."

The runners dispersed to the dwellings where they were lodged and their places were taken by a mob of children of all ages, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Toshi sighed theatrically. "Director, this is not what I expected when I set up this exercise run. These youngsters embarrass me and embarrass the men too." He held out his hands to encompass the crowd.

"All right!" he told them. "I doubt us grown-ups can do much more this morning, the rain is too heavy for us to do it safely. Let the older ones go first or the younger ones will make them wait to get on the ropes."

He put his whistle in his mouth and the mob turned to face the direction of the first rope. He blew and they all ran away towards it. Ursula had a thought and gently pressed her thumb against her other wrist, an action which Toshi noticed.

"You time them, Director?"

"Why not? I expect them to be quicker than the men, it will be interesting to find out how much quicker."

Some of the children, particularly the girls, had problems grasping the thicker rope the Norsemen had strung up, but everyone managed the course, even the youngest who might have been only five years old.

"As I expected," she said, removing her finger, "eighty-six for the first ones back. Obviously the younger ones will take longer."

"How do they manage that?"

"They are lighter and they have been doing things like that a lot longer than our men have." She frowned. "I don't remember that thick rope being there before I went to the Clinic."

"No, Director. The Norse made it themselves while you were away by twisting together some smaller stuff they, er, acquired from the warehouse. They said it would hurt their hands less."

"I can understand that. Er, acquired?"

The black face split with a gleaming smile. "Director, I did not ask. It is likely that all will be picked apart and returned when we are ready to depart this place."

She thought. "If all that rope was just going to sit there for two months then maybe it was worth getting some use out of it. Oh, and why were they wearing those canvas outfits? I thought they would be too heavy."

"Director, the first two times they ran this course they wore their Marine greens, but in the rain, and with the climbing, too much damage was caused to the cloth. So they switched back to the old gear they told me they were wearing when they came to the Sirrel from Einnland. That seems to be sturdy enough. It looks like you might have to find a stronger material for their greens than what they now have."

She nodded. "That cloth was just what I picked up cheap in a market along our route because nobody wanted that particular color. I'm certain the seamstresses of Joth - who are experts, I will add - can find us something more appropriate."

"Ah, I see."

"And we'll probably need more uniforms in a thicker material before winter arrives," she added.

The children had now abandoned the rope course and were back to their normal chasing and scrambling over all the lines, ropes and fittings that criss-crossed Foti Lane. The fact that there was heavy rain falling now and nearly half a stride of water below seemed to make little difference to the activity level. Ursula did notice some odd things that didn't happen, though, and decided to ask Tyra or Hulo about them later. For now she turned to Toshi with a different thought.

"It has just occurred to me that, if the rain falls continuously for seven to nine weeks, all the company's weapons are going to rust. Most of us come from regions where this downpour doesn't happen so we are not used to any potential problems like that. Have you managed to take any precautions?"

"Aye, Director. The Norse were concerned once we had settled into our billets and came to me with that question. Fortunately Lord Luthan had an answer and that is that every iron or steel blade we possess, even mine, is tightly wrapped in waxed cloth and stored safely out of reach of the water. Apparently that is a standard method used by the folk of Joth to preserve anything made of iron or steel."

Ursula nodded. "Yes, of course. They have been getting wet this way for centuries so they would obviously have found ways of protecting anything that could corrode... Ah! That is why there is so much bronze and brassware along the river. They need to use steel for weapons but the other metals do not corrode the same way. I wondered why they did not use iron or steel for much else but that explains why."

"Hai. In the Kittrins all metals are scarce so the art of pottery has been developed over the centuries to provide us substitutes. It is a pity I do not have any of my knives to show you, the making and tempering is a treasured art. Of course they do not rust either."

"Maybe one day I'll get to see some of your people's work, Toshi. For now only your own sword is at risk. Oh! Of course I also have a toolset made of steel." A grimace. "I never considered that! I'll have to check them and see if there is any way I can protect them while still having them accessible should I need them."

Toshi raised an eyebrow. "I have seen your set of medical tools, Director. Surely you have had no need to use them recently?"

She nodded. "I did, at the Clinic, to help reset Numo's broken bones. We managed to set the arm bone without cutting him but I could not do his ribs that way. Since we have no method of looking inside without opening him up, that is just what I had to do. By making a hole in his side I could bring the broken parts out and set them together safely. Of course I had to sew him together afterwards."

It was Toshi's turn to grimace. "Director, I would not like to do your job but I respect your abilities. I was fortunate to have found myself with your people when we met that day in Pakmal. You and your people have given me a second chance to live."

She agreed. "Second chances seem to be happening a lot among those in the company. My own situation, before I came to Anmar, was desperate. Her Highness was escaping a bad father, Karan and Zakaros were escaping fanatics in Yod, five of our women were captives under dire conditions before we freed them, I could go on. We have all been given a second chance and it is up to us to make the best use of it."

"As you say, Director." Toshi looked around, seeing the activity. "If I may suggest, a mug of pel would be welcome now. Would you join Terry and myself?"

"Yes, why not. Tyra's family will look after her until I come. After you."

As they walked towards the dwelling that Toshi and Terry occupied, she asked, "Have you run that course yourself?"

"Aye, Director, I did run it once it was set up, to make sure it would be safe for others - and I knew that I would not be able to keep the youngsters away from it. In fact, I think that I could have just about kept up with the children, who immediately swarmed all over it once I had completed the run. I estimate that my time would have been about eighty-eight heartbeats, had you been there to measure it."

"Impressive - but you are light and used to that sort of exercise. Have you thoughts on anything else the men could do? I know we are very limited here."

"As you say. The men have done some wading races, from one net to the other, which helps keep their leg muscles strong, but that is about all except for the Tai Chi. We do not have the space, Director, either wet or dry, to do much more. The water is not yet deep enough for swimming, either exercise or races. These dwellings are too small for even unarmed combat practice, the men would be smashing their way through the walls if they did! I do not know what else they could do. We cannot even use the idle time to teach them to read and write since we have almost no materials to do that with."

She pursed her lips. "Not good. I will ask Lord Luthan if there is anything he can suggest."

"As you say. He has mentioned, while you were away, that once the Rains settle down then movement around the city will become a little easier. It may be that in a few days we may be able to add the men to some of the work parties." He glanced at Ursula. "Indeed, I suspect that even you might be asked to help patrol the city should Healer work be required."

"It is only what I did before we left the last time. Except then I went around with another healer, since I didn't know the routine then."

They reached Toshi's dwelling and entered. Terry was there and bowed.

Toshi asked him, "Is it possible you have fresh pel waiting?"

Terry grinned. "Is water wet, Hakatoshi-san? Director, welcome. If you may both come to the table."

With mugs in front of all three Toshi relaxed in his chair. "Director, if you could tell me more about this city. Because of the rain we are restricted to the nearby area so I do not really know much about Joth. Your comment about patrolling the city as a healer suggested you might be able to provide more information."

She nodded. "I can do that. When I was here before I learned much about the city and how it functioned, but my information is limited in many ways. I can let you know the overall picture, though."

"That was all I - we - were expecting, Director."

She collected her memories. "On your travels across Alaesia I know you must have visited many different cities." Both nodded. "Joth is probably different than almost all of them because it is entirely contained within its walls and it is not very large. This means that it is very crowded and the methods of construction are different than what I have seen elsewhere.

"Joth is an island and, unlike most of the other countries along the Sirrel, has almost no access to land beyond the Great Valley's edge. Because of this the only stone they have is all imported, which in turn means that almost everything you will see around you is either wood or brick. There are many terraced buildings like these ones in Foti Lane and the rooms in them smaller than you might have seen elsewhere, but that does not mean they are uncomfortable to live in.

"Duke Wallesan does not live in a palace like the rulers do elsewhere but in a much smaller building called the Mansion, which itself is actually part of the city's defenses. When we were here previously Her Highness, Bennet, Semma and myself stayed in the Mansion and that just about filled the available guest rooms. His retinue is very small and there are few staff, but that is not a practical problem. Because Joth is a small, compact city it is easy to get around and that means that many services the Duke's establishment requires can be met from within the city."

Toshi frowned. "Joth is so small?"

"Small is relative, Toshi. I did ask how many lived here and was told around fifteen thousand, though he told us he did not have a reliable count. That was a while ago and many who were at the war will have returned so there are probably more now. He also told us, later, that because of the overcrowding, and because of the fact that, despite the walls and defences the Yodans were still able to invade easily, he was considering expanding the city outside the walls. Considering the changes to come I do not think he has any choice."

Terry's eyebrows rose. "The Yodans got in despite the walls? Were the Jothans taken by surprise?"

"That was part of it, yes. You remember where we climbed off the Visund, partly underneath that great arch?"

"Aye."

"That is actually the Dock Gate. Now the original wooden gates that filled that arch were not used for a long time since this part of the Sirrel was peaceful, so they remained open all the time and eventually rotted enough that they couldn't be closed. Spies must have seen this and arranged a water-borne invasion to arrive just at or after dusk, when most of the city had retired to bed. They killed the Watch and then came in, pulling everyone out of their houses and ejecting them into the countryside with just whatever they had been wearing.

"That left them with a defendable city with plenty of resources for the invading troops. Unfortunately they ran out of firewood and some essential foodstuffs after some time, so began raiding the countryside for extra supplies. Eventually the Jothans ambushed the Yodan patrols and reduced the garrison enough that they could take their city back."

Ursula was about to mention Maralin, who had told her what had happened when the Yodans came, and realized that they would not know who he was.

I wonder where he is now? It is possible he is at the Mansion but if so we may not see him for some weeks. He may be able to help us with some of our problems in ways that Luthan could not.

"So you can understand that invasion, and the use of guns, or what the people upstream call Thunder Pipes, has altered how everyone now looks at their own defenses."

Toshi asked, "If Joth has no outside lands, it must be like some of the islands we know in the west. Is it then a poor place? There is no ocean full of fish surrounding it so how do its folk provide?"

"Not a poor as all that, Toshi, and the Sirrel has plenty of fish to help feed the city. To the south they grew certain reeds which can be used to make strong thread for cloth, which they also make. One of Joth's major industries is clothmaking and also making garments from that cloth. For example, many of the armies from further east came through Joth during the war and Joth provided them with new and improved uniforms. That Clinic where you collected me? That whole street, both sides, are weaving lofts."

"Ah, wakarimasu! Much is explained, Director, thank you."

"That is not all they do now," she added. "Since the invasion of Joth was the first place where the Yodans used guns, Jothans are now accounted the Allies' experts on that kind of weapon. I know they have a Gunnery School and a firing range where armsmen can learn how to safely use the new weapons."

Toshi blinked. "They can use those guns? Are they not dangerous?"

"All such weapons are dangerous but the Allied armies have more modern developments, so I was told, which are considered safer - if any such weapon could ever be considered truly safe. I have not been to the Gunnery School or the firing range but I know Her Highness, Bennet and Semma rode out there one day. They are already familiar with such devices."

"Ah! I remember now, Her Highness and the other two used little things when we attacked the pirates. So. Joth is small and full of people. Oh, and full of water which means we cannot stray far from these quarters to exercise as we might wish. Would that be a true description of our predicament, Director?"

Ursula looked at Toshi, considering. "True enough, Master Toshi, but I would not consider our position here as a predicament. After all, the folk of Joth have been enduring the Rains for centuries and appear to manage. If we are to be the Federation Navy then we need to become comfortable with water in all its forms. I am sure there will be things we can all do until this is over."

Terry added, "Toshi-san, this is no different than if we were on a ship sailing a long voyage. Plenty of water around us, not much room and full of crew, yet there are always things that must be attended, jobs that must be done."

"I have made a few voyages, Terry, but I do not recall there being that many tasks for the crew to do."

Terry snorted. "Perhaps you should have been aboard a bigger ship, then! Or perhaps, being a noble, you spent much of your time in the owner's cabin."

"Ah, I forget, Terry, what you must have endured when you were on that pirate ship. You are mostly right, the several voyages I sailed were as a passenger, not crew, officers or owner. My apologies." Toshi turned to Ursula. "Terry is right, Director. The main problem is that, if we consider Foti Lane to be as a ship sailing the floods, we do so as passengers. Have you any advice to give?"

"At the moment I have very little. Perhaps after lunch I will ask Lord Luthan if he has any ideas that might help. In the meantime, there is something we could talk about, this time for the future. It came to me as I was watching the men and women run the course."

"Ah?"

"Yes. In the land of my birth, when we become adults, we are conscripted into our armed forces for a period of time which, here, might be twelve to eighteen months." She rocked a hand. "There are exceptions but that wasn't my point. I think the idea was that, should the country be attacked and we were forced to go to war to defend it, everyone would already have had some basic training and be better prepared when they were called up again."

Toshi nodded. "A sensible move, Director. But the Navy is not like that, not yet."

"No, and probably won't be, unless there is a very big war. What I was reminded of was some of that training, which involved something similar to the obstacles you built outside. It involved a series of similar obstacles to that which might be found by a force attacking a defended location, perhaps. Of course we did not have the amount of water there that we have here so it couldn't be done that way here. We called that an assault course."

Both Kittrins looked intent. Toshi asked, "That sounds most useful, Director. If you could explain."

"Of course. The first thing was -"

* * *

Ursula let herself into Hulo's dwelling and greeted the inhabitants. Raysa bustled forward.

"Greetings, Mistress Ursula. We have waited a short while to begin lunch but you are here now. If I might ask if you will require to use the toilet first or to wash your hands?"

"No, thank you, Raysa, I did all that while I was with Toshi and Terry. I am clean and hungry."

"Then if you would find your seat, Mistress, the girls and I will bring the food."

The lunch was some unidentifiable cured meat, some salad leaves and a dressing sandwiched in a flatbread. It was still delicious.

"An interesting choice of food for lunch, Raysa. I thought you would be using up the fresh food first."

"It is as you say, Mistress, but eating as we do for lunch today saves lighting the stove to cook, except of course for making pel. We have enough cured meat put aside to do this from time to time, the salad leaves are indeed fresh and should be used up, and the breads were made on the stove yesterday as the evening meal cooked. This way we save firewood which, in some ways, is more precious than our food will be."

"I understand. And if you made your normal bread the oven would have been hotter and in use longer, using more fuel."

"Indeed, Mistress. In this weather any loaves of bread I make must needs be eaten within two or three bells else it will go soft and become moldy, thus it is unwise to keep it overnight as I might do in the summer months." She smiled. "Besides, a change from time to time is good, is it not, Mistress?"

"I completely agree, Raysa, and the lunch is just as tasty."

"I do not know if I can satisfy your expectations for the whole Rains, Mistress. After some while what we eat must needs become tedious."

Ursula shrugged. "You do what you need to, Raysa. Every human society has faced this problem through the ages. We'll survive, that is the main thing."

Hulo nodded agreement. "Aye, Mistress. We endure the hard times because we know there is better to come, and we know that His Grace will help if circumstances prove too difficult."

Ursula finished munching another mouthful. "As you say. Speaking of hard times, I want to ask you sometime about what happened when those of Yod came, but I will not do that now, not while we're eating."

And while young children are listening. I suspect I'm not going to like that story.

Hulo pulled a face. "As you say, Mistress. There will be plenty of time later for such tales, I deem."

* * *

After her lunchtime nap Ursula knocked on the door of a dwelling and it was opened moments later by Semma.

"Director. If you would enter."

The two went inside and Ursula saw, with some surprise, that the middle floor was otherwise empty.

"Actually, I have come to ask if Her Highness could join us in the meeting house. I was told there was a general meeting planned for this afternoon, now that we are all here in the same place."

"Oh, aye, of course." Semma gave an uncertain smile. "I regret that we have slept late after lunch and are just rising. I will tell Her Highness and then she will join you, should that be sufficient?"

"Yes... I also wanted to check with all of you that you are settling in to your new surroundings."

"It is tolerable, Director. There was a certain confusion over how to cook our meals and which foods to select, so as not to use up the wrong things, but while you and Her Highness and Bennet were away the other women came and explained how we should plan our meals. Tyra and Raysa were particularly helpful."

"That is good to know. I'm guessing the men will just have been fed with the families they were with but of course you were separate without a family. Do you - any of you - need more help or advice?"

"Thank you, Director, if we need help then almost any of the wives in Foti Lane will be ready to provide it."

"Oh, right. I'll leave now and tell the others that Her Highness will be joining us shortly."

"Ah, shall you desire either Bennet or myself? I am not sure how the other women will fare should we three go."

"I don't know, Semma, but probably not. This won't be a general meeting of the company, like we had at Bibek, just of the heads of each specialty. One of you can come if Her Highness wants you to but I'll be there if she chooses not to."

"As you say."

Ursula left and walked along the balcony to the meeting dwelling, watching the ever-active children doing their usual insane antics in the pouring rain. Inside, almost everyone else had arrived and were sitting on the rush matting to await the latecomers. She put out a hand to stop them rising as she joined them.

Frowning as she sat, she turned to Luthan. "My Lord, I have been watching the children play outside, as they do every day, and I notice that, while they do not mind getting wet, they do not jump in or swim in the water now in the lane. Do you know of any reason for this?"

"It is no great mystery, Director," he replied. "I have no doubt that all but the youngest child outside can swim as well as a fish does but the water is not yet deep enough for them to safely do so. For that same reason jumping into the water from the balcony is forbidden until the waters rise to such a level that no injuries can be caused." He shrugged. "Mayhap some years the waters may not rise that high anyway but all understand the rule and the reasons why, so do not become upset at the lack. If I may ask your interest? Do you only view their antics as a healer might do?"

"Not really, My Lord. Just curious, that was all." She gestured out the front window where the rain, naturally, still fell. "The Rains are unusual to most of the people in this room, My Lord, and I wanted to learn more about how those of Joth cope with it."

"Ah, as you say." He favored her with a small grin. "I have no doubt that by the time the skies clear you will know far too much about the Rains and the part it plays in the life of the city." He turned and gestured at Zakaros. "Master, you are one of the few here who are familiar with the Rains, I deem. If you may tell the Director - and, of course, the rest of us - how your land fares when you are not inside a city such as Joth."

Zakaros looked surprised to be asked but nodded and gathered his thoughts.

"As you wish, My Lord. I was, ah, a District Commissioner in Chidrell in central Yod, which rank might be considered as that of a Baron in lands such as Joth." There were nods from some of his listeners. "Now, although Yod is mostly as flat as any other land through which the Sirrel flows, there are some few small raised areas and the lands I administered were partly on the slight inclines of one of those.

"This meant that we had somewhere which was most often dry to build grain and fodder stores, although there were others in the more distant villages. We could also use that drier land to keep our livestock until the waters receded far enough to expose other grazing land once more. While I was there we never had the waters rise so high that they threatened the beasts, though I had been told the river had done so in the past.

"My Lord, we considered the waters so dangerous that our youngsters were never permitted to play in or near them for fear they might drown. I was astonished when I came here and saw what the children of Foti Lane were doing! Through conversations as I went round I understood that they did this all year and the Rains made little difference to their activities.

"In Chidrell we had small water craft similar to those I have seen here and I am guessing our activities - ah, those of the adults, I mean - would be similar to those that happen here, I deem. I will be interested to observe any differences as time passes. Does that satisfy you, My Lord?"

"Aye, Master Zakaros, it does." Luthan smiled. "My own problem is that I am city-born and bred and have little experience of what life must be like in more rural areas of any land. I have spent one Rains in Hulmar, which is in theory my own demesne, but that is a town and on the river, which is flooded much as this city is. It seems to me that your own experience is similar to what our own remote areas receive."

"It is as you say, My Lord. Considering where I was born and brought up, I have never experienced the Rains the way you have here. Indeed, until very recently I had never even seen the Sirrel."

Anything further that Zakaros was going to add was cut off as Eriana and Semma arrived.

"Gentlemen - and Ursula - I ask your pardon for my tardiness," she asked them as she found a place to sit in the circle. Semma, by contrast, found a place out of the way near the front door to stand. "I became involved in some unexpected but trivial matters and so the time passed."

The Princess frowned and turned to Ursula as she made herself comfortable. "Ursula, it seems to me that my memory is not as I believe it was before. Might you know of any reason why? I do not recall, in the few battles we have fought along the way, that I have suffered any blow to the head which might be the cause."

Ursula thought carefully before she replied, with the others looking on with some alarm. "Highness, there are certain herbs which could be the cause, some of which you have been given recently. I was told that the effect is only temporary." She considered. "Do you feel able to continue with this meeting or would you rather go back and rest? The Rains will fall for weeks yet so there is little urgency in what we would be discussing."

It was Eriana's turn to think carefully. "I believe I will stay," she finally decided, "but do not concern yourselves if I do not understand something or ask too many questions. I am sure this will pass."

"Then, if you are ready, Highness, perhaps we should begin?"

Eriana nodded so Ursula looked around at the others. These meetings were going to be awkward to manage, with most of the participants in different ranking structures to each other, and precedence being unclear.

Luthan solved her quandary by clearing his throat. "Ah, if I may offer a morsel of news, first." The others nodded, so he continued, "I have spent part of the morning at and around the Dock Gate, observing the damage and speaking with those who work and keep watch around there. First, Highness, I should tell you that your ship is still where you left it, partly under the Dock Gate itself."

"Do you tell me?" Eriana was surprised. "I thought it was going to be moved somewhere else."

"That was the plan, aye, but the storm became so heavy that it was deemed too dangerous to move it immediately. Then the lightning struck and their concerns became the damage caused around the area instead. Once the damage to your ship was discovered it was thought better to leave it where it was, but secure against movement. I can tell you that, had they managed to move your ship to the mooring originally intended, it is likely that a large section of stone would have gone straight through the hull and made repairs difficult and expensive, if not destroying the ship completely. As it is, there is damage as I have previously described but it should not be too difficult to repair, and before the Rains end."

"Ah?"

"Aye, Highness. Your ship, though full of water, is still on those rollers. I do not have the full details but I believe that it is intended they would keep the part of the ship being worked upon under the shelter of the Dock Gate arch and move it each way as required, using the hoist already constructed on the gate by the masons to raise the part of the ship being worked upon out of the water. By that means the shipwrights can repair your ship and make it river-worthy before the Rains come to an end."

"That is interesting! I give you great thanks for even considering what is, after all, only a visiting craft. But even if the Visund could be made ready for us, I am told the River would not be safe to venture upon for some weeks after that."

"It is as you say, Highness, but that was not my father's thought when he first beheld your vessel. He wondered if it might be of some use traveling the raised waters around Joth during and after the Rains, bringing succor to some of our outlying farms and homesteads. It seems designed for such a purpose."

Eriana seemed dumbstruck by the unorthodox suggestion so Ursula asked, "You mean, to row around the farmland with relief supplies? Of course the Visund has such a shallow draft. What a good suggestion! Highness, I am sure that if we can help then we should."

"I am astonished, I never imagined such a thing! My Lord, if it is needful, then of course the crew of the Visund will offer all the help we can." Eriana frowned. "But what if we should ground somewhere, far away from the river? The waters would recede and leave the ship marks inland!"

"Highness," Ursula responded, "I made this suggestion before as we traveled here. If we became stuck anywhere the waters would be shallow enough that we could all simply climb out and push the ship off the obstruction."

"Ah, as you say, Ursula. I remember that." She turned. "Tor, what say you? If the ship is to be repaired then you must needs be present, I deem."

He held out his hands. "Having heard of damage, I did not think it could be mended sooner. Good. I will attend repairs. Yah, will help people of farms when rain stops. Not much else to do."

Eriana nodded, her earlier hesitation now fading with something more focused to discuss.

"Arrange with Lord Luthan whatever he needs of you, then. Would you want any of the others?"

Tor shook his head. "Not now, Highness, maybe later. But I want to speak with him before then." His finger pointed at Terry, who was standing in the gloom behind Toshi. "He is proper sailor of ocean, big ships, different ships, much to know about other kinds, what may come in future."

"Oh? As you say!" The Princess flicked a hand. "Whenever you wish, Tor. We have much time to plan the future."

Luthan looked at the other speakers but there appeared no more to add, so he said, "Very well, if we can speak of other matters. I believe Koronel Hakatoshi mentioned something earlier about assault courses?"

"Not me," he replied, pointing to Ursula. "The Director did."

"I did," she admitted. "I was with him for the exercises before lunch and remembered what happened in the lands of my birth before I came to Joth. You see -"