Oathbreaker, Book 1: The Knight's Tale - Colin McComb

I’d like to say that it was a mad dash out the harbor, that the army chased us down the hill, that
the rusty gates of the breakwater scraped the metal off the stern, and that we fought off two of the
Imperial Navy’s fastest clippers. But it wasn’t like that, not at all. All our sailors made it down
the Ocarina right smart, and Galves and Early Jon had always been sharp about immediate
provisioning. Pol went up to tell him about Skag and what happened in the guildhouse. She’d
barely finished when Pelagir loped up the gangway, carrying himself a new sword—a big, nasty
piece of work, slung over his back—and a baby in his arms. She was looking around as alert as
any seaman in a crow’s nest, and she was quiet, too. He spotted me before I headed below-decks,
and summoned me to him.
“Has the captain made the necessary preparations? Is the ship ready for traveling?”
“Aye, she is, but you’ll need to speak to the captain to tell him what happened. He’s up in
the steerhouse. Pol Austin’s just told him the score, but he’s going to want to hear it from you—I
hope you’re worth all this trouble.”
“I spoke with him already, and he knows my worth, sailor. I would have words with you
when I have finished with him.”
“Good enough.”
He took off to the ’house, and I followed behind him—but slow, meandering. I didn’t get
to hear much of what they said, but it sounded like Pelagir was warning the captain of what’d
happen to those of us who’d been in the guildhouse, something about the Empire falling, and
something about the child. Something about insurance.
Even as he spoke, Captain Meyels got us moving right quick, and I suppose he got the
harbormaster to open the gates for us under one lie or another. Whatever the truth, we hit the open
sea far faster than we’d had any reason to believe we would. We all tasted relief as the land
disappeared behind us.
Once we were out of sight of land, Pelagir sought out Early Jon again. I was out on the
deck, helping secure this and that, and putting off going into the tiller-chamber as long as
possible. When he left the steerhouse, the ship headed sharp south, and Pelagir moved port to
watch the dark clouds over the land. His sea-legs were impressive, though I suppose it could have
been expected. I walked over to join him.
We stood at the rail as the shoreline receded in the distance. He held the child in his left
arm, cradled against his body, and she watched the waves glide past us with uncommon interest.
Quiet, for a few minutes.
“Where’ve you been keeping the kid?” I asked.
Colin McComb Oathbreaker, Book 1: The Knight's Tale
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