The Captain's Trial (4)

Writers: Anaria
Date Posted: 1st June 2011

Characters: Tiernan, Uvannt, Fievan
Description: Tiernan receives some interesting news while resting below deck.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 2, day 8 of Turn 6

Captain Tiernan sat down heavily on a bench in the Ship's Mess, glad
that all the furniture in the room was solidly built, and connected to
the ship. Fieven sat down across the table from him, his eyes
unfocused, and his entire body trembling.

"Are you alright, apprentice?" Tiernan asked, handing his bottle of
rum across to the young boy.

"I... I think so sir," Fievan said. The ship rocked hard, and Fievan
was almost sent sprawling, but caught himself at the last moment.
Tiernan frowned as the wood of the ship creaked and groaned it's
protest. So far, they hadn't had many issues with the ship's
structure, which he was glad of.

"So how old are you? And what made you want to come to sea so badly?""
Tiernan asked, trying to distract the boy from his fear.

"I'm 14, sir. And... I came to sea in hopes of meeting my Da," Fievan explained.

"I thought you said your father was a Woodcrafter?" Tiernan asked,
wondering if the boy had lied about that as well.

"My Ma's husband is a Woodcrafter, yes. But Ma has never had any
children with him. The only reason I'm around is because of a fling
with a Seacrafter," Fievan explained. His face was beginning to look a
bit green as the ship shook. It looked like he hadn't gotten past the
sea sickness after all.

"Ah... I see. Did your Ma give you his name?" Tiernan asked.

Fievan answered, but his words were stolen away by the creaks of the
ship. He said it once more, and Tiernan almost heard what he'd said,
but assumed that he'd heard incorrectly. On the third repetition,
however, it was clear. "Fieranan."

"Fi...Fieranan?" Tiernan asked, to be certain that he wasn't imagining
things. The apprentice nodded. "That's my father you speak of."

Fievan's jaw dropped, and Tiernan continued to study him quietly. The
boy had his father's sandy red-blond hair, that he could see. And now
that he was focusing, he had to admit that the shape of his nose, and
the color of his eyes were oddly familiar. "You look a lot like him,"
Tiernan said finally.

"Th...thank you," Fievan said softly.

"After we get out of this mess, I'll see about taking you to meet him,
but you should know that insofar as my mother's concerned, he's always
remained faithful to her," Tiernan explained.

"I.... I'd really appreciate that. Captain. Sir." Fievan said,
stumbling over his words a bit in shock.

"But I want you off my ship. The Seawing is no place for an apprentice
who's never been out to sea. A Riverboat would be a better life for
you. You could have a real family, if you wanted one," Tiernan said.

"Do you think he'd like me?" Fievan asked.

Tiernan braced himself as the ship shook once more. "I don't think
he'd know what to do with the fact that you were prone to sea
sickness. But yes, I think he'd like you."

The family moment was broken when seasickness overwhelmed Fievan, and
he wretched into a bucket next to the table. Tiernan reached across
the table to rub his half-brother's back comfortingly.

"Get back above deck as soon as it calms down. The fresh air would do
you well," Tiernan said, before standing to take his shift at the
helm.

As Tiernan got back above deck, he noticed that winds were calming
somewhat, and the rain was no longer coming down in horizontal sheets.
It looked like they were finally getting into the eye of the storm.
Tiernan breathed a sigh of relief. They needed a bit of a break to
regroup and to tend for Galliet, and anyone else who'd gotten injured.

Uvannt was still at the wheel, looking considerably older than his 29
turns. "I'll take it over for a while so you and Paraner can rest.
You'll need it," Tiernan said.

"Aye Captain. I have a feeling that the worst has yet to come," Uvannt said.

"I hope you're wrong, but I'm inclined to agree. We got through the
first half without too bad of incident. I doubt we'll be so lucky
again," Tiernan said. Tiernan looked up at the sky one more, and
pointed to a ray of light piercing through the clouds. Once more, the
wind had died down, and the seas were calm.

"Go tell Hawthen that his best shot to set Galliet's arm will be now,
and send up Fievan. Hopefully we can get his stomach settled a bit
before the storm picks up again.

"Aye Captain," Uvannt said, before disappearing below.

Finally having a moment to breathe and catch his thoughts, Tiernan
considered what Fievan had told him. He didn't believe that the
apprentice was lying - after all, he bore a strong resemblance to his
father - but he couldn't believe that his father would have had
relations with a woman. Especially not one who was already married.
Despite what people said about seafaring men, and the fact that he was
often away for months at a time, Tiernan had never seen his father so
much as look at another woman. How was he going to look his father in
the eye and tell him he had another son? And how would his mother
react?

He was distracted from his thoughts by the sound of Fievan wretching
over the side of the ship. He cringed in sympathy for the apprentice.
"You going to make it?" He asked.

"I think so," Fievan said.

"Just make sure you get down below before the storm starts up again.
The last thing we need is you getting swept overboard because you're
too sick to keep your feet beneath you," Tiernan said.

"How long do you think before it starts storming again?" Fievan asked,
noticing that once more, dark clouds covered the sky.

"Hard to say, since I have no idea where we are in relation to the
storm right now. I'd assume soon, though. You might want to clean your
bucket out soon, though," Tiernan said with a grin.

"Aye.... I think I should go do that now," Fievan said, and
disappeared back below.

In the distance, Tiernan could see the rain begin to fall. It was one
thing that he'd always found amusing about the sea. Since it was so
flat, you could frequently see the edge of the storm from outside it.
You could be standing in a sunny patch, and watching a torrential
downpour directly ahead.

Tiernan braced himself, and shouted out to his crew. "Batten down the
hatches! We're coming back into stormy seas!"

Last updated on the June 13th 2011

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The Captain's Trial (4)