eyes glowing into mine. Her eye color a "contrast" to the dark walnut color of her hair. The second
officer, a Carl Cabot, sitting there watching us all. His bright red hair and craggy features made me think
of an old "Viking", which he did somewhat resemble. Kathi, like the well trained slave girl she was now
seeing that our coffee cups re- mained filled and that we lacked for nothing in the way of food. The three
midshipmen, a teenage girl of seventeen and two boys of sixteen sitting there nervously in fear of all the
"rank" here... It is not unknown for parents to send a son or daughter to sea to put an "end" to an
undesired teenage romance that is felt unwise. This is no doubt why so many girls end up as a naval
midshipman. Considering the "risks" they take, I would think twice myself of sending a daughter of
mine to sea, but I am after all not a true Dularnian and I suppose perhaps not one to judge these
matters...
"We might as well enjoy our fresh food while it lasts," I answered, well aware that all three believed
that I knew exactly "where" we were going and what our "mission" would be in those waters far up to
the north of Dularn. Icy waters where icebergs might be a far worse threat to the ship than any "enemy
action". Despite the watertight bulkheads, ice posed a considerable risk, drifting ice floes being easily
able to crush the wooden hull be- tween them if the ship was "caught" as others had been in years past.
For this reason most polar expeditions used oared galleys.
"We've just completed a refit, so the ship should be in good condition," captain Steven said, glancing
at her first officer, who nodded back in reply. The second officer sitting there studying me, while the
three midshipmen sat stiffly at attention and tried to eat at the same time, no doubt very conscious now
of their table manners. As "Admiral of the Navy" I ranked just be- low my wife, the Warlady of Dularn,
and probably was considered as being something of a "god" by such lowly beings as the three.
"You will reinforce the rigging with all the spare cordage aboard the ship, have the sailmaker and all
available hands sew reinforcing cords through the sails, and rebuild the top masts so that we can carry
small top gallants if the wind permits," I said then. "I want this ship to be able to make thirteen and a
half knots." This was a knot and a half beyond "rate" for the North Star, and would have made us one of
the swiftest vessels afloat!! The "look" there on Sandra's face was something utterly "delight- ful" to see,
not because she was "happy" about such orders, but because I think she utterly didn't know what to
"say"! "Further, as we will be using nothing but flame weapons and darts, I want all the javelins and
catapult shot now stored in the sand ballast over the keel. Then the crew of this ship will start training in
the use of the sword, the bow, and the crossbow until every man, woman, boy, girl aboard this ship has
been trained to the limits of their abilities. And when they are not practicing with weap- ons, we will
carry out sail drill, weapons drill, until the nine- ty eight people aboard this ship, including our four slave
girls, are prepared for what may occur when we reach our destination."
"It rather sounds like our destination is `HELL'," the sec- ond smiled, sipping at his coffee. Sandra
and Shari glancing at each other, while the three midshipmen just sat there "frozen"... The two boys with
frozen "grins" on their faces, while the girl, a blonde like many Dularnians, looked much like a frozen
statue. I had no doubts that she was well aware of what happened to girls her age if they got taken
captive by such men as the "Northmen"!!
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