"Miro?" Amber called, entering the small cabin.
Amber thought she would have seen him if he'd been on the deck. Yet now that she was below decks, far from the scurrying sailors, she saw he wasn't in his cabin either.
Amber looked around the interior. This was where Miro would be sleeping, night after night. It looked tiny, for such a tall man. While she was here, Amber decided to leave a short note. He would find it some time in the future and think of her.
She picked up Miro's travel bag and placed it on the bed. There would be writing materials inside.
With a creak the cabin door closed, shutting with a click.
Turning in surprise, Amber looked at the door. She tried the handle. The door was locked.
Blood drained from Amber's face and her mouth opened in horror.
The enchanted lock was coded. As a paying passenger Miro had been given a door that could be locked for privacy. A simple activation sequence opened the door.
Without knowing the words, Amber couldn't open the door. The wood wasn't thick; a strong man could break it; but to Amber it might as well have been steel.
Breaking a coded lock was one of the hardest tasks for an enchantress. It meant reversing and unravelling the flow of the runes, finding the activation rune, which was often intentionally obscured. Ella would be able to open this door, but Amber's chances were slim.
Amber thought about the satchel on her shoulder. She had essence with her, and a scrill. But in the time she had, all she could do was set the door on fire, not a good idea on a wooden ship.
"Help!" Amber cried, pounding at the door. "Help me! I'm trapped!"
Amber looked at the tiny pattern of runes around the lock. Miro had said the ship would sail with full tide.
Amber cried and punched the door even as she examined the symbols. She didn't know when the tide would change, but she prayed it would be time enough.
~
MIRO leaned on the wooden rail of the galleon's poop deck, where a multitude of people had leaned before, watching the harbour recede in the vessel's wake.
Around sunset Captain Meredith had declared it was full tide, and without further ceremony they were away. As soon as they were into the channel, Captain Meredith ordered full sails set, and the Delphin's canvas snapped in the wind as she picked up speed. Miro watched as first the dock became a thin line, and then he could see only the masts of the ships and the tallest buildings behind. Finally the land became a shapeless blur of brown and green, and then it was gone altogether.
He watched in silence, thinking deep thoughts. As he continued to stare at the same part of the blue horizon where he had last seen land, even though it was much the same as any part, Miro thought about where he was going, and why.
Miro's quest was daunting beyond comprehension, yet all he could wonder was when he would next see his wife, his son, and his homeland.
"We're well underway, Lord Marshal," Miro heard a voice behind him, and turning, saw Captain Meredith.
"Call me Miro, Captain," Miro said.
"I'll try to remember," Captain Meredith smiled. "If you're ready to head below decks, one of my men can show you to your cabin."
"I think I'll stay up here a while," Miro said.
"The sea makes you think." Meredith nodded. "I've always found it so."
"How long will the voyage take, I wonder?" Miro asked.
"Who can say? Six weeks? Ten? We've had a fortunate start, however, for the wind is directly behind us." Meredith nodded in the direction of a passing ship, headed back towards Castlemere. "I pity anyone heading back to port. A day's journey for us would take them a week in the other direction as they try to make headway against this wind."
"A good start then," Miro said.
"Indeed. If there's nothing you need..?"
"I'm fine here." Miro hoped he wasn't curt, but he wasn't in the mood for conversation.
"Very well, then. You'll have to excuse me, Lord Marshal. There are a few tasks that need seeing to. We'll be serving our evening meal in an hour. I will see you then."
Miro had hardly eaten in days. The thought of eating now sent a wave of gnawing nausea through his stomach. "I'll have to miss this first dinner, I'm afraid. It… It's been a difficult few days."
Captain Meredith nodded in sympathy. "I understand completely. The cook will keep a plate for you regardless, and if you change your mind, you can eat later on."
"Thank you, Captain" Miro said.
Miro turned back to the sea as Meredith left. He watched as first one, then another star appeared in the sky, until the dome of night sky overhead was littered with silver lights. Hours later, he watched as a golden moon rose above the horizon. He heard the ship's bell striking the change in watch, and listened to the calls of the officers and curses of the sailors. Miro was exhausted, but still tiredness wouldn't come.
Finally, much later, Miro shivered.