The hatch above slid aside and two figures came down, de Loungville and Foster. Foster said, “Listen up!”
De Loungville stopped about halfway down the companionway so he could look around at all the men. “We’re under way, which no doubt you know unless you’re unconscious or even more stupid than I thought. We’ll be between ninety and one hundred days at sea, weather permitting. There’s plenty of work to do, and I’ll not have you running to fat because you’re not sailors. Besides, we may be coming home short-handed”—he got a faraway look for a second, as if that meant more than what it sounded like—“so knowing your way around a ship will prove useful. Mr. Collins will come down later with assignments and you’ll do as told, no questions asked. He has as much rank as Knight-Captain in the King’s Army, so don’t go forgetting that because he looks like a common sailor.”
He moved down the ladder, walked over to where the six prisoners were waiting, and motioned for them to gather around. “I’m only going to tell you this once. Ruthia must love you, because the Lady of Luck has seen fit to keep you alive a little longer. I was given two weeks to judge if you’re fit to live, and as things were going, you were all heading back to the gallows.” He glanced from face to face. “But I convinced Calis that I could hang you from the yardarms as easily as I could from the gallows in Krondor, so you’ve only gained time.
“The next three months are going to be harsh. You’ll work a full watch like every man on this ship, and another watch will be given over to some training you haven’t had and those others have.” He hiked a thumb over his shoulder to the men at the other end of the hold.
Biggo spoke, to everyone’s surprise. “Are we to learn why?”
“Why what?” asked de Loungville.
“Why this great galloping charade, Robert de Loungville, Sergeant darling sir. You don’t spend the Prince’s gold and dragoon soldiers from all parts of the Kingdom, then go through all this to save murderers and thieves from fair justice. You want something from us and you’re prepared to give us back our lives in exchange. Fair enough, and no questions asked, but men more stupid than me would know that it’s better for us to know what’s ahead and rest certain in that knowledge than to let imagination stir up horrors that might make us do something rash and foolish. If we get ourselves killed, we’re not happy and you’re not happy.”
De Loungville studied Biggo’s face for a moment; then his face split into a grin. “I liked you better when you were stupid, Biggo.” He turned and as he left, he said, “Stay alive long enough, and I promise you you’ll find out more than you want to know.” As he reached the companionway, he turned again to add, “But for the time being, the trick is to stay alive.”
He climbed the stairs, Foster, as ever, behind him, and as the hatchway closed, Biggo said, “Well, that’s not really what I wanted to hear.”
Luis said, “What do you think? Is he trying to scare us?”
Sho Pi said, “No, I think the problem is he’s trying very hard not to scare us.”
Erik returned to his bunk, and with a cold feeling inside, he knew that Sho Pi was right.
Days passed. The first day they had been allowed up on deck, Erik saw another ship traveling a short distance away. A sailor had told him that it was the Freeport Ranger, another ship under Calis’s command. Erik said he had thought all Kingdom ships were called Royal this or that, and the sailor merely nodded, then went back to work.
Erik didn’t care much for the work, but it was outside and the weather was clement, despite its being early fall. Roo hated being a sailor, having some trouble with the heights, but he had the agility to get around in the yards that Biggo and Erik lacked. Luis and Billy were steady hands, and Sho Pi took to the tasks put before him with the same easy grace he had shown in the camp.
After two weeks, Erik had gotten his sea legs and calluses on his feet; he had put his riding boots away, because they were dangerous on a ship and the salt water was bad for the leather. Only officers wore boots, for they never had to climb the rigging. Erik and the other men below went barefoot like the sailors and were learning the sailor’s craft in a hurry.