Kelton remembered climbing trees when he was younger. There were many memories of Gossamer yelling that he had gone to high. It was his first taste of independence. There was no way Gossamer could climb the thin branches that barely held a boy's weight. Although he knew he would get an ear full when he finally descended, Kelton relished the bit of freedom height brought. If he chose the right tree, one older and taller than the surrounding forest, his head could rise above the canopy, and he would feel a sense of power and tranquillity. A Goddess-like vision of the world, similar to how he felt now.
The sea was calm, yet the mast had a gentle sway that magnified the movement of the ship. Kelton's was standing on the crossbeam that supported the sail. His body secured by a rope and looped around the mast. When he looked around, the ship would disappear below his vision giving him the impression he was floating atop the world. It was no different than climbing a tree. The world was perfect when men and their constructions were no longer visible.
Kelton was surprised that no land was in sight. The sea was more extensive than expected. No beginning or end visible, even from the top of the mast. He was beginning to get a feel for the distances depicted on Sebastian's maps. At first, he didn't trust their accuracy. Aragonia was drawn as such a small landmass compared to the others. And each land was dwarfed by the sea itself, floating like lilies on a large lake. From his current vantage point, the size of it all made more sense. Nothing but water in every direction.
The crew looked small from atop the mast. They scurried about their duties, adjusting ropes to maximize the capture of the wind and cleaning. Scrubbing the ship was essential to the Captain. He explained to Kelton that if the deck was left on its own, mold would grow and create a slippery surface. The growth would also eat at the wood causing additional repair expenses. There was skill in caring for a ship that only experience could teach. Sebastian said it takes a lifetime to learn it all. Claimed he'd be an expert given another fifty winters.
Kelton watched Yanda walk to the bow. They had spent the last few days avoiding one another. A difficult task in tight quarters. He noticed she stopped more than an arm's length before the railing. A prudent measure for someone not wishing to go over the edge again. Risk or not, the bow provided the second best entertainment onboard. Kelton smiled. The top of the mast was far superior. Even the waves were dwarfed by the height.
A spot appeared on the horizon. At first, Kelton thought it was land. It was off the windward side of the ship, which didn't make sense since they shouldn't be nearing anything in that direction. It was when the spot shrank when it fell below a wave, then grew when it rose again that he realized it was another ship.
"Theazeram," Kelton yelled down to one of the crew. He repeated the word when one of them looked up, sure that he fumbled the pronunciation. Simbawla had taught him the word for 'ship' the day before. 'Am' meant wood as far as Kelton could tell. 'Theazer' seemed to mean floating, or constructed to float. He had heard parts of the word used in reference to debris on the water, so his confidence wasn't high on the exact meaning. He pointed toward the speck on the horizon, and the crew member got the idea and sang out a better pronunciation. Simbawla signaled for Kelton to come down. Simbawla climbed with acuity as soon as Kelton's feet touched the deck.
"How many masts?" Captain Sebastian asked Kelton.
"It was too far away."
"You know it's heading?"
"Nay. I barely figured out it was a ship," Kelton replied.
"Simbawla's eyes are sharp," Sebastian said, pointing up the mast. "That, and he knows what to look for." Kelton noticed that the demands of being lashed to mast didn't extend to Simbawla. Safety was for the passengers. Kelton shielded his eyes from the son and watched Simbawla eyeing the ship. Yanda moved uncharacteristically close, on the other side of Sebastian. The Captain and her traded some words, then she too looked up and waited for Simbawla's analysis.
