watching him for some reason. Hearing the sounds of the others sleeping made him even more sleepy and he dozed off into more uneasy dreams.
He was dreaming again of the soldier wielding the silver axe and the battle around him, when a soft whisper of a voice sounded like it was speaking to him. He woke slowly and saw the familiar shadow seeming to sit between two of his fellow soldiers. It seemed more clear this time with more form and he thought he could just make out two eyes watching him when the light of the sunrise to the east made the shadow disappear.
He pulled himself up to a sitting position and saw Captain Krall riding next to his cart. He looked tired and worn; and even older than he appeared before. The Captain must have seen Kenner out of the corner of his eyes as he spoke to Kenner.
“You need to be resting young man.” He said firmly, but also somewhat gently.
“I’m sure I’ll get more rest on the boat.” Kenner answered.
Captain Krall then turned to fully face him.
“What makes you think we’re getting on a boat?” He asked.
“We’re going to Mobrey, aren’t we?”
Captain Krall smiled slightly and nodded.
“Yes we are.”
“Then that means we’re getting on a boat.”
Captain Krall nodded again.
“Let me give you a piece of advice that will make your life as a soldier a little easier.” Captain Krall said with seemingly more gravel in his voice. “Try not to think too much about your future.”
Chapter Eight
The Brown Eyed Maiden sailed for two days up the Serpent River. For the most of the journey, Kenner and his fellow recruits were kept below in the cargo hold; but they were allowed above for one hour each day. During this time, the Sergeant; whom they now knew was named Bobbra, would drill the soldiers in marching and facing movements. One of the drills was for the soldiers to stand shoulder to shoulder and march in step. Because the ship was small, they could only go a few steps forwards or backwards. Kenner was provided with a target to practice his archery at the stern of the ship. He had never shot a long bow before and several of his arrows flew into the river before he learned to adjust his aim accordingly.
Several of the men did get sick during the voyage. Kenner’s father had taught him that, when on a boat or ship, to lie down as flat as possible and close his eyes to prevent sea sickness. For the most part, it worked, but he still felt slightly nauseated most of the time he was below deck.
They were fed a kind of meat gravy that was poured over bread. It looked disgusting. It was slightly green in color with small lumps of meat. However, Kenner and the other soldiers found it to be quite tasty. One of the sailors told Kenner that the secret to the gravy was in its appearance.
“If it looks appetizing,” he said, “It’s probably no good. The more putrid it looks, the better it is.”
They were also given an apple to eat each day.
“Keeps away scurvy,” One of the sailors told them.
Also, like the sailors, Kenner and the others were given a ration of ale each day. Kenner wasn’t much of a drinker; having only been drunk once in his life. But the strong ale did make the evenings on the ship more pleasant.
After two days and nights, the ship reached the city of Calderon at dawn of what would have been the third day. Like Mobrey, it was a city on the river, but much smaller. It didn’t have as much of a bustling port as Mobrey and The Brown Eyed Maiden was the only ship along the river’s bank. Because the city was on the opposite side of the river than Mobrey had been, the ship had to turn around in order to offload its cargo and personnel. When Kenner stood on the deck, he noticed
He was dreaming again of the soldier wielding the silver axe and the battle around him, when a soft whisper of a voice sounded like it was speaking to him. He woke slowly and saw the familiar shadow seeming to sit between two of his fellow soldiers. It seemed more clear this time with more form and he thought he could just make out two eyes watching him when the light of the sunrise to the east made the shadow disappear.
He pulled himself up to a sitting position and saw Captain Krall riding next to his cart. He looked tired and worn; and even older than he appeared before. The Captain must have seen Kenner out of the corner of his eyes as he spoke to Kenner.
“You need to be resting young man.” He said firmly, but also somewhat gently.
“I’m sure I’ll get more rest on the boat.” Kenner answered.
Captain Krall then turned to fully face him.
“What makes you think we’re getting on a boat?” He asked.
“We’re going to Mobrey, aren’t we?”
Captain Krall smiled slightly and nodded.
“Yes we are.”
“Then that means we’re getting on a boat.”
Captain Krall nodded again.
“Let me give you a piece of advice that will make your life as a soldier a little easier.” Captain Krall said with seemingly more gravel in his voice. “Try not to think too much about your future.”
Chapter Eight
The Brown Eyed Maiden sailed for two days up the Serpent River. For the most of the journey, Kenner and his fellow recruits were kept below in the cargo hold; but they were allowed above for one hour each day. During this time, the Sergeant; whom they now knew was named Bobbra, would drill the soldiers in marching and facing movements. One of the drills was for the soldiers to stand shoulder to shoulder and march in step. Because the ship was small, they could only go a few steps forwards or backwards. Kenner was provided with a target to practice his archery at the stern of the ship. He had never shot a long bow before and several of his arrows flew into the river before he learned to adjust his aim accordingly.
Several of the men did get sick during the voyage. Kenner’s father had taught him that, when on a boat or ship, to lie down as flat as possible and close his eyes to prevent sea sickness. For the most part, it worked, but he still felt slightly nauseated most of the time he was below deck.
They were fed a kind of meat gravy that was poured over bread. It looked disgusting. It was slightly green in color with small lumps of meat. However, Kenner and the other soldiers found it to be quite tasty. One of the sailors told Kenner that the secret to the gravy was in its appearance.
“If it looks appetizing,” he said, “It’s probably no good. The more putrid it looks, the better it is.”
They were also given an apple to eat each day.
“Keeps away scurvy,” One of the sailors told them.
Also, like the sailors, Kenner and the others were given a ration of ale each day. Kenner wasn’t much of a drinker; having only been drunk once in his life. But the strong ale did make the evenings on the ship more pleasant.
After two days and nights, the ship reached the city of Calderon at dawn of what would have been the third day. Like Mobrey, it was a city on the river, but much smaller. It didn’t have as much of a bustling port as Mobrey and The Brown Eyed Maiden was the only ship along the river’s bank. Because the city was on the opposite side of the river than Mobrey had been, the ship had to turn around in order to offload its cargo and personnel. When Kenner stood on the deck, he noticed
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