far.'
'This must be like old times for you.'
'Sort of. Though on Trougath we lived more like the dwarfs do here. Coastal sailing mostly. But we had ships too, of course, for trade.'
'So you've captained one this big before?'
'Well… not quite. But don't tell the others.'
They laughed conspiratorially.
'The principles are more or less the same though,' he continued. 'Sailing's sailing.'
'We couldn't have done this without you, you know.'
'I think you could. If there's one thing I've learnt about the Wolverines it's that you're resourceful.'
'We've had to be. But whether it runs to commanding a ship…'
'It's easy. Here, try.'
'Really?'
'Sure. Come on, take the wheel.'
He stepped aside and she grabbed hold.
'Wait a minute,' he said, and moved behind her. Arms round her, he took her hands and guided them to a slightly different position. 'That's the best way. And don't grip so tightly. Relax. A light touch is best.'
'This is fun.'
'If you did it long enough you'd get a feel for the vessel. I mean, a real feel for it. Those who do this all the time can sense the mood of the ship.'
'Ships have moods?'
'Oh, yes. They're like people. Sorry. They're like people or orcs or…'
She smiled. 'You don't have to keep correcting yourself, Jode. I know what you mean.'
'Maybe it's because I find it easy to forget our differences.'
'We are different.'
'In how we appear, sure. But there are deeper things: ways in which all races share certain similarities. That's another thing I've learned during our time together, and I'm grateful for it.'
'But you're from Maras-Da — Oops. Now I'm doing it, aren't I? You're not from there, are you? Not in the way I mean.'
'No. Same world, different part. The area you come from was always shrouded in mystery for the rest of us. It was a forbidden place. Only when I got there did I realise how many different forms life takes. Whoa! You're letting her drift a bit.' He corrected the wheel. 'When I said a light touch I didn't mean that light. You have to keep in control or she'll start to rove.'
'That's something I've never understood.'
'What is?'
'Why ships are her or she. Is it because males build them?'
'I hadn't really thought about it. Maybe.'
'So it's to do with males seeing females as something they own and can control?'
'I like to think it's because a ship has grace and charm, like a female.'
She grinned. 'Quick thinking.'
'It was rather, wasn't it?' He had to smile too. 'I can never imagine anybody controlling you, Coilla.'
'Gods help the male who tried. What about you?'
'How do you mean?'
'Was there a her or she for you in Trougath?'
His smile went away, and it was a moment before he answered. 'Once.'
'And?'
'Like my nation and my previous life, she was… swept away.'
'Sorry. I didn't mean to dredge anything up for you.'
'That's all right.'
'I won't ask anything about — '
'No. What's done is done. I'm not one for dwelling in the past.'
'I understand. You know, your story, your people's story, isn't that different to ours in a way. We lost our birthright too.'
'I know. But not the details. You've never told me how your band came to leave Maras-Dantia.'
'It's a long story.'
'I'd like to hear it sometime.'
'Sure. Though you might find it a bit boring.'
'I doubt that.'
They heard footfalls on the ladder leading to the wheel deck. Stryke appeared. Pepperdyne quickly stepped away from her.
'What's going on here?' Stryke said, seeing Coilla at the wheel.
'Nothing!' the two of them replied simultaneously.
'That is,' Coilla elaborated, 'Jode's giving me a lesson in seamanship.'
'Maybe that should be seaorcship,' Pepperdyne suggested. He and Coilla sniggered.
'Yeah, right,' Stryke replied, failing to see the joke. 'You've been at that wheel quite a while now, Pepperdyne. Got anybody to relieve you?'
Pepperdyne took back control of the wheel. 'Hystykk and Gleadeg had a turn earlier. They seem to have the knack. But I'm fine for now, Stryke.'
'Sure?'
'It's a long time since I did anything like this. I'd like to savour it a bit longer.'
'Suit yourself. Just shout when you want a break. I'm going back to the others.' He started to leave.
'I'll come with you,' Coilla told him. She flashed Pepperdyne a quick grin and followed.
Down on the main deck, out of earshot, Stryke said, 'You seem to be growing very friendly with him.'
'We get on.'
'That might not be for the best.'
'What do you mean?'
'Do I have to remind you about the way humans are? Getting close to any of them — '
'Jode's different.'
'Is he?'
'He's helped us. He's helping us now. Not to mention I owe him my life a couple of times over. I reckon that entitles him to a little of my time.'
They came to a row of barrels standing by the rail. Stryke stopped and sat. Coilla lingered for a moment, considering the unspoken invitation, then sat down herself.
'I'm only saying this for your good,' Stryke assured her. 'We know that as a race humans can't be trusted.'
'Hold it right there. We came on this mission because of a human. Serapheim, remember? How's he different?'
'He saved us in Maras-Dantia.'
'And Jode saved some of us in Acurial, like I said.'
'Serapheim gave us the means to help the orcs in Acurial, and to get our revenge on Jennesta.'
'And how's that worked out? All right, we aided the Acurial rebels, but there's been precious little in the way of a reckoning as far as Jennesta's concerned. And we wouldn't be in the fix we're in now if it hadn't been for Serapheim.'
'You could always out-argue me,' Stryke admitted. 'But I stand by what I said about humans. You've only got to look at the other one, Standeven, to see how low they can get.'
'We're not talking about him. Jode's out of a different mould.'
'We aren't going to see eye to eye on this, are we?'
'Nope.'
He reached into his jerkin and brought out a flask. 'Drink?'
