Belaset's Daughter - By Feona J Hamilton Page 0,28

back to the stern and sat on the rough seat. The two men shoved at the bow and the little boat slid off the short slope and was fully afloat. First, Bonami clambered aboard, then, with a final heave and the icy sea-water lapping over the top of his great boots, the sailor followed. Bonami came and sat beside her, while the sailor sat amidships, set the oars, and began rowing strongly.

The eerie silence continued to press upon them, and the light was still grey and desolate.

The prow of the galley loomed over them suddenly, without warning. The sailor, cursing under his breath, pulled hard on the right oar and the dinghy slewed round and avoided bumping into the great ship by a hair’s-breadth.

"Careful, man!" barked Bonami, his good humour giving way to hot temper.

The sailor grunted an apology and brought the dinghy to a halt with a gentle bump against the side of the vessel. A heavy rope hung just beside them, and he grabbed it to steady the boat as he shouted up to those on deck.

"Mind yourself!" Bonami warned Judith, as a rope ladder came snaking down towards them. He stood carefully and grasped the bottom of the ladder.

"Now," he said. "You must follow me up the ladder. Keep as close as you can without letting me tread on your hands. I’ll haul you over the top when we get there."

He turned to the sailor.

"This lad is unused to our seafaring ways. Come up behind us and make sure no harm comes to him."

"Aye, Captain," said the man, willingly enough, but still obviously curious.

Bonami began to climb the rope ladder, which swayed with his every movement. Judith grasped the rung slightly above her head, and put her foot on a lower one. The ladder was slick with moisture and she had to grip each rung tightly as she made her way up it. By the time she had climbed a dozen rungs, her breath was coming fast and she could feel her arms beginning to ache with the effort of holding on. She took comfort from the sound of the sailor climbing behind her. Still, this ascent in the fog, with the chill dampness of their surroundings, seemed endless. She stared at the side of the galley, taking in the stoutness of the planks and the signs of good workmanship.

At least, she felt Bonami leave the ladder and knew she was nearly there. Two more rungs and she could dimly see the edge of the side herself. She grasped the ledge, feeling BOSON BOOKS

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Belaset’s Daughter

the thickness of the wood. Bonami was standing right beside her and she was grateful for his hand on her upper arm, holding her steady as she swung her legs over the side and onto the deck. He let go of her only when he was certain that she was steady. Behind her, the sailor landed on deck, and vanished, moving at a quick trot.

"Well done," he whispered quickly, before turning away and saying in a normal voice,"

Follow me, and I’ll show you your quarters."

He led Judith towards the stern of the galley. They passed by a great mast, set in the middle of the deck. There were two men there, one leaning against the mast, the other, with his back to her, talking and gesturing with great earnestness. She realised that it was the sailor from the dinghy. The listener, seeing them coming, made a silencing movement with his hand. Judith felt a flicker of anxiety. What was the man telling his shipmate? Was she in danger here, when she thought the worst was over? She must be vigilant as ever for her own safety, and not take the loyalty of Bonami’s crew to their captain for granted.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Bonami himself. He led her to a door in the middle of a wooden wall, which he opened with a flourish. Judith stepped inside and looked around her in amazement. She was in a huge cabin, the width of the ship, and furnished luxuriously. There were beautiful wall hangings and carpets on the floor. A couch ran along the back, beneath the large, curtained windows which took up most of the rest of the wall. It was piled high with cushions, all covered in silk and heavily embroidered. A low table stood in front of it, with a peculiarly-shaped glass bottle, attached to a length of piping, on it. Other cushions were piled against the remaining walls, again under large