Signalling to the other three ships, Harald brought them nearer so that we sailed more closely together. He ordered all the provisions to be lashed down and secured, and for weapons to be placed at the ready. The Sea Wolves placed their shields along the rails, which served to raise the sides of the ships and so better protect those inside. Spears were set upright in the leather oar holders between the shields, ready at hand.
My brother monks saw the activity and asked what it meant. I told them about the red ship, saying, "Harald thinks they may be pirates."
"I think he is right," Dugal agreed. "The ship that attacked us on the way to Trebizond had red sails, too."
"We will pray to God for deliverance," Bryn said staunchly. Dugal regarded the spears thoughtfully.
"You would be better employed," I advised, "praying to the wind that it does not fail."
The red ship drew ever nearer-until we could see the narrow prow plainly above the sea swell. Then she slackened her pace to match our own, hanging back what seemed a respectful distance, her master exercising obvious caution. "What does he want, this one?" mused Harald aloud, cupping his hands to his eyes to shield them from the sun-glare. "Why does he wait?"
"Perhaps," I suggested, "he is simply a merchant who wishes to travel in our company."
"And perhaps he is waiting for his friends," the jarl replied contemptuously. "We are four against one, after all."
By day's end the red ship had come no closer, neither had she altered her course by so much as a hair. She kept her distance through the night, and when morning came the red sail was still in place. With the dawn came a more forceful breeze, blowing out of the southwest. Thinking to increase the distance between ourselves and the red ship, Harald altered the course slightly to take advantage of the fresh wind.
The longships leapt forward at once, and very soon the red ship was seen to be growing smaller. "We are leaving them behind!" shouted Dugal. "Praise God!"
Faysal was of the same opinion and looked upon the dwindling red sail as an auspicious sign. I could not help noticing, however, that none of the Sea Wolves shared this optimistic view. Not even when the strange ship disappeared from view completely, did they relax their vigilance. Since they were masters of seacraft and warfare, I allowed my mood to be guided by their example, and remained wary.
Harald's manoeuvre gained us a space of peace-at least, once the sail disappeared we did not see the red ship again the rest of that day, nor the following night. All day long, we anxiously scanned the horizon for any sign of the red ship, but saw nothing. It seemed that the monk's prayers had done their work.
Night was far gone when the moon finally rose, and Harald sent a man up the mast to watch the horizon. I dozed at the prow, half-awake, listening for the warning cry from the mast-top. It came at dawn, when the Sea Wolf called down from his perch that he saw the red once more. We gathered at the rail and gazed into the dawn-misted distance, waiting to sight the tell-tale spot on the horizon.
Alas, when it came into view, it was not one ship only this time; it was two. The call came down from the mast lookout: "Two ships! I see two!"
We leaned over the rail, each holding his breath, straining for a glimpse. In a little while, we were able to confirm the lookout's observation: two sails-one ahead, and one slightly behind and to the right of the first-emerged from the sea haze. As midday approached, it became clear that they pursued a course directly towards us. By evening, despite Harald Bull-Roar's best efforts, they had gained on us.
"They are done with waiting," Gunnar mused, his face glowing in the last of a golden dusk. He and Tolar, inseparable now that they were reunited, had come to stand beside me as I looked out at the relentlessly approaching vessels. "Now they will catch us if they can."
"Can we outrun them?" I asked.
"Nay," Gunnar said, shaking his head slowly. "That is what we have been trying to do all day. They are very fast, these small ships." He looked at the pirate vessels, now running a short way to the west of our close-clustered fleet. "But never fear, Aeddan," he added reassuringly, "we still outnumber them. If they try to attack, we can easily divide them. It is a difficult thing to board four longships at once, I think-even for Arab pirates."
Forced to bow to the Sea Wolves' superior wisdom, I thought to inform Kazimain of our position, and was surprised when Ddewi emerged to summon me. "The amir has awakened," he said, smiling with quiet excitement. "He is asking for you."
"Indeed?" Following Ddewi into the tented enclosure, I found the amir talking quietly to Kazimain. The days aboard ship had been good for him, it seemed. He had been able to sleep in peace without being continually jostled by horses and awakened at every turn.
