“We already know we’ll sail through a wet night,” Olinko said.
“What you don’t know is that when the rain stops, pirates are going to attack at or before dawn.”
The captain turned to Quint and stared. “You saw that?” he said in an urgent, but quiet voice.
“I did. The pirates were about to board the ship. There were flames and fire arrows exchanged on both ships.”
“What happened after that?”
The purser broke in. “I brought him to your cabin, captain. Once we’ve seen that, the future can go anywhere.”
Captain Olinko nodded. “I know how portents are supposed to work.”
“I don’t,” Quint said.
Both men looked at the purser’s mate. “You know how to cast the string, right?”
Quint nodded. “I know what I see, but I haven’t studied portents. I know things change and one shouldn’t rely on them.”
“That’s because whatever you see can be acted on and that affects the future,” the captain said. “You didn’t learn that?”
“I’m only seventeen, sir,” Quint said. “My focus has been to accumulate strings not a lot of magical knowledge. I mean, I’m not totally ignorant, but my knowledge is shallower than perhaps it should be.”
“I know you’ve been liberal with helping the voyage along with your magic.” The captain looked at the purser. “You’ve told him?”
“I have.”
“Larger ships often have a Wizard on Board, who has an officer’s ranking. We can’t afford one, but since you are here, we are happy to use you. What do you suggest?” Olinko asked.
“Me?” Quint asked. “I don’t have any idea how to fight a sea battle, sir.”
The side of the captain’s lip curled. He was teasing Quint. How could the man do such a thing when he was going to battle, and men would be killed. “All right. Tell me exactly what you saw.”
Quint was able to recall that portent in detail.
“I’ll get together with my officers, and we will have a plan ready for the pirates. Which side will they board?”
Quint pointed to the starboard railing. “There.”
“Do you know offensive strings?” the captain asked.
“I do. I can cast fire in a few different ways.”
“Anything with some distance?”
“Fifty feet, but it is what I call a fire spear. There isn’t much flame.”
“That’s good enough. Stay in listening distance. Use it on the pirate captain, who will be the best dressed person on board the pirate ship. Wait for three quick toots on my horn.”
“Yes, sir,” Quint said.
“Issue him armor,” the captain said. “He will need protection.”
“I’ll do that, sir.”
The captain brushed off his coat. “If you will excuse me, I will finish my lunch.”
The first officer was on the other side of the quarterdeck.
“Rain, as we thought,” the captain said. “When the watch changes, come down to my cabin.”
The officer touched the brim of his hat in salute and watched the captain leave the deck. “Something big?” the officer asked the purser.
“You’ll find out,” the purser said, but it was clear that the officer would eagerly await the meeting.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Quint found a leather breastplate and matching backplate that had a thin internal liner of steel between the boiled leather. Finding a helmet to fit was impossible until one of the seamen told him to tie a bandana around his head first. The last bit of armor were bracers made like his breastplate.
“You armor is heavier than what most men wear, but you won’t be boarding the pirate ship,” the purser said.
Quint headed back to the deck where there was a break in the weather, where he practiced casting fire spears. He used more of his power and the fire spears went out at least thirty yards. If the vessels were as close as Quint had seen in the portent, then if the pirate captain was on the deck, he’d be feeling the heat of the battle.
A seaman woke Quint, who had slept with his armor stacked on the bunk.
