Traveler of the Blue Road
Part 2 - Sailing into a Trap
Chapter 2 - Islands Form a Net
When the ship caught sight of the Kalsh archipelago, all the sailors on deck fell silent. Kalsh was the largest island, but it was surrounded by many others in an irregular pattern. Chagum looked out at the islands on the fringes of the archipelago and frowned. This would definitely be a good place to spring a trap.
“Some of the gaps between the islands are really narrow,” he said. “Will we be able to pass through?”
Tosa nodded at him. “This is a dangerous area. The water is very shallow in places and there are several strong currents that may try to pull us off-course. Ships can also conceal themselves in the narrow spaces between islands. But to the people of Sangal, this place is like their own garden. They’re familiar with every inch of it.”
Tosa smiled tightly. “If there’s going to be a trap, we’ll likely get caught in it here. The Mikado pretended that there was a possibility that Sangal would deal honestly with us, but I think that’s unlikely. From a tactical standpoint, this is the best place to lure us into any trap they’ve prepared. It’s also highly visible. If the Talsh are watching, they’ll be able to observe both Sangal’s actions and our own. If I were choosing a place to attack us, I would definitely choose this one.”
Tosa squinted out at the scattering of islands and muttered, “The people of Sangal are born on or near the ocean; their navy is the strongest and the most capable in the world. If the Talsh have conquered them, they must be tremendously powerful.”
Chagum glanced fearfully up at his grandfather. “If Sangal has fallen, we’re next.”
Tosa regarded him sternly for a moment, then said, “We can probably protect ourselves for a while. Radou’s men will defend the harbor from invasion by land forces. He’ll cut us off from the rest of the world, which will inhibit Talsh’s ability to reach us. The winner of such a struggle seems inevitable.”
New Yogo was outmatched and outnumbered; it would be overrun if it didn’t surrender. Chagum tried not to let his despair show on his face. This despair was not the same kind he’d felt while being surrounded by sycophants and betrayers at court; it was the complete and utter helplessness of a grain of sand being gradually eroded by the ocean’s waves.
“Your Majesty,” Tosa said quietly, “the war isn’t over yet. Don’t you want to use this time to learn more about the situation, so that we can think of countermeasures against the Talsh?”
Chagum opened his eyes wide and nodded deeply. “Yes. Please teach me what you know of the Talsh. I want to find a way to stop them.”
Tosa smiled. “All right. Follow me to my cabin. I’ll teach you while we look at my map of the ocean and the southern continent.”
Bright sunlight reflected off the deck as they descended to the ship’s cabins. As Chagum’s eyes adjusted to the darkness, Tosa unfurled a map of the sea on his desk with brisk, efficient movements. The map was entirely unlike the topographical maps Chagum was used to seeing. Islands were outlined with some detail, but the bulk of the map was taken up with markings for currents and directional bearings in the water, drawn with inks in many different colors.
“This is an Ozam map,” Tosa said. “They were originally created in Sangal, but some of our people also draw them. Most of them look something like this. Here’s Choron,” he said, pointing to New Yogo’s main harbor. “And here’s the Sangal peninsula, which runs parallel to Nayoro peninsula to the west.” Tosa pointed to places on the map as he named them.
“Your Majesty, look here. The distance from the tip of Nayoro peninsula to the tip of Sangal, where the Moon Palace is located, can be traveled in five days with favorable winds. Doesn’t that seem rather far?”
“It really does,” Chagum said. “They look like they’re right next to each other.” He frowned. “And I don’t see any islands between here and there. We had to go even further south to get to the islands surrounding Kalsh.”
Tosa smiled. “Yes. There are no ports between the Nayoro peninsula and the Sangal peninsula. It takes a lot of resources and time to make such a journey. Supplying ships, choosing safe routes and other logistics become progressively difficult as the number of ships to be sent increases.
“This area here is called the Dead Sea, Tara Ucham. It is said that crossing it was Torugal’s greatest challenge in reaching the shores of New Yogo for the first time. And here we are, right at the edge of it.” Tosa’s voice was fluid and easy, almost melodic. The story he was referencing told the history of New Yogo’s founding. Torugal had come up from the southern continent to found a new nation in the north.
“Our esteemed ancestor Torugal was becalmed in the Dead Sea for many days, without wind or rain or any place to seek safe harbor. He prayed for Ten no Kami to fill his sails with wind; ultimately, he did reach New Yogo’s coast, just off the tip of Nayoro peninsula. Ever since that time, the peninsula has proved critical in protecting us from threats by sea.”
Chagum glanced up at his grandfather. “What does that mean?”
“Your Majesty, do you remember how the wind changes directions with the seasons, especially between the Nayoro peninsula and Sangal?”
“The wind blows from the sea in summer, but from the north in winter. The warm air over the sea collides with the colder air and creates windstorms and huge whirlpools called rakkaral. By autumn, the wind from the north reaches the tip of the Nayoro peninsula and the places further south.”
“Exactly right. Torugal’s fleet landed sometime between spring and summer. At that time, warm winds blew from Sangal toward the Nayoro peninsula, which allowed them to navigate safely out of the Dead Sea. If he’d tried to cross the ocean in fall or winter, I don’t believe he would have landed on Nayoro peninsula. He may not have made it to New Yogo at all. The rakkaral become more intense as summer changes to autumn. We’ve seen them close to our own shores, though they’re much more common in the south. It’s dangerous to sail these waters right now. Not even Sangalese ships like sailing this area at this time of year, since it’s easy to become becalmed or dashed across the shoals due to shifting winds. It’s the slow season for trade with Sangal.”
Chagum nodded in understanding.
“The winds of winter are called takum. The wind blows us directly toward Sangal in that season, so it’s relatively easy to travel then. The only real obstacle is the Dead Sea.”
Tosa pointed to a yellow line connected to Nayoro peninsula on the map. “The Chuchum current will take us to the edge of the Sangal peninsula, if we can find it.” He frowned. “But if we’re blown off-course, we’ll likely wind up in the Dead Sea. It’s difficult to navigate there; the only fixed landmarks are the stars. Getting stuck there would slow us down considerably.”
Tosa suddenly grinned. “Fortunately, I know where to find the Chuchum current.”
Talking about the sea in such detail was clearly exciting for Tosa. Chagum enjoyed listening to his careful explanations of where they were and where they were going. He looked up at Tosa with shining eyes.
“So the best time for Sangal to attack us is the beginning of summer,” Chagum said. “And the best time for us to attack them is in autumn.”
Tosa nodded at him. “We’ve used the last gasp of the northern winds to make it around the Dead Sea, but from here on out, we’ll be working against the wind. It’s early summer. Our enemies could attack us fairly easily until the next full moon, but after that, they would have to wait a while, unless they were willing to sacrifice many men and ships to the weather.”
“Why until the next full moon?”
“Because that’s when the winds will change again. Still, I’m not expecting them to attack very soon. If Sangal has fallen, its fall is recent. Unless they’re making plans right now to attack us, they’ll almost certainly have to wait to stage a full assault on New Yogo. I doubt they’re coordinated well enough to launch an immediate attack.”
“So you think they’ll attack us next summer?”
Tosa shook his head. “I suspect the Talsh empire will force them to move faster than that. They’re probably mustering on all of Sangal’s islands, settling up supply routes and recruiting soldiers.”
“When do you think they’re coming, then?”
Tosa smiled bitterly. “If Sangal lures us into a trap successfully, that will likely serve as proof of their obedience to the Talsh empire. Sangal will have committed to its cause, and us to ours. It seems clear that the Talsh are after the northern continent. We should all be preparing for war.”
New Yogo lacked the soldiers to defeat such a large army from the south--how else could they be expected to prepare? Crushing anxiety made Chagum fall silent.
Tosa seemed to sense his mood. “Please don’t make that face. The ocean between the northern and southern continents is vast. The Talsh may be a powerful nation, but they can’t attack us over land. They must cross that ocean first.
“I’m going to call together all of our captains to brief them on the trap. It’s my duty to tell them everything we know or suspect about Talsh’s plans.”
Tosa met with all the ships’ captains on board the fleet’s flagship. The flagship was anchored close to the large outcropping of rock that marked the edge of the archipelago surrounding Kalsh. This was the border between New Yogo and Sangal; as soon as the fleet sailed all the way to Kalsh, there would be no going back. The water here was so shallow that the warships ran the risk of running aground and getting stuck.
After Tosa relayed his fears about their current situation and proposed his strategy, the other captains glanced apprehensively at each other. “It sounds like you’re asking us to think like flying fish instead of like sharks, Grand Admiral.”
Tosa nodded decisively and looked into the faces of each of the assembled captains. “We’re at a delicate place in our mission. One push will decide our fate, one way or another. We can’t control where the attack comes from or what its scope will be. All we can control is our own reaction.”
Tosa’s first order was to send every ship back to New Yogo, with the exception of the flagship. “No matter what move Sangal makes here, it is my responsibility to ensure that as many lives as possible are spared,” Tosa said. “If any of your ships are attacked on the way back to New Yogo, do not engage. Flee. Use every means at your disposal to get away. I will do my utmost to preserve the flagship.”
The assembled captains frowned. Some looked afraid. Tosa gave them an encouraging smile. “Why the long faces, captains? I’m sure you understand my plan. The flagship will serve as bait for Sangal’s navy. They’ll chase me and give the rest of you time to escape.”
The captains stomped their feet and brought their fists to their chests in a Yogoese salute to acknowledge their orders.
Chagum heard the deliberations from his hiding place in a tiny room behind the ship’s sails. Tosa’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried well.
The captains returned to their own ships to make preparations. Tosa lifted aside the flap of sail that served as a door to the room Chagum was in and entered. He led Chagum out of the small room and guided him toward the captain’s quarters.
The red light of sunset poured through a square porthole inside the room. Tosa stood near the porthole; his face was half in the light and half in shadow.
“I would like you to wear the uniform of a naval officer, Your Majesty,” Tosa said. “I also think it would be best to style your hair in the same way as the other sailors in order to better conceal your identity.”
Chagum nodded. If the enemy managed to take him hostage and learned that he was the Crown Prince, he could easily be used against New Yogo in the coming war. It was likely that the Mikado’s Hunters would kill him before letting that happen, but at least if he was dressed as an ordinary officer, his corpse might be overlooked by their enemies. No one would know that he was dead until a long time after it happened.
“I agree,” Chagum said. “I’ll do it.”
Tosa leaned forward and said, “You must survive. No matter what happens, survive. Promise me.”
Chagum’s heart hurt. He stared at the floor and said, “You, too.”
The corners of Tosa’s eyes crinkled in a smile. He bowed and left the room to retrieve Chagum’s uniform.
A little before noon, the sound of a bell rang out above the main mast. “Sangal ships on the horizon!” the sailor in the crow’s nest shouted. Three small Sangalese ships were sailing toward them from the direction of Kalsh. They moved surprisingly quickly; Chagum knew they had to be moving against the wind. They seemed to glide over the water like graceful sea creatures.
The closest ship to theirs flew a flag embroidered with gold thread to indicate its status as an agile guiding ship, used to assist larger and slower ships past obstacles. Strong, tall Sangalese sailors waved heartily to the sailors standing aboard New Yogo’s flagship as they came closer.
One of the men on the guiding ship used a ceramic device in the shape of a horn to magnify his voice. In fluent Yogoese, he called out: “Sailors of New Yogo, welcome! We thank you for coming to help us in a time of crisis. I command the ship that guides the rest of Sangal’s navy, which is gathered around Kalsh. Shallows and whirlpools are common dangers in this area, so please, follow us!”
The man dropped the ceramic horn and gave orders to turn his ship around. The other two ships accompanying his also turned sharply and started sailing back to Kalsh. Their sails were embroidered with the figures of beautiful red and yellow tropical birds.
Tosa ordered New Yogo’s flagship to follow the guiding ship. Chagum glanced behind himself reflexively and noticed the other nineteen ships in the fleet holding their position. They would likely flee as soon as the flagship was out of sight. After they left, all possibility of Chagum ever returning home would be gone.
The faces of his mother, Shuga and his little sister Mishuna all rose up in his mind’s eye. Thinking of them made him remember his old friends: Balsa, Tanda and Torogai. He would never see them again.
Chagum watched the white waves frothing behind the ship as they sailed on. When he lifted his eyes from the water, he felt the eyes of someone on him and turned around.
Jin was standing in the shadow of the main mast, staring directly at him. He’d been ordered to kill Chagum once, but he’d also fought off the monster, Raurunga, and saved his life. Looking at him now, Chagum felt certain that the Mikado had ordered Jin to kill him again. His face had no expression. When he noticed Chagum’s stare, he turned around and climbed to the upper deck.
New Yogo’s flagship sailed behind the Sangal navy’s guiding ship into the heart of Kalsh’s archipelago. They were soon surrounded by islands and rocks on every side. The guiding ship cleverly navigated complex currents and avoided hidden reefs and shoals as they advanced. There were some small islands that were so close together that New Yogo’s ship could scarcely pass through the gaps between them. Whenever a steep cliff or a lush green forest blocked the ship’s line of sight, Chagum wondered if the enemy was lying in wait for them just ahead.
“Where do you think they’re taking us?” Chagum asked. He was dressed in the navy blue uniform of an officer.
Tosa gave precise instructions to the men surrounding him in order to keep them within hailing distance of the guiding ship. He turned toward Chagum. “Probably to Kalsh’s main island,” he said.
That was where Sangal’s navy was supposedly docked. The pace of the guiding ship gradually slowed down in the afternoon. At first, Chagum thought they must be getting close to their destination, but they kept sailing for several more hours. When it was closer to sunset than it was to noon, he began to worry about being trapped out here at night.
Tosa nodded when Chagum expressed this concern, but he seemed completely calm. He focused solely on navigation.
Some of the sailors lit torches as the sun went down. They could see what was happening on board, but the surrounding sea was completely dark. Smoke from the torches wafted across the deck.
In the last light of sunset, the outlines of a huge island appeared on the horizon. It appeared to be a single land mass at first, but as the ship got closer, Chagum could see that Kalsh was a large, flat island surrounded by tall sea cliffs. It was hard to make out much detail in the dark, but Chagum could just barely see the sails of several ships anchored near the island.
The sound of a Sangalese flute playing a high note reached them from the direction of the island; it was undoubtedly announcing their ship’s arrival. The sound of more flutes echoed across the water.
I remember that sound.
Chagum had heard Sangalese shaguram flutes many times before. As he looked out at the strong sailors standing on the ship that had guided them here, he remembered Prince Tarsan’s brilliant smile. He’d put up a good fight at the start of the war between Sangal and Talsh; at the end of Chagum’s last visit to Sangal, he’d sailed off to war. Chagum hadn’t heard from him in a long time. He suddenly hoped that Tarsan wasn’t here. He didn’t ever want to face him as an enemy.
Tosa lifted his hand and gave the command to stop the ship. Sangalese rowboats approached their ship. The flags they flew were yellow and red and impossibly long, like streamers dancing in the wind. The rowboats came right up to the ship’s side, so close that they almost touched its hull.
The main Sangalese ship that had come to greet them was enormous. The men on the deck were closely packed together and standing at attention. A man holding the same kind of ceramic voice amplifier the captain of the guiding ship had used called out to them: “Thank you for coming, sailors of New Yogo! I command the ships surrounding Kalsh. My name is Koui Olran.”
Tosa took up a voice amplifier, which the Yogoese called a toro, and called back, “Thank you for your welcome, Commander Olran. I am the Grand Admiral of the navy of New Yogo. My name is Tosa Harusuan. Our nation received your request for aid, which is why we have come.”
Commander Olran grinned wryly. “Many thanks for your consideration, Grand Admiral Harusuan... but did you truly bring just one ship to pledge to Sangal’s cause?”
Tosa laughed. “No, no; I brought twenty ships here from New Yogo. They’re waiting back where you found us. Even twenty is not a large number of ships, but all the men I’ve brought are sea-hardened warriors and veterans of many storms and battles. Just tell us where you need us, and I’ll send my ships there directly to beat back the Talsh.”
Commander Olran nodded. He extended his hand in a beckoning gesture.
“We’re much obliged to you, Grand Admiral. I’d like to request that you cross over to our ship so that we can speak more easily. We don’t have much to offer, I’m afraid, but I’d be pleased if you accepted our hospitality.”
Tosa shook his head. “I apologize, but I must decline. We are in the middle of a war, Commander. I have no time to accept your hospitality. Tell me where to send my ships, and I’ll be on my way.”
Commander Olran snapped his mouth shut and stared hard at Tosa. The light of sunset stained the sky red and reflected off the shields and weapons of all the sailors standing on the deck. The only sounds were the waves pressing against the sides of their ships and the wind filling their sails.
There was something resigned and almost sad in Commander Olran’s eyes. “Lord Harusuan, let’s not mince words. Throw down your weapons and board our ship. If you surrender without a fight, you’ll be treated honorably as befits your rank. That applies to your men as well. I swear it.”
Tosa shook his head again. “This ship was given to me by the Mikado. I cannot let it fall into the hands of the enemy under any circumstances.”
Commander Olran sighed. “Stand down, Lord Harusuan. You’re severely outnumbered here. It seems that you’ve already guessed at the situation, which is why you ordered your other ships to turn around. Don’t waste your life and the lives of your men in pointless resistance.”
“Commander Olran,” Tosa said, “you are a man of Sangal, born on the sea--I have no doubt that you’re an excellent sailor. Why would you submit to a land-based empire like the Talsh, which has no love for the sea?” Tosa met Commander Olran’s gaze across the distance separating their ships.
Commander Olran grimaced. “Have you ever seen the Talsh navy, Lord Harusuan? Their ships fly black sails. When they gather and sail together, they appear as a giant storm cloud floating over the ocean. No matter how many of their ships we sank, they just kept coming. Then their true warships came, larger and stronger than the others--and there was no end to them, either.”
Commander Olran described Sangal’s long campaign of attrition against the Talsh empire. “In the end, we did not lose to them in battle,” he said. “We lost because we lacked the resources to continue the fight. We’ve never had to fight for such a long time without a break to resupply; our resources stretched themselves too thin. Our men were dying; we kept running out of food and water and armor and weapons. The King and his wife and sisters began to question whether or not the war was worth fighting. The price of victory seemed too high. Even if we did manage to win somehow, the cost in both money and lives would be too great. The result of the royal family’s calculations and deliberations is the current situation.”
Commander Olran spread his hands and shrugged. “This is the price of Sangal’s autonomy. If we bring you in, Sangal will be permitted to govern its own affairs in both war and trade.” Commander Olran’s voice expressed sincere grief.
“Please don’t die needlessly, Lord Harusuan. None of this is personal. It’s all about strategy. This is how Sangal has chosen to bargain to keep itself free. We will take you captive and give your ship to the Talsh as a sign of good faith. It is impossible for New Yogo to win against the Talsh empire.”
Silence fell. Even the waves seemed quiet.
Tosa nodded his head up and down once. “I understand. Take us prisoner, Commander Olran.”
Chagum and the sailors standing around Tosa went rigid with shock. Chagum couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. Tosa had as good as ordered the men aboard the flagship to give themselves up without a fight. He didn’t even look ashamed of himself for giving such an order.
Tosa unsheathed his sword from his belt and slammed the stone guard at the end of his scabbard on the deck. “Samul! Torok! Report!”
Two men carrying torches rushed toward Tosa. “Yes, sir!” they called out in unison.
“Distribute all of our remaining stores to the men. Give the deck a thorough cleaning before we depart,” Tosa said.
“Yes, sir!” Samul and Torok descended to the storage areas below decks to begin the work of distributing supplies.
Tosa turned toward the other sailors lined up on the deck and said, “Throw down your weapons. We’ll gather them and deliver them to the other ship as a sign of our willingness to cooperate.”
The sailors all looked deeply confused, but they followed orders. They threw their weapons down on the deck; some sailors started gathering all of them into a pile. Jin and Yun threw down their weapons as well.
Chagum had Ruin dress in an officer’s uniform like his own to help protect him somewhat from Sangal and Talsh’s scrutiny. When he returned to the upper deck, he looked Tosa in the eyes.
Did you intend to do this from the start? Did you know we would be taken hostage?
Tosa must have realized that the only way to save Chagum’s life and the lives of all the other men on board was to surrender. The Hunters were proficient killers even without weapons, but it would be difficult for them to assassinate Chagum while they were being watched by Sangalese guards.
Tosa had decided to sacrifice everything, even his own honor as New Yogo’s Grand Admiral, to save Chagum’s life.
Grandfather...
Chagum undid the belt that held his scabbard with trembling fingers. His sword fell to the ground. He joined hands with the two men on either side of him and started walking. When he passed by Tosa, he looked up.
Tosa smiled at him. Chagum bowed his head deeply, wanting to express his gratitude somehow.
Tosa’s eyes widened slightly. The Crown Prince didn’t have to bow his head to anyone but the Mikado. That gesture touched Tosa deeply. He watched Chagum as he walked over the temporary planking that allowed the sailors to cross over to Commander Olran’s ship.
Goodbye, Chagum.
Tosa closed his eyes for a moment and prayed.
Ten no Kami, God of the Heavens, I ask you to protect my grandson. He must survive. I beg you.
Chagum had his daughter’s eyes. Tosa kept looking at him until he was too far away to see.
Everyone except Tosa passed over to Commander Olran’s ship. The Sangalese sailors guarded their new prisoners vigilantly, looking for signs that any of the men would disobey or try to fight. But New Yogo’s sailors put up no resistance. Their captors watched them carefully, but treated them fairly and without contempt.
When Tosa alone stood on the deck of New Yogo’s flagship, Commander Olran called out, “Lord Harusuan, you too! Come over here!”
Tosa didn’t move. Commander Olran narrowed his eyes and frowned as he noticed the black smoke billowing up from New Yogo’s flagship.
Tosa stood up straight and tapped his fist to his chest. “I cannot allow this ship to fall into the hands of the enemy. Commander Olran, please order your ships to depart from this place immediately.” Smoke swirled around Tosa's legs. “I saturated the storage areas belowdecks with oil. Soon, the entire ship will go up in flames.”
Commander Olran frowned. He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it. He shook his head sadly and turned away.
“Hoist the sails! Rowers, to your stations! We have to get away from here as fast as possible!” Sangalese sailors rushed to obey Commander Olran’s orders. Wind filled the ship’s sails as rowers dashed to their places. The rowers timed their strokes to take advantage of the wind. The ship turned sharply away from New Yogo’s flagship and darted across the water.
Chagum was lined up with the other captive sailors on the deck of Commander Olran’s ship. He stared at New Yogo’s flagship in horror as black smoke belched from its hull and rose heavenwards. In a voice so loud it tore his throat, Chagum cried out, “Admiral Harusuan!”
The sailors around him began shouting as well. “Admiral Harusuan! Admiral Harusuan!”
The figure of Tosa standing on the deck receded as Commander Olran’s ship fled from the fire. Chagum leaned over the edge of the ship and kept calling out to his grandfather.
Flames licked at the sails of the flagship. The main mast collapsed and fell into the sea as it burned. Slowly, so slowly, the ship began to sink. Chagum watched the bubbles frothing around the prow and couldn’t make himself look away.
Tosa was dead because of him. He hadn’t even tried to save him. He couldn’t do anything at all. Chagum collapsed to the deck and cried until he lost his voice.
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