Once ashore, Timmy took stock of his surroundings which, he surmised, did not much resemble the captains brief description but then he wasn't surprised because a seamans notion of what could be used as waypoints were unlikely to resemble a landsmans.
A seaman was used to taking a long view, looking ahead to spot signs of potential danger such as might reveal hidden rocks or sandbars or approaching squalls, whereas a landsman took the short view such as familiar landmarks and studied his immediate surroundings anticipating the potential for robbers lying in wait.
So the captains brief explanation of how Timmy could 'chart his course', as he put it, went something like..."Once you're under way like, you'll espy some hills on your starboard beam, they'll be your first port of call. Now I won't deny thats a fair passage for your maiden voyage but you'll find a safe anchorage up there in them Northern ports."
In practical terms this translated as "You'll have to walk all day to reach those hills that may at first seem like a purple cloud on the horizon but once you get there you'll find the sort of opportunities that will provide safe shelter and employment such as stable boys and pot boys in the inns and no doubt more besides."
Fortunately Timmy was in good health and used to long walks, so he put his best foot forward, striding along vigorously in the hope of completing the journey before nightfall. However a sheltered life within the confines of the Citadel had left him unprepared to face the sort of distances that cross country hiking implies and as dusk began to fall he realised that the empurpled horizon seemed no nearer than before and the journey might take days.
Message Thread
« Back to index