Huge Ajax's Arc

Chapter 458 of 619

With two ships now crewed and sworn, Ajax had the deep-water runs covered. The coast was another matter. His storehouse would empty twice a season only if Rowan kept finding new beasts before the old hides sold out. So Ajax sent the smaller hull south to hunt again. He rode down to the dock at dawn to load the boat himself. Rowan came first, a bow slung across his bare chest and a pack of oiled cloth at his hip. "Wind's steady," he said, reading the water. "We reach the marked rocks by dusk." He stowed his gear without waiting for an answer. Kael followed, a knife already at his belt and a spare in his boot. He said nothing, only checked the boat's lashings twice. Chalam came last, his blue robe open, his satchel heavy against his side. He set his staff across the thwarts. "Five vials, all full.he told Ajax. "I can mask us from heat and sound for 3 days. No more." Aldric stood on the dock with his ledger open. He had never sailed on a hunt. He came only to see the goods counted right. "You've one day ashore," he said, flat. "The cold room takes four hides, maybe five. Bring back that or the ship sails half empty." Ajax nodded and climbed aboard. The captain worked the small hull out through the hidden sea gate and turned south along the cliffs. They anchored at the rocky waters by dusk, then rowed ashore in the last light. Rowan found tracks within an hour, four-toed, deep, two beasts down to drink. They set the ambush at the water's cut. Chalam poured his oil and worked his staff until his footsteps made no sound. Kael crouched in the black rock. Rowan drew when the first beast lowered its head. His arrow took the throat. Ajax came out of the dark and drove his father's blade through its mouth. The second beast turned to run. Chalam struck the ground with his staff and roots seized its legs. Kael put his knife in its eye, and Ajax finished it. By first light they had both hides off and the teeth pulled. Rowan salted the glands and rolled the pelts tight. "Gray fur," he said. "Thicker than the last. Worth more." They rowed the goods out and sailed for home. Ajax reached the dock by the next dusk with two whole hides in the hold. Aldric met the boat, counted them, and marked his ledger. "Two," he said. "The cold room's full again." But the tracks Rowan had crossed on the way back told a second story. Beasts moving north, away from the shore. The coast Ajax knew was hunting out. To keep two ships full, he would need to sail past his own maps into water no one had marked.