BY SCHISM RENT ASUNDER – snippet 105:
"Does it seem to you that there was a lot of boat traffic this morning, Kevyn?"
Kevyn Edwyrds, first lieutenant of the Charisian galleon Kraken, turned in some surprise at the question from behind him. Captain Hairys Fyshyr had turned in over two hours ago, and, like most professional seamen, he understood the value of getting as much sleep as a man could whenever he could. Which was why Edwyrds hadn't expected him to reappear on deck in the middle of the night when Kraken lay snuggly at anchor in sheltered waters.
"Excuse me?" the lieutenant said. Fyshyr cocked his head at him, and Edwyrds shrugged. "I didn't quite catch the question, Sir," he explained.
"I asked whether or not it seemed to you that there'd been a lot of boat traffic this morning."
"As a matter of fact," Edwyrds frowned, "now that you mention it, there actually seemed to be less boat traffic than usual, all day today. We only had three or four bumboats trying to come alongside this afternoon, instead of the usual couple of dozen."
"I wasn't talking about regular boat traffic," Fyshyr said. "Although, now that you mention it, that's another interesting point. It's just that after I'd turned in, I got to thinking. Did you notice that every galley left the harbor almost before dawn this morning?"
"Well, no, Sir," Edwyrds admitted slowly. "I can't say I did — not really. Of course, I didn't have the morning watch, either."
"I didn't think too much about it, myself," Fyshyr said. "Not then. But like I said, I got to thinking after I turned in tonight, and I've got this memory kicking around the back of my brain. I could swear I saw at least two or three navy launches rowing into the harbor shortly after the galleys they belonged to left the harbor."
Edwyrds frowned again, more deeply. He hadn't really noticed that himself, but Captain Fyshyr wasn't the sort to imagine things. And the Delfarahkan Navy, like several navies, allowed its captains to paint their ships' boats to suit their fancies. Most of them — especially the ones who wanted to advertise their wealth — adopted highly individualistic paint schemes which made them readily identifiable. And which also meant that if Fyshyr thought he'd seen launches which belonged to specific galleys, he'd probably been right.
"That doesn't make much sense, Sir," he said after a long, thoughtful moment.
"No, it doesn't, does it?" Fyshyr managed to keep any exaggerated patience out of his voice. Actually, it wasn't very hard to do, despite Edwryds' tendency to restate the obvious, given how highly he valued his first officer. Edwyrds might not exactly be the sharpest arrow in the quiver, but he had copious common sense to make up for any lack of brilliance, and he was fearless, unflappable, and totally reliable in moments of crisis. Not to mention the minor fact that he'd held a commission in the Royal Charisian Navy for almost a decade, which made him particularly valuable for Kraken, given that the galleon was no longer the innocent cargo carrier she appeared to be.
"I think," the captain went on after a moment, "that it might not be a bad idea to very quietly rouse the watch below."
"Yes, Sir," Edwyrds agreed. Then he paused and cleared his throat. "Ah, Sir. Would you like me to go ahead and clear away the guns? Without opening the ports?"
Fyshyr gazed at his first lieutenant speculatively.
Either Kevyn's got more imagination than I gave him credit for, or else I really am on to something, he thought. God, how I'd like to find out Kevyn's just being more alarmist than usual!
"I think that might be a very good idea, actually," he said. "But quietly, Kevyn — quietly."
* * * * * * * * * *
"I trust you've impressed your men with the necessity of showing these heretics sufficient firmness, Captain Kairmyn?"
"Of course I have, Father," Tohmys Kairmyn replied, and turned to look Father Styvyn in the eye. He would have preferred avoiding that particular necessity, but the Intendant was one of those inquisitors with near total confidence in his ability to read the truth in other men's eyes. Which made it most unwise to appear as if one were attempting to refuse him that opportunity.
Father Styvyn Graivyr gazed into Kairmyn's eyes intensely, as if he'd just read the captain's mind.
Which I certainly hope he hasn't, Kairmyn thought, given that Sir Vyk's instructions were almost exactly the reverse of his!
"Good, Captain," Graivyr said after a moment. "Good."
The Intendant turned away once more, gazing out from the dense black shadows of the warehouse. There was very little to see — yet — and the upper-priest inhaled audibly.
"I realize," he said, almost as if he were speaking to himself, "that not everyone truly realizes the danger of the precipice upon which we all stand. Even some members of the episcopate don't seem to fully recognize what's happening."
That, Kairmyn thought, is almost certainly a reference to Bishop Ernyst.
The reflection didn't make him particularly happy.
"I suppose it's hard to blame them," Graivyr continued. "All men want to believe in the goodness of other men, and no one wants to believe mere mortals could overset God's own plan for man's eternal well-being. But even the Archangels –" he touched his heart, then his lips "– discovered to their sorrow that sin can destroy any goodness, can corrupt even an archangel herself. These Charisians –" he shook his head slowly "– have set their hand to Shan-wei's own work. And, like their eternally-cursed mistress, they've begun by mouthing pious concerns that cloak their true purpose."
Kairmyn watched the Intendant's back, listening to the deep-seated anger — the frustration — in the other man's voice.
"Any man, even the Grand Vicar himself, is only mortal," Graivyr said. "That's what makes their accusations so damnably convincing to those of weaker faith. Yet whatever His Holiness's mortal frailties in his own person, when he speaks as Langhorne's Steward, he speaks with the infallibility of God Himself. There may be . . . imperfections among the vicarate. There may be isolated instances of genuine corruption among the priesthood. That's one of the things the Office of Inquisition was commissioned by the Archangel Schueler to root out and punish, after all, and the Inqusition's tasks will never be completely accomplished, however zealously we strive. But when sinful men challenge the primacy of God's own Church, however carefully they may couch their challenge in seeming reason, it's Shan-wei's work, not Langhorne's, to which they've set their hands. And," he wheeled once more, half-glaring through the darkness at Kairmyn, "they must be stopped. Shan-wei's poison must be cut out of the body of the Faithful as a surgeon cuts away a diseased limb, purged with fire and the sword."
Kairmyn wished he had the courage to ask the Intendant whether or not the bishop had authorized his presence here this night. Or, for that matter, if Bishop Ernyst even knew where Graivyr was. But he dared not — any more than he'd dared to question Graivyr when the Intendant turned up with a dozen of his fellow Schuelerites to be assigned to the various troop detachments detailed to tonight's operation.
And for all I know, he's completely right about what's happening in Charis, what it means for the rest of us. I'm only a soldier — what do I know about God's will? About the Grand Vicar's infallibility? What the Charisians say sounds reasonable, given what they say the "Knights of the Temple Lands" really meant to happen to them, and why. But how do I know they're the ones telling the truth when Mother Church herself insists their charges are all lies? Father Styvyn's right about at least one thing, after all — they don't call Shan-wei "Mother of Lies" for nothing!
"Father," he said finally, "I'm a soldier, not a priest. I'll do my best to follow my orders, but if it's all the same to you, I'll leave decisions about doctrine and theology to those better suited and trained to make them."
"That's exactly what you ought to do, Captain." Graivyr's voice was warmer, more approving, than anything Kairmyn had heard from him so far. Then the Intendant turned back to look out into the night, nodding his head.
"Exactly what you ought to do," he repeated softly.
Seems like way too much buildup for this not to be an epic battle. No cutting away from this, I think. Or at least, if there is a cut away I think we will then cut back to the battle, as opposed to an after-action report.
Sounds like Charis navy already have take precautions in protecting their merchant fleet against a church boycott by hiding warships among their merchant fleet. Won’t someone be surprise when a merchant ship open up with more cannons than it should carry.
Interesting complication with what appears to be a disguised Charisian war ship added to the mix.
Friday should be interesting……I hope.
kari, I do not think that it is a Charisian warship, as the mentioned first officer had but does not currently hold a commission in the RCN. It seems more likely that it is a privateer or something related. A converted merchant galleon, it would seem.
On another note, that Graivyr fellow seems to be either deluding himself about the level of corruption in the church, or playing the level of corruption down for outsiders.
Graivyr is a stock Weber character. The same sort of people made up a lot of low-to-mid level officers in the Peep navy in the Harrington books. True believers who are a little stupid and don’t realize the system they believe in is corrupt. Basically a “redshirt”.
I personally think they got a real surprise coming they may end up losing a city here.
Just thinking – a damaged privateer with gunners on board and empty fortifications with guns on islands in the channels.
Who is then blocking the access to the harbour.
no they won’t lose the city… yet (1 ship is to few)
My guess is the story line will proceed as follows
One galley equipped with marines will attempt to board the kraken (what a name for a ship in this situation it will prove more than a handful if it is equipped with more then 10 modern cannons) the galley thinking it is only a harmless merchant ship will all most certainly lose freeing up the Kraken to assist other merchant ships in harbor who are likewise being boarded the Kraken will take losses but will be able proceed in leading a defacto lose convoy out of the port where the wounded Kraken will take on that galley that is out further in the deeper water. in the ensuing fight the Kraken might go down fighting or win but only just.
But either way it’s fighting will allow for enough time for maybe half to two thirds of the “heretic ships” to escape.
The intendant will be VERY angry and will then take it out on those who didn’t stand a chance such as the ships that are right up on the quay and hence would not even no they were dead until it was far to late the massacre of the women and children will further inflame and harden sentiments but also cause some of the mainlanders to secretly hold a grudge against the church for it’s extremism which combined with 1000s of other such incidents will cause (in part) eventually say 2 books away a splintering in the mainland church of some sort.
Yes friday and next week will reveal all (I hope)
a defacto lose convoy
should read loose convoy
Its like the build-up NEVER ENDS….. when will someone die already? lol
I can understand how the battle is going to go down, and I hope that if the Kraken is destined to be destroyed that it doesnt have to surrender in the process, giving away tech secrets to the enemy.
I would not get overly excited about this up coming battle. Since the book soon to be published,( WOW..105 snippets..), I would not be surprised if the snippets end before the fight begins. Just to increase the excitement of book release. But I am a half empty type of guy…
It seems to me that there is a possible lack of consistency in the Delfark galley count. There was only one available for the blockade, but several left and sent their boats back in. Perhaps the others were taking cannon crews out to the forts.
I wonder if we are going to be hearing about siddermark sometime soon. If there is a buildup toward a mainland break with the church it would probably start there, and we have been told about how well trained their soldiers are…
Robert, that would be something DW would do to us, wouldnt it?
Now i’m gonna be scared for every new snippet :(
We’ll know Siddarmark is breaking once we get wind that they’re helping out Charis (before they break).
I wonder if the Kraken’s guns can take out shore batteries to allow the merchant fleet to get through if things get hairy.
Ships taking out shore batteries at that technology level was almost unheard of. Typically if the ships really needed to take out the shore batteries they would land assault teams.
Mike,
The shore guns could be taken out by the longer range shipboard cannons. The problem is one of elevation. Most forts are built on high ground which gives them an advantage of longer cannon range. When ships get in range of the fort their cannons cannot be raised high enough to shoot over the walls. That is barges with siege mortars at for.
Sorry, i forgot to read it before I sent the last message. It should read ” That is what barges with siege mortars are for.”
Mike & Robert
Exception – When Edward Preble took the Constitution into Tripoli harbor he was able to maintain a high enough rate of fire to panic the Tripolian gunners into abandoning their guns, allowing him to bombard the whole city for several hours, knock down the minaret of the mosque and send the Pasha into his own dungeons under the palace for safety.
Lord Nelson proclaimed that the man who took wooden ships against stone forts was a fool, but the difference in training and quality of manpower often caused the land battery gunners to break and run.
Chuck S.
The described channel is so wide–12 miles–that the shore batteries do not matter.
Then why would they even have shore batteries? Maybe the shore batteries are for the smaller secondary channels and the galley is watching the main channel. Or maybe not.
Anyway, it’s shaping up to be a bad night for everybody involved.