But the shore was coming up. The bow of the boat ground into the sand. Not loudly, and without damage to the boat, but they had definitely arrived. Julian put his hands to the gunnels and edged forward, crouching. He stepped out, and the boat rose. He pulled it farther.
She swept into the room and bowed, and very absurd it looked, with her full skirts. No one laughed. She straightened and clapped her hands, and the music began. Wild, cacophonous music, and the people nearest to her began to dance, or at least move in time to the music.
The lady curtsied. Which was not like the curtsies of the country women, any more than their menfolk bowed like courtiers. She supposed the lady would say it was only proper that they did not ape their betters. But the lady was already straightening, and she had to rise herself.
Florio scrambled to his feet, started to bow, and fell to his knees. A wizard with a long white beard, and robes so white they glowed, glared at them. Where they were covered in petals. They had slept very long. She joined Florio in kneeling. "Two miserable fugitives," he said.
The once-proud ship looked a mess. In place of the glorious figurehead they’d tied the branch of some exotic tree, only a torn mainsail remained, and the trophy rail held only one enemy spear and a few bows.
The first officer wore the captain’s turban. He bowed and cried “Your expedition found success!”
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Julian put his hands to the gunnels and edged forward, crouching. He stepped out, and the boat rose. He pulled it farther.
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She supposed the lady would say it was only proper that they did not ape their betters.
But the lady was already straightening, and she had to rise herself.
no subject
Where they were covered in petals. They had slept very long. She joined Florio in kneeling.
"Two miserable fugitives," he said.
no subject
The first officer wore the captain’s turban. He bowed and cried “Your expedition found success!”
no subject