Natalia nodded, placing herself just in front of the mainmast, facing the bow of the ship. She started the incantation, and the hair on the back of Athgar's neck stood on end briefly. As her litany halted, Athgar looked at her, noting the perspiration on her forehead.

"It's done," she announced.

"Are you sure it's working?" he asked. "I don't notice any difference." He moved to the aft end of the ship, peering down to see the small wake they were leaving behind them. "It worked," he remarked.

"Naturally," she said, "did you doubt it would?"

"A useful spell," observed Athgar, "far more useful, it seems, than my fire. Perhaps I learned the wrong school of magic."

"It might seem that way at present," she said, "but the sea is my element. No doubt once we're in Corassus, it'll be your magic that sees more use."

"I somehow doubt that," he observed, "it's not like I'll be wandering about the city starting fires."

The day wore on without a change in the wind, the Swift only managing a slow forward motion even with Natalia's magic, but at least it was progress.

Athgar peered south, across the Inner Sea, but naught could be seen of any distant shore, just gently rolling waves and the reflection of the bright sunlight as it bounced off the occasional crest.

A cry from the crow's nest caught his attention. Looking up, he saw the crewman pointing northwest along the distant shoreline.

Athgar rushed across the deck, the better to clear his field of view, and spied the target off in the distance, two galleys, their oars out, ploughing through the waves with synchronized precision. They were still quite some distance away, but there could be no doubt that they would catch the Swift, hampered as she was in this sea bereft of wind.

Athgar made his way below decks, retrieving his axe and waking Natalia, who had taken a nap in the afternoon. The drain of casting her spell over and over, to keep them moving, was wearing her out, though she stoically refuted the allegation.

She opened her eyes as he was tucking the axe into his belt.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Pirates," he replied, "though they're some distance off at the moment. They won't be in range for some time yet."

"I'm coming up on deck," Natalia said, "I may be needed." She rose, throwing on a dress.

Athgar waited, watching as she tied her footwear. "I can't understand your fascination with shoes," he said, "surely boots are better suited to travel."

"Never underestimate the value of a comfortable pair of shoes," she said in her defence, "and anyway, we're aboard a ship, not traipsing through the wilderness. Can you honestly tell me boots are better here?"

"I hadn't thought of it like that," he replied, "but I suppose you're right. Are you ready to go up on deck?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," she responded. "And you?"