They dragged the boat's prow outwards with the anchor and got underway. They went southwest by south, as Caelan said, through Belaletrix, translated to the council. "There are three main human populations in this far west.
To the far north and central are the Zon, large-boned, intelligent people who are quite advanced and very warlike.
In the central southern areas are the Thrain. Much larger in body and very much less in intelligence and advancement. They are peaceful and artistic people, but are raided by the Zon for slaves and plunder. They do defend themselves.
In the far south are the Aman, a tall, swarthy people of great dexterity, inventiveness, and strength of body. They create technical devices and wield powerful magics. I think it was a very old Aman vessel that was shipwrecked on Beast Island.
The dragonkin populate the islands we are leaving and have several enclaves on the mainland coasts, to the south and north-west; they also have other island nations.
We treekin are south west but to the north of the Aman. We live in a deeply forested plain that is surrounded by mountains. We know of the spiders that attacked us, which we call smoke spiders, and the poison that has attacked both Portsmith and my archer is quite deadly. While our healer's magic can sustain them for some time, it will require the skills of the Aman to cure them. The course I am suggesting will get us to the Aman port town, where I have friends who can heal them. After that, you join us at our home and deliver Calancy home as you were tasked to do. The enemy that you seek to understand is no doubt the Zon. If any are in the Aman port that are friendly, I will see that you meet them. My people and I are fully at your disposal, for you know not what a service bringing the young one home has done for us."
After some discussion of how long it would take to reach the Aman port and if their supplies would hold out till then. They had collected 12 barrels of water before they fled, along with many birds and coconuts to help bolster the food supplies. It was decided to follow Caelan's course.
Then Arya, Drena, and Thomas brought out their bags and booty. I have given Drena a sword, some rings, and her pick among the items in her bag. Thomas was also gifted a sword. As he discovered this hoard, we left a huge amount behind: 1/3 is his, and he may pick as he likes. I myself have taken several pieces of armor and these other swords—one for myself, and the others I will gift to those in need and deserving. I have kept four gemstones or crystals as well. I would discover what they are and how to use them. She dumped the contents of her bag out. A cascade of coins, gems, and jewelry poured out. The bulk of the unassigned treasure will be divided equally among the crew. Drena poured her stuffed bag out, and Thomas stunned them with a packed bag of gemstones of incredible wealth. The three rubies, a few armor pieces, the books, scrolls, and some jewelry were his picks to take. He became extremely wealthy in one afternoon. So did all of them.
She charged the two captains for totaling the amounts on the table and seeing that every crewman got his share. But she also held that every kind of coin should be held out to study its origin and when.
She gifted one sword to each of the other two captains, and to Dirk, she gave the two green daggers. Later on the poop deck, Arya gifted Bronn a sword very close to the one he used. It had a red hue. He seemed to love the sword instantly. It cut through other steel like butter, and it whirred, leaving a red hue with every stroke. He said it wasn't Valyrian steel, but it might just be better.
The flesh wounds Jon and Arya had received healed slowly, with much time spent with the treekin healer and both doctors. The two mortally wounded were much more touch-and-go. The treekin wounded came to now and then, but he would slip back into the fever. Portsmith thrashed around at times but was mostly catatonic. Several times, they thought they would lose him, but he rallied and hung on.
In three and a half weeks, they began to get close to the reef that surrounded the lands of the Aman. Amazing progress had been made in the healing of the formerly wounded crew and knights, and in the language classes. Calancy was beginning to be fully fluent in the language. Some were getting decent at dragonkin; Beth picked it up and treekin almost well enough to translate for the ship.
Nymeria and Ned became fast friends; they would terrorize the decks in search of rats or 'spare' fish. They became a legendary duo on board.
At last, the ship arrived at the one passage through the massive reef system. Tomorrow would be a test of all their ship-handling skills.