in which there is no wind

Two weeks later, Maggie woke one morning to discover the sky covered with gray clouds and the Black Lightning bobbing gently in a flat, becalmed sea. There was a glare on the water, despite the fact that she could not see the sun, and the air was already almost oppressively warm. She swore as she pulled on a shirt and breeches and went out to find Severein to ask him where they were, and Bernade to ask her what they were going to do about it.

Severein was asleep in a corner of the deck, and Bernade was belowdecks settling a dispute between two pirates. Since he was closer to hand and she did not want to interrupt Bernade in the dispensation of justice, Maggie kicked Severein awake.

( Where are we? she demanded, as he sat up and squinted at her. )

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total words: 5463