“How does that compare to Rizela?” asked Charlaine.
It was the captain that answered. “I’m afraid that’s more than we have available. Our fleet numbers eighty-two warships, but many of those are in distant ports. Mind you, I’m only counting galleys.”
“And do we have biremes?”
“We do, as a matter of fact. They form the bulk of the fleet, though we’ve still got some older single-decked vessels.”
“How many could we muster to face the Halvarians, do you think?”
“I would say no more than fifty, assuming we can draw them out to sea.”
Charlaine stared at the map, looking for answers. “Is there only the one exit from the harbour?”
“Yes,” said Logar, “and you have to sail out under the watchful eye of their new fortress. I know what you’re going to suggest, it’s a choke point, but we can’t a
