Sixteen
The sea wildly wrestled against our ships, and for several moments, I even feared we would never reach the shore, our plan doomed not by men but by forces of nature. The sky was gray and endless, and it smelled of fresh salt. As I looked down into the dark waves, the abyss beneath gave me goosebumps. The wind, the might of the water, all of it reminded me that so many things were out of my control.
There was much thinking and only few talking on the ships. Some became seasick on the tiny wooden boats shaken by the waves like a child playing with its toys. Many experienced fishermen sailed with us, entrusted with guarding the ships while we fought. But somehow, after the initial sorrow, fear had left me. This dream had changed everything. Deep down inside, I knew that we were mean
