"Shall we go to these damned ships?" Bradan said. "The night is wearing on, and we have achieved nothing except the s*******r of a few Caterans."
With the torches held boldly before them, they moved to the harbour, laughing loudly as they tried to look as if they belonged. There were no watchmen around the ships, only a few stragglers who were too drunk to notice the three strangers who passed them in the night.
Twenty-two birlinns filled the natural harbour, with small waves hushing against their wooden hulls and the occasional seagull perched on the slanted mast or tall prow. A crow cawed harshly and rose in wing-flapping rancour as they stopped at the first birlinn. Melcorka wondered what cruelties and horrors these vessels had witnessed, and pushed the thought aside.
"Bradan, you st
