Ice of the Sea, prologue

The 'Sea Dagger' cut through the waters of the ocean, truly living to its name. The ship was long and well built, yet it was narrow, like a arrow of great size. It sild with ease over the sapphire abyss, driven by long oars that were drawn over, then under, the aquamarine sheet. Seabirds wheeled and screeched, but above their harsh calls, the loveliest voice rose like fine mist into the crisp morning air.1

"Check the longs sails, pull them tight, 2

for under the star spread sky, there's no fright,3

There's no darkness to the night, no fears in morning light,4

Misted by the bowing waves, and dressed by thy crusade,5

sail on, into the depth, of the waters breath,6

Steal the other manned ship, catch the oceans mending smith,7

and may thee for ever sail on."8

The sweet voice of Karin floated upward as the last lovely note danced along with the merry breeze. Karin smiled as hearty as the crew of the 'Sea Dagger' clapped and cheered, voices raised in growing crescendo. She curtseyed, her pretty face lit with modest pleasure, as she shyly slipped off the rail of the enormous sea craft. Her father, captain Kedith, a tall man whose face was rarely know to take the colors of joy or sorrow, was wreathed in a faint smile as his daughter joined him on the main deck. He placed his ruff hands about her shoulders, running a figure over the soft rolling curls of her dark brunet hair. 9

"Me little Karin, as sweet a voice as the landbirds do hold, you could charm a bird with yore lovely voice an' yore gentle face. Aww, me charmer, sing yore weary father a tone, to make 'is idle men move." Karin obliged by singing a quiet sea song, that grew louder, the more people joined. 10

"The sea, the sea, 11

The sea will come to you, to me,12

watch the waters, rolling by,13

catch the stars, by the eye,14

see the rivers of spray,15

dance through the bright new day,16

Rum do da do, run do run,17

Where the tide does part,18

with the oceans deep blue heart,19

see the pirate of the sea,20

my father an' me,21

we stand on our big ole ship,22

our crew in the amidships,23

come and ride, the cresting wave,24

with me!25

Rum do da, run do run.26

See the devil the waters, 27

See the angels of the sky,28

catch the foaming depths below,29

in your minds eye,30

I love this place, on my ship,31

and will never leave,32

the place I have come to call,33

home all day long!34

Rum do da, run do run.35

Run do run, run do run! 36

Runna run rum rum run!37

Rum do da, run do run,38

rumma do da, run, run, run!!!!!!!!!!!!!"39

The entire crew had joined in with the song, beating a rhythm with long oars into the depths of the sea, and the final note ended with a resounding crash of voices, all off them overlaid with the cries of seabirds. Karin sighed, while a pudgy deck boy bustled about with canteens of cider and ale. Kedith shook his head, and ruffled his daughter's hair fondly. "Ah, me fine child, yore a singer that'd make stars weap. Go an' get yore dog into the cabin, he's knocking the crew around down there. Get along, me gel." Karin smiled and dashed off to catch Rutsinburg, or Root, her newfoundland pup, as he bounded about the crew. But the captain wasn't someone to be distracted for long.40

"Right, me daisy pluckin' beauties, get yore worthless hides to work! A day o' crewin' would do yore miserable selves good, ye puppies! Get the main sail up, let the winds catch the sail and take us 'way! Oars up, an' let 'er follow the coast! You there, and yore mates, get buckets an' swab the decks, they're dirtier then a swine barn! Bren, get me daughter some help t' get that wily mutt under control! Away t' the waters, me hearties!" The tough captain nodded to a boy standing alongside a large drum. "Get 'er beat, an' get 'er going!" The brass tones of the drum rent the air, as the great ship pulled off over the open ocean.41