Bastian spat out the mouthful of salt water and hollered at Hugh to have the ropes tightened. It had been well over an hour divide they'd last been checked and he could see one loosening.
The man nodded and rushed to the mainsail, ordering the crew to secure the other ropes strewn across the ship.
"Captain!" Rodas called. Bastian tensed at the warning in Rodas' voice and his lips parted when he saw the colossal wave destined to collide with the Venerable.
'Oh, Samadur. You better know what you're doing.' As if the Primal had heard his thoughts—which was likely true—the ocean splashed into his mouth again and he frowned before spitting it out.
"Turn hard to port! We'll catch it on the starboard side!" He called back, over the fierce winds and rain while gripping the railing. The helmsman turned the wheel with expert strength and speed and Bastian felt the lurch as the rudder began to influence the great vessel.
His heart pounded in his ears as he watched the wave crest and before he had time to blink, it crashed into his ship. His hands slipped from their place on the railing and he felt a strong current pull him overboard. Fear rose in his chest when he saw only sadness beneath his feet before the wave disappeared and left him dangling by the lifeline at his waist.
He gasped out the lingering water and was tempted to laugh in relief. His only thought when the pitch black waters had threatened to engulf had been that he'd never said, "I love you." To Hydrangea before she'd gone below deck.
The storm lasted for the rest of the day before Bastian could safely say that the waves and rains that assailed them was the end of it all. He called for the crew to assemble on the deck.
"From our navigator's readings we are only a week away from reaching Membentuk. Two weeks ahead of our previous schedule. You have all proven your loyalty to the crown and your fellow crew, as well as to myself. I will never forget your devotion—it will be remembered and for those of you who survive," A light chuckle swam through the group of men, "You will be rewarded."
"Mr. Hugh." He said and waited for the man to appear at his side. After a few moment he blinked and looked around, the rest of the crew exchanged confused glances. Bastian met Rodas' eyes and saw the same perplexity that resided in his eyes.
"Search the ship." He ordered. A fear settling in his chest, of what? He didn't want to name. The men fanned out and after two hours of dedicated searching, they came up empty.
Bastian couldn't help the fact that his feet rushed to the rail, his eyes scanning the sea. But he couldn't spot a sign of life in the dreadful waves. He swallowed difficulty with the weight now pressing on his chest. Hugh… was gone. It was the only answer.
He turned, his one hand still resting on the solid wood as a support. Clearing his tightening throat, he said in a respectful tone, "Hugh Kaveh was a—noble.. devoted man who followed every order perfectly and… he will be missed." His heart weighed heavier with each word, "Now. He wouldn't want us dilly-dallying, get back to work. I want this deck cleaned of muck and every rope measured and secured."
It was all he could do at the moment for the man at that moment. He didn't know how else to respect his life. When he returned to Cadarama, he would build a monument to him. He would make sure that his wife and children were well looked after.
As the men dispersed he allowed himself to release a shaking breath, his shoulders slouching, before he forced his body to straighten and his kind to focus solely on his duties.
He walked up to the helm and saw Rodas watching him with saddened eyes and an attitude that was the opposite of his usual stoic one. He nodded to him and the helmsman returned it. They had both known the man—Bastian found his eyes drifting to look at the expanse of sea behind them.
A body never to be found, a life never gone forever, the guilt he felt was terrible but the hope was worse. The possibility that he might have somehow survived the storm was a much more destructive thought. He stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes trained on the crew that—besides calling to their fellow man—remained silent.
Gulls called every so often, signalling that they were even closer to land than Bastian had previously thought. Closer to their goal, closer to being able to save his country, his world. Give Hydrangea and their child the world they deserve to live in. He knew that she would say she was content with any life they had, but he wanted her to want for nothing, as his mother had. And for his child to have everything she, or he, ever needed.
He sighed mentally, keeping his emotions from his face, when he thought of what Hugh's wife would do. Would she remarry? It was the likeliest option; the most secure. A widow, one who didn't even know that that was what she was. Her child was fatherless, but Bastian swore right then and there that they would never be homeless, or go hungry. If they wished to reside in the palace, as they had before, then he would gladly allow them to do so.
Hugh Kevah deserved that, and much more.
He had planned to make Hugh a Lord, one who would council him. The man knew him, or, had known him for many, many years. It became harder to breathe at that realization.
He had told Hugh to have the ropes tightened. He had not needed to do it himself, yet he had. He had and he had lost his pure because of Bastian. There was no excuse. The man had been loyal to him, had been willing to do anything to help him and in return, he had lost his life.
The rain didn't soothe the pain and anger away, if anything it only caused the emotions to increase. The salt wind only embittered his gaze and the sight of the ocean caused his lips to turn in hatred.
He wanted out of it. He was being weak, but he wanted to be free of the loss and pain.
"Captain," Rodas' steady voice interrupted his thoughts that had been spinning for quite a few minutes. "Perhaps you should tell… your wife."
Bastian glanced at him before refocusing on the crew. Hydrangea…
In all honesty, he wasn't sure how she would react. With all of her new emotions and the fact that her heart had always been soft, she may be rather upset. He sighed audibly, "I suppose I should."