The crew performs the drill, shooting at buoys dropped by the frigates on each side. The captain and Gullen are not completely satisfied and make a third of the crews fire another round. The noise is terrific, dozens of nearly simultaneous shrieks that makes you wonder if they named the cruisers after the sound, as it reminds you of some great bird of prey’s cry.
When you take the deck in the morning there is an obvious change in the crew’s bearing and demeanor. There is less laughter and responses to commands are sharp. Most stations have a sword or spear and bows and crossbows are racked along the gun whales. Gullen and Ruben both have three pistols and Ruben has an enormous double barrel blunderbuss stored at the stern. The captain gives the order to run up the colors and a massive flag with the arms of the 2nd fleet is unfurled from the top mast and the stern castle. You cannot see any of the frigates.
The captain says: “Lord Metakae departed before first light to speak with the captains of the two ships that joined the consort. He will return after midday. We have set a course for Shorioto, an island he needs to visit. We should reach there by dark.â€