Ember had clearly worked with blind people before, which impressed Owen, who had never so much as met another blind person in his life. Her descriptions were both vividly descriptive and so precise that he began to form a mental layout of the ship.

“Since we met last night,” she said, guiding him along the side of the ship towards the Stern, “I’ve been counting paces to measure distance. Of course, our gates will be slightly different, but that should at least give you a place to start.”

“Thank you, Ember,” he said. “That’s very helpful.”

“Good!” She replied, her voice singing with pleasure. “Now we are approaching the stern. It’s 60 pieces from the prow and 26 from the hammocks. Be careful with the stairs because the entrance to belowdecks is here too. Just find the railing – here it is – and follow it up or down.”

“The stern is raised?“ Asked Owen.

“Yes. It allows the navigator to see conditions on the river. For instance, the river narrows up ahead, so probably later in the morning will have to fight our way past some minor rapids. Whoever is on the stern can see that and direct the crew to be ready. They also look out for submerged tree branches and rocks – anything that could be a danger to the ship.“

“Won’t the rapids be dangerous?“ Asked Owen, who had grown up hearing tales of dangerous rapids crashing through the mountains. Occasionally bridges failed and the bodies were found, mangled and battered, several miles downstream. He gulped, remembering once more that he didn’t know how to swim. 

“Rapids are always dangerous, to some extent. Not as much on this river, though,” said Ember. “That’s why the Urayki is the main transportation through the mountains. It’s wide and calm enough to be safe for any crew that knows what they’re doing. And I can already tell this crew is even more capable than most.“

As Owen thought about this, his trepidation was replaced with a thrill of excitement. Who would ever have thought that he would be on a ship navigating rapids? Ember’s words reassured him, though he was certainly still nervous. Devlin panted along happily at his side as they mounted the stairs to the stern, pleased not to be leading for once.

“Ahoy!” Shouted Meander’s jovial voice from I just ahead. “Bringing Owen to take the wheel?“

Ember’s laugh was a rich, chocolatey thing, almost tangible. “I thought you could give him a lesson.“

Owen grinned, despite himself. Somehow last night’s sleep seems to have lifted most of his depression. He knew he’d still have to think about what had happened, but it felt farther away and less heavy this morning. Combined with Ember’s descriptive tour - always a treat – and Meander’s infectious good cheer, he felt better than he had since before his vision quest.

“Who are the newcomers?“ He hadn’t heard the woman approach. The roar of the river and the rush of the breeze were unfamiliar factors in his acoustic landscape, and he found he was missing cues - like footsteps – that he usually noticed without really realizing it. The unfamiliar voice was bright,  brassy, and a little nasal.

“Oreeya!“ Boomed Meander. “This is Owen, the first blind man to ever set foot aboard our boat.”

“Blind?“ Said Oreeya. “Oh, how fascinating! This must be such a new experience for you. I mean – this is your first time on a boat?“

“Yes,“ said Owen. “Ember’s just giving me a tour. It’s nice to meet you.” He hesitated, unsure if he’d caught the woman’s name.

“I’m Oreeya,“ she said warmly.

“She was on ‘shore leave’ last night, so you won’t have met her yet.” Meander’s stage whisper was so close and carrying that it made Owen jump.

“Meander!“ Oreeya complained, no doubt responding to the strange way he had pronounced ‘shore leave.’ “Must you parade my social life before every new passenger?“

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Oreeya,” said Owen hurriedly. “And I’m sure it’s none of my business what you were doing on shore leave.”

“Or who,“ said Ember by his side. “I’m Ember,“ she added. “I’m not nearly as sheltered as Owen here, and I hope you had a marvelous time.“

“Thanks,“ said Oreeya, her tone a little dry, but full of humor. “I did. I just came over to introduce myself. So now that Meander has given you a thoroughly skewed impression of me, I have to go get started on lunch.”

“Oh good!“ Said meander. “Oreeya’s the best cook on this boat.”

“It’s not all I’m best at,“ said Oreeya.

“Prove it!“ Called Meander.

“In your dreams, big boy!“ Came Oreeya’s response, her voice fading as she descended the stairs.

“I am going to enjoy this voyage,” said Ember. “I  can tell already.”

Owen smiled and nodded, though he couldn’t help feeling a little annoyed at how much of the subtext kept flying over his head. Many of their jokes must be visual, he decided.

“This must be one of the most beautiful vessels I’ve ever been on,“ said Ember. “Owen, remember I was telling you about the masts?“

“Yeah,“ said Owen, relieved to be returning to the tour. “Like tree trunks. Didn’t you say there are three?”

“Exactly. Well, each one has a sail. They’re huge triangles of fabric, tightly woven to catch the wind. When the wind fills them, they puff out, like the side of a bag if you blew into it. Right now the wind is up, so all three sails are full of air. Oh! And there goes Cascade climbing up the main mast.“

“Climbing it? How?“

“There is a rope ladder leading to a basket near the top. There’s also a huge beam perpendicular to the mast where a lot of the ropes are tied. There are so many ropes! When we reach the rapids, every member of the crew will be busy adjusting and tying ropes to direct the sails.”

“What happens if there’s no wind or it’s going in the wrong direction?”

“That’s what Finn here’s for,“ said Meander.

“But I thought Finn was the medicine man,“ said Owen, confused.

“That’s what I do primarily,“ said Finn from behind Owen, who twisted around in surprise. “But I’m also a wind mage. Not a master by any stretch, but Wayra and I get along well enough. I call up the wind or calm it. Even change the direction to a certain extent.“

“Wow,“ said Owen. “I’ve never met a real mage before.” Somehow he didn’t count himself or Kaz.

“Oh, don’t get too excited,“ said Finn. “Like I said, I’m no master.“

“But you’ve never let us down once,” said Otto, making Owen jump once again. How long would it take him to learn to hear people coming in this new setting? “And you’ve saved our necks a fair few times. Ember,“ he continued, “Oreeya says you’re giving Owen a tour. Mind if I join you?“

“Of course, captain,“ said Ember. “I am sure you know much more about this ship than I do.“

Otto chuckled. “I’ll wager you’re right about that. And you can call me Otto. Only the crew calls me captain. Now where were you?”

Ember brought Otto up to speed on everything she had described to Owen so far. Otto picked up the narrative, Describing each piece of the sales, the rigging, and telling Owen what each did. He even let Owen run his hands over the wheel. Every time Otto mentioned something completely unfamiliar, Ember would take over and describe its substance to him.

They moved from the stern to below decks, where Oreeya greeted them once more from the galley. They visited the crew quarters, the privy, and the storage area, before emerging back into the sunshine on the deck. 

At that point, Chel joined them. She asked the occasional question, which Otto answered with detail and enthusiasm. Owen could tell that he loved this ship and its crew. 

Everywhere they went, Ember described the form and Otto filled in the function. They visited another of the three masts and showed Owen how the reeds along the side of the boat formed benches. Finn freaked Owen out for a moment when he insisted that he reach over the side of the boat. Owen insisted that he couldn’t swim, then stopped short, confused, as he found something solid meeting his fingers. 

“It’s a life raft,” said Finn, chortling at Owen’s amazement. In case something happens to the ship. We also use it to go to shore when the water is too shallow.” 

Owen’s head was spinning. Each new piece of the tour gave this strange new place a new sense of reality. He couldn’t stop grinning.

They were on their way to the third mast and the prow when Cascade called down from above them. “Captain, we’re nearing the rapids!” 

Next Chapter: 35: Kaz - Flashes of Insight