The maelstrom was an unabaiting force, its gaping maw waiting for the prey already caught. The surface upon which they charted was calm, mirror still, the water a crystal grey-blue devoid of any debris. To about four feet deep was eerie stillness, beyond that the raging current clashing into its counter could be seen the birthing of the powerful maelstrom. It was in the middle of the ocean, an impossible feat of nature as maelstroms usually formed in a strait where water was forced through a narrow shallow channel from a large water body. Ocean currents could not create the kind of speed to constantly maintain one so far from land. Yet for some inexpecable reason it was there.
Aegan standing at the bow of the leading ship looking down at the deceptively serene water, watched as the undertow inexorably drove them. A mile and a half from the vortex and their speed was tremendous, the prow slicing through the water like a hot knife through butter despite all atempts to slow them down. Lines had long since been rigged throughout the deck and those about laboured to move with their help as the wind buffeted them mercilessly. They were not happy to have a civillian on deck in such conditions nor did they favour the path they had taken of which, judging by the glares he was getting, they blamed on him.
He might be the reason why the unyielding force had them but that did not mean he was any happier. In fact he could not think of anything worse than what was happening, not for the reasons the others were for he knew they were not in any danger. He could never hope to convince them so he watched them labour to change course or at least slow down. The anchors had been dropped, the smaller vessels tied to the studier galleons that had a greater stability and resistance to the downward drag of the currents.
