Repairs completed, the Kistin sails from from Tyros to Cos. Prior to leaving Tyros Grettir buys a useful slave. Xephanos is a Healer from Ianda, enslaved by pirates. In return for his faithful service, Grettir undertakes to manumit him after a year and a day and either return him to Cos or retain him in paid service at his choice. Meanwhile he is treated as one of the crew and is a useful addition to the company – and stays with Grettir for many years.
En route to Cos they encounter and slay a huge sea serpent which they tow to a beach on the island and flense. They note the flying hippogriffs in the skies and notice that they bear riders – these are famous hippogriff guards of Cos.
When they reach Cos, Grettir searches for a new Sailing Master for the Kistin. He selects Woora, a hard-looking, competent seeming woman who claims to great experience of the seas and is a fine warrior. Grettir takes her on for the voyage and sees nothing he does not like. She becomes the permanent sailing master of the Kistin.
From Cos they sail to the “exchange-island” of Tabor, partly as a trading venture but also to explore various smaller islands in between. At sea, a they encounter giant octopus in the up turned hull of a broken cog. Grettir and Salrod slay the monster and explore the wreck, finding a small but valuable cache of treasure. On the last night, as they approach Tabor they are attacked once more by a ship of the dead. They overcome its dreadful crew, but again it sinks below the waves, nearly taking men with it as it goes. Profitable trading in each port supplements the loot gathered.
D-17
OE Date: May to July 688
Characters: Grettir, Salrod, Girindor NPCs: Woora, Atellius, Elin, Hrekk, Lief Bjornson, Xephanos
Real World: June 1992; Where – Berkeley or Surbiton
See also Salrod’s Diaries