A Long Haul in Prospect

Even with favourable winds, a sailing ship could hardly hope to cover an average of more than say four leagues (twelve miles) an hour. So three days' sailing ought to represent about 300 leagues. Up in the great river of air high above, where their balloon could travel at some ten times the speed of a ship, [40387] that distance should take them only about seven or eight hours to cover.

She transmitted the information to Astra: There is both good and bad news from our guest. He says that the nearest land is to the east, a place called the Black Capes. That of course lies in the direction which we want to take, and it also means that we can continue to go with the prevailing wind. However, even using the great river of wind high above us, it will take another seven or eight hours to get there. At least it will be light by then, so we should be able to see it when we reach it. But can you keep awake and keep going that long?

I hope so, but there's no way that I can be absolutely sure. Is this land the beginning of the continent on which the Dolomite League is located? I seem to remember your saying that the whole journey should take about four or five days, but I wasn't clear how much of that would be over the sea and how much over land. I know that Fred asked Checkers about it, but I don't recall that she was all that clear. [44940]

To be honest with you, I'm not totally sure either.

1. Thay ascend back up to the jet stream, helped at first by the up-draught from the blazing ship.
2. Sartoma tells Astra that there is a spell that she might cast on her to give her additional endurance temporarily. But she adds that, as with most magic, there would be a price to pay.

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