"Blessings of the Main God—set sail!"
Morning light shone bright over the glittering sea. Two intact Longships set off beneath the rising sun, rowing east. The old Militia Chiwako brought the seafaring Priest Mekat with him; they judged the wind direction and raised the square sails at bow and stern.
Square sails had a relatively small area to catch the wind, and the angles at which they could take wind were limited, but they were the simplest to make and use. For now, the Alliance's seafaring technology still remained at a fairly low level. Complex lateen sails, fore-and-aft sails, or even spherical sails would probably require a very long time of trial and error.
The two Longships borrowed the wind's strength, while the sailors aboard rowed with all their might. In less than four hours, after traveling fifty or sixty li, a green great island suddenly leapt into everyone's view. Around the great island, a few small Canoes could be made out indistinctly, along with the island's nearest seaside village.
"Captain Chiwako, that's Scale Island! Those little boats are all Taino fishermen. Their fishing skills have always been outstanding. And that village there is a Taino settlement. Kuba said we can visit them directly, and they'll be very happy to welcome us!"
When he said "welcome," the Maya merchant Tikalo hesitated a little. All the way from the highlands, the "welcomes" of the tribes along the route had been enough to make one's heart tremble. Chiwako turned his head and looked deeply at Kuba, only to see the Cuban guide's face filled with joy at the sight of the village.
As the fleet approached, the village on shore also became clear. The Taino village lay open at a glance, without concealing, protective fences or walls; perhaps "settlement" would be a