Zuga had been sailing for more than twenty days. Although he had spent quite a long time in Booty Bay, more than twenty straight days at sea still made him terribly uncomfortable.
It was not seasickness or anything like that. He was simply too bored. Every day, he moved around the same tiny space aboard the ship and saw the same handful of faces. Zuga felt as though he would die of boredom.
Fortunately, judging by the time they had spent traveling, they would reach the Hinterlands soon. His irritation gradually gave way to delight.
The fleet only needed a few more days to reach the Hinterlands, and Zuga was already making plans. Once they arrived, he would rest for several days and feast on vegetables and fruit.
Zuga had always loved meat, but after spending so much time in Booty Bay and aboard the fleet, he had grown increasingly fond of vegetables and fruit. Whether in Booty Bay or aboard the ships, vegetables and fruit were always the most expensive and scarce foods. To his surprise, Zuga discovered that time passed remarkably quickly once he was in a good mood.
After another seven or eight days at sea, Zuga finally spotted the distant coastline of the Hinterlands from the bow. The sight sent everyone aboard the fleet cheering that they were home. Zuga joined them, shouting himself hoarse, as though they were all using their cries to vent the frustration built up over dozens of days at sea.
Sailing at full speed, the fleet finally reached the harbor in the Hinterlands at noon. Two medium-sized galleons were already moored there, and Zuga recognized one as Fifteen's ship.
Fifteen's back too? Zuga thought as he disembarked. *Once I've seen the master, I'll have to find Fifteen and have a good