<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/2/2a/16ed363834fcf887f848909a62569a34.jpg)</div>Ragnar walked with the Castilian down to the captains cabin, leaning forwards on the table as he watched the scholar work. He wasn't entirely sure what the other man was doing,<em>But there's those as would say you're not for knowing much beyond wind and sea</em>he mused to himself, lips curling in a silent chuckle. Whatever it was, it seemed it hadn't worked out as well as he had wanted.<br/><br/>He cocked his head at the map and studied it, a brief "Hmmm," exhaling into the silence of the cabin. "Well", he said at lenght, "I'm thinking there's a few things we can be telling from this, assuming whoever drew it had their wits about them." He tapped a couple of spots on the map, in the lee of one of the larger islands marked. "Looks like there's mountains here, so there's going to be little wind to be had from the West. You can put a crew in a small boat and pull past them, but it's hard work, and one as won't make you too popular if you're doing it without cause. If they want to keep their sails full, they're not likely to be passing that way."<br/><br/>"At this time of year, wind's mostly from the West and South, so they're more likely going to want to keep to the southern passage, keep their sails full, and room to maneuver. Wouldn't help them quite so much against a few of my kins longships, as we've plenty of strong backs to man the oars, but anyone else coming on sail alone, they'd be spotted sharp enough if they're sailing into the wind, slower than our target."<br/><br/>He turned the map slightly, studying the marks on it. "If I were to put a coin on it, I think they'll come this way," he said, tracing his finger along the southern edge of the island chain. "Maybe cut inside here," his finger moved around them to the North, "so's to hide themselves part of the way. Still enough room to pass in this channel, though not as much room to manoeuvre if they are spotted."<br/><br/>He rubbed his chin and then tapped another spot on the map. "If we put someone up here, with a glass, we could watch for their sail and see them long before they could see us. We ought to be able to tell by about here .." he tapped the map again .. "which path they're for taking. If we lay anchor here .." another tap on the map, "we can cover the Northernly route and come out on them when we choose. If it looks like they're staying south, our eyes ought to give us enough warning to get underway and catch up with them, hmm, maybe about here." He tapped the map once more.<br/><br/>"Assuming there's no nasty currents the map doesn't show us, that's how I'd read it." He frowned and leaned down to check the map once more. "I don't recognise that mark," he said, gesturing to something near the watch post he'd suggested. "I thought it was maybe just saltwater staining the map, but it looks deliberate. Any idea what it might be?"<br/><br/><em>Ruins of the old ones?</em>he thought.<em>I've heard they turn up on the odd island or two. Plenty of coin to be had bringing those old things back home, and the Montaigne do like their shiny trinkets.</em>