We made good progress over the next several days. We didn't encounter any ships at all, which I felt was due in large part to the skillful navigation of Captain Jansa. Soon we would be put ashore near Yorktown in the Southern Settlements.
It was far too risky to continue traveling further up the coastline, because that was where the bulk of the Zoarinian navy was stationed. The Zoarinians kept the much smaller, but still formidable fleet of the Tranquil Islanders, bottlenecked up within the harbors and inlets of their islands to keep them from coming to the Valley Landers aid.
Captain Jansa stepped up to the ship's railing beside me and shared my view of the shoreline that we were approaching under cover of darkness. "I wish we could be of more service to you, but I'm afraid this is all that we can manage for now. I know it is but little, given the graveness of the situation faced by our two peoples."
"Captain Jansa during my brief time in the Valley Lands I detected no blame being leveled against your people for any lack of military support on your people's part for us. You have to protect your lands just as we do ours."
"Yes this is true. But if our long time allies perish then who do you think will be next to fall? It is better that we stay together and if need be, die together. I can assure you that I will continue to preach just that to my superiors until they have no cause, but to see it my way as many of us already do!" Captain Jansa finished passionately.
I offered my hand to the young captain, "I wish you luck in your endeavor as we could certainly use the help, but there is no shame if you don't come."
Captain Jansa left me and returned to the bridge to directly oversee the pulling of the ship close to the shore line in the darkness. When we were far closer to the shoreline than I would have thought safe Captain Jansa gave the orders to cut the sails and come about.
A long hastily constructed wooden ramp was hauled out over the side and secured with rigging. I mounted Flin and with the click of his hooves sounding loud and hollow in the night air I directed him down the swaying ramp. I lifted a hand in a silent farewell to the sailors who had risked their lives to come pick us up and now to offload us. Flin buck jumped off of the end of the ramp into the cold waters of the surf.