Philip Stanley wrote:Why does Tellesberg have a significant tide? Isn't Howell Bay isolated from the Anvil, or any other of the major seas of Safehold by the relatively narrow Throat. I would expect Howell Bay to have almost no tide, being so relatively small that no tidal oscillation could build up in there (think about the Mediterranean Sea on Earth).
Also, if my theory above is true, and there is almost no tide in Howell Bay, then the Throat, connecting it to the Sea of Charis and beyond, where there are major tides, should be subject to major tidal currents four times a day (think about the Straights of Gibraltar). These rips have never been mentioned in any of the volumes so far.
Any one care to comment?
I agree that there should be no tide in Howell Bay. But RFC has stated that ships leaving Tellersberg do it by high tide. The parting scene in book 2 when Cayleb leaves Sharlayan behind in Tellersberg.
Safehold 02 - By Schism Rent Asunder. wrote:
The line-tenders started drawing the bosun's chair down to the deck for her, and she managed not to grimace. The thought of being lifted over the side and lowered to the cutter on a line like a parcel scarcely seemed dignified, but it was undoubtedly better than trying to manage her skirts while clambering down the battens nailed to the ship's side. It would be more modest, at any rate, and she was far less likely to find herself inadvertently and unexpectedly soaked. And, anyway, it wasn't like—
Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted as Cayleb's arms went around her. Her eyes widened in astonishment, but that was all she had time for before she found herself being kissed—ruthlessly, energetically, and delightfully competently—in front of the entire watching fleet.
For one heartbeat, sheer surprise held her stiff and unresponsive in his arms. But only for a heartbeat. It was, of course, a flagrant and scandalous breach of all proper rules of decorum, she thought as she melted into his embrace, not to mention the way it violated etiquette, protocol, and common decency, and she couldn't have cared less.
For a moment, everyone else seemed equally dumbfounded by the abrupt departure from the occasion's planned, dignified choreography, but then the cheers began again—different cheers, this time. Cheers that rippled with laughter and were punctuated by clapping hands and whistles of encouragement. Sharleyan would recall that later, treasure the pleasure—pleasure for Cayleb and for her—implicit in those cheers, those whistles, that clapping. At the moment, it scarcely registered. Her mind was on other things entirely.
It was a long, ardent, and very thorough kiss. Cayleb was a methodical man, and he took the time to do it right. Finally, however—due to a simple lack of air, no doubt—he straightened once more, smiling down at her through the whistles and stamping feet. Beyond him, she saw Earl Lock Island, Commodore Manthyr, and Captain Athrawes trying very hard not to grin like schoolboys, and the delighted laughter around her redoubled as she shook her finger under her husband's nose.
"Now you've gone and proven what a lewd, uncultured lout you are!" she scolded, her eyes sparkling. "I can't believe you did something that improper in front of everyone! Don't you realize how you've violated protocol?!"
"Damn protocol," he told her unrepentantly and reached out to touch the side of her face with his right hand while his left steadied the descending bosun's chair for her. His fingers were feather-gentle on her cheek, moving caressingly, and his eyes glowed. "That was fun, and I intend to do it again . . . often. But for today, if we don't get you into this chair and off this ship, we're all going to miss the tide, and then we'll probably have an outright rebellion on our hands."
"I know."
And there are more references about the tides in Tellersberg in the books. But this is the nicest.
