In Bristol Port, at the northernmost part of the Black Hinge Strait Islands, countless Kingdom's Blood Crosses, fleet banners, nobility flags, and captains' long, gilded pennants waved in the wind.
"WEIGH ANCHOR!"
"WEIGH ANCHOR!"
"Heading due north! Entire fleet, starboard tack, close-hauled! Set sail!"
From the mainmast of the flagship, urgently renamed the *King Edward*, sailors hoisted signal flags, conveying the Fleet Commander's orders to the entire fleet. The officers' shouts of command rose and fell. Commanding the First Fleet of the Strait Fleet, which had assembled several days in advance, they majestically sailed out of the anchorage. With the flagship, the Second Grade ship *King Edward*, leading, the fleet formed a double column and proceeded in a long, winding line.
