To rouse leviathan, p.43
To Rouse Leviathan, page 43
The Mayor of Kalixalven himself presented a decree to Taurus the next day, thereby forbidding any of the Windrider’s crew from entering the town, on pain of flogging and imprisonment. An exception was made for Harkon, as he had proved himself to be a useful addition to the town. In spite of his hangover, Taurus did no violence to the official, but politely accepted the document, although he did feel compelled to tear it up and throw the pieces after the departing Mayor.
Taurus cursed Morgan and his mission for the Mons Monachus, and all the trouble this foolish waiting had caused him. Knowing it was only a matter of time before someone slipped into town and was thrown in the jail, and with his own impatience mounting daily, Taurus decided to leave the squalid little settlement. When faced with Seidon’s predictable inquiries regarding course and destination, Taurus reminded him that Morgan’s ultimate goal was the mountain Dragonback, upriver from Kalixalven. Obviously, Morgan had changed his plans, and was not coming to Kalixalven; therefore it only made sense to rendezvous with him at Dragonback. Morgan was bound to need their help sooner or later, and so they had left the town and sailed upriver. There was some grumbling about the lack of cargo and potential profits, but the Captain promised adventure instead and flogging for those who could not appreciate the simple value of a perilous quest.
Casting his memories aside, the Captain resumed his supervision of the landing. He remained in the bow and studied the pier and the trees, while Seidon relayed directions to Hin Wa, the oarmaster. Kevan stood by the great wheel in the cabin, steadying the tiller, and let the push of the oars guide the ship. Any sailors not at the oars lined the railings and several of the men held coiled lines, to secure the Windrider once it reached the dock. The landward bank of oars made a final sweep and the slim craft swung around. The Windrider glided toward the dock, as the ripple of its passage sloshed against the moss-draped stones. Seidon continued to give orders, raising his voice just enough to reach the men below. The oarsmen withdrew their oars into the hull, and the ship settled against the pier with only a slight scraping of wood on stone. The linesmen leaped nimbly to the pier and made the ship fast to rusted metal pylons.
Taurus heaved his bulk over the railing and clambered onto the dock. The weapon Charon draped over one forearm, he stood looking at the forest and the mountain beyond. The sailors with him on the pier waited silently and followed their Captain’s gaze. “Too quiet,” the burly captain rumbled.
No one moved for several moments. All the men remained alert, as they sensed the tension in the air. A hoarse, croaking cry came from somewhere in the trees, and then the forest, eerie with its banners of mist, fell silent. Finally Taurus shrugged and motioned to Seidon. “No point in waiting any longer. Landing party of ten, the rest of you stay ready. Seidon, you have the ship.”
Seidon quickly selected ten sailors to accompany the Captain and they formed a group on the worn stones of the pier. Taurus faced Seidon over the gently rocking rail. “If we’re not back soon, cast off and head downriver. And pray you have enough money for Redemption fees.”
Seidon smiled grimly. “I don’t want your bunch of criminals. Just make sure you come back.”
Laughing, Taurus turned toward the trees. He stopped at a sudden commotion from the forest, more harsh cries and a heavy flapping sound, that faded into the distance. Taurus and his men could not see what made the noise. When it was quiet again, Taurus moved forward and headed for a well-marked trail leading into the trees. His men followed close behind, sharp eyes scanning the forest. The trail led along an ancient road, its stones visible where the vegetation had been cleared away. They walked for a while without incident and did not hear the croaking sounds again. Suddenly, Taurus stopped and raised a gloved hand. His men stood poised, tense and ready to fight. With a slight rustle of brush, gray-skinned soldiers emerged from cover and surrounded the band of sailors. The Immortals stood silently, their swords drawn, empty eyes regarding the Windrider’s landing party.
Taurus cursed. “I should stay on my ship, and avoid this skulking about on land. It just doesn’t suit me.”
A tall man approached, obviously an officer, flanked by two Harriers. Heavy brows hooded the man’s cruel eyes. “I am Colonel Gault. You are my prisoners. Throw down your weapons and surrender quietly.”
“I am Taurus, Captain of the Windrider,” Taurus said as he bowed with a flourish of his cloak. “Perhaps you’ve heard of the Windrider? We sank a Mhoul flagship while bound for Aquarquff.”
The Colonel looked annoyed. “No, I haven’t. Now surrender. You can boast about your exploits later.”
Taurus straightened, his cloak still swirling around his arms. “Pity you don’t know us, Colonel. Then you’d realize we never surrender.”
Something in the seaman’s tone warned Gault and he dove behind a Harrier as Taurus’ right arm came free of the cloak. Charon erupted, belching smoke and fire. Gault’s living shield folded in two bloody pieces and crumpled. The Colonel rolled into the thick brush and disappeared.
“To the ship, men! Carve me a path!” Taurus roared as he shot the second Harrier, while the man clawed for his rapier.
The ring of Immortals closed on the sailors. From somewhere in the nearby foliage, Gault shouted. “Take the Captain alive. I don’t care about the rest.”
Taurus fired Charon’s last barrel in the direction of the Colonel’s voice. The blast shredded tree limbs and scattered leaves. The Captain turned toward the ship, as his men formed a wedge to break the deadly circle of Immortals. Shouting, the massive Taurus waded into the ashen soldiers, now using Charon as a club. He battered two Immortals to the ground. He paused and dug out more shells for the gun. As he reloaded, the Captain fended off a third soldier with a heavy boot. The charging mass of sailors hit the Immortals like a battering ram. The cries of the Windrider’s men echoed through the trees, contrasting sharply with the leaden silence of the Immortals. Above it all rose the demented bellowing of Taurus. Three of the sailors fell in that first assault, although twice as many Immortals died. The line of soldiers collapsed in several places and the Immortals were slow to reform their line. As Taurus plowed to the front, the sailors charged through the gaps. They ran past the Immortals into the forest, the enemy soldiers on their heels. As they neared the edge of the trees, Taurus slowed and urged his men past. Then he stopped, Charon gleaming in the shadows. The Captain discharged all three barrels into the group of pursuing Immortals. Several soldiers collapsed in a tangle of gray and pale rose and Taurus reloaded as he retreated. Gault shouted orders and the Immortals scattered through the trees, no longer presenting such an easy target.
Taurus ran faster, knowing he had to stay ahead of the tightening noose of soldiers, or they would have him. Not built for running, the heavy Captain soon labored for breath. Sweat poured into his eyes and blurred his vision. He could see some of his men just ahead, waiting for him. The landing party broke from the trees in a rush, before the Immortals in the trees could surround them. Taurus roared in triumph. Mist still cloaked the Windrider and the Captain could barely see its outline in the haze. Suddenly, a line of men appeared on the Windrider’s deck and Taurus stumbled to a halt. He recognized the arrogant plumes of Harrier helmets. The haze cleared slightly and then parted before a puff of wind. Taurus saw the squat shape of the vessel beyond his ship and knew he was trapped.
The sailors ahead of him faltered, seeing the enemy on their ship. Taurus swung around, intending to empty his gun into the Immortals behind them. A thrown club slammed into his skull and his knees buckled. The pursuing soldiers charged past him and drove the sailors into the river. The Captain’s eyes clouded and darkness closed around him. He swayed on his knees and tried to stay upright. Charon roared again and the backlash hurled Taurus to the ground. The big seaman lurched to his feet and swung Charon. A wave of pallid soldiers washed over him and he went down one last time.
**
Taurus woke with a curse and a groan. Without opening his eyes, he sat up on the bunk and swung his legs over the edge. He planted his boots firmly on the decking and held his pounding head with both hands. By the sounds and smells around him, he could tell he was back on the Windrider, but his head roared with pain and clouded his memory. For a time, Taurus assumed they were still at Kalixalven and his present discomfort was a hangover. He was getting too old for such serious drinking. He had to get his ship out of town before they all drank themselves to death. Sailors needed to be on the open sea, out of their natural element they tended to be self-destructive.
The fog in his head cleared slightly and he remembered. He groaned again at the memories. Taurus suddenly became aware of the pungent scent of northern beer. He screwed his eyes open and blearily regarded the mug under his nose. He got both hands on the glass and took a long drink. The liquid burned down his throat and sent new life coursing through his body. The Captain recognized his special hangover remedy, a concoction of the heavy beer from his homeland and various other ingredients too foul to mention. Regardless of its pedigree, the brew did wonders for the way Taurus usually felt the day after his debauches, and he swore by its healing powers.
Taurus raised his eyes over the rim of the mug and peered at his caretaker. Kevan stood nearby, looking tired and pale, and tried to watch his Captain and the door at the same time. Taurus held out the mug, but Kevan shook his head firmly, staring at the contents as if it were poison. Taurus’ crew did not appreciate his creation. Those that sampled the potion had claimed foolishly that it only made them feel worse and had made a big show of retching and vomiting. As soon as he could focus at a distance, Taurus took a look around the room, careful to move only his eyes. He did not like what he saw. On the second attempt, the Captain was able to form words. “Why am I not in my own cabin? And why aren’t you at the helm?” he asked hoarsely. “And where are Simon and Seidon?”
Kevan glanced at the door again. “The Mhoul’s soldiers have the ship, Captain. Seidon is with their officer, who has taken your cabin.”
“What!!!” Taurus roared and surged to his feet. Beer slopped over his hands and the pain in his head made him feel dizzy. He swayed slightly and Kevan stepped forward to ease him back down on the bunk. Taurus set the mug on his knee, steadying it with a sweaty palm, and squinted at Kevan. “Out with it, man. What happened here?”
“You and the shore party had been gone for a while. Then we heard sounds of fighting in the forest. Seidon was readying a rescue party . . .” Kevan began.
“Blast that man! He knows better than to leave the ship undermanned. I didn’t need any rescuing,” Taurus said.
Kevan ignored the outburst and waited for Taurus to finish. Then he continued. “A strange craft came downstream out of the fog, apparently unmanned and drifting. It collided with the Windrider and suddenly the deck was alive with Harriers and grayskins. They swarmed over the rail before we could form a decent defense. Even so, we prepared to fight to the death. But one of their officers shouted that you’d been captured and would be killed unless we surrendered.” The helmsman paused, unwilling to speak the next words.
“And you surrendered?” Taurus gasped in disbelief.
“Seidon gave the order,” Kevan whispered.
“The crew of the Windrider . . . surrendered,” Taurus repeated, still in shock.
Kevan studied his feet until his Captain recovered.
“Why?” Taurus finally asked.
“To save you,” Kevan replied.
“Why?” the Captain repeated.
The helmsman regarded Taurus as he would a simple child. “You are our Captain.”
“That’s true,” Taurus admitted.
“It was not cowardice or weakness,” Kevan said, his voice suddenly hard.
The Captain sighed and relaxed. “Nay, rather honor and loyalty.”
“Of course,” Kevan said. “The Mhoul’s lackeys will regret the day they ever saw this ship and its crew. The men have vowed to take back the Windrider or die trying.”
“What is our status?” Taurus asked.
“The ship is undamaged. Twenty-one crewmen are on board. Typhus, Aurelias, and Sudanov died in the forest,” Kevan said.
Taurus felt better now and his mind cleared. He stared into his mug, remembering. “Grayskins surrounded us in cowardly ambush. Their officer made demands of surrender, which I of course spurned. Charon cleared a path through their ranks and we led the enemy back to the open to slaughter them. I saw another ship on the river, then the grayskins had me . . .” The Captain looked up at Kevan. “Where are the men now?”
“They chained fourteen crewmen at the oars. Hin Wa is bound at the beatmaster’s drum. Three men are locked in the crew’s quarters and Seidon is with their ranking officer, a Colonel. Simon is free to run errands,” Kevan said.
“My loyal men chained to the oars, like common criminals? The Colonel will die slowly for this insult,” Taurus growled.
“Captain, most of the crew are criminals,” Kevan said.
“Were criminals. I redeemed them at the auction in Androssar. Now they’re my crew,” Taurus said. “How many of the Mhoul’s soldiers are there?”
Kevan lowered his voice. “I count seventeen on board—ten Immortals, five Harriers, and the two officers. There were more, but they returned to the forest.”
“Seventeen. We outnumber them. Where are we now? Still at the dock?” Taurus asked.
“Aye, Captain. The Colonel hasn’t finished questioning Seidon,” Kevan said.
“And the other ship?” Taurus asked.
“They went on down the river, once the Windrider was secured,” Kevan said. “All of the dead were loaded on that ship.”
“Even our men?” Taurus asked.
“Yes,” Kevan said.
“I can only imagine what foul purpose . . . “ Taurus began and then looked around suddenly. “Where is Charon?”
“The Colonel has it,” Kevan said.
A noise came from beyond the door and both men stiffened. The door swung open and two Harriers stepped inside to flank the entry, their swords bare and their eyes hard. The Colonel appeared, with another officer beside him. The Colonel’s eyes flicked to the mug. “As I told you before, I am Gault,” he said and gestured toward the other officer. “This is Sergeant Hect. My guards told me you were awake.”
Taurus rose and walked toward Gault, until he could glare up into his face. The guards readied their blades, but stopped at an almost imperceptible motion from the Colonel. The tall officer looked calmly down at the Windrider’s Captain. Taurus attempted to throw the contents of the mug into Gault’s face, but the Colonel grabbed his arm. Some of the beer spilled on the floor, but Taurus’ arm moved no further, although his muscles bulged as he strained against Gault’s iron grip. After a moment, Taurus wrenched his arm free and stepped back. He took a long drink, draining the mug, and let the shock of the draught distract him from his rising anger. Taurus wiped his mouth with a sleeve, tossed the mug into a corner, and belched loudly. He noted with satisfaction the Colonel’s increasing disdain. “What are your intentions?”
“I will ask the questions,” Gault said and nodded toward Kevan. One of the Harriers dragged the helmsman from the room. “Leave us, Hect,” Gault ordered and the sergeant left the room, along with the other guard.
The door closed firmly. Taurus studied the Colonel, considering attacking him, now that he was alone. Gault gestured toward the bunk. “Sit.”
Taurus ignored the command and glanced at Gault’s sheathed weapons. He now wished he had kept the mug. Gault lashed out, and before Taurus could move, the Colonel struck him in the throat with a cupped hand. Taurus, choking from the blow, staggered back and clutched at his windpipe. The Captain sat down heavily on the bunk. Gault waited for the seaman to recover, not moving. Taurus squinted at Gault, his eyes watering. His hatred for the Colonel was growing, and he was getting very tired of the man’s inhuman strength and speed. Taurus decided when he did kill Gault, he would probably cheat. The Colonel was too dangerous to allow a fair fight.
“Now that your position has been established, I will proceed with my questions. Who can operate the wind device?” Gault asked.
The Captain’s eyes narrowed as he thought. Although it rankled tremendously, he realized Gault had him at a disadvantage, and he would have to bide his time with this enemy. If Taurus were reckless now, they could all die. “I’m the only one,” Taurus said, his voice coarser than usual.
Gault folded his arms. “You will use the device to propel us upriver to Immer and Ragoulgard. I’ve been ordered to take you there alive, but if you or your men resist in any way, my reaction will be swift and harsh. Do you understand?”
“I understand,” Taurus said as his eyes blazed with hatred.
**
The Windrider entered the waters of Immer, the great inland sea, in the late afternoon. The ship’s oars stroked the surface in time to Hin Wa’s drum. Taurus stood in the bow and gripped the rail as he thought about the past few days. His Immortal guard stood silent at his side. They had left the dock near Dragonback, five long days ago, prisoners of the Mhoul’s soldiers. Taurus had started up the wind dragon, and the first day they made good progress toward Ragoulgard. Gault questioned him further regarding the dragon and Charon, but Taurus stalled him with half-truths, attempting to appear cooperative while he worked out a plan to take back his ship.
