Master of furies, p.32
Master of Furies, page 32
‘Because you’re the only person I’ve ever met who could do that.’
‘READY?’ ASKED DECLAN.
Sixto turned and waved to the ship behind Change of Luck, the Brigida, which had sheltered in the islands after the raid. That captain was more than happy to return to North Tembria and had accepted the payment to carry back as many fighters as he could pack aboard. Three other ships had also been procured, to Garange’s utter delight. Between the found gold and bartered goods from Change of Luck he was probably now the wealthiest merchant in Abala.
Declan heard Sixto say, ‘All ready.’ He looked at the ship’s captain and nodded.
The captain began barking orders and the anchor was lifted, the sails lowered, and the makeshift fleet was underway.
‘It’ll be good to go back,’ said Sixto.
‘I never took you to be a man attached to a place,’ said Declan.
‘Not since I was old enough to shave,’ admitted Sixto. ‘But I’ve had enough of this place.’
Declan walked over to the rear railing, gripping it as Abala receded, while the ships moved away from the harbour, seeking fair winds. ‘One stop for water, and then back to Marquensas,’ he said.
‘We said farewell to some good men,’ said Sixto as he came to stand at Declan’s side.
‘Brothers,’ Declan said softly.
‘So I name them,’ agreed Sixto.
After a few moments of silence, Sixto went on, ‘One day you’ll come to understand what you’ve done, Captain. There are men on these ships who will gladly die for you, because they owe you their lives, and every moment from then to now is a gift of life they otherwise would not know.’
Declan stood quietly, then said, ‘I only did what Bogartis asked, save as many as I could.’
‘As I said,’ Sixto replied. ‘One day you’ll understand.’
• CHAPTER TWENTY •
Information Exchanged, Planning, and Decisions
‘Twenty-five days,’ said Hava. ‘Queen of Storms is the fastest ship anyone has seen, and with a few extra hands, I can make it in twenty-five days to Marquensas if the wind’s fair. If it’s against us, thirty, maybe forty. A week or so to refit, have a talk with the baron and Balven, find out what the next step is, and then come back.’
‘So, three, maybe four months?’ asked Hatu. He found himself feeling at cross purposes. He hadn’t realized how much he had missed Hava until she’d appeared, so distracted had he been by his studies. Nathan’s return and the discovery that he could do things unknown to Nathan further amplified his eagerness to continue exploring his powers. So Hava talking about leaving again bothered him a great deal more than he would have anticipated.
‘We have a limited opportunity,’ she said. ‘We don’t know how long it will last.’
‘I understand,’ said Hatu. He sat on their bed as she got dressed, ready for another day of overseeing the refitting of her ships for the next voyages.
‘I am impressed with how much work has been done here,’ she said in a cheerful tone. ‘The library looks amazing, and the restoration of the outer buildings is … surprising.’
She had sailed in at sunset the night before, and between bathing, eating, making love, and sleep, there hadn’t been a great deal of time to share their plans. Hatu recognized that she’d made up her mind what she needed to do next in this campaign to overthrow the Pride Lords and avenge the destruction of everything they prized back in Beran’s Hill.
Hava glanced at Hatu as she finished dressing and said, ‘You coming?’
He realized he’d just been sitting on the edge of the bed, thinking, and nodded. Putting on his tunic and trousers, he said, ‘What about Catharian? He didn’t come back with you?’
‘He’s staying with the smugglers.’ She had given Hatu a brief summation of what she’d accomplished so far.
‘Why?’
‘He’s learning as much of what passes for Azhante as possible.’ She waited while Hatu put on his sandals, then as they left their quarters, added, ‘One thing Catharian knows is how to infiltrate and blend in. The Coaltachin language is probably the only one in the Twins he doesn’t speak, major language, anyway.’
Hatu had to agree. When he had first met Catharian, the false monk had shown no discernible accent to betray his origins.
‘If that boy Dahod honours his pledge, sometime tomorrow Catharian should be getting the information he needs to wend his way towards the Pride Lords’ city, Akena. I’m going to bring those other two Azhante back with me, unless the baron objects.’ She shrugged. ‘Not sure why he would.’
They reached the dining hall, which was also benefiting from repairs and a clean-up. The long makeshift table had been replaced by a well-carpentered, massive buffet table immediately adjacent to a cleared passage to the kitchen, making it easier for the kitchen crew to provide food, and another passage was being cleaned that led to a terrace overlooking the sea, which would provide a wonderful place to dine outside when the weather permitted.
‘What about Donte?’ asked Hatu as they carried their food to a free table. ‘Think he’ll want to come?’
Hava laughed. ‘Probably, but I don’t know if the baron would permit that.’
‘Why?’
‘Let’s say his status is hovering somewhere between guest and prisoner.’
Hatu laughed. ‘That’s Donte. Still, another person from Coaltachin could be very helpful.’
They sat down and Hatu said, ‘Back to Catharian. Is he going to be able to get you the information you need?’
‘He’s well trained in spycraft,’ said Hava as she started to eat. ‘As I said, he’s the sneakiest bastard not trained in Coaltachin I’ve ever met.’
Hatu nodded in agreement.
Hava asked, ‘What about you? This training you’ve been doing. Is it getting you anywhere?’
Hatu held up his right hand and pointed his index finger upwards. Abruptly a flame was dancing on the tip. Hava froze, a spoonful of boiled grain meal halfway to her mouth. She stared for a moment, then Hatu let the flame go out.
‘Oh,’ she said. ‘I see.’
Hatu could tell she was surprised and maybe even a little put off by the display. ‘Sorry,’ he said, ‘I couldn’t resist showing off.’
‘No, it’s all right,’ she said. ‘I was just surprised.’ After a moment, she asked, ‘What else can you do?’
He suddenly realized that in the scant time they had had together since he had come to the Sanctuary he had never fully discussed what he was learning. He put down his spoon and said, ‘It’s hard to explain. The fire trick is one of the few things I can do to show other people. Most of it is studying things … that are hard to explain.’ He could see she was genuinely interested, so he continued. ‘Let me try to put it this way, everything’ – he made a sweeping motion with his right hand – ‘I mean everything is connected to everything else in ways that almost no one can see. Think of it as tiny threads, in a gigantic loom …’ And he tried to help her understand.
For almost an hour he explained and answered her questions, though he still avoided disclosing the help he had given Declan. For some reason he was uncomfortable revealing even to Hava that level of his power. After he had answered her last question, she said, ‘This is hard to understand, though I thank you for taking the time. I remember that blue light we saw during our first passage through the Narrows, and I always thought that it was … part of something bigger.’ She stood up and started gathering up her dishes. ‘I think whatever you have in store is maybe not the same thing I face in aiding the overthrow of this powerful gang.’
Hatu smiled as he also rose and gathered dishes. Only a child of Coaltachin would look at a ruling class like the Pride Lords and think of them as a ‘gang’.
‘I think there’s a relationship between our different tasks,’ Hatu said. ‘I just don’t know what it is, yet.’
‘Well, if you find out let me know,’ she said, kissing his cheek. ‘I have a ship to refit, and you have your studies. I’ll try to be finished by supper.’
He watched her walk off. For a moment he was again gripped by uncertainty about where all this was leading them, but he decided to push away that worry and turn his attention to matters closer to hand. Leaving the dining hall, he headed for the library.
DECLAN GLANCED UP AT THE lookout. Then he left the poop deck, crossed the main deck, and climbed to the forecastle deck from where he could see three ships sitting at anchor.
Earlier that day his squadron had rounded the westernmost point of South Tembria and was now sailing eastwards along the coast, looking for a place to fill their water barrels. They would also buy provisions if they could find some. Declan estimated they could reach Marquensas with what they had, but it would be nice to add fresh food to the stores.
‘Any signal?’ he shouted now to the lookout.
‘I see a parley flag being waved from the bow!’ came the reply.
Declan turned to the ship’s captain. While the original crews had been culled by the raiders, there were enough surviving sailors and mercenaries with shipboard experience that Declan had managed to crew all five ships. Declan shouted, ‘Bring her alongside!’
The ship’s captain shouted back, ‘There are five of us, three of them, and we have enough swords in hand that I don’t think they intend to board us. I can anchor alongside.’
He started shouting orders and the sails were reefed, and the other ships behind bore to port in order to pass by slowly.
When Declan’s ship was as close as was comfortable, the captain had the anchor dropped.
Declan shouted, ‘You seek parley?’
From the closest ship came a reply: ‘Where are you bound?’
‘To Marquensas to join the baron’s fleet. Where are you bound?’
‘Can I come aboard?’
Declan shouted back, ‘Come aboard!’
A longboat was lowered from the other ship, and by the time it had arrived alongside the Change of Luck they had lowered a rope ladder over the side. Declan saw a youngish man top the ladder, then hop over the railing. He was dressed in a simple white tunic and blue trousers, and his feet were bare.
‘You the captain?’ asked Declan.
‘Yes,’ said the young man. ‘Name’s Kean. I was the mate, but the captain got killed when some pirates tried to ambush us.’
‘I’m Declan and the man up there’s the captain, but I command this squadron.’
‘So you’re bound for Marquensas?’
‘Yes, we have a commission from the baron.’
‘We got trapped between the pirates and the fleet from Zindaros.’ Kean pointed to the other two ships. ‘We’re traders, but we have no port. We put in here for food and water, and we have nowhere else to go.’ He appeared to be at the end of his wits, and he looked at Declan as if expecting an answer.
‘What cargo do you carry?’
‘I don’t know, but it must be worth defending, as our owner put extra guards aboard.’
‘On all three ships?’
‘No, just this one; the other two are from different owners and I have no idea what cargo they’re carrying. We’re just trying to stay out of harm’s way and been too busy to look at what we carry.’
Sixto was at Declan’s side, and nudged him. ‘Bring them along, what harm can it do?’
Declan turned to Kean, ‘Is there water there?’ he asked, pointing towards the port.
‘Yes,’ Kean said.
To Sixto, Declan said, ‘Get the water barrels ashore and see what stores we can buy.’
To Kean, Sixto said, ‘I’m taking your gig. I’ll be back soon.’ It wasn’t a request. He shouted for some sailors to bring the empty water barrels to the rail and others to rig a sling to lower them to Kean’s longboat.
Kean nodded. ‘I have cargo and nowhere to land it.’
‘You’ll do well to come with us. Whatever you have, I dare say the baron will buy it.’
Kean shrugged his acceptance. His expression revealed that he was both relieved and already curious about the cargo, as the crew would be splitting whatever was paid for it.
Sixto returned after less than an hour, and the fresh water was brought aboard. Kean went back to his ship. He assured Declan that all three ships would join his flotilla and follow them to Marquensas. Whatever cargo they might be carrying was immaterial because Declan knew the baron would need ships for his planned invasion.
It was a beautiful day, clear blue skies, a light breeze, not too hot or humid: the sort of day that made him want to give up all conflict and strife. It would be wonderful to just find a quiet place to live with fishing and hunting nearby, watching sunsets from a beach, a life without worry.
He let that dream go and turned his attention to the matters at hand. Soon, water barrels were being ferried to the shore and in a while, they would again be underway.
Declan examined the shoreline again, taking in the ships at anchor and the rest of his own small flotilla changing course to idle while they waited. He let the breeze caress his face and the sun warm his back and shoulders, while he fixed this moment in his memory. He knew he would have few moments like this in the future, so he would savour this one now.
HAVA ENTERED HER AND HATU’S quarters to find him sitting on the bed, apparently lost in thought. ‘There you are,’ she said. ‘I thought I’d find you still in the library when I didn’t see you in the kitchen.’
‘Not hungry,’ he said, then turned to look at her. ‘How’s the refitting?’
‘We’ll be ready to sail tomorrow, so I’ll be leaving the day after.’
He shifted and sat on the edge of the bed. ‘I wonder if we’re getting too used to being apart,’ he said.
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ she asked, sitting down next to him. ‘We’ve had times apart before, but at least this time I’m not worried if you’re still alive.’ She put her arms around his shoulders and said, ‘When Catharian, Denbe, and Sabella took you, I had no idea if you were dead or on a slave ship.’
He reached up and gently touched her face.
‘I looked for you, and I found you.’ Then she kissed him.
He put his arms around her and hugged her tight. ‘It’s easy for me to forget all you went through, because I was just here, looking at books. I suppose I thought you’d be with the baron, so you’d be safe.’ Then he smiled. ‘I had no idea you’d do such a foolish thing as to come after me in the middle of an invasion!’
‘It all worked out,’ she said. ‘Neither of us can change the past.’
‘Still, I worry about the future,’ said Hatu. ‘Neither of us has to leave here unless we want to.’
‘I feel obliged,’ said Hava. ‘You were taken before you saw the worst of it. Only Molly Bowman and Declan Smith survived among our friends.’
‘Speaking of Molly, she’s been gone a long time,’ said Hatu.
‘There’s a lot of game on some of these islands and we have a lot of mouths to feed,’ replied Hava. ‘Besides, I think she’s finally taken a lover.’
‘Finally?’ Then his eyes widened. ‘You mean …?’
‘She never had time, looking after her da,’ said Hava, nodding.
‘Who?’
‘Big burly fellow, who does remind me a bit of her father, and he’s a hunter, too. He just took to her the moment he saw her, and finally wore her down, I guess. His name is Luke.’
‘Well, good for Molly,’ Hatu said. ‘I wonder how Declan fares?’ He felt a little awkward saying this, knowing what he knew.
‘I dare say I’ll find out when I get to Marquensas,’ she answered. Then she looked at him with a concerned expression. ‘I wonder how you are faring? You look worried.’
He tried to shrug it off. ‘It’s my habit to worry.’
‘No, this is something else, what?’
He sighed. ‘One of the things I’ve learned from Nathan is how to follow those lines of force I’ve spoken of, and apparently there’s something at the end of one that’s a danger.’
‘How do you mean?’ she asked.
‘I’m not sure. I was hoping Nathan might help me discover what it is, but he keeps angling me away from the subject to concentrate on the other abilities he thinks I have …’ He saw her expression change and said, ‘What?’
‘You speak of these abilities …’ Her demeanour altered and she seemed to slump a bit. ‘It’s just I really don’t comprehend any of it. You’ve been to sea, you know how to crew a ship, so when I tell you what I’ve been doing, you understand. But when you tell me what you and Bodai and that fellow Nathan are doing …’ Her expression turned to one of resignation. ‘I will never understand.’
Hatu was silent for a long moment, looking into her eyes, then he said softly, ‘I can show you.’
‘Show me what?’ It came out as almost a whisper.
‘What I see, what I … do.’
After a pause, she said, ‘All right.’
‘Close your eyes,’ he said, and he put his arms around her. ‘Relax and know nothing bad will happen.’
She hesitated for a moment, then closed her eyes and laid her head on Hatu’s shoulder.
Suddenly it was as if they were both together in a void, floating with nothing in sight but each other; then a thrumming vibration seemed to run through their bodies, and brightly coloured scintillating lines resembling a massive loom appeared at their feet.
‘What is that?’ Hava asked.
‘Those are some of the lines of energy that lie between positive and negative furies.’
‘Furies?’
‘Little … points of … something. I don’t know what. But the tension between them, positive and negative, creates these lines. This is a tiny part of the fabric of everything, a little piece of the universe laid bare.’
‘Why so many colours?’
‘I think it’s how my mind is beginning to see the differences between forces: animals, plants, the very rocks themselves.’
‘Rocks have energy?’
‘Everything does, Hava. Everything, and one day I will know what all of this means.’
He let some lines fall away and brought others into her perception and let her feel what he felt at that moment, that somehow there was a harmony to the entire universe, but it was just too vast for even the most accomplished mind to comprehend.
