Master of furies, p.37
Master of Furies, page 37
‘So, what evil scheme have you concocted to avow that our brother is legitimate?’
‘Simple, really. We know his mother was Abigale Lennox, who is, or rather was, a cousin to both the royal families in Ilcomen and Ithrace, and her father claimed the title of court baron. I just happened to have stumbled across a witness who said a dying priest of some temple or another secretly wed her and Father.’
Daylon nodded. ‘Who can dispute it?’
‘Who indeed?’
‘Well, go and say goodbye and get back and keep our kingdom intact.’
‘Should I tell Declan he’s officially a prince?’
Daylon actually burst out laughing. ‘Good gods, no! He’s got enough on his mind. Just tell him we both insist he not get himself killed.’
The brothers embraced and Daylon headed over to where his castellans would board their ship, and Balven jogged down the hillside to where Declan waited.
Declan saw him coming and moved away from Sixto, to whom he was giving last-minute instructions.
As he approached, Balven said, ‘I came to bid you farewell.’ He extended his hand and Declan took it.
Then with a completely unanticipated impulse, Balven wrapped his arms around his younger brother in a hug, saying, ‘You stay alive, Declan.’
Sixto looked on with thinly masked amusement as Declan froze in place from the unexpected embrace.
Declan let out a long-held breath when Balven released him and said quietly, ‘That is my intent.’ He looked past Balven towards Daylon, who was watching his horse being led away to join the rest of the mounts to be loaded onto Borzon’s Black Wake before walking towards the landing where his personal retinue would board the lead ship. ‘The king?’ he asked.
Affecting a casual tone, Balven said, ‘He’s coming around to having a little brother … slowly.’ He gripped Declan by the shoulder. ‘Neither of you has given much thought to what happens after this war. So I’ve had to do it for both of you. You must come back, both of you.’
Declan was as surprised by the intensity of that demand as he had been unprepared for the hug. He nodded slowly and said, ‘I’ll keep him safe, if I can.’
‘Keep yourself safe, too,’ said Balven, unexpectedly showing rising emotion. He tried to shake off those feelings and after clearing his throat said, ‘I’m off back to Marquenet. Farewell!’
He quickly turned and marched up the hill.
Sixto approached, watching Balven’s retreating back, and said to Declan, ‘We’re ready to board.’
Declan also watched as Balven continued up the hillside to where the carriage awaited. After a moment, he said, ‘Send a message to the captain of the ship, and when he signals, launch the first boat.’
By the time Declan turned around to face the waiting ships he had purged his mind of whatever confusion Balven had caused, returning his focus to one thing: the destruction of the Pride Lords.
HATUSHALY STOOD ON THE HILLOCK behind the library as the sun was setting. He marvelled at how the stars would appear as the light to the west faded, and slowly sweep across the vault of the sky. He had realized at last that it was a sort of illusion, as the world was turning and they were now beginning to face away from the sun, so in a sense he was moving in Garn’s shadow. For some reason that concept both delighted and fascinated him.
‘Trying to see stars up close again?’ Bodai asked from behind him, coming out of the library door.
‘No,’ said Hatushaly. ‘I just thought I’d get a bit of air, and watch the sunset and the stars come out.’ Then he laughed. ‘Stars come out, but they are always there, right?’ Bodai nodded. ‘We just can’t see them because the sun’s light obscures theirs.’
‘That, apparently, is the case,’ said Bodai. ‘Eating this evening?’
‘Yes,’ said Hatu. ‘Shall we?’
They went and got their food and sat down, and Bodai said, ‘We should have heard something from Hava by now, I think.’
Hatu inclined his head slightly, as if agreeing, then said, ‘But I try to not think of that, or I start to worry.’
‘Your wife’, said Bodai, pointing at Hatu with a spoonful of soup, ‘is perhaps the most competent person I’ve ever met, so if anyone’s going to survive this madness, it is she.’
‘Agreed,’ said Hatu, ‘which is why I can avoid worry … most of the time. I can’t keep checking on her with my … powers, because then I’d be doing nothing else.’
Bodai laughed. ‘I understand.’
‘You worry, too, I know.’
‘Since you were brought to Coaltachin, and since the two of you became a pair, yes, always.’ He cast a glance towards the door, as if expecting Hava to walk through it at any moment. ‘Yes, I worry, but that doesn’t change the fact she is more than capable of taking care of herself.’
‘I have discovered something interesting,’ said Hatu. He glanced at the entrance to the hall leading to the library. ‘With Nathan gone, I do try to poke around the edges of what I know, sort of extending my understanding.’
Bodai chuckled. ‘Understandable.’
Hatu scowled slightly. ‘Let me show you.’ He picked up a small piece of carrot that had fallen off his spoon and tossed it in the air. Suddenly it froze as it began to fall.
Bodai said, ‘I’ve seen you levitate objects before, Hatu.’
Hatu grinned. ‘Look around the kitchen.’
Bodai did and his eyes widened as he realized everyone in the kitchen area was frozen motionless, even in mid-step, but nobody was falling over. ‘What …?’
Abruptly, everybody began moving again as if nothing had interrupted their movement, and the bit of carrot fell to the table.
Hatu shook his head slightly, as if clearing it. ‘I think I can stop time.’ Bodai’s eyes grew even wider and he appeared speechless. ‘At least in a small area around me.’
‘How …?’
‘I don’t know. It’s another of those things I did by accident, or maybe it’s not stopping time, but … freezing everything around me … but not me?’
Bodai said, ‘Will wonders never cease?’
A sudden surge of energy washed over Hatu and he dropped his spoon on the table.
‘What?’ asked Bodai.
‘Did you feel that?’
‘I had a sudden touch of gooseflesh, as if a cold draught came and went.’
‘Library,’ said Hatu.
They hurried into the dark library and halted. A strange shimmering ball of green energy hovered between the stacks of books near one shelf, and as they watched, both felt the hair on their arms and heads rise.
The orb was of scintillating green light, then it drew itself upwards, like a curtain rapidly disappearing into a spot in the air, to wink away in an instant, leaving Nathan standing there holding the golden orb he’d shown them days before, and next to him was a slightly older man in a dark robe, holding a wooden staff. The older man had dark curly hair dusted with grey, and a lightly lined face, yet his bearing was upright and he seemed to emit energy as if he were still a young, vigorous man.
‘Nathan!’ said Hatushaly.
Nathan guided the other man towards Hatushaly and Bodai. He seemed slightly disoriented by whatever it was they had just been through.
Bodai said, ‘How did …?’
Nathan indicated the orb, then replaced it in his rucksack. ‘It’s very old …’ He shrugged. ‘I inherited it.’ He guided the older man to the table and said, ‘Sit down.’ He looked over to Hatu and Bodai. ‘I thought it best to seek out someone who might know exactly what that thing in the pit truly is, and I hope I’m wrong about my conjecture.’
The stranger’s eyes came into focus and he smiled. ‘Hello,’ he said.
Nathan said, ‘The younger fellow is the one I told you about, by the name of Hatushaly. That is Bodai,’ he added, indicating the teacher.
The older man nodded. ‘Pleased to make your acquaintance. My name is Ruffio.’
SINCE LEAVING RED SWEENEY AT Shechal, Hava had made a few stops and tracked down Catharian. It had taken more than a week to find him from his last known location, and she was as impressed by his espionage skills as she was annoyed by the effort it had taken to find him.
Catharian was now in the city of Tobilo with Dahod and two other rebellious Azhante ready to ride swift horses to the nearest large command between there and Akena. She and Catharian had refined Red Sweeney’s suggested plan and now had a firm timetable in mind.
Hava stood on the beach on the big empty island Red Sweeney had told her about where King Daylon would stage his attack, watching the sails appearing on the horizon, and felt a surge of relief. She had complete trust in Sabien, but he was still sailing through treacherous waters, and if those who followed were sloppy in following his instructions, there were shoals and reefs waiting to rip out a ship’s bottom.
She turned to Billy, who was acting as her mate while Sabien commanded the king’s fleet. ‘Send the message. Be ready to cast off as soon as I’m back aboard.’
Billy picked up a long pole with a piece of green cloth tied to it and waved it back and forth. A minute later another green flag was waved from the poop deck of the Queen of Storms. Hava could hardly wait to get back on her ship after having captained the slug of a freighter that had carried her here.
A small company of workers from the Sanctuary had laboured for the last few days to prepare a staging area for the king and his army. Canvas lean-tos had been erected against the prevailing winds, which were mild during the early summer in any event, and fire-pits were ready for cooking. There was also a somewhat nicer tent for the king’s use.
Hava felt impatient, which was not her usual nature, but the coming fight was putting her on edge, and she was determined to make sure that everything within her power was done right.
Eventually, the lead ship changed course to enter the sheltered bay directly below the camp. Billy signed with the pole and flag, a long sweeping motion, indicating that the first ship should sail as close to the Queen of Storms as was safe, then the others anchor in a line stretching to where Hava stood now.
The instructions were followed and within an hour the king’s ship was made fast and a boat lowered. When the king’s launch reached the sand, Hava saw Daylon and Declan sitting in the stern.
They both waded ashore and Hava gave Daylon a slight bow, then embraced Declan. ‘I thought you’d be with your own men,’ she said.
It was the king who answered. ‘We put in at whatever island your man Sabien chose for water and I had Declan come aboard my ship.’ He thew a look at Declan and said, ‘We had some things to discuss.’
Declan inclined his head in a gesture that indicated that this was all they would be saying on the matter.
‘I’ve got a fire going and they’re cooking you a supper,’ Hava said, moving aside to let the king pass, but he waved her ahead and said, ‘Lead on.’ Then he looked at his half-brother and said, ‘As long as it’s not that monkey stew you told me about.’
Declan chuckled. ‘Something a bit more appetizing, I hope.’
They reached the tent, which contained a small table and two chairs, one of which Daylon occupied, while Hava and Declan stood. At last the king said, ‘Will one of you just sit down, so I don’t feel like a complete idiot? I got enough of the protocols of court from Lodavico of Sandura.’
Hava said, ‘You’ve been cooped up for days and I’ve eaten.’
Declan hesitated, then took the chair. One of Hava’s crew appeared holding two bowls of savoury soup, a vegetable mixture seasoned with dried beef. ‘I have fowl on the spit, Majesty,’ he said, ‘and we’ve got a field oven baking bread.’
‘Fresh bread!’ Daylon was nearly giddy. ‘You surpass every expectation, Hava.’
‘If all goes according to plan, you have four thousand or more men who will come ashore in the next few hours, and all of them will be hungry after weeks at sea on dried rations.’ She indicated the view out of the back entrance to the tent, a flap held aside by a tie loop, and Daylon and Declan could see dozens of workers scurrying around lighting cooking fires and carrying beef carcasses on massive iron spits. ‘I had every cooking device we could spare from the Sanctuary sent here, and they outdid themselves.’
‘I approve,’ said Daylon.
Hava asked, ‘How long before you’re ready to fight?’
‘How long from here to the enemy?’ asked the king.
‘Nine hours if the wind’s right. You leave three hours after sunset and you sail into Akena at dawn.’
Daylon put down his spoon as a roast chicken and vegetables were brought in. He looked at Hava and said, ‘Why don’t you tell me what you need?’
Hava said, ‘The call is going out across all Nytanny for the armies to gather, for another raid on North Tembria. They plan to strike Marquensas this time.’ She paused. ‘Every ship capable of making that voyage will be reaching harbour in three weeks or so, to make the voyage in time for midsummer.’
‘We need a week to graze the horses,’ said Daylon, ‘to get them fit for battle; we were lucky and only had to put down one that got colic. And we must rest the men. After that, what is our best choice?’
Hava calculated for a silent minute, then said, ‘Eleven days, from tonight. I have a signal fire set up on one of the bluffs south of here. I need to see if Sabien’s got one of those long tube spyglass things.’
‘He has,’ said Daylon. ‘I saw him using it to scan the horizon for raiders.’
‘Good. In eleven days at sundown, if there is nothing amiss, a fire will be lit that maybe could be seen by a sharp-eyed man, but by anyone with one of those spyglasses, and that’s the signal that at three hours past sundown, you set sail. Board your horses that day, and all the support equipment, then wait for me.’
‘You’re joining us?’ asked the king.
‘I’m leading you,’ said Hava. ‘Catharian thinks the Azhante fleet will pass you by heading north, a day or so before, looking to quell the rebellion in Tobilo. I’m leading this fleet in case there are Azhante ships trying to block the harbour.’ She smiled. ‘Besides, I’ve never got to use that nasty ballista that fits in the bow. And there’s one more reason,’ she added, almost joyfully.
‘What’s that?’ asked Declan.
‘Catharian said the Azhante are so angry with me that they’ve put a price on my head. Moreover, they’ve built a bigger, faster ship that should be finished soon, called King of Breakers.’
Her smile broadened. ‘I’ve got to steal that ship.’
• CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR •
Assaults, Punishment, and Revelations
Toachipe watched for the first sign of light, his eyes scanning the eastern horizon as the brightening sky hinted at the coming dawn. Today would be a clear day: the sky had been brilliant with stars all night.
His duty always had him searching the east for the false dawn, when the sky lightens slowly before the disc of the sun appears over the eastern sea. Save for days of inclement weather, he found this time to be his favourite, for it was a time of calm and silence in a city of noise and tension once he had awoken the Pride Lords and begun another morning in the realm.
Movement to the northeast caught his eye as the sky lightened. At first he saw flickers of grey against a darker grey, but in a few minutes, the images resolved themselves.
Ships! He quickly counted nine of them. At full sail and approaching the open harbour swiftly! Within moments he knew that these were not Azhante ships or local trade ships, but something alien and unwelcome.
Just before the sun rose, a knock at his door preceded the arrival of the first runner. He called, ‘Enter!’ and seconds later a young man stood ready for Toachipe’s announcement of a new day to the runners assembled in the hall, so that each might dash to the apartments of the Pride Lords slumbering in their chambers.
The runner came to Toachipe’s side and looked out to see the ships nearing the almost-empty quays. Only one ship remained in harbour after the Azhante fleet had been dispatched to quell a rebellion in Tobilo.
‘What is that?’ asked the runner.
The sun peeped over the eastern sea and Toachipe saw a ship moving to the southernmost end of the quays. It was a ship he recognized, one he had seen enter and leave this harbour many times. Borzon’s Black Wake, the treasure ship of the Golden Pride.
‘The sun has risen!’ said the runner, alarm in his tone. ‘And whose ships are those?’
Toachipe held up his hand and for an instant was fascinated by looking at the back of it as if for the first time. It was the hand of a strong man, one who had served the Pride Lords for years, in order to provide for his family. In his other hand he gripped a heavy oaken ceremonial staff. And then he realized that it could serve well as a battle staff.
His view returned to the familiar ship.
Men shimmied down ropes as the captain turned the big treasure ship sideways and let it slip onto the beach. Then as if by some sorcery, a large door fell from the side of the ship and he could hear a loud pop, as caulk and canvas was ripped from wood, and ramps were run from the lowest deck to the sand. Horses led by armed men came quickly down that ramp.
‘Look,’ said the runner, pointing to the other end of this flotilla and there Toachipe saw another familiar ship, the Queen of Storms. Instantly he knew exactly who these newcomers were. And he knew that the Pride Lords were about to face vengeance.
‘Dawn has come. We must awaken our masters!’ insisted the young runner.
Toachipe turned to him. ‘Not today.’
‘To fail in our duty is death!’ the youngster protested, now in a state of panic.
Toachipe looked back over his shoulder at the soldiers now swarming off the ships and organizing on the quay, then returned his gaze to the young runner.
‘Death?’ He smiled. ‘Eventually, but perhaps not today.’
DECLAN’S MEN ASSEMBLED. HE AND Sixto had instructed them to wait until the cavalry had advanced ahead of them. Declan saw them organizing and that Sixto was scanning the streets leading to the quays for defenders. But the only sounds in this harbour were coming from the ships unloading.
