Fate of the Free Lands

by Jack Campbell

  She and Ian walked back to the pier, through a town grown dark and quiet with so many moved beyond the wall. The pier was crowded and busy, swords and armor being handed out to sailors, food and water being brought aboard the ships, and sailors from different ships meeting old friends for what might be their final reunions.

  Jules boarded the Sun Queen, seeing her guards in full armor practicing against each other, Artem leading one side and Mad the other. After losing Alons and Kara at Cape Astra their numbers had been reduced to nine, but Artem had recruited another sailor to step in and bring them back up to ten, which seemed a solid enough sum.

  “Are we all right?” Jules asked Ang and Liv, who were talking to each other.

  “Ready as we will be, Cap’n,” Ang said. He had the somber bearing of someone expecting hard times ahead.

  “We’re ready,” Liv agreed. “The air has a funny feel to it tonight, doesn’t it? Not like a storm coming. Just funny.”

  “Yeah,” Jules said. “Thank you, both of you.” She walked on to her cabin, letting Ian walk in before she closed the door. A couple of steps took her to the table. She leaned on it, both arms tight with tension, and closed her eyes, her head lowered. “It’s going to be tomorrow,” she said to Ian. “I can feel it.”

  He nodded. “We should eat. I’ll get something from the tables below deck.”

  “Thanks.” Jules sat down and waited, her eyes on the drawing of Lake Bellad that was her sole memento of Mak.

  Ian came in with two plates of broiled chicken. “The locals are getting rid of some of their livestock before the Empire gets here, so there’s plenty of meat.”

  Jules ate, savoring the greasy chicken, trying not to think.

  “Where’s home?” Ian said.

  “Home?” Jules asked, startled by the question.

  “I mean, if we’re going to be together, I was wondering where that would be,” Ian said. “Julesport is a great spot, if that’s where you feel home is.”

  “Home is right here,” Jules said, flicking her fingers to indicate the cabin. “This is where I live.”

  “I should’ve guessed.” Ian looked about. “It might be a little crowded for two of us.”

  “Oh, did you think you were going to get to stay in here after we were married?” Jules asked, surprised that she could joke. She saw Ian’s face and laughed. “It’ll be fine. But we can build a place in Julesport, too.”

  “Good.” Ian looked toward one bulkhead, his eyes distant. “Every settlement sent someone. Even a few volunteers from Ihris. Every place except the settlement Synda set up on the big island west of the Strait of Gulls.”

  “I didn’t expect help from there,” Jules said, chomping on a chicken leg.

  “You know, you never actually proposed to me. You just told the other captains that we’d be getting married.” He carefully took apart a chicken wing as he waited for her reply.

  “Are you sure?” Jules said.

  “Yes. Very sure. Which means I get to propose first. Jules, will you—”

  “I already proposed! You’re doing it second!”

  “Telling me we’re going to get married isn’t a proposal. It has to be asked and an answer given. So I’m first,” Ian said. “Jules, will—”

  “Yes.” She smiled at him, the light of the single lantern in the cabin tracing flickering patterns on his face. “How about you?”

  “Yes.” He looked at the bulkhead again, his sad gaze once more somewhere beyond it. “They’ll understand why they had to be hidden. Or she’ll understand, that daughter of your line, if the others never learn.”

  “I hope you’re right,” Jules said. “Will you stay with me tonight?”

  Ian raised his eyebrows at her. “You’re not getting me drunk first this time?”

  “I want us both to remember all of it,” she said, staying serious.

  He knew why she said that, so he only nodded in reply, because neither of them wanted to say out loud that this night might be their last.

  * * *

  Dawn had barely broken the next morning when shouts sounded. “The signal fire has been lit on the height! Second Chance is on her way back. The Imperial fleet has been sighted!”

  The word raced through the harbor and on beyond to the defenders waiting at the wall. Jules dressed carefully, making sure her boots were polished and settling her Mechanic revolver in its holster at her waist. She made sure Ian’s holster and revolver were also ready.

  She’d already delivered the last revolver to Captain Erin, trusting her to use it wisely. That would leave the Sun Queen with only Jules’ revolver and one rifle.

  “I’ll do everything I can to ensure the wall is held,” Ian said. “I have to be sure, when the battle is done, will you sail away and leave me again?”

  Jules reached out to touch his face. “Even after last night you have every right to ask me that. The answer is no. When this fight is won, I’ll say my promise to you. And don’t you try to sail away without me, because if you do I will hunt you down no matter where you hide.”

  “I suppose I’ll have to stay with you, then,” Ian said, his voice suddenly rough. “Do you think the prophecy will allow us any happiness?”

  “It had better. I’ve done what it needed.” She stepped back, her eyes on his. “Don’t die.”

  He nodded, serious. “Don’t die,” he told her.

  She nodded, watching as he picked up the bag holding three rifles and another revolver, and walked quickly from the cabin.

  After a short pause, Jules followed, climbing up to the quarterdeck. Ian was already off the ship, heading inland. She tried not to think about whether she’d ever see him again. Stepping up onto the railing, she grabbed onto the rigging to stand high where everyone could see. “All hands!” she shouted, bringing the frantic preparations on the ship to a pause as everyone stopped to listen. Activity on nearby ships slowed as well, sailors stopping to look her way and listen. “We’re going to win this fight! We’re going to beat the servants of the Empire! We’re going to show the Emperor that these lands and these people are free, and will remain free! And we will show the Mages as well! Here is where the Empire learns that it will not rule the west! And someday, the Great Guilds will be overthrown by the daughter of my line, and all will be free, because of the battle you first fought and won today! Don’t hesitate! Never falter! Go on with firm hearts and strong arms to win the freedom we and our children deserve!”

  Jules thrust her hand high, the cutlass she held flashing in the light of the sun.

  A roar answered her, the shouts of men and women whose hearts were in the fight. It cheered her, dispelling her own doubts and fears.

  Ships were letting go lines, moving away from the pier. “No one’s crowding anybody else,” Ang noted. “That’s a good sign that everyone is keeping their heads.”

  “Liv, you and your team take in all lines,” Jules called. “The rest of you get aloft and make sail. The Emperor’s servants are coming to visit and I’d hate to disappoint them by being late for the party!”

  Sun Queen joined the line of ships heading out of port. Jules leaned on the quarterdeck’s forward rail, feeling the wind, as the sun rose above the cliffs to the east of Dor’s Castle. “This has never happened before.”

  “What’s that?” Liv asked, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

  “A fleet of free ships, going to battle with a fleet of Imperial ships. Going to face the absolute authority that has ruled common people for as far back as history goes.”

  “There’s that,” Liv said. “But we’ll still be subject to the absolute authority of the Great Guilds no matter how many times we beat the Empire.”

  “I have to leave something for that daughter of my line to do,” Jules said. “On deck! Let’s hoist my flag so these Imperials know who they’re dealing with!”

  They’d sewn a special flag, nearly two lances long and more than a lance tall, the crossed swords of Jules in silver thread clear against the dark
blue fabric. The flag was hooked to the halyard and hauled up fast, the wind catching it. As the flag unfurled at the top of the mainmast, Jules heard cheers coming from the other ships.

  She stood on the quarterdeck, cutlass in hand, as the Sun Queen cleared the harbor and met the waters of the Sea of Bakre. All around the Sun Queen the other free ships were riding the swells, their sails billowing in the breeze, their crews on deck with cutlasses and crossbows at the ready. The sloop Second Chance was gliding over the water from the east to join them, behind her on the horizon the tops of a forest of masts beginning to appear as the Imperial fleet approached.

  She’d never been more scared, and she’d never felt more exhilarated. “There’ll never be another day like this,” she said to Liv. “As long as I live, there’ll never again be a day like this.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  By the time Second Chance reached the other free ships, the sun was backlighting the masts of the Imperial fleet, some of the nearer ships beginning to show their hulls over the horizon.

  “Should we head west?” Ang asked Jules.

  She shook her head. “Not yet. We’re supposed to look like we lose our nerve as the Imperials approach, so let’s allow them a little closer.”

  The winds were a bit erratic this morning, shifting about unpredictably. The free ships had been tacking slowly to the north-west, but as the Imperial ships drew closer Jules brought the Sun Queen about onto the opposite tack.

  A few special flags had been made up to allow simple signals, but the general rule for the free ships was to follow the movement of the Sun Queen flying Jules’ banner.

  Finally, Jules judged the Imperials were close enough. “All right. Let’s head west like we’re afraid to meet them.”

  The Sun Queen’s helm went over, her crew went to the braces to shift her sails, and the ship came about to head west along the coast. The other ships followed, staying in a loose group about the Sun Queen.

  “This is harder than I thought it’d be,” Jules said to Liv as the free ships sailed away from Dor’s Castle, allowing the Imperial fleet free access to the harbor. Somewhere beyond her sight Ian would be on the wall, ready to meet the Imperial forces and the Mages with them. “I want to fight now.”

  “But you’re smart enough to wait,” Liv said. “If you can keep these ships together as we avoid a fight, we’ll be fine.”

  “It’s the pirate ships you might have to worry about wandering,” Ang said. “But their captains know to fight smart. You’ll have no problem there.”

  “Except maybe Star Seeker,” Liv said, frowning. “Why’s she falling behind the rest?”

  “That’s part of the plan,” Jules told her. “Captain Hachi is playing the lame bird, trying to see if we can lure an Imperial ship or two into chasing him. If we could get one or two Imperial ships separated from the rest, we could overwhelm them before help could come for them.”

  “It doesn’t look like the Imperials are going after the bait, though,” Ang said, squinting toward the east.

  “It was a long shot,” Jules said. “Imperial discipline was likely to keep their ships together. But worth a try.”

  When the Imperial ships reached the harbor they stopped moving east. Jules brought the free ships onto another tack to remain about the same distance from the harbor, then went up the shrouds to the maintop to get a better look at the Empire’s forces.

  Old Kurt was on lookout duty. He moved aside to give Jules room as she stood, leaning out a little, one hand grasping a stay and the other shading her eyes. “Looks like the sloops and war galleys are staying outside the harbor while the ships carrying legionaries are going in,” Jules said. “Looks like…four sloops? And ten war galleys?” Those wouldn’t be great odds, but they wouldn’t be terrible, either, especially not if many of the legionaries could be lured off those warships.

  “That’s what I’d counted. There may be more to the rear that haven’t come close enough to count yet, though.” Kurt nodded, eyeing the distant Imperial ships distrustfully. “Those warships might come after us once the others are all safe in the harbor.”

  “I don’t think so,” Jules said. “Imperial commanders like to keep their entire force together so they can exercise personal control of everything. Princes and princesses were the worst that way. Besides, Prince Ostin is going to want to claim personal credit for capturing the town, and personal credit for defeating our ships.” She sighed. “We won’t be able to see them landing legionaries from here.”

  Jules shifted her gaze to the cliff tops west of the valley that held Dor’s Castle. Men and women who were too old to fight had been brought up the cliffs and stationed along them to provide reports of what was happening. Sure enough, Jules saw the flash of a mirror as someone with a view of the port sent a quick series of long and short flashes. “The first ships have reached the piers and are sending legionaries ashore.”

  She could visualize it easily in her mind, having been part of a practice drill for such an attack: the legionaries quickly spilling onto the pier, forming into ranks and advancing inland. It had felt exciting when she was part of it, even though the older officers present had complained that they’d never have to actually attack a town from the sea, because there weren’t any towns that didn’t belong to the Empire and no town would ever revolt. Things had changed a lot in the years since then.

  The legionaries would be in the town by now, advancing quickly while watching for ambushes. They’d be wary, but very confident.

  Where were the Mages? Would some of them come ashore right after the legionaries, or would they wait to see if they were needed?

  Ian would be by the main gate, stiffening the defenders at the spot that would be the aim of the Imperial attack.

  “Keep on eye on them, Kurt,” Jules said. “But also check the north and even the west. We don’t want to be surprised by any new Imperial ships sneaking in from an unexpected direction.”

  She went back down to the main deck, trying to relax herself. After the rush of leaving harbor, there’d be a long period of waiting now.

  A quick bang rolled across the water, made faint by distance, but clearly coming from the direction of Dor’s Castle. Everyone on the Sun Queen and the free ships around her turned to look, even though nothing could be seen. “Hopefully that shot means one less Mage to deal with,” Jules said to Keli the healer, who was standing nearby.

  Keli nodded. “Normally I don’t cheer for harm to come to others, but for Mages even I have to make an exception.”

  “They shouldn’t have shot this quickly unless it was a Mage,” Jules said.

  Mirrors on top of the cliffs flashed messages toward the free ships. The first attack on the wall was underway. Jules watched them, trying to stay calm, dreading the sight of a rapid series of quick flashes that would mean the wall had fallen.

  Occasional distant thunder claps told of more shots, sometimes singly, sometimes two close together. Jules hoped the defenders were being careful, not using their cartridges too quickly. But the sound of every shot served as a reassurance that the defenders were continuing to hold out.

  She wondered how the Imperial force had reacted to the discovery that they were facing more than one Mechanic weapon. And how the Mages had reacted, if Mages with their lack of emotions could be said to react.

  “Look there,” Keli said, pointing.

  Off to the southeast, in the direction of the battle, Jules saw a thin column of dark smoke rising into the sky.

  “A building on fire?” Keli wondered.

  “More likely a troll,” Jules said. As awful as the troll was that she’d seen at Landfall, she was glad she couldn’t see one doused with lamp oil and burning. Or hear any screams it might be making. “I wonder where they come from? Trolls, I mean. Why do they do what Mages say?”

  “What’s bothering you?” Keli asked, leaning on the rail to look across the swells toward the harbor. “You’re getting ready to fight a big battle that’ll probably cost a lot of l
ives, and you’re worrying about trolls?”

  “What if they’re like us, Keli? What if they’re some other form of common people?”

  He paused. “It’s a credit to you that you thought of that. I never heard anyone else think of what the monsters might be like inside. But I have heard that you can’t talk to them. Troll or dragon, they just keep killing until they’re stopped.”

  “That’s what I’ve seen,” Jules said.

  “If they won’t listen to our words, if they won’t stop doing what the Mages command them to do, it doesn’t matter what they are, does it? They don’t leave us any choice but to stop them in any way we can.”

  Another pillar of dark smoke began rising from the direction of the battle for Dor’s Castle. Another pop of distant thunder came from that way. How many had that been already? She should’ve been counting. Too late to start now.

  At the site of the fighting, the air would be filled with shouts and cries, the clang of metal on metal as swords crossed and crossbow bolts met armor or shield. But none of those sounds could carry far, nor would the screams of the wounded or the final breaths of the dying.

  It felt so odd to know that fighting was going on there, but to be standing on the quiet deck of a ship riding the waves of a peaceful ocean. The harsh cry of a sea gull swooping past startled her, the bird winging on toward the harbor, not caring about the wars of humans.

  “Sometimes,” Keli said, his eyes looking across the water, “someone who’s hurt bad will tell me to let them die if the only way to save them is to take a leg off. A sailor can work without a hand, maybe, and sometimes even without an arm. But a sailor needs both legs to get up the rigging and out along a spar. They fear they’ll lose the sea, lose their means of living, if I take the leg.”

  “What do you do?” Jules said.

  “Sometimes I take the leg anyway, sometimes I let them die as they wish. I never know before what I’ll decide. All I can do is try to respect their wishes but also save lives if I can.” Keli straightened, looking at Jules. “Mostly, I save them. Because that’s what a healer does.”