Whisper of Blood

by James Dale

  Most of the buildings were either burning or had already been consumed by flames. Figures could be seen running back and forth in the streets and muffled shouts drifted up to them, carried by the hot winds created by the fires raging in the city of the pirates. Jack raised the scope to his eyes and the destruction leapt horribly closer. As his gaze shifted to the harbor a curse escaped his lips.

  "What is it?" Marc asked stepping to his side.

  Braedan handed him the rifle scope and he focused in on the ships crowding the water below. "Norgarthans!"

  "How did they find us?" Belizet asked.

  "Who knows," Jack spat. "But there they are."

  "Perhaps they took prisoners from the ships we lost in the raid," Marc conjectured.

  "Perhaps," Jack agreed. "It doesn't..."

  "Someone's coming!" hissed Dario from the hall. "Two, maybe three men."

  Braedan motioned him inside and quietly eased the bedroom door shut, leaving only a small crack through which to look into the hall. Soon noisy footsteps were heard coming from the hallway and the sounds of an argument.

  "I tell you they ain't nothing left," one voice said loudly. "Two wagons full of loot was hauled outta here this morning. I saw 'em myself."

  "There's gotta be something left," argued another voice.

  "They ain't!"

  "It won't hurt to look around a bit."

  There were only two of them.

  "I want them alive," Braedan whispered, taking up a position on the right side of the door. Marc nodded silently and drew his short sword. Dario and Camin notched arrows and Belizet went to the left side of the doorway, a dagger in each hand. The group waited in hushed silence as the two unwary looters walked into the trap. Braedan crashed through the door as they passed by, leaping onto the back of one and wrestling him to the ground. Belizet and Marc grabbed the other and a brief, violent struggle ensued. It was over as quickly as it had begun and the hapless pair lay battered and bruised on the bedroom floor.

  Jack lifted the one of the men by the hair and stuck the point of his knife to his throat. "Talk," he hissed.

  "Who the hell are you?" the other man asked, raising himself up on his elbows.

  "Shut that one up," Jack snapped.

  Marc kicked the man in the stomach and he collapsed with a groan.

  "I said talk."

  "W…what da ya wanna know?" stuttered the Norgarthan.

  "Where's the woman who lives in this villa?" Jack asked.

  "I don know."

  "You'd better not be lying to me!" Braedan snarled, making sure the man understood his plight by adding pressure to the point of his knife. A thin rivulet of blood trickled down his throat.

  "I swear I don’t know!" the man cried. "What's her name?"

  "She is Kaiddra de’Caerl, Captain of the Huntress."

  "S…she may'a been taken to the Sword of Urgiss," the man whimpered. "Orders were for all the pirate leaders we captured to be shipped back to Norgarth as sacrifices. Saw one of them myself. Big fellow with red hair."

  "Admiral Kailmax!" Marc hissed.

  "Show me the Sword of Urgiss," Jack ordered, pulling the man to his feet and dragging him to the balcony.

  "I canna tell from here!" the solider cried.

  Braedan shoved the scope up to the man's eyes. "Which one is it?"

  "I don't....There! That one!" the man pointed. "That be our flag ship."

  It was the largest ship in the harbor, anchored about one hundred yards from the docks, safely out of reach of the burning city.

  "Take off your tunic," Jack told the Norgarthan.

  "What do you have in mind?" Marc asked.

  "I've got to see if Kaiddra's on that ship."

  "You'll never pass for a Norgarthan with those green eyes," Marc told him. "I'll go. I can speak a little of their language."

  "We'll both go," Jack said, a plan hastily taking shape. "You put on his tunic and take me as your prisoner. I'm sure they would be glad to have the man responsible for planning the raid on Norgarth."

  "That might work," Marc nodded.

  "Belizet?" Jack called.

  "Sir?" the black man asked, joining them on the balcony.

  "Take the men and wait for us at the edge of the meadow,” he instructed, handing the wiry pirate both his swords. “If we aren't back by morning, return to the Seawolf and tell Tarsus what has happened."

  "Aye sir," the pirate nodded. "What do you want us to do with the Norgarthan's?"

  Jack glanced at what remained of Kaiddra's bedroom, remembering her touch and her laughter, then out across the burning city. "Kill them. Just don't do it in this house."

  "Aye sir," the pirate grinned fiendishly.

  Marc quickly changed into the Norgarthan's tunic and belted on the man's longsword, then found a piece of cord and tied Jack's hands behind his back. "Too tight?"

  "No. Pull out my shirt so it covers my knife."

  Marc did as he requested. "Ready?"

  "Let's do this."

  Belizet and the crewmen from the Seawolf herded their two captives out to the courtyard as Braedan and Marc followed. As the two groups parted, Belizet laid his hand on Jack's arm. "Sir?"

  "Yes Belizet?"

  "Whatever happens sir, it has been a pleasure serving with you."

  "Same here," Jack nodded. “I’d shake your hand but…”

  "Good luck to ye, sir,” Belizet said, laying a hand on his shoulder.

  Marc drew the Norgarthan's sword, took Braedan by the arm and motioned for him to take the lead. Jack took a deep breath and headed down the road toward Brimcohn.

  The destruction to the city was beyond belief. The Norgarthan's had spared nothing. Every building had been put to the torch, including the Great Council Hall. Dead bodies littered the streets; men, women, even children. It had been an orgy of slaughter. They passed a squad of Norgarthan soldiers in the process of gang raping some helpless woman. Two of them held her by her arms while she was being ravished by a large, shaven headed warrior as the rest anxiously awaited their turn, laughing at the woman's pitiful cries for help.

  "They will pay for this," the lieutenant hissed. "I swear it on my life."

  They reached the docks, what was left of them, a few minutes later and were stopped by a squad of troops. Their uniforms were clean and their shields were bright and shining. Apparently, they had not taken part in any of the fighting. "What have you got there?" the leader of the group asked.

  Marc pushed Braedan roughly to his knees, propelled by the anger boiling inside him. "Another one of their officers," he snarled.

  "Well, well," the sergeant smiled. "Where were you hiding? I thought we rounded up the last of you dogs this afternoon."

  "I was busy doing your sister," Jack grinned.

  The sergeant slapped him across the mouth, snapping his head back and bloodying his lip. Braedan worked his jaw back and forth experimentally, smiled up at the Norgarthan, and spit blood on the man's polished boots.

  "Take him to the ship!" the sergeant shouted, "He won't be so defiant when he meets the High Priest in Norgarth."

  Marc climbed down into the long boat tied to the dock before anyone could object and they handed Braedan down to him. Marc led him to the bow of the small craft and two of the troops on the dock climbed down to join them, untying the boat and taking up oars. They rode in silence as the boat made its way to the Norgarthan flag ship, not wanting to appear to be anything more than a prisoner and his guardian. As they neared the Sword of Urgiss, a sailor peered over the railing with a questioning look on his face.

  "Another pirate for the High Priest's knife," Marc called up, guessing the meaning behind the squad sergeant's threat.

  The seaman nodded wordlessly and threw down a rope. Marc tied it around Braedan's chest, gave it a sharp tug, and unseen hands began to pull him aboard. Marc followed behind him, climbing the rope ladder hanging over the side. When he reached the deck, they were met by a short, swarthy man, better dressed than the rest and
probably an officer. He lifted Braedan's chin and looked at his face. "This one has green eyes." He smiled.

  "What does it matter?" Marc asked, hoping their luck had not run out.

  "Have you forgotten?" the officer asked. "The priests gave special instructions to be on the lookout for a tall one with green eyes. Said he was important. Wait here while I go wake Admiral Uweraan."

  "My orders were to make sure he was in chains as soon as we had him on the ship," Marc said quickly. "Apparently he is very dangerous."

  "Who's orders?"

  "Captain Belizet."

  The officer hesitated, not recognizing the name but also not wishing to countermand the instructions of someone who outranked him.

  "He was most insistent," Marc continued.

  "Very well," the officer relented. "The Lord Admiral can just as easily see him below. You," he said, pointing to an idle sailor who had drifted over to see the pirate. "Take the sergeant and his prisoner below."

  The sailor snapped to attention, cursing the curiosity that had brought him to the officer's notice. "Yes sir. This way sergeant."

  Marc grabbed Braedan by the elbow and propelled him after the young sailor. They followed the Norgarthan to the entrance to the ship's hold and down a steep ladder into the belly of the dreadnought. An oil burning lamp hung from a hook on the center support beam, illuminating the hold. The place was usually reserved for storage but at the moment it was a temporary prison. Wooden benches lined both walls and two huddled figures were chained to the floor in the center of the room. Unfortunately for the young man, there were no guards. At a nod from Jack, Marc ran him through with his sword. He died with a soundless expulsion of breath.

  "Quickly," Jack said holding out his tied hands. "We don't have much time."

  Marc cut the bonds with his bloody sword and they ran over to one of the chained prisoners. His head was wrapped in dirty bandages, covering his eyes, and what could be seen of his face was swollen and bruised.

  "Who is there?" he croaked. It was Kailmax. Braedan went to the other figure and lifted his head. It was Admiral Civin, He was dead.

  "It...it is Lieutenant Marc sir," the captain of the council guard answered with a catch in his voice.

  "I thought I heard Jack Braedan?" Kailmax said, turning to the sound of his voice.

  "I'm here," Jack replied. "Admiral Civin is dead sir."

  "I suspected as much," Kailmax sighed, "He has been silent for several hours now."

  "Where's Kaiddra?" Braedan asked, dreading the admiral's answer.

  Kailmax bowed his head. "I saw the Huntress go down."

  "No," he whispered.

  "The ship fought well," Kailmax said sadly. "They paid dearly trying to take her. You would have been proud."

  "And Dorad? Is he also dead?"

  "I don't know," Kailmax replied. "The boy was driving me crazy with his petitions and I asked Alnordel take him out on the Laughing Dragon three days ago. If they were smart, they sailed the hell away from here when they saw the Norgarthan fleet approaching."

  "How did the Norgarthan's find us?" Marc asked.

  "Their cursed sorcerers," the admiral replied. "They used black arts on our brothers captured during the raid, forcing our location from them."

  "We must go," Marc said attempting to open the lock securing Kailmax to the floor. "That Norgarthan popinjay is bringing some Lord Admiral to look at Braedan."

  "Then don't waste your time with me," the admiral replied. "He is their fleet commander and not a generous man. You can see how kindly he treated me. Jack Braedan of the Brotherhood, Second Mate of the ship Seawolf."

  "Sir?" asked Jack, confused by the admiral’s formality.

  "I release you from your oath."

  "Thank you, sir."

  "Go. You must not fall into the hands of their priests."

  "I don't plan to sir," Jack assured him.

  "You do not understand," Kailmax said. "Down here in the dark, I have had opportunity to contemplate many things. I know who you are. I know...what you are."

  "What do you mean?" Jack asked.

  "If you do not know, you would not believe me now. I wish I had let you take the Prophecies of Aaracus. The Norgarthan's burned my library and now it is gone. Go to Brythond. King Theros has one."

  "What was so important about that book Admiral?" Jack asked. "What did it have to do with me?"

  "Everything, but if I waste time explaining, the knowledge will do you no good. Will do Aralon do good."

  "But..."

  "Go!" Kailmax insisted.

  Reluctantly, Jack rose to leave. "Coming Marc?"

  "I will stay," he said quietly. "The admiral will not be a sacrificed on the altar of the Sa'tan."

  "What are you going to do?"

  Marc reached up to the oil lamp hanging from the ceiling and removed it from its hook. "I think the Norgarthan's will lose one more ship to the fires of the Brotherhood."

  "But the admiral?"

  "Marc will not let me suffer," answered Kailmax, guessing what his lieutenant was planning though he could not see what was happening. "Go."

  Marc gave Jack his Norgarthan longsword, then turned and threw the lamp against the far wall of the hold. It shattered, splashing hot oil everywhere and the flames spread quickly. Braedan hesitated for a second, then with sword in one hand and knife in the other, mounted the stairs leading out of the hold. He stopped halfway up and turned to look one last time at the two pirates. Marc was on his knees speaking quietly Kailmax. The admiral nodded and Marc stood, placing the point of his knife over Jon Kailmax' heart. He closed his eyes and plunged the blade into his chest. Admiral Kailmax stiffened, then his head fell forward and he was dead. The captain of the Council Guard had rendered his last service to the leader of the Free Brothers of the Sea.

  Braedan turned and raced out of the hold. Emerging on to the deck of the Sword of Urgiss, he ran headlong into the Norgarthan officer he and Marc had encountered when they first boarded the ship. The man stumbled backwards from the violent collision and fell at the feet of a startled, gray haired officer who had been following closely behind him.

  “What the hell is going on here?” he demanded.

  Jack barely heard him, his attention fixed on the other man with them. The gaze of the black robed priest locked on Braedan and he felt a revolting darkness probe his mind. When he recoiled in horror from the sickening touch, their eyes met and the priest’s flew open in recognition. Braedan sensed a wave of dark power welling up in the other man, evil and deadly, but before the magician could unleash the force he was gathering, Braedan leapt forward and drove the Norgarthan long-sword to the hilt in his chest.

  The black robed priest fell to his knees, both hands grasping the sword hilt, and began chanting in an unearthly, guttural voice. Instead of blood flowing from the gaping wound, an eerie red glow began to seep between his fingers clinched around the hilt. The red glow deepened, then began to pulse as if in harmony with the priest’s chant. To Braedan’s amazement, the sorcerer smiled up at him, still chanting, and began to pull the sword from his chest.

  Before he could complete his…healing…Braedan struck again, finishing the job. Drawing his doubled bladed dagger, he stepped up to the sorcerer and grabbed him by his hair. With snarl of pure animal fury, he drove the dagger deep into his left eye. The chanting stopped as the priest stiffened. With a violent shudder, he fell over dead.

  “Seize him!” the gray-haired officer shouted, backing away from Braedan with a terrified scramble. “One hundred gold Dinara for his head!”

  Luckily, there was no one close enough to collect on the bounty. The nearest Norgarthan sailor was fifty feet away on the quarter-deck. Braedan gave the officer a contemptuous glare and walked calmly to the ship’s railing. Without looking back, Jack mounted the railing and dove into the dark water, twenty feet below.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Last Voyage of the Seawolf

  Jack surfaced far from the Norgarthan warship, wiping s
ea water from his eyes as he treaded water. There was no one at the railing on the Sword of Urgriss searching the bay for him. The crew of the Norgarthan dreadnought had bigger concerns. Smoke could be seen billowing from port holes and shouts of “fire!” could be heard loudly across the water. He did not think anyone would quench the blaze now roaring in the belly of the ship. Lieutenant Marc would see to that with his dying breath. With grim determination, he began to swim toward the distant shore.

  Conserving his energy, it took him almost thirty minutes to swim the half mile to the eastern side of the bay. Tired and exhausted, he struggled on the rocky beach. It had to be nearing three in the morning, but his journey was only beginning. Jack climbed silently out of the water and began to make his way to the outskirts of Brimcohn. Keeping to the shadows as he avoided looting Norgarthans and the last few hapless survivors of the doomed pirate city with equal caution.

  It took him another hour to make it to the edge of the meadow behind Kaiddra’s villa. The moon had set and night was pitch dark at this late hour. He approached the rally point with caution, knowing Belizet and the other two crewmen would be wary of anyone nosing around the estate. He was only a few feet into the trees when he felt the tip of a knife press against his throat.

  “It’s me,” Jack whispered.

  “I was beginning to worry, sir,” Belizet answer just as quietly from the darkness, removing the tip of the knife from his throat. “Where’s Marc? What’s happening down there?”

  Braedan leaned against the truck of a tree to rest. As three shadows gathered around him, he recounted to his fellow crewmen all he had seen and what had taken place in the hold of the Sword of Urgiss. The men lowered their heads in respect when he related how Jon “Bloody Max” Kailmax and Marc had met their end.

  “I’m sorry about Captain Kaiddra,” Belizet said quietly, when his tale was finished. “She was a fine officer and a finer woman. The seas will never know her like again.”

  “What do we do now, sir?” Camin Willim asked. “Our city is burnt and our Brotherhood is dead.”

  “The Brotherhood lives as long as we live,” Jack replied wearily. “We get back to the Seawolf and get the hell away from the Felnors.”