by Jeremy Dwyer
When Derek arrived in the vicinity of the northern palace, he entered the military barracks nearby, and went to the entrance of the headquarters building – which was an imposing rectangular granite fortress, though much smaller than the regal palace nearby. He spoke to the guard standing outside that entrance and said: “Civilian Perimeter Guard: Light Scout Derek. I must give an account of a hostile maneuver.”
One of the guarding officers then entered the headquarters building and approached General Povaximus, saying: “General, a Civilian Perimeter Light Scout has arrived to give a report of a hostile maneuver.”
“Send him in,” General Povaximus said.
The guard then went out to escort Derek into the headquarters building and brought him to the general.
“What is your account, civilian light scout?” General Povaximus asked.
“An attack against a navy ship, in the Zovvin Ocean. The target was the Silver Condor frigate escorting two (2) galleons. These were burned, with no signs of wreckage or survivors. The enemy ship was the Obliteration,” Derek said.
“Who was on board the Obliteration?” General Povaximus asked.
“Unclear, General. The crew was partially hidden, by some power, but not darkness, for my light would have seen through that,” Derek said.
“Dismissed. Return to your post, civilian scout,” General Povaximus said.
As ordered, Derek left and made the journey back the way that he came.
~~~
General Povaximus knew what this attack meant – he had received reports of that ship. The Obliteration belonged to pirates, and particularly bold ones who would attack a navy ship. What bothered him most was that the galleons were burned, rather than captured. That made little sense to him. He feared what would happen when he gave his report, but he had to face his superior.
He then left the military barracks and approached the regal palace – home to King Xander – and met with the king’s guards at the main entrance. He said to them: “I seek an audience with the king.”
“Do you bring good news or ill?” one of the guards asked.
“I bring a difficult question, and perhaps His Majesty will be so gracious as to share his wisdom,” General Povaximus said.
The guard then allowed the general to enter the palace and wait in the opulent receiving room with its carvings of blue sapphire falcons and the large gold coins and the key.
One of the king’s heralds – the woman named Aura – was waiting there.
“Greetings, General. What concerns you so that you wish to be in the presence of His Majesty, King Xander?” Aura asked.
“I bring a question,” General Povaximus said.
“You are a general. You should have answers, should you not?” Aura asked.
“The King is wiser than I,” General Povaximus said.
“Indeed. Yet, you have a look of concern about you. Is your question about the extent of his mercy upon those who fail him? He has none, you know,” Aura said.
“May I ask His Majesty my question?” General Povaximus asked.
“Tell me your question, General, and I will bring it to him. I am more pleasing to his ears and his eyes than you could ever hope to be, so as to soothe his anger at the report of failure that your question and demeanor seem to indicate,” Aura said.
“My question is this: when can I have more ships and crew in the Zovvin Ocean to protect our trade route to Revod?” General Povaximus said.
“How many ships were lost?” Aura asked. She didn’t trust the man, and knew that his presence signified a report of difficulty for the kingdom.
“A frigate and two (2) galleons, intending to trade a mixture of gems for platinum. All crew and ships and cargo were lost,” General Povaximus said.
“By what enemy were these ships destroyed?” Aura asked.
“Pirates, sailing a vessel known as the Obliteration. They were partly hidden, but not by darkness, as the light scout who reported this would have seen through to them,” General Povaximus said.
“I will report this failure to His Majesty. He will decide how you will be destroyed,” Aura said.
Aura then left the receiving room and entered the throne room, closing the doors behind her and ascending the steps.
She drank anew of the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean from her vial so that her voice would be enchanting and please the ears of the king, even if the news would trouble him.
“Why do you approach me, Aura?” King Xander asked.
“I wish to tell you of the general’s report,” Aura said, in a musical voice that was smooth and pleasant, but not like a song, for she did not wish to inappropriately convey the ill news.
“What is his report, Aura?” King Xander asked.
“Ships have been lost in the Zovvin Ocean. A frigate and the two (2) galleons it escorted, on a trade route to the Jenaldej Empire,” Aura said.
“It is a small matter,” King Xander said.
“They were to trade gems for platinum,” Aura said.
“Are you suggesting that I am wrong to think it a small matter?” King Xander asked.
“I am not saying such a thing. I am asking what we should do to General Povaximus for his failure,” Aura said.
“How were the ships lost?” King Xander asked.
“Piracy,” Aura said.
“How large a fleet of pirate ships went against our frigate?” King Xander asked.
“The general named a single ship: the Obliteration,” Aura said.
“This is a disappointment, of course, that a single ship could overpower our frigate. Of what, then, is our navy made? Is it of such a low caliber that a single pirate vessel should have an advantage over a warship and seize the galleons it escorted?” King Xander asked.
“The galleons were not seized. They were sunk. And the pirates were partly hidden, though not by darkness,” Aura said.
“Then this is not the work of a pirate,” King Xander said.
“Then the general is an even bigger fool that he does not know our enemy,” Aura said.
“Indeed. Pirates steal wealth voraciously. If it is in a form that they do not want, they sell it for what they do want. They would not sink the galleons,” King Xander said.
“What does this mean, Your Majesty?” Aura asked, confused.
“It means many things. First, we will need more ships, and more crew,” King Xander said.
“That is what the general was going to request. Does this mean that the failure is not a sign of his incompetence?” Aura said.
“That will be determined soon enough. Yet, his enemy is a greater threat than he realizes,” King Xander said.
“What do you mean, Your Majesty?” Aura asked.
“The ghost of Captain Tychon sails the seas, attacking ships and murdering the crew, spilling the treasure overboard. He exists only to kill for pleasure,” King Xander said.
“How do you know him, Your Majesty?” Aura asked.
“In the spirit world, when I recently awakened, I sensed his spirit, and watched him. No single ship is a match for him – not without a cunning strategy, or a measure of good luck,” King Xander said.
“Are you forgiving failure on the part of the general, Your Majesty?” Aura asked.
“Not all. I am trying to prevent it from recurring, and deny him an excuse to fail me again. Give the general his ships and crew. Your voice will call out to the people to direct them. The strong and stealthy will serve in the navy. Those with powers of light and emotion, song and crystal and stone, will serve me in other ways, according to how they were directed earlier,” King Xander said.
“Is there something more that I should tell them, Your Majesty?” Aura asked.
“Tell them to renew their commitment to serve me – to continue in their work more diligently than before. The light benders will dazzle. They are to create the monuments to fill the eyes with delight and inspire servitude. The telepathic will ensure that the visions are to be believed. The splendor of the kin
gdom will exist in their eyes and minds. The singers – led by you – will sing my praises and fill the senses with my majesty,” King Xander said.
“What of those who have powers of crystal and stone, Your Majesty?” Aura asked.
“The crystal benders will dig deep into the ground, until they find what I seek,” King Xander said.
“You mean the unified waters, Your Majesty?” Aura asked.
“Yes, the water unlike all others, which will give all powers to whomever drinks of it,” King Xander said.
“Is such a thing real or myth? That sounds too good to be true!” Aura asked.
“Do not doubt me! It is real. I am older than you know, and lived at the time when this greatest water was real, and then it was gone, because the powers of the water were divided by wrath into the thirteen (13) that now cover the world,” King Xander said.
“Only twelve (12) ocean waters have power. The thirteenth is the Dead Waters, and I know not of any power they give, Your Majesty,” Aura said.
“You are too new to understand the entire truth of the oceans. Leave me now and do as I ordered, and you will come to know these things in time,” King Xander said.
~~~
Aura left the throne room, mystified but hopeful that the king knew what he was doing. She entered the receiving room and spoke to General Povaximus, saying: “The king is troubled by your report. Yet, he did not demand your death. Instead, you will have your ships and your crew. Follow me.”
General Povaximus followed Aura, relieved that the king would not only spare his life, but would give him the reinforcements that he had requested. After that, he knew that failure would mean his execution, because he would have no further excuses.
Aura drank anew of the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean and was energized. Once outside of the palace, she led General Povaximus into a nearby town.
Upon arriving in that town, Aura began to speak in a powerful musical voice, relaying the orders of King Xander, saying: “Those with strength and stealth shall serve in our navy to deal defeat to our enemies, and they shall avail their ships to His Majesty, King Xander the Unfailing. Those with powers of light shall continue to inspire others by creating works of light and splendor. Those with powers of passion and thought shall continue to project their love for His Majesty into the hearts and minds of others. Those with powers over crystals and stone shall serve His Majesty in yet another way: you shall continue to dig into the ground and seek out the greatest of all waters: the single water which gives all powers. And those with the power of song shall continue to carry these words throughout the land.”
General Povaximus did not know what to make of the king’s directive – it sounded too fanciful to believe that a single water would give all powers, which was almost too good to be true. Life was about choices, and which water to drink – and, thus, which powers you would receive – was the defining choice of most lives. The thought of this occupied his mind.
Soon, however, something else occupied his mind, and his eyes, and his ears: larger and more magnificent structures began to appear, as people were obeying the sing-song orders that Aura had relayed from King Xander. They drank the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from their vials and were energized. They used the powers of light they had been given and created sculptures of light. Others drank of the Pirovalen Ocean waters from their vials and began to sing, inspiring the rest. Still others drank of the Elanatin Ocean waters from their vials and began to project emotions of love and gratitude toward the king.
Others heard these orders – and were influenced by the powers of light, song and emotion – and so they drank of the Nabavodel Ocean waters from their vials, giving them strength and speed. Still more obeyed and drank of the Ikkith Tar Ocean waters from their vials, giving them the powers of darkness and stealth. Both of these groups came to serve General Povaximus and enlist as naval officers.
Another group also heard these orders – and were further influenced by the powers of light, song and emotion put into effect around them – and so they drank of the Kazofen Ocean waters from their vials, giving them power over stone and crystal. They began working the ground, breaking stone and digging, continuing in their search for the water that had all powers as Aura had said, and as the king had directed them earlier.
CHAPTER 12: Secret of Darkness of Stars and Spirits
Governor Lux found Duchess Uliana’s presence and authority to be intrusive, but in no way was this cause to neglect the daily activities of the central bank, which depended on an influx of wealth. Payments on loans were a steady revenue stream. However, they were associated with risks of nonpayment, and there were expenses related to collection. These risks had to be priced into the interest rates charged and the originating fees for the loans to make it worthwhile. If the fees or rates were too high, then borrowers would seek out private lenders willing to assume the risk of extending the loan at a lower price. This meant that the central bank had to be cautious in its pricing; however, Duchess Uliana was issuing orders about loan rates that countermanded some of Lux’s own experienced guidance. Therefore, true growth would depend on the occasional irregular income, and Lux knew of several alternative opportunities.
He operated out of the Trading Center Five building on Haza’Kedro’Maral Island. He had dozens of staff members consisting of clerks and statisticians and financial analysts – many of them drinkers of the Medathero Ocean waters for the calm logic it instilled in them to enable precise reasoning. They were always busy with calculating risks and returns on different income streams on various stocks and bonds and other funds, but they did not know how to originate the income. Lux, however, was expert in all of these matters.
Governor Lux summoned one of his clerks to his office and asked: “Who is the bank’s most effective collection agent in recent months?”
“We have several who could be called primary, but most of them are on assignment. One of them is currently available – he is a strong man named Murtagh, who travels with a small crew of (4) on a vessel known as the Salamander,” the clerk said.
“Then bring me Murtagh. Take this to get his attention,” Governor Lux then said and handed a pouch containing nine (9) platinum coins to the clerk.
~~~
The clerk – a young man who was capable in many minor tasks, and entirely trustworthy because of the fear that had been instilled in him – dutifully left the building, went to the nearby seaport and looked for the man known as Murtagh. He moved quickly through the crowds of people entering and leaving the island, knowing very well what the strong man looked like. When he saw the scars, the round face, the broad shoulders and the six (6) foot four (4) inch frame, he approached the man and said: “Excuse me, do you have a few minutes?”
“If you pay me to listen, I do,” Murtagh said. He was forty-five (45) years old and his entire body showed the wear and tear of years of treasure hunting and armed conflict necessary to acquire and defend his acquisitions. This had been his way of life since he was nineteen (19), and it was all he knew how to do. The Nabavodel Ocean waters flowed through him, making him swift and strong, but often faced others with ample fighting prowess so as to leave him with battle scars, even though he bested them in the fight.
The clerk handed the pouch of platinum coins over to Murtagh, who then opened the pouch and counted them, saying: “Only nine (9) coins? Make it quick.”
Murtagh grabbed the small clerk by the arm and pulled him to the side. Four (4) other men joined Murtagh and surrounded the clerk.
“The Governor wishes to speak with you,” the clerk said.
“Which governor?” Murtagh asked. He had dealt with several bank governors, as he had performed many collection assignments, mixed in with his other expeditions. Collection on bank debt – big bank debt, with a hefty collection fee – was just another way to bring in money, and Murtagh was very good at it.
“Governor Lux,” the clerk whispered, hoping not to draw too much attention.
“There had bet
ter be more than this when we get there. Nine (9) lousy coins doesn’t buy much of my time,” Murtagh said.
“I trust that you will be compensated for your time,” the clerk said.
“You better hope so, or I’ll sell you as cattle feed to the farmers,” Murtagh said.
“I’ll take you to him now, if you’re ready,” the clerk said.
“We’re ready,” Murtagh said.
The clerk led the way, moving quickly from the seaport to the Trading Center Five building, with Murtagh and the other four (4) men following closely. They were mostly stronger and faster than the clerk, who was nervous the entire way.
When they arrived at the Trading Center Five building, another clerk was waiting and said: “Governor Lux will see you in his office.” That clerk then pointed to a doorway leading into another room.
The clerk who led them from the seaport then hurried over to his own desk and lowered his head to look at his papers, hoping to be forgotten by Murtagh and his cohorts.
~~~
Murtagh and the four (4) men who followed him went into the indicated room and saw an elderly man in his sixties – clean-shaven with gray hair – sitting on the floor rather than in a chair that was next to a large desk with a metal box on top of it. A chandelier of thirty-six (36) candles hung from the ceiling, illuminating the room.
