Rune of the Apprentice (The Rune Chronicles)

by Jamison Stone

  “Sixty meters long, nine and a half wide, and thirty-six tall,” the officer said proudly, his thumbs hooking into his belt. “She’s got just shy of thirty crew, and with a strong wind her one thousand square meters of sail can fly us faster than any on Terra.”

  “Sir, are you the boatswain?” Aleksi asked.

  “Indeed, I am,” the man responded in a thick Western accent. “The name’s Valen. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Aleksi. Welcome aboard the Illusive Diamond.”

  Suddenly, the ship hit a large swell and Aleksi had to take a step backward to steady himself. “The pleasure is mine,” Aleksi continued, as salty spray noisily rained down about them. “The boatswain . . . that makes you in charge of deck activities, rigging, and the handling of the sails, correct?”

  “Indeed. It is my duty to reconnoiter the ship every morning, inspecting her lines, sails, and other equipment to make sure there was no damage in the dark of the night prior.”

  “You even take note of the supply stores, correct?”

  “You know a lot for your first time at sea, m’boy. Especially for a green eyes,” Valen said, chuckling. “The captain was right about you, it seems.”

  “Oh, well, I read a lot . . . and—”

  “No need for explanations, lad,” Valen said, patting Aleksi on the shoulder. “When each of us joined the Illusive Diamond, our pasts were forgiven and forgotten. A man makes his own destiny upon the open ocean.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “But I’m sure you are hungry,” Valen continued, his tone lightening. “Let’s find you some food before the captain draws us all together and begins the service for the fallen.”

  After Aleksi finished eating, he joined the large gathering assembled on the main deck. Most present were standard seamen, but Aleksi also saw the crew’s officers along with Fa’ell and the wounded Lionman, too. All present were waiting, with an air of silent rumination, for Domadred to emerge from the navigation room.

  Coming closer, Aleksi saw Marlen, the ship’s doctor, standing above the corpses of the fallen. Each was wrapped in fresh sailcloth, yet their faces were left exposed to the morning air. Through the crowd, Aleksi could see several of the dead men. Their skin was pale and their expressions were blank. One corpse had a wide gash in his face from one cheekbone across to his opposite jaw. The wound, however, was closed and a series of stitches rejoined the dead man’s carved flesh.

  Aleksi swallowed hard. An image of Mindra’s Square and the soldier with a blade embedded in his skull flashed through the youth’s mind. A wave of nausea quickly followed, and, clenching his bandaged fist, Aleksi forcibly pushed the memory away.

  Looking up at the intricately carved wood of the navigation room’s windowed double doors, Aleksi saw movement from within. Opening the doors, Domadred deliberately strode out of his cabin. The captain’s folded knee-high boots rang on the wooden deck with each step. He held an elaborately bound book and, in the manner of the Thalassocratic fleet, wore an ornate dark-blue vest inlaid with silver stitching.

  Pausing at the quarterdeck, Domadred cast a compassionate eye over his crew standing at attention. Aleksi saw Kefta was slow to turn, however. The young man had been looking at the corpse with the slashed face, and Aleksi thought he saw tears glisten in Kefta’s eyes as he turned to face his captain.

  “Men,” Domadred said in a strong voice, “this is a dark day despite the warmth of the Zenith rays. We have lost brothers. Brothers who gave their lives defending the Illusive Diamond—their family and their home. All of the fallen were with the Diamond, with me, before Lenhal stole our honor away. Our seamen Ranet, Vanmar, Yaeral, Warr, and Kail, and even Narem, our master gunner, and”—Domadred’s voice faltered and his eyes flashed to Kefta—“and Rihat, our quartermaster.

  “High Arkai Aruna has once again taken more members of my family into his eternal embrace. And regardless of whether it was Pa’laer treachery or Asura infiltrating the Eastern High Council Honor Guard that killed them, I take full responsibility. However, I also will not waver from our noble mission. We will purge Lenhal and his wretched filth from our great fleet, and the Illusive Diamond will retake her rightful place in the noble Thalassocracy of the West!” The crew cheered openly, bitterly cursing Lenhal, the prime admiral of the Thalassocracy. Domadred allowed their shouts to go on a moment before he continued.

  “But first, we must turn our attention to our fallen brothers. Together, we must usher their souls into the waiting arms of High Arkai Aruna on the Western Zenith.” Domadred solemnly walked over to the seven men wrapped in sailcloth. Aleksi felt the mood of the ship shift as the crew bowed their heads and folded their hands over their hearts.

  Domadred read aloud from his ornate book. “High Arkai Aruna, preserve these souls in your holy abode atop the Western Zenith so that they may rejoin the great ocean that is Numina. These mortals faithfully served your will, dying valiantly to protect their holy home of Terra. So we call upon you today, like countless days before, to hold true to your promise made so many ages past. We beseech you, holy Guardian and divine father of the West; please lead these souls back to their rightful home.”

  With hands still crossed over their hearts, the sailors bowed low. As they stood back up, they stretched their arms toward the corpses. With their palms facing the fallen, the crew spoke in unison. “We cast your bodies back to the sea from which they came. But your souls, brothers, ride on Guardians’ wings to the Western Zenith . . .”

  When the chant was complete, several deckhands ceremoniously stitched the sailcloth over the corpses’ faces. One by one, they slid the bodies over the ship’s side. The cloth bags were weighted with a cannonball each and entered the water with a hollow splash before disappearing beneath the cobalt waves.

  When the last body was ritually cast into the sea, Domadred turned to face the crew again. “It saddens me deeply, but now we come to the business of voting in new officers. As you know, we have two openings—the position of master gunner and that of quartermaster. Like always, the officers and I will make our nominations, and the crew will shout their vote. If any say nay, a new nomination will be deliberated and presented for your approval.”

  The officers walked up and stood at Domadred’s side as he continued. “First we will vote the master gunner.” There was a long pause before Domadred continued. “A knowledgeable master gunner is essential. We have chosen a man who has served as gunner on the Diamond for battles aplenty, and nominate seaman Mareth Yerana for the crew’s consideration!”

  There was much nodding and whispering among the crew, and a sailor Aleksi assumed to be Mareth came forward. He was an older man, hair bleached by the Zenith or just white with age. Mareth’s face seemed to have weathered many a storm at sea, and his hands were permanently stained black from his long use of fire powder. His blue eyes, however, shone bright and clear, and as the sailor stood proudly facing the crew, Aleksi could see this was a man of noble character.

  “What say you, men?” Domadred shouted. “All for, signify by saying aye!”

  “Aye!” The vote came in one thunderous roar of unanimity.

  “Mareth,” Domadred said officially, “you have been charged with the commanding and safekeeping of the Diamond’s guns and ammunition. Do you swear to lead the gunners in times of battle and of peace?”

  “I do, Captain!” Mareth said in a voice strong and throaty.

  “Then before the divine eye of Arkai Aruna, I, Domadred Steele, captain of the Illusive Diamond, so declare that you, Mareth Yerana, are now an officer of this mighty ship, serving as her master gunner!”

  In response, the crew gave a wild shout.

  “Now,” Domadred continued, “we must choose the quartermaster.”

  The crew hushed and all eyes flashed to Kefta. The young man stood awkwardly off to one side with his face downcast. The seamen then returned to their places and Mareth went over and stood next to the other officers. There was a long silence before Domadred spoke again.

&nb
sp; “Words cannot describe the loss we suffered when Rihat fell. He was a brother to me and a brother to you all. However, to his apprenticing mate, the quartermaster was more than just a brother of the sea—he was a brother by blood. As you all know, Rihat and his young apprentice were born of the same mother and father. Men, this youth’s loss far exceeds our own. For other than the family of this crew, Rihat was the last kin this lad had—the last of his blood.”

  Domadred paused before continuing. “We all knew that one day this young mate would succeed Rihat. And I know in your hearts you were proud to see that so. But I also know what you are thinking now. You are thinking it’s too soon. The lad is too young to have such responsibility. And men, sadly, you are right. It is far too soon for him to ascend to this role. In truth, this sailor is a brash and foolhardy youth, and I’m certain he has gotten himself into more trouble due to his sharp tongue than any three men aboard combined. Despite this, I’m also certain there is no better sailor to replace our former quartermaster than his own apprentice.”

  Domadred then turned to face Kefta. “Men, it was Kefta who saved my life yesterday. It was that young sailor who knew my thoughts before I could even speak them. By throwing me the sounding line, Kefta showed us all that he knows his captain and ship as deeply as he knows himself. This is what we need from a quartermaster. We need a man to whom we can implicitly entrust our lives. A man who is fearless and persevering, and whose mind is as sharp as a diamond! I say Kefta Vanarus is that man. Therefore, I submit him as my recommendation of new quartermaster and acting second-in-command of the Illusive Diamond!”

  The crew was silent. There were only the sounds of wind and wave as Kefta stepped forward and approached the other officers. Kefta’s eyes were still downcast, and the hush stretched on as the young man glanced over to where the body of his hewn brother had lain only moments before.

  Finally, Kefta turned to face the crew. A look of fierce pain was etched into his youthful features and two silent tears ran down his cheeks. Kefta swallowed hard and slowly stood to his full height. The young man’s face suddenly changed. It grew stronger and more assured—more confident. His blue gaze then scanned the crew before him. Although red from his tears, Kefta’s sharp eyes glistened in the Zenith’s light. They were piercing and powerfully beautiful. As Kefta looked at the men before him, most of whom were double his age, Aleksi saw in the young man’s gaze the awakened strength of a leader of nations.

  “So what say you, crew?” Domadred shouted, shattering the silence. “Aye or nay?”

  There was no hesitation, not even a second’s falter—the entire crew shouted a unanimous “Aye!”

  Kefta’s face lit up as he choked back more tears. The men then surrounded the new quartermaster and embraced him with congratulations and cheers. Although his face bore a smile, it was obvious that all Kefta could think of was his brother, Rihat. As the crew and officers of the Illusive Diamond surrounded him in their loving embraces, the young man broke down into sobs, mourning the death of one true brother.

  “We have yet to swear him in,” Marlen, the ship’s doctor, shouted. “Get back in formation, men!” The sailors reluctantly stepped back, leaving Kefta to face Domadred with swollen eyes.

  “Kefta,” Domadred said in an official tone, “you have been granted a very important responsibility. You hereby are charged with maintaining order on the ship, settling quarrels, and distributing work, prize, and punishment. You are to oversee the crew’s hand-to-hand and bladed combat training and lead all boarding parties. You are to act as witness to any and all duels, ensuring that they are fair and just. You are to uphold the Thalassocratic Law of the Sea and, when needed, administer punishment to the guilty. Kefta, do you vow to do these things? To be my right hand and honor this ship as your own?”

  “I do, Captain!”

  “Then before the divine eye of High Arkai Aruna, I, Domadred Steele, captain of the Illusive Diamond, so declare that you, Kefta Vanarus, are now an officer of this mighty ship, serving as her quartermaster and my first mate!”

  Once again, cheers went up from the crew, but Domadred silenced them all with a sharp whistle. “Quartermaster Kefta, your first order of business is to provide retribution to Fa’ell, our honored guest from the South-Western Isles of Sihtu. In accordance with the Law of the Sea, I expect you to oversee punishment to the one who sullied her honor and instigated dissention in a port in which the Diamond made berth.”

  The crew looked at the captain confusedly but Kefta nodded his head.

  “Lady Fa’ell,” Kefta said, looking over to her and Nara, who stood by the starboard gunwale. “Please come forth and aid me in the administration of punishment.”

  Fa’ell looked at Nara uncertainly but Nara nodded with a slight smile. Fa’ell then slowly walked to Kefta with her hand gently resting on the whip strapped to her leather armor.

  “Men,” Kefta continued, “please prepare the mainmast for a lashing.” Four deckhands quickly laced two lines through a metal ring that hung on the mast. They then tied nooses on the lines’ ends where the punished’s wrists were to be bound. Holding the lines, they awaited the whipped to be called forth.

  “Lady Fa’ell, as you are the party wronged, I will trust in your judgment as to the severity and duration of the whipping.” Fa’ell nodded slowly. “And, as you are a proud warrior from the Pa’alna clan, I trust in your martial ability to administer the punishment in my stead. Show no mercy or quarter. Is that understood?”

  Fa’ell nodded again as murmurs rippled through the crew. “Dr. Marlen,” Kefta continued, as he walked to the mainmast and removed his shirt, “please come and oversee the lashing. It will be difficult for me to see from behind.” As Kefta inserted his wrists into the nooses, several members of the crew protested.

  Marlen came to stand beside Fa’ell as Kefta shouted out to the crew. “At attention, men! As your newly appointed quartermaster, I hereby sentence myself, Kefta Vanarus, to a lashing for unprovokedly sullying the honor of a lady, while also creating dissention and discord in a port where the Diamond was moored. Under article twenty-three of the Thalassocratic Law of the Sea, I thereby sentence myself to the appropriate punishment!”

  He turned around and offered his back to Fa’ell. What had once been confused protests from the crew turned into shaking heads. “Men,” Kefta continued, “pull the ends of the lines taut so as to prevent the whipped from falling.” Kefta then put a biting block in his mouth and raised his arms.

  The deckhands pulled the lines, and Kefta’s chest was drawn to the mast with his arms locked straight above his head. “Lady Fa’ell!” Kefta shouted through his biting block. “You may commence!” The sound of tethered whip or cracker did not come. Instead, there was only the silence of the sea. “Lady Fa’ell,” Kefta shouted again, “I implore you—”

  But before he could say more, there was a sharp crack and Kefta’s back arched violently. Red blossomed on the young man’s shoulder blades, and Domadred slowly nodded.

  “Son,” Domadred whispered under his breath as crack after crack cut through the morning breeze, “your brother would be proud. You have truly earned the right to call yourself quartermaster. Welcome to the ranks of the officers.”

  After the whipping ended, Kefta supplied Fa’ell with additional apologies and the crew went back to their daily responsibilities. As Marlen finished cleaning Kefta’s lash wounds, Domadred walked to the mizzenmast.

  “Well done,” Domadred said, helping Kefta to stand.

  “Thank you, Captain. You have given me a great honor.”

  Domadred chuckled. “Well, there was no way you were going to make good on our bet with the lousy salary I pay low-ranking mates.”

  Kefta looked at Domadred with wide eyes.

  “I jest, son. I jest! The crew chose you because we know not only what you are capable of, but more importantly, what you have already done to prove yourself. You have earned this, Kefta—all of this, actually.” Domadred then reached behind Kefta’s
back and inspected the young man’s bloody lashings. “But from here on out, let’s try and keep the contravenes to a minimum, OK?”

  “Yes, sir. I’m sorry.”

  “No need to be sorry, son. You paid your debt with honor. This not only makes the Diamond proud, but makes me proud to be her captain. But even more important than all of that, Kefta, your actions have made your brother Rihat proud.”

  CHAPTER XIV

  Finding he had little to do aboard ship, Aleksi explored the upper deck. From bow to stern, the Illusive Diamond had four open decks—the foredeck, main deck, quarterdeck, and even a small stern deck above the navigation room and captain’s cabin.

  Aleksi walked along the main deck and moved forward toward the bow. The main deck was home to the mainmast and was by far the largest of the four upper decks. Possessing much room for the crew to move about and tend to their duties, its long surface spanned the middle of the ship and also took up much of the Diamond’s length as well. As Aleksi kept moving, he saw a crew member go down a hatch. Although Aleksi had yet to see most of them, he assumed the lower decks within the ship each had specific multiuse purposes, providing multiple levels on which the crew could work, store tools and supplies, or congregate and lounge.

  When he had boarded, Aleksi had noticed that directly below the main deck was the gun deck. He remembered seeing nine gun ports on the starboard side and assumed there were an equal number on the port side as well. Aleksi had read that the gun deck was a large open space where the crew spent the vast majority of their time when not on duty. Usually it housed not only the armaments but also the crew’s sleeping hammocks. In addition, there were typically collapsible tables and benches for eating and leisure. Beneath the gun deck, there were always additional layers of cargo holds, housing barrels of water and various other compartments for goods and payloads, too.