“Not knowing the minds of any of the red sorcerers, it’s hard to say,” Hadaras began, “but we think that those men became evil first, then were drawn to the chaotic nature of the red. The Adversary was capable of using any form he wished, but he invariably chose the red for the destructive power of it.”
“And this new maroon power you describe, it’s not destructive as well? It seems like you destroyed a troop of goblins pretty effectively.”
“It’s not so much destructive as powerful,” Hadaras explained. “I could use the blue power that is available to my kind, to move a boulder the size of a house, but it would require great effort and I would be exhausted after a short time. I could, however, slice the same boulder in two, with great precision. A wielder of red could do the same with little effort, but would require intense concentration and control to avoid pulverizing the boulder in the process. Aleron’s maroon power combines the precision of the blue, with the power of the red. He could take the same boulder and hurl it over the mountain, if he wished.”
Faergas looked across the table to Aleron, his eyes like liquid onyx, below bushy black brows. “Now that’s some power, lad. With power like that, a man needs self-control and strong character. Otherwise, it takes control of you, instead of the other way around and you crave more and more power. That’s how a ruler becomes a tyrant and that’s not a path you want to tread. Do you believe you have the character to handle what you have been blessed with, lad?”
“I hope so,” Aleron answered, not nearly as confident as he was a few moments before.
“The boy has a kind and generous heart, Faergas,” Hadaras interjected. “If anyone can handle this power, it’s young Aleron here,” he reassured the dwarvish king.
“I hope you are right, my friend. He does seem like a good hearted lad,” he replied to Hadaras and then to Aleron said, “Don’t worry lad, you’ll do fine,” in answer to the worried look in Aleron’s eyes.
“He’ll do fine, as long as he’s not rushed onto that throne,” Hadaras replied.
“Agreed, there will be no mention of it from this quarter, I can assure you. All in due time.”
“Now, my friend, enough about us and our business,” Hadaras stated, to shift the conversation, “how have you been? You don’t seem a day older that when I last saw you.
“I don’t feel a day older either and it’s beginning to worry me,” the dwarf answered. “I’m sixty six and I don’t feel a day over forty. I should be old and gray by now, with a beard to my ankles. Instead, I’m still running about, smashing troll skulls like a youngster.”
“Do you mind if I check?” Hadaras asked the king.
“Certainly, check all you want. I’m surprised you haven’t already.”
Hadaras laid his hand upon the king’s shoulder and concentrated a moment. Upon opening his eyes again, he exclaimed, “You are, not a day over forty. I think that Aelient I expulsed thirty years ago made some changes in you. She must have had some long range plans for you, because you have nearly ceased to age.”
“You mean I’m going to live forever, like you? Gods no.”
“It does appear to be the case, my friend. Not so much forever, but you are ageing more like an elf than a dwarf.”
“How could an aelient have done something like that, Grandfather?” Aleron inquired, momentarily interrupting the flow of the conversation. “I thought that only the Allfather and maybe the Aelir had access to the white magic.”
“Good question, my boy,” the old elf conceded, “but all forms of magic have multiple applications,” he explained. “I can still destroy with the blue, for instance, but it destroys with great precision. It’s not so much that she transformed the king into something else. It’s more like she made some subtle adjustments, making him more elf-like, than he was before.” Speaking to Faergas, he said, “Since dwarves are already a long-lived race, she was likely to have better long-term results than if she had attempted the same on a man.”
“Well, I better figure out what I’m going to do for the next couple thousand years then. I don’t think I can get away with being spry in my old age for much longer.” The king continued, on a different tack, “I think I’ve held you up for long enough. Time to get you to your quarters and a hot bath. The smell of the road lies heavy upon you, no offense.”
“None taken, my friend,” Hadaras replied, “we would welcome a hot bath.”
“Good then, I’ll have you shown to your rooms. You will find some light victuals there, as well as a steaming hot tub. I’ll see you for dinner.” With that, they arose and left the chamber. Upon exiting, Faergas said, “Ulrick, please show these gentlefolk to their chambers.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” the High Chamberlain replied and then gestured for them to follow and saying, “My Lords, please follow me and I will get you settled in.”
Chapter 21
Gurlachday, Day 7, Squash Moon, 8760 Sudean Calendar
Captain Baruk stood in the antechamber to the High Admiral’s office, in dry clothes, with his spare sword and new boots he was not intending to put into service yet. Now I need to buy a new backup sword and boots. It was mid-afternoon. After his rescue, Velin, the Marshal of the City Guard debriefed him on the morning’s incident in which his ships were lost. Upon hearing the details, the Marshal left to consult with the Grand Marshal Haldor. A bell or so later, the Marshal returned with the news that Baruk would make himself presentable, as they would be meeting with High Admiral Kor in two bells. The Marshals had been in the office for over a bell, along with the Grand Admiral, he found out from the orderly stationed at the door. As a closed society, Thallasia is little known to the outside world. Trader ships ply the Kolixtlani Sea to Kolixtlan and Adar, as well as the coast of Elmenia. Foreign ships, however, are not tolerated in their territorial waters. Most believe that piracy still reigns when in fact, Thallasia has become a meritocracy, ruled by a military government. Never having had any aristocracy, they were loath to invent the concept when they progressed from anarchy to governance. The High Admiral, Kor was the son of a goatherd, is the supreme commander of the Thallasian people, with the Grand Admiral and Grand Marshal his second in command of naval and ground forces, respectively.
Marshal Velin stepped into the waiting area and stated, “Please come in Captain; they are ready for you now.” As a Captain, Baruk’s rank was approximately equal to that of the Marshal.
“Thank you Marshal,” he replied and strode smartly into the office, saluting the officers seated at the conference table. “Captain Baruk, reporting as ordered, High Admiral.”
“Come in Captain and have a seat. You’ve had an eventful morning,” High Admiral Kor answered as he returned the salute. “I assume you are familiar with Grand Admiral Lim and Grand Marshal Haldor?”
“Yes Sir and thank you,” he replied, dropping the salute and moving to take his seat, next to Marshal Velin.
“So, Captain Baruk, it’s not every day that I hear of someone fighting off a thrule,” Kor continued. “In fact, none of us has ever heard of it, but Marshal Velin saw you go under, then resurface. Please relate to us, in your own words, what happened.” Baruk recounted the event to his superiors, emphasizing the impression that he was purposely left for last, which allowed him time to prepare, unlike his hapless crew. Midway through the account, Kor asked, “Why did you choose to flame the ship, rather that attempt boarding, Captain?”
“Sir, when I saw them flying the Black Sun, I assumed there were wizards aboard and wished to take them by surprise. I hoped to destroy them before they had opportunity to react, Sir.”
“Good, that was a solid assessment Captain, but unfortunately they did react in time,” the High Admiral commented. “I believe the wizard on board likely read your intentions in your thoughts and was thus ready for you. Considering how he left you for last, as punishment it seems, he must have singled you out as the leader. Go on, Captain, continue.” Baruk continued his account, relating how the spotlights seemed to drive the thrule aw
ay. “Your story corroborates with what you briefed Marshal Velin and with what he witnessed from the lighthouse. Thank you, Captain, for your faithful service and please leave us for a few moments, while we discuss things. Do not leave, but stay in the waiting area. We will have need for you again.”
“Yes Sir,” Baruk replied, as he stood and rendered a salute. The High Admiral returned the salute and Baruk pushed his chair in, turned on his heel and left the office, without another word.
“Gentlemen, it appears we have an unprecedented situation on our hands,” Kor related to the assembled officers. “I have no intention of allowing the Nameless God dominion over our lands again, but it seems as we are likely to have a boatload of angry red wizards on our shores as soon as night falls.” The others nodded in agreement and the High Admiral went on, “We will need the Wizard’s Guild for this and we need to mobilize them quickly. Haldor, you are charged with this task. Contact the guild and negotiate a price. Brief them on the entire situation and try to impress upon them the necessity for quick action. Velin, you will coordinate the city defenses, of course. You will also coordinate with the wizards and emplace them in your formation. Go quickly; we will meet at the harbor a bell before dusk.” After the two men took their leave, he said to the Grand Admiral, “Lim, you and I have been friends for a long time, right?”
“Yes, Sir,” Lim replied, “we came up through the ranks together.”
“What I have for you, Lim, is a bit more difficult than what Haldor is tasked with, because it has never been done.” He waited for the acknowledgement in his friend’s eyes before continuing. “I need for you to establish the first Thallasian diplomatic corps.”
“The first what?” Lim asked, in astonishment. “We’re Thallasia; we have no diplomats.”
“Exactly my point and we need to get some quickly. Your first recruit is in the next room.”
“Captain Baruk, you mean? He has a stellar record up to this point, but he just lost three ships and ninety men this morning.”
“Yes, men were lost,” Kor replied, “but his decision was sound and his quick thinking saved his own life, at least. Choking a thrule with his sword, ha!, that was some quick thinking. He will be a liability if we leave him knocking about the city without a command, once the loss of his crew sinks in. I don’t want him anywhere near the harbor tonight, Lim. He’s likely to try something stupid if he sees that ship again.”
“I agree with you there, Kor. So, where are we sending our new diplomat?”
“We will send ships to Chu, Coptia and Castia, under the flag of truce, once we know more about this new threat. Those will be a relatively fast run, so you will have ample time to pick representatives and crew for those three missions. Your first priority will be to bring the good Captain up to speed and outfit him for his voyage to Sudea.
“Sudea,” Lim murmured, “do you think they will greet us as friends? We’ve been sinking each other’s ships on sight for four thousand years.”
“We have to hope that they will, my friend,” the High Admiral replied. “There’s a war coming and I want us to be on the right side this time. We need to put our old enmities aside and hope that our old adversaries are willing to do the same. For Sudea, I need a man who can think on his feet and make fast decisions under pressure. I need this for all our ambassadors, but especially Sudea. I believe the captain in the next room fills those requirements.”
The admirals stepped into the antechamber where Baruk and the orderly waited. Both snapped to attention when the superior officers entered. “Captain Baruk,” Kor began, “Grand Admiral Lim has a proposition for you, which I hope you will fully consider and accept.”
“Certainly, Sir, I will give it my utmost consideration,” Baruk replied.
“Good,” the High Admiral replied, clapping Baruk on the shoulder as he passed. “There is much for me to do this afternoon, so I will leave you in the capable hands of the Grand Admiral. Good day all.”
“Good day, Sir,” all three replied, saluting as their leader exited the room.
“Come with me to my office, Captain,” Lim directed, as he strode to the door. Baruk followed him out and fell into step to Lim’s left, as they continued down the hallway. He noticed the Grand Admiral carried a wrapped bundle, but thought better than to inquire about it. “In here,” Lim directed him to a door on the left. They entered an antechamber, identical to the one they had just left, complete with a nearly identical orderly, who snapped to attention as the Grand Admiral entered. “Relax Chilo,” Lim directed, “The Captain and I have some important matters to discuss. Let no one disturb us, unless they be the Grand Marshal or the High Admiral; am I understood?”
“Understood, Sir,” Chilo replied, then opened the door to the inner office. Lim’s office was only slightly smaller than Kor’s and was similarly Spartan in its furnishings. The admirals were lifelong seamen and tended not to over clutter their workspaces with unnecessary accoutrements.
After the door closed behind them, Lim turned to Baruk and asked, “So, how good is your Sudean?”
“Passable, Sir,” Baruk replied. “It’s not far off from Thallasian and I’ve had a bit of experience interrogating captured Sudeans.”
“Good, because you will need that if you accept our offer for a new position, just opening up.”
“A new position, Sir…of what sort?”
“Sort of a lateral promotion,” Lim began to explain. “Do you recognize this, Captain Baruk?” He unwrapped the bundle to reveal a cutlass of unfamiliar design, with an S-shaped cross-hilt of gold, rather than a full knuckle bow and a silver wire-wrapped dogleg grip. The heavy gold pommel was formed as a stylized osprey head, symbolizing Thallasia. The scabbard was of red dyed ray skin with silver fittings and bound in crisscrossing gold cord. Baruk thought it looked a bit gaudy, to say the least.
“No, Sir, I do not recognize that sword, should I?”
“No Captain, you shouldn’t, as it’s never been seen before, aside from the smith who made it and the High Admiral. He had these made as part of a plan he has had in the works for a time now.” Lim drew the sword partway from the scabbard, revealing a highly polished blade of watered steel. “This is an Ambassador’s Sword, a symbol of office for the Diplomatic Corps.”
“Diplomatic Corps?” Baruk questioned. “I didn’t know we had one, Sir.”
“We don’t, as of yet, Captain Baruk. How would you like to be the first member?” Lim asked and then went into explaining the High Admiral’s intentions, to the best of his knowledge. He finished by saying, “As an ambassador, you will be equivalent in rank to Admiral or Field Marshal and will report directly to the High Admiral. Eventually, as the corps grows, it will likely be necessary to appoint a Grand Ambassador, or some such equivalent and we will most likely promote to that position from within the corps. As envoy to Sudea, we expect yours to be the most challenging position of the original lot and as the first appointee, you will be senior to the others as well. Your star appears to be rising, despite the setback this morning Captain, or should I say Ambassador?” Lim held out the sword to Baruk, as he completed his spiel.
Baruk hesitated only a moment, before reaching out to grab the cutlass. He knew he would be stupid to balk at this opportunity, despite the unexpected nature of it. “Sir, I would be honored to accept this charge.” This appointment effectively catapulted him two ranks, despite the fact that he would not have even been up for Commodore for two more years, accelerating his career by at least eight years.
“No time to think on it Ambassador?” Lim remarked wryly as he relinquished the sword to Baruk. “I guess Kor was correct in his estimation of you; you certainly do make quick decisions.”
“I would have to be an idiot to pass it up, Sir and I hope it wouldn’t require additional thought for me to be an idiot,” Baruk replied, with just a hint of a smile.
Well put, Ambassador Baruk,” Lim said, with a laugh. “Now I need you to return to your quarters and get some rest. Report to me tomorrow,
one bell past dawn and we will begin planning your journey. One more thing, Ambassador, stay away from the waterfront this evening. That is a direct order from the High Admiral.
Walking across the courtyard to his apartment in the single officer’s quarters, he thought on the fortunes of the day, I started this morning commanding a Trident and now this evening, all my men are dead and I’m promoted. Somehow, it doesn’t feel right. I would give anything to go back to this morning. If I ever get my hands on that bastard of a red wizard, I’ll cut him to bits, slowly, starting with his fingertips. He thought then of the condolence letters, he would be needing to write, starting in the morning. Many of his men had families and he would need to assure they received compensation. Ambassador or not, he still needed to discharge his final duties as Captain. He knew exactly why he was forbidden to be at the harbor this evening. The red bastard would come back after sundown, with the spotlights then powerless to drive him off.
Chapter 22
Gurlachday, Day 7, Squash Moon, 8760 Sudean Calendar
Are you sure you wish to poke this nest, after all, Your Grace,” Nergui asked, as the elvish sailors lowered the gangplank to the dock. They sailed into the harbor of Corin unchallenged, which was suspicious enough and now the docks seemed deserted as well. The necromancer put out his feelers, but could sense not so much as a wharf rat in the vicinity. Torches guttered against the darkness, lighting well the docks, but nothing further in. “I don’t care for the fact that I can’t sense anything, living or dead here.”
“They may have tricks, necromancer and tricks are all they will amount to,” Zormat replied. “They will not withstand my power as I act in the name of the One True God.” Tenoch looked terrified, as was usual and Zormat was quickly becoming weary of the timid Kolixtlani priest. He was more weary of the sarcastic Adari, with his barbed comments, who just rolled his eyes, put on the stoic expression of one who expected to die soon and was at peace with the revelation. The son of the Nameless One drew his flaming sword and the black star tattooed on his forehead flared red at the edges, matching the crimson glow of the blade. He signaled his elves and the two men to follow him down the gangplank. “Be alert for signs of ambush,” he exhorted them. “They are likely to attempt something of the sort and I can sense nothing of their intentions. They are well masked, wherever they may be.” He was the first down the gangplank, his second behind him, followed by the men and a squad of twelve more sailors, armed with sword and shield. His first, along with a skeleton crew, remained on board to secure the ship. They hit the dock and rapidly fanned into a protective wedge, weapons and armor glittering with barely visible red energy from the latent power imbued unto them. Rigging snapped in the wind, still blowing strong, though the storm had passed to the north and masking any sounds that may have emanated from the apparently abandoned docks. Five paces up the dock and the red luminance of their weapons and armor winked out, Zormat’s included. The tattoo on his forehead went dark and he felt as though he had been punched in the midsection. His internal store of power disappeared in the space of a heartbeat. The others felt it as well and the formation halted suddenly. A bright blue tracery of energy suddenly rose about them
The Halfblood King: Book 1 of the Chronicles of Aertu Page 15
