The High King: A Tale of Alus

by Wigboldy, Donald

  "Captain Eris. What is your name, son of Turas?"

  "I am Gerid." The young man glanced at the cleared hall ruefully, "I am sorry that I ruined your party, Eris."

  He returned to Leoltus and Finneas then, the former still staring in unbelief at his chest wound. "Some of the men had spread a rumor about you, but I had taken it for just that. Warriors often tend to exaggerate about heroics and seem unkillable sometimes until the day they are killed, but you truly are. You said that you are a son of Turas, could you be?"

  Finneas snorted, but let Gerid answer.

  The giant smiled benignly and replied, "I don't truly know, my friend, but the story works as well as anything else for an explanation. All I know is that, if the gods didn't have something to do with this, then I haven't any other clue as to where it came from." He drained his mug of ale quickly and turned to the barkeeper who had returned cautiously from the kitchen beyond a wooden door. Gerid addressed him casually, "I smell something cooking back there. What food do you have?"

  The man ran in back returning shortly with plates of roasted fish that his wife had been cooking and served Gerid and the others. The man shyly slunk back to the other end of the bar and started shining a metal flagon as he watched the men warily. Leoltus watched Gerid as well though with curiosity more than anything else. As Gerid tore into the fish with a passion, the older man began, "Before you went over to the sailors, I noticed a special look in your eyes. I believe that I know you well enough to say that you weren't just going to pick a fight. Why...?" he asked leaving the question unfinished.

  "I'm thinking ahead to a plan that could gain me the ability to make Merrick pay for his crimes years earlier than I had hoped. I was thinking that, if I could save up enough money in the next season's wars, maybe I could find a way to buy a ship. From there I could capture other ships so that I can build a fleet. Given enough time and good fortune, maybe I could bring enough power to defeat Merrick and crush him in one blow."

  Leoltus was silent a moment as Gerid continued to eat his meal. Finneas chewed on his fish staying out of the conversation, knowing that he would follow Gerid no matter what the course his life took. The foreman finally spoke into the silence, "You are still looking at a lot of time to spend gathering your forces, not to mention the cost involved. Maybe there's a better way than that, Gerid?"

  "I have time and the cost would even out with conquest of the pirates and enemy ships as Eris said, but I gather that you have something better in mind?"

  The older man shrugged. "Not completely thought out, of course, but perhaps there is a way that wouldn't mean having to fight for everything. Let's say that you work for the king and attack Kloste. You could try and build a small fleet and then turn on the pirates. If you either defeat enough of them or find one of their bases, maybe you could convince them to ally with you rather than having to defeat a whole island of them as they are rumored to have such fortresses. If they could be persuaded to join you with a chance to win plunder or a clean slate by starting a new life there, then you would have your fleet in half the time. I tell you, if you promise a pirate a sufficient reward, he'll work for you and save you the losses of fighting them as well."

  "Leoltus, I think that you are onto something. The plan will need to be refined and true goals set, but we have at least a year to worry about that before Carter releases me as a free man after all."

  Leoltus held up a hand, "Slow down. I can see your mind getting ahead of us again. As you yourself just said, you are still a slave. You need to concentrate on your life as it is now before you worry over what may never have a chance to be. You still have that year of fighting left on your contract and we don't know the limitations of your strange powers."

  "Hmmm," Gerid hummed to himself. His eyes faded off into the distance and his fork hovered above the remains of his lunch forgotten. Quietly, the man mused, "Has Carter ever tried using his soldiers for privateering before?"

  The older slave man threw up his hands in incredulity even as Finneas smiled slyly at his lord. Leoltus cried out, "You never cease to amaze me. You are actually considering asking the master to back you on a new business venture as if he was a new partner or old friend. That’s an impossible thing to accomplish since you know nothing about sailing or sea battles."

  "What I don't know I can learn or hire someone who does," Gerid said calmly and took another bite of meat. "Do you think that he would at least discuss it? I am his greatest warrior or so I am told," he added with a quiet smile that the older man understood.

  Leoltus shrugged, "For you maybe. You've already beaten him into one deal, but I might suggest getting some additional support of your plans. Perhaps Karma or Kolonus could assist you in wearing him down? Carter may be head of his family, but Karma and the other children would benefit from a true partnership if you prove successful."

  Swallowing a last large piece of fish, Gerid thumped his fist on the table top and stated with enthusiasm, "Well, let's get a move on then, men. I want to go see what the others think of such an idea. Let's finish our errands and head back."

  With a last gulp of his own ale, Leoltus followed his exuberant friend.

  Fall was beginning. Leaves were turning nearly every color of the rainbow before browning as the trees bearing them prepared for the winter season. Though the weather was turning colder, Gerid knew that it was nothing compared to the frigid harshness of a Marshallan winter and, for all the appeal of a gentle season, he found himself missing his homeland's charm of huddling near a warm fireplace with friends and family during a frigid storm. He knew that there would probably be the occasional snow shower in Rhearden, but it would most likely melt and be forgotten within a week's time. It was a far cry from the several feet of snow that would fall throughout the entire season on the northern continent. It was a harsher land there and still his heart longed for it.

  With his homesickness spurring him to hasten his plans, Gerid began working on both Kolonus and Karma for their support of his privateering desires. He gathered ammunition for the arguments by spending more than a month journeying into Camerton on any mission for the farm that he could wrangle from Leoltus. While in the capitol city, Gerid began the process of gathering exact information and contacts in the trade. At first he found that the sailors and captains were strongly against speaking to him about any subject at all, let alone that which he needed. The man wasn't a true sailor, since the time aboard the Patar was hardly long enough to prove his skills and Gerid wasn't a potential client either that they should deign to discuss such matters, but eventually his reputation as a great warrior formed the bridge between him and the men he needed. It worked swiftly to draw others to him as soon as the first captain realized just who the giant soldier actually was.

  The stories of the `white-haired demon of war' were mostly exaggerated by the time the sailors had heard about his battles against Enswere, but that was all right for Gerid. He went along with most of their stories and fended off the occasional challenger with growing ease, because soon everyone was giving him the information he needed in exchange. By the time that roughly a month had gone by, there was a fair sized list of captains and sailors that were willing to join up with him, if Gerid could just get the finances together to purchase a ship. Several captains even went so far as to offer him a place in their crew if he was unable to find the way. These were offers that Gerid gently refused. To give in now, would be to give up on his dreams, he felt, and the young man said as much though he would keep each in mind. Though the offers were flattering, Gerid knew that he would need more control than he would find even as a captain of a single ship to take on Merrick. If most of the captains knew of his goals, he knew that they would have had reservations since he would be declaring war on an entire kingdom, a kingdom that was expanding its territory if rumors were to be believed.

  With the aid of Leoltus and Finneas, Gerid was able to compile a long list of names and approximate figures as to cost and profits, before the man felt that he could pr
esent the finished product to his much needed and hoped for patrons. As winter began, he finally had arranged a meeting between the men and himself for one evening in one of Carter's offices near the back of the house. They had hardly started before the door opened without a warning knock.

  Catiya entered with a swish of the blue velvet gown that she wore. Facing them with a serious look, she admonished, "Why didn't you tell me of your pirate ideas, Gerid? If Tabitha hadn't brought it to my attention, I would still be in the dark." Looking straight at the man, she complained, "I can't believe that you would leave me out of this."

  Karma had risen from his chair and held a hand out to restrain her. "Sister, what are you doing here? I hardly think..."

  The young woman brushed aside his hand contemptuously and stated, "And that is your problem, brother dear, you just don't think. If you are working on a plan to get father to risk financing your little venture, then I should have been the first asked. I've always had my ways to influence our father and most of the time he never realizes that I've done so." She gave the men a confiding smile, "I may not be the firstborn Holtein, or the male heir, but the youngest is not without her influence, besides, what does a council of soldiers know of the fine points of persuasion that will be needed to win him over?"

  Gerid answered before the others could begin to form a rebuttal, "I am sorry that I left you out. I had considered privateering to still be a military venture, so I assumed Kolonus and Karma would have the better insights into presenting the idea best, but please stay. That is, if you still wish to offer your assistance. I won't turn away anyone, since I'll need all the support that I can get when I go to speak with Carter."

  Kolonus frowned at first Catiya and then Gerid. The woman already knew more than the two men did about the matter it seemed. The old soldier was still trying to latch onto the specifics even as his nephew began to pace in annoyance.

  "I can't believe that you are giving in to her, Gerid," Karma stopped and turned to hurl the accusation at his friend.

  Kolonus watched the three young people over steepled fingers. He would reveal nothing to them as yet, Gerid decided, so the giant stepped in again before Catiya could retort. "Karma, if you decide that you like my plans, then we just might need someone like Catiya to help sell your father on the idea. As she said, we look at this like soldiers. I know what kind of manipulation your sister is capable of, and it might be just that combination of tactics that will be needed to win him over." Gesturing to the half dozen chairs arranged around an oval table, he changed gears and shifted to the need at hand, "If everyone will please sit down, maybe I can start explaining just what I have intended." He waited for the family members to settle down and take their seats. The sister and brother half glared at each other a moment before deciding to ignore one another mutually and listen to Gerid. He slid a couple of sheets of paper towards the center of the three. The numbers and names were listed on each and as the Holteins began to glance at the lists, Gerid continued, "Before you are the figures that I've worked up stating what I believe will be involved in starting this venture. A suitable ship of size with a crew to both sail and fight, the monthly costs of food and payment for labor as well as the probable profits to be gained based off the men that I've spoken with are all listed there before you. Now Kolonus has managed to set aside a fair sized account from both the sale of slaves and my actual plunder," he said for the benefit of the siblings. "The first problem will be getting Carter to release me from my contract early or perhaps to find a way to alter it to include a portion of my profits for a time as recompense. I think that my account will be sufficient to both purchase a ship that I know of and pay for a crew for at least a month or so. All the figures are there before you. What do you think?"

  Catiya tapped her teeth a moment as the men continued to check the written numbers. Shaking her head slightly she added, "All this implies that you will be able to convince the king to give you the right to privateer for him, doesn't it?"

  Gerid noted a slight hint of anger in the woman and wondered what had angered her. He wondered if the emotion was even aimed at him.

  Kolonus sighed and put in his own thoughts, "I wonder at some of these numbers as well, Gerid. Carter won't even consider releasing you for mere guesses. Can you be sure of coming anywhere near these kinds of profits as a sailor? Your worth on the battlefield is far greater than a wished for profit."

  Gerid leveled a finger towards his commander and stated firmly, "If you can get him to release me, all but the actual profits will be set in stone within the week. I would also wager that I can earn more than most privateers with my skills and a good ship at my command. As for the king's permission," he said turning to Catiya, "Carter's backing, added to my own reputation should be enough to gather an audience."

  "You always act with such confidence," Kolonus replied shaking his head in amazement, "and, up to this point, I admit that you have not failed, but this is a major task that you are looking at here. There are so many variables to stop your success that I wonder how you can possibly be sure of this."

  Gerid was still thinking of his reply when the door to the office was thrown open without warning by an excited servant. "Master Karma, its Tabitha! She is about to give birth!"

  The meeting was forgotten immediately as Gerid led a charge for the upstairs. The others rushed to keep up in the hopes that they would be able to witness the birth of his first child.

  Chapter 21- New Life

  The birth of his son amazed Gerid. Despite looks from the midwives in attendance, who questioned the presence of the soldier when the baby's supposed father, Karma, refused to enter the room, he stayed through the entire birth at Tabitha's side. Holding his beloved's hand and whispering words of encouragement into her ear, the young man waited for the baby to arrive along with Catiya and the other women.

  Though his attention was focused on Tabitha and her struggle, Gerid knew that the midwives would realize the truth of the baby's parentage soon. He decided to tell the women the truth and ordered that they not repeat the words to anyone outside the room. With Catiya's backing, Gerid felt that the women would obey, but, with the final screams of his wife and the first of his son as he dropped into the world of light, they all forgot the worries and simply relished the fresh cries of the new infant.

  Tabitha insisted that he hold his son as soon as the babe was washed and wrapped in a warm blanket. The proud father was all smiles as he played gently with the bundle cradled in one arm and checked to be sure that all the fingers and toes were where they belonged. He also showed the little one to Catiya after the young woman recovered from the faint after her exertion. The midwives exchanged glances at the man and his child now that they had time to consider his words of warning. They were sent from the room shortly by Catiya with a renewed warning as to their silence. With their exit, Karma entered with his uncle to see how the mother and child were doing.

  "He already looks like you a bit I think," Karma observed as he looked at Gerid holding his son by the bedside. "So what do you think that we should name him, my friend?"

  He glanced at his wife who was starting to breathe easier now that the hardest part was done. Tabitha shrugged with a non-committal glance and with no answers, but, as Gerid looked down at the cherubic form beginning to doze in the crook of his arm, he decided. Politely the man asked his wife, "How about Simon? It was my brother's name and he looks a bit like his uncle as well, I think."

  "It is fine by me," the mother replied tiredly. "I think that it is a nice name, but is that all right with Karma as well, since it is his name and reputation that was used to save us from trouble. Would your father worry over it?"

  The master's son shrugged his shoulders and said, "I have no problem with the name. Honoring your brother seems like a good thing to me as well, and though I know that my father would like a grandchild named after him at some point, I believe that one born of a slave, no matter how beautiful, would probably not be his favorite or first choice. Besi
des, what does it matter to me or my family when Gerid has nearly gained his freedom and will be able to free you in the eye of the courts as soon as he can afford to anyway. When that happens, we will reveal the boy's true heritage to him, if he hasn't already deciphered the truth already."

  "Do you think that he knows?" Gerid asked in surprise. Worry tugged at the back of his mind at the thought of Carter taking vengeance on him and his family.

  Karma shrugged again, "My father and mother aren't stupid people. You two managed to keep your activities somewhat quiet, but even I had heard the rumors of your relationship long before I brought you into the house as my bodyguard. That was why, when Catiya finally alerted me to Tabitha's pregnancy, I wasn't taken by surprise. I had my plan thought out beforehand actually and made sure to begin speaking with her in conversations for all to see. I made it look like I might have been closer to her so that when I came to Sama to ask for her they wouldn't think of it as a true surprise.

  "In that way I was able to look out for my friends, even those that are enslaved by my father. There are ways around the laws after all and I have the position to do so."

  Tabitha blinked once and asked, "So that is why you suddenly showed so much attention to me when Gerid left, even though I had not known that I was pregnant yet? You thought ahead to the need to look comfortable with a relationship to cover our actions. I had wondered why you suddenly noticed me. I was actually vain enough to think that maybe you were actually attracted to me."

  Karma bowed deeply before the reclining woman before him. With sweaty hair and flushed cheeks, Tabitha wasn't looking her best at the moment, not that anyone blamed her. The master looked at her respectfully and said, "My lady, you are extremely beautiful. But with both the knowledge of the rumors of Gerid's love for you and my father's opinions of having such complicated relationships with our slaves; I would honestly never have made such an approach to you. It would have been too likely to have a bad end."