Nicholas Raven and the Wizards' Web (The Complete Epic Fantasy)

by Thomas J. Prestopnik

  “Lok, watch your tone,” Ovek said, his growing disdain for the man evident. “Brin is no fool. He contacted me with vital information like any soldier would who was trying to make a name for himself. You of all people should understand that, given the path that your career has taken over the years.”

  “Yes. And it landed me on that stinking patch of dirt!” he fumed, pointing a bony finger at Karg Island. “Commander Uta purposely did this to me. And now he wants to take credit for my capture of the traitors for his own political ambitions.”

  “And if you’re smart,” Ovek warned, “you’ll play along and perhaps redeem yourself in Uta’s eyes. If he should rise in leadership, he just might reward you for your role in this incident, much like he punished you by sending you here. Your choice.”

  Lok shook his head and sighed, realizing how close he was to being insubordinate with the Vice-Commander. But despite Ovek’s promise of possible rewards from a grateful Uta, Captain Lok couldn’t find it within himself to cooperate. He had had enough of others taking credit for his successes and stomping on his dreams. It had to stop now.

  “At least allow me to handle the prisoners as I see fit, Vice-Commander. I believe I have earned that much,” he calmly petitioned. “If Commander Uta wants to share in the credit afterward, then I welcome him. But I think I deserve to be captain at the helm of this ship when it returns to the Isles. That would only be appropriate, don’t you think?”

  Captain Lok was moderately encouraged when Ovek seemed to seriously consider his request. His mood soured when Brin raised his voice in protest.

  “Vice-Commander, I believe it is my duty to inform you just how Captain Lok planned to handle his prisoners,” Brin said, briefly looking askance at Lok. “He was about to execute eighteen of them right here on deck and toss their bodies overboard as a warning to the villages on the mainland.”

  “That was just one of many possibilities I was considering!” Lok snapped.

  “If you had not arrived when you did,” Brin continued, “I fear there may have been a bloodbath.”

  “Is this true?” a stunned Ovek asked, his tone harsh.

  Lok slowly fumed, glaring at Brin. “But it is nothing less than the traitors deserve. They will probably get as much at a tribunal.”

  “Nevertheless, that is for the judges to decide, not a ship’s captain!” Ovek replied, his disgust growing. “What an astoundingly stupid act you were about to commit. As of this moment, your role in this affair is terminated, Captain Lok. You’ll have nothing more to do with the prisoners and will accompany me home on the Hara Nor at daybreak.”

  “Vice-Commander, I must protest this–”

  “Duly noted!” Ovek continued with a brusque wave of his hand. “I hereby put the Bretic in the hands of my trusted aide, Langlin.” He glanced at a tall, weather-beaten man standing next to him. “Mr. Langlin, you will follow the Hara Nor on the return trip home with the prisoners.” Ovek looked at Brin. “And you I promote to the position of captain’s assistant. You can serve in this role beside Mr. Langlin on the voyage back.”

  “Thank you, sir,” Brin replied, keeping a stern countenance. “Your trust in me is not misplaced.”

  “I believe that,” Ovek said. “And with that attitude, I don’t think it’ll be too long before you make full captain.”

  “How lucky for him,” Lok snidely remarked. “Perhaps we should celebrate.”

  “Perhaps we should have a private talk,” Ovek said.

  “You can say anything you wish about me in front of these men,” he replied, beyond caring about his reputation. He had little respect left for any of the individuals gathered about.

  “The talk is not about you, Lok, but about the princess,” Ovek clarified. “For your ears only.”

  “Oh. We can speak alone in my cabin. Or shall I say his cabin,” he added, glancing at Langlin.

  “One moment, sir,” Brin called out to the Vice-Commander. “I would be remiss not to let you know that one of the prisoners below is not from the Isles but is from Arrondale. His name is Nicholas Raven and he has apparently been in communication with King Justin.”

  “Is this true, Lok?”

  “Yes, Vice-Commander.”

  “And, sir,” Brin continued, “this individual’s sole purpose for coming aboard the ship was to get to Karg Island. I suspect that he may have been trying to rescue the girl. No doubt one of King Justin’s spies.”

  “This has turned into quite an interesting visit,” Ovek said. “Bring Nicholas Raven to the cabin at once. I wish to speak with him.” He headed toward the stern, indicating for Lok to follow as if he were merely an afterthought. Lok did so, muttering to himself.

  When they entered the captain’s cabin, Lok grudgingly offered the Vice-Commander a chair while he sat on the stool at his desk. “Forgive the mess, but I had brought over some of my ledgers, papers and other effects from the island. It seems that I shall have to move them again, this time to your ship.”

  Ovek grunted. “Enough of your whining, Lok. Tell me about the girl. Is she all right?”

  “Of course,” he replied. “I went out of my way to keep her safe as Commander Uta had instructed when he dropped me on the wretched island. I even ordered some of my men to construct the princess her own quarters. They are not the luxury she is accustomed to, but they are her own. And as she has been under guard at all times, escape was never an issue. Still, she was a headache I wish I didn’t have to deal with. I had enough problems getting men and supplies up the Lorren River.”

  “That’s good,” Ovek said, nodding as if another thought was distracting him.

  Lok folded his arms and gazed impatiently at the man, his chin resting in one hand while waiting for Ovek to make his point. “So what is it that you needed to tell me in secret?” he finally asked, wishing the meeting were already over.

  Vice-Commander Ovek smiled uncomfortably. “It’s about Princess Megan. You might find this amusing, Lok, but she’s not…”

  “Yes?”

  “Apparently she’s not really the princess,” he said with a bit of a chuckle. “We seem to have the wrong woman.”

  “What?” Lok slowly rubbed his hand over his mouth while he stared at Ovek, wondering if the man was serious or simply making a strange joke. He was in no mood for humor of any kind. “Not a princess? What are you talking about?”

  Ovek explained how he received word nearly ten days ago from Caldurian’s messenger crow that Princess Megan was back safely in Morrenwood, witnessed by one of the wizard’s spies. “It seems a simple hoax was perpetrated for Princess Megan’s protection. A switch was made and the kidnappers procured the wrong individual. So the woman you’ve been watching for these past several weeks is–”

  “–a nobody?”

  “We suspect so, but we’ll take her back to the Isles just to be sure. She may still be a spy of sorts. Commander Uta and I thought it best to keep this matter quiet so as not to cause you any embarrassment.”

  Captain Lok stared incredulously at Ovek. “Cause me any embarrassment? Your concern is misplaced, Vice-Commander. I’m more than happy to let others know that we’ve wasted so much of our time and resources caring for one of Uta’s mistakes.”

  Ovek stood and pointed a finger at Lok. “You will keep this matter private, Captain Lok, on Uta’s direct order. Any records of her stay on Karg Island will be turned over to me. Understood?”

  Lok studied Ovek’s reddening face with mirth, unable to conceal a smirk. “So I’m supposed to happily relinquish control of the Bretic as well as taking credit for capturing the traitors. And on top of that, you want me to keep quiet about Uta’s blunder? I suppose holding a princess prisoner who turns out not to be royalty might be a tad embarrassing for a man with political ambitions.” Lok enjoyed seeing the sour grimace on Ovek’s face. “Let me guess–did Uta spread word among his circle of supporters that he was holding Princess Megan to use against Arrondale when needed? I’ll bet he had grand plans to use her to make
himself a national hero.”

  “That is enough, Lok.”

  “By your tone, I’ll take that as a yes.” He then looked wide-eyed at Ovek as a delicious notion popped into his head. “Uta didn’t happen to send word to Kargoth about his prized princess, did he?”

  “I said that’s enough!”

  “Perhaps to Vellan himself?” Lok chuckled. “Now how would Commander Uta look if word got out about an embarrassing slip-up such as that? Misleading Vellan, deliberately or otherwise, surely can’t be good for one’s career.”

  “Lok, you are treading in waters where you should not!” Ovek warned.

  “I will not be a scapegoat for Commander Uta or for you!” he blasted back. “Your reputation is linked to this royal mess as much as Uta’s, and if the truth seeps out, you’ll both look like the incompetent fools you’ve turned out to be. Don’t think I don’t realize what’s going on.”

  “Think as you please, but you’ll keep this quiet if you know what’s good for you. And that isn’t just my suggestion,” Ovek said. “This comes from Uta himself. But if you want to put your career in jeopardy–or even your life–then go ahead. Talk up a storm.”

  “My career has already been jeopardized by Uta while I was doing my job. Any additional threats from you, Ovek, will not–”

  A hurried knock at the door cut Lok off in mid-sentence. Brin had arrived with Nicholas. Vice-Commander Ovek beckoned them to enter at once. He eyed Nicholas with suspicion, mildly disgusted that he was wearing the coat of a Northern Isles soldier.

  “Arteen was very thorough, stealing an extra coat for you.”

  “He was,” Nicholas coolly replied, having no intention of telling him how Hannah had actually attained the item. “But I assume you didn’t bring me here to talk about clothing. What do you want?”

  Before answering, Ovek glanced at Brin. “Thank you, but that will be all for now. We wish to speak with this man alone. Go wait outside with the others until you are needed.”

  “As you wish, Vice-Commander,” Brin said with a slight hesitation, having assumed that he would be part of this meeting. “If I can be of further assistance–”

  “Yes, of course,” Ovek hastily replied, his impatience evident. He remained silent until Brin had left the cabin and then turned to Nicholas with a stony expression. “I have questions, Mr. Raven, and I want swift and honest answers. If I don’t get them, the woman on Karg Island will face punishment for your obstinacy. Am I clear?”

  “Perfectly,” he grudgingly replied, unable to bear the thought of Ivy suffering for his bravado.

  “Good. We agree.” Ovek began to pace the room. “I’ve learned from some well-placed sources that the young lady on the island is not Princess Megan, so there is no use in pretending otherwise.” He studied Nicholas’ face and detected a tinge of fear and surprise in the young man’s eyes. “Who is she and what is her name? And remember our agreement,” he cautioned.

  Nicholas looked up at the ceiling and along the dark timbers evenly spaced about the walls as they caught the garish glow of the oil lamp. He wondered how he ended up in this room, so close to his goal yet seemingly a thousand miles away. “Her name is Ivy,” he softly said, a sense of defeat slowly encroaching about him. “She’s also from Arrondale and works as a housekeeper in the village of Boros, if you must know.”

  “Boros? Never heard of it.”

  “Perhaps you ought to look at a map now and then.”

  Ovek grunted. “And perhaps you should be a better judge of character, getting involved with the likes of Captain Kellig and Arteen. But back to the woman. I’m guessing you have affections for her judging by that heartsick expression on your face and your willingness to answer my questions so quickly. So here are a few more.” He posed them in rapid-fire fashion. “How did you meet Ivy? How did you meet the real princess? And what is their connection that caused one woman to pose as the other?”

  Nicholas carefully considered how he should answer. Would the truth work to his advantage and save Ivy, or simply land them in more trouble? But when looking at Ovek and Lok and sensing deception and corruption in both men, he realized that his fate was probably determined no matter what he said. He decided to tell them the truth, up to a point, and hope for the best.

  “Several weeks ago I met Princess Megan traveling alone on the road. After escorting her to Boros to visit her great aunt, I subsequently met Ivy, the aunt’s housekeeper.” Captain Lok and Vice-Commander Ovek stared at Nicholas in utter disbelief. “Well, that’s the story in brief. I suppose you’ll want a few more details.”

  “A few, yes,” Lok replied dryly.

  Nicholas elaborated on meeting the two women and Leo. He left out any mention of their encounter with Carmella and Jagga, his knowledge of the war council and his journey to find the wizard Frist, simply presenting his story as the travels of four friends.

  “In the end, Ivy wanted to help keep Princess Megan safely hidden in Boros until the people after her were gone. That’s why she suggested switching identities,” he continued. “But Ivy was kidnapped in the end and…” Nicholas sighed, shaking his head. “Megan had given Ivy her silver medallion beforehand which only convinced her kidnappers even more that Ivy was the princess.” He gazed at his captors, silently pleading with them to release Ivy. “Though I fell in with Arteen and his men, my only reason was to gain access to the island, rescue Ivy and then leave. I have no desire to get involved with the politics of your cause. To tell you the truth, I don’t really care who’s on whose side,” he said, hoping they believed him. “All I ever wanted was to save Ivy so we could run off and start a life together away from this strife. Neither of us is a threat to your operation, and if you let us go, we’ll never bother you again.”

  “A touching story,” Ovek replied with a hint of sarcasm. “And I do believe you,” he added, receiving a grateful look from Nicholas and a scowl from Lok. “However, I am a thorough man and will have others hear your story, and Ivy’s, before a decision about your fates is decided. That is the wise and prudent thing to do.”

  “The girl has not revealed much to me,” Lok informed him. “Yet my men and I did not press her much since we assumed that Commander Uta would not approve.”

  “That was when you thought she was a princess,” Ovek said. “Now we know she is not and can perhaps be a bit more vigorous in our questioning if it is so warranted.”

  “What do you mean to do?” Nicholas asked, his fear for Ivy’s safety spiking at Ovek’s ominous words.

  “You shall both be taken to the Northern Isles where a complete investigation can be conducted. The two of you might still be found out to be spies in the end, two very clever spies,” Ovek suggested. “But my agents will determine that, one way or another.”

  “We’re not spies!” Nicholas insisted. “Just let us go. Please.”

  Ovek shook his head. “Sorry, but this meeting is over. You’ll be sent below with the other prisoners and my men will bring Ivy aboard the Hara Nor.”

  “Not necessary,” Lok jumped in. “My men can handle that duty. In fact, I would like a word with the girl myself before I transfer her to your ship.” His tone sounded too eager as Nicholas looked on with subdued horror.

  “Thank you, Captain Lok, but your assistance is no longer required,” the vice-commander replied. “You will be escorted to the Hara Nor as well where a room will be provided for your comfort and privacy.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me, Lok. Your business here is done.”

  “But I must finish my work on Karg Island before I return home. There is much yet to do,” he insisted, growing red in the face, knowing that Ovek was wringing the last bit of authority out of him.

  “My men will crate up your personal belongings and all the official records and such on Karg Island and bring them aboard the ship for you. You needn’t worry,” he replied with a thin smile.

  “You’re shutting me out!” Lok cried, jumping up from his stool so fast that he hit t
he front of his desk and nearly knocked over the oil lamp, catching it just in time. He angrily pointed a finger at Ovek. “I still know what I know–remember that. You and Uta cannot silence me nor hide your ineptitude regarding this situation. I’ll let important people know what really happened here. Word will spread–possibly to Vellan himself if I can arrange it.”

  “Well, you can try, Lok.”

  “Don’t think that this is over, Vice-Commander.”

  “This conversation is over!” he snapped, pushing past Nicholas and opening the door. Ovek called outside to Brin and another of his aides and they came rushing to him. “Take Mr. Raven back with the other prisoners,” he instructed Brin. “On second thought, find a place below deck where he can be isolated. I want no one talking to him without my permission. Is that understood?”

  “Yes, sir,” Brin replied, eager to have a role in whatever was happening regarding Nicholas and his attempt to get to Karg Island. Brin assumed he had some connection to Princess Megan and wished he were privy to more details. He grabbed Nicholas by the arm and they exited the room, closing the door behind them.

  Ovek then instructed his aide to escort Captain Lok to the Hara Nor immediately. He made Lok hand over his sword which he grudgingly did. “Find him private quarters somewhere and post a guard outside his door.” Ovek glanced at Lok. “For your protection, of course.”

  “Of course,” Lok replied bitterly as his world crumbled about him. He took several deep breaths, his face hot with anger and betrayal, and silently vowed not to let his adversaries get away with this humiliation. He doubted he would survive a voyage back to the Isles, suspecting that Ovek or his cronies might try to kill him midway through the trip. How convenient it would be for Ovek and Uta if he were accidentally lost at sea. He knew he had little time to act and snapped his fingers.

  “Vice-Commander, I know you are forbidding me to go back to Karg Island for my records and such,” he said. “But may I at least retrieve a few personal effects from my desk, sir?”