‘I see.’ I looked out of the window and saw strange jungle-like forests stretching out for higher land.
His eyes followed mine, and he looked happy to change the subject. ‘The north is much more flat though Freyr’s Tooth. Bardagoon and Safiroon lands are well guarded all around the coasts by high cliffs. You don’t have a single true harbor in that land save for Himingborg. It’s hilly on top, with some mountains. Magical, many think, old and beautiful. Our Spellcoast is different. The land south of House Vautan is full of strange crags, deep chasms, tall mountains, and rugged hill ranges. Way south there are ranges of high peaks under low-hanging skies and all of it, all the land slowly rises for the west until it finally drops off into the vast ocean beyond the Daxamma lands. I would love to show it to you. Some day. When you are fat.’
‘I hope it will be possible,’ I said wryly. ‘And I will be careful with my friends. Even my sister.’
I smiled at him as he got up to stand next to me. He took hold of my hand and seemed to wrestle with some strange emotion and shook his head. ‘Look. You are the Hand of Life. You are going to Almheir Bardagoon, to thwart whatever it is they are planning. To save yourself. There is something you should know.’ He nodded for his own lands. ‘I … When I take you to Bardagoon, there is something you need to know about being a Hand of Life. This will be—’
There was a knock on the door. ‘Captain?’
The rogue hesitated and sighed. He let go of my hand though reluctantly and straightened. ‘Yes?’
‘Hope I am not interrupting anything captain,’ the voice went on with mild reproof. ‘But there is a message. The Valakian High is signaling.’
‘A watchtower,’ he whispered and smiled at me reassuringly.
‘Sounds like a wine to me,’ I said with a smile.
He chuckled. ‘Our first officer does get strange signals from wine, occasionally,’ he whispered and called out, ‘What’s the message?’
‘Captain!’ the man said with a suffering voice. ‘Must I speak to a door?’
‘Yes,’ Ompar stated. ‘I am reluctant to stand up.’
‘Probably in bed with her, the lecherous elfish drunk,’ we both heard him complaining to someone, and I nearly shouted and denied his claim, but Ompar stopped me with a finger over my mouth.
‘Do not ruin my reputation! They all think I have seduced my prisoner,’ he whispered. ‘It’s a good reason for the special attention when we get you there in the land and hide you.’
‘But they think we are lovers,’ I said with anger, but could not keep up the façade. I rubbed my face and smiled. ‘Give me that cloak and go and talk to him.’
He nodded and grabbed a velvety red cloak with a deep hood, and I pulled it over my immodest Gorgon armor. I sat down by the windows as he opened the door, scowling mightily. I suppressed a giggle. ‘Begging your lordship’s pardon,’ Bulathon the first mate said with a stretched neck as he gazed inside, ‘the harbor of the Gold Hall is filled. Our mooring is taken. They instruct us to enter the Scorpion’s Bridge.’
‘The fort?’ Ompar asked. ‘Very well. My friend commands it. Any news from Father?’
‘Lord Danar is still out of the city,’ the man answered.
Ompar nodded and looked around. ‘Where are they? The two spiders.’
The first mate shrugged. ‘The ladies, your sisters are holed up in their cabin.’
‘The prisoners?’
‘Bored to death in the hold. Comfortable enough, lord,’ the man said. ‘They were very anxious yesterday. Not the prisoners. Mistress Tiria that is. They shouted at each other and threw out a tray of food during that argument. Must have been the cooking, lord. That is all there has been happening on your ship these past days, lord.’ He flashed a disapproving look over Ompar’s shoulder. I lifted my immodestly bare leg on the windowsill and noticed that it made Bulathon stutter.
They both scowled at me, but I ignored their long looks.
Ompar rubbed his shoulder as he was thinking. ‘Right. Scorpion’s Bridge. And then we shall lock the prisoners up. It is actually better this way.’ He was whispering now. ‘Then you bring the fifty men to the gate, as I discussed with you yesterday. Do so by evening, the ninth bell and come to my quarter. Make sure the ship is made ready. Provisions, water, ammunition. And all in strict secrecy. The crew must eat, rest, or get laid, and be quiet as they do. There is Ikanos, the small village by Scorpion’s Bridge that can provide most of the gear we shall need. Have some men do it discreetly.’
‘Fifty men, aye. All of them stuffed with food, emptied of juices, and happy,’ he said and hesitated. ‘And your sisters must be kept in the dark, no?’
‘Indeed. As mushrooms. Lie to them, my friend, and treat them like vermin, but be polite.’
‘How do I—’
‘Good gods! Smile and be polite, but lie to their faces, should they ask too personal questions, for example about the prisoners and my plans. Tell them the prisoners are worthless, near useless. Dark it is for them, though I have no doubt they will be in the Gold Hall having several baths after this trip and will not bother with mistress Glamir over much. Rig the ship for speed,’ Ompar said happily as if he was ready to leave the south. And he likely was. ‘Then deliver the message to Lowpass. It must go out with trusty messengers. Send Hadan and Barin. Nothing written. Only my seal to show my words go with them.’ The first mate saluted and looked at me, his face neutral. Then he left. Ompar rubbed his forehead, and then closed the door.
‘What was that last part?’ I asked him. ‘Your seal?’
‘Well, the thing is, if we are leaving, the families and my subjects are in danger. They will start to evacuate Lowpass, and they will flee to House Vautan’s lands. They will do well as they can have my treasury.’ He bowed to me. ‘I am sorry, but I must ready the ship for arrival. Wear your armor, that cloak, and a cowl, of course, and do not speak to anyone as we disembark. We will take you to the Round Wyvern – a tower with a set of guest rooms, all fitted with comfortable iron bars on the doors – when we get to the Scorpion’s. There, again, say nothing. You will stay with your friends.’
‘What is this Scorpion’s Bridge?’ I asked him.
He hummed. ‘Golden Hall is a city surrounded by jungle. That is a great defense in itself. But the city needs more than guard towers. It’s a fortress with some two hundred elven troops. Our cousin, Kalisar Coinar, commands them. He is a friend of mine. He is also called the Lover, but that is all very sarcastic, of course. He is dreadfully bad with females. Goes mute each time one approaches him. There was once this girl he liked very much, but it amounted to heartbreak as he forgot his own name when she was introduced to him. But it will be fine. He won’t bite you. I’ll be near at all times.’
I hesitated. ‘I thank you,’ I said with a small voice.
The elf laughed and adjusted his belt and the swords. He grabbed the small shield and hesitated for a moment. ‘Under the cloak.’ He handed it to me. ‘Put it on your back with a strap. There is one.’ He pointed at a leather bit hanging on a hook. ‘It’s yours now. Don’t give it to anyone, not for any reason,’ he said. ‘And take care. It has been a rather nice sailing trip.’
‘You were going to tell me about how to be a Hand of Life when we reach the Bardagoon lands?’
He hesitated. ‘Never mind that for now.’ He apparently made mumbled prayers and promptly leaned over and kissed me. It was an on the mouth kiss full of tenderness and fire, and I retreated from it, holding my mouth. I considered saying something but decided to be quiet. He rubbed his forehead, cursed, and walked out and popped his head back in. ‘Sorry, just for luck. And you will have your helmet on in a bit, so it had to be done. You can whip me for it later.’
‘I will,’ I said with a surprised voice, and he hesitated at that, a smile caressing his face.
‘You will?’
‘Or kiss you again,’ I allowed. ‘I’ve not decided yet.’
‘Your boys will not like if you do the latter,’ he laughed.
‘But I’ll enjoy either treatment.’
‘You are a weird elf,’ I whispered, and he laughed, banging the door closed.
I held my face in my hands. Lex would be very upset. I grabbed my helmet and put it on. I let the armor attach itself around me, creeping like ants. It crawled and slapped all over me, surprisingly gently, and I felt like a different person. I cumbersomely tied the shield on my back and hid myself under the cloak. Bulathon knocked on the door. I pulled on the cowl and answered.
‘The afterdeck, my lady,’ he said with a wink.
They all thought we were lovers. Perhaps we were.
CHAPTER 5
The approach to the Gold Hall was likely one of the more beautiful things I had ever seen. The water was emerald green, and Mar’s light played on its surface, weaving fantastic tapestries of gold and yellow on the water. Gigantic schools of fish could be seen skimming the water’s surface and then dodging under. Islands with towers were guarding the small bay. Despite the gray blocks of stone and dangerous looking weaponry of the fortresses, the islands appeared clean and clear of habitations. The air was near tropical, and the trees that dotted the islands and the nearby continent were nestled in wild, hilly country adorned by red, blue, and yellow flowers and silver-blue rivers. Albine was standing with me on the foredeck, staring over the wonderful sight, amazed by the way the land looked. The rest were huddling behind me. They were sullen and outright angry as I did not wish to speak to them while the crew of the Arch hovered nearby. They knew the plan, but apparently, they were furious with it. And Dana had not helped the situation, Ompar had told me. With the silence, though, they were growing increasingly impatient. Dana was smiling, occasionally, but for different reasons than Albine. Dana had no interest in the sights, and her smile was sarcastic indeed. I had hoped for some happy words, but they had not so much as greeted me. Then, the deck was ours for a while, and I risked a discussion. A demon whispered in my ear, and I spoke haughtily, angered by their discontent. ‘Relax. You are supposed to be servants,’ I told them. ‘And not look like whipped mules.’
‘Oh!’ Anja said softly, hissing like a cat. ‘That we are. Obedient like well-trained guard dogs. We were just sequestered in a cell for days and days. You slept in a bed. Alone? And—’
I saw Lex’s face darken. I saw Dana smile at him with a sideward glance. ‘Who gave you such ideas?’ I asked, though I guessed.
‘Your sister has been tormenting the fool for days,’ Ulrich said with a tight voice. ‘It’s not been easy on Lex. And I—’
I snapped my fingers, and Dana quaffed. I turned to look at her. ‘Why?’
‘Amusement,’ she explained. ‘Oh, we know. We should lay low and not attract attention, but they are a tiresome bunch. She keeps moping after those damned brothers of hers—’
‘I’m really tired of you two sisters,’ Anja said with a voice that bordered on violence. ‘I’ll get off here.’
‘No, you won’t,’ I said softly.
‘Oh?’ she challenged me. ‘What will you do to stop it? I will not get off?’
‘Not alone. Not free,’ I answered her evenly, hoping to calm her, but Anja’s face darkened in fury. I gathered all my patience and spoke to her calmly. ‘This is the south. If a ma tarish, an elven noble of the south addresses you, you will adopt a stone face of utmost humility, and you will bow. You will bow low. And stop talking to an elven noble—me—with that tone. Do not raise it, for your own safety. Besides, I’m not your enemy. If we are lucky, and things go well, we will leave this evening and find safer harbors.’
‘You leave,’ Anja said. ‘You will see me walk away. I’ll burn anyone who tries to stop me.’
‘It’s been tedious,’ Dana said unhelpfully. ‘Lex and Anja and Albine. All in a terrible state. They keep demanding answers and freedom.’ What was wrong with Albine? I wondered.
I looked at Anja. ‘Listen. There are no free humans in this land. None. You cannot walk it alone.’
‘That should be changed,’ Albine said. ‘Did you hear how they spoke of us when we boarded?’
So, she was unhappy about the elves and human lot in Aldheim. That might not be Dana’s doing.
Dana pointed at her. ‘She resents elves. Barely seen any, but she hates them with a passion.’
‘I do,’ Albine said darkly.
‘You have seen but a few!’
‘One tried to kill us in Gray Downs. Two basically spat on us, and one is a pirate.’
I hissed my words out. ‘You will all die if you don’t start behaving. We don’t even know the laws of the land. Best assume they are harsh. Please don’t attract attention.’
‘Harsh laws. But not for you,’ Anja stated. ‘Hand of Life.’
‘Not for me,’ I said with a growl. ‘That is true.’
I looked at her. She said nothing more and looked away as the ship passed a lustrous island, and we all saw the city of Gold Hall. The southern wonder was nestled on a tall hill with craggy sides and many blue and red roofs filled the landscape in perfect harmony with nature. Cascades of flowery lianas ran up and down the hill’s many trees, a breathtaking sight, and on the top of the hill, there was indeed Danar Coinar’s palace, a low, many-tiered hall of pure gold and a silver roof. That sight stopped Anja from complaining, at least for a moment. The harbor below the hill was huge, fortified, brown and white with bricks that alternated, stones cut to perfection and warehouses that ran across the city’s breadth along the waterline. There was a bustle of colors in the harbor, and a huge number of people could be seen walking up and down the streets that snaked up the hill and through the harbor’s many narrow ways and indeed, the harbor was full of ships.
‘Lots,’ Ulrich grunted, breaking our awkward silence. ‘Is that normal?’
‘How should I know?’ I said softly.
‘And we must act like fawning maids, the lot of us?’ he asked calmly. I looked at him gratefully and nodded.
‘Act like you are afraid. Silent and obedient.’
‘I am afraid,’ Lex whispered. ‘It’s like we were in the water again, but only with sharks with legs.’
‘And some of them are our own sharks,’ Dana noted, staring at Anja, who stiffened.
I cursed Dana softly as I looked at Anja, who was barely controlling her rage. I placed a hand on hers, just briefly, and she looked astonished. I tried one more time. ‘We must work together, Anja. I didn’t want this. Never this. You know it. But now we must all act, and you are doing a bad job at it. You risk the rest of us. Here, you are equal to slaves. But later? You can find your way if you like.’
‘You bitch,’ Anja whispered, and Cherry nudged her. Anja pushed her away. ‘She knew about this situation with elves and humans. She should have told us.’
‘She should tell us everything about her plans, in fact,’ Albine agreed. ‘That is part of what is eating me. You and Dana and Anja made plans in Euryale’s hold, and now it seems you make them with an elf. Eventually, you will share, or we will indeed find our way on our own.’
‘I will,’ I said, remembering what Ompar had said about trusting them. Should I?
‘They are slaves? Truly?’ Albine asked. ‘All of them? The humans.’
‘Up north, not so much. Inferior, yes, but in the south, House Coinar, and Daxamma lands, humans serve and bow,’ I said softly as a crew member walked past briskly, in full armor.
‘You should have told us this,’ Anja hissed. ‘You should have.’
‘When?’ I asked.
‘You just studied in Euryale’s hold. Came to us every evening and said nothing. Then, suddenly, we were all taken as you failed. My brother died, and we had no chance to fight. And now—’
‘We were picked up from the sea by this ship,’ Dana said with a mocking voice. ‘This ship. Not any other one. Try to handle the situation, Anja.’ I raised my hand to silence her, but she went on. ‘We had a deal with Euryale. Shannon broke it for your lives. At least show some respect to her for the fact that you are still alive.�
�� Dana scoffed, and I prayed, for Anja turned to Dana, and I sensed she was braiding together a spell.
‘Look!’ Albine said and pointed at the island we were just passing by, and the tension died off before I had to intervene. There, an elf in dark red chain armor was sitting on a lizard. It was a docile thing, the lizard, with a flat head and three sturdy pairs of legs, but the elf was not docile at all. He held a whip, and barefooted men were collecting stones into a sack, and then they hauled it into a wagon. The whip went up, then down, a man’s face could be seen, twisted in agony though not a sound escaped his lips. Albine was shuddering with anger. ‘How dare they?’
‘We should not take part,’ Lex whispered. ‘It’s their way. And who knows if they have it coming?’
Albine glanced at him. ‘Oh! Yes, it is like that in America.’ She was black and beautiful and furious, but she was also well traveled and educated and knew things. ‘France helped you liberate yourself from the English yoke,’ she hissed. ‘But did you liberate your slaves? No. You bring more. And now you say we should—’
‘Nothing we can do, girl,’ Dana said with spite. ‘Get a damned hold of yourself. You and Anja both!’
Albine’s eyes flashed dark fire at Dana, but she went quiet and kept looking at the sad band of men and the callous elf herding them. I shrugged at Dana, trying to understand why she was pulling at everyone’s tail. I had chosen them, and now she was alienating them. Was that it? Was she getting even? Or just wanted me for herself? She ignored my looks, and I enjoyed the moment of silence. After a while, Anja sighed. ‘They should See the Shades. Would be different then.’
‘We must call it Embracing the Glory,’ I reminded her, and she snorted. It would be very difficult between us. I should understand her, I reminded myself. I had failed. Twice. ‘And only Cerunnos Timmerion knew how to do that. To give humans limited access to these powers.’
Eye of Hel: Stories of the Nine Worlds (Ten Tears Chronicles - a dark fantasy action adventure Book 2) Page 6
