Morticai's Luck

by Darlene Bolesny

  “If ever Morticai needs help,” Rylan continued, “the Faith is there for him. Should he ever need sanctuary, the Faith is there. He may need to hide occasionally, until danger has passed. And if I have learned anything while I have been here,” he said as a smirk crept onto his face, “it is that it shall probably take both of you to keep him out of trouble.”

  Morticai looked up, blinking. “Hey! I’m not lookin’ for trouble, y’know,” he defended himself.

  “Oh, yes, you are,” Coryden countered.

  Rylan smiled. “We will miss you all. Indeed, I wish I could take Sir Dualas with us.”

  “Thank you, Inquisitor,” Dualas said, “but my place is with the Northmarch.”

  “I understand,” Rylan said. “I thank you for the good service you gave me when I needed it.”

  The bosun’s mate lowered the rope at the bottom of the gangplank, a signal that the ship would soon be setting sail. Around them, the crowd began filing up the plank.

  “You’d best board before they leave without you,” Coryden said. “The tide waits for no man, not even an Inquisitor.”

  “Indeed,” Geradon said. He hauled up the bag that held his most precious books and adjusted the strap on his shoulder. Richard carried another such bag, slung easily over his broad shoulder.

  “May all of the blessings of the Levani continue to fall upon you,” Rylan said in farewell.

  “And may Glawres guide your ship,” Morticai replied. “Fair winds, fast passage, and the grace of the sea to you, until we meet again.”

  Coryden raised his eyebrows in surprise. He’d never before heard Morticai utter a formal blessing.

  * * *

  The crisp air of Fading swept through the sumptuous palace. Prince Luthekar stood at the open window, his hands clasped loosely behind his back as he watched the leaves swirl past in the courtyard below. His losses had been less than they might have been, and yet they were still devastating. Like a beaten dog, he had been forced to return to Cuthaun.

  His hands clenched. He had lost the work of years. It had required the effort of thousands to lay in the supplies his army had used traveling to and from the northern kingdom. He had lost three hundred men and almost two thousand good horses when the Northmarch had attacked his force. And that had forced him to expend a thousand men as a rearguard to hinder the Northmarch and cut his need for supplies. He’d lost even more soldiers to starvation and exposure during the desperate retreat.

  But worse than any number of men lost, he had lost his chance for surprise. Now, reports came from within the northern kingdoms that the Northmarch had been empowered to investigate and expose the source his army. He smiled coldly. It was unlikely that the Northmarch could manage the grueling overland trek to his lands. They were welcome to try it. Death would await the survivors at journey’s end.

  He frowned again, and the red anger tinged his eyes. Worst of all, the scum who dealt him this terrible defeat lived. Luthekar strode to his desk and picked up his quill. He had given much thought to how the proclamation should read.

  He wrote:

  Be it known to all that on this day, the second day of Kenaf, of the year of Droka, two thousand, one hundred and seventy-three, I, Prince Luthekar, do hereby proclaim the following:

  A full-blooded corryn, known last to be in the human kingdom of Watchaven, called Morticai of the Northmarch, also called Dyluth, is marked for utter destruction for the following crimes:

  Purposely and wantonly searching us out to do us harm;

  Giving his soul to Glawres and allowing Glawres to possess him;

  Joining with the Inquisition, to fight against us;

  Joining the Arluthians, who are sworn to our utter destruction;

  Attacking one of Droka’s own sons, with intent to kill;

  Causing a faithful Dyagon to be slain;

  Murdering our High Priest in Watchaven;

  Causing a faithful servant, Prince Edris of Watchaven, to be captured, and hanged;

  Causing a faithful servant, Lord Danvek of Dynolva, to be captured, and hanged;

  Causing the destruction of our temple in Watchaven;

  Giving word to the enemy, thereby alerting the Northmarch to our plans; and

  Giving word to the sovereigns of the northern kingdoms, thereby alerting them to our plans.

  Further, be it known that this corryn is the height of a human, with black hair, streaked with silver, and with eyes of an unnatural, deep-violet color, given to him by the foul Glawres.

  Should any deliver to me Morticai, alive or dead, a reward of 25,000 korun shall be given. So it has been sworn before Droka.

  Sworn this day, by my hand:

  Luthekar, Prince of Droka

  Index of Characters

  Adrianas, Lady—corryn; Morticai’s childhood friend and sweetheart, also known as Heather; her full name is Lady Adrianas Teglana of Lorredre. In the Watchaven court, however, she is known by the false identity of Lady Adrianas Lagasell of Bracar.

  Aldwin, Lord—human; lord in Watchaven; suspected by Morticai of belonging to the Droken.

  Almgren, King—human; king of Watchaven.

  Bertel, Prince—human; oldest son of King Almgren of Watchaven.

  Breslen—corryn; co-owner, with his wife, Kithryl, of the Cobblesend Pub in Watchaven.

  Calsen—corryn; childhood friend of Morticai’s; nickname translates as “Sly Razor.”

  Coryden—Morticai’s Northmarch captain; long-time friend and protector of Morticai; full name, Coryden Lestryon of Menelcar; he is sometimes called “Cor” by his closest friends.

  Cwena—jevano, former human; works as an “entertainer” at the Crestview Club.

  Danvek, Lord—corryn; ambassador to Watchaven from Dynolva.

  Dualas, Sir—corryn; Knight of the Faith, assigned to the Northmarch in Watchaven; full name, Sir Dualas Fellorek of Dynolva; has the corryn sleythow of yeglon.

  Dyluth—Morticai’s urchin nickname, which translates as “Lord of Shadows.”

  Edana, Mother—human; Matriarch of the Faith who is considered a living Levani; she resides at Grandhaven Sanctorium in Watchaven and is known for her skills in healing.

  Edris, Prince—human; fourth son of King Almgren of Watchaven.

  Ellenwood, Sir—human petty noble in Watchaven; another noble Morticai suspects of belonging to the Droken.

  Evadrel—corryn; Northmarcher; lead scout in Coryden’s patrol; has the corryn sleythow of dyalos.

  Fenton—human; a “spice” merchant of questionable repute in Watchaven’s Lower Bazaar, known by some to deal in moonflower.

  Glaedwin, Rylan—human; Inquisitor from Abbadyr.

  Gunhar—human; owner of the Watchaven tavern, The Foaming Tankard.

  Heather—corryn; see Adrianas, Lady

  Heimrik, Berret—human; Northmarcher; he is the sergeant of Morticai’s squad.

  High Priest—the high priest of Droka in Watchaven; due to the dangers inherent in the position, the true identity of the high priest is kept secret, just as the identities of the general worshippers of Droka are kept secret.

  Hildric, Lord—human; aide to King Almgren.

  Ivan—human; Northmarcher; he is the master surgeon for the Northmarch.

  Jarviel, Commander—corryn; Northmarch commander in charge of the Northmarch in Dynolva.

  Jendall, Lord—human; close aide of King Almgren; also, Heather’s current paramour.

  Kinsey, Geradon—human; aide to Inquisitor Rylan Glaedwin.

  Kithryl—corryn; co-owner, with her husband, Breslen, of the Cobblesend Pub in Watchaven.

  Luthekar, Prince—corryn demigod; one of two princes of Cuthaun; son of a corryn woman and Droka.

  Luvena, Madam—human; Watchaven hedge wizard.

  Luwaren—corryn; Northmarch sergeant, in Coryden’s pa
trol.

  McFerrin, Kirwin—human; Commander of the Northmarch at Watchaven.

  Menahen, Levani—human; an ancient Levani of the Faith who worshipped Glawres.

  Moranekor—Morticai’s true name; he has a house name as well, but does not know it as he was orphaned before he had learned it.

  Mortern, Prince—human demigod; one of the two princes of Cuthaun; son of a human woman and Droka.

  Morticai—corryn; Northmarcher; ex-street urchin (of Watchaven); true name, Moranekor of Lorredre; urchin name, Dyluth.

  Nelerek—corryn; Morticai’s Arluthian advocate; true name, Perlagus Myrgalon of Watchaven.

  Nevin—human; Heather’s coachman.

  Nildan—corryn; Northmarch sergeant in Coryden’s patrol.

  Nishan, Captain—human; Northmarch captain.

  Orrick, Lord—human; Watchaven nobleman who is a member of the Trade Council.

  Paxton—human; owner of the Dapple Stallion Inn in Watchaven.

  Perlagus—corryn; Nelerek’s true name, Perlagus Myrgalon of Watchaven.

  Phelim, Patriarch—human; Patriarch of the Glawres sect in Watchaven.

  Phillip—human; Northmarcher; second-in-command of the Northmarch at Watchaven.

  Quinson, Lord—human; Watchaven nobleman who runs afoul of the Droken.

  Riamel, King—corryn; king of Dynolva.

  Richard—human; born in Briarwood, Richard is a Knight of the Faith in the service of Inquisitor Rylan Glaedwin.

  Scatla—human; Arluthian friend of Morticai’s.

  Seabrook, Lord—human; supreme commander of the Northmarch.

  Slip—human; one of Morticai’s urchin friends.

  Tagger—human; one of Morticai’s street urchin friends.

  Thoris—human; Northmarch scout.

  Trahern, Captain—human; a captain in Watchaven’s City Watch and one-time drinking friend of Morticai and Coryden.

  Udall—human; Northmarcher; Droken.

  Ullock, Lord—human; one of Heather’s previous paramours, who was never very fond of Morticai.

  Valdir, Lord—human lord in Watchaven; another noble whom Morticai suspects of belonging to the Droken.

  Wilfram, General—human; Droken general from Cuthaun.

  Williams, Captain—human; Northmarcher; captain of the patrol to which Udall belongs.

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