Jalia Prevails (Book 5)
Page 34
“What Prince Doran was trying to say is that we accept your gracious offer of the swords and we will accompany them back to Dalk,” Jant announced. His prince was having trouble closing his mouth so he felt it best to accept on his behalf. Minutes before they had been celebrating Maximus’s loss of the swords, now they had something even better to celebrate.”
Prince Doran was ushered out of the Captain’s cabin and Tonas, Wilf and Tred were invited in. There was some surprise when Sila Klint insisted on coming into the cabin with them.
“I need to tell you two something,” Sila said facing Jalia and Daniel squarely. “My name is Klint not Glan and I was once a member of the Mine Owners Association.”
Daniel sighed and rooted in his purse for a gold coin. He solemnly handed it to Jalia who took it from him with a smirk of triumph on her face.
“We were pretty sure that was who you were,” Jalia told Sila. “After all, we heard you fled Telmar in a sailing ship and there aren’t that many places to go. It seemed unlikely that there were two women called Sila to a large sailing ship. And then there was the heavy bag of gold you brought over with you.”
“I have no plans to attack you,” Sila continued. She was surprised by Jalia and Daniel’s unconcern.
“We figured that out as well,” Daniel said wearily. “Provided you don’t take up slavery again, we have no interest in you.”
“I inherited the slaves when I won the mines in a game of fade,” Sila said with a grin. “It was just how they worked. Can I ask you what the coin was about?”
“I bet Daniel that you would tell us who you were before we reached port,” Jalia said. “I understand women who risk their lives to hold onto their last bag of gold. I’m a little like that myself.”
“I am in a partnership with Tonas, Wilf and Tred and anything you have to say to them should include me. But I didn’t want to deal with you under false pretenses.”
“We are delivering a thousand swords to Jenver in one of the Steam Dragon’s lifeboats and we thought these three would like to go along,” Daniel explained.
“The same swords that Maximus purchased I take it?” Sila asked them, a look of admiration on her face.
“Some of them,” Jalia admitted. “Each Trium are going to get a third of those that remain.”
“It is a good way off the Steam Dragon with all our money,” Tonas said, to supportive nods from Wilf and Tred. “And following your suggestions has proved to be a good way to stay alive.”
“It has been a true pleasure meeting you,” Sila said, bowing. “If you plan to stay here, I shall expect to hear great things of you.”
Jalia grinned back at Sila, but said nothing to her of their future plans.
Getting the lifeboats ready and off the Steam Dragon proved an easy task with the Dragon’s crew doing most of the work. Nobody slept that night and by morning, the boats were loaded up and ready to go.
“This solves the problem of how we were going to get our horses back from the Dragon after we left on the boats,” Cara told Jalia. “Leaving Hala to look after them was never satisfactory.”
“Daniel’s plans have a way of sorting themselves out as.” Jalia leant out over the safety railing to watch the second boat let go its lines and its crew pull the boat away.
“Do you think there will be any trouble when we dock?”
“Let Daniel worry about the diplomacy,” Jalia said as the Steam Dragon’s engines began to pulse into life. “He can be quite good at it when he want to be.”
Daniel was up on the bridge with Seb and Hal as the Steam Dragon loosed its mooring and began to make its way upriver. As the massive boat began to turn to face the harbor entrance, a number of floating bodies in the dock became visible.
“It looks as though the barge didn’t quite make it all the way into dock,” Daniel said tonelessly.
“Do you think Lady Sorn and Maximus survived?” Hal asked as Seb inched the Steam Dragon forward.
Daniel shrugged.
The sunken barge was visible in the clear waters of the docks. Hal shouted instructions from the bow to Seb who steered the Steam Dragon safely passed the wreck. They pulled alongside the dock where a delegation waited to greet them.
Before the gangway was extended, Daniel went to the side of the boat and shouted down to the people on the dock. There were three groups of heavily armed guards down there, not to mention the ones he assumed were their leaders by their clothes.
“We had a visit last night by Maximus Tallis and his men. He and Gally Sorn had arranged to remove the swords and load them onto the barge that is lying at the bottom of the harbor over there.”
Daniel noted the reactions of the leaders, all of whom looked outraged and a little worried.
“However, the swords did not go down with the barge and this morning one third of them was dispatched to Jenver while another third of them went to Dalk.”
There was consternation among the royalty.
“Those swords might need a little more protection than we sent. Prince Doran is with the Dalk consignment while the Jenver consignment has Tonas Mallow to guard it. Certain people present might want to go and sort that out.”
“Just who the hell are you?” A short distinguished looking man asked angrily. Daniel assumed he must be the King of Tallis.
“I am Daniel al’Degar and it is my intention not to put the gangway down until the only people left on this dock are the King of Tallis and his men. We have a thousand swords to deliver to him.”
“And what price are you charging the crown for this service, Daniel al’Degar?” the man shouted back.
“The swords are paid for, courtesy of Maximus Tallis. It was not his desire to do this, as he thought the swords were on his barge. Luckily for you, they were not.”
The three leaders, two middle-aged men and one middle-aged woman briefly conferred and then the King of Tallis resumed the conversation.
“Does the representative of the Boat Company guarantee the words of this man?” he asked.
“As Captain of the Steam Dragon I can confirm everything that Daniel has told you,” Seb shouted from the walkway. “My men are taking swords to Jenver and Dalk as we speak, as a Boat Company courtesy to your honored majesties.”
Seb’s words had the desired effect as Queen Kalenda, King Gilan and their men began to withdraw. Daniel found that Hala and Nin had arrived behind him.
“I’m going to go to school with the Boat Company,” Hala said proudly.
“Make sure that Jalia gives you enough money to live comfortably,” Daniel replied. He bent over and kissed Hala on the cheek.
“She already has,” Hala answered, jingling a heavy money purse in her hand. “How will you two survive without me?”
“I have absolutely no idea,” Daniel said seriously, “But we have done it before and I expect we will learn to do it again.”
“I love you both,” Hala said tears forming in her eyes.
“And we love you,” Daniel said, holding Hala tight.
The gangway dropped onto the dock, and the King of Tallis strode up it towards them.
“Duty calls,” Daniel told Hala as he let her go.
The End
Look out for the next story - Jalia at War
Table of Contents
1. Recovery
2. Secrets
3. Mysteries
4. Developments
5. Alliances
6. The Five Gem Coin
7. An Evening in Wegnar
8. Revenge
9. Death Comes Calling
10. Rescue
11. Plots
12. Bratin
13. The Greenhouse
14. Recovered
15. Essences
16. Betrayals
17. Revelations
18. A Dish Served Cold
19. Mistakes and Machinations
20. Slarn
21. Maximus
22. Sunk
23. Resolution