Severance (The Sovereign Book 1)

by Michael Pritsos

  Xander waited until a seventh swing was taken and hopped back suddenly, the shortsword slicing air in an orange arc reflecting the Gaian’s fluttering torch. The watchman leapt forward while his enemy’s sword was still on the move, plunging his blade through cheap mail, muscle, and organs. His enemy grunted and Xander’s blade became trapped in the suction of his flesh, refusing its master’s yank to bring it free. When the Gaian fell the longsword was torn from Xander’s grasp and the fight that had seemed so easy now became his death because he was weaponless. The second Gaian ran forward with his iron flashing orange and yellow when a shot sounded and he flew forward to smack into the watchman with a crunch of mail upon mail.

  Blood drenched Xander’s face but he threw the body off himself to see Murchadh with a smoking barrel standing in the street. Murchadh moved to his officer’s side while he ripped his longsword out of the first man’s belly. The gunfire was lessening but Xander’s eyes flicked back and forth among the alleys in search for fresh enemies.

  “Here,” Murchadh said abruptly. He tapped the tip of his bloody longsword against Xander’s holstered gun and handed over another shot and charge.

  Xander reloaded his weapon and nodded to where he had seen those first arrows flash by in the night. “The rest of them must be that way.”

  Murchadh was too busy ramming a fresh lead ball down his barrel to look. “Should we split up?”

  “Makes no sense to do it that way,” Xander said. “We’ll do better together.”

  A Gaian crept from the doorway of the house to their right and instantly both pistols went up. He debated for an instant, then dropped his sword in the dirt. Xander began to move forward when a shot rang beside him. The Gaian clutched his throat as blood erupted between his fingers to pour onto his mail coat in a flood of black. He stared aghast at the two men before collapsing on his face in the dirt.

  “That’s three,” Murchadh said softly. He began to reload his pistol again.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” Xander shouted. “He had surrendered!”

  “You want to take yourself out of the fight to escort some piece of shit to the embassy?” Murchadh asked belligerently. “I don’t want one of those mind readers next to me for even a second.”

  “I’m your commanding officer,” Xander replied heatedly.

  “Yes, you are,” Murchadh said. “And I would do it again. We’re wasting time.”

  Xander shook his head and started down the road with Murchadh following suit. The Gaian warship was beached on the north side of Triton and Xander cursed as he realized that was only a mile and a half from the embassy. Only one of the archers remained to guard the vessel and he was taking careful aim at the northern tower when the pair sprinted along the beach. The archer loosed and concentrated on guiding the path of his arrow as the two approached. The shaft must have struck home for the man grinned but the expression was soured when he saw other Thalassans approaching from where several arrow-riddled corpses lay. He drew another shaft and Xander leveled the pistol and muttered a soft prayer as he fired.

  The shaft loosed wildly and the Gaian’s head snapped back as the lead struck his face. Red erupted onto the sand and he collapsed in a heap beside the ocean’s tide. All was silent. Xander and Murchadh boarded the vessel and searched briefly along the benches for any more of the invaders.

  “Empty,” Murchadh announced. He bore a grin that could outshine the sun.

  They hopped back down into the shallow water and waded to where two more grey-cloaked guardsmen stood as though there was nothing to do. And in fact there was not, for the battle was over and Triton had won.

  * * * *

  Stefan’s face was drenched in sweat when Xander and Patrick walked into the conference room. He sighed relief at their sight and Aldous subsequently placed the pistol onto the great oaken table.

  “A victory?” the constable inquired.

  “Yes, sir,” Xander replied. “I have Aidan counting our dead along with the enemy dead. Those who have surrendered are outside.”

  “None have escaped, I trust,” Aldous said.

  Xander shook his head. “Their ship remains on our beach.”

  “Excellent,” the constable replied. He walked with Xander and a shaken Patrick to the training yard where nine Gaians were kneeling before their captors. Their weapons and armor were piled in the dirt twenty paces from where they were held.

  Victor came walking up Triton’s dirt road with triumph in his brown eyes. Xander hailed his guardsman and grinned wide to see he had survived. “I saw an archer loose at the tower you were in… I feared the worst.”

  “I’m pretty sure I hit two of the bastards with those rifles but then one began to ascend the stairs. I had to beat him back and Marcus killed him for me,” Victor said with a frown. “He took my place in the northern tower when I went to look for someone to rally behind.”

  Xander bowed his head in remembrance of the guardsman. “He was a good man.”

  “Aye!” Brennus declared as he tromped into the yard. “I’m sure he was. Many good men were killed today.” He kicked one of the Gaian prisoners in the back and the man sprawled in the dirt.

  “Who led you?” Aldous asked one of the prisoners.

  The man looked up and seemed to debate with himself for a moment but ultimately saw no reason to hide that fact anymore. “A man called Vincent. He’s dead.”

  “That he is,” Brennus stated. He sported a shortsword of steel with an iron hilt. Aldous nodded at the make of the weapon. Xander figured it was probably worth a gold piece at the least.

  “You’d all best be ready for the next fight when it comes,” Aldous said abruptly. “And trust me, it will come. Shield walls where you’re standing next to your friends, the gods flipping coins over which of you will live and which will die. And all the while you’ll stare into the faces of enemies who want you dead even more than your family wants you alive… you’d best be ready.”

  Xander looked down for a moment and considered this. He chewed the inside of his cheek and found it was already bit up and bloody.

  “I have the numbers,” Aidan announced as he joined the men in the yard. “Forty-two enemy dead, including their commander. Of ours, twenty-three guardsmen and three watchmen.”

  “By the gods,” Aldous blasphemed.

  Xander guessed there were a half-dozen more Thalassans that were nursing wounds as well, but when he looked around none of the soldiers in the area appeared to have more than a few gashes. All the same he still cursed under his breath. Triton had the element of surprise and they still lost twenty-six men? It seemed impossible. “You’re certain?” he asked.

  “I know how to count,” Aidan replied with his usual scowl.

  “Any of our more well-born watchmen?” the constable inquired.

  Aidan pondered for a second. “Jason, I believe, was cousin to the Adliger House on Tethys… through marriage I think.”

  Patrick nodded in confirmation.

  “They shall all be given proper graves,” Aldous announced. He turned to Patrick. “You have a lot to report, my Lord.”

  “Brennus will take me to Pontos on the morrow,” the nobleman replied.

  “Xander,” the constable said abruptly. “Looks like the king got his wish. Jason was a good man and carried out his duties with diligence. I hope you are able to do the same. Henceforth you shall be First Watchman of Triton’s Guard. Have our men dig the graves. Aidan will make certain these nine find new living quarters in the jail.”

  “Our jail is only supposed to hold twenty,” Aidan said. “It already has twenty-three of Thomas’ sailors.”

  “Then I suppose it will be cramped in there,” Aldous replied.

  Aidan began to walk to the captives but stopped before Xander. He did his best in regards to sympathy. “Two of the guardsmen dead were your own. Marcus and George.”

  Xander nodded.

  “I… I’m sorry,” Aidan said.

  The young watchman nodded again bef
ore gathering the men around him. “Everyone find a spade. We have a lot of graves to dig.”

  Part II

  The Sailor

  Saija was hit hard in the face with the stench of sweaty men, stale drink, and scented tallow mixed with seawater. Someone had likely gotten ill, and a filthy mop and bucket were used to clean it up. She searched through the haze of smoke and heat in the new tavern for Ana. The place was called The Saving Grace, and Saija was certain no other business had done so well on Triton. They had been meeting for drinks most every night and tonight was no different. The place always filled to the rafters with the fresh faces that began piling up on the little island.

  Many of the rowdier groups of men wore the brown and black that belonged to House Xiphos. Three hundred troops from Anapos had arrived with Arkouda, a famed warrior and brother to the Lord Thanos, leading the rambunctious men. There were others as well, but with the new arrivals constantly coming and going it was hard for Saija to keep track. That many soldiers demanded a need for the town to expand. More farms had developed recently to account for the vast hordes of food needed, and with the new work force a perpetual thirst was on the isle. Trading ships did well too, traveling to and fro between Triton and Glaucus for the island’s famed wine needed replenishing every other day. Times are changing, but at least I have something to break up the monotony every day.

  The sea had been choppy that morning and for the first time in quite a while Saija had gotten ill while the ship made its final lap around the small island. It was all so frustrating. Saija was trying to show the other men on the ship that she was not just any woman trying to be a sailor. She was just as tough and capable as they were, and her one and only hindrance was her size. Saija was glad she happened to be at the stern of the ship before she lost her lunch so no one was wise to her sickness.

  Ana called out to her from the end of the dirty bar and looking around Saija noticed that all of the tables were filled up that night and that must be the reason she was not seated at one of them. Stefan, newly hired at The Saving Grace to earn his keep on the island, was refilling Ana’s wine from a flagon. He smiled as Saija walked up and sat down next to her companion.

  “Stefan, it’s busy tonight! Is it some special occasion?” Saija asked the Gaian barkeep as he began pouring her a mug of ale before she could even ask. Most people were distrusting of Stefan, but she liked him well enough. Her closest friend on Triton was also a Gaian, so she had drifted away from the prejudices that she had once held for their kind.

  “Not that I know of…” Stefan shrugged with a smile. “Which is saying a lot, since it would be easy to know.”

  Ana laughed at this as Stefan left to tend to his other patrons. Saija realized that it must be a comfort to her to hear humor about their mind reading skills. Stefan was the only other Gaian besides her own father that Ana could talk to on Triton. It was unfortunate that Ana and her father were stranded on the small isle, but Saija was grateful to have her there for company. She was the only girl that Saija had ever been close with.

  “How was your day, Saija?” Ana asked, smiling.

  “It was all right, the sea was rough today.” Saija took a long gulp of her ale, not wanting to admit she had gotten seasick. It was not the best scenario for a sailor.

  “It was quite windy on the island today too,” Ana said, taking a sip of her own drink and looking down. “It’s okay that you got sick, I’m sure you’re not the only one.”

  Saija straightened and nodded her head once. Ana’s mindreading was definitely something she was not yet used to, and although her friend meant to comfort her it was still somewhat unnerving that her private thoughts and embarrassments were not private at all. She took another swallow of ale and wiped her mouth on her long linen sleeve.

  “Xander went to my mother’s house for his studies,” Ana began, changing the subject. “He’s doing really well, reading whole chapters before he has to ask for help with a word.”

  “Good for him,” Saija said genuinely. “Your mother must be a wonderful teacher.”

  “Yes, she is. I admire him for continuing his tutoring even through wartime. I feel that if it were me I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on such things with so many other responsibilities on my mind.”

  Saija nodded, wondering what it would be like to be a normal citizen during this time. It was hard to imagine not being involved in the day to day life of this war. “I would bet it’s nice for him to concentrate on something other than leading his men through drills and the like.”

  “True, I hadn’t thought of that.”

  “At the same time, it hasn’t been very exciting lately. We’ve all been patrolling and keeping an eye out for danger mostly. There’s not very much action to keep him busy. I’m kind of bored, in fact. Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate everything Brennus has done for me. It’s pretty much unheard of for a woman to serve aboard a vessel, let alone in a time of war, and he had vouched for me on more than one occasion. I’d like to see some action, though. If only to break up the monotony.”

  “Don’t even get me started on monotony. I love working in the nursery with my mother but there isn’t very much to occupy me when I’m not doing that. I’ve certainly read quite a lot of books lately, but I still find myself wishing for more exciting things to do. Sailing all day sounds wonderful. I miss being on the water.”

  Saija considered this. “True, you haven’t spent three solid months in one place in a while, right?”

  “We sailed to and from Gaia monthly, so that doesn’t leave many days on land,” Ana confirmed, smiling sadly. “I miss those days.”

  Saija sympathized with her new friend. “I don’t know when they’ll allow you to leave. I know it’s been hard to be stranded here.”

  “It’s okay though, really. I love spending so much time with my mother. I haven’t been able to do so for this long in all my life. Besides, my mother and father like spending time together too.”

  Saija chuckled. “You don’t seem to mind Xander’s company very much… You two are getting pretty close aren’t you?”

  Ana blushed deeply. “Yes, I suppose so.”

  “I can tell that he feels strongly for you, and I don’t need to be a mind reader to know that!”

  The girls laughed as Stefan came back refill Saija’s already empty tankard. The barkeep gave a smug grin. Somehow, despite who he was, Stefan had made himself quite friendly with Triton’s people as their bartender. “Well, I can read minds, so I agree. He does feel strongly for you.”

  “Stefan,” Ana started, “you say this as if I can’t read minds as well. Of course I know how he feels about me, but I’m not going to rush him into anything. He’s very… complicated.”

  “And you aren’t, I suppose?” Stefan asked. The smile lingered on his face and Saija thought how very childlike it made him look but served to bring forth the kindness in his green eyes.

  “Oh, leave us! Do you not see how busy you are?” Ana scolded him playfully and he just laughed and walked away.

  Saija rolled her eyes. “It wouldn’t be terrible to initiate something. A lot of men would like that. I spend a lot of time with them, so I should know.”

  “Things with Xander and I will happen when they happen. If it feels right for me to initiate something then I will!” Ana defended herself, blushing again at the thought of being intimate with Xander. Saija did not need to be a mind reader to know that either.

  “All right, let’s change the subject then. I just never get to talk of such things and it was fun for a moment,” Saija said. Her face grew serious. “I know you may not want to talk about this, but I’ve put it off for a while. I don’t want you to think I don’t care… Everything that happened with Katherine… Are you okay?”

  Ana sat straighter on her stool. “I know you don’t like to pry. I don’t either but I’ve noticed your mind going in that direction. I don’t know… I try not to think about it too much. Thank you for being there for me for the past few months. It’s
really meant a lot for me to have another friend after losing her. She was more than just a teacher.”

  Saija put a hand on Ana’s shoulder and smiled encouragingly. “You’re a good friend, Ana.”

  *

  The morning air was crisp and cool on Saija’s face as she made her way down to the docks where the Victory proudly loomed. She breathed deeply and gazed out at the water thinking about what a beautiful day it was. She quickly crossed the boarding ramp and hopped with light feet onto the deck of the sloop. It was crewed easily by fifty men, and there was plenty of space for each of them on the seventy-footer. Brennus had aptly named the vessel. He had traded his old transport ship in to King Philip after Triton’s Guard stopped the Gaian attack. Then it had just been a matter of taking down the green and silver of Gaia and raising his own red and yellow.

  The Victory boasted six saker cannons on each side, their bronze polished to a sheen in the previous weeks, with stacks of five-pound cannonballs ready to load beside each one. It was a sailing vessel for the most part, but also had fifteen oars a side, only utilized when the wind was slack. With a huge mainsail and rigs fore and aft, the wind was almost always willing to give the crew that rest. Saija silently wished there would be no need for pulling one of those this day.

  She saluted Murchadh before settling in. He had been a new addition to the ship since the battle on Triton. Brennus had been reinstated in Thalassa’s military as a captain, and some men had come forward in the hopes of serving under the man. It was something Murchadh had evidently petitioned for after being newly promoted to watchman. Saija knew that at one time he had served under Xander, but there was little that either man would say about the other. He was a good leader, though, and that was all that mattered. With that strong jaw and bright eyes he’s not too bad to look at either, Saija thought when she glanced at the soldier. He was only of average height, yet a muscled build separated him from the ragtag men who served alongside them on the Victory.