by kubasik
He raised his hand then, slapping you so hard that you fell down to the stone deck. "What do you want to do?" he shouted. "Do you want to die? Can't you understand any of this?"
Too stunned to speak, I began closing the distance between us. Before I could get there, your father had grabbed you by the shoulders, Samael, dragged you up, and then put the blade of his sword against your neck. "Is this what you want to happen? Everyone is out to get you? Do you understand? You can't let your guard down for a moment!"
"J'ROLE!"
He turned, stunned to see me next to him. His face paled, and his eyes lifted skyward as if he had just entered a trance. He stood quickly. "Sorry." He said to me.
"What are you apologizing to me for?” I spoke sharply, and my body did not shake. But inside I felt the fabric of all my sense of reality slipping away too quickly for me to comprehend. Inside my flesh I felt my body begin to disintegrate, and a clear scream struggled to crack through my throat and rip out of my mouth. All of this I fought down, because I knew if I let it out I would lose control of everything. I had no idea what I might do next.
I'd thought I knew your father, the good and the bad. I thought I could handle each part of him, that's why I had struggled to work with him for so long. But suddenly a new part of him had just revealed itself — putting a sword to a child's throat! — his own son! If he was capable of this, what else was he capable of? Memories of his requests for bites that drew blood came back to me, and in combination with this incident, I realized I never wanted to leave him alone with the two of you ever again. I thought I had some special power to draw his pain, to soak it up and keep it focused safely on me — that is, keeping his fury away from the rest of the world. Why had I assumed all of this? I do not know. I thought I had a power over him, to heal him. I do not know. I just don't know. Oh, if only I had known so many years earlier. If only I could have foreseen what would happen ...
The two of you were in tears. You had dropped your swords and were beside yourselves.
J'role knelt down before you. The panic grew stronger in me, and I thought I might just strangle your father on the spot. I knew the powers of his perverse charm, and his ability to apologize for anything. I didn't want him to begin weaving his habit around the two of you.
"Boys!" I said sharply, all my panic and energy rushing out in that one syllable.
Without hesitation the two of you fell in at my side and we walked quickly away returning to our cabin. J'role remained on the deck, kneeling, drenched in the heavy mist.
22
Two days later the Theran War exploded and for three days it continued until its finish.
You were not only present, but you've heard the details hundreds of times, so I will not repeat them. And to tell you the truth, the details of the war do not interest me. Yes, a great deal of cleverness was involved, as well as deeds of bravery and strength. The crux of the strategy — getting t'skrang riverboats up the Coil River and directly into the mountain kingdom of Throal was brilliant. Not only did the success of that operation replenish the kingdom's supplies, but it gave them war materials they needed to successfully wage the battle against the Therans on two fronts — from within the kingdom and from without.
We might well have lost, and it's lucky we did not. But the stratagems and objective theorizing about the conflict are not what interest me.
I saw too many people die useless, senseless deaths. Airships shattered by the fire of Theran fire cannons. T'skrang riverboats sunk as they raced up the Coil. Ground forces smashing against each other like waves of water on rocks, shattering their bones and lives in repeated contests of endurance.
Others have spent years going over and over the matter. For me, it was simply something to be done with, so I could get back to the business of living.
So I will recount but two matters of importance, one from pride and one to do with your father. The first took place before the fighting began, the second at the close of the war.
23
The day before the final battle began, we held a war council on the Stone Rainbow. The ship had acquired an extraordinary reputation during the last few months, and as both a captured Theran vessel and a safe and strong ship, its choice as the meeting place of the various factions was both symbolic and practical.
J'role had arranged the tables of the mess hall into a large U shape, so that everyone could see one another during the meeting. There were ork cavalry mercenaries, their bulky bodies covered with chain armor decorated with feathers and paint. Crystal raiders, their massive troll bodies fidgety at the stateliness of the meeting. Quick-witted t'skrang, smiling pleasantly with sharp teeth as their reptilian bodies rested comfortably in the chairs. Dwarfs with battle scarred faces who, had just recently gotten past Theran guards to give us a report on Throal's defenses. Windlings, who preferred to perch themselves on the edges of the table. Elves and others, all committed to breaking the Therans stranglehold and driving their armada out of Barsaive.
The level of cooperation astounded me, for never had I heard of so many different factions working together for a common goal. They had been drawn from all over the province, and worked not for their own gain, but a shared goal.
A tense atmosphere hung over the meeting as an elven warrior from Throal, General Oshia, gave out the details of the upcoming combat. There were disagreements about some matters, but no one underestimated the danger. Those involved simply wanted to make sure they weren't throwing the lives of their followers away.
During a break I ran into Krattack out on the deck, though more likely than not Krattack had sought me out. I did not mind. I remembered him fondly since I'd last seen him. Of the people I'd met since the Theran castle flew over my home months earlier, he had been the most honest and the most interesting. He seemed terribly old now. The gray-green flesh now sagged along his large muscles. His eyes, once piercing, now seemed unfocused and carried a white shadow within them. His gentle smile — with a touch of his humor — still remained.
"You're very tired, aren't you?" I said to him.
"Somewhat. I just don't make a show of hiding it anymore."
"Retiring soon?"
"Dead soon," he said. Then, when I reacted with surprise, “Not anything strange about that. I am old. I travel with warriors. It's going to happen."
"You don't know ..."
"I wanted to tell you that none of this would have been possible without you. Or, rather, I would have arranged it somehow, but you were the one."
"None of what?"
"This meeting. This cooperation."
"I'm not sure ..."
"Of course you're not. You haven't been around, and to you cooperation seems perfectly natural. But trust me, this gathering of warriors was no easy task. Vrograth had his work cut out for him."
"Vrograth? I thought you were the magic behind this, old man."
"No. No." He twirled his fingers in the air. “I can work manipulations from a distance, but no one would take an old troll seriously. Warriors don't understand or trust talk of cooperation unless they hear it from someone who is as fierce and independent as they are. That's the only way they can really come to accept that cooperation may be the only viable option. Vrograth was the person to send to the front."
"I wouldn't think he could gather people into an alliance."
"Which is where you came in. You made quite an impression on him, you know. You bested him three times. First with your peculiar contest of patience — wonderful, by the way. I would never have thought of that. Second, during the war dance. And third, when we defeated those two Theran ships. The day you were captured you proved that your way of thinking worked well. In his own clumsy way he's tried to emulate you."
"Really?"
Krattack laughed. "No one would ever confuse the two of you, but he's done passing well at it. Anyway, thank you so much for not running off that night."
"You would have stopped me in any case."
He touched his bulky fingers to m
y right shoulder. "That, my dear is where you're wrong.
If my words could not persuade you, you were free to go on as you wished. What would have been the point of holding you against your will? I needed someone who could speak to Vrograth from her heart."
"But I wanted to go after my children."
"Dying wouldn't have helped them. You knew that. Anyway, thank you."
"It's seems like you're the one who should be thanked."
"Both of us. But neither of us will be. The histories are written by men who think the killing and body totals are the most valuable part of a solution's conflict. The peacemakers are seen as extraneous elements, usually dangerous."
I smiled at his humility. "I doubt that, Krattack. If we win, your work will long be remembered."
"You're wrong, dear Releana. But I appreciate your kind words."
Krattack was right, of course. He died the next day, and no one speaks of him.
24
The raids on the Theran ships did not prepare me for the Battle of Throal. The number of people involved overwhelmed my sensibilities. The number of deaths I witnessed from moment to moment stretched the bounds of my sanity.
Airships flew like swarms of black birds around each other. Fireballs raced between the ships, brilliant red arcs of death seeking out their victims. Flames blossomed on drakkars and castles and stone airships. Men and women plunged to their deaths, some twisting and turning in pain as ragged flames ate their flesh and trails of smoke uncoiled behind them. The ships raced toward one other, the stone ships trying to ram the wooden drakkars. The troll raiders attempted to swing in close to the Theran vessels to board the stone ships without being struck. Sword fights erupted on castle walls. Riggings of ships became delicate stages for sword fights.
On the ground, hundreds of troops swelled up against each other in terrible, raging confrontations. Magic and arrows and swords stole the lives of hundreds.
The t'skrang riverboats made it up the Coil, navigating the turbulent and rocky water, delivering supplies to the kingdom. Later that afternoon the horde of Throalic warriors swept out from the kingdom, overwhelming the Theran troops stationed at the gates of the kingdom. Theran airships descended to support their soldiers, and with their attention split, the battle came our way.
I myself crewed the Stone Rainbow's fire cannon, along with Wia. First I became numb, and then euphoric. The entire battle, which raged three days, turned me into something I no longer wish to remember. I felt Thystonius nearby — along with everyone present, Theran and crystal raider alike — though I did not see her. She loved the battle. She craved only that there be excuses enough for conflict and that people act on them. She infused us all with her Passion so we might fight harder and longer.
On the third day it seemed that we had won. The Theran fleet had been cracked in half.
With their valuable armada weakened, I thought our victory was certain. Then I saw at castle rushing towards us — the largest of those the Therans had in the air. I did not recognize it at first, but knew it when it began firing on us. The Preserver.
25
"J'role," I shouted, "Get us about. The Overgovernor's coming!"
Even as I screamed the words, I felt the ship lurching to starboard. We had little choice but to retreat, for we had become separated from the rest of our fleet while pursuing a Theran airship. The winds picked up around use and large drops of rain began stinging against my skin.
"Drop the sails," Wia commanded, and we quickly climbed up to get the sails down. As we worked, I glanced over my shoulder and saw The Preserver getting closer and closer.
"Why did they stop firing?" Wia asked.
I looked back. It was true. My mind drew a blank in its attempt to answer her question.
And then it came to me. "He knows we're on the ship … "
"He?"
"Overgovernor Povelis. He wants us. He wants the boys."
I left the others working on the sails and ran to J'role. "It's Povelis. He's coming for the boys."
He kept his eyes focused forward, trying to keep the Stone Rainbow on a course toward the rest of our ships. "The boys,” he said softly. "Releana, this custom of the Therans, with the twins. Do you think it's true? I mean, can we stop him no matter what we do?"
"I don't know. I don't." I remembered the fight on the drawbridge in Vivane. I told J'role about it and said, "When the Overgovernor almost cut Torran, that's when I punched him.
He nearly went over the edge. He would have died. But he didn't. The boys were still fine. So maybe."
"Or, they were almost cut. Just a little. Maybe the magic almost killed him to keep him in line. To remind him how important they are."
Behind me came a red glare. I turned to see two fireballs rushing toward us. Grabbing J'role, I slammed us both into the ground. The ship rocked wildly and flames rushed up over the stern.
J'role jumped up, grabbing the wheel. He tried to steer back toward the drakkars, but the wheel turned loosely in his hands. I looked out over the stern and saw that the fireballs had ruined the rudder. The castle loomed over us now, its massive, dark stone walls filling all the space behind us.
"I've got to get the children off the ship," I said.
Distantly, as if to himself, J'role said, "Yes."
Upon committing to fight in the war, I had found a copy of the metal wings spell and inscribed it into my grimoire. It was my plan to take the two of you in my arms and fly off with you. I rushed toward the stairs to the lower decks. Glancing off to my left as I reached the doorway, I saw that a dozen drakkars had broken off from the fleet and were rushing to meet up with us. There was no guarantee they would reach us in time.
26
I'd had to leave you boys in my cabin when the fighting began. As I rushed down the corridor to reach you, I was halfway there when the Stone Rainbow slammed suddenly to port. The sound of stone grinding against stone raked through my ears. The castle had rammed us. I fell into the wall of the corridor, catching myself just as the castle rammed us again. The sound of stone cracking open grew louder, and I heard the two of you screaming.
With the ship listing back and forth, I ran until I reached the cabin. When I pushed the door open, a gust of wind rushed past me. A long fissure seven inches across cut along the floor and up the wall. One of my crystal seals had split. The two of you were on the other side of the fissure, clinging to each other. The Preserver struck us again, the fissure widened.
I was completely unnerved. It was one thing to look over the edge of a ship and see the ground far below. It was another to see the ground far below from the room where one slept.
I heard shouts from above, and knew the crew of The Preserver had begun boarding us. If we were going to get away, it would have to be now. I jumped over the fissure, scooped you both up in my arms and then jumped back. Struggling with your weight, I ran out into the corridor, toward the lower deck's cargo door. All I had to do was open it, cast the spell, and fly away, as the magician had forced me to do months earlier.
We reached the door. I pulled the latch ...
It did not open.
I tried again, and again but I could not force it. Damage to the ship had sealed it tight.
"Come on." Holding your hands, I led you forward to the stairs leading to the upper decks. J'role and Wia and two trolls met us from the direction we were heading.
"They're on board," said Wia. "We're dead. At least that's how it looks to me. The rest of the crew's given up the ghost on the upper deck."
"Hide," I said and the two of you turned and ran off.
"Overgovernor Povelis," a Theran shouted from somewhere up the stairway, "We have to leave NOW! The raiders will be here any minute."
"Not without the children!"
"But ..."
"NOT WITHOUT THOSE BOYS!"
Footsteps clattered down the stairs. J'role, Wia, the trolls, and I drew ourselves up for the fight. Five Theran soldiers, their silver and scarlet armor dented and bloodsta
ined, appeared in the doorway at the foot of the stairs. Behind them came the Overgovernor.
"Wait," he said to his men when he saw us. "Wait." To us he said, "I have little time here.
If you give me the two boys, I'll leave you all alive. I'll just leave. I don't have time to fight with you."
His face betrayed such fear as I have never seen anyone reveal. It was as if he would die if he could not get the boys. And in his mind, that was the truth. Or perhaps it really was true. The ways of Theran magic are mysterious and unknown to me.
I felt a bizarre pity for him but said, "Get off my ship now." Wind from cracks throughout the hull rushed down the corridors. I almost laughed, for it seemed ridiculous to use my crumbling ship as sacred ground.
"They're just your children. They are my life." His white face contorted into deep anger, and he shouted at his men to attack us.
