by M. J. Sewall
Asa turned to the crowd, addressed the people loudly, “Shall we send the rest of our airships to help?”
The crowd shouted their approval, raising their lights high in the air. Asa said, “You heard the people, Mantuan. Send all the airships. We don't need them here anymore. Have the airships hold just off the coast, in case the envoys fail. Keep the water fleet at the ready along the coast in case Cayne tries to charge us and make landing.”
“Yes, my King,” Mantuan said, smiling at Asa, even though he knew the King couldn't see him. “Very good.”
“Time to show them how strong our kingdom really is!” Asa shouted, and the crowds cheered him loudly.
Mantuan made the signal his men had been waiting for, and soon the patrolling airships that had been focused on the other side of the palace were headed out to sea.
Asa turned to where Cossca should be, “Cossca?”
“Over here, my King,” said Cossca.
Asa turned to where his voice came from, noticing Cossca address him as king, that's a good sign, thought Asa, “Let's get those rock throwers closer to the coast. I want to be sinking ships if they try to come too close.”
Cossca took a moment, nodded, and said, “Yes, my King. We'll get it done.” He rushed through the crowd toward the massive siege weapons. He gathered his men and told them the plan. The large weapons slowly moved towards the coast.
* * *
Cayne roared when he saw the Extatumm airships floating away. He had all his arrowmen firing at them, but they were already too far out of range and his arrows fell harmlessly to the sea. He turned back around to see five more airships from the Kingdom of the Thirteen heading toward his fleet. They had stopped just off coast, but they were his biggest obstacle. He needed the Extatumm support to fight airship for airship. Without them, his water fleet couldn't make it through. The airships would just pour a wall of fire and burning oil in his path.
He raged around the deck, all of his men afraid to say anything. The arrowmen were back to scanning the sky for the dark shadow of the airship that had attacked them, afraid of fire splitting open the darkness. The flaming sail had been put out, but Cayne stood there, shaking with rage.
Cayne decided to give the order to charge the shore. I will not be humiliated. I have come too far. He needed a conquest to prove he could rule Aspora unchallenged. Even if he lost half his men tonight, any kind of glory would be worth it.
He calculated the attack in his mind and was about to give the command, when he saw two things. The first was the silhouettes of heavy weapons beginning to line the coast, as rows of rock throwers were moving into position. If he attacked, he'd have more than airships to worry about. He imagined that in his head; great stone smashing through his ships, while airships floated above him, out of range for him to fire on, pouring hot death on the rest of his fleet.
The second thing he saw was a small ship coming his way. It did not look armed, and it was fully lit with lanterns on front and sides. It also carried a solid white banner of peace.
* * *
Back on shore, the people cheered their approval as each heavy rock thrower was positioned along the coast. The airships had been put in defensive positions, spaced apart so that if Cayne's fleet tried to land, the airships would stop his ships easily.
A dark shape moved toward the kingdom. Asa's brother described what was happening, “It just stopped alongside another airship. No, wait it's moving to us again. Looks like it's going to come to the landing field. It's one of ours. I guess Tolan must be back, and just in time. He must be loyal to us again if he attacked Cayne. I wonder where his other two ships are…”
The ship moved over the field, no longer a dark shape, the lights from the kingdom lit it from below, and many of the soldiers cheered. It floated low over the field and men rushed to the ropes to secure it to the ground.
Secure and landed, the crew unloaded. The first group off was two guards with Tolan, secured and gagged.
“Tolan is a prisoner. Good,” said Devver excitedly, “And I see Gordon, Aline, and Ellice headed our way. Wait, someone else is getting off… wait, is that…?”
“By the god of the sea, it is.” said Vance.
Asa asked, “What? Who is it? Is everything alright?”
“Yes,” said Vance, “but I think I'll let it be a surprise.”
The all greeted King Asa, as two of the guards lead Tolan to the prisons.
The last man arrived and said, “My King. Is it safe for you here?”
“Brenddel?!” Asa screamed, “Brenddel!”
Asa went to his voice and felt for him, he hugged him tightly like he would his own father. Brenddel smiled.
Asa said, “Brenddel, I don't understand…”
“My King, it's a long, strange story.”
“That's for sure,” added Aline.
King Gordon said, trying to hide the fact that his head was spitting open from his unchecked illness, “We have a lot of amazing things to report.”
Asa laughed, not caring that he wasn't acting like a king, “Gordon, every time you leave the Kingdom, you have amazing things to report.”
Brenddel said, “There will be time for that later. What's the situation here?”
Mantuan arrived, jumped off his horse, “The situation is under control. By the gods, we were sure you died, son.”
Brenddel and Mantuan embraced like the father and son they had once again become.
“Alright old man,” Brenddel actually smiled, “Don't get soft on me now.”
Mantuan met Brenddel's gaze, then looked back to the two kings, “What's the next step, King Asa? Have you ordered an attack?”
“No. Not yet,” said Asa, “The airships are there just in case, defending the shore.”
Mantuan said, “We have sent three envoys to Cayne, but it could go many different ways. For now, we wait.”
* * *
Three people came aboard Cayne's ship. He had nearly ordered it sunk, but Cayne's rage had slowly given way to curiosity. He was interested what they wanted to offer him. He made these decisions on his own. His entire crew stayed silent. The last man that offered council was tied by his feet and dragged behind the ship just two days before.
He reasoned that he could always kill these envoys and send their bodies back on their small ship, with the white flag torn in half. Cayne smiled at the thought, as the three envoys came aboard. His anger returned when he saw who they were. Kett and Lyrra stood before him, fully armed, along with a smaller man he did not know. The man looked more like a councilor than a fighter.
Cayne turned to his men. “Kill them, tear the white flag down and let their bodies float back to shore.”
“Listen, madman,” said Lyrra, “I would kill you where you stand, but this man has a way you can stay alive.”
“I won't die this night, just you three,” said Cayne.
The small man said, “I have a plan that will solve everyone's problem.”
“Little man,” said Cayne impatiently, “should I care who are you?”
“I am Rolem,” the small man replied.
“Ah,” said Cayne, “so you're the little worm that made me all those promises,” he waved his arms at the shore and the airships floating in his way. “Your letters made no mention of an entire kingdom united.”
Rolem said, “The plan didn't work, Cayne. The people have chosen the kings over the council. This boy King Asa is smarter than any of us thought. It's over.”
“From your many brave letters I thought you'd be taller, tougher. Your words were big enough. That was just part of the plan. You were supposed to weaken this kingdom from the inside, before I attacked from outside. You failed,” said Cayne.
“So have you,” said Rolem, finding his courage. “I didn't count on a blind thirteen-year-old king winning back the hearts of the people, but he did. Your failure was ensured when your airships left.”
“You were the one who counseled me to find support from those Extatumm cowards. Th
is is your failure, little man. I have enough waterships to get through.”
Rolem pointed at the line of kingdom airships, “And lose half your ships, your men? It's over Cayne,” Rolem said, “but I have a plan to save us all.”
Cayne pointed at Kett and Lyrra, “And what are those two doing here?”
Lyrra smiled and put her hand on the hilt of her longknife. “We're here in case you turn the plan down.”
Cayne smiled back, “That might be fun.”
Rolem stepped closer. “I have studied Asporan history, what little is written down. Your people are too busy killing each other to keep good histories. But one thing is clear: one ruler will not work.”
“Is that so, little man?” said Cayne, folding his arms.
Rolem nodded, “Even now, in your absence, there are plots against you. When you get back, there will be new challengers to the kingship you hoped for. Extatumm support is gone, your victory here has failed, and so you have no victory you can take back to your people.”
“I don't think I like you,” Cayne said, taking out his shortknife. Kett and Lyrra were ready for any move Cayne made.
“But you need me,” said Rolem. “You need to heal Aspora by bringing it together. The Asporan tribes have been fighting each other forever. You can be the man that unites them, not be force, but by sharing power.”
Cayne laughed. “Share power? Like Artoth with their two kings that hate each other? Like the thirteeners are doing now? Look around you, these men fear me. That is how to lead.”
“Fear can work for a time, but eventually someone stronger with kill you, declare himself king and nothing will change.”
Kett spoke directly to the crew, “You fear Cayne now, but that's because he killed people you know, people you loved. I want him dead too but imagine if all of our tribes had an equal voice, if we worked together instead of burning each other's crops. Trading with each other instead. Made a real peace as equals.”
Cayne's laughter grew louder, wilder. “I see. Your Council of the Thirteen idea failed here, so you want to try it in Aspora? You really don't know who I am, do you, little man?”
“Yes, the council idea, with Aspora…” but Rolem was cut short by Cayne's shortknife sliding through his belly. He tried to get away from the knife, but Cayne stepped into it, forcing the blade deeper. Rolem collapsed, the pool of blood widening quickly on the deck.
“I respectfully decline,” said Cayne to Rolem's body.
Cayne wiped the blood from his knife onto his shirt. To his crew, he said, “Now, kill these two.”
Cayne's men hesitated. No one moved to challenge them.
Lyrra and Kett had already drawn their knives when Rolem fell.
Kett addressed the crew again, “Brothers and sisters of Aspora. You could kill us, or you could stand there and watch us kill Cayne.”
The crew hesitated; Cayne pulled the closest man to him and opened his throat. He threw the body on top of Rolem, “This is what you get for opposing me. Death!” he looked around to the crew, eyes wild. “Now kill them!”
The men hesitated again, this time backing away from Cayne.
Lyrra stepped forward. “Try to kill us yourself.”
Cayne gave a deep bow. “If you insist.” Cayne lunged, drawing another shortknife from its sheath. The circle of men and women made no move to help Cayne, the circle getting wider, allowing more room to fight on the deck of the large ship.
Cayne used his rage to take them both on at once, his knifes pushing them both back with their force. Lyrra came under his knife, slicing forward and glanced a blow, cutting through the cloth covering his stomach. He didn't seem to notice as his knife found Lyrra's leg.
She screamed and went down on her knee but went lower as Cayne's blade tried to find her again. She rolled away and stood on her good leg. Kett took the moment to try and push Cayne back, but he wouldn't budge. It was like fighting a mountain, as Cayne stood firmly in place on the shifting deck of the watership.
Instead of Kett landing a blow, Cayne's knife found Kett's shoulder, slicing so that blood flowed down his chest. Kett kept his knife up, but backed away, letting Lyrra attack again. Cayne saw that she was off balance and kicked her wounded leg out from under her. She fell, but rolled away again just at Kett lunged under Cayne's knife.
Cayne hooked Kett's arm in his, and pulled him close. He used his mouth to bite Kett's ear. Kett screamed, and Cayne threw him to the deck, spitting out the tip of his ear. He took two steps back.
Cayne's laughter rose before the two were on their feet again. The laughter stopped when Cayne turned around. Sticking out of his back was an arrow.
The crew man with an arrow gun said, “That was for my brother.”
Another arrow hit Cayne in the side from the other end of the deck. “For my tribe.”
Cayne looked at the woman who fired the arrow. Without breaking his stare, he pulled out the arrow with a great yell, flinging it back at her. The wound gushed blood. Cayne began to laugh again until Kett and Lyrra stuck their knives into his heart. Cayne dropped his knives, but grabbed both of their knife arms. Kett thought he might drop his knife again, as Cayne's grip was so strong.
In the next moment, Cayne's strength finally slipped away, as his heart stopped. He fell backwards, sliding off their twin knives, onto the pile of dead men he had started.
Lyrra stood on her good leg; Kett could feel himself getting weaker as the front of him was soaked in his own blood. They hoped they would not suddenly feel an arrow hit them as the crew stood there silently. They both breathed heavily and looked around at the crew. One by one, the crew got onto one knee, as though they were honoring the new rulers of Aspora.
Chapter 49: More Trials
The pilot of the small watership came back without the envoys they had sent to Cayne. He had only Rolem's body.
“It's over,” said Mantuan when he got the note from the ship's pilot. “Cayne is dead. Kett and Lyrra were hurt, but they are being healed on board ship. They say thank you, but they felt it was best to get the fleet back to Aspora. Kett says their people have caused us enough trouble.”
“What do we do with Rolem's body?” asked Devver.
“Bury it with honor. He served many kings well, we shouldn't punish him in death for the recent bad decisions he made,” said Asa.
“What's next?” asked Brenddel, feeling a little out of place.
King Asa said, “I think we should go talk to the people. Where is Gordon?”
“With Loren,” Brenddel said, “he ran out of healing oil. He's in pretty bad shape. He needs to rest.”
Mantuan asked, “Should we gather the crowds in the courtyard?”
“No, we can do it here. I want to talk to them on the same level, not from a balcony.”
Asa made his way to a clearing, led by his brothers. The people had a strange night, but he thought being honest was the best way. He stood before them and Asa spoke as loud as he could after such a long night.
“Good people of the kingdom. The invader had been stopped, but not by soldiers, but by all of you. We have been through a lot. I have instructed my Firstman here…”
A loud cheer arose as Brenddel stood next to King Asa, his rightful place.
“…We are all glad you're alive, by the way,” Asa continued, “I have instructed Brenddel that the prisons will be emptied before morning, and that every person will be given a full pardon. I think putting all of this behind us is better than punishment. Don't you?”
A great cheer arose from the tired crowd.
“In the coming days, we will need workmen to help repair the palace. That means there will be work for many of you. I will make the councils work faster on projects we have been putting off, like fixing the roads and bridges. That means more work to keep us all busy,” said King Asa.
More cheers.
“One of the Council of the Thirteen was sent as an envoy to the invader named Cayne. The mad man killed him. He will be buried with honor,” Asa waite
d for the unwelcome news to pass through the crowds, “I will be sitting down with anyone from the Council of the Thirteen that wants to talk with me. Since you have supported them, I think there is a place for them. I think they should be the ones to collect your concerns and bring them to the palace. For too long we have not spoken directly. Let this remaining twelve be a people's council now, let them be your voice.”
The crowd seemed to like this idea.
“Where is Cossca?” asked Asa.
“Here, my King,” said Cossca from the front of the crowd.
“Mantuan here tells me that you helped get the stone throwers to the coast in record time,” Asa said, “there will be a place of honor among the King's Guard if you want it.”
“Thank… thank you, my king” said Cossca. Asa thought he heard a smile in Cossca's voice.
“And former King Stathen and former Queen Ellice will speed up the choosing of councilors as early as next month. You deserve to have a hand directly in your own fate.”
Loud cheers.
“As for Gordon and I being Kings, there is still some question. You all know that I was chosen falsely, by trickery. It is said that Trunculin chose me because I was a small, weak boy.”
The crowd seemed to disagree with that comment.
Asa quieted them down a bit, “It's true that I never wanted to be King. Neither did Gordon. I also know a few of you call me King Ass in private.”
A smattering of laughter could be heard from the crowd.
“So, I leave it up to you once more. Do you want a fresh, honest choosing for a new King?”
Very few in the crowd shouted their approval of this idea. Asa knew this was the danger of the crowd choosing any issue in a large group. There could be a thousand different opinions, and the voice of the crowd was not always easy to interpret.
“Do any of you still want Gordon and I to remain your Kings through our last four trials?”
An overwhelming roar of approval leapt from the crowd. Nearly all of the thousands of people shouting made it clear.
