The Gilded Empire

by Ryan W. Mueller

  "This feels good." She wiped sweat from her brow. "It's honest labor."

  Markus felt like collapsing. "Aren't you getting tired?"

  "Yes, but it's a good kind of tired."

  "If you say so." He watched as Nadia lifted a crate with ease. "They're giving you the lighter crates, aren't they? How can you stand for that? They're giving you easier tasks because you're a woman."

  She gave him a sharp look. "It has nothing to do with being a woman. It is a simple matter of strength. You're much stronger than me, Markus. I might be strong, but anyone who looks at you can tell just how strong you are."

  Markus grinned at her. "Are you saying I have a good body?"

  "I suppose it's all right."

  "Admit it, Nadia. You think I'm the most handsome man you've ever seen."

  A shout came from the other side of the cargo hold. "Less flirting, more working. Don't make me come over there."

  Nadia lowered her voice. "You're not very subtle, are you?"

  "I guess I say what's on my mind. I never ran in your noble circles where I had to hide how I really felt about everybody." He lifted a nearby crate and placed it atop another crate. "I don't know how you survived that life."

  Nadia's look became distant. "That seems like so long ago. I know it's only been a few months, but it feels like much longer."

  "I know what you mean. These months have been difficult, but I wouldn't trade them for any other time in my life. I couldn't give you up, Nadia."

  The sailor cleared his throat, standing a few feet from them now. He had dark hair and a few days' growth of beard. "What did I say about flirting?" The man was smiling, though. He couldn't have been too upset. "We've hauled the last of the cargo into here. You can rest for the night, and then we'll set out in the morning. I’m not sure what we'll find for you to do, but there's always something that needs to be done aboard a ship like ours."

  Sweaty and tired, Markus and Nadia made their way to the small cabin they'd been assigned. It was perhaps eight feet by eight feet and contained two small beds, one bunked above the other.

  "Guess we can't sleep in the same bed," Markus said.

  "Good," Nadia said. "Then I won't have you snoring right next to my ear."

  "I do not snore!"

  "How would you know? You only snore when you're asleep."

  Markus couldn't argue with that. He said nothing as he and Nadia placed their few meager belongings in their cabin. There was nothing to do in the cabin, so they walked to the mess hall, where they found a few crewmembers eating dinner.

  The sailor from the cargo hold was sitting at a table, cutting of chunks of beef with a knife that looked far too large for that task. Markus spotted a few female sailors at a nearby table. He was surprised to see women among the crew. Some of them were even quite pretty, though he only had eyes for Nadia, of course.

  Markus and Nadia approached the sailor with the too-large knife.

  He looked up at them. "What're you staring at?"

  "Just wondering why you're using a massive knife to cut your meat," Markus said.

  "It's supposed to be intimidating."

  "Well, it isn't working," Nadia said. "It actually looks a bit silly."

  He held up the knife in a mock-threat. "I've killed people for lesser insults."

  "I doubt it," Nadia said. "You don't seem the type."

  He tilted his head to the side. "And you're well-acquainted with murderers, I take it?"

  Nadia took a seat at the table, though the sailor never told her she could sit there. "In the Empire, there's a place called the Prison City. I've been there. The people in there are terrifying. I don't think you'd last a week."

  "And what were you doing inside a prison city?" he asked.

  "Finding a potion I needed to cure Markus."

  He leaned back, smiling. "Ah, a quest of true love."

  Markus took the chair next to Nadia.

  The sailor gave him a stern look. "Did I ever say you could sit here? Maybe I'm sitting alone because I want to be left alone. You ever consider that?"

  "If you wanted to be left alone," Nadia said, "you would have told us before now."

  "Damn, you're good," he said. "You can read me like a book."

  "So what's your name?" Markus asked.

  "Tam. I'm one of the higher-ranking sailors aboard this ship. Still a few steps below first mate, but I'm a respected man around here."

  "Is that why no one's sitting with you?" Nadia asked. "Because they respect you so much?"

  "No, it's because they fear me," he said, but the words didn't sound convincing. After a moment, he shook his head as if he knew his act wasn't working. "Actually, most of my friends are still onshore, finding whores to sleep with. Apparently, that's what sailors are supposed to do when they're in port. Never really understood the appeal myself. Good way to catch a disease."

  Low chatter filled the large mess hall, but no one was paying attention to them. A lone man stood behind a wooden bar at the far end of the room, wiping down the counter and looking bored. A few men and women sat at the bar, talking and drinking.

  "I imagine this place is packed when the ship's out at sea," Markus said.

  "Yeah, when we aren't working, we spend most of our time here."

  Markus leaned on the table. "Any food you recommend?"

  Tam chuckled. "The cook tries, but most of it ain't very good. This steak's overdone and almost impossible to cut. That's actually the reason I've got such a big knife."

  "Well, I don't care how bad the food is," Markus said. "I'm starving."

  As it turned out, the food wasn't all that bad. Markus had never eaten like the nobles back in the Empire, and even Nadia had grown used to the plain meals they'd eaten on the road. As they ate, a few of the other sailors trickled in and introduced themselves. Most seemed decent despite their rough appearances. Markus had begun to reevaluate his initial impressions.

  He didn't sleep well that night, worried about what would happen once they set out to sea. Some of the sailors had told him about seasickness, and he dreaded the thought of spending the entire voyage vomiting. Nadia seemed to have no concerns, for she fell asleep immediately.

  They set out the next morning. Markus and Nadia stood on deck, watching as the ship left the port. Once it raised anchor, the waves rocked the ship gently. Although the motion was a bit disconcerting, it didn't make Markus feel sick. Standing beside him, Nadia looked to be handling the motion just as well. Good. That was one less thing to worry about.

  Markus spent most of the morning on deck, watching the city recede into the distance. They started out going west. According to Kris, they didn't want to be too close to shore. Near land, there were pockets of large rocks that could damage the bottom of the ship.

  It was interesting to watch the sailors at work, manning the sails. When the wind caught those sails, the ship moved with ease. However, that wasn't their only method of propulsion. Recently, the Westland Kingdom had developed a device known as the steam engine. They hadn't perfected it yet, but it would help them navigate when the wind wasn't in their favor.

  There wasn't a whole lot of work for Markus and Nadia to do, but the sailors didn't seem upset that they were on board. Kris would find some work for them to do, mostly so that they'd feel useful, Markus decided. Soon each day faded into a familiar rhythm. They got to know quite a few of the sailors, but they were hesitant to form close bonds. After all, they would likely never see these men and women again once they reached Luminia.

  They remained close enough to shore that they could always see it. Occasionally, Markus spotted a town, but most of the land they passed was empty.

  One morning, as Markus stood on deck, he spotted a plume of smoke on land. Tam was standing with him and Nadia, taking a short break from his duties.

  "What do you think that is?" Markus asked.

  "Something we shouldn't bother with," Tam said. "We're passing the Clanlands now. If they're burning each other's settlements, that
's their problem."

  Nadia's expression was thoughtful. "Are the clans truly that awful?"

  "War's the only thing they know. Sure, some clans might be better than others, but you can't really tell who you're dealing with until you get too close. Better to keep your distance."

  As the days passed, Markus grew more and more restless. Being at sea didn't bother him as much as he'd thought it would, but it was still making him feel insane. Every day, he peered across the endless water, hoping to see their destination.

  "We're not even close yet," Kris told him one evening as they stared at a red sky. The captain smiled. "Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Ever heard that saying?"

  Markus shook his head.

  "Guess you wouldn't have where you come from."

  "And what does it mean if there's a red sky in the morning?" Nadia asked.

  "Means there are storms on the way. You know what a hurricane is?"

  "I've come across the term in my reading," Nadia said.

  "I've been through a few in my time." Kris leaned on the ship's railing. "Nearly lost an entire ship and crew once."

  "You think we'll face storms now?" Markus asked.

  "We're getting toward winter now, so chances are we won't. In winter, most of the bad storms hit much farther north."

  It was strange to think that so much time had passed, and yet so little. Markus's thoughts drifted back to home. As much as he hated Warrick, he missed the Empire. Missed the forest. Missed Crayden. He even missed his uncle.

  But more than anything, he missed Rik. With every day that passed, that hole inside Markus grew larger. He'd known Rik ever since they were young. In all his life, Markus had never imagined doing anything without Rik. Now Rik was lost and alone, subject to the evils of a land so strange and distant Markus could barely imagine it.

  "You look like you're deep in thought," Kris said.

  "I was just thinking about my friend."

  "Is he dead?"

  "I have no idea," Markus said. "He's in a place called the Shadowed Land."

  Kris's expression became grave. "I've heard of it. I'm sorry."

  "We're going to find a way to get him back," Markus said. He didn't care what he had to do. He would see Rik again. He had to. Life without Rik wasn't worth living.

  "Maybe you will," Kris said. "After all, you did escape the Empire, and there's something about you. My instincts say you're going to do big things. Maybe that's why I felt drawn to help you out. Normally, we don't take on passengers like you."

  "How could you possibly trust your instincts like that?" Nadia asked.

  "Sorcery runs in my family. That may be the way it manifests for me. I've never felt any desire to go on the Pilgrimage, though. I'd rather be a simple sailor. When you get mixed up with magic, bad things tend to happen. Sorcerers are always out for their own gain."

  "But you trade with Luminia," Nadia said.

  "I trade with anyone who'll take my goods. Doesn't matter if I like them."

  Markus gazed into the red sunset. "I have trouble believing we might be anything special. We've survived a lot of situations on pure luck. I suppose we each have some form of magic, but that doesn't seem all that rare." He sighed deeply. "All I care about is saving Rik."

  "Well, I hope you find a way," Kris said, before returning to his duties.

  "It seems hopeless," Nadia said. "Doesn't it?"

  Markus knew what she meant. When she'd saved him, she'd had a definite plan. Right now, Markus felt lost and adrift, as if he were a ship upon the sea with no sail. If the Luminian sorcerers knew how to bring back somebody from the Shadowed Land, they would have done it by now.

  According to Cyrus, no one had ever returned.

  But maybe that had changed in the last five hundred years.

  "It does seem hopeless," he said. "But we can't give up hope. Rik needs us. He ended up there because he was trying to save me. I will not let him stay there. I don't care if I have to go up against a thousand armies or a thousand sorcerers as powerful as Warrick."

  Nadia shook her head. "That's a nice thing to say, but you'd still be dead."

  "I know."

  Their journey to the east continued. They stayed close enough to the shore that they could see it, but never ventured any closer. These parts of the Clanlands were very dangerous. Once they reached the kingdom of Seaside, they could restock before heading to Luminia.

  "You see those mountains," Tam said, pointing to the north as they stood on deck in the warm sun. "Once we're past them, we'll be safe to step foot on land."

  "Good," Markus said. "I'm sick of the ocean."

  "At least we can still see land," Tam said. "Once we leave the port of Seaside, there'll be nothing but water between us and Luminia. It will test just how much you can take. To tell you the truth, it still bothers me a bit."

  A sudden shout rang out from the crow's nest. "Enemy ship spotted!"

  The crew moved as if some strange force had taken hold of them. They rushed around the deck, shouting orders, preparing the ship's many armaments. The air was alive with tension. Markus stood on deck, watching it all with no idea of what he should be doing.

  Many of the sailors carried weapons they called rifles. Tam had shown them how the weapons worked, and they scared Markus a bit. He felt more comfortable with a sword in his hands. Nadia, however, had taken to target practice with the rifles. In fact, she'd just left another session, so she had a rifle strapped to her shoulder.

  "What're we supposed to do?" Markus asked, trembling.

  "I want to see this enemy ship."

  They hurried to the other side of the ship and stood at the railing. The enemy vessel was barely more than a dot on the southern horizon, but it was closing in on them, moving at an unnatural speed. The wind was blowing from the west, so it wouldn't catch the ship's black sails. Markus leaned on the railing, watching. Waiting.

  It seemed like an eternity passed before the ship came fully into view, and when it did, Markus felt as if his insides had turned to water. The ship had to be at least twice the size of theirs. Even from a distance, Markus could see massive cannons that looked much more formidable than those on the deck of Kris's ship.

  "We're outmatched," Tam said. "This won't end well."

  "Whose ship is it?" Nadia asked.

  "New Earth Empire. They don't usually come this far north, and let's just say we don't get along with them. I have no idea what they want." He stared at the ship. "At least they haven't fired upon us. Whatever happens, we can't engage in a battle with them. We'll lose."

  Markus glanced back to the north. "Could we try to make a run for the coast?"

  "They'd simply bombard us on land."

  "Then what should we do?" Markus asked, feeling sick.

  "I've got no idea."

  The ship grew closer and closer. At last, it sat upon the water perhaps twenty feet away. A man dressed in a crisp black military uniform strode to the edge of his ship.

  "Where is your captain?" he demanded.

  "I'm Captain Kris Tanner." He stood maybe ten feet to Markus's left. "What do you want from us?"

  "We want very little from you. We want the two passengers you're carrying: the ones who call themselves Markus and Nadia."

  Chapter 4: The New Earth Empire

  Nadia felt as if a hand had tightened around her heart. How did these strangers know who they were, and why did they want them? Whatever was happening, it surely couldn't be good. She tightened her grip on her rifle but had not yet pointed it at the other ship.

  Off to the left, Kris stepped to the railing. "And if I don't give them to you?"

  Nadia gave him a stern look. He hadn't even tried denying that they were there. It seemed as if he actually planned to hand them over. Had she misjudged the man that badly?

  "Just look at our armaments," said the other captain. His accent came with a strange drawl she'd never heard before. "I think you know what's gonna happen?"

  "Why are they so important to
you?" Kris demanded, fire in his gaze.

  "That don't matter. You'll hand 'em over, or suffer the consequences."

  Nadia trembled. She knew all too well what was going to happen. When she glanced at Kris, though, she saw the internal war he was fighting. A sudden sense of certainty came over her, and she stepped to the railing, joining Kris.

  "I am Nadia," she called out. "Markus and I will give ourselves up willingly. Promise me that you will do no harm to this ship or the men and women aboard it."

  The captain looked her in the eye from twenty feet away. "You have my word. We've got no immediate quarrel with these people. They can go on with their lives."

  Markus approached and put a hand on her shoulder. "You sure that was the right choice?"

  Her stomach swirled. "It was the only choice."

  "And I thank you for it," Kris said.

  "I knew how I'd feel in your situation," Nadia said. "I couldn't let you risk your crew for us."

  Kris leaned close and spoke in a low voice. "I believe they'll let us go, but you shouldn't trust these people. The New Earth Empire stands for everything that's wrong with the world."

  "We'll find a way to survive this," Nadia said. She handed her rifle to one of the nearby sailors.

  "What if they want to execute us?" Markus asked.

  "I don't think they do. I have to trust my instincts."

  Markus wrapped an arm around her. "And I trust you, Nadia."

  The enemy vessel moved closer, and its crew set up a wooden plank between the two ships. Nadia took a deep breath before stepping onto the plank. It felt flimsy, and her stomach lurched. The waves looked cold and unforgiving.

  When she reached the other ship, a couple of the crewmen helped her off the plank. They weren't rough about it, but once she was on the deck, one of them did place a firm hand on her shoulder. He wasn't restraining her, but it was a gesture of control, telling her that things would not end well if she attempted to run.

  Not that there was anywhere to go.

  Markus followed a few moments later and received the same treatment. She met his gaze, feeling sick to her stomach. He forced a smile, but the pallor of his face told her how he truly felt. They could only watch as the crew removed the plank, and soon the ship began to move away from Kris's vessel. Nadia watched with a heavy heart as it faded into the distance.