CRY HAVOC (Jack Frey Book 1)

by Mike Morris

  Picking up speed, Jack spun, pirouetting on his right leg. He kicked high with his left. Followed through with a right forearm smash. He was a blur. One action flowing into another like water. Never stopping, always moving. He defended imagined attacks and countered with his own.

  In the midst of his routine, he became aware of someone watching. Jack came to a halt and turned towards his visitor. It was an old man, stooped over a cane, a face heavily lined with age. He was as close to a father as Jack had. He bowed in greeting. "Master Snow."

  "Jack. The pleasure is mine. It is not often one is privileged to watch a student achieve such fine form. It makes the hard work worthwhile." The man raised a handkerchief to his mouth, coughed once. His smile, though genuine, looked pained and there were tears in the corner of his piercing blue eyes.

  "Are you well, Master?"

  Master Snow waved his hand dismissively. "I'm just old. Once, I could do what you do. Now I walk only with a cane, my prowess nothing but a fading dream of someone else's life. I fought my battles under the sun and moon. Now I simply wait to join my long lost comrades in everlasting peace. There’s no better reward but still, what I would give to dance once more. I think I am no different from anyone my age."

  "I wish I could have seen you fight, Master. People still talk of your skill."

  "That's kind of you, but they probably just wonder how I could’ve been young enough to do any of those things. How’re you sleeping these days?"

  The old man was the only one Jack had confided in about his dreams. He rubbed his neck, dropping his eyes to the floor. "The same."

  "Perhaps your subconscious mind is trying to tell you something, Jack. Something important? Perhaps that is why it won't let you go?" Master Snow peered up at his former student.

  "It tells me that I need to train harder and be better if I'm to defeat those monsters next time," replied Jack.

  "Perhaps that is what you think. Certainly no one could push themselves more than you do. But what if there was something else? Ask yourself what your mind is trying to show you that you’ve not already seen."

  "It just reminds me of my failing time after time after time, Master."

  Master Snow squeezed Jack's arm. "My boy, you didn’t fail. You only choose to see it that way. There’s more than one way to see the world. Remember that because of you, the mission was a success. Because of you, we have a chance."

  The old man coughed, doubling over with the force of it. Jack caught him and helped him to a bench on the edge of the practice floor. Once they were both sitting, Master Snow managed to get his breathing under control. It was awhile before he could speak again. It tore Jack's heart to see such a great man laid low by time.

  "Now I understand why humans want to become Turned," the old man said with a cheeky smile. "Eternal life, never aging. The appeal grows each day that I get older."

  "But Master..." exclaimed Jack.

  "I'm joking with you boy. I'm fifty years too late if ever I was to do something that stupid. Who would want to live forever in this old shell?" The smile left his face. "But think about what I’ve said. I only wish you to be free of the past but, occasionally, one must revisit it to move forward."

  Jack bowed his head. "Yes Master."

  Master Snow tapped him on the leg with his cane. "Now help this old man to the memorial. I wish to pay my respects to some old friends."

  Jack collected his sword and helped the old man to his feet. Master Snow leaned on Jack's arm and they left the practice hall.

  Outside, the sky was pale blue with a touch of steel. The cold pinched Jack's cheeks and sucked at his body's warmth. The temperature change brought on another coughing attack in Master Snow. The two men paused as the old man regained his breath.

  The cloisters were even busier than before. But every priest stopped and bowed as Master Snow passed. He knew them all by name and thanked them for the respect they showed him.

  When they reached the memorial, the heat from the flame was a welcome relief from the early morning chill.

  "You can leave me here, Jack. There are many that I must think about. Our relationships are what makes us who we are in life. It is important to honor those that we have lost but it is equally as vital that we build new friendships with those that live. Otherwise we are nothing but ghosts ourselves, alive only with the dead."

  Jack bowed once more. "Take care Master. Thank you for your time. I look forward to our next conversation."

  With a bow, Jack turned and walked away, leaving Master Snow with his memories.

  32

  713 PN

  From an upper window, Lin watched Jack cross the courtyard and head toward the mess hall. He was alone as always, the weight of the world on his shoulders.

  Loneliness was something Lin understood only too well since she had returned with the priests to Whitehaven. Everyone was kind to her but she was a stranger and a girl. Lin wasn't sure which the priests found more uncomfortable.

  She was assigned a room far from the main quarters and, apart from daily meetings with various priests to be questioned about Grosnar, she was left to her own devices. Trouble was she had no idea what to do with herself. As a Sweat, she worked from the moment night fell to the first strands of dawn, constantly surrounded by her crew. To be alone in Grosnar was impossible. To be idle was unheard of. She found the quiet frightening, the lack of anything to do was disturbing. Now she had a new life, she had no idea what to do with it.

  Lin snatched up the jacket she'd been given and rushed out of her room. If she were quick, she'd catch Jack at breakfast. At least he treated her like a normal person. When he was recovering from his wounds, she’d spent as much time as she could with him, but it was proving harder now he was back on his feet.

  It took her five minutes to get to the mess hall. Lin felt quite proud she didn't get lost once on the way there. The monastery was like a maze with one place looking so much like another and it had taken her weeks to get her bearings, making her feel even more out of place each time she got lost. If only Pet'r were with her. And Jaar. She missed her friends so much.

  She even missed working with Old Jahn on the stone.

  The mess was so different from the one in Lin's old dormitory. Where that was dark and dingy, this one was surrounded by windows and had a high ceiling with row after row of tables and benches. Wonderful smells came from the kitchen at the far end and stewards carried an endless supply of platters of food to the waiting priests throughout the room.

  And the food was incredible. After living on stews of half rotten meat and vegetables all her life, Lin discovered new food every day — all of which she loved. It had taken her some time to get used to being able to eat at any time and not have someone try to steal her food from her. Some priests laughed at first as Lin protected her plate with one arm while shoveling in food with her other hand. IfShe doubted they’d have found the knife she had to hand very funny but she’d even been able to leave that behind recently.

  Her body had changed too as a result of a proper diet and she was no longer a scrawny stick of a girl. That had caused a few awkward moments too with some of the priests. You’d think they’d never seen a woman before.

  Jack was easy to spot in the mess. He sat alone on a table far from anyone else, head down, concentrating on his plate.

  "Mind if I join you?" she asked, indicating the seat opposite Jack.

  The priest glanced up. "Feel free." She enjoyed seeing the smile that flickered across his face.

  There was a warm loaf of bread on the table and Lin broke off a chunk. She smeared butter over it before popping part of it into her mouth. Jack waited as she chewed, watching her. She blushed under his gaze and she realisde she must look stupid just shoving food in without even saying hello. Her jaw moved furiously as color filled her cheeks. In the end, she swallowed too quickly and nearly choked as the bread caught in her throat. She grabbed a cup of water to wash it down.

  Jack laughed. "I find it best to eat sl
owly. After all we have been through, it would be silly to have a piece of bread kill one of us."

  As her breathing returned to normal, Lin wiped a tear from her eye and smiled too. "Yes, that would be stupid."

  "How are you? I have not seen you for nearly a week," he asked.

  "I'm okay," Lin replied, picking up another piece of bread before thinking better of it and putting it back down on the plate. "Slowly getting used to things. How’s your wound?"

  The priest's hand went to his neck and she immediately regretted asking him. He looked around the room before turning his attention back to Lin. His voice was much quieter when he replied. "It's fine. I am... well. Thank you for your help that night. Without you binding my wound, I wouldn't have survived until the second boat arrived to pick us up."

  "I'm sorry I couldn't stop the Masters... the Nostros leaving with your brother. I was too scared to do anything."

  Jack's head dropped for a moment. "There’s nothing to apologize about. There was nothing you could've done. Even I... There was nothing to be done."

  "I still wish..."

  "So do I."

  Lin picked at the bread again for something to do while Jack became lost in his thoughts. It was a conversation they had covered on many occasions. Watching the Masters rip her rescuers apart had been more horrifying than when they had killed her friends. The men had seemed so invincible, so confident of making their escape that Lin had been swept along with it. Even as Marcus lay dying in her arms, she believed that he would escape with the others.

  That belief had crumbled as she watched the Masters attack the priests. Lin had wanted to help but she was frozen with fear. By the time she mustered the courage to act, it was too late. She watched Jack being left for dead and the two Masters drag Brendan off. Lin waited until she was sure the demons were gone before rushing down to check on Jack. As she bandaged the wound, another small boat arrived from the rescue ship to help them. Jack survived the journey back but Marcus hadn't.

  The silence grew between them as Lin struggled to find the right thing to say to bring Jack back to the present.

  An elderly priest walked over to the table. His left arm ended at the elbow with the sleeve pined to his tunic. The man's face was pinched with a nose that had been broken many times.

  "Thought I'd find you here," said the man as he stopped at Jack's side. "Enjoying a spot of breakfast?"

  "Brother Bradius. May God be with you," replied Jack. He turned to Lin. "Brother Bradius is one of the Lord Abbot's personal assistants."

  Bradius looked down his nose at Lin. "And you're the girl we rescued from Grosnar. Pleased to meet you, I'm sure."

  "And I you," said Lin.

  "Quite," replied Bradius. "Anyway, Brother Jack, the Lord Abbot has requested you join him in the Great Hall."

  "When?" asked Jack.

  "Why now, Brother Jack. Now, of course. And please take your friend with you. She’s been summoned too." Bradius moved away without waiting for a reply, stopping at several other tables and passing on similar messages. As Lin and Jack made their way from the mess hall, they found themselves in a procession of priests heading in the same direction.

  The Great Hall was already half full when they entered and they could only find seating at the rear of the room. Many stared at Lin so she stayed close to Jack.

  At the front of the room was a stage. Lin recognized Brother Gregory and Brother Andrew, two of the priests who’d questioned her about Grosnar, sitting near the front. Gregory caught her eye and nodded a greeting. Next to them was a giant of a man with thinning blonde hair. Even from that distance, Lin could see the tiredness in his eyes but there was an air of command about him that was unmistakable. Still standing, he scanned the faces of all the priests as they took their places.

  A door opened and all conversation stopped. The whole room rose as one as they watched an old man walk to the center of the stage.

  "That's the Lord Abbot," whispered Jack into Lin's ear.

  "Brothers," called the Abbot, holding up both hands. "Thank you for joining me, especially at such short notice like this. Please take your seats. I fear we’ll be here awhile and I want you to be comfortable." The Abbot waited until everyone returned to their seats. All eyes were on him. "Abios faces a danger unlike any we have encountered since our order was founded. Perhaps even greater than when Stephen defeated the Dragon.

  "Four months ago, a small team traveled to The Middle Kingdoms on a reconnaissance mission to a small sea port called Grosnar on the north-west coast. Only one of our brothers survived to return to us with our worst fears realized. The Nostros have built an invasion fleet."

  Lin could feel the shock rippling through the room. Everyone began talking at once. Only Jack remained silent. His hand once more covered the scar.

  "Please brothers, silence. I beg you." The Abbot's voice cut through the chatter, immediately bringing it to a halt. "Before I continue, I would like to welcome a guest who arrived early this morning."

  Two soldiers in full battle armor entered the room first. From their shoulders flowed white cloaks with red circles.

  The priests rose to their feet.

  "Who?" asked Lin.

  "Royal Guards," replied Jack. "The Queen must be..."

  A tall, slender woman with fire red hair entered the Great Hall. Her golden gown swirled elegantly around her as she moved. She seemed to float across the room towards them.

  Jack and the other priests dropped to one knee, heads bowed. Lin quickly followed their example.

  'Brothers," said the Abbot. "May I present Her Royal Majesty, Eliza, Queen of Abios."

  "Please gentlemen. Retake your seats. I cannot ask you to do what I am about to ask if you do not sit before me as my beloved sons," she said. Her voice was soft but assured. Authorative yet calm. There was something about it that Lin instantly warmed to. She glanced up, unsure of the protocol but, as the priests sat down, so did she.

  She had never seen a Queen in person before. There was a radiance to her that pulled at Lin's heart. Small jewels sat in her hair, catching the morning light in a way that seemed to make her sparkle. She stood before them, flanked by her guards, looking like an angel.

  "Abios has always been threatened by the evil that lives across the sea but we have survived and have prospered, despite the constant danger that we all live under," the Queen said. "For centuries, your Order has kept that danger away. You have allowed all of Abios to sleep safely in the night. Now, we teeter on the edge of the executioner's blade. Mankind's very survival rests not just in the hands of your Order but also in the hands of the very men that sit before me in this room.

  “When Orsmond attacked three hundred years ago, we faced one demon on one dragon. And we barely survived. Now, in the port of Grosnar there is an armada being built that will be able to carry an army of Nostros to our shores. We’re desperately trying to build a fleet of our own to meet them in open water and to recruit a militia that can guard our shores, ready to lay down their lives in battle with any who actually manage to step onto our beloved shores.

  “However, we are far from ready and if the demons sail this winter, they will have us at their mercy.”

  Lin watched and listened, only too aware of what the Masters could do if they landed in Abios. She didn’t believe with all the priests’ might, they’d be able to stop them. She shivered. She’d not escaped them after all.

  "The Order of the First Knights has always been our only defense,” continued the Queen. “Stephen himself swore that he would never let the Nostros step foot on our soil. Now, I ask you to uphold that vow. We need you to grant us more time so we are ready to face this evil when it sails for our shores." The Queen stepped back from the podium for a moment, her eyes searching the faces of the men gathered before her. "I came here today to meet you, the brave souls that our country's fate rests with. So you will understand the seriousness of the situation we face, the hopelessness that you must battle. If there is a future for Abios, it will b
e decided by you and your actions. On whether you are successful in buying us the time we need to prepare for the war that is to come.

  "I have no children of my own but know that you are my sons. Know that you fight for your brothers and sisters in our fair land and their sons and daughters. There is no finer motivation, no duty more honorable.

  "I offer you all my blessing. May you undertake this mission knowing that I will be praying for your success and looking for word of your safe return. If you have to make the supreme sacrifice, God himself will be awaiting you in Heaven to welcome you to his side. You are Abios's finest. Thank you," she said.

  As one, the priests were on their feet, fists pumping the air. "The Queen! God bless the Queen!" The words were chanted over and over, echoing through the great hall. Lin found herself swept along by the passion in the room and called out with them.

  The Queen stepped back once more, a slight smile on her face. She nodded to the Abbot as he took her place at the podium.

  "Brothers! Brothers!" The room came back to order while the Abbot waited. "Thank you, Your Royal Majesty, for your kind words. It means a lot to us, as you can see, to have you here on this historic occasion. And brothers, I do mean historic. For what we achieve will change the future of Abios forever.

  Two hundred are gathered before me. Two hundred brave souls that I must ask everything on behalf of your country, your Queen and your God.

  "Needless to say we must destroy this fleet. Ensure that it never sets sail for Abios. But we must do more. We must bloody the nose of the Nostros enough that they never consider such a plan again. They must realise that we are unafraid and will meet any threat tenfold.

  "In three days time, we will set sail.

  In three days time, we will raze Grosnar to the ground. We will destroy not only the fleet and their shipyard but also the castle itself and all the demons that live in it.