Trials of a Champion

by Thomas O'Gorman

  She came out of her room and Vant, Alana, Svae, and Bevy were waiting for her. They made the short walk over to the stateroom and when they entered, the captain and the officers stood up.

  “Your Majesty,” The officers said.

  “Please be seated,” Sarah said.

  Sarah was given a seat of honor at the end of the table and Captain Burnbridge took the seat at the other end of the table.

  “Your Majesty, may I say that it is an honor and a privilege to have you on this vessel,” Fenton said.

  “Aye,” the officers said.

  “Thank you, captain, men. Your hospitality has been superb, and the sailing has been smooth, which I appreciate.”

  Everyone chuckled a little at that. Dinner was served, and introductions were made of Sarah’s party. Once those were done, the captain introduced his officers.

  “This large man to my right is my first officer, Lieutenant Sandifer Coaxly,” Fenton said.

  “It’s a pleasure, Ma’am,” Coaxly said.

  “The pleasure is mine,” Sarah replied.

  “The blondish man aside him is my second officer, Lieutenant Kellen Marley. We call him Kell.”

  “Kellen Marley?” Sarah asked. “Aren’t you the third son of Duke Tuxley?”

  “Yes, Your Majesty, though I try not to let that get out,” Marley said.

  “How do you feel about your father being a supporter of Duke Barristan for the throne while you are on a loyalist ship transporting the Queen?”

  The air went out of the room and the captain had a horrified expression on his face. He didn’t know Kellen’s connection with Duke Tuxley because Kellen lied to him about his being a member of the peerage. Svae and the rest of her party grabbed their knives and prepared to defend the Queen.

  “Ma’am, I am honored to be in your presence and despite my father’s political mistakes I hope I can be judged on my actions and who I support, which is you,” Marley said.

  “It doesn’t help your case that you lied to me about your heritage,” Fenton said. “For the safety of the Queen, I am confining you to the brig for the remainder of the voyage. Lieutenant Sandifer, escort Lieutenant Marley to the brig at once.”

  Sandifer rose and grabbed Marley by his arm. Amid his protests he went peacefully, and both exited the room.

  “I apologize for the disruption,” Captain Burnbridge said. “The rest of my crew is loyal to you my Queen, I assure you.”

  Sarah wasn’t so sure. Where there was one traitor there were surely more. The captain continued to introduce the two remaining officers in the room. Third officer Lieutenant Norry Esthers, the bosun, and the navigation officer, Junior Lieutenant Samuel Gradis. They proceeded to eat once the introductions were over. They had roasted duck, scalloped potatoes, stuffed mushrooms, and broccoli florets with bacon and a white cheese sauce.

  “Captain, the food is so good,” Sarah said. “I thought you had to rough it at sea.”

  “Our cook, Thad Rumsy, outdid himself. I will tell you not to expect such a fine meal every night. In fact, this is the best meal we will have. We had to welcome you aboard with style! From this point it will be salted pork and beef I am afraid.”

  “I am sure your cook, Mr. Rumsy, will do wonders with that.”

  “He does like to spice things up, both figuratively and literally.”

  The captain was an excellent host. He made sure he talked to everyone and got them involved in the conversation. He coaxed Svae into telling the story of the Battle of Tolevo Rise, and he told some stories himself, but he didn’t dominate the conversation. After about an hour of conversation after dinner, the captain asked if Sarah or anyone else wanted to play crosses. Sarah thought of the time Winn was recovering from being poisoned and they played crosses in his bedroom. Life was innocent then. It was not long after they first met, and she remembered the joy and excitement she had in her heart. So much had changed since then. She had turned into a woman, and now a queen and Winn had a darkness in him. She didn’t know if she would ever get that sweet boy that was her hero back. She worried about what the war did to him and that was before he was attacked by evil wizards, gods, and Jezel. Sarah fought back a tear and declined the invitation to play, saying she was tired and needed to sleep. Svae, Alana, and Vant also declined. They excused themselves and escorted Sarah back to her quarters.

  “Svae, I don’t trust that all of the crew are loyal to me,” Sarah said. “What do you recommend we do to keep safe?”

  “We need to keep a watch on your quarters at all times that you are there,” Svae replied. “Since there are only three of us, we can only have one person take watch at a time. Your cabin is close to ours, so the person on watch should be able to summon the ones asleep in the next cabin. Vant, you will need to move in with me and Alana. Only two of us will be in there at a time, so it will work. I would rather have two to summon if there is trouble than just one. Modesty is out the window in this situation, do you agree, Alana?”

  “Yes, absolutely. Vant is honorable and like you said, we need him close.”

  “I agree as well,” Vant said. “I would like to spend the night with the crew tonight and see if I can detect any resentment or talk of loyalty to Barristan, but if you want me here tonight, I will come here instead.”

  “It might be worth it to get a sense of the crew’s mood,” Sarah said. “I would like to know the crew’s reaction to Lieutenant Marley being thrown in the brig. That is, if you think it is safe, Svae.”

  “I don’t think your enemies, if there are any, among the crew would have time to organize and strike at you tonight. There would have to be enough for a full-scale mutiny, because the captain would hang anyone who tried to hurt you. Plus, if Marley is their leader, he can’t do anything from the brig. Lieutenant Resbon, you go gather intel. Captain Pervis, which watch do you want?”

  “I’ll take the first watch.”

  “Thank you, Svae, Alana, and Vant,” Sarah said. “I trust you the most of anyone on Arath. I trust you with my life.”

  Sarah went into her cabin, Vant left for the sailor’s quarters, and Svae and Alana went into their cabin. Alana didn’t have a uniform, so she put on her traveler clothes. She strapped on her sword and went back out of the cabin and took a position in front of Sarah’s cabin. She stood for a while, then she started pacing to keep awake. She heard the ships bells go off and that is how she kept track of the time. Her watch was six hours. About an hour in, she unsheathed the sword she carried. It was a Xi En sword, a katana. Jaunty bought it for her in Kishoda before they broke up. Alana shed a tear. She loved Jaunty, but the whole time she was with him, even in the war, she was afraid that it would not last with him. When she thought she lost him, she thought her fears came to pass. It changed her. It changed how she felt about him. Even when she found him, and felt such a relief, she still felt a nagging thought that it wasn’t going to work with him. In truth she would have stayed in Xi En with Jaunty if her heart told her to. It didn’t though. She knew that it would mean the end of their relationship when she left with Sarah, but it felt right. For the life of her she didn’t know why it wouldn’t work between her and Jaunty. She thought about it often before and after she left. It wasn’t because he was Xi En or that she wanted a lord. The only thing she could think of is that she might be jealous of how much he loved Winn. She was afraid that she would always come second to that. It felt like that when they were serving because Winn was their commander. When he wasn’t, and was filled with evil and hate, it still felt that way. Alana thought that perhaps she should ask Sarah about the dynamic of Jaunty and Winn to see if she felt threatened by it or if she thought it was odd. Maybe Sarah could help her understand it and she would be able to deal with it. She didn’t want to lose Jaunty over something so trivial as his friendship with Winn.

  The door at the other end of the hall that led out onto the deck slammed open, startling Alana out of her thoughts. Ten men walked through the door, and the man in the front of the group was Lieuten
ant Marley.

  “Did you think the brig would hold me for long?” Marley asked. “I have been planning to take this ship over for Barristan for weeks. Having the Carrington bitch fall into our lap gave me a reason to whip up the men and act tonight. I must thank you for bringing her on board. You won’t get a just reward, however. I don’t need her arse licking lackies waiting for the opportunity to stick me. To bad because you and your friend are quite lovely to look at. Oh, we already took care of your male friend.”

  “Svae, we are under attack!” Alana yelled.

  “You think that Skal bitch will help? She will die too. Boys, attack and capture the Queen! Do not harm her but kill this one and the blond.”

  Svae burst out of her cabin and launched herself at the nearest man. Alana had her sword out and parried a blow from one attacker and dodged another one. A third man came at her and she stabbed him through the eye to the brain. She wrenched her sword free and the two other men closest to her started attacking with fury. It was all she could do to block their blows. The door opened behind her and Sarah came out in stockings and her travel shirt. Alana saw Sarah kick an attacker in the head so hard he passed out on the floor. Sarah bent down to stab him in the heart. I’ll ask her where and how she learned to do that later. Sarah leg swept one of the men attacking Alana and when he went down Alana stabbed him in the gut. Teamwork! Another man took his place and swung wildly for Alana’s neck. She ducked down but when she came up Marley was standing in front of her between the two men. He swung an axe at Alana’s head. She moved her sword to block but the man on her right slammed her sword with a fierce blow, almost knocking it out of her hand. She moved to the left, but she slammed into a wall. She tried to drop down onto her knees, but the axe followed her movements at great speed. Jaunty I’m sorry, I love you was her last thought as the axe split her head in half.

  “No!” Sarah screamed. A man reached to grab her. She took his arm, broke his wrist, and flipped him on his back and stabbed him. Svae was locked in combat with two men and her precise strokes and timely parries put her at advantage even against two. She finished one of them off with a stab to the heart and the other with a swipe at his neck that went so deep it severed the spinal cord. Two more men took their place and then a third jumped in. Svae had a hard time against the three and was struggling.

  Sarah was at an advantage because the men were not trying to kill her. They were constantly trying to maneuver into position to grab her. Sarah backed herself into a tight corner where the men could only come at her from the front. From there she was launching kicks and punches that were unbelievably powerful considering the woman they were coming from, and some of them were deadly. She kicked one of the men in the nose, his nasal bones were shoved in his skull, and he dropped dead. She punched another man in the throat and crushed his windpipe. Three men jumped at her at once and she punched one in the eye and kicked one in his privates, but the third grabbed her and tackled her. Marley stood over her and leered down at her. He opened his mouth to say something but then shouts rang out.

  “Save the Queen! Rally to the Queen! Long live the Queen! Marines attack!”

  There was a tremendous commotion at the door that led to the deck. Many men dressed in blue and black coats and berets filled the doorway and ran into the hall. They were led by Vant Resbon. There was a short fight and all the Queen’s would be captors were killed except for Marley. Sarah got up and rushed to Alana’s side, but upon seeing the wound she knew there was nothing that could be done for her. She went over to Svae who had cuts and bruises all over her.

  “Alana is dead because of me,” Sarah said. “I feel so awful.”

  “My Queen, Alana died a warrior’s death, protecting her Queen,” Svae said. “It is the most honorable death a warrior could hope to have. She helped save your life. Morn for her, regret her loss, but don’t think it wasn’t worth it, because to Alana, to me, to all warriors, it is worth giving your life for what and who you believe in. Alana believed in you.”

  “Thank you Svae. I still feel terrible and guilty, but unfortunately, she won’t be the last to die for me. She is the first and I will honor her sacrifice for the rest of my life.”

  Vant came up to join them.

  “Queen Sarah are you OK?”

  “Yes Vant, I am quite alright. Svae needs medical attention and poor Alana is dead.”

  “Who killed her?”

  “It was Marley. He said he took care of you.”

  “They jumped me when I entered the sailor’s quarters. There were about twelve of them and they had belay pins and daggers. They tied me up and left two guys to guard me. I guess they thought they had the support of the rest of the crew, but after a couple of minutes the crew left in the quarters attacked the guards and subdued them. They untied me, and I could tell by the look of them they weren’t really the fighting type. I got them to show me to the marines’ quarters, and when I told the ten marines you were under attack, they almost ran over me to come save you.”

  Captain Burnbridge practically ran into the hall and up to the Sarah as Vant finished speaking. He was out of breath and looked very pale.

  “Your Majesty, are you well?”

  “Yes captain, my cohorts protected me until my man brought your marines. Alas I lost one of my party. She was very valuable to me and I am filled with anger. As you can see, Marley is the only one of the attackers left alive. He not only led the raid, but he also killed Lieutenant Pervis. I want him to hang in the morning.”

  “Indeed, he shall, ma’am. I shall also conduct an inquiry of every remaining crew member in order to be sure that all the supporters of Barristan are ferreted out and taken care of.”

  “Death to the Queen, your detractors are everywhere! You will never be safe!” Marley yelled as they led him out of the hall and back to the brig.”

  “Ma’am I shall post two marines at your cabin for the remainder of this voyage,” the captain said.

  “That would be most appreciated,” Sarah said. “Please have your men treat Alana’s remains with the upmost respect. I want her to have a burial at sea with the highest honors.”

  “Ma’am, she will get a burial that would make the Fleet Admiral envious.”

  The men started clearing out the dead bodies from the hall and the ship’s doctor came and patched Svae’s wounds up under Sarah’s supervision. The marine guards took their position and Sarah, Vant, and Svae went to bed with heavy hearts for their lost comrade. Sarah took the time to write Jaunty a note before she turned in. She knew they just broke up, but she thought they would be able to patch things up. She knew Jaunty loved her. Time is precious, and time spent with the one you love exceedingly so. Please let me reunite with a cured Winn, my Winn.

  The next morning Marley was hung under the yardarm. He had been gagged so they wouldn’t have to listen to his vitriol. Sarah took no pleasure in the hanging. It just made her angrier. Later that afternoon Alana’s funeral was held. The captain officiated and Sarah, Svae, and Vant all spoke about their experiences with Alana. Some of the stories were funny, some were heroic, and some were poignant. As Alana’s remains were given to the sea the crew released some doves that were used to communicate with other ships. It was a beautiful sight. The last words the captain said were “Go in peace to the Almighty. You were much loved and will be greatly missed.”

  The rest of the voyage went peacefully. The inquiries the captain made of the crew turned up a couple of Barristan sympathizers, and they were confined to the brig. Other than that, the rest of the voyage was sad and boring.

  Chapter 22: And Land

  October 13, 850 A.A.

  The AMS Swift was named appropriately. She made what was normally a two-week voyage in a week and a half. As she pulled into dock at Jurgeston, Sarah could see that there was a group of soldiers gathered to greet her at the dock. The ship was moored, and the gang plank was set out. Sarah, Svae, and Vant said their goodbyes to Captain Burnbridge and the rest of the crew. They departed from the
ship and on the deck waiting for them was a lieutenant and two sergeants.

  “Your Majesty, please allow me to introduce myself. I am Lieutenant Daral Sloan and I am accompanied by Sergeants Zeb Rockingham and Stephan Elsby. We represent the 2300th Company, light cavalry, of the 153rd Division. We are 50 men strong and our mission is to bring you to base south of Alexandra where your supporters have a stronghold.”

  “It is nice to meet you, Lieutenant Sloan,” Sarah said. “Thank you for providing this escort. Please don’t take this as an insult, but how sure are you of your men? There was an attempt on my life aboard the ship by men who supposedly supported me, and I don’t want to go through that again.”

  “Ma’am every one of my men took a solemn oath to serve you as queen. I witnessed it myself. I vouch for every one of them, as do my sergeants.”

  “That makes me feel a little better. How long is the journey to Alexandra from here? Have you run across any Menegar patrols?”

  “Ma’am, the journey takes a week if we ride at a moderate pace. No, we did not see any sign of the Menegar. We will only be in Skal for a day, and all our reports say that the Menegar have not entered Aviel, so once we ride clear of Skal all we will need to watch out for will be rebel troops. Shall we show you to your horses so that we can get underway? It is still morning and if we ride hard enough, we might reach Aviel by nightfall.”

  Sarah nodded her head and the group started walking toward the horses.

  “Lieutenant Sloan, I neglected to introduce you to my companions,” Sarah said as they walked. “This is Major Svae Norvesk and Lieutenant Vant Resbon, heroes of Tolevo Rise.

  “It is my honor to meet both of you,” Sloan said. “You both are an inspiration to me and my men.”

  “Thank you, lieutenant,” Svae said. “Tell me, what combat experience does your company have?”

  “Ma’am we put down a rowdy protest by some Neder men, but other than that we are not battle tested.”