Ruin & Reliance

by Jeremy Dwyer

  ~~~

  Rayner sailed the Sun Lynx to within sight of Emeth and said: “Come to think of it, the shipping business is a lot better in the Kazofen Ocean, isn’t? We should probably dock in western Emeth.”

  “Based on my experience, that is correct. Many more business contracts involve sailing the so-called ‘diamond waters’ so I would expect our fortunes to improve there,” Guillermo said.

  Rayner drank anew of the waters of the Atrejan Ocean from his vial to be energized with the power to listen to the sounds of the stars. He concentrated to learn their paths and positions and used this information to adjust his course. He then pulled levers to pivot the sails and the masts to the sides of the ship. He elevated the vessel to one hundred twenty (120) feet of altitude and steered it across the Emeth land bridge. He returned the ship to sea level in the northeastern Trerada Ocean, on the southwestern coast of Emeth, halfway between the Glivoran Trail and Farmer’s Road land bridges. From there, he steered the ship into port at Emeth. Rayner pulled levers to drop the anchor and extend the boarding ramp.

  “Let’s go wait on the pier and meet our next customers,” Guillermo said and stood up.

  “This shouldn’t take long,” Rayner said. He and Guillermo exited the wheelhouse, walked across the deck and then went down the boarding ramp.

  ~~~

  Daven exited the riverboat and walked toward the docks. Stafford took Gisella’s hand and helped her to step off of the small vessel onto the land. They followed Daven as he searched for an available ship.

  Gisella drank anew of the waters of the Ursegan Ocean from her vial to be energized with the power to slow time, thereby extending her own long life and granting her the ability to perceive fast-moving events at a suitable pace for recording them.

  “Well, look who it is! Daven!” Rayner said when they got close.

  “It is good to see you again,” Guillermo said.

  “Hello, Guillermo, Rayner. It’s good to see that you’re both still in business together,” Daven said.

  “I trust you have new stories to share with us since we last met,” Guillermo said.

  “In fact, I have a lot to consider. If you can take me to Dexolevino Island in the Provincial Isles, we can talk about it on the way,” Daven said.

  “We’re coming with you,” Stafford said.

  “Under the authority of the Chronicler’s Oath,” Gisella said.

  “I’ll cover for all three (3) of us,” Daven said.

  “Two (2) platinum coins each,” Rayner said.

  “We can’t accept payment for the Chronicler. They always travel for free,” Guillermo said.

  “We can’t demand payment. Since he offered to pay on her behalf, I won’t refuse,” Rayner said.

  Daven reached into his coat pocket, pulled out six (6) platinum coins and gave them to Rayner.

  “Welcome aboard,” Rayner said and he gestured to his new passengers to walk up the ramp.

  Daven walked up the boarding ramp, followed by Gisella and Stafford, then Guillermo and Rayner.

  Guillermo walked across the deck of the Sun Lynx and visually inspected the sails. “The sails are still in fine shape. We can leave at once,” he said.

  “Good. We don’t have to make them wait for repairs,” Rayner said. He walked across the deck and entered the wheelhouse, followed by Guillermo. Daven, Gisella and Stafford followed them and waited in the open doorway.

  Once inside the wheelhouse, Guillermo sat on his bench. Rayner consulted an atlas to find the coordinates of Dexolevino Island. He then drank anew of the waters of the Atrejan Ocean from his vial to be energized with the power to listen to the sounds of the stars. He concentrated to learn their paths and position and used this information to chart a course. He pulled levers to retract the boarding ramp and raise the anchor. He then steered the Sun Lynx out of the port and sailed it southwestward across the Trerada Ocean.

  “So, Daven, can you tell us what has you traveling to the Provincial Isles?” Guillermo asked.

  “Those islands are extremely valuable. Is this some good business arrangement you made? If you’ve got a connection there, this could put extra money in all our pockets,” Rayner said.

  “There is a question of business, and it makes no sense, which is why I need to find out more. I was in the Twelfth Hall, researching unusual and innovative music from modern and ancient times, when I came across a musical arrangement that was very surprising. It was an amateur piece performed on a masterfully crafted – and immensely expensive – violin. The historical record was attributed to Gisella, so I looked for her to discuss the matter,” Daven said.

  “This is interesting, but there has to be much more to this story,” Guillermo said.

  “I left a message with a Verifier at the Library of Tedorik to have Gisella meet with me in the Sixteenth Hall. I went there and researched the woodworker – a Gradaken drinking man named Nereus – who built the instrument for Baron Jenaro, nine hundred sixty-eight (968) years earlier. Jenaro paid him two billion eight hundred million (2800000000) platinum coins to make the violin and its bow, and then played this awful music to test it,” Daven said.

  “That price is extraordinary! How could be a violin be worth so much?” Guillermo asked.

  “That’s a fortune. You could buy some valuable land with that kind of money. This seems a bit crazy to me,” Rayner said.

  “It gets more interesting. I learned that Nereus did purchase land – three hundred fifteen (315) acres – on Dexolevino Island and cultivated a rosewood forest there for two (2) years. From the best of that wood, he made the body of the violin and the bow. Baron Jenaro had to pay him for the expense of buying all of that land and doing the agricultural work, as well as the wood crafting of the violin and bow,” Daven said.

  “All that land explains the cost. The baron got forest land plus a violin,” Rayner said.

  “No, he didn’t. This is the business question – the mystery, really – because it makes no sense. The title to the land remained with Nereus. All that Baron Jenaro received was the body of the violin and the bow. Jenaro even provided the strings for the violin and the ribbon for the bow, so the two billion eight hundred million (2800000000) platinum coin price didn’t even cover those,” Daven said.

  “This is intriguing! If the baron paid such a high price, why would he not want to hold title to the land? The craftwork on the violin should have been only a small portion of that sum. What else can you tell us?” Guillermo asked.

  “Yeah, that is super weird. I’d want that land, even if only to resell it. It had to be worth an even bigger fortune after it was developed,” Rayner said.

  “If the baron were so interested in music – and nothing more – that he was willing to pay that price for a single violin and bow, I would expect him to be a master musician. Yet, there’s no record of his waterbinding that I could find. I thought for a moment that maybe the Chronicler didn’t have the skill to record the piece properly, so that the amateur arrangement of music notes written in Emeth didn’t accurately reflect expert level violin play. However, Gisella assured me that she has been trained in music. A musical novice doesn’t need a master crafted violin, at any price,” Daven said.

  “The violin may have been purchased for someone else. But for whom?” Guillermo said.

  “What I want to know is this: why didn’t the baron buy the land for himself and just pay the woodworker to grow the trees and build the violin? That kind of work can’t be worth anywhere near two billion eight hundred million (2800000000) platinum coins, can it?” Rayner asked.

  “An even deeper question is this: who is Baron Jenaro and from what bloodline and authority does he inherit? Perhaps we should look into his family history to learn more. Don’t you agree?” Guillermo asked.

  “Considering how rich he must have been to throw away that much good land, the answer to that question could be worth the time spent reading,” Rayner said.

  “I considered spending more time looking in that
direction. But something else caught my attention. My parents were real estate investors. They traveled the world and bought tracts of land, then paid farmers to plant and harvest them. Some of their investments overlap the land that Nereus used to grow the rosewood forest he used to make that violin and bow. That was one of the last purchases my parents made before disappearing,” Daven said.

  “You are still searching for them?” Guillermo said.

  “Or proof of their passing,” Daven said.

  “I can understand why the Chronicler might be interested. But what about you?" Guillermo asked of the man accompanying Gisella.

  “In fact, who are you?” Rayner asked.

  “I’m Stafford. I work as a commodities trader in the Port of Oxatrissa, in Waderav. The purchase of that land – and the strange circumstances around its ownership – raises a few questions. I’m interested in this as a matter of business,” the man accompanying Gisella said.

  “Our business is getting you there,” Rayner said.

  “And learning what comes of all this. You’ve raised many interesting questions,” Guillermo said.

  Gisella paid close attention and recorded all of the conversations, as well as the steering directions, into her book.

  “We’ll have to get to that island to begin answering them,” Rayner said. He continued sailing the Sun Lynx southwestward across the Trerada Ocean until reaching the Admiral Ramalaxis Bridge. At that point, he pulled levers to pivot the masts and the sails to the sides of the ship and elevated it to one hundred twenty (120) feet of altitude. He steered the vessel across the land bridge and returned it to sea level in the Gradaken Ocean. From there, he sailed the ship westward until reaching Dexolevino Island.

  Rayner steered the Sun Lynx into port on the island’s eastern coast. He pulled levers to lower the anchor and extend the boarding ramp.

  “We’re here. I’ll wait with the ship until you find what you’re looking for. But every day after the first will cost you two (2) platinum coins, because could be making money somewhere else,” Rayner said.

  “I’ll go with you, if you don’t mind,” Guillermo said.

  “Whoever wants to follow me is welcome to,” Daven said.

  ~~~

  Daven walked across the deck and stepped down the boarding ramp. Gisella, Stafford and Guillermo followed him onto the shore.

  “Where, precisely, do you need to look?” Gisella asked.

  “About two (2) miles north of here is the edge of the forest. It’s a short walk, and I can use the time to think,” Daven said.

  “Do you expect to find anything there? Or do you need to traverse the entire forest?” Gisella asked.

  “I don’t know yet,” Daven said.

  “A thorough plan may help find the answers you need,” Guillermo said.

  “A thorough look into the area ahead is what we need,” Stafford said. He drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from his vial to be energized with the powers of light and far sight. Stafford peered into the forest two (2) miles to the north and said: “The forest ahead is dense. From here, I can’t look around every tree. The closer we get, the more corners my sight can turn and the more detail I can see.” The group walked along the shore for one (1) hour and reached the southern edge of a small, yet very densely forested land.

  “Let me look closely, but I admit that I don’t know what I’m looking for,” Stafford said.

  “Anything other than what naturally occurs in a rosewood forest,” Daven said.

  Stafford again concentrated his powers of light and far sight, peered deep into the forest, bending light around the trees, and said: “Follow me.” He walked through the rosewood forest and hiked a distance of three thousand seven hundred eighty-one (3781) feet in slightly less than one (1) hour, followed closely by Gisella, Daven and Guillermo.

  “What do you see?” Daven asked.

  Stafford walked to the other side of a tree and pulled a long piece of cloth off of the branch. He handed the item – a yellow scarf with tulips embroidered on it – over to Daven.

  Daven accepted the scarf and looked over its length. “This was my mother’s scarf. My father gave it to her because she enjoyed walking through the gardens of Emeth and this reminded her of the flowers there. She liked the tulips the most. She even grew her own wherever she went and stayed long enough,” he said.

  “This is evidence, but it doesn’t prove anything. The scarf could have been stolen. I don’t think the mystery is solved yet,” Guillermo said.

  Gisella looked at Stafford and saw the look in his eyes. She followed his gaze and walked around the tree to the far side. She recorded what she saw – in all of its grisly detail – into her book.

  Guillermo suspected something worse after watching what was happening. Driven by curiosity, he walked around to the far side of the tree, finding what he had hoped not to find.

  Daven followed last and saw the remains – a female skeleton, dressed in a familiar coat, next to a male skeleton. He fell to his knees and wept bitterly.

  “Knowing the truth – however terrible – is the only way to live and to grow,” Guillermo said after respectfully pausing for five (5) minutes.

  “Unless the truth is so terrible it destroys us,” Daven said, still kneeling, though his tears were drying.

  “You have weathered many storms, and helped others to do the same,” Guillermo said.

  Without turning, Stafford said: “A young woman is watching us from the forest’s southern edge. She is bending light to see far and look around corners. I can see the refraction effect with my own light power.” He then turned to look at her.

  Daven stood up and looked toward the southern edge of the forest, but the trees were too densely packed for him to see past. Gisella and Guillermo faced that same direction, but saw only the same dense forest.

  “There’s nothing for us to see here. Let’s go meet her,” Daven said and he began walking southward, toward where they had entered the rosewood forest. Guillermo, Stafford and Gisella followed.

  When they reached the edge of the forest where it met the shore, they met a young woman.

  “I am Aislinn. I serve at the pleasure of Duke Kenrick and Duchess Keeva. They thought that someone might come here,” the young woman – Aislinn – said.

  “Do they know what this means?” Daven asked, and he held out the yellow scarf embroidered with tulips.

  “They know it belonged to someone you love. I’ve been watching since you arrived on the island, and they told me to send for you, so they could tell you personally,” Aislinn said.

  “I want to meet the Duke and Duchess,” Daven said.

  “First, tell me your name, to prove that you are the son,” Aislinn said.

  “I am Daven, son of Vilfred and Stina,” Daven said.

  “Follow me, if you will,” Aislinn said. She walked back toward the docks, followed by Daven, Gisella, Stafford and Guillermo. She then led them into the small port town and toward a stone and wooden building, only sixty-three (63) feet square and thirty-two (32) feet in height.

  “Please wait here for a moment,” Aislinn said.

  “I’ve waited this long for answers. I can wait a few moments more,” Daven said.

  ~~~

  Aislinn exercised her powers to bend light around herself and thus concealed her location. She walked to the opposite side of the stone and wooden building, unlocked and opened a small door, hurried inside, then closed and locked the door behind her.

  Inside, Duke Kenrick and Duchess Keeva sat on wooden benches, positioned around a wooden table, on which a large map of the island was spread out.

  “Aislinn, is it him?” Duke Kenrick asked.

  “My lord, My lady, yes, I can tell you, that Daven, son of Vilfred and Stina, is here,” Aislinn said.

  “Bring him in,” Duchess Keeva said.

  Aislinn walked to the door at the front of the room, unlocked and opened it. She said: “Come in, please, and see the Duke and Duchess.”


  Daven entered, followed by Guillermo, Stafford and Gisella. Aislinn closed and locked the front door. Then, she led the guests toward the table.

  Duke Kenrick and Duchess Keeva stood up from their bench seats when the guests approached.

  “Duke Kenrick, Duchess Keeva, I present to you Daven, son of Vilfred and Stina,” Aislinn said.

  “I am Gisella, Chronicler of six thousand eight hundred sixty-one (6861) years. Under the authority of the Oath, I will record everything here,” Gisella said.

  “I am Guillermo, traveler of the seas and collector of stories and mysteries,” Guillermo said.

  “My name is Stafford. I’m a commodities trader from the Port of Oxatrissa, in Waderav,” Stafford said.

  “He’s with me,” Gisella said and she gently patted Stafford’s shoulder, then returned to her writing.

  “Daven, by now you must know that both of your parents were murdered. We were good friends with them, and they were such kind and generous people who lived their lives in service to the poor, the needy and those with modest means. Anyone who was willing to do honest work was given the opportunity to tend their land and earn a living. Vilfred and Stina made numerous wise investments and deserved their good fortunes. They spoke highly of you while they were alive and they were proud of the help you gave to bring an end to the tempest. We wish we could have met you under better circumstances, but we found ourselves in danger,” Duke Kenrick said.

  “I don’t understand. My parents disappeared before the tempest. You mean they were alive during that time? Do you know who took their lives? And do you know why?” Daven asked.

  “Yes, your parents were alive until very recently, but they were in hiding for the last several years. I have near certainty about who the murderers were. However, their motive is unclear. Although your parents were certainly wealthy, I don’t believe that their money was the objective of the killers. Nor do I think it was the value of the land they owned on this island or elsewhere. The reason I can rule out these possibilities is that Yarina Bazavador and her brother, Nandru, are most likely the ones responsible, directly or indirectly, for the deaths of your parents. They are deceptive in every way, using elaborate schemes and the most misleading and distracting tactics to achieve their unstated goals, as per their family tradition,” Duke Kenrick said.