Ruin & Reliance

by Jeremy Dwyer

  “Trust in God, who has always been with us. His Blessing is the reason why we have overcome every obstacle,” Elise said.

  “We just watched this guy fight. Let’s trust our eyes,” Sean said.

  “What is your motivation for helping us? Are you expecting some sort of payment?” Ciaran asked.

  “Not from any of you,” Lavakara said.

  “We need to know your true intentions and what you expect to be paid. Making deals with – and placing our trust in – someone we’ve never met before is dangerous,” Ciaran said.

  “After what you’ve just been through, do you trust your own abilities to protect you?” Lavakara asked.

  “He’s right to ask you. Anyone who offers something and refuses to tell the price can’t be trusted,” Patrick said.

  “This place is dangerous. Whoever built it – that’s who I don’t trust,” Sophie said.

  “Pay attention to what I said. I’ll say it again, because you’re obviously not listening or thinking carefully. I don’t expect payment from any of you. It’s time to leave,” Lavakara said.

  “I’m ready to leave, but I’m not sure I like where we’re going,” Molly said.

  “Neither do I, but we’ve got to pick the lesser of two evils,” Ruth said.

  “More like the least of a thousand evils,” Patrick said.

  “I stopped counting a while ago,” Ruth said.

  “Everybody, take some of the seeds. Put them into your pockets,” Odhran said. He and the fifty-six (56) other farmers each gathered handfuls of seeds from the open barrels and placed them into their pockets.

  “Time is not on our side. Follow me,” Lavakara said. He walked through the gateway in the southern wall, followed by Elise, Odhran, Patrick, Sophie, Molly, Ruth, Sean, Ciaran and the other fifty-six (56) farmers.

  ~~~

  On board the Forthright, Baron Waldahr sent a final report through a familiar spirit and received a message in return. He hurried across the deck and entered the wheelhouse, and a man dressed in military uniform followed him. “Hekuba, chart a course for Count Nemanja’s territory,” the baron said.

  “Yes, my lord,” Hekuba said. She drank anew of the waters of the Atrejan Ocean from her vial and was energized with the power to listen to the sounds of the stars. She concentrated to learn their paths and positions and used the information to chart a course. She steered the Forthright westward and sailed it toward the territory of Count Nemanja. She pulled levers to lower the vessel down into a connecting river as soon as she could.

  “Baron Waldahr, we have three hundred thirty-seven (337) soldiers remaining from that assault and six hundred fifty (650) more ready for combat – nine hundred eighty-seven (987) available in total. What are my orders?” the military man asked.

  “Your orders are not to fail again, Lieutenant Colonel Primoz. Get all the soldiers ready!” Baron Waldahr said.

  “Yes, my lord. What instructions shall I give them?” the military man – Lieutenant Colonel Primoz – asked.

  “I gave my report to the Premier Governors and they were furious! You have no idea what kind of trouble we are in!” Baron Waldahr said.

  “We were surprised by the speed and stealth of the counterstrike, my lord,” Lieutenant Colonel Primoz said.

  “What is your waterbinding, Lieutenant Colonel?” Baron Waldahr asked.

  “Nabavodel, my lord, as are the soldiers,” Lieutenant Colonel Primoz said.

  “And you complain about speed? You’re supposed to be faster than fast,” Baron Waldahr said.

  “I apologize, my lord. The enemy had an advantage greater than high speed attacks. They could move instantly, it seemed, and nearly unseen. Their number is unknown,” Lieutenant Colonel Primoz said.

  “What good is an apology? The Premier Governors will put all of us to death if we fail again! That is known for certain,” Baron Waldahr said.

  “I understand, my lord,” Lieutenant Colonel Primoz said.

  “Understand this, Lieutenant Colonel: We need to guard the eastern road leading into Cinder Valley. We have orders us to defend it against any and all intruders. Kill them instantly, with no questions asked. Those peasants will try to use that passageway first. Reinforcements will be arriving soon, and Count Nemanja has standing orders to defend that road. We will provide any assistance he needs and be under his command when we arrive,” Baron Waldahr said.

  “I will prepare the soldiers, my lord,” Lieutenant Colonel Primoz said.

  “How old are you, Lieutenant Colonel?” Baron Waldahr asked.

  “Twenty-nine (29) years, with six (6) years in the central bank’s enforcement service, eleventh division, my lord,” Lieutenant Colonel Primoz said.

  “You are young…and naïve. That is why you failed. If you fail again, your life will be over before it’s truly begun. There are no third chances, Lieutenant Colonel,” Baron Waldahr said.

  “Yes, my lord,” Lieutenant Colonel Primoz said.

  “Dismissed!” Baron Waldahr said.

  Lieutenant Colonel Primoz exited the wheelhouse and roused his soldiers to readiness.

  CHAPTER 51: Island of Betrayal and Vengeance

  Taesa walked slowly up the stairs to her suite on the sixth floor of a residential building in the Port of Reliance. She unlocked and opened the door and entered to see Caroline standing and holding Trent. Emerond stood up from a chair and approached. Before anyone said anything, Taesa closed and locked the door.

  “Where have you been, Taesa? He’s been crying for you,” Caroline asked.

  “You were gone too long. We were worried about you,” Emerond said.

  “We have to leave here,” Taesa said.

  “Why?!” Caroline asked.

  “What’s wrong?” Emerond asked.

  “Here, in this city, nothing. But the world around us is getting worse. We need to help,” Taesa said.

  “We can’t worry about the world! Our lives are dangerous enough. If nothing’s wrong in this city, then we’re staying here,” Caroline said.

  “I agree. We can’t solve the world’s problems,” Emerond said.

  “There’s a poison cloud spreading across the world. It’s destroying crops and making people sick. When the farmlands are ruined, then the food supply is going to shrink, and we are going to be in danger, even here,” Taesa said.

  “Isn’t there food stored in this city? Why do we have to leave? You’re pregnant! If you get poisoned, you’ll lose the baby. And I’m not letting him go anywhere near poison of any kind!” Caroline said, rocking Trent in her arms.

  “You’re right. We’re going to put the greatest distance between him and the poison that we can,” Taesa said.

  “You said nothing is wrong in this city! How much farther away from the poison are you talking about?” Emerond asked.

  “I don’t understand, either,” Caroline said.

  “I want Trent to have a Trerada waterbinding. There’s nothing safer. That keeps every sickness faraway,” Taesa said.

  “We haven’t tested him for his potential. We don’t know if that’s the best choice,” Emerond said.

  “I lost my father to cancer because he had a Medathero waterbinding. He thought he could find the cure by reading books about medicine, but the disease killed him too soon. As much as I’d like our son to have choices, and choose the best waterbinding for him, time is not on our side,” Taesa said.

  “Would those waters truly have saved your father?” Caroline asked.

  “Yes,” Taesa said.

  “Cancer is no match for the Trerada waters. Neither is any kind of poison, or injury or disability. Of course, if he binds to them, that decision is set for life. When he’s older, he doesn’t get to second guess the choice we make for him now,” Emerond said.

  “Then let’s do it. Let’s give him the Trerada waters. At least that much about his life can be safe and certain,” Caroline said.

  “Let’s go,” Taesa said.

  “You can stay here. I’ll go into the c
ity and buy purified Trerada waters and bring them back. You get some rest,” Emerond said.

  “No, we have to go help find a cure for this poison,” Taesa said.

  “No, Taesa! We’ve done more than enough! We’ve traveled more than enough! We’ve had more than enough problems!” Caroline said.

  “I know it’s not your fault, but they’re not going to forgive you. This won’t work,” Emerond said.

  “This isn’t about that. The Trerada waters can prevent him from getting sick, but they can’t save every farmer and every field. If there’s no food, what are any of us going to eat? This problem is spreading and it’s going to be our problem if we just stay here and do nothing but wait. How can we feed this new baby or Trent? We have to help, even if it’s just to help this family,” Taesa said.

  “We have to let the herbalists find a cure for the poison. They drink the Gradaken waters, so they can find it. What do you plan on doing to help?” Emerond asked.

  “I don’t know yet, but I can find hidden things. Somehow, I can find the truth that others can’t see,” Taesa said.

  “Sometimes, the truth is dangerous,” Emerond said.

  “I have friends who can help,” Taesa said.

  “Sometimes, your friends are dangerous. Don’t forget Victoria,” Caroline said.

  “Sometimes, the trouble finds us. We can’t wait here to let the world get sick and die,” Taesa said.

  “Where do you plan on going? And what friends are you talking about?” Emerond asked.

  “Romana is a Gradaken drinker. She can help find the cure,” Taesa said.

  “That’s not a bad start. But, as good as Romana is, she’s not going to be enough,” Emerond said.

  “She has a friend named Kaija, who has her own ship. Kaija and her crew are going to take us to the Provincial Isles, where the world’s greatest herbalists can help find a cure for the poison,” Taesa said.

  “Do you trust Kaija?” Emerond asked.

  “Romana trusts her. I trust Romana,” Taesa said.

  “You trust Romana?” Caroline asked.

  “She is a good woman, even if she is caught up in religion,” Taesa said.

  “I know she’s a good woman – when she focuses on what’s real and proven – but she can’t let go of her mythology. Romana wants to change you into a believer in her myths. I taught you to doubt and ask questions,” Taesa said.

  “I still have questions. But I also need to help find a cure. If we don’t do something, and we wait long enough, the problems will come here. Then, religion and mythology will be the only things left,” Taesa said.

  “Who is on Kaija’s crew? What are their powers?” Emerond asked.

  “Kaija’s a telepath. Her navigator showed up to say that she overheard the news of the poison from listening to the Redfire Sentinels. She came along with a guy who has darkness powers,” Taesa said.

  “Is that supposed to make us feel safe?” Caroline asked.

  “Is waiting for poison to destroy the crops and kill the farmers supposed to make us feel safe?” Taesa asked.

  “Let me get the Trerada waters for him,” Emerond said.

  “Let’s go and help,” Taesa said.

  “You’re still a target,” Caroline said.

  “She’s right,” Emerond said.

  “That makes the new baby a target,” Caroline said.

  “When the food supply is poisoned, we’re all targets. Why wait?” Taesa asked.

  “Do you really believe you can help find the cure?” Caroline asked.

  “Maybe. And I think that you could help, too,” Taesa said.

  “How?” Caroline asked.

  “You don’t have a waterbinding yet. Maybe you could choose a water to help us,” Taesa said.

  “The power of the waters is too much. Things can go horribly wrong, even with the best of intentions,” Caroline said.

  “The world is always going horribly wrong, even if we do nothing and have no intentions. Remember King Xander? Where did he come from? He tried to take over the world,” Taesa said.

  “And he almost succeeded…except for you and a few other people fighting back,” Emerond said.

  “You still haven’t given up fighting or asking questions or traveling to dangerous places. You have a lot of enemies because of that,” Caroline said.

  “Life is mostly fighting and searching for answers and traveling the world. We have to be fast and fierce if we want to win. We have to be curious and go to faraway places if we want to find what we need,” Taesa said.

  “That didn’t save your father. He was curious and clever. He read so many books and still couldn’t find the answers he needed to recover from the disease,” Caroline said.

  “We have to try our best. We have to use every advantage available. We have to learn from every past failure and success,” Taesa said.

  “You’ve become very bold, Taesa. You are even more intense now that you’re a mother. You never learned to settle down. You’re restless,” Caroline said.

  “Is there another way to truly live?” Taesa asked.

  “Yes, there is: quietly and peacefully, gently and lovingly,” Caroline said.

  “Evil people are bold and restless. Nature is intense. Peace and quiet don’t come without a fight,” Taesa said.

  “We can’t keep fighting! I’m getting too old to deal with these problems. You’re getting older, too,” Caroline said.

  “Then how can we teach Trent to fight or to find answers if we don’t act now? Life won’t be magically easy for him when he’s older. What is he going to do when there’s trouble?” Taesa asked.

  “The Trerada waters will protect him from everything. Isn’t that what you said? When the new baby comes, use the same waters,” Caroline said.

  “You can still be poisoned. Crixalethicis is the disease you get when somebody gives you the wrong waters. Not even the Trerada waters can cure that. It kills fast. It’s a horrible death,” Taesa said.

  “And you can still starve without food. And you have to keep drinking the Trerada waters or the powers will fade. If you can’t get to a pure water supply, you don’t have the protection anymore,” Emerond said.

  “If the farmlands are poisoned, nobody can eat, so they can’t do their jobs. The navigators of ships can’t sail to the Trerada Ocean and get more waters,” Taesa said.

  “And the alchemists can’t purify the Trerada waters to give their full effect, which means the protection is unreliable,” Emerond said.

  “After everything that’s happened, you actually want to go? You’re his father and you want to take chances? Haven’t you seen enough trouble?” Caroline asked.

  “I’ve seen too much trouble. And I can never give up confronting every danger to this family,” Emerond said.

  “Taesa, I have no idea where you’re going to lead us, and I have no idea where we’re going to end up. We might never be able to find peace, quiet and safety. I want a good life for this family,” Caroline said.

  “That good life can’t be found here for much longer. If we don’t go looking for it, we’ll never find it anywhere,” Taesa said.

  “No matter where we run or hide, trouble finds us…eventually,” Emerond said.

  “I guess we have no choice. Let’s do what we must,” Caroline said.

  “Let me get our clothes together,” Emerond said. He walked around the suite and started gathering up Trent’s clothing and his own into a backpack. When he was done, he took hold of Trent, who was still sleeping. Taesa and Caroline gathered together their own clothes into a backpack and Caroline wore it to give Taesa relief.

  “What’s the name of the ship?” Emerond asked.

  “Kaija told me to meet her at the Consecration of the Hopeful. I don’t know what it looks like, but I’m sure that she’ll find us when we get to the docks,” Taesa said.

  “And then trouble will find us,” Caroline said.

  “It was going to find us anyway,” Emerond said.

  ~~~ />
  Taesa unlocked and opened the door to the suite, then walked out into the hallway. Caroline and Emerond – who was still carrying Trent – followed her. Once they were all standing in the hallway, Taesa closed and locked the suite door behind her. They walked down the steps, exited the residential building and went out into the city’s center. From there, they walked eastward toward the docks.

  When they arrived, Kaija approached them and said: “My name is Kaija. Taesa has told you why I need her help. Thank you all for coming. Romana and the rest of the crew are already on board. Annaliisa has charted our course to the Provincial Isles. Let’s move quickly and do everything we can to find the cure for this poison. It’s getting worse. We have reports that the toxic mist has spread across the entire southern hemisphere.”

  “We’ll do what we can,” Emerond said.

  “I have every kind of ocean water on board the ship, highly purified. You are a Kazofen drinker, Emerond. I will need you to help another member of my crew, Juho, to purify the water further. And you, Caroline, should keep an open mind to choosing a waterbinding as the situation calls for it. Your help could save many lives,” Kaija said.

  “If you can prove it will help, then I’ll take a waterbinding. First, however, my grandson, Trent, is getting a Trerada waterbinding. He’s not leaving this port without it,” Caroline said.

  Kaija reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a vial. She uncapped it and handed it to Emerond. “These are purified Trerada waters. Let’s start by giving him this,” she said.

  “He’s still asleep. Trent, wake up for mommy,” Taesa said as she reached out to massage her son’s cheeks and chin. He woke up crying. “What’s wrong, baby?” Taesa asked.

  Emerond drank anew of the waters of the Kazofen Ocean from his own vial to be energized with the power to manipulate crystals and stones. He took the uncapped vial and examined the low-level structure of the water crystals within it to be certain they were the Trerada waters. “It’s Trerada, and highly purified, at least to seven (7) iterations of the virtuous cycle,” Emerond said.

  “You can trust me and my crew,” Kaija said.

  “I’m his father. I have to be certain. Trust comes later. I’ve never met you before,” Emerond said.