Ruin & Reliance

by Jeremy Dwyer

  ~~~

  Under the cover of darkness, Kassia and Daley watched the massive cargo ship as it crashed into the other vessels. They also saw the brutal slayings committed by the merchants and dockworkers, soldiers and sailors. That same darkness protected them from the possessing spirits. They hurried back to the traveler’s lodge and returned to the room where Aura and Arik were hiding. Kassia unlocked and opened the door and she and Daley entered. They closed and locked the door behind them.

  Daley eased his powers and they reappeared.

  “Why did you come back?!” Aura screamed.

  “Things are worse! Way worse! The port is under attack!” Kassia said. She coughed once but did not spit up any blood. The physical exertion seemed to be effective for the moment at alleviating the worst symptoms of the illness caused by the poisonous red mist.

  “A giant cargo ship came crashing down and destroyed other ships. People are attacking each other in the streets,” Daley said. He coughed but did not bring up any spit or blood.

  “I think it’s ghosts. I don’t think a telepath could do all this alone. Spirits are making everyone attack each other. They didn’t come near us because of the darkness. But they’re making people fight and kill anybody standing next to them,” Kassia said. She coughed again.

  “You’re still sick!” Aura said.

  “We need your help before this turns into a war. The city is turning against itself!” Kassia said.

  “What do you want me to do?” Aura asked.

  “What you do better than anyone!” Daley said.

  “Because God gave you the power to do it,” Kassia said.

  “I know. I’ll do it. And you’ll protect Arik. You said the darkness kept you safe. Keep him safe,” Aura said. She held out her son.

  “Let me give it my best,” Daley said. He drank anew of the waters of the Ikkith Tar Ocean from his vial to be energized with the power of darkness. He then took hold of Arik and extended the cloak of darkness over himself, the boy and Kassia.

  Aura drank anew of the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean from her vial to be energized with the powers of music and song. She focused to compose a melody and select the proper lyrics. “I’m ready,” she said.

  From under the cover of darkness, Daley said: “Let’s get you in front of these people while they’re still alive!” He then extended the cover of darkness to Aura.

  ~~~

  Kassia unlocked and opened the door and they left the room. They exited the traveler’s lodge and went to a location that seemed to be in the center of the riots in the Port of Hithagredil.

  Though she could not be seen because of the cloak of darkness, Aura began to sing and her voice was heard throughout the city:

  The pain and peril followed us to a distant land.

  Who knows a place that's truly safe? Who will be our guide?

  Sorrow after sorrow comes, too many to withstand.

  Are we safer in a cloak of darkness? Is that where we should hide?

  We cannot rise above our lack of understanding.

  In our folly, we rely on You to teach.

  You warned us of an awful threat and led us to liberty.

  Is there a place where we can learn?

  Is it a place that is within our reach?

  Are we on the road to ruin or a path to prosperity?

  (Refrain)

  Let this be a land of peace,

  Where hope and healing can always be found.

  I know that every danger will cease,

  When God's Love and Generosity surround.

  The poison on our shores destroys us, even the young and well.

  Who knows a place that's truly safe? Who will be our guide?

  Sorrow after sorrow comes, too many to dispel.

  Are we safer in a maze of illusions? Is that where we should hide?

  We cannot rise above our frailty and weakness.

  In our sickness, we rely on You to heal.

  You warned us of an awful threat and led us to liberty.

  Is there a place that holds a cure?

  Is it a place that you will reveal?

  Are we on the road to ruin or a path to prosperity?

  (Refrain)

  The battlefield surrounds us. Peace is now replaced by war.

  Who knows a place that's truly safe? Who will be our guide?

  Sorrow after sorrow comes, too many to endure.

  Are we safer in a raging tempest? Is that where we should hide?

  We cannot rise above our greed and pride and hate.

  In our evil, we rely on You to forgive.

  You warned us of an awful threat and led us to liberty.

  Is there a place that stays serene?

  Is it a place that has all we need to live?

  Are we on the road to ruin or a path to prosperity?

  (Refrain)

  The hostile spirits were dispelled and even the remnants of the poisonous red mist left the city. The riots ended, and no more people were possessed.

  ~~~

  “I can sense where the problem came from! That ship! The man with the staff and the blue crystal! He was summoning the spirits! They’re gone now!” Aletta said, pointing.

  Tiago eased his powers of darkness, now that the spirits were gone. He, the captain and crew were all visible once again. Captain Fernao was still unconscious, however.

  Zeferino took a quick sip of the waters of the Nabavodel Ocean from his vial to be energized with the powers of strength and speed. He ran through the docks and leaped thirty-seven (37) feet across the gap between the pier and the deck of the ship where the man with the staff was standing.

  ~~~

  On board the Staunch Carriage Five, Kobus and Razmig were alarmed when the spirits came swarming back toward the staff. They were more alarmed when a powerful man leaped from a pier onto the deck of the ship.

  Zeferino swiped the staff from Kobus, who punched him back and they struggled over the staff. Both were drinkers of the Nabavodel waters and had considerable strength and speed.

  ~~~

  On board the Incisive, Agent Gavriela watched as the battle played out on the other ship more than one hundred ninety-seven (197) feet away. “Look over there, on that ship! The markings identify it as the Staunch Carriage Five! Those men are fighting over a staff with a blue crystal!”

  Agent Claudia telepathically detected the hostile intentions and said: “The crystal on the staff summons the spirits. That’s why they’re fighting over it. It’s too far for me to see the fight in detail, but that’s what they both know.”

  “Agent Kenaz, shatter the crystal with sound so it can’t be used again!” Admiral Tiede said.

  “No! The crystal contains the spirits. If you shatter it, the spirit swarm will get released and attack again! Better to use bright light to distract the rivals and take the staff into our custody!” Agent Cheveyo said.

  “Agreed! Agent Gavriela, blind them!” Admiral Tiede said.

  Agent Gavriela created a beam of light and shone it in the eyes of all three (3) men on the deck of the Staunch Carriage Five.

  “Agent Prudencia, steer the ship over there. We need to take the staff!” Admiral Tiede said.

  Agent Prudencia ran into the wheelhouse and steered the Incisive alongside the Staunch Carriage Five.

  Agent Leilah kept herself cloaked in darkness as she stepped onto the deck of the Staunch Carriage Five and took advantage of the temporary blindness of everyone on that ship. She swiped the staff and returned to the Incisive. She reappeared with the staff in hand.

  “Good work, Agent Leilah. We need to get to Emeth, to complete our other assignment, and then return home,” Admiral Tiede said.

  Agent Claudia helped Admiral Tiede to stand. He kept his hand on his neck and applied pressure to stop the bleeding. She escorted the admiral as he walked across the deck and entered the wheelhouse.

  “Agent Prudencia, chart a course for Emeth,” Admiral Tiede said. He sat down on a bench and rested, still hol
ding his hand to the wound on his neck.

  “Yes, Admiral,” Agent Prudencia said. She drank anew of the waters of the Atrejan Ocean from her vial to be energized with the power to listen to the sounds of the stars. She concentrated to learn their paths and positions and then used this information to chart a course. She steered the Incisive out of port and then sailed it northwestward across the Pirovalen Ocean toward Emeth.

  ~~~

  Zeferino struggled to see through blurry eyes. Unable to fight, he leaped off the ship and back onto the docks. He returned to his crew and Captain Fernao, who was still unconscious from the earlier conflict.

  “There was a bright light in my eyes. Before I could see again, somebody else already took the staff,” Zeferino said.

  “Too bad. I’d like to take a closer look at it,” Bartel said.

  “The spirits inside cannot be given new life. There’s no saving them, if that’s what you’re planning. If the capturing crystal is opened – properly – then they might be able to move on,” Aletta said.

  “He’s dreaming. He’ll be awake soon,” Saskia said.

  “Let’s get the captain to a room. He needs some time to recover. I’ll have to make an herbal remedy,” Margaux said.

  “I’ll have to find a new job when he remembers who did this,” Zeferino said.

  “No, it wasn’t your fault. The spirits attacked. Just help him up,” Aletta said.

  Zeferino picked up Captain Fernao and hoisted the unconscious captain over his shoulder. Aletta, Tiago, Rafael, Saskia, Margaux, Bartel and Zeferino all walked into town and looked for a place to stay.

  “We’re not the only ones that got attacked by spirits. Thousands are dead,” Aletta said.

  “Captain Fernao got off lucky. You did hit hard. I can still feel it,” Bartel said, holding his jaw, which was bruised and swollen.

  “And I can see it. That’s going to shine for weeks,” Rafael said, looking at Bartel.

  “I wasn’t trying to hit him, or you,” Zeferino said.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll make some herbal remedies and fix us all up…a little bit,” Margaux said.

  CHAPTER 61: Weakness of Leadership and Marriage

  Sunniva continued sailing the Yield Adjuster Twenty-Seven eastward across the Ursegan Ocean. When she arrived at the western coast of the continent of Waderav, she pulled levers to pivot the masts and the sails to the sides of the ship and elevated it to fifty-six (56) feet of altitude. She steered the vessel over land and brought it down into the fields near a castle. Another cargo ship was docked in the ruined farmland nearby – a vessel measuring three hundred eighty (380) feet in length, with six (6) pairs of double-masted, pivoting sails – and its markings indicated that it was the Fertile Fields Sixteen. Sunniva pulled levers to extend the boarding ramp.

  ~~~

  Nandru Bazavador stood on deck and drank anew of the waters of the Elanatin Ocean from his vial to refresh his powers of telepathy and empathy. He focused his telepathic powers on Captain Nicomedes and said: “Remain here with your crew until I return. Be prepared to fire, reload and fire these cannons on my command.”

  Captain Nicomedes was unable to resist the command, so he asked: “Where are we going? Where shall I have Sunniva chart a course?”

  “I will tell you when I return,” Nandru Bazavador said. He walked down the boarding ramp and stepped onto the fields of spoiled crops. He proceeded toward the castle, peered into the gem he held and said to the spirit that appeared within its facets: “Tell Yarina that I am here with the ship.”

  ~~~

  The territory of Baron Helladius was immediately to the north of the circular mountain range that formed the perimeter of Cinder Valley. His castle was embedded into the face of the mountain, and was of a similar scale and design as the fortress ruled over by Count Nemanja on the eastern side.

  The fifty-three (53) year old baron was a bald and portly man with a gray-and-black beard and mustache. He sat at his banquet table alone and gorged himself with a fatty meal consisting of chicken, pork, veil, shrimp, lobster, crab, clams, oysters and beef, all drenched in blue cheese, cheddar cheese, honey, paprika, and beef gravy. His facial hair was soaked with the little bit of food that his mouth did not catch. The baron had his fill of the feast and tried to stand up, but felt uncomfortably stuffed, so he remained in his seat, which was the only chair in the banquet hall. The doors were closed so that the baron could eat alone.

  The doors to the banquet room were flung open. A woman in her early forties with buzz cut red hair entered. She was accompanied by a thin, healthy man who had a full, blond head of hair, and who was the same age as the baron. “My lord, I have an urgent message from the central bank,” the thin and healthy man said.

  “I have just eaten my midday snack, Cahal. Now, I need to rest until dinner. Can this wait?” Baron Helladius asked.

  “My lord, this is both urgent and crucial. The Premier Governors want you to personally lead your soldiers and guard the northern road leading into Cinder Valley. No one is to be allowed to enter the valley. The central bank has already sent reinforcements into the valley in case anyone tries to enter by the roads along the other compass points. You need only to prevent anyone from entering through this point, my lord. Also, a report must be given of any attempted intrusions. You will be compensated for your extra efforts,” the thin and healthy man – Cahal – said.

  “I am a farmer, Cahal. I drink the Gradaken waters. I do not lead soldiers into battle. I lead the farmers to work in the fields and the pastures to grow my crops and tend my livestock. Tell my soldiers they have my approval to guard the valley entrance as well as the crops,” Baron Helladius said.

  “My lord, the Premier Governors insisted that you go,” Cahal said.

  “What good will I do, Cahal? After I’ve eaten my fill, I am always tired, you know that. After I’ve slept, I will feel well enough to look into this,” Baron Helladius said.

  “My lord, if anyone is allowed to enter Cinder Valley through the northern road, the Premier Governors said they will appoint someone else to your post,” Cahal said.

  “Who are they to say that? I turned this ruined land into valuable fields and pastures! I did that! I paid all that money to bring in highly purified Gradaken waters for the farmers so we could build up the soil and make this the most valuable farmland in Waderav! Who is the central bank going to get to replace me? I am not some warrior that just cuts everyone to pieces and brings death! I plant the seeds! I bring life! I know this land better than anyone! No one can replace me! They have no business sending me into battle!” Baron Helladius said.

  “My lord, they need you to supervise the soldiers and direct them to guard the road. They do not expect you to personally pick up a sword and swing it,” Cahal said.

  “I expect them to be sensible. They’re bankers. This is not the sort of work I was hired to do. I bring them profits every season, year after year. Never once did I miss my quota!” Baron Helladius said.

  “We will be with you, my lord,” the woman with the buzz cut red hair said.

  “What are you going to do, Kerenza? You can’t fight!” Baron Helladius asked.

  “I know what the enemy is planning,” Kerenza – the woman with the buzz cut red hair – said.

  “You can only read one mind at a time, girl! If an enemy army attacks, you can’t read them fast enough, and you won’t be able to stop them from fighting. You can’t control anyone’s thoughts. Your telepathy isn’t that strong,” Baron Helladius said.

  “My lord, if you come outside and give your approval – personally – to the soldiers, then they will be able to move away from guarding the fields to guarding the valley entrance. That’s all you need to do. Only you have that authority. Like you said, I can’t control anyone’s thoughts. The orders have to come from you, Baron,” Kerenza said.

  “I feel tired,” Baron Helladius said.

  “We can help you up, my lord,” Cahal said.

  “Can you? I am a big man.
That is no secret. Everyone can see how much I enjoy good food,” Baron Helladius said.

  Kerenza and Cahal approached Baron Helladius and put their hands around his arms.

  “I didn’t give my approval! You do not have my permission! I never said I would go,” Baron Helladius said. He felt more arms hold him from behind. “Who is there? Who is behind me?” he asked.

  “We’re all here for you, Baron,” Kerenza said. She and Cahal and others – unseen – helped lift the portly baron from his seat so that he could stand.

  From the darkness emerged a tall man in his early thirties, who had red hair and a medium build, along with a scrawny-yet-muscular woman in her later thirties, who had dark hair arranged in a ponytail. They walked beside their comrades to face the baron.

  “Arngeirr, you should be watching for enemies approaching from a distance, if that’s what the central bank is so worried about! Why aren’t you at your post? Lygia, you should be out there with him, cloaked in darkness and watching for thieves who would steal the harvest!” Baron Helladius said.

  “We will return to our posts, my lord. We just wanted to be certain that you received the message and would give your soldiers the official orders to guard the north passage into Cinder Valley,” the tall man – Arngeirr – said.

  “Our duty is to report to you, my lord, and tell you everything we know. That’s why we came right away,” the scrawny-yet-muscular woman – Lygia – said.

  “I suppose I can deal with this now. I’ll give the orders to the soldiers, but I still need my rest. After so much good food, I need sleep, so I can make room for dinner,” Baron Helladius said.

  Kerenza telepathically transmitted to Lygia, Arngeirr and Cahal the message: “Don’t even crack a smile. He is not in a good mood.”

  “Thank you, my lord,” Cahal said.

  Baron Helladius walked slowly toward the doorway leading out of the banquet room. Lygia, Kerenza, Arngeirr and Cahal followed him. They walked through the castle hallway and toward the main entrance. The guards opened the castle gate and the baron was first to walk out onto the fields.