Chapter 180: Night Manoeuvres

Chapter 180: Night Manoeuvres

“Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look upon them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.”

Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Sinbad sat between Ramil and Junaid as they were ferried across the lagoon to the inner isle. Opposite them, Farris, Haakim and Bahis sat quietly, watching the island approach. It was white as if carved from salt. A mountain arose in the middle, reaching up high. It was not the strangest island he had seen on his travels, but it was certainly distinctive, an island within a lagoon within an island. The cliffs that stood between it and the sea were imposing. Murshad had begged off attending, claiming he did not need to be there for the inevitable haggling and power plays before a deal was signed in blood if need be. He said he would visit the church and or possibly the pilgrimage site on the west side of the isle.N0v3lTr0ve served as the original host for this chapter's release on N0v3l--B1n.

Once they landed, they walked between reflective pools of water lined with what appeared to be salt. The source for some of the wares Captain Kashif was peddling became equally obvious. The Silversea family must be relatively wealthy with salt, pearls and the other products they had noticed in the town market, especially in comparison to their neighbours this far out from the Compass continent. The Silverseas would hardly be a threat, but money had its own power, so it was worth being aware of and stepping politely if they wished to take everything they could.

“The number of their products is unexpected.” Commented Ramil casually as they advanced toward doors carved into the mountain.

“We stand to make a lot of money if they can be convinced to take us on as partners instead of Captain Kashif.” Sinbad snarled the other captain’s name in displeasure that someone had gotten there first or in pain over the losses he had already taken on this trip.

“An unguarded and untaxed entry into Ponente is worth far more than their products if sufficient goods travel through it. But the distance makes it less than ideal.” Bahis added.

“Might be wiser to keep such thoughts silent. We are being watched even if they cannot hear us yet.” Farris cautioned. He gestured ahead to the doors guarded by more of the town guards.

Quietly the group approached, falling silent under the stare of the slowly opening doors that made the mountain appear as if it was watching them come closer.

“Welcome to the Hall of the Silverseas.” One guard intoned. “May you walk in the light of the lodestar.”

They stepped through the doorway.

. . .

A day earlier

The Silversea family displayed many emotions about our flight and my minor incarceration. It helped a lot that it was very short and that I could dance my way out of it. Neither Father nor I filled in all the details as we were still coming to grips with exactly what had happened ourselves. However, we did give a detailed description of the individuals involved, and it was no surprise to find a few of them investigating the market the following day. Whether they knew it or not, they were in more trouble than they could conceive.

All our advisors from Lady Acacia, Namir, Arawn, and most stridently, our mother believed that a message had to be sent and a lesson learned in blood if that was what it took to ensure the Libeccians did not soon forget it. There might have been some ardent patriotism of Ponente being the better country, but ultimately they were slavers who had attempted to enslave the lord of the land. This would not stand. It did not matter that they were now passing themselves off as merchants merely interested in our deep sea pearls. They would receive a reception they would never forget in this life or the next if they did not bow to their new circumstances when they came to petition us tomorrow morning.

All of that led to tonight. While their captain slept in our sleepy little town, his ship was going to get a second visit from yours truly. Only this time, I would not be alone when I arrived or when we left. We were planning to take them for everything they had. If only to solidify our position tomorrow; however, I was not above admitting that there was a small measure of revenge for the terror I had been subjected to yesterday.

Waking up alone, chained while I watched as my magic burned me from the inside out was something I would never forget. It was only fair to provide him something similar that they would never forget either. It was all going to start here and now. Namir and Arawn were leading the raid but had all of our older, more combat-focused cousins lined up, ready to initiate our act of piracy. Though it was not called that, with the home advantage, this was a defensive act of the local lord against plundering pirates. It would also be a test and measure the strength of our men. Though if any were found wanting, our tutors had oversight and would act before their captain could realise and return. Fingers crossed, it would not come to that.

We followed Namir and Arawn’s lead, but they left it up to us to implement the plan. It would be a suitable proving ground and beneficial for our skills, stats and levels if they left it up to us. The Silversea court had got together to plan our liberation.

Months of manoeuvers under our tutor's eyes and sometimes pointed claws meant that we knew one another’s skills and abilities. The Silversea court was ready to act with both magic and might. One providing cover for the other, we would hit them in the middle of the night once the majority, if not all of the sailors, were asleep unsuspecting. We had watched the ship throughout the day, counting the men, counting the slaves, and learning the boat layout as much as we could from afar. I confess to feeling a little excited at the prospect.

. . .

As they advanced down between what was effectively the Silversea Court, they looked to the family leaders on their dais at the end of the hall. What was immediately striking was the diversity of their advisors, though the Lord and Lady's chairs were currently empty. To the left and right of where they would hold the petition stood an elf and a beastkin. It was not as if he had never seen such people, he had traded wide and far, but most of them remained in their lands, and it would have been far more likely for a Neriad to be present than those two.

Behind their group followed other petitioners. However, they seemed to be from the town, well known. He could feel the attention focus on them as they drew to the front of the hall. They had arrived 5 minutes before the hour, and the petition would begin as soon as the hour turned. He generally preferred negotiating in a more private setting with a more significant advantage, but that was the trouble with dealing with nobles in their homes. They were entrenched and had the defender's advantage of allies and numbers. That was not to say that he was not without his advantages. He did not represent a single ship but a cabal of some of northern Libeccio's most influential merchants and slavers.

Sinbad was elated that after a long and tiring journey, they would soon be able to return home. Just one last negotiation to take place. However, it would have been nice to have scuttled Captain Kashif. This was clearly where he had found the deep sea pearls; perhaps they might cross paths on the way back.

A chime sounded, and the great doors behind them began to close as Lord and Lady Silversea emerged without any pomp and circumstance. The pair seemed a little small to be the Lord and Lady.

Suddenly, Farris bolted for the closing doors. Shocked, the whole group turned to watch as he attempted to flee the hall. Confused and distracted by his sudden behaviour, they saw him reach the guards to the hall and leap over them. Only to be cut down midair by an old man moving with the speed of youth and demonstrating that they were not the only high levelled individuals in the hall.

Farris’s headless body continued through the air to land with a boneless thump on the steps to the hall. The thudding of the doors closing blocked the scandalous sight of their former comrade's demise.

Outraged at the abrupt events they did not understand, the group turned to face the Lord and Lady to demand an answer and were struck dumb.

It was the child they had caught.

He was the lord, merda!

. . .

Meanwhile, elsewhere . . .

Murshad had enjoyed finding this gem of a town so far from civilisation. It represented what the church of the lodestar should be about. An expanding of the horizon, pushing back the monsters of the deep or delving into it. This town had it all. Sure, it was a little backwards in places, but it was burgeoning with life and opportunity.

People looked and talked optimistically about the future, their expansion, their Lord and Lady. The entrance to the depths was no longer a source of outright fear. It helped that they effectively lived without taxation, and there had been no discharge of monsters from the depths yet. Just a slow, steady exploration of the pathways down and a few escapes that had been quickly cleaned up.

He was looking forward to reaching the most western point on the pilgrim’s path of circumnavigation. Not all church members could afford the time or money to complete the circumnavigation in one go. It would feel good to have such a distant point completed.

First, though, it was time to pay his respects to the local clergy. Yesterday had been a time for gathering information surreptitiously. Today was the time to say hello. He did not need to be there for the negotiations. He was only here because the Cabal had insisted a cleric accompany their venture and donated heavily to his senior at the local church. He had not leapt at the command, but he couldn’t deny there were personal benefits to the venture.

He strode confidently through the market square, already busy despite the day of the petition with the local Lord and Lady. The fact that a Bishop was here made following the etiquette much more critical.

Whether he had arrived by choice or exile, he was still a bishop.

He happily entered the Church of the Lodestar, each one home away from home, the familiar incense, the familiar faces . . .

Filling the pews were the slaves of the ship, and they all turned to face their former owner’s comrade, merda!

. . .