Rescuer's Reward, page 1
part #1 of Sea Mage Cycle Series
Rescuer’s Reward
Joe Vasicek
The Sea Mage Cycle
Copyright © 2024 Joseph Vasicek. All rights reserved.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual persons, organizations, or events is purely coincidental.
Cover by James, GoOnWrite.com.
Editing by Josh Leavitt.
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For Piper.
HTTL
Debts and Dilemmas
Jason
The open-air market of the capital of Caravelia thrived with life—a vibrant medley of colors, scents, and sounds. Countless stalls lined the cobblestone streets, their vendors vying boisterously for the attention of passersby. The scents of fresh-baked bread and spiced meats mingled amidst the salty sea air of the nearby ocean. Merchants and shoppers haggled and bartered, adding to the melodic cacophony of the marketplace.
Jason Callidor strode confidently through the bustling crowd. His muscular build, honed from a youth at sea, was not out of place in the city of his birth. Neither was the mischievous grin he occasionally flashed, though he liked to think his charisma was largely unmatched.
“Captain Callidor!” a merchant called, waving a handkerchief to catch Jason’s roving gaze. “Come here, my lad! I have the finest silks this side of the Azure Sea!”
Jason’s grin widened. “Ah, but do they come with a fair maiden to model them?” he teased, earning a hearty laugh from the merchant.
“I’m afraid not, Captain. But they will make the woman who wears them feel like a queen.”
“I’ll take one of your gowns, then,” said Jason on a sudden impulse. “The blue dress, over there. How much?”
“Three silver pieces—but for you, I’ll make it two.”
“Excellent,” said Jason. He could have talked the man down to at least a silver and three coppers, he knew. But he was in a good mood, and the man seemed friendly enough. Besides, as a merchant captain, he often sold wholesale goods to vendors like these. If he spent a little freely now, perhaps this merchant would return the favor when their roles were reversed.
The vendor swiftly obliged, carefully wrapping the dress while Jason fished in his pouch for the coin. “Did you have a particular lady in mind, Captain?”
“No,” Jason admitted, tucking the package under his arm. “But you never know when your luck may change.”
With that, he bid the merchant good day, humming merrily to himself as he went. It always gave him pleasure to buy or sell a thing of quality. Nevertheless, as he approached the harbor, his steps grew increasingly heavy, and his grin grew ever more strained. Once again, he considered the sheet of parchment in his vest pocket. Just that morning, his creditors had reminded him of his overdue debts, informing him that they would seize his ship in lieu of payment, unless he immediately made good on his back payments.
With a sigh, Jason purposefully quickened his step. This was just another setback, nothing more. Perhaps if his last voyage had been more successful… But no, it was better not to dwell on that. Besides, he hadn’t borrowed that money for himself. He’d need the funds to pay for supplies and repairs, not to mention wages for his crew.
No, he wouldn’t let this latest storm sink him. All he needed was one big score—one successful voyage, the likes of which men always talked about eagerly in pubs and taverns. In spite of his recent setbacks, Jason was still confident that things would work out for him in the end. It was only a matter of time before his fortunes began to change.
A slight tug on his belt brought him immediately back to the present. His hand snaked out of its own accord, seizing on the young pickpocket before the lad could escape.
“Careful there, boy!” he chastised the boy playfully. The lad froze, fear widening his eyes, but Jason merely ruffled the boy’s hair. “Never let your mark see you coming.”
“Th-thank you,” the boy stammered, his eyes filled with desperation.
Jason chuckled to himself. He had seen his fair share of underhanded dealings in his time as a ship’s captain, and as a sailor in the King’s Fleet before that. This street urchin obviously bore him no malice.
“What’s your name, lad?” Jason asked, still holding onto the boy’s shoulder.
“Tomas,” the boy replied, his voice barely more than a whisper.
“Well, Tomas, it just so happens that I captain a merchant ship, the Azure Serpent, and I’m looking for quick young men to join my crew. If you want to strike out and seek your fortune on the sea, I may have an opportunity for you. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir,” said Tomas, standing a little taller.
“Life on the sea isn’t just about taking what you can get,” Jason added as sternly as he could manage—which wasn’t very much. “You’ll have to earn your keep, as well as the respect of those around you.”
“Yes, sir,” Tomas repeated. The wide-eyed look on his face told Jason that his message had been received.
“Go on, now,” he said, releasing the lad with a gentle push. “Go to my ship and ask for my first mate, a man by the name of Samuel. Tell him Captain Callidor sent you.”
As the boy ran off, Jason couldn’t help but chuckle to himself. If he could trade lives with that carefree young lad, would he do so? No, he decided, though the thought had a certain appeal. A life on the streets of Caravelia was a life without a ship of his own, and that would simply not do.
The Azure Serpent waited for him in the harbor. Her bow was graceful and proud; her sides sleek, if a little weather worn; her white sails trimmed with the same cerulean hue as the gown under his arm. For the last few years, the Serpent had been his home, carrying him through the treacherous waters of life as well as the high seas. Jason could hardly wait until they set sail again, leaving his worldly cares ashore.
“Captain Callidor,” a gruff voice called out, interrupting his thoughts. Jason turned to find a rotund man with a bushy mustache approaching him. “I trust you received my letter regarding your outstanding debts?”
“Of course, Master Gavrel,” Jason replied, his heart sinking. “And as I told your messenger, we are about to embark on a most profitable voyage that will more than cover what I owe.”
“Oh, really?” the beady-eyed man said skeptically. “And where, pray tell, do you intend to take my ship?”
She’s my ship, you greedy whoreson, Jason thought, clenching his fists—and technically, that was true. But since Master Gavrel owned his debts, if Jason could not pay, ownership of the Azure Serpent would revert back to him.
“That’s a trade secret,” Jason lied. “I wouldn’t want every other merchant in the kingdom trying to edge in on my profits.”
Master Gavrel’s mustache twitched. “For your sake, Captain, I hope that your ‘profitable voyage’ isn’t a fool’s errand like the last one. I invested a pretty penny in that one, and I have yet to see any return on my investment.”
Jason’s smile faltered slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. “I assure you, Master Gavrel, this time will be different. You’ll have your payment in full, with interest, before you know it.”
“Best be on your way then,” Gavrel said with a wave of his hand. “You’ve got until the next moon. After that, I will take what is mine.”
With that, he turned on his heel and walked away. Jason watched as his portly figure disappeared into the crowd, knowing full well that the miserly man would make good on that threat. As much as he hated to admit it, the weight of his debts made his throat tighten every time he saw the man. But he refused to let that dampen his enthusiasm for the upcoming voyage. After all, the sooner he was back on the open sea, the better.
As he climbed onto the creaking deck of the Azure Serpent, he took a deep breath of the salty sea air. The tangy scent of the sea always lifted his heart and made his spirits soar. That was the smell of freedom and adventure, especially when mingled with the fresh-cut wood of the ship’s recent repairs and the sweat of the sailors laboring to ready her for her next voyage.
“Jason!” hailed a voice from the lower deck. Samuel, Jason’s first mate and oldest friend, strode toward him with a grin. Tall and lanky, with a thick beard and a head of shaggy brown hair, Samuel was only a little older than Jason himself, and as close to him as a brother.
“Samuel,” said Jason, greeting him warmly. “How are the preparations going?”
“Very well. We’re ready to sail as soon as you’re ready.”
“Good, good. And the crew?”
“No problems there,” Samuel said encouragingly. “There’s no shortage of men eager to sign up. I’ve kept the crew lean this time, but those I’ve picked should work well together.”
“Very good,” said Jason. He considered telling Samuel about the pickpocket he’d encountered in the town but decided against it. Samuel was a better judge of character than him, and he didn’t want to tell his first mate how to do his job.
“Like I said,” Samuel finished, “we’re ready to set sail as soon as you give the word. All we need now are goods and a destination.”
“Right,” said Jason, gazing out across the harbor.
Samuel paused. “Begging your pardon, Captain, but have you decided what we’re going to carry?”
“Not yet,” Jason admitted. If this was the voyage that would make or break them, he would have to choose carefully. That was part of th
“Well,” said Samuel, “I heard there’s a shipment of the finest, rarest spices from the east, brought into the city just recently from the overland route. They’ll fetch a pretty fortune out to the western sea kingdoms, such as Alynthia.”
“I’m sure they will,” Jason said with a grunt. “But they’ll cost us a pretty fortune, too, and we’re in no shape to borrow more to acquire them.”
“Right,” said Samuel. His bushy eyebrows half-covered his eyes as he furrowed his brow. Jason turned to face him again and clasped a broad hand on his shoulder.
“Don’t worry, my friend. I’m sure an opportunity will present itself in the next day or two.”
“Are you sure? I saw Master Gavrel talking with you on the dock, Jason. If we fail…”
“We won’t,” Jason told him firmly, though his thoughts were still heavy with apprehension. “We’ve faced worse storms than this. And besides,” he added with a mischievous grin, “with you as our ship’s mage, I’m sure we’ll have luck on our side.”
“Right,” said Samuel, grinning.
As his friend returned to overseeing the preparations, Jason strode along the solid oak deck of the Azure Serpent, running his fingers lovingly along the familiar wooden railing. He’d worked so hard and sacrificed so much for her, and he wasn’t about to give her up to miserly cretins like Gavrel. No—this was more than just another vessel to him, more than just an investment. To him and Samuel, the Azure Serpent was home.
A Marriage of Duty
Julietta
Princess Julietta of the Petty Kingdom of Firenia sat by the window in her bedchamber, gazing down at the castle courtyard. Servants loaded trunks and crates onto the wagons that would carry them to the harbor. Most of her belongings were in those trunks, and in just another day, she would be carried away to a new life, with a man she had never met, in a distant kingdom that was foreign and unfamiliar.
A soft breeze made her auburn hair dance. She leaned against the stone windowsill and lifted her eyes to the long blue line of the sea. The beautiful view was usually sufficient to soothe her, but the knowledge that she would soon cross that boundless distance made it difficult to think of anything else.
“Your Highness, it’s time for your fitting.” Julietta turned to see Elise, her favorite lady-in-waiting, standing in the doorway.
“Of course,” she replied, tearing herself from the window. She followed Elise down the hall to the chamber where the royal seamstress, Madame Duval, was waiting. Her other ladies-in-waiting, Giselle and Marie, were fussing over the exquisite silk and lace wedding gown that Madame Duval had prepared.
“Ah, Princess, there you are! Come, let us begin.”
Julietta silently undressed and slipped into the gown, feeling its cool fabric slide smoothly against her skin. As the ladies laced her into it, she could feel their shared thrill at the upcoming wedding, but her own emotions felt more like a tangled knot.
“Isn’t it lovely?” Elise asked as she smoothed Julietta’s skirts.
“Yes,” said Giselle, “but it’s missing something.” As Marie carefully braided Julietta’s hair, Giselle slipped a silver chain around the princess’s neck, with a deep blue sapphire that settled onto her bosom. The stone was just the right shade to complement her eyes and bring out the redness of her hair.
“Marvelous!” said Elise, clasping her hands together in delight. “You’ll be the most beautiful bride the Kingdom of Valinar has ever seen!”
“Indeed,” Marie agreed, her eyes shining with admiration. “Prince Anton will be smitten the moment he lays eyes on you.”
“Thank you,” Julietta murmured, managing a smile.
As Elise held up a mirror for her, she couldn’t help but wish her mother had lived to see this day. Instead, she had only her ladies-in-waiting, whose praise—though well-meaning—did little to assuage her fears.
“Madame Duval, the dress is perfect.” said Julietta, forcing her thoughts back to the present. “You have truly outdone yourself.”
Madame Duval bowed deeply. “Thank you, Your Highness. I am honored to have played a part in your special day.”
Is it really that special, though? Julietta couldn’t help but wonder. Her marriage to Prince Anton was a matter of duty, not of love. How could it be otherwise, when she had yet to meet him? She kept these thoughts to herself, though, as Madame Duval went about taking measurements for the final adjustments to the dress.
“Can you imagine how grand Valinar must be?” Marie asked excitedly. “I’ve heard their castle has more than a hundred rooms!”
“And they say the prince is quite handsome,” Giselle added, giggling.
“Have you any thoughts about your future husband?” Elise asked.
Julietta forced a smile. “Only that I hope to do my best to be the wife and queen I am expected to be.”
Elise’s eyes filled with concern. “What about love?”
“Love has nothing to do with it,” Julietta said quietly, dropping her gaze. “I know my duty.”
The ladies fell silent, the weight of Julietta’s words settling over them. After a few moments, Elise spoke again.
“Your Highness, please. There is no need to despair of happiness. Who knows but Prince Anton will surprise you.”
“I am not despairing, my dear Elise,” Julietta said quickly. “Nor do I expect that happiness will forever elude me.” Even if it does for a season, she thought but did not say.
“Is something troubling you, Princess?” Giselle asked.
Julietta sighed. How best to put her feelings into words?
“All my life, I have lived within these castle walls, never venturing out for more than a day or two. As a young girl, I yearned to see the world that lay beyond them—to take my life into my own hands. And yet, now that I am about to leave home forever, I cannot help but feel that all my choices are still being made for me.”
“Do you wish to call off the wedding?” Elise asked quietly.
“No,” Julietta answered. “I know my duty and have no qualms about fulfilling it. But…” Her voice drifted off uncertainly.
“You mustn’t let such thoughts distract you,” Marie gently chided. “Instead, think of the good people of Firenia, and how this union will ensure their security.”
“I know. But a part of me cannot help but yearn for more control over my own life—to make choices for myself rather than having them made for me. Do you understand?”
Her ladies-in-waiting glanced uneasily at each other. “Your courage and strength are admirable, Your Highness,” Giselle answered.
Julietta sighed, even as she forced a smile for them. “Thank you, Giselle. I promise to fulfill my duty as best as I know how.”
“You’re just getting the wedding jitters,” Elise said good-naturedly. “Every bride does. When you look back on this time, I’m sure it will make you laugh.”
“I hope so,” Julietta said softly. But inwardly, she wondered if she would ever find a way to satisfy the deeper yearnings of her soul.
Julietta
“Princess,” Julietta’s father greeted her at the door to the council chamber. King Aldric Godfrey was a tall, imposing man with gray hair and a salt-and-pepper beard, though in Julietta’s mind, it was still the thick, shaggy mane of jet-black hair that she remembered from her childhood. Strange, she thought, how the people closest to us seem to change the most at the moments when we have the greatest need for their stability.
“Father,” Julietta replied, smiling as she took her seat next to him at the head of the great oaken table. All the other chairs were taken by King Godfrey’s counselors and advisors. His vassals were absent, except for Lord Kenrick, the baron of the town below the castle. But all of his commanders were there, as well as the head of the merchant’s guild. Their presence was a reminder that the entire kingdom’s future hung in the balance, not just her own.
“Are you all right, my child?” her father asked softly enough that only she could hear.
“I’m fine,” she answered, smiling to reassure him. “Let us begin.”
