Hostages, page 28
He had the life of a man in his mind, a thing that had become part of his being. A trustworthy and honest man, who had made Anders Brolly a better person, but it would be impossible for anyone to trust that fully for a long time. Indeed, Far, that man himself, was more in the good graces of the King that way, it seemed.
A being who was one thing, not split in two, as Anders had been. The known and regular sort, that seemed comfortable to the mind. Not a boy who might at one moment be an old man and in the next, an angry and ill-mannered child, half a step from throwing a tantrum over a lost toy.
~That description is not the Anders Brolly I have observed over the last year.~ Farad sounded amused at least.
Probably meaning he genuinely believed the words. They were, likely, correct enough. After all, Anders knew he wasn’t going around being willful constantly. Bossy, and a bit too assertive, given his lack of years, but those traits might pay, in the end. As long as he wasn’t given too many beatings to correct it, in the interim, while he waited to age another twenty years.
The Baron, who wasn’t an old man, being no more than thirty, still holding the lanky ease of a younger fellow, went silent, for a long while.
Eventually, after Anders checked the surroundings again, and reported that no one was after them still, the older man spoke.
“There has been some pressure. Baron Brolly is being pressed along his eastern border. The claim is bandits, but they seem to be brigands willing to simply sabotage granaries and destroy small farms, taking nothing. Pressed in this way, Brolly seeks to find a reason for a direct war. One that it is thought he can win, if he has you on his side. We told him that was probably true, but that allowing Lyse to come to harm wouldn’t simply set you on the enemy, whoever that turns out to be, but also onto him. No one knows if he understands that or not.”
That was a good bit more than Anders had been told, at least if he read between the lines spoken, a bit. Taking his own time to think, he finally answered, just before signaling a stop for water. There was a nice stream on the road and while people were using it, being near a village, they seemed to be of good will.
“I’ll check into this, as I can from the ship. Now... Move left and stop! Stop for water! A quarter hour. Stop for a quarter hour!”
It took a third of that to actually get the buckets, which were needed for the horses and oxen to drink enough for their duty of the day. Meaning that, even hurrying, they were closer to a half an hour on the stop than they were a quarter. That was always part of travel. Anders noticed that Jasmin and Salina got out of the coach, with Niven behind them. All of them clearly in a partial trance, showing that work was being done that day.
Still, they drank and used the bushes as needed. At least some of them did that last portion. Anders trusted that, if the bushes weren’t enough, a small structure would be built in a timely fashion for needful matters. Climbing back onto the wagon seat, he called out.
“Back to the road! Back to the road!” Then he waited, until each of the drivers held a hand up, to show they were ready to move. Anders knew that, since he used wizardry to tell, and held his own hand up. The left one. “Move out! Move Out!”
You always called the directions out more than once. That way things weren’t missed as often. They’d gotten an early start, but stopped every two hours or so. They had water regularly, as well as skins for the people, if they’d remembered to bring such things or made them as they moved, and on the third stop Anders summoned some ripe fruit and early nuts. Collin moved over and transformed the nuts, cooking them with magic, handing them out in broad leaves.
Along with the fruit as it had been gathered. It was a fine road meal, and took them no longer than either of the other stops. It meant that they actually moved into the port town two hours before dark, which was later than Anders had figured, while still being there in good time. They hadn’t stopped for a late meal, but no one had complained as of yet.
The town wasn’t vast, but it took a moment for their small train of wagons and coaches to move into place. Covertly, Anders cleaned himself, and tidied his clothing, then waved for permission, and on getting it, did the same for the Baron. Then, slowing to a stop, calling it out for everyone, as if he were the master there, Anders got down, securing the wagon, the oxen still in harness, so they could be moved to the gangplank, or at least closer to it, not daring to drive onto the wooden dock.
A very tidy Captain Enna, looking lean and strong, came down the plank at double pace, with First Mate Fisher directly behind him. He walked toward them, only to find Depak Sona, Lissa and Salina behind him. With the rest of the people there shortly after, at about the same time that Enna stopped moving.
Meaning they’d literally run into place for several of them.
The Captain of the Sea Leopard smiled. A huge, and strained thing.
“We have an hour to load, to make the late tide, or we can leave in the morning, in twelve hours. Slightly less than that?” He was speaking very clear Istlan. His hint of an accent made him sound mysterious and cultured, instead of rough or as if he were struggling to find the words.
Anders turned, and called out, not that loudly.
“Everyone move your own gear. Make sure you have what is needed. Use magic for it. Just place it on the deck, where directed. Then we’ll do the wagon. We need to have that done in half an hour.” He nodded at the captain. “Then it will be your choice, for best time to leave, Captain, without waiting on us, that is.”
The man actually laughed.
“Get this lot loaded in an hour and I’ll...” The man looked up, as half a dozen people moved at good speed toward the gangplank, ready to run up it.
Behind them, rather impressively, everyone’s luggage was floating, barely bobbing at all, in the air. Their right hands were upraised and given each of them wore the same red and brown, except for Depak Sona, it looked almost rehearsed.
Anders called out, loudly. Bellowing.
“Hold at the bottom! Hold at the bottom of the gangplank!” He pointed, so that everyone would learn the name for the long built-up ramp. It had cross slats, so you didn’t slide down it as you walked, if it got a bit damp.
When they were in place, Anders called out loudly again.
“Permission to come aboard, Captain!”
The man, clearly a quick study, used the same tone of voice and volume.
“Permission granted for passengers and work crew. Come and go as work requires!”
Fisher, smiling at the new people, in their fine uniforms, cleared his throat.
“That means you can go up? I’ll show you all where to stage these for now. This is impressive.” He waved at the floating bags and satchels, ducking them to get in line, going up first, followed instantly.
Anders called out, as the apprentices and Depak went up.
“Switch to Scara!”
That was in that language, and First Fisher got the idea, and called back.
“Aye! Speak Scara on the ship! This way, hurry!”
The rest of the crew stood by, but Anders simply started to move the food, a few items at a time, and began traveling back and forth to the galley and storage areas. He had Niven, who was in uniform, running back, or at least walking quickly, and doing the same, with the other apprentices taking part, along with Journeyman Walden, and the apprentice Great Ones.
Kreed, seeing all of the magic being used, snorted, as Anders came up, the wagon empty.
“That the last of it?”
Anders thought so, but gave a nod.
“Check the coaches and wagons for any gear, then get into place on the deck. Captain Lissa, arrange them in formation?” He asked, since, even if it was a different military unit, Captain Lissa outranked him.
Kreed laughed.
“Call her a... What do you call it? The rank up? A ship only has one Captain.”
Anders nodded.
“Major, for the trip? We’ll explain that. Oh, put the word around? If anyone tries to do anything untoward with these people, they’re supposed to kill whoever did it. Instantly. I don’t want anyone to die, since the Sea Leopard is a good ship with a disciplined crew, but we’re heading to the front once we make land, and don’t have time to train people to be polite on this trip.” Not that there was a real excuse for not doing that.
Kreed grinned. His teeth were still white and solid seeming, as Anders had left them.
Nearly perfect.
“Good. Captain Enna offered to toss anyone taking liberties off the ship, while at sea, but you folk doing it works as well. Not that anyone seeing this will misbehave.” He grinned then. “Though, a few sweets and pretty words might work, right? Or is that forbidden?”
The last words were hard. Harsh seeming, in fact. As if he was expecting Anders to prevent people from having any comfort at all.
Instead, he shrugged.
“That’s up to each person. Except the youngest two. That’s Journeyman Walden, the redhaired man, and Apprentice Niven. They’re too young. Though, if anyone gets out of hand, make sure the Captain knows that it’s Walden’s job to thrash them? Using magic, so it won’t be a fair fight, but it’s his assigned task. I sort of talked up how dangerous you all are here.”
That got the black bearded man to sneer.
“You mean you told them less than the truth? We’re worse than you know, Anders Brolly. Don’t think that any man here won’t use your behind sore if he thinks he can. The same with these others, more or less. I’ll spread the word, though. The old hands know you, and won’t act up while you lot is on board. The newer people are...” There was a pause then, as if the man were thinking and being politic. It wasn’t like him at all.
“Honest? Half of them are real, honest to the gods, full on sailors. Not pirates at all. The rest have been passing as that well enough no one has had to bring up the past to explain what was going on. No more than a few times in dock.” The man looked at the line of people forming, and seemed a bit shocked when Anders moved over, standing in front. Everyone was in it, but the people in uniform were behind the others.
Kreed was waved along.
“This is Kreed. Memorize the face and name.” He waited, to indicate that was the real plan. Everyone there did it. Even Duke Ford did. “If there are any problems, Kreed will be in charge of making sure we do the right thing, while on ship. All of us are expected to follow the orders of the Captain, the First Mate and... Who’s the Second Mate?” He whispered the last, the rough but tidy man grinning, seeming proud.
“I am.”
Anders nodded.
“Then Second Mate Kreed. Most days Master Kreed will be the one to see to us. We might see battle on the water, so stay ready for that. Collin? When we’re released, I’ll take you to the galley. Are the meals at seven and eight bells, do you think, Second?”
There was a tilt of the head.
“Aye. Captain Enna told us that, if you lot agree to that? This is a few more people than planned. Four to a bunk space, but we have three rooms spare, with the current crew. Is that...” The man seemed annoyed, suddenly.
Anders shrugged.
“That’s fine. A third of us need to be up at night, to stand guard. I want wizardry for that, and for the ship to be checked, but also the surrounding waters. No one sneaks up on us out here. Watch for storms as well.”
He felt almost bad, for a moment, giving all of those orders, but Captain Enna, who had been standing back, moved in, smiling.
“You have a fine collection of men and women here, Prince Anders! I don’t recognize the uniforms?”
Duke Ford, a familiar face to the Captain, bowed, from his place in the front line.
“These in uniform are the Istlan War Mage Corp. Directed by King Matheus of Istlan to rush to aid our friends in Barquea and Modroc, who are under attack by the southern Natech nomads. We also have with us the Great One of Barquea, Depak Eta and his apprentices. Princess Salina Eta and Princess Lissa Eta.” He moved, to gesture to Jasmin, next. “This is my wife, Princess Jasmin Eta Ford. Leaving this worthy, Temporary Envoy to the Southern Lands, Baron Riley Kilroy.”
Anders noticed that two of the people had been left out, even if they were in the front line. He got the idea, but didn’t agree with it.
“These two people are Collin Caldas and Ezola Caldas. Students of magic, but not in the military at this time. Collin has volunteered to aid with the food, if that serves?” Anders planned to keep an eye on him, but the fellow didn’t have any sleep herbs or poisons on him.
Even Ezola didn’t sneer at being called a student, instead of a hostage. The feeling from her in the moment was mild excitement and a sense of being road weary. That couldn’t be helped, if they were moving quickly.
Captain Enna gave a crisp bow. A very simple one.
“Please stow any gear you have in your cabins. Then, if you wish to be on deck for the undocking, stay prepared to move. We’re using magic to control the winds, so have to shift quickly at times. As instructed, for you war mages, if you have any issues, see the Second on that. For the rest of our guests, please see Mr. Fisher at need?” The man was waved to, if in passing.
Then the Captain bellowed.
“Prepare to away! Man the port ties. Clear the deck!”
Everyone hurried, being led down below by Kreed. The man laughed, which was a bit sinister sounding.
“Great, now you lot have us all pretending to be military. Here, Cookie, you get prime spot, since you’ll be working the cruise. First room, choice of bunks and all that! I don’t know who’s in with who, after that...”
Anders thought, then shrugged.
“Depak Sona, Gull Sona, Collin and Baron Kilroy on the night sleeping for cabin one. The day sleeping shift will use that room as well. That’s myself... Journeyman Walden and Apprentice Kip for that.”
He thought then shrugged.
“I want three shifts, but probably only two turns at sleeping. Apprentice Great One Lissa, will you decide who’s on your watch? That will be the main one. The third watch will be in the evening. Depak Sona, will you stand that watch with your chosen team? Princess Salina...” He had an idea there, but the woman wasn’t even acting put out, not being in charge of anything.
At least not yet.
She truly seemed relaxed and almost pleased, even.
“Yes, Brolly Sona?” The words weren’t even rude sounding or as if she were playing a game at all. Meaning she was getting very good at it.
That or she actually respected him, which he didn’t know about being real, at all.
“If you would see to the training schedule? It will have to be worked in parts. You’re working with people on advanced studies and Scara? We also need magical, armed and unarmed combat. Gull, you were going to see to part of that as well? Salina will arrange time and place. Work with Mr. Kreed on that, please.”
The schedule meant that the rooms were each crowded with bags and gear, though he pulled one of the large chests, and used magic to make it light, then carried it in front of himself, as Kreed followed.
“Dried fruit for the meal?” The gruff man waved at the box.
“Nothing that useful out here. I need to pass this to the Captain, first thing. After we get underway?” The man was, from the shouting, busy at the moment.
As promised, they were away from the dock, the wind filling the sails, even as they drove straight into the prevailing breeze. They weren’t moving that fast, but it was being done with a purpose, all the same. Kreed had things to do, so left Anders standing at the bottom of the ladder to the pilot house. It wasn’t an actual structure on the Sea Leopard, the person steering the ship having to be outside, no matter the weather. It was a position that had to be manned constantly, as well.
Especially with full sail up.
After nearly an hour, just as the seventh bell chimed, Enna poked his head over the edge of the topmost deck then called out.
“Free to come up, Master Brolly!”
That took some work, even if the case wasn’t that heavy at the moment. He had to use his fingertips to prevent himself from falling backward, several times as he went up the slightly canted ladder. They weren’t steps, but not a true climb, at the same time. The design was clearly about being easy enough to climb in bad weather, while also being out of the way and not taking up important deck space. Not too much of it.
He called out, because that was what you did on the ship.
“Hello! I have this for you. It’s just some gold and silver coins. For the men and any ship’s needs? Half of it, anyway. The rest is to purchase slaves and free them.”
He set the box down, said fen, and then muttered a spell while pointing along the sealed edges of the wooden case. Separating them, so the lid could be lifted. Enna, still at the wheel, made a choking sound.
“That’s more than what we took off of Mad Barta and that you collected, on that first trip! This is for that project you, Fisher and Kreed have going? I have to admit, that one has made our reputation. Not with the pirates or slavers, but we’re called heroes at half the ports we arrive at. People have even cheered in the streets, seeing us there. That’s not how it was, of course. All we did was buy some women and men and then take them home when we could.”
The Captain chuckled then.
“It’s a good thing we’re under Istlan’s flag, given all of it. Else the worst would be after us constantly. This way we can hide a bit.”
Anders thought about the words, and stared at the man.
“That’s just going to get worse. We need to locate where the slavers are, mark their ships, and take them, when they either don’t have slaves on them, or if we can do it and save the people. The plan is to end the slave trade in the inner sea. That won’t...” He nearly said that the plan wasn’t to do that for the next five to ten years, but it occurred to him that, even if everyone knew who was doing it, he could sink boats at sea, now. It would require new spells, and even better energy management, but he could do that. The trick was finding them, but boats on the water were easier to locate than horses in the woods.
