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> Here’s a tale to make yer heartstrings shiver
>
> (Me lovelies)
>
> O’ the time a pirate queen carved paths o’ silver
>
> Brother n’ sisters be gathering a throne to deliver
>
> From sandy Felmond…
>
> To the sources of Comorego River!
>
>
>
> -
>
> Cups be clinging everyone is singing,
>
> Fair Anne is in the building.
>
> -
>
>
>
> There she stands our Anne o’ the Burrows
>
> Oh, her fancy hair! Arr what a bosom to spare!
>
> Allgods… what a pair.
>
> Jewels for eyes,
>
> Once Eplas stolen prize
>
> Our goddess gifted from the skies
>
> Her gaze casting arrows
>
> From Scalding-o-port’s willowy sparrows,
>
> To the buccaneers misty narrows.*2
>
>
>
>
> -
>
> Fair Anne (In the building)*
>
> Roy & the ‘Purser Gang’
>
>
>
> -
>
>
>
> *Riotous lewd pirate song (shanty) that went mainstream. First performed by Roy and the ‘Purser Gang’ around 194 NC. Later cover by J.B Luff (mostly his flutes and strings celebrated version) that opened the Bacchanalia musical festival in Novesium after 197 NC. Scandalously Elsanne Eikenaar (allegedly) danced to the tune during Lord Ruud’s bloody funeral.
>
> **Referring to Lord’s Burrow (the port) or the Pirate Reefs (jargon)
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Sir Gust De Weer
Raven of Dawn
Queen of Veer’s Gulf
Part I
-An inopportune series of events-
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image [https://i.postimg.cc/SS0mgLC0/The-shrines.jpg]
Detailed map showing the 3 Shrines locations circa 194-195 NC
-
A sober, bearded Gust watched the yellow-colored pirate ship unloading at the rebuilt but mostly empty docks. Part of the old miserable area was now paved with imported Eikenport limestone, a large road leading to the inner rings of the exotic port town although it quickly turned into a maze of narrow alleys and small bridges after the first couple of hundred meters.
Satisfied there was nothing untoward about to happen, he signaled for Axel to follow after him. He climbed on his horse and galloped out of the docks and its market towards the many taverns. The gallop soon turned to a slow trot and then a crawl as Lord’s Burrow’s center was twice more difficult to navigate on a horse as any other Issir city. Built hastily to accommodate as many people as it was possible, only Issir’s Eagle (a part of it) and Midlanor had the breadth tales attributed to the mythical Sessi and Ikete. Irde much like the Lakelords was always a gloomy, constricted place.
We’ve all turned into Lakelords, Gust thought sourly, not a man that busied himself with architecture unless it pertained to setting up a fortification.
Reaching the packed tavern ‘The Purser’ he jumped down landing with a heavy thud that rattled the ground. Sir Gust was in full armour which was part of the reason for it but he’d also gained several kilos following Elsanne’s lifestyle. That bothersome detail aside, Adele Vale’s place was in a renaissance despite built amidst the Burrow’s brothel-infested area that could entice clientele ‘wit stale rum served on a milky tit’ as Adele frequently griped.
Whatever the all-hells that was supposed to mean given that Adele employed plenty of vile wenches that were doing the same blasted thing!
Gust gave the reins to Axel ‘Mudriver’ his squire and marched purposefully towards the crowded door of the tavern, a whore whistling lewdly his way from the nearby brothel’s entrance.
Apparently they worked all hours.
“Hey there big ole knight you,” the port harlot hollered with a grin. “Fancy a dairy shake?” And she showed him the product opening her blouse to spill everything out.
“Don’t mind it none Gisele!” A grimacing pirate patron hollered back.
“Wasn’t talkin’ to yer illiterate likes Pierce!” The whore admonished him and a scowling Gust bulldozed through Pierce, plastering the yelping man on the walls of the entrance’s narrow corridor.
Two of his friends took offence but Axel that followed after him forced them to reconsider with a mean glare. Gust took a moment to orientate himself inside the toxic, drunken atmosphere of the packed tavern and spotted Elsanne at the bar with the hollering obscenities pirate woman Carter having the time of her life. Which meant the Queen Heiress was in her cups.
The reason for the two unlikely friends’ mirth the loud band of musicians that were occupying the small square stand Adele had erected in the center of the rather small tavern ‘for live performances n’ shows’.
Gust tried to approach through the crowd and made good gains for a couple of meters but then the mass of bodies became too much even for the beefy man and he got stuck amidst the quieting crowd. The lead Bard, a heavily braided Issir with painted eyes in the Cofol manner, as many multicolored scarfs on him as Leona, along a red-laced bandana and cheap earrings on both ears to put gypsies to shame, had jumped in front of his short stool. Roy held a round steelpan in one hand –the lute left with one of the other musicians- he now twirled on a finger expertly for a couple of times.
Then gave it a sharp slap using the open palm of his other hand.
BAM.
The timpanist that was half-asleep, succumbing to his drunken stupor despite the time of day, perked up managing to open one eye.
“Let me tell ye a tale to make yer heartstrings shiver,” Roy hummed meaningfully, smart eyes staying on the grinning princess that yelped in surprise and brought both hands on her mouth.
What in Uher’s holy light? A livid Gust thought snapping about to free himself.
“Me lovelies,” Roy added in a lustful manner and raised his arm theatrically, hand energetically flapping up and down with ring-adorned fingers, in a nervous gesture to calm everyone down. Gust got too much resistance to free himself despite head-butting a patron in front of him which gave the knight a bit more wiggle room when the man collapsed.
PLING.
PLING.
The lute started a repeating rhythm to accompany Roy’s words.
“We’ve worked on this the other day and some of you devoted rum ‘n lute fans heard it,” the smirking Bard said and the crowd roared with enthusiasm, a flushing Elsanne chuckling and raising her goblet to the singer which infuriated the trapped Gust even more. “Reckon it seemly with the guests in our venue to give it another go. Aye? So cups be clinging, everyone be singing. Fair Anne is in the building,” Roy whispered meaningfully much to the crowd’s delight and then assuming a more serious expression, glanced over his shoulder at the still thumbing the cords monotonously lute player and his other guitarist afore adding. “So let’s do this again properly, hey-ho.”
PLING.
PLING.
PLING-PLONG.
“Bring it home Barry,” Roy urged his bandmate emotionally.
And the sudden lively long-haired Lorian timpanist started hitting the taut leather with enthusiasm alternating between palm and knuckles, keeping the tempo whilst stooped over his kettledrums.
TUM.
TA-TA.
TUM.
TA-TA-TA.
TADUM!
“Here’s a tale to make yer heartstrings shiver,” Roy hummed in a deep voice and the crowd followed along, cups flying in the air and hitting the ceiling. Rum raining over the patrons and a gnarling Gust. Everyone dancing with hands on waist, legs kicking and boots tapping the shaking floorboards with voices even coming from the street outside the tavern as this was apparently a highly anticipated event. “O’ the time a pirate queen carved paths o’ silver.” A grinning Roy continued still signaling for the delirious crowd to wait for the refrain. “Brother n’ sisters be gathering a throne to deliver from sandy Felmond… to the sources of Comorego River!”
“Argh!” Gust growled heaving and pushing with both beefy arms at the people in front him. Then grabbing anyone he could touch started tossing people aside. Slowly but surely he started moving forward again, stepping over screaming at the assault drunken patrons. Three broken arms, two twisted legs and a black eye later Gust managed to break out of the packed center of the tavern around the stand and reach the more open bar area.
Where the flushed princess chuckled at the twirling around her Mutiny Carter, who appeared twice more inebriated than Elsanne. The pirate woman smashed her boots down one at a time, raising a knee almost to the chest afore bringing it down, right hand holding her hat up and whipping it right and left. Gust glanced at the cracked ceiling and the moldy walls of the flimsy-made wildly rocking building.
He tried to protest but Elsanne’s gleaming eyes and pure merriment robbed him of his strength. Gust couldn’t take this away from her. He just couldn’t for she needed it with all that was happening. The knight could sense that something big was coming their way.
Not to mention, a happy Elsanne is twice more beautiful than her depressed self.
A miracle.
“HEY!” Mutiny cried out riotously tipping her wild blond head back just as the whole place started clapping and jumping up and down in a frenzied cheap-alcohol induced delirium.
And affection, a shocked Gust realized standing out of the wildly dancing pirate woman’s way as Mutiny twirled around the pulled away from the counter Elsanne’s tall barstool. The Princess herself standing dangerously upright on her heels and waving at the roaring patrons.
A riot.
PLING-PLONG!
TA-TA-TA.
TADUM!
OH, HER FANCY HAIR!
The crowd boomed to the Bard’s query and Elsanne yelped turning a darker shade of chocolate that made her white curls stand out even more.
“Arr… what a bosom to spare!” A crooking his mouth wickedly Roy countered lowering his husky voice even more and the Princess’ eyes opened up, a fast-reacting Gust taking a determined step forward and delivering a thunderous slap at a patron that went for a sneaky tit-grab as Mutiny’s shirt had given up the ghost pouring the goods out momentarily.
It was a devastating blow that went unnoticed in the general brouhaha.
Not by the man though that promptly collapsed unconscious, rattling the floorboards even more.
ALLGODS… WHAT A PAIR!
The crowd roared and they weren’t talking about Carter’s bosom here.
Gust scowled having had enough and stepped in front of the standing on top of the barstool princess, some of the dancing Elsanne’s wine spilling on his face and down his trimmed beard afore he could grab the goblet out of her wildly swinging arms.
“That’s enough your grace!” Gust growled loudly to be heard over the pandemonium that made his ears ring.
JEWELS FOR EYES!
The patrons roared in a frenzy and Elsanne’s sapphire pools lowered on the drenched face of the frustrated knight. She reached with a warm hand and caressed his white beard softly around the clenched jaw with the tips of her fingers. It mellowed Gust’s expression somewhat but he quickly sobered up.
What just happened here? A numb Gust wondered and a tipsy Elsanne smiled, cute dimples forming on both her cheeks, at his bewildered expression. By the will of the almighty Uher and the Allgods! The knight realized soberly with a quick prayer, recalling the princess waking up on the bed by his side that morning.
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Each blooming morning!
The enormity of being with her after so many years hitting the hale knight like a ton of bricks mingled with iron ingots right in the face. He stumbled back afore managing to catch himself. Everything suddenly turning more challenging given what they were about to face.
I can’t bring her to Ruud’s Hall or anywhere on Jelin for pity’s sake! She’s the most protected here of all blasted places, Gust shuddered at the thought and gulped down as an absentmindedly humming Elsanne lowered herself on the stool, her soft lips touching the frowning knight’s forehead briefly forgetting they were in public.
“I order you to smile, me gloomy knight,” a tipsy ‘Anne Burton’ whispered in his face and a troubled Gust obeyed unwittingly.
“Thank you very much. Big gratitude to the Purser and the lovely Adele! All of you for the support through the years!” A hoarse Roy roared as the deafening song came to an abrupt end and saluted the hollering patrons, a pleased Adele bowing in turn. “A big round of applause for the Queen o’ Buccaneers everywhere who would be leaving us soon to rule Kaltha! Much brotherly love to ye milady. Wish ye good loot in yer raids and fair wind to yer sails,” a weary but grinning pleased Roy added and the onlookers responded enthusiastically.
As they should I reckon, a still half-smiling half-troubled at the low-key call for criminal deeds Gust thought. That is until he spotted Axel Mudriver’s questioning stare and assumed his customary restrained expression that Elsanne found hilarious for some blasted reason.
-
> Sir Luke AredRavn -commanding around three thousand men of the 3rd Foot- camped half a kilometer from the Three Roads on the north-pointing spoke leading to Issir’s Eagle near Greenforest’s yellow-barked beeches, in the first week of Tertius of 194 NC. The first elements of Sir Mark Est Ravn’s 2nd Foot reached them five days later with the High Regent’s firstborn himself leading the bulk of the forces over Reinut’s Bridge at Ugrid River being half a week behind.
>
> Lord Anker Est Ravn had moved out of Midlanor in the middle of month Secundus after Sir Reinir Tellman’s and Lady Siske’s force arrived there and left the young Heir in the city. He wanted to apply pressure to Sir Thor (his second son) and his friend Sir Ton Van De Aesst but also reach closer to the threatened capital in order to convince the commander of the Royal Guard Sir Kobus Van Eunen to agree to move the ailing Antoon the Second out of Issir’s Eagle.
>
> To the east, the Order of the Golden Spears (a militarized militia run by Uher’s priesthood that resembled the ancient Blood Raiders that had fought with Reinut the Great) under Sir Albert Kosters and the High Inquisitor Kelholt himself were also moving slowly towards Riverdor. Following the large entourage of Inquisitors escorting the Uher’s Archmagister was an unassuming, sickly bespectacled man recently elevated to the rank of Grand Archivist going by the name Wim Luikens. A student of Rogier Rosman the Master Alchemist that had been diseased since 183 NC in a laboratory accident but not before been discredited and thrown out of the Order for ‘ungodly practices’. The accident killing around two hundred and forty civilians in Midlanor and leveling a city block.
>
> With the Golden Spears still near Riverdor and Sir Thon's rebuild 3rd Foot still gathering at Sessi Fort (a religious military town called ‘Shrine’ by the Issirs) the High Regent knew that his forces were too spread out to counter the Khan’s axis of advance. Halfway through the third month of the year the situation changed dramatically.
>
> At first everything seemed to swing towards hard-pressed Lord Anker’s favor. The notoriously calculative Lord Ruud’s and Castalor’s forces (loyal to the Princess Heiress) that were initially marching towards Colle to attack the High Regent, intercepted Lord Putra’s fast-moving pincer heading to Boar Horn’s River after bypassing Castalor and pushed it back. While they took considerable damage from Horus Mirpur’s heroics at the battle of Even Fork, Lord Ruud’s army reclaimed the area and severed the Khan’s invading horde in two.
>
> A day later, Lord Rinus Van De Aesst managed to negotiate a settlement with the Kaltha Navy revolt leaders milking the ‘western horde’ imminent danger for all it was worth and agreeing to pay the sum owed since the start of the war (a massive amount of gold Eagles) within three years. The captains stood down, the large harbor again opening for business and the Fleet moved out a week later near the ides of Tertius in search of the Khan’s transports. The initial order given to the fleet captains was to find Lord Osahar’s Combined Fleet escorts and sink them, then proceed to blockade Colle strangling the Khan for supplies and destroying his transports.
>
> Fifty four warships departed Caspo O’ Bor led by Captain Nelis Oost that had defeated the Khan’s Galleys three weeks prior at Duck’s Head Peninsula near Ripel’s Island. The Fleet didn’t encounter any enemy warships returning to the area and moved further south towards the Free Isles. They circled around Cliffson Cay’s east shores leaving behind six brigs to guard the route at the port of Atri, then continued their voyage sailing between Cliffson Cay and Ver’s Island turning west.
>
> The Issirs headed for the small town of Bayspell, the last port on the Free Isles big enough to sort of handle so many ships, directly across from the tiny fishing settlement of Shroudcoast, one of only two settlements on Collant’s Refuge -the other being Whitford. The rather bucolic islanders were unaligned with the Three Kingdoms since well before the days of Reinut. The High King had respected that officially but he’d probably no more ships available for another sea campaign. The vaunted Issir Armada had been decimated at the end of his conquests with many of the older ships, some were in the water for more than twenty years by then, just coming apart whilst moored and going to the bottom.
>
> The modern Kaltha fleet that had replaced it intended to moor at Bayspell, replenish its depleted from inaction and the long revolt supplies drying up the cheap local markets and make much needed repairs. They had a letter of credit from Lord Rinus himself to negotiate with the local authorities. After searching the Shallow Straits the fleet was to traverse them, dash as far as Raoz’s shores for convoys, then turn hard south and head for Colle. Rinus and the relieved Admiralty staff at Caspo O’ Bor were certain they would discover the Khan’s fleet and destroy it.
>
> Lord Anker upon learning of these auspicious developments on the road (the missive reached him near the crossroad for Trinir and a hunting village called Como) decided to skip visiting Caspo O’ Bor and head towards Sessi Fort where the young knights were still trying to get the 3rd Foot moving. The decision influenced by the brusque insistence of Sir Reinir Tellman ‘not to stall with armies in the field’.
>
> The High Regent’s large entourage (including the elderly Sir Tellman’s mixed Pastelor forces that even had Northmen following them) was famously just about to cross Kaletha Bridge (one of the two massive stone bridges over Comorego River with the other being near Midlanor) when a rider coming from Caspo O’ Bor reached them galloping hard.
>
> The young herald (reportedly then lieutenant-cadet officer Oliver Svane of Caspo O’ Bor) brazenly brought his worn-out horse near Lord Anker’s with knights scrabbling to stop him.
>
> ‘By the Allgods lad,’ Sir Reinir Tellman who had remained calm during those tense moments counseled Oliver. ‘If death is what you seek, might as well join the army.’ The latter a play on the officer’s navy uniform with the sailors notoriously left out of most major conflicts for centuries.
>
> ‘My Lords and knights,’ Oliver Svane had replied gravely not partaking to the famed Iron Griffin’s timeworn humor. ‘The King expired. The Royal Guard is debating where to move next, after the funeral service.’
>
> The quickly spreading news shocking to the simple people following the more knowledgeable of the king’s frail condition lords in mere seconds.
>
> Lord Anker had stood back on the saddle, sheathed Alqua-Linn (Swan’s Song) the famed ancient Imperial sword he’d half-drawn out and after a brief moment of tense silent contemplation he roared full of conviction.
>
> ‘The King,’ the High Regent had declared in his well-known absolute manner. ‘Is in Midlanor.’
>
> ‘Long live Antoon the Third! King of all Kaletha and the Three Shrines. Foremost ruler of the Three Seas and the Three Kingdoms!’ An animated magister Sander te Hove acknowledged immediately (a burly Priest of the Order from Midlanor) raising Uher’s Scepter high, adding with an austere look at the shaken tepid witnesses watching the dramatic exchange. ‘The Allgods have spoken.’
>
> But despite the ‘presumed’ holy man’s words they hadn’t.
>
> Not all of them.
-
Gust gave Sir Klaas a menacing look that made the young knight recoil and then turned to glare at Baron Sigurd’s long face. The princess reached behind his back to grab Sir Klaas' hand and reassure him she was fine with his performance.
With getting duped by her was the princess’ hidden meaning, a scowling Gust who had caught her action thought and seeing Sigurd puffing out trying to glean Uher knows what secrets from his scrolls he grunted hoarsely.
“Any news?”
Sir Reuten stood up straighter on his chair looking like he’d missed a day of rest at least. The cheap readily available brothels and carefree lifestyle had started to sneak up on the Crows slowly, eroding the men’s abilities. Sir Reuten was never the sturdier in his Uher’s vows. In a sense even Gust had started slipping up.
It was more a matter of fact.
Sleeping with the princess is a thorny detail was the knight’s meaning.
“Your father controls Even Fork,” Sigurd replied acerbically. “But won’t move towards Colle.”’
Of course.
“Does he have the forces to deal with the Khan? Is Lord Putra’s army destroyed?” Gust retorted rapping his fingers on the table angrily until Elsanne placed her small hand on his.
“A combined assault with the assistance of the 3rd Foot could throw them back into the sea,” Sigurd snapped, his right arm shaking nervously.
“Who is going to direct this combined assault of yours Baron? Colle was occupied by Anker’s men afore that!”
“Colle is ruined,” Sigurd hissed. “But it is still part of the Kingdom.”
“Can Castalor deal with Lord Putra?” A perceptive Elsanne asked. While still under the effects of the alcohol she had indulged in the tavern earlier, the princess was handling the meeting admirably.
“Only Van Oord knows that your grace,” Sir Reuten replied.
“Scaldingport has most of its ships on supply runs,” Gust expounded. “An army already in the field. Three if you count our men and Rik who is with Janneke. That’s a big problem looming to his rear. The Baron’s idea is a recipe for disaster.”
Plus there was no way Ruud could be convinced to move. The Old Crow probably had his own plans already drawn out and he wouldn’t take any ‘advices’ or ‘suggestions’ lest he trusted the source ‘not to be a fool’. Which meant he wouldn’t consult with anyone but those close to him.
“Some of us have already been destroyed Sir Gust,” Sigurd noted sourly.
Ah, this won’t work on me Baron, Gust thought and stood back on his chair carefully. The first floor of Elsanne’s building emptied out and turned into a conference hall of sorts but it was still using spare ‘local’ chairs and furniture they had carried there. The quality and style varying dramatically. Gust had already ‘killed’ two of them in a month. Lord’s Burrow was importing much more essential things with the funds the Princess had poured into the port for repairs.
Most of Leona’s gold had gone there and to pay the Gallant Dogs, with some of the wealthier pirate families contributing what they could. Sigurd was a bit cross about that also.
“It’s still a poor idea,” he finally said with a grunt as diplomatically as he could.
“Colle shall be rebuild Sigurd,” Elsanne assured him and the Baron bowed his head. The princess turned to look at the frowned Gust. “Will our men tip the scales Sir Gust?”
“My Crows and the Gallant Dogs will help for sure,” Gust replied. “But they don’t have the numbers and you don’t deploy mercenaries as your core army.”
“Will Scaldingport be our core?” Elsanne asked a hint of tease in her voice.
Not without convincing Ruud, his eyes told her and the Princess pursed her pretty mouth.
“What would the Lord of Scaldingport wish for?” Elsanne asked.
“Boar Snout Peninsula cleared for sure,” Gust replied hoarsely affected by her presence. “With King Jeremy gone he has too many problems in his hands. The Duke would want his lands protected first.”
“So he’ll stay near Castalor to deal with Lord Putra,” Elsanne expounded calmly.
“And guard the bridge over Boar Horn River your grace,” Gust added with a grimace at her unnerving composure. Elsanne raised a trimmed white brow noticing his discomfort.
“Even if the Khan marches to Issir’s Eagle?” She asked crossing both arms before her chest. Elsanne was in her ‘pirate’ attire and despite efforts to convince her otherwise, the princess wouldn’t budge. I shall wear a dress in my court, she told him. Live as my brothers and sisters whence in Burrow.
It was a misleading argument since the reason for it was that the princess loved the freedom she enjoyed amidst the less court conscious pirates. Gust could understand that but few in Kaltha or on Jelin would.
“Aye,” he replied stiffly and Sigurd snorted in frustration from across the table.
“Would he deny us if we wear the crown?” Elsanne insisted and it was Gust’s turn to puff out cornered.
“You should have to ask the Duke to know this answer,” he reluctantly admitted, his plan of keeping her away from the conflict dealt a serious blow.
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An hour later with the meeting over Sir Jan Reuten approached the thoughtful knight. Elsanne was talking with Jasi for a remedy as her stomach was ‘feeling funny’ and she wanted to speak with Captain Dawson next who had arrived that morning from Eikenport with Corsair's Gold.
“I should be in Jelin,” Jan told him frankly.
Gust made a fist of his right hand and tapped at the table’s surface with the knuckles.
“No manner of reasoning would keep most of us here,” the knight explained. “Even if her grace stays. De Moss said the same, De Jager talks about it and Struder’s company might refuse to renew their contract with Castalor under siege.”
Jan was from Colle so he was even more pressured to return home having family there.
“They left for Castalor, didn’t they?” Gust asked raspingly thinking of his two grown up sisters Femke and Sonja. They were with They were with late Floris’ Bach’s wife Lady Petra and their daughter Lady Mona. Sigurd’s brother’s family. Former Mayor Floris ‘had’ a couple of sons as well, but for Teun and the current Mayor Ron, Gust cared little about.
“They did,” Sir Reuten replied. “Robert will use Scaldingport’s two transports to come across also. The Khan must be dealt with Sir Gust.”
Gust grunted and opening his fist grabbed at the edge of the table tightly. A part of the wood making a cracking sound first and then breaking off. He stared at the weakened wood amused for a moment. Lord’s Burrow was an old place, the whole town slowly eaten away by the clammy Pirate Reefs weather or hollowed out from below by the sea.
‘Watch out for the burrows’ was a common expression used by the locals.
“We can’t beat the Khan divided,” he finally rumbled keeping his voice low. “It is fool’s gold and you know it.”
“We’ve done it twice already,” the knight argued pursing his mouth. “Lord Anker has the numbers to defeat him in the field. There’s one big road leading to Issir’s Eagle and the Khan would have to take it to avoid the forts.”
Moving fast over open ground wasn’t a problem for the Horselords.
“If he attacks the Khan’s army,” Gust grunted hoarsely. “He’ll be destroyed and you know it. Not in the open fields. If cavalry could be deployed, you better stay away. You read the blasted reports!”
“The Raven of Dawn feared no man,” Jan replied eyeing him strangely. “What changed?”
It’s not fear it’s the blasted truth.
Gust was truthful in that. Not fear for his person anyway.
Gust realized he’d crumbled to pieces the small part he’d broken off of the table and still held in his fist. He slowly poured the pulverized contents on the table.
“An unprepared army of a divided kingdom that is led by fools, dies of bravery first.” He murmured reciting one of Ruud’s favorite and more sinister quotes. With a small pause the grimacing Gust added in a sober voice. “Their rotting remains picked apart by the vultures that survived.”
The knight stood back unsure.
“You think Lord Anker won’t propose a deal given the dire situation?” Jan asked.
“I’m afraid both he and the Khan would do exactly that at their own convenience,” Gust rustled. “Promise a lot of things today, get rid of her on the morrow.”
The silent Bugs that had entered the building through the second’s floor’s open windows had appeared at the top of the stairs. Large coal-colored body standing upright and staring down at the gathering. Then it turned its black eyes on the worried Sir Gust and gazed his way for a long moment. Despite being famous for always saying the most inappropriate things at the nigh inopportune times, at this instance the old Raven remained silent.
It just turned its bony beak towards the entrance, opened it wide and closed it back again sharply, the clacking sound reverberating inside the walls of the small hall. Everyone stopped talking alarmed.
A moment passed.
Then another.
Steps were heard coming from outside and Sir Klaas went to open the door. Lord Sigurd’s man Katers came inside, the former agent staring at his boss first and then those present, afore his eyes settling on the flushed Elsanne that hiccupped from the tension despite her effort to keep it in.
“Oras shadow,” a jumpy Sigurd uttered, the Baron was ordained to the God of Death, a well-known fact. “Speak Katers.”
“Missive from our man in Caspo O’ Bor sire,” Katers reported, holding the crumbled scroll in his hand.
“Jurian? Not from Scaldingport or Colle?” Sigurd grimaced and Gust stood up noisily with a glare at the intently watching large Raven.
“Not since morning… ahm,” Katers was stalling. “It’s of a sensitive issue sire.”
“Praised be the Five man! This was nigh offensive,” Sir Reuten taunted. “We’re all sensitive people in here!”
“The navy revolt is over,” Sigurd gleaned out of his discomforted man’s expression. Katers probably didn’t expect to face so big a crowd.
“Indeed it is sire,” Katers reported grasping at the opportunity to cram in everything he could quickly. “The fleet left the port more than a week ago. There’s talk of a great naval engagement at the Shallow Straits. Also two days afore that King Antoon had expired.”
Katers one-two fast blows had managed to shut up even the usually talkative Sir Jan.
Darn bird was right.
Elsanne’s hiccups went away and she clasped at the hand the approaching Gust had placed on her right shoulder comfortingly.
Sigurd turned to glance at the Princess intently and Elsanne shuddered her nervousness spilling out but remarkably succeeded to stand upright with difficulty.
“Antoon the Third is the king of Kaltha,” a croaking Katers added although it was obvious he didn’t want to. “Per the High Regent’s words.”
“No he isn’t,” Elsanne declared in a hoarse voice and for a brief moment the short in stature princess was the tallest person in the room. “We don’t accept his authority. Kaltha has a Queen.”
Then again she was a princess no more.
And so it begins, a standing back Gust thought. He sucked air deeply through both nostrils, stretched to its limits armour joints clinging, floorboards crackling and Bugs letting out a thunderous croak afore adding in a dissonant but disturbingly enthusiastic voice.
BLOOD IN THE EAST!
ORAS FUCKING FEAST!
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