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Sir Gust De Weer
Raven of Dawn
Queen of Veer’s Gulf
Part IV
-The Old Crow-
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Volume II
‘Say it like you mean it’
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> 12th of Quartus (Imperial/Cofol Canatya), the fourth month of the year 194
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> The east turn out of the mouth of Krakentrap Straits
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> 5 nautical miles from ‘Deadmen’s Watch’ port
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> Boarsnout Peninsula
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> A Pirate fleet attacks Lord Putra’s supply transports
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>
> “Hoist the colors mister Gloom!” Leona bellowed to be heard, voice coming out gurgling but with a good low vibrato, half-breed eyes burning something fierce and hanging from the forecastle’s railing. One arm wrapped under it to keep her aboard and the other manically shaking her spyglass to get some of the seawater off of it. Her mouth tasting of brine, stale rum and Lissane’s silky underwear.
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> Castalor might be under siege but its port was ‘fully’ working.
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> The quality of service not missing a beat.
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> Um. Girl ye are a fuckin’ orator. Abrakas be darned!
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> “The Pillager caught the transport Leo. Salty Reed crossed with a line along Mutiny!” Bristol ‘Blunder’ Hook reported running up the stairs two at a time to reach her. “But their escorts are a-turning!”
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> “I’m well aware. They are fixed on us,” Leona hissed and spat a mouthful against the wind, getting as much material thrown back at her, some sneaking up the nose. She shook a soaked head to get rid of the worst of it -her ears ringing- afore slotting the spyglass on her eye. The other covered by a wet long feather sagging from her large hat. “Blimey! That be a fat-bottomed vessel I wager. Still quite afar but gaining probably,” she cursed and ‘Riot’ Dasten boomed at the top of his lungs as he also watched the enemy boats from amidships with a pair of field-glasses.
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> “GALLEY CLOSING IN! BE TURNING HARD CAPTAIN!”
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> Hmm.
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> Leona’s spyglass had filled with water, everything seen through it now naught but small dancing figures. Deceptively appearing far-far away.
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> Ehem.
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> “THREE HUNDRED OUT!” One of the lookouts yelled nervously.
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> The Mighty Saracen had six people up there.
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> “Three hundred out!” Gloom repeated needlessly adding to the tension.
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> “I heard him three-tooth Gloom,” Leona griped and jumped on safer shores again. “Swing the main boom! Helm to port mister Kidd!” She barked and slotting the spyglass in her leather satchel, let go of the rail riskily to wave her hat at the men gathered on the Mighty Saracen’s decks.
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> It was packed with pirates, but also present were Harrold Doubloon and ‘Confident’ Bolton with their Anne’s Raiders. In a sense even more pirates. Ayup. “Ready Scorpios!” She cried with a touch of the hysterics as she felt a shiver in her spine and the large Galleass started angling as it turned, loud creaking and groaning mixed with the sounds of the seas and the breeze whistling behind them coming out of the Krakentrap Straits. The curses and the yelling of the sailors. The distant sounds of battle. Or near.
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> Everything is relative in the open seas.
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> Or when you are half-drunk.
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> Leona realized she was traveling fast for the starboard side of the tall forecastle (the Mighty Saracen had two castles built on it, one at the bow and one at its stern), boots sliding on the soaked deckboards and twisted about theatrically, arms nimbly extending outwards to grab on to something.
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> She failed despite the effort managing a full turn and some change, unfortunately gaining even more speed in her slide. Auspiciously Hook stopped the pirate captain from going overboard putting an arm on her shoulder. The abrupt rattle and break in momentum dislodging both her tits out from their breast-bindings.
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> Oops.
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> Leona though had a fine shirt on and the two large warships started firing at each other taking the attention away from her, so the captain skipped right over the incident.
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> Ducked in panic whilst putting everything back in place being the more accurate word as the first enemy bolts whistled high over their heads, causing quite the scare.
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> “Fire back for pity’s sake!” She screamed greatly affected by the moment and run down the forecastle’s stairs, stumbling on the last step with a girly yelp but finding her footing with the help of the mizzen mast and a sturdy barrel of water.
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> Ouch.
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> “They did captain. Soon as you gave order and whilst ye were dancing? Boys got a bit anxious seeing that,” Savant rustled and returned her hat she’d lost, the man’s beard smiling tensed. Savant was one of the few men she knew that could pull that off. “But I think they’re fucked. Dasten’s broke open their hull with the catapults.”
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> Leona splashed the soaked hat back on her scarfed head and gazed at the floundering warship with squinting eyes. Hook and Savant watching alongside her in solicitous awkward silence given the general uproar and the timing. The three merry pirates trotting back and forth following the ship’s movement as if they were dancing but remaining unperturbed and keeping their balance easily. Either ye trust your sea-legs or ye don’t.
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> It wasn’t a saying but a fact.
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> “Let them sink?” Savant offered still moving back and forth. A keeping up the pace teary Leona nodded.
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> Not the time for looting this.
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> Which of course made the whole ‘raid the Khan’s ships’ thingy a bit misleading.
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> And nigh unprofitable.
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> “Turn to avoid them Kidd! They are in Abrakas hands now,” She ordered and wiped some of the soot and paint running down her face. “We’ll intercept the other!”
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>
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>
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“There it is!” The Queen’s voice decried coming from her quarters and Gust woke up abruptly on the corridor’s bench. Sir Klaas who occupied the other bench snapping out of his reverie as well across from him. Gust rushed to the half open door and shoved it fully open with his shoulder hearing a muffled yelp followed by a crashing sound.
Gust entered the bedroom with a scowl almost stepping on the back of Jasi, who was attempting to get up from the floor with a groan of pain.
“Good grief,” the Eunuch protested. “I think my back is broken. We are being attacked!”
Elsanne was standing on her bed wearing a nightshirt and was trying to reach the ceiling of the net frame. She turned her head to stare at the hale knight helping Jasi to his feet annoyed.
“What do you want Sir Gust?”
Huh?
“Who is attacking?” Gust growled and Jasi stepped away from him.
“You are!” the Eunuch griped with a grimace. “Where did the plates go?”
“Under the bed. You’ll need a broom,” Elsanne replied reaching with an arm to search the top of the net frame.
“What are you doing?” Gust grunted. He walked near the large bed to make sure she wouldn’t topple backwards and hurt herself.
A flushed Elsanne glanced over her shoulder with a pout. Sir Klaas was heard from the door afore she could answer.
“Everything alright your grace?”
“Klaas stand outside,” Gust snapped curtly.
“Yes sir,” the knight replied.
“You don’t get to order our knights around!” Elsanne admonished him and slapped the arm he had extended her way. Then assuming a rigid expression she asked, this time looking down on him. “What is Sir Gust doing in our quarters?”
“I heard you scream,” Gust grunted and the Queen blinked.
“Jasi?” She probed imperiously. “Did I scream?”
“I’ll step outside as well your grace,” Jasi replied feeling at his ribs with both hands. “I have trouble breathing.”
Gust glared at him peeved.
“I had a crow in my room all night,” Elsanne said when the Eunuch joined Klaas outside the door. “It made strange sounds and brought me a message.”
Gust frowned and looked in her face. “There is a bird in here?”
“It hides at the top of my bed,” Elsanne explained. Gust took a step back to better see over the thin cotton mesh.
“There’s no bird up there your grace,” he rustled.
“Come here,” Elsanne ordered him. Gust approached her again. He stared at the crumbled tiny roll of scroll the young Queen held out for him with a hand. “Here’s your proof. We wish to hear an apology.”
Gust grabbed the tiny scroll with a miffed grimace. “Apologies,” he rustled.
Elsanne gestured with a hand and ogling her eyes for him to continue. “For not believing your grace?” Gust continued through his teeth.
“And also…” Elsanne urged him on.
Gust narrowed his eyes. “Hitting the Eunuch?” He guessed.
“Eh, don’t worry about Jasi. The other thing,” Elsanne corrected him.
“We can hear your Excellency quite clear,” Jasi griped from outside the door.
“We didn’t mean it!” Elsanne snapped a little annoyed for the interruption. “Close the door Jasi!”
The door slammed shut before she could finish her words.
“Where is the darn bird?” Gust grunted.
“Language. Did you read the missive?”
Gust pursed his mouth and glanced at the old smelly piece of parchment.
“Deliver two sacks of grain in the warehouse. Bob… this is an old message,” Gust read squinting his eyes. “The last part says -pay you in coin or something?”
Elsanne gave him a rusty piece of copper. “It left this as well.”
“Your grace this doesn’t mean anything,” Gust protested. “The crows take stuff and move them about or exchange them for something else.” Elsanne’s knowing stare stopped him. “What?”
“Bob?” Elsanne asked authoritatively.
CAW
A Crow responded from atop a large armoire and flapped its wings, small claws working on the wood.
For crying out loud.
“You don’t actually believe this has any meaning whatsoever,” Gust griped and took a deep breath to calm himself down afore barking loud, extending his right arm to prevent her for falling. “Ruud!”
CAW?
The irritated Crow retorted. A startled Elsanne toppled forward with a yelp, but Gust readily grabbed her by the waist with his hand and lowered her with ease on the floor.
“Goodness me. There you are,” Elsanne gasped and hugged his large frame. “Isn’t it early still? Let’s stay for a bit Gust,” she added huskily.
“We need to visit the Dogs and Robert arrived last night,” Gust explained holding her close.
“We need a captain to take us away and come to our bed each night,” Elsanne warned him and the knight sighed. “Not leave us to face the tower’s mysteries on our own.”
“It’s a dream Elsanne,” he told her stoically. “And I’ll never leave you.”
“The first part we are aware that it can’t be done but I like the second enriched,” Elsanne insisted.
“Umm,” Gust grunted trying not to think of her warm body pressing on him.
“I won’t write that letter,” Elsanne whispered looking in his face.
“Ruud has already sent it.”
“Why taunt me then?”
“Ruud has one style of teaching for people and animals,” Gust explained. “But this gives you an opening here depending on how Lord Anker reacts.”
“Hmm. We’ll think about it,” Elsanne replied and stood on her toes to give him a peck on the lips. “You need a bath.”
“No time for that,” Gust retorted. “Your grace needs to dress. I’ll wait in the yard.”
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The knight marched out of the tower and walked in the shade of the nearby gardens. He found a bench near an old oak tree and sat there, his eyes on the busy yard. He spotted Axel at the stables across from him but while Gust was pondering whether to go talk with his squire or the men working there a carriage came through gates of the Barbican. A knight leading it wearing dark-steel plate, with a crow-winged sculpted helm secured on the expensive saddle. Long white hair caught at the nappe and a black leather patch over his left eye.
Gust got up as the knight’s warhorse approached the tower, its hoofs clopping on the pavement. The wiry man stopped seeing him standing there and veered his way snapping at the reins, the driver of the carriage bringing it to a full halt right after. A large group of men-at-arms following after the carriage stopped as well, the yard turning silent for a moment as everyone working paused to watch the large escort. One of the knights saluted Gust and he recognized Sir Adrian Hakker under the helm. The knight’s uncle Lieutenant Hakker had been lost in Shallow Straits not a month back.
The first knight dismounted his warhorse, paused for a gentle pat on its muzzle, and then used that gloved hand to brush away some of the dirt from his armour. He next glanced briefly at the imposing Blackcrow’s Pillar, before finally turning to stare at the silent Gust.
The two brothers were almost at the same height with Gust being broader and taller.
“You’ve gotten fat,” Rik told him matter-of-factly with a reserved grin.
“It’s mostly muscle,” Gust replied, clenching his jaw. “You look rugged as usual.”
“Been pushing us a bit to make good time,” Rik explained. “Also been riding a bunch this past year. Eating by the fire. How are you Gust?”
“Better than usual but not great,” Gust replied honestly and glanced at the carriage. “How’s Janneke?” He asked his tone changing.
Rik grimaced. “Not talking much. Still in shock. I brought the kids. Alistair and Patience.”
“What for?”
“The old man asked for them,” his brother explained a little peeved at his response. “We had a disagreement so I thought not to press my luck.”
“Screw him,” Gust grunted.
“Not a good time?”
“Time is what it is.” Gust retorted. “Just don’t expect Ruud to change.”
“Right.” Rik smacked his lips and stared at the tower’s entrance. Elsanne had appeared there with Jasi and Sir Klaas. “Is that the princess?”
“The Queen.”
“Aha. Hmm, well she looks wilder than I remember her,” Rik admitted.
Gust narrowed his eyes.
“In a good way,” his brother added, rubbing at the back of his hair. “I told Lucius about you two.”
“How did you know? Why?” Gust asked and after a pause he added. “Where?”
“Wow, I was right,” Rik said and reaching punched him on the chest. “Nice to see you’ve changed a bit.”
Gust clenched his fists. “You didn’t answer,” he grunted.
“I take it back,” Rik retorted a little peeved. “He found our camp during the battle. Waltzed up on us in the middle of the night. We had a talk.”
“What battle was that?”
“Near Mercator’s Inn. A big one. He won but it didn’t much surprise me,” Rik replied. “I should have listened to my gut and stayed with the King.” Rik glanced at the perturbed Gust. “Jeremy. Lucius has taken over now I suppose.”
“What happened with Jeremy?” Gust asked as he didn’t have any details.
“Laudus cut him down.”
“Who’s he?”
“His Master of Silence. It was a nasty business,” Rik replied his face darkening. “But I didn’t see Jeremy myself. We found one of them bleeding out.”
Gust narrowed his eyes. “Where is he now?”
“He didn’t make it,” Rik said curtly. “Got as much as I could out of him. Gave his head to Janneke.”
“Good,” Gust replied.
“I don’t know about that. Maybe I shouldn’t have done it. She tossed it out of her window,” Rik replied unsure.
“Good,” Gust repeated. “What did you learn?”
“Nothing I hadn’t figured out for myself.”
“You learned double-talk in Regia’s court?” Gust grunted.
“It’s the yard Gust,” Rik retorted. “There are people all about us, one of them has makeup on his face?”
“It’s a style,” Gust said stiffly for being forced to defend the Eunuch. “Just lower your blasted voice.”
He wanted to learn what had happened with his sister. Gust might not have been as close to her as Rik but that didn’t mean he didn’t care.
“The war was a sideshow for Jeremy’s Council,” Rik explained. “Lord Doris only worry was to keep control on the throne he’d lost after the Queen Regent was forced to step down.”
“Why did she?”
“Lord Ursus thought she was pregnant. Can’t attest to that,” Rik replied with a shrug. “They were going to remove her even she hadn’t had a lover.”
“Why?”
“I told you. The Council was divided and not willing to fight for the young Alden’s claim. I don’t even think there was a plan. Ursus got what he wanted from Jeremy, Doris was interested in keeping his position and the rest seemed satisfied with Alistair not being around.”
“Laudus was working for Ursus. His kin attacked Alistair,” Gust said. “Why was he in the Council?”
“This was never established. Laudus barely talked with Ursus and his cousin might have acted on his own. Brakis kept the Lord of Novesium in the council as a matter of fact. But the Admiral didn’t appear eager to continue the war with Sula after the first setbacks.”
“What are you saying?” Gus asked crossing both arms over his chest.
“Jeremy had no friends,” Rik replied. “He was a stopgap that became a problem when he started voicing his own opinion. Janneke pressured him to abandon the war at the coast and deal with Lucius. Nobody seemed too pleased with that. They had left Ligur on his own on that front for years. The fact he managed to scrap together enough of an army to bother Lucius was a small miracle. She also campaigned for our father to help. Nobody liked that also.”
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“Ruud has his hands full. Sending you was surprising,” Gust said not believing he was defending Ruud.
“I did that on my own. He wanted me back.” Rik replied with a scowl.
That made more sense still…
“Yet now you are here.”
“I told you I look to patch things up lately. Right wrongs. I’m not a kid anymore Gust,” Rik retorted and with a sigh of frustration he added. “Marleen got herself in trouble.”
Gust frowned. “You are married?”
“No. I never broke it off though… Ruud’s idea but… eh, I didn’t have the guts to face her I suppose. Kept postponing it.”
Seems you need more growing up still.
“Umm,” Gust grunted and eyed him austerely. “What happened?”
“She was escorting the Judge but they got into an ambush. His men looked to save him and forgot about her in their haste. I ought it… after all the tourney nastiness, I have to make this right,” an uncomfortable Rik explained.
“Is that Sir Rik?” Elsanne asked interrupting their talk. “Apologies for the pain my presence brings dear knight.”
Rik stood back unsure but then he found his footing. “Your grace, it is good seeing you again. You look lovely in riding attire.”
Gust frowned.
What manner of weasel language is this?
“Hah,” Elsanne chuckled and touched the sides of her pants lightly. “They are fetching if one has the figure for it Sir Rik.”
“Absolutely your grace.”
Gust pressed his mouth tight.
“Is the eye better?” Elsanne asked politely.
Huh? It can’t get better. It’s gone.
“One learns to live with it,” Rik replied with a tense smile.
Bullshit. You’re lying.
“My presence brings unpleasant memories… I overheard your discussion,” Elsanne explained a little apprehensively.
“Rik was talking about his fiancée,” Gust said. “The Horselords captured her.”
“That’s terrible!” The Queen gasped. “Were they part of a Lord’s entourage?”
Huh?
“We don’t know your grace,” Rik replied and rubbed at his nappe again. “She was with her father’s people.”
“They haven’t talked in a while,” Gust explained and Rik glared at him. “Not since the tourney.” Gust continued and Elsanne paled but recovered quickly.
“It’s why I’m here,” Rik grunted. “It’s the least I can do.”
“It is,” Elsanne agreed frostily and Gust grunted.
“Well then,” Rik said with a sigh. “Seems not everyone grew up that much different. Your grace, as always a pleasure,” he added and glanced at Gust. “Will the grownups have a talk with the kids? They really want to meet you.”
“Of course dear knight,” Elsanne beamed answering for the thoughtful Gust. “They are here?”
“In the carriage,” Rik replied. “Hopefully. I’ll bring them out your grace.”
Gust watched him walk towards the carriage to talk with the driver that had jumped down.
“He seems alright. Different,” Elsanne noted. “Sir Rik has a certain character about him yes?”
Gust stared in her smiling face rigidly.
“Were they close? With Marleen?”
“So you heard more,” Gust grunted.
“It is not polite to embarrass someone unless it’s to put him in his place,” Elsanne retorted curtly.
“Not really. She is a girl. Ruud did all the talking,” Gust said gruffly. “Though she is a girl no more I reckon.”
The Queen rolled her eyes. “Why didn’t she break it off? Or her father?”
“Van Oord is too scared of Ruud to make such bold statements. The first time he met him when the Duke of Castalor was a kid, Ruud had his dogs rush him out of the hall alike a thief.”
“What happened next?”
“Ruud killed the dogs and called it an accident.”
“I’m not scared of him. He’s just an unpleasant dirty old man.”
“You’ve no idea but never think you can outsmart him,” Gust grunted and recoiled seeing a half-breed boy with blond hair dashing their way holding a pillow in front of him. He used it to soften his crash on the frowning Gust who reached to grab the boy by the neck but Elsanne slapped his arm away getting between them.
“A Queen in pants!” The boy declared and some of the bystanders chuckled politely or gasped in shock at his words.
“You’re Alistair,” Elsanne said and lowered on her knees in front of him.
“Here’s my pillow. It’s a shield,” little Alistair said looking away from the Queen’s smart eyes.
“Are you a little knight Alistair?” Elsanne asked her face mellowing up and Gust eyed the shy girl that stood next to him. She had sneaked up without the knight noticing her. Her skin had a soft caramel color, hair a silvery golden hue, with large dark blue eyes.
Patience was quiet as a fox and pretty as a doll.
“I’m Patience,” she told him with a cute curtsy and Gust gulped down nervously looking into her innocent eyes.
“Umm,” Gust murmured and Patience yelped when Rik lifted her up in his arms from behind with a broad smile.
“I got you now lassie,” he teased her and she protested with chuckles.
“They are adorable,” Elsanne said holding the pillow while Alistair stood upright and pointed a hand at the crowd.
“Stand aside!” Alistair ordered the artisans and guards. “Make room for the Queen!”
The crowd erupting at the young boy’s shenanigans with cheers.
“There’s a politician,” Elsanne commented and raised her arm at the bystanders. She waved her small hand right and left slowly in a royal greeting.
Gust found the whole situation ridiculous but also heart-warming. In the meantime Rik ushered the twins back towards the driver and Sir Hakker.
Hubert Boss had appeared at the stairs of the entrance to the tower. Stooped over his cane he watched the whole scene from afar and then ordered a guard to accommodate the visitors. Rik turned around to leave but Gust called after him.
“You did good Rik,” he told him hoarsely. “None of it was your fault. I couldn’t have handled it better.”
His brother paused and turned around, looking shocked at the praise. “It was nice seeing you again Gust,” Rik managed to say and Gust nodded curtly having said enough on the matter. “I’ll visit the Duke as soon as I settle everyone in,” Rik added and grabbing the protesting Alistair by the waist carried him to the carriage.
“No!” Alistair cried out. “Let me go now!”
The gathered crows agreeing from the parapets and the rooftops.
CAW
GO
GO
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> The Khan’s Chief Scout Muvelo of Shao Na-Lan (with a force of 700 rangers) made contact with Sir Luke’s AredRavn’s patrols near the 3rd Foot’s camp on the 11th of the month Quartus 194. After a brief skirmish the scouts retreated.
>
> The two knights decided to alter their initial plan surprised by the speed the scouts had covered the distance from Colle. Mark suggested they should abandon the camp (built near the forest road) as bait. Then draw as many of the Khanate’s army there and attack their rear at the entrance of the east road heading for Issir’s Eagle. Hermen Holsman who had arrived from Jaw Castle with a force of 200 soldiers plus several scouts was ordered to hold the north road out of 3Roads junction discreetly.
>
> Mark who was still waiting for the supply train of the 2nd Foot to arrive decided to use the mounted rangers of Corneel Verner (around four hundred men) to sneak up behind the advancing Khanate lines using the woods and the bulk of their Cavalry (300 men-at-arms from the 2nd Foot and a hundred from the 3rd) to block any reinforcements making it through the entrance of North Greenforest. The idea was to advance the infantry, overrun the enemy inside or near the camp and continue marching out of the woods against the Khanate force rushing to assist their countrymen.
>
> The two noble scions had around eight hundred horse (Heavy, medium Lancers and Rangers) and almost ten thousand soldiers (3 thousand with 3rd Foot, almost seven thousand with the 2nd) available to them. Mark was aware of Khan’s other more exotic units but he had never fought against them. Still he believed (as many on Jelin) that if they collapsed the Horselords lines and destroyed their base of operations, the cavalry would be unable to operate on foreign land and disintegrate. So he aimed to retake Colle and hold it. Even if he didn’t defeat the whole of Khan’s army, Mark and Luke were certain Burzin would give up without a port supporting him or offering the opportunity to retreat.
>
> They were right to an extent, but not the way they believed. The Horselords depended on their rear supplies and organization to be an effective army, but they could operate on their own without it. In a sense, they just reverted to their natural living off the land character and remained equally dangerous as they could turn a retreat into a deadly trap in the blink of an eye.
>
> Burzin who was in a meeting with Prince Radin at the time ordered Tehenor to move his horse archers forward. ‘Perform a reconnaissance in force to learn whether this is a blocking army or the rearguard.’
>
> The Prince had brought over the Khanate’s reserve and one of the topics of their discussion was whether they should use the lesser transports available in Rida to mass transfer supplies and personnel to Colle. The other on how to approach Lord Putra’s precarious situation. Advisor Phanti suggested they should contact Elsanne’s rebel force (they had been informed from prisoners about the throne situation) and have Radin negotiate a deal with her. ‘Let your wife keep the south coast and face Wetull,’ Phanti said to a discomforted Radin who having just had a son (Prince Nidar) with his first wife (Letakin’s daughter Vynia) found himself -after losing two older brothers- in an envious but slippery position. Elsanne’s matter the only blemish in his father’s eyes who had forgiven him for his earlier failures.
>
> ‘When we deal with Lord Anker you can do with her as you please and the Khan will support you,’ Phanti finished. In the palace tongue ‘will support you’ meant that Burzin was considering elevating Radin over Atpa as heir.
>
> ‘If she calls herself the Queen of Kaltha but holds no lands,’ Burzin had added. ‘Then her husband should help her take back the capital and rule in her stead as Satrap of Issir’s Eagle. After all a woman can hold no titles as it is the custom.’
>
> Political machinations aside, Tehenor moved ahead of the slowly gathering at the outskirts of Colle army (the thousands of new slaves working to repair the docks were a problem as they needed considerable more guards than Bedas a hundred slavers to control) and followed the main road Muvelo was keeping an eye on.
>
> Tehenor approached the camp again and attacked without hesitation, easily taking over the empty fortifications. Perturbed as to where the Issirs had disappeared to, he sent Muvelo to scout the woods north and south of the large main road. Muvelo’s men entered the woods just as Sir Luke’s 3rd Foot marched on the camp from the direction of the capital. Tehenor ordered his horse archers to engage with the advancing lines of infantry but spotted more infantry coming up behind them and decided to conduct a fighting retreat abandoning the camp.
>
> The Horse Archers started moving west again towards Colle harassing the following them infantry but were stricken on the south flank by Sir Mark’s cavalry. While the disparity in numbers was huge (Tehenor had over two thousand riders with him having left half his force at Colle) Mark scattered the horse archers and cut them off a kilometer from the exit of the forest. He quickly messaged Luke and Verner (the rangers had engaged with Muvelo inside the woods in a deadly scrap) for reinforcements to hold the position. Luke immediately ordered every unit to attack the briefly immobilized between two forces horse archers and ordered the 1st and 2nd Divisions of the 2nd Foot to march towards their commander skirting the woods.
>
> Tehenor realized he was in trouble and sent half his force inside the camp again to contest it and gathered the rest of his men for an assault on Sir Mark’s Cavalry. Mark had dispatched Sir Gudo Kommer with a small force to scout ahead for the position of Khan’s main army and a rider reached him shortly before Tehenor’s around eight hundred horse archers attempted to break out. The rider reported that ‘a great number of enemy soldiers are still gathering at the outskirts of Colle. No movement.’
>
> What Sir Gudo had observed from afar was the Jang-Lu large camp. But this was just a small portion of the expansive unfathomable size of the Khan’s camp. In the traditional Horselord tactic fueled by difference in status, number of slaves but also due to the presence of thousands of different kind of animals, their camps were typically loosely linked and greatly separated from each other (much as Prince Radpour’s endless camp that had blunted late Sir Henry Winfield’s attack five years earlier in Rida). For an outsider they looked like different camps that is if one even considered looking for them.
>
> The inability of capable Jelin officers (Sir Mark Est Ravn especially was a learned man, a respected knight and general by then, having fought against the Legion years back in the Battle of the Turncoats) to realize that they hadn’t trapped the bulk of Burzin’s cavalry as they thought may appear baffling to those reading about the events after the war but it can be easily explained.
>
> No one in their camp knew how the Horselords operated. The more prominent Issirs with any real insight were Sir Gust and Robert with the 1st Foot, with the latter still en route to Scaldingport but arriving days later. Along them Sir Thor and Sir Ton and the survivors of the 3rd in Sessi of course who had been licked by Prince Sahand near Altarin but were hundreds of kilometers away with Lord Anker.
>
> Burzin may have had over three thousand horsemen trapped inside Greenforest but he had thousands more outside of it even with Radin’s reserve army days away at their landing zone. Some of his units beyond exotic for the Issirs. In a sense, it would have been better if a knowledgeable but worse general had been present for the Issirs in this battle.
>
> As Sir Reinir Tellman commented some time later, ‘we needed a coward to take the lead but got ourselves a bunch of brave lads instead.’
>
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Ruud had finished his small breakfast and was still sitting at the top of the table, his eyes on them as they entered the gloomy hall.
“Hubert says we have a couple of rascals in the yard. Half-breeds no less,” he said squinting his eyes. “The guards didn’t arrest them perchance?”
“Rik shall bring them along later,” Gust rustled and his father nodded.
“Good then. Your… Highness. I shall have the staff find a wardrobe for you.”
“That won’t be necessary Lord Ruud,” Elsanne cut him off.
“Is this an Eplas thing? I thought they favored lacier garbs over there,” Ruud commented unwilling to be interrupted afore he made his point across. “Then again we could all go for a hunt. Perhaps you give us subtle hints? It is still early in the year, but the weather is pleasant, if one forgets about the war that is. Do we bother though? Fuck them right? He-heh!”
Gust glared at him and Ruud sobered up.
“I suggest you both take a seat your grace. We had them cleaned for you,” Ruud continued with a grimace to counter the scowl on Gust’s face.
“I can speak from my feet,” Elsanne retorted still holding her pillow. She gave it to Jasi with a slight tightening of her jaw.
“I take it a couple of nights of rest cleared the Queen’s head?” Ruud taunted with a smirk.
“Not enough to change our answer,” Elsanne replied stiffly.
“Uhm,” Ruud shook his head. Then eyed the slowly approaching chamberlain. “Hubert. I thought you dropped dead for a minute when you didn’t return. You’re taking longer each time my lad.”
Hubert cleared his throat and took another moment to compose himself, a sheen of sweat on his wrinkled forehead. “The Duke has the missives?”
“Well I didn’t toss them in the fireplace,” Ruud rejoined. “It would be of no use without a fire.”
“I issued a curfew on the excessive expenditure of resources.” Hubert argued. “The weather is fine enough sire.”
“For a young lad like you perhaps,” Ruud grunted. “My feet are freezing,” he added suspiciously. “You’re not trying to shove me into an early grave eh? You cunning little vagabond!”
“I think that chance is lost sire,” Hubert countered rigidly and Ruud puffed out in frustration.
“We better sit down,” Gust told Elsanne but she waved him off.
“We’ll stand.”
Ah, you’re being stubborn. He could have us here for another hour.
“Hubert can you make it to the table?” Ruud asked with fake interest.
“I shall sire,” the chamberlain retorted a little peeved and the Duke chuckled watching him limp his way towards the pile of scrolls opened on the tousled table.
“While your grace pondered on her answer,” the Old Crow started, a nail scratching at the surface of the table. “The world changed.”
Gust tensed up and reached to grab the scrolls Hubert had in his arms. The chamberlain had trouble reading in the semi darkness and Gust had to approach one of the candleholders on the large table to read the tiny script himself.
“In what way?” Elsanne asked the Duke of Scaldingport, who looked uncharacteristically sober for the hour.
“Who is this Phanti?” Gust asked stopping his reading before Ruud could answer.
“That would be one of Khan’s advisors,” Hubert informed him. Gust stared at his father solemnly.
“What happened?” He growled and Ruud shrugged his shoulders. “By Tyeus spear! Just get it out!” Gust snapped losing his temper. “Stop your blasted games!”
A nervous tick had appeared on Ruud’s timeworn face, his pale mouth pressed into a thin line.
“Grand Duke,” a tensed Elsanne started but Ruud cleared the table in front of him cutting her off midsentence, sending his plates clattering down. The startled Crows woke up from their spots and some of them flew over their head inside the gloomy hall.
Elsanne’s face was furious.
“This is the realm reacting,” Ruud told her with a snarl, his eyes feverish. “It moves and changes without bothering to ask no kings and no lords. To rule you need to see ahead and anticipate the worst, for the good times are easier to manage.”
“You are the last man we shall ask for guidance,” Elsanne hissed clenching her fists, face flushed and angry.
“I give no guidance willy-nilly,” Ruud retorted and pushed back on his chair. “You grow and learn on yer own if you can. You’ll stand on your feet or forever be dragged from one ‘helper’ to another if you can’t. No one can guide you if you don’t know how to guide yourself. Seek it and be a slave or a whore working a bad shift. But if you listen past any harsh words and hurt pride you may learn something your grace, for lessons I can teach aplenty.”
“The Khan won at Three Roads,” Gust said hoarsely. “The Horde heads for the capital,” he added and Elsanne stumbled towards a chair with a gasp. She grabbed it to stabilize herself waving Jasi away.
Gust stared at his father angry. “You sat on this?”
“It came late in the night,” Hubert informed them.
“I needed to deliberate on a response and a response came this morning,” Ruud replied.
“Phanti’s letter?”
“Afore that. Your pirates raided Deadmen’s Watch,” Ruud said and tried to close his fist with a grimace of pain. “Scattered Lord Putra’s transport fleet. The realm,” he added soberly looking at them. “Always moves forward and waits for no man or no woman.”
“What does Phanti want?” Elsanne asked hoarsely and Gust watched his father’s eyes gleam in anticipation.
You are wrong about her, Gust stare told him and Ruud raised a bushy brow tauntingly.
“Gust?”
“The Khan wants you to swear fealty to him,” Gust grunted and Ruud slapped his hand on the table, old face contorting from the pain his deformed fingers were causing him.
“TELL IT LIKE IT’S WRITTEN BOY!” The Duke thundered in a great voice.
Gust clenched his jaw and stood back with a scowl of hatred.
“The Khan calls for the prince’s wife to return the prince’s properties and herself to him,” Hubert answered the grimacing Duke’s query and Ruud clenched his decaying teeth into a snarl. “What belongs to Radin, the Khan owns as well.”
“What do you answer to your husband, your Highness?” Ruud taunted angrily. “The priests will have a field day with this! Lord Anker got punched in the face and you drop this into our lap? Who is going to rally behind you if this gets out?”
“I would,” Gust replied with a grunt.
“Bah, you’re blind and deaf,” Ruud snapped. “We can’t win this with swords son with a weakling leading us. This is what you want on the throne?”
“We won’t ask for your permission,” Elsanne said soberly placing a hand on Gust’s shoulder. “We won’t ask for Radin’s permission or the Khan’s,” she continued raising her voice and Ruud stooped forward interested all of a sudden. “The Queen answers to no man or woman. More so to a husband she doesn’t recognize. The union was not blessed by a priest of the Five.”
“Was it consummated?” Ruud asked with a frown. “They could produce witnesses. Claim you’re barren and can have no children. So don't think of using that.”
Gust clenched his teeth, trying to maintain his composure and failing gradually.
“I’ll use whatever I god darn want! Who would dare stand against a Queen’s word? Or dispute her ability to know whether she’s taken a lover or not?” Elsanne retorted brazenly raising her voice. “A husband we did not have for he was a heathen! This we declare,” she added hoarsely her voice echoing inside the old hall. “But a lover I have taken recently and I can attest to it afore the Lords and the Allgods!”
Gust furrowed his brows at her language, Hubert squinted his eyes still trying to read the scroll and Ruud blinked once that tick leaving his face. Then smacked his lips audibly.
“Say that again,” he grunted next, strangely excited and glanced at the guards standing by the door. “Like you mean it.”
“I denounce him!” Elsanne boomed her jade eyes flashing like real jewels. Praise be the Five, she is glowing! Gust thought.
“Again,” Ruud urged her. “Give me the rest my sweet lass!”
Damn it Ruud.
“We denounce him for there was never a proper union,” Elsanne repeated hoarsely. “All his claims and authority don’t touch us. We throw his letter and demands back. We have spoken,” she finished breathing heavy and glaring at the smirking Ruud.
“We can work with this your grace, when the time comes. A touch more indignation will do it. Way better material than having a drooling toddler cackle and falling from his chair for sure,” he reasoned talking to himself and stood back on his chair. Gust stared at the shaking young Queen hesitantly, then at the aloof Eunuch. Jasi had hugged the pillow without looking at him.
“We need to move against Lord Putra soon,” Ruud murmured thinking aloud, “Whilst they are busy killing each other.” He paused seeing Gust’s perturbed expression and Elsanne’s discomfort. The old Duke licked his cracked lips and then scratched the top of his head through the thinning white hair.
A crow came to land on the table in front of the silent Lord of Scaldingport and Ruud picked up a silver coin it had dropped for him. Stooping forward with a groan he found a plate of food still left on the table and brought it closer to the black bird. Then he glanced at the two silent lovers again and groaned in bemusement. “Oh, for fuck’s sake son. Our bird is pregnant!”
“What?” A stunned Gust growled and his father chuckled finding it hilarious for some reason.
“Don’t fret about it. She’s a Queen after all. The Queen of Veer’s Gulf,” Ruud reassured him with a shrug and Hubert bobbed his old head in agreement behind Ruud. “She’ll legitimize the bastard in no time, hah-hah! Right,” he sobered up abruptly and then Ruud continued from where he had stopped, the crow pecking at the foodstuff greedily with a couple of more landing to watch it eat in judging silence. “Where I was? Ah yes, we’ll break the siege at Castalor and then wait for the Khan to move again because there’s no way he can remain in Issir’s Eagle for long.”
“Elsanne,” Gust blurted out not really paying attention to him. “You could have told me.”
“We were not certain nor wish to discuss it at length in here,” Elsanne replied inflexibly. “I’ll step outside for some air,” she added hearing his brother and the twins entering the hall.
Gust stared at the sandstone tiles exasperated with Ruud abandoning his diatribe to focus on Janneke’s kids. Rik had carried them inside despite Alistair’s initial protests ‘for leaving the horses behind’.
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“There they are then. The rascals apprehended. Our blond crows,” Ruud commented looking at the twins. “Eh, sort of. Mostly. Some Issir still in there as well, eh Alistair?” He asked the boy that approached the table stumbling on his feet. Ruud stooped forward slowly and took the boy’s extended arm with a smile.
“Hello grandfather,” Alistair said trying to remember all the words.
“Hello there you little rascal,” Ruud retorted and a scowling Gust glanced at his father surprised. “Hubert, I say we leave him in the sun for a week. Let him wander about in the nude. It’ll darken his skin a bit more, hmm? He could pass for an Issir right?”
“I like their color sire,” Hubert answered rigidly. Ruud stared at the shy Patience next and reached with a free hand to touch her cheek.
“You’re an elfin beauty aren’t you?” Ruud murmured. “Look at those eyes, umm. You know,” he started while Alistair went across the hall to stand under a ceremonial plate armour. “I knew a half-breed like you when I was younger. Pretty thing. We used to sneak near Granlake’s shores—”
“Father for Allgods sake!” Rik cut him off midsentence.
“What? It’s a funny story!” Ruud blasted his son but then furrowed his brows unsure. He placed the quiet Patience over his legs and pointed at a piece of leftover cake.
“Why didn’t you tell her everything sire?” Hubert asked the watching Gust in a low voice.
I wasn’t about to throw more bad news on the Queen, Gust thought tensely.
“The reports might be wrong,” Gust told the aged chamberlain.
“The Queen should know sire,” Hubert counseled calmly.
Gust nodded and turned his attention on his father who seemed to enjoy the company of the twins. Of all that had happened that day, this is the most unexpected thing, Gust decided.
And the other matter of course. Eh. Gust puffed out very troubled.
“I wouldn’t worry about Scaldingport sire,” Hubert assured him. “The old crow has a plan for everything.”
Perhaps you are right.
“You like the cake sweetie?” Ruud asked sounding like a decent human being all of a sudden, a gleam in his eye. “It’s fresh they told me. They could be lying but they rarely risk it. You know why? I hang them by—”
“Ruud for the love of Uher!” The watching them Rik protested and the Duke yielded with a loud groan of disbelief at his son’s sensibilities.
“Yes grandfather. I enjoy it very much. Thank you,” Patience said shyly defusing the situation.
“Ah, you’re very welcomed. There’s a good lass,” Ruud replied sounding moved. He gave her the cake and Gust glanced at his pleased brother curious.
“Can I have this?” Patience asked pointing with an arm at a different piece, making herself comfortable in Ruud’s lap and her pretty face barely clearing the table.
“The crows paid for that already,” Ruud explained and gave her a silver coin. “Here, you leave it near them if you want to initiate a trade.”
“What will they bring me?” Patience asked, her voice breaking while tasting the honeyed cake.
“You never know. My father used to tell me crows live outside of time,” Ruud replied and the large raven appeared on the hall’s circular opening four meters above the empty throne.
Bugs jumped down, flapping his wings twice to break the momentum and landed on the headrest. The large raven looked about with black beady eyes, the other crows watching it as well and the one eating on Ruud’s table stopping apprehensively. Bugs clacked its beak once but said nothing.
The awkward moment shattered when Alistair removed the left plate greave of a set of armour after grabbing it with both small hands. He dropped backwards on his arse with a yelp and the armour toppled slowly at first, before coming down on the sandstone tiles with an ear-splitting bang. Every piece of plate coming loose and clattering away with a thunderous ruckus that shook the Duke’s Hall.
It maddened the crows something fierce.
CAAAW
CAW
“Eh, just let him play with it. Lest he gets his pecker out and starts rubbing away we’re good,” Ruud stopped the guards that rushed to pick the small boy up. “What do we say boy?” He asked the standing on his feet perturbed at the mess Alistair. The boy tossed the metal boot away on the pile of scattered armour.
“It was loose sir,” Alistair said slyly and Rik glared his way annoyed.
“Apologize to the Duke immediately Alistair,” Rik ordered the boy.
“Ah, leave him be. He’s right. It was poorly fastened, even dangerous. See to it Hubert. Not you personally for pity’s sake! Grab one of them fools,” Ruud ordered with a smirk at the Chamberlain’s frustrated stare. “There’s a smart lad. A bit of old Ruud in ye eh?” He cackled turning his attention on Alistair. “We don’t apologize if we can avoid it.”
“That’s a horrible advice Ruud,” Gust protested and Bugs decided enough was enough probably.
“WHERE’S THE GRAIN BOB?” The frustrated old-raven snarled looking at one of the crows accusingly.
No way.
CAW?
CAW!
“WATER-FUCKING-MELON UP YER ARSE!” Bugs retorted irate and snapped his gnarly snout hearing Patience’s shocked gasp. The small girl hadn’t heard him talk in common before. Or any harsh tongue. Bugs clacked his beak once more sharply and then asked in a reasonable manner.
“You shan’t eat that shit, are you now little bird?”
Little Patience decided she was full so Bugs had the rest of the cake.
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