Sandorn tried not to show his frustration. The Captains were a rowdy lot. Some seemed to have more than a passing fondness for mead and wine. Every time a statement was made or a proposal given the Boat erupted in noise.
That also served to annoy Sandorn. He did not mind being at sea, even if he did not enjoy it. But trying to hold a secret meeting on it was a different matter. Unfortunately, it had been the only option left open to them. It had already been 24 hours since the Commander had been captured. The city was being uprooted in search of him. Luckily the Commander’s absence had been hidden from the public. As such any searches had to be done discreetly. Fenadorn had personally overseen the shutting down of all illicit activities in the warehouses and only a skeleton workforce remained to keep up the appearance of honest trading. Sandorn and Averan had not been out on the streets since. Already their Manor had been raided twice. But the Commander had more than one enemy, more than one potential perpetrator. He had enemies amongst the Houses of the Forty for his preference to those which aligned with the New Order. He had enemies within the city guard from those who felt aggrieved at what they saw as his betrayal of the Guard’s traditions. Still, it was best for Sandorn and Averan not to be seen just yet. And certainly not with Captains and other lower officers of Gorias’ military.
Wendon came up to stand beside him, “I think it’s time to bring him out. That’s the big reason most came here. They need to see him for themselves. To see the proof of your words.”
“Seeing him is not a problem. Him or his family. It's the letting him speak I have a problem with. Is there really a need?”
Wendon shrugged, “They insist. It’s the honorable thing to do. He is still a Commander after all. Most of these men here would gladly see him dead. But there are traditions to keep in mind.”
“Fine.” Sandorn gave the signal for the captives to be brought out. He left the son and daughter back in the cabin. It wasn’t necessary to expose them to such a proceeding. Especially if things got messy.
Averan had been adamant that he’d watch over Grevus. He brought him forward now and led him to stand in front of the men before he removed the bag covering his head. To the right Fenadorn did likewise with the Commander’s wife Elisth.
A few surprised gasps met the reveal. Clearly, not all believed in them as they should.
It only took a few seconds for the cries of outrage and jeering to begin. Grevus stood stoic through the abuse, he didn’t seem surprised to see so many of his Captains present. Though the division within the city guard was hardly a secret.
“Gentlemen, Gentlemen please.” Sandorn raised his hand high.
“He may be a traitor and many other things besides but he is still our guest. And may I remind you that it was you that wished for him to speak. If that is still your wish then we must let him speak.”
“The King is right.”
Wendon came up to put a hand on Sandorn’s shoulder. Sandorn saw Averan rolling his eyes from the corner of his eye. Wendon had been easily persuaded into organising the meeting and rallying those who wished to see change. They said all the right things of course, loyalty to House Aureate, gravitas for the line of Kings, a desire to revenge the treacherous nature of the Houses who’d destroyed Gorias’s rightful rulers. In reality, for most, it was the promise of high-ranking positions within the city guard and a return to the old traditions where the City Guard and its Commander answered to no one but themselves. In theory at least. Sandorn had already decided that Fenadorn would be the new Commander. Wendon was too independent and unyielding if a Captain did not align exactly to his own beliefs he was unwilling to work with them. Fenadorn was practically an uncle to them in any case, so it really would be in keeping with the old Aureate custom.
“The Old Commander must be allowed to say his piece.” Wendon bowed to the platitude of agreements and eager response to his words.
Averan shrugged but tore out the gag which restricted Grevus.
“Well, go on have your say then.” Averan urged.
“You are all traitors,” Grevus began loudly and without hesitation.
Averan barely muffled a snigger and Sandorn had to hold back a smile at the faces of the Captains. Clearly, they had expected the Commander to be a broken man. He was anything but.
“You conspire with men who not only captured your Commander but also his family. Men of low morals and foolish ambitions. I know some of you do not care for me or my more modern proposals. Despite the fact I only wish to make our force more respectable to present-day norms. But this is not a matter of personalities clashing or differing opinions. This is a matter of duty and pride.”
One of the older Captains known only as Cap, though Sandorn knew him as Trent, stood up. Seated to the front he commanded respect, with great deliberation he leaned over to one side to release a ball of spit.
“You talk about duty and pride Commander. What would you know if it? You let those Lords of the Forty decide who gets moved up and who gets moved down. A man cannot even be allowed a drink now without getting some penalty or other. Never mind the punishment for a simple trip to a brothel. All those respectable laws and regulations you and the High Lords keep pushing have no place in our city Guard. It is a disgrace that you allow the likes of them interfere in the running of our soldiers.”
“Is it any different to when the Kings Aureate interfered in the affairs of your esteemed Fathers and Grandfathers? I see no difference?”
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“They never interfered so far nor so often, they let us be. We were a truly independent force then. And besides, they were the ones who gave us Power. We owed them.” Wendon stepped in to answer, the response seemed like one well-rehearsed. "They set up the City Guard let us not forget. They were the ones who established the standards which you have let slip. We are supposed to be the finest army of any human city, enough to rival Vampiri or Burned Men. But now we are barely allowed past the Upper Walls, the Forty have increased their Household Guards and continue to do so. Already there are over 2000 of them. They need to be reminded of our prowess.”
Grevus scoffed, “We have easily double that within the city, and in the outer Watchtowers another 2,000 men. And why do you wish to have more patrols within the High city hmm? Is there not a thriving underground right under our noses? Should we not dismantle such relics of the past before we think of anything else.”
“Bahhh,” another Captain stood up, “The clans keep to themselves for the most part. And besides they’ve all been here as long as the city itself. They are not the problem. Never have been. Throw us a fair bit of coin all things considered. What harm is a blind eye now and again? It’s all trade.”
“You are no better than-”
“ENOUGH.” Sandorn interrupted.
He was getting annoyed. This was turning into a petty squabble, the captains more keeen to get in parting remarks and insults than any interest in honor or hearing what Grevus said.
“We have little time for disputes and arguing. What do you propose we do with the Commander and his family? That is the question we need to answer now.”
Animated whisperings went about the boat’s deck. Averan pulled Sandorn to the side.
“Well, this is shit.”
“It is,” Sandorn agreed, “But we can hardly do anything if we don’t have the Captain on our side. We kind of need this. The Eastern Watchtower arrives to the city two days from now. We need to have everything in place for then.”
“Lords Aureate. We have our answer.” Wendon declared.
“Which is?” Averan asked.
“Commander Grevus has betrayed many of the core tenets of the city guard. However, we believe he was manipulated into doing so by the powers above him. As such they shoulder most of the blame. The Commander can hardly be blamed for his lack of understanding for intelligence is a natural gift given unto us by the Gods.”
Averan moved quickly to silence Grevus before he could make a rebuke.
“Still,” Wendon ignored the interruption, “he has done Gorias wrong and must pay in some manner for that. We sentence Grevus to exile. He and his family must leave Gorias and never return under pain of death. That is our verdict and our final decision on the matter.”
Sandorn released a sigh of relief.
“For all the trouble he’d caused them Grevus did not seem like a bad sort. And his family had already suffered enough. Exile to one of the Vassal cities was a considerably happier ending than the Commander could have ever hoped for.
“Send my Family, but I refuse to-”
Averan jabbed Grevus hard in the stomach. Sandorn thought he saw the flash of a smile breaking out on Elisth’s face behind him as Grevus’s words were taken from him.
“Don’t die like a bloody fool Grevus, whatever you could or have offered Gorias it has passed. Now go and make one of the Vassals a better place to live. They need men like you.”
Finished, Averan shoved Grevus over to Lear and ordered Elisth to head off with him.
Sandorn winked at Averan, happy at his brother’s timely intervention.
“Now that the Commander is sorted we can move on to more pressing matters. We, you and us too have long discussed what to do about the tyranny of the Forty. They treat you men of good character like mindless minions, good for nothing except blindly carrying out orders and staying out of trouble. The City Guard was once the pride of the city, men bowed and women brightened to see them coming. No longer. Men like you are a dying breed in the eyes of the New Order. We are here to change that. Me, my Brother, and allies. But we cannot do it without your help.”
“We know the men of the city guard.” Wendon waved his hands around animatedly, “Of the four city barracks we have two which will gladly open the gates to you, both the docks and lower city barracks house men eager for change. Men who wanted Grevus out.”
Murmurs of agreement echoed around the deck. Wendon nodded before continuing.
“That leaves the New barracks and the Upper. Both house majorities which might not see favorably to any coup. We may have to use force on them.”
“Then use it we will,” Sandorn stated. “All of you gathered here have sworn your allegiance and loyalty to House Aureate. And to us. When we win the Barracks the lower city will be completely in our hands. As for the Houses of the Forty, there are still some amongst them who remember the glory of Gorias and its Kings. This is our chance to show them the old ways are not dead yet. Once we do that victory is assured. And when it is,” Sandorn paused and looked out into the sea of Captains, he saw the fervor and belief in some, and the greed and ambition in others.
“Then all of you here will be given the high seats men of your prowess deserve.”
A loud cheer went up at that. So loud that Sandorn was glad they had sailed almost out to sea before beginning their meeting. As the Captains toasted and began debating the defenses of the Barracks Sandorn called Wendon over.
“Make sure none go overboard tonight, be it on the ship or the drink. Tomorrow at noon with the changing of the guard we announce the changing of the rule. We attack hard and fast. I and Averan will lead the attacks personally. I leave it up to you Wendon to decide who is put where. Keep the best men for the Upper Barracks, it will be the one most guarded and protected.”
Wendon bowed his head, “You can trust me King Sandorn.”
Sandorn clasped him on the back and guided him casually back to the Captains before he returned to where Fenadorn and Averan stood.
“So that’s it then.” Averan stretched before leaning against the rail.
“Tomorrow we bring war. Tomorrow all of Gorias will know just who and what we are.”
“It is time.”
Fenadorn stared out to sea as he spoke but his words seeped into Sandorn’s soul. It is time.
All of their machinations before led up to this. A move to shake up the entire city, and hopefully, to rouse those who lay in wait for the return of the ancient and true Rulers of Gorias.