The High King: A Tale of Alus (46 page)

Tears filled the girl's eyes, though Simon could hardly see them through those that trailed down his cheeks as he stepped quickly forward. He helped Serra down from her steed just long enough to lift her once again off the ground in a strong hug. "Just seeing you again prevents down any kind of judgment. I thought that you were dead so long ago. How could seeing you bring any disappointments?"
They stood like that for several long minutes. The noise of the lake, the stares of those nearest them, the world itself, all faded from the siblings minds as they reunited in an unbreakable embrace. Finally, they released each other and Simon was able to take a step back and look at her once again. He couldn't release her hands, however; as the need to know that she was still alive was much too strong to do so.
Simon frowned slightly then and used his best, big, brother voice as he declared, "You should put some clothes on, young lady. As your elder brother, I think that most societies would think as much." He turned to face Alyanna and continued, "A queen should know as much as well, I think."
Alyanna's face had tears still streaming down her cheeks at the tenderness of their reunion, but his comments brought a fire back into her eyes swiftly. "How dare you criticize me? I don't care if you are her brother, I am the queen and I did not choose this lifestyle because of vanity."
Simon's mouth twisted into a satisfied half smile as he replied, "Did I say that it had anything to do with vanity, your highness? It’s odd that you should use those words. Perhaps you protest too much against what may be true after all?"
Snarling, Alyanna retorted, "Oh, you think yourself so smart, Aramathea? Do you forget that I am a queen and can have you thrown in chains for such insolence?"
Standing calmly with an even stronger smile etched into his face, Simon shook his head, "You are not my queen, Alyanna, and I don't believe that you wanted to be queen in this way either or you wouldn't have taken to debasing yourself in public like this. I know why they say you do it and I know that it may be part of such an action, but if I had a wife I would never accept such an action lightly. What will Merrick," he nearly spat the name in disgust, "do when he finds out that you have been acting this way? These girls beside you will find themselves in chains and perhaps you along with them from what I hear of his highness's temper." Again he was forced to sneer at such a title for the tyrant of Marshalla. "What will you have gained then, Alyanna?"
The queen appeared ready to bite his head off with some retort several times but again and again she closed her mouth with nothing said. Finally, Serra came to her friend's aid, "That is unfair, Simon! You take it back! I may have missed you all these years and I too thought that you were dead, but never would I insult someone like Alyanna like that. She is a great woman and fights what battles she can against the king to help the people. You apologize or I'll never forgive you!"
Simon turned ruefully towards the queen. He could not hurt his sister by hurting someone she held in such high regard. With the apology coming easily to his lips, the queen held up a hand to his mouth to silence him. "No, Serra, he may be right to a certain point. Perhaps I have been choosing the wrong fights out of spite alone. I need to consider the people more, not my own personal vendettas." She stood in thought a moment and no one chose to interrupt the beautiful queen. With half a nod, Alyanna gestured towards the trees behind them. "Would you walk with me, Master Aramathea? I have something to discuss with you. You are the king's ambassador, aren't you?"
Simon fell in beside the queen wordlessly as she led him towards the darker shade of the grove ahead of them. The guards started to follow, but at Alyanna's waved hand, they simply spread out making sure no one else could come near her without their notice.
The two of them navigated the encroaching oaks and pine as well as a light population of shrubbery. As they continued to walk silently forward, Simon noticed the delicate purple petals of the night rose. The flowers resembled a true rose in shape and even smelled similar, but whereas the one drew strength from the sun, the night rose thrived off the lesser light given by the trees' shadows. Picking one of the larger blooms, Simon presented it to Alyanna with his most cavalier bow.
"I do apologize, your highness. I misspoke myself in saying such things to you. If my sister believes in you, and the people believe in your intentions, then why should I question you? Perhaps this rose may begin to make up for my harsh words."
Alyanna took the flower from his hands acceptingly, but she still did not smile. "You apologize for your actions, but I fear that you would never take back your words. Why do you judge me when you do not know me, Master Aramathea?" She held up her hand again as he began to protest her judgment, though Simon knew that she was correct. The man had always known that he was too opinionated and, as he watched and listened to this woman, Simon wondered if he might have been wrong this time.
"Sometimes I wonder the same things, sir, but I still know that I do what I can for my people." She turned her eyes intently upon him, their purple coloring turning darker in the shadows to that of deep pools of water. "I have discussed my actions with those I felt that I could trust before, but for some reason your words hurt me more than most. Perhaps it is because you are a stranger or perhaps it is your being Serra's brother that reminds me of my own brother, Relnar. I often wonder if he and mother would find shame in what I do." Pausing momentarily, Simon thought that he saw tears forming in her eyes again. "I am not a strong woman, Master Aramathea. I cannot fight Merrick directly and expect to win. He has proven that by humiliating me every time he has been home. My only way of fighting him has been by doing some damage to his ego. Merrick hates finding someone or something that he cannot conquer and control.
"I choose my battle fields carefully. Having his full fury turned against me would help no one. Being a dead queen does no one any good, you see."
"Why are you telling me this?" Simon broke into the silence brought on by her final words. He looked at this woman intently, a woman of contradicting traits. Alyanna was strong in spirit to have gone on as long as she had, while knowing that Merrick could have her killed with little thought. The more the man watched her. The more he listened. The more he realized that, though Simon did not condone her actions, the more he liked this woman truly.
With confusion written on her face, Alyanna turned back to Simon. "I do not really know. There is just something about you. I guess that I couldn't live with the thought that you would think so little of me." Her hand came up to brush his face gently. "Your eyes seem so gentle. I see sadness there even after you have found your lost sister back. Why does that so entrance me?" The last was asked of both but neither of them.
Simon swallowed. The man looked into the queen's eyes and saw so much there that he could not completely define. All except a few emotions that even the stupidest man could gather, defiance, sadness and strangely another that Simon feared and yet hoped to be accurate.
Her fingers traced his cheek bone and found his lips. The look the man feared strengthened and Simon felt a longing that he had never believed he would feel, especially for a woman like Alyanna. She was a queen, after all. Why would a queen see anything in him or care to for that matter? He was not Gerid, a tower of strength and confidence, wielder of navies and defender of an entire kingdom. The man was just himself, a merchant, albeit a good one, that could simply try and make money. Simon would never be a leader of men or be capable of ruling a kingdom, would he?
Moving closer, Alyanna raised her chin slightly and gently brought Simon's head closer. "I don't know..." she began again just as their lips met. A moment longer and their arms were wrapped around one another.
The two continued their embrace under the shadows of the oak and pine, amidst shrubs and flowering night roses. It took several minutes before the two could break away to peer around worriedly for intruders. Finding none, they sat down against a tree to continue much as they had standing, but other necessities eventually came to mind. Simon was there on business after all and the queen needed his help as much as he needed hers.
In between discussion of rebels and gargoyles, armies and dragons, the two of them would sneak in another kiss before letting the other continue. A guardsman appeared sometime in the afternoon with a small basket of food and a pair of the fluffy pillows for them before leaving them to their discussions once again.
Chapter 41- The Test

The port of Gibros was, quite surprisingly, almost as modern in appearance as Alistaire or even the larger capitol city Camerton. Gerid walked through crowded streets of people wearing all forms of clothing that were obviously derived from the pirate's previous homes. He recognized the warm reds on half shirts or the shorts worn by Tolmona and Enswere, the long, blue tunics styled like those in Tseult, and many with warmer jackets and wool clothing found on the northern continent. Men and women of different skin colors were found mingling with the predominantly tanned skins of Taltan and North. A group of men with skins of ebony carrying fur cloaks under their arms had to be from the warrior races found on Maldoth. The red skinned men who mostly lived in the southwest of Taltan that were said to have originated on Calmon and Kadross, both lands proclaiming themselves the `first men', were a long way from home indeed.

As unusual an array of people as he found in Gibros, the buildings and city itself were less unique. Like many cities that never had planned to grow to any real size, the streets ran in pattern less directions with buildings of almost as many styles as there were people. Some buildings were large almost castle like structures, though most were much smaller and created from wood. Some were little more than grass huts and some actually were those closest to shore, though many of those were being rebuilt after the previous day's storm.

Some homes had yards or even gardens on their property, but many had only the smallest stretches of grass to call their own. It was an island city after all and land had to be maximized to support a continually growing community and it was still growing he could see.

Gerid asked both Janus and Captain Salazar, whose first name was actually Sardya, about the newest building that he could see being worked on as they moved deeper into the city. Janus could do little more than shrug, but Sardya smiled as she spoke of Gibros, "You wish to give us land, sir? We are a race of ocean lovers for the most part, but even we need time away from the constantly rolling waters. Many of these larger homes belong to captains of good standing or those that have retired to run the council of pirates. The smaller homes and larger lodges belong to crewmen and slaves and lesser officers or to the growing groups of merchants who have decided to throw in with us.

"We do have lots of gold, you see?" she grinned broadly before continuing. "Some of the merchant ships we have captured have had men of sufficient abilities to build up even stronger businesses on Gibros than they had before. These men use both our hunters and their own merchant vessels to conduct trade that brings in that which we cannot always find aboard a normal merchant. Clothing, grains, dairy animals and those bred for meat and many other needs are brought to us by what you may call more legitimate means. And thus our people continue to grow."

"Which is all the more reason for your council to agree with my proposed alliance, don't you agree?" Gerid replied.

"I would not be bringing you to the council if I didn't think so. Bothering those men needlessly can bring dire consequences, if done at the wrong times. Even in their best moods, it is considered better to stay out of their way."

He frowned and placed his hand contemplatively underneath his chin. "Some rulers they are if everyone is too afraid to come to them with ideas or needs. Why don't you appoint somebody useful to the council?"

The captain gave him a disbelieving shake of her head as if she were speaking the obvious. Gerid knew the question sounded so and was simply using it to confirm what he had already gathered as she replied, "They are anything but useless, sir. I would not say such words to any of them, even with your great strength. These men are the greatest of us all. Men who have earned wealth and power by running a strong crew and shrewd business management. To be just strong, will not achieve their status, but with a strong mind to back it up a captain may one day find himself, or herself," she added with another smile, "in charge of the others."

"A place you fancy for yourself, I gather?" Gerid stated more than asked as he let his glance fall to a nearby merchant selling carpets varying from the common to the extravagant that only the wealthiest could have bought.

Nodding politely and realizing that her ambitions were obvious, Salazar replied, "That is where all captains hope to be someday, why shouldn't I wish to be on the council after a time? I may not be as strong as many of the men, but I am excellent with a blade and many a fool has found himself laying in a bloody pool after testing my prowess. I also do well in gathering wealth. One day I will own one of these stone castles and every captain will have to recognize me as their equal, if not their superior."

Gerid chuckled slightly, "Do not get mad, I do not laugh at you, captain. I just find it amusing that, even with your fine ship and crew, a woman captain is still looked down upon. I have always noticed that everywhere I have travelled. A woman is looked at as having to marry and serve her husband to gain respect through him. I think it quite impressive that you choose to prove that a woman can do anything a man can. I have always thought women were capable of more than they were allowed, but I have had enough other things on my mind to prevent my asking about it."

With a sniff, Sardya retorted, "That is the problem with most men. They like having women serving their needs while they try and acquire wealth and fame. They don't care if their wives and daughters would like to do the same or even if they might be able to run their lives better."

"Captain," Janus interrupted, "I believe we have arrived."
Salazar nodded, and went to speak with a pair of guards standing before a pair of large iron doors. Gerid noted that the latches were much less sturdy than the iron they supported, but figured that, set in stone as they were, anyone inside would be safe from most attacks for a time anyway.
Moments later, the captain returned and reported, "We can have an audience as soon as the guard reports our arrival. I sent a messenger ahead of us with a message that I needed to address them and they have agreed to admit us."
The guard returned shortly and motioned the three of them to enter. Upon entering, Gerid had to shake his head at the obvious attempts of the pirates to try and impress visitors to the audience chamber. There was much wealth in gold engravings and brightly colored paintings assuredly. Like all of Gibros, the artworks took their styles from many different parts of the world. To Gerid's eye, however, it came off as just being too busy and even a bit tacky. He found himself comparing it to the tasteful decoration of both the royal palace in Camerton or the Holtein home and found it annoying more than daunting and hoped that the council room itself wasn't so ridiculously encumbered.
Finding himself being led through a second set of doors, this time wood, Gerid let out a breath of relief as he discovered a much less tacky room. The council, a group of twelve men, sat behind two sets of tables that had been set into a V pattern on a raised floor nearly three feet higher than the rest of the flooring. A grouping of benches were placed on either side of the entry way facing the council tables and many had people already occupying them as the trio entered the chamber.
He was surprised to see any kind of audience after what Sardya had said about staying out of the council's way, but Gerid guessed that there were always hangers on and perhaps someone had leaked news of his coming as well. The commander took another deep breath and sought to ignore everything beyond himself, his companions and the men of the council before him.
They stopped and a new man stepped from beside the council tables and spoke loudly, "Captain Salazar, you have asked to address the council about an urgent matter. What is this matter and why does it concern the pirates' council?"
"I have come with this man, because he brings us a proposal that can only help the pirates of Quardic. He is an ambassador of Rhearden who came here of his own volition to speak with the council about an alliance."
One of the council spoke derisively even as several of the others chuckled, "An alliance with Rhearden? What bit of insanity have you brought here Salazar? Rhearden has been an enemy of the clans for longer than any of us have lived. There is no reason for an alliance."
"But..." Sardya started again, and was cut off as a pair of armed men strode from both doorways to either side of the chamber to usher them away. Gerid could see that normal negotiations had just failed them.
"Hold on!" he shouted and stepped forward. "You haven't heard what I have to offer you and your clan, gentlemen."
Laughter greeted his words from both the council and those in attendance sitting on the benches. He chose to ignore them even as two of the guards crossed their spears in front of his chest while from either side the other two pointed their spear tips at his chest. Realizing that these were anything but gentlemen, let alone gentle any things, the giant decided it was time to demonstrate his strength before men that would respect little besides power.
Grabbing both spears being leveled at him, Gerid yanked the shafts from their holders. Dropping them immediately behind him, he took hold of the slowly uncrossing spears in front of him in one hand and shook off the pair of guards in one swift pull to his right, which sent the two men into a tumble onto the outer man. The last standing man was just recovering his balance from Gerid's removal of his spear, when the giant lay his left hand on the man's chest and easily toppled him backwards.
"As I was saying," the commander continued as if nothing had happened, "I would request that I be heard or know why the council fears my words."
The room was immediately in turmoil as the gallery all leapt up as one. Weapons were drawn, though all long swords and shields were not allowed past the first doors so they were mainly daggers and long knives. Other guards rushed from the side doors with weapons drawn, but being wary of the giant still standing casually before the council who themselves had done little more than rise from their seats.
"Enough!" one council member sporting an eye patch and looking to be near a size with Gerid shouted loud enough that all activity in the gallery stopped. The guards, ten of them, only stopped when they stood between Gerid and the council members. Gerid himself had not moved since toppling the first guards and held no weapon and even had his hands held out to show that he would reach for none.
The man with the patch waited for most of the noise to settle before continuing, "What have you done, Salazar? Do you wish to find yourself put on the gallows before you reach twenty-five? I thought that you were smarter than this."
The woman looked indignant. "I am smarter than that!" she snapped. "This so-called ambassador has caused the trouble, Capian. He told me that he bore an offer from the king of Rhearden and could offer us land and other benefits for our alliance against High King Merrick.
"I guess I should have slain him when I had the chance. Had I known that he would cause me dishonor, I would have I assure you, members."
The giant pirate nodded and waved off her plea, "I believe you, Sardya. I have never known you to do anything as stupid as this and will forgive you this time. As for you, ambassador, what do you have to say before I sentence you to death for this disruption?"
"I would say that no matter whether you sentence me or not, I will not die until either you have heard me out or I have to slay this entire island and give up on allying myself with fools. I was giving you a chance at a wealth that you could never have without my... our help in a thousand years."
A second council member, smaller and with a voice like stone grating on itself, spoke instead of Capian, "What are you saying, giant? How can you offer us anything and why would you? The mainlanders hate us for taking their ships and we hate them for keeping us from their wealth. Our two hatreds can never be breached until one or the other of us dies entirely, I would think."
The giant pirate shook his head, "That is hardly the truth of it, Jurgmich, and he knows it as much as the rest of us. They fight us because Gibros takes what we must and will continue doing so until no needs remain unmet. That will go on until one or the other dies or surrenders."
"Are you two going to continue yapping or are ya gonna let him answer? The more ya talk the longer before we have `im killed and get on with things," asked a third councilman with fair hair and looking young beside the other council members. Gerid wasn't sure if the man was really so young or just youthful looking. In such a harsh business as pirating, he would have to assume that the man was young, but this was hardly the time to find out such things, of course.
"Fine, Nurvin, you have a point," the stone voiced pirate admitted. "Speak, giant."
"About time," Gerid said sounding peevish though things were going his way and almost completely as he had planned, "I thought you would never listen. First of all, I come representing the king as has been said. What hasn't been said is what we want and what we offer."
"Yeah, yeah, get to the point," Nurvin chided from his seat behind the table.
"I was. What we offer are ports of safe harbor in both Rhearden and the North continent as well as land for those who wish to have it."
"North continent?" Jurgmich asked in confusion. "How can you offer us a place in lands not your own?"
"That was what I was getting to. You know of the self proclaimed High King, Merrick, do you not?"
"Our spies tell of him as well as several ships with refugees from conquered countries under his rule. What is your point?"
"My point is that I have a grudge against the tyrant and my king has given me the authority to wage war against him. I have a fleet nearly the size of Rhearden's at my command as well as the ability to call on the king's fleets to carry the battle to Marshalla, but Merrick has a powerful army as I will freely admit to you. Powerful, but not unbeatable, especially if you would join me."
Capian eyed him with his one eye calculatingly. "Only one fleet I have heard of could brag of such strength. Who is the master of your fleet, giant?"
"I am the master of my fleet. I would have sent no one less to meet with you. I am neither king nor simple sailor. I am more than a captain, but choose no titles of land in a kingdom where I am still a stranger, though I have been knighted and called an admiral. You can call me Gerid Aramathea, a Marshallan by birth."
"He is the white-haired demon that so many have spoken of, council members," Captain Salazar spoke up helpfully. "He defeated a dozen men on the docks bare handedly to prove himself to me. If you doubt him, maybe a test...?"
Capian and the others glared at the woman, "Enough, captain." He turned his gaze once again upon Gerid, "You are large enough and have white hair backed by a youthful look to your face so you could be him, but when did you get the ability to lead Rhearden's forces?"
Gerid stood even taller, chin jutting forward. "A month ago I was appointed an official admiral and declared the protector of Rhearden and its king. I took up the mantle even as I prepared for this voyage."
"And how did you get here? I have heard of no ships arriving recently that could have brought you. We would hardly have any of our men or ships stationed in Rhearden where you could locate them for such an arrival."
"I took a smaller vessel which was caught in yesterday's storm. I was washed overboard with a crewman who is resting aboard the Patahk. Now what is your answer to my request?"
"Pushy, demanding, ya gotta admire that," Nurvin put in playfully from one side drawing another glare from Capian.
"Admired or not, I think we will need proof of your words," the one-eyed man declared.
"Let him fight a dozen men," a man from the gallery laughed.
"Two dozen and him unarmed if the giant is the demon that he says he is," another added.
"Silence!" Capian ordered once again. The councilmember looked steadily at Gerid and asked, "How can you prove yourself?"
"I will fulfill whatever is reasonable,
Councilmember Capian, and perhaps even that which is unreasonable. I have been blessed by the gods to be unbeatable in battle; if that is the way you judge things here. Set your best fighters before me and I will lay them back down again."
"Fine. In one hour, Captain Salazar will bring you to the duelers' field. You will face any who wish to test themselves against you, up to twenty men. You may face them as many at a time as you wish, but you must defeat them all and I would prefer they be left alive to fight another day. This is your test after all, not theirs."
"Bah, you are too soft on our people sometimes, Capian," Jurgmich complained from beside the man.
The giant pirate glared at the stony voiced man, "I kill when its necessary and prefer it to be the enemy. Perhaps you would like to test me, Jurgmich, when the giant's test is over?" The much smaller man quickly shook his head and the one eye looked to Gerid again. "You have one hour. Eat, sleep, or do whatever you wish to prepare but you will be at the field unarmed and prepared to defend yourself in one hour."