What are you thinking? asked Erik of Roo, his best friend since childhood.
Roo said, Just how funny families can be. He pointed to the group on the dock, listening carefully to Nicholas.
Erik said, Notice our Captain.
Roo nodded. He knew Erik meant Calis. The elflike man stood off to one side, with just enough distance between himself and the others to be apart, yet close enough to answer questions when asked.
Robert de Loungville said, Hes been my friend for twenty years. He found me serving with Daniel Troville, Lord Highcastle, and dragged me away from the border wars to go to the strangest places a man can imagine. Ive been with him longer than any man in his company, eaten cold rations with him, slept beside him, watched men die in his arms, even had him carry me for two days after the fall of Hamsa, but I cant say I know the man.
Erik asked, Is it true hes part elf?
De Loungville rubbed his chin. I cant say I know the truth of that. He told me his father came from Crydee originally; a kitchen boy, he claims. He doesnt talk about his past much. Mostly he plans for the future, and takes barracks rats like you two and turns them into soldiers. But its worthwhile. I wasnt much more than a barracks rat myself when he found me. Worked up from that to my grand station today. He said the last with an even broader grin, as if he were nothing more than a common sergeant and that remark a joke, but both Erik and Roo had been told he carried high court rank in addition to his military rank. So I never asked too many personal questions. Hes very much what you might call a right now sort of fellow. De Loungvilles voice lowered, as if Calis might somehow overhear from down on the dock, and his expression turned serious. He does have those pointy ears. Still, I never heard of any such being half-man, half-elf yet he can do things no other man I know can do. He grinned again as he said, But hes saved all our hides more times than I can count, so whos to care what his line is? Your station at birth means nothing. A man cant change that. Whats important is how you live. He slapped both young men on the shoulder. You were worthless dogmeat when I found you, fit only for starving crows, but look at you now!
Erik and Roo exchanged looks, then laughed. Both were wearing the same clothing they had worn when escaping the destruction of the city of Maharta, oft patched, stained beyond cleaning, reducing both men to the appearance of common street thugs.
Roo said, Were two men in need of some fresh clothing. Save Eriks boots, we look the part of ragpickers.
Erik glanced down and said, And these need mending. The boots were all he had left from the Baron of Darkmoors legacy, a grudging admission to Erik of his paternity, along with not denying Erik the right to call himself von Dark-moor. The boots were riding boots, but Erik had walked enough to wear the heels down to nearly nothing, and the leather was weather-beaten and cracked.
Sho Pi, an Isalani from the Empire of Great Kesh, came up on deck from below, carrying his own travel bag. Behind him came Nakor, also an Isalani, and the man Sho Pi had decided was destined to be his master. He appeared old, but moved with a spry step and quickness that both Erik and Roo knew well. He had instructed them in hand-to-hand combat, and Roo and Erik knew that the odd little man, as well as Sho Pi, was as dangerous unarmed as most men were with weapons. Roo was convinced he had never seen Nakor move as fast as possible, and wasnt sure he would welcome such a demonstration. Roo was a gifted student of the open-handed school of fighting practiced in the Isalani provinces of Kesh, only surpassed by Sho Pi and Nakor in Caliss company, but he knew either man could easily defeat him with a quick killing blow.
I am not going to have you trailing around behind me, boy! insisted the bandy-legged Nakor, yelling over his shoulder. I havent been to a city in nearly twenty years that wasnt being burned to the ground or overrun by soldiers or otherwise unpleasant in some fashion, and I intend to enjoy myself awhile. Then Im going back to Sorcerers Isle.
Sho Pi, a head taller than Nakor, and in possession of a full head of dark hair, otherwise looked like a much younger version of the wiry little man. He said, Whatever you say, Master.
Dont call me master, insisted Nakor, putting his own travel bag over his shoulder. Moving to the rail he said, Erik, Roo! Where are you going?
To get a drink, a whore, and new clothing, in that order, said Roo.
Then Im going home to see my mother and friends, said Erik.
What about you? asked Roo.
Im going with you, Nakor said, hoisting his bag, until the going home part. Then I shall hire a boat to take me to Sorcerers Isle. He looked straight down the gangway, ignoring the younger countryman, a step behind.
Erik glanced at Sho Pi and said, Weve got to go below and get our kits. Then well join you on the dock.
Roo was a step ahead of his friend as they hurried below, bade farewell to the sailors who had become friends, and found Jadow Shati, another of their company of desperate men, just finishing gathering up his few possessions.
What are you going to do? asked Roo as he quickly grabbed his small kit.
A drink, Im thinking.
Join us, said Erik.
I think I will, as soon as I tell Mr Robert de Loungville, the little swine, that Im taking up his offer of becoming his corporal.
Erik blinked. Corporal? He offered me the position.
Before the two men could begin arguing, Roo said, From what he said, hes going to need more than one.
The two large men exchanged glances, then both laughed. Jadows face settled into a grin, teeth dramatically white against his ebony skin, an expression so happy that it always made Roo smile in response. Like the other desperate men, Jadow had been a killer and lifelong criminal, but in the brotherhood of Caliss company he had found men for whom he was willing to die and who would die for him.
Roo hated to admit it, as one who flattered himself for being completely selfish, but he loved the survivors of that company almost as much as he loved Erik. Rough men all, dangerous by any standards, they had passed through a bloody trial together, and each knew he could depend on the others.
Roo thought about those lost on the journey: Biggo, the large, laughing thug with a strange streak of piety running through him; Jerome Handy, a giant of a man with a violent temper who could tell a tale like an actor and make shadow play on the wall that came alive; Billy Goodwin, an otherwise gentle youth with a violent temper, who had been cut down in a pointless accident before ever understanding anything of life; and Luis de Savona, the Rodezian cutthroat whose wit was as sharp as his dagger, who knew both court intrigue and dark-alley brawls; a man of temper and strange loyalties. Roo tied his bundle and turned to see both Erik and Jadow watching him.
What is it?
You were lost there a moment, said Erik.
I was thinking about Biggo and the others
Erik nodded. I understand.
Maybe some of them will show up when Trenchards Revenge gets here, ventured Jadow.
Roo said, That would be fine. Slinging his pack over his shoulder, he added, But Billy and Biggo wont.
Erik nodded. He and Roo had watched Biggo die in Maharta, and Erik had seen Billy fall from his horse, cracking his head on a rock.
What is it?
You were lost there a moment, said Erik.
I was thinking about Biggo and the others
Erik nodded. I understand.
Maybe some of them will show up when Trenchards Revenge gets here, ventured Jadow.
Roo said, That would be fine. Slinging his pack over his shoulder, he added, But Billy and Biggo wont.
Erik nodded. He and Roo had watched Biggo die in Maharta, and Erik had seen Billy fall from his horse, cracking his head on a rock.
The three men were silent as they climbed back on deck and hurried down the gangway to find Robert de Loungville chatting with Nakor and Sho Pi.
Hey now, you vile runt of a man! said Jadow without ceremony to the man who for nearly three years had controlled his life.
De Loungville turned. Who are you talking to like that, you Valeman scum!
You, Bobby de Loungville, Sergeant sir! snapped back Jadow, but Erik could easily see the mocking humor in both mens expressions. Battle had made him very aware of his companions every mood, and he knew they were having fun with each other. And who are you calling scum"? We men of the Vale are the best fighting men in the world, dont you know, and we are usually wiping our boots to clean them of something that resembles you. He sniffed loudly, bending forward as if to make sure de Loungville was the source of the offending odor. Yes, very much like you.
De Loungville grabbed one of Jadows cheeks and pinched it as a mother does a childs, saying, Youre so lovely I should kiss you. Playfully slapping him on the face, he said, But not today.
To the group, de Loungville said, Where are you off to?
Drinks! said Nakor with a grin.
De Loungville rolled his eyes heavenward. Well, dont kill anyone. He asked Jadow, You coming back?
Jadow grinned. I dont know why, but yes.
His own smile vanishing, de Loungville said, You know exactly why.
Instantly all humor fled. Each man had seen exactly what the others had, and all knew that a terrible enemy gathered across the sea, and that no matter how much had been accomplished in recent months, the struggle had only just started. A decade or more might pass before the final confrontation with the armies gathered under the banner of the Emerald Queen, but eventually every man living in the Kingdom would either stand and fight or die.
After a moments silence, de Loungville waved them down the street. Get away with you. Dont have too much fun. As the men walked off, he called after, Erik, you and Jadow be back here tomorrow to get your papers. On the day after, youre deserters! And you know we hang deserters!
That man, said Jadow as they moved down the street in search of an inn. Always with them threats. He has an unnatural love of hanging, dont you know?
Roo laughed and the rest joined in, and the mood lightened as an inn seemed to appear by magic on the corner before them.
Roo awoke, his head pounding and his mouth dry. The inside of his eyes felt as if someone had put sand behind the lids, and his breath smelled as if something had crawled into his mouth and died. He moved and Erik let out a groan, so he moved the other way, only to find Jadow groaning and pushing him away.
With no other choice, he sat up and instantly wished he had remained asleep. He forced himself to keep whatever was in his stomach from coming up and at last managed to focus his eyes.
Oh, wonderful, he said, and instantly regretted talking. His own voice made his head hurt.
They were in a cell. And unless Roo was mistaken, he knew exactly what cell. It was a long cell, open along one side to a hall, with floor-to-ceiling bars and a door with a heavy iron lock plate. Slightly above head height opposite the bars, a long window, less than two feet in height, ran the length of the cell. He knew the cell was below ground level, as the window was only a foot or so above ground, giving a peculiar angle so those inside the cell could see the scaffold dominating the courtyard beyond. He was now in the death cell beneath the Prince of Krondors palace.
He pushed Erik and his friend groaned as if tortured. Roo shook him insistently and at last Erik came awake. What? he said as he tried to focus his attention on his friends face. Where are we?
Back in the death cell.
Erik looked instantly sober. He glanced around and saw Nakor curled up in the corner, snoring, while Sho Pi lay a short distance away.
They shook the others awake and took stock. Several of them were splattered with dried blood, and they all nursed an assortment of bruises, scrapes, and cuts. What happened? croaked Roo, his voice sounding as if hed eaten sand.
Jadow said, Those Quegan sailors, remember?
Sho Pi and Nakor, who seemed, of the company, the least worse for wear, exchanged glances, and Nakor said, One of them tried to remove a young woman from your lap, Roo.
Roo nodded, then wished he hadnt. I remember now.
Jadow said, I hit someone with a chair
Nakor said, Maybe we killed those Quegans.
Erik tried to stay on his feet by leaning against the wall, his knees shaking from his hangover, and said, It would be just the sort of black joke the gods make that after all we have been through, we end up back here waiting for the gallows again.
Roo felt vaguely guilty, as he always did when he had drunk too much the night before. He was a slight man, so trying to keep up drink for drink with men the size of Jadow and Erik was foolish, even though Erik didnt have much of a head for drink. If I killed someone, youd think Id remember, Roo observed.
Well, what are we doing back here in the death cell, man? asked Jadow from where he sat in the corner, obviously disturbed at their circumstances. I didnt sail around the world and back again so Bobby de Loungville could finally hang me.
As they were attempting to gather their wits, the door to the hall was yanked open, clanging into the wall-hard enough to make every man visibly wince. De Loungville walked into view and shouted, On your feet, you swine!
Without thought, everyone except Nakor leaped to his feet, and each man groaned an instant later. Jadow Shati turned his head and vomited into the chamber pot, then spat. The others stood on unsteady feet, Erik having to grip the bars of the cell to keep himself upright.
With a grin, de Loungville said, What a lovely bunch you are.
Nakor asked. What are we doing back here, Sergeant?
De Loungville moved to the cell door and pulled it open, showing it hadnt been locked, and said, We couldnt think of anywhere else to put you conveniently. Did you know it took the better part of a full watch of the city guard and a squad of the palace guards to arrest you? He beamed like a proud father. Quite a brawl. And you had the good sense not to kill anyone, though you did damage quite a few.
With a wave, de Loungville indicated they should follow him. Prince Patrick and his uncles felt it was better to keep you lot close by for the rest of the night, he said as he led them from the cell.
Roo glanced around and remembered the last time he had seen these passages, as he was being led to the mock hanging that had set his feet upon a path he never could have imagined before leaving his birthplace. The first journey he had made along here was almost lost on him, so far had his mind retreated into terror then. Now he could barely focus because of the abuses of the night before.