by C S Vass
Robert smiled sadly. “It doesn’t matter if I do or don’t,” he said. “My plan to return to the East means nothing either way. I wanted to go back and help the Foresters, help my people carve out a path of resistance against the singular rule of Julius Hercinium. But if this Gaellean Prophecy business is real, well, none of that will matter. I want to find out exactly what’s going on before I do anything else.”
Logun snorted. “You wish to help us, little man? Tell me, how will you do that? What did you do back in your homeland? Did you bake bread? Or perhaps you were a troubadour?”
Yaura blinked. “Come to think of it, we never asked you that, did we? What did you do back in the East?”
Godwin chuckled darkly. “Now would be a perfect time to reveal that you were a sword master or a high mage. Do you have some secret power you’ve hidden from your friends, Robert?”
Robert grinned with pride, undeterred by their mocking comments. “I have many talents you don’t know about. But back home to earn my pay I was what you might call a beau. Escort of the noblewomen. Master masseur. King of pleasure!”
“You were a man-whore?” Logun asked with a raised brow.
“No you brute,” Robert snarled. “The proper term is gigolo, but I realized early on you western boors have no such appreciation for these arts.”
Yaura’s face flushed from red to crimson. Godwin simply laughed. “No wonder the Kirishelliwan welcomed you among their ranks.”
“It is an ancient—nay—the most ancient of all the arts. Mock me all you want. Your words are as weightless as birds in a tree.”
“So how many birds roosted on your tree?” Logun asked, to general laughter.
They spent the rest of the afternoon talking of merrier things, drinking wine from Unduyo, and not thinking about the task that lay ahead of them. After a time Godwin rose to walk along the cold shoreline and watch the stars come out. It wasn’t long before he heard footsteps behind him.
“Company?” Yaura asked.
Godwin nodded. The strolled together in silence. He knew what was on her mind, and he was grateful she was allowing him to pick the moment to bring it up. “He was the closest thing I had to a brother, you know.”
“I know. But just like with real brothers, you can’t always pick your family.”
“I suppose not. But I can’t help but wonder…”
Yaura frowned. “I don’t like that face at all,” she said. “Just what are you thinking?”
“Yaura…someone said something to me once. Do you think that Torin was always a Serpent? Do you think he might have truly been Forsaken once and somehow lifted the curse? What if the Forsaken aren’t really born under a sky without constellations? What if it’s something else entirely, and we just don’t understand exactly what it is?”
“Godwin,” Yaura’s face was a picture of serenity. He took shelter in it. She placed her hand on his. “Don’t think of such things. It will bring you no happiness.” She lifted his hand to her mouth and gently kissed it. Then she walked back along the shore, leaving him in the darkness.
Try as he might, he could not let it go. My damn fate, everything that I am. It’s been written in the black starless void of night since my birth. What if it doesn’t have to be this way? What if that masked fighter was right?
He had to know for sure. He had to find Torin or the masked fighter, and ask them about it. It was the only way he could truly put the matter behind him once and for all. The only way he could be at peace.
“I won’t!” He shouted at the nothingness of the Dark Sea. “I won’t be defined by this anymore. I won’t be Star-cursed.” He felt silly and relieved at the same time. But he knew his promise to himself, to the universe, was sincere.
It was enough to give his mind some rest.
When he wandered back to his companions they were all staring at something in the sea. “Hey!” Robert shouted. “There’s something coming towards us in the water.”
“A ship?” Godwin asked, squinting into the blackness.
There was no true ship, but a small boat weaving and bobbing in the water. A makeshift mast has been constructed out of a wooden pole and a large canvass. Atop it a lantern burned away like a fallen star.
“Trouble?” Yaura asked.
“I doubt it,” Logun said. “They look worse than we do.”
“Maybe they’re Imperials who deserted, or were tossed from their ships,” Robert suggested.
Logun shrugged. “All the ships in the bay were burned up, but who’s to say they didn’t have some others around the coast?”
“Let them come,” Godwin decided. “I think three Shigata and a whore can handle whatever comes for us in that little boat.”
“Gigolo, you oaf,” Robert said indignantly. “Honestly, you people wonder why I never talked about my past work.”
They waited curiously as the small ship came towards them. The stars were out in full, and Godwin was glad that there were no constellations in the sky. Somehow he felt that they would only add more turbulence. Eventually the little boat came to the beach and two shadowy figures leapt knee-deep into water to steer it in. As they approached Godwin saw that one was male. A giant bulking figure, and the other female.
“Hello!” the woman cried. Godwin immediately recognized her accent as coming from Coldclaw. So they weren’t Imperials.
“From where do you hail?” Logun asked. “And why do you come here?”
“We’re searching for Castle Unduyo,” the man called back. “Our ally is injured and we seek rest.”
“There is no Castle Unduyo,” Logun replied. “Sun warriors burned it down in the night.”
The woman fell to her knees as surely as if she had been struck in the belly by a great blow. Even in the darkness of night Godwin could see the hopeless look on the man’s face by the light of the moon. From inside the boat he heard a strange croaking sound. He realized there must have been someone inside, and that they were laughing.
The woman, a half-elf Godwin now saw, slowly approached. “You don’t jest?” she asked. “Castle Unduyo is no more?”
“I wouldn’t joke about that lass,” Logun said. “It was my home.”
“Then…you are Shigata?”
Godwin nodded. “All of us but him,” he said pointing to Robert. “Don’t ask what he is.”
“Please, can you help us?” the woman asked. “Our friend is grievously hurt.”
Godwin shrugged. “So are we. Bring him over. We’ll see what we can do.”
The bulking man went to the boat and carefully lifted their companion over to the shore.
“I might be able to make something for him,” Godwin said. “But no promises.”
The woman nodded. “I was charged to give this to you. It’s yours, if you’re truly Shigata.” Godwin’s jaw dropped. The woman held a silver thrygta in her hand.
“Where did you get this?” he demanded.
“Please, we’ll explain everything. But see to our friend first. Please.”
Godwin nodded. “My apologies. I wasn’t thinking. You clearly have a story to tell. But tonight isn’t a night for stories.”
“Agreed,” their male companion said. “Some stories one should only whisper in the light of day.”
The Music of Dragons
Book Two of The Gaellean Prophecy
Prologue
A flock of gulls exploded from the rooftop across the street. Cold wind whistled through the windows of The Starving Crab, but despite the chill Saebyl was experiencing the first blue skies the city had seen in weeks. Godwin sat cross-legged on the floor, staring at his untouched rice wine and running his fingers over the sheath of the darksword. The fighting had ceased, and while many in Saebyl seemed eager to get a taste of normalcy between the bloodshed, he knew the calm would not hold.
“Would you like something else, sir?”
Godwin looked up to the small, smiling barmaid that stood before him. She was trying to maintain composure, but the fear in her eyes was p
alpable. While everyone openly carried swords these days, he knew she knew who he was. Saebyl had been singing songs of the Odruri for weeks, and while he had their respect, he was also keenly aware that they saw him as an omen of death everywhere he went.
“I’m fine, thank you.”
She nodded and quickly left. Godwin felt his throat tighten. He hadn’t asked for this. He shouldn’t even have been in Saebyl. He was supposed to be in Brentos. But Ysabelle Wenjen had summoned him, and that was that. He did his best to protect the city, but it was deeply unsettling that more people than not knew him by sight. He missed being able to disappear in a crowd.
“You haven’t touched your wine, my friend. Drink. The Tarsurians are bound to be doing the same in their camps. We need a little cheer before the slaughter. Barmaid! Vodka! Two cups!”
Godwin grimaced. “Hello, Logun.”
The balding Shigata stood before him, grinning. “Aren’t you going to ask me to sit?” he asked while taking a seat on the floor across the squat table. “Come, don’t look so glum. From what I hear, you’re the hero of Saebyl. Odruri! Ha! Smile, will you? The people will rejoice from seeing you confident. Barmaid! Where’s that vodka!”
Godwin felt his fist tighten beneath the table. “Don’t call me that.”
“I see, I see,” Logun smiled while waving his hand. “You think I’m a pain. Quite understandable. But you know, you have to take my orders for now. I’m the one who’s been whispering with our little bird after all. If you’re so discontent with my leadership, you could always join. The Shigata are all equals, you know. We bow only to the Sages. Even—”
“Let me stop you there,” Godwin said stiffly. “If you brought me here to convince me to join again, then you’re out of luck. I came here to receive my orders, not sit through another despicable presentation. I’ll likely be a corpse before this siege is done, but on the off chance that I somehow survive, I would slit my own throat before becoming a Shigata.”
“Would you now?” Logun said as he picked his teeth. “Barmaid!”
“Sorry sir, forgive me,” the stumbling server said as she thrust a bottle and two tumblers onto the table.
“It’s nothing,” Logun said. “I’m testy because my two swords have a thirst. Since there’s no killing to be done now, I’ll have to simply wet my whistle. Unless you’d like to assist with the other—”
“Hey!” Godwin slammed a fist on the table. “I didn’t come here for your antics. We have business.”
“That will be all then,” Logun said to the very relieved barmaid.
“Animal,” Godwin muttered.
“Animal?” Logun said, as he poured a drink into each tumbler. “Perhaps, Godwin. I think you’re right. But if I’m the kind of animal that goes sniffing around taverns, then what kind of animal are you?”
Godwin did not respond, but picked up his tumbler. “I’m going to need to drink if I’m to endure this.”
“I thought you’d never ask. To the good King Boldfrost.”
The two warriors clinked glasses and drank.
Logun wiped his mouth on his sleeve. “Ah, now that that’s out of the way, let’s get down to business.” He leaned in, lowered his voice, and said, “You’re needed again. Are you ready?”
Godwin arched a brow. “The fighting will resume? How can you be certain?”
“Don’t you worry, I’m certain. There’s going to be a Tarsurian attack in three nights.”
“Where?”
“Denethor’s Inn.”
“The target?”
“The University’s finest scholars.”
That Godwin did not expect. “What? Why? They’re going to attack civilians?”
Logun chuckled and poured himself another.
“Fool,” Godwin hissed. “Should you be getting drunk if the fighting will start again? What if the Tarsurians move up their assault?”
Logun chuckled in his deep baritone. “Most people would consider that an excellent reason to get drunk. Now listen. They may be scholars and mages, but these are no civilians. They’re working on something very, very important. Government secrets. Even I don’t know what.”
“Have they been warned?”
“Of course not.”
“What?”
“Think, Godwin. None of the ordinary folk know that these book rats are dealing with something powerful, something related to the government. If we allow the attack to happen, it will provide us with a nice bit of propaganda. Tarsurians attacking civilian targets. It’ll have the wheat boys from here to the Southlands rushing to enlist.”
Godwin’s expression darkened. “Except they’re not civilians.”
“Why should that matter? Are you worried about them? We’ve been over this. Your job isn’t to worry. It’s to go out there and bare your teeth and bite people like a good little doggy. If you’re so concerned, then do your damn duty. We don’t want any of these people killed. Just to know that the attack took place will be enough. You’ll be lying in wait with two-dozen men ready to stop the ambush as it occurs.”
“I see. And you can’t tell me what these scholars are working on?”
“I truly don’t know.” Logun was speaking so softly that his voice was barely audible. “What I do know is that it’s very dangerous. The Tarsurians are quite determined to put an end to it.”
“I’ll say. Particularly if they’re willing to start the fighting again before their reinforcements have arrived.”
“So you’ll agree to defend these brave brainiacs?”
“I suppose I don’t have a choice.”
“That a boy. Now, there is just one other thing.”
“There always is.”
Logun grinned. “Good, I see you’re starting to get it. You’ve done enough in your time here that you’ve earned a certain level of trust. The work you’ve done in the streets of Saebyl is admirable, Godwin. People I’m close to have reported that you are trustworthy.”
“Why do I have the feeling I’m not going to like this?”
“It’s a simple matter. Truly. Or at least so I’m told. I know nothing about the specifics.”
Godwin snorted. “Great, that’s really reassuring.”
Logun’s eyes narrowed. “It should be, Godwin. Or have you not heard that keeping all your eggs in one nest attracts snakes?”
“I thought I was here to kill snakes.”
“You’re here for many things, as you’ll learn.”
“Fine. What would you have of me?”
“Sit here like a good boy. Admiral Jelsin will fill you in on the rest.”
“You can’t be se—”
Before Godwin could get the words out, Logun was already walking away. Without turning back the Shigata shouted, “Enjoy the vodka, Odruri. The Admiral will be here soon.”
Godwin cursed. The arrogance of that Shigata bastard, treating him like a child. He might be subservient to the army, but that didn’t mean he had to take orders from some killer from Black Wolf barely older than he was. The scoundrel didn’t even leave a coin as payment for the drink!
Looking around Godwin sighed. The tension in the air was palpable. The few citizens that were brave enough to venture outside of their homes were trying to grasp at some semblance of normalcy, but he was keenly aware they all knew who he was and to stay far away from him. Apparently not all heroes were the kind that you approached. At least while war still raged.
Godwin didn’t have long to wait. Within just a few minutes Admiral Jelsin stepped into the tavern. Several customers stood up, recognizing his military armor decorated with metals that flashed a dozen different shades of gold and grey. Godwin had half-expected him to wear the roaring wolf’s headdress that the Admiral was known to favor, but on that count he was disappointed.
Jelsin waved them down and approached Godwin solemnly. “I trust you were informed I wished to speak with you?”
Godwin nodded. He had learned early on in Saebyl that the less he said to these superiors, the better it wo
uld go for him.
“Good,” Jelsin responded curtly. He gestured towards the drinks. “I see you’re enjoying the reprieve from battle.”
“Hm.”
“A man of few words. This is good. Particularly when drink is involved. Now calm yourself. I’m no clucking hen here to chide you for having a moment’s peace. You’ve proven your value, and until I see reason to do say otherwise, you may have the run of the city as you see fit. May I join you in a glass?”
Godwin nodded, almost laughing at the idea he might refuse.
“My thanks,” Jelsin said as he eyed a precise pour into the tumbler and promptly tossed it back without waiting for Godwin to join him. “You have been given a task for three days from now. That is fine, but I need you tonight. Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
Jelsin smiled. “Maybe the reprieve from battle has left you more bored than relaxed. All the better, but don’t be so quick to the sword. You will have to use your judgement tonight.”
“How so?”
“You will have a meeting with Atusto Romulai. Do you know the name?”
“I do.” Godwin tried not to show his surprise. Romulai was an intelligence officer in the Tarsurian army known for his particularly skilled methods at infiltrating the Boldfrost’s various agencies. He had been a priority target for over a year. In truth, Godwin had wondered if he would be assigned the kill.
“Good,” Jelsin said. “You are to meet with Atusto in the central gardens tonight. Obviously, he will be in civilian garb. You will recognize him by a blue feather perched in his hat.”
“You said I’m not to rush to the sword.”
“That’s correct,” Jelsin said. “You see, Atusto may be interested in defecting.”
“I see. If that’s the case, why is he not already in our protective custody?”
“I do not know if I trust him. My informants assure me that information he has could be most valuable. But it’s possible that Atusto is just the sort of man who would be quick to sacrifice himself to give us false intelligence. Your job is to decide whether we take him in or take him out. Make your decision swiftly.”