Dream of Empty Crowns

by M. J. Sewall

  Loren said, “Asa, listen to me. You have to be very careful. Trunculin is the most dangerous man I know…”

  “The second most dangerous,” said Brenddel, coming up behind them.

  Asa and Darion turned around, startled.

  Brenddel said, “Whenever I get back from patrol, the first thing I do is make sure the prisoners are where they're supposed to be,” said Brenddel looking straight into Loren's eyes, “We don't need your lies in the king's head, healer.”

  No one said anything.

  Brenddel broke the silence. “I think it would be best if I escorted you to your chambers, my king.”

  “Yes, I think I'd better go to bed too,” said Darion. “There's only so much a man can take in one day. If I may take my leave, my king?”

  Asa nodded to Darion. Darion left, nodding to both men in the cells. Brenddel waited for the king to come with him. Asa turned around to look at Loren for a moment, but Loren and Denogg had both faded back into the shadows. Asa and Brenddel left without another word.

  They walked toward king Asa's room in silence until Asa finally asked, “Aren't you going to ask me what I was doing down there?”

  “It is not the place of the firstman to ask the king why he does what he does. My job is to keep you safe, guarding you personally, when I can. I'm sorry I had to leave you today,” replied Brenddel.

  “Are you going to tell the firstcouncilor where I was?”

  Brenddel replied, “I am your firstman; therefore, my duty is to you first. Although, I am required to answer any questions asked by the firstcouncilor. So, if he ever asks me if you were in the prisons talking to Gordon's uncle, while in the presence of the dead king's brother, I would have to say… yes.”

  “Do you think he'll ask you?” said Asa.

  Brenddel replied, “Well, my king, if you were him, would you ask that question exactly like that?”

  Asa smiled and said, “Probably not.”

  “Probably not,” Brenddel said as they continued on to the king's chamber.

  Chapter 35: Dance for the Dead

  Floating in the ocean. The water was clear and he stayed afloat for a while. Then, unseen, something began pulling him under. He could feel his mouth filling with liquid. He surfaced again, but his mouth filled again…

  Gordon woke up, turned his head to one side, coughing up water. He immediately felt the weight of his aching body bring him back to reality. He hurt everywhere. Gordon realized someone had been giving him water. He blinked repeatedly to clear his vision and said, “Thank you, but I don't need more water.”

  “Yes you do,” a familiar voice said. “But I didn't mean to nearly drown you with it.”

  “Aline? Is it really…how did you? Where have you…?” Gordon tried to rise out of bed, and was stopped by the pain in his chest and stomach. Aline gently laid him back down.

  “Be careful, my king, I know I'm not a healer like Loren, but I can tell that you need to rest,” said Aline.

  His uncle. He was suddenly ashamed that he had forgotten his uncle, even for a moment. He feared the two men that had murdered the king of Thure would never be found, that he would never get out of this place. But now, Aline was here and alive to give him hope.

  “What happened to you?” asked Gordon.

  “Well, I found out that I really don't like to travel by watership. I lost track of you when I was swept off deck, but I saved most of my gear, including my weapons. I was far away from the ship when it went down. I was able to float on a barrel from the ship for most of that next morning. A fishing ship came along and they brought me back to Aspora. I was finally able to make a connection with Mantuan.”

  Gordon asked excitedly, “You found him?”

  Aline said, “More like he found me. The sailors had been looking for us. They were friendly with Mantuan and our people in Aspora.”

  Gordon asked, “I'm so glad you're okay.”

  Aline smiled, “I'm glad you're okay, as well, my king. Your sweetblood was not in balance. If that thing hadn't knocked you out, you would have fainted. Your body water tested at only thirty six parts sweet. That is dangerously low. Thankfully, Loren showed me how to test it a few times. You need to eat when you're supposed to.”

  Gordon replied, “I was a little busy. The sweetblood and fighting monsters don't go together. Wait, did you see… did you take…? I mean…” he said, looking down at his body.

  Aline smiled, “Don't worry. Mantuan took your body water. They wouldn't even let me watch…”

  “Mantuan? He's here?” despite the pain, Gordon rose out of bed and stood on shaky legs, “I can rest later.”

  Aline said, “Well, since you are the king and you did help fight that monster last night, I suppose I have no choice but to obey. Here, let me help.” Aline offered her arm for Gordon to steady himself. “Let's go see Mantuan.”

  They came out of the large, round structure. It was almost dark. Gordon realized he must've slept for almost an entire day. He half-walked and half-wobbled into the clearing with Aline's help.

  There was a large gathering of people. He heard a loud booming voice in the language of the people here, but it did not sound like the leader. As they approached the group, the men and women were all laughing and talking back and forth in their strange musical language. He was glad to see Number Eight laughing as well, with only a few scratches.

  Lantovas was also there. He had healing cloth around his chest and scratches on his face and arms, but looked otherwise alright. Lantovas came to Gordon. He went down on one knee in front of him and said, “I was wrong to doubt you. I've never seen someone your age be so brave. Thank you for saving my life, Gordon.”

  Gordon was embarrassed. “Please, stand up. I was only one person last night. There were lots of us there. I couldn't just let that thing eat you.”

  The man rose and stretched out his hand for Lantovas. “Not too hard, my king, I'm still sore from last night.”

  Gordon replied, “Me too, maybe shaking hands wasn't such a good idea.” They both laughed. “What was that thing anyway?”

  Aline said, “It was what the people here call a Fasgonn. From what they tell us, it likes the meat cooked.”

  Lantovas said, “Lucky me. I guess I looked like a hearty meal.”

  That made Gordon laugh, which he found out was the last thing his achy body wanted. Aline and Lantovas helped Gordon to the group of men, where they could sit. As Gordon got closer, a great cheer came up among the men. At first he thought they were cheering for Mantuan or Lantovas, but he quickly realized they were cheering for him. Gordon blinked and didn't know what to say.

  A large man said, “It is not a small thing to command the respect of the Copway people. You have made quite the impression, my king.”

  The man walked up to Gordon. He was huge. Gordon thought he must be nearly seven feet high, with huge arms and legs like tree trunks. He had a black leather patch over his eye. As he approached, Gordon tried not to stare at the patch.

  “Everyone stares at the patch, my king, it's alright to look,” Mantuan said as he extended his arm to Gordon, who winced as he extended his own arm in friendship. Mantuan's hand could've wrapped around Gordon's entire wrist.

  “It's so good to finally meet you. I've heard…” Gordon said, stopping himself, “… actually, not very much about you at all.”

  Mantuan let out a large, long laugh. “Aline, you are right. I think we've found the right king.”

  “I think I need to sit down again,” said Gordon. Aline and Mantuan helped him sit down.

  “Loren taught Aline how to keep your body in balance while you slept. Are you feeling well?” asked Mantuan.

  “I feel alright, just very sore. That thing last night… I guess it took a lot out of me,” replied Gordon.

  “I would imagine. The Copway never hunt those creatures. Too dangerous. They rarely come out in the day. It probably was agitated by the sound of the airship that passed by,” Mantuan said. “You are lucky you weren't sp
otted, by the way.”

  “How do you know so much about these people? Why do you speak their language? Where are we, exactly? I'm sorry, I have a lot of questions,” said Gordon.

  “Of course you do. We are on the island lands of Yajan. And these are the Copway people,” Mantuan said. “Since I have been 'dead' to the rest of the world, I have had to travel over many lands. The Copway do trading with Aspora and a few others. Mostly they keep to themselves, but I have been honored to be taught their language. Once you learn the melody, it never leaves you. And once you meet people that are good in their hearts like the Copway, that doesn't leave you either. It's not an easy language, but it is beautiful when you get it right. I'm glad they took you in. We feared that we had lost you forever.”

  Gordon asked, “Who is we? What is going on exactly? I…I have so many questions.”

  The sun had gone down completely. It was dark, and the men who had been laughing and joking a few moments earlier were all quiet now. Mantuan joined in their somber mood. “I know you do, my king. But that will have to wait just a little longer. Now we have to send off the dead.”

  Gordon said, “Dead? You mean, from last night?”

  “Yes, that monster killed two men last night. You are very lucky that you weren't one of them. But the men that did survive, did so because of your bravery. Everyone is proud of you, but we will have to get you trained a little more before you take on more monsters,” Mantuan said. “Come. They want you to lead them down to the water.”

  “Me?”

  “Yes. We will walk down to the beach and let their dead float out into the waters,” Mantuan said. “There is no burial here.”

  “But won't they be eaten by… creatures in the water?” asked Gordon.

  “They believe in a circular life. They release their dead to the waters which feeds the life out there, which, in turn, helps feed them later on.”

  Gordon almost thought it seemed like they were cannibals after all, in a way, by eating the creatures that had eaten their dead.

  Mantuan continued. “It is also a practical idea; they have limited space on these islands. And beasts might dig up their dead if there were buried.”

  “I see,” Gordon said, but still thought it a little strange. People only ever got buried in his own kingdom. But Gordon would honor the people that protected him, fed him, and saved him.

  They all followed behind Gordon, musicians playing simple drums and wind instruments. The two dead men were carried on simple wooden rafts. They looked rickety and barely put together, but Gordon realized they would float for only a short time before sinking, which must be the point.

  As they all solemnly walked in silence, Gordon couldn't help but feel responsible for their deaths. They would not have gone after that monster unless Gordon had insisted. He'd help save one life, but cost two. He didn't know how to live with that.

  They arrived at the water's edge, and Gordon stood aside as they quietly placed the bodies and their shallow rafts into the waters. They waited a while until the tide was right, and then it took them out to sea.

  Gordon stood there watching the low, small rafts go out. He wondered how long it would be until some creature dragged them under the water, not wanting to think about it, but thinking about it anyway. Aline put a hand on Gordon's shoulder, and then the musician's song changed, getting louder. It seems almost happy.

  “What's happening?” asked Gordon.

  Aline replied, “Now we celebrate the lives of those men. They look on the passing of these men as a celebration of their life. They believe their spirits go to a safe, happy island far away. They don't cry at funerals here.”

  They all walked back to the village at a faster pace. Along the way, many of the villagers were dancing and singing. Gordon and Mantuan were now at the end of the line of people. Up ahead, Aline started dancing.

  Mantuan noticed Gordon looking at Aline. “She's wonderful, isn't she?”

  Gordon realized he was staring at Aline. “Aline? Oh, well, she's… alright.”

  “I have known Aline since she was a young girl. You would be a fool not to be in love with her at least a little. She's beautiful, she's strong and she's funny. Granted, usually at the most inappropriate times…” said Mantuan.

  Gordon said, “I haven't really seen the funny yet.”

  Mantuan laughed his large, full chested laugh. “No, I suppose visions, poisons and ship wrecks don't bring out the funny.”

  “I should be thinking of those men that died,” said Gordon, looking down.

  “I know you're feeling guilty. These are a peaceful people, but they know how to fight when necessary. They have told me what you asked them to do, and they were proud to fight with you. Sometimes, someone gets taken by a Fasgonn. They disappear, and the Copway believe that is the price they have to pay to live in peace. All they could talk about this morning was how it was right to fight for that man. They appreciated the fact that you brought out their courage.”

  “But two men died to save one man. How is that a good thing?”

  “Two men died last night, but because you reminded them that sometimes you have to fight, how many will be saved in the future?” offered Mantuan.

  Gordon just walked for a while, not saying anything. Mantuan did the same. When they had nearly returned to the village, Gordon said, “Will you answer my questions now?”

  Mantuan said solemnly, “Yes, my king. This is a night for answers. You have certainly earned them.”

  Chapter 36: Answers

  The celebrations were getting louder. Aline was still dancing and having a good time. Gordon liked to see her smile. He hoped he would see more of that. Mantuan was also smiling and lifted his drink. Aline motioned for Mantuan to come join her dancing, but Mantuan waved her off. She gave up and kept dancing with the others.

  “Where did you meet her?” asked Gordon.

  “You might say we grew up together, in a way. I literally fell into her life and she into mine. Aline was living alone with the good people of the fortress. She was the first person I saw when I arrived there. She helped heal me, and I helped raise her up all these years. She's like the daughter I never had.”

  Gordon asked, “Was that in Aspora?”

  “Yes. Aline has grown into a very fine warrior, too. She's had to, with all we've been through together,” said Mantuan.

  “There are so many questions that I want to ask. I almost don't know where to begin,” said Gordon.

  Mantuan said, “I understand. What's the first question that comes to mind?”

  “Why do you wear a patch?” Gordon blurted out.

  Mantuan let out such laughter that several people stopped dancing, but his laughter was contagious, and soon they were all laughing and went right back to dancing. “Of all the questions I was prepared to answer, that is the last one I thought you'd ask. And you know… it is quite the question.”

  Gordon said, “Sorry. If you don't want to…”

  Mantuan replied, “No, no. I said I would answer any question and I will. I have been in many battles. I have fought creatures worse than you did last night. I have fought in wars with thousands of men. I have fought with, and against, every kind of weapon you can imagine. This patch is legendary. People used to talk about it in song and poem,” he said, pointing to his own patch, “and you want to hear the strangest thing? No one has ever asked me why I wear it. Care to guess?” Mantuan stared at him.

  Gordon guessed. “Was it a knife? Or an arrow?”

  Mantuan did not immediately answer.

  Gordon kept guessing, “Some type of fire that burned your eye? Was it acid?”

  Mantuan said, “Keep guessing.”

  Gordon couldn't think of much else. “Umm… A snake bite…?”

  Mantuan laughed, “No… but I like the snake idea. It was a tree.”

  Gordon didn't understand. “A tree? What do you mean?”

  “Well, you see, my king, when I was a young man I'd already made a name for myself as a fig
hter. Coming back from a battle, we were all feeling good about the victory, and we were already reenacting the battle as we were walking back to camp. Our camp was in the woods, so as we were laughing and messing about, I tripped over my own foot and ran right into a big knot right where my eye was… and that was it.”

  “A tree poked out your eye? You mean… you mean it was just an accident?”

  Mantuan raised his patch, and Gordon was surprised to see that his eye was still there. “Everyone thinks there's no eye under here, but it's there. It knocked me so hard that I fell to the ground. When I woke up, and ever since, I can see three of everything instead of one. It's no good seeing three warriors coming at you with a longknife when there is really only one. So, I wear the patch. I've been fighting with one eye so long that it actually serves me better than both my eyes did.”

  As Mantuan put the patch back in place, Gordon asked, “So all the battles you were in, and all the fights and all the training, you can't use your eye because of a tree?”

  Gordon didn't know how big a laugh could be until he heard Mantuan, who laughed loudly again. “Accidents do happen, my king, to everyone. When I am in battle, I am always protective of my eyes. It's when you're not paying attention that bad things happen,” he tapped his eye patch. “Believe me, it's a lesson everyone needs to learn.”

  Gordon sat there, thinking on the idea.

  Mantuan said, “Come, my king, there must be something more important than that you want to ask me.”

  “Well, I guess I want to know, well… who are you and what is going on exactly?” asked Gordon.

  Mantuan said, “Right to the point, good. I suppose with the speed everything is happening to you, that no one's really explained it all. I used to be the firstman of the kingdom.”

  “You were firstman? When?”

  “Before Brenddel,” said Mantuan.

  “But… but you don't have any firstman stripes,” Gordon said.

  Mantuan laughed, “Firstman stripes are there for the ceremony. Brenddel had them permanently inked on his own face. I just painted mine on before ceremonies and battles.”