by Jeremy Dwyer
No fewer than a dozen ships were within sight of the ghost of Tychon and his crew. They were made visible by the brightly shining lights created by the crew members who drank the Lujladia Ocean waters and stood on board those vessels. The light they emitted could be seen from a great distance, and it was not at all true that spirits had unlimited range of vision, so the ghost of Tychon also benefitted from the illumination. Whichever ship’s crew could see the Obliteration, the ghost of Tychon and his crew could also see – and see more clearly – since they did not have a light to assist others in seeing them.
“See the pair of galleons, at twenty-one (21) primalurens north of east,” the ghost of Tychon said.
“How shall we strike them?” a ghost crew member asked.
“Not at all. The accompanying vessel – the frigate ahead of them – is our target. Set your course, then match its speed,” the ghost of Tychon said
“Aye, captain,” the ghost crew member said.
The crew of the Obliteration adjusted the sails and moved in toward the frigate at full speed, then slowed to match the speed of the frigate.
~~~
The Silver Condor was a two hundred thirty (230) foot long frigate, with three (3) pivot-enabled double-masted sails and a crew of one hundred eighty (180) sailors, all heavily combat trained. Captain Federico, a forty-seven (47) year old naval commander, led the crew and saw an approaching ship that did not bear any resemblance to any ship belonging to the Ihalik Empire.
Federico had served under numerous leaders, including Emperor Brennius, Imperial Prince Leonides for a brief period, then Lycaon, then Lavakara, and now King Xander. The instability of the leadership was generally not reflected in the military, which had to be unswerving in its focus. The defense of the wealth of the nation – including its trade routes connecting it to the Jenaldej Empire – was essential. This escort mission entailed protecting the pair of galleons which carried large quantities of sapphire and emerald, all of which was destined to be sold to the Jenaldej purchasing authorities in Revod in exchange for platinum. The Jenaldej Empire was both a reliable trading partner and a long time economic rival.
He knew that the Jenaldej Empire’s resources were vast and they were efficient at extracting them – in fact, almost too efficient – because anyone there who was identified as having an aptitude for drinking the Kazofen Ocean waters was essentially required to drink of them – or lose their citizenship and be exiled. With many drinkers of the Kazofen water as citizens, they had a large number of capable crystal benders for the extraction of the various gems and metals from the ground. This was good for business, and vindicated their regimented assignment of waterbindings. Being a lifelong military man, Federico agreed with their assignment methods almost entirely – and would have liked to see them applied in the more militaristic Ihalik Empire.
Federico thought that it was ironic that there was a strong popular resistance to that sort of compulsory waterbinding assignment throughout the continent of Ihalik – whether in those regions controlled by the empire or those outside of it – which prevented the practice from being applied. Instead, individuals were free to choose, and more than a few of them chose the Trerada waters, giving health and exceptional good looks, and many others chose the Nabavodel waters, giving strength and speed. These made for excellent military personnel, although he preferred drinkers of the Lujladia waters for their powers of light and the drinkers of the Ikkith Tar waters for their powers of darkness.
He personally drank the Medathero waters to have the powers of calm and logical thought, which befitted a leader. The Elanatin waters gave telepathic powers and he found occasion to make use of personnel with those abilities. The Zovvin waters were actually frightening to him – he knew the story of Gabrielle Ramalaxis, and how she ordered several crew members on different ships to drink of those and summon a swarm of spirits to fight against enemy forces. They drove away the enemy quite effectively, but they also drove Admiral Ramalaxis insane, haunting her for decades, until her dying days. Madness was a curse, and he had no interest in applying that tactic. He strictly forbade any of his Zovvin-drinking personnel – of which there were few – to initiate contact with spirits. He kept them on board to be aware of – and to respond to – spiritual threats. But ghosts were not to be weaponized, and he made that very clear.
Federico considered the Atrejan waters to be immensely useful for navigation – until recently. Now, the skies were dark, but not like night: any who used those waters to attempt to hear the positions and movements of the stars fell into a fit of agony, screaming about a dark presence near the many suns. The stars were partially eclipsed, and the world was in a perpetual twilight. Life went on, but the stars could no longer be used as guides. He wondered if this had ever occurred before – but he didn’t know anyone who lived long enough to have seen or heard of such darkness. Some of the Ursegan drinkers he had met were over seven thousand (7000) years of age, and had kept journals of historical events which they shared with the military commanders and national leaders. Since they weren’t Chroniclers of the Oath, they were under no obligation to keep confidences, and so they shared what they knew under orders. Also, since they were not under the Oath, they did not have the authority of the Oath to go where they pleased. That problem, however, was easily solved with a heavy cavalry unit accompanied by a dark scout brigade, the sum of which constituted its own authority.
Occasionally, Federico employed a corps of drinkers of the Gradaken waters, so that his ship’s crew could control the wildlife: sea serpents were a plague upon ocean travelers, but they could be utilized for military advantage when controlled by the Gradaken drinkers. For the most part, however, they were most gainfully employed on farmlands, and he preferred them there. They could turn swampland – and much of the Ihalik continent was a swamp – into farmland by those waters. Every seed they planted could be counted on at harvest time. The people he could never count on were the Pirovalen water drinkers: although their songs could do just about anything, they rarely did so as well as someone who drank the right water for the situation, with adequate water purity. The only people they reliably outperformed were those who drank no great water at all. Unless, of course, he counted the performance of that dreadful girl – Taesa – who murdered countless millions of people with her Sail to Me song by luring them into that storm. For that, he would never forgive her, and his troops had a standing order to kill that girl on sight. It didn’t matter to him that Taesa was somebody’s daughter – he had one of his own, so he had a place in his heart for a child – but what that singer did was unforgivable.
“Captain! A ship is approaching, but it has no occupants, not even when I peer into the darkness with light,” one of Captain Federico’s crew said to him after drinking anew of the Lujladia waters from his vial.
“Prepare to fire cannons and take out their sails! And prepare a boarding party! It’s likely a ruse by pirates,” Captain Federico said.
The other ship moved alongside the Silver Condor and matched its speed.
“Fire!” Captain Federico said.
No cannon fire could be heard, however.
“Fire! That is an order!” Captain Federico said again, alarmed.
“It’s no use. Your crew is preoccupied,” a voice said. Then, a body with a ghostly appearance came into sight.
“Who are you?” Captain Federico asked.
More bodies became visible, all with ghostly appearances, holding the living crew of the Silver Condor captive, with their arms pinned behind them.
“Who am I? Think about that for a moment. As you can see that my crew has control of your crew, it must be deduced that I am the new captain of this vessel. You understand that, don’t you?” the ghostly being said.
“It’s the ghost of Captain Tychon, sir,” one (1) of Federico’s crew said, while his arms were pinned behind him by a ghostly figure.
“He recognizes me. Why don’t you? You’re so much older and ought to have a great deal mor
e knowledge. Does that indicate you are less intelligent? Indeed, you must be,” the ghost of Tychon said.
“What does a ghost want with a frigate of the Ihalik Empire navy?” Captain Federico asked.
“You know my name. Please tell me yours,” the ghost of Tychon said.
“I am Captain Federico,” he said.
“Captain Federico the unprepared idiot, as I shall now call you,” the ghost of Tychon said.
“What do you want? A ransom?” Captain Federico asked.
“Ransom? Not at all,” the ghost of Tychon said.
“Is this a retaliatory strike, then? What offense are you avenging?” Captain Federico asked.
“Offense? No! I assure you that you have done nothing to offend me. No person on this vessel – or on the two (2) treasure galleons on either side of this ship – has done anything to offend me. Not even the shipbuilders have offended me. The sail weavers have not offended me. The crystal benders who made the sailing crystals have not offended me. What makes you think that I am offended?” the ghost of Tychon asked.
“Then, do you act without reason? Why else would you attack this ship?” Captain Federico asked.
“Are you a good man?” the ghost of Tychon asked.
“I ask each of you: is he a good man?” the ghost of Tychon asked, this time looking to the flesh and blood crew of Captain Federico, who were unable to move, but were free to speak. No one said anything, however.
“No one speaks in your favor. How is that? Perhaps they surrendered without a fight because of your failure to inspire. A leader should inspire, I hope you know. You don’t seem to inspire them in the slightest. I think that you have far larger problems than the arrival of me and my crew,” the ghost of Tychon said.
“He’s a good man. We follow him – we trust his leadership,” one of the living crew of Captain Federico said.
“A single person speaking counts for little. Anyone else? Does anyone else trust Captain Federico, the unprepared idiot?” the ghost of Tychon asked.
“We trust him,” ten (10) more said, then another twenty-five (25) said it as well, then the rest of the crew.
“Tone of voice and boldness to speak count as much as the spoken words. When I listen to them, the enthusiasm just isn’t there, I’m afraid. This isn’t very promising for you. A captain who does not excite his crew – and inspire them to boldly follow his orders and praise his leadership – is probably not a captain at all. In fact, right now, you have no ship, so you are not a captain any longer. So, then, what are you? Federico the unprepared idiot, it would seem. Are you anything else?” the ghost of Tychon asked.
“You’re very sure of yourself. All your words put down others to praise yourself. But, what have you ever done that was any good?” Captain Federico asked.
“What have I ever done? You haven’t heard? Do I need to tell you the stories?” the ghost of Tychon asked.
“Before you were a ghost, you were flesh and blood. And in those days, you were a murderer. I know that much,” Captain Federico said.
“Murderers take life. I changed life…into something more….lively,” the ghost of Tychon said.
“You killed without cause. That’s murder,” Captain Federico said.
“Just because you don’t know the cause doesn’t mean there wasn’t one. I think I’m going to have to tell you the stories, and disabuse you of your ignorance,” the ghost of Tychon said.
“I’m listening,” Captain Federico said.
“I hunted for treasure in my day. I cut throats here and there. I spent the loot on whatever pleasures I could – there were women, and games of chance with cards and dice, and rum, and music, and food and even cheap illusions by street magicians to entertain the eyes. Yet, after a brief moment, these things were gone, and the joy forgotten. But the blood that I spilled gave me endless joy. When I could see the life leaving the eyes of the young men and women – as I drove the daggers into their throats and eyes and hearts – I was encouraged, knowing that I was sending them to a better place…away from me,” the ghost of Tychon said.
“You enjoyed the kill. You’re sicker than I thought,” Captain Federico said.
“Sickness is the inability to feel joy. Those were my days of greatest vitality,” the ghost of Tychon said.
“Stealing the vitality of others,” Captain Federico said.
“I was taking it. Stealing implies some moral basis exists for not taking. Yet, there is no firm foundation for that morality,” the ghost of Tychon said.
“You don’t believe in a higher power?” Captain Federico asked.
“Not the sort you’re thinking of. The demons may be the highest, or the water. That is a mystery to be solved…another day,” the ghost of Tychon said.
One of the living crew serving under Captain Federico was a drinker of the Zovvin waters. He was energized from a recent drink of them, and he concentrated his powers. He then spoke out and said: “Be gone, spirits!”
The ghost of Tychon felt a spiritual push – the Zovvin waters gave a considerable strength to this man. Also, several members of the ghost crew were pushed aside, releasing their hold on the living flesh and blood crew.
“You’ve resisted me, for the moment. Yet, you are weak, and the waters you drink are likely not pure enough to give you the fullest strength, nor do you have ample innate potential for using them. I am still here. Soon, you will not be,” the ghost of Tychon said.
At this, the ghost of Tychon returned to the Obliteration and gave his orders to the ghost crew that was still on that ship, saying: “Flames! Burn their ships and sails! Bring me the remains! I want charred skulls and large bones!”
Eleven (11) members of the ghost crew then became material for a moment, and then lit torches and stepped onto the Silver Condor. They lit the deck of the ship on fire, and the fire soon spread to the flesh and blood crew – most of whom were captive – and then went up to the sails. The ship was ablaze and the crew was soon dead or screaming and wishing for death. Captain Federico’s last thought was of his daughter, Perlita, and how he was glad that she never sailed the seas but remained on the Ihalik mainland.
The ghost crew – though material – was not harmed by the flames. They merely collected the skulls and femurs of the crew of the Silver Condor and returned with these to the Obliteration, which was maneuvered carefully to avoid the flames.
Soon, all of the ghost crew returned to the Obliteration. Once there, the ghost of Tychon ordered them, saying: “Burn the galleons as well. We have our treasure. Deny them theirs.”
The ghost crew – still material – maneuvered the Obliteration and then put torches to the galleons, whose crews were not prepared to fight them. Those ships went up in flames, killing all on board and sinking the vessels which had immense wealth on board.
Once the Silver Condor frigate and the two (2) galleons were destroyed, the ghost of Tychon and his crew counted up the bones and skulls: they managed to collect one hundred seventy-three (173) skulls and three hundred forty-six (346) femurs. They set aside sixty (60) of the femurs, arranging them on the deck of the Obliteration as a series of horizontal line segments, equally spaced.
The ghosts took turns hitting the skulls with the remaining femurs, putting and driving the skulls from one end of the ship to the other, and comparing their distances. They were laughing as they played their game, and cheering as their scores improved with practice and luck.
“We are improving a bit; yet, we do need more practice on the approach. Sadly, soon these bones, too, will break. That will not be good for our game, I’m afraid. Our sporting equipment will have to be replaced,” the ghost of Tychon said.
CHAPTER 11: Commands of the King for War and Splendor
The light scout, Derek, of the Ihalik Empire’s Civilian Perimeter Guard, was on board the scout ship Ranger Seventeen, serving under Captain Ackley. Their recent assignment was in the Zovvin Ocean.
Derek drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from his vial and was
energized. He looked far out into the distance – over the horizon, even – and saw a trio of burning ships: a frigate and two (2) galleons. He saw another ship but saw no one aboard, until he caught a glimpse of figures that faded in and out. He saw that they were holding torches – setting the other ships on fire. He saw the markings on the frigate indicating that it was the Silver Condor.
“Captain Ackley, I see an attack upon a navy ship, four hundred thirty (430) miles to the northeast. It is the Silver Condor, a frigate escorting two (2) galleons, and they are all on fire. There is another, whose crew is partially hidden in some way, and they have set our ships ablaze by torch,” Derek said.
“Are there markings on the other ship?” Captain Ackley asked.
“Yes. It’s the Obliteration,” Derek said.
“We shall report this. Immediately, if we can,” Captain Ackley said. He still had one of the red crystals that had been provided by the man named Brynmor, and he flicked it back and forth as he did before, so as to send a signal. However, he noticed that the light it emitted had become progressively – and rapidly – weaker in recent months. Now, it did very little.
“These red ones are of little use anymore. We will have to give the report directly,” Captain Ackley said. He then set the ship’s course for the continent of Ihalik, and they arrived in a matter of an hour, as they were near its northern coast. When the ship docked at a northwestern port of Ihalik, Captain Ackley ordered Derek, saying: “As I am assigned to this ship, you will deliver the report of the attack. Use inland riverboats to travel east to the palace, and give your report to General Povaximus.”
Derek did as ordered, taking three (3) full days to travel over water along the meandering river system, because that was less expensive than airship travel under the dark skies. Crystals charged slowly in the reduced sunlight, so their ability to produce the lifting force to hold up an airship was not as readily available, and was reserved for critical transportation missions overseas. Derek knew this, but wanted to deliver his report more quickly than the meandering rivers would allow, because he worried that a larger emergency was at hand. However, it was not clear how the new Ihalik leader would react: King Xander the Unfailing, as he was known, was a mysterious man, though he seemed to instill in others a great deal of enthusiasm, even in difficult times. That enthusiasm was centered on a search for the unified waters – the waters which gave all powers – despite a lack of proof that such waters existed.