“I haven’t been there for decades,” Ruznak said slowly, doubtfully. “I may not be who you’re looking for.”
“You’re the only one I know who can do it,” Maelgyn said. “And I suspect Euleilla would be happy if you came.”
There was a long pause, before Ruznak slowly nodded. “Okay. For Euleilla... although I don’t think she needs me much, any more. I’ve never seen her as alive, or as expressive, as I have today. Marriage must agree with her.”
Maelgyn grimaced. “So far, perhaps, but I’m worried that with this war it’ll get tougher....”
“Tell me,” Ruznak said, looking at him challengingly. “When you first met her, how often did she say more than two or three words in a row?”
“Not often,” Maelgyn admitted.
“And now?”
Maelgyn nodded slowly. “I know. I agree that she’s more open. But you raised her, Admiral. She’ll always have need of you.”
“I’m not going to be around much longer,” Ruznak grumbled. “She’d better be able to get by without me.”
“She can. She could get by without either of us, I suspect,” Maelgyn replied. “But while you’re still ‘around,’ as you put it, I suspect she’d rather enjoy it if you were with her.”
“Maybe,” the old man sighed, shifting the knee of his missing leg so that he could scratch the end of his stump. “Golden Dragons, eh? That might get a bit uncomfortable, I’d think. Even if they aren’t trying to cook you or eat you, they tend to live in hot areas. Like volcanoes.”
“Which is where I might be of some assistance,” Gyato said, coming into the room carrying a few rather odd-looking cloaks. After leading the Nekoji and Dwarven armies into Largo, he had since sequestered himself in a cabin on the boat for quite some time without offering any explanation. His sudden re-emergence was a bit of a surprise. “Since my people and I have had nothing better to do since arriving in this town, we have worked to manufacture a few dozen of these.”
Maelgyn, careful not to wake Euleilla, took one of the unusual garments and looked at it closely. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this, before – what is it?”
“A Nekoji-fur cloak, made the right way,” the Nekoji man stated. “I admit, it’s not as effective as some of those which poachers have skinned off of my kind, but it should make your trip into dragon lands more comfortable. We use the fur we shed from our bodies to make these, and sell them to those powers which help protect our kind from hunting. It won’t survive a direct blast from dragon fire unaided, but it will protect you from grazing blows and the burning heat of a Dragon’s den. We only have a few dozen available now, but if you desire we can have as many as a hundred others finished in another week.”
“A few dozen is all we’ll need. We can’t stay more than a day or two before leaving, anyway. But I truly appreciate the gift, Emperor Gyato,” Maelgyn answered, honestly quite touched by the gift. Despite Gyato’s claim that the furs were sold to those who protected them from hunting, he knew that it was a rare thing for the Nekoji to simply gift them to others. That his kind were willing to donate as many as they had to his cause was remarkable. That they would consider donating a hundred more was beyond Maelgyn’s comprehension.
“Emperor no more,” Gyato said. “I am Count Gyato. My claim to any throne is gone, your highness.”
“I suppose we never really discussed that,” Maelgyn mused. “I imagine the title of ‘Emperor’ could be preserved, given the lack of precedents. No province has ever been a part of Svieda for long without a Sword being designated to run it. By virtue of our treaty, Mar’Tok and Caseificio will never have a Sword ruling over them.”
“Keeping the title of Emperor could help smooth the transition for my people,” Gyato conceded.
“I figure it’s worth it,” Ruznak huffed. “Emperor Gyato, you and Merchant Prince El’Athras have both gifted Svieda with your nations, but Svieda is not the Sho’Curlas Alliance. While you are now a part of our kingdom, I doubt Maelgyn, nor any of the rest of us, have any intention of usurping your traditions in favor of our own. Your titles, whatever they may be, will never be an issue.”
The discussion of titles halted as several others arrived. El’Athras and Dr. Wodtke, Rykeifer, Onayari, Sword Prince Wybert, Wangdu, Valfarn’s son Agaeb, and Admiral Rudel streamed into the room for an expected council of war. As they were filing in, Maelgyn paused to nudge his wife awake. “Euleilla? You might want to hear this.”
“Hm?” she whispered, and then sat up rather quickly. “Oh, has the meeting started already?”
“Just starting,” he answered. He bowed his head to greet the new arrivals. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming. Before we begin, though – Sir Agaeb, I invited you here to act as Sword Prince Wybert’s second on his march, but you will also have to answer to Emperor Gyato, here. If you would prefer to participate in the Borden Isle expedition, I could find someone else to take your place. If not, the two of you will be responsible for demonstrating the legitimacy of our new alliances. With the Sword Prince of Largo and the son of the regent of Sopan verifying each others’ stories, the treaty should go unquestioned.”
Agaeb nodded. “Thank you, your highness. I will gladly accept any role you have for me, and will be honored to act as both Emperor Gyato’s and Sword Prince Wybert’s second.”
“Very good. Also, Admiral Ruznak has agreed to come with us—” he paused feeling the delighted wave of magic burst from his wife. “Ahem. Ruznak has agreed to come with us, and I’m going to ask you to join us as well, Captain Rykeifer.”
“I’ll be glad to,” Rykeifer said doubtfully. “But I am unsure of what help I can be. You already seem to have a significant number of command staff with you on this expedition. In addition to yourself, Admirals Ruznak and Rudel, Gyato, that Elf I have yet to meet, and El’Athras are all very experienced military leaders. Compared to them, your highness, I am not exactly—”
“Believe it or not, you are the only one of us with any real experience commanding a Human army in battle,” Maelgyn noted. “Gyato will be marching with Wybert. Ruznak and Rudel are navy, El’Athras has only ever commanded armies of Dwarves, and Wangdu usually acts alone. As far as I am concerned... well, I have had some training, but most of my common foot soldiers have more experience than I do. Sir Leno also will travel with us as an officer of the army, but he has a special mission and will be at great risk of capture. I don’t want him to bear the burden of protecting our plans and secrets, so until that is complete he will be out of the loop. I want you to lead our ground forces until his mission is over, and then act as his second in command afterwards. I witnessed you in action at Elm Knoll, Captain, and believe that you could be a great asset to our mission.”
Rykeifer nodded, pleased with the praise but slightly overwhelmed. “Very well, your highness. I will do my best.”
“Now, let me bring everyone up to date,” Maelgyn said. “Lord Valfarn is currently leading the Sopan Province cavalry across Mar’Tok, with Lord Mathrid as his second, and will arrive here within a week. Lord Yergwain is taking the Sopan Province Infantry and whatever can be spared of the Largo infantry to prepare new defensive fortifications along this river – including one here in Rocky Run, which will be the headquarters for this secondary defensive line. Emperor Gyato, Sword Prince Wybert, and Sir Agaeb will be commanding the Largo cavalry and the assembled Dwarven and Nekoji forces as they head to the front lines. The navy will be bringing in the rest of Sopan’s infantry before attempting to break the remaining blockades. The rest of us, in the Greyholden, will head to the Borden Isles. When there, Sir Leno will be taking about five men to meet our contact in the Borden court while the rest of us will head toward the volcanoes and hopefully open negotiations with the Golden Dragons. Any questions so far?”
“I believe we all knew our own roles, already,” Wybert said after a short pause. “And we have no questions on anyone else’s.”
“Good,” Maelgyn said. “The thing to rem
ember, for those of us going to the Borden Isles, is that secrecy is paramount. If we are very fortunate, we may find a way to restore those islands to Svieda’s control, but we have no idea how realistic those plans are until we receive Sir Leno’s report. When I return, I will take control of whatever forces have gathered here and take them out to join Wybert. El’Athras, have you had any opportunity to gather additional intelligence about the front?”
“Not much, your highness. All information about the war I have received is several weeks old, but it appears as if the Sho’Curlas’ advance has stalled, with the heaviest fighting actually very close to the Sviedan Royal castle. Sword Prince Brode is in charge of the Sviedan army opposing them, at the moment. Sword Prince Arnach was forced to retreat to Happaso city when his leg was injured severely in battle, though he left a sizable force with Brode and is expected to recover and eventually return to the fight. There is no word regarding your father or the other members of the royal family. We have some suspicions, however: Sho’Curlas may have taken your father prisoner following his surrender of the Royal City, but none of those who were in Sycanth survived the battle. Sycanth city was utterly destroyed, and there were few survivors of any station. Three of the Swords are now in Sho’Curlas hands: Prince Hussack kept the Royal Sword he stole from the King; Prince Mussack has been seen wearing the Sword of Rubick; and Lord Gandrug, ruler of the Sho’Curlas Grand Duchy of Adrabba, now holds the Sword of Sycanth – we suspect from the body of the Sword Princess herself. There have been no sightings of any Black Dragons so far, but we believe there may be plans to station them in Sycanth’s ruins – we’ve witnessed the construction of what might be dragon stables.”
There was a pause among everyone, before Wybert snorted. “‘Not much,’ he says. That seems rather complete, to me.”
Maelgyn frowned. “Just out of curiosity... has anything been heard about the situation in Poros?”
“Poros, your highness?” El’Athras repeated, frowning. “I don’t believe anyone mentioned anything, but then we haven’t been looking their way recently. I’ll make arrangements for a study of them, however.”
Maelgyn nodded. “Okay, now – can anyone think of anything else which needs to be discussed before we proceed?” There was silence. “Good. Let’s get started.”
Euleilla lounged in her hammock, remaining as comfortable as possible while shipbound. They’d not even had a full night on land before they were back on the ship, but there was a chance they’d make it to land some time that day. She certainly hoped so -- while both Maelgyn and Ruznak constantly doted upon her, she got the feeling that some of the ship’s crew were starting to get annoyed at her intrusion.
However, the journey hadn’t been all bad. Spending time with her foster father had been delightful, Maelgyn was always very attentive, and whenever the two of them were busy Sir Leno would try to entertain her by launching into discussions on magic. He was quite eager to learn more about the craft, which he had been forced to learn in secret most of his life, and she was just as interested in his own training regimen.
While there was much she had to teach him, he knew techniques she had never even thought possible -- ways to create lightning, or fire, using special alchemy powders; ways to defend yourself from magical attacks she had never contemplated; even ways to cook meals without a fire. She was learning a lot. Unfortunately, no matter how much she learned, or how much her husband and foster father would distract her, she couldn’t quite make herself forget she was on a ship.
Admiral Rudel had been by to see her from time to time, as well, but his visits always seemed quite awkward compared to those of the others. He, like most of the sailors, could not understand her inability to operate on a ship. She had heard whispers claiming that even the worst landsman would have developed sea legs in that span of time, but since her problem wasn’t really seasickness she could never get over it. She sincerely hoped they made landfall soon.
“Hey,” Maelgyn said, coming to her side. “How are you doing?”
She smiled in his direction. “Time for my daily exercise?”
“Yeah,” he answered. “Let’s go for your walk.”
Carefully, she rolled out of the hammock and into his arms. “So,” she asked. “How much longer are we going to have to do this?”
“Well, we’re at Borden Island now,” Maelgyn explained. “So not much longer. We made landfall at the wrong point, so we’re going to have to go back out and circle a bit so we can make a proper landing undetected. Rudel thinks we’ll find the anchorage this evening, but according to your ‘gramps’ it looks more like we won’t get there until tomorrow morning.”
Euleilla restrained a smile from showing on her face -- something very unusual for her, as she usually preferred to force a smile at all times. “I don’t think my foster father would appreciate it if you called him ‘gramps.’”
“Why not?” Maelgyn joked. “You do!”
“Somehow, I suspect he wouldn’t tolerate it from anyone but me. It’s better for your health if you don’t.”
They walked along in companionable silence for a while, Maelgyn holding her close and steady as always during these strolls. It was a warm and comfortable way of dealing with her problems shipboard, and she suspected it kept the crew from thinking even worse of her.
Hello, something suddenly whispered in her head. Can you hear me?
Euleilla froze for a moment, attracting her husband’s attention, but shortly had an idea as to what was going on. Hello? she thought back.
Oh, Good, it answered. I was hoping my voice would be heard, soon. Hello, Euleilla!
“Euleilla?” Maelgyn asked cautiously.
“I’m okay,” she said. “Hold on.”
Are you Sekhar’s son? she thought.
Daughter, the voice answered. I suppose -- truth be told, we don’t have genders. We do tend to assume the gender of whomever we are bonded with, however.
Do you have a name?
Actually, that’s what I was hoping to ask you about -- our bonded host typically names us, so I was hoping you would do that for me, the schlipf requested.
Hmm, Euleilla considered. I’ll see what I can come up with.
Could you ask your lifemate to let my father know I’m doing okay? Except for the fact that you haven’t been very active, recently -- I grow a lot better when my host is moving around.
“Maelgyn, please let Sekhar know his daughter is doing well,” Euleilla relayed, before returning her attention back to the schlipf.
I’m sorry I haven’t been more active, she thought. I can’t help it -- when I was young, I lost my eyesight. My magic has compensated, mostly, for this loss... but on a ship it doesn’t work effectively. It makes it difficult for me to do things in the environment we’re in now.
Oh! Well, I can’t really do my job as a weapon just yet, but I think I can help you there. I warn you that the way this works you’ll only be able to walk at your normal pace, at best, if you want to avoid everything. I can see your current surroundings clearly, but there’s a bit of a time delay when it comes to ‘showing’ it to you.
Suddenly, Euleilla felt something new in her senses. She didn’t know what it was, but there was some kind of tripping hazard nine paces in front of her. To her right, about three paces away, she could risk getting entangled. Someone who was not a threat stood immediately behind her, holding her, but there were others who did constitute minor threats moving all around.
“Oh... my...” she couldn’t help but gasp.
“Euleilla?” Maelgyn asked.
She shook her head. “My schlipf just lent me some of her senses so that I can move around... but it’s going to take some getting used to.” She smiled at him, allowing her magic to flare up and caress him as well. “Interestingly, the schlipf doesn’t think of you as a threat, though just about everyone else here is.”
“Even gram -- I mean, even Ruznak?”
She paused, and struck out her new sense, combined with her magic, to
determine just where her foster father was and what he felt like. She frowned at the results.
“Actually... yes. Very slightly, but yes. Which makes no sense -- I know that gramps is no threat, so--”
He is not, her schlipf intervened. At least, not an intentional threat. But he may do things which could accidentally harm you.
And Maelgyn? Euleilla asked. Surely he could also ‘accidentally’ harm me, but you don’t see him as a threat.
Of course not! the schlipf replied. He would never harm you by intent, and father would prevent all of us from accidents. There is no threat, there -- not even from the unintentional.
Euleilla wasn’t entirely certain she agreed with the schlipf, but she didn’t have a convincing counter-argument.
So, she began, when do you think you’ll be sprouting?
Oh, not for some time now. I’ll warn you, beforehand -- the memories my father gave me tell me that it can be a little painful in the moment it happens.
Your father gave you memories?
Of course! the schlipf exclaimed. All of our kind are born with some memories from our parents. How else would I be able to talk with you?
Euleilla was surprised. She hadn’t even thought of that, but it made sense. “Hmm... interesting.” She said the last bit out loud without realizing it.
“What’s interesting?” Maelgyn asked.
“A schlipf is born with some memories gifted by its parent,” she explained. “Which is how mine can talk to me already.”
“Does yours have a name, yet?” Maelgyn asked.
“No... I’ll have to think of one.” She grinned up at him coyly. “You could help me find a name, you know.”
Maelgyn’s voice soured. “I’d rather not invite rumors of you being pregnant just yet, which would happen if anyone heard us pick out names together. We’re obligated to have children one day, you know, and the public is always anxious for such a ‘happy’ occurrence to come to pass.”
In Treachery Forged (The Law of Swords) Page 32