Gareth Ogilvie The Great Sea King

by J W Murison

  Deacon was shocked, ‘they wouldn’t do that.’

  ‘Do you deny their intentions towards Gareth?’

  Deacon’s shoulders slumped, ‘no they had suggested such a course of action, but such a course takes the support of every member, I withheld mine.’

  ‘Your people chose well when they voted you to represent them Deacon.’ He turned back to the accused man, ‘how do you feel now?’

  ‘That I will die on a fool’s errand, betrayed by my own council. What do you think?’ The man was enraged.

  ‘Who is your relation?’

  ‘Alan Fraser, he is my cousin’s son.’

  ‘I know Alan well, he is a friend to this court, I see now where he gets his courage from.’ The King stepped back, ‘I saw you all on the night, none of you turned away even though you were heavily outnumbered, not a man of you lay down his weapon until ordered to do so. I could use men such as yourselves. Would you be willing to give up a year of your lives in my service, a compromise for your lives? I would return you home to put your affairs in order, two months, then return here to serve me for a year, you may take your families if you wish and serve me longer if wanted to at the end of the year.’

  The man he spoke to stepped forward, ‘I am Donald Fraser of the Dale, my honour was compromised by my own council, too regain it I will accept your offer.’

  The rest of the men stepped forward and roared their agreement. They were taken away and released from their chains. The court was dismissed and Gareth returned to his apartments.

  Graun went with him, ‘he is quite a fox that father-in-law of yours.’

  Gareth nodded his head in admiration, ‘Aye, he’s a real King.’

  ‘You canna tell me you still support the council after what the Deacon confessed to in there.’

  ‘I still don’t see how I have much of a choice Graun; I will only step down if I am told to.’

  ‘With two wives to support, how’s that going anyway?’

  Gareth actually managed a smile, ‘not too bad, she’s a wee bit sweet and innocent for my tastes but she’s trying hard to please.’

  ‘Hah, like you know the difference, your first wife was sweet and innocent to if I recall.’

  ‘Aye she was but she has a racial memory spanning thousands of years to dip into, it makes all the difference believe me,’ Gareth grinned.

  ‘Fuck I never thought of that, I might have to give one of those golden girls a wee spin myself one day,’ the two men laughed. ‘I wonder what it is your father-in-law is really after with all this.’

  ‘I have no idea, but I'm guessing he will get the council to agree to send the army to deal with those bloody Eagle centres.’

  ‘Aye at least.’

  He kept them guessing for the next two days then at breakfast on the third he laid it on the line for Graun to take to the council. They would release Gareth from his appointment as war chieftain and they would recognise him as the legitimate King of the Great Sea Kingdom.

  ‘Why do you care about Gareth so much?’ Graun had asked.

  ‘What makes you think its Gareth I care so much about Graun, I am a King; we are always looking for ways to increase our territories. You may have missed it but Gareth's offspring will be my grandchildren. In time his son will become King. I am King of the Eagles, all Eagles are subservient to me, and therefore the Great Sea Kingdom will come under my wing and my descendant’s. Oh and before you say it; yes I know they are part human but they will be nine-tenths Eagle and that is all it takes. The Kingdom of the Eagles will become the biggest Kingdom in all the lands and no one will ever dare challenge us again.

  I also want a treaty put in place with the Highland nation to come to our aid if we call. In return we will offer freedom of movement in the manner you have become accustomed. Any Highlander working for me will take an oath to me which will take precedence over the Highland council. I in turn will give assurance no law abiding Highlander will ever starve or go without while in my Kingdom.’

  The King made a few more demands then Gareth went to Deacon McDonald with them. Together they went to the council members. Graun senses reeled at the stench in the cell but they agreed readily enough. They were taken to be cleaned up. The King sat on his throne and had his officials read out the minutes of the agreement. Gareth was called for at the last minute and asked to sign his release from war chieftain, he took little persuading. It was only after the council members had been dragged away he was informed of the full agreement. It left him stunned.

  A few hours later his father-in-law asked the two Highlanders to dine. He was rather pleased with himself. Gareth toyed a lot with his food.

  ‘What’s the matter son, aren’t you pleased with the treaty.’

  ‘Not really no. I find out most of the Highland council is corrupt. I am now on my own and have no home to return too. I can no longer give up the Kingdom can I?’

  ‘No you can’t, you will have to nurture it, embrace it, build your own forces and don’t forget, make any man swear an oath to you above all others. Don’t worry son you'll get the hang of it and with Graun at your side you will do well; you will make a good King.’

  Gareth was quiet for the rest of the meal and the following day they left the Eagle Kingdom. This time Aswari was waiting for him with two large horses. Gareth looked up at them, ‘where the hell did you get those?’

  ‘A gift from the first admiral Sire,’ he grinned. ‘From one of your Kingdoms to the north; they use them for ploughing and pulling carts. We have heard the news Sire and we rejoice.’

  ‘What news?’

  ‘That you no longer have to answer to the great council.’

  ‘You think that's a good thing Aswari?’

  ‘Yes Sire.’

  ‘Well I don’t, I believe every man should have someone to answer to.’

  ‘You are a King Sire, you answer to the people.’

  ‘I still have to meet a King who answers to anyone but himself.’

  ‘Then you will be the first Sire.’

  ‘Aye, didn’t you know power corrupts Aswari and absolute power corrupts absolutely?’

  ‘No Sire, but then you are very wise.’

  Graun burst out laughing and leapt high hauling himself up into the saddle of one of the horses, ‘for fucks sake Gareth give it up man. Hey it’s pretty good up here, nice view. Gareth would rather have walked but didn't want to make Graun look a fool by riding in himself so he climbed up on to the horse and was surprised by how stable it was and comfortable. The horse didn't seem to notice his weight at all.

  ‘Wonder what kind of impression these would make on a battle-line Graun?’

  ‘Ah now you’re talking my language Gareth.’ Laughing they made their way back to the city.

  CHAPTER 19

  The Eagle trader Miguel stood in front of the young female Eagles. It had been a couple of months since the magistrate had called to see him with the fantastic stories and they had spread across the region like wildfire. It wasn’t that he found them difficult to believe, it was simply that he didn't want to believe it. His wealth was enormous but as with all greedy men he wanted more and he had an idea to increase his profit tenfold.

  He strode up and down in front of the five he had selected. He had taken them beyond the compound and placed them in small cages. Rope harnesses festooned their bodies and his men had been briefed in secret away from any Eagle.

  As the second moon rose he addressed the young females, ‘I have received word that you are more than Eagles. If you are what the story’s say you are then you will know that I have received instructions to release every Eagle. What I do next depends on all of you and your willingness to cooperate. I am going to strike the rings that trap you in this form.’ He put a concerned look on his face and strode up and down in front of them for a moment. He then stood with his hands behind his back rocking back and forth on his heels.

  ‘I am going to strike the gold rings that hold you, if you transform into human form and
prove the validity of the stories, then I will release all of your people and submit to the will of our new King. I really had no idea you were real people, I am sorry.’

  He nodded to his foreman who presented him with the paired rings. With a great display he took a chisel to the small rings that their riders would have been presented with. He cut through the first and the ring on one of the Eagles legs fell off, nothing happened. He struck the second still nothing happened. He was getting frustrated but never showed it. When the last was struck he realised they were all watching the moon and a thrill ran through them.

  He shook his head, ‘looks like it was all a load of crap boys, oh well, it was a good story. Secure them and we will return them to the compound.’

  One of the Eagles screeched at him, he held up a hand, ‘wait.’ He approached the Eagle, ‘give me something here are you waiting for something?’

  The Eagle bobbed her head and looked towards the moon, ‘I will take that as a yes, ok lads take a seat and we will wait.’

  They waited for a full two hours, then as the moons came into alignment they started kicking up a fuss. It happened in the blink of an eye; one of the Eagles transformed then before his eyes could focus another transformed then they had all transformed. Five naked laughing women stood in the cages where seconds before there were five Eagles. They reached for one another through the bars.

  It took a moment for the shocked Miguel to react then he rapped out an order. Before they knew what was happening the men had snapped ropes around their necks and pulled them tight. The struggling women were held down and new rings placed round their ankles. He ordered them released and the men jumped out of the cages. They sat back and watched. The one who had been vocal before was the first to recover.

  ‘What you do,’ she shook her head, ‘what are you doing?’

  He approached her with hungry eyes, ‘let her go.’ The cage was open and she walked out of it. ‘You are fee to go.’

  She tried to transform but couldn’t, ‘I can’t change back, remove the ring.’

  His smile was cold, ‘that's what I thought. Get them out of those cages and take them back.’

  The women were dragged back to the compound. They were taken into his private quarters where they were made to bathe. He selected the youngest one and took her to his bedchamber. The blood was pounding in his head and loins as he regarded the helpless shivering woman. Her screams echoed throughout the camp all night. When he was sated he tossed the blubbering woman in to a locked room where the others were being kept.

  The following day a buyer appeared at the camp. He had been blindfolded for the last ten miles and wasn’t in a good mood. He was shown through to Miguel.

  His dark skin and sharp features betrayed his origins from a Kingdom across the sea. Miguel sat the man down on a host of cushions. Miguel knew the man was looking for knock down prices and was getting in ahead of the rush. They anticipated that he would be trying to get rid of all his stock before the new King brought down the full weight of the law onto his head. Yesterday he would have been correct.

  ‘Was all that necessary Miguel?’

  ‘Rufus, you know we are in hiding our new King has banned the practice of selling Eagles.’

  Rufus smiled coldly, ‘I hear you are trying to sell out.’

  ‘You hear wrong. Your Kingdom may not be under the sea Kings rule Rufus but I wouldn’t be complacent. However I have a special treat for you today.’

  ‘An Eagle is an Eagle Miguel, what’s so special.’

  Miguel smiled coldly, ‘yesterday I would have agreed with you, but not today.’ He snapped his fingers and four naked golden women were dragged into the room. Rufus’s eyes flew wide, ‘what is this, have you started dealing in slaves now.’

  ‘Haven’t you heard the rumours Rufus, about Eagles transforming themselves into people, behold the proof.’

  Rufus got up and walked round them, ‘surely you jest.’

  ‘No I don’t jest, I tried one myself last night, she was delicious.’

  Rufus smiled coldly, ‘really.’ He grabbed the nearest woman’s breast, and she lashed out with her teeth, ’feisty, I like it.’

  ‘Will your King?’

  ‘Oh you know he will.’

  ‘They are like real women, unopened if you know what I mean?’

  ‘Even better and you have one spoiled already.’

  ‘Would you like to give it a try?’

  ‘What about one of these.’

  ‘Oh no, they are for sale unspoilt.’

  ‘Then I shall sample your damaged goods. A bath first perhaps.’

  ‘My servants will show you to your pleasure.’

  While the traveller was bathing Miguel paid a visit to the young woman he had abused the night before, he dragged her to the compound and stood her in front of her siblings and whispered in her ear. ‘You will please my guest in every manner he wishes or I will kill every one of them, do you understand.’

  ‘Yes,’ she whispered back.

  He was pleased, she was only slightly bruised and because of the colour of her skin you could barely see it. A few hours later a very happy Rufus paid a handsome price for all five women. He got money off the one he had fucked and paid for her out of his own pocket. He didn't even spend the night and by nightfall Miguel was sitting contemplating his good fortune. Rufus had paid almost twice what an Eagle would have fetched and sent the word out to his sons. From the depths of despair he knew now he could at least double his takings. Maybe he could make up a new selling slogan, ride them all day then ride them all night; it had been a good day. All he had to do now was make the rest of the bastards transform.

  In the months since they had taken up the task of finding the Eagle centres; Scout and Steven had been able to find every one. Scout had been right and it hadn’t taken long for the magistrate of the first town they had visited to run to the nearest breeding centre with his news. He had been easy to follow and Scout marked the position on his map.

  Within a few days Graun had sent out a couple of men to watch the place. They had repeated the process in every town and it hadn’t taken long for them to locate all the breeding centres. Stan and Scout received word of the visit and what had happened the day before. Scout decided they would get on the trail of the buyer and stop him once they were out of the region. They followed them for seven days until they were well clear of the area. Graun sent a contingent of Scouts and that night they raided the camp. Rufus was dragged on his knees before a bloodied Graun.

  Graun slapped him savagely across the face. Rufus spat out a mouthful of blood, ‘I am an ambassador and have legal rights, you bandits will answer to your King for this with your lives, let me go and I will say no more of the incident.’

  ‘Really, let’s see shall we. Gareth where are you?’

  Gareth appeared from the gloom, ‘what is it Graun?’

  ‘This man declares he is an ambassador of his people and has some special legal rights.’

  ‘Really, first I heard of it. Who’s his King, what Kingdom is he from?’

  ‘I don’t know yet.’

  ‘Then you had better ask him.’

  So Graun did and the man spat out his answer, ‘never heard of them,’ Gareth declared and sent for Aswari. Not only did Aswari recognise the man but the man recognised Aswari. He gasped in surprise.

  ‘He is the ambassador for King Dalai; he was a friend of our previous King who treated him like a favourite pet. I have no idea why he never annexed the Kingdom I believe there may have been blood ties somewhere along the line, I'm not really sure Sire.’

  ‘A big Kingdom.’

  Aswari laughed, ‘little more than an island about twenty miles across, we went there once it’s a shit hole, they brew a black liquid of some sort that he was fond of, a wizard potion of some kind I think.’

  Rufus had gone pale under his dark skin, ‘it gives a man great power in bed Sire,’ he stumbled over the words.

  Gareth shook his head, ‘nev
er heard of it. What does he want with Eagles if it’s only a tiny place?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Graun shrugged and looked to the man on his knees for the answer.

  ‘We use them as beasts of Burdon Sire and their shit is the best fertilizer for the plants we cultivate, it has magical properties.’

  ‘Magic shit eh,’ he turned to Graun, ‘let’s no tell my father-in-law, I won’t hear the fucking end of it.’

  The gathered men laughed, ‘you know I have banned the buying and selling of Eagles, slavery is also outlawed, so don’t even try that one.’

  ‘I am on a mission for my King Sire, I need no other defence.’

  ‘Ok let him go.’

  ‘Really!’ Graun was surprised.

  ‘Aye let him go, I have all I want from him, however there is someone else who wants a word with him.’

  Rufus got up from the ground and Graun cut the ropes that bound him, ‘goodbye then.’ He grinned and walked away. The first indication Rufus got that everything wasn’t right was when he heard the ruffle of feathers behind him. He turned and the smile on his face slipped away, he didn't even have time to scream when the Eagle bit his head off. His body was slung from side to side before the tattered remains of the muscles on his neck gave and his body was flung away spurting blood. The Eagle spat out the head then transformed back into the young woman.

  With the deed done the anger left her and her shoulders slumped. The other women eyed her with pain in their eyes but none approached. She walked off into the darkness and stopped at the still bleeding corpse. She turned it over and searched it for a moment, took something from the body and walked away into the darkness.

  The young woman took a deep breath, her mind going over the indecencies that had been done to her, lifted the dagger and plunged it towards her neck. It stopped just short of her jugular cutting the skin. Her eyes flew wide to find herself staring into the eyes of Graun.