Gareth Ogilvie The Great Sea King

by J W Murison

  Grey Eagle stepped forward, ‘it may not have been kind but I believe necessary, not all of my people wanted to meet you in friendship, it proves to me that my decision was the right one.’

  ‘A king who listens to his people, now you are impressing me.’

  ‘You are Gareth Ogilvie I am Grey Eagle king of my people. I called many of my chiefs together last night and I listened to them, then I made up my own mind about what to do.’

  Gareth smiled, ‘please this way. The fruit we have is fresh but the meat is old and salted, we won’t receive any fresh meat until later on today.’

  ‘I don’t care about the food Great Sea King, more about the quality of the company eating it.’

  ‘Please call me Gareth.’

  ‘Grey Eagle, you have met my daughter Amber, this is my youngest Saran, my wife Takotah. This elder is the eldest chief in my tribe and also one of the wisest in my tribe.’

  ‘I have one of those, his name is Graun.’

  ‘Hey,’ Graun protested and punched Gareth on the shoulder to Gareth's great amusement and the Grey Eagles complete horror.

  A laughing Gareth apologised, ‘I am afraid none of my family are here on this voyage with me. However I consider little difference between my family and the men and women that walk at my side on this journey.’

  ‘Will you forgive me if I cannot understand that?’

  Gareth shrugged, ‘I care little for your understanding only your acceptance of it.’

  ‘I can do that,’ Grey Eagle agreed. ‘Is your father-in-law not here?’

  ‘I sent him home; he was far too excited about our little discovery.’

  ‘I find it hard to believe that a human could order an Eagle King regardless of his rank in life.’

  ‘My father-in-law has a lot of respect for me.’

  ‘Obviously.’

  ‘Let me put things into perspective for you, I am going to cross this sea whether you like it or not. I have a big blank space on my wall in my map room and I will fill that space. Now we will have to make landfall to replenish supplies and with luck we will do it in a peaceful manner. I have had a lifetime of fighting and I am sick of it. I want to contribute to the knowledge of all; I want to keep going until I reach my lands from the opposite direction. That is what I want to be remembered for after I have passed, not the man who slaughtered a million men in one conflict.’

  If Grey Eagle could have turned white he would have, ‘few of my tribe have reading, only the kings and that is passed down from father to son. But we have no problems with our numbers Gareth, surely a million men, is that an exaggeration?’

  ‘Actually no, it’s under by a few hundred thousand.’

  ‘Then maybe I understand why your father-in-law listens so closely to you.’

  ‘I have no wish to fight you or your people Grey Eagle nor do I wish to be dragged into a conflict between you and my father-in-laws people, I assume that is the reason you are here with your family too.’

  ‘Indeed it is Gareth, I can control my people but have little say over what the humans of my realm will do, that is one of the things I wish for you to understand. They have their own chiefs and fight with one another constantly over land, women and just about anything they take it into their minds to fight over. They are very big on honour and fighting, they collect enemies in the same manner they collect seashells. I would invite you to come to our land and stay in the old city. It seems to have rejuvenated since your visit.’

  ‘No thank you, my father-in-law might want to take you up on that but as I have stated my mission here is exploration, plain and simple.’ The women laid on breakfast and talking subsided while they ate their fill.

  While they were eating Grey Eagle was thinking fast. It was obvious that Gareth was aware of their intentions, therefore his reluctance to become involved with his people. He felt a great desire to know this human better, maybe being completely honest would get him farther with this man.

  ‘It was always my understanding there could only be one Eagle king. It was a great surprise to my people when another race of Eagles turned up with their own king; it is something we have become used to. I imagine it would be a far greater surprise to my enemy if another king of his own species turned up on his doorstep and one with a better claim to the throne than he has. If your father-in-law has any thoughts of pursuing those that ran to our lands many years ago, I would offer great caution.’

  Gareth thought it over, ‘I see, thank you for those words of caution, I will tell him myself.’

  ‘I would actually like to meet the real King of the golden ones if that would be at all possible.’

  ‘It is still the middle of the night in his lands but I will send a message.’

  ‘I also have something in my possession that may be of interest to you. I cannot not give it to you, but you may copy it. It is a map of our continent. I cannot confirm its accuracy, for it was made many thousands of years ago when my people enjoyed exploring much more than they do now, but it may assist you in your journey.’

  ‘I would be extremely grateful of the opportunity.’

  ‘Would you and your wife like to join us for a celebration in a few days time?’

  ‘My wife is unavailable, and I have no liking of celebrations, but I would love to visit you and your people.’

  Gray Eagle couldn’t miss Graun shaking his head out of Gareth's sight, then nodding to the visit. ‘In that case would you and your second family like to come later today?’

  ‘I think we would love the opportunity.’

  ‘Then it is settled,’ he stood, ‘come to the old city, we live only a short walk from there.

  In the early afternoon the Eagle King arrived with a small entourage that included his wife and eldest son who shook hands warmly with Gareth.

  ‘Were they naked,’ the king asked worried about protocol.

  ‘No they wore tanned leather outfits which laced up at the seams. It looked like they would snap quite easily if they had to transform in a hurry.’

  The mood was tense when they all transported to the old city. A small part of it was now clear of the foliage but the rejuvenation had almost stopped. As soon as they arrived it began again. Amber stepped out from behind a small fountain with a big smile. She touched the King’s hand to her forehead and the queens and bade them follow.

  They half expected an ambush but none was forth coming. The Highlander’s thoroughly enjoyed the walk and more than one fought the temptation to run. It was a meeting of three different worlds but it could not have gone better as far as Gareth was concerned. The Eagle King even made a small speech which had his hosts rocking in the isle. Gareth sat back and watched as the Eagles touched foreheads. As information between the two groups was passed, things became considerably more relaxed between them.

  ‘I cannot begin to imagine what you and your people were put through,’ Grey Eagle told the Eagle king, ‘it squeezes my heart. You are not like those who went before and I fear for you, you have been through so much. Please do not believe that Telamuck will not kill you and try and grab kingship of your entire race.’

  ‘I find it hard to believe and yet I have seen it in your own mind,’ the Eagle King shook his head, ‘I feel it is only right that I try and reach out to them.’ He suddenly smiled, ‘I had no idea there were other Eagle races, I wonder if there are more than just the two of us.’

  Grey Eagle smiled also, ‘there could well be, it would be interesting to find out.’

  ‘It would,’ he agreed, ‘I see your race has not mixed their blood with the human race.’

  ‘We have always regarded them as primitive beings even if we do like taking their form. Those who first came here of your race built great things and they had the use of metal tools, but they lost that ability.’

  ‘Then they probably had no skilled metal smiths with them or they were lost or captured.’

  He nodded towards Gareth, ‘is it true he makes weapons from metal.’

  ‘He is
a swords smith and one of the best, his family are the best, I have never seen metal work anywhere to rival their skills. Their weapons are quite remarkable and highly sought after. His people believe there is no greater honour than to have a sword or weapon made for them by his hand.’

  ‘How does he find the time?’

  ‘He is very clever and delegates much of the work to others, his trust in them is reciprocated. Even without his magic stick as he calls it men flock to him and pledge their loyalty. It has no effect on those of his own race, in fact I have came to believe that his people are a different race of humans.’

  ‘You mean like we are different.’

  ‘Yes very much so, their feats of strength are amazing, their fighting abilities unparalleled. They are also very complicated; their sense of duty and honour, their willingness to fight at the drop of a hat is also frightening. Old wounds run deep in their racial memory and yet now under Gareth's rule they have changed.’

  ‘He rules his people as well.’

  ‘No he was their war chieftain; his people are ruled by a council of elders. No that's wrong, they rule themselves but the laws are decided by a council of elders and a few elected men like Gareth can bind their nation together in times of war.’

  ‘Complicated,’ Grey Eagle grunted.

  ‘Very, but it has produced a very unique race of human’s. Gareth gave up the position of war chieftain years ago yet if he says the word they flock to his banner.’ He smiled, ‘their most popular currency is fertilized soil.’

  ‘As a people we have no currency.’

  ‘Neither did the Highlanders until very recently, they are soil poor and a few ton transported to their home will hire you a Highlander for a year, a very adaptable race as well.’

  ‘Why did you let your daughter marry him?’

  ‘I was in a cage; I had no knowledge of the event until much later. I would not have approved of course, however it was the best thing that ever happened to my people. She is a very smart girl Melina, sometimes too smart for her own good.’

  ‘Why is she not here?’

  ‘She got too smart for her own good and he caught her out, now he is punishing her and her accomplice.’

  ‘A man.’

  ‘No his other wife the princess Catherine, together they conspired against him to make him marry Catherine, don’t ask it’s a long story. It worked, however he recently found out and feels he has been betrayed by both of them. Hence the reason for this journey. He has sent his sons to his father in the Highlands where they will stay until they have learned the craft of sword making or die.’

  ‘He objects to having two wives.’

  ‘He did, very strongly, he either grew to accept it or maybe even like it, who knows, he has never said.’

  ‘Would you marry your daughter to him now you know him.’

  ‘Without hesitation, you have to forgive me but I am one of his many admirers. After the last battle we fought about five years ago, I think every nation that enslaved Eagles released them. As far as I am aware there are no more Eagles in captivity. He managed to release over a hundred thousand in that battle and a father hundred thousand have trickled in over the years since then.’

  ‘Did he threaten those nations?’

  ‘No he didn’t need to; he just made the facts of the last battle widely known.’

  ‘We have never mixed our blood with humans; we have always considered them beneath us.’ The Eagle king raised an eyebrow and Grey Eagle shook his head, ‘that wasn’t a poke at your people, although in times long past we did judge your people the poorer for it. These Highland humans seem different though, far more advanced in some things than we are. How are their magic skills?’

  ‘They have none and magic has little effect on them, if none for the most part.’

  ‘Damn, you jest.’

  ‘No Just try it and see. You can create a mist and they will not see through it, but try and bind a man to your will and you will fail. What about the natives here, if they are not mixed with your blood then they too will not be affected by magic.’

  ‘Oh they are, very much so. Maybe because those of your race came here and bred with them but I am sure they were affected by magic long before that, some things remain obscure through the mists of time. Do you think he would like another wife?’

  The Eagle king almost choked, ‘the prospect of putting the question to him terrifies me.’

  ‘Really!’

  ‘Really. That's the kind of thing that would have to happen in a natural way.’

  ‘He has been a while now without a woman.’

  ‘That won’t phase him, he just isn’t that kind of man.’

  Gareth was sitting with Graun lost in thought, ‘she’s kind of cute isn’t she?’

  ‘Uh, what was that Graun?’

  ‘That woman there, she’s kinda cute.’

  Gareth spotted the woman he was talking about, ‘I would keep it in your pants while we are here, they don’t breed with humans these ones, I think they look a bit peculiar.’

  ‘The colour of their skin you mean.’

  ‘Aye, it’s a bit weird I'm not sure if it’s a blue or gray.’

  All of a sudden there was a commotion as two youngsters barrelled through the gathering, feathers talons and Eagle cries filled the air. Gareth wasn’t able to help himself his hands shot out and the two came to a sudden halt clamped in his large rough hands.

  ‘Behave,’ the command came out in a low rumble from his chest that stopped the two in their tracks, he put them down and they transformed into human form each wide eyed at having been caught. ‘What are you pair up to?’

  It was a boy and a girl, ‘he took my bird whistle,’ the girl accused.

  ‘You are nest siblings aren’t you,’ they nodded, ‘don’t you want to share your bird whistle with your brother.’

  ‘I don’t mind sharing but he won’t give it back, he’s had it for three days and I want to play with it.’

  The boy had said nothing he still had the fore said whistle between his teeth, he grinned at Gareth who put her down and removed it. He gave it back to the girl and addressed the boy, ‘why didn't you give her it back?’

  He shrugged, ‘I like it and I don’t have one.’

  ‘She is your sister and your nest sibling; as long as you have her you will always have a bird whistle, she will always let you borrow it. Unless of course you try to be selfish in which case you may lose both, would you like that?’

  He shook his head, ‘no.’

  He turned his attention to the girl, ‘where did you get it?’

  ‘I made it,’ she confessed.

  ‘Did you ever consider making him one?’ She shook her head and he raised an eyebrow at her. Her face broke into a smile, ‘I’ll make him one.’

  He winked, ‘good girl now go and play quietly.’

  They ran off and after a few steps she put the whistle into her mouth and they took to the wing. Gareth couldn’t help but smile.

  The Eagle king nodded to Grey Eagle, ‘do you see how fast he is.’

  ‘I have never seen anyone catch that pair before, that was quite remarkable,’ he agreed, ‘he was gentle with them too.’

  ‘I think he misses his children, they were just as lively, I saw his daughter a week ago she is a beautiful child sweet and gentle. His son is a rouge and temperamental and because of it is learning a very harsh lesson.’

  ‘Maybe he would like to see that map now.’

  ‘I am sure he would love to.’

  Grey Eagle called them to a hut where this old treasure was kept. It was rolled in a very large skin and kept in a watertight container. It was handled with reverence and the Beast rolled out a large sheet of paper they used for drawing maps and began to copy it for Gareth. Grey Eagle found himself fascinated by the Beasts swift strokes.

  ‘Your man is very talented,’ he told Gareth.

  ‘He is also one of the bravest men I have ever met. I have noticed amongst learned people that
artists are regarded with less than a manly mane; that would be a big mistake in this instance.’

  Grey Eagle found himself laughing, ‘my people are not that learned, it is not something we deem as important. We believe in the peace and harmony of nature and living in its balance, that is what we strive for. The trappings and ways of our cousins are not our way. We strive to leave no mark upon the landscape when we pass.’

  ‘I quite like that philosophy. My people will understand that, aye my Highlanders that is. Those of my realm would not agree, they seem hell bent on gaining wealth, property and land.’ Gareth shook his head, ‘it was a concept alien to us and many of my own people have returned home because they are disgusted with it.’

  ‘What about you?’

  ‘All I ever wanted was a decent forge and a good woman to share my life with and enough work to feed my family. Our life in the Highlands is a simple one, we all pull together to grow crops and share whatever is grown. We trade skills for surplus or things we need.’

  ‘Like?’ despite himself grey Eagle was becoming fascinated.

  ‘Well take for example a bow, wood is a rare commodity; most are made from many different materials and few live in those areas where all are present. The last time I got a bow I traded a full fighting set, sword, Targe that's a shield and a dirk for one. The person I got the bow from didn't need a fighting set, he of course was a bow man and had what he needed for a fight. The man he got horn from, his son needed a fighting set, can you see where I'm coming from here?’

  ‘I can see perfectly, it is much the way we live although we don’t work with metals. There are those who can bake fine bread and those whose leathers are softer than others.’

  Gareth nodded, ‘that's pretty much how we swing.’

  ‘Do you have a bow with you I would like to see one?’

  ‘Young Alan is one of our best lets go find him.’

  They quickly found Alan and Grey Eagle called on his best archer and a small competition was soon underway. The differences in the bows were obvious. The accuracy of the bowmen was about equal however the real difference was in the distance they could shoot. When Alan handed his bow over to the grey Eagle the man struggled to draw it fully.