The Black Sword Trilogy: The Four Nations

by VanMeter, Jeffery

  “I am, but not for the reasons you’re thinking. I know this may seem vain or egotistical, but with other good Generals all over the land searching for armies that aren’t there and with the disappearance of Krall, I know I’m the last competent General the Grand Army has. There are other clever officers I know; yourself for one. But someone has been setting their will against this army since the beginning. Someone wants us to fall apart and someone wants us to lose. More than that; someone wants Walechia to fall.”

  “Why would anyone want that?” Valon asked. “I don’t even think the King of Masallah is really our enemy anymore. I’ve even heard King Melkur has signed a treaty allowing free travel through the pass of Parabas and that the Masallan King has removed his forces from the border.”

  “I’ve heard the same. But it’s not an outside enemy wanting our demise. It’s someone on the inside.”

  “You think maybe it’s that doctor?”

  “He may be the instrument, but he’s not clever enough to come up with any plot of his own. No…someone’s pulling his strings.”

  Valon thought of comforting his General.

  “Well, the men are all with you, sir.” He told Krypt. “They will fight and die at your command.”

  “I know they will. They’re good, loyal men, but what I fear more than anything is who would command them after me.”

  Valon thought of several answers to that, but said nothing. He knew that sometimes to say nothing is the wisest.

  Krypt then lay back on the cool ground and looked directly at the stars above him.

  “I suppose we’ll just have to have faith.” Krypt said.

  “Faith?” Valon asked. “What has faith to do with anything?”

  “True faith, my friend,” Krypt continued in a happier tone, “Is knowing that no matter what is happening at the moment, in the end everything will turn out the way it’s supposed to.”

  At that moment, a shooting star crossed the sky and suddenly Krypt found himself feeling that everything was indeed going to turn out alright.

  Chapter 20

  Kenner had the dream again; the one with the strange creatures, the huge, domed building and the giant tree stump resting on the tiled floor of a great hall. He could see more this time; grass and vines growing in cracks of the stone and a cloud of wispy smoke coming from the huge, black stump. There was a vine stretching to one side of the room and attached to a great billows being pulled slowly up and down by, what he presumed to be servants. Another vine stretched to the top of the pedestal upon which a larger, even hairier creature sat on a throne of silver. The creature was looking down at him and smiling as if he knew something Kenner didn’t want him knowing. The vine was held in his hand and he held it to his mouth. Was he smoking from it?

  Just as he pondered this question, he heard a noise as if someone knocking on a door and he woke up. His eyes focused on a ceiling barely lit by a dim, orange light that seemed to be dancing off of the walls. The knocking continued and he felt the softness of the bed underneath him and the soft sheets around him. He raised himself to look to where the light came from and saw an oil lamp on a nightstand next to the bed. An oil lamp, he thought? He’d only seen a few of those in his lifetime and knew that they came from Sheyron. Looking around him further, he saw in the dim light that the room was small; just a bed, a nightstand and a door. That was where the knocking was coming from. Curiously, the knocking was coming from the bottom of the door. He got out of bed and went to the door.

  Unlocking and opening the door, he saw Shela just outside. She was lying on a rather helpless looking man. Her mouth was just above the man’s head and her eyes focused on him. He had a fearful, but not quite panicked expression and he was holding another oil lamp in his left hand.

  “Good morning, sir.” He said nervously, but still politely. “I…um…trust you slept well.”

  Kenner looked down on the pitiful sight and had to stop himself from laughing.

  “I see you’ve discovered that my cat doesn’t like anyone disturbing my sleep.”

  “Ahem…so it would seem, sir.”

  He stared down at the man for a few moments and then saw Shela turn her head quickly and growled angrily at several others standing in the hallway. They backed up a step at her warning.

  “Can I help you?” Kenner asked.

  “Um…” Another, older man said to Kenner, “We’re just about ready to get under way, sir.”

  “Under way?”

  “Aye, sir,” The man said in a heavy accent. “You’ve booked passage to the port of Lahkhert and we could leave with the tide, provided of course…” And the man paused.

  “Provided of course, what?” Kenner asked amused.

  “Provided your kitty doesn’t eat me first mate.”

  Shela peered into the frightened man’s eyes with her own and gave him another low growl. Her razor sharp claws extended a little, digging slightly into his skin.

  “If you don’t mind, sir,” The man politely pleaded.

  Kenner yawned and stretched.

  “Let the nice man go.” He told Shela. The man with the lamp grunted as Shela released her grip and sat up. She moved to the side of the first mate but continued to growl at him as he slid the rest of the way from under her, stood up and dusted himself off. He smiled at Kenner and pointed him in the direction of the hallway.

  “You handled that rather well.” Kenner told him.

  “I’ve been at sea a long time, sir” the man replied. “It’s not the first time I’ve had to deal with rather unhappy creatures.”

  The small town was built entirely on the banks of the harbor with all of the buildings going down into the water. At the bottom of every house and building were open boat docks and boats parked within them. Larger ships were docked next to buildings close enough for supplies and crews to be easily loaded and offloaded. Still feeling groggy and having a headache, Kenner was led to a ship with the name “The Golden Serpent” etched into its port side. Looking up the gang plank, he saw Terri smiling and looking down at him.

  “I see Sleeping Beauty is finally awake!” She called to him.

  Kenner rubbed his aching skull.

  “I don’t suppose it would do any good to ask how I got into that room.” He said to her as he boarded the ship.

  “Does it matter?”

  “Not really.”

  The large, bearded man with the heavy accent then came up behind him.

  “I be Captain Shorn.” He said to Kenner.

  Kenner shook his hand

  “Pleasure to meet you.”

  “The pleasure be mine, sir. We might be leaving in an hour or so, but I been asked to put a small question to ye, if ye don’t mind.”

  “And what’s that?” Kenner asked.

  “The Admiral is much wanting to meet ye, sir. If yer not in too much of a hurry, would you be minding a slight detour?”

  “How much of a detour?” Terri asked suspiciously.

  “Not more than a pair of days, Marm. We’ll be going through Korsh anyhow and the Admiral is much anxious to make yer acquaintance.”

  “Korsh, eh?” Kenner asked curiously.

  He thought a moment and then looked at Terri.

  “Well, if my lovely companion doesn’t mind…”

  “Are you kidding? Korsh? Home of the best drink, finest music and prettiest women in the world? I think I can handle that.”

  He then turned back to the Captain.

  “I’d be delighted.” Kenner told him.

  “I was hoping that you might.” Shorn told him smiling. His three remaining teeth jutted out in curious angles in his mouth. He turned and waved to a boat at the mouth of the harbor, it raised its sails and floated away.

  “What was that all about?” Kenner asked him.

  “I just be sending word of your impending arrival, sir; just to let ‘em know.”

  “Let who know?”

  “Just a few trusted folk, sir. It’ll be no big deal at all.”

&nb
sp; Kenner nodded cautiously.

  “Now if we could just get yer kitty on board, sir.” The Captain said.

  Kenner went to the gangway and at the bottom of the plank, he saw Shela with several men and women keeping a safe distance from her. One tried to poke her with a pole to get her to move up the plank. She turned and snarled at him, bearing her sharp, white teeth. After that, she looked up at Kenner with a sad expression.

  “I’m guessing she not be a sea fairing kitty.” The Captain said to Kenner.

  At dawn, the Golden Serpent set its sails and floated away from the port of Bahastrawp. By the time the sun was high, the land was so distant it could barely be seen and for the first time, Kenner looked out at the open sea. His father had described it before, but his description paled in comparison to seeing it with his own eyes. The sunlight glistened on the top of the waves and the vast expanse of the sea seemed to go on and on until meeting with a sky bigger than he’d ever seen. It looked as if the world itself stopped where the sky and sea met and that any who ventured too far would fall into oblivion. The sea looked more than just large. It appeared to so mighty and powerful that Kenner thought that not even the Black Sword could tame it.

  Throughout the day, he simply leaned against the railing of the ship staring out into the vastness. He saw birds fly over the masts of the ship and off towards the distant horizon. He heard the water slashing against the ship as if the vessel were tearing through it. The up and down motion of the boat made him a little queasy, but he thought it a small price to pay for seeing such marvels for the first time. Shela stood next to him, leaned against him and uttered a low and pitiful moan. He reached over her shoulder and rubbed her gently.

  “Kenner!” Terri called from the bow. “You’ve got to see this!”

  Unsteady, but curious, Kenner eased himself along the length of the ship to the bow where Terri was waiting. Crouching low on the deck, Shela followed. Terri guided him to the railing and pointed to the water. Just under the water and seeming to be racing, darting just in front of the bow where what appeared to be curious fish. They were moving so fast, they appeared as if flying. Kenner was fascinated; and then amazed when, first one and then another jumped out of the water then dove back out of sight.

  “By the Lady!” An amazed Kenner shouted. “What are those?”

  “Them be dolphins!” The Captain shouted.

  “Dolphins, you say?”

  “Aye, sir and they be a sign of much good luck!”

  “That’s good news!” Terri shouted as she watched the creatures appear to dance and play.

  “Aye, milady! Them be the favored pets of the Great Lady herself. They dance and play only with them that bear the Lady’s favor. I been at sea me whole life and never a bad turn has befell me when her playmates have kept me company.”

  Kenner and Terri watched the dolphins play beneath them as the salty sea spray washed their faces.

  At night, Kenner’s queasy feeling seemed to ease and he ate a fine meal of fresh meat, fish and fine wine.

  “Does your whole crew eat like this?” Kenner asked.

  The Captain looked up at him from the table and smiled. The ship pitched up higher than usual and an oil lamp began to slide down the table. The first mate casually caught it along with a plate also aiming for the deck.

  “Each Captain be responsible for the cuisine of his or her own ship. Me crew may not have these fine accommodations, but they be the best fed troop on the waves, I assure ye of that. Isn’t that right, Darner?”

  “Aye, sir,” The first mate answered. “A crew is happiest on a full belly.”

  “That they be and since me trade contract with the honorable Lady of the Woods has made me a comfortable earning, I share it with me fine crew.”

  Darner then turned to the Captain and gave him a strange, questioning expression.

  “Why are you talking like that, sir?” He asked the Captain.

  “Talking like what?”

  “Like that?”

  “I’m sure I know not of what ye speak.”

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake; you’re talking like a pirate again, aren’t you?”

  “What are you doing?” The Captain said without his peculiar accent.

  “I must apologize for my Captain,” Darner then said to Terri and Kenner. “He does that sometimes.

  “I just be tryin’…ahem…” The Captain coughed. “I’m just trying to give the full experience of the sea.”

  “That trade contract must be quite a feather in your hat.” Terri said, giggling and gulping down more wine.

  The Captain smiled and blushed.

  “Yes it is, Miss. The Lady doesn’t allow just anyone to go up her river and come back. Many a boat has gone into that river uninvited and many a crew not come home.”

  “How many of you have such contracts?” Kenner asked.

  The Captain and Darner then gave each other strange looks, as if keeping a secret.

  “Begging your pardon, sir,” The Captain said seriously, “But we’re not exactly supposed to say.”

  “One of the greatest prizes any Captain of Sheyron can have is a trade contract with the Blackwoods.” Darner added. “Those of us who do have contracts never speak about them to each other, much less outsiders. We don’t mean to be impolite…”

  “I understand completely.” Kenner said.

  Later that evening, Kenner sat in his small cabin, finally getting used to the motion of the ship and the sea underneath. He was sipping a glass of wine finer than one he’d ever known and smoking a cigar with Terri.

  “So remind me again,” He said to Terri, “Why are we doing this?”

  “Why are we doing what?” She queried.

  “Why am I on a ship hundreds of miles from my house, fireplace and red head with a huge cat that’s going to puke on me at any moment?”

  “We’re looking for General Krall.” She reminded him while pouring herself another glass.

  “Oh yeah…him.” He said with a giggle.

  Terri looked at him and grinned.

  “My dear, Kenner,” she said to him, “I believe you are a little drunk.”

  “Stranger things have happened.”

  She gulped down the delicious wine and leaned back in her chair.

  “Since you are drunk, perhaps you’ll tell me about that pretty little girl who’s keeping your fire going back in the hills.”

  “What do you want to know about her?”

  “Her name would be a good start.”

  Kenner’s head was starting to spin and his eyes felt heavy.

  “Her name’s Lenore, you forgetful hag and that’s all you’re going to get out of me.”

  “Oh come on now.”

  “Nope…that’s all you get.”

  “I’ll give you a big, wet kiss if you tell me more.”

  “Now I know you’re drunk.” He teased.

  “Oh come on,” She said lunging to his bunk. “Open your mouth and let me stick my tongue in it.”

  He laughed and tossed her onto the deck.

  “Get off me, you pervert.”

  They both laughed, drank a little more wine and then Kenner fell asleep.

  That night, Kenner slept only a little. He found it difficult sleeping on the moving vessel, but more than that, the excitement of the day wouldn’t let him sleep. He had seen the awesome sea and dazzling creatures playing like children. Such things were previously unknown to him and he couldn’t wait for the opportunity to witness more in the morning.

  When the morning did come, he almost jumped out of bed and nearly raced out the door. The sounds, smells and even the tastes of the sea greeted him, but he could tell the boat had slowed. Looking up, he saw that only the smaller sails were unfurled. Stepping out, he tripped over Shela who answered in a low moan.

  “Sorry about that, old girl.” He said to her.

  He then heard the sound of boots on the wooden deck. Looking up, he saw Darner standing above him and holding a cup of steaming liquid.<
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  “I see you’re already awake, sir.” Darner said down to him.

  “Yeah, thanks.”

  Kenner took a careful sip of what was already the best coffee he’d ever had.

  “We’re almost there, sir.”

  “Korsh?”

  “Aye, sir. We should be there within the hour.”

  Kenner stood up and looked around the ship. A hatch opened just in front of him and a haggard and rough looking Terri crawled up from the steps.

  “What the hell happened to you?” Kenner asked her.

  Her voice sounding like gravel and her eyes bloodshot, she answered painfully, “I thought I could outdrink the boatswains mate.”

  “And?” Kenner pressed.

  “I was wrong.”

  Standing on the deck next to the Captain at the wheel, Kenner saw two small islands close to the shore appear on the horizon. Within an hour they were closer to where he could see houses and other structures built onto the islands and adjoining cliffs. As the Crusty Crab drew closer, he heard music coming from them. Dozens of people then came running out and yelling and cheering. Kenner heard loud bangs and then fireworks, which he’d only seen once before shot into the sky. As the ship passed between the two islands, the fireworks and happy music continued. More people stood out and cheered and then several women and girls rushed out to where Kenner could see them and ripped off their tops, baring their breasts. They were all screaming wildly and calling his name.

  “What’s going on here?” Kenner asked the Captain. “I thought you said only a few trusted people would know of my coming here.”

  The Captain shrugged.

  “I’m thinking a tiny rumor might have gotten started.” Shorn apologized.

  As the ship floated past the islands, Kenner saw the huge city of Korsh open up before him. Shaped like a mighty crescent moon, it curved around the sea and stretched out several miles inland. There were islands just off the mainland, all with houses and buildings, temples and some structures that looked like palaces. Music from all over filled his ears and he could tell that it came from even miles ahead of him. Fireworks filled the sky and every time the ship passed close enough for Kenner to see, he saw people waving at him, cheering, calling his name, baring their breasts and even some women’s undergarments being thrown at him. Some women and girls even jumped naked into the sea, from cliffs and from houses on the edge of the water and swam up to the ship. They swam close and waved frantically yelling out things like, “I love you Kenner!” “Marry me!” and “I want to have your baby!” One girl even shouted, “I’ll share you with my sisters!”