Winds of Torsham (The Kohrinju Tai Saga Book 2)

by J P Nelson

  I shrugged, “I was just paying him a complement. What is this about a sculpture?”

  Ponsetti returned, exasperated, but composed, and giving me an evil eye. I was headed for the grand castle to meet renowned artist, Gohnshier Shingo Mahtoya. He was going to make sketches of me and chisel a statue to commemorate being the first champion to hold title beyond one year.

  We rode through beautiful Chessne Gardens, where Dominick Triple had played, around a one hundred sixty acre lake, inside the city no less, and through the magnificent gatehouse of the old castle. We rode under a rampart and through a gate into the most beautiful site my eyes had ever seen. Covering a whole acre was a field of blue roses, the Blue Medicine Rose of the Itahro, and in the middle of it was a blue veined white marble fountain with a little girl dancing at the center.

  The carriage came to a stop and without asking, I got out and with great reverence walked into the field. If someone told me to stay put, I didn’t hear. My world had gone surreal.

  Dawn was breaking out as the sun shown on the glistening water gurgling from the fountain. The smile on the dancing girl’s face was eradiated by the shining light.

  Whoever the artist was, they caught my momma perfectly. This was Kelshinua as a child with no doubt in my mind. The smile was the same, the eyes were my momma’s eyes, and the hands … they were my momma’s hands.

  Somewhere in the distance I could hear her sing and the blue roses, her favorite flower, danced to the song. It was not a happy time in my life, but right then, right that moment, I felt content. I was seeing my momma smile.

  Reaching down, I broke a stem with a nice sized rose upon it. I figured when I was alone, I could store it in the hidden pocket of my left moccasin, just like my firebox hidden in the right. Smelling deeply of the fragrance, I quietly said, “I love you momma.”

  They were waiting as I returned to the carriage, Edgarfield with a show of interest on his face, but no questions were asked. I wasn’t going anywhere, not that they figured, anyway.

  We walked in and I marveled at the old paintings and tapestries. The two which caught my eye was the one who had to be Dahrbus Yuban, and the other being Van Kajah. Both, strong looking men; both who had a kind of crazy look in their eyes.

  At center of the hall was a wiry, slovenly dressed man who must have been drunk. Standing behind an easel and waving a slim brush about, he asked in slow speech, “Eez diss de mahn? Eez diss he ov who muzt iee mak wuk?”

  To me he impatiently said, “Tak ov de shut … now-now … quek to do now.”

  I did and his demeanor changed. One eye raised and he pursed his lips. One hand looked as if to reach under and give a little squeeze as he said, “Um-m-m yez-z-z, iee lak eet. Ver nize. Do zumzing.”

  Thankfully to me he was several feet away, but still … I noticed Edgarfield was suddenly enjoying himself, at my expense.

  Do something, eh? What? I tossed my top off to the side as both Edgarfield and Ponsetti stared at me with unbelief. Then I growled at Mahtoya. Edgarfield’s eyes grew wide, but the artist? He jumped back with a start, then wiggled his eyes and asked, “O-o-o … he eez eentizing. Iee buy him, yez-z-z?”

  Edgarfield quickly replied, “Ah, no sir. He is not for sale.”

  “Tizk, tizk … eet eez ah sham.” He winked at me, “We culd hav sush funn. Poot een mout.”

  Startled I asked, “What!?”

  He pointed at my flower with his brush, “Poot een mout … ackt mehn.”

  So-o-o, I put the stem of my rose between my teeth and took up a fighting pose.

  Mahtoya swaggered a bit and said, “Iee lak eet!” With that he began walking around me and painting pictures.

  It was going to be a long day. But hey … it got me out of the tower, I didn’t have to kill anybody, and it didn’t hurt. And that is always a good thing.

  Chapter 53

  WHAT THEY WERE calling the Sparkle River had as many twists and turns as a side-winder rattlesnake, but as its name indicated was sparkling clear all the way. Well, clear until it hit a series of rapids that caught them by surprise.

  Boak’s instruction had been worth while, and although everyone involved got a workout, they made it to the sea in quick time. If anything, it was a good practice for what was to come.

  A favored instance was when they hurtled past a startled teerex, large and purplish of color. More than one man wondered aloud if it was one of those which fought at the plateau.

  The first canoe was well past as the beast was watering at river’s edge. It let loose a terrible roar and started into the river as canoe two and three shot by. Toagun was in the last and aimed a bolt into the creature’s nose in an attempt to distract it from their passage. It was violently shaking its head as they got by only rods away.

  Nobody had any thoughts of taking their time and gawking. The team was out to get down the path as fast as possible. Holding close to shore, they wanted no encounters with deep water denizens.

  Twice they were attacked by large flying reptiles such as carried off Corporal Bowser, but well-placed bolts dropped two creatures from the sky and ultimately chased a third away.

  The team took notice the water was very warm, and they saw a wide array of creatures new to them, both great and small. Choosing camp was a tedious affair, but Jha’Ley left it to Dessi … this was his expertise and he was proving himself quite adept. Some creatures were drawn by fire, others were repelled, so it was a trade off, but one they got used to. As a rule, if they wanted hot food, the fire, no matter how small, attracted big creatures. It was that simple.

  Morale was high when they saw the flag, although it was ragged and in bad shape. They paused long enough to take it down, but when mosquitoes the size of a human hand attacked, not including the wings, they were wondering if they should have let the flag pass.

  Moving through the marsh was not a fast venture. One beast they never really saw almost knocked one of the canoes over. They saw a tail lash the reeds, and what they thought was a set of eyes rose up, but hacks from swords and Toagun’s combachete kept the creature at bay.

  The real fun began when the team properly entered what they called Grey’s River. Boak said he only knew of one river in Aeshea to have more white water than this one, the Sahnuck in the Sahrjiun Mountains, although he had not yet been there. A positive side of it was, it made for rapid transit, pardon the pun.

  Boak kept the lead and chose where to take breaks and camps. A careful eye was kept for undesirable company. While they had plenty of smoked meat, twice they were able to catch enough fish for a good meal of, well, fish.

  When they hit the first Class III rapid, the area where they had encountered the tiger-ish bear-like creatures, the third canoe, which held Seedle, Rufus, Guen, and Fadious, shot up in the air and overturned. Equipment scattered and the craft came down sideways on a rock, the men thrown into the angry water. Seedle managed to catch Rufus who was unconscious.

  Toagun was in the fourth canoe, which went past the third as it spun around the rocks. Seeing Guen flounder among the foam, he dove in and seized the man. Down the river they went until they all came to a calm point where the first and second canoes were waiting.

  It was Jha’Ley who saw Fadious come down the water and he dove in to get him. The fellow’s head was split, his eyes still open, but he was dead. They recovered packs, but the canoe was too badly damaged for further use.

  As they had with Sergeant Nei, Private Fadious was buried deep and covered well with stone. Again, Jha’Ley spoke words for him as did Dessi, but everyone noticed the commodore slipping in and out of coherency. To avoid potential territorial disputes, although they had not yet seen what Seedle had called, the big kitties, they decided to continue down river. Redistributing the men, they continued on.

  They were three-quarters of the way down, only about sixty miles to go, a day’s journey at the rate they expected to travel, when they decided to make camp. Boak’s canoe ran up on gravel and he and Rahno jumped out to beach the craft.<
br />
  Boak stopped and exclaimed, “What fell on my …” he ran his hand up to his head and a large, gray spider crawled onto his hand and bit him. He yelled, “Shite!”

  The others were getting out of the canoe when they heard him and saw him shake his hand vigorously. Rahno hurriedly sloshed up toward him and saw the spider leap off and scurry away. An incidental glance upward caused the corporal to say, “Get back, quick. There is a huge sac up there in the tree, and it is moving.”

  Before Rahno could get to Boak, his eyes rolled back and he began to convulse. All attempts to help him were futile. By the time the second craft arrived, only moments later, Boak was gone.

  Mantel declared, “Damn …”

  Jha’Ley said, “Sergeant, let us get out of here.”

  Dessi was not arguing.

  Down the river they found another spot, and for the third time they buried a man deep and held service.

  Dessi got everyone together and said, “Men, we have lost our expert. Let us carefully go over what lies ahead. This will be the worst stretch we have covered. And it will be our fastest.”

  They spent much of the night going over everything they had learned, and then went over it again.

  Corporal Rymon asked, “Commodore?”

  “Yes?”

  “Sir, would it be fine if we called that spot yonder Boak’s Hole, or something to the effect?”

  For a moment, Jha’Ley seemed confused, then looked around and replied, “Yes, yes, I think it would be very fine.”

  There was also talk of naming other locations after men lost.

  The next day, they set off with intent of making it to the bottom.

  All were keyed up and ready when they hit the final Class III. There was no forgiveness by the river as they hit the foam with sudden, breathtaking force. It was as if the water sucked them right in, daring them to endure the ride.

  Each man was alert and worked hard to do their part. The front craft caught upon a rock and was hit by the second, both spinning out of control for what seemed to be an eternity to the men aboard. The third shot through between the first and second and bumped both, actually causing them to right themselves.

  Through the rocks, bends, and into the spray they went at speeds they had never known before. Seedle knew déjà vu as once again his craft, now in second position, hit a rock and went skyward. Dessi was in the craft and yelling instructions. It seemed the craft would go over, but Seedle did as he was told and pushed off in correct manner with his oar, and the craft came back down, albeit backward.

  A quarter of a mile downriver the second canoe traversed in such manner. Crashing into yet another big rock, the thrashing water wrapped the canoe around the sharp-edged stone, threatening to roll it over, but the team righted the craft and shot through the water.

  The rapids toned down, but did not cease for many miles. Finally, the team all reached calm water. As they saw each other and that they had all made it, the cheers could be heard echoing through the river valley.

  When they got to the point where the river began to pick up speed for the Class IV water, they pulled out and stored their canoes with regrets. It had indeed been an adventure they would remember for the rest of their lives.

  The team was comfortably camped at base of the cascading falls, and had been for two days, when they saw the sails of the Clarise and Ubank in the horizon.

  ___________________________

  One of the first orders of business was to hold formal ceremony in respect of the men who had been lost. Afterward, Jha’Ley attended private conference in S’Getti’s cabin as the ships sat at anchor. Jha’Ley was easing himself into a pillow-padded chair, being most careful with his injured back and ribs.

  S’Getti winced his eyes and showed sympathy pains, “Jann Raul, you are going to break open wounds. My man can---”

  Holding one hand up, Jha’Ley replied with raised eyebrow, “It is well, Villiam. Between Mister’s Yeau and Rufus, all that can be done has been done. It looks … o-o-ow-w-wch-h-h … and feels much worse than is. Here, make yourself hospitable and fill my mug. You are hording the tea, of which I cannot imbibe enough of late.”

  As the captain obliged he replied, “I made observation as they rendered slather of salve and wrap of bandages. You have multiple ribs broken, numbering three, and your arm, and your knee, and have been twice concussed in extreme measure.”

  “The knee does not count, it is only a sprain, and,” he held up one finger while adjusting his seat, “one concussion, not so …” he gingerly touched the side of his head, “… so extreme. It just hurts.”

  S’Getti was incredulous, “Master Rufus says two, a diagnosis rendered with concurrence by your acting physician of ship.”

  Jha’Ley waved, “Ah, what does Mister Rufus know? He is a sailing master with only, what, three decades or so of experience? He has probably never seen a concussion …”

  “Um-m humn-n-n. And Chief Quarter-Master Yeau? Was he not serving as ship’s surgeon prior transfer to the Clarise?”

  Jha’Ley paused as he squirmed in the chair, held his head for a moment, then wrinkled his brow, “I do not know … was he?”

  S’Getti was watching his friend adjust himself and shook his head in concern, “Are you most certain you wish this briefing now?”

  “Of course, of course … now, now is good … what is this news you wish to relay, of which all tongues are sealed?”

  S’Getti spoke casually, “We made discovery of a castle.”

  Jha’Ley froze and tilted head, looking at his friend from under eyebrows, “You found a what?”

  With a subtle wink, S’Getti said, “We made discovery of a regular castle proper; keep, curtain walls, towers of grand stature, lake … there be sound wharf for vessels of size, corn of wild nature in fields aplenty ...” the captain gave an upward nod to Jha’Ley, “all an aspiring lord should want, save servants, warriors, and women.”

  “Where?”

  “Sixty miles, shave or add furlong, along south-to-east shore from hence. Follow winding river course thirty-seven miles inland to small lake, on peninsula center she rests upon rocky plateau.” He smiled, “She sits alone for aspiring seizure of possession.”

  “Are you laying plans?”

  “Ah, nah, not I. My thoughts were lending toward your ends.”

  Jha’Ley laughed heartily, and then gasped while holding his side, “You failed to mention the haunts.”

  “Haunts, of what haunts do you imply?”

  “Why, the ones in yonder castle.”

  “And for why do you give thought to haunts?”

  “Tell me Villiam, for what other reason would such a perfect place stand vacant.”

  “I declare the lack of knowing. Mayhap it merely awaits the worthy holder?”

  “Bosh! You have seen, given study to this place?”

  “Not of person. “I first sent barge forward with Sergeant Corad to lead. Upon return I sent expanded team with inclusion of your bosun, Caroll. He renders expertise in structures of antiquity.”

  “Oh? Do tell.”

  “Bosun Caroll discloses belief such castle is nigh of millennial age in construction. Yet my Marine declares modern adjustment.”

  Jha’Ley scrunched his forehead in pain, “I do not follow.”

  “Aft of said fortification is the lake major. On peninsula’s edge stands house of notable structure. Survey lends to purpose as boat house for said fortification in bygone days. Yet, upon gate’s handle is tied unrusted chain bound by key-lock without compromise.”

  “What? You say a modern lock?”

  “Not I, rather Sergeant Corad. Sergeant’s declaration holds said device bears date of manufacture four years prior this our given day.”

  Jha’Ley was stunned and in deep thought. Only high grade locks bear such a date, and who …

  S’Getti took a serious expression, “Make not deliberation, Jann Raul, it is there. You shall see lock, structure, lake, castle, all in due course. Give no
t press of your blood to purpose without warrant.”

  “And it is thirty-seven miles upriver?”

  “It is.”

  “Was sounding made of the river?”

  “Indeed. Dropping of tender boat shall not be required, unless it be your desire to do so. The river yields adequate depth for ship’s ease of passage accommodation. Upon your word given, you shall press Clarise to port against lake dock without effort.”

  Jha’Ley carefully readjusted his seat and shook the thought from his head, at least for the moment, “Let us pass this subject for the immediate moment. What say you refill my mug and bore me with details of your languished exploration?”

  For several hours and through two meals, S’Getti embellished in poetic fashion the remainder of the Uordak coastline, islands found, and significant amounts of ore discovered on some of those islands.

  Much praise was lavished upon Telroy, “Now there goes a likely lad. Quick of thought and smooth of style, Clarise handles to his charm as a wanton lover … and the crew, they cater his cadence with pomp and prance. And his eye for detail, how should I say it …”

  “Oh, say it,” Jha’Ley prodded, “you are dying too.”

  With a dramatic jiggle of his head and flourish of hands, “His eye for detail rivals e’en my own.”

  Jha’Ley laughed while holding his side.

  “My foretelling shall be … Master Telroy bears the frequent saving of your rash ass strong within his blood.”

  Still laughing in pain, Jha’Ley asked, “And how about Dalton?”

  “Ah, a fine fellow with a seaman’s savvy. But, I tell you Jann Raul, he carries a stiff rod upright his spine. Rude, he is not, and most cordial. But he carries not understanding of mirth.”

  S’Getti slapped his desk and leaned forward, “Why, I bore him most reveling tale just yesterweek, wherewith the fellow passed me glance without reward.”

  Jha’Ley leaned forward and matched face, “You mean, he did not laugh?”