Ten Crescent Moons (Moonquest)

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Ten Crescent Moons (Moonquest) Page 29

by Marilyn Haddrill


  Stunned at the sight, Adalginza watched Kalos leap upon the upper deck and begin shouting instructions.

  "Prepare the launcher! Now!"

  One knight battling a new fire paused long enough to protest.

  "But, sir, it has been crated and chained to keep it stabilized. It will be hard to prepare for use on the deck of a ship."

  "I said do it now! And you! Garinster! Assemble a crew. Take the landing boat and row out with a message to the rest of the fleet. They are to use their launchers as well."

  "Yes sir!"

  Adalginza stepped out of the way as six knights frantically lowered the boat while using the protection of the far side of the ship. Soon they were frantically rowing out to the other ships to deliver the captain's message.

  "Give them cover!" Kalos shouted to another group of knights. "Light your arrows, and return the fire they have given us!"

  Kalos gripped the sailing mast with one hand, watching intently as the crew scrambled to obey the orders. The volley of arrows was returned, slowing the onslaught of the rebel ships as the crews aboard were diverted to fight their own flames.

  But the attacking ships greatly outnumbered those of the Crescent Houses, and many kept advancing rapidly.

  Kalos leaped down from the upper deck to survey the unpacking of the launcher, which was now freed from its crate. At the same time, Adalginza moved to his side.

  Part of her wanted to help in the defense of the ship. Yet, her own brother might be part of this advancing armada.

  "Go below deck," Kalos ordered.

  "I will not. I am as capable with a bow as any on board."

  Adalginza reached down and grabbed a bow dropped by one of the Crescent knights, who had just fallen with a flaming arrow stuck in his chest.

  While Kalos checked on the lifeless body, Adalginza pulled out the arrow that was still on fire.

  She placed the arrow, drew back the bow, and then fired in a perfectly calculated arc. The arrow landed squarely on the deck of the nearest of the attacking ships.

  The accompanying burst of flames caused the savages on board to scramble as they worked to extinguish the blaze.

  Because they were so near the shore, the tribal fleet was confined to a deep, narrow channel that meant they could not spread out.

  With the lead ship ablaze, the remainder of the armada fell back to avoid igniting their own vessels. For the moment, at least, the Crescent House ships were given a reprieve.

  "Well done," Kalos said grudgingly. "Your talents are many. A skill learned from the savages?"

  "Yes," Adalginza said, lowering the bow and looking him squarely in the face.

  She would lie to him no longer.

  "You have many talents."

  "I have even more that you are unaware of."

  Kalos snapped a few more orders at the knights preparing the launcher. Then he regarded her again, his eyes narrowing.

  "I never would have believed it possible that Faradera could be taken. It is by far the strongest of our islands."

  "Benfaaro's power is everywhere," she said quietly. "His ships are even now in secret harbors, waiting off many of the coasts of the Prime Continent."

  Kalos gave her a grave, assessing look.

  "Whose side do you take? I no longer speak of your grandmother and her cause for the rights of the savages. I speak of me, your husband. And of Benfaaro. Are you allied with him? Is he your lover? Answer now. And let me no longer be tormented with doubt."

  Adalginza took a breath, not even sure herself what she was about to say in answer. Then a volley of about a dozen flaming arrows simultaneously struck their decks.

  The rebel ships were on the move again.

  They both scurried in opposite directions, grabbing for buckets and containers. They kneeled under the ship's railings, reaching far down to scoop up the ocean water. As they hurled the water onto the flames, the fire hissed back defiantly.

  Adalginza then became aware of Lady Swiala, running back and forth on the decks. She had brought pans and bowls from the kitchen. These were distributed among the crew, to help with the scooping of water.

  Polyper could be seen nearby as he used a heavy blanket from his bed to beat back smaller blazes.

  Adalginza guessed that Lady Sagawea, ill with both child and the motion of the sea, was forced to remain below the decks.

  Kalos moved back to the launcher and shouted at the knights to hurry in their efforts to secure it to the deck with heavy ropes and chains.

  Finally, two knights lifted a huge, heavy globule from a nearby crate. With its rubbery composition, it wiggled and changed shape in their grasp like an errant bubble.

  "At your peril and ours, do not puncture or drop that," Kalos warned.

  Adalginza ceased her efforts at battling the fires, and regarded the weapon with deepening dread. She felt the growing tension among the men as they slowly and carefully stuffed the globule into the nozzle of the launcher.

  "Ready?" Kalos called out to the crew.

  He lifted his Crescent sword as a signal, and slashed it downward.

  A torch of fire was touched to the launcher, which responded with an explosion so deafening that it caused all on board to cover their ears.

  The undulating globule rose high in the sky. And, once airborne, it burst open to release hundreds of acid-filled balls. They rained down on the decks of seven of the leading ships of the rebel armada.

  Then shrieks of agony and terror could be heard, as the splattered crew of the nearest ship began jumping overboard to cool their pain. But Adalginza knew from the demonstration at the Prime Congress that it was too late for them.

  The lead ship that took the brunt of the onslaught began to dissolve in a bizarre display of sizzling, popping, and tendrils of chemical smoke.

  Soon the vessel lurched, and began to sink. It flipped to its side like an animal with an arrow in its ribs. And that's when the Crescent knights on board the captain's ship gave a rousing cheer.

  In only moments, the Crescent knight archers finished off the survivors still thrashing in the waters. Adalginza, however, simply stood with her bow lowered.

  These were her people dying so horribly in that ocean.

  Soon the launchers on the other Crescent ships began firing, and globules were hurled through the air by the dozens. By that time, however, the rebel ships had dropped back out of range to safety.

  Most of the launchers missed their targets, as the deadly acid balls fell harmlessly into the ocean. They bubbled and boiled, churning the water's surface, before they finally became neutralized.

  The rebels answered with volleys of fiery arrows that could travel at greater distances than the heavy globules. Three of the Crescent House ships burst into flames. As they sank, loud hissing noises like meat being grilled over coals accompanied their demise.

  Shouts for help could be heard from surviving crew members thrashing in the water. Landing boats were immediately released from nearby ships to come to their rescue.

  In the fervor of battle, none aboard the captain's lead ship had noticed until too late a side effect of the launcher's powerful force.

  The vessel had been shoved in the opposite direction, directly toward a jutting rock near the tip of the island. When they finally noticed, the knights scrambled furiously to adjust the rigging of the sail and change direction.

  But all aboard knew it was too late when a loud crunch announced their fate.

  The craft was impaled upon the rock. And, in the distance, about a dozen more rebel ships from the far side of the island could be seen bearing down on them.

  "We're coming for you, captain!" a voice shouted from a small rescue craft floating in the water nearby.

  "No!" Kalos shouted. "There is no time for rescue! We must preserve those launchers. Go to Isner's ship, and instruct the commander to take charge. He is to retreat immediately. He must lead the fleet directly to the frontier. Once you have unloaded the weapons, you must travel to Sola Re where you wil
l have reinforcements."

  "But captain. We can win this once the rebel fleet is closer."

  Kalos looked at the advancing armada, seemingly assessing their strengths.

  "We cannot risk the loss of more of these weapons. They are far too valuable. And we need them in the frontier."

  "Sir, you should at least allow us to take you with us."

  "I will not abandon my crew. I will stay with my ship. Go now!"

  As the rowboat moved away, Kalos then instructed about six of his men to heave their own launcher and crate of weapons overboard.

  Adalginza stood by his side while they watched huge bubbles boil to the surface, evidence that the globules had been breached and neutralized.

  "At least they will not capture that weapon and extract what we know," Kalos said despondently.

  The rain of fiery arrows had stopped, as though those aboard the savage ships knew now that they had sure prey. Six of the vessels now surrounded them in a semi-circle.

  A few other rebel ships gave half-hearted chase as the Crescent House ships drifted back out to sea. But the fleet had enough of a head start that the savages must have known they could never catch up.

  Captain Kalos moved back to the upper deck and stood, his Crescent sword sheathed, while he surveyed the damage.

  Bodies of five Crescent knights slain by arrows were strewn across the deck. Polyper had gone below to bring Sagawea to the upper deck, in case the ship continued to sink.

  Adalginza moved over to her grandmother, where they stood together arm-in-arm.

  All passengers and crew all now looked up at Kalos. Awaiting a miracle.

  Kalos observed the approaching rebel ships, now tightening their circle. And then he gazed back down again.

  "We have no chance," he announced finally. "Benfaaro's savages are known for unimaginable cruelty. Any prisoners they take rarely stay alive for long. And those who do, beg for death."

  Looking anguished, Kalos then gripped the hilt of his sword.

  "I am responsible for what has happened to us here today. And, if you wish, I will use my own blade to take your lives cleanly before the savages board us. Those who want it to end this way, step forward now. But you must hurry."

  Without hesitation, a few of the Crescent knights began to move toward their leader.

  Polyper braced Sagawea, who was clutching her stomach protectively. Then the two of them headed toward the steps spiraling up to the captain. Tears rolled down Sagawea's face.

  Finally Adalginza could stand it no longer. She shoved her way in front of those in motion and walked halfway up the steps.

  "No!" she shouted. "Do not end it this way! I give you my word, we will not be harmed."

  Everyone, except Kalos, wore astonished expressions as Adalginza dashed the rest of the way up the stairs to the upper deck.

  Her husband moved a few steps away from her, regarding her as though she had somehow become hideously diseased.

  Adalginza gave him a look of abject apology, and then turned back to those below.

  "Surrender now, in the name of Benfaaro! I will demand mercy! For all of you!"

  "What are you talking about?" Sagawea asked. "Benfaaro has never shown mercy to those of the Crescent houses. You cannot save us. No one can save us."

  Sagawea stalwartly started to push her way forward again. But Adalginza stopped her with one hand held palm forward.

  "All of you will be spared." She paused, averting her eyes from the captain's face. "Benfaaro is my brother. I am Of The Blood. And his followers must obey me."

  "The truth at last," Kalos whispered behind her. "But I wish I had been struck deaf before my ears heard it. So you are the third person Of The Blood."

  The silence that followed was like a pause that extended for far too long in the melodramas performed by traveling troupes of actors. Everyone stared, disbelieving.

  "Impossible," Polyper finally said. "You have indigo eyes."

  "You are the image of me when I was younger!" Swiala protested.

  "I am also your granddaughter," Adalginza said, looking down at Swiala sorrowfully. "The daughter of your son. And the daughter of Benfaaro's mother."

  "How could this be?" Kalos asked. "Medosa recorded your birth. He was with Lady Donzala when a baby with indigo eyes was born to Lady Donzala. I read Medosa's writings myself in the Dome of Archives."

  "The baby was my half-sister, who was murdered. I was given to Lady Donzala as a replacement. I was conceived and born for only one purpose. To serve as Benfaaro's spy."

  "Kill her!" one of the Crescent knights shouted.

  The cry was taken up, as if in the frustration of defeat they all wanted a last chance to draw enemy blood before their own was splashed across the decks of the doomed ship.

  Indecipherable shouting became intermingled with arguing from those who had actually heard her promise.

  But Adalginza now heard only the words of the one who stood with her on the upper deck. She could not bring herself to look at him.

  "All those times I trusted you. All those times in the frontier, when I told you of the plans for the arrival of the caravans. You betrayed me not because of madness. But from deliberate treachery. And from loyalty to Benfaaro, who is your brother."

  "That is correct." Adalginza had no emotion in her voice.

  "I should run my sword through you right now."

  "If you do, you take away the only chance these people have of survival."

  Adalginza dispassionately monitored the arguments among the crowd gathered below. Finally, she spoke again.

  "It is true I wanted to help my people. But you also must believe me when I say I did what I did to save your life. And that of your family."

  "A paltry excuse. Hundreds of lives have been lost. Because of you."

  She still could not turn to look at Kalos, because she knew what she would see in his face.

  "You think I don't feel the shame of what I've done? I cannot even look at my own image in the mirror without wishing for death to release me."

  "Then allow me to accommodate you."

  She heard the metallic "zing" of the Crescent sword drawn from its sheath. Still, she did not turn around. The captain's action caused silence again, as all eyes turned away from her and toward him.

  It was Sagawea who sprang forward, struggling up the stairs, to insert herself between the two of them.

  "Wait!" She turned to Adalginza. "Do you mean this? That you can save us? My baby as we speak kicks with life inside me. I wish so much to see its face."

  Adalginza nodded, mutely, in agreement.

  In turning to face Sagawea, she now looked beyond her to see the raw hate in the captain's eyes. It was as though the sword he still clutched in his hand had already had been thrust through her heart.

  Sagawea turned back to Kalos.

  "Don't do it. Give her a chance to save us."

  There was a murmur of agreement in the crowd, born of desperation.

  Adalginza looked back to the crowd. But she averted her eyes when she saw the look of hurt in Lady Swiala's eyes.

  Polyper was peering up at the sky, hands raised. He appeared to be praying to the moon gods for salvation. Others had joined him.

  Adalginza addressed a spot on the far horizon, above their heads, so she would not have to see the faces of those watching her. But she spoke authoritatively.

  "Throw aside your swords. Present yourself as no threat. And I will see to it that you are spared. You have my word."

  As the rebel ships drew nearer, swords were thrown to the side to land with the rasp of metal striking wood.

  All eyes were now on Kalos, for he had not moved. He still held the Crescent sword. And he still looked at Adalginza with eyes of murder.

  She turned back to him, and held out her hand.

  "Give me the sword, husband."

  "I am no husband of yours."

  "Give me the Crescent sword, Captain Kalos. I will hold it up as a symbol of your surrender. Othe
rwise, I will not be able to account for the actions of the savages once they board the ship and see you still ready to fight."

  "Give it to her!" Polyper shouted unexpectedly. "It is not your right to sacrifice our lives when she has offered to save us!"

  In one sudden motion, Kalos reversed the sword and thrust it, hilt forward, toward Adalginza. As she accepted it, the blade was aimed at his chest.

  He regarded her with revulsion.

  "A true savage would now cut off the head of the snake by killing the captain. Otherwise, the snake still lives to strike another day."

  "I will not kill you, Kalos."

  "Then let it be known, in front of witnesses, that I wish to live only so that I might hunt you down. I will find you some day. And you will die, Adalginza. At my hands. In a most vile way. You have my word."

  His words stretched something inside her until it snapped, leaving a wound that would remain raw and bleeding and beyond healing.

  "Do what you must," she said. "It is always what I have done."

  She then turned from him to face the sea.

  The first of the rebel ships was now within hailing distance. Adalginza quickly held the Crescent sword high above her head, and shouted a greeting.

  "I am Adalginza, sister of Benfaaro! I have the indigo eyes of The Prophecy. I am Of The Blood, and must be obeyed! Hear me now! Those aboard have surrendered! The ship is ours!"

  But inside, she shuddered as she heard the answering voice on the lead vessel. He moved into full view, leaning insolently over the railing of the bow.

  Talan.

  "I salute you, Adalginza! My future bride has made me proud. I did not expect you here, but it will be my pleasure to escort you home to your brother, Benfaaro. And to your people, who will now know of the great sacrifices you have made for us."

  A great chanting grew from the ranks of the savages aboard all the vessels.

  "Adalginza! Adalginza! She with the indigo eyes! She who is One with all the beasts of the land! She who is Of The Blood! Adalginza!"

  So it would seem that, among her people, she at last was given honor the way she was never accorded it as a child. Despite Benfaaro's edict against it, her people clearly had been whispering The Prophecy among themselves.

 

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