Mitchell Graham - [Fifth Ring 01] - The Fifth Ring (v1.0)

by Mitchell Graham

  Somehow, Father Thomas doubted the last statement.

  "If you are expecting rescue—do not!" Vanko called out. "If you hope to escape—do not! For there is no es­cape. Anderon is destroyed. Your king and his coward of a son have fled the city, and are hiding like frightened children in the forests. The army of Elgaria has been scat­tered like the wind. Stermark and Toland were taken two weeks ago, as was Tyraine. The choice is yours—you may serve the Empire as loyal subjects, or be ground to dust by it. Either way, it makes little difference to us. There is always more wood to make gallows with."

  Father Thomas could see the muscles knotting in Cap­tain Donal's neck and shoulders. And when he grabbed the captain's thick forearm, he had no question the man was about to act, probably killing them all in the process.

  "You certainly took long enough to meet us," a strangely accented voice said.

  Mathew, hiding below in the cable tier, heard the words and looked up sharply. The accent was unusual, one he had never heard before, but it almost sounded like ... Father Thomas!

  "Who the devil are you?" Danus snapped.

  "Raise your hand to me and I'll have it cut off and fed to the dogs," Father Thomas replied in the same accent. "I am Tarif Ja'far Bruhier, brother of Arif Asad. Perhaps you will explain why it took you so long to reach us and the reasons these fools fired on my ship? Do you realize we could have been injured?"

  Notas Vanko started to draw his sword, but a slight shake of the head by Danus restrained him.

  "We were not told to expect a visit by anyone from Cin-car," Danus replied calmly, looking narrowly at Father Thomas.

  "Excellent. I see you are sufficiently educated to know who we are, but I am still waiting for an explanation, Commander. I doubt that Lord Duren would care to have his allies treated in such a manner—particularly the Sul-tar's brother and his own daughter."

  Danus examined Father Thomas coldly, then turned his attention to Lara, who raised one eyebrow as she met his gaze. For the first time, Father Thomas thought he could detect the barest hint of uncertainty in the man's eyes.

  "As I have said," Danus told him, "we were given no indication to expect anyone from your country for at least several weeks. I repeat, what is the purpose of your visit?"

  Father Thomas placed both hands on his hips. "Do you honestly believe this is the appropriate place for us to have such a discussion? My brother told me he and Duren would choose the governor carefully, but..." He let his voice trail off, allowing the impact of his words to reach Danus.

  The commander glanced from Captain Donal to Father Thomas and then at Lara, who promptly turned her back on him as if he were no longer worthy of her attention. Instead, she looked over the railing at the city of Tyraine, praying he wouldn't hear her heart thumping.

  As the seconds passed, Father Thomas slowly slid his hand closer to the dagger in his belt.

  "Colonel," Danus eventually said to his companion, "leave a sufficient number of men aboard this vessel to ensure that the crew provides you with their ... fullest cooperation. Cut the hands off of any man who resists. Lord Bruhier and his niece will transfer to my ship and accompany me to my residence ... as our guests."

  Father Thomas put one hand over his heart and made a slight bow.

  "Your hospitality is appreciated, Commander. I must tell you, however, that though these men are Elgarians, they are bound by oath to my family. They have risked much to take us this far. I am similarly bound by the honor of my house to uphold our agreement."

  "And that would be?"

  "To dispose of their cargo as conditions dictate ... less the customary taxes and gratuities to the present adminis­tration, of course."

  "Of course," the commander replied. "Perhaps you are right. We will discuss it further aboard my ship. If you and ... ah . .."

  "Forgive me. I present the princess Lina Palmeri Batul Asad, Commander. I regret my niece cannot converse in your language as yet."

  Lara kept her back turned to both men, continuing to gaze straight ahead. When Father Thomas touched her shoulder, she turned and listened, or gave the appearance of listening, while he rattled off a series of words she thought must have been in the language of Cincar. The only thing she recognized was his repeating the name "Lina Palmeri" again. Fortunately, he punctuated it by gesturing in her direction. Not knowing what else to do, she inclined her head in what she hoped was a good imi­tation of the way a lady of nobility might act. She was much relieved when Danus bowed to her. Father Thomas repeated the introduction to Colonel Vanko, who nodded curtly, though deferentially in her direction.

  "Captain, we will be parting company now, I'm afraid," Father Thomas said to Captain Donal. "Would you be kind enough to have one of your men send our things to Commander Danus's ship?"

  "Of course, your highness. And may I say it has been a great pleasure serving both you and the princess," Captain Donal replied with grave formality, as he bowed to them.

  A short while later they found themselves onboard the Vargoth warship with Abenard Danus. Lara succeeded in keeping both her emotions under control and her face im­passive as she surveyed the surroundings. Just knowing that Father Thomas was nearby proved a steadying influ­ence. He squeezed her arm reassuringly on the ride over in the small boat and smoothly covered for her when she almost thanked Commander Danus for warning her to be careful climbing the wet steps. Once on deck, she moved to the far rail, separating herself from the others as she conceived a princess might do.

  This ship was clearly different from the one she had just left. At the front—the bow, Mathew had told her— there was an evil-looking contraption she assumed was the catapult that fired at them. Instead of an open area, a wooden canopy ran the entire length of the ship covering the deck. She asked Father Thomas about it later and he explained it was to protect the crew from arrows in battle.

  From the corner of her eye she could see Colonel Vanko speaking with one of the soldiers, a heavyset burly fellow. The man snapped a closed fist across his chest in salute and dashed below. He reappeared seconds later carrying a small wooden boxlike contraption and promptly began climbing the foremast, the box sus­pended from a leather strap looped over his shoulder. When he reached the crow's nest, he paused and opened and closed a lid at the front of the box. The sun's rays struck an angled mirror inside it, producing light flashes. From one of the towers well up into the hills of the city came a series of flashes in response.

  Behind her, Commander Danus and Colonel Vanko were talking with each other, but she was only able to make out bits and pieces of their conversation. In the end it was decided that Colonel Danus would leave twenty men onboard the Wave Dancer. They informed Father Thomas, who, as Tarif Ja'far Bruhier, shrugged with ap­parent unconcern. Lara decided to follow his example, sparing only the merest glance backward. She carried out the charade and tried not to think of Collin and Mathew hiding belowdeck.

  Only the rhythmic sound of fifteen sets of oars breaking the water, and the wind passing through the rigging could be heard as the city of Tyraine loomed nearer. It truly was larger than anyplace she had ever been before. She was immediately struck by the colors of the houses and build­ings. In Devondale, homes or public buildings tended to

  be white, gray, or brown. These, however, were painted in shades of purples, turquoise, and yellows, in addition to the more conservative colors. Before they reached the dock, her ears were assailed by all manner of noises. Everything seemed in a state of ongoing activity, with people pushing past one another and walking in all direc­tions. Up and down the broad street fronting the harbor peddlers sold fish, vegetables, fruit, and a variety of dif­ferent merchandise from the back of their carts. If Tyraine was a city under occupation, she marveled at the flexibil­ity of the local population to adapt to the circumstances.

  Shortly after the ship tied up, a plank was run out for them. Lara, Father Thomas, and Commander Danus walked down it, but Vanko stayed on board, citing official duties. An ornate black coach drawn by
two horses was waiting for them. It was an elaborate affair with gold scrollwork and tufted velvet seats. Even the interior walls were lined with silk damask, which Lara guessed must have been extremely expensive.

  Not quite sure what to do, she gently pulled on Father Thomas's sleeve and whispered in his ear, "Is this for us?"

  Already halfway around to the other side, Commander Danus paused and looked at them quizzically.

  "My niece wishes to tell you the coach is acceptable, and thanks you for your courtesy," Father Thomas said, replying to the unasked question.

  Danus smiled and made another little bow.

  Although Lara admitted later that her actions might have been a trifle showy, she did not get in the coach. In­stead, she deliberately waited for Vanko to return and open the door for her—which he did while muttering un­der his breath. As soon as they were properly settled, the driver, also a soldier, started off.

  If the scene at the dock had proved a surprise, it was nothing compared with their ride through the streets of Tyraine. Gravenhage was no more than a small town compared with it. The streets were wide enough to qual­ify as boulevards, and it seemed every one was lined with trees and ornate lamp posts. More than once they passed through expansive plazas with large fountains and statues spouting water from their mouths and other openings, some of which made her blush. Through it all, she con­centrated on giving the appearance of only mild interest and not meeting the commander's eyes. During the ride, Father Thomas made polite conversation with Abenard Danus.

  "Tell me, my friend, have you encountered any prob­lems establishing order among these people?"

  "Only in the beginning, but we found a solution. Since then we have encountered little resistance. Perhaps you noticed the hills just above the city? The former mayor is the third from the left."

  Although Danus's manner of speech was mild and offhanded, his words were chilling. Father Thomas's only reaction was to suppress a yawn.

  "Indeed," he said, looking out of the window toward the hill. "Are those children and women I see up there, Commander?"

  "Indeed," Danus answered, slightly mimicking Father Thomas.

  The priest drew his head back into the coach, his pleas­ant aspect replaced by something much harder. "I do not care for the tone of your voice."

  "And I really don't care what you think," Danus snapped. "You may well be Tarif Ja'far, and your brother may also be the ruler of Cincar, but until I can verify those facts, you will be treated with courtesy but remain in the home of the mayor. He seems not to have a use for it at the moment." Danus smiled. "Do I make myself plain?"

  Father Thomas leaned forward, speaking very slowly. "Your words are clear enough. That is well. I was told to expect this of you. You asked what my purpose is here. I will be just as candid. You are aware we must choose a man to govern this province. History has shown us that great generals do not always make great leaders. I am here at the direction of Lord Duren and the council to make such assessment for myself. Do I make myself plain?"

  Before Danus could answer, Father Thomas went on.

  "Talent for conquest is one thing—the ability to rule is quite another. Even someone of a military point of view must understand that commerce and trade have to resume in time. This port and this city are central to our plans. The reports only just reached us that you had priests hung, and that you sacked their churches as well. What kind of fool are you? You'll be lucky if you don't find yourself keeping the mayor company when Duren finds out."

  The last statement was a calculated gamble on Father Thomas's part. He made it not knowing if there was the slightest grain of truth attached to it, but it had the effect he wanted.

  "The priest's death was an accident," Danus shot back. "The man who did it was executed immediately. I have no way of knowing what you have heard, but I have fol­lowed the council's orders to the letter."

  "Fool," Father Thomas hissed under his breath. "This is your responsibility and you seek to pass it off to an­other. You disappoint me."

  "Disappointment be damned. We've done our job here—the job your armies could not do alone. Fortu­nately, the issue of who you are can be resolved quickly. I expect al Mouli and Lord Duren to arrive here in three days. Your general, Naydim Kyat, will also be present by then, for the farspeak. Then we shall see if any disap­pointment is warranted."

  Father Thomas was not prepared for the last statement. He hadn't the faintest idea what a "farspeak" was. To make matters worse, it now appeared that he had only three days to get them all out of Tyraine before the Cincar general arrived and sealed their fate. He issued a silent prayer that Akin and Daniel's ship would not be delayed.

  A dangerous game, he thought.

  And so gambling further, he played his next card.

  "You are no doubt aware that we have an agreement with your King Seth. The Alliance will honor that agree­ment. You may be the right man for governor and you may not. Certainly, you have friends who seem to think so. But let us make certain no further accidents happen. You will be held personally responsible."

  Danus's reaction betrayed him. At the mention of the words "friends" and "governor," the man visibly relaxed, nodding in agreement.

  Thinking about the situation later, Father Thomas con­cluded that a leopard could not change its spots quite so easily. That Duren wanted Elgaria was plain, but he also sought to establish himself as ruler of Lirquan, Telegium, Mirdian, and the rest of the western nations. Whatever else could be said, there was little question he held a spe­cial hatred for Elgaria, the nation that spearheaded, his major defeat in the past. Long after the peace accords of Luzon were signed, they uncovered Duren's plan to di­vide Elgaria into smaller territorial possessions of Alor Satar and eliminate its very existence.

  "Perhaps my words have been too harsh, Lord Bruhier," Danus said. "I am a soldier first and a politician second. These are difficult times. You and the princess shall have freedom while you are here. I can assure you the quarters I have selected are most comfortable. Not what you are used to, I'm afraid, but comfortable never­theless. I must insist however, while you are under my care, you allow me to assign two of my men to ... assist you ... for your own protection, of course."

  Father Thomas put his arm across his chest with an open palm covering his heart and bowed in his seat. "It shall be as you say, Commander. I do require your assis­tance in another matter, however. A Mirdite ship called the Douhalia should arrive sometime tomorrow. Your sol­diers will take special care to see no harm comes to it. On board that ship you will find a slender blond man and a young boy with gray eyes. I cannot reveal their names but I can tell you that they carry information extremely valu­able to the Alliance. Let me stress again, no harm is to come to either of them. They are to be brought directly to me. Under no circumstances are your soldiers even to

  have conversation with them. I will not tolerate a mistake on this point."

  No stranger to espionage, Danus regarded Father Thomas carefully, then nodded. "Does this have some­thing to do with the meeting?" he asked.

  Father Thomas deliberately paused and drew an exag­gerated breath. "You are a quick man, Commander. The reports do you justice. But you will understand I am not at liberty to speak of this yet."

  Danus nodded soberly once more. "I do have one more question, Lord Bruhier. The princess and you are dressed, shall we say, rather plainly. I am confused as to why you have chosen to travel alone without an escort."

  "The reasons for our dress should be obvious to some­one of your intelligence," Father Thomas replied. "The merging of cultures requires that it take place smoothly, with as little disruption as possible. Is it not better the new rulers of this country appear similar to the people themselves—kindred spirits, as it were?"

  Danus chuckled.

  Father Thomas looked out the window as the coach rolled past another fountain—a pagan god rising from the sea, holding a trident. Streams of water arched toward the giant figure from a series of jets around
the fountain's cir­cular marble base, and when the wind blew through them, it created a mist.

  "And for the second part of your question," Father Thomas continued, "as you yourself have suggested, there will be an adequate enough escort here in a few days for the farspeak, won't there?"

  He sat back and smiled at Danus, who began to chuckle to himself.

  30

  Tyraine

  In the darkness of the cable tier, Mathew strained to hear what was being said on deck. The best he could do was catch scattered pieces of conversations. What he did know was that Father Thomas and Lara were no longer on the ship, and the Wave Dancer had started moving again.

  There were all manner of sounds and activity going on above them. The room they were in was stifling hot. What little air was available came from an opening the anchor cable ran out of. In no time at all they were both sweating profusely. To make matters worse, his stomach was turn­ing tricks.

  Then the voice of Captain Donal boomed out directly above them. "Mr. Ward, prepare to let go the anchor on my command."

  "Aye aye sir," came back an equally loud reply.

  Collin and Mathew looked at each other and immedi­ately jumped backward away from the turnstile.

  "Ready, Mr. Ward?"

  "Ready to let go of the cable, sir."

  Mathew smiled, mentally thanking Captain Donal and Zachariah Ward for their warning. Had they been next to the turnstile when it released, it surely would have crushed them to death.

  A second later the huge rope cable began to pour through the opening as the anchor was let out. In their confined space, the noise seemed unnaturally loud. A

  splash against the side of the ship, followed by the deck canting slightly to the right, told Mathew the anchor was at rest on the harbor's sandy floor.

  "What are we supposed to do now?" Collin whispered.

  Mathew was about to reply when the sound of foot­steps coming along the passage from the forward part of the ship froze the words on his lips. He could tell there was more than one person, and from the noises they were making, he was certain it was not any of the crew. Who­ever it was, they were moving crates and banging open doors. Only a short distance away he heard a voice say, "I don't see why we're doing this."