by John Booth
Tabor laughed bitterly. “You are interested in legends? Everybody in Slarn has heard of the Great Seal, even though it has been lost for over eight hundred years. For a time after the fall of the Magician Kings, Slarn was the most powerful kingdom in Jalon.”
“What does that have to do with the seal?” Jalia asked; puzzled at the connection.
“What do you know of Slarn?” Tabor asked in return.
“According to your Captain, it is roughly circular and the rivers cut it into three,” Daniel told Tabor. “Creating three mini kingdoms separated by the rivers and bound by a common wall.”
Tabor laughed, “That is one way the city can be described. The city of Slarn was carved from bare rock by the Magician Kings. Its walls are perfectly circular and the rivers divide it into three equally sized communities.
When the Magician Kings first built the city, only the river Jalon existed and it flowed west to end up in the Endless Sea. There was another river far to the south that flowed though Enbar Entar before reaching Akbar Arout and then to disappear into the Solinor Pass.”
“But that’s the River Slarn,” Daniel protested. “It starts in Slarn when the Jalon splits in two and goes south to Enbar Entar.”
“The original river to Enbar Entar was weak and dried up in hot summers, destroying crops and endangering the lives of the people of the two most southerly cities of Jalon,” Tabor continued. “The River Jalon on the other hand, had too much water and was often unnavigable in spring from Telmar to Delbon and on down to Ranwin.”
“That last stretch of the Jalon is unnavigable at any time of the year,” Daniel pointed out.
“It was navigable in those days. This boat once made regular journeys from Slarn to Ranwin, where a great bridge was built by the King of Ranwin to stop boats going on to Ballis. The Magician Kings built Slarn to divert water from the Jalon to Enbar Entar and to join the river to the south.”
“It’s a nice story,” Jalia said. “But what does that have to do with the Seal?”
“The King’s Palace is built on a circular island at the union of the rivers. Three great stone bridges connect the Palace to the city. The island has three great water gates built into it. In the days of the Magician Kings, these gates could be opened and closed, determining how much water flowed west and how much south. If all three gates were closed together, the city would flood.”
“No engine is powerful enough to work such gates,” Daniel opined.
“They were opened and closed by magic embedded into the very stone of the palace itself. Or so the story goes,” Tabor conceded. “You will see the gates yourself when we get there.”
“And what of the Seal?” Jalia asked.
“The Seal controls the gates. According to legend, it is one half of a complex diamond key. If fits exactly into its counterpart in the palace and without it the gates cannot be moved. Slarn extracted large tributes from the other cities on the Jalon to keep the water flowing properly after the fall of the Magician Kings. There was no High King around to stop them from blackmailing the others.”
“And then the Great Seal was stolen?” Daniel suggested.
“There were claims that it was taken by a great prophet who predicted that the High King would return one day. Others say it was the other cities that stole it from us as they decided to leave the flow of the rivers to chance rather than pay us further tribute.”
“I heard a story that whoever owned it could claim to be the true King of Slarn?”
“No, Daniel,” Tabor said laughing, “The story claims that the seal glows bright blue when it is in the hands of the rightful ruler. But it is a child’s tale. Nobody believes such nonsense.”
Sila Klint was a beautiful woman and nobody who saw her could deny it. By early evening, she had slept off her intoxication, cleaned herself up, brushed her hair to its normal shiny state and salvaged what she could of her silk dress.
She looked into the mirror and smiled with satisfaction at the strong confident image reflected back.
“I think an all wine diet does you good, Alin. What do you think?” Sila turned to where Alin Bredan rested in an armchair with his broken leg up on a padded stool.
“You look as beautiful as ever, Sila,” Alin replied wearily. “But how can you concern yourself with such trifles when Jalia al’Dare is on this boat? When she finds out who we are, she will kill us just as surely as she rescued us.”
Sila tutted in annoyance and wagged her finger at him. “You are wrong, Alin. I had a little talk with our rescuer and she will not bother us if we do not bother her. I understand her motivation now.”
“She killed them all, Yandin, Hadan, Marcus, Dell and the rest. She stole the Association’s gold at Brinan and she came to Telmar and assassinated each and every one of them, despite them being protected by an army. How can you possibly feel safe?” Bredan asked in astonishment.
“She did not steal our gold to keep it,” Sila said delightedly. “She stole it because it was said it could not be done. She was told that no one in the history of Brinan had ever stolen anything from their vaults and that they were impregnable. To a woman like Jalia al’Dare that would represent an irresistible challenge. Why do you think she came over to the Silver Thorn to save us?”
“Because she’s a damned idiot?”
“No Alin, she came over to the Thorn because of the challenge it represented. Rescuing us is her way of keeping score, just as taking the gold was. She does not seek power or wealth. I watched her face as we climbed the mast. She was reveling in that moment as we faced imminent death. That is what she does to feel alive.”
“Then killing the two of us will give her even more satisfaction. We are the last of the Association and will complete the set.”
“They killed the leaders of the Association because it threatened them,” Sila explained.
“They?” Bredan asked. His face took on a look of disbelief. “You mean that al’Degar is still alive?”
“So I have been told. Jalia also told me, while she was distracted working out our salvation, that the gold is lost forever. But the Association kept sending people after them. Attacking the Association was the only logical way forward. They will leave us alone, unless we threaten them.”
“In any case, it barely matters,” Bredan moaned. “The gold is lost with the Silver Thorn and we have perhaps twenty pieces of gold to our name.”
“Oh, we have much more than that.” Sila laughed and Bredan looked up from black despair, a glint of hope in his eyes. “Look in the carpetbag.”
Alin hobbled over to the king-sized bed and tried to lift the bag up onto it. He found it was too heavy for him to move one handed. Sila laughed and dragged the bag up onto the bed for him.
“It was lucky I was so drunk. Nobody questioned why I was having so much trouble walking.”
Sila pulled open the bag to reveal it was full of gold coins.
“How?”
“While Jalia was getting the rope I filled the bag from the chest. I was sure she would find a way to rescue me. I told her I would not leave the hold without my bag.”
“We can buy people, take our revenge on this woman and her man,” Bredan said, his eyes greedily taking in the king’s ransom in front of them.
“We most certainly will not,” Sila admonished. “This gold will be used to buy us power, influence and perhaps a big chunk of Slarn. Over time, we will build a trading empire or perhaps our own kingdom.”
Bredan looked despondent and Sila put a hand on his shoulder.
“Alin, you are the most cunning manipulator of money and influence I have ever known. You turned Yandin Selda’s investments into far more gold than he ever mined and you raised him up to be leader of the Association. Let these thoughts of revenge go. Jalia al’Dare is much more than just an adventurer, she is also exceptionally, almost supernaturally, lucky. Try to kill her and it will surely bounce back upon you and send you to your doom.”
“I worked for Yandin for over twenty year
s and he was a good friend,” Bredan grumbled.
“Let it go,” Sila cautioned. “You work for me now and that is an order. We have enough to do in working the politics of Slarn to our advantage. Let it go.”
Alin nodded his head in acknowledgement of the order. However, he mentally reserved the right to kill Jalia and her man, when and if the opportunity arose.
“We have a dinner engagement?” Daniel asked Jalia in surprise when they had returned to their cabin.
“Yes, I agreed to meet for dinner with Lady Sala Rotiln and Halad al’Faran at seven o’clock. I was planning to go with Hala, but I suspect she will be far too busy looking after Nin. I’m sure his father will send them food. He is this boat’s chef, after all.”
“These people are your friends?” Daniel asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Not really, I held my sword against Lady Rotiln’s breast when she dared to call me a liar. She didn’t believe who I am, and then told me I was carrying my sword as an act.”
“I suppose we should consider ourselves lucky that she is still alive to dine with us,” Daniel said, sighing. “Have we made any other friends while I’ve been asleep?”
“Hala ran away from Dor. You remember, the man in the tavern who was with Grilt and Tel. He asked her what we were doing onboard. She told him we were trying to get our property back from Gally Sorn.”
“I’m surprised you haven’t already recovered it.”
It was Jalia’s turn to sigh. “She is no longer wearing the ring. I searched her suite the other night and found nothing. Well, not your dagger or my ring. She could have hidden them anywhere.”
“I expect they will turn up sooner or later,” Daniel concluded. “It’s nearly seven and we should freshen up. I’m a little sweaty from the entertainment in the hold.”
-
“So this is the mysterious Daniel al’Degar,” Lady Rotiln said, holding out her hand to Daniel.
Daniel leaned forward and kissed her fingers lightly, much to Lady Rotiln’s amusement.
“And he is a gentleman as well as being so handsome. What have you done with the rude child?”
“She is attending to her friend, Nin, who is indisposed,” Jalia replied.
“No matter, we can have a much more adult conversation without her,” Lady Rotiln said cheerfully. “Halad in particular, seems to find her cheeky and will be happier without her presence.”
“As my lady indicates,” Halad said imperturbably.
The conversation meandered inconsequentially as they waited for the food to arrive. Lady Rotiln had watched Jalia’s rescue of Sila and Alin earlier in the day and was impressed, or so she said.
“A very daring rescue indeed,” she said putting the serviette to her lips and dabbing lightly. “Forgive me for ever doubting you, my dear. I think you have put that particular question beyond all doubt.”
“Why were you visiting Boathaven?” Daniel asked.
“I have relatives there. They were very boring indeed and I would not want to waste your time recounting any of the tedious time I spent in their company.”
“And you Halad, what brought you to Boathaven?” Jalia asked.
“I buy trinkets in the market. They tend to be of low value, but they can be enhanced by skilled work back in my shop,” Halad explained. “I travel this route once a year and search the markets of Bratin, Wegnar and Boathaven for jewellery that will tickle the fancy of my clientele in Slarn.”
“And very successful you are at it too,” Lady Rotiln said with a light laugh.
“Have you traveled together often?” Daniel enquired.
“Why, you do ask a lot of questions, young man. And yet it is you and your charming lady who are the talk of Jalon. Surely, you can regale us with the story of your time in Brinan? That would be so much more interesting, I am sure.”
“There’s nothing much to tell,” Jalia said quietly. “The Mine Owners Association annoyed the people of Brinan and they took their town back from their mercenaries.”
“But what became of the gold?” Halad asked leaning intently over the table.
Jalia shrugged, “They say it vanished from the vaults. As usual, I got the blame.”
“And the story of you confronting the Association’s guards at the gates of Brinan?” Lady Rotiln enquired of Daniel.
“Oh, that happened,” Daniel told her laughing. “I just happened to be in front and I shouted Boo! And they ran off like scared rabbits.”
“Well you really don’t make your adventures seem very heroic at all,” Lady Rotiln complained.
“At the time they were anything but,” Daniel agreed.
Later, as they walked back to their cabin, Jalia turned to Daniel.
“What do you think?”
“I think that they are up to something, though I have no idea what,” Daniel confessed, “Perhaps they are lovers and don’t want their families to know.”
“Somehow, I don’t see Lady Rotiln as the shy retiring type,” Jalia said as she opened the door to their cabin.
“Daniel you have to help Nin!” Hala screamed. She rushed to Daniel, put her arms around his waist, and snuggled up to him. “Nin is in such pain. I can’t stand it. You have to do your magic and fix him, Daniel. You have to.”
Daniel stood still, feeling completely helpless. He didn’t know how he saved Hala. The gift came and went as it wanted.
“It touched him when I put on the ointment and nothing happened,” he pointed out.
“For which we can be truly grateful,” Jalia said angrily. She pulled Hala away from Daniel and knelt down so they were at eye level.
“Nin is not going to die. He was punished for breaking the rules of his people and that was appropriate. This is his home and he has to live with these men. Do you understand, Hala.”
Hala struggled in Jalia’s grasp and turned her head towards Daniel in appeal. “It’s hurting him so much.”
“Hala,” Jalia shouted. “You would risk Daniel life just to save your boyfriend a little pain? He broke their rules, you stupid girl. How can you think of asking such a thing?”
“Please Daniel?” Hala whimpered.
“Daniel, get out of here. Hala and I have to have a little talk.”
“Jalia, she’s only upset because Nin is in pain.”
“Get out now. Come back in an hour, not sooner.”
Hala was frightened of what Jalia would do and tried to wriggle from her grasp. Jalia held her so firmly she couldn’t move.
“Jalia,” Daniel pleaded one last time. He read the look in Jalia’s eyes and turned and walked from the room.
Hala cried “No,” as the door closed behind him.
Jalia slapped Hala across the face. “Daniel has put his life at risk by saving yours, because I begged him too. And this is how you repay him. Anybody could be listening. Anything could be listening. It seems you still have some lessons to learn and I shall be a good teacher.”
Daniel walked into their cabin an hour later. Hala lay on her tummy, propped up on her elbows. Her eyes were bright red and she looked as though she had only just stopped crying.
“I’m sorry I asked that of you, Daniel,” Hala said quietly. “Jalia has set me straight and I won’t do anything so stupid again.”
On the other side of the room, Jalia nodded her head to indicate she had said her words just right.
5. Alliances
Dor, Jant, and Mal entered the dining room early the next morning. The Steam Dragon had barely got underway again, as it was just past first light. They waited a few minutes as the bread was not quite ready, before they went to the table at the farthest corner to sit to eat.
“I want to persuade the brother and sister to join us for a meal,” Dor told his men. Mal gave him a sideways look through his permanently slanted left eye while Jant was far from happy at the suggestion.
“Why do we need to have anything to do with them? They are too closely allied to Dare and Degar for my liking,” Jant complained. “It is my job to keep
you safe and I can’t do that if you keep talking to people. Your father will have me hung for the crows to feed on if I fail my mission.”
“I need to talk to them exactly because it is unclear where their loyalties lie. Brila Marlin has powerful allies in Slarn and it is extremely unusual for two of her children to travel so far from home unaccompanied,” Dor explained. “It is possible they have been tasked with negotiating a deal with someone. If that is so, I need to know the who and what.”
“You see conspiracies everywhere, my lor… Dor,” Jant continued. “Should we not be talking to Tonas and the Denger brothers instead? They are the ones with the swords.”
“And do we have the money to pay them?” Dor asked. Jant didn’t attempt to answer the question, as it was rhetorical. “Exactly, and neither does Gally Sorn for that matter. If we even look at those men, she will become suspicious of us and I thought that you wanted to keep me safe? We both plan to steal the swords from the traders. The only question is which of our plans will succeed. Do not believe for a moment that we will be the only players involved in this game.”
Mal finished eating while the others talked, took out his dagger and began to clean his fingernails with its point. Dor was fascinated and disgusted by his servant’s actions and lost the thread of the conversation. He and Jant began to eat their breakfast in silence.
Alin Bredan limped into the dining room using a stick. It was lucky that the Steam Dragon was in a quiet stretch of the river as he would otherwise have fallen over from the swaying of the boat.
Dor nudged Jant. Jant gave Dor a look very close to despair before he stood up and the men helped Bredan over to sit at their table. Dor carrying the food and drink that Bredan had selected while Jant helped the man to walk.
“I am Dor and these are my companions, Jant and Mal,” Dor said cheerfully once they were all sat down.
“Alin,” Bredan said. “I must thank you for your kind assistance.”