The Noble Fool

by Heath Pfaff

  "Oh, sneaky one? What kind of stories?" Brutal asked, his attention piqued.

  "He said that if you sailed too far into the sea, there were great monsters, hundreds of times larger than the ships of men, lurking beneath the surface and waiting for foolish sailors to travel into their territory. Once, he said, he was fishing far out and his nets were filling every time he put them in the water, so he kept trolling further and further, forgetting about the warnings of other sailors. As he was drawing in his twentieth heavy net of fish, he chanced to look to the distant horizon and saw a king's man-o-war, guns ablaze, battling with something that he couldn't make out. He finished hauling in his net, and set about turning around to come back to land, deciding he didn't want to have anything to do with naval warfare in his tiny fishing boat, and that is when he saw it.

  "The creature rose up out of the sea, or at least part of it did, and it towered above the ship, a great beast, scaled in black, with a mouth a quarter the size of the man-o-war beneath it. Its body was long and serpentine, with huge rending spines sprouting from its torso. It dropped its mass upon the man-o-war and the ship exploded into pieces. Well, my father was no fool, so he put up full sail and made his way toward shore as fast as he could. He never sailed that far out to sea again.

  "He also used to talk of the haunted ships, boats that had gone missing at sea, only to...."

  Brutal cut Silent off in mid-sentence. "I think that's about enough. I don't like the sea, and your stories aren't making it any more appealing. Didn't your father have any stories about great prostitutes, or hidden treasure?"

  "Do you honestly think my dad would have told me stories about prostitutes? Besides, it was you who asked about the stories in the first place," Barked Silent, looking irritated at the gruff warrior's interruption.

  "...And it was me who told you to shut your mouth, so I guess we're even now. Had it been my dad, he would have told some good stories about prostitutes." Brutal replied, grinning his toothy grin. When he saw that Silent was sulking he grunted and changed the subject, "They say it's three days until we reach port in Werin." His tone became serious, "That's a long time to be at sea, and I have an uncomfortable feeling about this boat ride."

  At that, Silent stiffened where he was standing. "How uncomfortable?"

  "The feeling has been building since we first came to the dock this morning. I don't know what's wrong, but it's coming fast," the big warrior replied cryptically.

  The exchange between Silent and Brutal was confusing, so I decided to acquire some clarification. "Well, you don't like the sea, so certainly that's contributing to your bad feeling," I said, prodding for further information without coming out and asking directly.

  "Brutal has an unerring sense of trouble. That's probably another reason that Weaver sent him with us on this journey. We've learned over the years to trust his bad feelings. I'm not one to generally believe in such things, but in his case, I've seen his predictions come true one too many times," Silent had a worried note in his voice.

  "I've been like this since I was a young boy. Anytime anything bad is looming on the horizon, I get this terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach a few hours to a day before it happens. I'm getting that feeling now. It's going to be an interesting boat ride," Brutal said.

  I had heard of people like Brutal before, but had never believed they were anything other than lunatics with a bit of lucky accuracy. I was not inclined to think such of my dark-eyed companions. There was also obviously no kinship between them, and they had no real reason to try and trick me on such a matter. Those reasons forced me to look on the situation a little more seriously. Superstition could be avoided, but Silent and Brutal were both insistent that something was coming, and I knew that I would be better off taking their word for it. They were both more experienced than I in such things, and if they were worried, I decided I should be as well.

  All around us the deck was alive with people handling their various duties on board the ship, but the three of us sat looking out uneasily across the water for a time. The ocean seemed wide open, and despite Brutal's portent, all looked calm. The sky was deep gray, but it always was so far south, especially with the ever present chill of winter sitting heavily upon the land, or sea, as it was. I could only look on and wonder what danger might be waiting for us out there. I thought of the great monster in Silent's story, and a chill ran down my back. I sincerely hoped we would encounter no creature such as that.

  "Let us retire to our quarters," Brutal began, "there is much we should talk about, and I suddenly don't feel like being on deck."

  We made our way below deck, the crew going out of its way to avoid coming in contact with us. Though Weaver had paid our passage fairly, the ship's workers wanted little to do with us. They were not outwardly hostile, but they also didn't want to have anything to do with us if at all possible. Just because they were on a ship that dealt with our ilk didn't mean they had to like it. I might have been more bothered by the crew's shunning if I hadn't expected it, but my associations with humans since becoming first a Knight of Ethan, and then more recently a Broken Sword, had left me to expect a certain amount of alienation. The crew, at least, had nothing cruel to say to us.

  Our cabin was nothing more than an emptied storage room near the lowest deck of the ship. There was a hammock for each of us, and just enough room to store our gear and step a pace or two. The room had a door that could be barred from the inside, however, and that afforded us a certain amount of privacy that few others on board the ship had with the possible exception of the captain. We entered our room in a procession, Silent and myself taking a bunk, while Brutal secured the door before lighting the single oil lantern in the room. Even in the complete darkness that had existed before the lantern was lit, we all could still see to some extent. Our stolen eyes were quite adept at finding edges and heightening the limited details available to them in the dark.

  With the lantern burning there was more than adequate light for the three of us to see by. Brutal reached into his pack and pulled out a rolled sheet of parchment, undoing it carefully so as not to rip it with his clawed hands. "Weaver gave me a map to the location of the girl. I think it is time that we decide our best course of action to reach our target once this ship arrives in port," the massive warrior began, apparently not wanting to discuss the implications of his "bad feeling" any longer.

  Silent and I leaned in close to look at the map. There were names of places and landmarks drawn on it, but I could not identify more than one or two, and those I did recognize were nowhere near our destination. I was acutely aware of just how limited my geographical knowledge was compared to the others in my party. I would be of little help in finding our way to where we needed to be, or in aiding in the planning of our course. The mission was on my behalf, yet it seemed that I was of the least benefit to the party.

  "As you can see, we'll have to cross the Iol Adjot River to reach our goal," Brutal continued.

  Silent nodded. "That will not be easy. The main bridges across are all heavily manned fortifications, each demanding proper papers before crossing will be permitted," Silent pointed to two different locations along the river edge on the map that I took to be the locations of fortified crossings. "Traders are permitted through, but general traffic is still limited since that area has only recently fallen into the king's territories. Beyond the river is mostly thick wilderness, heavy with dangerous beasts. At least, should we get across the Iol Adjot, we will not have to worry about kingsmen until we reach the villa."

  "But that crossing..." Brutal let the words hang.

  "Might we hire a private ferry across the river?" I asked, not familiar with the nature of rivers in general, and certainly not this one in particular. I knew, however, that some people who owned property at a river's edge set up a rope drawn ferry to carry passengers from one side to the other in exchange for money or goods.

  "That would work, should such a service exist, but the king regulates traffic across the river, and
would not long allow an unmonitored way across. Also, the Iol Adjot is the swiftest river on the continent, and few men will trust their fate to its waters, even on a ferry," Silent said, not looking hopeful. I was unhappy that my idea had been so useless, but I tried not to let it show.

  "This is a problem we will have to address as we face it. We can always make inquiries of the local residents on our way through, or we could have the sneaky one," Brutal eyed Silent, "do his thing, and see what information he could gather on our behalf." He continued, "If we can't find a better way, we can always take down one of the fortified outposts. It will be a formidable fight, but we should be able to defeat the king's guardsmen." I wasn't sure if I agreed with Brutal. Three men, even three as well equipped for battle as we were, seemed hardly a match for an entire fortified guard post, but I was hoping that it would not come to such a situation.

  "The rest of the journey should be simple enough. We can avoid the major populated areas, though it'll add some time to our trip. The less we come in contact with people, the fewer of them we'll have to kill. Now I'm one for wetting my blade as much as the next," Brutal had a wide smile on his face, "but the more trouble we stir up the less likely we'll get our job done and get back to Lucidil and the others. They're the source of all the real fun."

  Silent sighed. "Your definition of fun is discouraging. I look forward to the end of all this fighting. I think Weaver's vision will bring that about." It surprised me to hear the younger Knight say that. Pacifism was something I had not expected from any of the Broken Swords, a group who stood blatantly in opposition to the king. Their entire purpose, it seemed to me, was to incite a war. Yet Silent seemed to believe that such a war was the only true path to peace, and that I found disconcerting. Could war ever truly be a step toward peace? It was a baffling thing to consider.

  Brutal huffed in exasperation, "Lucidil doesn't want peace. He wants a world that fits his ideal, and that kind of thinking will never lead to peace. Ours is the way of war, Sneaky, but that doesn't have to be a bad thing. There is honor and glory to be had in war. A man with a strong sword arm and a swift blade can make a name for himself if he is willing to put his neck on the line to do so. That is why we fight beside Lucidil, because he is a great man who will lead his followers to greatness."

  I frowned, "You just said that Lucidil would never lead the world to peace, and yet you call him a 'great man' a few words later. What is it that makes Lucidil such a great man, if he is not one that will ever lead his people to peace?"

  Brutal guffawed, "A man is not great because he is a good man. A great man can be good, evil, or any shade of gray in between. A great man is a man who sees the world around him, and changes it to suit him, instead of letting it change him to suit itself. Lucidil, he is the sort of man that will sunder the world to see it fit the image he wants. He is the sort of man that people follow, and I am the sort of man who will only follow a great man. That is why I follow Lucidil."

  "Hmmm," I did my best to remain impassive as I lay back in my hammock. Of my travel companions, I was the only one fighting on behalf of Lucidil not for some belief in the man, but because I was bound to do so. I had not chosen to step into this war on either side, but I had found myself tossed between the two sides without a choice in the matter. The real problem was that I believed in neither of the two sides. The king was power hungry, destroying anything that stood in his path to spreading domination across the land, and Lucidil and his army were dispassionate, doing whatever they had to in order to destroy the kingdom of men, even if they committed atrocities along the way.

  "What about you, Noble? Why have you come to fight with Lucidil?" Brutal asked. He, apparently, knew little of my story. "Is it because he tells you that you are our greatest hope, or do you simply like being the center of attention?"

  I opened my mouth and was about to speak, but Silent spoke before I could, "He fights for us because he must in order to protect the people he cares about. That is why Lucidil gave him the name 'Noble,' because he fights on behalf of others, and not for his own cause." I was surprised at Silent's words, not because they were false, but because he presented a perspective I hadn't thought of. In truth, I had always believed that the name Weaver had given to me was partially done in jest. I was Weaver's "Noble Fool," with the emphasis being on the "fool."

  "That's stupid, boy. Being a hero is thankless. There is rarely glory in fighting for those who wouldn't fight for themselves, and there is never any reward," Brutal said, lying back in his cot. "You should find something you believe in to fight for. That's what matters."

  I decided to keep my mouth closed since I couldn't think of anything of worth to say on my behalf. Anything I might say would just make me sound more foolish than I already did. Silent had attempted to fit me into the mold that was my given name, but I was not "Noble," simply a stupid man backed into a corner with no way out. A noble man, I believed, would not fight for a cause he did not have any faith in. In that way, Brutal was right. I should have been fighting for something that was important to me.

  "Get some sleep. There is trouble is coming, and we'll all need to be at our best," Brutal said from where he was laying. I didn't feel much like sleeping, but I'd been finding that my new body would sleep when and where it could if I willed it to do so. It seemed to store the energy I gained while sleeping. I closed my eyes and willed myself into sleep, still not entirely believing Brutal's prediction of trouble, but deciding to be safe rather than regret it later. I didn't know just how soon the fierce warrior's predictions would become clear.

  I awoke to find that Brutal was gone, and Silent was still deep asleep in his hammock. I crawled from my bed quietly, so as not to wake my sleeping companion, and made my way out the door and up onto deck to look for Brutal. The ship was quiet, almost eerily so, compared to how it had been when we'd first gone below decks. The sun had set while I slept, and the world beyond the door leading outside was cast in deep blackness that can only be achieved on a moonless, overcast night. It only took me a moment to locate Brutal. His shape was tall and rigid, silhouetted against the railing on the port side of the ship, his outline sharp by the enhanced perspective of my stolen eyes.

  The wind was chill as I stepped up into it, but it also held the freshness that only sea air could hold, and I took a couple deep breaths before approaching the imposing warrior. He turned to face me as I drew closer and I noted that his eyes had a haunted look about them. I had obviously disturbed him from some deep and troubling thoughts. I considered turning around and going back to our bunk, but he had already noticed me and I didn't feel like being below decks, so I stayed. I could have willed myself to sleep more, but I was already bursting with energy - the prospect of more sleep was something that I could not bear at that moment. Like Brutal, I was haunted by memories, and plagued by worries. Every time I dreamed, I dreamt of Kye, always just beyond my reach, but in dire need of my help. I hated dreaming.

  "The air helps to clear your mind," I said, not feeling much like talking, but needing to say something to the dark-eyed warrior staring at me.

  "No, not tonight it doesn't," he answered, and looked back out over the ocean. "Something terrible is coming, Noble. It's coming from there," he pointed out to sea, though I couldn't make out anything. Was the vicious warrior simply paranoid?

  "What do you think it is?" I asked, humoring his paranoia, if that was indeed all it was.

  "It's like a fire... only it's blue. It wants to consume us, to devour us like a flame bites at dried wood, using us for energy until it is ready to burn on elsewhere. I dreamed of it." There was a wavering in his voice, though it was barely noticeable. If it wasn't for my sensitive ears I might not have detected it at all. Brutal, the brute that he was, was capable of feeling fear. "It's coming fast upon us." He whispered those last words.

  I found myself falling into Brutal's fear, as though I were a small boat being pulled in the wake of a giant ship. Seeing his expression and hearing the waver of fright in his v
oice was enough to put me on edge, "How much longer do we..." I didn't get to finish my sentence, as a voice called out from the crow's nest at the top of the mainsail.

  "Ho to deck, light to port, coming in fast!" Called the voice down from above.

  I looked out over the railing, straining my eyes to see what the lookout had seen. His vantage was much better, but my eyes were far more acute. Distant, but becoming larger by the minute, a blue hued light was shining on the sea.

  "We're out of time," Brutal said, and he pushed me aside as he made his way for the door that lead below deck. "Stay here," he called back over his shoulder. "I'll get Silent and our gear. Prepare yourself for battle." He vanished into the door, and I was left to stare at the blue light on the horizon that was growing easier to see far too quickly for my liking. All around me on the deck crewmen were appearing, waking up from sleep to investigate the lookout's sighting. There was a general air of confusion as they each guessed as to what might be out there, but none of them could say for sure. We were not traveling in deep waters far out to sea, neither were we traveling unexplored reaches, and so it was even more confusing for them, experienced sea hands that most of them were, to see something beyond their expectations. A minute later Brutal and Silent were back on deck, both looking alert and worried. Silent tossed me my pack, which I quickly fastened on, and we stood together watching the light.

  Before long the captain was on deck as well, calling up to the lookout, "How far out is it, and will it be crossing our path, Eyes?" He used the generic name for a lookout when he referred to the man in the crow's nest.

  "Can't tell the range sir, but it seems to be headed straight in our direction, fast. I give another twenty minutes - less before it's in hailing range," the lookout called back.

  "Men to ready stations!" The captain bellowed, and everyone aboard ship scrambled to get to where they were supposed to be. Brutal grabbed the captain by the shoulder as he was walking by, jerking him to an abrupt stop and spinning him around until they were eye to eye.