“I know, but I don’t want to get into a habit of calling you Sardel, and then slip up when others are around. I earned this spot on the crew, and I want no one to doubt my reason to be here,” she replied earnestly.
Sardel bent and kissed her forehead.
“You’re a remarkable woman, Lilly. No one would ever doubt that you belong on the ship. I’ll leave you to your star gazing,” he said, moving away from her.
Lilly watched Sardel begin his nightly check of the ship. She had learned much by watching him go about his duties, both day and night. He was a good man, and a remarkable captain. She sincerely hoped she wouldn’t have to kill him when she took over his ship.
She spent her time well among the gypsies, learning everything she could about their way of life. From the moment she opened her eyes, adrift and alone in a strange environment, she knew she would claw her way to the top. Not knowing who or where she was didn’t matter, she understood people. She knew how they thought and how they felt and used that to her advantage. It was easy playing the helpless wretch, because that’s what she had been at the beginning. Lilly was thankful that she had been taken in by Sardel. His gruff exterior hid a kind soul, and she had grown fond of him. She hoped that he would not stand in the way of her plans for power.
Lilly called out to Sardel’s departing back.
“Sardel, I do want to talk to you when you’re free about a subject that is near and dear to your heart.”
Sardel stopped in mid-stride and turned to face her.
“Ah, Lilly, you are ever the tease. If I didn’t know you better, I would think you meant the fine art of making love. But I do know you well, and I know you want to talk about navigating at night using the stars.”
“Yes, you’re right. Navigating by the stars is what I want to talk about, but who is to say that the other subject might not come up as well?” she asked mischievously.
“Hmm, who indeed.”
Lilly soaked up knowledge like a sponge, while keeping Sardel physically at bay. He seemed content with a few stolen kisses, and Lilly was intent on keeping it that way.
Every day she picked the brains of the crew about the gypsy nation, and anything they could offer about the mainland. She was surprised at the vastness beyond the sea, but it did nothing to jog her memory of her previous life. She remembered nothing about duchies, the royalty, or their way of life. However, an off-hand comment about innate powers in some people had fueled a small kernel of understanding in her. A few questions later and she finally understood her ability to feel and read other’s emotions so easily. She was an empath, and she took note of the fact that the majority of those with these powers were in the royal ranks. It was something to think further on – another piece in the puzzle of her lost life.
The next day dawned warm and sunny, and the sails of the Black Raven were billowing in the strong breeze. Lilly walked along the starboard side, securing loose rigging lines. The Captain was on the port side, walking towards the bow, while Took was aft at the helm, steering the ship eastward.
“All’s clear,” came the call from the lookout aloft in the crow’s nest of the mainmast.
“All’s clear,” chimed in the watch from the bow.
“All’s....” Lilly started to say, before she keeled over from an invisible blow.
Both Sardel and Took glanced at Lilly. She was down on one knee. Sardel started to make his way over to her, but before he reached her, Lilly jumped up and started running aft.
Sardel watched her bound up the stairs towards Took.
“Lilly, what’s wrong?” he shouted.
“Hard starboard, hard starboard,” she screamed at Took.
“What? What are you talking about?” Took cried.
Sardel raced to the helm. “Belay that order,” he yelled.
Lilly yelled at Took. “No time to explain, just do it. Hard starboard!”
Took froze at the sight of the raving woman in front of him. This was not the Lilly he knew, and before he could respond, he was hit with a sharp blow to his midsection that sent him staggering a step backwards.
Lilly grabbed the wheel and frantically started turning the wheel starboard. “Took, help me, now!”
The command in Lilly’s voice shook Took and the rest of the startled crew out of their stupor. Took grabbed the wheel.
“Trim the sails,” he shouted to the crew. “Hard starboard.”
The Black Raven responded, and the ship veered sharply.
“Hold it steady, Took.” Lilly turned around to find an angry Sardel storming toward her.
“Woman, you’re out of line. How dare you commandeer my ship?”
Lilly pointed to the open sea, and the spot where they had been just moments ago.
“Captain, I’m sorry, but there was no time to explain. I had to take action or else.”
Sardel and Took looked at where Lilly pointed as the monstrous dorsal fin broke the surface. Every crewmember gawked as the beast rose up out of the sea. Its girth was as wide as the Black Raven herself, and was twice as long.
“A sea beast,” several sailors whispered.
Sardel knew of the sea beasts from other ship’s captains, but he had never seen one before on his voyages.
“Damn, that beast would have shattered the ship. Lilly, how did you know?”
“I don’t know, I just did.”
Sardel stared at Lilly shaking his head. The woman had just saved his ship. He thought he knew her, but there was a depth of mystery about the woman standing before him. The one thing he did know was that she was a damn good sailor. There was only one thing to do.
He pulled Lilly forward.
“Listen up crew, I present your new Second Mate,” he commanded. “Took, give her the wheel. Lilly, the conn is yours. Hold her steady.”
The sailors erupted into cheers, knowing that she had saved them from a horrific end at sea. Lilly stepped up and took over the wheel from Took. She was beaming with pride, and she held her head high.
“My thanks, Captain,” she said.
Sardel nodded, and headed off toward his cabin, confident that the crisis had been averted. The sea beast was swimming in the opposite direction, and the ship and crew were safe.
That sea beast had startled Lilly. The enormity of the creature had overwhelmed her senses momentarily. While she hadn’t known what the creature was, she could feel it rising to the surface directly below the ship. The sailors were lucky that she had reached the wheel in time. It was indeed fortunate that Took had been at the wheel, and not Sardel. Even Lilly didn’t want to think of the consequences if Sardel had refused to follow her lead.
The wheel felt good in her hands. She scanned the horizon once more before giving an order to correct a minor deviation in their course. Their new course heading would lead them directly to the Telkur Duchy. The crew settled back into their regular routines. Lilly could feel their gratitude and newfound respect.
“All’s clear,” came the shouts from the various watches.
They would be in Telkur waters the next day, and Lilly planned to stay at the helm for as much of that time as possible. This was it, what she had been longing for and driving toward. She wanted a ship of her own, and wouldn’t mind if it was the Black Raven, but she would have to be careful with thoughts like that. For now, she was where she wanted to be and no one was going to budge her from this spot.
***
The fog hung densely in the air, shrouding the Black Raven as the craft glided into the little used inlet a few leagues east of the main Telkur harbor. Took was at the helm with Lilly at his side. Took didn’t like Lilly shadowing his every move, but she needed to learn everything he knew if she was to be of value to the Captain.
“Not too close, Took,” Sardel said. “I don’t want the ship to get stuck in shallow waters.”
“Aye, Captain.” Took gave the order. “Lower the anchor.”
The anchor splashed into the water, and the ship came to a halt.
“Lilly,
take the helm. Took and I will travel to the waterfront district and make contact.”
Lilly eagerly took the wheel from Took.
“Yes, sir.”
“Keep her safe, Lilly. Any hint of danger, take her back out to sea. No waiting around. I’ll find a way to contact you and set up a rendezvous point for you to pick us up later.”
“Understood, Captain.” Lilly watched Sardel and Took lower the small boat off the side of the Black Raven, and row ashore. She ordered the crew to stay alert to any danger.
The small boat was quickly lost to the fog. The only sound to be heard was the oars slicing through the water. It wasn’t long before Sardel and Took reached the shore. They jumped out of the small boat, dragged it onto the beach, and hid it in the reeds.
“My contact has a place on the waterfront,” Sardel told his First Mate. “That’s where we’ll start.”
Took nodded, and the two men took off at a brisk pace. As they neared the waterfront, their pace slowed. This area was normally deserted at this time of night, and the fog was their ally in covering their approach, but Sardel was a cautious man. He left nothing to chance. Sardel led Took through a series of narrow, twisting alleyways before he stopped in front of a plain, wooden door.
“This is it,” he whispered. “Stay behind me. They are cautious men.”
“Aye, Captain.”
Sardel rapped three times, once again, and then three more times. It seemed an eternity before they heard sounds from within.
“Who calls at this late hour?” asked the voice on the other side of the door.
“A hungry seaman,” Sardel answered.
The door opened to reveal a stocky man of average height, fully dressed in spite of the late hour. He had a needle gun pointed squarely at Sardel’s chest. It took only a moment before recognition sparked in his eyes.
“Sardel, do my eyes deceive me? We thought you were dead.”
“Not dead yet,” Sardel answered, “and I have my man Took with me tonight.”
“Yes, come in, come in, both of you.”
“Crestov, you look well. I see that you are not suffering for lack of a good meal,” Sardel said.
Crestov lowered his weapon, and patted his wide girth.
“You know me too well, Sardel. A good meal is always first on my mind. That has not changed. But, what happened to you? We’ve had no news of your fate since the explosion last year. We were afraid you were one of those killed in the blast.”
“No, Took and I were on lookout that night. By the time we made our way to the warehouse, all the others were dead. There was nothing we could do but flee before the authorities arrived. We’ve been patiently waiting for trade to resume, but there has been no word. That’s why I’ve come here tonight.”
“Nothing has been the same since that night. All trading has suffered. We can talk more, but come in and have a drink. It’s good to see you, Sardel.”
Crestov led Sardel and Took down a narrow hallway that opened up into a large common room. All eyes turned towards the newcomers.
“It’s safe, no need to worry,” Crestov reassured the men sitting at the various tables around the room. “Sardel is an old friend of mine, and I vouch for him personally. His man Took is with him.”
A number of heads nodded before conversations resumed.
Crestov led Sardel and Took to a table in the corner, beside a stone fireplace that was throwing out welcome heat. He signaled the barmaid to bring a round of drinks for his friends.
Sardel looked around the room while he waited for his drink. The place was full of hard-looking men; no doubt those that controlled much of the black market trade on the waterfront. However, it disturbed him that he did not see any faces he recognized.
“Crestov, where is your old crew? None of these men look familiar to me.”
Crestov sighed.
“I say again, times have been hard. When Avikar became Regent, he went on a rampage, rounding up my former crew as a show of good faith to the people. He claimed it was necessary to maintain law and order in the duchy. I thought he would release them all quietly, but they still languish in prison for crimes against the people. There has been no trial, and no bribes have been able to secure their release. Avikar is playing a dangerous game.”
“Have you spoken with him?” Sardel asked.
“No, I can’t get near him. Whenever I request a meeting, he sends that snake Nils in his stead.”
“What was his explanation for the explosion at the warehouse?”
“Only what was announced publicly; that is, Duke Levon was the leader of the smugglers’ ring.”
“That’s ridiculous. Levon had nothing to do with it. What explanation was given for the explosion itself?”
“None, other than there was a falling-out among the smugglers. The authorities claim one of the gypsies set off the explosion accidentally. Avikar was hailed a hero for uncovering the smuggling ring, and all reports about that night were buried quickly. Our trade has suffered ever since.”
“That meeting was set to increase trade, not to end it, and it was Avikar who set it up. This smells of treachery on his part and he has much to explain,” Sardel growled.
The barmaid sauntered over to the table carrying three mugs of ale. She set them down on the table, bending over to reveal an ample bosom when she passed Sardel his drink. Sardel watched the young woman, giving her form an appreciative glance as she walked back to the bar.
“Sardel, I’ve been thinking about trying a different tack to reach Avikar,” Crestov said.
“What’s that?”
“I have many legitimate trading partners in other duchies, and I pass through the Telkur portal station regularly. Trinity Kantos is the telekinetic on duty during those days, and she’s Avikar’s sister. I have formed a friendship of sorts with her. It might serve both our purposes if we try to reach Avikar through her. At least we can be reasonably sure that the message will be passed along directly to him.”
“Do you believe it’s safe to do this?” Sardel asked, with suspicion in his voice. “Can this girl be trusted? After all, she’s Avikar’s sister.”
“No need to worry, Sardel. I have it on good authority that she is at odds with her brother’s heavy-handed rule. I’ll take care of everything. Stay here for the night, and I’ll go to see Trinity in the morning. I trust your ship is safe for the time being?”
“Yes, it’s safe for now, but I’ll need to leave by tomorrow night. Otherwise, the ship may be in danger of being discovered.”
“Good, no problem. When you finish your drinks, I’ll have one of my girls show you to a room for the night.”
Crestov signaled the barmaid to come back to the table.
Sardel turned to Took. “Took, go back to the ship and wait for my word. It might take a day or two to sort this out. Don’t hesitate to pull anchor if anything threatens to expose the ship.”
“Aye, Captain. I’ll wait for your word.” Took lifted the mug, and drank deeply before he left the common room.
The barmaid sauntered back to the table.
“Lisette,” Crestov said, “show my friend to a comfortable room upstairs when he’s finished his drink.”
The girl smiled as she looked at Sardel.
“It will be my pleasure,” she purred.
Excerpt from The Chronicles of Otharia during the reign of the First Vacancy:
Division I – The Rule of Otharia
Subsection IV – Rogue Gypsy Nation
The black market came into existence in the void that was created when the Grand Council outlawed all trade with the gypsies. In the beginning, the gypsy nation attempted to maintain itself within the Kingdom, but refused to crown a new duke. When the Grand Council was formed, it attempted to bring the gypsy nation back into line by force. The Grand Council sent an army comprised of elements from each duchy to subdue the gypsies. But, without the unified control of the King, each duke sought to exert control over the entire force. This ended in disaster
, and the gypsies soundly defeated the force. The Grand Council’s next act was to declare all trade banned, in the hopes that it would break the will of the nation, but that was also a failure. The initial contact with the gypsies was made through criminal elements within a number of duchies. The resulting trade was concealed from the authorities, and proved lucrative for all concerned. Harsh punishments were handed out for any found in league with the gypsies, but too many profited for anyone to be caught.
Chapter 28 – Rendezvous
Crestov stood outside the Telkur portal station, waiting until the other travelers had passed through. He entered the station, and was relieved to see that Trinity was on duty. He walked over to the control desk.
“Good afternoon, Trinity.”
“Hi Crestov, what brings you here today? It’s not your normal trading day.”
“I know, but I have a little problem that I thought you could help me with.”
“A problem? What kind of problem?”
Crestov leaned forward to whisper conspiratorially. “It’s a problem of a most delicate nature. I would not ask for your help if there was another way.”
“These are difficult times, my friend. Seems a lot of people have problems of a delicate nature. How can I help you?”
Crestov paused and looked around the station to make sure they were alone.
“I need to get a message directly to Avikar without Nils intercepting it. Avikar and I had a business arrangement that has been suspended, and I need to talk to him about it. In the past, Nils has passed along my requests, but lately, my requests have been met with silence. And Trinity, this is not the type of business that your brother would want to become public.”
Trinity quickly put two and two together. “A business arrangement with my brother? Perhaps you and I should have a more in-depth conversation. We may be able to help each other.”
“I don’t think you understand. No offense, my dear, but my business dealings with your brother are best kept from law-abiding young ladies.”
“Crestov, I think you underestimate me, and I think it would be in your best interest to talk to me first.”
The Quest for Nobility Page 21