by M. J. Sewall
“My King,” said a young guard, surprised, “do you need anything?”
“No, thank you,” Asa tried to sound casual and kingly. “My brothers and I were just seeing the defenses for ourselves.”
“Is that what I think it is?” Vance asked, as he looked past the king's dock and out to sea.
It was very clear how many ships were headed for them. The dark silhouettes of three giant airships confirmed who they were before the soldier answered, “Yes, that is Cayne's fleet. They'll be here within the hour. A report should be headed to your battle room right now. You probably shouldn't be out here my king, even with bodyguards. They'll coming fast.”
A cold shiver went through Asa, attacked from all sides, he thought, but said, “Thank you.”
Vance looked up and saw three airships of their own hovering far above the palace. The palace soldiers were using all the waterships in the harbor, but Mantuan was right, they would have a hard time fighting on two fronts at once, especially at night.
Asa asked, “I'm sorry… what is your name soldier?”
The man seemed surprised that he had asked, “Oh, it's Neel, my King.”
“Neel, thank you,” said Asa. “Fate will be on our side.”
“Yes, my King,” said the guard, looking out to sea.
Asa and his brothers made their way to execute their plan.
* * *
Mantuan and his horsemen let out a savage battle cry as they charged toward the lines. Overhead rocks were flying faster at the palace. One made a direct hit on a high window, smashing in the metal shutter, and bending the metal bar inside that held it in place. The crowds cheered as they pushed against the line of guards.
The people at the front were mostly using rocks on the soldiers, and the soldiers were so far restraining themselves, in a defensive posture, just trying to keep the people out. Mantuan spotted no women or children at the front. He was glad for that. He was worried enough about hurting anyone in the crowd, but he didn't want to appear a monster. He did spot a reserve line of men farther back. It looked like they were waiting for an opening. Most likely the men using rocks at the front were just there to tire out the soldiers, weaken or provoke them.
The palace men parted as the horses approached, letting them charge up to the crowds. The crowd seemed to recoil at the sight of armored horses with Mantuan at the front. He had his battle-axe drawn, but he came to a stop instead of attacking.
The crowd quieted down, all attention on Mantuan. Sitting high on horseback with axe in hand, he said loudly, “This must end. One way or the other. See reason and put down your weapons. We can have peace.”
“Did the coward boy king send you to kill us?” one man shouted.
“The king does not know I'm here. I speak only for peace. But if you test me, I will speak with this,” he held the axe high. “Make your choice.”
The crowd started yelling. Some said, “Never give up,” others shouted, “Kill the king!” Then a man stepped in front.
“Cossca, isn't it?” Mantuan asked.
“Good memory, great patched one,” his tone was sarcastic, his arms wide, and his voice loud to show the crowd was with him. “You think you scare us with your axe, with your horses?”
The crowd roared its approval.
“Scared or not, I speak the truth,” said Mantuan. “This ends now.”
“Look behind me, oh mighty patch, your day has ended. You may kill some of us, but the rest will kill you and take the palace.”
The crowd roared again, this time flexing as one, pushing in closer to the line of soldiers.
“The boy king shakes and cries behind his stone walls,” Cossca said, addressing the crowd, “and sends this old man to butcher us in the streets. I say we fight!”
“I protect the King. Who do you protect?” asked Mantuan, growing louder, “Where is your council, your thirteen brave ones that send you to the front lines, while they hide?”
Cossca laughed, “Nice try, great one-eyed champion, but our leaders are great thinkers, we do the fighting for them – not because of any oath, but because we believe in our cause!”
The crowd liked that, giving out a louder yell.
“And I fight for my King, if that's the only choice you leave me,” said Mantuan, raising his hand as the order to attack.
“The King!” shouted a woman from deep in the crowd.
The crowd murmured. Mantuan turned in his saddle to see three boys walking from the palace. In front was King Asa, with no guards around him, flanked only by his brothers.
What he is doing? thought Mantuan. He looked at the crowd, strapped his battle-axe to his back, and rode to meet the king.
The boys were steadily walking toward the crowds. The soldiers on the front lines were just as confused as the crowds. Silence enveloped the strange scene. The King used his staff as a walking stick as Mantuan met them half way to the front line. He walked his horse up to the three, as the king's brothers were whispering to him, warning of anything in Asa's path that might trip him.
“My King,” said Mantuan, “What are you doing out of the palace? That's not part of the plan.”
“I might ask you the same, Mantuan. From what my brothers tell me, and where I hear your voice coming from, you're on horseback. How many other horsemen. Devver?”
“About twenty.”
“That's not part of the plan either,” said Asa, steadily walking closer to the crowds. Mantuan rode his horse besides them.
“Fair enough. I'm working for the best interest. Exposing yourself to the crowds when they are attacking the palace is a bad idea.”
“This council has proven that the people are looking for leadership. I'm going to give it to them tonight.”
“He has a plan,” said Devver, almost reassuringly.
“You're not going to like it,” said Vance.
Mantuan drew a heavy sigh. He looked to the crowds, to the rock throwers that had stopped for the moment, back to the boy King, “I will be by your side, whatever you're planning. Let me know what you need, my king.” He rode off to stand next to the other horsemen.
“That went better than I thought,” said Devver.
“I think so too,” whispered Asa.
“It would have been embarrassing if he'd thrown you over his horse and taken you back to the palace like a sack.”
Asa nearly smiled. But this was not a night for jesting.
They finally reached the crowds. “Make way,” Vance shouted, “make way for King Asa.” The soldiers parted to allow a break in the front line. The king and his brothers faced the crowd. Asa took a step forward, putting his staff on the ground in front of him, leaning on it with both hands. The crowds were still and silent. Asa thought to himself, if this doesn't work, I'll die on this spot.
With a voice louder than Mantuan had ever heard Asa use, he said, “Good people of the kingdom, I have come to offer you… my death.”
It hit the crowd like a wave. The people at the front gasped and the murmurs rolled through the crowds. They didn't cheer, that's good, Asa thought. In fact, the crowd was near silent, except for the whispering murmurs of what the King had said trickling back to the crowds, the ones too far back to hear him directly.
“I know how angry you are,” Asa continued, “the holes in the palace speak clearly enough. I won't try to convince you that change will happen if you only give us enough time. It's true. But that time is past, I know that now.”
“Is this a trick?” someone said from the front of the crowd.
Asa continued, “No. No tricks. I know this seems foolish to some. My brothers tried to talk me out of it, as did Mantuan. But the people should decide the fate of their own kingdom. I will not hide behind palace walls. If you want my death, here I am.”
The crowd murmured and whispered. They didn't know what to make of it. Mantuan watched Asa and his brothers but kept his ears open for the mood of the crowds.
“I asked my brothers to join me, not to fight you, or defend
me. I asked them here to remind me of family. A kingdom is like a family. A large one, true, but family. There is one thing I want to resolve before you kill me. I ask one thing of you, my larger family….”
Cossca grunted, “Here is comes - demands.”
“No demands. What is your name, good man?” asked King Asa.
Cossca flinched. It was probably the first time anyone called him a good man. He replied, “Cossca, my Kin… my name is Cossca,” then he folded his arms in defiance.
“Cossca, everyone, I ask that for one more night we come together as a family,” Asa pointed to the other side of the palace, “right now, on the far side of the palace, speeding toward our kingdom is a fleet from Aspora. They are about to attack us.”
The crowd was uncertain. Calls of 'liar' could be heard filtering out. But mostly there was confusion. Mantuan listened closely, I think they actually believe him.
“I did not lie to you when I spoke in the courtyard. A man named Cayne is coming. He thinks we are weak, divided. He thinks he can come into our kingdom, our lands that have not been attacked in over a hundred years and take what he wants.”
Mantuan felt the crowd turning but was unsure if this was only his hope talking.
Asa continued, “I give you my death as a gift, if that's what you want. But I ask you one thing. Let's be a family for one more night and fight the real enemy, the enemy out there.”
Cossca had enough. “No! Don't believe his lies! This is a trick. We see no attack.” He turned to the vast crowd, “Don't you see what he's doing? On the very night we will take the palace, at the last moment, a convenient enemy appears from the mind of a boy.”
Asa replied, “Then come see it, Cossca, everyone,” he turned to where he hoped Mantuan still was, “Mantuan, have the soldiers clear a path to the king's dock. Great family, if you think I lie, follow me.”
Mantuan took his mounted troops and cleared a path through the soldiers, one that led to the grounds and the docks beyond. The soldiers began to open a way through their fortified barricade.
When they finished, Cossca shouted, “Look! It's a trick! They'll get us all on the grounds of the palace, and then the soldiers will surround us and kill us all. Don't let them fool you!”
The crowd roared its belief in this idea. Asa said something to his brothers. Vance took his arm and led him over the short distance that still separated the king and the people. As Asa got closer to the crowd, with no one but his two brothers to protect him, the enormous crowds grew quiet.
“Cossca?” asked Asa when he reached the crowd.
Cossca wheeled around, shortknife in hand, but the King seemed unafraid. The front of the crowd gasped at what might happen, seeing Cossca's knife glint in the torchlight. King Asa used his staff to feel along the ground in front of him. He came closer to Cossca, still unafraid of his weapon. Cossca grew unsure as the King came closer, alone, with no protectors. His staff felt along the ground until it found Cossca's boot. The King stopped.
Cossca towered over him with the knife.
Asa held out his hand. “Cossca, so that you know there's no trap, will you let me take your arm? Will you help me to the shore?”
Cossca didn't know what to do. He nearly looked around to the crowd for support, for guidance, but he was afraid to look weak. Instead, he asked roughly, “Why do you need my arm… boy?”
“I'm afraid I've gone blind in your service,” said King Asa.
The collective gasp went through the crowds. Then silence again, as they waited for Cossca to act. Cossca looked at his knife, less than a foot from the king. He turned to the crowds. But this decision was his.
He put his knife away and let King Asa take his arm.
They all walked through the lines of soldiers on either side. They walked in silence mostly, the vast crowds holding their torches and lanterns in this strange march to the sea. The soldiers stood quiet too, uneasy with the fear of the crowd suddenly turning hostile once they were on the palace grounds.
They walked over the grounds, around the palace, by the small forest before they finally reached the docks.
The groups of soldiers watched nervously as King Asa led the large crowds onto the palace grounds. Mantuan had quietly ridden around the crowd, informing various troops to stay calm but alert, as the crowd went toward the sea. He stayed out of the way with his horsemen, but close enough he could get to the King in case things took a turn.
The large bay was full of ships, waiting for an attack. The murmur in the crowds got louder as they saw the lights farther out, beyond the bay. Hundreds of lights could be seen on the water, and it was clear to see the enemy fleet was coming fast.
“By the Gods, it's true.” said Cossca as he looked out, still letting Asa hold his arm.
Asa asked his brother, “How many ships do you think?”
Vance said, “At least fifty, my King, maybe more.”
Asa patted Cossca's arm, before turning around to the crowds, “Thank you, Cossca. Good people, no one has attacked our kingdom in a long time because to the world, our kingdom is the strongest. They will be here soon. Can we defend our great kingdom as the strong family that we are?”
The crowd gave a cheer in response, but Asa needed more. He had to know they were all with him, “I am blind, let me hear you like I'm deaf! Will you fight with me?”
The crowd roared this time, loud enough that Asa almost wished he were deaf. He knew the crowd was truly back on his side when he realized Cossca was cheering too. As if the shouting could be heard out at sea, the attacking fleet seemed to slow.
A soldier walked quickly to Mantuan, handing him a note. He read it, and smiled, “Get the Asporans and the man that wrote this note to the docks. But do it quietly, make sure no one sees them.”
A few minutes later, Mantuan met Kett and Lyrra at the docks. Three guards surrounded Rolem. Mantuan stayed on his horse and waved the note.
“It was you that turned my men, destroyed our airships, set up the alliance between Extatumm and Cayne?”
“I did not work entirely alone, but yes.” Rolem said solemnly.
“And now you want me to let you escape with your friend out there.” He pointed to Cayne's fleet.
“We have lost here, that is clear. I can convince Cayne to stop the attack.”
Mantuan spoke to Kett and Lyrra, “Are you sure you want to go with him? Cayne's a mad man, and he's probably very angry. He may just sink you before you make it to him, even with a white banner.”
“We can take care of ourselves,” said Kett.
Lyrra added, “We'll try talking first, then we'll use these.” she patted the hilts of her knives.
“And we'll kill this one for you, if things come undone.” Kett nodded his head towards Rolem. The small man was sweating despite the cold night air, but said nothing. He knew this was his only chance to escape a trial.
“I can't tell you why. You wouldn't believe it all. But you will want to find the old man in charge of the council.” warned Rolem darkly.
“Who is this leader?”
Rolem shook his head, “A very dangerous foe. He reminds me too much of another old man. Find him, Mantuan.”
“Get underway then. May the Gods smile on your plan.” Mantuan smiled and thought, we all might just survive the night after all.
Chapter 48: Dark Surprise
Cayne slowed his fleet when he saw the lights.
It looks like an army of fire bugs, Cayne thought, what is this? The coastline was filled with thousands of lights. He was close enough to their coast to see they were not ships in the water, but soldiers lining the banks. His fleet was at a stop now, just off the coast of the Kingdom of the Thirteen.
The lead Extatumm airship came low, next to Cayne's ship. The oldest of TrTorrin's daughters yelled, “What is this? I thought your spies said they were weak, divided?”
“My spies? What of your spies? You told me half the army is against the King,” shouted Cayne. “Doesn't look like that to me.”
>
A man came up to Cayne, “I… I think you should…”
Cayne grabbed the man by the throat and threw him to the deck, “I told you never to interrupt me.”
The man grabbed his throat and pointed upward. Cayne spun around. Against the night sky a dark object hovered. Cayne squinted as a column of flame grabbed for his ship like a fiery hand of an angry god. It came just short of the ship itself, but a sail caught fire from the intense heat.
Cayne said, “You men, climb with the fire buckets. Get those flames out! Arrowmen, open fire.”
The Extatumm ship took evasive maneuvers, rising and pulling away from Cayne's ship, joining the other two airships in formation. Cayne's large arrow guns let loose from the fixed guns on deck. There were no lights on the attacking airship, so their arrows missed. Cayne and his arrowmen scanned the sky for the dark object.
* * *
Aboard their airship, Gordon resisted the urge to cheer. He wasn't sure he could, his head hurt so badly. He knew how sweet his blood must be, but no way to fix it. They were finally close to the kingdom, but they had an enemy to stop. Brenddel had told them all how important it was to stay silent during the attack. Any noise could alert Cayne's ships to their position. They were fired upon, but they had gained height to stay out of the path of their weapons.
When they were higher and far enough away, Brenddel spoke softly, “We will come around again, but keep our height. We only have one shot with the dragon, and maybe enough oil left for two shots with the rainmakers. But they don't know that.”
Aline stood next to Tolan, still tied and gagged on the deck, “There is more good news. Look.”
The Extatumm airships had turned and were headed away from Cayne's fleet.
* * *
On shore, the crowds roared with excitement when the column of fire had appeared over the enemy fleet. It had to be one of their airships.
Mantuan made his way back to the King. He came alone on horseback, not wanting anyone in the crowds to think he was attacking. When he came to the Asa, he asked, “My King, shall we send support, or wait for the Asporan envoys to do their work?”