by B A Simmons
“I know. There’s a reason I never married. I’m not an easy man to get along with. Luckily for me, I’m not courting you. Luckily for you, you’re young and still have plenty of time to learn.”
Morris again turned his attention to the tablet whose back panel he had finally removed. He smirked as he said, “I must hand it to the Duarves. They really do know how to craft. As old as this tablet probably is, I didn’t figure it would put up such a fight. Then again, it was well preserved as you have said.”
Rob could see the insides of the tablet were an array of shapes. Some reflected light while others were opaque. He watched as Morris used the knife to remove one of the rectangular pieces from the back. It dropped onto the table with a thud as he examined the rest of it.
“Yes, I think that’s it,” he said triumphantly. “Hand me the cylinder, please. And then reach into my satchel and retrieve my stylus and parchment paper.”
Rob did as he was asked, still confused and enthralled with what he was witnessing. He watched intently as Doctor Morris placed the exposed ends of the wires on a tiny copper plate on the inside of the tablet. Rob helped to hold the wires in place as Morris looked at the front of the ancient Duarvish device. With one hand he held the stylus, ready to write, and with the other he pressed the uppermost key on the tablet.
Nothing happened. He pressed another key, still nothing. Moving methodically from top to bottom, Morris pressed each key until the next to last. There was a flash of dim light from the small panel in the center. A single Duarvish word flashed momentarily across this panel before it returned to its blankness. The lightning spear’s power had finally given all.
While unable to see the panel from his side of the table, Rob knew something had happened. He held his tongue for a moment, hoping that Morris would voluntarily reveal the secrets he had beheld. When one moment became two and quickly approached three, he could hold his curiosity no longer.
“What did you see?”
Morris, whose eyes never strayed from the tablet, had written something with his stylus. He blew gently on the wet ink and then held the paper up for Rob to see. Several short and incomprehensible lines were drawn. However, while they were obviously not scribbles, Rob knew they did not spell out anything in Engle or Iyty.
“Is that Duarvish?”
“I think so. I’ve never actually seen Duarvish script before.”
“Where do we go to get it translated?”
Morris leaned back in his chair. “I’ve been here on Engle Isle for ten years. I’m not sure of any place close by where Duarves still live, other than Copper Isle.”
“Copper Isle Duarves don’t have contact with humans except to sell copper. At least according to my friends Paul and Pamela.”
“Well, it’s a place to start. If not there, I know of other islands where Duarve live and have more contact with humans.”
Morris rose from the table and gathered up the mess. Rob reassembled the lightning spear, minus the cylinder, and after paying Missus FitzHugh for their drinks, they left the inn.
The two had not gone far when they encountered Tom, Pete, Edwin, and Trina. All four of whom focused their attention on Rob.
“There you are!” Trina said. She was unable to hide her smile upon seeing Rob.
“You were looking for me?”
Edwin interjected, “Mark has called a meeting in Harrisville. He wants us all there as soon as possible.”
Rob looked at Doctor Morris who seemed to take the news with delight. Rob expected him to speak up. In fact, he was slightly annoyed when the old man remained silent and grinning.
“We’re headed back that way now as it is,” Rob said.
Trina’s smile broadened, “Good. We can travel together then.”
Rob knew the meeting would be about their next course of action in the war. He knew he had to be present to show support for his brother. In his new role as leader of the military, Mark was under a good deal of scrutiny from the Council of Elders. While they had eventually voted unanimously to support the resistance to the Falcon Empire’s presence on Alimia, there were still a couple of members who opposed any military action. A few citizens were already growing tired of the mercenaries as well. Trina especially drew negative attention from the women on the island. They felt she was a bad influence on the younger women and girls.
Rob knew he had to give Mark all semblance of support. Even though his own influence on the island was next to nothing, in Mark’s eyes, any sign of disapproval from Rob would be as bad as if the entire council disapproved of him.
Mark did not like the number of people he saw inside the courthouse in Harrisville. Aside from himself, Anna, and the mercenaries, all but two members of the Council of Elders and a half dozen hotheaded islanders overeager to kill Falcon soldiers were all talking at once. The Reverend Mother and her two counselors were also in attendance, however, they sat distant from the bustling men, upright and uptight in their demeanor. The private council of war was quickly becoming a public affair.
When Rob entered with the others, including Doctor Morris, Mark finally signaled Mister Shipley who banged his gavel sharply on a table strategically placed in the center of the room.
“Let us bring this meeting to order!” Shipley commanded. “We are here to consider a proposed plan of military action from Mark Engleman the younger. Go ahead now.”
Shipley seated himself, and the attendees focused their attention on Mark.
“Thank you,” he said, a hint of anxiety touched his voice. “After our last raid on Alimia, we have learned that the Falcon citizens now living on the island are armed and just as dangerous as their soldiers. Alfie Lawrence was badly wounded—”
Someone shouted, “And for that, we’ll make them pay in blood!”
Others momentarily cheered, but silence quickly returned. Mark continued, “We’ve come to realize that they’re not going to leave Alimia. At least not without causing more trouble than we can handle with our limited means.”
There was a grumble of voices. Mark was unsure if they were in agreement or disapproval.
“Are you going to end your military campaign against them?” said Mister Jones of the council.
“No. We’re actually going to expand it.”
“So you want more of our young people to suffer the same fate as young Mister Lawrence,” the old man retorted.
This was the push Mark needed. His eyes narrowed as he faced Jones.
“I would gladly give my life if it meant keeping the people of this island from suffering any such fate. And I know that Alfie feels the same way. As do many of our young people!”
Another cheer burst out from the hotheads. Jones leaned back in his seat and allowed Mark to continue.
“We need more men to fight and while there are several Engle Islanders who’ve joined us, what we really need are more professionals. For that purpose, we’ll be setting out tomorrow morning on a return voyage to Fallen Dome. On the way there, we’ll stop at Isle de James where Edwin and Anna were able to make some contacts. In both places, we’ll recruit more people who can carry on the fight while our own people prepare to defend this island.”
“If you take all of your ships away, won’t that weaken the defenses we currently have?” asked another council member.
“The Alphina, under the command of Pete Engleman, will remain in the seas around Engle Isle and Alimia to provide protection as well as continue to harass the enemy. He can keep them on their toes while we conduct business with our allies.”
Another council member stepped forward. “One ship? That’s all? What’s to stop the Falcon Empire from attacking us while you’re gone?”
Mark replied quickly, “Charlie, our most experienced fighter, will remain here to train the island militia. In fact, the first group of twenty men will be assembling near the Engleman farm tomorrow morning.”
Charlie spoke up now. “We’ve also set up a watch system for the island. Those boys too young to fight are keeping a
daytime watch on the sea to the north. Should they spy a ship with Falcon sails, they’ll come running to me.”
“We’ve also begun a more ambitious project,” Mark continued. “In the event of a full-scale invasion, everyone will need to evacuate to Harrisville. I’ve ordered Roger to work with all available masons and carpenters in fortifying the town.”
“What exactly do you mean?” Lewis Johnson asked.
Mark motioned to Roger to explain, “We’re going to surround the town with a wall, standing about twenty feet high. Every couple hundred yards, we’ll erect a tower. Most of the towers will be open platforms with crenulations to protect the defenders. On the south edge of town, directly abutting the pinnacle, we’ll build a larger keep.”
“That’s a lot of construction,” Mister Jones said incredulously.
“Oh, that’s not all of it either,” Roger continued. “We’re going to fortify the docks at Port John also. Not to the same extent of course, but—”
“Where are you going to get the materials for this? How are you paying for it? Do you honestly believe it’ll do any good against a professional military?” Jones shouted.
“The quarries around the south pinnacle should provide enough stone. We have lumber from Edwin’s cargo and what was found on the Alphina after her capture. We’ll need to purchase more from Isle de James soon, but we have enough to get started,” Mark said.
“So your plan is to have all of us sit behind a wall while the Falcon soldiers destroy our island. Is that right?” Jones prodded.
“Our plan is defeat the enemy before they come to our island. If we can’t keep them from invading us, then we need to have every possible defense. The walls and towers are just part of it. The militia will be well trained before long, and I’ll be back with more professional soldiers before the rains start again.”
Mister Jones sulked and looked at the other attendees. Not finding a friendly face among them, he turned with a sigh and left the courtroom.
It was at this moment that Missus McClain entered the discussion.
“Mister Engleman, I have a concern about your plan to evacuate everyone to Harrisville if our island is invaded.”
“Yes ma’am, what is it?”
She looked at all of those assembled there as she spoke.
“The birthing cave lies outside the protection of your proposed walls and defenses. Should any Falcon soldiers enter there, this sacred site would be desecrated and Ayday alone knows what damage they would do. What protection can we give this most precious place?”
Mark looked around the chamber, his eyes finally resting on the Reverend Mother. “Ma’am, we’ll do what we can to hide the location of the birthing cave so that Falcon soldiers will not find it. Most likely, they wouldn’t bother with it as they’d be busy fighting us here. Given all we’ve seen of their tactics and strategies thus far, they do not seem to be in the habit of looting or laying waste to the places they conquer. On both Alimia and Isle de Joc, they immediately set to preserving the land and improving the existing structures.”
“All the same, I think that I would feel more comfortable if my fellow sisters of the Matriarch’s Circle and I were allowed to remain there to prevent any incursion.”
Mark’s thoughts immediately turned to his mother who was a member of the circle. “Would you be insisting that the entire Matriarch’s Circle join you there or would they be able to choose?”
“I’m sure that none of you want the birthing cave to fall victim to vandals and profaners. No member of our holy sisterhood would seek personal safety above their sacred responsibility.” She paused and seemed to consider her next words carefully. “Yet, should any decide their hearts lie more with family than duty, I cannot stop them.”
Mark thought her words sounded more like a threat than a request. There was nothing else to discuss about the matter.
“Just as I would be unable to keep you from fulfilling that duty, even at risk to your own life.”
All the other Engle Island natives were excused from the meeting, leaving the original crew of the Entdecker, the mercenaries, and Doctor Morris in the chamber. Mark had asked his father and Mister Johnson to stay as representatives of the Council of Elders. Both refused, feeling that staying showed too much bias. They wanted the island to know that the Engleman and Johnson families weren’t trying to establish an aristocracy.
“Now that we’ve appeased the Council of Elders and the Matriarchs,” Mark began, “we can get down to planning the details. Edwin, what’s this I hear about you returning to Fishhook Isle?”
“We . . . that is, I . . . promised them I’d return and bring them some gifts. They did make me their king after all.”
“What gifts are you planning to bring them?”
“I’ve purchased some goats from your father. You see, they don’t have any livestock on the island. All they eat is octopus.”
“I never figured you for a humanitarian,” Rob said sarcastically.
“Well, once you’ve become royalty, you must see to the needs of your people,” Edwin countered with equal sarcasm.
“That sounds like a good idea,” Mark said. “The Entdecker can accompany you. It would allow you to show off your power, having two ships, as well as give me the chance to see these people for myself. Perhaps we could recruit some of them to join our fight.”
Anna chimed in. “That might be more trouble than it’s worth. The Fishhook Islanders don’t just eat octopus. They are also very fond of a toadstool that gives them hallucinations and euphoria.”
“They’re dopers?” Charlie asked with amusement.
“They have a tendency to overuse the medicinal quality of the toadstool,” Edwin confirmed. He glared at Anna in an attempt to silence her. He didn’t want Mark going to Fishhook at all, let alone knowing about the toadstool.
Mark eyed Edwin with a suspicious glance before returning his attention to the plan.
“After we visit Fishhook Isle, we’ll sail north to Isle de James,” Mark said. “The council has provided us with a legitimate letter granting us authority to do business in their name. With this, we should be able to at least meet a member of their royal court, if not the baron himself. We need to convince them to join us in this fight. As great as Fallen Dome is, they’re so far away from us that I fear there’s little they can or will do to help.”
“I’m sure that my written report will convince Lord Tremblay that we need more support,” John said. “There will doubtlessly be dozens more volunteers who will join the ranks.”
“I’m sure they will continue to support us, but the distance is still great and your baron’s first concern is his own island,” Doctor Morris said. “I know someone on Aruth, granted he’s still alive, who could be of assistance to us. It was my hope that Rob and I would be able to travel there.”
Mark eyed the old teacher with some misgiving. Morris’s presence had been by Rob’s request and Mark had been under the notion that he was merely an observer.
“You want to travel with us?”
Morris lifted his eyebrows at the question. “Is that a problem?”
“Not at all, I just didn’t realize you were wanting to help. We welcome any support you can give us.”
“Who is your friend on Aruth?” Charlie asked.
“Hardly a friend,” Morris said. “More of an acquaintance really, and supposing he’s even still there . . .”
Mark grew impatient. “We’ll figure all this out on the way. I want to get an early start tomorrow. Is there anything else we need to concern ourselves with before we adjourn?”
“There is one last thing,” Anna said.
“What’s this?”
“The question of fraternization between hired soldiers and our own native islanders.”
“Has something happened that I don’t know about? I thought we’d all been behaving appropriately,” John said.
Anna couldn’t resist smiling at the burly soldier as he leaned on his crutches. “That all depends
on your explanation of last evening, John.”
Mark and Rob perked up at this. “What do you mean?” they both asked.
“We were just talking,” John said, but the redness of his face suggested that wasn’t the whole truth.
“I’m sure you were,” Anna said. “I’m sure Lisette has learned a lot from you about the Fallen Dome tongue.”
“Anna!” Mark said in shock, though he knew she was only teasing. He felt some amount of responsibility for his sister.
The general chorus of laughter and giggles from the group both embarrassed John and allowed him to know they accepted his romance with Lisette.
“Just be sure to get our father’s approval before you propose,” Mark said.
A few awkward glances were exchanged between Trina and Rob as the group made their way out of the courthouse. The sun now hung low in the afternoon sky. Rob meandered through Harrisville for a while to ensure he would be alone as he walked the familiar road toward his family’s farmhouse, watching his feet more than anything else. He could think of little else but the strange formation of lines and dots that had appeared on the tablet earlier that day. For as much as he wanted the Falcon Empire out of Alimia, he really hated this war.
5 – The Huller
Twenty-one men gathered just as the sun appeared over the island, in the south goat pasture of the Engleman farm. Brandt and Neil Engleman were given the responsibility of keeping the goats away from the training area. They were not only disgruntled at having been relegated to such a dull duty but they were thoroughly unimpressed by the island militia now assembled before them.
The assortment of farmers, goatherds, and fishermen who stood in the pasture showed no understanding of military discipline. Most were doing their best to look tough while at the same time avoiding the piles of goat dung spotting the ground. A couple of them appeared to be from Engle Isle’s upper class, based on their finer tunics and greater aversion to the country atmosphere that surrounded them.
Charlie stood, armed and armored, with an expression of disgust on his face as Richard recorded the names of the volunteers, their ages, and occupations. Charlie knew that even the least disciplined among them had potential, but he groaned audibly when one of the first young men to arrive strode forward with a copper cookpot on his head, a kitchen knife tucked in his belt, and a barrel lid strapped as a shield to his arm.