Ruin & Reliance

by Jeremy Dwyer

  Commissioner Wallace then ordered all his guards – numbering two hundred seventy (270) in total – saying: “Guards, prepare yourselves!”

  The two hundred seventy (270) armed guards each drank anew of the waters from their respective vials. For the sword fighters, the Nabavodel Ocean waters energized them with the powers of strength and speed. For the archers, the Lujladia Ocean waters provided the powers of light and far sight. They readied short swords, daggers and crossbows.

  ~~~

  Captain Gijsbert was standing on deck and heard the commotion coming from the pier below so he went to the top of the boarding ramp. He looked down and saw a chubby man surrounded by twenty (20) armed guards who was shouting at the crew members. Gijsbert walked down the boarding ramp and onto the pier. He faced the chubby man and said: “I’m Captain Gijsbert of the Staunch Carriage Five. I have orders from the central bank to sell a shipment of precious gems to this port, at a rate of thirty-one thousand fifty-two (31052) platinum coins per gem.”

  “I am Commissioner Wallace, the sole and absolute authority over all commerce passing through this district. Let me tell you, Captain, that you’re not selling any gems – or anything else – at any port in my district without my express approval. I’m going to inspect and certify the gems personally,” Commissioner Wallace said.

  “No, you’re going to listen to me, Commissioner. You’re under contract with the central bank and their designated mining, manufacturing, farming and transportation companies. You have to accept the gems and other products they offer, on their terms, when they offer it, and allow merchants in these ports to buy it. How much gets bought depends on market conditions, but the quality of the gems is certified by the central bank. That’s all there is to it,” Captain Gijsbert said.

  “You’re not understanding me, Captain. Open these crates and allow me to inspect the gems, or you can pack them up and get out,” Commissioner Wallace said.

  “If you won’t cooperate, the Commissioner in Northern District Fifteen (15) will. I’ll sell all the gems there, and you’ll lose out. Then, when I report back to the central bank, you’ll be fined for breach of contract. When you lose your job, I don’t know what you’re going to do,” Captain Gijsbert said.

  “Open these crates, Captain! Now! I’m going to inspect the contents,” Commissioner Wallace said.

  Captain Gijsbert gestured to one (1) of his crew who then carried a crate off the boarding ramp and onto the pier. He opened the crate, revealing one thousand (1000) clear yellow gems.

  Commissioner Wallace drank anew of the waters of the Kazofen Ocean from his vial and was energized with the power to manipulate crystals and stones. He placed his hands on several of the clear yellow gems in the crate and inspected their low-level structure. “These gems are sixty-three (63) percent below the quality and purity levels required by the precious gems contracts, Captain! You were trying to defraud us! These gems are almost worthless! Now, look who’s guilty of breaching the contract!” he said.

  “There are always variations in gem quality. Some of them don’t need to be as pure and the rest can be adjusted. You can make those adjustments yourself, since you drink the Kazofen waters. So do plenty of other people here. Why is this suddenly a problem, Commissioner? These gems were always good enough in the past,” Captain Gijsbert said.

  “Sixty-three (63) percent below quality standards is not a simple variation! It’s outright counterfeit! I’ve been inspecting the gems shipping to this district and finding that the quality was very high – within contracted requirements – until recently. Why is it suddenly a problem to deliver quality?” Commissioner Wallace asked.

  “You’re just a bureaucrat looking for excuses to charge people more and put the money in your own pocket. These gems are good enough, and I’ll sell them in Northern District Fifteen (15), at the contractually required prices,” Captain Gijsbert said.

  “Don’t bet on that, Captain. You can’t cheat me, so now you actually think you’re going to another district to try to cheat the Commissioner there. You won’t get very far, Captain. I’ll warn them of what you’re planning. I’ll show them the counterfeit gems you’re trying to sell by abusing your contract. You’re going to lose that contract. Tell that to the central bank governors!” Commissioner Wallace said.

  “Go warn them! Go right ahead! The Northern District Fifteen (15) Commissioner will not only buy these gems – which are within contracted quality standards – but will be my witness when I report you to the central bank for political corruption!” Captain Gijsbert said.

  “I will warn them. By traveling there on this ship. You’re taking me to Northern District Fifteen (15) and we’re going to inspect all the cargo. Everything we find that’s below contractually specified quality standards will be reported. The central bank will pay us back with interest,” Commissioner Wallace said.

  “I’m not taking you anywhere, Commissioner. You’re a crooked politician. If you want to start trouble, go ahead, but I’m not helping you,” Captain Gijsbert said.

  “Guards! Arrest this man! Seize his ship!” Commissioner Wallace said.

  The extra contingent of two hundred fifty (250) armed guards moved forward and one (1) of them took hold of Captain Gijsbert, restraining him. The guards then boarded the ship and aimed their weapons at the crew.

  Commissioner Wallace, surrounded by the twenty (20) armed guards assigned to protect him personally, walked up the boarding ramp of the Staunch Carriage Five. Wallace saw that the ship was now under his control, with all the crew confronted with blades or arrows and unable to resist.

  “The central bank should have better protected their cargo ship. The fact that they didn’t suggests to me that they knew they were selling counterfeit gems, not worth the cost of defending,” Commissioner Wallace said.

  Captain Gijsbert was restrained by armed guards but was able to see Commissioner Wallace, who was a short distance away on deck. “I was wrong about you, Commissioner. You’re not a politician. You’re a pirate,” Gijsbert said.

  “No. I’m a man who refuses to be the victim of a pirate. We’re setting sail to Northern District Fifteen (15). Raise the anchor and the boarding ramp,” Commissioner Wallace said. The crew, under threat by the two hundred fifty (250) armed guards, obeyed the orders.

  Commissioner Wallace then directed his twenty (20) personal guards to escort him into the wheelhouse, where they found a young woman.

  “Are you the navigator?” Commissioner Wallace asked the young woman.

  “Yes. I’m Romey. Who are you? What’s going on?” the young woman asked.

  “I’m Commissioner Wallace, of Northern District Eleven (11). This ship contains counterfeit precious gems, and your captain is under arrest for attempting to sell them here. He confessed to planning on selling them elsewhere, which is another crime. Now, chart a course for Northern District Fifteen (15), so I can report this attempted fraud,” Wallace said.

  Romey saw that most of the guards were holding short swords, where others were holding crossbows. She consulted the atlas containing the map of the Ihalik districts and found Northern District Fifteen (15) to learn its physical position along the coastline. She then drank anew of the waters of the Atrejan Ocean from her vial and was energized with the power to listen to the sounds of the stars. She concentrated to learn their paths and positions and used this information to chart a course. Romey steered the Staunch Carriage Five out of the port and sailed westward across the Kazofen Ocean until reaching the Road of Kovoxotu land bridge. From there, she pulled levers to pivot the masts and sails of the ship to the sides and elevate the vessel to one hundred twenty (120) feet of altitude. She steered the ship westward across the land bridge and returned it to sea level in the Zovvin Ocean.

  ~~~

  Captain Gijsbert was restrained on deck but he still had the waters of the Zovvin Ocean flowing through him. The powers had faded slightly since his last use, but he could still communicate with the spirit world and he did. He re
ached out to find a willing spirit and began to ask for help.

  ~~~

  The Iron Grip was a one hundred eighty-two (182) foot long frigate with three (3) pairs of pivoting, double-masted sails. Kobus stood on the deck of the ship alone, holding a staff with a lapis lazuli at its tip. He said: “Be my lookout!!” and then tapped the staff on the deck boards. The lapis lazuli at its tip changed from dull blue to many glowing colors.

  Energy poured forth from the lapis lazuli and a ghost materialized in front of him. The spirit spoke, saying: “A cargo ship – the Staunch Carriage Five – is approaching from the east. The captain has called out to the spirit world for help, because he is being held captive. There are millions of valuable gems on board his vessel.”

  “Be my guide. Point the way, spirit,” Kobus said.

  The spirit from the staff was made of a visible, blue energy that began to form into an arrow, pointing eastward.

  Kobus drank anew of the waters of the Nabavodel Ocean from his vial to maintain his own strength and speed, just to be at his personal best for the confrontation ahead. However, the battle would be fought by the spirit swarm – including this particular ghost – which he still controlled using this staff. He walked across the deck, entered the wheelhouse and sailed the Iron Grip toward the direction of the spirit energy arrow. Within two (2) hours, he could see another ship come into view. The spirit energy arrow changed its direction to point directly at the other vessel, which meant that it was the Staunch Carriage Five. Kobus steered the Iron Grip to be within seventy-five (75) feet of the target vessel and then pulled levers to halt his own ship’s progress. He went out on deck to see his target.

  ~~~

  “That other ship is too close. At least I can read its markings – it’s the Iron Grip. Why did it stop instead of changing direction?” Romey asked.

  “That is strange. I see a blue light above that ship. And a lone man is standing on deck. There could be more hiding in the darkness. I don’t like the look of this! These could be pirates!” Commissioner Wallace said.

  ~~~

  Kobus said “Go forth!” and then tapped the staff onto the deck of the Iron Grip. A swarm of evil spirits poured forth from the lapis lazuli and headed toward the Staunch Carriage Five.

  ~~~

  A swarm of evil spirits attacked the crew members of the Staunch Carriage Five and frightened them as well as the armed guards serving under Commissioner Wallace. The spirits materialized and pushed, punched and kicked the three hundred twenty-two (322) crew members and the two hundred fifty (250) armed guards, sending them overboard into the Zovvin Ocean waters below.

  Captain Gijsbert was more than surprised by this. He screamed – both physically and into the spirit world – in both anger and terror: “That’s not what I asked for! That’s not the help I need!” His own fading spirit powers, given by the Zovvin Ocean waters, had been just enough to protect him from the ghostly assault. However, with the armed guards having been thrown overboard, no one was restraining him. Thus freed, he drank anew of the waters of the Zovvin Ocean from his vial and was energized enough to deflect the swarm of spirits away from himself. He ran into the wheelhouse to try to gain control of the situation.

  ~~~

  Kobus returned to the wheelhouse of the Iron Grip and steered the ship within thirty-six (36) feet of the Staunch Carriage Five. He then went out on deck and leaped onto the target ship. The Nabavodel waters he drank gave him the strength and speed to make the jump relatively easily, even with the staff in his hand.

  He said: “Find and kill any in hiding” and tapped the staff on the deck of this new ship. The swarm of evil spirits moved about the Staunch Carriage Five in search of prey.

  ~~~

  “Quick! Steer toward the other ship and jump on board! Do it!” Captain Gijsbert yelled as he entered the wheelhouse.

  “What!? Who set you free!? Guards!” Commissioner Wallace asked. The twenty (20) armed guards surrounding him reached out to grab Captain Gijsbert.

  A swarm of ghosts entered into the wheelhouse and moved to attack Captain Gijsbert, but he deflected them away. The ghost moved in against the armed guards and Commissioner Wallace, who screamed in terror. The armed guards were knocked back before taking hold of Gijsbert, who then exerted his spirit powers and pushed the ghost swarm farther away.

  “I can’t hold them back much longer!” Captain Gijsbert said.

  “You summoned these ghosts, you maniac! My guards will put an end to you and your schemes! We’re not going anywhere! We’re going to stay right here, on this ship, and fix this now!” Commissioner Wallace said.

  “No! You idiot! The pirate wants the cargo! He summoned the swarm of ghosts that wiped out my crew and most of your guards! Let the pirate have this ship. I’m not dying for anybody’s money. We can take his ship and get out of here! Romey can navigate. Do it now!” Captain Gijsbert said.

  Commissioner Wallace looked out through the door of the wheelhouse and saw that the deck of the Staunch Carriage Five was cleared – neither the captain’s crew nor his own extra contingent of two hundred fifty (250) armed guards were to be found. “Alright, let her do it! But watch the Captain!” Wallace said to his twenty (20) personal armed guards.

  Romey steered the Staunch Carriage Five closer to the Iron Grip until tapping its hull, then pulled a lever to halt the ship’s movement. She hurried out of the wheelhouse, followed by Captain Gijsbert, Commissioner Wallace and his twenty (20) personal armed guards. They stepped onto the Iron Grip and ran to its wheelhouse.

  “Sail anywhere away from here! Now!” Captain Gijsbert said.

  Romey took hold of the wheel of the Iron Grip and steered it away from the Staunch Carriage Five at full speed.

  “You have a lot of explaining to do, Captain!” Commissioner Wallace said.

  “What do you mean? I just got arrested by you and pirates just attacked the ship I commanded! I saved your life, you stupid bureaucrat! You explain to me the problem. If I wanted you dead, I had my chance back there with the ghosts. I’m not trying to cheat or kill anybody!” Captain Gijsbert said.

  “Alright! Maybe you’re not at fault in this particular situation. I’ll even give you the benefit of the doubt. But you’re going to testify before the authorities about what was on that cargo ship. We’re going to get to the bottom of all this. Romey, set a course for Ihalik, Western District Nineteen (19),” Commissioner Wallace said.

  “That’s not where you’re from! What is that district?” Romey asked.

  “What are you doing, Commissioner? What kind of bureaucratic policy garbage are trying to pull on us now?” Captain Gijsbert asked.

  “I’m not the only commissioner affected by the fraud and breach of contract. There’s someone else who can help me get the answers I need. Commissioner Hannah is in charge in Western District Nineteen (19). She knows that there are serious problems with the central bank, and it goes far beyond counterfeit gems,” Commissioner Wallace said.

  “Like I said, I had nothing to do with the gem quality. It’s always been good enough in the past,” Captain Gijsbert said.

  “I’m willing to believe it’s not your fault, Captain, but someone has to pay for it. We’re going to have the central bank itself fully investigated,” Commissioner Wallace said.

  ~~~

  Kobus stood on the deck of the Staunch Carriage Five and watched as the Iron Grip sailed out of sight. He could do nothing to stop them, but it was of little concern, because this ship was seaworthy. He said “Return!” and then twirled the staff until the swarm of spirits returned to it. He approached the crates of cargo on deck, pried them open and examined their contents to count the gems inside. Kobus went below deck and found thousands more crates. Examining a few of those – counting out thousands of gems in each – convinced him that his mission was profitable.

  CHAPTER 14: War of Greed and Anguish

  A tiger with skin of ash stood on the eastern bank of a river at its ocean source. The river raged as it flow
ed southward, and the ashen tiger prowled, following the river’s path. The river changed direction and flowed westward. The ashen tiger continued its journey, passing a female warrior who was holding a pair of short swords made of both ruby and diamond. She was leading soldiers who marched along the river’s southern bank. The river turned and flowed southward again, and the tiger trekked across the lands to the east of it, passing by fields of grain nestled alongside quarries of glittering gems. At the center of the land, a castle stood. Inside, a woman shrieked as her children were burned alive. Then, she was beheaded. Her husband screamed as he was compelled to watch his family being murdered. His torture continued: twenty-two (22) lashes with a whip each day. The tormentor spoke: “Taxes must be paid.” A song of vengeance resounded. The tortured, captive man stood free, holding a sword while crying in anguish, but his tears were not for the dead tormentor lying at his feet. Soldiers lay bleeding and broken around the castle: their leader – the woman holding the ruby-diamond short swords – was cut into shreds. The grieving man stood tall. The river meandered, angling southwestward, and the ashen tiger followed, passing between mountains, then into a barren wasteland blanketed with fallen trees, awash in poison lakes and crisscrossed by lava rivers. Armies marched into battle. A chill breeze blew, sweeping volcanic ash through the valley. Acid rain fell, and molten rock flowed, burning the barren land and the people. The tiger’s ashen body turned to dust and scattered to the wind. A new army appeared from the shadows.

  ~~~

  Zoe awoke inside her tent and saw that Brant was already awake.

  “Hold me,” she said.

  Brant held and hugged Zoe for several minutes until she was ready to talk. Then, he released his hold and sat facing her.

  “You had a dream?” Brant asked.

  “Yes. It was bad. I don’t like how it felt…scarier than the others,” Zoe said.

  “Mine was too. Let’s talk about it,” Brant said.

  “The river went south, then west, then south, then southwest, right?” Zoe asked.