The Children of Archipelago

by B A Simmons

  With his hands full, he turned to see Liliana standing near the wall he’d just been resting on. Her smile told him she’d been watching for some time. The footsteps were not hers, but of some other servant passing through.

  “You enjoy this work, don’t you?” She said.

  “It reminds me of home.”

  She beckoned for him to come closer. “I have news for you,” she said when he did.

  “Oh? You’ve arranged for me to be head gardener here? Thank you, my lady.”

  They smiled at each other.

  “No, but I probably could. Signore Pavana has convinced the emperor’s sister to go along with our plan. She will arrange for the doctor to go home tonight and tomorrow morning she will let the servants spread the rumors of his death.”

  “When do you meet with your friends?”

  “Our next meeting will be tomorrow afternoon. I’ll let them know that my father intends to claim the throne just before we part. It will be a short time before the whole city knows this.”

  “What will you do then?”

  “I must be out to speak against Cesare’s claim to the throne. This is where my friends will be.”

  Rob caressed her face. His eyes looked on her with affection, though his voice spoke with pain.

  “I wish you would stay here. It’s going to be dangerous out there.”

  She continued to smile at him, “If I’m harmed, it will only do more for our cause. It is more important to bring peace than to keep myself safe.”

  “Can you arrange for me to be with you. I’ll be your bodyguard.”

  She kissed him and they lingered there, next to the stables, delighting in each other’s embrace until they heard footsteps on the gravel. Liliana withdrew while Rob again busied himself with the garden tools.

  Corey appeared in the garden. He looked at Rob with part concern and part insolence.

  “The master has called for you. You will attend on him presently.” Corey said. Rob nodded and gathered the tools again. “Leave those. I will send someone else for them.”

  Rob knew something was wrong but followed Corey nonetheless. He was led to Signore d’Silva’s office where he found his Lord along with Ludo, dressed in his uniform and armor.

  “Signore?” Rob said as he bowed.

  “Rob, I have shown you favor. I saw in you an intelligent young man who knew how to work and I had high hopes for you. I gave you my trust and this is how you’ve repaid me?”

  “What do you mean? I have done everything you asked.”

  Ludo snorted an odd sort of laugh, yet his face did not look pleasant. Rob noted that his hand rested on the hilt of his sword while he glared at Rob.

  “Did I ask you to seduce my daughter?! Did I give you permission to touch her?!” d’Silva said.

  Rob sighed in relief. If this was all d’Silva had against him, then he had much to be thankful for. As long as their plan was carried out, d’Silva could punish him all he wanted.

  “Bad enough that you’ve made my sister believe you love her, but we have learned who you truly are,” Ludo said.

  Rob looked at Ludo, his face did not betray the truth, but neither did it deny it.

  “Marcel Aquila may be a gluttonous imbecile, but he had no reason to lie when he identified you as Rob Engleman, leader of the Hellhound Consortium. Just to confirm this, we tracked down the trader who sold you to my wife. He confirmed your purchase from a ship out of Longbeard Isle.”

  Rob met d’Silva’s eyes with equal conviction and confidence. It was apparent that the would-be emperor expected Rob to make a defense for himself; perhaps to deny everything; perhaps to plead for his life.

  “Signore, I am Rob Engleman of Engle Isle, and I used to be a leader of the Hellhound Consortium. I was captured and taken aboard a Falcon vessel near Longbeard. I am in love with your daughter, but I have made no attempts to seduce her or to taint her loyalty to her family. She remains your staunchest ally, I can assure you of that. I took seriously your order to protect her and would gladly lay down my life for hers. I would do the same for any member of this family. I would that you could believe this and allow me to continue to serve you. That is my only defense.”

  Ludo snorted again. “A weak defense from a member of a weak race.”

  “Ludo,” d’Silva warned his son, who went to the door and opened it to allow four more members of the home guard into the room. “Rob, I wish that I could believe you. It is out of my hands now.”

  He gestured for the men to take Rob. They approached with bronze shackles, regarding him as a villain to be feared. Rob made no attempt to resist them as they stripped him of the tunic identifying him as a servant of the d’Silva family, placed the chains on his wrists and ankles, and led him out of the house and onto a wagon. A noise from a window overlooking the courtyard drew his attention. He looked up to see Liliana pounding her hands against the glass. Her terror-stricken face streaked with tears. Rob pleaded to her with his eyes to remain silent before her mother appeared beside her at the window and pulled her from view.

  This wagon ride was much different than that he had taken with Signore d’Silva. Once they passed beyond the d’Silva’s property, Rob felt as he did when taken aboard Di Donato’s ship; surrounded by enemies and without friends to assist him. Rather than taking Rob into the interior of the island, this wagon returned him to the docks. There he was taken aboard a military vessel, transferred from the home guards, led by Ludo, to the marines.

  Rob noted with some interest that the captain of the vessel seemed to know Ludo. The two spoke together as Rob was taken below. In the hold of the ship, several cells were built into the hull, each only a yard or so in width. The boatswain’s mate shoved Rob into one of these, closing the cell with bronze bars. With only a bit of straw to make himself comfortable, Rob sat himself down and leaned back against the tarry hull. It took some time but Rob knew the ship was underway before he fell asleep.

  * * *

  The smell of rotten fish never failed to awaken Tom from slumber. Even when he was not alone on the high seas, defending himself and his ship, he never slept through a nessie attack. The nessie that now hovered its head and long neck over the Entdecker did not recognize Tom as something to eat. It swayed over the bow and let the ship glide under it while examining the contents of the wooden shell floating on the water. It wasn’t until the bulbous head lowered toward the hold that Tom loosed a poison tipped arrow at the intruder.

  Sailing solo did not allow for good sleep, but Tom nonetheless did somewhat enjoy the solitude. He enjoyed the conversations with the wind and waves. On the days the wind was quiet and waves only lapped against the hull, he enjoyed being alone with his thoughts. There were times he wished someone else to be there. Fishing and steering could not be done at the same time, yet for the most part, the weather cooperated. Tom had no doubt that sailing alone in a storm would lead to disaster.

  Though the Aruth carpenters had rigged the Entdecker so that Tom could more easily sail alone, it was by no means easy. Block pulleys brought the stays and sheets within reach of the quarterdeck. Tom made this part of the ship his home, keeping a regular supply of food and water there. Only if something went terribly wrong, would he have to move from the quarterdeck to handle the ship.

  On occasion, Tom spoke to Rob, though his conversation was but a replay of one from a previous time. His conversations with Aacarys were of future hopes and dreams. In these he presented plans for a future of sailing the world, as he had wanted to do when Rob first proposed purchasing the Entdecker. Aacarys always said yes, though Tom felt some pang of regret, knowing that to be with him, she would have to give up her own people.

  By the light of the sun, Tom approximated his location with a sextant and converting these calculations onto a chart, determined how much farther east he had to sail before turning south again. His plan to avoid Falcon waters meant crossing the route between Longbeard and the Falcon Archipelago. His prayers to Ayday were for his encounters to be lim
ited to nessies and rayfish, with one short stop at Isabel Isle for water, for the Entdecker was still a wanted ship among the Falcons. The last thing he wanted was to be pulled back into the war. Yet a course around the Falcon Archipelago would add time to the journey. Time that tried his patience and his luck. The longer he sailed alone, the greater likelihood for an encounter to turn bad.

  He adjusted his course to the southeast, hoping to knock a day or two off the journey and praying even more for Ayday to keep him. For nine more days he hooked rayfish and shot nessies. Only once, when a nosy pelican came aboard looking for something to eat, did Tom have to leave the quarterdeck. The large grey creature landed atop the water barrel and broke in the lid. It screeched and squawked while it attempted to retrieve its foot from between the lid and the barrel’s side. No doubt believing it had been snared by some insidious sea predator, the pelican did what all sea birds do as a last resort. It defecated.

  Tom used a harpoon to hold the lid down long enough for the frightened animal to escape. He then examined the contents of the barrel, ensuring that all the water therein was spoiled before pushing it overboard. He would have to make for the closest island to trade for a new barrel and fresh water. Isle de Margarette, the northern most island of the Falcon Archipelago was closer at hand than any other.

  That afternoon he spotted a sail to the southwest. For an hour he prayed it was moving away from him, but his hope was dashed as the sail grew larger in size. Through the far-see Tom determined it was sailing due west. This ship was likely headed for Margarette as well. If Tom took in sail, he could possibly avoid the encounter at sea. If she was headed to Margarette, the bustle of the harbor would be the best way to avoid any awkward conversations.

  As they came closer, Tom looked again through the far-see. She was a small merchant ship with a lateen sail. While no double-headed falcon emblazoned the sail, she did fly a Falcon pennant from her stern. Yet she appeared to be avoiding him as well, perhaps they did not want to be identified either.

  Tom had taken care not to fly the Hellhound Consortium banner or any other identifying marks. The name, Entdecker, was still visible on the bow, but only on the port side, where the hull hadn’t been damaged by the reef at Hellhound Isle. Curious now about this odd merchant ship, he allowed them to get closer so as to read the name of their ship as it was painted on their bow.

  Anna Louisa

  Tom’s heart sank. He found himself conflicted with two equal desires; one for his friends who sailed so near him he could signal their attention in an instant. The other for his intended destination and who he hoped to find there.

  Should he sail on, giving and drawing no attention from the Anna Louisa, he could avoid the war that had already caused so much heartache.

  Should he sail on, his friends might sail into danger and destruction. Tom decided to split the difference. He would follow Edwin’s ship for a time, to determine their purpose and goal, and if necessary, to help them. If they seemed not to need him, he could continue on to the Ferlie Plateau – to Aacarys and her love.

  * * *

  The Anna Louisa docked at Porto Margarette just as the sun dipped below the horizon. Edwin used what Iyty he knew to discover the town’s apothecary, who thankfully spoke excellent Engle, and interrupted his supper with the proposed sale of elixir. The apothecary had heard of the elixir and jumped at the chance to acquire the last of the stock. Edwin negotiated a price below that which he could have had at Porto Profundo, but which still satisfied his plans.

  The apothecary’s porters transported the supply from the docks that very night, securing the precious drug without anyone knowing he had it. The news of rioting against alien merchants at Porto Profundo had reached Margarette weeks before. While the natives of that isle did not feel the same way about foreigners as their countrymen of the capital, it was still wise to avoid suspicion.

  “It is good that you came here,” the apothecary said. “We received word just yesterday that the capital is in chaos. Rioters everywhere and people are being killed if they do not support the new emperor.”

  “The new emperor?” Edwin said.

  “Cesare Aquilla, the nephew of Octavo. He is not well liked outside Isola del Re, but you did not hear that from me.”

  Edwin smiled and nodded. “Thank you for your purchase. Feel free to relabel the elixir so as to avoid problems.”

  Edwin returned to the Anna Louisa and set out from Isle de Margarette before dawn the next morning. They did not notice the coastal trader class ship arrive and dock two berths away. They saw the captain of that ship purchase a new water barrel but did not recognize him. The idea that their sister ship was still afloat, let alone that her captain was watching them, did not pass through their minds.

  Edwin took them south toward King’s Isle, along the shipping routes through the Falcon Archipelago. Several ships passed them, but one in particular remained within sight behind them. Ches noticed the square sail soon after leaving Isle de Margarette. He told Edwin about it once they passed Isle de Lucca and the sail still followed them. While Edwin scrutinized the Entdecker through a far-see, he was not about to challenge the unknown ship, especially with so many other nearby.

  “It’s not likely that they had a ship at Isle de Margarette just waiting for us to show up,” Edwin told Ches.

  “Iss a small canoe anyway, yes? If wants to do us ‘urt, weekin take ‘im.”

  “Indeed, we can. I doubt it’s truly following us, just using the same wind we are.”

  Yet after several days of sailing around King’s Isle, with the mystery ship keeping its distance and speed behind them, even Edwin was ready to concede that it must be following them. Yet, he had too many other matters on his mind to give it much heed.

  A nervous knot formed in Edwin’s chest the moment Porto Profundo came into view. The knot became tighter with each passing wave. The haze above the city seemed darker than during previous visits, that or Edwin’s mood made it seem so. At least when the Anna Louisa turned to enter the harbor, the square-sailed vessel did not follow them. However, it was this action that made Trina more suspicious of it.

  “Where else could she go beyond this harbor?” she said.

  “There are smaller villages and towns along the northern coast of the island. Or perhaps she’s going to the next island over…” Eugene suggested.

  No other ship contended for a berth at the alien harbor. All hands kept weapons close by though out of sight as they docked. The dockside street showed no signs of life apart from the harbormaster who reported for duty as Edwin disembarked.

  “You have your papers, do you?” he said.

  Edwin showed him his alien merchant permit, which the man waved off without a glance.

  “What are you here for?”

  Edwin noted the man’s curt tone and responded with terseness.

  “I’m here to make a purchase of goods. I’m also in the market for servants. I’ve heard there’s a surplus of them here.”

  “You heard that, did you?” the harbormaster said. “Well, his majesty has his own remedy for that. You’ll be lucky to get any that aren’t being sent to Kymberlite.”

  “Yes, well, I have a contact in the city, just beyond the university. Am I allowed to travel there?”

  “At your own risk! If you speak Iyty without an accent, perhaps you can pass off as a local. Just be sure to praise Cesare as emperor. Well that’s if any of his followers ask you; if they be against Cesare, don’t give any praises.”

  “Seems clear enough. I thank you sir.”

  Trina insisted on accompanying Edwin into the city; armed and armored as his bodyguard. Reluctant to endanger others, Edwin sighed and delayed his departure, but in the end he relented. Seeing that Edwin chose Trina over him, Ches then insisted on coming along also.

  “Yous still king o’my island. I kinnot let you be ‘urt,” he said.

  The gate leading from Alien Town to the rest of Porto Profundo was no longer manned by the home guard. Inste
ad, several armored merchants and mercenaries stood at the gate, inspecting those coming and going. Whether because he was leaving without any goods in hand, or because his two bodyguards looked menacing enough, these men let Edwin pass without harassment.

  Fires littered the streets of Porto Profundo. Burning piles of wood, mostly furniture, wheelbarrows and carts, blocked several streets. As they worked their way around these barricades, Edwin realized they restricted access to the university. A few soldiers ran to and fro among the streets on their side of the fires, while young men and women on the other side fed the fires.

  Edwin led Trina and Ches past the fires to the d’Benicia Apothecary. However, the shop was not there. The smoldering ruins of the shop marked the place where Edwin’s calm left him. He fell to his knees, tears on the verge of spilling from his eyes.

  Ches knelt beside him. “Wots this place then? She ent ‘ere. We still foind ‘er.”

  “She who?” Trina asked. “Who lived here?”

  “A beeyutiful bert. Patriza. Shees Edwin’s luv.”

  “Edwin? We aren’t going to find Rob here. Where do we go now?” Trina said.

  “We have to get through the barricades. If she’s not here… if she’s not dead, she’ll be at the university. By Ayday, I hope she’s there.”

  They crossed the main avenue just north of the plaza where the hottest of the fires blazed. The shouts and cries of people echoed between the buildings and Edwin paused for a moment to see a group of home guards standing before the fiery barricade. They held their shields high to catch the incoming stones from inside the university plaza. Despite four of the guards being armed with crossbows, none of them fired at the silhouettes on the other side of the blaze.

  Ducking down an alleyway, Edwin skirted the barricades to the northwest. Several people ran past them into an adjoining alley. Edwin followed them and watched as they entered a building, slamming the door behind them. Just past the door another barricade had been erected using an overturned wagon with several spearpoints tied at the top, menacing any who approached from the outside. The narrow alley was quiet; no one seemed to be there, so Edwin approached the wagon and raised his arms up to climb over.