The Children of Archipelago

by B A Simmons

“I’m surprised at you, Tyler. It sounds like they’ve broken you.”

  Silence penetrated the darkness. Rob sat back against the wall, unsure if he’d just created a friend or an enemy.

  “How do… who are you?” Tyler said.

  “We’ve met before, on Alimia, before the Falcons invaded. What I saw then was a man who believed himself a king while ruining the lives of the people he was supposed to protect. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. You might have skills in fighting too, but you’re still as much a coward as the day you ran away from my brother and me.”

  “The Entdecker,” Tyler growled, and he said nothing more that night. Neither did Rob, but at the same time, he kept himself awake the rest of the night, waiting for Tyler to escape his cell just to break into his own and throttle him.

  * * *

  “Cap’n, get up here!” James said.

  Edwin climbed up from the Anna Louisa’s hold, his temporary sleeping quarters since giving up his cabin to Liliana. On deck he followed James’s pointing finger to see an approaching Falcon warship which had placed itself between them and the Isola del Trono.

  “They’re signaling us to stop and allow them to board us,” Eugene said.

  “We do it,” Edwin said. “Take up the sails and bring us about.”

  “Ay sir.”

  “Any sign of that other ship?” Edwin asked, looking aft.

  “She’s there, but it looks like she’s left off following us. Clearly, they don’t want attention from the Falcon navy.”

  The Falcon ship kept at a safe distance, sending a dinghy rather than risk the entire ship. The political strife had everyone on edge. Duncan and James held the ropes for the dinghy as a posh-looking naval officer climbed aboard.

  “Cosa stai facendo qui?” he asked Edwin.

  “Tenente, parli Engle?” Liliana said as she approached from the cabin. She had washed away the soot and changed into one of Anna’s old dresses. The officer nodded to her, though the confusion on his face contradicted his gesture.

  “I am Liliana d’Silva, daughter of Grand Duke Federico d’Silva. You will ask your questions of me as I am in charge here. We will speak Engle out of respect for this captain,” Liliana told him.

  “Why is dis boat ‘ere, Signora? What make you at Porto Antonio?”

  “I am here for my brother, Ludovico d’Silva and for one of our servants. This was the only vessel I could get to bring me to Porto Antonio due to the violence at Porto Profundo. You will tell your captain to escort us into the harbor.”

  The officer’s eyes scrutinized Liliana as his mind mulled over her command. Edwin could not deny she was a compelling figure; head held high with constant eye contact with the Falcon lieutenant. It was no surprise when he nodded his agreement. He began to return to his dinghy but he stopped and turned back to Liliana.

  “Certainly, my lady would much like to come to my ship, l’Intercettore, and allow these aliens to be on their way.”

  “Thank you for the offer, however I will need them to take me back to Porto Profundo when my business is finished. You have your duties to attend to and I will not stop you from carrying them out.”

  “Sì, Signora,” the officer said and went on his way.

  l’Intercettore escorted the Anna Louisa into Porto Antonio and then remained at the harbor entrance to keep an eye on the alien vessel.

  “We don’t have much time. It is only because I am here that they allowed you to come to this island. Sooner or later they will discover that my visit is not official. Let us hope we can get Rob and my brother out before this happens.”

  “Is there any way to know how many of the officers here support your father?” Edwin asked.

  “Not until we make his claim for him.”

  Liliana and Edwin left the ship and walked into the fortress that was Porto Antonio. They met the officer of the watch and after Liliana introduced herself, were escorted to the office of the commandant.

  Maggiore Giuliano Ferrero looked to be in his early forties. White hair speckled his beard and tinged the sides of his head. Like most officers of his rank, he bore the scars of his experiences on his body. These included having only two fingers on his right hand. The others having been lost in the line of duty for the empire.

  “Signora d’Silva, come posso aiutarla?” he said when they walked in.

  “With respect, sir; I would like to speak Engle with you. This sea captain has only agreed to help me so long as I do not betray him. It will help him feel at ease to know that we’re not conspiring against him.”

  “La Signora is too kind. A trait you get from your father, I think,” Ferrero said.

  “You know my father?” Liliana asked.

  “Indeed. He was my commanding officer many years ago.”

  “Then you also know that he is a good man and loyal to the empire.”

  Ferrero paused; his eyes narrowed. “Yes, a truer servant has never been seen in the ranks of the empire. I wonder what he thinks of our current situation.”

  “I will tell you, Maggiore, he is not happy. Threats have been made against our family; even an attempted abduction of his son and heir.”

  “Ludovico d’Silva is here on Isola del Trono for training. He is in no danger, I assure you.”

  “Yet the threat is still present over him. My father respectfully asks that you return Ludo to us immediately.”

  “This is why you are here? To take your brother from the safety of his comrades and his intended commission in the Army to the riot-filled streets of Porto Profundo? Signora, I am at a loss, I do not understand your father’s logic.”

  “His logic is not for you to understand, Signore. He wants his son back. As for his training, you and I both know he is too young to begin that. He will return to you next year to continue and may receive his commission then.”

  Ferrero smiled, but it was not a smile Edwin liked. It was the smile of a man who was confident in his position in an argument.

  “Very well, Signora. I will take you to see your brother. You may deliver your message to him.”

  Ferrero stood and escorted Liliana and Edwin from his office. They crossed the parade grounds and into a large arena, offering them a seat on one of the stone benches near the floor. On the floor stood several coscrittos and a few guards watching a line of six prisoners whose hands and feet were bound in bronze shackles.

  Edwin cleared his throat and gave a surreptitious nod of his head toward the prisoners. Liliana furrowed his brow at his gesture, but when he did it a second time, she took a closer look at the prisoners. The second from the right, though his face was bruised and battered, proved to be Rob Engleman.

  27

  Rescuing a House Divided

  G uards and coscrittos stiffened to attention when a man in an officer’s uniform entered the arena with two others. Rob guessed this must be the commandant. The others were a young man and woman in fine, but not elegant attire. Though one eye was swollen and blurry, Rob could see that the yellow-haired woman was Liliana. The young man looked much like Edwin Johnson, though how the two of them managed to arrive together in this place, Rob couldn’t fathom.

  He had little time to ponder over the matter as a minute later, the gates across from him opened and a new platoon of soldiers entered with the drill sergeant. As there were twelve of them, but only six prisoners left, Rob knew he would have to fight at least two of them. He began to wonder if they’d brought Liliana to the arena to watch him beaten, as a punishment for loving him. He did not have time to wonder even this. The drill sergeant chose him first and gave him a staff and shield.

  “Puglia,” the sergeant called.

  A soldier stepped forward and was also given a staff to match Rob’s weapons. He took it as a sign that the sergeant thought them equal in skill. The disadvantage was Rob’s in that he still felt the effects of the previous three days of fighting. Puglia looked as if he’d just come from a recruitment poster. His uniform and armor sparkled and his square jaw gave Rob a maliciou
s smile as he took his place in the center of the arena.

  The bout was short. Rob scored two hits on Puglia’s legs and one on his shoulder, but in the end, Puglia outmatched Rob in physicality. He did to Rob what he had done to Cerutti. The first blow he landed split Rob’s already swollen eye. The second knocked the wind out of him and the third sent him to the sand. He got up with the help of the coscrittos and returned to the line.

  Victor fought next, taking a similar beating, but defeating his opponent after a long bout. The other three prisoners fought and each were defeated. Tyler again defeated three opponents in a melee lasting an exhausting amount of time. Yet it was what happened during the fight that got Rob’s mind turning. The commandant called over the drill sergeant and spoke to him. Rob was sure at one point he saw the commandant point to him.

  Sure enough, Rob was selected to fight next. He wiped some of the blood off his face, arched his back and stretched his sore arms and legs. He received a wooden sword and nothing else for this bout. As much as he wanted to fight well, to survive. At that moment, Rob’s heart sank as he realized he was being marked for death.

  “d’Silva,” the sergeant called.

  Rob squinted his good eye to make out Ludo’s face as he approached Rob. A coscritto approached with a wooden sword, but the voice of the sergeant stopped him.

  “Armi vere,” he said.

  The coscritto returned the wooden sword to the arming rack and retrieved a metal sword which he gave to Ludo. The young prince looked as surprised at this as his sister and Edwin did. The sergeant ordered Ludo to take the weapon and gestured for him to attack Rob. Yet Ludo hesitated.

  Rob looked at Liliana and saw the horror on her face. He felt that horror in himself as he looked back at Ludo. In that moment, his course of action became clear. He dropped the sword to the sand and stood before Ludo with arms stretched out to his sides.

  A gasp echoed around the arena. No one moved for some time as Ludo stared at Rob, dumbfounded. Rob smiled at Ludo and sank to his knees.

  “Non posso fare del male al mio principe! I cannot harm my prince!”

  Ludo’s jaw dropped.

  Liliana stood and faced Maggiore Ferrero.

  “I demand you stop this and let me talk to my brother,” she said. Ferrero ignored her and watched as the sergeant shouted an order for Ludo to kill the prisoner.

  She turned and faced the men in the arena. “Sono la figlia di Gran Duce Federico d’Silva! Sono venuto per dirti che mio padre ha rivendicato il trono dell’impero!”

  Ferrero looked at her with his mouth agape. The soldiers in Ludo’s platoon looked from Liliana to Ludo as if waiting for him to confirm this. The sergeant looked at the commandant for some clue of what to do and the coscrittos looked like goats wondering which dog to fear most. At the back of the arena, Tyler laughed.

  Ludo turned to his sister as if seeing her for the first time. He searched her eyes for truth and saw there the fierce determination of a princess. He turned back to Rob and glared.

  “Pick up the sword!” he said.

  Rob shook his head. “I’m done fighting.”

  Ludo lunged forward and bashed Rob with his shield. Liliana screamed from the stands above them. He stood over the prisoner, sword point to his throat. Ludo heard the encouraging shouts from his comrades.

  “Per Cesare! Per l’impero!”

  He lifted the sword from Rob’s throat. He looked at the men of his platoon and saw four of them beating their shields with their palms while urging him on. Four others were stone still, looking at him with ponderance.

  Liliana stood above him, her eyes pleading for him to show mercy. The commandant’s expression questioned her; perhaps wondering if it was the prisoner’s death that horrified her or the fact that Ludo would be the one to do it.

  The drill sergeant began berating Ludo and ordered the platoon to stand at attention. The voice of the commandant was heard over his and the sergeant snapped to attention as well. The commandant stood and faced Liliana.

  “Is what you said true? Has your father made a claim to the throne?”

  Her eyes flashed at him, “Yes, he is the rightful emperor and the one best suited. You must choose, Maggiore; which emperor will you live and die for!”

  Ferrero’s eyes narrowed at her again as if searching for the truth in her face. He signaled the drill sergeant to stop the fight.

  “No!” screamed one of the soldiers, “Siete traditori!”

  He rushed to one of the arming racks and took up a bronze sword. The drill sergeant ordered him to halt, but the man was resolved. He lunged at Ludo with wild ferocity. Ludo defended himself well, deflecting the blows with practiced skill. Yet he did not counter-strike. Three other soldiers shouted, “Per Cesare!” and moved toward the racks only to have the sergeants cudgel beat them back. A melee ensued, in which the platoon split along partisan lines, though none of them exactly knew who was for whom.

  Rob lunged and tackled the legs of the soldier fighting with Ludo. This allowed Ludo to bring his shield down on the man’s head and render him unconscious. They both looked up to the stands to see that Ferrero had drawn a sword and stood in a defensive stance before Liliana. He repeated his command to cease fighting again and again, but none were listening.

  In the confusion and chaos of the scene, no one noticed Tyler throttle one of the guards with his chains. Taking the keys from him, he unlocked himself and then Victor. As he moved to the next man in the line, the other guards saw him and moved to stop him. Despite not having weapons, the two prisoners overpowered the guards, killing one and badly wounding the other. Taking a spear and short sword from the dead guard, Victor threw himself into the fight, not caring who he fought, save that he avoided Rob.

  Ludo and Rob climbed up to the stands to join Edwin, Liliana and Ferrero. The commandant directed them toward the exit, commanding Ludo to guard the rear of the line. Rob looked his last on the arena, seeing Tyler and most of the other prisoners making their way through the back gate. Victor remained locked in combat with the drill sergeant.

  They encountered more guards responding to the commotion at the arena. Ferrero ordered them to find and kill the escaped prisoners. They looked at Rob, wondering if he was one of those, but Ludo had his sword pointed at Rob’s back to give the impression he had been recaptured.

  Once the guards moved on, Ferrero turned to the young people. “You need to hurry back to your ship, go through that gate. I must restore order to my camp.”

  “I will remain with you, sir,” Ludo said.

  “Ludo, no! I came here for you. Father needs you with him!” Liliana said.

  “Tell father I am proud of him but I must stay with my commander.”

  Liliana embraced her brother, awkwardly, as he still carried both sword and shield. Ludo turned to Rob, who leaned heavily on Edwin. “You must fulfill your oath to protect her and safely return her to our home.”

  Rob nodded, locking his single-eyed gaze onto Ludo’s.

  “Go!” Ferrero told them, “Go before word of this division spreads and more partisan fights break out.”

  Edwin and Rob followed Liliana as they passed through the gate indicated to them by Ferrero. The guards from that gave them a furtive glance while listening to sounds of alarm being sounded from different parts of the camp. However, when they came back to the docks, four falcon sailors stood with the lieutenant from l’Intercettore.

  Upon seeing Liliana and Edwin with a prisoner of the empire, the lieutenant’s face took on a countenance of stern resentment. Even Rob, with his swollen eye could see the hostility directed toward them.

  “Mia signora, verrai con noi,” he said, drawing a sword from his belt. The sailors with him did the same and positioned themselves to prevent any of them from escaping back to the Anna Louisa.

  Liliana stood defiant, her left arm supporting Rob even as he tried to step between her and their new enemies. Edwin beat him to the front with his fists clenched.

  Noting the stand
-off at the docks, a group of four guards approached from behind Liliana. They hefted their spears and shuffled their feet to make their presence known, but otherwise waited to see what would happen.

  “You are-ah under arrest!” the lieutenant said.

  One of the Falcon sailors gave an odd grunt and his face looked pained as he dropped first to his knees, then onto his face. The fletching of a crossbow bolt stuck up from his back. The remaining men turned to see Trina, Ches and Duncan charging forward, waving weapons and screaming while James reloaded his crossbow.

  The lieutenant turned, as did most of his sailors, to face the new threat. Rob turned himself around just as the first of the guards came within range with his spear. The gleaming point of the spear caught Rob’s attention. He watched it approach with a sensation that time itself had slowed. Rob knew he had to move away, to dodge the blow he saw coming. Yet, he could not, for the spear point might then strike Liliana or Edwin.

  Just before launching the strike that would end Rob’s life, the guard’s eyes shifted to the periphery. A figure flew out from behind a nearby wall, its bulk and mass of hair identified him as Tyler. The former sheriff of Alimia tackled the guard, wrested the spear from him and drove it through his throat.

  Supported by Duncan, Trina gutted two of the sailors while Ches, ignoring a cut to his scalp, tackled and stabbed his opponent. The lieutenant fled past Edwin into the camp. Ches rushed to help Tyler with the remaining guards who could not bring the brawler down, despite their superior numbers. Faced with the fury of two wild attackers, they soon found themselves in full retreat.

  “Ches, let’s get out of here!”

  Edwin pulled his friend back toward the Anna Louisa. Rob looked at Tyler, the words came out of his mouth before he could think about what they were.

  “Tyler, come with us.”

  “Tyler?” Trina said, remembering the name. “Sheriff Tyler?”

  “Sheriff Tyler!”

  Edwin drew back with an unmistakable look of horror.

  “Trina?” Rob said, noticing the mercenary for the first time.