The Reckoning tacks into the night breeze. The spring mist that cloaks the shoreline also hides your passage. After the battle on the beach, Baj orders the ship farther offshore, watching the coast to await the Captain's return. The crew, happy from the stint of action, are keyed up with excitement.
But a new passenger has come on board, the mysterious healer from the village who calls himself Talon.
Baj strolls the deck, surveying the condition of the ship, "No too far out to sea, Mister Revas. The Captain will return shortly and we must be sure to make our rendezvous."
Revas nods. "Aye, Mister Mirko!" He knows these waters well and steers a path into a swift-moving channel.
Talon crouches by burly Otho, wounded in the recent battle. A long gash from a Tol Nedran knife has opened up the man's thigh, and blood soaks his trousers. Talon enlists a passing sailor to apply pressure to the mans wounds as he stitches up the slash. Pointing to two spots on the wounded man's leg, Talon says, "Apply pressure here and here...that's right, good."
Baj joins Talon at the wounded man's side and hands the sailor a cup of rum. "Take a few sips of this, it'll take the sting out of the sewing."
Otho, accepts the cup gratefully, his brow covered with sweat. "That's a mercy, Mister Mirko."
Talon says, "Make sure you keep it clean now or next time I'll be using my saw." He finishes stitching Otho's leg closed with a needle and thread, his work fine as any sailmaker's.
Vendig watches, over Talon's shoulder, puffing on his pipe. "Some fine sewing, lad."
Talon nods, "Just like me mammy taught me." then winks.
Baj smiles, "You'll be right in a matter of days, Otho, the healer's doing a fine job on your leg. You do as he tells you."
In the last hour, Talon has sewed up the wounds of three men with fair expertise, and all of them rest easy now, exempted from duty.
Vendig passes Talon a filthy rag to wipe his hands with.
"Thanks" Talon replies, then asks Baj for another cup of the rum.
Baj hands Talon a fresh cup of spirits, "Many thanks for your help with our wounded. Otho might have lost that leg without you." He calls to Erris, "Mister Erris, pick a man and have him set up our guest in my old quarters. He'll be staying with us for a bit."
Erris offers a ragged salute. "Aye sir!" The young man is curious, having watched Talon in his battle on the beach.
Talon replies, "He still might if he doesn't keep it clean. Otho this may smart a bit." With that he pours half the rum onto the stitched -up wound, then drinks down the other half.
Otho swears in sudden agony. "The Rider take you, you bastard!" He looks like he wants to stand and throttle Talon, but relents.
Baj plants a firm hand on Otho's chest and holds the man to the deck, "Easy, Otho, it'll keep the wound from going sour."
Talon looks at Otho sympathetically and says, "If I had warned you,it would have hurt twice as much. But the rum will keep infection out of the wound." He stands up and says to Erris, "Lead on lad, it's been a long night and I could use a rest."
Baj waves over a pair of crewmen, "Help Otho down to his bunk. Give him another ration of rum and put him on the billet list, Vendig."
The crewmen help up the injured man and help him limp off to his bunk.
Erris says, "Where'd you learn t'fight that way, Talon?" as he leads the way down the narrow ladder.
Talon follows Erris and says, "You put up quite a display of swordsmanship yourself down on the beach. Have you had formal training?"
"Training? Never needed it. I'm the best," Erris smirks. "Mind your head as you descend."
Talon ducks, nearly hitting his head."Quite a natural talent you have there." The two vanish belowdecks, Erris bearing a lantern ahead of Talon.
Vendig watches Talon and Erris go. Then he turns to Baj. "You think he was maybe working with the Coldies, Baj?"
Baj moves close to Vendig and speaks softly, "Not with the way that he cut into the leader, Vendig, but he's not telling us his whole story either."
Vendig shrugs. "What's a bloke like him doing in that sleepy fish-town?"
Baj shakes his head, "The Warrior only knows, but he's no healer."
Vendig says, "So what'd Erris give you, off the boss Vorghol? I saw him pass you some papers."
Baj stands up straight in surprise and pulls the scroll from inside his shirt, "I had forgotten about them entirely, Vendig." The parchment in Baj's hand is sealed in red wax, with the symbol of a spread-winged vulture. "Care to join me in my cabin and examine them in a better light, with a mug of some Mazirene Red?""
Vendig nods, eyeing the deck a brief moment. "The lads've eaten, so I'm free."
Baj calls out to Revas as he heads belowdecks, "Mister Revas, I'll be in my cabin. Call me if there is need."
Revas mutters, irritable as ever, "Where else'd y'be? Bloody greenskin."
Then, louder, he says, "Aye, Mister Mirko, steady as she goes!"
Erris slides open the door to Talon's new cabin and sets down the lantern. "You cut down that Vorghol with just a knife?"
Talon replies, "Men can perform great deeds when there is great need. I was fighting for my life, I did what I must."
Erris says, "Can I see that knife?"
Talon rubs his eyes, "It's been a long night lad, what say I show it to you later, aye?"
Erris says, arrogantly, "No, I want to see it now." He stands in front of Talon.
As Baj enters his cabin, he lights a lantern and passes a large, heavy wineskin to Vendig, pointing. "Mugs are in the small chest, Mister Vendig, do the honors, if you please?"
Vendig pours two mugs of Mazirene Red, seats himself, his short legs dangling from the Reith-sized chair. He puffs on his pipe.
Baj sits and raises his mug to Vendig, offering a toast, "Free men at the end of the day, free men until the end of all days."
Vendig clinks his metal mug against Baj's. "Till the end of all days!" he echoes in the traditional way.
Baj takes a deep swallow and sits the mug down before pulling a long, slim dagger from his left boot, "Now let us see what these papers have to tell." He incises the wax with his dagger and unrolls the parchment. It's a narrow scroll, with large lettering in a fine hand. A vulture seal is stamped at the bottom, next to a scrawled signature. Baj weights the parchment down with his mug at one corner and presses it flat on the small table. He reads the fine handwriting. It's in formal Marreith, but he remembers his letters:
BEING THAT THE FORMER LORD AS VALKRIS OF CAMARS HAS COMMITTED CRIMES AGAINST HIS KING AND KINGDOM, LET ALL TRUE SERVANTS OF TOL NEDRA KNOW THAT HE IS DECLARED OUTLAW, ALL HANDS TO BE TURNED AGAINST HIM, AND THAT HE SHOULD BE BROUGHT BEFORE HIS KING TO FACE JUSTICE.
THE BEARER OF THIS WARRANT, LORD MATOTHIS OF KARROS, TO BE PROVIDED ANY AND ALL COURTESY AND SERVICE.
SIGNED, THIS DAY, THE FIRST OF SLEEPMATH, IN SERVICE TO HIS GRACE, KING MALIVARE
IRRON TRIMARTIA, KING'S EYE
Talon says , "Look lad, please. I'm tired. I said later. And maybe then you can show me some of those fancy sword moves of yours. No hard feelings?"
Erris shakes his head. "Come on, show me now." He sets his hand on his sword hilt, as a challenge.
Talon stands up straight and looks Erris in the eye."Look, friend, I don't know you and you don't know me. So you'd better get your hand off that blade, or draw it. Got me?"
Erris, says, "I told you, I'm good." He smoothly reaches to draw his rapier, but Talon is faster.
Talon moves with a speed born from long practice.He snatches out Erris' sword before the younger man gets a chance to. "Ah, quick but not quick enough." He tosses the blade away from Erris' reach, where it slams into the cabin wall.
Vendig says, "What's it say, lad?" He refills the two mugs. He's not such a good reader, especially in the Reith tongue.
Baj closes the document and tucks it away in a bag hanging from a peg on the bulkhead, "It's a death warrant for someone named Valkris from some place called Camars. The one we killed was a Lord sent by the Vorghol King to fetch him back to Tol Nedra."
Vendig says, "And we stopped him?"
Baj shrugs a great shrug, "Well, we stopped the ship and the crew from returning to Tol Nedra, whether Valkris was already locked up in the hold..."
Vendig looks sidelong, "But this Valkris could be skulkin' round these parts, you think?"
Baj nods and sips his wine, "That he might, Vendig, that he just might."
Vendig lifts his mug. "Well, there's one less Coldie vessel in the sea, and that's good news for us, Baj."
Baj raises his mug again, "Good news, indeed. I'll inform the Captain about the warrant when he returns and let him do what he will with the information."
There's a thud as Erris' weapon slams into the wall next to the cabin where Baj and Vendig sit talking. Talon's new cabin.
At the sound, Baj drops the empty mug to the table and is halfway out the door before it tips over. Vendig is after Baj as fast as his short legs can carry him.
Erris is furious. He purples with rage. "How'd you do that?" he demands.
Talon says "Like I said, boy, a man can perform great deeds when there is great need. Stop asking so many questions." He reaches out his hand. "No hard feelings?"
Baj slides to a stop in the passageway, the wicked letter-opener in his hand, and gazes at the scene.
In Talon's cabin, Erris stands glowering at Talon, in silence, who stands with his hand extended to the young man.
Talon looks at Erris and says, "Go ahead and take it boy. Better friends than enemies."
Erris stoops to pick up his rapier, glowering at Talon. He slips his rapier back into its scabbard, and his plan is written in his face. He's considering another fast-draw on Talon.
Baj says, "Mister Erris, is there a problem here?"
Vendig stands behind Baj, frowning, arms folded, pipe in his mouth.
Talon stands there empty-handed, looking at the young fool with sympathy.
Erris seems to notice Baj for the first time. "No sir, no problem." he says, finally.
Talon smiles. "No problems. Young Erris here was just showing me some of his fancy sword moves."
Erris nods, uncertainly. "Not too fancy...figgered I'd go easy on him..."
Baj says, "Then perhaps there is business up on deck which needs your attention more than our guest."
Talon nods,"Thanks again lad for showing me to the cabin."
Erris slips the little binding over his rapier, lashing the weapon in place, and nods. "Aye, sir, business." He turns and slips from the room.
Talon moves over to a basin of water, to start washing of the dried blood still on his hands from a long night's work.
Baj tucks the dagger back into his boot, giving Talon a long look, "It's been a long night. We will talk in the morning, 'healer'."
Talon nods. "Looking forward to it sir."
Baj nods as he leaves the room, closing the door without ever taking his eyes off Talon, "Good night, sir."
Baj turns to face Vendig and gestures to his cabin with a thumb.
Vendig nods in understanding. "I'll put two lads on watchin' him." the Vulkah says quietly.
On the bridge in the Mentine Marsh, nine men on horseback charge forward, shouting in fury. The bridge is only wide enough to admit two of them at a time, so their column is five deep. The chief deputy, who was speaking with Rhyll on the bridge, is hanging back, since he is not as swift as his mounted men. The tall bearded man is tossed a longsword by one of his compatriots on horseback. His riders gallop past him, the rider in the lead swinging his shortsword in wide circles.
On the south bank of the creek, the pirates draw their weapons and swarm forward.
To the rear of the charging men at arms, a single figure crawls towards the north bank of the creek, trailing blood behind her.
Dacien moves up to the edge of the road and begins to spin his chain in a vicious circle, planning to trip up a horse. He takes aim and steps onto the road, swinging at the lead rider.
Dacien's chain, swung expertly, catches the lead rider in the side of his head. He shakes it to clear it, reining in his horse and stopping the forward charge of the others.
Candra is right behind Dacien, Urag hooked sword flashing swiftly in the misty night. Her lunge catches the man in his eye, her sword exiting out the back of his skull. He drops, lifeless, from his horse.
Farlan, Soti and Drarn unleash a volley of arrows. Two more riders, in the rear of the column, fall, one landing with a splash in the slow creek under the bridge.
Dacien flashes a quick smile at Candra, "One!"
Benning steps forward, hands raised. "Lady of Life, lend us strength in this battle." White light issues from his hands, and suffuses over the pirates, who feel strengthened by its radiance.
Deeshon's leaps up to the bridge rail. His little crossbow sends another rider to his reward. The man slides from his horse to the rough roadway of the bridge.
Another rider presses forward, a young dark haired man. He wheels his horse about and aims a longsword cut at Dacien. But disoriented by the ferocity of the pirate attacks, the man wheels too far and slides from his horse, slamming on his back at Dacien's feet. His weapon skitters off into the marsh.
Rhyll swings up on the bridge rail, and dashes across the span, sword held before him, in an effort to get to Izmerada. The chief deputy, still on foot, sees Rhyll's nimble scramble and steps forward to meet him halfway across the bridge. He stays grounded, and Rhyll intercepts him while still on the rail. "Pirate filth!" the deputy snarls. "That money belongs to us!"
Rhyll leaps from the rail, sword flashing, down onto the treacherous deputy. His heavy cutlass bats aside the deputy's longsword, opening a long laceration in the man's arm.
The deputy ripostes, desperately. The man's point catches Rhyll under his armpit and emerges from the other side. He grins at Rhyll and backs away, circling.
Dacien smirks down at the prone rider before him."Looks like you picked the wrong side, lad."
Dacien lashes out with his chain. As the man tries to scramble away, Dacien's wildly swinging chain takes him around the skull. There's a snap and his neck breaks, his body going limp. Dacien flicks the chain free of the dead man.
Candra's backhand is aimed at the first man in line. The man manages to parry her blow, but blood gouts down the front of his blue tunic.
Deeshon reloads his crossbow, racing out on the opposite rail to support Rhyll.
Farlan, Soti and Drarn open fire, bringing down the man Candra wounded.
Screams and terror fill the marshy night. Three dead bodies of the men at arms you've slain now seal off the end of the bridge, making any forward progress on horseback nearly impossible. The four remaining soldiers are now having second thoughts. They turn their horses to go, back towards where Rhyll and the deputy now battle on the bridge. One of the men at arms shouts, "Run for it, lads! They'll kill us all!"
Candra bellows, brandishing her blade, "Don't let them get away!"
The deputy presses home his attack, lunging swiftly and piercing Rhyll's thigh. He sneers, "You'll be dead soon, buccaneer. I'll think of all the ways I'll spend those dragons!"
Rhyll moves in close and slashes at the deputy's mid-section. "My dear deputy, how does it feel to face an armed opponent for once?" Rhyll's swift blade finds the man's heart. He clutches at Rhyll as he's stabbed, then pitches forward over the side of the bridge, into the creek.
Rhyll watches the deputy go down into the dark water. "I guess not too good."
The horsemen now fleeing, Dacien yells his rage into the night. "Come back here, you treacherous bastards!" He leaps up onto the rail and charges the retreating men, chain snapping out.
The pirates swarm up on the rails after Dacien. The archers take down two more riders, and Deeshon's crossbow finds another.
Dacien's chain whacks the final rider, and the man gives a whimper as blood flies from his scalp, but he's too terrified to stop and battle the Tobon.
The final rider confronts Rhyll, reining in his horse as the pirates storm the bridge behind him. Only Rhyll stands between him and escape. He holds up his sword, uncertainly, threatening the Captain. "Don't make me hurt you..." he whimpers.
Rhyll realizes he is in no condition to take on a man on a horse.He shakes his head over his shoulder at the man, indicating that the rider should get the hell out of there. "Flee,coward, for death is at your back. Flee for your life."
The young man drops his sword to the bridge and spurs his horse forward, past Rhyll, past Izmeralda, who is too weak to crawl farther. He gallops, terrified, up the road and disappears into the marsh.
Dacien snatches up a rock and hurls it into the mist after the fleeing rider, "Coward!!!"
Rhyll quickly runs to the lady's side.
Benning hurries down the span towards Izmeralda and kneels beside her, working his healing. He hangs his head in prayer, then sets hands upon the grievous wound in her side.
The pirates stand guard, watchful for any more men at arms lurking near. Candra pulls Soti and Drarn back from attempting to loot the bodies, until the Captain gives orders.
Deeshon watches the rider gallop off. The lookout keeps his sharp eyes trained to the north, where the road disappears into some trees. "He's gone, Captain, but so should we be. Could be more comin'."
Benning nods to the Captain, meaning he can save her.
Izmeralda says, "Rhyll...why?"
Rhyll says, "It seems your Governor has betrayed you, my lady."
White healing light glows from Benning's hands, and the stab wound in the young lady's side knits closed.
There are now nine horses, terrified, milling about. They would fetch a pretty pig anywhere, or feed many hungry Urag. Dacien rounds up one of the loose horses and leads it to where Izmeralda lies, "M'lady, I think you might rather ride than walk."
Dacien says, "Lads, see if you can lash that treasure onto another o' these horses."
Rhyll says, "Time for whys later, we must move, lady, and quickly."
Benning helps her to sit the horse, a black gelding.
Izmeralda looks like she is about to weep. She mounts it in silence. "I will kill him," she mutters, hanging her head.
Rhyll calls to his me, "Let's move out. Candra take charge of the chest. The Reckoning awaits.
Candra stoops and slings the chest over her massive shoulder. "You heard the Captain, you scum. We're to get under way, full sail!"
Dacien snags another horse by the reins, "Lash it up on this one, Candra, ye might need your hands free." Candra approaches as close as the horse will allow, then straps the chest in place.
Drarn says, "But Captain, we didn't get a chance to look over these fine hearties." He gestures to the dead men.
Rhyll says, "No time for that now. We have a ship to catch."
The party moves out, Benning leading Izmeralda's horse and Farlan leading the one bearing the chest. Dacien trots along after the group, "C'mon, Dees, time to run along and get back to the boat."
Candra gives each remaining horse a poke, to send it galloping into the marsh to seek its own way.
Rhyll swings up on the horse carrying the Lady Izmeralda, then calls to his men. "To the ship with all haste. It was a good night's work, my crew, a good night's work indeed!"