Keeper (First Ordinance #2)(14)
"Anyways," Herth swallowed with difficulty, "we saw three huge things. Perhaps they were boats, I know not, as I cannot imagine anyone making anything so large. They appeared to be made of metal, but how can metal float? It is sorcery, my King, I have no doubt. They passed through the fog and as we were half-covered in it ourselves, I don't think we were seen."
"How large?" Tamblin's attention was now captured.
"Too large to describe, my King."
"Did you attempt to follow?"
"Too afraid, sir. Fast, they traveled. I doubt we could have kept up."
"Where were they heading?"
"Down the western side—toward the spires."
"All of your crew saw this?"
"Yes, my King." Herth now doubted his decision to come to the King with this news. After all, Tamblin could act irrationally and kill him and his crew. It wouldn't be the first time, Herth realized. He swallowed again—hard.
"Does any of your crew have a drawing talent? I wish to see what these things look like."
"One sailor, sir. The youngest."
"Fetch parchment," Tamblin shouted. "Bring your sailor," Tamblin's hard gaze settled on Herth.
*
Lironis
Quin
The ships were forced to anchor far from the old docks in Lironis, as the waters were too shallow for their bulk and the planks and pilings had rotted over the years. None thought to repair them for any reason; still, people of Lironis gathered when the ships arrived, as they could be seen quite a distance from the shores.
"I must arrive by boat," Omina snapped before Daragar could offer his skills at relocation. "The people must see Amlis and me returning thus."
That's how all of us prepared to leave the ship—by smaller boats lowered to the water by the ship's crew.
"Truly archaic," Kaldill whispered at my side as he gazed at the city beyond. Berel, breathing short, excited breaths, recorded more images on his tab-vid as we awaited our turn in the boats.
"Quin and I will arrive as we should—by flying," Justis' hand dropped to my shoulder. That meant Ardis would fly with us. "We will accompany the boat carrying Omina and Amlis. It is proper that they be guarded by Avii upon their arrival."
"I will place a shield, then," Daragar nodded to Justis. "To ensure your safe arrival."
"You have my thanks," Justis ducked his head. He knew—as did I—that Daragar thought to protect me, first. Kaldill, standing nearby, hid a smile.
You have my thanks as well, I silently sent to Daragar. He smiled, then.
You are welcome, he replied.
*
Lironis
Yann, Varnell's man-at-arms, shaded his eyes as he gazed westward. A minor noble, Yann had been assigned to Varnell ten turns earlier, when he was still a stripling. Yann hated the old man—and the King—but hid his feelings as well as any other inside the castle.
Many times, he wished himself strong enough to murder Yevil, but realized his death would come swiftly should he try—at either Yevil's hand or the King's guards'.
Instead, Yann spent most of his days barely speaking and obeying Varnell's every whim. Today, Varnell had sent him to the old docks to see what the fuss was. Yann resolved to never forget the way the Prince-Heir and the Queen arrived—in a sturdy metal boat manned by strange sailors and guarded by three Avii, whose wings beat a steady rhythm as they flew about it.
Omina and Amlis stood tall at the center of the boat while it raced toward the shore. Several of the men aboard the vessel held strange weapons, too—to Yann, they appeared as thick, metal sticks. He had no idea what their purpose might be, other than to strike another with their weight.
Shoving his way to the front of the crowd waiting on the rotting dock, Yann was the first to drop to his knees and pledge support to Amlis the moment the Prince stepped onto the old pier, the Queen right behind him.
*
Quin
"Make way for the Prince. Make way for the Queen," the crowd took up the chant as Amlis strode forward, his boots making the wooden planks creak beneath his feet while Omina walked a step behind at his shoulder. Rodrik watched the crowd warily as he had no sword—it had stayed behind at Avii Castle.
Justis, Ardis and I landed lightly behind; the crowd pulled away from us automatically. I would have too—the gaze Justis leveled upon them relayed his accusations—in his eyes, they'd all murdered Elabeth and Camryn.
When Daragar and Kaldill appeared from nothing, the crowd gasped and shrank farther back. They knew nothing of those who might appear and disappear at will. The sight of a very tall, blue man was also something they might never expect; therefore, the Larentii frightened them.
"It's Finder," I heard someone whisper. Jerking quickly, I turned to see who'd spoken.
Eyes ahead, dear Quin, Kaldill spoke into my mind. We will make discoveries later.
He was right—it wasn't my purpose to search for those who might recognize me—I was there to guard the Prince and Queen.
More gasps came as additional boats disembarked behind us; I didn't turn to look. Berel, Wolter and the others would be coming ashore guarded by Kondari soldiers, all of whom carried weapons.
The walk from the docks to the castle took half an hour, and half of Lironis arrived to watch as we strode unhindered through the palace gates. I didn't fail to notice, however, that the people who watched were more starved and sickly than they'd been when I left.