Forth Rode the King » Places

         Duermis Harbour, Bannship of Silverstone

Serena Marius stared into the roaring waves below, the white caps slamming endlessly into the cliff face as if the sheer strength of their blows might bring the entire bluff tumbling down. It had been in this same spot she had watched her husband of two years drown as his boat was carried under by the tide, not a man had walked away from it. It had been two years to the day since, four since she had married him and she still felt the connection in her heart. She had a daughter by him, a gorgeous black haired child she had named Louisee in memory of her father. The same child now played in the green grass nearby with a puppy from the town, the yips and giggles mixing wonderfully to help ease the pain in her heart. She sighed and turned from the bluff, scooping up both Louise and the puppy, receiving a kiss from both of them as she began the steep path back down to the town below.

She smiled at the thatched roofs; Duremis sat within a sheltered area of dunes at the mouth of the Deepwater River where it emptied into the sea after passing Silverstone. The fishing was good and the weather fair and kind for most of the year. The town has propsered as the chief trading port of the Bannship of Silverstone and boasted a population of nearly two thousand people, a large fort and extensive docks.

A sudden shout off to her right made her turn to see a young man hurrying towards her, a large grin on his face.

“Serena! So glad I could catch you alone for a moment, or almost alone.” The man ruffled Louisee’s hair and accepted a nip on his finger from the puppy before brushing a strand of red hair from his face to gaze at her with striking green eyes. “I was wondering if you, Serena Marius might do me, Geoffrey Pavrial, the honour of being my lady at the mid-summers feast tomorrow.”

Serena felt herself redden slightly and she struggled to say something even as his face fell at her silence, he spoke again, quietly this time.

“I know I’m only seventeen Serena but I have a future as a trader and I may not be the man…”

Whatever else he had to say was interrupted as Serena gently raised a finger to his lips, the puppy immediately licking his nose.

“I’d be delighted Geoffrey Pavrial. Come by the house tomorrow morning and we can make all the arrangements for the evening.”

The young man grinned up at her and brushed her hand with his lips, risking another attack by the puppy who had thankfully found the hem of Serena’s dress more interesting.

“Thank you!”

He grinned again and turned away as she continued into the village, smiling to herself as she heard his whoop of joy echo behind her. The shout followed her into the town and right up to the door of her home which sat closest to the heavy bluff, half built into it in fact. She set both Louise and the puppy down in living room and stepped into her bedroom, sliding open a large closet and reaching into the back to pull out a full length yellow gown that her mother had stored away. She hadn’t worn it since her husband had died but it was time to move on and so, with a shrug, she stripped down to her underwear and then slid the soft material over her head and moved to the mirror.

She was still young and lithe, her blonde hair cascading halfway down her back, the soft brown eyes shining in the sunlight that reflected from the mirror. She did a slow turn and smiled slightly, she might have had a child but it had done nothing to ruin her figure, she was still a nineteen year old beauty, a widowed one at that but she secretly thought Geoffrey Pavrial would be a fine man to have around. He was certainly a rising apprentice in the merchant world, already performing a few trades of his own with distant cities and with him as a father Louise’s future would be secure in a world that relied more on wealth then ever before.

A sudden shriek of pain followed by the piteous howling of the puppy jolted Serena out of her thoughts and she rushed into the living room to find Louise had fallen onto the puppy who had nipped her in defence and was now simply bawling to be heard. Serena sighed and scoped Louise up, moving into a beam of sunlight to gently rock her back and forth. Even as she did she couldn’t help but smile, life had at last taken an upswing.
* * * *

She attended church that afternoon and listened quietly as the priest spoke at length of god. She liked the priest, Father Mason, a man of fifty years and stout of body and mind. He had once been a warrior but the moment peace had come he had dropped his sword and taken up gods word and now presided over the entire community as their spiritual leader. He had married Serena and her last husband and would most likely be there to marry her to her next; in fact he was to perform a ceremony that very evening, a christening of two new children on white sand beach at the town’s southern edge.

“And it was from the heavens that our lord sent the great light. The light that brought us back to his true way and the way of his church! He punished us for our sins yet some of us survived! We are chosen to serve god as he demands of us and to spread his word to all the peoples of the world so that we might never again feel his wrath!”

The words echoed through the stone building, the largest in the entire town and Serena, as she did every time the priest spoke of god, felt her spirits soar and she smiled up at the image of Christ on the cross behind the priest.

“But the lord god is merciful and has brought to us fine weather and fine harvests so that we might keep our children strong and our lands free of invaders. He watches over us and protects us. He loves us as his children and we must worship him as a father for he is everything to us.”

With those words the sermon ended and the crowd began to file out, voices low but happy. A few stayed, amongst them Serena and another young woman who looked at Serena with a resentful gaze before standing and moving to sit beside her. Her words were soft and full of mischief.

“My dear Serena, I hear this strange rumour that you have agreed to accompany young Master Pavrial to the mid-summers feast. I didn’t credit it at first but seeing your happiness I can only assume the rumours are true.”

Serena turned her gaze on the speaker and couldn’t help the blush that spread across her face and the shy smile.

“I have indeed agreed to join him. I hope this will not upset you Larisa.”

The other girl smiled and laughed out loud, earning a glance from the rest of the worshippers who still remained. She placed a hand lightly on Serena’s knee and leaned in close.

“Upset me? My dear girl, I wish you all the best. It’s just a pity he saw you before me.”

She winked and with a rustle of her skirts was gone out the door to leave Serena alone with her happiness.
* * * *

The day of the mid-summers feast came with a brilliant sunrise and before Serena knew it there was a heavy knock on her front door. She hurriedly put down the flowers she was arranging fore the banquet table and hurried to the door to find Geoffrey Pavrial standing there with a smile on his face. He stepped forward and swiftly kissed her on the cheek.

“You look lovely and you even smell like an entire flower garden!”

She blushed and motioned for him to enter the house, closing the door gently behind him just as the puppy came hurtling into the room to collide with Geoffrey who picked the wriggling beast up and tickled its belly.

“Little fiends getting rather large isn’t he?”

Serena nodded, amazed at how hard she had to try to get words out when talking to Geoffrey.

“Indeed, nearly a year old next week, still going to be a terror though. Won’t you join me in the kitchen? I’m making up flower bundles for the mid-summer tables.”

Geoffrey nodded and followed her into the kitchen, eyes widening slightly at the pile of flowers, he picked one up and inhaled its fragrance. He snapped the stem off about half way and tucked the flower behind Serena’s ear and nodded solemnly.

“The picture of perfection.”

Serena smacked him on the arm and glared at him in mock anger.

“Now you stop it! It’s not even the feast yet and already you’re acting like you’re drunk. Now make yourself useful and give me a hand here.”

Geoffrey threw her a salute and slammed to attention.

“Right away ma’am!”

They stared at each other for a moment before breaking out in laughter, the puppy barking his shrill approval as the two set to work.
* * * *

All was quiet as the townsfolk, young and old, gathered about the long banquet tables set out in the town green, all sat with their heads bowed as Father Mason stood to say a prayer. Serena was sitting next to Geoffrey who was glowing with pride at Serena being his lady for the night, the stunning yellow dress by far the finest at the feast, they squeezed each others hands under the table.

“Holy Father. Watch over this blessed gathering and bless this food of which we are about to eat. Bless our children, our husbands, our wives, our sweethearts. Bless us this day as we celebrate your kindness oh lord. Amen.”

Quiet voices echoed the amen up and down, the noise immediately swelling again as everyone tucked into the food before them. Great plates of steamed vegetables, pork and beef roasts and large fish pulled from the sea. Platters of shrimp with a fine sauce made from several rare plants that grew amongst the dunes were complimented by a couple of fine Marsher wines. The laughter of all was heartfelt; the gales of giggling coming from the children’s table attracting the odd shush from the adults but no one seemed to inclined to actually stop the racket.

Once the dinner was done everyone left the tables to gather about a large wooden stage upon which a series of musicians tamed their instruments, the couples moving out onto the open grass. Geoffrey took Serena’s hand in his and slid the other around her waist as a guitar and harmonica struck up a fast paced dance. They danced happily, whirling about with the other dancers in a colourful array, mostly young couples as their elders looked on and clapped.

As the evening wore on and darkness closed in, the celebrations took a brief pause as everyone took a moment to light torches or start one of the fires that had been pre-built just for this occasion. A few small tables were moved up and a selection of wines, ales and a few casks of water were set up to keep the revellers well hydrated. A few folk had begun to drift into the dark, mainly younger couples who did so with furtive glances and suppressed giggles. Amongst these couples, just as swift tune began, were Geoffrey and Serena, the wild tune masking their departure perfectly.

Geoffrey led Serena through the darkened streets and past the sentry post on the edge of the town and out onto the white sand beach. They spotted several other couples strolling the beach, or tucked into more darkened corners together. Geoffrey smiled in the dark and cupped Serena’s chin in his face, tilting her face up and gently planting a kiss on her face. She took a step back and Geoffrey frantically searched for words to apologize but instead she wrapped her arms about his neck and kissed him so fiercely he could taste blood on her lips.

Just then the moon crept from beneath the single cloud that had been stubbornly holding position to block its rays from reaching the earth. Geoffrey gazed down into the face before him and his heart swelled in his chest as she laid her head on his shoulder, the two swaying slightly to the music that only they could hear. Beyond them the waves lapped quietly at the beach as a warm sea breeze curled over the island. It was a paradise.
* * * *

Dawn was fast approaching when Serena woke, her leg thrown over Geoffrey as the two lay in the gentle grass above the beach. Her yellow dress lay nearby in a heap, discarded without a second thought the night before. She stretched, the soft sea breeze caressing her bare skin as she turned to kiss the cheek of the man beside her. He stirred slightly and his eyes opened and he smiled even as his eyes blinked shut at the sudden red rays of sunlight that burst over the horizon.

“Morning love. I don’t suppose you made breakfast already?”

She slapped his stomach at the comment and kissed him fiercely again.

“I need a man to go out and bring in some wood to light the stove first, otherwise you won’t get a damned thing.”

He grinned and reached out to touch her face, his hand halting in midair, his gaze fixed behind her, towards the beach, the grin turning to a look of horror.

“Oh sweet Jesus… no…”

His voice was hushed and there was fear in it. Serena turned and felt her heart leap into her throat. The rising sun had done more than wake the day, it had revealed a fleet the likes of which they could never have imagined. As far as they could see, from one horizon to the other, the sea was filled with ships that raced swiftly towards the shore.

Geoffrey leapt to his feet and pulled Serena to her, turning her towards the village. “Run to the church! Ring that bell for all your worth, I’ll warn the garrison!”

Not stopping to question him Serena ran towards the church even as Geoffrey hurried towards his own home for armour and weapons. Every man in the town was required to train at least one day a week with his weapon in case of an attack and for many this would have their first taste of battle.

Serena paused at the door of the church to see the leading vessels had approached within two hundred yards of the beach, sunlight reflecting off the helmets of the oarsmen, the glint of spear tips rippling like light upon water. The raiders had done well, they had used the darkness to cloak their approach until they almost upon the town and that knowledge spurred her into motion again.

She burst into the church, naked as the day she born and ran past two startled nuns who immediately took up the chase. They caught up to her in the bell tower and one tried to seize Serena about the waist but she slipped free and hauled down on the bell tower cord. The heavy bell slammed into motion, not the usual gentle toll but a frantic clamour, the nuns eyes opening wide in fright as they realized the significance of the sound. Both rushed back into the main church to fall at the altar even as Father Mason arrived at the run, not stopping until he managed to catch Serena’s elbow.

“What’s happening girl!”

Serena turned to him, tears in her eyes as she spoke.

“The Danes are coming father!!”

Father mason wasted no time as he shouted for an altar boy to take over ringing the bell. He dragged one of his spare robes from his office and let Serena pull it on before they hurried from the church towards the beach just as the first screams rent the air.

         It had been a busy day for Vaino. First he had sent a Ranger to deliver a message to Hightower asking for the rebel to meet with Vaino so that they could discuss terms of peace. No doubt it would come at a price if be were to be made. Secondly his economic advisers showed him the print for the new banknote that the Warden was trying to create for the Marshes. It had his face on it with a sketched picture of Sundregn on the bottom half. He believed that using paper money was much easier than using coins with precious metals in them. The notes would be introduced to the Marshes overtime and hopefully Virgil would see the usefulness in it and convert the Crowns as well.

After that he spoke with more advisers over yet another of his reforms. He wanted to provide public education to even the poorest that the city had to offer. The education would include literacy and the most basic mathematics. It was not going to be cheap though he did not expect it to be. In the middle of a debate with an adviser, an official walked into the room to inform him that Lord Marcus Varier was outside to meet him. He exused himself before leaving to meet his guest.

Vaino eventually made his way outside to see Marcus. "Ah, Lord Varier, how nice to see you." Vaino said warmly. "I can only assume that you are here for business and not chatter. Come inside, we will discuss thing in my study." The Warden had many thing to do each day and he did not want to idle all his time with a noble from the lowlands.

         The Sun crept slowly down the horizon as John stood on the wharf, gazing out across the open water. Of late he often looked upon it, as if some sort of ship would come for him and take him back to the Mainlands. He wanted to, deep down past all the atrocities, crimes, blood and ale he wanted to head back. "Back home" he thought. "You don't have a home" another voice in his head said "You're a murderer".
John turned on his heel and wandered down the street. He COULD take a ship to the Mainlands, but whether or not he'd be alive when and if he arrived alive. Most of the ships that hung around Hightower were manned by pirates or worse and others were hardly sea worthy. He pushed past a pair of men and headed for the Inn. Most nights he'd drown his sorrows in ale rather than properly sleep and contemplate all that had happened, is happening and will happen. John entered the Inn. To the right of the room a large group of men were seated along a long table, shouting and joking around with each other. "Pirates" he thought. He grabbed a bottle of ale from a serving woman and tossed her a quarter. He sat down at an empty round table and began to drink.
After some time and a lot more drinks, as John was lying facedown on the table a rough hand jerked him up by the shoulder. It was one of the pirates across the room. "Well f**k me, it's John the Cutthroat!" he said, "what d'you s'pose you're doing here ay?". Having a drink, now bugger off and take your hand off me" John replied. "I can do whatever I wants you limey f**k" the pirate said as two more of his companions got out of their chairs and headed to the table. John was drunk, and had no intention of getting into a fight, still, instinctively he reached slowly for his axe on his left hip. The pirate drew his rusted sword and smashed John in the face with his fist. John lurched from his chair and fell to the floor as the pirates began to laugh. In a fit of uncontrollable rage John pushed himself up, turned around and launched over the table at the pirate with his sword drawn, tackling him to the floor. Up close he was a rather unpleasant man and reeked of wine, the pirate grabbed Johns right arm and headbutted him in the face dazing John. The pirate pushed John off of him and struggled to his feet, then raised his sword over his head and yelled as he brought it down towards Johns head. John lurched to the side as the vicious blow came and got up and quickly split the pirates head open with an overarm swing with the axe. A pair of strong hands grabbed him, but John twisted around and hit the man in the temple, knocking him down almost instantly. By then almost all the not-passed-out pirates had gotten up and had drawn their weapons, or at least had something in their hands. A few began to rush at him and John threw his axe at the closest mans face, hitting him dead between the eyes. John headed for the door, bowling a man over and bursted into the streets with several pirates running after him.
Continuing down the street he turned down a side alley, pushing past a pair of guardsmen. Eventually the pursuers began to catch up, John tried to climb up a house but saw the pirates were getting too close, he let go of the ledge and unstrapped 'Bromhead' from his shoulder. As a pirate, yelling, ran at him with a vicious arched swing with his axe, John ducked and swung his 2-handed axe into the mans gut, another pirate tried to stab him in the eye but only sliced open his right cheek. Backing off John counted 4 more pirates approaching. The began to spread out, trying to get around him. "Too many" he thought with despair. A pirate was moving slowly to his right, trying to edge in for a quick slash, John took out his throwing knife from his right hip and threw it at the man, the pirate moved his axe up in time to stop the knife with the hilt, but was not quick enough to counter Johns savage right slash. The cut almost took the mans head off, John tried to shake the axe out of the dead man but a long haired pirate kneed him in the stomach and cracked him over the head with a sword. John collapsed and the light faded.

         Lieutenant Xanders

Xanders gave his weapons to his own soldiers and told them that only two would accompany him. The rest would return to the flat area outside the city. He became a bit curious about the slaves. In the Marshes the closest thing to slaves were the indentured servitude of criminals who committed grave crimes. He wondered if the slaves in the city ended up as slaves because of their own choices or if they were born into it. He was sure the general wouldn't care but Lord Sivareth on the other hand might want to get involved.

"The three of us will accept your invitation to lunch. The rest will get ready for General Cade's arrival." The others rode out. "On the way I would like to discuss about your slaves in this city. Are they born into their roles or did they do something wrong?" Xanders asked Tavan as he stared in awe of the buildings. They certainly showed off the wealth of the city though they didn't look like they would be very sturdy in a siege.

         Maul watched Isodell as she turned to face him. "I..." for a moment she appeared lost for words, and he felt that he saw the real woman, not the one they called the "Ice Queen". It was a fleeting moment, but in that moment he saw a girl who was lonely and vulnerable. Someone he felt deserved love and protection.

"Well, yes." She quickly regained her composure as she rose and left him staring after her. The moonlight from the window softly reflected off a few stray locks while framing her beautiful face into his mind. No woman has ever captivated him thus.

Maul listened to her "grievances" with growing resentment. Didn't she understand that emergencies call for sacrifices, especially of social graces. His joy at seeing her was quickly fading away. Who does she think she is! Questioning the way he ruled the Highlands? Doesn't she have access to the largest coffers in Penumbria? With King Virgil simply giving away Hightower he had to advise caution and propose a way to salvage the situation...and worse! She accuses him of consorting behind her back!

"However..." Isodell continued...and Maul humoured her by paying attention to her suggestion of an alliance against Lord Hightower. He was deeply vexed by the careless manner in which she advised him.

"My Lady, my father would turn around in his grave at the mere thought of an alliance with the Lowlanders. He called your kind Lowlivers." Maul said as a sudden sadness overcome him.

"But, I am now Warden of the Kingdom in the Clouds, and I agree, we face difficult times with the pirate running amok thinking he can overthrow Penumbria. But, we are already on the same side, the side of Penumbria. I do not see how a deeper alliance is necessary. It will only serve to antagonize our people further, pushing our realms further apart." Maul replied. He eyed the Ice Queen while pondering how best to forge ahead. He still could not fathom how a woman as beautiful as Isodell could lead a Wardenship, and lead it well.

"However, a secret alliance could serve both of us well. An oath taken for the good of Penumbria. I still cannot fully ally myself with Lowlanders, yet in times of crisis it shall serve the greater good." Maul said with a bitter taste in his mouth. It surely wasn't exactly what he wanted, but his head was telling him it was in the best interest of the Highlands.

         

~Bang's House, Just outside Arv Rondalion, Late at Night~

His brow distorted into a huge frown, Bang was completely absorbed in an ancient text recently acquired from Sundregn. Reading with a crystal meticulously shaped into a magnifying glass, he did not realize something was amiss outside till a rowdy group of dirty pirates burst through his door.

"Here's he is!" they shouted and roughly grabbed Bang by his arms dragging him out of the house.

"How dare you! Who are you! What do you want! You will pay for this!"

All his threats and pleas fell on deaf ears as the rogue men led him down towards the coast where Bang saw several ships floating just off the shore. Row boats were ferrying men back to the ships. Many of the pirates were wounded and it looked like they were coming back from a war. As Bang looked towards the city he saw several buildings on fire with people running around trying to put out the blaze.

The pirates forced Bang onto one of the row boats and quickly rowed towards a waiting ship. There was a sudden urgency on the decks and Bang arrived to a hive of activity. He realized what was the matter. The forces from Arv Rondalion were overrunning the pirate rabble on the shore and some of the ships were full of sailors who were unfurling the sails in order to come after the pirates.

Bang Cordinus had no idea what was going on, as he had spent almost thirty years in house arrest and in isolation from the rest of Penumbria. He was ignorant of the current political situation and did not even know who was in command of Arv Rondalion.

Well, it seems like I will be going to different pastures, hopefully they will be greener, the old man contemplated.

         Maul's legs were on fire and his breath was coming in shallow gasps. He could feel the eyes of the wolf on his back. His tired legs tripped over a rock and he crashed against a boulder. "I must get up on the ledge!" Scrambling with all his remaining strength Maul reached the ledge and started pulling himself up. If only his arms were not so weak! He felt totally drained. A few pebbles fell to the ground behind him. The wolf was getting closer. He must get on the ledge. Maul saw the eyes of the beast first. They were cold and bored into him. The wolf was huge. It bore a light grey coat which gradually darkened at its tail. As the beast approached Maul noticed several deep scars on its face. He could smell the wolf's breath, it reeked of rotten flesh. "Phup...Phup" two arrows quickly embedded themselves in the animal's side!

Maul woke with a start! It's been a while since he last had this particular nightmare. It brought back memories of the actual event. It was about eighteen years ago, and he was nine. Maul had recklessly followed his father and the other Banns into Sundara Gorge, where they were involved in the annual Highland Hunt. It was always a week long festival, where the Banns of Highland and other invited guests camped out next to Sundara Gorge. The event culminated in the Hunt, where the men went to kill wild boar and bear. The warrior who brought back the largest boar would be crowned victor of the Highland Hunt, and allowed to take half of the bear skins hunted that day as bounty. It was great honour and also a very valuable reward, as the bear skins sold for quite a sum in Langsmerth. Maul had secretly followed the men into the hunt and gotten lost. He soon discovered that a wolf was on his trail, and in desperation he ran himself to exhaustion. Qunten Edddermarch was was the hunter who saved Maul at the last moment. His father remained forever thankful to Qunten for saving the young boy.

Maul got of his bed and walked to the window. It was still dark outside but the sun was approaching. It will be dawn soon. He grabbed a fur coat and and some leather sandals and made his rounds to inspect his castle. It was something his men are accustomed to by now. They rarely fall asleep on duty! In the parlour a messenger was waiting for him with a young squire. He handed Maul a letter bearing the royal seal. It was an invitation to attend the royal coronation of the new king.