Lorik The Protector (Lorik Trilogy) (9 page)

“Only until Stone wakes up,” Lorik said. “Then I’ll do whatever you need.”

“Oh, we’ll get to that soon enough. For now, though, there’s still work to be done out at the ship. I’m going now. You follow along when you can.”

Lorik nodded and looked at Vera. For the first time he felt afraid. She looked like she was on the edge of death, her eyes sunken and her skin waxy. Fear clamped its icy grip around his heart and it took all of his strength just to keep breathing. He sat that way for a long time, just holding the wine and the bread, watching Vera to make sure she was breathing.

When Stone finally woke up, he groaned and then got slowly to his feet, then moved behind Lorik.

“Is she okay?”

“I don’t know,” Lorik said.

“What did the healer say?”

“He was gone when I woke up. The farmer said he had to go back to the village for more supplies.”

“Didn’t he tell you anything about her?” Stone said angrily.

“He said it could go either way.”

“What do you mean ‘either way’? What’s that supposed to mean?” Stone was shouting now. “Lorik, tell me what that means!”

“It means,” Lorik said quietly, as tears filled his eyes, “she might die.”

Lorik felt helpless around Vera. Stone never left her side, but Lorik threw himself into the work to be done with the ship. Yulver was busy with his crew repairing the damage done in the storm, and Lorik helped out in any way he could. The healer returned to the cottage late that night, where Stone watched over Vera. He brewed another medicinal drink and sat with her while Stone slept nearby on the floor.

The next morning Lorik and Stone waited outside while the healer examined Vera again. Neither man spoke, but the tension between them was palpable. Finally, after nearly half an hour, the healer joined the two men outside the cottage.

“She’s no worse,” he said, “but no better either.”

“What is wrong with her?” Lorik asked.

“It’s hard to say exactly. Physically she seems fine. Other than the fever and the fact that she hasn’t woken up, there’s no indication that anything is wrong with her. Normally a sickness produces other symptoms, like a rash, or vomiting, or discoloration of the eyes or tongue. She has none of those symptoms. The closest I can come to describing her condition is hibernation.”

“You mean, like an animal?” Stone asked.

“Yes, very much like a bear or even a squirrel. Their bodies shut down during the winter when food is hard to find. They sleep much of that time, which allows their bodies to use less of the fat they’ve stored up in their bodies. Of course, she’s not in hibernation, but her body has shut down to conserve what strength she has left. If the story you told me about the voyage is true, I guess it’s possible that she worked herself to exhaustion. That added to the lack of food and water for several days, could in theory produce the hibernation-type symptoms.”

“So when will she wake up?” Lorik asked.

“I can’t say. She may never wake up.”

This last statement drew a groan from Stone that reminded Lorik of someone pulling a long blade from another man’s stomach.

“Our best course of action is to simply watch and wait,” the healer said. “We need to keep her comfortable. We need to keep giving her water and medicines, but at the end of the day, her body has to wake up on its own. We can’t force it.”

“There’s nothing more we can do?” Lorik asked.

“I’m afraid not.”

“Damn!” Lorik said.

“I’ll watch her,” Stone said. “You don’t have to stay around here, Lorik.”

“If there was something I could do...” he let the sentence trail off.

“I know, and if something changes I’ll send word. Until then, go make yourself useful.”

“I’ve got plenty to keep you busy,” said the farmer.

“All right,” Lorik said. “Show me what needs done.”

For the next three days Lorik worked the farm from sunup until after dark. It was harvest time, and he used a long sickle to cut wheat and barley. Then he helped bundle the harvested grains and stack them on the wagon pulled by the farmer’s plow horse. He also made repairs to the stable and the small storehouse where most of the farmer’s crop was held. The farmer was a resourceful man. He grew his own vegetables and raised his own chickens and pigs. He also brewed his own ale.

On the fourth morning Stone and Lorik finally got some good news. The healer reported that Vera’s fever had broken in the night and he expected her to wake up soon. Stone and Lorik went into the cottage to sit with her. It was the first time Lorik had seen his old friend in the daylight. Her body had wasted away over the last few days; the fever had burned away any excess fat. Lorik could see the bones in her shoulders, ribs and hips, even under the blanket that covered her. Tears stung his eyes, but he held his emotions in check.

An hour later, she stirred. Her eyes didn’t open but she moaned a little and moved her hands. Stone gave her some water and she seemed to relax a little after that. It was noon before she woke up fully. She didn’t try to raise her head, but she opened her eyes and looked around.

“Where are we?” she asked, her voice raspy and soft.

“In a cottage, not far from the coast,” Stone said. “It’s a little farm. The owner’s name is Alyster. He’s been helping us take care of you.”

“The ship?” she asked.

“It’s not far. Yulver is still working on it. The volunteers from Hassell Point are helping him, although some are planning to return home.”

“How do you feel?” Lorik asked.

“Tired,” Vera said, but a faint smile appeared at the edges of her mouth. “And hungry.”

“We’ve got some broth,” Lorik said. “And bread, too.”

Stone fed Vera and then she slept some more. The tension between the two men seemed to disappear, and although Lorik went back to helping Alyster, he did so in a more jovial mood. When they finished their work at sunset, the farmer began to prepare food for everyone, including Vera, who was awake again. They all had ale for the first time in days, and the cottage was full of laughter.

When Alyster turned in for the night, Lorik took a walk. Vera was already asleep, so Stone joined him. The night was cool and the stars shone brightly in the dark sky overhead. They leaned against the well, which was made of heavy stones held together by thick mortar. They looked up and watched the moon as it slowly moved across the sky.

“So what do we do now?” Stone asked.

“That’s a good question,” Lorik said. “I heard that Yulver will have his ship repaired tomorrow. He plans to set sail soon.”

“It could be weeks before Vera is ready to travel over land,” Stone said. “I feel like we’re intruding on Alyster and I don’t have the skills you do to help out around here.”

“We could move Vera to the ship,” Lorik said.

“Are you set on going north?” Stone asked. “I could really use your help with Vera.”

“I would never turn my back on you or Vera, but I doubt she wants me around. Besides, I made a commitment to the volunteers from Hassell Point and to Yulver.”

“I don’t think Vera will go back on the ship, and I don’t blame her,” Stone said. “I’m just not sure what to do.”

“Ask her. She’s never been afraid of expressing her opinions.”

“Yes, I know,” Stone said.

They both shared a laugh, then spent some time in silent contemplation before Stone returned to the cottage.

The next morning, Vera broached the subject before either man had the chance.

“When are you leaving?” Vera asked Lorik.

“This evening, with the tide,” Lorik answered. “Yulver installed a new mast yesterday. He’ll just be reprovisioning the ship today and then setting sail.”

“Can you get me on board? I don’t think I’m strong enough to walk or ride a horse yet.”

“You want to go?” Stone asked surprised. “They’re still sailing north.”

“I know, and I know that Lorik is going no matter what.”

“So you’ve changed your mind about fighting the Norsik?” Lorik asked.

“Yes and no. I didn’t have a epiphany or vision from the gods. I just realized that what matters most to me in the world are the two men in this room and that you need each other. We can go with you, if Yulver will allow me to take up space on his ship.”

“I’m going to fight, Vera,” Lorik said. “Right or wrong, I’ve made up my mind.”

“I know,” she said softly. “I won’t try to stop you.”

Lorik looked at Stone and the younger man nodded. In fact, he looked relieved, and Lorik went outside to speak with Alyster. The old farmer refused to take the few coins Lorik offered him, and he even helped fashion a stretcher using the sailcloth and two small trees that Lorik cut and trimmed.

Stone carried Vera out of the cottage into the warm afternoon air. She seemed happy to be going, but Lorik couldn’t ignore how frail and sickly she still looked. He wanted to ask Stone if taking her back to sea was really the best idea, but he knew they wouldn’t be able to change Vera’s mind. He was glad she wanted to go with him, but he was afraid, too. If she got sick again, she wouldn’t survive. Lorik had seen first his father, then his mother waste away from sickness. Vera’s frail form reminded him of just how close to death she had come.

“You keep this old quilt,” Alyster said. “It may be a bit ragged, but it’s warm.”

“It’s lovely. Are you sure?” Vera asked, taking the quilt the old farmer had handed her.

“Of course I’m sure. It’s not everyday that I get to share my bed with a beautiful young lady. I think you should have something to remember me by.”

Vera blushed, her pale skin blooming red.

“I will remember you and how much you helped all of us.”

“Just being neighborly. If you folks get back down this way, stop by and see me. We’ll tap another keg and have a proper reunion.”

“That would be lovely.”

“Thank you, Alyster,” Lorik said, extending his hand.

“Oh, you earned your keep. I don’t remember ever getting a crop in this quickly. I’ll have more brewing time this year. Nothing wrong with that.”

Stone shook the farmer’s hand, then they set off. Lorik carried the front of the stretcher, and Stone carried the rear. The trail from the farm to where Yulver’s ship was beached was well worn now. They arrived at the small camp the sailors had been using just as Yulver was gathering the last of the supplies.

“You have room for two more?” Lorik asked.

“Of course,” Yulver said. “How are you feeling, Vera?”

“Better,” she said.

“Always a pleasure to have you on my ship,” the wizened old captain said, before turning back to Lorik. “Get her settled. We’ll be shoving off soon.”

The small shelter that Stone and Lorik had set up was gone, but the cabin was now fully repaired. Stone got Vera settled while Lorik climbed back out of the ship and joined the sailors who were pushing against the thick hull. The tide was rising, and Lorik stood in water as deep as his knees. The ship had settled in the sand over the last week, and it took all the strength the sailors had to push it free. The ship moved a few inches at first, then seemed to settle back into the sand. A wave came in, and Yulver timed his command to heave the heavy vessel with the wave’s backflow. This time the ship moved several feet. It took three more efforts before the ship was floating freely again. The sailors pushed the ship until the water was at their shoulders, then one by one they climbed aboard.

Stone and Lorik joined the volunteers in manning the oars. Almost half of the ship’s crew had succumbed to injuries from the storm. The ship plunged back out among the hidden rocks and sandbars of the Sailor’s Graveyard and then turned north. Jons served as lookout, hanging a bright lantern over the bow. A steady wind filled their sail, and the ship plowed ahead, leaving a bright white wake behind them.

Vera was sleeping when Lorik and Stone returned to the small cabin. They settled in for the night, but it took them both a long time to fend off the frightening memories that came with being on board the ship again. Finally they fell asleep as the ship sailed north, toward the Sandah Gulf and the invading Norsik.

Supplies on board the ship were limited. There was plenty of water, but not much food. Yulver sailed for two days and then took shelter at the harbor in Pettis Cove. It was a small trading village, like most of the other coastal towns north of the Sailor’s Graveyard. Vera was still too weak to leave the ship, but Lorik and a few of the volunteers from Hassell Point decided to visit one of the waterfront taverns. It was a long, low building with a thick roof that was covered with clay tiles. Inside, the room was warmed by a large fire, and the smell of roasting meat made the tavern feel comfortable.

Lorik and the others took seats and ordered ale. Food was brought and they all enjoyed a warm meal, but Lorik wasn’t there for the food or the drinks. He wanted news of what was happening in the north. He made eye contact with the proprietor of the inn and soon the man joined him at a small table.

“My name is Lorik,” he said, waving at the seat opposite him.

“I am Wallace, and the Sea Spring is my tavern,” said the man as he took a seat.

They both took slow drinks of ale and sized each other up. Lorik was tall and thick through the chest, shoulders, and arms. Wallace was a much smaller man, short and thin, but tough—Lorik could see that in the tavern owner’s eyes. Lorik guessed that Wallace was not the type of man who allowed himself to be pushed around and didn’t shy away from hard work. Lorik liked him immediately.

“We’re from Hassell Point,” Lorik began, wiping the foam from the ale off his mouth.

“You’re a long way from home,” the tavern keeper replied.

“Aye, we’ve come north to push back the Norsik.”

Wallace didn’t reply; he just cleared his throat and spat.

“Is there word from the north?” Lorik asked.

“For certain,” Wallace said. “We get more every day. Raids by the Norsik. Another village burned. They’ve started taking slaves, too. They’re becoming more brazen every day.”

“What about the Wilderlands and Fort Utlig, does it still stand?”

“Yes, the volunteers have held it so far, but there’s no real soldiers left. They all marched south with the mad King Oveer. It won’t be long until the defenses are overrun. The Norsik have been raiding, but now they’re finding abandoned villages just waiting to be occupied. It won’t be long until they’ve occupied over half of the kingdom. Then what will we do?”

“Aye, it can’t be allowed,” Lorik agreed. “We’re sailing north to stop them.”

“I hope you’ve got an army with you.”

“No,” Lorik said. “Just a dozen or so volunteers.”

“Well, what you’re planning is noble, but I wouldn’t put much hope in your group turning the tide. You might be better off sailing south again, if you value your neck, that is.”

“I need to know if the Norsik are crossing the gulf,” Lorik said.

“Of course they are. There’s no one to oppose them. A few of the villages have held firm against them, but it’s only a matter of time before the Norsik tribes band together. Then they’ll be unstoppable.”

Lorik took a long drink from his cup of ale, finishing it off. He had expected the news to be bad, but it was worse than he imagined. He wasn’t sure what good he could do, but the thought of turning back and leaving Ortis to be invaded by the Norsik turned his stomach.

“Thank you for the news,” Lorik said.

“You watch yourself,” Wallace said.

They both stood up and shook hands.

“If you get back this way, come share a cup of ale. The next one is on me,” Wallace said.

“Thank you, I will,” Lorik said.

He left the tavern and went for a walk through the village. He needed time to clear his head and think about what his next move would be. Obviously, sailing through the Sandah Gulf was a dangerous prospect. The gulf was as long as half of the western coast, but so narrow at some points that a person could see across it on a clear day. The currents were often treacherous, and the people living along the southern coast were Ortisian, but often not friendly. A lifetime of living under the threat of Norsik raiders crossing the narrow gulf made them wary of anyone they didn’t know well, regardless of nationality.

A better option would be to get horses and ride north, but that would cost a lot of money, and Vera simply wasn’t able to make that type of journey, not for a while yet, anyway. People in the small village were friendly. Lorik bought a jug of strong wine for Vera. He also found a thick blanket. The quilt Alyster gave her was warm, but the further north they traveled the colder the nights would get. He didn’t want her to have a setback.

When he got back to the ship he gave the wine and blanket to Vera. Stone poured her a small cup of the wine and she sat up, sipping it. Then she fell asleep with the thick blanket under her to soften the rough wooden deck.

“We need to figure a few things out,” Lorik told Stone once Vera was asleep. “First off, how is she doing?”

“Good,” Stone said. “She’s got a long way to go before she gets her strength back, but she seems to be improving.”

“All right, let’s go talk to Yulver.”

They left Jons watching Vera. The sailor’s arm and shoulder were healing, but he still couldn’t row or do most of the jobs on the ship. Entrusting him with an important task, even if it was just watching Vera sleep, seemed to boost his spirits.

Yulver had purchased stores for the ship and was waiting on the dock for them to be delivered. He was drinking ale and watching the sun set slowly out to sea when Lorik and Stone found him.

“You two headed to the tavern?” Yulver asked. “We need to start rounding up the men.”

“We’ll get them soon,” Lorik said. “First we need to make some decisions about sailing north.”

“You change your mind?” Yulver asked.

“No,” Lorik explained, “but I did get some unsettling news. It seems the Norsik are raiding across the Sandah Gulf without any resistance. Chances are they’ve even begun to settle in some of the villages on our side of the coast. I’m not sure sailing up the gulf is the best idea.”

“You get this from a reputable source?” Yulver asked.

“Wallace, over at the Sea Spring.”

“He’s a good man,” Yulver said. “I wouldn’t think he was given to gossip. So what do you want to do?”

“We need to travel over land,” Lorik said.

“It’ll take twice as long,” Yulver said.

“And Vera won’t be able to ride for at least a week,” Stone said. “I don’t even want her in the back of a wagon.”

“I agree,” Lorik said. “But what if we sail north as far as possible without actually running up the gulf? That will give Vera some time to heal and shave a little time off our travels.”

“Ange Point is at the mouth of the gulf,” Yulver said. “It’s a good-sized city. I can drop you there.”

“How long will it take to reach Ange Point?” Stone asked.

“A week if the winds hold. It should be an easy voyage.”

“It sounds like a reasonable plan,” Stone said.

“I agree,” Lorik said.

“Most of our trade goods were ruined by the storm,” Yulver said. “I’m not sure how you’ll get horses.”

“And we lost most of our coin in the storm as well,” Stone added.

“We’ll deal with that once we’re there,” Lorik said. “But there’s no sense sailing through the gulf and getting everyone killed before we reach the Wilderlands.”

They helped Yulver load the new sailcloth he had purchased onto the ship, then Lorik went back to the tavern to round up his volunteers. Most were drunk, but none gave him any trouble. They were young men, eager for adventure, and so far the trip hadn’t disappointed them.

They sailed north just as the sun began to disappear and soon the stars were shining brightly overhead. It took eight days to reach Ange Point, sailing due north without stops anywhere along the way. They could see the city in the distance when the sun came up on the eighth day. Vera had grown steadily stronger. She and Stone walked around the limited deck space several times each day. Riding horseback would be a challenge for her, but it no longer seemed to be an impossible task.

The sunrise was red and there were low clouds over the city. As the sun rose higher it became apparent that the clouds were actually smoke from fires in the city. Lorik found Yulver.

“That’s not normal, is it?” he asked the wizened sea captain.

“No,” Yulver said, squinting. He raised a spyglass and tried to make out exactly what was happening in the city.

“Are they under attack?” Lorik asked.

“I don’t think so,” Yulver explained. “It looks like the attack is over. The city is in ruins. Most of the harbor is burned. A lot of the buildings, too.”

“Was it the Norsik?” Vera asked.

“Can’t imagine who else could have done it, but I can’t make anyone out yet. We’re still too far away to get details.”

It took another hour before they got close enough to see that the city was completely overrun.

“It’s worse than we thought,” Lorik said. “If the Norsik are entrenched in Ange Point, there’s no way for us to land and get the supplies we need.”

“We could go back to one of the harbors further south,” Stone said.

“None are big enough to have what we need. We might find a few horses, but certainly not enough for all the volunteers. We need weapons, too, and rations for the trip.”

“So what are our options?” Vera asked.

“We can keep sailing,” Yulver said. “The gulf might be tricky, but I can get you to the Wilderlands.”

“I’m sure you can,” Lorik said. “But we still need supplies to make the voyage.”

“And weapons in case we’re attacked along the way,” Stone said. “I think our best bet is to sneak into the city and see what we can salvage.”

“We need to make a show of turning about,” Lorik said. “I’m sure we’re being watched. If it looks like we’re running they won’t expect us to sneak back into the city.”

“You want to turn back south and sail down the coast?” Yulver asked.

“That’s right,” Lorik said. “Until we’re out of sight of the city.”

“Then what?” Vera asked.

“Then Lorik and I disembark and sneak back into the city tonight,” Stone explained.

“We’ll get supplies and weapons,” Lorik added.

“And I’ll sail back to meet you in the dark?” Yulver asked.

“If you can manage it,” Lorik said, smiling.

“I could thread a needle with this ship,” the sea captain boasted.

“Good. We’ll find a way to get the supplies out to the ship once you’re in harbor, but you can’t move north again until after sunset.”

“You’re both insane,” Vera said. “That city is overrun with Norsik raiders. You can’t just go to the market and trade.”

“We’ll be careful,” Stone said, looking happy for the first time since Vera got sick.

“Besides, we won’t be alone,” Lorik said. “We’ll take the boys from Hassell Point with us.”

“I don’t like it,” Vera said, a little of her old fire returning. “You’ll probably all be killed.”

“It’s not an ideal plan,” Yulver said. “But we do need supplies.”

They spent the next hour sailing back to the south. They saw a few Norsik ships, but none left the harbor to pursue the
Dancer
. They were small vessels, ideal for crossing the gulf but not for sailing on the open sea. Lorik and Stone shared the spyglass as the ship turned back south. They left the handling of the ship to the sailors and focused their attention on what details they could gather.

Once they were too far to see anything of value in the city, they began to make their plans. Lorik still had his battle axe. It was a big weapon, ideal for open battle, but not for stealth or speed. He decided he would have to leave it behind. It was midday before they came to a small cove and weighed anchor. Most of the crew, including Vera, disembarked. Getting their feet on solid ground felt good, and they spent the afternoon lounging near the shore.

As the sun began to set Lorik and Stone led the volunteers into the countryside. They moved east, going inland for more than a mile before turning north. It was fully dark before they reached the outskirts of the city. There were no sentries, no sign of an organized military guard or occupation of the city. Lorik hadn’t expected the Norsik to be prepared for a counterattack. They were most likely feasting and drinking. The Norsik were raiders who were used to hitting a town or village, looting as much as they could, and then running back across the border. Word must have reached the western tribes that the Ortisian troops were no longer protecting the villages. Now they had settled into the city of Ange Point to enjoy their conquest.

“What’s the plan?” Stone asked as they stopped just outside the city.

They had been moving through the countryside, but now they were hidden behind a small cottage that was only a stone’s throw from the city proper. They could hear noise, but nothing that stood out. They knew there were people in the city, but that was all.

“It really sticks in my craw to let the Norsik bastards off without a fight,” Lorik said.

“But we don’t even know how many are still here,” Stone argued.

“I know, I know,” Lorik said. “We need food and we need weapons. We can stop and refill the water barrels just about anywhere, but we need bread, cheeses, and meat if we can find it.”

“Most of the animals will have been slaughtered already,” Stone said.

“Or shipped back,” Lorik agreed. “But perhaps we can find a few places that haven’t been looted yet.”

“What about weapons?” Stone asked.

“I think there should be some in the smithy. It should be relatively easy to search there. Why don’t you take the volunteers to find weapons, then meet me back at the harbor.”

“You’re going by yourself?”

“I’ll take a couple of these boys with me, but the chances of us getting caught are higher the more people I have with me.”

“The storehouses will most likely be guarded,” Stone agreed. “Be safe.”

They went in two different directions. Stone took his contingent of men, ten in all, straight into the city, but Lorik stayed on the outskirts. He found several homes with root cellars. Some of the homes had been burned, and the skeletal remains of the homes had collapsed down into the cellars. Those that were intact had only a few items left inside. Lorik gathered anything jarred or dried. He soon had two handcarts full of foodstuffs and led his volunteers back toward the harbor.