Lost Empire (7 page)

As he watched Eric hurry after his friends up the jiggling plank and onto the deck of the massive ship, Lord Andry just shook his head and turned away. “Good luck...Gate Keeper. You will need it,” he mumbled to no one.

Najus stood on the deck waiting for Eric to board. “Come on now,” he said impatiently while quickly leading Eric to a short stairway. “I know you have questions, and we will have nothing but time as soon as this beast hits the water. But for right now, we need to keep you out of sight and try to make this go as fast as possible. The smoother this goes, the shorter folks’ memories might be.”

He nearly threw Eric down the steps before making a spinning hand gesture to the men wandering around the enormous warehouse. Two of them streaked for the metal sheet door and began pulling a thin looped chain. Left over right, right over left, their hands worked together like the wings of a hummingbird, making the metal sheet door begin to rise up.

Noise and commotion began to fill the air outside as the tall metal door slowly rattled upward then folded back across the roof of the warehouse. Dozens of large men who had been doing their best not to stand out in the crowd swiftly rushed toward the door. They reached down to the ground and pulled up the hidden ropes that had been covered with dirt. The brutes all pulled as one while a loud grinding sound echoed off the nearby buildings. The massive ship began to move inch by inch, rolling over the smooth cut logs placed beneath it.

As the ship inched along, other men ran back and forth in sets of two, taking logs from the back end and running them to the front. The massive ship creeping along was now in clear view of everyone. There was no way to hide this! All they could do was keep moving while the guards did what they could to block the angry mob and keep them from rushing in. Shouts of “That’s what they were hiding,” and “They have the Gate Keeper in there. The legend is true,” rang out as the soldiers did what they could to keep the angry mob back.

Eric thumped down the freshly sanded steps while gripping the long banister. The whole ship rocked and vibrated as it rolled over the logs. Seeing the others seated at a table near the corner of the room, he was able to stumble his way over. Grabbing the corner of the table for support, he pulled up a chair by hooking it with his toes and yanking it in. Sitting down seemed only slightly better that standing, as the chair bounced and vibrated along with the ship, threatening to dance across the room and carry him with it.

Eric clung to the table, looking around at what would be his new home for some time. The walls and floor were no different than the steps—a natural wood color and freshly sanded, but looked unfinished due to a lack of proper stain or lacquer. They must have deemed that final touch an unnecessary aesthetic. Many believed this was a one-way trip anyhow. The walls were bare with the exception of a few oil lanterns hung on thin wire from metal hooks. Three crates, four barrels, and a few woven sacks were stacked at the other corner. The lack of items made the small room seem much larger than it actually was.

There was only one other table in the room and it was well occupied. A grizzled bunch with maybe a full set of teeth between them stared back hard at the group. They didn’t necessarily look angry, as expressions varied from lopsided half smiles to full toothless grins. Eric would be spending a lot of time with these men, but now was certainly not the time for introductions.

The men on the ground continued their frantic pace, ignoring shouts and protests from the villagers. Even though the massive ship was rolling down hill, it took tremendous manpower to keep it grinding along. Rumors had hung heavy over the city for weeks. Then the local warehouse had been shut down to the public. This happened just after sightings of Taron soldiers in the city, adding to the growing suspicion that something big was going on. Now the doors had finally opened to reveal this giant ship being brought down to the water, and it was obvious they didn’t want anyone to know who or what it carried. The mob was now on the verge of rioting!

“
He’s in there! They have the Gate Keeper!” came a shout from the crowd as they pushed against the line of soldiers. In turn they pushed back, some exposing half a blade from its scabbard, which immediately had the desired effect. Lord Andry was going have a very hard time explaining all this to the townsfolk come morning.

With a splash, the nose of the ship dipped into the water as the men circled around to the rear. It was easy enough to keep it moving now that the front weight was afloat. Within minutes it was drifting through the icy water. The angry shouts faded into the night as the mighty ship slowly began putting distance between itself and the port city.

The grinding and shaking had stopped and was now replaced by a smooth, rocking motion. The four companions could hear the salty water crash against the boat in an almost musical rhythmic pattern. Jacob grinned as he slowly released his death grip from the table, first one hand then the other, as if not yet trusting the suddenly smooth ride. He shook the numbness from his hands and stomped the pins and needles from his feet. “We did it. We really did it, guys!” he exclaimed, giving Eric a light punch in the shoulder. “I can hardly believe it. We’re going to be the first to set foot on a new land, a land no one has ever seen before.”

Jade’s voice trembled with anger, “Why must everything be a game to you? These lands have been all but forgotten, true, but they are certainly not unknown. Berkeni showed us a map, remember? More than one person has already been there before. And besides all that, this is not some joyride for a small-town farm boy to attempt to fulfill his boyish dreams of adventu—”

A strong hand lightly placed on her shoulder was enough to stop her off in mid-sentence. The anger melted from her eyes as she leaned back into Eric. He whispered in her ear, “He is just caught up in the moment and speaking his mind like he always does. You know he meant nothing by it. Are you now planning to hold Jacob accountable for being Jacob?”

She smiled at the words meant only for her ears, then turned back to Eric’s friend. “Jacob, I’m sorry for what I said. You didn’t do anything wrong. I guess deep inside, I’m just jealous of you. Here I am worried about, well...everything. What will we do when we get there? If we get there? What will we find? I just don’t understand how anyone can have absolutely no fear of the unknown.”

Jacob locked his fingers behind his head as one boot thumped down on the table, followed loudly by the other. “Don’t waste your apologies on me,” he said with a blatant eye roll. “First of all, you couldn’t offend me if your life depended on it. Truth be told, you’re really bad at it.” Everyone laughed. “As far as being jealous of me, well...that’s the curse I’ve dealt with most of my life, so don’t bother thinking you’re special.” A rhythmic clinking sound began to ring out over their laughter.

An older man with white bushy eyebrows and an impossibly large nose continued to thump a silver spoon against his table over and over again. His deep-set dark eyes seemed to have singled out Eric as the high pitched rattling clanked away in a steady beat. If it was their attention he was seeking, he certainly had it now. However, he appeared no more likely to have his mindless song interrupted than he was to break off his stare, which was being returned in the same manner. In a crackling, stony voice that more than matched his grizzled looks, he said, “Well, I’m glad the four of ye are having a good time.” He slammed the spoon flat against the table. “Tell me, boy, do you know how many different ways a man can die at sea? I assume this be the first time your sea legs have been tested.”

“
You assume correctly, old man,” said Eric with no hint of anger or sarcasm. “This is the first time any of us have been on a ship. And no, I don’t know how many ways one can meet his end at sea. But I do know this. Even if that number is in the millions, it doesn’t change the fact we will still be at sea and you will be there with us as well.” His voice stayed steady and calm, as if discussing what types of fish lived in the water. “If you are afraid, I wish you had thought of that before agreeing to this, because we are not stopping for the likes of one coward.”

The grizzled man leapt spryly to his feet as many of the others leaned forward in their seats, clearly thinking of doing the same thing. “Who are you calling a—”

“
Enough!” came a booming voice from the top of the steps. “
These
are the finest seamen Candrin was able to find me? We’ve been at sea for less than ten minutes and you dogs begin bickering like women?”

“
This
adolescent
,” cried the grizzled man, pointing to Eric, “has no respect for the dangers of the sea. His blind innocence is bound to get us all killed. If ye thinks I’m going to stand by—”

“
And what of him!?” boomed Najus in a voice more fit for a general in the Queen’s army. Everyone flinched as shoulders slumped and heads lowered. “The bloody hell does he matter? He, as well as the rest of them, are simply cargo and nothing more—cargo you all have been handsomely paid to transport. And transport you will! Now, everyone, top deck now!”

The grizzled man’s eyes narrowed as he exposed a set of yellowed teeth. If not for hearing the conversation, it would have been hard to tell if that was a snarl or a smile. In sharp contrast, Eric’s expression was calm and respectful. He patiently watched the man turn and clop heavily up the stairs. The other seamen followed after him, each giving at least one glance over his shoulder—a man here with a puckered scar running down his cheek; another there with a thick greasy beard and blue bandana strapped tightly across his head. They all looked different yet the same, cut from the same rugged cloth.

Eric took Jade by the hand and gently lifted her up from the bench. She looked worried given the brief unfriendly exchange. “Everything is fine,” he said. “Those men are just frightened, but they don’t dare show it. That display was nothing more than a scared man who needed to channel his emotion without showing weakness. I don’t hold it against him.” She mirrored his reassuring smile, comforted by his wise words. They marched up the steps, followed closely by Jacob and Athel.

As they reached the top step, a blast of frigid salt air whipped across their faces. Although cold and biting, it also smelled crisp and clean. The beaming moon was shockingly bright, proving to be more than an adequate source of light. Despite the darkness of the night, sharp faces could be seen in full detail under its luminescent glow. Even the stars appeared sharper and clearer than they did from land.

Najus stood before them with his hands on his hips. “All right, you sea dogs. Let me make something clear to all of you. I’m fully aware of the hours you’ve all have spent at sea. Your experience is the reason you stand before me now. But as far as your former rank or title is concerned, you no longer have one! I give the orders and you take them. I need your full cooperation and loyalty if we are to have any chance of success.” He paused a moment to let the seriousness of his words sink in. “Oh, yes. I suppose it’s only fair to point out my only two rules. Rule number one: if any of you disobeys a direct order from me, you will be given a permanent home with the fish within minutes of the violation.” The men began to stir while a soft mumbling rose. “Rule number two: any man who speaks in defense of the violator or questions rule number one in any way will be tied to the mast and whipped for three hours straight.” The mumbling suddenly grew a little louder as the men stirred. “And after that, he too will sleep at the bottom of the sea. Have I made myself clear?”

Heads bobbed up and down nervously, as if shaking harder would help to get on the captain’s good side, but even through all the head shaking, stray eyes kept wandering back to the four adventurers as if wondering why they were somehow not included in these malicious threats. Najus also noticed the wandering eyes and decided to answer their unasked question. “Don’t worry about the cargo. It is the least of your concerns. The sooner they are delivered, the sooner you all can return home and live like the rich men you will soon be.” That brought a series of cheers and fist pumps from a suddenly determined group of men.

The sailors exploded into action and began scampering about the deck. Multiple sails along the three masts fell at different levels as men climbed up and pulled loose the leather cords holding them. White, billowy puffs of flax canvas seemed to inflate instantly in the rolling sea winds. One of the men pulled out a fiddle and began to play as the others sang along. An old tune about a long-lost lover filled the night air as the men kept working.

Najus stalked over to the group as his sturdy black leather boots thumped hard with every step. With his shoulders rolled back and his head held high and level, it was clear that confidence was not something he lacked. His gold and silver hoops twinkled in the moonlight as his baggy pants fluttered in the mild rolling breeze. With his hands planted firmly on his hips, he eyed them up and down. His confident grin more than matched his stance. “I hope you are all thick-skinned enough to understand why I referred to you the way I did.”

“
So you didn’t really mean it when you called us nothing more than cargo?” said Athel sarcastically, her silver teeth catching a good deal of the moonlight as well.

“
Of course I did,” he laughed while throwing back his head. “That’s all you are to me anyway; just another payday, and a big one at that.” His smile grew as he rubbed his hands together. “True, the Queen of Taron seems to believe you
kids
are quite a bit more than that. I simply don’t see it that way. But no matter, such opinions have nothing to do with whether or not I get paid. My lack of curiosity in such matters has kept me in this business for many years.”