Rise and Fall (16 page)

“The men are right to be worried about you,” said a voice from behind.

Jonrell turned.

This is how you answer my prayer? Now I know you’re laughing at me.
“Go away,” he told Krytien.

The mage ignored the comment and leaned on the railing next to him, running his fingers through the pale wisps of long hair on top his head.

“You know, all that rubbing isn’t going to make it grow anew,” said Jonrell.

Krytien shook his head. “So I come over here out of concern and this is the thanks I get? I could have stayed at the dice game and at least made some money for suffering through the jibes.”

Jonrell shrugged his shoulders. “I told you to go away.” He turned to the mage. “What is with you anyway? Ever since you brought me news of the king, you’ve been acting odd. No remarks in retaliation, no mutterings under your breath. Nothing?”

Krytien shook his head. “You need to straighten yourself out because I’m getting sick of covering for you.”

“Covering for me?”

“It was one thing with Melchizan. He beat all of us down to a point where few even noticed you weren’t acting like yourself. But I did. I’ve known you since you joined this outfit with Cassus, both green as can be. I watched you grow up quicker than I thought possible and command respect from a bunch of cutthroats without even trying. Before Ronav passed, he had already made up his mind that you’d follow after him. As young as you were, I had some doubts.” He paused. “At least until Asantia. It was then that I realized there was no one better to fill Ronav’s place.”

“Is there a point in all of this?”

A chubby hand shot out and slapped the commander across his cheek. His jaw dropped in surprise.

“You lackwit! The death of the king and the thought of returning home is affecting you in a bad way, far more than you realize.” said Krytien. “You’ve been moping around rather than planning for the future. Our future. If you don’t get yourself together, you’re liable to get us all killed.”

Jonrell rubbed his jaw.
I can’t believe he struck me. I’ve never seen him move so fast.
“The king’s death is nothing.”

“Don’t give me that. He was still your father.”

“And?”

“You left home without ever settling your differences and now that chance is gone. Don’t tell me you haven’t thought of it. I see you worrying that stone in your hand each day.”

Jonrell looked down to his hand and sighed, his fingers still working the surface.
He’s got me now.
“There may be some truth to that but that’s only part of it.”

“You regret your decision to leave Cadonia all those years ago.”

Jonrell nodded. “I think I always did. I had just made sure to keep myself busy enough not to think about it. But now…” he waved a hand over the ocean “…now what else is there to do but think. What kind of a man leaves a young girl all alone?”

“You mean the princess?”

“My sister.” He paused. “Father loved her deeply, more than me at least, for if nothing else she resembled our mother. Still, as fickle as he was after our brother died, who knows if that changed or not?” He paused again, looking out over the open water. “And I left her. I left her because it was easier to run away than to face my problems head on. Who does something like that to someone they love?”

“You’re returning now. This is your chance to make things right.”

Jonrell sighed. “I hope so. But she is a woman now. I’ve been away from her longer than I was with her.” He started to laugh. “One Above, what right did I have to tell Cassus he was afraid to face his past when I’m just as scared?”

“Still, you are facing it,” said Krytien. “You know Cassus didn’t leave to spite you.”

“I never said he did.”

“You didn’t have to. I see the look you make when his name comes up.”

Jonrell paused, thinking. “I know it’s not fair of me. In a way I respect the fact he went out on his own. I guess I just always imagined that we would return together as heroes, and him not being here makes me realize how childish that idea was.”

“Can I make a suggestion?”

Jonrell smirked. “When have you ever needed my permission to speak your mind?”

Krytien smiled. “Good point. Don’t be afraid of the past. I’ve done a lot of things I regret. We all have. Instead of hiding it in the corners of your mind and hoping never to hear from it again, embrace it. Make it yours and learn from it. Aren’t you always the one who says, ‘A little fear makes you feel alive’?”

“Sure. But I was talking more along the lines of facing an enemy in battle.”

“Is there an enemy more dangerous to a man than himself?” asked the old mage.

“When did you become so wise? I’ve never heard you talk like this.”

“Well if truth be told, I like to keep some things secret so you don’t give me even more work to do.”

“But now your secret’s out,” said Jonrell with a grin.

“Aye, and I’m sure you’ll make up for the lost time.” The mage looked over his shoulder. “I hear a game of dice calling my name.”

“Haven’t you lost enough? Raker said you were down five silvers just today.”

The old mage winked. “I’ve got him right where I want him.” He walked away leaving Jonrell to his thoughts.

Not exactly the insight I was looking for but it’ll do.
He looked up and whispered “Thanks.” He moved the stone from his fingers to his palm, squeezing it hard one last time before wheeling his arm back and tossing it into the still water. The small splash it made contrasted against the sudden relief he felt. He turned from the rail, and walked toward the game of dice.

“Seven again. Today must be my day,” said Krytien.

“You better not be cheating. I’ll run you through if I find out you are,” said Raker.

“He’s got to be cheating,” said Hag. “He hadn’t won a game in two days and now he can’t lose.”

“Hag’s right,” said Raker, working hard on some chew. “That’s almost eleven in a row.”

Krytien paused, grabbing the dice from the ground. “Whoa. Why is it when I was in a slump and everyone was taking my money, no one said a word. But now that the roles are reversed everyone is upset.” He looked to Jonrell. “Commander, help me out. Surely you see what’s going on.”

Jonrell chuckled, holding his hands up. “Oh, I see what’s going on.” He leaned down by Hag’s ear and whispered, “Check his left sleeve. He’s been switching dice the whole game.”

The old woman’s squinted eyes grew wide and a quiver ran across her shriveled lips. “Raker, hold that fat mage down while I skin him. He’s got the dice rigged. Kroke, give me your knife.”

Krytien looked shocked. “What? That’s ridiculous. I would never do such a thing.” He cast a glare at Jonrell.

“Then let’s see what’s up those sleeves,” said Kroke, spinning a dagger.

Other shouts joined in and Krytien backed away until coming against the main mast. He held his hands up in submission and pulled up his sleeves, exposing both arms and his pasty white skin.

“I told you there was nothing.”

Half a dozen dice fell from under his robe and clattered across the deck.

Jonrell let out a laugh so loud it caused everyone to turn. “You better give them back their money.” He kept laughing. “You had to get greedy. If you would have lost a few here and there, no one would have been wiser.”

“Just getting our money back from today isn’t enough. Who knows how many other times he’s cheated us,” said Hag.

“Oh plenty,” said Jonrell still chuckling. “But no more than anyone else and that’s what’s so funny.”

“You better not be calling me a cheat,” said the old woman.

“Oh I am. I’m calling all of you cheats, just some are better than others. Hag, you’ve a marked deck you keep in your trousers for whenever you play cards.” He turned to Kroke, “Your deck isn’t marked, but you sure like to keep a few extra face cards in it.” He looked to another. “And Raker, you’re the worst of all. You keep trying to cheat with Yanasi, trusting her to tell you her hand and the whole time she’s lying while she’s got you giving away everything in yours.” He started laughing again. “Now you know why I only play chess.”

The Hell Patrol stood there looking at Jonrell with an array of emotions. Confusion, shock, frustration, and even amusement in some of the old hands.

One Above, Krytien was right. It feels good to laugh again. It’s been too long.

“Commander!” a shout came from above.

Jonrell looked up and saw Rygar scurrying down the main mast, leaving the crow’s nest behind. His thick blond hair tossed about as he slid down the ladder.

Less than ten minutes ago, they had unfurled the square sails as a breeze picked up. The oarsmen used the opportunity to take their first break in days.

All eyes went up to the shirtless man, baked by the sun. He landed with a thud, jumping down the last several rungs. “Commander, we’ve got trouble. There’s a ship coming out over the horizon,” he said out of breath.

“It’s the ocean. We’re bound to run into another using it sooner or later.”

“It’s more than that,” said Rygar. “Yanasi and I spotted it in the distance moments ago. We used that spyglass the captain gave us and got a better look. It’s a war galley, Sir. And it’s heading right for us.”

“He’s right, Sir. We both saw it,” said Yanasi, descending the ladder. Her red hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail as usual; somehow her fair skin remained unscathed by the sun.

One Above, she is so much a woman now. And yet all I think about is the half starved little girl I took in all those years ago.

“It’s amazing they saw anything with both of them up there alone,” someone muttered.

“I heard that, Raker, and don’t think I won’t pay you back for it,” said Yanasi with an edge to her voice that she seemed to save just for him. Unlike Rygar, she landed on the deck taking each rung down to the bottom. “Go on commander, take a look,” she said in a soft voice. She pulled a long cylindrical tube from round her neck and held it out in her hand.

Jonrell took the spyglass and walked to the sterncastle. Yanasi pointed out the speck in the distance they called a ship.

How in the world did they even see that?
Squinting, he found his target and scanned the other ship. What he saw troubled him. “Twice our size and with twin decks of oars. Rygar, go wake Captain Sylik and give him the details.”

Rygar raced toward Sylik’s quarters.

“What are they coming after us for?” asked Raker.

Jonrell handed him the spyglass. “Have a look.”

The mercenary took the device. “You’ve got to be kidding me!”

“Will somebody just spit it out already,” said Hag. “I’m liable to die before I ever get an answer.”

Raker spat, “Lord Roundness. I knew we should have chased him on Mytarcis.” He handed the spyglass back to Jonrell. “If he would have been this determined before, he might’ve made a better boss.”

“Well, he’s determined now. Leaving before a major battle and stealing a couple hundred slaves would get under most people’s skin,” said Jonrell. He turned to Krytien. “He’s got two mages with him—one green and one yellow.”

“One green, one yellow? I can handle them.”

“Both?”

“Are you saying I can’t handle a couple of sorry apprentices?”

“You haven’t faced very many mages in battle of late. I figured you may be out of practice.”

“I won’t even work up a sweat. Maybe I should send something out over the ocean now? You know just to give them an idea of what’s waiting for them.” He took a step forward, pushing the sleeves back up his arms. Another pair of die fell out and hit the deck, rolling just under his foot as he walked. The mage’s legs came right out from under him and he fell flat on his back, banging his head with a thud. A loud cackle went up at the sight but only for a moment when they saw he wasn’t moving.

Hag leaned over and slapped the mage a couple of times. “He’s out cold.”

“Not surprised. All that weight coming down on his head,” said Raker.

Rygar ran back up, breathing heavy. “Sylik’s on his way, Commander.”

Jonrell nodded.

“Maybe we can outrun them.” said Yanasi, looking out over the water.

“We’ll never outrun that ship in open waters,” said Jonrell. “It’s best to just let the oarsmen rest for now so we can use them for maneuvering when the galley approaches.” Jonrell handed the spyglass back to Yanasi. “Get back up in that crow’s nest and keep an eye on their approach. And make sure you’re tied down. The last thing I want is you falling to the deck in the heat of battle.”

“Yes, sir,” said Yanasi, before scurrying off. Rygar followed on her heels.

Jonrell called out to no one in particular as he bent over the old mage sprawled out at his feet. “Someone go grab Wiqua. Let’s see if he’s as good with healing humans as he is with horses.”

“Brown devil,” Glacar muttered, walking away. “I‘d rather die than have that dog look at me.”

Jonrell shook his head, choosing not to respond to the comment. He was more interested in the condition of his friend. He felt the back of Krytien’s head and pulling his hand away saw it was damp with blood.
That’s not good.

* * *

Minutes passed without any change in Krytien’s condition. The approaching galley closed the distance between the two ships and Jonrell worried he would enter battle against two mages without the support of his own.

Sylik had his crew running around and prepping the ship for combat. The Hell Patrol dressed for battle.

Jonrell waited near Krytien, watching Wiqua hurry up the stern of the ship. Hag stood at Jonrell’s side.

Wiqua bowed. “What can I do to help?”

“We’ve got trouble coming and I need him ready.”

“I’ll take a look.”

Wiqua bent down over the mage and moved his hand across the plump body, stopping and touching him in various places. With closed eyes, he made it to the mage’s head and lingered. He glanced up at Jonrell. “Other than a few minor bumps, he’s physically alright.”

“Then why isn’t he awake?”

“He hit his head pretty hard and knocked himself unconscious”

“I know. Heal him. Krytien himself kept going on about how powerful you were.”