Rise and Fall (40 page)

“I’m not saying I disagree with your reasons. Just passing on the thoughts of some of the crew is all.”

“And what are your feelings?”

Krytien sighed. “I’m still a little uneasy with him, but I can tell that Kaz is making an effort with most of us, and I know you spend about as much time talking to him as you once did with Cassus. So, I trust you. It’d be nice if he got over his issue with sorcery though. I’d be more than willing to talk to him myself if I could.”

“Yeah, I guess he and I have become closer. With the trip so calm, there was a lot of downtime to talk about those bits of his past that come up every now and then.”

“Any luck figuring out what they mean?”

“Not really. Lots of fighting or time spent training to fight. Seems like he’s lived his entire life with that as his sole purpose.”

In silence they both stared back out over the water. Even from their distance, the details of Floroson’s bone-white buildings came into view. The uniquely curved rooftops matched the up and down motion of the waves. People carrying cargo from the newly arrived merchant ships looked like ants weaving between the buildings.

It’s amazing that life goes on after what happened to the kingdom when Nareash betrayed Father.
He gripped the railing, thinking about how ignorant he would be if Raker hadn’t picked up on the news while in Mudhole Bay.
So many friends I never said good-bye to. Friends I’ll never see again.

Boots scampered across the deck and pulleys squealed with each tug of rope. He looked up and saw seagulls soar overhead. The birds wheeled about and dove into the foamy water, coming up with their meals.

“So are you done stalling?” Krytien finally blurted out.

“What?” said Jonrell.

“I ask what’s bothering you and you respond by changing the subject to Crusher, which leads to Kaz yet again. You were hoping I’d forget why I came over here in the first place.”

Jonrell started to chuckle, putting his head down. “You’d think I’d realize by now I can’t get away with that.”

Krytien waited.

Jonrell saw the impatient look on the mage’s face. “I was thinking about a lot of things. For one, what is Cassus doing? Is he ok? Will I ever see him again? I mean last time I looked upon this harbor, he and I were standing together like this, but the harbor was fading away. We were just a bunch of scared kids on our way to Slum Isle, hoping to leave our troubles behind us.” He shook his head. “But I realize the difference between us is that he never really wanted to return.”

“No, I guess he didn’t,” said Krytien.

“And here I am while Cassus is miles away doing only the One Above knows what.”

“I don’t doubt you miss him. We all do. He was well-liked and helped keep us in check. But I think the real issue comes from what Raker told you he heard while in Mudhole Bay. You haven’t talked about it once since then, and that was weeks ago.”

Jonrell stared down at the water and watched the waves crash against the ship. “I barely believed him until I overheard several others chewing over the same story. There are conflicting facts in the retelling, but the gist is the same.” Jonrell’s hands tightened around the ship’s railing, turning his knuckles white. “You know the day I left Cadonia, I only said good-bye to two people. Elyse and my father. Elyse reacted about as I expected a girl her age would. It tore me up inside, but I did it anyway.

“My father…his reaction hurt more, even though it shouldn’t have come as a surprise.” He paused. “I told him I was leaving, that I had no plans of returning while he still lived, that I no longer wanted to be thought of as his son. And you know what he said? He looked me dead in the eyes and in the most even of tones said, ‘My son is already dead. You killed him.’ After thirteen years, he still held me responsible for something that occurred when I was five. What kind of man does that?”

“A man who wanted someone to blame for his pain. A man whose grief was so great that he couldn’t move on with his own life,” said Krytien.

Jonrell grunted. “And I hated him for it. I still do. To this day, I hope that he is rotting somewhere in the lowest parts of hell, acting as some puppet to the One Below.” He looked up and chuckled. “In a way it was fitting that he was used before he died.” He paused again. “Only…only others had to suffer with him. Men far greater than him died because of his inability to run a kingdom. One Above, Amcaro taught countless mages, and advised every king after Aurnon I. He was as much a part of Cadonia as the royal family. But now he’s dead and so are the other High Mages—all of whom I knew. None of them deserved their fate. And neither did Elyse.”

“You know there is little logic behind what happens in the world. It doesn’t make a difference if we deserve what we get. It matters how we deal with our troubles when they happen.”

The commander let out a heavy sigh. “After what Raker told me, I feel like I’m coming home to a graveyard.” He grunted. “I had my doubts about Elyse’s reaction before. But now…now she’s likely to throw me in a cell and be done with me.”

“From what you’ve told me, Elyse is not like your father.”

“She wasn’t. But twelve years is a long time. I left her a girl and a princess. I’m coming back to a woman and queen. Just think how much I’ve changed in that same amount of time.”

“Sure, you’ve changed. But not for the worse.”

* * *

Drake watched the city come into view with a sense of awe. He had never left Slum Isle before, so the images he had of those far away cities that populated the great continents remained dreams.

But not anymore.

Floroson didn’t match any of the places he had created in his head, but it was impressive nonetheless. Buildings were mostly pale in color, and rooftops angled in unnatural ways.

The engineering required to create such structures impressed him.
I’d love to meet the ones who designed them. Even better, I’d love to learn from them.

A grimy hand came down on his shoulder and yanked him backward. “Boy, you wool-gathering again?” came a voice in garbled speech.

“Uh, sorry. I was just looking at the city.”

Raker spat and pointed. “We ain’t got time for that now. Go on and get back to your station. We got work to do.” Raker walked away mumbling curses. “What’s that boy gonna do in battle? Liable to get his head chopped off cause he ain’t paying attention.”

Drake walked back to his station next to Mal. Everyone thought he was too young to be a soldier, but he would show them.
It will be me doing the chopping when the time comes.
He smiled at that.

Mal cast him a sidelong glance as Drake came over and helped him secure some rigging. “What did you see?”

“It’s beautiful, Mal. Beats anything we ever saw on Slum Isle.”

“Give me details.”

“The buildings are all made of stone and vary in size, some even a couple of hundred feet tall. The city looks to be encircled by a simple wall that extends to the waterfront. The docks are at least ten times the size of those in Mudhole Bay.”

“What else? What about the people?”

Drake shook his head. “We’re still too far away for me to see that kind of detail. Besides, Raker caught me and told me to come back over here.”

Mal scowled at Raker’s retreating back. “Idiot. I can’t understand a word he says.”

“You get used to his speech after awhile, and really, he ain’t that bad once you get to know him. You just don’t want to be on his bad side.”

Mal cocked his head. “But you couldn’t stand him before.”

Drake shrugged. “Better than being at the Hideaway with Denneth.”

“I guess.”

“Seriously?” asked Drake. “Don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts.”

“This isn’t what I expected, doing all this menial work.”

“Someone has to do it, and we’re the newest members. The others they picked up from Slum Isle are stuck doing the same stuff.”

“Easy for you to say. At least you’re learning something useful from Raker, even if he is an idiot. They want me to talk to Wiqua so he can teach me some basic healing procedures you don’t need sorcery for.”

“See,” said Drake, “healers are important for any army.”

“Maybe. But it’s also boring.”

“Everything can’t be exciting all the time.”

“It was when I was in charge of the group guarding the Hideaway. That was fun having everyone listen to me.” He sighed. “I thought Jonrell would be teaching me more about being a leader but he’s always doing something or talking to someone else.”

“He’s got a war to plan. No offense but there’s a lot for him to consider.”

Mal scowled. “Whatever. I’m going to see what boring work Sylik needs done next,” he said, sulking off.

Drake shook his head and went back to work.

* * *

A short while later Sylik eased
Ocean Spirit
into place along the docks. Jonrell pulled his company aside one last time before stepping ashore while the crew saw to last minute preparations.

“Look, I know many of you have never been to Cadonia before. Things are much different here than on Mytarcis and even more so than on Slum Isle. Do not, I repeat, do not go running off once we get our gear unloaded. You will remain within spitting distance of each other at all times. I want to be out the gates on the other side of town by this evening. We will not wait on anyone.” A few moans of disappointment greeted that news but the commander ignored them.

Ocean Spirit
nudged into the wooden dock with a groan. As the gangplank lowered, Jonrell turned round. “One more thing, keep the armor and the bulk of your weapons stowed away. We want to be as inconspicuous as possible.”

The commander took the first step over the side out onto the gangplank. He nearly lost his balance at the sudden cheers that erupted upon coming into view. He looked up and saw crowds of people by the unloading area with members of the City Watch frantically working to stop a full on rush of the docks. Screams of “King Jonrell, long live the king!” and “We’re saved!” reached his ears. Several less enthusiastic cries of “That doesn’t look like him,” or “I thought he was taller,” filled in the gaps between cheers.

Jonrell’s mouth hung open in shock as the first few citizens broke through the City Watch’s barricade, causing a tidal wave of bodies to come flooding through the crack. The onslaught of people intimidated him more than any battle charge. People pushed one another into the bay as they clamored forward.

A meaty hand closed around his shoulder, yanking him back onto
Ocean Spirit
and the commander watched Kaz kick the gangplank over the side just as the first few of the mob reached it.

Sylik yelled out, “Get those ropes and ladders up! I’ll not surrender my ship to this lot.”

Someone shook him. “You alright, Boss?”

Jonrell blinked. “I never expected this.”

Kroke flashed a rare smile. “So much for being inconspicuous, huh?”

Jonrell looked over to where Kaz stood, peering over the side. The warrior announced in Cadonian with a thick accent, “They’re climbing up the side.”

The commander found his voice and called out. “Krytien, take care of this.”

The mage stepped forward, pushing back the sleeves on his robe and raising his hands up high. “Watch your eyes.”

Jonrell closed his eyelids just as he felt the heat from the sudden flash of light envelop him. There were several screams from below. The commander looked over the side and noticed that the mass of people had calmed.

He addressed the stunned crowd. “Where is Lord Undalain?” he shouted.

“Dead,” came a woman’s voice from below. “I govern Floroson since his passing.”

Dead? One Above, not him too.
Jonrell looked down to the blue haired woman below. Caught in the middle of the rushing mob, she stood between her own personal guard who pushed and shoved all those around them with the flats of their shields. Though she had aged, he immediately recognized her.

His chest tightened, but he smiled. “Lady Jaendora, I’m sorry to hear such bad news about your lord husband. Would you care to join me on deck?”

Lady Jaendora looked up, blinking. Clearing her vision, she managed a smile. “You left a boy but return a man, Jonrell.”

“Not sure how true that is. Will you accept my invitation? I’m afraid we have much to talk about,” said Jonrell, shouting over the crowd noise.

Her face grew hard. “Yes. I’m afraid we do.”

* * *

The commander and Lady Jaendora borrowed Sylik’s quarters to get out of the way of those on the ship’s deck. Her personal guard accompanied the governess aboard and stood vigilant outside of the captain’s door. It took some time for Jonrell to clear off a space for the two to sit and he felt compelled to apologize on the captain’s behalf. He was left wondering how a man so particular about every crevice of his ship could tolerate such disorganization where he slept.

As Lady Jaendora took her seat, Jonrell couldn’t help but notice how much she had aged in the time he’d been away. Nearing sixty, the intervening time had stolen the spark from her eyes. He wondered how much of her change could be blamed on the loss of Lord Undalain and what could be attributed to the current state of Cadonia.

Jaendora was the first to speak. “That thick stubble may hide your face but it does little to disguise those eyes of yours.” She touched his face like a mother, turning his head. “And you still carry so much pain after all these years. I’m sorry to say that if you’ve returned to find comfort, you will be hard pressed to do so.”

Jonrell pulled from the governess and looked away. The cold tone that she spoke with cut deeply.
She is upset with me, though who can blame her.
He chose not to address her comment. “I’ve heard of the atrocity that occurred in Lyrosene. However, I’m clueless to what’s happened since then.”

“Chaos.”

Jonrell’s eyes widened. “Is it that bad?”

Jaendora shrugged. “It depends on who you ask, but I feel it’s a pretty accurate statement. Your sister hasn’t made very many friends since your father passed away. The poor thing never had a chance, really. Things had deteriorated quite a bit in the last couple of years before your father died, especially in the last year or so when they say Nareash had taken control of his mind. I think the High Mages were all that stood in the way of open rebellion.” She shook her head. “Though why Amcaro never stepped in before things turned so bad, I’ll never know.”