Siege of Pailtar (24 page)

“Well fought, Sharon,” said Valentino.

Sharon smiled, she had been so close to winning. It was encouraging, and exciting. “Next time.”

Valentino laughed, “Perhaps. You are getting better each time. I almost regret that we are heading into Balta.” Valentino turned to Quinton, who was sitting on the top rail along with the captain, “I believe you owe me some coins.”

…

“What were you thinking betting on me?” asked Sharon. She had left Valentino to the harassment of his fellow crew members who took enjoyment in teasing him about almost losing to a girl.

“What guy bets against his girlfriend?” asked Quinton. “Besides he gave me good odds. If you had won I’d be raking in the coin.”

Sharon laughed. It was nice that Quinton supported her so much.

“You have progressed a lot, Sharon,” said Captain Singleton.

“Thank you, Sir. Valentino is an excellent teacher.”

“Take credit where it is due, Young Lady. Valentino may be a good teacher, but you are the only student who has come close to beating him.”

Sharon smiled. It was nice to receive the approval of Captain Singleton. She had not been sure he would approve of her when she first boarded his ship. Now she was comfortable that he felt she deserved to be one of his crew.

Quinton noticed that the sailor in the crow’s nest was flashing a mirror at another ship. “One of ours?” he asked the captain.

“Yes,” said Captain Singleton. “Many of our ships were sailing a grid pattern in the narrow strait, searching for Darcarion ships. We have been sailing a zigzag pattern through some of those grids to get near enough to signal our other ships. Since we discovered that Darcarion note giving orders to keep us at sea I’ve been signaling our ships to return to port. Many of our ships will still be out on patrol, but a good number are now on their way to Balta.”

“Why do you think they wanted us away from Balta?” asked Quinton. “We have enough knights and mages in Balta to defend against any attacks even when the fleet is at sea.”

“Perhaps Morthon’s fleet is coming to Balta.”

Quinton frowned, “I didn’t know Morthon had a fleet.”

“Meron might be a land locked city, but in the far south of Morthon, on the southern coast of Mithbea are a few cities that are part of Morthon. We haven’t seen any of their ships in these waters for years, but they are out there,” said Captain Singleton.

“I guess we'll find out soon enough. Only a few hours until we are home,” said Quinton.

27

Balta

AS MUCH AS SHARON ENJOYED her time at sea on the Lady Hawk, it was good to be standing on solid land again.
Well, almost solid land
, thought Sharon as she stepped onto the docks. But it was nice to be home. Sharon looked forward to seeing Ava, Rose, and Nathan.

Sharon smiled when she saw Aunt Avera coming down to the docks to greet them. Gabbing her gear, Sharon nudged Quinton. “Come on, let’s go say hi to your Aunt.”

Quinton looked up the dock and saw Avera. “Be there in a second, I just have to speak to Captain Singleton for a moment.”

While Quinton found the captain, Sharon ran down the docks to meet Avera. When she reached Avera, Sharon dropped her gear and gave Avera a big huge. “Aunt Avera, I’ve missed you!”

“I’ve missed you too,” said Avera as she hugged Sharon.

Something in Avera’s tone gave Sharon warning that things were not right. Sharon broke the hug and looked into Avera’s eyes. “Are you okay?you seem sad.”

“I am sad. I need to talk to you and Quinton.”

Sharon glanced back at the ship, Quinton was just coming up the docks now. Sharon wanted to know what was going on, but sensed that Avera was waiting to tell them both at the same time. Whatever was going on must be bad news. Sharon steeled herself to be ready for it.

“Hello, Aunt Avera, it is good to see you,” said Quinton as he stood beside Sharon.

“Quinton, you and Sharon need to come with me right now,” said Avera.

Quinton looked at Sharon in surprise; this was not the greeting that he had expected. “Okay.”

Avera turned and started walking back up the hill towards the castle. Sharon and Quinton followed a few steps behind.

“Do you know what’s going on?” whispered Quinton to Sharon as they followed Avera.

“No, but whatever it is, it’s not good. Aunt Avera is very sad right now,” replied Sharon softly.

Avera led them up inside the castle, not speaking until they arrived at a small anti-chamber. Closing the door behind them, Avera turned to look a them.

“Whatever it is, just tell us Aunt Avera. We’ve dealt with bad news before,” said Sharon.

Avera sighed, “I know you have, my dear. That is why this is so hard for me to do. While you were at sea, there was an attack. Ava, Balthazar, and King Verbon were all killed.”

Sharon stiffened at the news. It was if someone punched the air out of her lungs. Ava and Rose were like her sisters. Ava dead? “What happened?”

“Balthazar was working on deciphering the tomes of the Red Order and Ava was helping him. Verbon came to check on their progress. The spy snuck a group of Darcarion mages into Balta. They attacked Balthazar and Ava hoping to steal the tomes. Before they could get the tomes, Balthazar burned them. The Darcarions combined their powers in a weird suicide attack, blowing up Balthazar’s house and everyone in it.”

Quinton grabbed Sharon’s hand and squeezed it, trying to give her some comfort at the loss of Ava.

“How are Nathan and Rose?” asked Sharon.

“Not good,” said Avera. “Quinton, I have more bad news. It is a family matter, I’m not sure if Sharon needs to be here for it.”

Quinton shook his head, “No, whatever else is going on, just tell us. I have no secrets from Sharon.”

“Quinton, your father is dead. He was the spy for King Ganus, and when Verin realized the truth, your father attacked him.”

The news rocked Quinton. His father was dead! Even worse his father had been the traitor who helped the mages who killed Ava. Quinton’s shoulder’s sunk as he realized his father was behind his friend’s death. His father had also had the king killed. “Are you going to arrest me?”

“What? Why would she have you arrested?” asked Sharon. “You had nothing to do with Ava’s death.”

“My father was a traitor. By rights, she could have me hanged,” replied Quinton. He felt so bad for everyone that had suffered because of his father.

“Quinton, I know you had nothing to do with your father’s actions. No one is arresting you, or blaming you for anything. And no one outside the family knows what happened, and it is going to stay that way. We are telling people your father was attacked by an assassin.”

“Why would you do that?” asked Quinton. “If my father was a traitor he should be exposed.”

“Because he might not have been the only spy working for King Ganus. We are now at war with Morthon and if King Ganus doesn’t find out we know of his spies it can be of value to us. Protecting the living is now more important that exposing the truth about your father.”

Quinton felt some relief that there was a logical reason for hiding the truth and they were not just doing it to protect him. “How is my mother?”

“I’ve had some good talks with her. She is going to be okay. It seems there have been issues with your father that your mother was hiding from the family to protect you. Now that he is gone she has been able to open up and tell us what was going on.” Avera paused, “I’m sorry, Quinton, but your father was not a good man.”

Quinton nodded, “I know. I’ve always known, but I hoped that it was just my imagination. He beat mother didn’t he?”

“I don’t want to get into details, but I think you know that he was controlling and was getting worse the last few years.”

“Yes, but I never imagined his thirst for power was so strong that he would betray his own brother.”

Sharon squeezed Quinton’s hand in her own. She couldn’t imagine what he was feeling right now.

“What happens next?” asked Quinton.

“A new ruler has to be declared,” said Avera. “Your mother has abstained her rights to the throne to you. So now one of the family is declared king.”

“I don’t want to be king!” said Quinton. “I am not the best choice. Verin or you should rule.”

“It is not that simple. Because Verbon had no children of his own, it opens the position up to all of our bloodline. Right now everyone is waiting for us in the throne room. The family, along with select members of the people of Balta will decide.”

“The bloodlines? Does that mean one of the Hodges or Marshes could be king?”

“Yes. Now I’m sorry I had to tell you all this and then ask you to go into a meeting to determine the king, but time is not on our side.”

Quinton understood. His mother abstaining her rights to him had caused the delay. Everyone had been waiting for his arrival before a king could be declared. “I’m ready.”

28

Balta

“I SHOULD BE KING,” said Liam Marsh. “If Verin will not fill his brother’s role then I will do it.”

Nathan looked at Liam. Dressed from head to toe in bright silk with more gold and diamond crusted pins, rings, and necklaces than Nathan had seen on any one man before, Liam certainly looked rich enough to be a king. But if rumors were true, dressing fancy was Liam’s main focus in life.

“No, the merchants will not support any claim you make, Liam Marsh,” said Alexander Bron. Alexander Bron ran the Bank of Balta and was one of the community members that would be involved in the choosing of a new king.

Technically, The declaration of king was a family matter, but everyone in the room knew without the support of Balta, any king chosen would be short lived.

“What is your issue with my brother?” asked Logan Marsh with a snarl.

“Liam has no appreciation of value, he spends your father’s money like it is never going to end, he has borrowed against your holdings and is not fiscally responsible. You, Logan, are a drunk and we will not support you either.”

Logan tried to stare down Alexander Bron, but the banker did not flinch. The council had been worrying about the turnover of power to a new king ever since the death of Verbon Albet. Among the royal courts were many who did not possess the ability to rule.

“If not me or my brother, then who?” asked Liam.

“Verin, you are a respected man, leader of the rangers, if you would not be king, who would you support?” asked Elanor Deville, one of Balta’s most savvy business women.

“My sister, Avera Albet, is the logical choice for ruler. She has been running the family businesses for several years, was my brother Verbon’s most trusted councilor on all matters of the kingdom. She is by far the most qualified person to be leader.”

“She’s a woman,” blurted out Logan Marsh.

“Thank you for noticing, Logan,” said Avera. “A queen is not an unprecedented event in our history. Twice Balta has been ruled by a queen and all records indicate both ruled fairly and sensibly. Are you suggesting our forefathers chose poorly?”

“No, my brother is not suggesting any such thing, Lady Avera,” said Liam. “He is merely pointing out that is difficult to see past your beauty to the qualities that would make you a good leader.”

“The same could be said about you, Liam” quipped Lady Avera. Liam was one of the most vain men in Balta and his good looks were his claim to fame.

“I would support Lady Avera for queen,” said Agustin Hodge. “I know my mother wants me to try claim the throne, but I know I could not do as good of job as she. And to be honest I would hate to have to leave our lands to live in the city of Balta.”

“I too support Lady Avera for queen,” said Quinton. “I’ve known her my whole life and she will make an excellent queen.”

“Nathan, what about you? Would you like to step forward and become king?” asked Verin.

Nathan shook his head, “No, I would be a terrible king. I support Lady Avera.”

“And what of the merchants? Would you support Lady Avera as queen?” asked Verin.

“I know her to be a shrewd business woman, I would support her as queen,” said Alexander Bron.

The rest of the merchants huddled for a moment, before all agreeing they would accept her rule.

“I do believe that is settled then,” said Elanor Deville. “Queen Avera, do you have anything to say?”

“Yes, thank you, Elanor.” Avera looked around the room, making eye contact with each of the men and women in the room. “I never wanted to be queen. My brother, Verbon, was an excellent king. And if he had not been murdered he would have continued to be an excellent king. We face trying times ahead. King Ganus has made his intentions clear. He would rule all of Mithbea, and possibly the world. He is a man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. We have to prepare for a war like Balta has not seen in generations. We are a strong nation, but, as we now know, King Ganus can strike anyone at any time. Our king is dead, as aretwo of our most powerful mages. We must continue to prepare for war. It cannot be avoided.”

“We know how King Ganus treats his people,” said Alexander Bron. “Whatever you decide, the people will support you.”

“For now, all we can do is continue to prepare. We train more men, we arm as many as possible and we build up our stores of provisions in case of siege. Thank you all for attending today. Together we shall survive  this attack,” said Queen Avera.

…

Once the merchants and distant family members like the Marsh’s and Agustin Hodge left, Queen Avera spoke with Verin, Quinton, and Nathan. “How do we defeat King Ganus?” Queen Avera asked Verin.

“We keep doing what we have been doing,” replied Verin. “It would be foolish for us to try attacking him. You have the right plan, Sister.”

“It’s frustrating that we aren’t able to do more.”

“I know, but you asked me what I think we need to do. Getting frustrated won’t help. You are queen now and will have to lead us against King Ganus. When Ganus goes attack, many people will die, but your responsibility as queen will always be to the survivors. You have a difficult task ahead of you.”