Novel 2. Royal Justice

— It's... it's Octavia's sword! — Armando exhaled. There was no doubt about it — it was the sword the queen had used to fend off the assassins on the day of the first assassination attempt, the sword she had leaned on with her last strength after being shot three times in the chest....

The Lady Guardian nodded once more, picked up the ghost blade, stood up, and walked quickly out of the tent — right through the wall. The piercing cold that accompanied the ghost's appearances began to recede. The young man suppressed the first impulse to rush outside and wake master Carlon or Lady Maria. The matter was quite bearable until morning. Hiding the glowing pebble, he pulled the blanket up to his chin and whispered into the void:

— Vittoria told me that in ancient times necromancers were priests who could speak to the souls of the dead, not magicians like her. When I see Vittoria again, I'll tell her that of the two of us, I'm the real necromancer now....

Chapter 16

Phlecius was one of the many river ports on the banks of the Senara. The wide and calm river rolled its waters first across the Daertian plain towards the mountains, then turned steeply westwards into Iolia to flow into the sea. Of course, on such a convenient "waterway" the traffic did not stop day and night — barges with grain and ship's timber were driven downstream, and ships with all kinds of goods from both republics were coming upstream. The chaos that had engulfed the kingdom was too short-lived to stop trade altogether, and the main events were unfolding further east. Armando was confident enough to assume that he could find a ship in the port of Phlecius, ready to take on board a company of very suspicious passengers. Travelling along the river promised to save the squad a few days, and the horses needed rest long ago. Captain Valria listened to the proposal of the now former royal bailiff with a strange grimace on her face, but finally approved it:

— Good idea, Don. That's what we'll do.

— What about what you said about ships? — Master Carlon smirked. — You mean, "hanging out in the middle of the sea on a rotting piece of wood"?

— That's right, in the middle of the sea. There's nothing wrong with ships when you can see the shore from the deck and you can't be swept out to the open ocean by a storm. — The elfess twitched her ears before turning to Armando again: — But maybe I should go. You're a wanted man, Don. You might be recognised and captured.

— Under present conditions, my description has hardly reached every town in the kingdom, — de Gorazzo shrugged. — And in places like this harbour, the guards are not very diligent. I should go, because I know who to turn to if I can't just charter a ship.

Armando was being a little deceitful. He had never done any illegal business far from the capital, and he was not personally acquainted with the local smugglers — he only knew how to get in touch with them. It was for the best, though — Messire Snake's friends would be interested in the queen's fugitive murderer. In any case, the elf did not ask him for details. De Gorazzo left alone, as he had planned, only asking master Carlon and Lady Maria to escort him from the camp to the path. On the way, he told the scholarly couple about the ghost's night visit. Straightforwardly he asked:

— Could there be a sword ghost? I mean, Octavia's sword is probably next to her body right now.

— The Erdos and their kin from the Cherry Islands would say that a sword ghost is perfectly normal, — the pale girl smiled faintly. — The islanders believe that everything has a soul, even an old carpet-beating stick. But if you look at it scientifically ...

— Jana has no sword at all, — said master Carlon. — Her whole body, even her clothes, cloak, and armour, are made of a single material, ether. When she fights intangible enemies like demons, it is not steel, but energy and will. The sword is just a convenient form of... focus for her, so to speak. Lady Jana focuses her power in what she imagines to be the sword she's used to in life. So the sword in the ghost's hands is just a visual reflection of that power. A symbol.

— Then the Queen's sword is also a symbol? — the former bailiff guessed.

— Right. — The mage scratched his beard. — The blood of kings has sacred powers, Octavia told you herself. The ancient kings and the emperors who succeeded them, even if they weren't mages, could work small miracles, as if they were guides to the will of the gods. By the end of the old empire it was almost forgotten, but... Apparently this is the help the queen promised you. As she left, Octavia shared something with Jana. I think it's a little bit of the sacred power that comes from royal blood.

— And since the gift was visibly reflected in the form of a sword, and not, say, clothing or anything else, I suppose it would somehow help Yana against etheric enemies. — Maria reached up and unbuttoned the collar of her black jacket. As the sun rose above the horizon, it was getting hotter and hotter. — Indeed, this could be very useful. Of all of us, only Carlon and Jana are able to resist the demonologists' pets.

The magician and the guard promised to wait until evening for Armando's return, but he entered the city without an escort. As the former bailiff had expected, he had no trouble with the guards. The river port generally lived as if nothing much was going on in the country, except that there were hardly any people or wagons in the streets. But those whom de Gorazzo did notice did not look worried or in a hurry. Before he went to the docks, he stopped at the most crowded tavern and walked around the market square with his ears perked up. Here the desolation was not so keenly felt. Townspeople, newcomers and sailors from the ships crowded around the stalls, exchanging news and talking business. The fragments of conversation that came to Armando's ears were typical of any port, river or sea:

— Well, not even last night's storm could wake you. I heard them say we've reached kingdom. I'm sure they'll let us go!

— I won't give you the stone...

— You finally arrived, but our records don't show from where...

— ...stolen. And so is this alabaster dish. You couldn't have bought it here yourself.

The latest events in the country were also discussed. In an hour de Gorazzo had learnt enough to begin his main task. Alas, disappointment awaited him on shore. The big Republican galley that was unloading near the wharf was going upstream, the two barges carrying timber were not taking passengers, and besides them there were now only tiny shells in Phlecius, unable to take on board a dozen horses. It was time for a emergency plan. Armando had no trouble finding a tavern in the harbour district by the distinctive smells. Unlike the clean establishment in the market square, it was a one-storey tavern, gaping holes in the boardwalls, and stank in a way that would have killed Captain Valria with her extra-sharp elven senses. Stepping over the crumbling wood that served as the threshold, Don de Gorazzo performed a well-learned ritual. He ordered a strictly defined combination of drinks and snacks from the counter, waited for a chair in the eastern corner of the room to become available, and sat down. Half of what he'd ordered was not only missing from the tavern's storerooms, but couldn't have been — instead, Armando got a mug of the usual local brew and a plate of dried fish. But soon an Erdosian, bald as a cannonball, in loose trousers and a leather sailor's sleeveless coat, came to the table.

— Would the gentleman mind buying the old riverman a beer? — The stranger asked unceremoniously. He spoke with an Iolian accent instead of Erdos.

— It all depends on whether the old riverman is willing to keep the gentleman company in conversation. — Armando gestured to the innkeeper to pour another mug. — And it would do well to make this conversation businesslike. You see, I'm travelling, and I don't want to waste time.

— Travelling on your own? — The Erdosian pushed his plate of fish towards him.

— On a mission. From a gentleman who loved night birds. — To be on the safe side, Armando referred not to Messire Snake, whose name was closely associated with Daert, but to his "colleague" from another large city, Messire Owl. — I'm delivering something to the south for him.

— Captain Gianobatto, — the sailor introduced himself, not even extending his hand to shake. Instead, he took one fish from Armando's plate and sank his teeth into it. — Is it a big load?

The captains of large ships did not usually scout for customers in taverns themselves, but the strange Erdosian with the Iolian name seemed to be in a bad way. Nevertheless, he assured them that his ship, the "River Nymph", was capable of taking on a mounted party. Armando left Phlecius in a hurry. Outside the city he travelled thoroughly among the hills, and only when he was sure that no one follows him he returns to his comrades. At the camp the whole party gathered round the fire to hear his report.

— There's news from the capital too, — Armando added after telling about the deal with the river captain. — Things are not going quite as we expected. The Duke of Veronne has come to Daert and brought Octavia's remains with him. The body was displayed in the palace for all to see. By the way, the bastard now speaks of the queen with all reverence and quashes any talk of her possible imposture. But Marshal de Cotosi did not turn up at the palace. That same night his troops withdrew from the barricades and left the city through the northern gate, taking with them some of the city's militia with their families. When the ducal soldiers set off in pursuit, they found no support from the local peasants — for them, de Veronne's men are foreigners. In some places, they say, the soldiers were even met with pitchforks and axes. They received neither provisions nor clues as to where the Marshal's army had gone. Auguste hastened to crown himself. He declared that the era of the Iderlings, who took the throne names of ancient emperors, was over, and took the crown as Auguste the First.

— Yes, things don't look like they're going to calm down in the next few days, — Valria nodded. — Where do you think de Cotoci's forces are going?

— The options are there. — Noticing the elf wrinkling her nose as the wind blew from Armando in her direction, the former bailiff moved closer to the girl. She's moved away. The loyal Dallan immediately wedged herself between them — though not even she could protect the commander from the tavern odours that permeated de Gorazzo's clothes. — The best thing for them to do was to march south-eastwards in a forced march. Duke Francis de Velonda had publicly announced that he did not recognise Auguste as his king and would not offer him an vassal oath.

— Velonda is a large duchy, and it's on the border. It has strong castles and large garrisons, — Gotech furrowed his brow. — If the marshal's troops break through there and other discontents with the new king start flocking in, Auguste will be in serious trouble.

— De Velonda has never been a supporter of Octavia, but he hates Auguste, — Armando confirmed. — He and de Veronne, by the way, are distant relatives. In theory, Don Francis could also claim the crown, but it seems that he preferred to try to get out from under the royal sceptre with his lands.

— It's all to our advantage, — the elfess concluded, standing up. She put her hands behind her back and walked away from de Gorazzo. — The longer the spiders gnaw at the jar, the less power they have to chase us. I just hope the Empire doesn't decide to take a chance and launch an invasion.

— Oh, and one more little thing. — Armando covered his eyes with a smile. — People are whispering that Auguste's scouts sent after the Marshal's army were attacked by two dead bears during the night. Killed all the horses in one of the detachments before they were put down. The number of bears, however, increases from narrator to narrator.

— Dead bears... — Gotech smiled understandingly too. — Looks familiar. There weren't many skilful necromancers in Daert.

* * *

The Erdosian captain had not arranged to meet them at the piers of Phlecius, but at a river inlet downstream, a place always favoured by smugglers. The squad went there with every conceivable precaution, for even without Armando's hints everyone realised that the riverman could not be trusted at all. Elf and lizard-corporal were the first to arrive, and without being seen by the crew of the "Nymph", they studied the surroundings and made sure that there was no ambush. During the whole time of loading on board the Charcoal with the rider on his back was flying high in the sky, invisible from the ground, but ready to descend at any sign of alarm. Fortunately, all this proved unnecessary.

The "River Nymph" was a poorly maintained but really large vessel by river standards. Besides the mast and sails, it boasted ports for oars, eight on each side. The bow of the "Nymph" was decorated with a square platform with a large flat roaster, the stern — a two-tiered turret superstructure. The crew numbered ten, together with the captain. That is — much less than it was required to move on oars. Apparently, the Erdosian had not been able to get a good work for a long time, and some of the crew had simply scattered. The absence of cargo and readiness to move out when it suited the passengers only confirmed this conjecture.

The horses were at ease at the front of the ship, between the brazier and the mast. The fodder for them was stacked along the sides. The captain gave the lower tier of the superstructure to the passengers, but he himself lived on the upper tier. The lower cabin was cramped and stuffy. It was only possible to stand there with one's head down, and Gotech was almost down on all fours.

— I'd rather sleep on deck, — admitted master Carlon. — The weather is warm and there should be no rain.

The golden-haired elven woman's face showed some mental anguish, but the commander of the Bright Heads overcame herself and said with a wry smile:

— No. We don't need to show our faces on deck for nothing. There's no chance of anyone seeing us from shore or another ship. We'll sleep here, all of us. And don't go out during the day.

And so began the second floating voyage of Armando's life. The first time he'd boarded a ship was on his way to Daert to enlist in the royal service — the family estate, now confiscated, was close to one of the small creeks that wound through the flat kingdom. Conditions on that first voyage were much better. But the company was much duller. The four bunks available in the cabin went to the girls and the lizard. Armando took a sailor's hammock, while Gotech had to make a bed on the damp wooden floor. The bottom of the ship seemed to have leaks, for there was always something squelching under the bunks, and a mattress thrown on the floor was soaked with moisture in a matter of hours. Fastening the hammock, de Gorazzo was a little envious of Donna Minerva. Of course, carrying a dragon on a ship was out of the question. So it was agreed with the knight that at night she would follow the "Nymph" stealthily, and in the daytime come down to the ground and rest. After landing at the final point of the route, the party had to give the rider a sign by lighting a coloured fire on the shore.