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History of Mardon Castle
Chapter Thirteen
Part 1
...
Sails dropped as hails were exchanged between the humans aboard the vessel and the kevalla on the shore. When the ship finally stopped and the gangplank set down, Axiste saw the annoyed look of the captain as a number of the new arrivals quickly strode passed him to look over the front of the vessel even as a couple began climbing the ropes to gain an even higher view. Hearing the kevalla begin to point out to the humans manning the poles on how to differentiate the boggy land from the river channel, the face of the captain relaxed as he turned to one that still stood near him.
“I am Lord Axiste. Excuse the rudeness of the men that I brought to you, but they felt your crew showed more unease in their duties than they should have been.”
The gaze of the master of the vessel turned to study those he was to accept as part of his crew, then he looked back to the elder kevalla to say, “Welcome aboard. At least the men appear to want to work. That is more than I see in a number of new hires.”
Plans are made to take the fight back to the one that started the curse.
History of Mardon Castle
Chapter Thirteen
Part 1
Hearing a call from those kevalla he had hired for this activity, Axiste moved from where he rested next to a tree. He had over a dozen men with him, although had wondered with them about really needing so many. While those chosen claimed skills with working on the water as well as knowledge of Lake Nemistry, none had experience actually working on a ship. None had seen a large vessel, except for a few that had traveled to one of the port cities. Axiste thus made exclamations along with a number of the kevalla with him about what they saw moving toward them.
The river was obvious to Axiste, although he could easily see how the marshy ground confused others expecting a clear break between the waterway and the land. The level of liquid in the expanse of Mardon tended to give the terrain an even appearance. The ground however actually had a very uneven surface with rises and depressions scattered in a very chaotic fashion. What all knew to be the still flowing current of the ancient rivers traveled along very deep grooves in the ground that Axiste could easily discern.
A number of kevalla chuckled as they made comments about the humans working on the large vessel. While it was admitted that the long poles were a good idea in determining the exact flow of the river channel, their manner of moving the long lengths of wood clearly demonstrated that they could not visually determine where the deep water was from the shallow. Axiste agreed with his men that the path of the river could be seen from their position, and should be even more obvious from the height of the ship’s deck. He thus accepted their confidence in truly being able to help the crew in spite of never actually serving aboard such a large vessel.
Sails dropped as hails were exchanged between the humans aboard the vessel and the kevalla on the shore. When the ship finally stopped and the gangplank set down, Axiste saw the annoyed look of the captain as a number of the new arrivals quickly strode passed him to look over the front of the vessel even as a couple began climbing the ropes to gain an even higher view. Hearing the kevalla begin to point out to the humans manning the poles on how to differentiate the boggy land from the river channel, the face of the captain relaxed as he turned to one that still stood near him.
“I am Lord Axiste. Excuse the rudeness of the men that I brought to you, but they felt your crew showed more unease in their duties than they should have been.”
The gaze of the master of the vessel turned to study those he was to accept as part of his crew, then he looked back to the elder kevalla to say, “Welcome aboard. At least the men appear to want to work. That is more than I see in a number of new hires.”
“Most are fishermen. Thus, if things get slow, don’t be surprised to see lines set in the water.”
Axiste saw Lady Terniff come down from the aft deck with a tall powerfully built man. The captain noticed the movement of the kevalla’s head, so turned to see the couple as well. He then turned back to speak.
“We are supposed to have trouble on this journey. Lady Terniff and Sir Renwyn brought me maps from our viscount. Your men as supposed to provide knowledge of Lake Nemistry.”
Axiste reached to remove a pack from his back as he replied, “I also have a map to give you. I told you that these men are fishermen, and they all spoke of spending time on the lake. They will however also speak of reasons that they don’t do it often.”
Lady Terniff stepped up to hug Axiste. He did know the lady and her brothers, but still did not expect such a welcome. As he was introduced to Sir Renwyn, he however gained the impression that she made the warm welcome to stress to the man that the previous relationship had not been only a few formal meetings. Her words reinforced that belief.
“I know Axiste, because his family helps to manage the herds of our family. His father was still alive during most of our youth, but Axiste was already responsible for a number of things. He mostly assures that if our horses or cows stray too far that they will not run into too much trouble. Because he would often be busy somewhere out in the land, Zuzolt and I would always use Axiste as an excuse for where we were when we left the castle.”
The elder kevalla stated that he was aware of the fact. “I presently have kevalla out patrolling around the lands of Sekurd. They mostly act as hunters to provide meat for my clan, but they know to check the land around Sekurd after a strong storm. The herdsmen of Sekurd will also send a messenger for my people to be alert if some problem has them occupied. What I began receiving years ago were soldiers asking about tales that Prince Zuzolt and Princess Terniff were telling. The two eventually learned to actually come out and find me, so that I could support their stories.”
“He would always lecture us,” the lady said to Renwyn, “but by the time we found him, Zuzolt and I had already been gone from the castle a number of days. However mad Axiste tried to sound, we felt proud of ourselves for being able to listen to him.”
“I believe that I have heard these stories,” the man said as he reached out a hand to shake with the kevalla. “I saw Zuzolt speak to you after we had arrived. I believe that you spoke to me as well.”
“No,” Axiste said in return, “although I remember you being present at that time.”
“I am a restored man, restored by the very woman who rescued me from death.” Renwyn pulled the lady even closer to him in a type of hug before saying more. “I don’t know your opinion of this girl’s antics, but I love everything she does.”
“I love my wife as well. It is not her antics that anger me, but sometimes what she claims to be traits of her family in our children boils my blood.”
The lady looked to her man as she made the comment, “That will probably be true.”
Renwyn continued to smile, and after realizing that no one else spoke, he decided upon some words. “Come on, Axiste. Let us look at your maps.”
The kevalla preferred staying out in the light of the sun. He thus summoned a table. The expression on the captain’s face implied that he wanted things done another way, but as his eyes looked to his new crewmen he went ahead and signaled for the piece of furniture to be brought. Axiste took a moment to note what his men were doing, but saw nothing improper. He could tell that they were not familiar with the vessel, but they were working to gain knowledge of their environment even as they tried to help those already at a task. Making it a point to later assure that each of the men he provided would know their duties, he waited for the table.
The conversation about the map began as it should. Axiste could tell however that Renwyn wanted to say something almost as soon as he looked at the map. While the man held himself steady and asked normal questions, twitches in his movement stated that he had another issue he wanted to discuss. Finally, after the captain had assured his reading of the kevalla language concerning the flow of water and the fish that could be found in certain spots, Renwyn put down a finger on a place on the map.
“The pirate vessel is there?”
Axiste felt the answer to the question was rather obvious. No words in the script of the kevalla were present in that area of the map, but a clearly drawn image of a masted vessel was. Considering that such a topic was a concern, Axiste assured the man that he had assumed correctly.
“Yes.”
“Does it stay in that area?”
Axiste really did not want to make any statements that implied he supported certain folktales and superstitions, but he also did not want those in charge of this vessel to believe that they might not be facing a real threat. “You can ask the kevalla that I brought. They are all fishermen who live around Lake Nemistry. I however can say that I have heard them all state that they do not stay out on the lake after dark, no matter where on the lake they happen to be fishing.”
“Can you see it?” Something in the return glance from Axiste had Renwyn lift his head and strengthen his voice. “Kevalla, answer me please! Can you see the ghost ship?”
Not just the kevalla stopped their activities. The ship became quiet as all members of the crew paused to look at those around the table. Axiste saw some of the kevalla look to him, and he nodded in a manner to have them speak. One saw the action, and returned an answer.
“Usually no, but you can hear it. The sounds I hear now, not men, but just the sounds of the water breaking and the wood creaking, I have heard many times out on the water. One voice I have also heard, the yells of the pirate captain shouting curses then telling his men to sail ahead as there would be plenty of water beneath his keel.”
Not just the kevalla reached to grab icons of gods that they had on their clothing. Renwyn kept his focus on the one that spoke. He however looked around as if hoping that someone else would now speak, but finally added some words.
“I have never seen it.”
“I have,” another kevalla that had taken a position up in the rigging strongly said. “I have even showed it to my son. Kelistat Point is the best place. You have to go there on a night when the fog is thick, then be watching as either Lithian or Thelidel come over the horizon. You can see the mist, then the water, part. For only a brief period the pirate vessel will then come into view. It has two masts. There is one catapult and many arbalests on the deck, but the ghostly crew have their swords in their hands. The captain says his words as he stands near his foremast.”
Hearing no one else speak, and seeing that all had turned to listen to him, the kevalla spoke some more. “One night I was on the point when both of our small bright moons rose together. On that night I was not watching, but I heard a scream that caused me to stir even though my blood had stopped moving. I crawled to the edge of the point to see the ship clearly on the water. The captain yelled to his men that the waters of Mardon were his to command. The men however looked to him as if they wanted to mutiny. I watched the ship move forward in the water even as those on the ship held their positions. A voice then sounded from the riggings that the ship needed to turn. The crew then sheathed their weapons, and went to work on the great craft. The captain moved to the aft deck to grab the rudder. I watched the ship turn toward the middle of the lake even as the captain told his men to wait, that one day they would truly be among those that ruled Mardon.”
Renwyn now loudly said, “Does everyone here know that our business is not to let that happen?”
Axiste noticed that while the soldiers upon the deck strongly shouted an affirmative, the sailors did not speak with such confidence. Fear showed on the faces of the humans working on the ship, but the countenances of the kevalla had smiles as if they hoped the words would be true. Axiste thus felt a need to add his own statements of facts.
“I am working with Kaervel. The ancient castle is being excavated. I have seen the reports of our viscount saying that he has spoken to Telelum. This ship is not being sent to its death, but to be a part of the restoration of this land.”
Terniff voiced her own knowledge. “I and my husband were with Tasbirn when the ghost was first captured. I was then with Tasbirn when the ghost revealed itself on its own. The pirate has to be faced, but this is not a mission of suicide. The pirate ship was defeated on that night long ago, and I assure you that it is doomed to be defeated again.”
The soldiers now sounded loud cheers stating their conviction that the words were very true. Axiste readied himself to add further statements of support, but could tell that such would not be necessary. All aboard the craft had confident expressions that they were part of a successful mission. He only hoped that the future would make the words true, and not have those around him to be numbered among the casualties of war.
A little intimate scene between Tasbirn and his wife comes next.
Posted by TerishD on Sunday, January 10, 2010 (12:47:34) (68 reads)
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