Knights: Legends of Ollanhar (29 page)

"None of us want to die," said Brakthas.
"And we won't--if we let Prince Vannas do his job. He will sink those
warships. And Bellis won't hold it against us. They know that mercenaries have
a job to do."

Crondal focused on Galandra. "What about you?"

Galandra shrugged. "Taking on three warships won't be
easy, but we have the means to defeat them. I'm staying with this journey and
hoping for the best. I plan to survive and get extremely wealthy. And Brakthas
is right. Bellis doesn't hold grudges against mercenaries." She winked at
Crondal. "Verlamer might even offer us a job when all is said and done.
Not that I would accept it."

"I'm staying," Shenosi said at last. "At
least for the moment. I might be the world's biggest fool, but I want to see
where this leads."

"What about that other ship?" asked Vorden,
peering across the water. "I think it's moving slower than the other
three. I wonder if it's a passenger ship. Maybe Lannon is on board. Just a
feeling I have."

"Don't say that," said Dallsa, her eyes wide.
"I don't want to think of who might be on that boat. I don't want to
believe it and be disappointed." She unpacked her steel mace (a weapon she
rarely used). She sat down with the mace in her lap. "I'm ready for
battle."

"What can we do to prepare?" Aldreya asked
Theradaxa.

The Paladin shrugged. "The ship is ready for
combat." She motioned to some crates, barrels, and chests. "We have
bandages and ointments. There are also bows with a large supply of arrows, and
swords." After thinking it over, she ordered some heavy barrels spaced
apart across the deck to provide cover.

At last the three ships were in view.

"I see three catapults," said Lothrin, leaning
over the rail. "A huge one and two smaller ones. Those are definitely
warships and...wait, I see Thallite giants! Two of them. It looks like Bellis
is out for blood."

The mercenaries exchanged grim looks.

"This calls for a final smoke," said Jace,
lighting his pipe. "I will die with the taste of fine Norack leaf on my
lips."

Huenov laughed and waved his hat. "Well said. Pass me
that pipe and I'll smoke with you, my giant friend."

"Gladly," said Jace, smiling. "Let us die
happy."

"You don't inspire confidence, sorcerer," muttered
Crondal. Then his tattooed face broke into a grin. "But count me in on
that smoke."

"They won't take me easily!" roared Shenosi. The
massive Konji Wrestler stomped his foot, and the boat shook.

"Easy there," said Jerret. "You're going to
capsize us."

Brakthas applied some black face paint, and adjusted the
Vulture feather in his hair. He took off his necklace of Vulture beaks and
talons and then removed his tunic. He let the necklace settle over his bare
chest. He loosened his bone-handled dagger in its sheath and un-slung his bow.
His tattooed, muscular arms were tense, and he shrugged his shoulders to relax
himself.

Galandra knelt and quietly prayed for a few moments, her
fiery red hair blowing in the breeze. The two Paladins placed hands on her and
prayed with her. Then she rose and took out her steel slingshot. "I
feel..." She swallowed, unable to continue for a moment. "I feel like
this is going to be especially brutal, like nothing we've ever faced. Some of
us are going to die."

Saranna sat looking grim. Her sword was still sheathed.
"I really hope we come through this. I hate seeing my friends in
pain."

Dallsa nodded. "I'm with you on that."

Bekka paced the deck, hand on her sword hilt. She paused
briefly to adjust her lightweight chain mail. She was eager for combat. To her,
Bellis was the same as the Deep Shadow. They were linked somehow, and she knew
that to strike a blow to King Verlamer meant that Tharnin would also suffer.
She didn't fear death. In fact, death wasn't even on her mind. She craved the
destruction of her foes and her only concern was how much damage she could do.

"Should we strike first?" asked Prince Vannas,
gazing at the approaching ships. "It might be our only chance. My range
might be greater than theirs, and it would be foolish to surrender that
advantage."

"We can't risk starting a war," said Aldreya.

"That's absurd," said the prince. "Why else
would three warships come toward us so swiftly and aggressively if not to
attack?"

"I couldn't agree more," said Bekka.
"Hesitation could doom us. Bellis clearly means business. I suggest we
stop worrying about starting a war, because war has already found us. They
slaughtered our Knights in the mountains--including Galvia!" Rage filled
her at the thought of it. "Now they're coming to finish us off. Striking
first is totally justified."

"We have to strike first," said Vorden, a
thoughtful look on his face. "As soon as they get close enough, they are
going to rain destruction on us from their catapults. Our ship will sink like a
stone."

"It is not our way," said Aldreya. "At the
first launch of a catapult, Prince Vannas will retaliate. That is how it must
be."

Jace looked doubtful. "Normally I would say avoid
striking first at all costs, but this time we may simply have no choice. Vorden
is right. We can't allow them to start blasting us. Their ships bear
Thallite
catapults--flawlessly designed weapons for sinking enemy vessels. Unlike you,
Aldreya, I have seen them in action. They are amazingly accurate."

"Our ship is strong, though," said Theradaxa.
"Even heavy objects will have trouble breaking through the hull. All ships
on Legend Lake are built to be strong because of the Water Dragons. They are
huge beasts of Tharnin that ram ships with their beaks and pierce them. Though
attacks are somewhat rare, many ships have been sunk by the Dragons over the
centuries."

Jace sighed. "I don't doubt this ship is sturdy, but
it is simply not going to withstand an assault by Thallite catapults. It will
go down."

Aldreya shook her head, standing firm.

"Can't we call for a vote?" asked Bekka.

"Yes, that's a wonderful idea," said Prince
Vannas. The lean Birlote wore a purple tunic and red trousers, both articles of
clothing embroidered with extravagant silver designs and made of the finest
silk money could buy. Hanging from his belt was a jeweled dagger made of
expensive Birlote steel and Lannon's Dragon sword. His skin looked especially
tanned in the afternoon sun. He appeared totally confident of victory as he
paced the deck.

"I vote that we strike first," said Lothrin. And
everyone else voiced their agreement with him.

But Aldreya refused to budge. "That was not an
official vote. And voting on every single matter is unnecessary. With Lannon
absent, I have full authority in this situation to decide on my own. And I have
decided."

"Against everyone else?" said Prince Vannas,
frowning.

"Yes," said Aldreya. "Because all of you are
wrong. As Divine Knights, we are forbidden to attack an enemy we are not
officially at war with unless it is a Goblin or a traitor."

"That's correct," said Daledus, nodding to the
Green Knight. Yet the Dwarf looked unhappy. "But sometimes the rules must
be broken in extreme situations. I believe this is one of them."

"I disagree," said Aldreya. "You all will do
as commanded."

Theradaxa glanced at Rojanan. Then she fixed a stern gaze
on Aldreya. "For the time being, I am the captain of this ship, and I have
an obligation to protect this crew. Also, Rojanan and I are still under the
authority of the Temple. We will show respect for your wisdom, Green Knight,
but we are not obligated to obey your decisions if they go against our
beliefs."

"Understood," said Aldreya. "But is the way
of the Temple to be the aggressor? Will you strike first, knowing that
bloodshed will result?"

"She speaks true," said Rojanan. "That is
not our way."

Prince Vannas looked hopeful. "It appears the decision
rests with you, great Paladin. You are the captain."

Theradaxa paced about in thought, her blue-and-gold armor
gleaming in the sunlight. At last she said, "As reluctant as I am to say
this, we cannot strike first--not until we are certain those ships intend us
harm. We will do as the Green Knight has commanded."

The prince's expression soured, but he said nothing.

***

Lannon and Doomar stood on the deck of their pirate ship,
watching the strange scene unfold upon the waves. The captain was below deck,
and the oarsmen seemed to be ignoring them. Their ship was moving too slow for
Lannon's liking, but the men refused (or were unable) to make it go faster.

"Three ships from Bellis," said Lannon, "and
one from the Temple. And they're all moving toward each other. I wonder
why."

"How can you see all that?" said Doomar.
"Does your Eye have such an extraordinary range?"

"If I can observe a distant target," said Lannon,
"sometimes a few details are revealed. I haven't mastered the technique,
but it works well enough to serve my needs most of the time."

"Fascinating," said Doomar. "There seems to
be no end to your amazing gifts. Can you glimpse anyone on the ships?"

"Not at this range," said Lannon. "But
something is bothering me. I sense that my companions are on that Temple ship
and are in great danger. It's just a feeling I have, but it could mean
something." He glanced at the oarsmen and said loudly, "It would help
if this boat could move a bit faster."

The oarsmen ignored him--except for one who sneered.

"The men are going intentionally slow," said
Doomar. "Look at them. They aren't even breaking a sweat. We could go
faster on our own."

Lannon considered it. "Actually, we probably could. I
could do the rowing."

"You would probably break the oars," said Doomar.

"No, they would hold," said Lannon. "I can
make them hold, if necessary. My instincts tell me this can be done. Doomar, go
tell the captain to anchor the ship. We're going to take a rowboat from
here."

"Are you sure about this?" asked Doomar, looking
skeptical. "A small boat against those huge warships? They would shoot us
out of the water. It would surely be suicide, Lannon."

"But this boat could be sunk as well," said
Lannon. "What difference does it make? If those warships are headed for my
companions, we're going to have to face them one way or another. At least in a
small boat we might have a chance to sneak up on them."

"It's ridiculous," said Doomar.

"So ridiculous it just might work," said Lannon,
smiling.

Doomar sighed. "Ah, the old cliché. All well and good
for a Dark Watchman to say. But I'm actually mortal, Lannon. You're going to
get me killed."

"You could stay here if you want," said Lannon.

Doomar shook his head. "Surrounded by pirates? They
would cut my throat and throw me overboard the moment you left."

Lannon considered the issue. At last he said, "I just
need to get us close enough to where I can swim to my companions. You can hold
back, out of range. Is that fair enough?"

"Mother would be horrified," said Doomar, bowing
his head.

"I'm sure she would be," said Lannon, sheepishly.
"But at our current speed, the battle--if one occurs--will be long over by
the time we get there. I don't want to put you in danger, but I don't have much
choice."

"But what if your companions aren't even on that
vessel?" said Doomar. "What if those warships are merely on a
training mission, or going after pirates? Maybe we should wait until you're
certain."

"I am certain," said Lannon. "Well, kind of.
And if I'm wrong, we'll just take our little boat to Wolfbine. Better to be on
our own than with a group of bloodthirsty pirates. Wouldn't you agree?"

Reluctantly, Doomar nodded. "I suppose. And I'm sure
the captain will be delighted to see us leave his ship."

***

On the deck of
The Golden Promise
, the Divine
Knights, mercenaries, and Paladins assembled in battle formation. The sun moved
closer to the horizon, and the waters of Legend Lake were splashed with red.
Six of the twelve crewmen abandoned the oars and drew swords. The Rangers
readied bows (with Galandra preferring her slingshot), and Prince Vannas--who
now wore a shining, lightweight, Glaetherin breastplate over his tunic--readied
the White Flamestone. Aldreya stood next to the prince to protect him, her
stone dagger in hand.

They watched as the warships drew closer. The tension in
the air became extreme. No one doubted that brutal combat was about to erupt.

"Bear in mind," Aldreya called out, "that no
arrow is to be launched until Bellis makes a move. Is that understood?"

The Rangers voiced their agreement.

"That means I can fire my slingshot," said
Galandra, jokingly. She drew the black bands way back and pretended to take
aim.

Aldreya didn't respond to this attempt at humor.

Jerret strummed the slingshot bands with his finger.
"What are those made out of? I've never seen the like of it."

"A rare and expensive material," she said,
letting the bands relax. "That's all I know. It's called Bog Spawn and
comes from Goblin eggs. The band is coiled up within the eggs. It's stretches
far and is hard to break."

Jerret looked disgusted. "So it's made of some nasty
Goblin sludge?"

"Pretty much," said Galandra, smiling.

"Prepare yourselves!" Aldreya commanded.
"Take what cover you can find and ready your weapons!"

"I need a good sword," said Vorden, sighing.

Shenosi patted Vorden on the back. "We will fight side
by side, with our hands. We have no need of blades. Our bodies are our
weapons."

"But I'm not as huge as you," said Vorden,
looking the Konji Wrestler up and down. "I do need a blade."

"Weight isn't everything," said Shenosi.

Vorden smiled. "No, but I'm guessing it helps. You
look like you could crush anyone, except maybe the Thallites."