Suikoden IV: The Island Nations Chronicles
Chapter 13: Exodus
The angry footfalls that landed soundly on the polished, oaken floor echoed with the drumming desperation of the bitter king's heart as he listened to the droning council of his advisors and daughter. In recent days, the volatile storm that had risen from the west had delayed evacuation efforts for the island, as well as hastened the coming arrival of the Kooluk Fleet. Through all his life, Lino en Kuldes had felt this desperation of hopelessness only one other time in his life, and when was when he watched helplessly as his wife cast the Rune of Punishment on the pirate Steel to save the lives of her family. This…was a similar level of uselessness.
"Father, there isn't time."
"Lady Flare is right your majesty," Setsu continued as he tried to persuade his king. "Even now, the Kooluk flags are visible on the horizon. You have to escape your highness."
Lino however, could only look dejectedly at the pair as he shook his head. "I…I cannot turn my back on my subjects. They need me, they depend on me to keep them safe."
"And you won't be keeping anyone safe by dieing here this day father," Flare stated, trying desperately to get the proudest man she had ever known to understand reason and consent to the harsh truth that was bearing down upon them. "If you do not leave now, where will that leave our people? You know as well as I that the Kooluk will kill you to subjugate our citizens. You can't stay here."
"She's right sire, it's of the utmost urgency that you depart at once."
"I know…I know she is but…"
"Father, no buts," Flare stated, her voice taking a harsher, more direct tone as she postured her small frame to her full height. Had the situation not been more dire, the sight of the smaller princess standing proudly in front of the larger, dejected king would have been humorous. But the situation was dire, and no humor was to be found among those cluttered in the small room. "You will leave at once aboard your secret ship so that you may return to retake your home. Do you remember, what grandfather used to say?"
When no acclimation followed, Flare continued, "He used to always say, 'Only the wise men run from battles they cannot win. The fools are left to die,' and I know you are no fool father. This will not be our day for victory, but it will come. But it will only come if you are there to lead us, and that simply will not happen if you are captured here." After a moment, Flare took her father's face in her hands and turned it so she could look at him. "Father, you must leave."
After several moments of silence, interrupted only by the nervous shuffling of Setsu's feet, Lino at last nodded his head and turned to his daughter. "Alright Flare, I'm leaving. I would feel better if you came with me but…"
"I know, I'm needed here to buffer the Kooluk and our citizens. They won't hurt me unless they fear a riot, and they'll keep me alive thinking it'll keep you away. Besides, from here I'll be able to determine how big our enemies are and I will get word to you somehow. Just have faith father, we will be fine, I'll see to it."
Lino stepped back from his daughter, his beefy hands gripping her shoulders as he looked lovingly into the face of his child. "You…make me so proud Flare. I want you to know how much…" but words failed Lino as he pulled his daughter into an embrace, holding her tightly as though afraid he'd never hold her again. "I love you Flare, and I promise, I will return."
Returning the embrace, Flare replied in kind, "And I will be here waiting father."
XxX
Night. A darkness so pitch it seemed to quiet the world into a false lull of peaceful calm that contradicted the blood being spilt beyond the borders of this desolate island. The world itself was weeping, sobbing in fact as to the death that had fallen to this place, that the skies had not stopped crying since that fateful moment when the light of God destroyed everything of value here. It was truly a sight to behold, the gray, ashen soil that clung heavily to the boots as though the man moving deftly through the pier was trekking his way across a snow blanketed field. This soil, like all else on this island, was but a reminder of the death that had claimed this once vibrant territory. For all that had been of this once fervent island was naught but ash.
The man breathed heavily however, ignoring his own poetic musings as he scanned the area briefly with his eyes, his hand gripping the heavy spear tighter, as though reassuring himself that it was still where he needed it to be. He had not at all enjoyed the prospect of this particular mission, but felt it important…at least to someone, that he should see this through. However, his apprehensions were doubled by the knowledge that the Kooluk had already claimed this as a staging post for the remainder of their invasion force.
Sneaking onto and infiltrating a heavily fortified and manned outpost was not so much the issue as escaping with the cargo he had been sent to retrieve. He had an uneasiness about him that came very unnaturally to the large man, but he had made a promise to his benefactor to complete the task at hand, and a man who failed at his word was not a man to be trusted. Whether he would be trusted or not was not as much an issue as his own pride. He would not fail for that reason alone.
Skirting the shadows and making his way deeper into the center of what had been the Island of Iluya, Bartholomew looked over the frequently destroyed or devastated houses until his found the one he was seeking. There, alone among the ruination of broken and scorched shells of plaster and wood was a singular home that remained remarkably unmolested in the tragedy that befell this place.
Amidst the cover of the fractured shadows that concealed his approach, the large man at last moved to the barring door that impeded his journey before opening it, slipping inside as quickly as the darkness shies from the light and secured the door once more. However, turning around, Bartholomew found a sword aimed directly at his chest, a man of slightly larger build than himself gripping the hilt tightly as if debating his next action.
"Who are you?" The swordsman asked, tilting his head slightly in curiosity that seemed to be trumping his caution. A mere flicker of his eyes moved from Bartholomew's face to the spear in his hand before returning. "What's your business here?"
Holding his empty hand up in a show of non-aggression, Bartholomew slowly lowered the spear to the ground before righting himself in a show that he was not an enemy. "I have been dispatched by the elder of Nay Island to seek out survivors of the attack by the Kooluk. Seems I've found you."
"Rather charitable of you," the swordsman said sardonically, his face never softening from his stoic, cautious imprint.
"Never said it was for charity."
"A mercenary then? Money whores. We might be better off with the Kooluk."
"I never said I was a mercenary either," Bartholomew reiterated as he continued to stare at the man before him, sizing him up. Despite the apparent appearance of a simple farmer, it was evident by his posture and stance, and the way he held his blade that this man was no stranger to battle. Attempting to overpower him in the hopes of talking reason to him was not an option.
"You certainly are a contradiction of ideas, aren't you?" The captor seemed to be debating with himself as to what to do with this man. "How did you manage to slip by the Kooluk then?"
"It's really not that difficult if you maintain patience," a new voice said, this of a woman who seemed to materialize from the shadows behind the man holding the sword. Even though she spoke suddenly, Bartholomew's captor did not so much blink and eye, further crediting his assumption that this man was no mere farmer.
The woman however, was a different matter all together. Unlike the large man before him who hid his apparent combat experience, the woman made no attempt to mask her identity. Her steps were graciously measured and precisely calculated, as though no action on her part was wasted. Her arms remained folded across her chest, and Bartholomew could only guess that her hands were fingering a throwing dagger, another act that was made plainly obvious to the well-trained eye. The fact that she knew Bartholomew was good enough to pick up on this subtlety and yet still allowed him to see it was evidence she did not fear him. The only uncertainty Bartholomew was left with was whether this woman was targeting himself, or the large man who held him at sword point.
"We seem to be at an impasse then," Bartholomew said, his posture relaxing as he turned from one to the other. "I am unarmed and the two of you have me at your discretion. Might we simply cut through the usual interrogation techniques and we can get to the heart of the matter?"
"Which is?" The man asked, his hand squeezing tightly against the hilt of his blade as though readying himself.
"Getting you off this God forsaken rock for starters. From there…it's up to you." When neither of his interrogators moved, Bartholomew shook his head and turned from the man to the woman then back again as he tried to make this clear. "Understand something, I am your only hope of getting off this island. I can understand your distrust and caution; I can even appreciate it, but know that there is no other option open to you. If I were a Kooluk spy, which I am led to believe is your chief concern, then you would all be in custody right now. I have no doubt I would be killed in the exchange, but the Kooluk aren't known for their charity to subordinates."
The unpleasant stirring of the woman led both men to realize that perhaps Bartholomew had struck a nerve with the statement. Regardless, there would be time to ask later if fate proved favorable.
"So then," the large captor asked, lowering his sword from chest level but still keeping it at his side. "What's the plan?"
Taking this as an acceptance of the situation, perhaps this man knew he was telling the truth, Bartholomew continued. "I have acquired the services of a Clipper, about half a league from the island. The stormy weather makes for good cover. How many of you are there?"
The pair exchanged looks before the man turned back to face him, counting them off in his mind, "The window maker, the married couple who makes buns…about half a dozen others."
"Good enough," Bartholomew said, as he looked to his spear, but waited for approval before retrieving it. "We'll need a distraction, and I know just the sort. When you see the signal, get everyone and head to the dock, keep to the shadows and stay out of sight. There's a small lifeboat tethered to the pier. The ship you're looking for will be north by northeast. You'll find some extra oars; so if there are any strong men on board, have them assist. Just a fair warning, the ship belongs to some…disreputable characters, but they won't harm you."
"Fair enough," the swordsman said, sheathing his sword and holding out his hand. "My name is Izak. I just…wanted to thank you properly."
"I have my reasons and thanks isn't among them," Bartholomew replied, shaking his head as he shouldered his spear. "It'll take about half a day for me to cause enough of a distraction. Once it happens, you'll need to be ready to move. I'll meet you by the dock, but if I'm not there, leave without me."
"Understood," Izak said, his hand resting habitually against the hilt of his sword. "We'll use this time to gather up any supplies we have. Food stores mostly, but some personal belongings too. Then we'll wait for your signal."
With no more words exchanged, Bartholomew cracked the door open briefly; stealing a glance to ensure the path was unhindered before making his way into the field. As he stealthily made his way through the ruination of the town, he failed to notice the shadow that was following.
XxX
Journal Entry,
Nasal Month, Day 17, 302 SD
My investigation has, as of yet, provided little reward for the labor I've put into it. At times like these however, I am forced to recognize how fragile the relationship between Kooluk and Scarlet Moon are, and understand that making my presence known to the wrong person would be detrimental, not only to my health but to my investigation as well. This realization has become significant because my research would be greatly helped by the right person providing me with the needed information.
I dare not bring this to the attention to my superiors, as already, Colonel Heinz grows impatient for results. Though he believes Rune Cannons caused the damage to the village, I cannot be so quick to judge. Although I have no official experience with Rune Cannons, preliminary reports from our spies in the field have reported that the weapon is capable of expunging a singular burst of energy causing immense impact destruction. My doubt as to Colonel Heinz's deduction is made doubly so by his insistence to procure Rune Cannons for research. I do not know the details of his full mission, but I am not comfortable with requisitioning foreign weapons for whatever use may be needed by Scarlet Moon. I am to investigate the destroyed border town, and tell the story, nothing more.
From the research I have gathered, the Lost Village along the border of Scarlet Moon and Kooluk, was destroyed not by multiple, single impact projectiles (as would be the case should Rune Cannons were used), but rather a large, magical force that expanded outward and leveled the town, leaving no traces of elemental destruction. Whatever caused the destruction of that village did so with a single attack. For Rune Cannons to have done this, the ground and homes would be riddled with impact craters, but no evidence has presented itself to justify that conclusion.
I do not know the significance of this knowledge to my mission, but I have discovered that the name of former noble, Graham Cray has resurfaced. Many believe he was a victim of the catastrophe as were so many nobles present in that village, but he is apparently alive and well, profiting as head of the Cray Trading enterprise. I do not know what relevance this will have for my investigation, but I will keep in mind that he did not suffer the fate of so many others in this village as was originally reported. His significance in my investigation at this time remains unknown.
Another name has been brought to my attention however, the wizard Simeon. Efforts to discover his current whereabouts have proven unsuccessful, but I am told if my questions are magic related, there is no more informative scholar than he. I will continue to search for this enigma, but do not hold much hope in finding him with my identity and purpose so guarded. I can spare only a month longer in Kooluk to look for this man, or risk unwanted exposure. At this time, I have exhausted all other sources and believe that my answers may yet be further south.
Frederica LongbowScarlet Moon Empire Surveyor
XxX
Commander Troy stood at the bow of his ship, his eyes gazing over the waters and the silhouette of the island of Obel as he sized up the unremarkable naval might of this oceanic power. Certainly, the previous battle had weakened the strength of Obel's navy, and though the price was costly to Kooluk, Obel no longer had the means to repel the invasion. Thus, the dozen or so ships, many of those undersized sloops best used for scouting and surveying, had arranged themselves in a defensive blockade around the port. It truly saddened Troy that these men and women would so readily throw their lives away.
"Defiant to the end," the commander replied, shaking his head at the hopelessness the Obel forces were faced with. "Captain, give the signal to all ships for forward advance. Send word to Colton to focus on the Barque protected by the other ships. That will be where the king is. He is to be taken alive, but I will turn a blind eye if he is slightly damaged."
With his orders given, the soldier saluted and hurried off to complete his orders, leaving Troy to again appraise the upcoming battle. There was a difference between bravery and recklessness. Today, the Obel people would learn the hard truth of that lesson.
XxX
The battle had gone much to the anticipation of Commander Troy, and though twelve ships safeguarded the harbor of Obel, the young commander had dispatched only half of his fleet of 22 to engage in the conflict. It was more strategic to do so. Fighting a much weaker and often-wounded foe required a degree of tact, and Commander Troy was not about to butcher needlessly if it could be avoided. That reason, coupled with the narrow grouping of the Obel fleet prevented full use of his naval might, lest his own ships hinder their offensive. Despite being grossly outnumbered, Obel knew how to fight hopeless battles.
At the onset of the engagement however, Troy commanded a third of those ships set to attack to maneuver portside and engage the defending forces along the left flank. The tactic proved successful, much to Troy's expectations, for the tightly formed group of Obel defenders found difficulty maneuvering in response the apparent pincer tactic. As they were regrettably too slow to react, the Kooluk ships trailing along the western coast easily picked off a number of the ships along the front line, creating a barrier of burning or disabled vessels that even further hindered the maneuverability of the Obel crafts.
Troy had anticipated correctly that Obel, in their desperation to defend their homes, had recalled their scouting fleet to help bolster their numbers. It was regrettable however, that Obel's scouting fleeting was comprised entirely of Sloops, and the hulls of which were easily breached with but a single Rune Cannon shot. Such was the hazard of using smaller vessels to repel Galleon class warships. A smarter tactic would indicate using the sleeker, yet faster Sloops to pick at the warships and outrun the cannon fire rather than bundle themselves into a tightly congealed nest of wood and canvas, things that burn nicely when impacted with the destructive force of a Rune Cannon. Adaptability was a necessary trait for a commander, and despite the need to defend their homes; these soldiers had simply let themselves be sacrificed for a lost cause.
Yet still, despite the overwhelming odds against them, and the knowledge that already a fourth of their defending 'fleet' was on fire or sinking, the Obel ships continued in effort to push against the flanking vessels that had maneuvered along the western border of Obel. This extreme effort confused Troy only briefly as he expected the purpose of the desperate tactic was for the much smaller defenders to drive a wedge between his own ships enough to permit the Barque to escape, a daring strategy, but one that greatly exposed their stern to the remainder of his fleet.
A quick order to his quartermaster to relay his order, and Troy began maneuvering the remainder of his engaging forces into position to fire at the backs of the defending Obel fleet. It was then that he heard it. Initially dismissing it out of hand, Troy assumed the rumbling was the fire of Rune Cannons, until he looked out his starboard window at the source of the growing thunder and saw the Cliffside begin to crumble at the far eastern edge of the island.
It was easy for a man of Troy's intelligence to discern, that the Obel fleet had move so desperately west as to separate the Kooluk fleet from whatever they were hiding within the cliff. Angrily, he cursed himself for underestimating his opponents when his eyes gleaned the hull of an unnaturally large Frigate that moved from the cavity created by the falling rocks. He realized belatedly that the ship he believed was the king's vessel was nothing but a ruse, the whole battle in fact was meant to purposely mislead him.
"Sergeant," Troy ordered a nearby officer as he watched the ship exit slowly from the cavern, "Send word to the remainder of the fleet that two ships are to pursue that vessel and take it at all cost. The rest are to move forward and prevent any of Obel fleet from joining them. We'll be moving to port now to take the city."
"Yes commander," the Sergeant saluted before carrying out his orders. Troy was bitter with himself that he had fallen for such an obvious feign. When viewed in hindsight, he should have realized the Obel fleet had purposely begun to maneuver his own forces as far from the escaping vessel as possible. Even though he succeeded in taking the city, that particular defeat left a bitter taste on his tongue. He would not be so overconfident again.
XxX
Lino en Kuldes stared miserably at the shrinking island of Obel, his hands gripping tightly to the railing while his heart and mind went out to every brave man and woman who sacrificed themselves to see him escape, and to all those he left behind. Part of him bitterly cursed his cowardice for leaving his people defenseless, yet an even greater part of his mind told him the futility of his sacrifice should he stay behind. It was the part of being a king he hated the most, knowing the he could not always protect his people.
Regardless of his own misgivings however, it did not change the situation he currently found himself in. An exile at sea, in a ship never tested with a crew that had never, previously worked together. Destiny had certainly dealt him a cruel fate. If he the opportunity to redo his past mistakes, he would have taken the fight to the Kooluk rather than wait for them to attack his home. The odds either way would have been the same, but at least his people would not have been put in harms way.
"Sir," Lino paused in his own reflection as he turned his head to discover the source of the voice calling. "Sire, up here." Turning to the crows' nest, Lino watched as Nico, the ship's lookout waved his arm in frantic effort to gather the king's attention. "There are two ships, breaking formation from the Kooluk forces. Looks like they're giving chase."
"What? Damn it!" Lino shouted as he ran across the deck to the stern of the vessel in the hopes of catching view of the oncoming attackers. Accompanying him were the five displaced Razril Knights along with Ramada and his two associates. The party watched regrettably as the vessels came into view, their sails billowing fully in the wind.
"We're going to have to make a stand," Lino growled, his brow furrowed as he contemplated options that seemed increasingly impossible. Lazlo however stalled his order to engage.
"Your Highness, we can't do that," the former knight stated, clutching the king's arm. "If we hold our position now to fight them off, it'll give the remaining fleet a chance to catch us as well. We have to keep on course."
"And go where?" Lino blurted, his frustration getting the better of him. "We're in open water and we've no allies anywhere in the near vicinity. We're too far to attempt a run for Nay Island or Na-Nal, and I doubt they'd offer safe passage to us. We are completely isolated out here!"
"We can't make a stand, its just that simple," Lazlo continued, turning to his companions in the hopes they might help placate the king. "We get into position to fire and it'll take too much time, time we can use to put space between us and the Kooluk."
"He's right," Kenneth said, turning from Lazlo to Lino. "You want to make a stand, we should at least put some distance between us and Obel. Give us a chance to maneuver without fear of the Kooluk catching up to us in the middle of the battle."
"Listen here, this is my ship…"
"No, you listen," Lazlo said, jabbing his finger into Lino's chest. "You've lost Obel, and you're angry, because you're an exile now, because you believe you failed your subjects. Trust me, the five of us understand that better than anyone. But right now, you need to think about the safety of every person on this ship. That's what a captain must do first and foremost. If you were thinking clearly about what had to be done you wouldn't…"
The stinging blow across Lazlo's jaw sent the young man crashing to the deck as Lino stood over the fallen knight. Anger flashed in the king's eyes, and not a little shame at his reaction as he turned from the five soldiers in disgust.
Before any further words could be spoken however, the blaring roar of explosion echoed through the otherwise calming skies. The first reaction was obvious fear, checking whether the pursuing Kooluk had fired on their vessel. But as they saw one of the two craft ablaze, confusion was the natural response.
"Over there," Jewel hollered, pointing towards the southwest at the approaching vessel that had seemingly fired upon the Kooluk. The five knights stared in confusion, but Lino recognized the bow of the ship, shaking his head at this newest development.
"That's Kika's ship."
"Kika?" Tal asked, his eyebrow arching curiously. "You don't mean the Pirate Kika do you?"
"One in the same," Lino said quietly, his eyes remaining stubbornly fixed on the ocean as a second volley of cannon fire from Kika's flagship peppered the side of the second vessel. "I don't know what she wants, but if she's attacking the Kooluk, she's doing us a favor."
The party watched in some silence as the ship fired once more, ensuring the crippling of both vessels. It seemed almost surreal, the situation that the king of Obel should be aboard a ship with displaced knights of Razril, only to be attacked by the Kooluk and ultimately saved by pirates. The irony would have been incredibly amusing had the situation not been more dire, but as Kika now turned her attention towards the fleeing Obel warship, there was little humor to be had.
As Lino ordered the ship's pace to slow and allow the pirate vessel to pull up along side the crew, Lazlo and his companions had all readied their weapons in the event they were to be boarded. Regardless of Lino's reassurances to remain calm, it was difficult for former knights to exercise such restraint.
"I saw your last battle, it was quite impressive," Lady Kika called out across the distance between the two ships as they maintained their speed and bearings.
"Wasn't much of a battle so much as simply turning tail and running."
"Still," Kika said, looking at the king once more. "Your tactics were sound. It certainly took the Kooluk by surprise." Stealing a quick glance over her shoulder at the two burning wrecks on the ocean, Kika continued. "I've only ventured out here out of curiosity as to what the Kooluk are up to. Now that I know, we'll be returning to our base. You're welcome to accompany us, but I suggest you be quick. We won't make great time moving against the wind and every minute we can put distance between us and the Kooluk, the better." With that, Kika moved away from the banister, signifying the conversation was over.
As the pirate galleon began to move away from the Obel Frigate, Lino scratched his head. "Well, looks like we don't have a choice do we? Shaking his head he turned to everyone in attendance. What do you all think?" He asked, directing his question more to Lazlo but leaving the floor open to other opinions.
"I believe you are right," Paula was the first to speak as she answered shyly. "We really won't get any better offers any time soon, and I'm certain she has good intentions, at least that she won't hurt us. She could have easily attacked us if that were the case."
"And what about the fact that you five are knights and we're about to ask for assistance from pirates?"
Shrugging slightly, Kenneth spoke up, "We're former knights. Whatever hostilities we have towards pirates and their lot we left with our knightly pride back in Razril. It won't be an issue for us."
Lino scrutinized the young man for a moment before taking him at his word. "Fine. Guess that means we're going to the Pirate's Nest."
Nodding and accepting their given destination, the knights, Ramada and his associates all began to move off until Lino called out to Lazlo. "Just a minute Lazlo," the king stated, moving quietly to stand by the banister, his hands gripping the railing as he grappled with his guilt. When Lazlo joined him at the railing, he began talking. "I…wanted to apologize." Lino said, and when Lazlo offered a curious expression that Lino only caught by a sideways glance, the king elaborated by pointing towards the welt forming under the young man's eye. "For striking you. I'm sorry. I know you were right, that I was only too concerned with avenging Obel to worry about the people on board or what might happen to them…" Lino continued until his voice trailed off. "At any rate, you were right, and…I never should have lashed out at you."
A slight chuckle escaped Lazlo's lips as his fingers went unconsciously to his cheekbone. "Honestly, with everything we've just witnessed, I forgot all about it." Lazlo said, examining the bump that was forming beneath his eye. "At any rate, I'd rather you lash out at me than a Kooluk attack squad. Especially when you have vengeance in mind. If we're going to survive this, we'll need to keep our wits. Any way, as far as I'm concerned it's water under the bow. Don't worry yourself about it, it's not a big deal."
"It is a big deal Lazlo, very big," Lino said sadly, clapping one large hand on the young man's shoulder. "But thank you for saying otherwise."
XxX
The journey back to the pier was relatively easier for Bartholomew than the initial infiltration into Iluya. This was in part due to his familiarity to the lay of the land, but also attributed to the urgency of his mission. There only few scant hours before the sun would rise, and then all hope of evacuation would be abandoned. Not by him so much, as by the crew of the Clipper that waited for them. He could not really blame them if they did not wish to wait in daylight in Kooluk territory, but he had a mission to fulfill and an obligation regardless.
As he jumped from shadow to shadow, his footfalls landing deceptively light for a man of his build, he finally felt secure enough to stop his progression and speak lightly into the air, "I know you're out there, you can come on out."
For a moment, the world seemed to silence as though holding its breath, but at last the small frame of his stalker was deposited from the shadows. "I'm impressed," the woman Bartholomew had met previously had said, crossing her arms once more to fiddle with the throwing knives at her side. "I had underestimated your senses. You're surely better than I had anticipated, if you knew I was tracking you."
"Actually I was just bluffing," the spearman said, shrugging one large shoulder in response. "I was just feeling edgy, and everything seemed so still and…quiet, I thought maybe someone was out there."
"Hmm. Well, certainly not as noteworthy as sensing I was nearby, but you do have an acute appreciation of your surroundings. That in and of itself is impressive."
"Do you want to tell me why you were following me then?" Bartholomew said, not lowering his spear and being certain to keep some manner of debris between himself and the woman.
"I'm sure you already know why," the woman replied, crooking an uneven smile as though the situation were of some apparent amusement.
"I reckon I do," was Bartholomew's response as he turned his back and looked out towards the pier once more. "Look, I understand you not wanting to trust me, and again, my appreciation of that fact is not lost of the reality that you were all on an island that was blown straight to hell and has since become occupied by the very people that attacked you. But if I were going to turn on you, I certainly would have done so by now so a little faith would be a nice change of course given our current situation.
"We really haven't time to be wasting talking like this. There's only, maybe three hours until sunrise and I've got a lot to do, so I'd appreciate it if you relaxed your fingers off that throwing dagger." The spearman said in the hopes of continuing the mission at hand and when his mysterious guest complied, he himself relaxed his stance to one more casual.
"Now, there's a lot of work to do and very little time, so if you're not too busy, how about giving me a hand?"
"What is it you want?"
"Well, I'm going to be heading to the dock and setting fire to that ship anchored at port. Fire and rune cannon shells make for one impressive explosion and that will more than enough to buy everyone the time needed to make it to the pier. But I want you to set fire to the command post, draw the soldiers away from ships so I can make it onboard without hassle."
"I suppose if I am to trust you and get off this island, there is no choice is there?" the woman asked as she stared at Bartholomew. When he did not respond she nodded. "Very well, if you are requesting my trust then I shall do the same. You may call me Kate. I will set your fire as distraction and wait at the town square to help guide the people out when your 'signal' is revealed."
"Good, and maybe when all this is over, you can tell me who you really are Kate," Bartholomew replied, as he stood tall once more to survey their surroundings.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't believe for a second that you're a villager on this island any more than you trust that I'm doing this out of the kindness of my heart."
"Then it appears we all have secrets, even Izak it would seem," Kate remarked as she took a step forward. "If you know that much that I trust you've determined my intentions. As an act of good faith, I will tell you that you are correct in your assumptions but will not answer more on the issue than that."
"Fair enough, lets get this done." Bartholomew replied as he headed out of the shadow and made his way towards his target. Kate viewed the man with new appreciation, not at all a flattering notion given her profession. She doubted he would push the issue, but if he were to do so, she may need to excise the man from this world.
XxX
It took all of half an hour to position himself along the pier and wait for the signal, and Bartholomew was hopeful the woman Kate would keep her promise. His wait did not take long as the thick plumes of smoke could be seen from the docks, accompanied by the gentle, orange glow of the fire.
As expected, a large number of troops disembarked from the ship in the hopes of containing the blaze, giving easy access to the large man to sneak on board. There was only few soldiers remaining, and they were easily avoided as Bartholomew crept slowly across the deck of the ship and made his way to the under deck and his destination.
From the beginning, he had not at all been happy with taking this mission, knowing full well that a great deal of luck would be needed to complete the task successfully. For a man of Bartholomew's sort, luck was not something he had much need or faith in.
Skill however, that was an appreciation he never grew weary of and he was more than willing to trust his skill against any opponent. But to siege an entire island held by hostile forces to save a few staggering civilians lucky enough to be spared death by whatever hell was unleashed here…sometimes the man thought he must truly be mad to test himself in such a way.
But in the end, it was only really human nature that man would throw himself against to tide and challenge life itself to drown him in the struggles of the world. Only those who survived ever truly lived, ever truly knew their limits. Bartholomew was always curious as to what his limits were. That was why he agreed to this fools errand, because he needed to know how good he was.
As he moved deeper into the bowels of the ship, Bartholomew found himself at his destination. Opening the door to the armory and carefully making a quick inspection of his surroundings, he moved with ease through the cargo hold, finding numerous crates of Rune Cannon shells. This would be considerably more difficult than initially estimated. Some of the boxes were either too weathered to allow the slow burn needed for him to escape while others appeared to be treated lumber and would not burn at all.
Leaving the armory for the time being, Bartholomew traveled some distance, making his way to the supply cabinet and quickly viewing its contents. He knew time was short and depending on the fire Kate had set, the troops had it under control or were quickly getting a handle on it.
After a quick once over, the large man found what he was looking for, a barrel of Linseed Oil used to treat the lumber inside the ship. He had suspected they had not used a varnish; the scent of the hull was one of sweetened treatment rather than the stale odor of lacquer. Quickly walking the large, heavy barrel out into the hallway, Bartholomew jabbed his spearhead into the barrel itself, puncturing the wood container enough to allow a flow of the wood treatment to spill onto the floor in a stead flow that eventually drained enough of the oil to allow the saboteur to tip the barrel over and dump all its contents into the hallway.
With a quick grab of a nearby torch, Bartholomew tossed the flame onto the oil and watched it ignite, the stream flowing hungrily towards the armory and the rune cannon shells inside. He did not wait to see his the payment of his efforts as he thundered his way up the stairs in his bid for freedom.
Only two guards were met by the escaping spearman, and neither had time to react before the end of Bartholomew's weapon quickly perforated them. He had escaped relatively easily, and the rising smoke from the third deck was evident enough of his success. With the thundering footfalls fast approaching, he turned in the opposite direction of the coming troops and dove into the water. He would swim to the place where his craft was hopefully, unmolested by the Kooluk, and wait for the refugees to make their way. The flames of the large merchant ship were enough of an indicator for the survivors that it was time to leave. His only regret was that he would not have the time to appreciate the explosion that would follow.
XxX
At night, the city of Razril seemed a dreadful and nightmarish place. It was not so much that it was frightening but rather silent, and for Vice Commander Katarina, that silence was unsettling.
Given the recent events and knowing the intentions of the Governor, every shadow or gust of wind that blew debris across the port caused a steadily increasing sense of paranoia that she would be caught. The fifteen knights that followed closely behind seemed to share a similar sentiment, and it only increasing the collected sense of foreboding that elevated with every hastened step.
As they moved around the corner leading from the Knights Training Ground onto the main pier however, a voice called out from the shadows, startling all sixteen knights. They waited for the trap to fall, each man moving in a tight, defensive circle around Katarina in the hopes she would remain safe and could at least fulfill their mission.
From the doorway of the Item Shop, Snowe stepped into the dim light of the narrow street to face his fleeing knights. "So, where are you lot off to at such an hour?"
The collected knights moved to draw their swords until Snowe raised his hand in an act of non-aggression. "I would advise against that. The night watch are always about and hearing the drawing of swords will only draw their attention here." Standing casually, his arms folded behind his back, Snowe looked each knight in the eye as he rocked forward and backwards on his feet. "I need to speak to Katarina alone," he said after a few tense moments, and when no one made to move, Snowe replied, "Please."
Taken aback by the plead from the young noble, the knights were uncertain how to react until Katarina ushered them off so that she could have a quiet word with the young man before her. When at last the two were alone, Snowe turned sideways, his head bowed in silent defeat. "So you're planning to leave too Katarina?" He asked, his words almost too quiet for the woman to hear. "What about what you said to me earlier? About defying my father. How can I hope to do that alone?"
"It's not that easy Snowe. The situation…it's changed."
"How? I mean, what could possibly have changed enough to cause you to abandon Razril when you're needed most?"
Several moments passed as neither commander looked at the other. Finally, Katarina moved her delicate hand to the pouch at her hip as she retrieved a scroll and handed it, defeated by the words written within, to the young man. "Because in a few days, this will no longer be Razril."
Curiously alarmed by the statement, Snowe took the parchment and unrolled it to read its contents. So detrimental was its subject that the young lord felt as though the world had slipped out from under his feet.
"Is there any hope that this letter is a forgery?" Snowe asked, knowing the answer before it was asked, but unable to think of a better reply.
"None," Katarina remarked solemnly as she shook her head. "The seal was that of the Gaien Council. As you can see, this changes everything. Not only are they refusing to send us aid, but they are also ordering us to cooperate with the Kooluk when they arrive. I can't begin to fathom what bargain they have struck with the Kooluk, but this means…"
"That they've cut us off," Snowe finished for the Vice-Commander, his eyes scanning the contents of the communiqué once more. "I think this may well be what my father was planning all along. Damn him for selling us to our enemies."
"I'm glad to see you taking this reaction, I myself was worried you might favor the plan."
"Do you really think I'd sell Razril to the Kooluk; that I would see these people become pawns of them? Made into slaves or worse, used as human shields in the event aid ever comes for us?" Snowe said, roughly handing the letter back to the Vice-Commander. "I knew you had no faith in me Katarina, I never thought you'd despise me enough to think I could be party to this plot."
"Anymore Snowe, I don't know what to believe," Katarina said, her words coming defensively at the young man's outburst, but her tone remained controllably low to keep from drawing attention. "All I know is that the only man I felt I could ever trust, Commander Glen is gone, your father making back alley deals with our enemies and our protectorate nation has shut us out. You can see why I'm a little thin on faith at the moment."
"Fine," Snowe recanted, his own hurt evident in his words, but he nevertheless accepted the young woman's admission to her shaken trust in others. "At any rate, you'd better hurry. I've advised the guard to keep to the town in the event you attempted to escape by way of the pier."
"You knew I was leaving, and yet you didn't try to stop me?" Katarina remarked, her suspicion giving way to curiosity. "I don't understand…"
"Rumors are a secret's worst enemy, and when you are attempting to organize a coup, word gets around." Snowe replied, shaking his head. "Anyway, it doesn't matter, I've prepared the Duchess for departure. It'll give you enough speed to clear our waters before morning, and more than enough space for your crew. Regardless, you should hurry. I can only promise to stall the search for you for about a day. After that…well, you know that the Duchess can't outrun the Interceptor, and that's what I'll be forced to send after you."
"I appreciate the heads up." Katarina stated as she made to move towards the boat before stopping again. "You know Snowe, there is enough room for you to come with us if you are truly displeased with the situation here."
After some silent contemplation, the young man shook his head. "No, I can't leave."
"Why?" Katarina asked, genuinely confused by his refusal. "I know you are not happy with the situation that has developed. At least on the ocean you don't have to live under the pressure of being crushed by your father's ambitions."
"Which is exactly why I cannot leave," Snowe answered in reply, leaning his weight against the nearby shop wall. "My father is unbalanced enough to make deals with the Kooluk, he's certainly mad enough to accuse you of kidnapping me and stealing a ship. Besides," he replied, his face moving to look at the pier and the row of shops the lined the street. "When the Kooluk do take over here, someone needs to act as a buffer, a person to keep our citizens from being hurt or abused by their troops. Someone needs to keep them safe."
"You'll need to be secretive in your efforts Snowe, and the townspeople…they won't thank you for this."
"I know," the young man replied as he shrugged his shoulders. "But someone has to save them from my father and the Kooluk. I can take their taunts and bitterness, I suppose. As long as they're safe, that's what matters right?"
The shining from the torches caught Katarina's eyes and Snowe thought he could see something akin to pride shining within those orbs. Regardless, Katarina nodded her head in approval. "I know you said I did not have faith in you Snowe, and you're right. But even if I do not have faith in your abilities, you've earned my trust." Moving her hand to retrieve a medal hanging around her throat, Katarina raised the chain over her head and handed it to Snowe. "This is the medallion I received from Master Konrad when I completed my training with him. If you ever need any help or support, show him this necklace, and he will provide you with whatever service you need."
Taking the heavy medal in his hand, Snowe fought to keep the lump from his throat as he looked back at Katarina. "I'll be expecting you to return with help in short order Katarina."
"Of course," the young woman said as she moved towards the ship designated for her before stopping and looking over her shoulder, a slight smile tugging at her lips. "Commander."
XxX
The Grishend docked at the internal port of the Pirate's Nest, as Lady Kika disembarked from her ship. Almost immediately upon touching land she was greeted by Hervey and Sigmund, the two men rather frantic in their urgency to report.
"Thank the Sea Mother your back…"
"He's barking mad. We didn't know what to do…"
"He's in your room. We keep tying him up but he keeps slipping out of the ropes…"
"Did I mention barking mad?"
"Enough," Kika said to silence her comrades as she looked to Hervey before turning back to Sigmund. "What's this about?"
"Well, about six days after your departure, this guys wanders right into Pirate's Nest and begins demanding to know where the rune bearer is or…some such nonsense. Anyway, under normal circumstances, any idiot who wanders into Pirate's Nest is welcoming a short trip on the long ride to Hell. But seriously, nothing about this guy is normal," Sigmund said, looking over his shoulder as though expecting him to suddenly appear.
"Yeah, barking mad…did you hear me say that?" Hervey replied, his own agitation becoming unsettling. Kika had known both men for some time, and had never seen them this unnerved even in the heat of battle as they were right now.
"Take me to him," Kika replied as the two subordinates shared a glance before shrugging and leading her back into the cavern. As they made their way to the back room, the found him sitting on Kika's bed, his head bowed in silent contemplation as though deep in mediation. For all extends and purposes, the pirate queen could not find anything unsettling about the young man who seemed at peace in his own mind.
"You are not who I seek," the quiet voice said as the sandy-haired young man stated, before finally raising his head and opening his eyes to address the three pirates. "But you've brought him with you. Bring me the man named Lazlo. Bring him here and then leave us."
Though not accustomed to being ordered in her own home, Kika understood fully now the anxiety of her pirates. She had sailed all across the ocean and had traveled a great deal of the world, even before her life as a brigand. There were many things she had witnessed, and not a few that were unexplainable. This seemingly young man however, his aura…if one believed in such concepts, was all but a solid, palpable force. And what she felt by the mere presence of this…being sitting comfortably on her bed was not anything of this world.
Without a word, Kika moved from the room with her two unsettled companions to find this Lazlo this man sought. As she left, Ted again bowed his head and waited. He had much to tell this boy, much to teach him in fact, and no time to do so.
-To Be Continued
A/N: Holy crap, this was LONG. I actually cut a few pieces out of this chapter because it was just getting unbearably long. A few points of interest that I didn't touch upon in the chapter however.
Bartholomew made mention to the crew of the Clipper being unsavory. In case you need the hint, it was Jango and Brec who helped get him to Iluya. I had a scene where they would all get aboard, Brec would say something offensive to Kate and she'd threaten to cut him from navel to neck if it wouldn't dirty her blade. At any rate, she'd wish him a painful death by Scurvy. Unfortunately I couldn't quite fit that in. I won't elaborate on another scene cut from this chapter as I still plan to add it in shortly.
Secondly, I had worked a bit on trying to place Bartholomew's reasons for blowing up a ship anyway. In game, he doesn't strike me as a mercenary, and doesn't seem to do it out of revenge. In fact, he seems nonchalant about the whole thing. So what I did was take a different approach. Not sure how many have ever seen the Magnificent Seven, a great old western with tons of major stars. Anyway, there's a character in the movie named Britt played by James Coburn. His motivation in the film was not money or revenge…he just wanted to test how good he really was. That sort of became my inspiration for Bartholomew's character. I hope I pulled it off well enough.
Anyway, thanks for reading my rant and my chapter. As always, reviews are greatly appreciated. Danke.