Chapter 5 - Of Ties and Loose Ends
Evan's body was given to the sea and there it would lye forever. But Lissandra and Jack spoke no more of Eronel, to her bidding.
'I never knew you could ride a horse.'
'Neither did I.' Jack replied. 'It's ironic though,' he started, 'the horses name was Nutcracker.'
Lissandra burst into laughter, which Jack, obviously, didn't approve of much.
'Jack,' She inquired, 'Was it just mere luck that you stumbled onto my path and saved my life, or was there a reason?'
'I was looking for ye.' Jack admitted without restraint. 'I didn't tell anyone, because no one knows about...' Jack reached into a pocket. 'This.' He pulled out the pendant. 'I found it in the water near your shipwreck.' Lissandra took the pendant from his hand. It was a great silver bird that bore a solid green stone.
'Essil's stone.' Lissandra reached for it. 'Why do you need it?'
'Not I.' Jack looked offended. 'For someone who fancies herself smart, you really are clueless.'
'Spare me the antics.'
'It is December 8th tomorrow. Tortuga is in an uproar. They are attacking Bellport. The Navy expects this. When the sun goes down, the pirates are going to start their attack.'
'But that's less that a day.'
'We will be wiped out. There is no chance for victory. The Navy are too many. They can strike from all angles.'
'What does that have to do with me?'
'Everyone has believed one version of the story. Essil, the governor of Bellport, was given a stone in truce from Arolas, the governor of the "lesser" men. But Arolas became jealous and asked for the stone back, for he swore an oath to Essil, that for as long as he bares the stone and his heirs to follow, they will be allies. Essil refused. But Arolas was not a stupid man. He found a way to destroy the deal. What should happen if there was no heir, and Essil should die himself or at least be banished?
'At the age of two, Essil's only son, was brutally murdered. Arolas came to the funeral, and offered once more to destroy the truce.
'It was no secret that Arolas was preparing for a war. He had started a militia among his people, but having no skill, spear or money, his army was weak. It was merely a pitchfork mob desperate for riches.
'Arolas had a fair lot of supporters and connections. He ordered a list of the names and shift of each guard in Bellport. On the sixth of December, he told Essil that they would attack the next day, save only he gave him the jewel.
'Of course Essil knew that whether he gave up the jewel or not, Arolas would attack. And he told this to Arolas. So Arolas asked Essil to give up his position as governor and give him the jewel, and only then he would not attack. Essil had but one choice. He accepted. 'His resignation was very public, as all he took was his horse and a cloak. He kissed his wife goodbye and galloped out of Bellport, never to return.
'On the seventh the city readied itself for the war, but it didn't come. Assuming Arolas had fulfilled his end of the deal, the guards went home and the city relaxed. But on the morning of the eighth the guards were dead. That night Arolas unleashed a war. It lasted three days and three nights. But Bellport was not defenceless. They were better-equipped and still out- numbered Arolas' army. 'The Pirates' they called themselves. Arolas' pirates lost, and were driven to the sea, where they boarded many ships and sailed away.'
Lissandra was quiet.
'I'm a good story-teller, aren't I, mate?'
'No.' Lissandra was thinking. 'I mean yes, you are, but I don't understand what Essil has to do with me.'
'You have his stone.'
'So? Why do I have it? There is something missing from your story.'
'But that's why I need you. There is a reason that you have it. We have to figure it out before we all die.'
'Essil had no heir?'
'Weren't you paying attention?'
'If he had an heir, then all we'd have to do is give the stone to him.'
'He had none.'
'Then there is no way to stop the war.'
'There has to be a way.' Jack insisted.
'"Essil: Traitor of the South."'
'I beg your pardon?'
'The book!' Lissandra reached into an inside pocket of her silver-white cloak and pulled out the old, tattered book. 'I found it in Tom Fiddle's house.'
'Excellent. So we know one version of the story, and we know Essil has no living heir. We don't know why you have the pendant, where Essil went after he was banished, or what happened to Arolas. There are so many loose ends!'
'And so few ties.'
Jack paused in thought. 'Unless you are a descendant of Arolas.'
'What must I do?'
'Start reading that damned book.'
Evan's body was given to the sea and there it would lye forever. But Lissandra and Jack spoke no more of Eronel, to her bidding.
'I never knew you could ride a horse.'
'Neither did I.' Jack replied. 'It's ironic though,' he started, 'the horses name was Nutcracker.'
Lissandra burst into laughter, which Jack, obviously, didn't approve of much.
'Jack,' She inquired, 'Was it just mere luck that you stumbled onto my path and saved my life, or was there a reason?'
'I was looking for ye.' Jack admitted without restraint. 'I didn't tell anyone, because no one knows about...' Jack reached into a pocket. 'This.' He pulled out the pendant. 'I found it in the water near your shipwreck.' Lissandra took the pendant from his hand. It was a great silver bird that bore a solid green stone.
'Essil's stone.' Lissandra reached for it. 'Why do you need it?'
'Not I.' Jack looked offended. 'For someone who fancies herself smart, you really are clueless.'
'Spare me the antics.'
'It is December 8th tomorrow. Tortuga is in an uproar. They are attacking Bellport. The Navy expects this. When the sun goes down, the pirates are going to start their attack.'
'But that's less that a day.'
'We will be wiped out. There is no chance for victory. The Navy are too many. They can strike from all angles.'
'What does that have to do with me?'
'Everyone has believed one version of the story. Essil, the governor of Bellport, was given a stone in truce from Arolas, the governor of the "lesser" men. But Arolas became jealous and asked for the stone back, for he swore an oath to Essil, that for as long as he bares the stone and his heirs to follow, they will be allies. Essil refused. But Arolas was not a stupid man. He found a way to destroy the deal. What should happen if there was no heir, and Essil should die himself or at least be banished?
'At the age of two, Essil's only son, was brutally murdered. Arolas came to the funeral, and offered once more to destroy the truce.
'It was no secret that Arolas was preparing for a war. He had started a militia among his people, but having no skill, spear or money, his army was weak. It was merely a pitchfork mob desperate for riches.
'Arolas had a fair lot of supporters and connections. He ordered a list of the names and shift of each guard in Bellport. On the sixth of December, he told Essil that they would attack the next day, save only he gave him the jewel.
'Of course Essil knew that whether he gave up the jewel or not, Arolas would attack. And he told this to Arolas. So Arolas asked Essil to give up his position as governor and give him the jewel, and only then he would not attack. Essil had but one choice. He accepted. 'His resignation was very public, as all he took was his horse and a cloak. He kissed his wife goodbye and galloped out of Bellport, never to return.
'On the seventh the city readied itself for the war, but it didn't come. Assuming Arolas had fulfilled his end of the deal, the guards went home and the city relaxed. But on the morning of the eighth the guards were dead. That night Arolas unleashed a war. It lasted three days and three nights. But Bellport was not defenceless. They were better-equipped and still out- numbered Arolas' army. 'The Pirates' they called themselves. Arolas' pirates lost, and were driven to the sea, where they boarded many ships and sailed away.'
Lissandra was quiet.
'I'm a good story-teller, aren't I, mate?'
'No.' Lissandra was thinking. 'I mean yes, you are, but I don't understand what Essil has to do with me.'
'You have his stone.'
'So? Why do I have it? There is something missing from your story.'
'But that's why I need you. There is a reason that you have it. We have to figure it out before we all die.'
'Essil had no heir?'
'Weren't you paying attention?'
'If he had an heir, then all we'd have to do is give the stone to him.'
'He had none.'
'Then there is no way to stop the war.'
'There has to be a way.' Jack insisted.
'"Essil: Traitor of the South."'
'I beg your pardon?'
'The book!' Lissandra reached into an inside pocket of her silver-white cloak and pulled out the old, tattered book. 'I found it in Tom Fiddle's house.'
'Excellent. So we know one version of the story, and we know Essil has no living heir. We don't know why you have the pendant, where Essil went after he was banished, or what happened to Arolas. There are so many loose ends!'
'And so few ties.'
Jack paused in thought. 'Unless you are a descendant of Arolas.'
'What must I do?'
'Start reading that damned book.'