Chapter 10: A Reason to Fight
The bells of Seahaven rang six times. The sun was just clearing the White Iron Mountains to the east, casting gargantuan shadows over the Howling Forest that steadily retreated under the snow-capped peaks. A mist hung in the chilled air, thin and wispy compared to the soupy fog of the prior day. Even at this early hour the light of daybreak was burning off the vapor. Dew hung on everything exposed to the night air. The trickling of water from the plaza fountain, barely noticeable in the cacophony of day, was now the dominant noise in the stillness. The cobblestone streets were empty compared to the bustle of midday. The shopkeepers were out readying their stores for the day ahead as the lamp men dousing the streetlamps. Sleepy guards leaned against the buildings, their heavy cloaks pulled tight against the chill.
The traveler emerged from an alley into the plaza. It pulled the hood of its cloak low over its face and adopted a heavily bowed posture, using a gnarled tree branch like a walking stick. Its hands were covered in a pair of frayed fingerless gloves borrowed from Isaac. The traveler's excellent eyesight turned the material of its hood into a screen, allowing it to see out without others seeing in. A few handfuls of gray hair clipped off an unsuspecting horse's tail created the illusion of thinning gray hair when secured to the inside of the hood. The shemagh had been stuffed around its shoulders to distort its form. It leaned heavily on the branch, walking with an awkward limping gate as though its body were wracked by age. It made tired grunts as it walked, or at least the sort of noises it imagined an arthritic elderly woman would make while walking. To the untrained eye the traveler was a haggard old peasant woman in an oversized cloak hobbling off to the Mermaid's Trove.
Sarah had been set on returning to the tavern with it, but the traveler insisted otherwise. She needed a break and a chance to heal after yesterday's ordeal. It finally persuaded her to stay home for at least one day, promising to bring back a day's wages to make up for her absence. The orphanage could not afford to lose even a single day's pay. They needed the money.
As for worries about Richard coming after Sarah, Isaac and the traveler had come up with what they hoped was a convincing story. If the greedy lord came looking for the traveler at their home, Isaac would tell him that "Hood" had only duped her into thinking she was being rescued. After running out of the tavern he dragged her into an alleyway and tried to rob her. When she told him they had no money he tried to get "compensation" from her. She was saved when the guards spotted them, and he fled. If the story did not sell it, then Sarah's performance as a traumatized, fragile, "spineless" woman and Isaac the furious father swearing bloody vengeance for his daughter would certainly do it. That and her ripped dress, which the traveler promised to replace. It had been careful to leave no trace of itself at their house, hiding all its belongings in a tree deep in the Emerald Woods.
Though it would have preferred being upright, the traveler enjoyed strolling through the town in the wee hours of the day. The streets were sleepy compared to the tempest of activity it witnessed yesterday. It gave the traveler a chance to explore the town fully with as few people seeing it as possible. It considered checking out the palace but decided against it. Considering all the strange activity in the kingdom, foreigners with hidden faces slinking around the palace would probably get as warm a welcome as the current temperature.
It also gave the traveler time to reflect on its new situation, specifically concerning its conversation with Isaac last night.
"Ten thousand?!"
"Not so loud!" hissed Isaac as he lowered himself into one of the armchairs, cane resting against the side. "You'll wake the children!"
"Sorry," whispered the traveler.
After finishing its story, dinner, and another story, Sarah had taken the kids upstairs for the night. It had been like catching mice with both hands tied. After a full ten minutes and no small amount of running they finally herded the rambunctious children upstairs with the promise of another story tomorrow. The traveler could hear their footsteps above them as the young woman worked to get them into bed.
"But seriously, ten thousand gold coins? I don't really know what that's worth, but anything ending with a thousand is always a lot. Why did you ask someone like Richard for that much?" asked the traveler as it took the other armchair.
"Necessity." Isaac shifted till the cushions achieved the comfort he wanted. "After a straight year of bad luck my fishing fleet was down from twenty ships to just two. My business partners were leaving to cut their own losses. They told me to get out before I went broke, but how could I? I promised Sarah's mother I'd keep the orphanage going. But we needed profits from the fleet to keep the little one's fed and put Sarah through medical school, and we needed the money to get the fleet built up again."
"Medical school? Sarah's studying to be a doctor?" asked the traveler with genuine surprise.
"That she is. Or, was. She was almost finished before she had to quit to support us."
"Women can be doctors here? Not that I'm against it or anything, but she can really do that?"
"Aye, that and more. Things really changed around here when Ariel came along."
"Who's that?"
"Why, our queen! I tell you, man, that woman's got a heart pure as snow and big as the ocean. You'll never meet a kinder, gentler soul. Or a prettier one. She's a redhead like no other. She used to go walking through town when things were better, saying hello to everyone like we were old friends and giving a kind word and a helping hand to anyone who needed it. Funded the schools and opened them to women. Helped feed the poor. Got our sea trade booming. I could go all night about the good she's done for us these past twenty years. She's planning to build a new hospital in the next year. She's more of a saint to us than a queen."
The traveler leaned back in its chair, genuinely awestruck. Royalty funding schools instead of armies. Kingdoms building hospitals instead of war machines. Women able to go to school and even become doctors instead of fated to marry young and become housewives dependent on their husbands. Queens that would walk among the common folk unguarded instead of riding in armored carriages flanked by men with crossbows and swords. Seahaven was truly was a different place.
"You said Sarah was learning to be a doctor," said the traveler. "I take it she's not anymore?"
A dejected expression covered Isaac's face. "You have Richard to thank for that, may the fires burn his flesh and the rocks break his legs. After my partners left, I was on my own to get the business going again. I went everywhere I could for a loan, but they all turned me down. Even my rock bottom amount was too much! Soon Richard was the only one left. Sarah pleaded with me not to go, but I was desperate."
Isaac sighed, pinching his brow. "By my beard I wish I'd listened to her! The way he looked at us when we walked into that thing he calls a house…made my skin crawl. Oh, he acted civil enough, the silver-tongued snake. Had this big fancy-worded contract drawn up. I'm a fisherman, not a scholar. I could barely make sense of it, and Sarah didn't do much better. All I gathered was he'd loan us money for three ships and full crews for each. In exchange I'd pay him back for the cost of the ships and the crews, with interest, over the next twenty years. I know how much I can bring in with a good haul. We would've been able to pay him back no problem. I signed the contract and got my ships."
Isaac traced over the stitching of a patch in the chair. "For a few years things were looking up. The ships were catching fish. I found new partners for the business. Sarah was on track to be as fine a doctor as any of them. We had food on the table every night and a dry roof over our heads. I made the payments on schedule and then some."
"So what changed?" asked the traveler.
"More bad luck. Or, that's what I used to think." Isaac leaned forward, his face turning solemn as he stared at the stove. "Three years after I made the deal a freak hurricane hit. Sunk the new ships like rocks…three perfectly good ships! With crews I picked myself! By some miracle we didn't lose anyone, but our hope of paying back the loan went down with those ships."
What Isaac did not mention to the traveler was that the crews survived in great part because of a group of merfolk in the area. The residents of Seahaven avoided talking about the merfolk and Atlantica around outsiders, or in public for that matter. They put a strong effort into building friendly ties with the merfolk. The last thing they wanted was hunters and fishermen trying to catch one of their undersea neighbors for fame or fortune because of gossip.
"That's when Richard showed his real nature," continued Isaac. The traveler saw his fingers dig into the chair as though he were trying to claw it open. "He looks like a noble fellow, but he's got a stone for a heart and swill for blood. A week after the storm Richard and his dogs came banging at our door. He demanded twice what we'd been paying before and raised the interest on our loan. I tried to negotiate with him, but he wasn't having any of it. He even added a fee. 'Failure to deliver' he called it! Things went straight to Davy Jones' Locker after that. Richard bled us like stuck pigs. We had to start choosing between putting food on the table and making the payments, and we could never make them in full. Not with just two ships. When I took ill Sarah quit school so she could take care of me. I've had to rely on her for my health since we can't afford the doctor anymore. Those gargoyles Jack and Bill would harass the children when they came collecting. If we didn't have the money, they'd take what they wanted. Then Richard started harassing Sarah to marry him. He's been pressuring me to accept selling her hand in exchange for forgiving the debt, but I won't have it. I'll burn in the Pit before I let him have her!"
"How long has this been going on?" asked the traveler, keeping its voice even so its anger would not show.
Isaac gave a heavy sigh and rubbed his face. "Almost two years now. And we still owe him over six thousand in gold. But that's not the worst of it."
"It's not?" said the traveler, wondering how this family's misfortune could get any worse.
"Richard's not just a snake. He's a vulture, and when vultures are about there's something foul in the air. And I smelled something right foul about the whole situation. I know my crews. They're as meticulous as they are seaworthy, and I don't tolerate bad form. There's not a loose thread on a sail, knot in a net, or splinter on the helm that they don't notice. They've sailed in hurricanes before and lived to tell the tale. So I talked with them. Got their side of the story. And they all told the same thing. Right in the storm all sorts of wrong happened. Ropes snapped, sails ripped, pumps broke…"
Suddenly Isaac pounded a fist on the armchair repeatedly, causing one of patches to rip its seams and the traveler to jump visibly.
"That bastard sabotaged my ships!" shouted Isaac, his beard bristling as his face flushed red. "He played me for a fool! Strung me along like a puppet! I don't have proof, but I know he's responsible! Him and those muscle-bound thugs!"
The sound of crying came from above, followed by quick footsteps. An irritated Sarah in her nightgown came down the stairs, a heavily tarnished candlestick holder in hand with a small dancing flame waving on the short remains of the candle.
"Well done, dad!" she scolded. "You scared Jenni! You know how she gets when people yell! I just got her to sleep!"
Isaac cursed quietly as the crying continued, grumbling as he reached for his cane. "I'll take care of it."
He started to get up when a fit of violent coughing forced him back down. His chest heaved with each hack, the pain evident on his scrunched face and trembling limbs. Flecks of blood appeared on his sleeve from how hard he coughed.
The traveler bolted to its feet as Sarah rushed over to her father's side. "Dad! Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," he wheezed, although the lack of color in his face and the droplets on his sleeve said otherwise. Isaac gave a few more coughs before the fit subsided. "Just give me a hand up you two."
Sarah pushed her father back down in his chair, putting an ear over his chest. "You're not fine! You overdid it again!"
"It's nothing I can't walk off," Isaac protested as he tried to get up.
Sarah grabbed his shoulders and pushed him back down. "You won't walk it off because you'll fall before you get to the stairs! I'll get you some tea after I get Jenni asleep, but stay there and don't move!"
"You get the tea," said the traveler. "I'll get Jenni."
Sarah looked at the traveler with surprise and mild concern. "Huh?"
"I'll get her to sleep in no time."
"Hood, I don't that's a good idea. Jenni is–."
"It'll be fine." The traveler laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm good with kids."
Sarah considered declining the traveler's offer, but Isaac started coughing again. She pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and pressed it to his face as he continued.
"First floor," she said, offering the candle. "First door on your right. And please be gentle. She gets scared easily."
"Got it. First floor, first right, scares easy."
The traveler took the candle and headed up the stairs, leaving Sarah to her ailing father. It ascended the last step to find a long hallway lined with doors. A pair of oil lanterns hanging from the ceiling cast a flickering orange light down the hall. A flight of stairs at the opposite end led to the third floor. Faint footsteps could be heard above. Some doors had ornate but tarnished brass doorknobs. Others were missing theirs entirely, the knobs either replaced with simple iron handles, rope loops, or nothing at all. Several doors were splintered where the knobs had been ripped off. The traveler was willing to bet Richard's thugs were responsible. It could hear the muted whisperings of children not yet ready to go to Dreamland, as well as the sniffles and whimpers of a young girl from the knob-less door to its right.
"Must be this one." The traveler reached for the rope door handle but then hesitated. It looked to the window above the stairs. A ghostly reflection of itself was visible in the glass, its true visage hidden beneath the shemagh and goggles.
It had to admit the disguise could be menacing. Walking into the room at night with its face covered by a shemagh and goggles and only a flickering candle for illumination would probably have the opposite effect of helping Jenni sleep. It would probably stir up memories of the bandit attack. As much as the traveler wanted to keep its identity hidden, it needed to lose the disguise if it did not want the crying to continue. Not that its normal appearance was any less scary to most people.
The traveler looked down the hall and then over the stairs, making sure no eyes were spying. Satisfied no one would see, it pulled the goggles off and pulled the shemagh down around its neck.
It looked back in the window. It was the first time it had seen its face in weeks. Perhaps scary was not the right word to describe its face. Shocking seemed more appropriate. And dirty. It needed a bath.
Smoothing a few wayward hairs back in place, the traveler set its goggles on its head before knocking gently on the door. "Jenni?"
"Wh-who's there?" asked the girl's timid voice.
"It's Hood. You all right in there?"
She did not respond. The traveler could hear sniffles and sobs broken by hiccups.
"Mind if I come in?" asked the traveler.
There were a few more sniffles. Then the traveler heard a quiet "uh-huh" from inside.
The traveler traced its fingers over its throat. "Nagate."
Its vocal cords tingled as they returned the traveler's normal voice. Taking a deep breath and praying its face would not give the little girl new nightmares, it opened the door and went in.
"Watch out!"
The traveler came out of its memories to see a horse-drawn cart coming straight on. It quickly rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the cart's large wooden wheel as it clattered past. The hem of its cloak ripped slightly as it caught under the wheel.
"Keep your eyes up, grandma!" said the driver as he continued into the plaza, not slowing in the slightest.
"Soon as you learn to drive that damn thing!" shouted the traveler as it got up, not bothering with an old woman voice. It dusted its cloak off, checking that nothing had shifted that could give away its identity. The worst was the tear in the hem and the dirt that had found its way onto the cloak. If anything, they added to the disguise. The traveler put its weight back on the stick and resumed its hobbling gate.
The traveler gripped the stick tighter in irritation. Not because of the near miss with the cart, but its inability to find a simple solution to Sarah and Isaac's plight. After getting Jenni to sleep, who amazingly was not fazed by the traveler's face in the least and promised twice not to tell anyone, the traveler had quietly donned its disguise and gone out to watch the stars. It spent all night thinking how it could help these people who had welcomed it into their home, hoping the answer would be amidst the thousands of sparkling diamonds hanging in the inky sky.
It could give them Kodama's gold and jewels. It was more money than the traveler knew what to do with. The small fortune would take a sizable chunk out of their debt, but it would not come anywhere close to fixing it. The two bags could not be worth more than two thousand gold coins at best. It would certainly take the financial pressure off them, but once it ran out, they would be right back to their current predicament.
The simplest fix was going back to Kodama for more. He had heaping piles of the stuff, some as high as the orphanage. The traveler doubted Kodama would have any attachment to them. But there were flaws with that plan. The spirit's grotto was a week's journey on foot, maybe three or four days on a strong horse. The route would take it straight into the Howling Forest, a place that had become a hotbed for bandits, slavers and, worst and most dangerous of all, werewolves. Using that would allow the traveler to make the trip in less than a day while avoiding the dangers of the forest, but the risk was too great. The traveler also risked luring men into Kodama's domain if they discovered where it went. He doubted Kodama would show them any mercy.
There was also Richard to worry about. The "noble," if such a word even applied to him, would be looking to avenge his toxic sense of pride. The traveler had no doubts Isaac would follow on his promise to keep Richard and his lackeys off its back, but there was no telling if Richard would try to force an answer out of them. Disappearing into the mountains for even a few days could put them in danger. It could also raise Richard's suspicions if Sarah and Isaac suddenly produced a steady flow of money out of nowhere. He might take advantage of their newfound finances and try to cheat them again.
What was the traveler to do?
It hobbled its way down the street that would take it to the Mermaid's Trove, still considering its options. The best one it could think of was also the slowest. It would find an honest job here and donate its wages to the orphanage in return for staying there. The extra money would take some of the edge off their plight, but it would not be much. Not with the sort of jobs the traveler could get in Seahaven. It did not have a particularly diverse skill set. Fighting and magic were its specialties. They were tremendous assets back east, but there was no place for them in this kingdom. No one would be looking to hire bodyguards in such a peaceful town. It had no desire to bind itself to the military. It did not want to consider what could happen if it went around using magic, even if it was for street shows.
The Mermaid's Trove came into view. The whitewashed walls and hanging sign looked no different than yesterday. What was different was the lack of voices from inside. That and the black buggy parked in front, a familiar sleepy driver sitting at the reins.
The hairs on the traveler's neck stood up. Richard was here. It quickly moved into the shadows of an alley across the way, pulling its hood a little lower.
Suddenly the tavern door flew open. "What sort of name is that!? It's obviously fake, you geriatric oaf!"
There was a heavy crash of something being upturned before Richard stormed out with Bill and Jack close behind. He was dressed in a blue and silver version of the outfit he wore yesterday. He was angry if the sunburnt tint to his face and the crookedness of his jacket were any clue. The traveler felt a bit of relief when it saw his sword and his guards' knives were absent.
John appeared in the doorway, drying a mug just like before. He did not look so scared this time. The traveler would have bet its sword he was secretly enjoying Richard's frustration.
"I'm sorry, Lord Richard, but I don' know anythin' else about him. He didn' say much an' he ne'er showed his face. Ne'er talked t' anyone but Sarah an' meself."
"Are you blind?! Or just plain incompetent!?" spat Richard as he climbed into the buggy, the bald man following while the bearded one held the door open. "He was in your tavern! He ate your food! He attacked me and ran out that door with Sarah! The entire tavern saw him! Someone had to see his face or get his real name!"
The bearded Bill walked up to the bartender and leaned menacingly over him. "Spill it, gramps!" he growled, jabbing one large finger into John's chest. "Who's this Hood and what's he look like?"
"You better not be hiding him!" said Jack. "You know what we'll do if you are!"
The traveler expected John to fold under the giants' threats. Any normal or reasonably smart man would. Instead he swatted Bill's finger with his mug and got right up in his face.
"If ye've got a brain in that cast-iron thing ye call a skull, then use it!" he snapped, poking the man back in his forehead. "I may be gettin' on in me years, but I'm no fool! Ye think I'd risk me tavern fer one poor broke girl an' some stranger with a tablecloth round his head?"
Bill looked like he was trying to think of something clever to say but the words were getting clogged in his head. The traveler had to cover its mouth to keep from laughing as it watched. If Bill concentrated any more, he was liable to faint.
"As I was sayin' afore…" continued John as he marched up to the buggy. "I've told ye a dozen times already, but I'll tell ye again t' be clear! I don' know what he looks like or what he's called, an' neither does any of me staff! So quit askin' fer th' impossible! He came in, said his name was Hood, paid for a meal, drank a mug, somehow managed t' crush th' thing, tried to buy Sarah fer th' afternoon, attacked ye, and then grabbed th' lass and ran out th' door with her! I haven't seen so much as a hair o' either of 'em since yesterday, an' I hope t' never see th' man again! Maybe I laughed, but tha' bloomin' mess he made sure wasn't funny! Caused me nothin' but trouble! Quit wastin' both our times an' look for him somewhere else!"
The traveler thought Richard would blow his top. He clearly wanted to assault the bartender for talking to him in such a brazen manner. He was turning red as a tomato as he fought to maintain his decorum, his clenched fist trembling at his side. For a moment it looked as though he would leap for the bartender's throat. The traveler started shifting its grip on the stick, ready to intervene if things got violent.
Then Richard unclenched his fist, the color fading from his face as he brought his anger under control. "I see." He pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed gently at his brow. The traveler had to bite its lip to keep from laughing. He looked the definition of a pompous dandy aristocrat. "Well, if you do see him or learn anything more you let me know immediately."
He reached into his jacket and produced a silver coin. "I can make it worth your while," he said as he tossed it to John.
The bartender snatched the coin out of midair. He looked it over, bit it, and then put it in his apron pocket. "Aye, will do, sir. If ye find th' scum give him one fer causin' a ruckus in me tavern. Two if he did anything t' Sarah."
Richard gave a cruel grin as Bill and Jack boarded the buggy. "I'll do more than that. I guarantee it."
The traveler could have let Richard drive away right then, but it was in the mood for some mischief. Why have Richard searching the town for it when the traveler could have him searching elsewhere? Say, in circles around Seahaven? Richard sounded vengeful and offended enough to go after any chance at catching "Hood." All he needed was a push in the right direction–or rather, the wrong one.
The traveler hobbled over to Richard's buggy, altering its voice as it went. "Spare a few coins for a hungry old woman, sir?" it croaked out in an "old hag" voice, holding out a shaky hand like a beggar.
"Beat it, you old crone!" barked Jack, leaning over the side of the buggy to swat at it. "Lord Richard doesn't have time for rabble like you!"
"Yeah, scram!" added Bill. "Before we make you!"
The traveler stumbled away in theatrical fear, resisting the urge to drag Jack to the street by his nostrils. It would be easy with how far he was leaning out. "Well, I never!" The traveler shifted its cloak and turned to leave, grumbling as it hobbled. "Such rude manners! At least that masked man apologized for bumping into me."
"Wait!"
The traveler grinned. Richard had taken the bait. It turned to see said man practically falling over the side of the buggy, shoving Jack out of the way. "Old woman, please tell me! This masked fellow, what did he look like?"
"I couldn't say," said the traveler as it hobbled back over. "His whole head was wrapped in cloth, and he had these strange glasses over his eyes. Never saw so much as a hair on his head."
"That's him! That's Hood!" said Richard excitedly. His hand fumbled inside his jacket for another coin. "When did you see him!? And where!?"
The traveler made sure to tremble as it held out its hand, maintaining the illusion of age. "On the north side of town, at first light. Came running down the road and bowled me over. He barely said sorry before he was off again. He seemed to be in a terrible hurry about something."
The silver coin fell into the traveler's hand.
"The north road!" shouted Richard. "And make it snappy!"
The driver mumbled sleepily but remained still. At least, until Richard smacked him over his head. "Now!"
The driver practically flew out of his seat as he snapped wide-awake. He fumbled for the reins and clicked the horse into a fast trot.
"You have my utmost gratitude, kind woman!" called Richard as the buggy clattered down the street. "You have been most helpful!"
"Glad I could help, dearie!" replied the traveler as it waved. Moments later the buggy rounded a corner and disappeared, heading off for a wild goose chase that would take them far away from Seahaven.
The traveler was pinching its thigh to keep from laughing itself silly as it changed its voice back to normal. That worked even better than it hoped! Richard had been within arm's reach of his assailant without knowing it! And to top it off, he gave the traveler money! His own money! If a cloak, a voice, and false information were all it took to outwit Richard, staying hidden in Seahaven was going to be easier than the traveler thought.
John spat in Richard's direction. "Smug lil' brat! I hope Hood finds ye first! Preferably in an alley, at night, and with a heavy stick! I'd lend him ten mugs t' practice squishin' yer head!"
He was about to close the door when he pulled the coin out of his apron and offered it to the traveler as it approached. "Here, marm. I'd rather starve than take anythin' from that thief."
The traveler passed by John and into the tavern, ignoring the coin and the bartender's confused look. It cast a quick eye around the vacant room. Even the waitresses were absent at this early hour. John and it were the only people here. If it was just John…yes, that would be fine.
"I'm sorry, ma'am," said John apologetically. "But th' kitchens aren't goin' yet. If ye're lookin' fer a bite t' eat ye can come back in an hour or two. I can have somethin' made for ye then."
"No thanks," said the traveler, deepening its unaltered voice to approximate the tone it used yesterday. It raised itself upright, abandoning the walking stick. "I ate already. And keep the coin. I owe you for that mess I made."
John nearly dropped the coin, the mug, and his jaw to the floor.
"And before you say anything else, I think you should lock the place up," added the traveler.
John quickly bolted the door shut and started closing the window shutters. The traveler made its way to the bar, sliding into one of the high stools as John sprinted back. He almost slipped on the floor as he skidded to a stop.
"Hood? Is that ye under there, lad!?" he said, trying to look up into the hood.
"The one and only!" The traveler reached up and pushed its hood off, exposing its true visage.
Now John did drop the mug, the coin, and his jaw to the floor. He had already formed a mental image of what Hood looked like under his disguise the moment he entered the tavern yesterday. Suffice to say he had been off completely.
"Blessed bellyachin' barnacles o' the bottomless blue!" he exclaimed.
The traveler gave a lopsided grin. "Not what you expected, eh?"
"Well, no! But how…Sarah! Is she all right!?"
"She's staying home today. She got a nasty bruising and a busted lip from Richard, but she's safe." The traveler pulled Richard's coin out of its pocket, setting it on the countertop. "Now I know we agreed on some free meals for me taking Richard down a peg. But what I could really use is a job. And I hear you're having trouble finding a decent bartender."
"Absolutely not!"
"No way!"
"Don't even think about it!"
"Not in your wildest dreams!"
"Not going!"
"Hmph!"
Attina floated with arms crossed in the middle of the Atlantican throne room. Behind her were her younger sisters Aquata, Andrina, Adella, Arista, and Alana. They hardly looked any different from their younger days with the exception of two. As the oldest, Attina was the first to show signs of age. Her hair was a shade lighter with the first gray streaks touching her temples. Arista had retained her youthful appearance, but the trace distention of her stomach was a giveaway to the onset of her first pregnancy–an otherwise joyous announcement overshadowed by the tragedy of Melody's party.
None of them looked remotely happy at being there. Or with their father's request.
King Triton sat on his throne flanked by Sebastian and Urchin, the trident resting in its pedestal. The king looked as tired as his advisor and captain, all of them suffering a lack of sleep and persistent anxiety. Both Triton and Urchin's beards looked unkempt and tangled. Triton swore he felt new wrinkles actively forming under his beard. Urchin wavered slightly as exhaustion toyed with his balance. Even the red of Sebastian's shell seemed dulled by the stress.
"Girls, please," pleaded Triton tiredly. "This is not my first choice either, but it's best for all of you."
"I am not going on land!" snapped Attina, looking just as angry as her father did when his temper broke. "I'm staying right here!"
"This is our home!" said Adella from the back. "We won't leave it!"
"You always said you'd never give in to threats, daddy!" said Aquata, swimming up to join Attina. "And we're not going to either! We won't be scared out of the sea!"
Triton pinched the bridge of his nose. Why he ever thought this would go smoothly he did not know. He expected some resistance, but not blatant unanimous refusal. This was like arguing with six teenage Ariels at once, one of which was pregnant and about as easy to negotiate with as a barracuda with a toothache.
"Your highnesses, be reasonable," said Urchin. "It's not safe here for you or your families right now. Think about their safety. Especially you, Arista."
"You stay out of this, Urchin!" snapped the blonde mermaid. Urchin shrunk back slightly, wary of the quick temper the princess had inherited from her father and the havoc her new hormone balance was likely creating with it.
"Listen to de merman, girls!" said Sebastian, swimming up to rest on the arm of the throne. "We're not asking you to stay out of de ocean forever. Just till dis all washes over. Tink of it as an extended vacation! A chance to spend time wit Ariel! Once tings are safer you can all come back!"
"I'm not leaving you and dad to take care of this alone!" said Attina defiantly. "I'm going to be queen one day, remember? I can't be intimidated into swimming off to some random beach because of the threats of a sea witch and her sharkanian lackeys!"
A murmur of agreement came from her sisters.
Triton took several deep breaths, trying to keep his frayed temper from snapping. "I understand your point, Attina, and normally I'd agree with you. But there is nothing normal about this situation. We don't know what sort of enemy we're facing or how strong their forces are. And Seahaven is not some randombeach. You were just there. I've already spoke with Ariel and Eric, and they've agreed to take you all in."
"That was an evening on the shore!" said Adella. "What you're talking about is something completely different!"
"Why land?" asked Alana. "You said yourself that Eric and Ariel have their own problems to deal with! Isn't there somewhere in the sea we could go? Why would the land be any safer?"
"Because land is not where Morgana and Ursula are," answered Triton.
"And I'm supposed to feel safe there after what happened to the prince?" asked Arista sarcastically.
"Arista!" exclaimed Attina and Aquata.
Just like with humans, there is a limit to how much stress and backtalk a merman or mermaid can take. And when that limit is reached, they snap just like a human does. And after everything that happened in the past week and before, combined with his daughters digging their fins in the sand, Triton reached his and boiled over like an unattended pot.
"That is enough!" Triton bellowed, banging his fist on the throne so hard Sebastian bounced up into the water. All of the princesses flinched, still wary of their father's wrath as adults. Even Urchin shied back from the throne as Triton pushed himself out of it, snatching the trident as he rose. The forks glowed bright in response to his anger.
"This is not a request!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the throne room and beyond. "I am still your father and king, and as long as you are in this ocean you will obey my rules! I will not have my family added to the body count of those witches! You and your families are going to Seahaven and that…is…final!"
Six princesses, one crab, and a battle-scarred merman looked at the king as though he had sprouted a second head. Had King Triton, ruler of Atlantica, commander and chief of all the oceans, formerly known for his hatred towards humans and the surface world, just ordered his own daughters to take their families onto land? King Triton, who spent the majority of his life preaching the dangers of the land and humans like a broken record? Who even now avoided the surface as much as possible?
Triton stayed upright for a moment, his face flushed and muscles bulging with his anger. It seemed his bracers might snap off if his forearms flexed any more. Then he deflated like a balloon. He sank back into his throne as though he had been dropped, the trident becoming quiet in his hand. He pressed his palm to his forehead, shoulders stooped with the weight of his kingly duties and fatherly concern.
"I'm sorry, girls." he said, the fire gone from his voice. He sounded like a tired old merman instead of a king. "I don't mean to shout. I simply…"
Triton gave up finishing his sentence and sighed. Attina swam over to him, genuinely concerned by what she was witnessing. She had never seen her father in such a state. He was always the picture of vitality and leadership even under pressure. To see him weighed down like this was not just strange. It was scary. Triton turned to her. She could see wrinkles on his face that had not been there before, and dark half-moons under his eyes. Had he always looked this old?
"Father, be honest," said Attina. "We've all heard the rumors, but how bad is it? Really?"
"Honestly?" Triton gave a tired sigh. "It has never been worse in your lifetime."
He swam over to his daughters, Attina, Urchin, and Sebastian following close behind. Attina went to join her sisters while Sebastian settled onto the floor beside them, Urchin remaining by his king's side. The princesses looked at their father with eyes filled with questions he had no answers for. Triton remembered when they were small enough for him to hold in one hand. They were not babies anymore. Not even children. They were grown mermaids with children of their own. Somehow it all passed in the blink of an eye.
"I know we have faced conflicts in Atlantica before. Several of them thanks to your baby sister," Triton said, remembering Ariel's "adventures" as a teenager. "But this is not a mere conflict we are facing. This could become a war. You girls were fortunate to not experience war growing up, and I hoped our family never would. That may no longer be possible. Whoever is behind this is more powerful than any foe we've ever faced."
The girls looked between themselves, clearly disturbed by their father's words. Atlantica had its share of powerful enemies, and they always considered Morgana and Ursula to be foremost among them. For there to be anyone or anything that could surpass them was frightening if not unbelievable.
Triton put his arms around his daughters, his span still large enough to do so. "You girls are the most precious gifts your mother gave me, and I would give my life to protect all of you. I wish I could leave this war in Sebastian and Urchin's hands and claws so I could devote myself to your safety. But I'm a king as well as your father. I can't abandon my duties to Atlantica and our people. If there were another way I would do it. But if something happened to even one of you…no, I cannot even imagine it."
He released them and lowered himself to their eye level. "I am asking you, as your father who loves you more than you could ever know, please go to Seahaven. For my sake as well as your own."
For a long while no one said anything. The princesses shifted nervously as they took in their father's words. The silence was becoming unbearable when someone finally spoke.
"I'll go."
Everyone looked to Andrina. The pink-tailed mermaid was usually the talker in the group, but this was the first time she had spoken since they arrived. She swam over to her father's side so she could face her sisters.
"Dad's right," said Andrina. "This isn't like one of Ariel's adventures gone awry. We all remember how dangerous the sea witches were. Ursula tricked hundreds of our people into becoming her slaves, and she tried to take the trident plenty of times. Morgana came closer than anyone else to actually doing it–and not once, but twice. If they really are back, then I want my family as far away from them as possible. Even if it means going on land."
Andrina looked down, biting her lip as her hands tightened. "I don't like the idea any more than the rest of you. To be honest, it feels like I'm swimming away to hide. Like I'm being a coward. But if it means keeping my family safe then that's what I'll do."
The princesses looked at the floor, letting their sister's words sink in as they wavered between refusal and acceptance.
"I'll go too," said Aquata.
"Me three," said Alana.
"The kids are going to hate this, but we'll do it," added Adella.
Attina sighed in defeat. "I'm still against this, but I'll go."
Arista pulled a face and crossed her arms. "Fine…I'll do it."
Triton gave a sigh of relief. "Thank you. I promise we'll rid the ocean of this menace and have you back home as quickly as possible. And you won't be going alone. Sebastian will accompany you."
"Of course, your majesteeeeeeeeeee!?" The crab's eyes bulged. "Wait, me!? But-but-but…your majesty!"
Triton looked down at Sebastian. "I need someone to keep an eye on them and the situation on land. You're the best crab for the job."
"Well, dat's true but…what about de kingdom!?" exclaimed Sebastian as he swam up to face Triton. "Who's gonna be your advisor and make sure everyting stays in order?"
"Urchin and I will have to make do."
"But sire–!"
Triton scooped Sebastian up with his hand and brought him closer. "Sebastian, you are my most trusted advisor and one of my closest friends. You looked after my daughters and then their children as though they were your own. Next to Urchin, there's no one else I could ask to do this. I'm asking you, not as your king but as your friend, if you would watch over them for me one more time."
Sebastian turned to the princesses. They might have been all grown up now, but to him they were still "de girls." He could remember when they were all newborns, barely even able to swim. He was there when they took their first swim, spoke their first words, had their first heartbreaks, met their true loves, and introduced their own children. He had been with them from the start, and he had already sworn to himself he would be with them to the end.
The little red crab held himself a little bit taller as he turned back to Triton. "Sire, it would be my honor."
Trident smiled proudly at the crab. "Thank you, my dear friend."
The crab quickly swam over to Urchin. "Now den, come with me, mon. If you're gonna be advising de king, dere's some tings you gotta know. First, when you polish de king's crown…"
The merman and crab wandered to the edge of the throne room and left.
"So…when do we go?" asked Aquata.
"Six weeks," answered Triton. "Right before the Seahaven Festival. That will give you time to tell your families and make preparations."
"I hate to ask the obvious," said Attina, "but how are we going onto land? Are you going to change all of us when the time comes?"
"Not exactly." Triton clapped his hands. An octopus swam out from behind one of the pillars carrying a large coral tray with eight colored jade rings on it. Six rested atop small woven sea grass bags while two lay alone. The princesses quickly noticed at least one ring matched the color of their tails. There was one sea green ring that was a perfect match to Ariel's tail. The only ring that was out of place was a dark blue one.
"I had these specially made," said Triton as he took the tray from the octopus. "I think you can guess which ones are yours. And take the bags underneath as well."
The mermaids hesitantly picked up their rings. They were perfectly smooth and circular. Attina slipped her reddish-orange ring onto her middle finger. It was several sizes too large. Immediately the ring gave a faint golden glow and shrunk until it formed a perfect fit. Then the glow faded away, leaving only the polished stone surface. She gave it a few pulls to remove it, but it refused to come free.
She looked to her sisters. They were either putting their own rings on or trying to remove them with the same difficulty. Attina gave a few more pulls before the ring grudgingly came free. She turned her attention to the sea grass bag. She rolled it in her hand and felt three rings inside. Enough for her husband and their two children.
"What are these?" she asked, holding the ring up to the light. It sparkled like solid fire between her fingers.
"You remember the spell I put on Melody's locket so she could become a mermaid?" said Triton. "These rings will do the opposite."
"You mean…we'll become human?" asked Alana, her eyes wide with surprise.
Triton nodded. "The principles are the same as well. The spell only works if you are completely out of the water. If you go back in, you will return to your true forms." He picked up the green and dark blue rings and handed them to Attina. "Give these to Ariel and Eric when you see them."
"Why would they need one these?" asked Attina.
"For escape."
"Escape? From what?"
"I want you all to listen closely," said Triton. The six princesses turned their attention back to their father. "There is a reason I'm giving you these instead of changing you all directly. You will be safe with your sister, but that does not mean the land is harmless. As Alana said, Ariel and Eric have been dealing with their own problems. Given what's happened, those may be part of Morgana's plans as well. We may not fear the surface as we once did, but it still has its unique dangers. If at any time it becomes too dangerous for you to remain on land, I want all of you to return here immediately. That includes Ariel, Eric, and Melody. Without these rings…well, I don't have to tell you what would happen."
The mermaid's looked at their rings. The thought that these beautiful stones could mean the difference between life and death detracted from their beauty. They suddenly felt heavier in their hands, as though their true purpose added a burden to them.
Triton watched as his daughters investigated the contents of their bags and the rings. They chatted quietly among themselves, sharing their hesitation, anxiety, and excitement with each other. To his side he heard Sebastian starting to lecture Urchin on how not to polish the trident.
Triton wondered when he would be able to see his daughters again once they left. A part of him wondered if he ever would.
Evening settled over Seahaven. The sun burned the sky orange as it began its descent out of the heavens. Down in the streets the crowds had thinned. People scurried to finish their last errands before going home. Shopkeepers were already starting to prepare for closing. The day guards were switching out with the night shift, returning to their homes, their favorite drinking spot, or the palace.
The sounds of a growing and lively night crowd could be heard from the Mermaid's Trove. The din got louder for a brief moment as the door opened.
"Aw, c'mon!" called a drunken male voice from inside. "Shtick 'round 'n hhhave a 'rink wiffus."
The traveler exited the building, its cloak wrapped tight around its body and the hood left down. "Maybe next time! And you should skip that drink you're holding! Any more and you'll be dancing on the table!"
"If someone'll do the shinging an' the mushic then I'll do the…the…dancing!" The tavern erupted into laughter as the drunk man broke into his inebriated version of a jig. Moments later the singing and music started in earnest.
The traveler smiled and shook its head before closing the door, the sounds of the tavern muffled behind the thick timbers. It gave its cloak a quick adjustment and headed off towards the plaza. It would make sure to put its shemagh and goggles back on before it got to the orphanage. There was a metallic jingle to its stride as the day's earnings danced in its pocket with each step.
It had been a good day for the traveler. It had concerns John might give away its identity–something it wished it thought of before removing its hood. But after the man swore "on th' black heart o' me mother-in-law t' bury meself in me own grave" before giving up the traveler's identity, it put more trust in the man. He had been shocked when he saw the traveler's face. It took him a full minute to speak properly again. There had been a brief discussion about Richard discovering the traveler's identity, but the traveler reminded John that Richard never saw its face or heard its real voice or name (which the traveler did not give to John either). After more discussion John agreed to give the traveler a trial run as a bartender.
The first regulars had been confused to find someone new working the bar. Especially someone like the traveler. But it quickly got the hang of the job and was serving up drinks and chatting with customers like a true bartender by noon. John had been impressed to say the least and given the traveler the job. Even more discussion followed, and it was decided the traveler would work the bar at night starting the next day. It would be able to collect more tips that way, which would mean more for the orphanage. And because Sarah worked the day shifts, the traveler would be able to keep its identity hidden at the same time. It was not a lack of trust in its new friends that made it hesitate to reveal the truth to her. It was the hold that Richard still had over her and Isaac.
The traveler patted its pocket proudly, feeling the shape of the coins through the fabric. It was its first earnings in this new place. And for once it had earned a wage without swinging its sword at someone. It liked this job already.
A commotion near the plaza fountain caught the traveler's attention. People were gathering around an elegant white carriage parked alongside the water feature. A group of guards carrying long spears surrounded it. An tall and scrawny elderly man with an unusually narrow and serious face stood on top of the carriage. He waved his hands for silence, an official looking scroll in his right hand.
A pair of young boys raced past the traveler. "Come on!" said the leader. "Grimsby's gonna announce the king's decision on the festival!"
"I hope he didn't cancel the tournament!" added his companion as they disappeared into the crowd.
The traveler's interest was immediately piqued. It heard no shortage of talk about the Seahaven Festival that day. The tavern patrons could not keep hopeful excitement from creeping into their voices when they spoke of it. They described endless rows of colored tents in fields. Performances by magicians, dancers, and entertainers from far and wide attracting crowds young and old. And the centerpiece of it all was the Tournament of Champions.
The traveler had never been to a festival. War-torn and poverty-stricken lands like the east were no place for such things. It secretly wanted to go as much as the boys did. Apparently, there had been concerns it might be cancelled this year. Something to do with an incident at the palace.
"May I have your attention, please," said the man on the carriage, his voice carrying over the noise of the crowd remarkably well. The chattering quickly fell away. "Thank you. I, Grimsby, royal advisor to their majesties King Eric and Queen Ariel, bring you–."
"Skip the speech, Grimsby!" shouted a man in the crowd. "I'll be old as you by the time you're finished!"
A peal of laughter and agreements went through the crowd. Grimsby adjusted his collar, his annoyance at being interrupted evident.
"Well, if you insist." He unfurled the scroll, looking down his nose to read it. The traveler wondered how he saw much of anything with that on his face. "As I was saying, I have a message from their majesties concerning the Seahaven Festival and the Tournament of Champions."
Excited whispering came from the crowd. The change in mood was tangible to the traveler, accented by a tension and nervousness. Some people were crossing their fingers while others rubbed whatever good-luck talisman they had chosen.
"In light of recent events, the king and queen have decided that the Seahaven Festival…" Grimsby paused for a moment, getting a spot of revenge on the crowd for the earlier disruption. They watched him with tense anticipation, collectively holding their breaths.
The traveler was just as anxious as they were. "Please don't be canceled. Please don't be canceled. Please don't be cancelled."
"…Will take place in seven weeks as originally planned," Grimsby finally revealed.
The crowd let out a collective sigh of relief and excited cheers. Even the traveler let go of a tense breath it had not realized it was holding.
"The tournament!" shouted a boy. "What about the tournament?"
"I am getting to that!" snapped Grimsby. "Honestly, the impatience of some people! As for the Tournament of Champions, it will also be taking place as planned."
There was more cheering from the crowd.
"However, the following changes have been made." The cheering disappeared as quickly as it had started. "One: the qualifications for admittance to the Champion's Round have been raised. These qualifications will be made clear at the preliminary events for anyone wishing to participate. Two: entry into the Champion's Round will be given only to competitors who meet the qualification requirements for all of the preliminary events."
There were groans from the crowd, mostly from hopeful competitors.
The traveler's curiosity was in full swing now. Based on what it heard in the tavern, getting to the Champion's Round was hard enough already. Why such drastic changes? With these new "qualifications" the mega-schnoz was declaring, getting to the Champion's Round would be even more difficult. Only the very best would stand a chance of competing before the king and queen, not to mention winning the prize money and the glory of victory.
The traveler seriously started considering entering the tournament. It was an excellent fighter, and it felt its chances of winning were good. The prize money would go a long way towards settling the orphanage's debt. And this would not be like a fighter's tournament back east. The closest thing to this back there was underground fighting rings and gladiator events where men slaughtered each other for money. An honest competition between fellow fighters would be…
The traveler stopped itself. It had not traveled countless miles through worm-riddled deserts and snow-covered mountains just so it could go back to fighting. The whole reason it came west was to never fight again. It had spilled enough blood and broken enough bones. Yet hearing about the tournament still stirred the warrior inside it, and the hope of finding a truly strong opponent to cross swords with. It turned to leave, wanting to get away before it was tempted further.
"Three: the prize for the tournament has been raised to six thousand gold coins. The winner takes all."
The traveler froze amidst the astonished gasps of the crowd.
"And finally, the winner of the tournament will..."
It no longer heard Grimsby's words or the excited murmurs running through the crowd. The number kept ringing in its ears. Six thousand gold coins. Six thousand gold coins. The winner would take it all. As in the winner of the tournament got six thousand gold coins all to themselves.
The traveler could not believe it, but knew its keen hearing was not wrong. This was more like divine will than coincidence. With its own jewels and gold, that was more than enough to cover the debt. With it gone, Sarah could go back to school. Isaac could finally see a proper doctor and return to the sea. The children could have a proper home, and food on the table each night, and clothes that were not more patchwork than their original fabric. They could even go to school. All it would take was one tournament.
But getting the money would mean going back to fighting. The traveler had done more than enough of that in its life. More than most people imagined a person could do. It could paint a red path across the desert with all the blood it spilled. The tournament would only add to its sins.
Or would it? This was not a fight for itself. This was for Sarah, Isaac, and the orphans. The traveler remembered their awe-struck face as it recounted fighting off the worms in front of the stove. It may have been the light from the candles, but it could have sworn there was a flicker of hope in their eyes. A hope that this wanderer had come to save them from Richard's tyranny, like a valiant knight in a story.
WHAM!
The traveler made no attempt to block Gin's fist, taking it square in the side of its face. It went reeling back into the wall, tasting blood in its mouth and unable to feel the right side of its jaw save the throbbing.
"You think I care about your excuses!? Or the truth!?" shouted Gin, his face flushing red as he drove the heel of his boot into the traveler's stomach. "You thought you had blood on your hands before, but now you're drowning in it! How dare you show your face here after…after…!"
Gin gave an angry shout and kicked the traveler again, causing it to curl up in a ball as the wind was driven from it. It slid down the wall clutching its middle. "You murdered my sons! They're dead because of you! You heathen! You monster!"
The traveler raised its head as Gin stepped back, looking up at him with hollow eyes. Blood leaked from its lips, but it made no effort to wipe it away. It hardly felt the physical pain amidst the turmoil inside.
Gin reached for his sword. Though he gripped the hilt with furious strength he did not draw. His hand shook with increasing violence, until with a cry he drew it and threw it across the room, embedding the end deep in the wall.
The traveler said nothing as it wiped the blood off its mouth, sliding upright against the wall. Gin stormed to the back of the house, returning with the traveler's pack. He threw it at the traveler hard. It caught it with one hand.
"Everything's still there," said Gin. "Last I heard they haven't found any bodies at the epicenter, so the story going around is you're dead too. Fact is I'm still a bookman and I owe you one, so I'll keep my mouth shut. Make use of that and get as far away from here as you can!"
The traveler clenched its hands. "Gin, I–."
"No!" barked Gin. "Don't you say anything! I don't want to hear another word out of you!"
Gin opened the door, turning his back to the traveler. "As of this moment we're even and done! You're as dead to me as you are to everyone else! Now get out and don't ever come back, because if I see you again, I swear I'll kill you!"
The traveler opened its mouth to speak but closed it. There was nothing it could say to make this right. There never would be. It slung on its pack and walked out the door, noticing the tremor in Gin's arm as it walked by. It was barely across the threshold before the door slammed shut behind it. Gin's tortured shouts of grief grew fainter as the traveler started to run, wanting to get away from the sound.
The traveler bit its lip, struggling with the dilemma. Did it let this chance go by and keep its oath intact? Or did it break the vow for a gamble at setting one injustice right?
Its hand strayed up to its pendant. It could feel the warmth it gave off, seeping into its fingertips as it rolled the glass between them.
"Not doing what's right when you have the chance is worse than doing nothing at all," it muttered quietly. "That's what you'd both say, right?"
The traveler clutched the pendant tight. The wavering in its conviction stilled. This was not something it should do. This was something it had to do. If there was one chance, one sliver of opportunity to help these people, then it had to take it. Even if it meant breaking a promise to itself. It would take up the sword and return to the battlefield. It would fight one last time, and then it was done for good. Only this time, it would be fighting for someone other than itself.
But if the traveler were to win this tournament, it would need the coming seven weeks to prepare. It knew the limit of its skills. Years of nonstop fighting and its father's rigorous training had set them far above the common swordsman, but that was no excuse to slack off. Overconfidence was a deadly poison. It could not just win this. It needed to make this a full-blown victory, and that meant two things.
First would be training. And it knew just the sort of training to do. It would be grueling, tiring, and undoubtedly painful. It was not meant for normal people. But if it meant those children and their guardians could smile without care at the end of the day then no amount of training was too much.
Second, it would mean taking down Richard. Paying off the debt was good and all, but Richard would not back off so easily. Thieves and blackmailers like him never changed their ways, and simply settling a money issue would not end his torments on Sarah or her family. If the traveler wanted to end this, it needed to bring him down permanently. And it would take more than a sword to finish Richard.
The traveler tapped the shoulder of a man at the edge of the crowd. "Excuse me? Hey! Excuse me?"
The man turned to face the traveler. He jumped when he saw the traveler's face. "Can I…uh…help you?"
"I hope so," said the traveler. "Do you know where the nearest blacksmith is?"
A/N: An opportunity has presented itself. The fate of the traveler's new friends rests in its hands. But in order to save them it must hold its sword in the other one. A sword drenched in the lives it has taken and a history rich in strife and death. Does wielding a sword once for justice take away a sin? Or are the stains of the past too bloody to ever remove?
DISCLAIMER: I do not own "The Little Mermaid," Disney, or any of its associated characters and intellectual property. Everything else, however, is mine =)
