.............Captain Roland, 20 June 1437 SR.........
Today we went on board Galatea with Captain Eloi. He took us all over
the Ship, and finished by giving us a lunch in his Cabin. Mrs. Candida
and the Twins were with us, but they have been on Galatea many times,
and have even sailed on her.
She (for so I must learn to call her) is nothing like the ships that
bore us to Sardara in January. She is Majestic in her size; rocking
gently at Anchor in the deep Channel, she looms over all other ships.
Captain Eloi is very proud of Galatea. "My Father had her Keel laid
when I was a lad," he said. "He designed her himself, and saw to every
inch of her, and I was with him through it all. I know every plank,
every spike, every peg that made her. I saw the trees felled that are
her Masts, saw the Canvas woven that is her Sails." As he spoke he
touched the rail, and stroked it as another man might stroke a Horse.
Mrs. Candida smiled at him and said, "You are wed to this ship, Eloi, just as your Father was."
He laughed. "Mother, do not fear. I will wed a woman one day, when I meet one I can love as I love this Lady."
She is a Galleon, I learn, and though she is by far the greatest Ship
in Haikan, she is also the swiftest, as swift as the Wind. I heard
talk of the Mainmast, and the Foremast, of Lateen sails. We walked on
the Quarterdeck, and the Poop. We stood on the Forecastle and felt the
ship rise and fall. Every surface that can be Painted is, everything
that can be Polished glitters like Gold in the Sunshine.
She sits in the place of Honour in the Channel, occupying the first
Berth, so that she may sail before any other Ship. The Channel is very
narrow, kept so to prevent any Enemy ships from riding Upriver except
in Line.
Downriver there is another, smaller, Anchorage, where the ships of the
Emperor's Navy are berthed. Ships coming upriver must take on a Pilot
when they reach this place, though the Pilot is not needed to guide the
ship. He is rather an Official of the Emperor, who tallies up the
Taxes due on the Cargo, and collects the Fees that each ship pays to
Anchor at the Docks.
The Channel is watched every hour of the Day and Night, lest some enemy
dare to come up unknown. The Channel could be blocked very easily,
like any Gate it may keep an Enemy out, but it may be shut from
Outside, and those inside Besieged. And every Ship that leaves Haikan
has to pass the Navy yard, as well. No ship may leave without a Pilot
on Board, who alone can grant the Permit to sail, and who is taken off
by a Navy boat as an outgoing Ship sails out to the Sea.
It seems there is a Prize offered each year by the Merchants of Haikan,
a purse of Gold for the first Ship returning from the Spice Groves with
the new Crop. Sixteen years of the past twenty, Captain Eloi and the
Galatea have won the Prize.
A crew of ten score Men man her, but as she rides at Anchor she carries
only a skeleton crew. Men are painting, and repairing sails, but most
of the crew is ashore. Sergeant Axelder struck up a deep conversation
with the Bosun's Mate, and Legolas went up into the rigging.
"He climbs like one of those Monkeys from the jungle," a sailor said, admiringly. "I never saw the like of it!"
............Legolas, 20 June 1437 SR......
..................Ever has my Heart been given to the Green things, the
Trees and Forests of this Middle Earth. But I learned today that I can
love, at first Sight, something made by Men. Surely there is more than
Craft in the creation of a thing so Fine as the Galatea? The moment my
foot touched her Deck, I thought that here was the Place for me.
I felt as though I knew her already. I walked about her with Captain
Eloi and the others and I could hear her Speaking to me, her voice
soft, whispering beneath theirs. Touching the rail, the Cabin walls,
even, I was touching a living Thing.
Up into the rigging. The motion that is as nothing when I stood upon
the Deck was much increased by being up at the Crow's nest. The ship
quivers, as a Horse does when at the starting line of a Race. I
thought if I stepped off into the Air, I would soar with the Gulls, and
swoop down upon my friends on the Deck, landing like a Bird. Seldom
has my heart been moved so quickly, at such short Acquaintance!
I do not know what the Men wish to do, when we have either seen or not
seen this Emperor. But I know what I wish to do..............
............Captain Roland, 22 June 1437 SR........
This has been a day of Incident, from beginning to end. During the
very early hours, before the Sun rose, I heard some bustle in the rooms
below and when we went down to Breakfast we learned that Zeke had died
during the Small hours.
Captain Eloi had been summoned. The old man had roused, and made his nurse understand that he wanted Eloi.
"When I went in," Captain Eloi said, "he tried very hard to speak to
me, poor old fellow. But all he could say was my name, more or less.
He was very agitated, and kept pointing here and there in the room.
At last I picked up the thing he wanted, his stick. And when I gave
it to him, wondering what he could want with it, he gave it back to me,
with such signs as I took to understand that he wanted me to have it."
He had it in his hands, turning it about. "I took it, of course,
since he wished it. Only moments later he breathed his last. It is a
fine stick, you see, trimmed quite richly with Ivory and Gold, but I
have no use for such a thing."
This was sad news, but not unexpected. Zeke's body was to be taken
that morning by the men of the Sailors' Guild. They will see to his
Cremation, to be paid for by the Gold earring he wore, as do most
Sailors. When next he sails, Captain Eloi will cast Zeke's ashes upon
Cerula's waves.
"What of Blanco?" Trooper Anborn said.
"Well, " Mrs. Candida answered, " somehow I have become quite used to the Dog. "
Lucina laughed. "Used to the Dog? Mother! You cannot carry tidbits
about in your Pocket for him and call the him pet names and then say
you are only 'quite used' to the Dog!"
Mrs. Candida smiled. "No, I suppose not, my dear. At any rate he
seems at Home with us, and as he is a very well-behaved dog, he may
stay."
Then her demeanor changed, and suddenly she looked worn and sad.
"There is a notice on the Corner post, and the Crier has been in the
street, that there is to be an Execution tomorrow."
Captain Eloi frowned, and the Twins looked distressed. "Oh, no," Leandra said.
Captain Eloi said, looking at us, "It is the Duty of all to attend
these Events when they are held in our home District. Each time, the
killing takes place in a different District Square, and tomorrow it is
our misfortune. And I hate to say it, but all Visitors are expected to
attend as well."
This was most disconcerting. To be ordered to attend an Execution? I asked for the Reason.
"It is the will of the Emperor," Mrs. Candida said. "'Tis no common
Criminal who is to be put to Death, but a man who was found to be
plotting Treason."
"Treason!" Captain Eloi's voice was thick with Disgust. "Some poor Fool who dared---:
"Eloi!" Mrs. Candida said sharply. "Eloi. It is the Law."
He shook his head. "I know, Mother. But these Executions for Treason are becoming as Common as Gull droppings."
"And if we do not go?" Sergeant Daeron asked.
Mrs. Candida looked miserable. "It would-it would cause trouble for us, I'm afraid."
"Then of course we will obey the Emperor's will," I said.
Legolas went with Eloi to the Ship, and Ephaz and I walked up to the
Market. The other Men were here and there, some attending to our
Horses, some looking out their gear and mending what needed mending.
The two Sergeants were out together, as usual, on some Pursuit of
their own. The Inn was quiet when I returned, and I saw Mrs. Candida
seated in her office with some fellow, looking over her Accounts.
I went to my room and must have dozed off, for I was sleeping soundly
in the Midday heat when I was roused by someone knocking on my door.
"Captain Roland, Captain Roland!" Lucina's voice. "Captain Roland, it's here, it's here!"
Rather sleepily I stumbled out of bed to the door. "What's here?" I asked.
"The Letter from the Palace!" she cried. "The Letter from the Palace for you!"
I soon went downstairs and saw a most Amazing Sight. Standing in the
Lobby was a Personage, a very tall, thin man, completely Bald, dressed
all in Purple and Gold, and looking about himself with utter Disdain.
Mrs. Candida was standing in the doorway of her Office with the man I
had seen earlier, and Legolas and Sergeant Daeron were in the Lobby as
well. Both Legolas and Daeron were holding packages wrapped in Purple
silk tied up with ribbons of Cloth of Gold, and as I came across the
Lobby, the Personage held one out to me.
Captain Eloi came in just then with Axelder, and lo and behold, the
Personage handed them packages as well. Not a word did he utter in my
hearing. He now turned about and swept out and down the stairs to
where his Sedan Chair waited. The bearers were even taller than he,
huge fiercely mustachioed men. I remembered the fellows who had been
in Minas Tirith with Sir Amsat Khan, they were such as these, shaven of
head, tattooed, and savage looking, armed with Spears, and Scimitars.
We all stood for a time, as if turned to Stone.
"What I want to know," Sergeant Daeron said, holding his package as if
it was a Snake about to strike, "is how did that Bird know who we are?
See, this has my Name on it, that one says Legolas, and how in Thunder
did he know? Not a word did he say, not a word!"
"Yes," Sergeant Axelder said. "And mine is addressed in Haradlin, and yours in Quenya."
Captain Eloi began to unwrap his. There must have been three or four
fathoms length of silk wrapping, it fell in shimmering folds as he
turned the package over and over. Mrs. Candida caught it up, so that
it did not touch the floor, and wound the Golden ribbon about her
fingers..
Inside was a rolled paper, like a Scroll, and it was printed in Gold
and Purple on paper even more Exquisite than that used by Sir Hirgon.
"His Majesty Maquinna, Emperor of Khand, Suzerain of the Spice Groves,
Monarch of the Waves of the Ocean Cerula, and Source of All
Righteousness, Most Beloved of his People, Defender of the Realm, does
most Earnestly Desire that Eloi son of Eliphaz Attend the Court on the
25 Day of June in the Year 5435 K. A. at the Hour of the Sun opening
the Second Quadrant. It will be his Pleasure to Admit you into the
Light of his Presence.," read Captain Eloi.
We opened our Letters in Turn, one at a Time; the letters were
Identical, except that they were written in our Mother tongues. Like
Daeron, I wondered how the Messenger had known who we all were, except
for Legolas, of course. The Emperor's system of Espionage went up a
Notch in my Estimation.
Sergeant Axelder folded the Purple silk and the Golden ribbon that had
wrapped his Summons, for so the invitation must be called, and he
handed it with a bow to Leandra. "Here, Miss Leandra," he said, "this
would make a Pretty scarf for your hair."
She gasped in horror. "Oh, no, no! No one but the Emperor or one of
his Court may wear Purple! " She would not even take the cloth from
him, but stood with her hands behind her back. "Sergeant, I cannot
take it! "
"What am I to do with it?" he asked, puzzled.
"You are to Treasure it," Mrs. Candida said. "Eloi's will become an Heirloom of our House."
Sergeant Axelder whistled. "You don't say! Are they so Precious, then?"
"They are," Captain Eloi said. "You must re-wrap your Invitation, so,
and when we present ourselves at the Gate, you must hand it in that
state to the Guard. You will be given it back, of course, when you
leave."
The man who had been visiting Mrs. Candida was introduced to us as
Trader Morlock. "An old friend of the Family," Mrs. Candida said, but
there was little warmth in her Voice. He made some effusive Compliment
about the Honour we had all been shown in being Summoned to Court, but
he could not Disguise the Envy in his voice.
He bowed and smiled, and drew Captain Eloi away. The two Sergeants and
Legolas and I went upstairs to the Parlour that had been set aside for
our use.
"So," Sergeant Daeron said.
"We get to meet this Emperor, eh? Axelder, did we not make
a Wager on this very subject?"
Axelder laughed. "I will pay up, friend Daeron, when we leave the Emperor and get those Invitations back."
Daeron nodded. "Yes, there is
many a slip twixt the cup and the lip, as they say. But I don't
know what could prevent us now."
Legolas sat looking out the window at the Sky, a thing he does a lot of. "I wish something would," he said.
"Well," I said, "the Emperor is one thing. But what of this Execution
business? I don't wish to go see some poor wretch put to death! How
do they do it, anyway? Hanging?"
Sergeant Axelder grimaced. "If he was a common Felon, yes. But this
fellow is a Traitor, and it's the Thousand Knives for him, I'm afraid."
"Then that is a true thing!
Not a traveler's tale!" I exclaimed. "And we must
stand and watch? That is Barbaric!"
Axelder shrugged and took out his pocket knife and began paring his
nails. "If he is Lucky, he will get an Executioner who will take Gold
to cut his Wrists quickly. If he is not Lucky, or too poor,
well.......".........
Chapter Eight:
...........Captain Roland, 23 June 1437 SR........
May I never see such a thing as the Thousand Knives again. Evidently
the wretch had not been Lucky or rich, for no merciful cut ended his
Sufferings, and it took him half the Day to die.
The folk of this city made a Festival of it, with hawkers of all sorts
of Wares moving about in the Crowd. We could purchase Pies and Sweets,
and Ginger Beer, if we wished to Refresh ourselves. Groups of
soldiers in the Livery of the Emperor stood about here and there,
watching the Crowd. We stayed as far from the thing as we could, and
Mrs. Candida and the Twins kept their faces entirely covered and I hope
they could see Nothing. But Veils could not have shut out the screams.
There is no Air in this Place. The Emperor seems to use it all, in
some Fashion. When we returned to the Inn I came up here to my chamber
and wished myself away. Anywhere but here. And I am not alone.
Captain Eloi is urgent in trying to persuade his Mother to take ship
with him, and leave Haikan. She demurs, but I sense her resolve is
weakened, after this morning. The man we met yesterday, Trader
Morlock, has repeatedly offered to buy the Inn from her, Eloi says, and
he is offering a very fair price.
"I wish I could make Mother see," Captain Eloi said to me, over a glass
of wine later. "There is no reason for her to stay here. At one time
she said she would come with me when the Twins got married, but I think
she has given up the notion that they will ever Marry."
"Why not?" I asked, and I confess I was surprised to hear him say that.
It is not just their Beauty, although they are very Beautiful with
their Tawny skin and glossy Sable hair. But they are charming and
clever women, merry and lighthearted, each one would make any Man's
home a happy place should he be fortunate enough to win her heart.
He took a long swallow of wine. "My sisters and I are half-castes,
Roland. Few men of Haikan would marry such. None has offered, at any
rate. Were we Folk of high blood, well, it would not matter so much.
But we are not High."
"Where would you go?" I asked.
"Anywhere I like," he said. Then he smiled ruefully. "Cerula is a
very big Sea, Roland. I am a wealthy man, I could live on Cerula's
waves for the rest of my Days. I could take Mother back to Gondor, to
her old Home."
"There is no reason," I said, having thought for a space, "why you
could not Trade into Minas Tirith, as readily as into Haikan. King
Elessar is eager to open Trade Routes wherever they might be."
"I have thought of that," he said. "But I do not know if I could trade
into the Spice Groves, should I leave Haikan. However, it bears
looking into, does it not?" He looked up. "Here are the Two
Sergeants, Captain. They have been up to no good, by the looks of
them."
"Up to no good?" Axelder laughed. "Nay, nay, Eloi my friend. We have been exploring a bit, that's all."
"That old Curiosity, that never Idle Curiosity." Daeron said. "Tell
me, Eloi. Did you know that there is passage under this Inn that leads
to the Docks?"
Eloi frowned. "There was once, I know. My Great-grandfather had it
blocked up, many years ago, for it flooded and threatened the
foundations of the house."
"Someone has unblocked it, " Sergeant Axelder said. "For we have just
come through it." He went to the Door and looked up and down the
hallway, then came back and said, his voice low, "It is being used,
Eloi."
.............23 June 1437 SR. Legolas.........
It may be that there can be no way to kill a man that is not Vile. But
surely the Thousand Knives is the most Vile. If he was indeed a
Traitor, he was Punished.
There are hours of Light after our Dinner. I went down to Galatea and
walked about her Decks. The Sailors pay little attention to me, I am
often there, the last few days. As the Sun set, the water of the River
seemed to become a sheet of some glowing Metal, and looking down this
River to the Sea it is as if the water was a Road and one made only for
me.
It may be that I cannot sail with her as soon as I wish, for the Men
must be thought of. I cannot expect that the Men will want to go with
me, and I feel that it is my Duty to return to Minas Tirith with them,
and see my old friend the King. There are other ships, of course. In
Minas Tirith and Sardara are ships. But there is something about this
great Galleon, the way she sits like a Queen upon the Water, the feel
of her planks beneath my Feet.
We have looked into the Treatise on Protocol that was given us by Sir
Hirgon. There is much in it that is Odd, but as we are not Citizens of
the Khand, most of it does not apply to us. It is well that is so, as
I cannot see any of us Prostrating ourselves before the Emperor. I
daresay Captain Eloi will, though, and it causes me some discomfort to
think of that. The Emperor is only a Man, after all, though that Truth
is in the process of becoming a Lie in the City of Haikan. Capain
Eloi tells us there is a campaign underway to have him Elevated to a
Supernatural status, in other words, A God. When I asked Eloi who
was behind this Astonishing idea, he raised his mobile black Eyebrows
and shrugged. "It is to someone's benefit," he said. "And not
necessarily the Emperor's."
The ordinary Civility required of any Gentleman attending a Court is
all that will be required of us, except that we must not, upon any
Account, turn our Backs to the Emperor. This is ever a constraint of
any Court, but in this Court the Insult is regarded as Discourteous to
a Shocking degree.
King Elessar and King Eomer both require a high Standard of Courtesy in
their Courts. But the atmosphere in Elessar's court, and Eomer's
court, is one of Gentlemen among Gentlemen, albeit one takes Precedence
of Place due to his High birth and Station. King Darius requires a
more rigid Protocol, but even there , no man is expected to Debase
himself and Darius is possessed of a gentle Courtesy that sets all at
Ease. My Father is a King of Elves, of course, and the Notions of what
must prevail in the Manners of his People are very different from
anywhere else, except maybe for Lorien in the old days, or Rivendell
before Master Elrond went away.
Ah, well. I have been much about the World, and have seen a number of
Astonishing things, but there is always something New to be seen under
the Sun.
..............Captain Roland, 24 June 1437 SR..........
After breakfast I went with Captain Eloi and the two Sergeants down
into the Cellars of the Inn. Troopers Anborn and Gardez were stationed
in the Lobby, they were to Idle about, playing Chess or Cards, and keep
an Eye to Shamar the Barman's return from the Market. Everyone else
was carrying on their regular Duties, nothing out of the Ordinary could
be seen, should anyone come into the Inn.
The Cellars are cavernous, much larger than one would suppose. One end
is set up as a Wine Cellar, and the stairs we came down lead directly
to that part. There is a door, most ordinary, opening into the Storage
area, which is much larger, and which opens onto the Bricked courtyard
and thence to the Alley. But in the Wine Cellar, if one moves a Keg, a
curiously empty Keg, behind it one can see a door cunningly made to
look like the stone wall.
Behind that door is a Passage. The walls and ceiling are roughly
dressed stone, the floor is the sandy earth of the place, and it is
easily seen that water seeps from the walls and ceiling. There is
Damp, and the smell of mould. The passage slopes quite sharply down to
the Docks, and we could see little in the light of candles we carried
except the gleam of candlelight caught in Water on the walls and floor.
We walked down to where the Passage ended at a wall made of Wooden
planks. We stood quiet, and could hear people on the other side.
"This door opens into the shed behind the Customs House" Axelder said.
"Yesterday Daeron here and I were sitting upon a Bench near Galatea's
berth, taking the air, and we saw two fellows come out of the shed.
One was Shamar, the other his brother Farmat the Guard. When we had
left the Inn, they had both been in the Taproom. It seemed very curious
to see them come out, as we had not seen them go in. So, we thought we
would just take a wee look, like. And we find naught in there to
interest Anyone, just some old crates and bins."
"So," Daeron carried on, "we mooched about a bit, and what do we find? A door, that's what."
I laughed. "It is our Fate to
find doors, is it not? Just like the Blue Kingdom." A chill
went over me, at that.
We went back up to the Lobby and just as we did so, Shamar came in from
the street. He went on into the Taproom and we went out and down to
the Docks and went aboard Galatea. In Captain Eloi's cabin we carried
on our conversation.
"I don't understand it," Captain Eloi said. "Why do they come and go
in secret? They are free to come and go in the open, and they do so
commonly."
"There is some Mischief afoot," Sergeant Axelder said. "Thievery, most like."
"But of what?" Captain Eloi said. "Of our goods? My Mother keeps strict Accounts!
And if by some Cunning Shamar is stealing Coin, he could carry it out
on his person at any time, without going through some secret passage.
But again, my Mother's accounts are very, very careful. She has been
at this business for many years, and I doubt that he could get away
with much."
"Then he is not stealing from your Mother," Sergeant Daeron said.
Captain Eloi paced about in his Cabin. He is a large man, and his
pacing took up most of the Room. At last he said, "I wonder. I
wonder. I tell you what, Gentlemen, I will take another look in that
Passageway, myself."
"One of us will come with you," I said. "You ought not go alone."
He laughed. "I do not need a Nursemaid, Roland, but it shall be as you
like. We will do it tonight, when Shamar is busy in the Taproom.
Perhaps Anborn and Gardez and the others could take it upon themselves
to keep him very busy?"
"They are up to anything, those fellows," I said. "What do you think to find that we did not see today?"
"I am not sure. But we did not
look about us very carefully, did we? We looked only at the fact
that it is a passageway."
He said no more on that Head.
Sergeant Axelder is to go with him tonight, and the rest of us
will keep our Eyes upon Shamar.
I sought for Legolas, and found him on the Forecastle, polishing some
Brass, squatting beside a grizzled Seaman. He grinned at me as I came
upon them. "They are putting me to Work, you see," he said. "Keeping
this Lady's finery in order takes a lot of Doing."
He looked supremely Happy, it is his Nature to take each moment as it
comes; his eyes are keen, and his notions not overly nice, and he is
open to Experience. These qualities make him a good Companion on a
journey such as ours, and I felt a sudden realization of what a Friend
he had become.
He was Intrigued by the Passageway, of course, but had no Ideas to
offer on the Subject of what it might be used for. The First Mate came
by just then, and he and Legolas fell into conversation, as Legolas is
quickly picking up Seaman's Khandese and his intense interest in the
Ship makes the Sailors glad to talk to him.
It fell out that the Taproom of the House of the Two Mermaids was as
busy as we could have desired tonight. So busy that Shamar did not
disdain some help from Trooper Gardez, who volunteered to haul Kegs and
Jugs up from the Cellar. The rest of us except Sergeant Axelder sat
and drank and sang with the Crowd, and while we did not sup as much as
we appeared to, the singing was real enough.
About Midnight Axelder came in and sat with us, and we could see he was
big with News. Daeron and I soon followed him up to Captain Eloi's
parlour.
We left the door open, and Eloi spoke softly. "They are not stealing
from my Mother, as Axelder knew from the start, but they are stealing,
and they are hiding their takings down there. Near the door at this
end there are a couple of loose rocks, and when we shifted them, we
found as tidy a little nook as might be imagined, and in there a chest
and in the chest---Gold. The Emperor's Gold. For there are three
brothers, not just Shamar and Farmat, but Parmir as well. And Parmir
is a River Pilot, and I guess he is stealing from the Pilot fees and
Taxes."
Axelder spoke up. "There is a very great deal of Gold down there.
This has been going on for some time. There are other things as well,
Jewels and such."
"Yes," Eloi said. "People bribe the Palace Guards all the time, folk
are often Desperate to gain an audience with this Official or that.
Many Guards have become rich from Bribes, and I reckon Farmat is one
of them. By Thunder! I do not like it, that it is hid in my Mother's
house!"
"Why is it hid here, I wonder?" I asked.
"They all live in the next street," Eloi answered. " And they are
clever enough not to risk having it in their own homes. Should it be
found -well, what would it have to do with them? They could disclaim
all knowledge, and my Mother would be accountable." He drummed his
fingers upon his desk. "So they go on. Sneaking about. When a ship
berths, the Pilot disembarks with everyone else, one of a crowd. He
would easily be able to slip unnoticed into that shed, and so into the
passage. Likewise with Farmat. The Guards go everywhere, no one pays
them any attention."
We sat and waited for him to go on. At last he said, "I must convince Mother to sell up and leave this place!"
Axelder nodded. "I think you are right, Captain. After seeing what
they did to that poor wretch yesterday........" He stopped. "Well,
I'm for bed. We have this plaguey Emperor to visit tomorrow, and I
need my Beauty sleep."
