Kingdom Born

Chapter 17: The Man with Grey Eyes

"Ready?" Sanderson looked back at me as the ship glided gracefully into the harbour at Coveport.

I nodded my head but didn't turn around to acknowledge his presence. I relished the familiar feeling of anticipation as my armour creaked with each movement I made in the cool night air. Spring was finally here in Coveport. I could see the scattered shimmering torchlight from the docks reflected on the dark waters of the harbour. From here, as night masked the city's wretchedness, you could think that it was beautiful. I hardened my expression. Karl was in that hell hole. This campaign was the most important one I had ever been on. There was so much to be lost if we failed.

"Over the side, milady." Mitch offered a helping hand.

Taking his steady aid, I climbed down the woven rope ladder into the loaded dingy. Strong hands caught me about the waist and lowered me to the shifting bottom. Sanderson's wide grin shone white in the dim light. I settled myself on a narrow bench grateful that I took another small drink of the healer's herbs for sickness. My stomach was clenching and releasing spasmodically. I shifted as the sailors began to paddle toward the docks with swift even strokes. I touched the bag of small clay bottles that Mitch had pushed on me when we waited for the dingy to reach the water.

He had carefully packed each clay bottle with the gentleness of a mother with a newborn, "A little extra edge, for you. Just throw it at what ever you want and dive for cover."

"What does it do?"

"It kills anything it can touch, and burns anything that's near it."

"I'll dive for cover." I promised.

"Just make sure you bring back both lords." True concern was etched on Mitch's face.

"If the Goddess is willing."

"Steady now, men, we're coming close to the pier!" Sanderson whispered. He was dressed in black armour; breast plate, greaves, gauntlets and even his helm was the colour of night. No torchlight would gleam on him. I looked down at my serviceable leathers. No light would gleam off me either. We were ready.

"Get ready to jump. We'll be passing the wharf in a few seconds!" A sailor behind me, tossed a leather bag into the water and disappeared over the side. He had his own set of clay bottles.

Silently, he paddled away toward the huge warehouses at the end of the pier.

The dingy slid to a smooth halt underneath the pier. One of the men wrapped a coil of rope around it to steady the ship and then Sanderson grabbed for the post and began to climb. We waited in silence as he disappeared up onto the dock. It seemed like an eternity, it was probably only a heartbeat, before he popped his head over the side and gestured for everyone to climb up.

I quickly followed. The dock was empty. For the amount of monies that the captains paid for duties, surely there could be security out protecting the ships. Still, I could only thank the Goddess for letting the first steps of the plan reach infancy.

The last sailor appeared over the top, Sanderson began to lead the way to the mainland. We crisscrossed the decks leaping from one deep shadow to another. Soon, we reached the uneven cobbles of the streets. I grabbed for Sanderson's shoulder when we all hugged a long shadow against the wall.

"This is taking too long." I hissed to him, "They'll be lighting the warehouse soon and we won't even be near the Palace."

"What do you want us to do, walk down the middle of the street?" He returned, peering around the corner into the streets that had some drunken sailors staggering down them.

"You can't. I can. I'll walk down the street. I'll warn you if any Patrols are coming."

He shook his head, "It's too risky."

I ignored his orders and stepped out into the street. I keep a steady hand on my dagger and short sword hilt and began to walk down the side of the street. An old woman was leaning against a building but she reeked of old alcohol and was snoring the sleep of the drunk. I waited and looked around as five dark shadows ran up the street behind me.

So we went, I would walk the street a couple of buildings ahead of Sanderson and his men, and when it was clear, they could approach like noiseless ghosts. As we got closer to the Perfumed River, the Patrols were beginning to get more frequent. I walked back and slid into the alley where Sanderson crouched.

"We're at the bridge, there's no way around it. We're going to have to attack."

"We can take to the river."

I shivered remembering my little swim, "I wouldn't recommend it."

Sanderson peered around me, "Four of them at this end, two at the other. Can you create a diversion, so we can slip up closer to them?"

I nodded and stepped back out into the street. I made sure that my weapons were in place and began to weave down the road as if I had imbibed well past my limit. I lifted my voice in that bawdy barracks song I hated so much back in Sandshore:

There once was a boy named Tom Beddings,
Who gave as good as he gettings,
He wiggled it left,
He wiggled it right,
Until he got caught in weddings....

"Hey, woman, keep it down. You know what time it is? People are trying to sleep." A sleepy guard hissed at me as I staggered past her.

I continued on, weaving left to right and covering more ground than they expected. By the end of this verse, I would be within striking distance.

"He found that one woman wasn't enough,
He wanted to share all of his stuff,
He searched to the left,
He searched to the right,
Until he...."

I let myself topple into the arms of the nearest guardswoman.

"I'm sorry...captain...." I drove my fist hard up under her chin, snapping her head backwards. Her eyes rolled up in her head and she collapsed backwards. A whirl of black armour went whizzing behind me as I caught her breastplate and gently lowered her to the ground. Sanderson had dispatched one guard and the other men were quickly taking care of the remaining two.

The Protectors on the far side of the bridge turned toward us. One guard turned and ran, disappearing in the night. The other firmed her hold on her staff and waited for us to approach. The other patroller must have run off to get reinforcements. We had to get off this bridge as quickly as possible. Drawing my sword, I ran towards her. I was forced to take a step back as the weighted metal capped end head brushed past my cheek. I slid forward underneath her swing that carried her off balance and pushed her back against the waist high railing. She hit the railing and toppled over backwards, but not enough to go over. I dropped my sword and rushed at her. She used the shaft to try and knock me off. The jab caught me full force against my chest. I stumbled backwards and brought my knee up as hard as I could into her stomach. I just grazed her but enough of my blow landed to make her gasp. I wrenched the spear out of her hands and rammed the shaft up into her unprotected throat. She tumbled backwards over the railing in the arms of the Goddess long before she hit the stream below. I peered into the darkness of the river. I hadn't meant to kill her.

"Come on, there's no telling how many that woman will be bringing back with her." Sanderson pulled at my arm. I retrieved my sword, sheathed it and ran after them.

We headed for a deep shadowed alley. Sanderson looked back over the cleared passage then firmed his lips in a tight line. "I want you men to go back to the wharves, make sure you take the patrols with you. Lady Bezer and I will continue on."

"God's blessing on you Lord Sanderson." The four men turned and spirited back down toward the bridge. A chorus of voices rang out. Twenty women pelted across the bridge after the fleeing men. I shook my head. They hadn't posted any replacement guards.

"All the better for us. Come on." Sanderson glanced quickly around the corner then motioned me forward. We ran side by side down the narrow causeways. The muscles in my legs were started to burn. My breathing was harsh and loud. The sickness had taken more out of me than I expected.

"FIRE! FIRE! THERE'S A FIRE IN THE HARBOUR!" The woman's panicked cries alerted us before she rounded the corner. Shutters and doors began to jerk open. I pulled Sanderson back further into the alley. "The streets are closed to us now. How close are we?"

"A couple of streets further."

"We'll take the alleys." I turned and began picking my way through the garbage that laid strewn before us. It was funny. The main streets of the upper river side of town were swept daily, now I knew where they swept the garbage.

Guards were running the street and I had to step into the shadows and hold my breath as they past within an arms length of me. I left Sanderson in the alley to edge my way across a street. Once I was clear he scurried across like a black shadow in front of the moon. Soon we were at the outer wall of the Scarlet Arena. Crouching in a deep black shadow I settled my thoughts and prepared myself for what was about to come. We were on the wrong side of the hidden passage. It would take too long to slink all the way around the red walls. We had to pass the main gate

I pulled my dagger free and gestured toward the brightly coloured doorway. Sanderson pulled his own blade then blended back into the shadows. Carefully, I walked to the guards as if I had every right to be there. I walked to the first guard quickly then drove my dagger into the throat of the closest one without slowing down. Jumping with all my weight behind me I rammed full tilt into her partner, I managed to knock her sprawling onto the wooden planks. Sanderson appeared beside me and rapped her hard on the side of the head.

"I'll drag the bodies back to the alley. Just around the corner there's a hedge. Above the second hedge is a round stone. Push it in and a small door will appear. Wait for me there."

My breathing was laboured when I slid to a halt at the corner of the hedges. I had been too still in my captivity. I was exhausted. My anger, determination and hatred would have to be enough to get me to the Arena. I felt for a round stone. My fingers found it and pushed. The grinding of stone on stone sound like a loud thunderstorm. I glanced around but hadn't drawn anyone's attention. I held my dagger in front of me and stepped into the darkness.

Outside in the distance, people were screaming about the fire, Misha should have figured out that it was caused by someone. Someone with no regard for profits and wealth. She would have more guards on duty. She had spent too much time in building up her empire. There would be no way to get in without bloodshed.

"Aleani? Petra?" The question came from the direction of the main gates. "Why have you abandoned your post?"

Sanderson would be trapped in the alley. I couldn't wait. My eyes adjusted to the darkness of the narrow stairwell. I exchanged my dagger for my sword and began to climb. I had to reach the top floor of the Palace. Sanderson said that this was Misha's.

I reached a wooden door. Carefully pushing it open, I stepped through it expected to be confronted by personal guards. There was no one. I stood on an open walkway. Below you could see across the top of the city and see the burning buildings in the harbour. The scent of the cleaning flames was carrying up to me. Above the walkway was the golden painted dome that hung over the inner courtyard. Misha must have felt like a Empress to be able to look out and be the highest and cleanest place in this cesspool.

I ran across the walkway to another door. It was locked. I Sliding the dagger tip between the frame and the edge of the door and lifting up gained me entrance. The lock clicked back and the door swung open on an lavishly furnished room.

My breathing sounded excessively loud to my ears. My heart beat pounded loud enough to almost drown out my breathing. "Hey!"

I dropped to one knee, pivoted and threw my dagger at the sound of the voice. The woman's face held it's startled expression as my dagger stuck out of her chest. Her hands grabbed for it then she fell back. Two more figures appeared in the door way. I jumped up and lifted my sword.
The boys shrieked and ducked into each other. I stepped up to them grabbed their shoulders and pulled them into the room. I kicked the woman out of the way and swung the door shut. I took a good look at my capture. "Silk!"

"Don't kill Shane..." Silk stepped in front on the smaller boy sheltering him with his own fragile body, "He had nothing to do with capturing you."

My hands tightened on his shoulder, "Where's Karl?"

Silk looked up at me with startled eyes, "You don't want to kill me?"

"You can't be faulted for something you had no part in. Where's Karl?" I fought the urge to rattle him around, I was so close to Karl. Huge wide eyes looked up at me. He had nothing to do with this.

"In the Mistress's private quarters."

"Show me."

"What about the guards?" He looked down at the dead woman at his feet.

"Don't worry they won't touch you."

Silk turned around and gave Shane a hug. The browned haired boy hung onto to Silk with a death grip.

"Shane, you stay here and hide. I'll take the mistress to Righthander's quarters." Shane shook his head and grabbed Silk tight.

Silk gently but firmly pulled Shane free. "I'll be back before you know it. If anyone comes, hide."

Silk lead me back out of the room to the walkway. We crossed halfway then he turned and pressed hard on the slope of the dome. There was a deep click and another hidden door swung back. He crossed through and waited for me to follow before closing the dome tight again.

In the room were several doors. "If you chose the wrong door, it's instant death." Silk strode past all of them and stopped at a heavy woven tapestry hanging between two doors at the back of the room. He lifted on edge and pointed out this door. "At the end of the stairs is her chambers, usually she was in her office at the main courtyard when we were ordered up here."

"Thank you. May the Goddess grant you protection. Love is hard to find and harder to hold. Don't let anyone make you think that you have something to be ashamed of, Silk."

"William...my name is William."

"William..." I stepped behind the tapestry and my eyes had to adjust to the sudden darkness. Torches hung in braces further up the narrow stairwell. This place was amazing with it's complexity. If I hadn't found Silk...William I would never have found this chamber. I pulled my sword free and began my ascend.

At the top of the stairs and a couple of paces back, a gilded door emblazoned with garish reds and golds assaulted your senses. Carefully I edged it open and stepped inside. Compared to the decadent richness of the rest of the Palace the inner chamber was barren. A few plain tapestries littered the stone floor and a huge wooden desk dominated the main chamber. Behind the desk hung a map heavily detailed the whole coastline. Off to the right of the coastal map was another well detailed map of all of the new fortifications and streets of Sandshore. It was frightening how accurate it was. How many spies did she have? How did they get this to her? I looked down on Misha's desk where a number of small coast towns were detailed in the same way.

A noise sounded off to my right. I held my sword in front of me and took a half step over to the right to hug the closest wall and peer into the next room. The noise sounded again. It was a rattling, almost grating noise coming from deeper inside of the room. I slid my already bloodied dagger free, ready for throwing, took a deep steadying breath then sidestepped into the room.

My heart died.

Karl stood close to an open window staring down at the fiery blaze in the harbour. My eyes drank him in. His hair looked longer. He was thinner. He shifted his weight and rattled the chain that hung from a metal collar around his neck.

"That bitch!" Hot anger shot through me at the sign of bondage. I crossed over to him and caught his shoulder, spinning him towards me. He flinched from the contact then lowered his head. I swore as my fingers caught his chin and pulled his face up towards mine. His grey eyes were dull and lifeless. They were a flat grey. He was drugged. His brow crinkled up as of if not recognizing me, then his face broke into a wide smile. "...know you..."

A burning agony ripped threw my right shoulder. My hand spasmed. I pushed Karl away from me and staggered away from my unseen attacker. I reached around me to grab whatever was embedded in my shoulder. I couldn't reach it. Hot blood began to course down my armour along my side. The flickering of the torches showed me the face of my enemy.

"I should have known that I wouldn't see the last of you." Misha pulled her sword free from it's sheath then used to as a prop to lean on, "We both knew that I was never going to be a great swordswoman but now I make sure that no one gets close enough to me to make my lack of skills a point of contention. All I need is a scratch."

A strange numbness seeped around my wound. I stared at her, "...poison..."

Karl's chain rattled behind me. "Phara?" His voice was slurred. I wasn't going to leave him here.

"If I'm going to die, I'm taking you with me." Raising my sword I rushed at her. Misha pivoted on her heel and ran into the room with the maps. My shoulder pulsed in agony. I had worked through pain before. I hacked wildly at her. I wanted to kill her, to make her suffer. She picked up a clay inkwell from her desk and whipped it at me. I managed to bring up my left forearm across my face. The pot hit my arm and shattered, raining sharp pieces and splashing ink in my face. Misha moved faster than I expected. I felt her dance behind me as I shook my head clear of the tiny shards. She shoved the embedded blade deeper into my shoulder. I screamed as the pain flashed up into my brain.

"PHARA?" Karl voice echoed from the other room.

I could feel the numbness reach into my right arm down to my fingers. The poison was rushing threw me like a tsunami.

Misha was behind her desk again, "If you had stood still the poison would have taken longer to kill you. You're speeding up your own death. Soon the numbness will move to your heart....if it get's there, there is no antidote. You'll spasm and scream. You'll choke in your own vomit before your heart stops...."

My form was all wrong as I swung my blade at her. The weight of it spinning me off balance. I crashed to the floor, grinding glass pieces deeper into my face. Misha stepped on my hand until the pain forced fingers flat then she leisurely kicked my sword away. My other arm wouldn't respond.

She walked away. I couldn't do anything but kneel on the floor. Misha picked up my sword and made a few practise swipes with it. "I didn't want it to end this way....I didn't plan it to end this way. You should have been baring the Captain brats by now."

Karl's agonized cry sent shivers down my spine, "PHARA!"

Misha pulled the desk chair around and set it close to my face. I could feel the coldness sear through my back and across to my other shoulder. What was this poison?

"PHARA!"

"I gave him everything. Clothes, coins and even books but he wouldn't come to me. I had to drug him to make him useful. What made you so special? You never went brothel hopping. I swear that you were a virgin when you married him. Tell me..."

"...let him go..." The cold unfeeling trailed down my back reaching threw my spine to my legs.

"Even drugged I had to chain him down when I wanted him....I would let him recover from the drug every three or four days because I wanted him to choose me willingly and he wouldn't."

"PHARA!"

"Listen to him, he calls for you every night."

I grabbed for her boot. "I beg you, let him go."

"Not possible. He knows too much. Even if I released him to the Palace he would tell everyone he was to entertain about my business. If I sold him he would head to the Council and start telling everyone about my business. Pretty soon the market out be flooded. There isn't enough quality men to go around as it is. I don't need the competition."

Misha stood up and gestured to the other room, "I promise you that his death will be quick and painless. Say good-bye."

"May the Goddess spit on you."

"The Goddess and I don't talk any more...."

Misha grabbed me by my good arm hauled me to my feet. The poison was extending it=s fingers down to my legs. I could feel it killing as it went. I had to see Karl... I pulled away from her hold. Wobbling across the room, I hit the door frame and hung onto it to rest. Karl's pensive face and wide concerned grey eyes burnt into my brain. He held the chain in his hands, blood ran in riverlets from his ripped hands.

"Grey Eyes..." My voice croaked. My throat had dried up. I pushed away from the door and made three tottering steps before my legs gave out. I laid on the floor barely able to move.

"Phara..." I twisted my head. His eyes seemed clearer. The pain had broken the hold of the drug. He was on his knees one bloody hand reaching for me. The distance between us looked like an impassable desert, wide and non-broach able. "Don't leave me..."

The effort it to crawl forward took all the energy I had left. Fingers caught my outstretched arm and Karl dragged me across the floor to his arms. A stupid thought came to my mind, "I didn't know you were that strong..."

He must had felt my shoulder. His hand came back more bloody than before. "Goddess....", He stared stupidly at it.

Misha returned calmly, "There's no dignified way to die."

I reached up and touched his smooth cheeks. "I tried to get back...I said I would protect you..."

"...Sunny..." Tears turned his eyes an even darker grey.

"I'm sorry..." The hardness of the floor fell away as he carefully picked me up then lowered me onto the bed with all the care one had for a newborn babe. "I'm so sorry."

"I've seen women die horribly when the poison gets to their heart. I have to ask you a question before it runs it's course. In your own, way back in Sandshore, you were trying to help me, weren't you?" Misha turned and walked back out of the room. She returned with a sword in her hand.

I was so cold... Heat lingered in the air but I was chilled to the bone. Karl sat above me staring down with his dull pale grey eyes. I wanted to reach up and touch him but my hands wouldn't move. A chattering filled the room...my teeth. So cold.

Misha's voice rang out from somewhere belong my range of vision, "I did love you, Phara. I still do, so I'll put you out of your misery before the end comes."

I watched as Misha moved in slow motion. She brought the sword back behind her head in a two handed swing. Another shot of cool ice rippled across my shoulder as Karl pulled the dagger out of me, I gasped out something as he dived over me and rammed the point up under Misha's ribs. Her hands spasmed as the sword fell backwards from her grasp. Karl stepped backwards his hands stained with blood. Slowly Misha sank to her knees. Blood began to bubble out the side of her mouth.

"So much fire in you now... You were just a lifeless doll before...antidote...."

"Antidote?" Karl jumped over to her side, wrenching the chain that bound him to her bed after him. "Where...where is the antidote?" His words were harsh and frantic.

"Desk..." Misha sank back to the floor, her hands clutching the dagger hilt. She spasmed twice then laid still.

Karl jerked on the chain, shaking the whole bed with his efforts but it remained anchored firmly in the stone wall. Slowly, he slid over to me and gently touched my face. "That antidote might as well be across the ocean." He stretched out beside me.

I shivered, "I'm cold..."

He reached down and settled a deep piled blanket over me. It didn't help. The cold seemed to coming from the inside. "Am I sick?"

"You're sick Sunny. Just lie down and go to sleep. When you wake up you'll be all better." His voice sounded wrong.

"I found you...came to rescue you..." I felt relieved.

"You did Sunny...we won't be separated again, Sunny, I promise you that. Close your eyes." Tears welled in his eyes.

"Kiss me."

"Sunny..." He began to cry earnestly. What was wrong?

"I'm so cold."

His lips seemed to burn as they pressed against mine. He was so warm. I closed my eyes and waited to fall asleep.

"Bezer, don't!" I opened my eyes and saw Karl holding a pillow in both hands close to my head.

"Poisoned... desk in the main room. Hurry!" The bed rocked wildly. I grunted out my displeasure. I wanted to sleep.

"Wake up..come on it's not time yet..." Hands shook at my shoulders, "Open your eyes. Dammit, Phara open your eyes..."

I opened my eyes and watched Sanderson rushed into the room carrying a small bag. "I found a powder."

"Find something to mix it with."

I struggled to sit up but couldn't, "Sanderson? What are you doing in Sandshore?"

Sanderson grabbed a gold pitcher off a table and dumped a reddish looking mix into it. Karl grabbed my face and made me look him right in the eyes, "Sunny look at me."

"You've been crying..." My arms wouldn't move.

Sanderson brought the pitcher to my mouth. It smelt foul "Drink it...Come on..you can do it."

I tired to turn my head away. Karl forced the stuff into my mouth. It nearly gagged on the bitter sweetness of it. I took about four gulps before he pulled it away. Karl twisted me over like a rag doll fiddled with my buckled and straps that held my armour in place, then ripped open my tunic top and poured the red water down my back. It felt like someone had poured heated oil into my wound. I screamed and screamed as someone pushed me flat on the bed and poured more of the fiery oil on me. I stopped screaming when the oil stopped burning then the weight shifted off of me.

"Phara?" A deep but familiar voice.

"Sunny?" A well loved longed for voice.

I opened my eyes and tried to focus on the two figures. I just shook my head and began drifting off into the darkness that was calling for me.

"Who the Goddess are you?"

Those voices sounded so familiar....

"I'm your cousin Mathias Sanderson...heir to the Thane of Stronghold....." The voices floated away and I found myself wrapped in a comforting white fog that urged me to sleep...