The Scarlet King Read online

  Chapter 2

  Jason awoke early, before the rising of the sun, for today he hoped to see the island where the bird which flew not lived. They had journeyed for four weeks now and had kept mostly at sea, sighting only occasional seabirds. Now they were to see a land filled with strange critters and plants. They traveled very comfortably in the ship called Red Dragon, which had been outfitted with great care to provide for comfort. The envoy of the Red traveled not without his luxuries. The sailing crew were of those of the Red as was the Captain, but all security personnel were of the Southern Kingdom. The negotiations for peace had carefully spelled out the personnel to ensure that those of the Red could not seize control.

  Jason was met by Jeremy as he proceeded towards the dining facility. Mostly they ate food prepared by Jason's chef, but occasionally shared a meal with the envoy. These meals were always prepared by both chefs, and all food tasted for possible poisons before presenting at the table. The breaking of the fast was the quietest meal of the day, but Jeremy still had stories to tell. Jason tired not of hearing Jeremy's stories. Today he relived their first adventure on the Island of the Flightless Bird. By the time they arrived on deck, daylight was developing fully and the eastern sky was painted in oranges and reds. They found Larby stomping around the foredeck with his peg leg, looking somewhat unhappy.

  Jason asked, "What bothers you on such a beautiful morning?"

  "It is the color of the sky that bothers me such,” said Larby. “You see beauty but I see a storm coming and the Captain sees it not."

  Jason asked, "What would you have us do?"

  Larby chewed on his lip before responding. "I would make a run for the harbor of my people. We may yet be able to beat the storm."

  It was Jason's turn to be quiet. He looked forward to visualizing the island he so wanted to see, but no land was yet visible. He thought again about the stories Jeremy had told about the storm they had experienced. If he thought only of himself he would risk the storm to see this magical island, but others were aboard. He turned towards Larby and asked, "The harbor of your people would be secure if the storm does approach?"

  Larby but nodded his head and spoke not. They stood in silence while Jason considered his options. If he were to believe this young man he really had no options, for the safety of the entire mission may be at stake. With a large audible sigh he turned from looking forward and told Larby, "I so wish to see this island where you were rescued but I would not endanger the mission for my own desires. Inform the Captain that I would change course to the harbor of your people."

  It was midmorning before the envoy, Don the Great, appeared on deck. He noted their course and asked, "Why have we changed course?"

  The Captain responded in the high tongue of those of the Red and pointed towards Jason. The envoy nodded a reply and walked forward to where Jason was sitting with Jeremy and Edna. He asked, "You changed your mind about seeing this island with the flightless bird?"

  Jason replied, "I would see this island, but fear for the mission if the storm does arise. Larby is of the sea and knows of the storms in this part of the world. I would trust his knowledge."

  "As you wish,” the envoy responded. “The Captain thinks but a little rain is coming and sees not a storm using his weather glass."

  Jason asked how the weather glass worked and the envoy just shrugged his shoulders and said, "Something in the air causes the fluid in the tube to rise or fall depending on the weather. Our sailing people seem to trust it."

  Darkness was approaching and a line of clouds was visible on the horizon. They would arrive at the harbor of Larby's people about dawn. At sundown the weather glass was again checked. The Captain was obviously surprised, for the fluid was now much lower. He told Jason, "It appears that your fisherman may have been correct after all. Hopefully we will reach the harbor before the storm arrives."

  The sky was full of reds and purples after the sun dropped below the horizon, but off to the south was only darkness. The evening meal was a feast to Jeremy and Edna, but to those of the palaces—the envoys from the two kingdoms and the military leader of those of the Red—it was a very simple meal suitable for travel. The food and wine were plentiful and the stories well received, but by the end of the evening the approaching storm was making its presence known.

  Those who had imbibed too heavily now paid a price as they made their way to their sleeping quarters. Edna was not happy, having never experienced a storm before, and Jeremy tried to reassure her. He requested some ginger tea, which they brought back to their cabin. Jeremy was still full of energy, but Edna was feeling the effects of the sea and had not yet learned to dance with the ship. The ginger tea helped a little but lying quietly in bed seemed to be the most effective remedy. Jeremy used their capes under the sleeping pad to create more of a cocoon, which would keep Edna from rolling about as she tried to sleep. Then he went topside.

  Standing at the rail, for Jeremy the crashing of the waves against the bow was both invigorating and frightening at the same time. The clouds created a greater blackness of the sky and almost all of the stars were now gone. He enjoyed his solitude only a short while before Jason joined him. For a long time they just stood and watched. Jason finally said, "I know I should fear the storm but somehow it invigorates my soul."

  Jeremy replied, "Captain Cook was always saying how we needed to learn to dance with his mistress, the sea. He seemed to enjoy the storms, but most of us of the Forest had trouble with the sickness of the sea."

  "How is your bride handling these unsettled seas?" asked Jason.

  "Only fair. The ginger tea seems to help some."

  Jason said, "The Captain is unsure we can make the harbor before the worst of the storm, and said we may need to run before the storm. It seems he fears the envoy greatly and wishes not to disturb him."

  Jeremy shrugged his shoulders and said, "It is surprising how much fear that small man instills in others. I’d best go check on Edna."

  Jason stood his watch in the darkness by himself, watching the glow of the sea in the turbulence of the waves. The freshness of the air seemed to bring the skin alive and made his nose tingle ever so slightly when he breathed in. He had never felt so alive while in the palace. The rain began ever so gently but with the wind was enough to sting his face. He maintained his watch at the rail until the chill of the air drove him below.

  He returned to his cabin and tried to sleep, but the pitching and rolling of the ship were now enough to keep sleep at bay. The rolling of the ship was becoming ever more pronounced and he began to worry. Things began to change and he could feel the ship turning. Gradually the rolling subsided and he had to deal only with a more gentle pitching of the ship. Sleep finally came.

  When morning arrived the sounds of the storm continued. Jason made his way slowly topside. His girth was a bit of a problem in the narrow companion ways, and others would have to make way for him. He held tightly to the rail as he climbed the ladder topside. He was met with enough wind that it seemed to suck the breath out of him. He concentrated on breathing slowly through his nose and made his way to the pilot house. The Captain had obviously been awake all night and appeared to be under great stress. He began apologizing: "If only I had listened to that fisherman we could've avoided this and Don the Great would not be suffering. His suffering will undoubtedly increase everyone else's suffering."

  Jason responded, "I would expect my desire to see the island with the flightless bird is the cause of our present trouble. I would speak to the envoy of this if you desire."

  The Captain nodded in appreciation, but said, "The one you speak of as the envoy is not known for tolerating discomfort. It is probably best if we not bring any further attention to the matter."

  Jason asked, "Where are we?"

  "I was concerned for the safety of my ship and turned to the southeast to run with the storm,” the Captain replied. “I expect we are somewhat south of the great p
eninsula that divides the waters of my country from the rest of the world."

  Jason asked, "What lies beyond our position?"

  "To the south is a great ocean with but few islands. To the east lies the country from which we emigrated many generations ago. To the west is a vast unknown and to the north is my home."

  "How far to the east lies this ancient country?” asked Jason.

  The Captain replied, "It is said to be a journey of over a month but few have ever made it. The storms make it a most perilous journey." He added, "Traders who have attempted the journey were poorly received and many did not survive the attempt."

  Jason stood in silence and watched with the Captain who gave but occasional orders to the helmsman. All sails were down except for the small storm sail. There was nothing for the deck hands to do and no reason to risk their lives on the pitching deck and above in the rigging.

  Jason spoke, "The stars have shifted as we sailed. If we could sail far enough, would we return to where we started and the stars would again be in the proper place?"

  The Captain answered not but simply looked at Jason. He finally responded, "For one not of the sea you notice much. Some of us believe what you say is true, others think there is an edge, an abyss from which return is not possible." He then asked, "How could the length of the journey be determined?"

  It was Jason's turn for thought. He brought out a small pad of paper and begin working with numbers. He finally looked up from his work and said, "I would have a proper person of numbers look at my work, but it would seem that the angle has changed about thirty degrees in our month of sailing. If our world is truly round it would take twelve months of sailing to complete the journey."

  The Captain nodded his head and said, "Those of us who think the journey possible have arrived at a similar number. Until the journey is made we shall never know."

  Jason tried to respond but the gust of wind tore the sound of his words away as the ship heeled sharply to the side. The Captain's fatigue seemed to disappear as he shouted orders to the helmsman. The ship stabilized and the more regular pitching resumed. Jason had held onto the leather strap which crossed the ceiling; his death grip on the strap was all that kept him from crashing into the helmsman.

  "The wind has begun to shift,” said the Captain. “The seas will be more confused for awhile, but I think we are now on the backside of the storm. It may be best if you stayed below."

  Jason responded, "If you think it necessary I will go below, but I prefer to experience this journey to its fullest. This is freedom such as I have never known. King I may be but free I am not."

  "As you wish. You must at all times securely hold the safety strap."

  They sailed on before the storm, driven ever more to the east and the south. Jason seemed immune to the sickness of the sea and stood watch with the Captain until hunger drove him below. Jeremy was at table sipping his ginger tea and not looking very good. Jason asked him of Edna and he replied, "She suffers from the sickness of the sea. I suspect those of us of the Forest were never meant for the sea."

  Jason said, "The Captain thinks we are at the backside of the storm, but says the seas will be unsettled for some time yet."

  Jeremy looked at the amount of food that Jason was consuming and got even a little greener around the edges. He asked, "Does not the sickness of the sea affect you?"

  Jason shrugged his shoulders and replied, "It seems not. The storm seems to have invigorated my soul. When I was dangling from your thin rope during my rescue I was afraid, but felt more alive than I had for many years. For some reason I fear not the sea but yet have the sense of being very much alive. I think I could be one of the sea."

  By nightfall, which was noted only by the transition from the dark grayness to a greater blackness, the wind began to finally die down. The flashes of lightning and crashing of thunder had stopped, but yet the waves seemed to remain as high and unsettled as before. For most, sleep was at best unsettled as the waves, but Jason slept well and awoke refreshed.

  When he entered the dining area he was surprised to see the envoy, who appeared much worse for the storm. Jason tried to be cheerful but the most he got from the envoy was a head nod. Jason celebrated the breaking of the fast by eating heartily. The envoy watched in silence sipping on some sort of tea. He finally spoke up. "You seem to be unaffected by the sickness of the sea. How is that?"

  Jason shrugged his shoulders. "I know not why, but the storm bothered me not. In some ways it was both beautiful and exciting."

  The envoy shook his head and mumbled, "I hate boats and the sea even more." He then asked, "Do you know where we are?"

  "Your Captain says we are east and south of the great turn and will have to sail to the north to reach your homeland."

  "How much longer must we tolerate these conditions?"

  Jason replied, "The storm has blown itself out and the waves are subsiding. If I understood the Captain correctly, we are about two weeks’ sail from your homeland."

  "That is two weeks too long. I should have traveled back across the ice field. Ships and the sea are for others. I hope my medicine holds out, otherwise I may not be able to tolerate two more weeks."

  Jason started to discuss the dangers of crossing the ice field in the winter, but the envoy would listen not and just continued mumbling about the discomfort of the sea. Jason finally left him to his tea and returned topside. The Captain was absent, finally having given in to the need for sleep. The helmsman nodded in recognition to Jason but spoke not. Jason observed their course on the ship’s compass and noted they were indeed sailing north by northwest. The ship sails were set about three-quarters and the wind remained fairly brisk. The ship was now happy slicing into the waves without the pounding. They were obviously making good headway.

  Jason was content to just stand and watch. The helmsman would occasionally turn into or away from a wave to try to reduce the rocking of the ship. Jason concentrated on the rhythm and realized that the large waves came in a pattern. He began predicting, at first to himself, when the next large wave would appear. For some reason the waves came in a cycle. Every twentieth wave was larger and somewhat diagonally orientated compared to the rest. It was a question he would need to put to the Captain, but it seemed as if it was a harmonic as in some vast musical score.

  Jeremy and Edna appeared on deck and Jason joined them. Edna appeared pale but otherwise seemed to have tolerated the storm. Jeremy had lost most of the green tinge. Jason asked, "Have you broken the fast?"

  Edna nodded in the affirmative and Jeremy said, "We have had a little tea and some biscuits to eat."

  They stood together watching the bow slice through the waves with only occasional spray making it topside. Jason commented, "It is a thing of beauty to watch a ship such as this ride the waves, is it not?"

  Edna responded, "I see the beauty when the seas are settled and the wind favorable, but I saw not the beauty during the storm."

  Jeremy said, "For those of us of the Forest the sea remains a stranger. It is a good thing Daniel was not here, for he is even more sensitive to the sickness of the sea. A healer is not much good at healing himself."

  Jason changed the subject by telling them the Captain was confident the storm was over and that they would arrive at the Great City of their ancestors in about two weeks’ sail. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a drawing of a city on a hillside. Handing it to Jeremy he said, "I would you study this picture and see if you can get a sense of the place we are going."

  Jeremy looked at the drawing and said, "This is the drawing that Daniel made in the Cave of Knowledge, isn't it?"

  "Yes, it is your Daniel's drawing or rather a copy of it,” said Jason. “It would be of benefit if we had some knowledge of where we were going. Besides, maybe you can figure out where the taverns are by looking at the picture."

  Edna spoke up: "I would doubt that my Jeremy would need a picture to find the tavern. If t
here is ale available and an audience to listen to his stories, he will find it."

  Jeremy carefully re-folded the picture and put it in the pocket of his tunic and said only, "I will study it."

  They sailed on, and on the fifteenth day as the sun was beginning its final descent below the horizon, their ship sailed into the harbor of the Great City. Headlands on either side of the harbor entrance rose to the height of small mountains and fortifications were visible. The city seemed to wrap around the harbor, and the inner harbor was filled with many ships.

  The Captain had reduced sails and now had all sails dropped. As the speed of the ship dropped, he turned it into the wind and called for the anchor to be prepared. As the ship’s speed bled off he had the anchor released. The breeze began backing the ship down as the anchor line was let out. He called out, "Secure the line."

  As the line was secured their ship's motion came to a halt, and they began gently swinging on the hook. Jason was trying to take in everything at once. The envoy presented not until the ship’s motion had stopped. He arrived on deck in the elaborate travel dress of their warrior class. He spoke to Jason, saying, "You must remain aboard until I have met with the Scarlet King and made proper arrangements for your arrival."

  As he turned to depart he added, "I will never again venture aboard a ship."