A
hush held sway on my ship, the Herald, and it's crew during this
sudden voyage. Word came to us before our normal passenger arrived
for what appeared as his last journey as he leaves Atlantis. I
ordered my crew to not question him during the voyage in case this
was an unfounded rumour. It became the hardest order they had ever
been giving by any captain. Lord Kestrel acted normally upon boarding
speaking to the sailors in jovial tones but I notice the difference.
He talked to each of them slowly moving up the rank on the ship and
each seem to feel a fatal permanence to his parting words to them.
Most of the crew had now lapsed into silence after speaking with him
feeling this was his last goodbye to them.
“The
crew is trying hard to maintain a separation to not question him,
mam.” my first officer informed me. “But the growing depression
and silence will cause problems to us and to Lord Kestrel.” he
continued annoyed. “Orders will be the only words spoken by the
time we reach port if this persists.” he remarked.
“It
cannot be helped at this time.” I returned. I tried hard to remain
unemotional but my answer sounded blunt even to my ears. “I can
understand him wanting to leave if the rumours that Her Holiness is
to marry another to become our Holy Queen are truthful.”
“But
that is ludicrous!” he retorted. “All of Atlantis knows She is
bonded to Lord Kestrel!” he countered angrily. “No other is Her
Holiness' equal and truer partner!” he added. I nodded my agreement
while biting my lower lip to refrain from talking. I waved him off
not wanting to hear more of this pointless debate that will assault
the streets of Atlantis until, and if, a wedding does happen. The
helms woman stood in silence near us during this exchange chose now
to speak silently.
“All
I would question is the origin of the true order behind these
rumoured nuptials.” she whispered. “Odin, the Council, another
member of Odin's godly kin, Lord Kestrel himself, or Her Holiness
Herself.” she enumerated quickly. “Only question Lord Kestrel
must be attempting to answer which may explain this sudden departure
from Atlantis.”
“Is
this why you remain silent around him?” I remarked.
“Your
order is enough to hold my tongue captain.” she returned softly.
“If it is in him to reveal truth, he will at the appropriate
moment.” she added in a near whisper.
“A
good observation sailor.” I stated. With a quick salute, I left her
to personally check the condition of my crew at this midway point of
our potential final voyage with Lord Kestrel. Silence seemed to
surround my crew except for those dealing with Lord Kestrel. He
laughed and tossed verbal barbs in friendly jest with the seamen and
sea-women on board. They acted normal but nervous toward him. The
empty finality of his tones grated on my nervous waiting for my
moment to come. A whispered conversation caught my ears as I passed.
“He
must know of the rumours.” one sailor muttered in hushed tones.
“But he acts like nothing is different.”
“Incorrect.”
the old sea-dog returned. “He would usually speak of his purpose on
this voyage.” he explained in a whisper. “He voyages without
purpose or reason.” he clarified. “I believe his thoughts are
troubled and he seeks time away for clarity.” he added.
“It
would suggest truth in the rumours of Her Holiness marrying another.”
he retorted triumphantly. “But does it mean she is being given the
throne by Council upon detaching Herself from Lord Kestrel?” he
continued quickly and quietly. The veteran sailor shrugged as he
glanced passed him to me and beyond where Lord Kestrel laughed with a
foursome of seamen.
“Let
time iron out the truth.” the elder stated. “Rumours are for
fools and childhood tales.” he intoned. “I doubt you would be
part of this crew if you were one of those two.” he concluded. He
flashed me a quick toothy grin before shuffling off to do his duties.
The other muttered a few profanities before turning to unexpectedly
be nose to nose with me. I heard him gulp as he came to attention.
“Just
speculating with wiser counsel away from our passenger's hearing
mam.” he reported to me. “I believe it does not infringe on your
orders to us.” he hazarded.
“Remember
that Lord Kestrel's hearing is sharper than anything that walks the
lands, glides in the air, or floats the waters.” I returned
sharply. “And you would never know that he was listening.” I
added in a whisper. I slowly raised one eyebrow tilting my head
toward our jovial passenger.
“I
am sorry for taking such a risk mam.” he snapped. He quickly added
a salute before rushing off in silence to do his work. I sighed
realizing the reason behind most of their silence. Lord Kestrel
superb hearing caused a paranoid hush over my crew to avoid breaking
my commands.
“Then
you should not order them to do something detrimental.” Kestrel
stated at my side. I do commend myself for not jumping in shock at
this surprise. I turned slowly to face him.
“Is
it finally my turn?” I remarked. “No one else under my rank that
need to be told goodbye?” I continued not hiding my words from my
crew. Kestrel's shoulders slumped as he stood before me in silence
for a moment. “Would you rather I play along with your farce?” I
added softer.
“It
is true that I am unsure if and when I will be returning to
Atlantis.” he replied casually. “It is my duties and not rumours
prompting my departure for an unknown length of time.” he reported.
His tones had returned to being jovial and carefree. “I will make
sure to return to Atlantis riding your Herald captain Destine.” he
continued easily.
“As
you see fit but my own duties prevent more lengthy discussions
between us at this time.” I returned brusquely. I did not wait for
a reply before walking away.
Kestrel's
words toured the ship quickly becoming general knowledge to all
within the hour. My order not to speak of the rumoured wedding and
ascension to the throne held firm. My crew took Lord Kestrel's
admission as a chance to question him of this mission he embarked
upon. The growing silence abated even with the cryptic replies from
our passenger. Everything became normal once more on my ship til the
evening prior to us making port. A soft knock sounded on the frame of
my open door upon that last evening at sea.
“Do
you have the time to speak now captain?” Lord Kestrel asked softly.
I glanced to see him standing in the doorway waiting for a reply from
me.
“Yes,
if you can assist with these supposed navel charts.” I replied
bluntly. The navigator that stood across from me chuckled wryly as
she placed and moved the maps again to attempt making a logical
shoreline we would be following.
“The
middle three map sections must be reversed.” he answered from the
door. He moved slowly to the navigator's side. In silence, he
exchanged the two maps bordering the middle map of the line of seven
making a complete profile of the western coast of the Americas.
“The
crooked middle sections still seems odd to me.” the navigator
returned. “Thank you Sir.” she added quickly. She collected them
in order they would be travelling by them. With a quick nod to me,
she rushed from the room hugging the placed maps to her bosom.
“May
we speak freely now?” he asked in a near whisper in the creaking
room. I moved to close the door before nodding to him.
“Did
your friend on the Leviathan receive your words without speaking
them?” I asked quietly. He nodded to me with a small grin on his
face and a mischievous gleam in his eyes. “And what do you know of
this dignitary we are to collect after depositing you at the tip of
this continent?” I continued in mock ease. “This Lord Munin?” I
clarified.
“Supposedly
a child of Odin's wife from a retaliatory fling on Frigga's part.”
he replied easily. “He is a widower of an Atlantian minor noble
family.” he continued. “One son was born from the marriage who
lives with his relatives in Atlantis since his mother's death.” he
explained. I stared in dumbfounded confusion by the sheer knowledge
held within this normal man's mind. “He travels to Atlantis to wed
Her Holiness and become King there.” he concluded bluntly. I took
me a few moments to register his words to me.
“King!”
I sputtered in disbelief. Kestrel nodded in silence at me. “What
claims does that bastard of the gods have over the throne of
Atlantis?” I continued angrily. He grappled my flexing hands to
force them together open palmed in front of me. “How could Her
Holiness agree to this insult to you?” I added weaker.
“She
says it is the will of the Council while they claim it is the will of
Odin that this happens.” he explained slowly to me. “Both are
adamant and I go seek the truth behind their conflicting views.” he
continued calmly. “But, I fear once they have mounted the throne,
it will be impossible and pointless to remove them.” he added
softer.
“But
why not challenge them by marrying Her Holiness yourself, Lord
Kestrel?” I retorted. “All of Atlantis would usher both of you to
the throne instantly without question.” I added forcibly.
“If
I take the throne of Atlantis, the world would suffer.” he
answered. “I also doubt the Atlantians would survive under my
strict rules.” he added. A small mirthless chuckle escaped him
chilling me to the bone.
“What
can the navy expect from our new royal leaders?” I asked. I left
the matter of stopping this betrayal in his hands while focusing on
stalling the corruption of our ranks.
“I
cannot advise you in this matter.” he reported with a sigh. “Best
to ask him once he boards your ship for such information.” he
suggested. “Or wait and see what his commands to the navy are and
stonewall him at that point.” he continued. A little mischievous
grin was back on his face. “Please remember that your ship is still
at my disposition whenever I call upon it captain Destine.”
“As
you suggest, I will do.” I returned. He smiled in earnest as he
saluted me like any other sailor would before leaving. Those were the
last words spoken from him. He disembarked in silence to vanish in
the crowd with nothing but his pack upon his hip. The rest of the
trip was quiet as everyone including myself delved in the last words
we had with Lord Kestrel. I add the moment of meeting the future King
of Atlantis who was an arrogant self-righteous man that rub us all
raw long before our direct return to Atlantis.
Our
quiet but pleasant trip ended as we collected Lord Munin in the
northern reaches. Dressed in bright blues, reds, and greens, this
peacock was a beacon of colour standing at the end of the stone dock.
The look upon the faces of his retinue being rid of him still held
fear in the elation shining through their eyes. A grey cloaked figure
stood at his side leaning in to receive or give whispered words under
the hooded head to Munin.
“Finally!”
he hollered upon boarding. “Get those belongs upon the ship post
haste so I may be gone from this retched hole.” he ordered
indirectly around him.
The
cloaked figure could not or would not hide her sex with her closed
cloak considering the overpowering smell of rose water that enveloped
her. She boarded at his heels giving the feel of a lap dog by her
movements. She held firmly against the gusts of wind the edge of her
hood with a dainty gloved hand which belittled her near six foot
stature. No signs of her feet shown from under the cloak but the
distinctive clicking of solid pointed heels sounded on the wooden
boards. The loose cloak was held closed firmly by what seemed a good
grip in the heavy gusts that blasted in from the sea toward the
shore. Her over all shape was mostly concealed by the cloak but
bulged to reveal hidden bosom of a slightly larger than average size.
“Captain!”
the peacock Munin hollered. He stood looking down his upturned nose
at my sailors with this mystery woman at his back. “Captain!” he
bellowed again holding the last syllable for much larger than needed.
“I
am sorry Lord Munin but I am occupied making my ship ready to depart
in a hurry.” I replied. I projected my voice to be heard above the
din of loading. “My cabin boy will show you to your suit for this
trip.” I reported over my shoulder at him. I had barely taken three
steps before the popinjay answered.
“I
expected the top official to be a guide and at the disposition of the
most noble of passengers.” he retorted loudly. A silence followed
his words as my sailors froze in mid motion. “I will have to change
this ignorance once I sit upon the throne.” he continued
arrogantly. The whisper of cutlasses and rapiers partially pulled
slowly from their sheath sounded in my ears.
“This
is my ship!” I informed him bluntly. The hushed murmur hissed out
in a spiral from my sailor around me. “The most noble Lord Kestrel
sees my crew and ship as the pinnacle of proper behaviour to name us
his main Atlantian transport ship.” I continued louder. “If you
prove your honourable claims, I may decide not dragging you in a
dingy behind us on our next voyage Munin.” The sounds of rustling
rapiers and cutlasses punctuated my final words, I walked away
ignoring him for the rest of the trip.
Words
from my crew showed his arrogant blindness remained unabated by my
idle threat. He complained about his accommodations, his meals, the
condition of the deck, and every other small insignificant detail he
laid eyes upon while on my ship. He threatened handing a list of his
finding to Admiral Pierce claiming to have my crew retrained
properly, including my removal as captain. I ignored his crowish
squawking which proved why he would have been named after Odin's wise
raven. In just this short trip, I understood the look of fear and
elation that was mixed on the faces of his people finally freed of
his mentally abusive presence.
No
one waited for him as he left the Herald screaming for servant to
move his belongings. None came forward to guide him through the
street of Atlantis nor Royal Guards to watch over him. I felt a
twinge of pity for him but it was short lived as he screamed how
uncivilized Atlantis had become when they ignored their future King
and ultimate ruler. The deckhands gave him withered stares as they
unloaded the Herald but mostly ignored his behaviour as he ranted
away. I walked along my deck reminding my sailors to not stare at
this man we were rid of.
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