Chapter Eleven
The Breed
On the Dark Monarch’s deck...
“Bowmen!” Avarice shouted as he raised his two handed Flamberge sword, shouting over the turmoil. His long gray-black hair was tied back in a braid and his sideburns came to a point at his jaw. “Use flaming arrows. Surely the Fires of Morgog shall vanquish these beasts!”
Sentinel Footsoldiers retrieved small barrels of oil from the hold. Monks collected the fuel from the pools feeding the Capital’s most sacred place. The Footsoldiers set them beside the Bowmen, opened the containers, then torches were lit and handed out. The Bowmen dipped their special arrows in the oil, lit them, and fired upon the Breed. The armor-fish squealed in agony when hit by the flames as oil and fire spread over their scaled bodies. A few dove into the cove, and steam hissed as they hit, but many of the Breed burst into ash and the wind scattered their remains.
“Nock arrows,” Avarice ordered as his pale blue eyes searched the water. “Fire!”
The second wave caused the Breed to retreat to their liquid home. Over fifty of them had been destroyed. Vim, Han, and the others arrived on the beach opposite the Dark Monarch.
“The beasts have retreated,” Vim said as he searched the indigo waters. “At least for now.”
“Perhaps it would be better if the Dark Monarch anchored elsewhere,” Han stated as he looked to the prince.
“Agreed,” Edward said as he scanned the ship, but he didn’t see the princess. “I shall speak with Virago.”
Aboard the Dark Monarch...
“Is it over?” Lord Caliber questioned as he crept on deck. “Are the creatures gone?”
“Yes, my lord,” Avarice replied as he looked over his scratched and tattered men. “For the most part, the beasts were no more than a painful nuisance. We lost no one. The cuts shall heal with time.”
“Cuts?” Lord Caliber questioned as he glanced around the ship. “Ah yes, the men... so then we are safe?”
Virago stepped on deck with Lady Flaxen.
“My princess, you shouldn’t be on deck. The fiends could attack again,” Avarice spoke as his war hardened face wrinkled with concern. “If something should happen to you, our hope for the Amalgamation...”
“Thank you for your concern, commander, but the ship is filling with water, and I wish to depart. Have your men follow us to shore. The Captain and sailors can deal with the Dark Monarch. There are many supplies and my presents that need to be unloaded.”
“At once,” Avarice said and started preparations.
Sailors lowered several long boats to the water and rowed them to shore. After many trips, Dark Monarch’s Sentinels were on the beach along with half the ship’s sailors.
“Princess...” Avarice spoke as he bowed with Vim and four Footsoldiers. “All my men aboard the Dark Monarch are accounted for. The captain and a few sailors remain on the ship to salvage what they can before she sinks.” He motioned to Vim and then said, “My Second informs me that the Sea Sprite sank. He does not know how many survived save the men he left with the High Guards.”
Edward approached with Han, Ardor, and Melee and told them, “We lost both of our ships to the spouts.”
Avarice glared at the High Guards and exclaimed, “Arrogant mongrels! Bow before your princess when you enter her presence.”
Han looked to the prince, and Edward nodded. The three High Guards bowed to her.
“My apologies princess, my men are not used to having such a beautiful woman in their presence,” Han said.
Virago smiled.
“What do we do now?” Lord Caliber asked as he walked to the group, stomping his staff across the sand.
“We should set up camp,” Han suggested.
Avarice sneered and hid his dislike for the Fletching Commander as he said, “I concur.” He looked around the cove and the jungle. “A place that is defendable.”
Pluck approached and stated, “Han we found a cave, but it isn’t very large.”
“A cave,” Virago said as she made a face. “I do not think I would want to stay in a dark dank place.”
Pluck continued, “We also came across a large clearing with two hills. I recommend this spot.”
“It sounds like an ideal place to defend,” Avarice commented.
“Then let us set up camp before night is upon us,” the prince ordered.
Morgog and Fletching worked together to set up camp. Most of the supplies used were salvaged from the Dark Monarch, but a few crates and items from the others ships were found along the shore. Virago and Lord Caliber’s rectangular tents were set up one on each hill top. The princess made Lord Caliber give his tent to Edward so the lord bunked with Avarice. The large rectangular tents had three sections. The first had a parlor with chairs, couches, and tables; the second housed clothing chests and was used for changing; and the third held the bed. A flap divided each section. Avarice set up his round tent at the bottom of the hill on the east side as Sentinels and Morgog sailors made camp around him. Han, borrowing a Morgog round tent, set his up on the west side as High Guards and Fletching sailors set up around him. Many shared housing to compensate for the supplies lost at sea.
Out of the 200 High Guards and 38 Fletching sailors, 32 High Guards and 11 sailors were missing or found dead. The Morgogs fared better. Out of 200 Sentinels and 40 sailors, 21 Sentinels and 9 sailors were missing or found dead. Most of the horses were found alive, and only three had to be put down for their injuries. The group had little food and most of their water was contaminated by the sea except that on the Dark Monarch. Night came and torches were lit as sentries walked the perimeter of the hills.
A new sun’s cycle came as Avarice, Vim, and Lord Caliber made their way to the prince’s tent. Outside Melee and Bulwark stood guard. The three Morgogs entered, finding Han, Ardor, and Edward looking over a map.
“The map does us no good,” Ardor said. “It does not tell us where we are or how to reach Kismet. We have wasted enough time.”
“I agree,” Avarice spoke up. “We sailed Coblet’s Route to catch up on the other Kingdoms. We have only lost time.”
Lord Caliber walked to the table the map laid on and spoke, “That is apparent to all of us commander, but how do we leave Wellspring. The Dark Monarch is not sea worthy nor do we have the supplies to repair her.”
“Perhaps we should find a city or a port and get what supplies we need or even buy a ship,” Han suggested as he glanced around. “Has anyone seen the Trife? He could assist us.”
“The Trife?” Avarice questioned.
Vim leaned to his commander and told him, “It’s a creature that assisted us in finding you. It is a talking beast.”
“A Necrom?” Lord Caliber asked.
“No,” Vim replied as he shook his head, and the black braid lying over his right shoulder moved. He leveled his hand near his leg. “Smaller like a dog but walks upright.”
“Pluck and Quip went to the beach to search for survivors,” Ardor answered. “They said they would return this morning.”
Han’s brow wrinkled with thought and then he said, “Perhaps we should busy our men with finding water and food then when the Trife returns we can have him make a map of this area. He may even know of a city.”
“Can we trust this creature?” Avarice asked. “Necrom or not, a beast that talks can only mean magic.”
Han answered, “Vim told me a word is nothing to Morgogs only actions. The Trife has proven he can help and has done nothing to revoke my trust.”
“Your trust, perhaps,” Avarice stated. “Fine, but I am leery of any beast that talks.”
“As the Necroms proved to our forefathers,” Lord Caliber added. “Talking beasts cannot be trusted.”
Avarice looked to Vim and the lord and told them, “Come, there is much to do.”
Ardor went to the entrance, waiting for the Morgogs to enter their camp. “Commander...” He turned walking to
Han and then he spoke, “I’ve never heard you talk so... so...”
“Without command,” Edward said.
Han nodded as he stated, “There is a lesson here, my Second. Our alliance is a delicate one, so there shall be many power struggles. It is best to walk lightly.”
“You believe Avarice might challenge Edward or you?”
He answered, “The Morgog Commander would never challenge Edward, but me...” Han paused and then said, “Avarice might be thinking ahead. How many commanders can there be? What shall become of our armies? It is best for now not to let him think I’m threatening him.”