Haddad sat down in a chair across from his father.
"We will find another place, Father. It will not be Taz, but we can rebuild. We must. And a pox on that whole lot from Barburee."
"Yes, we must. And shall we be the ones to take over some weak nation as they have taken over Taz?" The Caliph shook his head, his face a mask of grief.
"We will if we must," Haddad said. He stood up and paced the cabin.
"No," the Caliph insisted. "First we will search the shores for a place to settle peacefully."
"We dare not search too long. Our women and children are already in harm's way, pocketed here and there among people who will not shelter them for long. When they find out Taz is taken, their protection will turn to scorn and their scorn to wrath."
"You have so little faith in our friends, Haddad?"
"I have little faith in human nature. Why else do we find ourselves homeless?"
The Caliph nodded at the truth in his words. "I have promised our foreign spies free passage back to Fernland, their home. We will search the coast between here and there before we resort to violence." The Caliph's voice was once again firm and confident.
"As you say, it will be," his son said with a bow.
***
Muller, Hilgard, Take, Bear and Smiles all stood at the ship's rail. They cheered as River's End came into view. The Caliph approached the rail to stand with the men.
"I thank you Caliph, for bringing us home," Muller said.
"A mere token for those who saved many lives." The Caliph studied the wide opening where River's End met the sea. "This, then, is the only waterway into your country?"
"It is," Muller said. "The river that empties here runs back to King's Lake, a great body of water that adjoins King's Road. We will have an easy trip from this point."
"This river." The Caliph pointed to the green water that curved gently into the sea. "Is it deep enough to float our ships?"
"It is quite deep, but I wouldn't ask you to take the chance just to deliver us closer to home. We can easily take small boats that are kept here for just such a purpose. We can row against the current if the tide is out. I would not want you to risk your fine ships." Muller looked back at the line of seven ships that made up the Caliph's armada and now held the entirety of the Caliph's fighting men.
"I would like to see this lake you speak of. Would you be willing if I and a few of my men were to accompany you upriver?"
"It would be an honor to show you my country. Perhaps you would like to arrange an audience with King Geoffrey before you journey on?"
"That would be my great honor." The Caliph bowed.
Orders were given to weigh anchor. The line of ships anchored close to shore, drew down their sails and found their rest. The Caliph ordered three shore boats lowered and spoke to his crew.
As they rowed up river through Fernland's lush forests, Muller noticed that the men in the third boat continually lowered weights on knotted ropes to take depth soundings.
"What are they doing?" Muller asked, shielding his eyes from the sun.
"They are checking the depth along the way. It is a thing we do whenever we encounter a new body of water. Who knows when a ship might need shelter from a storm." The Caliph smiled.
Take, Smiles and Bear rode in the second boat, taking in each familiar landmark with excited gestures.
"Won't we have some stories ta tell the lads an' ladies this night." Smiles looked happy to be home.
"May be they'll see us a drink or two." Bear slapped his friend on the back.
"It's a sure thing we won't be buying the drinks if there's any to be drunk," Take scowled. He still had not forgiven Smiles for taking his gold.
Take saw a wooden structure just above the trees ahead.
"Look there! It's the outpost." He forgot his anger temporarily in his eagerness to set foot on dry land once again.
After four hours of rowing, the little boats entered the great expanse of King's Lake. The Caliph's men pulled to shore and brought out food for a picnic.
"Now this is coming home in style," Muller said as he prepared to eat.
"It has been quite a trip." Hilgard paused to reflect on their journey. "If I'd known before what demands would be made on my language skills, I'd have studied harder. I believe you pushed me to my limit."
"The King will be pleased with the information we've collected," Muller said. "I wouldn't be surprised if he offers you a position as an apprentice spy."
Hilgard was thrilled with the comment. "You really think he might?"
"I will recommend it myself." Muller helped himself to some bread and cheese.
Take sat down with his plate of food in time to hear the conversation. "Maybe you will put in a good word for me, too, seeing as how you would still both be back in Barburee, charged as spies, if it weren't for the ransom I provided."
"Not to worry. I've included that in my report," Muller said. "You can count on the King's gratitude."
Take looked at Muller doubtfully as he took his first bite.
***
The Caliph came back from a discussion with his men to speak with the Fernlanders.
"The river is quite deep, as you guessed. With a little work, large ships could be carried this far. I'm surprised King Geoffrey has never considered developing the river into an estuary."
"We are not really a seafaring people," Muller said. "The forest, the farm and grazing lands, the lake's fish sustain us. We want for nothing."
The Caliph looked out over the lake. "Still, there are no settlements around the lake? Surely, the fishing would be easier were folk to settle close to its banks."
"People fish or hunt with permits from the King by day. At night most prefer the security of the castle walls."
The Caliph could hardly keep his voice nonchalant as he formed his plans for settling the lake area. "Do you think you could arrange an audience with King Geoffrey for me? I would certainly like to thank him in person for what his subjects have done for the citizens of Taz.
"Of course. King Geoffrey and Queen Delphinia are very keen on visiting with foreign dignitaries." Muller accepted a cup of wine from one of the Caliph's men.
"We could wait here or at our ships while you inquire," the Caliph said.
"Nonsense," Muller insisted. "He will want to meet with you. Come along with us. When we get across the lake we will reach a Royal Guard outpost where we will be given horses and an escort."
Chapter 52
Fernland
The returning Fernlanders and their guests reached the castle as the sun tipped the horizon. They joined the crowd of people hurrying over the drawbridge before it was raised for the night.
Muller left his guests in Queen Delphinia's care and went directly to the throne room to meet with King Geoffrey and give his report. King Geoffrey seemed in a bit of a bad mood but was still pleased to see Muller. Muller asked if there were anything wrong, but the king just waved his hand and muttered something about Electra and children in general being worrisome.
Geoffrey focused his concentration on Muller.
"You bring useful news, I hope. We have lately learned that the Great Khan has turned his attention away from us and toward the unfortunate city of Taz."
Muller was surprised that King Geoffrey already knew about Taz, but he gave his report in full, none the less.
Geoffrey stopped him at one point to ask, "Did you manage to secure samples of these exploding powders?"
"Of course," Muller replied. "Only small samples but I am sure our engineers will be able to identify them."
"Excellent. Please continue."
Muller told of their escape from Taz and the intelligence that had saved Taz's inhabitants from certain destruction. He told how the Caliph was anxious to meet with him, probably to further thank him on behalf of the people of Taz.
"You brought the Caliph here?" King Geoffrey asked, his voice angry and accusin
g.
"Why, yes." Muller stumbled a little in his speech, wondering why King Geoffrey seemed so upset.
"You have brought a city full of refugees to our shore? Of course he wants to see me. He will throw himself on the King's mercy." King Geoffrey's voice grew louder. "They have no where to go!"
"But...they have great sailing ships. They can go anywhere," Muller said, sounding puzzled.
"Have they told you where they plan to go?"
"No...the subject never came up."
"And does that not seem strange to you?"
"Now that you mention it, it does seem strange." Muller looked down at the floor.
"Have they showed any unusual interest in Fernland?"
Muller squeezed his eyes shut, wondering how he could have been so naive. "They took soundings for the depth of the river. They asked if it was deep enough to float their ships. They wondered why there were no settlements around King's Lake."
King Geoffrey pursed his lips and stood up. "I will set them straight. Where are they now?"
Muller put his hand on his head and muttered an oath. "They are with the Queen. I believe she has already invited them to stay the night. She is arranging a dinner."
King Geoffrey sat back down and glared at Muller. "You know, of course, what will happen once Delphinia takes them under her wing."
"I know. I know.! This is all my fault," Muller moaned.
"Perhaps it is not too late. We will find an excuse to keep their ships at sea," Geoffrey said. "I will think of something that will satisfy Delphinia."
***
Queen Delphinia was spellbound, listening to the Caliph's story of their narrow escape from the Great Khan's army.
"The Great Khan's son was here, you may have heard," Delphinia said in a soft voice.
The Caliph looked alarmed. He leaned closer. "Here? In Fernland?"
Queen Delphinia kept her voice low. "He stayed with us for several days, then journeyed on to Henge. He wanted to ally with Fernland against Henge. King Geoffrey believed the Great Khan was interested in acquiring a port city. Now that he has Taz...I'm so sorry, Caliph. It might have been any port. They are so unrelenting in their thirst to conquer."
The Caliph looked thoughtful. "Perhaps the port of Taz will satisfy them—at least for a while." He paused and changed his expression to a warm smile. "I am curious as to why you have not developed your own port, Your Majesty."
"We have no port, Caliph," she said, surprised by his comment.
"But you could easily have an extraordinary port. The river that runs from King's Lake to the sea could quickly become an estuary leading ships from sea to a huge lake port. You could invite trade to and from the ends of the earth. I can envision an unending line of ships, going and coming, bringing fine cloth, spices, wines, jewels—those same ships carrying away the gifts of your forests and rivers. And of course, a tax on all for the privilege of docking at your port."
"King Geoffrey has never spoken of it. Perhaps it would be more difficult than you imagine."
"We see through the eyes of a seafaring people. For us, it would not be difficult. For us, the work would be a blessing. And in return for such a blessing, I envision the gift we would leave with you. A beautiful golden barge, a royal barge, navigating the estuary, sailing through the forest of Fernland all the way from the King's Lake to the River's End. She rides triumphantly, decked out in pennants and banners, bearing the crest of the dragon. I see myself designing such a vessel. I see it coming to life with the skilled hands of my master ship builders."
Delphinia's eyes followed the Caliph's in his flight of fancy. "Is such a dream possible?" she asked.
"Of course. Not only possible, I believe it is destined to be. Think of the improbable series of events which has brought us here to you. I am a great believer in destiny. We could use the wood from your forest to build the barge. For this we could set up our staging area alongside the lake. We could harbor our ships temporarily on the lake, once we have completed the necessary dredging."
"But why would you do all this for us?" Delphinia asked.
"It is what we do. We are ship builders and sea traders. We go where the wind takes us."
"I must tell King Geoffrey about this," Delphinia said. "Oh, here he is now." Delphinia smiled and waved to King Geoffrey as he and Muller entered the reception hall.
Queen Delphinia, eyes shining with excitement, rushed to tell Geoffrey of the Caliph's offer. King Geoffrey, his face flushed with anger, his mouth a determined scowl, rushed to warn Delphinia of the threat the Caliph posed to Fernland. They met in the middle of the reception hall, surrounded by ministers and dinner guests.
Chapter 53
Fernland
King Geoffrey easily spotted the visitors from Taz in the crowded reception room. They wore bright colored robes with matching turbans. Traders. Men practiced in the art of selling. When he saw the excitement on Delphinia's face, he feared the worst. They had no doubt found a thing she wanted to buy. A point to begin negotiations. Geoffrey was quite sure he wanted nothing they had to sell. He wanted them gone from Fernland and the sooner the better.
"Geoffrey! I am so anxious for you to meet the Caliph. He has told me so much about his life and he has such wonderful ideas." Delphinia was aglow with enthusiasm.
"Has he told you where they plan to settle now Taz has been taken from them?" Geoffrey asked, his face shadowed with suspicion.
"No, we have not spoken of that. But we have spoken of his first impressions of Fernland. Were you aware that with a little work we could make River's End into an estuary? We could harbor large ships on King's Lake. Even a royal barge."
"Yes, of course I was aware of that," King Geoffrey said, wondering if this were true. "I never saw the need of it."
"Need? Perhaps not. Though it might prove convenient to have our own port and perhaps pleasurable to have such a barge." Delphinia paused when she saw the anger in Geoffrey's eyes. "We only touched on the subject. I'm sure he would feel more comfortable speaking to you about it."
"No doubt he is anxious to get back to his ships. Perhaps I will speak to him during dinner."
Queen Delphinia looked at Geoffrey with a curious expression.
"I've not had time to arrange a proper banquet to receive our guests, but I believe our staff has risen to the challenge on short notice. Now that you have arrived, we may announce dinner."
"Fine. Please seat Electra on my right."
A quick change of seating assignments found Queen Delphinia on Geoffrey's left and Electra on his right. Queen Delphinia had hoped to speak to Electra during dinner. She had thought of several more reasons that spoke against Electra's plan to attend a school of medicine. She assumed that King Geoffrey had asked that she be seated next to him for the same reason. She hoped he had thought of a good argument to dissuade their daughter from this latest foolishness.
As dinner began, Electra seemed wholly concentrated on the food in front of her. Oddly, King Geoffrey seemed like-minded. What had come over everyone, Delphinia wondered. No one seemed inclined to conversation.
"How do you find the soup?" Delphinia asked King Geoffrey.
"The what?"
"The soup."
"Oh, yes, the soup." King Geoffrey could not remember if he had tasted the soup yet. "Quite good." He tasted it and found it over salted.
Delphinia tried again.
"Electra, have you thought more on our arguments against your going to a school of medicine?"
Delphinia hoped this would encourage King Geoffrey to offer any new arguments he had devised.
"I am still sifting through them," Electra said.
The Caliph, on Electra's right, looked up, interested.
"You contemplate the study of medicine?" he asked.
"Perhaps," she said, inspecting her soup.
"Had you a school in mind?" the Caliph asked.
Electra looked at t
he Caliph for the first time.
"I have heard praise for Egina." She watched for his reaction.
"I have been to Egina several times." The Caliph now had the attention not only of Electra, but the King and Queen as well.
"How did you find it?" Electra asked.
"I found it most impressive. They advocate note-taking and a thorough study of anatomy. My son attended there. As I recall they held a male student roster."
"Just as I suspected," Queen Delphinia said.
"Perhaps no women showed interest." Electra took a spoonful of soup.
"Quite likely," the Caliph replied.
"Do you know of other medical schools?" Electra asked.
"The Medici is well spoken of. I believe it is connected to a nunnery."
"The Medici," Electra repeated. "Where is it located?"
"It is on an island, far to the south. Quite a lovely place, but seldom visited."
"I wonder why no one visits," Electra mused.
"I believe the nuns prefer it," the Caliph replied.
"It sounds a better choice than Egina," King Geoffrey said, warming a little to his visitor.
"Ah, Your Majesty, I am the Caliph at your service. Forgive me for not announcing myself sooner. Your charming wife has invited my men and I to spend the night. I have hopes of an audience with you in the morning before we leave. I have a proposal to make to you that I believe would be in both our interests.
Too late, King Geoffrey looked back at his soup.
"I am eager for King Geoffrey to hear of your ideas for an estuary," Queen Delphinia beamed with pleasure.
Geoffrey sighed, and signaled for the next course to be served. Surely by morning he would think of an argument against an estuary.
Chapter 54
Fernland
The next morning King Geoffrey sat in his throne room, impatient to get on with the excellent arguments he had devised against the building of an estuary. Such an estuary from the sea to the lake could bring in pirates. Besides, Fernland was already well situated along an inland trade route that generated sufficient taxes. They had no need of outside goods from ships. He would be polite but firm. He would wish the Caliph good luck in his relocation efforts and send him on his way.