My day began well before daylight. My breakfast waited as I scoured the ship in search of Tilly. I found her curled up in the ships ropes, which were tucked into a corner of the deck, a partial roof for a covering and a rough burlap bag as her blanket.
She looked vulnerable and small as she lay in a beggar’s bed, her long tresses fanned out among the three-corded rigging, frost clinging to her eyelashes. Seeing her there settled my misgivings. I stepped close to her, bent down, lifted her into my arms and carried her to our cabin. They way she curled into me, her face next to my chest, warmed my insides and I half wished she’d stay in my arms forever.
As I moved to turn the doorknob of my room, she stirred and her eyes opened to look up at me. “What are you doing?”
“Carrying you to our bed. You’ll need rest and a warm blanket after the night you’ve had.”
She said no more and shivered violently as I carried her inside. I laid her down on my bed and covered her with the thick cover. I took another wool throw and placed it around her.
Her face held confusion as she asked, “Why are you doing this?”
“You’re my coverling and it’s my duty to take care of you.”
“Without knowing why I didn’t come to your bed last night?”
“If you were with one of my men, they wouldn’t have left you to fend for yourself.”
The look in her eyes told me she understood. “I wasn’t with anyone last night, at least not anyone from your ship.”
That information shattered me more than an indiscreet rendezvous would have. “Who? Who did you meet?”
“Did you hear them?”
I scoured my dreams of the night and tried to recall if I’d heard anything. “There was a sound, screeching, like a bird in fright, except it was louder, as though produced by a larger animal. But it was only a dream.”
“Are you sure?” Tilly studied me as though she cared for me, wanted me to remember and as though she were trying to warn me of something.
I refused to let her get under my skin. “Get some sleep. You’ll need it. We’ll be visiting Akoni late afternoon.” I pointed to the chair in the corner, beside an escritoire where her clothes were hung. I’d placed her warrior’s uniform on the chair so she wouldn’t forget this time. “You’re to change into those before you leave this cabin.”
“Must you be so imperious?”
“As long as I’m the captain of this ship, everyone obeys me.”
“Remind me to take the position the next time it’s up for grabs.” She turned away, onto her side, pulled the blankets up so that only the top part of her head showed and, just like that, dismissed me.
Feeling like she controlled most of our conversations irritated me but I didn’t know how to get the reins back without some physical force. I vowed not to attempt to kill her again but she was taxing my patience.
I left without another word and headed to the bridge. I didn’t feel hungry. Tilly tended to have this effect on me.
Themis and I planned out the day and the farrins we’d visit. We ended up discussing Akoni Farrin in length. He added his advice on how to force Akoni into submission. I asked questions and he answered, I gave commands and he nodded. Themis admitted that the previous captain, Ship Captain Umiko, had often been cowed into retreating before they could enforce Casimer’s demands on Akoni.
I wondered again why Captain Umiko was so spineless and I inwardly applauded his household’s execution.
Themis pointed to a land mass similar in size to Oyvind Farrin, one of the larger ones. “Gormly is a fair sized island with a population of around two hundred. They have been systematically been attacked by the Akoni and Oyvin clans over the years and their population has suffered for it.”
“We will stop there and make our demands.”
“Of course.” He pointed to the map. “Guion Farrin will be the next clan after Gormly. Their numbers are around forty. If you insist on stopping there, I suppose we can do that.”
“We stop at each one, unless they are uninhabited.”
Themis pointed to some land masses that looked small and unimpressive. “These ones don’t have a soul on them.”
“We’ll bypass those.”
“Next in line is Nonie Farrin.” Themis listed three other land masses before he ended with Akoni Farrin.
“Most of these land masses have minimal numbers and won’t take long to stop at. Do you believe we’ll have time to stop at Akoni today?” I asked.
He nodded. “As long as everything goes like clockwork, we should be able to get to Akoni today. If you want my advice, when we land on there, I’d say we choose five of their strongest warriors, string them up by their arms, skin them alive and then roast them on a spit. Their screams should be enough warning to despotize the rest of the clan and undermine the leadership. They’ll think twice before refuting our demands again or threatening our crew. Their numbers demand that we take severe measure.”
“How many of them at last count?”
“I’d estimate their population runs well over five hundred.”
“Their growth must be stopped. So Akoni blatantly refused to obey Dwarkaa’s commands?” I asked, completely appalled that this had been allowed.
“I wouldn’t say that. The fault lies squarely with Umiko’s weak-kneed, gutless cowardice. The clan threatened and Umiko didn’t have the backbone to force them to comply.”
“You’re telling me that there is nothing to fear regarding Akoni Farrin’s threats? They can easily be manipulated and cowed into submission?”
A look of uncertainty crossed Themis’ face. “I have to admit the Akoni clan is strong and the last time we visited they gave convincing proof that they could take us down. But I don’t truly believe it’s possible. We just have to get out our big guns. I heard you mention that you secured coughing gas in our arsenal. I suggest we shoot the gas bombs onto the beach well before we land. This will put them at a disadvantage from the start.”
“Yes. I ordered the supplies for this trip.”
Themis nodded, respect in his eyes. “Umiko was a pushover. He deserves whatever Casimer will do to him.”
I gave a slight nod. “What do you know of the Akoni children archers?” I asked him.
“They have many of them, all hidden in the hills and rocks that skirt the sheer granite abutments.”
“Okay. I believe the only way to sniff them out is with the coughing gas. We’ll sail along the coast and shoot the noxious gas onto the beach and hills. This should eliminate the risk to our numbers and vessel.”
Themis asked, “And what will you do once they’re subdued into compliance?”
“Casimer has given his directives. I won’t fail him.”
“If you need ideas, I have plenty of them.”
“Tell me.”
I listened as Themis gave his suggestions, all of them barbarous and sadistic. Listening to Themis’ brutal ideas was a balm to my soul after hearing Tilly’s wild rantings.
“Tell me of the other farrins we’ll be stopping at after we’re done with Akoni,” I said.
He pointed to a few farrins close to Akoni. “These are abandoned. The land masses close to the cursed island of Tarmon can’t seem to sustain life.” He circled a group of land masses with his finger. “These are the farrins we will stop at on our way back to Dwarkaa. Some are uninhabited, a few have a miniscule amount of clan members and most are unimpressive. After Akoni, our work will be a breeze and we’ll be on the home stretch.”
When he was done, I nodded and left the bridge.
We lifted anchor shortly after that and set sail. Making the expected clan visits, I was feeling encouraged with our accomplishments. None of the clans opposed our demands and we did what we came to do, bring terror and grief. Close to noon we passed by the lea of Heath Farrin and sailed on. The land mass was a wasteland filled with poisonous snakes, completely uninhabited except for the death-inducing reptile. Stopping there would have been a waste of precious time.
The next farrin came within view mid-day. Gormly Farrin was impressive. The sheer rock walls that rose from the sea looked impenetrable and formidable. Water falls cascaded down from many points on the treacherous mountains that rose before us. Only when we’d sailed around to the far side did the landing site become clear. It was a small piece of beach that made docking possible.
I sent one of my men to rouse Tilly and tell her to join me.
Themis carefully maneuvered the large ship through the rough waves, into the inlet and managed to dock the ship with no damage.
Tilly appeared from the cabin as we docked. I stared at her as she approached, wearing her warrior’s uniform. It looked good on her, fit her well and showed all her curves. I couldn’t tear my eyes from studying her body.
She stopped in front of me, intrigue in her eyes and said, “I’m wearing an Apolake Warrior Uniform, not a night shift.”
“You may as well be,” I answered, my heart palpitating wildly. “It looks good on you.” I smiled suggestively.
“You’re acting like a love-struck teen. You’re men will despise you for it.”
“I don’t care.” I held out my arm for her. “Take my arm.”
“Like we’re going to a ball?”
“We’re going to watch a show.”
Tilly stared at me. “I don’t want to watch.”
“I insist.”
Her face betrayed her inner turmoil. “Why does it matter whether I watch or not?”
“You’re my coverling. I need your support.”
“You know what I think of Dwarkaa’s business.”
“You are required to put your personal opinion aside and stand next to me.”
She acquiesced and joined me as the gang plank was lowered and we descended to the dock together. Five warriors joined me, their weapons at the ready should the clan chose to rebel.
Everything proceeded like clockwork. The Gormly clan seemed eager to comply and get rid of us. The clan was average in size, just over two hundred. We demanded two infants, which they gave us willingly, except for the weeping mothers, and two young Gormly clan warriors were chosen for sacrifice.
The Tonrar made a sudden appearance, their heavy incoming aura making it difficult to breathe. They were always eager to inflict pain and goad the killing.
The typical crying and wailing rose like waves on the ocean during the ceremony. I forced Tilly to join me as the Tonrar goaded the clan into the chant and homage to Casimer while the two young teens were laid out on the sacrifice stone. As the dark chanting and screaming reached a fevered climax, two men from the Gormly clan raised knives and plunged them into the teen’s bodies. As soon as the deaths were complete, a collective sigh escaped from the populace, a relief that the horror was over.
The Tonrar left immediately after, their oppressive presence dissipating quickly.
I, Tilly and the Apolake Warriors hurried back to the ship. I felt eager to get to Akoni and enforce Casimer’s domination there. Once that was done, I could sail back to Dwarkaa in peace. But there were still a few land masses to visit before we reached Akoni.
We lifted the gangplank, undid the ropes and rigging to the dock and set sail for the next farrin in line.
Tilly was about to leave my side when I stopped her. “I want you to stay.”
“There are things I need to attend to.”
“I’d like you to attend me.”
She looked torn but she had become my coverling, she had certain duties now.
“How much longer until we reach Akoni?” she asked.
“Perhaps four to five hours.”
“I’ll return just before we land at my home.”
I finally agreed. Demanding she stay for the smaller land masses on our tour seemed unnecessary. Late afternoon, just before Akoni Farrin came into view, Tilly kept her word, appeared and came to stand beside me. I could tell she was nervous.
“What do you think will happen?” I asked, not truly expecting a response.
“You will be undone, perhaps killed but I’m sure it will be quick and painless.”
Tilly continually surprised me with her unexpected answers. I wished I could anticipate her words more often.
As we drew nearer to Akoni Farrin and as the water-flumed waves calmed and the dust-infested air dissipated slightly so that we could see, I and the rest of the warriors on deck were astounded by the view. I could not take my eyes off the sight and was the last thing I expected. There was another Dwarkaa ship docked at their shore and flames were blazing from the deck.
