{"id":122,"date":"2012-05-21T11:42:56","date_gmt":"2012-05-21T15:42:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/?p=122"},"modified":"2012-05-21T11:42:56","modified_gmt":"2012-05-21T15:42:56","slug":"zervakan-free-fantasy-novel-chapter-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/?p=122","title":{"rendered":"ZERVAKAN – Free Fantasy Novel – Chapter 12"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\"\"<\/a>
Cover by TJ Lomas.<\/a>\n<\/div>\n
\nI’m posting a chapter from my latest fantasy novel for free every Monday and Friday (click Zervakan<\/a> above for a synopsis and to start from the beginning). It’s in a “pre-published state,” meaning you might find the occasional spelling\/grammar mistake. If you do, please leave a comment below or email me at robsteiner01 [at] gmail [dot] com.<\/p>\n

If you’re uncomfortable getting something for nothing, you can hit the PayPal Donate<\/a> button in the Tip Jar section to the right. If you donate more than $3, I’ll send you a non-DRM ebook once the book is published (summer 2012). If you donate more than $20, I’ll send you a printed copy.<\/p>\n

Thanks, and I hope you enjoy it!<\/em>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ZERVAKAN<\/h1>\n

by Rob Steiner<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 12<\/h2>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I will not lie to our greatest ally,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Dylan told Lee, hoping the finality in his voice would dissuade Lee from further argument.\u00c2\u00a0 It was three hours past midnight, and Dylan had not slept since the night they had left Calaman, so he was in no mood for debate.\u00c2\u00a0 But Lee persisted.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not saying you should lie,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Lee said in a low voice, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153just don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t volunteer any information.\u00c2\u00a0 If King Hamacz finds out about Kaneta, he may not transport us to Markwatch.\u00c2\u00a0 Not even Jeluha had heard of the incident, so Hamacz likely doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know either.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

The train\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s second Edellian stop at the village of Jeluha\u00e2\u20ac\u201dhardly more than a train depot\u00e2\u20ac\u201dhad gone well, considering what a tragic disaster the last stop had been.\u00c2\u00a0 It enabled the train to take on enough coal for the rest of its journey.\u00c2\u00a0 The station manager was friendly, despite his curious glances at the train\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s broken windows and bullet riddled exterior.\u00c2\u00a0 Edoss had ordered the conductor to tell him it was Cossop raiders who had attacked them en route.\u00c2\u00a0 The manager nodded sympathetically, and gave no indication he had heard of the firefight in Kaneta.\u00c2\u00a0 This only emboldened Lee\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s efforts to persuade Dylan to lie to King Hamacz.<\/p>\n

Dylan shook his head.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153No.\u00c2\u00a0 I won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t begin my administration\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s first meeting with a friend of the Compact by keeping something like this from him.\u00c2\u00a0 We will acknowledge our actions and offer any form of restitution the King deems appropriate.\u00c2\u00a0 I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve made my decision.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Lee leaned back in his chair and stared out the window.\u00c2\u00a0 Dylan regretted snapping at him, but he was too tired, scared, and frustrated over the past few days to apologize.<\/p>\n

With the late hour, Dylan saw few people on the streets of Sydear\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s outlying areas.\u00c2\u00a0 Scattered clay homes became small villages, then towns with street lamps illuminating empty cobblestone roads.\u00c2\u00a0 The night was cloudy, yet the rings shone through in all their supernaturalist splendor.\u00c2\u00a0 Dylan realized a thought like that would have made him wince just a month ago.<\/p>\n

The train\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s arrival in Sydear was a mixed blessing.\u00c2\u00a0 On one hand Dylan was happy to be in a city that had not seen the destruction wrought on the frontier towns by the Angra harrowers.\u00c2\u00a0 Nor had it had a storm like Calaman.\u00c2\u00a0 On the other hand, he had to tell King Hamacz, the Compact\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s most faithful ally through both Mazumdahri wars, that his Shadarlak Armsmen had killed several Edellians in Kaneta.\u00c2\u00a0 Lee\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s fears were valid, but Dylan felt he had no choice but to be honest with the King.\u00c2\u00a0 How could he meet the King face to face and not tell him about the incident?\u00c2\u00a0 What would Hamacz think if he learned the news after Dylan had met with him and used his ships to get to Markwatch, yet \u00e2\u20ac\u0153forgot\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to mention the tragedy?<\/p>\n

The train bypassed Sydear\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Jewel of the North Station\u00e2\u20ac\u201dalmost a replica of the Revela Street Station in Calaman\u00e2\u20ac\u201dand continued on to the wharves on the waterfront.\u00c2\u00a0 Though the train would get curious looks from the dockworkers reporting for their morning shifts, at least it would not be throngs of Edellians in the public train station watching the approach.\u00c2\u00a0 Dylan knew that rumors of his \u00e2\u20ac\u0153secret\u00e2\u20ac\u009d arrival in Sydear would eventually get out.\u00c2\u00a0 The goal was to keep the news a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153rumor\u00e2\u20ac\u009d for as long as possible, at least until they were on their way to Markwatch.<\/p>\n

When the train reached the wharves, it slowed to a crawl, then lurched to a stop near several grain silos to the left, and the Gulf of Pagilah on the right.\u00c2\u00a0 Fishermen on the Gulf might notice the train, but the silos would block casual spectators from the city itself.<\/p>\n

Outside the train sat a nondescript coach with curtains over its windows.\u00c2\u00a0 The driver stood next to the horse, checking its harness and paying no attention to the train.\u00c2\u00a0 Another man stood next to the coach\u00e2\u20ac\u201dhead held high, back straight\u00e2\u20ac\u201dand approached the conductor as he stepped down from the locomotive.\u00c2\u00a0 They spoke a few words, and then the conductor motioned the man onto the Speaker\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s car.<\/p>\n

The man was well dressed, though not in the customary livery Dylan knew from meeting other Edellian agents of the King.\u00c2\u00a0 Dylan was grateful for that.\u00c2\u00a0 A King\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s man standing on the wharves at four o\u00e2\u20ac\u2122clock in the morning would certainly draw attention from any passers-by.\u00c2\u00a0 The agent glanced at the broken windows and damaged furniture in the Speaker\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s car, but his smooth face gave no sign of curiosity.<\/p>\n

The man bowed low, then said to Dylan in a smooth Edellian accent, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Honored guests, I am Cavares Aisha, the Word of King Hamacz.\u00c2\u00a0 King Hamacz requests the honor of meeting the new Recindian Compact Speaker at your convenience, Excellency.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Dylan stood, as did Lee and General Myndehr.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The honor of a meeting with the King is mine,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Dylan said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Lead the way, Word Aisha.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Aisha bowed again, then turned and exited the car.\u00c2\u00a0 Four Shadarlak fell in behind Aisha and in front of Dylan, while four more proceeded behind Dylan.<\/p>\n

Outside the car, the Edellian air was cold.\u00c2\u00a0 The clouds released a misty drizzle that made the air even colder.\u00c2\u00a0 Dylan ignored the chill\u00e2\u20ac\u201dfor it was nothing compared to an Orlenian winter in the Perla Mountains\u00e2\u20ac\u201dand strode after the Word, who stopped in front of the curtained wagon.\u00c2\u00a0 The Word opened the carriage door, and a tall man with a dark, well-trimmed beard and the clothes of a wealthy commoner stepped out.\u00c2\u00a0 He towered several inches above Dylan\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s tallest Shadarlak, but he had a warmth in his eyes that made his size less intimidating.\u00c2\u00a0 Dylan hoped that friendliness still existed after this meeting.<\/p>\n

The King bowed, as did Dylan, and then said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Excellency, welcome to Sydear.\u00c2\u00a0 It is unfortunate this visit must remain secret, for I would hate to think you would form an opinion of my city based on what you see around you.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

The King smiled ruefully as he glanced at the dirty wharves, where boxes of cargo sat nearby and the smell of rotting fish was strong enough to cut with a saber.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Your Highness,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Dylan said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153from what I saw of the city coming in, you have much to be proud of.\u00c2\u00a0 And it is an honor to finally meet the Recindian Compact\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s greatest and most trusted ally.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Thank you, Excellency.\u00c2\u00a0 I understand your time is limited, so I will escort you to your ship.\u00c2\u00a0 It has been stocked with the supplies, provisions, and horses you requested.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

King Hamacz extended his hand toward a pier, where Dylan saw a sloop tied to the dock.\u00c2\u00a0 Dylan told Lee to have the men transfer their supplies to the ship, then followed the King, with the Shadarlak in tow.<\/p>\n

The King frowned at the train as they turned toward the docks.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Excellency, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m curious as to what happened to your train.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153The damage you see is what makes my mission to Markwatch all the more important,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Dylan said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We were attacked in a Compact village on the way here by those who know how to wield the power of the rings above us.\u00c2\u00a0 This person was able to create…monstrous creatures.\u00c2\u00a0 I suppose there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no other way to explain them.\u00c2\u00a0 We barely got away.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

The King gave Dylan a sharp look.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We have just received word today of these attacks near the Perla Mountains.\u00c2\u00a0 Many of my plainsmen still have faith in the Old Ways, that the rings herald the end of time, so I thought they were simply the imaginations of a simple people.\u00c2\u00a0 I thought perhaps the Cossops were playing games.\u00c2\u00a0 But now, hearing the same reports from the Compact Speaker and a Pathist…perhaps the end times are here.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Hopefully my mission will prevent that.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 Dylan paused, and then said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153There is another matter of which you must be aware.\u00c2\u00a0 On our way here, there was an incident in the town of Kaneta, just north of the Perla Mountains.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Incident?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d the King asked.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Your people there are frightened.\u00c2\u00a0 Something has attacked them the previous few nights, which made many people try to barter their way onto my train.\u00c2\u00a0 We did not have the room so…\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

The King\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s friendly demeanor began to evaporate, and he regarded Dylan with a blank stare.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What happened?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153The bartering turned into a panicked riot.\u00c2\u00a0 One of my men was shot, killed.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 Dylan stopped and looked directly into the King\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s eyes.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The rest of my men returned fire from our train.\u00c2\u00a0 I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know how many Kanetans were hurt, but seven of my men were killed in the return fire.\u00c2\u00a0 I wanted to tell you this personally.\u00c2\u00a0 I apologize for any loss of Edellian life, and I offer the resources of the entire Compact to make any restitution you deem appropriate for this unfortunate accident.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

The King closed his eyes and lowered his head, then looked past Dylan at the sleeping city of Sydear.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Seven of your men died,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Hamacz said.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I would say blood has been paid in blood.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 The King sighed.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153But once news of this becomes common knowledge, it will be difficult for me to maintain our alliance.\u00c2\u00a0 My people grow weary of the war with Mazumdahr.\u00c2\u00a0 Even though it is in a cease-fire and only minor skirmishes occur, Edellian men are still dying in those skirmishes.\u00c2\u00a0 A Mazumdahri ambassador visited me two months ago offering a separate peace treaty.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Dylan was stunned.\u00c2\u00a0 He hesitated, but asked, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What did you tell him?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Hamacz smiled sadly.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I told him I would think on it.\u00c2\u00a0 You must understand that we do not have the resources that you in the Compact have.\u00c2\u00a0 My country is large in land, but few in people.\u00c2\u00a0 We were once nomads, not all that different from the Cossops.\u00c2\u00a0 We have no industry other than what we learn from you, nor the population to sustain a long war, which this war has become.\u00c2\u00a0 My people are tired.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

The King shook his head.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I know the Mazumdahri are trying to break our alliance.\u00c2\u00a0 I know what will happen if they do.\u00c2\u00a0 But I fear the unrest in my country will be far worse if this war does not end soon.\u00c2\u00a0 And I fear that this incident in Kaneta will be all my people need to demand that we make peace with Mazumdahr now.\u00c2\u00a0 Without you, if necessary.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Dylan stared numbly at his scarred train.\u00c2\u00a0 It looked as if the train had been target practice for a company of Mazhumdahri musketmen.\u00c2\u00a0 Edellian soldiers helped the Shadarlak unload the Compact mission\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s gear onto oxen-pulled wagons that slowly rumbled back and forth between the docked sloop and the train.<\/p>\n

What would happen if the Compact suddenly lost its most steadfast ally?\u00c2\u00a0 It was only with Edellia\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s alliance that the Compact had been able to hold off the Mazumdahri onslaught on its northern border.<\/p>\n

Dylan said to the King, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You must know that peace can only come if we stand united.\u00c2\u00a0 Their entire civilization is geared toward expanding this religion they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve built up around their \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcImmortal King.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00c2\u00a0 If they destroy the Compact, it will only be a matter of time before they come after you and the other free nations of Recindia.\u00c2\u00a0 Your Highness, I fear for the continent\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s future if Edellia makes a separate peace.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153As do I,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d the King said sadly.\u00c2\u00a0 There was a quiet moment as they both watched the Shadarlak and Edellian soldiers load the sloop.\u00c2\u00a0 The King broke the silence and said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Perhaps the Mystics will be able to help you.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

At that moment, Dylan knew the King had already made his decision.\u00c2\u00a0 The Mystics were now the Compact\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s only hope in fending off a redeployed Mazumdahr.\u00c2\u00a0 Without Edellia to worry about on its northern flank, the Mazumdahri would surely concentrate all their forces on the Compact.<\/p>\n

Dylan realized that by giving the him an Edellian boat to take to the Beldamark, the King was trying to help the Compact one last time.<\/p>\n

Just before he ensured its destruction.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cover by TJ Lomas. I’m posting a chapter from my latest fantasy novel for free every Monday and Friday (click Zervakan above for a synopsis and to start from the beginning). It’s in a “pre-published state,” meaning you might find the occasional spelling\/grammar mistake. If you do, please leave a comment below or email me […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,28,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-122","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-free-stuff","category-novels","category-zervakan"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/122","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=122"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/122\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robsteinerauthor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}