James Somers - The Order of Shaddai

“Can I help you, gov’ner?” Bonifast said in an overly innocent tone. He smiled wide and toothy for the man who stood a good six inches taller. General Hevas Rommil, returned the smile, if only slightly. “Tie him up in his cabin and secure the crew in the hold below. I want this ship under continuous guard.”

Bonifast started to protest the action.

Hevas Rommil turned slightly to his own men, then turning back to Levi, he punched him dead in the face with an arm the size of a grown man’s leg. Levi reeled backward, unconscious before he even landed on the floor of his cabin.

When the procession, following Mr. Hollingsworth and the royal carriage, finally arrived two miles later at King Nichol’s castle, trumpets at the main gate announced their arrival. Gideon and Ethan scanned the castle walls as they proceeded through the portcullis, trying to anticipate any point of potential attack. They might be set upon by archers from the walls, or riflemen from the rear. If Mr. Hollingsworth suddenly lobbed a grenade from the window of his carriage, they wanted to be prepared even for that.

But nothing happened-no surprise attack. Only a royal welcome as they entered the courtyard of the castle. The priests observed that it was not a very large castle, at least not when compared to the palace at Emmanuel. Its gray stone certainly did not compare with the grandeur of the pristine white, granite walls in their capital city.

Soldiers in deep blue and gray dress uniforms lined the yard on either side of a rose-colored carpet, which began in the courtyard and extended into the great vestibule beyond. The royal carriage pulled along side the carpet so that the door opened onto it. Mr. Hollingsworth waited for the footman and then stepped out onto the carpet.

Gideon and Ethan rounded the coach to meet the Royal Advisor to the king. The soldiers fell into ranks and escorted them inside. “You will address the king in his throne room momentarily, then His Majesty has prepared a banquet in your honor.”

“Thank you,” Gideon said, “but that’s really not necessary.”

“Of course it is. Don’t be so modest, gentlemen. You are honored guests here in Macedon. Please allow His Majesty the pleasure of treating you as such.”

Gideon and Ethan bowed in acceptance, then followed Mr. Hollingsworth along the rose-colored carpet, through the gauntlet of soldiers, and into the castle. As they walked along the torch-lit hallway, Gideon wondered at what level this ruse would breakdown. Royal carriages, Gavin’s colors, trumpets and such…but do they really have a King of Macedon?

When the hall ended in great wooden double doors, Gideon stood near behind Mr. Hollingsworth. He was prepared to dispatch this so-called Royal Advisor at the first sign of deception. The guards opened the doors and Mr. Hollingsworth entered with Gideon and Ethan close behind.

“Presenting the Royal Advisor, Mr. Hollingsworth and the distinguished gentlemen from The Order of Shaddai,” the Herald announced.

To Gideon’s genuine surprise, a young man sat upon the throne in the modest chamber. Mr. Hollingsworth led the priests before the throne.

“Gentlemen, so good of you to answer our call for the Word of Shaddai. I am Nichols, King of Macedon.”

Gideon bowed. Ethan followed his mentor’s gesture of good will. “My name is Gideon and this is my apprentice, Ethan. Forgive me, my Lord, but I was unaware that a king presided over the throne in Macedon. According to our prior contacts, the island was still under the control of Mordred and his Wraith Riders.”

“Of course, of course,” Nichols said. “That was the case, until very recently. My father died, imprisoned by Mordred’s Wraith General, Hevas Rommil. In order to help secure the cooperation of the people, Rommil allowed my mother and myself to live in one of our homes on the other side of the island, howbeit under constant guard.

“About a year ago, I was able to organize a revolution and overthrow the sparse army remaining on the island. I captured General Rommil myself and in a gesture of good will, banished him from the island rather than kill him.”

“A mighty deed, for such a young man,” Gideon said.

Nichols swelled with pride. He wasn’t the sort of man one would consider to be a mighty warrior. It wasn’t his size that was in question so much as his manner. Nichols was a bit foppish and pudgy to boot.

“My apprentice had the displeasure of facing Rommil’s brother in battle on the mainland,” Gideon said.

“Ah, really…and the outcome, young man?’

Gideon looked at Ethan, giving him leave to speak up. “I killed him, Majesty.”

Gideon observed the young king closely. Nichols’ eyes betrayed a hint of fear-the slightest twitch of concern over Ethan’s confession.

“Good show, Master Ethan,” he said. At this point, Mr. Hollingsworth interjected. “Sire, our guests did not bring the scrolls with them to the castle.”

“Really-why not?”

“We felt it would be wiser to establish contact with you first,” Gideon said. “After all, we did not know Mordred’s army had been defeated on the island.”

Nichols settled back into the cushions upon his throne. “Well,” he said clapping his hands, “no matter. I’m sure there is plenty of time to retrieve the scrolls from your ship, eh? First, I’ve taken the liberty of having a banquet prepared in your honor. I do hope you will do us the kindness of accepting?”

“Of course, Majesty. Ethan and I would be honored. Would it be possible for us to return to our ship and retrieve more appropriate attire?” he said, tugging on his drab clothing.

Nichols seemed to stammer for the slightest moment. He recovered quickly. “Better yet, I will have my royal tailor provide you with custom garments-a small token of our gratitude for the dangerous journey you’ve made on our behalf.”

Gideon knew Nichols would be insulted if they refused his hospitality. He gave a slight bow at the waist, thanking the king. Nichols was a tactful politician if nothing else.

“Mr. Hollingsworth will show you the way and see that you are well cared for,” Nichols said. “I look forward to talking with you again at dinner.”

Gideon and Ethan followed the Royal Advisor through another door and down a side hall from the throne room. Having met Macedon’s king, Gideon felt less comfortable with this situation than he had before. In fact, he wondered if the danger might not be far worse than he had previously imagined.

“I want you men to relieve the deck guard,” said one of Rommil’s captains, “and you men give relief to the guard on the docks around the ship. The crew must be maintained below deck and Captain Bonifast is not allowed out of his cabin. Lieutenant, be sure to assign two men from your company to relieve the two guards in Bonifast’s cabin.”

He finished dissecting his company of soldiers and sent them on their way with their commanding officers. The captain then turned and marched back from the docks toward the shore. He passed a number of homeless urchins huddled up in various places-doorways of dock master offices and small restaurants, all of which littered the massive complex along the Calveran shore.

Among the poor wretches, covered up in their own cloaks upon the ground, one particular blind man rose after the captain had passed. He had dressed completely in black except for his head. His pale blind eyes seemed not to hinder him in the least as he moved fluidly along the floating pathway, toward the Trinity, silent as a ghost.

The man in black hid a mere forty yards from the soldiers guarding the Trinity. Then he entered the water. Up to this point, he had crept quickly and quietly among the shadows, blending like a chameleon with the darkness. The seawater remained quite warm around Macedon, and the blind beggar swam without disturbing the surface of the water in any way that might alert the guards.