Richard Parker - Elsewhere

‘Traitors!’ He thought once again.

The fore part of the ship stayed upright and afloat for several minutes before suddenly tilting and with astonishing speed tipped nose first and dove into the deep. In his terror, the High King foolishly kept a death grip on the railing as the ship sliced through the surface. Mastoc was ten feet underwater before he thought to release his hold on the doomed craft, but finally he relaxed his fingers and tried to push away. But instead of popping to the surface, Mastoc continued his descent, caught in the strong undertow of the sinking vessel. Ten, twenty, thirty feet farther into the deep he went until finally he managed to move far enough away to stop himself from plunging deeper. Lungs bursting, the High King began to frantically struggle toward the surface. He did not see the mast of the ship as it raced downward until it was less than a foot from his face. It struck with enough force to break the King’s nose and jaw and without thought Mastoc jerked back and gulped for air. He was rewarded with only seawater for his effort. Lights burst from behind his confused eyes and he tried to breath once more and was lost. A minute later the High King was dead and slowly following the Cardinal to the bottom of the Inland Sea.

XV

Vio knocked softly on the door, feeling nervous and a bit queasy. Her stomach started its internal gymnastics during the battle with the Palmerrio, just after she killed her first person, and it had been flipping and flopping ever since. She tried food, water and finally a strong mash offered by an older veteran Massi soldier, but nothing seemed to help, so finally she just decided to fall back into her daily routine. She would run, spar and practice with her bow, and try not to think of the dozen or so men she had ushered into death.

She was about to knock again when she heard a faint shuffling on the far side of the door.

‘Gwaynn couldn’t be sleeping still,’ she thought as she waited. ‘The sun was up full.’

But when the door finally opened it was a sleepy Samantha who stood on the far side.

“Oh!” The two young women said in unison. Samantha frowned slightly at the sight of Vio. The younger girl was shocked to find Samantha sleeping in Gwaynn’s room, though it was common knowledge that she was carrying his child, a fact that was pronounced through her thin sleeping gown.

“Yes…” Samantha said a little irritably.

“I…I was looking for Gwaynn,” Vio stammered, feeling somehow foolish.

Samantha frowned again. “What about?”

“I…I haven’t been feeling well since the battle,” Vio said hurriedly just wanting to get away. “I’ve never killed anyone before…I know it sounds stupid. I’ve been training to kill for almost five years on Noble with all sorts of deadly weapons, but somehow I never envisioned myself actually using them on a living person.” The words just fell out of her mouth as if on their own bidding, and Samantha’s features softened. Vio was a beautiful young woman and she obviously carried a torch in her heart for Gwaynn, but she was still nearly a child. Killing and war could be very traumatic for even hardened soldiers and Samantha’s heart went out to the girl.

“Killing is a horrid business,” Samantha said sleepily and reached out and grabbed Vio’s hand and pulled her into the room.

“Gwaynn’s out riding with Bock…scouting the Scar, but he should be back by mid-morning,” Samantha explained and plopped down on the edge of the bed. The bulge in her belly was clearly visible and Vio’s eyes moved from her obvious pregnancy to her missing hand and back. When she finally glanced up Samantha was smiling at her, somehow she no longer felt threatened by this young Deutzani woman.

“You’re very beautiful,” Samantha said and actually found the courage to reach up and touch the woman’s glossy black hair. “I can see why Gwaynn is attracted to you.”

Vio blushed. “No…oh no Gwaynn...well Gwaynn loves you obviously,” she said and gestured to Samantha’s bulging abdomen.

“Yes Gwaynn loves me,” Samantha replied and just saying the phrase somehow made it all the stronger. “But he loves you too…maybe not romantically, but he loves you. I can see it when he looks at you.”

Now it was Vio’s turn to frown. “Not romantically,” she said with such obvious sadness that Samantha actually felt pity for the girl. “Isn’t that the only love that matters?”

Samantha shook her head and took one of Vio’s hands in the only one left to her.

“No…Gwaynn and I…we lost so much love in our lives, family love, friendly love, love that endures and does not question…such love is far less fickle than romantic love. Gwaynn has such love for you and it is not without its rewards. Romantic love will come to you Vio Valencia and then it may leave you, but the love Gwaynn…Gwaynn and I offer you, will never let you down.”

Samantha hadn’t meant to offer love or even friendship to the young woman of Noble. The words just felt right to her and when Vio looked at her with misty eyes she knew her instincts were true.

“Gwaynn’s a lucky man,” Vio said softly, then jumped as another knock came at the door. Samantha patted her hand gently then rose and answered the door once more. Tar Kostek waited patiently and smiled at her.

“Hello Samantha. Are Vio and Gwaynn here? We’re going to start our morning run.”

“Gwaynn is out inspecting the Scar,” Vio answered, suddenly appearing behind Samantha.

“Well then, shall we go?” Kostek asked and both women could see his carefully concealed disappointment. “Would you care to join us?” He asked Samantha suddenly. She snorted a laugh and placed a hand on her belly.

“I’m afraid I’m not in much condition to run,” she said.

“A walk-run then. Exercise would do you good,” Kostek said persuasively.

“Well…” Samantha hesitated and was actually far from

tempted.

“Yes,” Vio interjected excitedly. “Please join us,” she added and grabbed Samantha’s bad arm. Samantha expected her to jump back in alarm at her mistake, as nearly everyone did, but Vio showed no signs of anything out of the ordinary and just looked hopefully at her. Surprisingly Samantha found that she liked Vio just as much as she liked her cousin Van. They both seemed to be exceptionally open and kind people.

“Alright, I’ll go,” Samantha added impulsively, not wanting to let the two people before her down. “I’ll just get dressed. It won’t take a moment.” She made to close the door, but Vio surprised her again and slipped back inside, while Kostek coughed and moved down the hall.

“I’m glad you’re going,” Vio said. “Do you need any help?”

“No,” Samantha answered, holding up her wounded arm. “I’m getting used to only having one hand.” And to prove her point Samantha wriggled out of her night dress quite gracefully despite her handicap.

“Oh!” Vio said softly again…gazing at Samantha’s naked belly. “How far along?”

Samantha looked down and patted her belly. “Just over seven months the doctor thinks, though Van thinks I’m farther.”

“Van!” Vio snorted. She couldn’t get over the respect everyone paid her flighty cousin…Van…a doctor. It was an odd thought for someone who’d known him only as a squirrely boy.

Samantha tilted her head. “Van saved my life you know,” she said and held up her arm. “He cut the rest of this off and sealed the wound before I bled to death.”

“Van?” Vio asked finding it hard to believe.

Samantha nodded her head. “Van.”

“Maybe he’s right. You are getting big,” Vio added and Samantha smiled.

“Your belly isn’t the only thing that grows when you’re pregnant,” Samantha commented. “These get big as well,” she added and lifted one breast with her hand and then giggled and slipped on her shirt.