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.
He rounded the Trinity, appearing at the stern. The man pulled himself cautiously from the water, sure to minimize the sound of water dripping from his clothes as he ascended. Despite his sightless eyes, his fingers managed to find the nooks and crannies on the hull surface. He pulled himself up the back of the ship, until he was level with the windowpanes of the captain’s cabin, where he listened intently.
Levi Bonifast stirred as one of the guards kicked his boot. The soldiers had beaten him, even after the one- punch-thrashing the Rommil had given him. His face throbbed and one of his eyes was nearly swollen shut. A dull purple mottled his complexion.
The captain had been bound to his leather, desk-chair in the rear of the room, near three panes of glass comprising most of the back wall. One of the two soldiers in the cabin leaned down to Bonifast, examining him with disdain as his companion watched.
“Hey, Bonifast, what’s wrong? You look a bit sad to be in our company,” he said mockingly. He looked back at his friend for approval. “I’ve heard of you, ya know? They say you were once the scourge of the Four Seas, a pirate to be reckoned with. You don’t look so tough to me, though. I think maybe you made up those stories just to satisfy your own ego, eh?”
Bonifast peered up at him slightly. On his face scattered rivulets of dried blood ran from small lacerations. The captain said nothing. He wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction of provoking further physical abuse. Instead, he wondered about the well-being of Gideon and Ethan. None of the guards had mentioned them at all, and they had not returned to the ship.
“Too bad about your little mission of mercy, Bonifast,” the guard said. “I suppose, by now, General Rommil is probably having those boys tortured to death. Children make the most fascinating noises when you’re peeling the flesh from their bones.”
Bonifast thrust up, toward the soldier, against the bindings on his wrist and ankles. The ropes held him fast to the chair. The soldier looked pleased. He drew back a leather-covered fist to smash the defiance out of Bonifast.
The swivel latch on the right side window popped. The pane swung open on its hinge, and suddenly the soldier found himself overtaken by a living shadow. An arm around his neck dragged him off his feet.
The attacker crossed the room with the first soldier in tow. He assailed the second man almost before the guard noticed the sudden movement in the room. A precision strike to the soldier’s trachea sent him to the floor clutching his throat breathlessly as though he were choking on a piece of food.
Bonifast watched as the soldier turned blue and then relaxed. The attacker still held the first soldier in an iron grip. A jerk of his arm produced an unpleasant snap. The man in black released the guard’s limp body to the floor in silence.
Levi hadn’t been gagged, but he was too astonished to speak. The mysterious man produced a stunted blade and made quick work of Levi’s bindings. “I’m Seth,” he whispered. “I’m from The Order.”
This was all the encouragement Levi needed. He jumped to his feet ready for action. “We must get to your friends,” Seth said, heading for the window.
It was at this moment that Levi looked into Seth’s face, into his eyes. “But your blind,” he stammered.
Seth ignored the remark. “Your friends are in grave danger, Captain.”
Bonifast regained his composure, nodding his understanding. Privately, the mysterious younger man affecting his rescue bewildered him. An untamed mop of brown curls accentuated his boyish features, but it was the pale eyes, which struck him.
Seth led the way and leaped out of the window. Levi flew out of the window after him making the slightest adjustment to his trajectory to miss Seth in the water.
Due to the care Seth had taken for silence and the lackadaisical attitude of the sleepy soldiers guarding the deck, the slain guards in the captain’s cabin and their missing prisoner would not be discovered before the next rotation.
ROYAL TREATMENT
When the time came for the feast Nichols had promised, Gideon and Ethan entered the dining hall, wearing the custom garments prepared for them. The blue and silver material was luxurious to the touch and the Royal Tailor had done an excellent job with the fittings. Still, it was uncomfortable to be out of their priestly garb, and Ethan wondered if they weren’t now lounging in the gifts of a deceiver, or worse their own burial attire.
A fabulous spread of food lay on a large table before them. Ethan noticed all of the other guests at the dinner happened to be military personnel-and as their dress allowed, they were armed. Ethan and Gideon had not had the opportunity. Their weapons had been removed along with the ragged clothing they had been wearing.
Ethan unconsciously decided which of the soldiers sitting near them would be the first to be disarmed if he and Gideon ran into trouble. At the slightest provocation, he could realm shift to King Nichol’s place at the head of the table and hold the man hostage in order to withhold an attack if necessary.
Still, Nichol’s military officers seemed not the least bit interested in bothering them. They wore no tense, eager expressions nor did nervous hands guard the hilts of their brightly polished swords. All remained jovial and filled their faces at once when the servants brought their plates. Nichol’s also looked on with great pleasure, toasting the priestly order from the head of the table.
Ethan noticed Gideon eyeing the plates set before them and the goblets filled with wine. They would not be drinking any. The Word clearly forbade them to partake, and having their senses fouled by strong drink was never wise. Here it might prove quite fatal.
Ethan noticed a mournful whimper coming from behind them near the great stone hearth in the room. A fire burned there, and two hounds sat with eager expressions, looking at Ethan and beyond to his plate. Feeling sorry for the poor animals, forced to watch others stuffing their faces, Ethan snuck a few pieces of the meat from his plate and gave it a quick sideways toss to the dogs. They both snatched it up immediately and licked their chops gratefully.
“Gideon?” Nichols said from the head of the long table. “I wonder when we might retrieve the scrolls you’ve brought for us.”
“Forgive me, Majesty, but I am charged by the High Priest to find someone who is well able to take responsibility for them and disseminate the teachings to the population.”
Nichols seemed taken aback by the declaration. “Are you suggesting, I would be unable to carry out those duties?”
The tension in the room became instantly taut, like an over-wound psaltery string. “I assure you, Your Majesty; I meant no insult to you personally. The Order has always sought out those individuals who are inclined as we priests are. And I did not want to assume that one so busy with a new government, as you are, would take yet another weight upon his shoulders.”
Ethan watched the king’s expression soften a little. He seemed satisfied with Gideon’s placation in the matter. “Nevertheless, we will be glad to have the Word safe within these walls at your earliest opportunity,” King Nichols said. “From there we may work together to find suitable teachers who can devote themselves to diligent study and then teach others as well.”
Gideon wasn’t quite sure how to answer, but managed. “We are very grateful to you, Majesty.”
