Kings Game

Chapter 89 - The Kingfisher

(1)

Back in the safety of calmer waters, Toran finally relaxed. It had taken them a full day to get clear of the foreboding clouds. Even far away from the beast, they hung in the air like a harbinger of doom. Mentass hadn't let his crew come above deck until they were free and clear of the storm entirely. Toran thought the old sailor was being jumpy but he hadn't spent the last decade fighting a spirit big enough to permanently alter the weather. It wasn't until the sun once more shone on the deck of Tasos's Wrath that Mentass let himself relax.

Naturally, once they were safe, the entire crew celebrated by throwing a party. Mentass dove into the water and hauled up twice as much fish as normal, which Toran thought was entirely unnecessary given the size of the damn things, and the ship dropped a drogue so they could enjoy the calm seas and warm weather.

The ship quickly filled with the sounds of laughter and cheer as some of the crew rolled out barrels of ale and the cook began churning out platters of food. A handful of people produced instruments and launched into songs and shanties, most of which were foreign to Toran.

After spending some time with his crew, Mentass withdrew to a secluded spot on the deck, leaning on the railing and staring out at the open waters around them. Toran moved to join him.

"Not going to party with the crew?" Toran asked.

"I'll let them have their fun. They need to unwind and relax after what we went through."

"You mean what we went through. They were all hiding below deck."

"Yes," said Mentass, drawing out the word, "but that doesn't mean there weren't in just as much danger of drowning as we were. They have to chain themselves in and commit to rowing, even when the shipping is bouncing about, even when the whole thing is about to capsize, even when lightning is bouncing off the hull and water is sloshing in from above. They have to sit there, follow orders, row when and how they're told, and they have to trust that I didn't lead them into a deathtrap. And then, when all is said and done, they have to decide if they're willing to do it all again."

"Isn't that why you line their pockets with gold?"

Mentass shrugged. "I pay my crew well, better than any other sailor in the King's Army, but nobody is here for the money. They're here for the honor or the glory or for the chance to be a part of something greater than themselves. This is King Tasos's personal warship, serving on it is akin to serving the King directly."

"You lot make a much bigger deal of that than I ever did."

Mentass grinned. "That's because you're a grumpy old man that doesn't think past himself. You moved to King's City because you didn't have a better choice. I was born there. It is my home, my land. The Kings may be ancient assholes covered in gold, but they keep my city safe, and that's enough for me to bend the knee."

"I see. So, how did you end up in the army? I would have thought someone like you would end up in the arena."

"I fought in a few bouts in the Armory, but those were just among soldiers. The Crucible and the Arena never called to me, not the way the army did. I grew up in a smaller neighborhood on the upper slope of Mount Balaki, caught between the rich up near the ridges and the enthusiastic city dwellers that like being down in the valley. We lived a quiet life, just me and my folks. I didn't have much going on so I joined the King's Army when I came of age."

Mentass paused, his gaze out on the horizon as his mind drifted into the past. He had a sad smile on his face, one that held a swirling mixture of emotions.

"Did you know that the King's Army is one of the smallest militaries in the world? That's why it's one big group. We don't have a separate navy, despite relying so heavily on our ships, we don't have a separate defense force, because we have the Kings, we don't even have a separation between ground troops and the men that run the ships. It's all just one big Army, and everyone is expected to accept their role and adapt accordingly. Do you know why that is?"