A Spoiled Rule

Chapter 23

Prima began ordering the men around as soon as the sun had risen. She had Jackson, Gresham, Harvey and his crew building the walls of the safe house before noon. Liam felt awkward standing to the side, but he wasn't supposed to be in attendance. No, he was supposed to be visiting Coulím, but Theo had disappeared. He wasn't on the ship when everyone woke. As much as Prima showed confidence, her pacing around the deck of the ship was out of worry.
Liam spotted a zombie lumbering near. He grabbed a broken piece of wood and, tossing it like a knife, launched it from the deck of the ship and sunk it in the zombie's head. But the wood broke, and though the zombie collapsed, its limbs were still moving. Instinctively, Liam reached for his knife, but he stopped. He'd have to retrieve his knife if he threw it, and he couldn't endure that endless cycle of throwing and retrieving all day.
It wasn't Prima who attracted the zombies. She and Gresham were communicating through some sort of hand gestures and were trying to teach the others while they worked. Zombies didn't need noise to attract them when all they had to do was use their eyes.
Stephen came from below deck, fidgeting with the bandages around his hands. Liam greeted him and lowered his voice. "Do you have a report?"
Stephen glanced behind Liam and spotted the zombie he'd half-heartedly killed. He sighed. "Indeed. Based off of the information you and Harvey have given me, I can't give any estimate of a full recovery."
Liam's heart dropped. Stephen must have foreseen this, for he continued quickly, "But if he has not turned yet, then I doubt he will fully turn. The estimate I have for someone with a bite like Coulím's is five minutes. He's made it three days longer."
"He said he didn't want to open his eyes," Liam recalled.
Stephen looked troubled. "If I understand correctly, it sounds as if he may be delirious, or suffering hallucinations. This plague stops the heart and eats at the brain. It's possible Coulím may be experiencing some of this, though to a lesser extent. You did say that his heart had stopped, correct?"
Liam gripped the railing. He was becoming very afraid of what he might find if he visited Coulím. Beyond the ship, he could see a few more zombies lumbering about. One of them started for them. "He was given two doses of the blue medication," said Liam. "It was that that stopped his heart, not the plague. I'm certain of it. Perhaps, when he was revived, his system was given a sort of... new beginning. Could that happen?"
Stephen craned his head. "It's... It's not likely." He followed Liam's gaze to the nearing zombie. It threw itself at the ship. Stephen clumsily grabbed a sharp piece of wood and threw it down, but it did not have enough force. "You must teach me to throw," said Stephen.
"How are your hands?" Liam asked.
Stephen glanced at the bandages, then sighed. "They are healing. I'll take the bandages off tonight, try to make a sort of brace for my fingers."
"Maybe Dínam will have something to help," speculated Liam. "You will be coming, yes?"
Stephen nodded, his curly hair falling in his eyes. "Where is this thief?"
Just then, Prima, who had wandered below deck, ran up to meet them, her dark eyes wide with excitement. "Come! We're about to break down the first wall!"
Liam grew excited at that. He and Stephen followed Prima into the lower deck. They stopped at the doorway to the bedroom. The room was crowded with Harvey and his two crew and Gresham and Jackson. They all knelt shoulder to shoulder, having pried away many boards of wood. As Liam watched, the men hammered at the last plank, and it broke away. Sunlight poured through, and eagerly, they tore away at the wall until it was a gaping hole, eight feet off the ground.
Prima smiled at Liam. "We will start building the floor right away! The hard part will be to anchor the supporting pillars in the sand."
Harvey stood, dipping his hat. "My house was built like this, and she's still standin' despite the rain and the waves."
"You all must have a tremendous appetite with all this work." Christopher came from down the hall, juggling bowls of breakfast on his arms. He wore his tall chef hat and long coat.
"Christopher!" Liam exclaimed. He couldn't stop his stomach growling at the smell of the food. "Where have you been?"
"I've been preparing my kitchen," said Christopher. "It took me all night, but it's ready now."
Harvey, who had grabbed a bowl and was enjoying the food, stopped suddenly and looked skeptically at the chef. "What kitchen? This ship doesn't have a kitchen."
Christopher became a little nervous, but he said with a smile, "It's in the room downstairs!"
Harvey frowned. "Downstairs? There ain't a downstairs. All that's beneath us is the engine and propellors..."
Christopher shrugged.
"Theo!" Jackson suddenly exclaimed. He was gazing through the hole in the wall, and he pointed at the thief, who was coming from the city. As he drew nearer, it was evident that he was limping. His weight was off-balance.
"What is he doing?" Prima scoffed.
They watched as a zombie neared Theo. Theo grabbed a rock and threw it at the zombie, but it only slowed the corpse. Theo waved his arms at the ship. "Hey!" he yelled.
Liam bit back a curse. Theo shouldn't have yelled. "We have to bring him back, now."
Jackson didn't hesitate. He jumped, landing eight feet below in the sand. As he ran for Theo, who seemed oblivious to what was happening, dozens of zombies emerged from the city.
"Aye!" said Harvey, grabbing his hat and jumping down to the sand. His crew followed.
Prima went to follow as well, but Gresham stopped her. They began arguing silently between themselves.
Liam was also stopped by Stephen, who gave him a look of warning. Frustrated, Liam grabbed his knife.
"Liam," began Stephen. "don't-"
"I'm not," Liam interrupted. He searched for the biggest threat. Harvey and his crew were already slicing down zombies running toward the ship. Harvey wasn't graceful in his fighting, and he was lucky to have his crew nearby to support him. Jackson, on the other hand, moved so quickly that he was a blur. All around him, zombies fell. One moment he was slicing through a zombie, the next he was kicking them down, the next he was throwing his knife past Theo who was moving as quickly as he could with his injury.
Then, Liam spotted the biggest threat. No matter how well Jackson was trained, he couldn't be fast enough to stop it. Another horde of zombies emerged from the city, running through the sand, straight for Theo. It was as if they'd picked up his scent. His friends were outnumbered. By the odds of battle, they would never win this one.
Theo was almost at the dock. Harvey and his crew were struggling to keep up. Liam realized that Harvey's crew had never seen a zombie before. The plague hadn't fully reached the sea yet. They struck both at the heads and the hearts of the zombies. Consequently, some zombies fell, but many pressed on.
With his heart beating, Liam raised his knife. His eyes were on Jackson. The guard was protecting Theo because Liam had ordered it. As such, though knowing the odds were against him, Jackson would die following the command. He would worry less about himself and more about Theo and put himself in a position he couldn't return from.
Liam already knew this, so it didn't come as a surprise when he saw a zombie coming dangerously close to Jackson. He and Theo were just behind Harvey and his crew, running on the dock that would bring them to the ship. Jackson was more focused on the zombies coming from the sides rather than from behind.
Just as they turned to run up the plank connected to the ship, Liam threw his knife. It lodged into the skull of the zombie about to bite at Jackson's shoulder, and when it fell, others behind it tripped and stumbled. The men made it on board and raised the plank just as the most balanced zombies reached it, jumping and throwing themselves at the ship.
No time passed to process what had happened. Prima stormed past Liam, and Gresham didn't go after her. He stood with a hesitant expression on his face. Liam sensed a fight coming, and he hurried out of the bedroom and up the stairs to the main deck of the ship. Where Harvey, his crew, Jackson and Theo stood, catching their breaths, Prima also stood, glaring severely at Theo. Amidst the snarls coming from the side of the ship, she pushed Theo roughly, and he stumbled into Jackson. "You dumb thief!"
Liam laid his hand on Prima's tense shoulder. "Prima, perhaps we should move downstairs into the hall, where the zombies can't see us."
With her nostrils flared, she turned and brushed past. Liam gestured for the others to follow, and they crowded into the narrow hall below. Though the hole in the bedroom wall prevented them from speaking loudly, a tense argument ensued.
"What do you think you're doing?" Prima hissed in a whisper, pointing her finger at Theo's chest.
Gresham joined the conversation. "Why would you yell?" He folded his arms across his chest.
Theo stared at them with wide eyes. "I only-"
"We can't build with the zombies crowded around the ship!" Prima interrupted in a forced whisper. "We were supposed to lay the foundations today, build the floor tomorrow, finish the floor and start the walls, then move to the other side-"
"Would anyone like more food?" interrupted Christopher. He stood there awkwardly in his uniform, holding a bowl of breakfast for Theo.
Theo grabbed it and began eating. "Prima, if you're upset that I didn't get you anything, I could-"
Gresham had to hold Prima back from pouncing.
"Theo," said Liam quietly, stepping forward. "Where did you go?"
For a moment, Theo stared at Liam with blank eyes. Then, he handed his bowl to Christopher and grabbed from his pocket two small discs made of gold. "I thought these would help."
"Suspensors," said Liam in disbelief. He grabbed one and ran his fingers over its smooth surface. "You went to the palace to retrieve them?"
Theo grinned and nodded. "I only found four, but I thought they could help. They'll give us more power, and we won't have to be on the ground... right?"
Liam couldn't help but smile. "This will help tremendously." He handed the suspensors to Prima, who was still furious. "Jackson shall teach you to use them."
Jackson stepped forward. "Should I not travel with you, to Dínam?"
Liam frowned. He remembered that the guard hadn't even seen what it was like beneath the waters. But he couldn't allow Jackson to come. He needed to teach Prima how to use the suspensors, and he needed to learn what to do when there was no king around to watch. "In due time, but not today. Your talents are most needed here." For the sake of Jackson's peace of mind, he added, "We will be back before nightfall. I won't go unarmed, I'll retrieve my knife."
Jackson looked hesitant, but before he could speak, Liam left. He gestured for Theo to follow and hurried upstairs with Stephen at his side. They had lost precious time waiting for Theo. The sun was already high in the sky. He leaned on the railing and met the gazes of many zombies below.
"Sorry about that," mumbled Theo.
"Oh!" Stephen exclaimed, his eyes wide. "You're injured!" He began rummaging through his pockets.
"It can wait," Theo dismissed. "Just stepped on something, that's all."
Liam spotted the small vessel they were to take. It sat at the neighboring dock and was a third of the size of the ship on which he currently stood.
"Is there something you wanted to speak to me about?" asked Theo, scratching at his head.
Liam took a deep breath and faced the thief. "I couldn't leave for Dínam until I knew you were safe. As a result, we've lost time, and tempers."
Theo's eyebrows scrunched together. "You could've left without me. As for Prima, she'll get over it."
"Theo, you're free to do whatever you'd like, but... Please notify one of us whenever you feel inspired to steal. These are dangerous times, and we all must stick together."
"Then allow me to go with you to Dínam," proposed Theo.
Liam hesitated, but only for a second. While he felt grief for the thief, he needed to stay firm to his decisions. "You are needed here. You know best what the construction should look like."
Just then, Harvey appeared, tipping his hat. "Ready to go?"
Liam nodded. "How do you suppose we'll get through the zombies?"
Harvey grinned. "We'll have to make a run for it." He walked up to the railing, then stepped on it, grabbing some rigging to steady himself. "Over here, boys! and ladies," he said, taking off his hat and waving it. With the zombies watching, he walked towards the bow. "I'm gonna swim, and you'd better come an' get me," he said to Liam. Then, he jumped into the water.
Some of the zombies jumped in the water and struggled to reach Harvey, while others remained on the dock, fixated on the crazy captain.
"Can they swim?" Liam asked quietly to Stephen.
Stephen tilted his head. "I didn't think so... No, they can't swim. They're flailing in the water."
Liam grabbed a rope ladder and swung it over the side of the ship. Returning Theo's wave of goodbye, he clambered down and quietly stepped onto the dock, behind the horde of zombies fixated on Harvey in the water. He tiptoed into sand, careful not to make any noise as he tried to hurry. He spotted a zombie lying dead in the sand, and he stopped. It was the one he'd killed to save Jackson. He reached down and grabbed his knife, using all the strength he had to pull it out without making any noise.
"I'm gettin' tired!" Harvey shouted in the distance.
Just then, the dock creaked under Stephen, who'd just climbed down from the ship. A few zombies turned and spotted him, then all did.
Liam tore across the sand and jumped into the boat at the next dock. He couldn't risk a glance at Stephen, but he knew the outlook was not appealing. He heard zombies snarl and let loose guttural screams. They were getting very close. His hands fumbled for the ropes, and he untied the boat from the dock. He jumped out and pushed the boat into the water.
Stephen cried out in fear. Liam's heart pounded for his friend. "Jump!" Liam shouted. The water was up to his waist. He clambered in the boat, the dock a few feet behind him. Desperately, he scooped his hands into the water, as if he could become the propellors the boat needed.
Stephen ran down the dock, his white coat billowing behind him, teasing the zombies who reached for it. He jumped into the water beside the boat. Liam grabbed his arms and hauled Stephen up, nearly tipping the small boat over. Behind them, a dozen other zombies jumped into the water, their cries gurgled.
Harvey swam over to them, his hat miraculously perched atop his head. He climbed into the boat and spit seawater over the side. "I'm not a good swimmer," he huffed. He reached down and began tinkering with a small wooden lever at the base of the boat.
Liam looked behind and saw the zombies in the water, trying to reach them. Many sank beneath the blue, but some of them kept flailing about, lunging, lurching ruggedly toward the boat.
"They're trying to mimic Harvey's swimming," said Stephen gravely.
Harvey glanced behind and laughed. "I'm not that bad!" He pulled the lever, and the ship came to life. A little propellor protruded from the back, and they zoomed away from the horde of zombies.
The way to Dínam was relatively quiet. Liam thanked the portmaster for bringing them there, else they'd have no means of getting to Dínam. Liam's knowledge was lacking in terms of directional awareness. He was no captain. Yet, he supposed that the differences between captain and king were little. The captain had a crew, like a guard. The captain guided those he could safely through the waters, as a king should guide his people. But Liam did not feel like a captain. He felt as apart from the title as from admiring his advisors.
They reached the place in the waters where, according to Harvey, beneath sat Dínam. Harvey tilted his hat, then jumped into the water.
Liam glanced at Stephen, who appeared nervous, his gaze shifting. "It will be alright," said Liam quietly. "You're with me. No one touches the king of Harksgold," he said humorously.
That did not seem to cheer Stephen up. "Zombies don't care if you're a king."
The words put a cloud around Liam's thoughts. He gazed into the water. He couldn't see Harvey anymore.
"Forgive me," said Stephen. "We should hurry, else they may think something has happened."
Liam nodded. He took a breath and clenched his fists, preparing himself for the brittle water. Then, he dove in. Water rushed against his ears and numbed his fingertips. He fell into a rhythmic swim, and for the moment, all he could set his mind to was each stroke. One after the other, he was drawn deeper until his lungs burned and his ears popped.
A shadowy figure appeared, and Liam felt something against his mouth. Then, like before, he could breathe. He followed the figure to a welcoming light, where he was pulled through a barrier onto dry ground. A bubbly sensation in his throat began to evaporate.
Harvey stood a few paces away, shaking out his hat. A moment later, Stephen appeared at Liam's side, gasping and looking around in awe. "This is... This is..."
Liam clapped Stephen's shoulder. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" He gazed at the seaweed roof, sunlight poking through. He spotted the huge wall of rock, where carved into it sat dozens of homes and a marketplace. He spotted friends lounging in a dining pavilion. Most importantly, he spotted Coulím's room, overlooking everything from a balcony. A glowing light came from it.
"Well, I'm gonna go greet the other crew," said Harvey. "Unless you need me up there."
Liam shook his head. "No worries, Harvey. We'll be fine."
"He's up there?" Stephen asked as they walked to the staircase leading to the balcony. "How'd they even get him up there if he was unconscious?"
"This place has a magic to it," said Liam. "You can feel it, can't you? It's not only the evidence of their potions and the barrier that pushes back the water." He gazed at the people roaming about. Some were working as vendors or as craftsmiths. Others held hands or visited a neighbor. It was a small community, but there was indeed a magic to it. "Harksgold used to feel like this," said Liam quietly. "It once had a magic of its own. The palace was its heartbeat."
Stephen was quiet for a moment, and Liam could sense his friend was trying to console him. Finally, Stephen said, "You must believe it isn't gone, Liam. The safe house is all the testimony I need to know that you believe there is still magic."
Liam didn't respond. He was quiet until they reached the balcony and entered the space with the desk, behind which sat Gína. She looked surprised to see them, and she stood abruptly, her chair flying back. "Liam!" she exclaimed. Then, she spotted Stephen, and an odd blush appeared on her cheeks.
"I'm sorry," Liam said. "You weren't expecting us." He glanced at the door behind her, which was closed.
"Oh, no, it's quite alright!" Gína smiled. "He will appreciate the visitors."
"Is he awake?" Liam asked.
Gína's gaze wavered. "N-No. But that is to be expected. He might not wake for another two weeks, because of the medicine."
Stephen cleared his throat. "Hello, I'm Stephen," he introduced. He glanced at his wrapped hands and winced. "Sorry, I... I just had surgery."
Gína's eyes widened. "Oh! No need to apologize. May I ask what happened?"
Stephen suddenly became unable to form words, and he gazed at Gína with sorrowful eyes.
"Well," said Liam, eager to break the awkward silence in the room. "Would it be alright for us to see him now?"
Gína clasped her hands together and nodded. "I will give you some time. I'll have to check on him in twenty minutes." She returned to her desk.
Liam took a breath, preparing his thoughts. He opened the door and noticed that the curtains were pulled back around Coulím's bed. He lie there as before, fresh bandages around his wrists which were bound. Liam took a seat next to the bed.
Stephen quietly closed the door and peered at Coulím. His nature of being a doctor began to take control over his fear. "He looks as you did, when you first took the medicine," said Stephen quietly, gently gathering Coulím's pulse. "His heartbeat is very faint."
Liam gazed at Coulím. He was too young to be experiencing this. He was too young to have been driven from his homeland, been a victim of an assassination attempt, and having lost his people to rule. Then, Liam realized that Coulím was not much younger than Liam himself. Liam had lost his people, been victim to a faulty immune system. He'd been manipulated by faulty advisors and secrets. Now, how could it be that Coulím was the one bitten and not Liam?
"Interesting," mumbled Stephen, who had pulled back Coulím's eyelid.
"What is?" asked Liam, dreadful yet eager for the answer.
"Gregory had blood pooling beneath his eyelids, but I don't see any here," said Stephen. He glanced at Liam. "That is good."
Liam ran his hands through his hair. He felt as if he were about to break down at any moment. But he had to keep his composure, for Coulím's sake. The man had been so calm when Liam needed his help, and it was only fit for Liam to be the same.
Stephen returned to Liam's side and was about to sit down when he paused, his eyes on Coulím's right wrist. "Is that the wrist that was bitten?"
Liam stood and neared the bedside. "It is. His wrist is bound, though."
"I only need to see part of the wound," Stephen dismissed. "Will you take the bandage off?"
A momentary panic flooded through Liam, but he suppressed it. Coulím didn't deserve Liam's fear. He gently pried the bandage from what he could of Coulím's wrist. Though only part of the wound was revealed, he could see that it had been stitched. It was black and purple and swollen. Liam noticed that the inside of the bandage was made with seaweed.
"It doesn't look infected," mumbled Stephen, bending to get a closer look. "Good stitch work. His fingers are slightly discolored."
Liam saw what the doctor meant. Coulím's fingers were taking on a hint of gray, reminiscent of the color of a corpse.
Liam replaced the bandage. "What does that mean?"
"It's hard to say," said Stephen with a frown. "Circulation is not the problem."
"It's his blood."
Liam nearly jumped from fright at the sound of a new voice. He turned and spotted Gína, who had opened the door and was holding a glass of water and a cool rag. She placed the rag on Coulím's head and set the water beside his bed. She looked as if she were on the verge of tears. "I ran a test on his blood when he was brought here."
"His blood is poisoned?" asked Stephen.
Gína nodded. "It will take a lot of strength to fight both the sickness and the poison in his blood." Her voice was hollow.
Liam laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. "He will survive this."
Gína gazed at him with sorrowful eyes. She looked as if she was pondering something, when suddenly, a mighty roar shook the walls. Liam instinctively reached for his knife, and Gína gasped and held her hands over her heart.
"What was that?" asked a startled Stephen. "It sounded like a... a beast!"
"It is the new ruler of Dínam," said Gína. "That is, the other Dínam."
A sour taste filled Liam's mouth. "Oliver."
Gína nodded. "He has been awakening Mettiam's inventions. There are rumors of awful laws he's enacted on those poor people."
"I must take a look at what you've gathered on Coulím's condition," said Stephen rather suddenly. "Then, Liam, we must get going."
Liam knew Stephen's hidden message: it would soon be dangerous to return to see Coulím. If Oliver was enacting all sorts of laws, and he'd stolen Liam's seal, it was only a matter of time before people began to believe that Liam was the harasser, not Oliver.