Gods and Guardians

Chapter 11: Death of a King

The king's fleet was a set of identical ships, in form and in arms. The hulls were long and slim, with a high stern and a long beak at the bow, giving the hull a rather crescent-like shape. They had three masts, and the type of sails they flew depended on the situation. At present, they flew square sails on the two leading masts and a lateen sail on the mizzen, for all was well.

The ships had two main decks and several smaller decks that served as fighting platforms. Two observer ships led the front at a good distance from the rest. As a custom, every journey had its set of unique signals, which the former Supreme General, Xexa, did well to document during the last Military Consolidation.

The Bearers were a group of twelve warships. They proceeded in a symmetrical pattern, like a bull's horn. Any message from the observers would be quickly relayed by a change of sails. Sometimes colours are changed; sometimes, shapes. In emergencies, extra flags are raised. The King's Ship stood in the central opening of the Bearers. The Trailers were a group of ten ships that formed a semicircle centered on the King Ship from behind.

This pattern was conceived again by Lord Xexa in his days as Supreme General. He observed that it was easier to protect in a circle rather than in any other shape. And during the war against the 19 allies, the pattern among others proved efficient time and again.

The king's light hair fluttered in the breeze as he stared for a while, absentmindedly into the distance. Beside him on the bow was Breth.

'The sea has its own language,' Dasirus said, turning to Breth. 'Your grandfather used to say that.'

'Somehow, I feel like I know him.'

'When you were little, he said the Great Lord had given him the opportunity to see me grow twice.'

Breth smiled. People never ceased to remark about their resemblance.

'His death was... a terrible shock. It was the first time the king and queen would die on the same day.'

Breth knew the story. All of Zainox and Kainon knew the story.

He was barely two teneries old at the time. King Themius was at supper with Helena, the queen. Against the wall at a respectable distance stood Maximus, the chamberlain, who was more of a friend to the king than a subject. Two guards stood beside him, one on each side, their spears crossed above. The other two stood across the hall on the opposite side. There was no other person in the room, only polished glistening pieces of furniture and decorations.

The sun had set, but the crystals gave the room a balmy warm atmosphere, warmth reinforced by Themius and Helena's chatter.

'Dasirus sure has a remarkable taste,' Helena was talking about Abigyl. 'I wonder where that girl got her eyes. Those eyes are beautiful.'

'Am I not his father? He inherited my taste.' The king boasted.

'You didn't say that to flatter me now. Did you?'

'You know what they say: if you don't flatter a lady, you flatten her.'

'Then you have to learn how to do it,' she teased. 'You make an awful bad flatterer.'

'Now, now... Then perhaps you could try teaching me. The problem is: you can't teach an old king new tricks.'

They laughed as he drew the dish of snail soup closer.

'Your first lesson: you should know that flattery is for ladies, not old mothers.'

'I thought what was good for the goose—'

'Is not good for the old gander,' Helena chipped brusquely.

And they laughed heartily for a while.

Themius picked up a spoon. 'Nothing is better than snail soup in the age of wisdom.'