Blood of the Righteous

Tanner No More

Gabriel was kneeling by his bed, sword in hand, deep in prayer. A tingling of excitement ran through him. He was so close to finding David. What would happen? Would he be thrilled to see him? Terrified that he had been exposed? Would he come back to Avonshire with him or stay on the Waverunner?

A quick, excited knock on the door startled him out of his contemplation. He opened it to Jenna, the one of the serving girls at the Salt Spray Inn.

"Brother Gabriel! I just heard from the lighthouse keeper! The Waverunner is heading to port! It looks like it's been crippled, but it should be here within the hour!" Jenna was practically bouncing with excitement.

"Thank you, Jenna. I'll head down to the Inn soon." He tossed her a silver, which she expertly caught.

The butterflies in his stomach were almost enough to make him lose his lunch. He debated running to the castle to tell Eleenia, but she was extremely busy with Lady Eddington. He put on his Holy Defender tunic, attached his blue cape, strapped his sword around his waist, picked his father's dagger from his bag, and headed out.

As he walked through the streets towards the docs, he had to suppress the urge to run. Four years! He had so many questions he wanted to ask him. He thought about waiting at the dock, but decided to go to the Salt Spray Inn. Jenna and Mia, the serving girls, would want to see this.

Gabriel got to the inn and looked out into the harbor. He could see two crippled ships slowly making their way into port. He still had a few minutes, so he went inside. Jenna and Mia were talking excitedly. Jenna came over to Gabriel.

"Oh, this is so exciting! I know I'm going to bawl when you two finally meet!"

Gabriel smiled. "Jenna, would you get me a light ale? Also some creamed whiskey."

"I shall indeed! When I heard that the Waverunner was on its way in, I drew some water from the deep well, and I've had the cream soaking in it, so it should be nice and cool," she said. She sounded like a child on the eve of the Feast of the Christ Child.

He took a seat in the empty inn that gave him the most clear view of the door, and he waited, sipping occasionally from the tankard of ale that Jenna had brought him.

After a few minutes, a man dressed in black with a green-trimmed black tri-cornered hat sporting a large green plume came in. He was accompanied by a dark skinned man, most likely a Moor. They paid Gabriel no mind and headed straight to the bar. He guessed they were regulars, as Mia poured them drinks without asking them what they wanted. He listened to them chat about a sea battle and how they captured a guild ship, and how Tanner captured a Commodore Donegal.

Next, a fellow who wore a maroon velvet jacket who carried himself with some authority. Captain Karinga, he thought. He had a big bruiser with him, who Gabriel thought would be his master at arms.

The big man stopped, leaned out of the door and shouted "Hey, Tanner, hurry up!" The two went and sat down at a table.

Gabriel stood up. The door opened and David walked into the inn, counting some coins. He looked up and saw Gabriel. Coins fell to the ground in a jingle as he stood, stunned. All eyes looked in his direction.

"Gabriel!" he screamed. A feeling of joy he thought he had lost forever filled him as he ran over to his brother and the two embraced. David started to sob, as did Jenna.

They separated. "Where have you been, little brother?"

Fyke had walked over to the pair, drink in hand. "Brother? I never knew you had an older brother who was a Holy Defender!"

"What was that?" Karinga asked. He stood up and walked over. "Did I hear right that David has a Holy Defender as a brother?"

"David!!!" Cassim said. "That is wonderful!"

"I..." David turned to Karinga and Corwyn. He was overwhelmed with the fact that his new world and former life had just collided. A quick thought ran through his mind of 'Prayer answered! You didn't expect that, did you?' "Captain, Corwyn, I'm sorry I haven't been entirely honest with you. My last name isn't Tanner."

They both looked at him curiously.

Gabriel put his arm around him. "No, it isn't. He is David Ki Kalendeen, son of Lord Alexander Ki Kalendeen, and the rightful Lord of Lystra."

David bit his lip and nodded his head nervously.

Karinga broke into a wide smile. "Of course! It all makes sense now!"

Corwyn let out a loud laugh. "Hey, Jax! We asked the Lord of Lystra to be our first mate! Jenna, dear, a round of drinks for all of us!"

Gabriel picked up the creamed whiskey. "I already got yours, David."

"You remembered!" David wiped a tear from his eyes and sat down, as did the rest of them. "How did you find me? I was so careful not to leave any trace!"

Gabriel pulled out his father's dagger, grinning. "For three generations, this dagger has belonged to the Lord of Lystra. It's only right that you have it back."

David took the dagger and unsheathed it. A flood of emotions washed over him looking at the jeweled dagger his father had given to him an hour before his death. The pain and the loss he was feeling were driven away by feelings of joy and hope.

"So why didn't you come to Avonshire?" Gabriel asked.

David hung his head. He couldn't look Gabriel in the eye. "It was so horrible. The undead, the death, and the betrayal. The necromancer and that General thought I was dead, and I wanted it to stay that way. Being in Avonshire kept you and Eleenia safe. I wanted to write to you, but I couldn't trust anyone enough to deliver it. I'm sorry, brother." He started to cry again.

Gabriel put his hand on his shoulder. "It's okay. I understand. Not so sure El will. She's here in New Portsmouth, by the way."

"El's here?" David asked excitedly.

"Oh, you have a sister?" Corwyn asked, eyebrows perked.

"Don't even think of it, Fyke!" David said, smiling.

Jenna refilled everyone's cup as they sat, chatting small talk, waiting for someone to broach the subject of David's future. Finally, Gabriel spoke up. "So David, it looks like you have three options. If you choose to go with Captain Fyke or Captain Karinga, I understand, but I would ask that you at least come say hello to Eleenia."

David drained his cup of creamed whiskey. He motioned to Jenna. "Please make sure it's cold if possible." He looked to Karinga and Corwyn. "I'm sorry Captain, Captain, but my place is with my family. Besides, now that my secret is out, I would make you an even bigger target. Not only with the guild, but it would put you in danger with the Aragil authorities.

"It's okay, David," Karinga said, putting his hand on his shoulder. "You've made us all wealthy, as well as yourself, I imagine."

"Plus you've taught us an awful lot," Corwyn said. "I think Jax and I will manage. You deserve to be with your family."

"Thank you, my friends," David said.

"David, exactly how much money have you accumulated?" Gabriel asked.

"Close to 50,000 platinum by now."

Gabriel's jaw dropped. "Wow. Very impressive, but not entirely unexpected. Master Cohen always did say you were the best of his students. Better than Eleenia, even."

They sat in the Salt Spray Inn, drinking, laughing, telling stories, and eating for hours before David said goodbye to his crew and his life, promising them he would see them again.