Erik pointed and Roo nodded at those ships moving away from their own as the Freeport Ranger was given right of way to the royal docks below the palace. One of the older sailors laughed and Roo turned to ask, What?
Prince Nickys going to irritate the Harbormaster again. Erik, his hair almost bleached white by the sun, looked at the sailor, who had blue eyes that stood out in stark contrast to his sunburned face. What do you mean?
The sailor pointed. Theres the Harbormasters launch. Roo looked to where the man pointed. Hes not slowing to pick up a pilot!
The sailor laughed. The Admiral is his teachers student. Old Admiral Trask used to do the same thing, but hed at least allow the pilot up on deck so he could personally irritate him by refusing to take a tow into the dock. Admiral Nickys the Kings brother, so he doesnt even bother with that formality.
Roo and Erik glanced upward and saw that old sailors were standing by waiting to reef in the last sails on the Admirals command. Roo then looked to the poop deck and saw Nicholas, formerly Prince of Krondor and presently Admiral of the Kings Fleet in the West, give the signal. Instantly the old hands pulled up the heavy canvas and tied off. Within seconds Roo and the others on the deck could feel the ships speed begin to fall off as they neared the royal docks located below the royal palace of the Prince.
The Rangers motion continued to drop off, but to Roo it felt as if they were still moving into the docks too fast. The old sailor spoke as if reading his mind. Were pushing a lot of water into the quay, and thatll push back as we come alongside the docks, slowing us down to almost a full stop, though shell make the cleats groan a bit. He made ready to throw a line to those waiting on the dock ahead. Lend a hand!
Roo and Erik each grabbed another line and waited for the command. When Nicholas shouted, Cast away! Roo threw to a man on the dockside, who caught the rope expertly and quickly made it fast to a large iron cleat. As the old sailor said, when the line went taut the iron cleats seemed to groan as the wooden docks were flexed, but the bow wake returned from the stone quay and the huge ship seemed to settle in with a single rocking motion, as if it sighed in relief that it was good to be home.
Erik turned to Roo. Wonder what the Harbormaster will say to the Admiral.
Roo glanced aft as the Admiral made his way to the main deck, and considered the question. The first time Roo had seen the man had been at Eriks and Roos trial for the murder of Eriks half brother, Stefan. The second time he had seen him had been when the survivors of the mercenary company to which Roo and Erik belonged had been rescued from a fishing smack outside the harbor of the city of Maharta. Having served under the Admiral on the voyage homeward, Roos opinion was Hell probably say nothing, go home, and get drunk.
Erik laughed. He also knew that Nicholas was a man of calm authority, who could embarrass a subordinate to the point of tears with a stare and no words spoken, a trait he shared with Calis, the Captain of Roo and Eriks company, the Crimson Eagles.
Of the original company, numbering in the hundreds, fewer than fifty men survived the six who had fled with Calis and some stragglers who had found their way to the City of the Serpent River before the Freeport Ranger had departed for Krondor. Nicholass other ship, Trenchards Revenge, had remained in the harbor at the City of the Serpent River for an extra month, in case more men from Caliss troop found their way there. Any who were not there when she weighed anchor would be considered to be dead.
The gangplank was run out, and Roo and Erik watched as Nicholas and Calis were the first to disembark. On the dock waited Patrick, Prince of Krondor, his uncle Prince Erland nephew and brother respectively to Nicholas and other members of the royal court of Krondor.
Erik said, Not much of a show, is it?
Roo could only nod. A lot of men had died to bring back the information Nicholas carried to his nephew, the Prince. And from what Roo knew, it was scant information at best. He turned his attention to the royal family.
Nicholas, formerly Prince of Krondor until his nephew had come from the capital of the Kingdom of the Isles to assume the office, looked nothing like his brother. Erlands hair was mostly grey, but there was enough red remaining to reveal its original hue. Nicholas, likewise going grey, was a man of dark hair and intense features. Patrick, the new Prince of Krondor, was somewhere between his two uncles in appearance, darker of skin than both, but his hair was a middle brown in color. He seemed to have something of Erlands powerful build and Nicholass intensity.
No, said Roo, youre right; not much by way of ceremony.
Erik nodded. Then again, by now they all know theres not much glory in any of this. The Prince and his uncle are probably both anxious to hear what news Calis and Nicholas have.
Roo sighed agreement. None of it good. Its all bloody business and its going to get worse.
A friendly slap to the back caused both Roo and Erik to turn. Robert de Loungville stood behind the two young men, grinning in a way that up until recently made both men expect the worst, but this time they knew he was merely showing the more affable side of his nature. He kept his receding hair cropped close to his skull, and he needed a shave. Where to, lads?
Roo jingled a purse of gold tucked into his tunic. I think a good glass of ale, the tender touch of a bad woman, and then Ill worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.
Erik shrugged. Ive been thinking, and I want to take up your offer, Sergeant.
Good, said de Loungville, sergeant of Caliss company. He had offered Erik a place in the army, but in a special command being formed by Calis, Prince Nicholass mysterious and not-quite-human ally. Come by Lord Jamess office at midday tomorrow. Ill leave word at the palace gate youre to be admitted.
Roo studied the men on the dock. Our Prince is an impressive-looking man.
Erik said, I know what you mean. He and his father both look the sort who have been in some serious places.
De Loungville said, Never let their rank fool you, lads. Erland and our King, and their sons after them, spent their time along the northern borders fighting goblins and the Brotherhood of the Dark Path. He used the common name for the moredhel, the dark elves who lived on the far side of the mountains known as the Teeth of the World. I heard that the King got into some serious business down in Kesh once, a run-in with slavers or some such thing. Whatever it was, he came out of it with a good opinion of the common man, for a king.
We havent had a court-bred king since King Rodric, before old King Lyam took the throne, and that was before I was born. These are tough men whove spent some time soldiering, and itll take a few more generations before any in this family becomes soft. The Captain will see to that. There was something in his voice that hinted at strong emotions; Roo glanced at the sergeant and tried to glean what it was, but de Loungvilles expression had returned to a broad grin.
What are you thinking? asked Erik of Roo, his best friend since childhood.
Roo said, Just how funny families can be. He pointed to the group on the dock, listening carefully to Nicholas.