All night they rode through the mist and over running streams. This gave Jason, who was riding beside Eric at the head of the column, some time to ask questions. "So what is exactly the situation in Alepp?"
"Wow, Master Sterling, that is quite the question. How about start out with something easier?" Eric replied.
"Well then, where are the strongholds off the Pirates in this country?"
"Let's see, they have many small castles and forts, but the biggest of them are concentrated along the coast, and right in the centre of the Island-"
"Wait, Alepp is an island?" Jason interjected.
"Yes, as far as we know." Eric replied, "But the way they've set up, they have made it nearly impossible to make a general movement among the people."
"What do you mean by, 'as far as we know'?" Jason cut in once again.
"Because no one has ever charted it."
When Jason stared at him, Eric continued,"Why do you ask?"
"Because, wouldn't it make sense to at least to try to formulate a map? Or chart the countryside?"
"Of course not. Every man who comes of age" (Once again Jason interrupted, to which he learned that the coming of age was 15) "he takes a journey touring the country. So, that in case of sudden war, he would be able to get to a known spot without trouble. And if ever an enemy landed on the Isle of Alepp, they would never procure a map of the Island, thus making it harder to maneuver their troops quickly, and making them more vulnerable to ambush. Of course they've bribed tribesmen to lead them around, but normally the king would have the people evacuate around the spot the enemy landed on so as to avoid such an incident."
"But, if this kingdom had such a good defense system, how did it fall so quickly?" Jason questioned.
At this, Eric stiffened slightly. "Bare-faced treachery. Bruce Bradford told his brother, the High King of Alepp, that the Pirates longed for peace and wanted to meet on an island just off the coast. Although the King Peter was a man of great courage and valor, he always deemed that peace was better than war and he went to the Council, wary but hopeful. This constant war had been going off and on for a millenia. But when he and his lords ascended the beach they were immediately ambushed, and one thousand pirates assaulted the company of nobles, led by none other than the self named "Emperor of the Skull". With all of the leaders only having two retainers apiece, they were quickly cut down. Pretty soon, only a few of the King's choicest followers had survived, and they and the king defended themselves on a little rise in the land. Finally, one by one they fell. Then, only the king was left standing, soon after slaying twenty five of the enemy he was over come, and he was killed.
"Right away, the army of Pirates invaded. No one could stop them. It happened so quickly. And so, after all the royalty were killed, the commoners of Alepp were subdued and we were overcome. That was five years ago, and since then the yoke and cruelty has grown and finally the people of the Isle have decided to throw off their oppressors." When he finished his narrative, Jason could see that his cheeks were running from the tears that flowed from his eyes. This man truly loved his country.
"Bradford? I know that name. He was the captain who captured us! Could it possibly be Bruce?" Sterling asked with a start.
"Yes, it could have been. Bradford could rarely walk in the streets without having stones thrown at him. He was forced to leave the country, and he joined the fleet of the Skull. No man has ever sunk so low as to betray his own brother and country all at once. He is the basest traitor!"
"You will be happy to know that before we fled the ship, I engaged him in a duel and wounded his left side."
Eric grinned. "I'm very happy to hear it."
They fell silent as their horses crested a long, steep rise and came to a stand still. Eric pointed down into a valley and to a left to what appeared to be a tent camp with smoke floating out of it. As Eric motioned for one of his men, Jason pulled his horse back and cantered back to his friends. Frodo barked at him disdainfully from the ground where he lay next to Abraham, as if to say,"Did we really have to travel that far?"
"Quiet beast!" Jason said laughingly, then he turned to Ab and Lydia, who were staring down at the city hidden away in this lush valley,"How was your ride?"
Abraham shook himself out of his reverie,"Oh! It was fine. We were talking to some of the men about their homes and the places around them."
Lydia nodded in agreement,"It was really interesting! One of them-"
But they never got around to what she was trying to say, because at that very moment a man clad in a grey and hooded, just like the rest of them, ran up to them. Breathless, he shouted to Eric, "Commander March! Sir Evans wanted me to tell you that there is a train of supplies heading north to Rolde to feed the pirates there! He awaits your orders."
Commander March sat in his saddle for a moment, and then turned to his men and yelled, "It's time to stand for freedom!"
With a mighty shout, the company of men raced down into the valley, with the four in tow.
No comments:
Post a Comment