Fateful Voyage; A Tale of Albion - III

III




The next day, they departed Ulfwych, and continued on, through the Forest.

Caddan kept a careful eye out upon the column; he saw Livia towards the front, riding with a pair of other Scouts. He rode back down the road, and pulled his horse up next to Merton and his servant. The Briton nodded politely at him.

He asked the man if he had seen the blonde woman in a purple outfit; Merton smiled faintly.

"I haven't seen her on the road; but I saw her in my chamber last eve. You speak of Lady Ulrika, otherwise known as the Ice Witch."

Caddan had heard the name; once rumored to be the Regent's consort, she had spun a web at Court very artfully, but the web was too complicated, eventually leading to her banishment. It was said that the Ice Witch was as ambitious as any Councillor or Bishop, with the additional weapon of her beauty. Men in high places had lost everything on a gamble for her affections. Some were no longer alive.

He didn't ask Merton about his visit with her; it was a man's own business, he figured, and Merton wasn't speaking about it. He wheeled back down the column, rejoining Sheymus, Red Donald, Carfryd and the rest.

By mid-day they had come out of the Forest, the willow trees and pools showed that they were at the edge of the Avalon Marshes. They stopped briefly at Adribard's Retreat to pay respects to Lord Adribard, and then rode to the Portal.

The Portal was a shimmering blue-white oval of energy. They rode through it, and instantly found themselves in Gothwaite Harbor.

Gothwaite was a bustling seaside town, full of merchants and dwellings, with ships pulled up to the piers. Castle Gothwaite, large and looming, looked down upon the port from atop a high hill.

They were met at the Portal by Sir Ward Wallace, Commander of the Brotherhood of the Griffons. He had been busy arranging supplies and berths for his men on the ship. The Griffons greeted the old Highlander heartily; he was a popular leader who knew each one of them, and always had time to speak to every man.

After a meal and short round of speeches at Castle Gothwaite, the Griffons and their fellow voyagers went down to the docks, to find their berths and stow their gear aboard their ship.

The 'Lyonesse Victory' was a large ship of three masts, painted red and blue. The Highlanders looked at her in awe, most not being familiar with ships or the sea. The ship was an impressive sight to them; but to those who knew their sailing vessels, she had seen long service, and was old. Her crew was mostly Britons and Saracens, smaller men with a peculiar swaying gait upon the land, indicating a life normally spent at sea. The last of the gear and provisions were being loaded by porters; Caddan walked up the gangway onto the deck.

He looked up to the sterncastle, and saw Ward Wallace speaking with an older man. He found his way belowdecks through a ladder hatchway, and was directed to one of the rooms where the Griffons were berthed. it was dark and crowded; he placed his gear in a sea-chest next to a hammock, one in a long row that ran the length of the low room.

He went back up on deck, where the Captain, an older man dressed in grey, was addressing crew and passengers.

"I'm Captain Wyndam of the Regent's ship 'Lyonesse Victory' . As you know, we will be heading out to the New Lands, sailing along the shoreline to claim lands for Albion. We will be looking for good places to start a colony, and seeing who inhabits the lands there. We will be accompanied by the Regent's own 'Phantom' , a war galley that will meet us off of Avalon Point. There has been a sighting or two of longships in the area, so the 'Phantom' will be our escort."

"I know that many of you are not used to being at sea. If you feel sick, lean over the rail. Most get used to it after a while. And accomodations will be somewhat tight. Let's all make the best of it. Get settled in, and we will sail at first light."

Caddan joined the Griffons in finding a tavern in Gothwaite to celebrate their departure in the morn. "Nothin' like a hangover on top a bein' seasick" he chuckled to himself as he drank.

After a few drinks, they all headed back to the ship, climbed awkwardly into their hammocks, and fell asleep.

Early the next morning, the cries of sailors and the rattle of the anchor chain awoke them; they climbed stiffly to the deck, to watch their departure. The townsfolk stood on the docks, watching as they slipped the ropes off of the quay. Suddenly, a familiar figure was spotted, running along the dock. Caddan saw Sheymus dive headfirst into the water and grab a rope flung to him by a sailor. Behind him on the dock, a buxom wench, her bodice untied and barefoot, yelled curses that made Caddan turn red as Sheymus was hauled up on the deck.

"What's this now?," Ward Wallace demanded of the soaked Highlander.

"Well, Sir Wallace, I fear I nae had enough coin fer the sweet lass," Sheymus said, looking down at his feet. The Griffons broke out in a roar of laughter as Wallace took a small bag from the pouch on his belt and tossed it over the rail at the wench, who caught it deftly and opened it to see the gleam of silver. She immediately started blessing the knight, whereupon the crowd upon the dock and those shipboard clapped and cheered. The sailors grinned, thinking it a good omen for the start of the voyage.

They sailed with a fair wind, in sight of the coast. Caddan stood at the rail, chuckling at the occasional Griffon who leaned miserably overboard. The weather was grand, and the sailors went about their labor as their passengers walked the deck.

"Don't know if I'd want to be doin' that, now," said Red Donald, watching a sailor scamper up a mast and shimmy out onto a yardarm to untangle some lines.

"I hear ya" replied Caddan; a door opened upon the afterdeck, where some of the more spacious rooms were, and the Ice Witch strode out upon the deck. She was dressed in a black gown this day; an Infiltrator, a lean Saracen also dressed in black, his face impassive, walked with her. Men bowed to her as she walked by; she inclined her head to them, a small smile upon her face.

Caddan watched her walk along the deck, and then ascend to the afterdeck, and speak with the Captain.

He suddenly heard a deep thrumming sound, and turned. He saw Livia the Scout, dressed in her hunting outfit as always, shooting her bow at a padded target set up against the foredeck for practice. Her Wolf was at her side, seeming not to mind being at sea. A small group of Griffons gathered around her, Sheymus among them. Caddan shook his head and chuckled.

"That one with- Milady- is called Blackhand."

Caddan turned to see Merton, looking tired and a bit pale, standing next to him, elegantly clad as usual. A wine goblet was in his hand. "Blackhand...sounds familiar," Caddan mused.

"Poisoner and assassin for the Guild of Shadows," Merton returned, frowning slightly and turning to lean upon the rail, looking out to sea. "He is her pet of the moment, apparently. Her favorites don't seem to...be around long."

"An' were you one, once?"

"Yes. Won't deny it," admitted Merton. "And don't regret it, either. He got a faraway look in his eyes. "Pleasure. And pain. Both like you never dreamed of...you knew you were alive, with her. Alive, but under her control. Be careful."

Caddan started to speak, then stopped. He looked up at the afterdeck once more, and saw Lady Ulrika looking down upon him and Merton; when their eyes met, she smiled that incomprehensible smile of hers he saw that eve in Ulfwych, and then she strolled away. Blackhand stood for a moment longer, staring at him, and then he followed, his dark cloak swirling behind him. Caddan remembered his dream.

The next day, the good weather held; they were making good time, according to Sir Ward, and were due to meet the war-galley 'Phantom' . Livia continued her archery practice upon the middle deck; Sheymus had took it upon himself to retrieve her arrows for her, which she accepted with a blush, causing grins among the Griffons.

Caddan saw Avalon Point approaching, a wooded headland jutting out into the sea; suddenly a lookout halloed, and he saw a swift, low galley appear from behind the Point, rowing towards them. It took only a few minutes to reach them, using its sail as well as oars; as it pulled alongside, Caddan saw the catapult and the scorpion upon its deck, ready for action. From its prow jutted an iron ram. This was definitely a warship; he saw soldiers upon its deck.

A small party of officers came aboard the 'Lyonesse Victory' to talk with Captain Wyndam and Sir Wallace. Caddan gazed upon the deck of the
'Phantom' , and thought to recognize one of the soldiers there, but the man went belowdecks before he could be certain...

The next day, the weather was clouding up, but the wind was still in their sails, as they turned course out to sea, towards the New Lands. Griffons, getting used to the rhythm of the swaying deck, practiced at swordplay with each other, using blunted weapons.

After dueling with Carfryd a while, and working up a good sweat, Caddan stripped to the waist and washed himself in a barrel of water set upon the deck. As he pulled his tunic on, he felt a soft hand upon his shoulder; he turned to look into the eyes of Lady Ulrika.

Her eyes were the deepest blue Caddanhad ever seen. The scent of lilacs washed over him; her hair blew freely in the breeze, as she smiled at him. 'That smile,' Caddan thought. Blackhand stood behind her, out of hearing range, arms folded upon his chest.

"You fight hard, Paladin." Her voice was low, almost musical.

"Thank ye. Lady Ulrika, I am Caddan McClannad."

"Oh, I know," she said, her eyes flickering down his body for a moment, leaving Caddan wondering if he had only imagined it. "Paladins are...a special type of man." She smiled into his eyes again. "But men, nonetheless. I've heard tell that you were one of the first through the gates at Caer Hurbury."

It was a statement, phrased to sound like a question. Caddan was still mulling over her previous words, and snapped out of his wondering. "Aye. It was a hard fight that day, the Celts were fierce." He thought it stupid what he had said, and felt the blood rising to his cheeks. He felt like a lad talking to a maid for the very first time.

"Fierce...but you were fiercer. Would you like to join me and my friend this eve for dinner in my cabin to tell us about it? Afterwards, I am sure we can," she leaned in a bit closer, "entertain ourselves." Her eyes were fixed upon hers; he felt his body respond, and at that moment he knew why they called her the Ice Witch. Her eyes were inviting, but inside them...they were cold. Hard.

"I am sorry, but I have a lass back home," Caddan said in a low voice, feeling an odd pang inside of him, one of regret. The Ice Witch smiled back at him, but her eyes were not smiling, Caddan thought.

"How- quaint," she said, drawing back from him a bit. The spell broke, and he later could not remember what they said in parting, but she walked on along the deck, stopping to speak occasionally with another, followed by her pet; 'Blackhand's as much a pet to her as Wolf is to Livia', Caddan thought. He went belowdecks to his hammock, and lay there, thinking.

In the morning, they found Merton dead in his bed; the ship's surgeon was puzzled, seeing no signs of illness nor violence. He was buried at sea in a small ceremony; Caddan bowed his head and said his own prayer as Captain Wyndam said some words, and wondered who would miss him among the living. Sadness clouded his thoughts.

That afternoon, he practiced more with sword and shield with different Griffons. He was restive, still unsettled. He tried to think on Merton, but ended up thinking of Merton's words of Lady Ulrika. He felt...regret? He wasn't sure. He trained harder, trying to clear his mind.

By late afternoon, he finished his training, and washed up, sitting down upon a pile of rope, watching other Griffons spar, shouting occasional advice. Livia was shooting her longbow once more, the sound of the shafts speeding home to her target cutting though the clank of metal on metal.

Suddenly, he felt a soft hand upon his shoulder once more. He looked up, and saw Lady Ulrika standing above him, looking down at him. She wore a crimson robe today; Caddan was snared by her eyes. She bent down and whispered to him, "My friend and I missed you last night."

Suddenly, Caddan remembered Ulfwych, remembered her coming out of Merton's room, and his eyes saw Blackhand a distance behind her, with a faint smile upon his face. He remembered Merton's love of wine, and who the poisoner for the Guild of Shadows was. Anger flashed in his mind.

"Milady's bed is rarely cold, I hear," he heard himself say. "Could Merton show ye no new tricks?"

Her eyes hardened; she turned and walked away from him as he pondered what he had said, marveling at himself, cursing himself for not joining her, becoming hers, as he stood and walked towards the mast to gather his sword and shield to go belowdecks.

"Insult Milady, Highland dog?" a soft voice said as Caddan bent over to pick up his shield. He heard the soft whisper of steel unsheathed, and as he started to react, heard a deep thrum and then a wet smacking sound, and a shriek of pain.

Caddan whirled around, seeing Blackhand standing behind him, his hand pinned to the mast by a clothyard arrow as he yelled in pain, pulling at the shaft; his long dagger clattered to the deck, and Caddan thought to see a dark ichor upon the blade. He looked across the deck and saw Livia standing still as stone, another arrow nocked in her bow, and Sheymus behind her, gaping at the sight. He bowed low to Livia, and, as sailors called for the Ship's Surgeon, he strode belowdecks. The Ice Witch was nowhere to be seen.