CANSTVER 7TH YEAR 552 ASMERIAN CALENDAR.
Erik walked down the street; it had been several days since they arrived in Lexington, and he was getting more familiar with the city. He was looking for a certain individual who would know about any ongoings in the town, Frederic split off to another informant near the outskirts of Lexington. He left the others to themselves. It was best that he was by himself, he had less to worry about and more to focus on. He headed down familiar streets and alleyways until he arrived at Samuel Wester's home. It looked as if it were abandoned. Samuel was an outspoken man who was well in his seventies, well beyond his years in life.
He entered the abandoned home. He looked through the house, furniture was tossed about and the sheets on the bed were covered in blood. The smell made him vomit on the spot. He quickly left the residence and headed north to the jailhouse. It was the only possible place for him to be while still breathing.
The streets were crowded, and the gallows were built in the center of the courtyard and they were full, eight men hanged high as the crowd cheered on. The wealthy of Lexington was always amused by the senseless hangings of the poor. There was still one noose left unused and the executioner, dressed in a black cloak and wearing a ceremonial mask, was readying the next noose for the next poor soul to occupy the slipknot. "Bring the bastard here!" The executioner barked from his stage.
He played into the theater of it all and made everything seem as if it were a grand display of power. However, when the old man was marched up to the gallows the crowd drew silent. The long grey beard told Erik everything he needed to know. Samuel stood trial for treason and lost. He was now standing on the trap door with a noose around his throat. His clothes were dirty and tattered and looked as if they had been torn at by animals. Erik stepped closer, sliding through the crowd and doing his best to get closer to the man he knew upon the gallows.
Nearly twenty years earlier, Noquester 25th year 537, Erik was a newly promoted sailor on board The Regret of the Sea, sailing due west to The Western Isles. Gregoria had declared a blockade against the isle due to the pirates raiding several towns on the coast of both Gregoria and the Republic of Asmeria. There were two Asmerian Senators on board. Samuel Wester and Braydon Squire. Both were renowned for their negotiation skills in diplomacy. There were very few who could compare to them. Erik was at the helm and setting the course the navigation officer plotted.
It wasn't uncommon for guests to make their way to the helm to either chat with the captain or take a break from the chaos of the lower decks and main deck. Some, if they dared, would even seek refuge in the captain's quarters. "Say, what a fine day it is?" Senator Nicholas said as he sat next to the helm.
"Indeed, it is, sire," Erik responded, his voice hoarse from seawater and rum.
"No need for formalities young man, please."
"As ye command, so what are we doing out here anyway? I understand yer gonna talk to these pirates but what if they don't comply?" Erik asked.
"Well, you better hope it goes well or we'll all be in trouble young man. You have got to have a positive mind when dealing with these kinds of men. They see through all sorts of tricks and misdeeds. So, it's best to face them with honesty, in my fifty years of life I've always found honesty to be the best policy."
"Aye, I've not lived for much longer than twenty years, but I've had the same experience as ye."
"Ah, I see, well, as it would happen, I do believe that's the harbor of Port Surmanthia ahead. The mountain behind it is said to be home to the most skilled assassins in the whole world. It's also said that an assassin from the Western Isle is the one who slain the tyrant king of Asmeria." Samuel said as he reached into his bookbag and withdrew an older notebook. Its pages were yellowed and tattered. Ahead of The Regret was the main isle of The Western Isle and its capital city of Port Surmanthia. It was an epic sight for young sailors and marines. The port was so well developed that the number of vessels harbored there was astonishing to even the most seaworthy men. Erik listened to the first mates' orders as the navigation officer plotted their course. "You're quite the pilot young man." Samuel said as he watched the ship gently glide into port and weigh anchor.
"Aye, it's been in me blood for generations sire." Erik said now releasing the wheel. Ramps were put out to the dock and the harbormaster came aboard The Regret and spoke with the captain. There were some debates about cargo and passengers, but it was soon solved, and everyone was given liberty as soon as the cargo was unloaded. Erik escorted the captain and Samuel to their inn where they would begin negotiations with the pirates. He was, however, was not invited as a simple commoner. He was not allowed to be invited to any event or meeting that involved that of officers of diplomats.
There were plenty of sights in Port Surmanthia. The most intriguing of which was the black tower constructed of volcanic rock. It stood watch over the entire city and was rumored to be the hive of all assassins and mercenaries in the continent. The pirates drank to their heart's content and the whores gladly robbed them of all their worth. There were parties in every tavern. The local scum was rather pleased in themselves. It would seem news of the kidnapped senators was rather welcomed by all on the isle.
Erik found an in to stay the night. It was cheap for a single night, the owner only asked for two copper coins for the night. The bed was made of straw and the pillow stank of body odor. He tossed the pillow to the floor and used his arm as a head rest. He fell asleep almost immediately, a long day of sailing would do that to any man.
He awoke to the sounds of riots and brawls. When he set foot outside the inn, it looked like a war zone. All his crew was locked in combat with a gang of pirates. And to his surprise, an elf from the Bowing Woods was in command. They all followed his orders to the letter, and they expertly out maneuvered Erik's fellow crew mates. Erik ran for the harbor and found that another group of sailors from The Regret had liberated the senators and had gotten them safely aboard The Regret.
Erik fought his way through a dozen men to get through to the dock. The fighting was fierce, and the men grew furious at the senators who failed to negotiate with the pirates. They cried for the captain to weigh anchor and set sail before they were over run but the captain only urged them to keep fighting. It was then Erik saw Senator Samuel fighting bravely and side by side his men. Erik rushed down to the dock to aid and protect him. He jumped the ships railings and fell twenty feet down to the dock. His fall cushioned by a Pirate who collapsed underneath him. It was only a matter of jabbing his sword through the back of the pirate's skull at that point. As he stood up the pirates shuttered at what they witnessed.
His sword was dripping with blood. His eyes were able to pierce through their very souls. Two managed the courage to charge him but he quickly handled them slitting one man's throat before gutting the other. The ranks of the pirates broke, and they retreated into Port Surmanthia. Erik was able to bring every sailor who was still breathing back aboard The Regret. As soon as the word was passed to the captain Erik took charge of the helm and expertly piloted The Regret out of the cove that Port Surmanthia was enclosed by. Erik took a deep breath and exhaled to calm his nerves. He had never seen an entire city break down into such utter chaos. It was startling.
The captain, a man by the name of Tobias Watkins, stood next to him and looked down onto the main deck that was now littered by the wounded sailors of The Regret. The Doctors could not save them all and more sailors were being buried out to sea by the hour. The Regrets crew was dwindling from the one hundred and forty-eight that set said out of Clearwater to only ninety-five able-bodied men. All hands were on deck to keep The Regret sail smoothly. The winds were decent for the area and The Regret was able to set a moderate pace that few ships of the Western Isle could match.
The Regret sailed to the capital city of Asmeria. The city harbor was sprawling with activity. There was a yearly ceremony taking place and as soon as the ship weighed anchor at the dock the crew, exhausted and weary, all set off on their liberty. The captain granted every enlisted sailor four days of liberty within the city and every officer was granted five. He would stay aboard The Regret and see to it that she was properly stocked on fresh supplies. Erik walked off the quarterdeck and onto the dock, Senator Samuel was waiting for him.
"Ah, Mister Hughes." He greeted. "I've got quite the debt to pay with you sir. I should've said something on the voyage back to Asmeria, but the doctor refuted my attempts to speak with you sir." He raised his shirt and showed him a nasty wound under his right armpit. It was sown together with stitches and poorly bandaged.
"I'm sorry sir, I hadn't a clue you were injured." Erik said, shocked at how poorly his injury was treated.
"It's quite alright my boy. Just a scratch as they say." He laughed with visible discomfort due to the injury."
"We better get ya seen by a real doc. There's no tellin' what sort of infection you could get." Erik said as he started walking to the only Doctors office he knew of. It was on the other side of town and Erik had to slow down so that the injured senator could keep up. They walked down Asmeria's main street that gave access to the rest of the capitol, and it was off Main Street that led to Catherine Ream's clinic. He led Samuel inside and sat him down on the nearest seat. His white shirt was now stained red with blood from the wound opening.
Catherine was behind a counter prescribing medicinal herbs to an elderly man for a price that was out right theft. When she saw Samuel stumble to the seat nearest the door she immediately jumped into action and took a towel from behind the counter and pressed deep into the wound. "Sir, what happened to you?" She asked concerned.
"A grand battle miss, ha, it was amazing." He laughed making light of his injuries.
"Now is not the time for jokes sir. Zena! Get in here!" She shouted.
"Yes sister?" Zena asked as she turned the corner to the lobby. "Oh my, what happened?" She said as she grabbed simple medical supplies such as alcohol and bandages.
"Well, since you really must know, I was stabbed by a pirate." Samuel laughed yet again. "Ah, well at the very least I have you two beautiful women to nurse me back to health."
"Please, enough with the joke's sir, you've got an infection. Odds are that you are already dying." Catherine said packing the wound with alcohol-soaked bandages. He winced in pain and gripped the arms of the chair with all his strength.
"Damn woman, you just don't give a fuck." Erik said as he watched Samuel nearly passed out from pain.
"Shut up or make yourself useful, please go behind the counter, there'll be needles and thread. Bring them to me now mister!" She barked, he did as she commanded, Zena was already pulling the skin together in preparation for stitches. Erik handed the needles and thread to Catherine, and she began sowing the flesh back together. It was a remarkable sight for sure, and he was glad to witness how real stitches were sown.
Samuel was taken to the back of the clinic by Zena and given a bed to rest in. Erik sat anxiously in the lobby waiting for Samuel to wake and be able to return to The Regret. Catherine kept him company, going as far as to offer him tea and bread. Asmerian bakeries were the best on the continent and Asmerian bread sold for up to four copper coins in Gregoria. So, to just be offered it for no charge was quite the gift. Soon, Samuel walked back into the lobby after resting for the afternoon, it was now dusk, and the city was now asleep.
Erik pulled Samuel's arm over his shoulder and let the senator lean on him as they made their way to the senate. In all the chaos Erik hadn't realized how much of a success the mission was despite losing so many men during the battle of Port Surmanthia. All the hostages were freed from their captors and each of the Asmerian Senators were in the newly built senate house and throwing a party in honor of the return of their comrade's and fellow statesmen.
Erik departed as soon as he arrived, letting Samuel take the glory of telling the tale of the battle. It was known that the battle was only won because of the Gregorian sailors so there was no need for Erik to further embellish the story in favor of his homeland. The streets were empty, and he finally had time to himself. He was a man of solitude, and it was far more comforting to be alone than in the company of others. Yet another reason to leave the party held by the Asmerian Senate.
He was now watching a friend from years ago walk to the gallows. The very man who made the long trips from Clearwater to Lexington worth it. A man whose love of country could never be doubted and whose wisdom led many to success. And a man whose only crime was being a Senator nearly twenty years ago. Such a heinous crime it would cost his very life. A man shouted out "mercy!" and so began an outcry of pleas for Samuel's life to be spared.
"Any last words traitor!" The executioner asked as the crowd started to get even more restless.
"I declare the law of execution as written by King Zander!" Samuel shouted so that everyone could hear. This effectively stopped the execution in its tracks. There was no way to execute a man until his final demand of life was abided by. There were exceptions to the law in terms of what could be demanded such as being released or another trial. However, if the dead man was hungry, he could demand to be fed, or if he wished to speak with family or friends, he could demand that as well. This law was written so that any noble or commoner found of a crime that was punishable by death, would lead to less retaliation against the crown or the nobility as it would be seen as humane and merciful to let a mans last wish to be granted by the very authority ending their lives.
"And what is your demand?" The executioner asked as he stood over Samuel from his stage on the gallows.
"I demand an audience with the ruler of the territory of Lexington, Sir Wentworth!" With that single sentence the entire city fell silent. To request for a tyrant, and a warlord. Most in Lexington watched in awe as a door on the balcony overlooking the gallows opened and Sir Wentworth stepped out. It was clear he had been watching the executions take place throughout the day.
The crowd now erupted in all sorts of chants and pleas to spare Samuel Wester's life. Erik soon found himself also chatting "spare him" along with the crowd. Sir Wentworth raised his hands as to gesture to the audience to be silent and they obeyed for fear of his wrath that they felt all to often.
"I am here mister Wester; you may make your demands known to everyone." Wentworth announced. "Now, before you start, seeing as you will die today no matter what you say, I would like everyone to know the words this criminal may say will most likely be extreme and urge you to take his side further than you already have. I could, if I so wanted, declare all who are present guilty of treason for your reckless conduct. Keep that in mind as I tend to my duties as an Asmerian." Erik saw the narrative shift instantly into Wentworth's favor. There would be not more outcries for mercy or to spare his life. Anyone who raised their voice would more than likely be arrested and hanged as well.
"How like the nobility to abuse their power to assert fear into the peasantry. Much like the Tyrant king but we all know what happened to him." Samuel quipped.
"Oh, are we talking about the legitimate king who was assassinated by a foreigner? And are you also saying that the republic stood up by traitors and criminals was any better? The very same senate that would've sold this country to Gregoria and the Lucc Empire!"
"The traitors that you speak of saved hundreds of thousands of lives from tyranny. And led to the most prosperous times in Asmerian history. You know this as fact, yet you look down on the republic because it gave power to the people and took it out of your hands, THE KINGS HANDS!"
"Enough with the politics senator, why is it you called for me?" Wentworth said leaning over the railing of the balcony to seem as if he was towering over Samuel.
"Simply so you can convey a message to James Scottkey, I know he is indentured into servitude for you. And you may be imprisoned if you don't and loose your precious title as a knight."
"Oh, you wish to speak to a Scottkey? The very traitors that smuggled nearly fifty of their fellow conspirators out of our borders. How befitting: very well, I will not only let James Scottkey receive your message as your last demand, but I will let him receive it personally. Ha, let the entire city see the sorry state of the once-great house of Scottkey!" Only a minute passed before a beaten and battered man was standing out on the balcony, his face scarred and wearing nothing more than a sack with a hole cut in the bottom to allow his head through. Erik had never seen a man so close to the brink of death in all his years of fighting for Gregoria. This was the uncle of the very man he was sent to save and the girl he had grown so fond of back in Concord. It made his stomach churn.
"Here he is! Here, now go on and tell this useless piece of filth your message, I doubt he'd even be able to understand your words at this point. Let this be a message to all those who dare oppose his majesty, the king." Wentworth laughed as he displayed James for all to see. "Now then, let us hear this message."
"James." Samuel started. "My friend, let me first start by telling you I have no closer of a friend and I will always treasure the memories I had with you. You are more my brother than any related to me through blood. My very reputation rests on your back as a warrior of unmatched skill and a leader of unquestionable ethics and values. I will say this, I am happy to give my life for your freedom and I do not regret the deal I made just days ago. My life for the future of our nation. You must take advantage of your skills as a knight of Asmeria and return our nation to its former glory! You will not be alone, and your lineage will continue to rule our people for years to come."
"Is that it? You still try to rally a resistance against the true government of our lands." Wentworth spat. "You disgusting traitor!"
"You're right, I never should've betrayed my friend for amnesty. I should have given my life freely four years ago. It took another Scottkey to show me my ultimate betray of man and country. May the gods forgive my soul, but I know yours will be damned to hell for the rest of eternity!" Samuel shouted as he tried to step up to Wentworth, but the rope stopped him from moving.
"Do it!" Wentworth ordered. The executioner pulled the lever and the trap door opened. The rope gave way and allowed Samuel to drop another four feet than expected. The jolt from the rope becoming taught snapped Samuel's neck and the crack could be heard throughout the courtyard. Erik reeled back in disgust as the sound of Samuel's breaking neck echoed through the crowd.
"To bad, all of that for nothing." Wentworth said turning back inside.