Even after all these months, it felt strange being “one of the muscle.” He lounged against the railing of the footbridge and tried not to imagine everyone watching him. He imagined the passersby thinking, “What is Lord Gallendris doing here?” A part of him wanted to shout the truth at them—the truth that the Matriarchs wanted him dead for no other reason than greed, even in the face of the coming war. Continue reading Farek 99
To the relief of the crew and their many refugee passengers, the length of Comet’s Cove was devoid of pirate vessels. Farek’s ship encountered a few defensive galleys around midday, and was permitted to dock not long after. The news they brought—of disaster in Saanazar—was sour for the dock workers and sentries alike. Continue reading Farek 98
Each wave gleamed with the radiating sunlight. Farek had not noticed such things when they had escaped from Saanazar. He had watched the pirate fleet bearing down on the fishing vessels and had joined in the flock of citizens fleeing into the countryside. As he sat, now, on a ship heading west, he dangled his feet over the side of the ship and reflected on what might have been his darkest hour. Continue reading Farek 97
The worn surface of the bar became the tortured man’s new home. He spent days there—the last spot he could think of to search—where it had all become vain. Old habits claimed the man, but they were old habits from healthier days. His body had healed the wounds, yet his health still struggled. The bottom of a flagon was not the place to find peace from fretful coughing or pain-wrought nights. Continue reading Farek 96
Lord Sha was in a foul mood that day, as they finally made ready their preparations to leave High Raena. From here they would sail for Sheld, then on to Noress-That-Was to report of their success to the Three Matriarchs. Sha—who had grown more bitter and disparaging as their journey into Radregar had progressed—would oft complain of his posting with them and curse his competing spymaster, Erril, who had stolen all the favour of the Matriarchs. Continue reading Farek 95
A dozen small towns dotted the fords and lakes along the Raena River. Mostly, they were built as trading posts near various jungle tribes, or as daily rest stops at predictable distances from High Raena or Ith. Because of those two cities, this was one of the most travelled water ways in the known world. The Sea’s Sword—out of her element—was passed frequently by riverboats heading in either direction. Her crew found the streets and inns of the waterfront towns full of travellers and merchants. Continue reading Farek 94
Even Farek’s departure from Ith was delayed. It seemed the world was conspiring to beleaguer the already fatigued group. This time, that conspiracy came in the form of a murder investigation. Someone had been killed in the alley next to Ralin’s Stay, early in the new moon. For three days, the guards of the City Watch held Ayvim and Sheem—two of Farek’s guards—on suspicion of involvement with the act. After all, they had been awake and in the common room at the hour of the crime. Continue reading Farek 93
Though the terms of allegiance with the Advisory of Ith were straightforward to sort out—with Ambassador Tolia demonstrating her expertise—it was a whole other matter to meet with anyone of importance from the Crimson Highway. Farek’s second objective on his ally-seeking mission was to ascertain if the Highwaymen would side with their brethren kin—should landfall ever be made—or would they provide their considerable resources to the growing alliance of civilized cities. Continue reading Farek 92
Please read In Recent Years: Introduction before reading this post.
Lord Farek Gallendris spends his days working on administration for his sister’s rule of the city of Soros and the great Bank of the Old Empire of Noress and his nights partying in taverns with beautiful women. But Farek longs for more—enjoying the sight of ships sailing out across Raider’s Bay more than the blurry embrace of ale and arms. When approached by an old man claiming to be a magician, Farek initially laughs at the prophesy the man offers him—a prophesy to save his life. But, as his daily routine resumes, Farek realizes that, whether the prophesy of his impending fate is true or not, he wants to take his life into his own hands for once. He seeks out the old man to hear him out. Continue reading In Recent Year: Farek
The Advisory certainly kept the delegates from Var Nordos waiting. After a few weeks of idling in Ith, Farek gathered his comrades to discuss how things were going. Around a well-varnished table and under a well-lit chandelier, Lord Gallendris addressed his peers. “Do you have any concerns? How has our stay in Ith gone?” Continue reading Farek 91