《The Merchant Prince》 Chapter 1 The gangway sat unsteadily between the two ships, swaying as juts of seafoam sprung from the waves that crashed against both hulls. Mist invaded the air, drifted over to Augustus, and left a salty taste in his mouth, one that he had become all too familiar with throughout this long uncomfortable voyage. He pulled his delicate robe taut, stretching out the wrinkles, then made small adjustments to his garment, making it look as regal as possible. He felt the bumps of the embroidery, the artisan stitching that made his robe a work of art. It was a dress to impress, showcasing his lineage and status as a member of the Castellian family. White stitching over finely woven linen dyed deep reds and yellows, with a pattern that, if you looked closely, told the tale of his family''s rise to wealth. It made him a vibrant figure, set amongst the dreary colours of the crew of The Scarlet Wind. Even his attendants wore the cheaper, muted grey, white, and brown colours. It was especially apparent now, with all of the crew gathered together in a crowd about him, although they still left a respectful buffer to not overcrowd him. They were all gathered to greet the other crew, the crew of The Killian. He watched the crew of The Killian finish placing the rails. The first of them attempted the crossing with a gulp, gripping the railing in one hand, and with his other, he held his wide-brimmed hat in place, guarding against gusts of wind. He took careful steps on the gangway as it swayed from side to side. The wind picked up, sweeping his thin, loose-fitting clothing against the side of his limbs. As he was about to make it to the other side, he reached out to have someone take his hand. Yander DeMerio, the captain of The Scarlet Wind, obliged with a hefty yank, and he pulled the man aboard. Augustus studied the man¡¯s face from a distance, noticing nervousness and a hint of fear. Something about his slow pace and shrunken posture betrayed a reluctance to do his duty. Augustus looked to his side to see his two trusted attendants looking forward. "That isn''t Marcus," he said to them. Of the members of The Killian, Augustus knew there was but one person he would recognize, their captain, Marcus Dayton. That man was his older brother''s former tutor. The man Augustus saw Yander hug and greet was apparently a man of no important standing. "That must be the first mate," responded Castor. He scratched his bald head, squinting in thought. "Juan, yes, I think I''ve met him before." Yander had the man in question by the shoulder. He steered him across the ship¨Cnot forcefully, but the way one might guide a drunkard through the streets of Venocia, urging him forward and toward Augustus. In the background, more of the crew of The Killian braved the crossing, but with more confidence than the first man, their supposed first mate. As Juan approached, his eyes widened, showing recognition of Augustus. The man grabbed his hat from his head to hold it against his chest. He kept his chin tucked in, baring the top of his head as he approached, revealing his bald spot. Yander released the man for the final few steps, knowing not to be too casual in front of Augustus in such a formal circumstance. Yander straightened his posture from the casual stance of a man among friends to the puffed-out chest, and high chin required when presenting to a man of higher standing. "Augustus, I present to you the first mate of The Killian, Juan," said Yander with a slight bow. Juan lowered his head in unison, dropping down lower than Yander. An overly deep and respectful bow. "Juan, I present to you Augustus DeCastellian, member of the main branch of the Castellian family and third son of Giovanni DeCastellian." "It is an h-honour to meet you," said Juan with a stutter before lifting his head and daring eye contact. "Yes, indeed. Where is Marcus Dayton, your captain?" asked Augustus dryly. He was trying to follow Castor and his father¡¯s teachings, to always stay calm, project confidence, and be observant. They had taught him that emotions could cloud his vision of events, that he should always seek more information, and that only once things have been thought through should any action be taken. Juan opened his mouth to speak, but the words got caught along the way. With a shaky hand, he pointed out over the side of the ship at the island. "He stays on the island, close to the native village." "Master Augustus, we should all talk in private," said Castor. "We need to be briefed on what''s happened in the past two years." "Yes, I agree. And the sun is starting to burn my neck. Let¡¯s find some shade." Augustus rubbed the back of his neck as he gestured over to the aft deck, pointing at the wooden door that led to the captain''s quarters, a place Augustus had made himself quite accustomed to during the long voyage. "Please, let''s sit down in my quarters," said Yander. "Come on, Juan, I''ll pour you a glass of spirits to calm your nerves." Yander put his hand on Juan''s shoulder again to steer him and pushed him forward. Augustus led the way, along with his two personal attendants. They were Castor, his former tutor and now head attendant, and his bodyguard, Heratio. Both followed closely on either side of him. Heratio, ever cautious, rested his hand on the hilt of his sword as he scanned his surrounding, looking between crewmembers of The Killian. Despite his suspicious eyes, Heratio smiled with a casual walking gait. Heratio was much taller than him. He had a round face with bushy eyebrows, a prominent jaw, and wild hair, and his skin tanned darker than Venocians because he was of Brenish descent. Like Heratio, Augustus tried to study the crew from The Killian as he walked but could only read joy and relief from their faces. Sensible, as they knew they''d soon be returning home. They entered the spacious naval quarters. A red oak desk and chair faced the aft windows where one could watch the ship''s wake as it sailed through the water. In the centre of the room was a dark-stained table with four chairs, where Augustus and his two attendants would always eat with the captain. Two bookcases furnished the walls, along with paintings and a framed map of the known world done in black and white, with diamond red markings to indicate the location of the Castellian-owned ports. Augustus'' eyes wandered for a moment to the green tome, with gold-coloured embossing that sat on a top shelf. His gift to Yander the day they set off on this voyage, months ago. It contained the tale of Allegrio, a merchant sailor, documenting his negotiations with the Synician archipelago and his study of their culture. Augustus felt it was a fitting gift, seeing as the voyage took them along the coast to those very Synician shores before leaving the known lands and venturing deep into the Maysian Ocean. Yander sat Juan down in a chair, then went to the desk to grab his bottle and two glasses. He placed them down and sat, then poured a generous amount from the bottle into each glass. Across from them sat Augustus and Castor, while Heratio leaned against the wall, ever vigilant. "See, just like this," said Yander, taking a big swig. Augustus knew it stung the throat, having tried it on one occasion. Juan drank from his glass meekly, only a couple of tiny sips. Augustus brandished a warm smile. "Enjoy it? Calmed the nerves a bit?" he asked. Juan nodded. "Now then, would you tell us what''s transpired here since The Calianis departed?" Juan looked at Yander first, perhaps for reassurance. Augustus assumed they hadn¡¯t known each other well, but maybe the simple sharing of a profession provided a sort of camaraderie that Juan could draw from. Yander just slapped him on the shoulder and said, "Don''t worry, just tell the truth. Augustus is a fair man. I don''t know why you''re so afraid, but you have nothing to fear from him." "Where should I begin?" pondered Juan. His eyes looked from side to side as he took deep breaths. "When The Calianis left, things went well. Marcus and a small group of his trusted lieutenants would hike each day into the jungle to meet the natives. I went a few times too. I saw him work to learn their language, immersing himself among them. He would even dress up like them, dance with them... But then things turned... They started to get fevers and would vomit uncontrollably. None of us got sick, which turned out unfortunate because then they blamed us¨CIt wasn''t us! That sickness was a curse from Nymis, the god of filth, the mad god. There is no reason for his destructive ways." "Indeed," said Castor. "That was the will of a god. We must not think of ourselves at fault for how they torment us." Augustus nodded. "Castor is right. Was that the reason you were scared? Did you think I would admonish you for that?" Despite their efforts to absolve him, Juan''s arm visibly shook as it carried his cup up for a big gulp. Juan gasped from the burning of his throat. "They tried to force us out of the village. Threatened us with their spears. I hear they put a spear right up against Captain Dayton''s throat and walked him down the trail to the shore." Juan pushed two fingers from his hand deep into his own neck to illustrate. Augustus put his hand up just high enough to silence Juan. "So, you weren''t there? That''s his telling of what happened, right?" "I didn''t see it myself. However, I saw Marcus as he rowed back to the boat and saw the natives behind him in the jungle. I saw the light from their torches... the look of fear on his face too, as he told us what happened." "And now he lives near their village," said Castor, knitting his eyebrows. Juan didn¡¯t look up. Instead, he stared at his empty cup. The table vibrated from Juan¡¯s restless legs. "Yes. The night after he returned, he got the crew together. We got out our bows and hiked to their village in the dead of night. See, all they got is spears, and most of ''em were sick or already dead from that curse. It was easy. We loosed arrows and struck down some of ¡®em. We didn''t have to kill too many, but those we did we hung up in a tree¨Conly as a warning, you see. After that, we haven''t had problems with ''em. Marcus mostly lives there now. I don''t visit there anymore."This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Augustus looked to Castor for his reaction. He looked like he had been struck by seasickness, but Augustus also knew, through this whole voyage, that Castor never suffered that problem. Castor looked down at an uninteresting spot on the table, the many wrinkles on his forehead appearing prominently as he squinted in thought. Castor wiped his forehead, removing the beads of sweat that had accumulated there. Augustus turned back to Juan and, with a smile and a calm voice, he said, "Let¡¯s change subjects. Our mission, first and foremost, was trade. This all doesn''t matter as long as we make a profit. What is of value here?" Juan peeked up from his lowered gaze and let out a sigh of relief, smiling back. "There is plenty of wildlife here with interesting coats of fur. We''ve been skinning and tanning them. The lower deck of The Killian is filled to the brim already, and they''ve stockpiled more at the base camp. There''s a spice that the natives here showed us, made from the bark of a common tree. Also, there''s a blue gem here, but we haven''t been able to mine it because we didn''t have the proper tools." Yander looked over and nodded. "Augustus, I''ll go tell the men to start preparing the rowboats with any supplies that would help with mining. We''ll leave for shore as soon as you¡¯re ready." Yander stood and left. Juan stared longingly at the door after it shut. ¡°Juan,¡± said Augustus, and Juan turned in a startle. ¡°We will be heading to visit Marcus. Please choose a few of your crew here to act as our guide. However, you look unwell, so wouldn¡¯t it be best for you to stay back here?¡± Augustus nodded. Sympathetically, Juan did the same. ¡°Yes, as you wish.¡± ¡°No, no. It is you who wishes for it, is it not? You are dismissed.¡± Augustus gestured to the door, and Juan walked out with a sunken posture, leaving just Augustus and his two attendants. ¡°Castor, you too look unwell. I think you should stay behind on the ship as well.¡± Castor looked shocked. He made a face that begged sympathy, but Augustus just got up from his seat and stared out the window at the rolling waters. "Master Augustus, I assure you I am fine. Besides, this is your first expedition. You may need my advice¨C" "Enough. You will wait here. At least then I can assure any mistakes I make will be my own.¡± Long ago, back in Venocia, Castor would always take Augustus to the ocean to watch the trade ships leave for their expeditions. Back then, Castor was still strong enough to help Augustus up onto a banister, and, from there, he sat and waved at the Castellian ships he recognized as they came and went. Castor would tell him tales of the expeditions, always giving vivid colour to any place he¡¯d visited personally. Now, Castor¡¯s disappointed face reminded him of the joy and uncharacteristic energy that returned when they learned Augustus was to leave for his first expedition. The sound of the water splashing up against the ship and the creaking of the boat as it swayed became unbearably noticeable as Castor took his time thinking of his next words. He would know that the matter was closed. Augustus rarely spoke with that tone while uncertain. "You know there''s more going on here than Juan told us about. I fear it is something that wouldn''t reflect well on the Castellian family," said Castor. "And what would you have me do? I know something is going on here, but I refuse to go back to Venocia empty-handed. It would be a disgrace. I have too much coin invested in this expedition. " He refrained from raising his voice, but he had a slow cadence to his words that emphasized each point. "Now, you must excuse me. I need to change into more appropriate clothing for a hike through such a jungle." Augustus left with Heratio following closely behind, going across the deck then down the stairs to the crew''s quarters. He changed from his ceremonial robe into light white linens that would fare better in this heat, with Heratio standing guard outside the door. He washed his face with the shaded water that, despite being warm, felt cool against his skin. It cleansed away the accumulation of sticky sweat and weighted down his curly brown hair, temporarily straightening it. How well would he tolerate this oppressive heat while having to trek through what looked like a dense jungle? A wasteful worry, he pushed the thought aside. He packed his ceremonial robes carefully in a distinctly carved wooden chest that he brought above deck. "Put this in my rowboat," Augustus ordered a random crew member, handing him the chest. Yander turned from his conversation as soon as he noticed Augustus and approached. "Everything is loaded on the boats. Shall we head out?" "Yes.¡± Yander bellowed out his orders to the crew. They started moving to the rowboats on either side of the ship. Augustus narrowed his sights on the three crew of The Killian that were chosen to be their guides. He walked over to them and the rowboat next to them. He introduced himself and invited them to use the same boat as him. Heratio held the boat steady while Augustus climbed aboard. When Heratio let go, the boat swung, throwing him off balance. It took a second for Augustus to catch his balance and, once he did, he was thrown again by the next person coming aboard. The sea-tested members of The Killian crew hopped over gracefully and, with sure footing, moved around to make room for each new occupant of the boat. With a gesture from Augustus, they lowered the boat into the water. He grabbed the side of the rowboat tightly, an unintended reflex to the jarring impact with the water. "Don''t worry, Master Augustus," said Heratio with a chuckle. "We won''t capsize. Besides, even if we did, we''d just get a bit wet. We got two ships full of people that would be all too happy to save a member of the Castellian family." Except for Augustus, the men got hold of their oars and rowed toward the island. Augustus, exempted by his status, stared off at the island. These were unknown lands to the population of Venocia. He''d read books telling tales of explorers and always found them exciting. Now, he could hardly believe that his first time leaving the city of Venocia would be, not just as a merchant, but as an explorer too. The shore slowly approached. Along the coast was a thick wall of vegetation with a canopy that went up five stories high and sat behind a small beach. He heard the strange sounds of exotic beasts from within. Birds of fanciful colour flew out from a branch, then back in to disappear again. When Augustus looked over the side of the boat, he saw the water forming ripples next to the hull, but the water remained clear enough to make out the fish swimming beneath the surface. "How has your time been here these past two years?" asked Augustus. "It¡­ It has been good, Master¡­ DeCastellian. Though, it will be better to go home." "Oh. Don¡¯t be so nervous. I''m Augustus DeCastellian. Who are you?" "I''m Gregor. But a simple, loyal man in the employ of your great family. I apologize for not knowing who you were¨CI should have. Your older brother Giovannus has sailed with us before." "Think nothing of it. It makes sense that you wouldn''t recognize me. This is my first expedition, after all. How did you fare with my brother?" "Your brother is a great man, like all in your family, " Gregor said with full confidence. "If I may ask, how old are you?" "This past winter made me seventeen,¡± replied Augustus. ¡°Time enough for me to start leaving home to earn my keep." He used the time to talk with the others on the boat, doing his best to drop any pretence that could come from his status. He wore a warm smile and spoke with enthusiasm, doing as his father once advised, asking them about their lives. His father said once, ¡°Sailors away from home will talk endlessly about their home. For their talking is a form of remembrance. All you need to do is give them the prompting, and they grab onto that like a buoy, to disappear in their memory.¡± Augustus asked them about their families, their hobbies, and their skills. They responded with great enthusiasm, talking far more casually than Augustus¡¯ servants back home would. Augustus soaked it up, committing the little details to his memory. After Gregor finished talking about his family back home, Augustus mentioned the letters they¡¯d brought. ¡°I must confess, I forgot about those letters until just now. I will make sure to distribute them to your crew as soon as possible. I haven¡¯t read the letters, but they must say how well they are doing since they are collecting a portion of your pay.¡± The words brought a bright smile to Gregor¡¯s face. They beached the boat in the shallow water. He made sure to imitate the others when they cast off their shoes and jumped into the water. He splashed into the water, feeling the mud squish between his toes. The others got a rope from the boat that they used to pull it onto land. Augustus just watched them work. He had a slender frame and none of the musculature that came from the hard labour that these men often performed. They were all strong and muscular, a stark contrast to Augustus¡¯ thin frame. Despite that strength, they still needed to work together with timed heaving to move the boat. Augustus took a step onto dry land, the first he¡¯d taken outside of Venocia his entire life. The ground was a mixture of sand and rocks that felt like hot coal against his bare feet. He hopped from foot to foot briskly, moving forward until he landed on some cooler soil. ¡°Master Augustus, here are your shoes!¡± shouted Heratio, with the final rowboat dragged up onto land. He threw the shoes with a high-arched toss into a bush nearby. ¡°Let¡¯s move the boat a bit further to keep it safe when the tide comes in.¡± Other rowboats landed shortly after. The crew worked like an orchestrated dance piling up the crates, chests, and bags near the head of the trail, then gathered diligently. They weighed each other down with as much as each could carry, except Augustus, Heratio, and the captain, Yander. Yander got one of the crew of The Killian to lead the way, and, single file, they started along the trail. After they passed the threshold of the outer foliage and bushes, the underbrush surprised Augustus. Rather than a slow trek, hacking away at branches and thrush, the tree trunks were spaced enough to make travel almost leisurely. Augustus felt the cool air, and it came as a great relief. Pillars of light came down from gaps in the canopy, illuminating the ground with bright spots as if a painter flicked a paintbrush at an empty canvas. "If I may be honest¨CI didn''t expect a Castellian to bother coming out here,¡± said Gregor. ¡°It''s a long voyage, and there are always risks on such a long voyage, so far from land. Especially considering that it''s your first voyage." "This is an important expedition. The first trade mission to a new land, this will be written about. My father felt it fitting for a name from our family to adorn those pages.". Augustus grabbed at the root system of a large tree as he scrambled up an incline. He looked back to see Gregor struggle. Although strong, Gregor moved slowly and carefully because of his unusual centre of mass. Augustus thought to lend him a hand¡ªNo, their differences in status should always remain clear. He knew that. "Have you visited the base camp often? How is it there?" Gregor seemed to sink his head and averted his gaze. It took him a moment to respond. He started and stopped a few times without getting a word out. "I''ve not been there often. I mainly stay on the ship. You will soon see it for yourself, so I don''t want to say something that could be quickly proven false." "Any interesting foods out here?" Interjected Heratio. "Yes. There''s this spice that the natives showed us, it wasn''t to my liking at first, but it''s grown on me, I must say. There are also the turtles. Such a delicious animal. Extremely moist meat when cooked." Heratio smacked his lips together and smiled. ¡°I would very much like to try those turtles.¡± ¡°Yeah, you need to go by ship to a cliff face that can¡¯t be accessed by land to get them. They are giant. Their humps are as tall as a full-grown man.¡± ¡°Maybe we can get a few before heading back to Venocia,¡± said Augustus. ¡°I¡¯ll ask the captain before we leave.¡± The hike had a gradual incline. Augustus¡¯ feet and legs felt sore, but he refused to show weakness in front of the others. Especially since their labour looked so much more impressive with all that extra weight. He kept his mind from his exhaustion by marvelling at all the unique flora and fauna. Even the moss that grew on the trunks was different. The bugs were larger, the bird calls sounded unlike anything he¡¯d heard before, and even the seeds that fell from the trees looked strange. Chapter 2 They came to a bridge made of rotten wood, vines, and dried clay connecting two rocky cliffs. The top part of the railing was covered in thick leaves woven together to protect the shabby construction from the elements. Gregor mentioned that it would rain each day, a sudden downpour that wouldn¡¯t last long. Augustus knew the bridge would need rebuilding every few seasons even with that cover. After the captain and the guides from The Killian crossed, Augustus approached it. He inspected the dirt railing and poked at it. Small bits of clay fell just from his touch, the particles falling through gaps of the moss-covered logs. Over the side, he saw the stream flowing a few stories below and felt a stirring in his stomach. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯re much lighter than the others,¡± said Heratio from behind. ¡°Just don¡¯t look down, Master Augustus.¡± Augustus didn¡¯t respond. He just turned and willed himself forward. The bridge creaked with each footstep, as well as those of Heratio¡¯s, who kept himself close. ¡°You have my permission to widen the distance between us,¡± said Augustus without turning his head. He kept his eye line on the horizon, and his face pointed at the end of the bridge. His heart sank, bit by bit, as the wood below him bent with an unexpected elasticity, then sprung back. ¡°As you wish,¡± responded Heratio. He stood sentry for a moment before continuing some distance back. When Augustus made it to stable ground, he felt a sense of relief but tried not to show it, doing his best only to show a stoic exterior. He stole glances at the faces of the men around him, searching for disappointment and pity, and found none. After the bridge, they continued down the path. ¡°We¡¯re close,¡± said Gregor, ¡°you can hear them.¡± The sound of shouts echoes through the trees faintly, the voices muffled by their reflection against the stone, wood, and dirt. The words were incomprehensible, with distinct guttural sounds, clicks, and odd uses of consonants. ¡°Gregor, can you understand their language?¡± ¡°Afraid not, sir,¡± said Gregor as he glanced around himself, trying to spot them. ¡°None of us staying aboard The Killian can speak their language much. We tried to learn by reading through the notes brought back to the boat, but it was difficult. The ones who can speak their language are the ones who¡¯ve spent most of their time at the base camp, immersing themselves among the natives¨CLook, there!¡± Gregor pointed into the trees at a boy. It was a native. He had a deep brown skin tone and bushy black hair, dressed in a loincloth and not much else. The boy was slender, unnaturally so, with the sunken face you¡¯d find on a beggar. As Augustus looked into the jungle more carefully, he spotted more and more young native boys dressed the same, looking just as starved. Despite looking sickly, they moved with agility, running up to the line of explorers and shouting the way a child does when excited. One of them ran right up to Augustus and walked beside him. The boy outstretched his hand and grabbed onto Augustus¡¯ sleeve playfully, rubbing the material. Augustus used the opportunity to get a more detailed look at him. If Augustus had to guess, the boy was aged nine or ten. The others looked of a similar age too. The boy had grey eyes and scars on his back and limbs. Did they all have that scarring? The boy also wore primitive jewellery, strings with wooden beads were wrapped around his wrists and neck. He wore no footwear but moved comfortably, stepping among the twigs and pebbles gracefully. The boy tired quickly of the novelty that Augustus¡¯ shirt occupied and retreated to a more comfortable distance. They showed no aggression. They were playful, balancing on fallen logs, grabbing sticks and smacking them against trees as they ran past them, shouting cheerfully to one another while pointing at the line of overburdened hikers. The hikers and the natives walked together for a short time until the base camp appeared. Set in an area where the brush thinned significantly were the expected tents explorers would use and makeshift huts of amateurish construction. If one would call them so, the buildings were made of wood logs strung together, the bark was still unstripped from the logs and showed signs of rot. The roofs were made with large interwoven leaves. Both tents and huts surrounded a central area containing tables, chairs, and a large fire pit under a tarped canopy. Out of the largest hut came the one person Augustus recognized amongst The Killian''s crew, Captain Marcus Dayton. He was a man of small stature but was muscular enough that it gave him a wide appearance. Dressed in only his brown pants, he showed off his hairy chest, forearms, and the tan lines earned from this part of the world''s harsh sun. He had a burly beard and thick hair that was brown with patches of grey. He lifted his arm and waved at the visitors, then went back inside to shortly thereafter re-emerge again wearing a white loose-fitting tunic. Augustus watched as Yander, the furthest forward of their party, approached and greeted Marcus. Marcus appeared happy and welcoming until Yander motioned back to Augustus, then a glint of confusion crossed his face, but only for a brief moment. Most wouldn¡¯t have had the time to notice, but Augustus had intentionally watched him carefully. He made up for it by displaying an even larger smile as he enthusiastically waved Augustus over. As Augustus made his last few steps of approach, Marcus became solemn and bent down on a single knee, his arms crossed against his chest, a sign of reverence. It was an overly formal show of respect that Augustus hadn¡¯t expected. When Augustus stood directly in front of him, he stood up with an abundance of friendliness, a wide grin, the casual posture of a drunk, and then ruffled Augustus'' curly hair. ¡°Augustus, my boy. How long has it been? You¡¯ve grown quite a bit,¡± said Marcus. It was far too familiar, especially after the kneeling, a jarring transition that Augustus wasn¡¯t prepared for, causing Augustus to step back. ¡°I do not know how you speak to my brother, but that is not how one should speak to a Castellian. And I am not your boy.¡± Augustus gave Marcus a sharp look and inspected his reaction. ¡°My apologies,¡± he said quietly, shrinking back. He stared at the ground then looked to Yander for aid, but Yander just shrugged. ¡°I guess I was just expecting Master Giovannus to be arriving instead. I overstepped my place.¡± ¡°You have apologized, and so it has been forgotten. Let us move forward now. Is there anything urgent that you need to attend to? I know we¡¯ve arrived unannounced.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then, I would like to learn about what has transpired here over the past two years. A man on The Killian told me some things, but I would prefer to hear it directly from your mouth.¡± ¡°I would be glad to tell you all I know. But first, Yander should help his men construct their camp and issue standing orders. Then I can have you both come sit with me.¡± ¡°There is no need for that,¡± responded Yander with a blank face and tone. ¡°My men know how to set up their camp. Also, it would be better for me to hear what you have to say before giving my orders to my men.¡± ¡°Very well.¡± Marcus raised his arm toward the front door of the hut he had just come from. ¡°Heratio, you shall stand guard out here while we talk.¡± Heratio nodded his compliance. Augustus entered and immediately felt relief in the cooler air. However, he could taste the stench caused by the dampness inside, the smell of mould and rotting wood. Marcus quickly opened the windows, letting in the fresh air and lighting up the dim interior. A table and chairs in the middle of the room were surrounded by a disorderly mess, linen and bags haphazardly strewn on the floor. Along the walls were the amenities, a large bucket of clean water, a wood-burning stove, a stuffed mattress raised off the ground, and cupboards and shelving. Augustus noted he had certainly made himself at home here, but he wasn¡¯t much of a home keeper. Then again, that¡¯s what servants were for, and Marcus, unfortunately, hadn¡¯t brought any with him.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. They sat at the table¡ªAugustus and Yander on one side, Marcus on the other. ¡°Let¡¯s start with what¡¯s most important,¡± Augustus said. ¡°What trade goods will we be taking back to Venocia?¡± Marcus seemed all too happy to answer that question, but he paused before he spoke. ¡°I am happy to answer that. I truly am. But, with all due respect to you and your family, you are here as an observer. This should be, first and foremost, a discussion between Captain Yander and me. I will treat you with the highest of courtesy and listen to your advice should you have any, I assure you. So, please refrain from getting ahead of yourself.¡± ¡°I understand. Still, answer the question,¡± said Augustus, making sure to have a forceful tone. A conflicted look appeared on Marcus¡¯ face. Then Marcus stood up and went over to the stove, starting the flame with his flint and tinder. ¡°Would you two like some tea? There¡¯s a new spice here you should try. The natives call it kisum. Although having it in a tea isn¡¯t the most appetizing way to experience it, it¡¯s the easiest way to see how distinctive the flavours are.¡± He took some of the clean water from the bucket, put it in a kettle, and placed it on the stovetop. ¡°That will take some time. I¡¯m not sure how well the kisum will sell. You two would be the better judge of that. Other than that, there is a gem here that we¡¯ve tried to mine, but without the proper tool, we¡¯ve made little progress, and finally, there are the pelts. The pelts are of high quality and will be distinct from those available in Venocia. We have accumulated a large stockpile. Enough that their sale should pay for the entire expedition.¡± Marcus smiled and looked directly into Augustus¡¯ eyes. ¡°So, I think you¡¯ll agree. The expedition has been a marvellous success.¡± Augustus breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if a weight had finally been lifted off his chest. It had been his biggest worry for over a month now that the entire expedition would be unprofitable. If that had happened, not only would Augustus have lost out on a significant portion of his personal wealth, but it would look unfavourably to the family. ¡°We brought tools to help with mining,¡± said Yander. ¡°I imagine taking the pelts down from the basecamp will take a few days. Perhaps we could take a few additional days to see how much we can unearth before we head back to Venocia.¡± Augustus nodded. ¡°A large profit would be better than a modest one. I¡¯d rather not rely on that spice for our profit margin.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t need the extra days. Master Augustus, I¡¯m sure you have matters to attend to back in Venocia, and I wouldn¡¯t want to keep you from them. I have plenty of hands for the labour if you have the tools. I can have the people here, the Aluheyan people, do the mining while your men transport the pelts.¡± ¡°Really? They are that cooperative?¡± Asked Augustus. ¡°Yes. They will need some training, but they are intelligent enough that they will learn it quickly.¡± Augustus looked over to Yander, who looked equally baffled. ¡°I think what Master Augustus meant was that we had heard there was some trouble between you and natives. Perhaps you could explain what happened here to cure us of our confusion.¡± ¡°Yes, and please start at the beginning.¡± He pondered what to say for a moment before starting. ¡°Your father, my dear lifelong friend, sent me to this island on short notice. I was told that the crew and ship were ready, and I had to fill in as captain because of some illness. I did my duty without a word of reluctance. That is how unshakable my loyalty¨C¡± ¡°By beginning, I meant to start when you arrived at the island.¡± ¡°My apologies. Once we arrived, we found the Aluheyan village without trouble. We set up camp near them and began the process of learning to communicate. The troubles began a few weeks after we arrived. They started dying of a plague and then things¡­ Well, things got quite heated. They blamed the plague on us and claimed it was our doing.¡± Marcus paused at the sound of the kettle rattling. He stood up and prepared the tea, filling three cups with a brown powder, poured the boiled water, then placed the cups in front of each of them. ¡°Here it is, the kisum tea,¡± said Marcus. ¡°A bit too hot for me to take the first sip, so I¡¯ll just continue. I thought of leaving, of saying damn to that mess, but I thought of my duty to your family. So, I set to work to resolve the issue in our favour. You see, if we left, we would have cemented in their minds that we were the ones to blame. They would have thought of us as some kind of demon in their minds, and then trade might have become impossible forever. I tried to convince them it wasn¡¯t our fault, of course. But at the time, my skill with their language was crude. They just got angry. Eventually, they put a spear to my neck and walked me out of the village.¡± Marcus finally took a large sip of the kisum tea, an obvious tactic to delay continuing. With the first sip taken, Augustus and Yander could taste the tea themselves. It was distinct. A strong flavour filled Augustus¡¯ nostrils. His eyes watered, and he coughed a few times. ¡°That is a powerful spice,¡± said Yander, having a similar reaction to Augustus. Marcus laughed. ¡°It takes some getting used to. My men have become fond of it. It¡¯s better to start with less, just seasoning some cuts of meat, but for our immediate purposes, I just wanted to illustrate its uniqueness.¡± ¡°It is definitely unique,¡± said Augustus with a smile. ¡°I know of no spice in Venocia like it. There is always a market for a distinct flavour. But, let¡¯s not lose focus. Please continue.¡± With reluctance, Marcus continued. ¡°Two paths lay before me. To give up and head back to Venocia with this mission being a failure, or to take action and turn adversity into an opportunity! I chose the latter, and my men got their bows ready. We killed a few from a distance, only enough for them to understand what we were capable of. If they had enough organization, I¡¯m sure they could have overwhelmed us easily through their sheer numbers. But many of them, mainly their young and their old, had died from the plague and even more still were bedridden. After that, my men and I went into the village and picked out a few dozen young boys to separate from the village. We worked to turn them to our side, and now they are loyal to us. They help us enforce our will on the natives and are the reason why the people of the village will work for us.¡± Augustus raised his eyebrow. ¡°Why are they loyal? If they were so quick to turn against their people, how can we possibly trust them?¡± ¡°I am a student of the way people think, of how their motivations guide them, and how they react to fear. The key was to separate them from the village. Once they were on their own, the balance of strength was clearly on our side. We starved them and then ordered them to attack a couple of the villagers. Their fear compelled them to obey. After that, we gave them food and a clean comfy place to sleep. I¡¯ve learned that people will never view themselves as evil. It¡¯s a conflict that a mind simply won¡¯t tolerate. We forced them to perform an act their culture viewed as corrupt. A vivid act they committed with their own hands. ¡°So, what do people do when they commit an immoral act? They create a perspective in which the act isn¡¯t immoral. ¡®I only stole because he deserved to be stolen from,¡¯ I¡¯ve heard used as a ridiculous defence. The boys were faced with the same dilemma. The boys had done an action they should have viewed as evil, but refusing to obey us in the future would lead to hardships and starvation. On the other hand, obeying would lead to comfort and food. It laid the groundwork for them to readily believe the truth we three here already know, that we were only here to help.¡± As Augustus listened, he steeled his face, wearing a mask to hide his emotions. ¡°To be honest with you, I find this all displeasing. It leaves a bitter taste on my tongue that does not pair well with this tea,¡± he said as he drained the last of the tea from his cup in a big gulp. ¡°You think what I did was immoral?¡± Marcus'' held a stoic expression that matched Augustus¡¯. ¡°Yes, I do. But I also recognize how removed I am from where you were when you made those decisions,¡± said Augustus. ¡°When I told those boys that we would help the village, I wasn¡¯t lying. They live in makeshift huts, have almost no medicines, and the structure of their society is horrendous. We have worked to civilize them and improve their quality of life. Before we came here, if there were a disagreement between one of those boys and one of the village elders, the elders would have free reign to dole out their punishment. They would have the boys beaten if they caught the attention of one of the young girls one of the elders liked. It was a sort of tyranny. There was no legal system before we arrived. Do you know what they would do? They''d build a raft and place the offender on it and send them off to sea, telling them they weren''t welcome anymore." Augustus let out an exasperated sigh. "Let''s not speak anymore of this." He stood up, causing the other two, of lower standing, to stand up in response. "Yes, you need not worry too much about the details. In a few days, you''ll be heading back to Venocia, a richer man than when you left, and all these complications will be but a memory. I will make sure when the next of your family''s vessels arrives, it will be even more profitable," said Marcus while gesturing his two guests through the tent¡¯s entrance and leading them out. They left Marcus. With Heratio in step, they walked towards where the crew were setting up camp. ¡°Yander, I am discomforted by what Marcus had to say.¡± Yander nodded. ¡°I feel the same.¡± ¡°I think the situation here is tenuous. I would like your men to stay armed and for you to set up a night''s watch,¡± said Augustus in almost a whisper. Marcus was nowhere near, but still, he didn¡¯t wish for it to reach the wrong ears. ¡°I shall have it done.¡± ¡°And when you send the men back with the pelts, have them bring back Castor and bring my chest filled with my legal documents. Castor will know what one that is... and the letters for the crew of The Killian. I¡¯ll definitely need those letters.¡± Now that Augustus had heard Marcus¡¯ words without the interference of Castor, he wanted the old man¡¯s advice. ¡°Certainly. I¡¯ll have the men finish setting up camp and distribute the mining equipment. The first trek back to The Scarlet Wind will be tomorrow morning.¡± Chapter 3 Yander left them to execute his command duties. The first of his tasks was directing the camp setup. At his orders, the first thing erected was Augustus¡¯ tent. It had lavish accommodations and was the largest at the base camp. It had a drawer for his clothes, a soft bed, a small kitchenette, and even a separate receiving room. On the floor, there were elegant rugs, and there were tapestries of woven wool hung for decorations. After touring his tent and seeing the men still busy at work, Augustus went for a walk. With Heratio by his side, he trailed down an obvious path further into the island, hoping to get a glimpse of the village. Before long, they were overwhelmed by a rotten stench. It was strong enough to taste, causing Augustus to gag. ¡°Look up there,¡± said Heratio, pointing. There hung three dead bodies. Nooses were around their necks and they were strung up on the thick branches. The flesh still rotting, a maggot fell and landed near Augustus¡¯ feet. The blood drained from Augustus¡¯ face, and he gave in to the unsteady feeling in his stomach. He vomited, nearly getting it on his own shoes. Heratio placed his hand against Augustus'' back and pushed him forward. ¡°Just hold your breath and keep walking,¡± said Heratio. ¡°Those bodies aren¡¯t two years old,¡± remarked Augustus once they were away from the horrible stench. ¡°I¡¯d say those corpses are a few weeks old if I had to guess.¡± After more walking, they came to the clearing surrounding the native village. They watched it at a distance, hiding within the tree line. He could Marcus and the men from the crew of The Killian distributing the tools among the native people. And a distance from the village, standing in a field of grass, were the children Augustus saw earlier. They held bows haphazardly as if barely trained, aiming them at the people of the village. They were standing guard in case anyone should act against Marcus. ¡°It¡¯s starting to get late,¡± said Heratio. ¡°We should head back before it gets dark.¡± They returned to camp just as the sun began to set. Augustus sat by the campfire, among the crew of The Scarlet Wind. He watched the crew talk and laugh, and he sat quietly with his thoughts weighing heaving in his mind. ¡°Heratio, will you do something for me?¡± ¡°It depends what it is,¡± said the smiling Heratio. ¡°I want you to take a few men and cut down the corpses out there. Bury them in the dirt.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t just leave your side. What if something were to happen while I am gone?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. I will stay awake, sitting right here, among the crew of The Scarlet Wind until your return. We needn¡¯t worry about them. I¡¯m confident they wouldn¡¯t raise a hand against me.¡± ¡°Very well.¡± Heratio bowed before leaving his side. He watched as the lit torches faded into the Jungle. They didn¡¯t return until deep into the night when the fire was tended only by a few stranglers yet to go to sleep. Heratio''s hands were covered in dirt, and his face worn with fatigue. ¡°Thank you,¡± Augustus said to Heratio and the men he recruited. ¡°Have your dinner first. Then we will go to sleep. It¡¯s been a long hard day, and I don¡¯t think tomorrow will be any easier.¡± When it was time to sleep, Augustus fell into bed exhausted. Although his body and mind were tired, sleep didn¡¯t come easily. Thoughts raced through his mind. He played out scenarios, making plans and anticipating what Marcus Dayton might do. In the morning, a portion of the crew of The Scarlet Wind and the crew of The Killian left the base camp carrying the bundles of pelts down the trail, back to the ships. Augustus and Heratio stayed at the camp. Augustus felt the ramifications of all the hiking he had done the previous day. His abdomen and legs felt sore. After all, he hadn¡¯t gotten much use out of his legs while they were sailing on the open ocean. They washed, changed into clean linens, ate their breakfast, then sat under the tarp by the firepit. A flash of rain came down while they waited, stopping just as quickly as it started. It didn¡¯t last long but was hard enough that the ground was mud by its end. At lunchtime, the hikers returned. The men weren¡¯t as encumbered as on the first trek to the base camp, as they needed to conserve their strength and energy so they could make two trips per day. All carried less cargo except for two individuals, one carrying twice the cargo one would expect with a bag strapped to his back and his front. The other carried no cargo but had Castor riding on his back. The sight of which had Heratio in a laughing fit. "Well, aren''t you an old-looking infant?!" Heratio managed to spit out in between his gasps of laughter. "Maybe master Augustus should ask for the same service on the way down!" "It was the rain. It came out of nowhere. I slipped and ended up hurting my ankle." Castor rolled his eyes. "This poor guy. You''re a better man than me. I would have left him." He patted the shoulder of the crewman of The Scarlet Wind carrying Castor. His laughter began to die down. Heratio led the kind soul willing to carry Castor into Augustus'' hut and helped lay him down in Augustus¡¯ bed. Another man followed and placed a chest strapped to his back on the ground next to Castor. ¡°Thank you two for carrying my things and my attendant,¡± said Augustus to the crewmen, palming them a couple of coins. Once they left, he turned to Castor. ¡°How is your ankle?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not terrible. It just hurts to walk on.¡± Augustus felt the ankle with his hand. He wasn¡¯t a surgeon, but he had read a book or three on the human body. Enough to be able to tell nothing was broken. ¡°Stay in bed for the day.¡± "Thank you. I swear the rain was so sudden¡­" Castor just looked defeated, trailing off in a mumble. ¡°Wait, how was your talk with Captain Marcus?¡± ¡°This expedition has been a success. A profit is all but guaranteed, and with it a title, as planned, to hang upon my name like a fine painting over a fireplace. Augustus the trade explorer, the one who opened the trade route to the Maysian isles,¡± said Augustus with a neutral tone, despite how joyful the words seemed. ¡°There¡¯s something else?¡± ¡°An opportunity has presented itself, and now, as I sit here, I contemplate seizing it.¡± Castor shook his head. ¡°I know that look, Augustus. You¡¯re about to take some unnecessary risk¨CYou¡¯ve grown too bold of late. Ever since your father started to acknowledge your worth.¡± ¡°Yes, what I plan might involve some risk. That just means I¡¯ll need to be careful. Lay all the groundwork to make sure things turn out the way I want. Risk is just the result of improper preparation. This is an unfortunate situation; I was hoping to have you help me take care of some things. But events such as this one can¡¯t be helped.¡± Augustus patted Castor on the shoulder and repeated his advice. ¡°Get some rest.¡± Next, he went through the chest, looking for the bundle of letters. He left the tent with them in hand and set about laying his groundwork. Every time he came across a member of The Killian¡¯s crew, he would sit and talk with them as he flipped through his bundle of letters to find the letters addressed to them. He made sure to talk to them, ask them questions about their families, about their friends in Venocia, and about what they would do with their pay when they got back home. The lower-class sailors were all eager to have the ear of a member of the Castellian family, hoping to make a friend that might help them to some loftier position. He made a conscious effort to keep a friendly demeanour. Something people often claimed he lacked. ¡°Do you know much about the people of this island?¡± Augustus asked after finishing his conversation with Gregor. He was ecstatic to receive his letter and particularly thankful towards Augustus. ¡°I know some.¡± ¡°I wanted to learn about their culture and governance. Do they have a king?¡± ¡°Not one that sits on a throne or anything. I think one of the old ones was the boss before we came around.¡± ¡°How many of them are there that you know of?¡± ¡°In this village, I¡¯d say about a hundred.¡± ¡°Just then, you said this village, right? Are there more villages?¡± ¡°Yeah, there¡¯s a few of them. At least five tribes, I believe. We don¡¯t know much about the other tribes or how many people are in them.¡± ¡°Interesting. Do you know the relations between the tribes? Do they communicate often?¡± ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know. In truth, you¡¯d be better off asking the captain. I¡¯m sure he¡¯d know.¡± ¡°I will. In any case, thank you for indulging my questions,¡± said Augustus with a friendly smile, putting an end to the conversation. Despite that statement, he made no effort to contact Marcus Dayton. Instead, he gave Marcus'' large hut a wide berth and timed his movements to avoid him. With all the men at work through the day, he sat with Heratio in the mostly empty camp. ¡°Heratio, what are your thoughts on Marcus Dayton? How do you think he would respond to a harsh reprimand?¡± ¡°You mean a reprimand out here? I don¡¯t think any man your father trusts would raise a hand in the open against a member of the Castellian family. Although, from other things I¡¯ve heard about Marcus, he might be an exception.¡± ¡°What things are you referring to?¡± ¡°Things better left unsaid. Nothing but rumours among the servants about Marcus and your brother. Things that if I repeated, and your father found out I said them, would become a problem for me.¡± ¡°I would like to hear it. I¡¯m in a delicate spot, so I need all the information I can get. Speak the rumours here, so far away from my father¡¯s ears. I promise I will not tell him what you¡¯ve said.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Master Augustus, but I refuse.¡± Heratio looked away from his master, refusing the eye contact that Augustus attempted. ¡°It seems both my attendants have disappointed me today.¡± Three nights passed, with work being done each day and the stockpile of pelts at the basecamp becoming smaller and smaller until there remained a small enough amount to be carried on a single trip. Augustus woke to his fifth day on the Maysian island. His mouth was dry and his bladder was full from the previous night¡¯s drinking to celebrate an end to a successful expedition. The captains, with Augustus observing, had decided on those that would stay on the island, managing the outpost and stockpiling resources for the next ship to arrive. Now that the route was a proven resource, the Castellian family would be sending ships in quick succession. The ones who knew they would have to stay drank heavily and roused the others to drink in sympathy. Even Augustus joined in, attempting to show his companionship and solidarity with the crew. Marcus, during the meeting, even volunteered himself to lead the outpost, even though he had already been away from Venocia for so long. He, too, drank, celebrating with the crew he would be parting with. After drinking and emptying his bladder, he spoke with Castor. ¡°How is your ankle feeling today? Will you be able to make the hike back down to the ships?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure I will be fine. I will just make sure to be more careful if it rains.¡± ¡°Did you prepare the letter, as I asked?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Castor, who, now recovered, walked over to the desk and produced a sealed envelope. ¡°And your magistrate robe is in that chest.¡± ¡°Heratio, we are going to gather everyone for a meeting during breakfast. Before that, I need you to hand this letter over to Yander. I would prefer it if he only had just enough time to read it before the meeting. You will tell him that he should read it immediately, then come back to stand guard for me. During this meeting, I want you to be particularly aware and ready to protect me.¡± Augustus handed Heratio the letter. Augustus changed into a particular set of clothes, different from his red and white ceremonial clothing and his cheaper hiking clothing. It was a simple white robe, a cheap colour of linen, but still, it was regal in its own way.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. As he waited in his tent for breakfast time to arrive, Augustus¡¯ thoughts were of his father. Remembering when they would play Stixis and Giovanni would lecture on strategy. One particular lesson came to mind. When you are losing, you must gamble to win, look for some opening to gain an advantage and put all your weight into it. But when you are winning, instead of going for the kill immediately, don¡¯t. Instead, search all avenues they could use to gain an advantage and dismantle each one. Slowly circle them until there is no escape. Only when the noose is tightened around their neck do you strike. Castor, who stood by the entrance watching the camp, said, ¡°They are gathering for breakfast. It¡¯s time.¡± Heratio left the tent to deliver the letter and returned a short time later. ¡°It looks as if everything is ready,¡± said Augustus with a big sigh. He felt his nervousness but breathed in and out rhythmically to calm himself. Everything would be fine, he told himself. ¡°Let¡¯s begin this.¡± The three left the tent together. Heratio had his hand perched on the hilt of his sword, eyes intensely aware of his surroundings. On the other side, Castor held a box filled with his scribe instruments. The men were gathered, all ready to eat in the makeshift outdoor cafeteria. To one side was a clearing that could be easily viewed from the tables and chairs. Augustus walked there and looked over the two crews. ¡°Good morning, everyone!¡± Augustus said with a voice that would carry. It was loud enough to get everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°There is something I would like to do before we say our final farewells. Marcus, Yander, please join me over here.¡± They both made their way over from the crowd, Marcus wearing a confused look. Augustus raised his right hand, causing silence to fall over the crowd. They all were paying close attention. ¡°Thank you for joining me,¡± continued Augustus. ¡°It has been five days since I arrived here with the crew of The Scarlet Wind. And now we are so close to departing, one last hike and then we are off, at least that is for most of us. As I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard, some will be staying to oversee the operations here. I know this is a terrible task, to be so separated from your families, doubly so, since some who are being asked to stay have already spent so long away from their families. But I assure you, all will be well compensated, and for every greater hardship, a greater reward awaits. I look now at your faces, and I can see most of you nodding. To see such unwavering trust in the Castellian family that we will pay our debts and reward our employees. I know is a result of a reputation we have built over generations. It warms my heart.¡± He looked over at Marcus. ¡°I would like to thank Marcus Dayton for volunteering to stay,¡± said Augustus. The crowd applauded but was cut off when Augustus raised his right hand again. ¡°I would like to, but I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± Marcus Dayton said angrily. ¡°Since I have arrived here, I have been dismayed and unsettled by Marcus Dayton¡¯s actions. Actions for which he must be held to account.¡± ¡°Silence!¡± Shouted Marcus. ¡°What game are you playing, boy? If there is something you wish to say to our crews, it should be said to its captains in private first.¡± ¡°This is no game. I am doing my duty, and with my authority, holding you responsible for what has transpired here.¡± ¡°Enough of this. You have no authority here! Do not mistake the respect we show you for authority over us. You may be from a great family, but you are here only as an observer. Unless you have a letter from your father, you do not have any right to give orders here. Do you have that letter?¡± Marcus regained his composure, but his eyes betrayed the fury he was holding back. ¡°Unfortunately, I do not have that letter,¡± said Augustus. ¡°Of course, you don¡¯t. I know your father. I¡¯ve eaten at his house, and I taught his son Master Giovannus. He would never put his trust in you in these matters over his trust in my demonstrated and proven skills.¡± The crowd was transfixed as if they were watching a theatre play. ¡°I don¡¯t have that letter¨C¡± Augustus began to speak but was sharply interrupted. ¡°Enough! I will hear no more of this.¡± Marcus shouted with a rousing inflection. ¡°My men and I will be insulted if this goes any further!¡± Augustus knew what he was doing. He was trying to speak directly to his crew and incite their loyalty. A loyalty that was built up over two years, in close quarters, away from home. It was a dangerous loyalty that Augustus had tried to neutralize over the past few days, using his infamy and charm, and most importantly, the promise of money. Augustus looked at Heratio and said, ¡°Silence him.¡± In a flash of gleaming light reflected off his blade, Heratio unsheathed his sabre and put it to Marcus¡¯ throat. "If you speak again, it''ll be your last words," whispered Heratio, just loud enough that Augustus could hear. Some members of The Killian''s crew stepped forward; others shouted. Augustus looked at their faces. They were angry and confused. That had been anticipated. Augustus tried his best to exude confidence from his posture and facial expression. Now, the man before The Killian''s crew couldn''t be the friendly young man they talked casually with earlier or even a representative of the Castellian family. He needed to become the unflinching, unwavering face of the laws of Venocia. The embodiment of duty and service to their city that his magistrate position represented. "Silence!" Shouted Augustus, piercing through the chattering of the crowd. He nodded to Yander to speak. "Indeed, Master Augustus is here as an observer, representing the Castellian family, and normally he would not have the authority to give orders. But he has other authority, not granted to him by being a Castellian but granted by being a magistrate of Venocia." "Thank you, Captain Yander DeMerio. You are exactly correct. As I was trying to say, before I was interrupted, I do have authority as a magistrate. I have the authority¡ªnay the duty, to enforce and adjudicate the laws passed by the Senate of Venocia. Laws that I now say, here before both crews, that you have broken." Marcus could hold his tongue no longer. "You a magistrate?! You are nothing but a boy! Enough of your childish game!" He spat with visible fury. Heratio smiled. His bluff had been called. He knew better than to kill a high-ranking vassal of the Castellians without Augustus'' express orders. ¡°Despite my youth, I am a magistrate. I assure you that. Look at the very robe I wear,¡± Augustus said while turning himself to put his clothing on display. A simple white robe, one that didn¡¯t presume wealth, meant not to differentiate its wearer from the common people of Venocia via status and family but still meant to signify the wearer¡¯s role. On the chest was the seal of the city of Venocia, stitched in blue thread. ¡°This is the robe of a magistrate, is it not? Why would I have this if I was not a magistrate? Do you think I put together twigs and stone and laboured night and day to craft this? Does anyone here think that?¡± ¡°I vouch for the validity of master Augustus¡¯ credentials. I have seen them myself,¡± Yander said with a queasy look on his face. The letter that Castor had made, and was given to Yander before this meeting, was stamped with the seal of the magistrates. A seal that should only be in the possession of a magistrate. ¡°Look at it this way. If I am not a magistrate, all you would have to do once you return to Venocia is petition the magistrates'' office and declare your testimony that I presented myself as a magistrate and used the authority of a magistrate. An investigation would ensue, and with the number of witnesses here, they would put me to death. So, you should all see, for me to lie here about this wouldn¡¯t make sense. I would not risk my life.¡± The crowd nodded, and Marcus¡¯ rage quelled. They were convinced. A man from the crowd spoke, ¡°And what law has our captain broken? What do you enforce?¡± ¡°Venocia has been blessed with over four hundred years of peace, but that was no accident, no luck of good fate. We have an army but, still, it can''t compare to those of our neighbours. They say the streets of Venocia overflow with riches, although that is an exaggeration to be sure. We do have wealth that others covet. Why has our great city not burned, our coffers emptied, and our women not raped in the streets? If it would be so easy, why has no one done so? And how did we get those riches? Not by military conquest. Instead, it was through trade and that relies on trust and mutual benefit. Thus, Venocia has passed laws limiting aggressive acts against foreign powers. Venocia must be particularly careful not to give any nation casus belli because, we know with certainty, they would act on it.¡± said Augustus to the crowd. He then turned to Marcus. ¡°Will you deny in front of this crowd, some of which were present at the incident, that you attacked and killed multiple of the Aluheyan people? Will you deny that you also recruited some of them to help you oppress the Aluheyan people? Will you deny that you forced the Aluheyan people to labour for you under threat of violence? You may speak now.¡± ¡°They attacked me first! And they wouldn¡¯t constitute a foreign power! We could crush them if we want to--¡± Augustus lifted his palm over Marcus'' face to indicate silence. ¡°The law is the law! It makes no exception for them attacking you first. Your duty was to retreat. You chose your greed over your duty to Venocia. The Aluheyan people, regardless of your perception of them, meet the definition of a foreign power. Whether or not they could end up a threat to Venocia directly is irrelevant to the law as it is written.¡± Augustus looked at the crowd to speak directly to them. ¡°If I ignored this, once word got out of what transpired here, and it certainly would get out, the Castellian¡¯s enemies in the Senate would use this incident to make my family pay a hefty fine. My father would view all of you as the source of that fine. He would not only withhold any bonus pay, but he would also withhold any other payments you were due for failure to execute the mission responsibly. As would be within his rights.¡± The crowd became eerily quiet. To the crew of The Killian, the expedition represented over two years of their lives, a hefty investment that was now at risk of being a total loss. Augustus looked at them, making a conscious decision to have eye contact with one after the other in turn. He needed to make an impression on these men. Then he continued, ¡°But do not worry, for your bonus pay is not yet forfeited. In fact, you are quite fortunate. As a magistrate, I can punish the perpetrator and, in doing so, also declare that the responsibility solely rests with the person who was punished. Although a higher magistrate could, in theory, overturn my ruling and dole out more punishments to those involved, it would be much, much less likely than if no punishment was even given out. I can pretty much guarantee that, as long as no one petitions that the matter be reinvestigated, the higher magistrates will consider the matter closed. So, if this trial proceeds and is completed, you can rest assured that you will have your pay when you return, in full.¡± ¡°Master Augustus,¡± said Castor, tapping on Augustus¡¯ shoulder. ¡°I believe it is now time for Marcus to be allowed to defend himself.¡± Augustus nodded. ¡°Marcus Dayton, I will now allow you to defend yourself. You may speak.¡± ¡°I can see what you are doing,¡± he said not to Augustus but to the crowd. ¡°You''re not so subtle threat that if they don¡¯t do what you say, they will be punished. Your manipulations are as obvious as your lack of sense. Listen to me, men, if something were to happen to me, do not think Giovanni, my friend and Augustus¡¯ father, would be so kind to those who allowed it to happen. I have broken bread with Master Giovanni on many occasions. Why? Because I have made him countless coins. I opened the trade route to the north, a significant source of income for the Castellian family. I am the tutor of Giovannus, his beloved son, his favoured son, and the future of the Castellian family. This boy here before you is nothing, the third son, the weak one.¡± ¡°Ah yes, you have been gone for so long you didn¡¯t know. You didn¡¯t know that I was a magistrate, and you didn¡¯t know that my father had a falling out with Giovannus. He is no longer the presumed heir. The presumed heir is, in fact, me.¡± Marcus looked around at the crowd and saw the crew of The Scarlet Wind nodding, confirming Augustus¡¯ words. He dropped his head in defeat. Yander spoke the crushing blow. ¡°It is common knowledge in Venocia. Two years ago, Giovannus and his father had a falling out. It wasn¡¯t too long after you left on this expedition, as a matter of fact. Augustus is now the favoured choice for head of the family and presumed heir.¡± Augustus looked out at the crowd, now confident in his victory. The crew of The Killian had the same defeated look as Marcus. Marcus looked, and with some hesitancy, he tried to speak but was cut off by Augustus. ¡°¨CNothing you have said has any legal merit. Will anyone in the audience speak on his behalf?¡± Marcus looked out at the crowd in desperation, but no one spoke up. Augustus could see how crushed Marcus felt as if a dagger was plunged into his heart and twisted. His crew had abandoned him. ¡°Then we are done here. I sentence you to be hanged until dead.¡± Marcus jerked and shouted at those last words like a wild animal desperate to survive, but Heratio quickly kneed him in the groin from behind. Marcus fell to the ground, and Heratio and Yander got on top of him. They beat him while he continued to struggle. Eventually, he just stopped trying. His breaths were deep and depleted. They tied him with his arms behind his back. Augustus watched the crowd. No one made any moves, and there were no shouts of protest. He pointed out a random group of souls from The Scarlet Wind¡¯s crew in the crowd. ¡°Prepare the noose. We will hang him immediately!¡± They went straight to work getting the rope ready. The audience parted as Heratio and Yander dragged Marcus through them, his legs kicking up a dust cloud in resistance. The two of them sat him against a tree, making sure to hit him whenever he got too feisty, as the men from the crowd swung the rope over a large branch and tied it off on a solid root peeking up out of the dirt. Heratio placed the noose around Marcus¡¯ neck. ¡°Any last words?¡± Heratio asked. ¡°I don¡¯t want to die!¡± Marcus said. Tears ran down his bloodied face. ¡°Do it,¡± Augustus said in his loud authoritative voice. Heratio and Yander tightened the noose then went over to help heave the rope. Up he went into the air, his legs flailing wildly. The men tied off the slack. It was done, soon it would be over. Augustus had never seen someone die before but, even as the men in the crowd had to look away in disgust, Augustus kept his eyes open and locked on Marcus. Augustus knew he had to have the resolve to watch what he had ordered, staring with confidence. What surprised him was how long it took. Marcus could still take incredibly shallow breaths. Still, his face slowly turned purple and his wild legs moved less and less. The whole time Marcus was looking straight at Augustus. His eyes could almost communicate telepathically crying out for help. Everyone was silent as a chill crept over the onlookers, despite the heat. Yander stepped forward. "I''ll now list off those who will be staying, although I believe you all already know who you are." First was Juan, the first mate of The Killian. He would be in charge instead of Marcus this time. One by one, they came forward, none surprised as at some point either Yander or Marcus had taken them aside and told them they had to stay. Augustus then addressed them. ¡°To those who stay. You must work to correct Marcus¡¯ mistakes. Free the children to go back to the village and give them gifts, or do whatever you deem necessary to repair the divide between Venocia and their society. When we reach Venocia, I will instruct my father to send another ship immediately, and when they arrive, if we are on peaceful terms with the natives, we will abandon this basecamp, and all of you will come home. I thank all of you for your loyal service. You have my guarantee you will be well compensated for your service.¡± After that, the group split in two, the smaller group that stayed just sat there in a daze as everyone else headed down the trail to the two ships. During the hike, Augustus, Castor, and Heratio separated themselves from the main group to converse. All speaking in hushed tones as they continued moving forward. ¡°Although I still think you took on more risk than was necessary, I must say, Master Augustus, that was amazingly well done,¡± said Castor gleefully. ¡°Yes, well done. Though I wish you would have just told me to slit his throat rather than have him hanged. My hand will be bruised up in the morning,¡± said Heratio, opening and closing his fist and wincing at the pain it caused. ¡°Thank you and sorry, Heratio. Hanging was more powerful for what I needed. By giving them ample time to act and incentivizing them against it, I made them complicit. If we slit his throat, that could build resentment that would boil over into mutiny. I needed to minimize that possibility. In order to not view themselves negatively, they are forced to see it as Marcus being the one who betrayed them.¡± ¡°I did notice that you forgot to mention that they had the option of petitioning the magistrate¡¯s office to overturn the ruling, which could result in you being the one put to death. After all, such are the risks of carrying out a death penalty on a foreign shore where there are no checks on a magistrate¡¯s power,¡± Castor added. ¡°I guess I did forget to mention that I would be killed if the ruling was overturned. But I do remember mentioning that the ruling could be overturned.¡± Augustus nodded. ¡°However, you only put it in the context that if the ruling were overturned, the punishment could be revised to include all those here as responsible. That would only motivate them not to file a petition.¡± Castor smiled proudly at his student. ¡°I guess you¡¯re right.¡± ¡°A more tempered ruling, and safer for you, would have been to take him alive as a prisoner back to Venocia. Why didn¡¯t you? He didn¡¯t really have a legal defence,¡± Castor said inquisitively. ¡°Why leave an ally of Giovannus alive when I could leave him dead?¡± Augustus said. When they reached the ships, Augustus found Yander and made a request. ¡°On the way home, I¡¯ve heard there¡¯s a place to capture giant turtles that are supposed to be quite delicious. How about we stop and try to capture a couple?¡± Chapter 4 The Scarlet Wind again caught sight of the shore. They stopped at ports along the way, trading some pelts whenever both Yander and Augustus felt the price was fair. Despite his best effort, the turtles had been quickly eaten once everyone realized how delicious they were. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. The Scarlet Wind. We¡¯ve passed enough time with this. I¡¯m sure Count Jorland will be ready for our arrival.¡± The Scarlet Wind crew came along as well since their labour would be needed to unload the wagon at the destination. One of the crew pulled on the reins, and the horse pulling the wagon started forward along the cobblestone road that quickly turned into a well-dug dirt road, making for a bumpy ride. The Scarlet Wind in the middle of the ocean.