Jaram: The Final Journey

By Graeme Bourke

The Huntsman Series

The Orphan and the Shadow Walker

The Awakening

The Orphan and the Shadow Walker

Pathway to the Truth

JARAM

The Final Journey

Published By

Graeme Bourke on Smashwords

Copyright 2014 Graeme Bourke

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JARAM

The Final Journey

What do you want, stranger?

"Are you Captain Jones of the brig Serpentine?"

The captain looked up from his seat at the table, at the tall stranger with the long dark, wavy hair, full, but neatly trimmed beard and piercing blue eyes. He wore dull brown clothing. His cape was ragged, well worn and he looked like a pauper. The captain’s eyes detected the fine sword at the man’s side and the dagger at his belt. They were not the weapons of a pauper.

I hear you’re going to Jaram. I would like to take passage on your ship.

I’ve no room for any more passengers, growled the captain in a deep voice beneath his grey-streaked beard.

I’m willing to work and I can use a sword.

The stranger noticed the captain’s eyes shift to his right; his eyebrows raised slightly as if giving a sign.

So, you can use a sword, drawled the captain, his eyes returning to the stranger, his face showing nothing of his intent.

The stranger sensed the movement behind him. He reached for his sword, unsheathing it with lightning speed as he turned. The first grubby seaman thrust at him with his sword. The stranger parried the thrust and at the same time twirled the blade of his opponent’s sword forcing it from his hands. The sword sailed through the air. Everyone in the smoked-filled inn watched the blade as it sailed through the air and landed between the legs of a woman of the night, dressed in gaudy clothes, who was standing at the bar. The point of the sword embedded itself in the wooden floor between her legs. The crowd in the inn had suddenly gone quiet.

A second sailor tried to sweep at the legs of the stranger, to wound him and maybe cripple him. The stranger brought his sword down on the sailor’s blade so hard that it snapped in half. He turned his attention to the third sailor and had his sword at the man’s throat before he even had time to make a strike.

Enough! yelled the captain.

The stranger lowered his sword and turned to face the captain. A dull murmur swept through the crowd and then it slowly settled into its old rhythm of swearing, yelling and drinking.

You have passed the test. Take a seat, stranger.

The stranger sheathed his sword and sat down in the flimsy wooden chair.

What would have happened if I’d failed the test? asked the stranger.

You would have been dead, said the captain with a cheery smile. Bring the man a drink, he yelled across to the barman.

The sailor who had lost his sword walked over to the bar and retrieved his sword from between the woman’s legs. At the same time he let his hand wander up her thigh and press against her crotch through the dress. The blond-haired woman slapped him across the face. The sailor let out a bawdy laugh and returned to his seat.

What’s your name? enquired the captain as the barman, wearing a leather apron sat a pint of ale before the stranger in a wooden mug.

Darcy, replied the stranger.

You have no second name?

I have, but it is of no relevance here.

For some reason I like you, Darcy. It has been a long time since I’ve seen someone wield a sword as you did just then. You have been trained well. Here’s to your health, he said raising his mug.

To your health as well, Captain, replied Darcy.

They both drank deeply.

Makes a good ale, our barman, he said, putting his mug down on the table.

Darcy took the time to have a good look at the captain before he replied. He surmised that Captain Jones was probably in his mid fifties. He was rounded but not fat and his equally round face had a ruddy complexion, whether that was natural or just from the heat of the stuffy room and too much drink he couldn’t be sure. His brown eyes had a relaxed look about them. It was the sort of look that a man of many years experience in dealing with men, in dealing with the vagaries of the sea would have. He wore a blue three-quarter coat. Darcy had noted that all the sea captains in the port of Bacca wore this coat. He surmised that it was some sort of unofficial uniform that signified their rank. From his observations so far, it seemed that these men were given much respect. He also noticed that the captain sat alone.

I’ve never tasted beer like this, replied Darcy.

It’s a new recipe from across the seas, he said, and then changed the subject. So, you are a traveller?

There is not much on this continent that I haven’t seen.

I presume you fought in the war?

You presume right, Captain.

It’s good that it’s all over, he said lifting his mug and draining it. He called out to the barman for another round.

I suppose it would be no good asking why you want to go to Jaram?

It is personal, Captain.

I somehow thought so.

The bald-headed, thin-faced barman waited while Darcy drained the last of his mug. He took the two empty mugs to be refilled.

When Darcy had arrived at the inn he found the captain rather easily. Look for the man sitting alone at a table, a big rounded man, that will be him, he had been told.

You sit alone, Captain.

So, would you if you had to put up with that lot for months at sea, he said nodding his head in the direction of a group of sailors. No one sits at the captain’s table without being invited.

Then I must consider this some sort of honour.

Don’t lay it on too thick, Darcy, you are not aboard yet. I know that you can fight, what else can you do?

I can read and write. I can also do figures.

You can work as a clerk?

Yes.

Darcy, I think you might be heaven sent. These merchants who sell me goods for trade cheat me all the time. When I land with the goods, I find that I often have inferior product, or it is under weight. I am nearly always short changed in one form or another. There is little I can to do about it but wear the costs. They band together like robbers these merchants.

That will change. They have lived under the protection of the old regime, paying the former king handsomely so they could monopolise the trade, those days will soon be over.

But in the mean time I have to load a cargo, of timber, grain and iron ore and I expect to be cheated. I need someone who knows facts and figures who can catch them out, who can wield a sword and not be afraid to use it.

Am I aboard yet?

Of course, you bloody well are, and if you save me money, I will give you a half of what I save. Barman! Where are those bloody drinks?

The barman scurried across the crowded floor with their drinks and sat them down before them.

Here’s to a profitable voyage, said the captain, lifting his mug in the air. He took a swig of his beer. Tell me what you know of the new regime, we have heard nothing here, although there are rumours aplenty.

It seems that all the individual provinces will be run by a council elected by the people. These councils will set the laws for the whole of Islabad, everyone will be treated the same, replied Darcy.

I find that hard to believe, grunted the captain.

There will be no more kings and queens, the country will be run by the people. The army of liberation is moving south, stopping at each city, each town and setting up civilian structures for law and order. They are also holding court, hanging the out-right murderers and imprisoning those who have robbed and cheated. Being the southern most city, Bacca will be the last place to feel the wrath of the new regime.

So, they are coming?

Bacca may have a week at the most before the soldiers turn up.

Many are trying to flee. This place is a cesspit of thieves and murderers who did the king’s bidding.

You are helping some of these thieves and robbers to escape?

I have an opportunity to make some good money, it is purely business you understand.

I would be very careful about who you are taking. The new regime might not look on your business, as you put it, in an agreeable manner. Especially if some of those they are looking for escape on your ship.

It’s a risk I am prepared to take.

* * *

In that very same inn, on the first floor where the rooms were, stood Elijah staring out the window into the darkness finding it hard to believe that he was back in his home town. He had mixed feelings, feelings of anger, hate, revenge and a yen to learn of his family’s fate after he had fled for his life. They had been taken while he was away from their house. Friends had warned him, had stopped him from going back and prevented him from searching for his family. They had promised to do what they could for them as it would have been certain death for him stay. Elijah had spoken out against the tyranny of the king. A brave but foolish move, he conceded now. He should have thought more about his family, about the repercussions that his utterings would create, although he had trusted his own family, his own brother.

What are you going to do, Elijah? asked Mica as she stood beside him.

I want to find out what happened to my family.

You have had no word all these years?

No, they simply disappeared.

Would your brother know anything?

I’m sure he would know something.

Then we should pay him a visit.

Yes, I suppose we should, said Elijah, turning his eyes back into the room where Yost lay sleeping on the bunk oblivious to anything that was going on.

He was glad that he would have Yost and Mica to back him up. Here in the far extremities of Lothia the new rulers had not yet asserted their influence. To escape from Bacca meant finding passage on one of the few ships leaving the port. These were few and far between and those that were available for passage were charging a small fortune.

Why don’t you get some sleep, Elijah, tomorrow we have much to do.

A drab-grey dawn was stretching across a mustard horizon when Darcy made his way to the wharves with his haversack slung over his shoulder. His leather boots sounded loud on the smooth well-worn wooden deck of the pier. Through the encroaching twilight he could see the maze of spidery ropes and masts of the ships lined up along the pier. Further along the harbour he could see the half-built ships of the former king’s fleet, his dream would never be realised.

Already he could see movement on the ships. Sailors were climbing the masts, greasing the ropes, swabbing the decks and completing their tasks before the incessant heat of the day’s burning sun reached them.

He knew that some would be sailing after high tide a bit before noon. He had seen them leave the harbour on previous days. Ringed by hills the port was deep and sheltered, but in being so it became a burning cauldron in the summer with very little wind reaching its centre to lower the temperatures. To reach any wind the boats were towed by a team of rowers in two boats to reach the headland. The outgoing tide assisted them. Once free from the shelter of the hills the ocean breezes soon filled the sails and enabled the ships to see to their course.

The Serpentine lay about halfway along the pier. It had three high masts. Darcy had never been aboard a ship before, had never sailed the seas. He had heard of sea sickness, of the rough and tumbling waves, the ferocious winds and the dangers there were to be had by venturing forth on the great oceans of the world. For the first time in his life he felt a small flutter of fear as he stepped onto the gangplank of the ship. It had no railing or rope though it was wide enough for two men.

So, the captain signed you on then?

The sailor who confronted him was the first man he had unarmed the night before at the inn. He wore baggy-black trousers, well-worn leather boots and a striped shirt of blue with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows. His long, dark hair was tied back in a ponytail and he wore gold ear rings. His face was leathery, burnt brown by years of sun. His brown eyes stared at Darcy as he put out his hand.

Welcome aboard, my name is Hook.

Darcy shook Hook’s hand feeling his vice like grip.

Where do I stow my gear?

Follow me, replied Hook.

Hook led him through a small doorway and down some steep steps that led to another deck. It was here he saw the benches where there sat a dozen or so sailors around a cooking stove sitting on some red bricks. Behind the stove was a stout man with a bald head and rounded eyes. The smell of frying bacon wafted through the air.

That’s chef Alby Dunbar, said Hook raising his eyebrows and rolling his eyes as they walked past. He used to be a chef in one of the king’s palaces, he reminds us of it all the time.

The eyes of some of the sailors and the chef followed them.

Obviously he lost the king’s favour.

Bedded one of the young kitchen maids, he did. She was one of the king’s favourites at the time and he was serving her as well. Alby was lucky to escape with his head. The captain took him in and hid him from the soldiers.

Your captain doesn’t mind taking a risk.

He was only thinking of himself, a good chef is hard to find and even harder to keep aboard ship.

Hook showed him where to stow his gear, it was just a tiny alcove, a vertical section partitioned off against the hull of the ship. Three bunks were set against the side of the ship. There was a complete wall of these tiny alcoves.

I’m afraid the captain is keeping all the best cabins free. It’s too good an opportunity to miss. The more money the ship makes the more we all share, but at least you have this to yourself.

How many men have you aboard? enquired Darcy as he squeezed his bag into the inadequate space.

We are a bit light on at the moment that is why you will have this to yourself. We normally carry around sixty men but we only have thirty-eight, thirty-nine counting you. We will need all the extra hands we can muster if we are set on by pirates.

You have had trouble with them before?

It is more so now because they have a sniff of riches. They know that people from the old kingdom are fleeing and taking with them their gold and silver. Several ships have been taken already. The former king’s wife and children fled from here a month ago and nothing has been heard of them since.

It is unfortunate, but there are always casualties in war. Strange isn’t it. Some of these people you will be taking away would not have given you the time of day before and now they are clamouring to leave with your help. And to make matters worse you will probably have to protect them from the pirates.

Aye, that is true, but they will pay for it.

I’m to oversee the loading of the cargo and deal with the merchants. It seems they have been cheating the captain.

Hook spat onto the floor. They cheat everyone, those bastards.

Well, that is about to change.

To see them get their come-uppance would gladden my heart, said Hook with a toothy grin. Have you had breakfast?

No, replied Darcy as the delicious odour of bacon wafted through the air.

Hook turned and led him back into where the chef was dishing up strands of well-cooked bacon to the men as they produced their plates. The chef looked up.

Chef, we have a new crew member, Darcy is his name, and he would like to have some of your delightful bacon.

Grab a plate, sir, and put yourself in line. I have to inform you that I was previously a chef to the king and will hear no mutterings about the food. These toads don’t appreciate my cooking, they grumble all the time. They don’t understand the finery of good cooking. Too bloody rough they are.

I’m to be the new clerk; maybe we can get together later and buy us some delicate food that will excite the palate.

You are a man after my own heart, sir, maybe between us we might be able civilise this motley lot.

A low murmur rippled through the men, though none were prepared to openly say anything as the big round eyes of the chef glared at them.

Chef Alby piled a more than adequate serve of bacon onto Darcy’s plate and a couple of slices of freshly baked bread. Hook followed him and once he was served they found a space at the tables. Darcy was introduced to each of the men sitting there, although he would never remember all their names.

See what I told you about his reference to the king, said Hook in a whisper.

Maybe he feels stifled here, unable to express his talents.

Well, that may be so, the captain keeps a tight purse on the ship and luxuries are few and far between, although we are kept far better than others. The captain is strict but fair.

Where is the rest of the crew? asked Darcy, seeing only eight or nine men at the tables.

Most are still on liberty. They will trickle in this morning, some no doubt worse for wear. We will be opening up the decks to the holds as some of the cargo is due this morning.

Darcy saw the chef leaving with a plate of bacon and some bread heading towards the rear of the ship.

That’s the captain’s breakfast, said Hook. We will give him time to finish then I’ll take you to see him.

Darcy enjoyed the bacon and the fresh bread. They washed it down with two cups of hot tea with a dash of sugar, which surprised him as sugar was expensive and hard to get here in Islabad.

The chef returned scowling. The captain is not in a good mood, he expected most of the crew to be back on board.

It’s a problem we have every time we are in port, said Hook, shrugging his shoulders. Even now they will probably be skulking about and trying to sneak aboard. The first mate, Bouncer is on duty and they won’t have a chance in hell of getting past him. Some he will have tossed over the side to help sober up, and others will be given the worst jobs. Some of the excuses they come up with are legendary.

Hook stood up, gathered the empty pewter plates and put them in the tub full of hot water beside the stove. Come, I will take you to the captain.

They walked to the end of the lower deck, down some narrow stairs, past some tiny cabins and then on to the captain’s cabin. Hook knocked on the door.

Come in, replied the captain in a gruff voice.

Hook led the way. Your new recruit is here, sir.

Ah, Darcy, take a seat. That will be all, Hook.

Aye, aye, sir.

The captain’s cabin was roomy compared to the other cabins Darcy had seen. It was as wide as the ship and the rear windows beamed with light from the morning sun that was appearing over the horizon. The wide desk that the captain was sitting at was cluttered with charts and paperwork. He shuffled through some of the papers, found a red -leather bound book and tossed it across to Darcy as he sat down in a creaky, brown leather chair that he found rather comfortable. It was then that Darcy heard a yell from above and then a splash followed by a chorus of haughty laughter.

The captain raised his eyes and scowled somewhat. They never bloody learn. It’s the same every time we are in port.

At least they come back, Captain.

Mostly, he replied. We always lose a few for various reasons.

Darcy opened the ledger and to his surprise found it rather easy to follow. You have been keeping this ledger?

No, I had a young man who was good with figures but he had a weakness for the ladies, he was caught bedding one of the local merchant’s wives in Jaram and lost his head.

That was indeed unfortunate.

There was another yelp and a splash, they both ignored the sounds.

I’m expecting a shipment of iron ore this morning. It is to go into the hold first as ballast. The procedure is that we pay the merchant on his arrival and then we load the ore into the hold. It is always short, but the merchants will not let us load unless we pay first. I have put up with this even though it reduces my profits. This time however, we will be taking on paying passengers, how many I’m not sure as I am still negotiating with some of them over the price. The advantage I have this time is that these passengers will pay for the voyage. I really don’t have to take any cargo on this trip. You understand my meaning, Darcy?

All too well, Captain.

Later we will find something else for you to do. In the mean time you just concentrate on getting me the best deal you can from the merchants. The rest of the cargo is to be loaded tomorrow and we will sail the following day.

How long will it take us to reach Jaram?

Five weeks if all goes well. Normally, I would allow you one of the passenger cabins but they will be needed, you will have to sleep in the crew’s quarters. I presume Hook has shown you where they are.

Yes, he has.

You may use this desk. All the writing materials you will require are here. Now, I had better see to this scurvy lot above.

Darcy followed the captain up onto the deck with the ledger held firmly in his hand. The crew was gathered on the lower deck. The captain proceeded onto the upper deck where he could look down upon them. Darcy stayed with the crew but to one side. Also, on the upper deck was huge bald-headed man with tattoos over his face and bulging muscles that rippled in the bright morning sun. He wore a leather vest unbuttoned at the front and a huge curved sword at his side. His arms were crossed and he wore a contemptuous expression. This had to be Bouncer. Either side of him were two more men almost as big as Bouncer, they also wore vests which displayed their well muscled bodies.

Right you wasters, roared the captain. There’ll be no more liberty.

A murmur rippled through the men.

Silence, you scumbags, it is of your own doing. I see that some of you have already paid the price of your late arrival, he said glaring down at group of men with water still dripping from their clothes.

The first mate will have more in store for you transgressors.

Darcy was sure he saw a faint smile on the first mate’s face.

They’re all yours, Bouncer.

Aye, aye, sir."

Bouncer began issuing orders. Some of the men leapt for the rigging, others began swabbing the deck, while a third lot began removing the covers to the holds. It was a hive of activity. The captain strolled about the upper deck taking in the sun and watching his men from beneath his wide-brimmed hat. Bouncer’s two companions had moved to the gangway and were obviously guarding the access both to and from the ship.

It was then that Darcy saw three men walking toward the ship along the pier. He removed himself to the forward part of the ship where the anchors were. He sat down and flicked through the pages of the ledger, all the time keeping his eye on the trio as they approached the ship.

Mica had asked at the inn about finding passage to Jaram and was told she would be very lucky to find any room on the ships as all the cabins would be taken. So far, she had tried three ships, argued with three captains, even threatened to seize their ships in the name of the new regime. All claimed to be full and had no more room for passengers and they had laughed at her threats. She wished now that she had brought more men with her, or even waited and rode into the city with the army. She would have had her ship. But then there probably wouldn’t have been any left in the harbour as it seemed all the rats were deserting the sinking ship.

She strode up to the gangplank where it rested on the wharf, two fearsome looking men with tattooed arms crossed in front of them blocked her way. She brushed the hood of the rustic cape off so that they could see that she was a woman. It was time to use her charm. She smiled at them.

Well, I must declare, you are two fine looking men. I bet you could please a woman.

If’n we had a mind to we could, but I’m afraid if we left our post to take that pleasure the captain would cut off our sources of such pleasure, said the man on her right with a cheesy grin.

This captain of yours sounds like a man to be admired.

Captain Jeremiah Jones with his hands behind his back peered down at the group at the gangplank from the aft deck. He was very surprised to see the girl, especially one so pretty, and armed as well. She had with her an older man wearing the rural clothes of a traveller, the other was a young man, broad of shoulder and walking with a slight limp. He was dressed simply and was also armed.

Might I speak with your Captain?

One of the guards turned his head towards the captain. The lady wishes to speak with you, sir.

I can hear her from here.

You have a fine looking vessel, Captain.

It is the best in the harbour for sure, and I keep it so.

They told me at the inn that you are the most amiable Captain, a man who has the best sailing record of all the captains and also that you are not a man to be trifled with.

They said that, did they?

That they did, sir.

Bunch of bloody liars, they will say anything to get custom.

Something about this young woman puzzled him, something that would not quite come to him. He stared down at her, took in the shape of the sumptuous figure that was still visible even though she wore men’s clothing, the long-dark hair and the bronzed skin. That was it! He had seen plenty of women like her before in Jaram, curse the place, he always lost crew when he went to Jaram. They couldn’t resist the charms of the beautiful women and deserted all the time. Now he was short of experienced crew. With the way things were in Bacca he could fill the ship twice over with willing hands, but of experienced crew there were none to be had. His thoughts were interrupted as the young woman spoke again.

"I could not help but notice that all your compatriots are