Someone Else's Kingdom, BOOK I - Chapter 54

The second part of Maleeva's journey north was a little choppy. The northern winds rocking the boat, the roaring waves continually washing the deck. The cold was biting, but she didn't feel it, and the traffic in the waters, both by day and by night, was enough to keep her lively eyes occupied. The opportunity to view the Western Island ships operating in the region - the region known colloquially as the 'Free Sea' - not going to waste. In point of fact, she was much more impressed by the Western Isle sea vessels than she was by their windy little wood-built settlements, which were dotted along the coastline.

Before reaching Brynnyfirdia she changed her attire. Donning a practical, but stylish black blouse and trouser suit. With long leather boots, a large fur coat - fitting for the climate - and a matching grey fur hat, which she wore tightly around her hair and head. Finally stepping onto the green terra firma she braced herself against the blustery wind, then quickly got down to business.

Colm, meeting her for the first time as she stepped from the boat, felt an instinctive apprehension, but his manner was polite. Whilst the rest of the assembled cast of Brynnyfirdian inhabitants, including Eartaria, looked on intrigued. Their ingrained distrust of mainland dignitaries, especially conniving ambassadors, offset by the impact of her obvious beauty.

"Welcome to Pox Island," greeted Colm with a jesting smile.

"May I see the prince?" Maleeva curtly replied, ignoring the humour, and eager to get to the matter at hand.

Colm, doubly amused by the dour response, motioned for Prince Estorie to be brought forward. The young prince didn't recognise Maleeva, though he instantly understood who she was. In contrast, Maleeva instantly recognised the prince. His father's square looks being unmistakable.

"Are you being looked after well?"

"Yes, fairly."

"Were any more of the king's men taken?" she then asked sternly, looking to Colm, as they entered the large wooden hall that stood at the centre of the village. Colm nodded in the direction of Coulema Galina, who was standing calmly, but still shackled, by the open fire. She exchanged a respectful glance, then pressed on.

"We have an offer. If you return the prince ..and give us the secret of this black powder, we'll make peace ..we'll also recognise the independence of your kingdom."

A couple of the Brynnyfirdian men in the room laughed out loud as she said this, including Eartaria. Maleeva stood firm and unmoved.

"That isn't much of a deal," commented Colm.

"How so?" came the po-faced response, "We won't destroy you. You will get peace and independence. Sovereignty over all three islands of the Western Isles. Then, finally, it will mean that the black powder stays out of the hands of the mainland kingdoms. Something that's very much in both our interests."

The offer sounded a little less insulting after this short explanation, but still, it didn't quite cut the mustard. The haughty tone of Maleeva only further entrenching the initial feeling.

"What if we just return the boy?" inquired Colm.

"Then we will still need to develop the black powder ..and the three mainland kingdoms will continue to be enlisted to help do that."

Maleeva then paced over to the fire and warmed her hands. The first visible sign of weakness she'd shown since her long journey had started.

"We do not have it in our grasp quite yet," she uttered, "But we have people from across the kingdoms working on it as we speak. Night and day. Hour by hour. It may take time, but sooner or later we'll get there. After all, we've watched you use it. Then, at that point, it will be very bad for you. Again, the King of Tunid would prefer that it remained out of the hands of the mainland kingdoms. So an accommodation would be welcome, but with no agreement in place we'll have to pursue the current path."

"But how do we know you won't just arm the three kingdoms to destroy us the minute we give you the secret," queried Eartaria, with an aggressive undertone.

"It's not in our interest ..why would we want four kingdoms to have such power instead of just one? They could band together to push out our own interest. Destroy ourselves even. Just think about it. What I'm offering is a new order of the world. Our states, the island states, holding the power, and the large mainland kingdoms kept in check. Hemmed in by a fiery sea This new technology brings a different era. An elevation in status for your kingdom - your independence will be assured. It makes perfect sense for you, and it's preferable to us."

"The mainland kingdoms could've always banded together to destroy Tunida," countered Eartaria, "But they never have, nor never will, precisely because of your intrigues. Black powder will make little difference. You lead them. You play them off against each other, or all of them off against whomever else. It's we - we who can't be led - that will always be the problem for you, and your target." He then turned defensively to Colm, "We can't trust these people."

"What if we gave you the black powder, but kept the boy ..as insurance?" questioned Colm, bypassing Eartaria, and trying to tease out more detail. His ear slightly turned by the words of the beautiful Maleeva.

She paused before speaking, as if in thought. "The prince is really just a side issue," she then pressed. "You could keep the prince, and what? What value is he to you? The king loves his son, but he is a ruthless man, and will not trade him for an entire kingdom. Only weak states give in to hostage takers. So returning the prince is just a gesture of goodwill on your part. The black powder however, that is different. Our mutual possession of it will guarantee peace. If you do not share it with us, it must be war. Naturally, if you choose peace, you'll return the king's son."

"You don't understand," stated Eartaria, butting back in, "We have your prince. If you do not do as we ask, we will kill him."

"So be it," replied Drua Maleeva, casually, "If you do it this island will be obliterated, and when the sword is finally at your neck not a single man, woman or child will be spared. This is your reality."

The bluntness of this statement led to another lull in the room. The crackle and flicker of the fire filling the deadly silence. Some of the Brynnyfiridian men brooded with anger, others stood more pensively. Maleeva looked around silently, observing each and every one.

Then, the turned-ear of Colm finally turned back. "Or, we might destroy the Island of Tunida with a similar completeness," he declared.

"You have options," reiterated Maleeva, with confident poise, unmoved by the counter-threat from Colm. "I've gave my message, I'll now be returning to the mainland. If you choose to acquiesce to the king's offer, simply send a messenger. Indeed, it would be easier if we once again placed a treasurer on these isles. I could send my son. He's very able."

"We have no need for treasurers here," quipped Eartaria, his annoyance at Maleeva's dictatorial tone spiralling ever higher.

"You will need one if we come to an agreement."

She then began to head towards the door and back to her ship, neatly readjusting her fur hat with her hands as she went. Sensibly pre-empting any chance that the raging wind would blow it off as she left.

"What if the mainland kings find out about this little meeting?" shouted Eartaria after her, as she walked.

"If we both have black powder that won't be a problem."

"Still," she then added, checking herself, as her long dark boots crossed the muddy green turf, "It would be sensible to keep this quiet - and remember, the clock is ticking. We will have black powder one way or another. So don't be wasteful with your time."

The Brynnyfirdian rain started to drip as she said this. She noted the drops, but as usual paid no outward attention. The slight dampness of her clothes ignored and contrasted against the sharpness of her sense of purpose; as she headed back out onto the Free Sea.