Kingdom at Sea (The Kinsman Chronicles): Part 4

By Jill Williamson

Part 4 of Jill Williamson's Epic Fantasy Series The Kinsman Chronicles

When the ocean swallows their homeland, the survivors of five nations take to the ocean to look for new land, but their common plight isn't enough to stop the growing war between them.
 
As King Echad's illness worsens, Sâr Wilek takes authority over the expedition and struggles to rule the disjointed people while Prince Trevn sets his sights on learning to captain a great ship. Meanwhile, no one knows that Charlon and the Magonian Chieftess are on board in plain sight, plotting their takeover of Armania.
 
 Kingdom at Sea is collected together with parts 5 and 6 in King's Blood.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
• Release date: Jul 5, 2016
• ISBN: 9781441230225

Jill Williamson

Jill Williamson is a novelist, dreamer, and believer. Growing up in Alaska led to love books, and in 2010 her first novel, By Darkness Hid, won the Christy Award. She loves working with teenagers and gives writing workshops at libraries, schools, camps, and churches. Jill lives in Oregon with her husband and two children. Visit Jill online at www.jillwilliamson.com

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© 2016 by Jill Williamson

Published by Bethany House Publishers

11400 Hampshire Avenue South

Bloomington, Minnesota 55438

www.bethanyhouse.com

Bethany House Publishers is a division of

Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan

www.bakerpublishinggroup.com

Ebook edition created 2016

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

ISBN 978-1-4412-3022-5

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Cover design by LOOK Design Studio

Author is represented by MacGregor Literary, Inc.

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright Page

Cross Section of the Seffynaw

Key Players

Epigraph

Prologue

Trevn

Wilek

Charlon

Inolah

Grayson

Kalenek

Trevn

Wilek

Trevn

Charlon

Hinck

Kalenek

Wilek

Trevn

Wilek

Charlon

Hinck

Inolah

Gozan

Wilek

Grayson

Trevn

Hinck

About the Author

THE KINSMAN CHRONICLES

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Key Players

ARMANIA

House Hadar

Echad [EE-kad]-Rosâr Hadar, king of Armania

Schwyl, Echad’s onesent

Captain Lebbe Alpress, captain of the King’s Guard

Zenobia, Echad’s concubine

Lilou Caridod, Echad’s mistress

Onika [ON-ik-ah], the True Prophet, a blind woman

Tulay [TOO-lay], honor maiden to Onika

Yoana [Yo-AHNA], honor maiden to Onika

Kempe [KEM-pay], Onika’s personal maid

Rustian, Onika’s dune cat

Brelenah-Rosârah, Echad’s first wife, Wilek and Inolah’s mother

Captain Rayim Veralla, captain of the Queen’s Guard

Hawley, Brelenah’s onesent

Wilek [WILL-ek]-Sâr Hadar, son of Echad and Brelenah

Sir Kalenek Veroth, Wilek’s High Shield

Novan, Kalenek’s backman

Agmado Harton, Wilek’s backman

Dendrick, Wilek’s onesent

Laviel-Rosârah, Echad’s second wife, Janek’s mother

Janek-Sâr Hadar, son of Echad and Laviel

Sir Jayron, Janek’s High Shield

Hinckdan Faluk, Earl of Dacre, Janek’s backman

Timmons, Janek’s onesent

Mattenelle, Janek’s concubine

Pia [PEE-uh], Janek’s concubine

Kamran DanSâr, son of Echad and Zenobia

Fonu Edekk, friend to Janek

Thallah-Rosârah, Echad’s third wife, Trevn’s mother

Trevn-Sâr Hadar, son of Echad and Thallah

Sir Cadoc Wyser, Trevn’s High Shield

Ottee [Ot-EE], Trevn’s onesent

Valena-Rosârah, Echad’s fourth wife

Enetta, Hrettah and Rashah’s nurse

Hrettah-Sârah Hadar, daughter of Echad and Valena

Sir Kenard Taldun, Hrettah’s High Shield

Ulmer Gelsly, Kenard’s backman

Rashah-Sârah Hadar, daughter of Echad and Valena

Sir Zeric Meray, Rashah’s High Shield

Rey Kael, Zeric’s backman

Other Armanians

Mielle, Kalenek’s ward, honor maiden to Lady Zeroah

Amala, Kalenek’s ward, Mielle’s little sister

Darlow, Mielle and Amala’s nurse

Inolah-Sârah Orsona-Hadar, daughter of Echad and Brelenah, mother of Emperor Ulrik

Princess Vallah Orsona, Inolah’s daughter, Emperor Ulrik’s sister

Oli Agoros, Duke of Canden

Eudora Agoros, Oli’s sister

Admiral Hanray Vendal, admiral of the king’s fleet

Captain Aldair Livina [Liv-EE-nuh], captain of the Seffynaw

Quen [Kwen], First Mate

Bussie [BUHS-ee], Second Mate

Shinn, master’s mate

Zaki, sailor

Nietz [Neets], master’s mate

Bonds, sailor

Rzasa [RAW-zuh], sailor

Hara, the king’s cook

Shemme, Hara’s daughter, a maid

Father Burl Mathal, medial priest of the Rôb church

Jhorn, a retired soldier and amputee

Grayson, a boy with a gray rash

The Omatta Clan

Rand, leader of the Omatta

Meelo, Rand’s son

Zahara, Rand’s daughter

Teaka, Rand’s mother

Errp, Teaka’s newt

SARIKAR

House Pitney

King Jorger Pitney, king of Sarikar,

the God’s King

Prince Loran Pitney, King Jorger’s second-born son and heir

Princess Saria, Loran’s daughter

Prince Thorvald, Loran’s son

Zeroah Barta, Loran’s niece, betrothed to Wilek Hadar

Doth, Zeroah’s guard

Ephec, Zeroah’s guard

Rystan Barta, Duke of Tal, Zeroah’s little brother

Prince Mergest III (also known as

Barthel Rogedoth), uncle to Loran

Dendron, a great shadir, bonded to Mergest

Filkin Yohthehreth, Rôb prophet

Zithel Lau, Rôb priest

RUREKAU

House Orsona

Emperor Ulrik Orsona, emperor of Rurekau

Sir Iamot [EE-uh-moht], Ulrik’s High Shield

Taleeb, Ulrik’s onesent

Prince Ferro Orsona, Ulrik’s younger brother

General Balat, head of the Igote guard

Kakeeo, Rurekan sheriff

Burk, a Rurekan passenger

MAGONIA

Ruling Clan

Mreegan, Magonian Chieftess

Kateen, First of Mreegan’s Five Maidens

Astaa, Second of Mreegan’s Five Maidens

Roya, Third of Mreegan’s Five Maidens

Rone, number One of Mreegan’s Five Men

Nuel, number Two of Mreegan’s Five Men

Vald, number Three of Mreegan’s Five Men

Torol/Thirsty, number Four of Mreegan’s Five Men

Gullik [GUHL-ik], number Five of Mreegan’s Five Men

Charlon, Mother of the Deliverer

Magon, a great shadir, bonded to Mreegan and Charlon

TENMA

Priestess Jazlyn, High Queen of Tenma

Qoatch [KO-ach], Jazlyn’s eunuch slav, a seer

Gozan, a great shadir, bonded to Jazlyn

MAIN SHIPS OF THE FLEET

Seffynaw [SEF-EE-naw], Rosâr Echad’s ship, flagship of Armania and the fleet

Rafayah [Raf-AHY-uh], the vice flagship of Armania

Berith [BAIR-ith], advance guard ship of Armania

Baretam [BAIR-IT-am], Emperor Ulrik’s ship, flagship of Rurekau

Gillsmore [GILS-mohr], the vice flagship of Rurekau

Kaloday [KAL-UH-dey], Loran’s ship, flagship of Sarikar

Vespara [Ves-PAR-uh], Sarikarian ship that was stolen by Magonians

Amarnath [EY-mahr-nath], Prince Mergest’s ship

The Wanderer, Grayson’s first ship

Malbraid, Rand’s ship

Taradok [TARE-uh-dok], Zahara’s ship

The Gods of the Five Realms

Arman, the father god

Athos, god of justice and law

Avenis/Avennia, god/goddess of beauty

Barthos, god of the earth/soil

Cethra/Cetheria, god/goddess of protection

Dendron, god of nature

Gâzar, ruler of the Lowerworld, bringer of death

Iamos, god/goddess of healing

Lâhat, god of fire

Magon, goddess of magic

Mikreh, god of fate and fortune

Nivanreh, god of travel

Rurek, god of war

Sarik, god of wisdom

Tenma, the mother god

Thalassa, virgin goddess of the sea

Yobat/Yobatha, god/goddess of pleasure and celebration

Zitheos, god of animals

The Prophetess urged the people to hurry and leave the land. For otherwise, said The Prophetess, you will all die! So the people set out from the Five Realms, traveling by sea into the unknown, trusting Arman to do as He promised and lead them to a new land, a good and spacious land of plenty.

—The History of the Armanites, Hinckdan Faluk, Castle Armanguard 27

Prologue

Gozan flew through the Veil, just out of reach of the ocean’s spray. Behind him his swarm followed, a cloudy mass of colors and shrieking sounds. He wished for silence but hadn’t the energy to rebuke them just now.

If things didn’t change, he might never have the energy again.

In the distance the Armanian king’s flagship Seffynaw sat low in the water, a fat tub stuffed with treasure and humans whose greed had nearly killed off their race. The shadir had played their part as well. Gozan hadn’t realized the effects of his dependence on human bonding. None of the shadir had. They had always taken for the sake of taking, for pleasure and power and to please their master Gâzar. They had not ever considered consequences.

But now they must, for their way of life was at risk.

Gozan reached the Seffynaw from its starboard side and circled the hull. He soared above the railing and onto the stern deck. Slights and commons filled the area, invisible to the humans seated at a table there. Magon stood at the back of the ship, leaning against the taffrail. For centuries she had preferred to take form as a human female. Gozan never understood why she wanted to look like her slaves.

His shadir swarm met Magon’s, and the cacophony of the two groups intermingling grated on Gozan’s nerves. Silence! he yelled.

To their credit all obeyed, even those shadir loyal to Magon.

Gozan folded his arms and let the soles of his feet rest on the deck so that he stood before Magon, looming over her frail, human form.

She smirked at his posture. Greetings, Rurek.

The name sent fire through his limbs. I am Gozan now.

Still hiding, are you?

Waiting. He had never been hiding.

Well, I have waited long enough, she said, which brought cheers from her votaries. We must act before all is lost.

You have a plan, then? How to survive this setback?

I’m bored with no access to my mantic, said one of Magon’s slights. It’s no fun merely whispering in ears. I want the humans to see me and be swayed by my influence.

Mine hasn’t seen me since we left the land, said another.

Mine either, said a third.

They are completely out of evenroot on my human’s ship, said one of Gozan’s brood.

Mine too! echoed the first of Magon’s slights.

Stop fretting, all of you, Magon said. We simply must lead these ships to land. Once the humans plant and harvest new evenroot crops, our power over them will return.

But it takes at least three months to reap a harvest, a slight said.

And harvesting that early, the roots will be small, said another.

Patience, Magon said. We must remain calm and focus on leading the ships to land.

But, master, Masi said to Gozan, with so little evenroot, we have no control over the captains of these vessels.

We only need control the one who leads, Gozan replied.

Snickers broke out among the slights, and a common behind Magon said, Humans will never agree on the same leader.

They will follow Armania, Magon said. They always do, despite my efforts.

Then we must work together to lead the Armanians to land, Gozan said.

I have no power in Armania yet, Magon said. I am close. But my mantics are divided at present as to how to proceed.

Typical. Magon bored too easily. You never could stay loyal to one human.

Where is the fun in that? It’s much more entertaining to bait them against each other. Better than hiding for decades in a lowly position.

Jazlyn is loyal to me, Gozan said, and now that she is High Queen of Tenma, I am in a place to use my power to advance her realm.

The real problem is that I am uncertain where land is, Magon said. The humans are headed to an island now, but if they are to plant a substantial amount of evenroot without interference from religious zealots, we must lead them to a great expanse.

Are you certain another exists? Gozan asked. Perhaps only this mysterious island remains.

This world is vast, Gozan, Magon said. If there is a great stretch of land out there, my swarm will find it.

This sent Magon’s votaries into a flurry of color and objections.

Go without you?

We mustn’t leave you, Great One. We would be lost apart from you.

Lost without your guidance.

I refuse to leave your side, a purple slight said. I will die before I do.

Die, then! A wave of Magon’s hand obliterated the purple slight into a wisp of smoke. Her votaries scattered briefly, then cowered at her feet, trembling.

Are you ready to listen? she asked.

Her swarm stared at her, eyes wide and contrite. Some nodded. Not one made a sound.

I have no need of you here at present, she said. You will be of better use to me seeking out land. Remember, as your great shadir, I can summon you all at a word. And no matter how far you drift from me, call on my name and you can always return.

It would pain them, though, to be parted from her, and it would weaken her to be without their energy. Gozan hesitated to join her risky plan, knowing it would cost him as well, yet he couldn’t afford to be left in the dark. My shadir will go with yours, he said.

A heavy silence fell over their group. The two swarms appraised one another as if trying to decide whether or not such a joining was in their best interest.

We might as well get started, Magon said, and she set about dividing her followers into four groups with a common at the head of each.

Gozan did the same with his swarm.

Do not return until you have found a fair amount of land or until I summon you, Magon told her shadir. Now fly!

As her swarm flitted away, Gozan lowered his voice to his own. Return to me when summoned, when you find land, or if you sense a betrayal from Magon’s swarm. I want them tracked at all times. Understood?

His shadir throbbed and spun their agreement.

After them! he yelled.

They shot away like streaks of smoke on the tails of fire arrows. He watched them, pride welling inside. They would not fail him.

You are vulnerable without your swarm, Magon said. As is your mantic.

And you are not?

She smiled. My mantics still have stores of evenroot.

If it’s a fight you seek, you will not win. Alone, I am stronger than you.

She cackled. I have no wish to fight you, Rurek. My fight is with Dendron. It always has been. I cannot defeat him alone, but we might do so together.

She did not tempt him in the least. He hadn’t even seen Dendron since The Great Parting. I have no quarrel with Dendron.

Not now, Magon said, but Dendron has a hold on Armania. The realm is his. And once the humans find land and set up their seats of power, Armania will rule. It will not be long thereafter that we will all come to odds with Dendron. I have a plan to protect myself. You should too.

Perhaps, but I will not seek out trouble now.

Be ready, then, for trouble will find you.

Gozan flew away from the Seffynaw without answering. Halfway back to the Baretam, he risked a little of Jazlyn’s power to enter the Solid. He instantly felt the wind shift the hair on his body. He breathed in the ocean’s smell, heard the sea-foam sizzle, admired his reflection rippling over the thick waves. Without his swarm around him, he appeared small. He reached his hands down into the water and basked in the cool moisture.

Even at this distance, he could feel Jazlyn’s strength draining. Disheartened, he shifted back into the Veil and his senses instantly dulled. Unless Jazlyn could find Emperor Ulrik’s evenroot, before long she would lose sight of him completely.

The thought birthed a well of terror within him. If he could never again enter the Solid, he would go mad. Life in the Veil was but a haze of the Solid. He cursed the sunbird, Nesher, for keeping his kind from it. It resolidified his vow to Lord Gâzar. He would continue to help the humans destroy each other. The more souls won to Lord Gâzar’s domain, the greater loss Nesher would suffer and the longer Gozan could enjoy the Solid realm that the sunbird had created for his pathetic humans.

Trevn

Prince Trevn exited his cabin and ran down the dark corridor, enthused by the movement of the ship around him. By the time he reached the first crossway, however, he was so winded he had to stop and steady himself.

His second chance at life had brought an eagerness to make each moment count, but perhaps moving ahead slowly would be wise. It would not do to have his appearance frighten Miss Mielle Allard.

Cadoc, his High Shield, pounded to a halt behind him. Brawny, with keen eyes and a dozen braids bound in a warrior’s tail, the man was determined not to let his charge get the best of him. He had five years on Trevn yet stood a hand shorter. Your Highness? Is something wrong?

No, Cadoc. A few deep breaths calmed Trevn’s heart well enough. He moved forward at a walk, hands on the bulkheads on either side. He felt better. Truly. His head no longer burned with fever, and the gash Hinck had accidentally stabbed into his abdomen had mended to a pucker of light pink skin. A vast improvement over the wound brimming with pus that had left him delirious with fever. His mind spun at all he might have missed. Are we nearing Odarka yet? he asked.

Left the port yesterday, Cadoc said.

Already? Trevn stopped and faced his shield. How many days did I sleep?

Three, Your Highness. We only stayed one night at the Port of Odarka. It’s been five days total at sea so far.

Disappointment flashed over Trevn to have missed such a historic moment. How many ships were waiting to meet us?

We added ninety-five from Armania and another seventeen from Rurekau. Lost about a hundred reamskiffs between us all. Last I heard, total ships in the fleet numbered six hundred twenty-nine, and we’ve accounted for just shy of one hundred seventy-nine thousand people.

Almost triple the number that had left Everton five days ago. What happened to the reamskiffs?

Too small to handle the rough seas. People kept falling overboard. King Echad held council in the Port of Odarka with Prince Loran and Emperor Ulrik. They ordered all reamskiffs abandoned or tied for tow and the passengers dispersed among the rest of the fleet.

That seemed wise. Reamskiffs were little more than rafts. Is King Jorger ill? Trevn had learned of his cousin Ulrik’s ascension to the throne of Rurekau from Sir Kalenek, but what had become of King Jorger?

Missing. Princess Nabelle as well. Prince Loran had hoped they were together, but Lady Zeroah saw her mother taken by angry commoners when they were driving through the Sink.

How awful.

Cadoc went on. "Prince Loran is holding out hope that his father took refuge on another ship and will make his way to the Kaloday soon enough."

In light of the time that had passed, such a thing seemed unlikely. Trevn continued down the corridor, wondering what else he’d missed. How did Odarka fare in the Woes?

Little of the island remained, but the duke had managed to evacuate all who lived there.

All. A pang of guilt seized Trevn for the thousands who had perished in Everton. Though he supposed it would have been less complicated to evacuate a sparsely populated island over a city of forty thousand souls—closer to seventy thousand considering the rural populations.

This remnant from the Five Realms had survived a harrowing ordeal, yet the mood on board the Seffynaw had been optimistic—before Trevn’s fever had put him in bed, anyway. The fleet had left death and destruction behind and was sailing toward Captain Livina’s new island, eager to start over and build a bright future. A thrill ran through Trevn at the excitement of it all. Once the people settled on the new island, Trevn would go out with the explorers and look for more land. He was finally getting a chance to travel beyond the bowl. His dreams had come true, though the cost had been far too high.

Trevn reached the next crossway and paused, suddenly uncertain where he was. The ship descended a large swell, knocking him against the bulkhead. He stayed put and jerked his head for Cadoc to go ahead. Lead the way, Cadoc. I’m completely turned around.

Cadoc moved past, and Trevn followed, his thoughts drifting to how Ottee had made him so late. Because of the boy he would hardly have any time to spend with Mielle before Wilek’s meeting.

For a moment there, I feared I might have to punish young Ottee for disobedience, Trevn said of his new—temporary, he hoped—onesent.

It was clever of you to ask him to choose your clothing for the morrow after he finished his chores, Cadoc said.

Desperate was more like it. He is overly obsessed with my wardrobe. It seemed to be my biggest hold over him.

Cadoc reached a crossway and turned right. He is quite eager to please.

No, he is eager to tag along. Trevn followed Cadoc around the corner. The crossway stretched out ahead. In the distance Trevn could see the indentations of two more lengthways. His cabin was on the starboard side of the ship, he reminded himself. I fear Ottee is too wild to make a good servant. A onesent should make his master’s life easier, not more trying.

He’s a boy, Cadoc said, as if this excused Ottee’s insubordinate tendencies. I suspect he will try your patience a great deal, but he’s young enough to train well. And Captain Livina assures me that it is against Ottee’s nature to lie.

So he might be disobedient and trying, but at least he will be true? Is that to be my consolation?

After Beal’s betrayal, I should think such a trait would be most welcome. Cadoc turned right at the center lengthway.

Ah, Trevn had his bearings now. King’s galley behind them, main deck straight ahead. They swept into the narrow companionway and started up to the quarterdeck, which was the quickest route to the stern deck, where Ottee had said Miss Mielle Allard might be. I would rather have Hinck, he said.

Hinck was your backman, not a onesent.

He did both for me, Trevn said,