The Crown of blood

II

The debtors sat patiently on their benches with bowls in hand as two crewmen moved along the below-deck with buckets of hot porridge. Another followed behind, giving each man a small dollop of honey from a clay jar. It was better fare than could be expected, Gelthius admitted, but it was not given out of Anglhan's generosity. The cost of food came out of the debtors' "payment," and thus little touches like the honey just added more to the time it took them to pay off Anglhan. Gelthius didn't begrudge the landship captain this subterfuge; if not for Anglhan, Gelthius would have spent these last years in a mine or quarry, and most likely would have died in debt, condemning his oldest son to the same fate. Of all the woes that could beset a man whose business had failed, working as a turnsman under Anglhan was relatively kind.

"D'ya hear what went on last night?" said Henglhid, the benchmate who sat on Gelthius' right, closest to the hull. The haggard little man put his bowl in his lap and rubbed his hands gleefully. "Rebels it was. I heard the crew up top talking about it. A lot of 'em."

"You think they'll free us?" asked Methrian from behind. His excitement was understandable; the former tax collector had been serving Anglhan even longer than Gelthius, in exchange for his embezzlement being paid off by the captain. It was probable that he would never pay off his debt before he died.

"I'd rather rot on the bench than be a rebel," growled Cormarindis. "Traitors and cowards, the lot of them."

"Most of 'em was slaves like us," said Henglhid. "S'only right to give back as you get, and there's a fair few treated us poor, the king and his lackeys among 'em."

"I'd join them, right enough," muttered Gelthius. "I'd love to march up to that fat pig what stole my seed with a few friends at my back. I'd show him what 'rights of the land' really means. I got nothing against the king himself, it's them what does his dirty work should know better. Stealing from honest men like us, that oughtn't be allowed."

Murmurs of agreement rumbled along the benches but soon quietened as feet thudded on the aft steps. As he ducked beneath the deck beams, Furlthia's eyes narrowed at the silence.

"Less muttering, more eating. Captain wants you up and out, so finish off your breakfasts quickly."

"Ain't freeday 'til tomorrow," said Gelthius. "What's going on?"

"I'll be buggered for a whore if I know," Furlthia replied with a shrug. "The captain has something he wants to tell you and the crew together."

Muttered speculation and scraping spoons filled the belowdeck as more crew came down with heavy keys for the debtors' ankle chains. Trio by trio they were freed from the deck rings, still shackled together. The men shuffled up to the ladder and carefully climbed onto the deck. Gelthius arched his back and took in a deep breath as he was jostled into position by the mast, Henglhid to one side, Lepiris to the other. When all were present, Anglhan emerged from his cabin and clambered onto a box on the aft deck. All eyes turned towards him. The prisoners from the attack stood in a line behind him, now unbound, their appearance causing a swell of hushed gossiping.

"As you all know, I am not a malicious man," the debt guardian said, his voice raised to carry the length of the landship, silencing the hubbub. "I think no less of any of you for the circumstances you find yourselves in. It is my hope that I have treated you fairly, more than some of your previous masters have done, and that my demands of you have been tough but not cruel. For all of you, crew and debtors alike, I have justly rewarded your service to me and allowed you to share in my profits."

"He's worried," whispered Lepiris. "The rebels have got him rattled."

Gelthius grunted in agreement. It seemed like Anglhan was trying to make some kind of case to his audience.

"No man likes to see another fall on hard times, and I have been there to provide useful employment for all of you. For some I even put food on the tables of your families when you could not, and for most I spared you the horror of being turned from your homes without a thread on your backs or a barley grain in your pocket. I do not claim that I did this wholly out of kindness, but I believe that a man should be allowed to rectify his mistakes if he can."

"What's 'rectify' mean?" asked Gelthius.

"Payback," chuckled Lepiris.

"It is with these thoughts in mind that I want you all to consider an offer; a choice each of you must make."

Anglhan paused and all across the ship was still, the air silent with anticipation.

"Today, all agreements are considered fulfilled."

There were a few shocked gasps, mainly from the crew, followed by a buzz of confusion.

"As of now, you are all free men, your debts to me paid in full," announced Anglhan, throwing his arms wide.

Some took the proclamation in stunned silence; others gave cautious cheers or laughed. Gelthius heard a sob and a thud, and looked over his shoulder to see Methrian had fallen to his knees. He looked back aft and saw an agitated Furlthia whispering angrily into Anglhan's ear. Clearly the first mate, who had a small share of the landship, had been telling the truth when he had said he had no idea of the captain's intent.

Gelthius turned to the nearest keyman.

"You!" he called out. He looked down at his shackles. "You heard your captain. I don't need these no more."

The keyman took a few uncertain steps and looked back at Anglhan, fumbling with the square-headed key at his belt. He stopped when the captain's voice boomed out again.

"As free men, I now present you with the choice I spoke of. That way," he pointed towards the low hills over the larboard bow, "is Magilnada, no more than two days of solid walking. As free men, you can head there and follow whatever path life presents to you."

He turned around and pointed towards the higher mounts to starboard.

"Before you all dash off, I must warn you that a man called Aroisius the Free leads an army not so far away. As you might guess from the name, he was once a debtor, but now he would see the tyranny of the king and his servile nobles ended. Magilnada is perhaps not such a safe place as you might think. You all know me well enough to know that I do not like being on the losing side of any deal. So trust me when I say it is in our interests to join with Aroisius the Free, so that we might all have an equal stake in the future of a new Salphoria."

Anglhan plopped down from the box and strode amongst the crew and debtors, clapping some on the arm, smiling and nodding to others.

"It is my intent to deliver this ship into the hands of those who would fight for our freedom. It needs a crew, and you are all welcome to join me. Those who wish to leave can do so, with food for three days and my best wishes. Those who wish to stay will be signed in as full members of the crew, with no obligation beyond our meeting with Aroisius. Our new allies will announce our coming," Anglhan waved a hand towards the captured bandits, "to avoid any unpleasant surprises. From then on, you can continue to serve with me, join the army of Aroisius or go your own way without recrimination."

"What's 'recrimination'?" Gelthius quietly asked Lepiris.

"That's payback too."

Anglhan had a key in his hand. With a flourish, face reddening, he bent down and unlocked the shackles on the closest debtors. He handed the key to one of them and waved towards their companions.

"As you enjoy that first taste of freedom, hear the turn of that key, I want you all to think about what you will do. I trust you all to make the right decision."

As their chains clanked to the deck, the debtors milled around aimlessly, unsure what to do. The key made the rounds, passed from each set of three men until it arrived at Gelthius and his benchmates. As it was handed to him, Gelthius grabbed the key like a hungry man offered bread and unshackled himself first, handing the key to Lepiris. Gelthius crouched and rubbed his chafed ankles. As he straightened, he found himself being stared at by Anglhan. The captain surged through the crowd and flung an arm around Gelthius's shoulders. The former debtor tried to shrink away, but the captain's grip was as solid as the anklechains had been.

"Here is Gelthius, a steadfast man we would all agree!" declared Anglhan. Gelthius cringed as the captain turned a broad smile upon him. "Tell us, Gelthius, what are you going to do?"

He felt the stares of everybody aboard, from the captain to the other debtors. Some were expectant, others encouraging.

"I figure," Gelthius began, but fell silent, unsure what he did figure. He took a deep breath and started again. "I figure that I got a better chance of having food in me belly staying with you than trying my luck in Magilnada."

"Good man, good man," said Anglhan, squeezing Gelthius ever harder. The debtor-now-freeman twisted his head away as his face was forced towards the debt guardian's flabby chest and odorous armpit. Much to Gelthius' relief, Anglhan relinquished his grip and turned towards another victim.

Gelthius felt a slap on the back. Fearing another crushing, he stepped away as he turned, but it was Lepiris. The two looked at each other, smiles cracking. Lepiris grabbed the back of Gelthius' head and pulled him forwards, planting a big kiss on his brow.

"Freedom, friend," Lepiris said, his voice breaking. They stood head-to-head, gripping each other's shoulders.

"Freedom," echoed Gelthius. "Spirit-blessed freedom!"