Home Maleth

A year ago, Maleth had been a town of fishermen and smugglers, the latter braving the Teeth to trade with the northern realms on their own terms. Located south of the Langstan, Adalmearc had no interest in the city as such; the kabirs of Alcázar, always greedy for territory, had long claimed lordship over the town. They appointed magistrates, charged with upholding the law and collect taxes. Though during times of turmoil in Alcázar, that could often slide for years.

The town's sleepy state changed last summer, first by the arrival of mamluks. While the locals eyed them with apprehension, they showed no interest in the magistrate's rule nor the smugglers. Instead, they set about expanding the port.

The reason soon became obvious once the first ships arrived. Large crafts built for war, they outclassed the small vessels used by the locals, and they dominated the piers. More ships and more soldiers arrived throughout the months until finally, the fleet set sail under the leadership of Prince Saif.

This did not return Maleth to its former state. A continuous stream of soldiers followed, quartering in the town or camped outside. Every now and then, ships would return from the north-west to collect the troops and sail back, bringing them to war.

When the ships arrived from Adalmearc, they usually brought only wounded soldiers with them. An exception arose when a lady disembarked from a galley, followed by five soldiers. Her presence alone drew attention, as none would have guessed a woman to travel aboard a ship of war, and the speculations only grew considering her retinue.

While she appeared to be a lady of Alcázar, she had one guardian of northern origin, wearing unknown colours. In contrast, her other followers were mamluks, and as guards, they seemed more like wardens than protectors. Their eyes were as much on her as on others.

A letter sealed by Prince Saif told the magistrate to provide her quarters until a ship would happen to sail to Alcázar, bringing her along. While a modest house, only his home had anything resembling guest chambers, and so one was provided for the lady; her northern sentinel slept outside her room, and the mamluks kept watch at the entrances. In this manner, as a guest under guard, Jana waited for when she might complete her journey.

~~~~

Jana's time as the magistrate's guest turned out to be prolonged. All ships of war saw use in the invasion, and if they returned to Maleth, it was only to transport soldiers and provisions back to Adalmearc. Vessels of trade had no cause to sail this far north from Alcázar; the few goods that travelled between the great city and the town did so on roads, not the sea. A messenger was eventually dispatched south on foot, requesting a transport worthy of the lady to bring her home.

Until then, Jana passed the days walking around the town, always with her thane and mamluks in tow. The only thing of note was the harbour, and the occasional arrival or departure of the graceful vessels built by the skilled shipwrights of Alcázar. The lady could spend long hours watching the sea, gazing towards the north or the south.

Curiously, she also visited an old fisherman, who had been presumed lost at sea last winter. He had returned with a strange tale of imprisonment by northern savages who sailed the storms with laughter. His neighbours assumed that sunstroke had made him imagine things, and they wondered why a nobleborn lady would lend credence to his fables by listening to them.

These diversions only worked for so long. Eventually, Jana spent more and more of her time in the chamber given to her. With paper and a quill, she wrote down poems by al-Tayir from memory; other times, she wrote long letters that she folded together and packed away.

~~~~

Weeks after her arrival, commotion in the magistrate's house interrupted Jana's writings. She opened her door to find her thane sitting outside with tea in his hand. "I'll admit, after forcing myself to drink this long enough, it's growing on me."

"Perhaps you will find Alcázar to your liking after all," Jana considered. "Sandar, is something going on? I hear loud conversation and people running around."

"I'll find the old servant who speaks a bit of the king's tongue," the thane promised, setting aside the tea. As he disappeared down the stairs, Jana returned to her room. She sat down by the small writing desk provided to her, but she did not pick up the quill again. Wringing her hands together, she waited until Sandar returned.

Sticking his head past the door, he cleared his throat. "From what I gather, a ship arrived, and the magistrate has gone to the harbour. Some kind of argument. I couldn't quite follow the old fellow."

"I see."

The thane hesitated. "I did understand that the ship had come for you, milady."

Jana folded her hands together, keeping them still. "I suspected as much."

"I'll see if I can find out more. When – if we are leaving."

"Thank you, Sandar."

As he disappeared, she turned back to look at her desk and the papers on it. Her hands shook slightly as she picked up her latest piece of writing, folding it. Taking a comb, she began brushing her hair, her hand still unsteady.

The sound of heavy boots leaping up the stairs sent a start through her, and she dropped the comb. As the door was pushed open, she turned in her seat to look. A man appeared in the doorway, so tall he seemed even thinner than his hollow cheeks suggested. A furrowed brow belied his age and spoke of heavy concerns while his eyes possessed a feverish shine. He wore the blue and gold of Adal on his tunic, but he was no kingthane.

Taking a step across the threshold, Brand extended one hand. "Jana," he managed to say.

She rose so swiftly, her chair fell back. Closing the distance between them, she threw herself into his arms, which he wrapped tightly around her.

"I love you," he spoke hoarsely, leaning his head against her hair.

Pulling back, she looked up at him. "Good," she replied and pressed her lips against his.

~~~~

In the harbour lay a northern longship, the fastest in Thusund. A strange assortment of people had assembled around it. The crew of islanders along with a handful of kingthanes stood opposite mamluks and mercenaries, with the aide to Prince Saif and the Kabir's magistrate in between.

Leading Jana through the town, Brand and his few accompanying guards soon reached the pier. Stepping away from the crowd, Adherbal nodded towards them. "While it took quite a while to explain the situation, you are free to leave." He rubbed the prince's signet ring on his finger. "On behalf of my master, I am pleased to reaffirm the bond between the House of Adal and House al-Saqr." He gave a pointed look at Jana before he bowed before the king.

Brand nodded in response. "Tell your master I am satisfied. All my promises to him shall be upheld. He may send his envoy to Middanhal to discuss our arrangements."

"I shall, Your Majesty. Safe journey."

The mercenaries parted to let Brand and his followers board the ship. Moments after, they unmoored and turned the vessel north, to sail the king and his bride home.