The Descendants Book One: The Broken Scroll (16 page)

The most i
mpressive aspects of the city were man-made boat sized canals that allowed ferries to run in between the buildings and below the level of the city.  They transported passengers from the sea to any of the six districts and back.  In the streets above, steep curved bridges with a detailed wooden inlay carried the pedestrians over the ferry canals. 

They passed several marketplaces
and recreation zones.  All of them put anything Lemirre had to shame, Davin decided.  There were shops for practically everything you could possibly think of.  From home furnishings and books, to costumes and sweets, they had a store for it all.  And each shop had its own unique water track to lead it down into the street. 

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been here.  This city has been hailed many times as the most beautiful in the kingdom,” he informed Davin. 

“I can believe it,” Davin answered, still overwhelmed by what he was seeing. 

The street leading down the hill and the alleys surrounding it were all a bustle with activity.  But it did seem everyone was heading in the same general direction.  They looked like they were in a hurry. 

“Everyone’s probably heading to that ceremony, Davin.  We need to follow them.  Liam should be easier to find if we don’t have to search the entire city for him.”

“What are we doing about Radash then?” Davin asked with a smirk as they began walking down the entrance street. 

Egan answered quickly, “I figure we can look for him there too, though if he is contented and done with our help we will not bother him anymore.”

The two of them finally found their way down through the streets and alleyways to the main amphitheater, right on the sea, where the ceremony was being held.  The air chilled once they ventured through the last group of buildings. 

There were soldiers on all sides of the theater that caused Davin to peer around him warily.  But it was out in the distance that held his interest.  He had never seen the sea before and it was glorious.  He knew there was much happening on the stage before him, but the swells of the ocean and giant ships kept him distracted. 

Egan touched his shoulder and made a vague comment about coming back to reality.  Davin reluctantly brought himself back to the matter at hand. 

There was a gathering a soldiers standing beside a line of dispirited looking men with their heads bowed.  Egan’s attention, however, was focused on the crowd.  He furrowed his brows, looking in every direction.  

One of the soldiers called to have the captives stand up.  They took center stage with their heads still bowed.  Davin looked painfully at each one of them, wondering what punishment they were going to receive.  He himself had definitely seen cruelty come from the army recently.  This wasn’t going to be good.  

A man stepped in from offstage.  It was Slainte’s governor.  Davin could tell by the way he was dressed.  He called for silence and addressed the crowd, his voice echoing loudly up even to top rows of the amphitheater.

“That’s Governor Alanon.  He was going to be First Governor, but the man Governor Winterbourne snatched the post instead.  It was Deverell’s recommendation and not a very good one, according to most.  You can only imagine how Alanon feels about Deverell,” Egan whispered to Davin.

“I most certainly can.” 

Governor Alanon began.  “Ladies and gentlemen you have been called here to witness part of the king’s new order.  Each one of these men standing here has committed some crime.  Under old laws each would simply be sent to a prison to serve his sentence.  Under his new decree, the punishments have grown more severe.  The punishment fits the crime.  If a man steals, he loses his hand.  If a man should commit a murder, he will lose his head.”

He paused for effect.  It worked.  There were gasps in the crowd and then it was silent.  Davin looked at Egan who still wasn’t paying attention the stage. 

“The other decree,” the governor continued, “is that these punishments be carried out in public ceremonies to dissuade most from attempting such atrocities.  We will begin…“

Egan spoke softly in Davin’s ear cause Davin to jump slightly.  He didn’t expect Egan to talk to him until after the speech was done.

“This is not the way of a civilized nation.  We are not barbarians.  I’d even bet that none of these men has seen a fair trial.”  There was a short pause, then, “I’ve found him, follow me.” 

  With no more ado they both traversed through the crowds, Egan in the lead.  How Egan had spotted the man in this mass, Davin never knew.

“…and he will be serving ten years in the king’s prison as well.” Davin was slightly upset he didn’t hear what the first punishment was. 

The people in the top area were chatting casually, and it made it hard to hear what was going on down below. 

Egan guided them far around to the other side, dodging and bumping several folks along the way.  Some people were more kind about it than others.  All they could do was offer quick apologies as they went.  Finally Egan stopped, looked down into the seats below them, and told Davin to wait where he was. 

Egan stepped down through four or five rows, careful not to disrupt too much.

“…this man who speaks
profane and vile things of our people in print will have his scribing hand cut from his arm so he can say them no more.”

Davin recoiled from
what the soldier just said. 
We’re going backwards
.  The kings of hundreds of years ago had outlawed such archaic ways.  This much, Davin knew for certain.  Now, it seemed, the old ways were coming back. 

He refocused his attention back on Egan.

The other Descendant had made it down seven or eight rows and had placed his hand on a large older man’s shoulder.  The man looked back at first with surprise and then, when he saw who it was, gave a great smile.  Egan gestured for the man to join him up to the top.  The man grabbed his cloak and they made their way back up.

The people they passed were becoming irritated with all the moving around.    They passed the rest of the group and reached the top, right where Davin was standing.

When the two men had caught their balance they embraced in a quick friendly hug.  Davin watched, entertained.

“Old friend, I cannot believe that I would ever see you again.  But look at me, I sound as if I am complaining,” the man exclaimed.  He did appear quite ecstatic to see Egan again. 

“Words can’t describe,” Egan replied, returning the warm smile.  “I would like to introduce you to my colleague.  This is Davin of Lemirre.  He is distant kin of mine.”  Egan nodded in a way that revealed more than he said. 

“You are kidding, are you not, my friend.”  He turned to Davin, his eyes wide with wonder.  “It is an immense pleasure to make your acquaintance, young Davin.  I am Liam of, well, many cities.  I assume you have discovered your great skills.”

Davin gasp.  He looked at Egan and Egan nodded back.  “Don’t worry.  This is the Scholar that I spoke about.  He is going to help with your training.  He knows all about who we are.”

“That is correct.  Do not fear.  I have no ill intent for you.  Though I have many questions about how you made it here safely.”  His eyes flickered from Davin back to Egan. 

There was a long silence. Davin took this moment to study him.  He was a husky man but not obese, with a thick black, well groomed beard.  And he was a Guildsman, made clear by the patch of orange cloth he wore on his chest.  Being that he studied the Ancients, Davin assumed he belonged to the Scribes and Historians Guild. 

“Come,” Egan started, “take us to your home.  We could use a good meal and a bath, and then we will discuss stories.”

Egan ushered Liam on to lead them away from the crowd.  As Liam passed him Egan patted him on the back. 

“It certainly has been a long time.  It is good to see your face.”

“Indeed, old friend.  I thought you had surely managed to find a way to get yourself killed at last.”  They chuckled as they headed away from the theater.  Davin trailed behind them close enough not to get lost. 

They were almost out of earshot when they picked up the last little bit of what the governor was saying. 

“…and he is the one responsible for the murder of Governor Gradis at Daust.  This is a most terrible offense and will be punished by beheading.”

There were gasps from the crowd and loud conversation broke out.  Egan, Davin, and Liam stopped dead in their tracks.  Egan pushed the other two out of the way as he walked swiftly back to where they were standing previously. 

The man whom the governor was referring to lifted his head and pulled the hair out of his eyes.  Egan stared blankly for a moment and then it dawned on him who this man was.  It was Radash.  Egan tried to hide the shock on his face. 

“Davin, look who it is.”  Egan pointed down the last captive in the row. 

“It’s Radash.  How on earth did he get caught?  And why is he being punished with your crime?” Davin asked exasperated. 

Egan turned to him slowly, “I thought you didn’t care about him.”

Davin looked disgusted, as if he could have of thought of a worse thing to say.  “Hold on.  I never said I wished death upon him, especially for a crime he didn’t commit.”

“I see,” Egan smiled slightly, impressed with Davin’s answer.  Why did Egan care about what he thought right now, an innocent man’s life was at stake?  Davin pushed the thought aside. 

Liam uttered something softly from behind them.  “I have heard they were doing this in towns all over the kingdom, but never believed it until now.”  He turned to Egan.  “I figured you were involved, my friend, the moment I heard about the incident in Daust.  They keep killing innocents for your deed.  This is surely all an act to try and draw you out, while seeming like sentencing ceremony.” 

Egan bowed his head and ran his hand through his hair.  He looked frustrated with himself.  “I shouldn’t have fought him.  It was foolish.  I should have known O’Hara would go this far to find me,” he said regretfully.  “I will right this mistake, right now.” 

Liam put his hand on Egan’s shoulder, “There was nothing you could have done, my friend.  I feel he would have fought you anyway.  They say there was some unnatural power in him as well that night.”

Egan nodded, saying distantly, “There sure was.”  They were all silent for a long moment, watching the events take place on stage. 

Several soldiers had wheeled in crude devices from which they would perform the necessary punishments.  There were four small tables with arm restraints on them for three thieves and the slanderous scribe in the group, as well as large knives at each table. They were obviously losing some part of their limbs, Davin guessed.

“This is not right.  It saddens me that we are being subjected to this cruelty.  We are more civilized than the king and the army has been acting lately,” Liam said woefully.

Davin kept his gaze facing the stage, “So then why don’t the leaders of each city stand up to this?  Surely if enough cities took a stand the king would have to listen.”

Liam nodded in agreement.  There was something Davin liked about the man.  He couldn’t put his finger on it, but the way Liam deeply appreciated and reciprocated Egan’s friendship was a rare commodity.  It was warm and unconditional, when so much that Davin had observed over the years was not.  He certainly had a brotherly respect for the other man. 

“That is just the problem, lad,” Liam answered.  “No one city believes that others will follow if they make the first move, and none in the kingdom seem brave enough to stand alone if need be.”  Davin found this conversation strangely familiar.  It had the same air as the talk he had had with Prack, the pub tender in Lemirre.  That conversation felt like forever ago now, though only two weeks had passed. 

They brought in the guillotine for Radash, much to the horror of the crowd.  Nearly half of the people in the amphitheater began leaving their seats when they realized what the army was going to do.  The only citizens who didn’t edge toward the exits were probably both relatives and friends of the captives, or sick and twisted in their own way. 

Egan had seen enough.  He started for down the steps.  Davin grabbed his arm.  Egan gave him a look that said Davin was out of his mind for trying to hold him back. 

“What are you doing?”  Davin asked.  “This is exactly what they want you to do, Egan.  And you said that the world isn’t ready to see our power yet.”

Davin was glad that Egan acknowledged his words for once, “I am not going to let anyone else die unfairly.  You must know that.”

“You may not have to.  There has to be another way,” Davin argued desperately. 

Egan gave him a reprimanding look.  Davin’s gaze faltered at the sight of it. “Davin, he does not deserve this fate.”  

Davin racked his brain.  Was there another way to rescue Radash?  Or would it be easier to simply fight? 

Liam grabbed Egan’s arm as the Descendant started to move again, buying Davin some time.  Egan looked back, disgusted.  He wasn’t going to give up easy.  But if there was one person to convince him it would be Liam.  Liam gave him a piercing look that which seemed to reach right to Egan’s heart.  Egan’s harsh gaze wavered. 

“Egan!” Davin cried as the answer came into his head.  “Maybe we can
convince
the governor to not go through with this.”