The Rook

The pair of them walked down the steps which led to the Governor's private dock. It was quite small, only suited for skiffs or small rowboats. A small rowboat had been secured for their use, bobbing steadily up and down in the water. William was thankful that the seas were relatively calm this evening. William took up position at the bow and instructed Kelham to sit opposite him near to the stern.

William took up the oars as he believed the governor's aide would not be suited for it.

"What is our destination, Master Kent?" Kelham asked.

William looked over his shoulder and pointed towards a jagged rock outcropping in the distance. As Kelham looked, it appeared to be a spire of black rock. It looked ominous, as if it was challenging the sky to strike it.

"The Rook is what most of the locals call it. Most steer clear of it. The drowners are very insular and not fond of unwanted visitors." William explained.

William began rowing, keen to get their journey underway.

"Who are the drowners?" Kelham queried.

"A local sect. They believe that only when one gives oneself fully to the sea will you be aware of the true path. " William answered.

"The governor spoke as if he knew them," Kelham commented.

"Aye, they are nominally considered citizens of Still Water if only for the sake of a census. Resham leaves them be, and in return they ignore the town." William explained.

William rowed in silence for some time while Kelham mulled over what William had told him.

"We have an hour, Master Kelham. Why don't you tell me more of yourself?" William suggested.

"Ah. I am a simple clerk, Master Kent. I feel my story is not one of the interest." Kelham answered.

"Everyone has a story, Master Kelham. It is only in the telling can we know if it is important or not." William chided.

"I am Oliver Kelham. Second son to a family of weavers. I knew being the second child I would never inherit the family business, and in truth I think father's favourite was always Thomas. I have long since reconciled my thoughts on my father's affections. From a young age I had always wanted to dedicate myself to the Archons." Oliver told him.

Oliver noted that William had become more interested in his story at the mention of the Archons.

"Do the Archons interest you, Master Kent?" Oliver asked.

"You can stop this Master Kent business for a start. That will grow tiresome within the hour; call me Bill. I have never fully believed in the Archons, but in moments of weakness still offer a prayer now and then. " Bill told him.

The Rook loomed larger as Oliver continued his story.

"Alas, my father was unwilling to allow me to dedicate myself in such a way. He sent me off to study at the university in Ithica. I majored in administration and affairs of state. My teacher pulled some strings to get my position with the governor."

"You may not believe it, but I was almost a man of learning myself," Bill advised.

"You, sir?"

"You find it hard to believe an old crusty sea dog could once have been a student? I never attended somewhere as fancy as Ithica, and my education was rather brief. A brawl in a tavern with a lordling's son. I found myself signing on to whatever ship would take me. I've been at sea ever since."

As they approached The Rook, the sea became choppier. Oliver had to brace himself to stop himself from almost falling overboard. Oliver looked up at their destination. A spire of black rock, piercing the skyline. He could make out a small cove and a staircase which had been roughly carved into the rock. William steered them into the cove and had Kelham jump out to secure the boat.

Oliver watched as Bill stopped for a moment to look up at the Rook's spire. He began the climb up the staircase, watching his step occasionally as he did so due to how slippery the steps were in places.

"I haven't seen anyone so far. You said this place would be dangerous? Oliver asked.

"You need keener eyes, Master Kelham. I can spot at least two archers aimed at us. For now, they are waiting to see what we do." Bill admonished.

They continued the climb in silence, with Oliver feeling a sense of paranoia as they walked. He was attempting to look brave next to the famed sailor Black Bill. He found it easier to look down and watch his feet than to look upwards, as he would find himself looking at every nook and crevice, fearing there was some assailant hidden behind them. They reached the top of the stairs and in front of them were a pair of huge iron doors set into the rock wall.

"Well, let's get this over with. Let me do most of the talking, Oliver. " Bill advised him.

William took hold of a large iron ring and knocked it against the door several times. They waited for several minutes and began to hear the mechanisms of the door whirring. The right door opened slightly, and they could make out three figures dressed in robes. Oliver couldn't quite make out their faces in the gloom but could see the entryway was illuminated by candlelight.

"Anyone who sets foot on this isle without invitation is either very brave or very stupid. Pray do tell which of this it is before I have one of my brethren commit you to the sea." The central robed figure threatened.

"I once served on a merchant vessel with an acolyte of yours named Bannon. A surly cuss and a blunt man. We shared many a cup and debated the teachings of Sachiel. I saved his life during an attack by Sylfian raiders. He told me if I was ever in need of the sea's guidance to seek him out." William answered.

Oliver realised that 'Bloody Bill' was a man of far more depths than he realised. Earlier he had almost scoffed at a mention of the Archons, and now he was directly referencing one in conversation.

The lead figure paused for a moment. "I would assume then you are William Kent. Bannon spoke highly of you. Alas he returned to the waves several years ago. I am Silas, the abbot of this order." Silas told them.

He pulled back his hood and revealed the leathery face of an older man. His face was pockmarked with scars, wrinkles and lines of age. Silas had a thin white moustache. He raised a hand, and Oliver watched the two men flanking him relax in their posture.

"My condolences to hear about Bannon's passing. He was a good man." Bill said solemnly.

Silas laughed. "You speak more highly of him than I would. Bannon was difficult, conflicted, but one of our best diviners. "

"I have come seeking guidance," Bill told him.

"There are only two reasons people venture here to have us hear the sea's wisdom or to join our order. I suspect, Mr Kent, you are not wanting to become one of the faithful." Silas mused.

"Nay, I came hoping to claim the boon my friend offered me once," Bill answered.

"The hour is late, but I will grant your wish. Follow me." Silas turned and walked back into The Rook.

Bill and Oliver followed him. Oliver was awestruck as they walked through the antechamber and into the entrance proper. It was a large hall that had been partly carved from stone, and some of it was formed by natural erosion from water. Oliver overheard Silas instructing one of the men who was with him to rouse someone called Ignacio. Silas beckoned for them to continue following him. He led them into a tight spiral staircase and began the descent. Oliver suspected they were being led to what was the base of The Rook. As they continued down, he felt the heat rising and the atmosphere becoming very humid.

They exited out into a large chamber with a greenish-blue pool of water. Near it was a human-sized metal cage. Oliver's eyes sprang to a metal hook dangling at the end of a chain. He followed it round to see it connected to a crank. After a few minutes, they were joined by another man who he assumed was the Ignacio that had been summoned. He was a young man, perhaps a little over twenty and with the darkened skintone that marked him as a man of Lefnos.

Ignacio said nothing at first and only conferred with Silas in hushed tones. After a moment, Silas left the room.

Ignacio spoke with the thick accent that was common of his people.

"For me to divine. I need a sense of what you are seeking. It can be a name, a place or sometimes perhaps little more than a feeling."

"Ravenhill. A man I once served with." Bill answered.

"That should suffice," Ignacio told him.

Silas returned accompanied by two other members of their order. Oliver watched with curiosity as Ignacio stripped entirely naked. The cage was opened, and he stepped inside. They proceeded to secure his arms and legs with leather straps. Once he was secured, the cage was closed and locked. The two other order members hoisted the cage up so it was connected to the hook.

"What are they doing?" Oliver whispered to Bill.

"They submerge him. Drowners." Bill answered.

Oliver began to feel very uneasy about what he was bearing witness to. He was not sure he wanted this man to endure this on their behalf. He tugged at his clothing, as it felt restrictive and overly hot. Silas began to operate the crank, which gradually lowered the cage into the water until Ignacio was below the surface. Oliver watched in horror. At first nothing happened and then Ignacio's body began to convulse and twitch below the water's surface. Oliver wanted to stop it, but Bill placed a hand on his shoulder to reassure him. After several minutes of him thrashing inside the cage, Ignacio stopped moving.

"Pull him out. Stop this." Oliver cried in alarm.

"Be quiet, lad. I know this is hard to watch." Bill tried to calm him.

Silas eventually reversed the movement on the crank, and the cage was raised out of the water. Ignacio simply hung there, his skin cold and clammy. After a moment, he threw his head back.

"Theeyeitpiercesseesalllaidbeforethenavigator." He screamed without pausing

Ignacio's howls continued and became more incoherent. Oliver turned to look at Bill, who now had a grim expression on his face. The other members of his order removed the cage from the hook and released Ignacio from its confines. He simply lay there shivering on the floor until they carried him from the room, leaving them alone with Silas.

"You have your answer," Silas told them.

"Aye, and not what I wished to hear," Bill replied honestly.

"Seldom is the sea's wisdom of good tidings of late. " Silas commented.

Silas led the pair of them back to the entrance hall. They walked in silence. Oliver had many questions he wanted to ask but refrained for the moment.

"Good fortune to the pair of you," Silas told them as he bid them farewell.

Bill began the return to the boat in a sullen mood. Oliver, however, was growing impatient at the lack of answers.

"What did that mean?" Oliver asked,

"Thorvenhold." Was Bill's only response.

Bill did not say another word until they reached the boat. He instructed Oliver to row and simply sat there in silent contemplation. The return to Stillwater was slower going, as Oliver was not experienced with rowing. Bill simply sat there staring off into the distance.

"He was a Ragnar. Tough men. Hard men. Honourable bastards. He was the Chatham's navigator." Bill eventually spoke.

"So what, you want to go and look for him?" Oliver asked.

"I already know where he is. I buried him there twenty years ago. Løvenskiold is the last place I would want to be." Bill replied.

He said nothing further for the rest of the journey. Oliver moored the ship and watched as Bill returned to the governor's mansion without him. He ran up the stairs to catch up with him. Bill made his way back to Resham's office. He made no effort to wait for admittance. As he entered the room, he was not surprised that Resham was waiting for him.

"Did you get your answer?" The governor asked.

"Aye and a difficult one. I need you to send a raven to Jarl Haugen."

"What do you want me to tell him?" Resham asked.

"Simply tell him the Fancy is on its way and I need passage to the Midden," William instructed.

"I sent word to your crew," Resham advised.

Oliver entered the room, eventually catching up with William.

"Ah, Kelham. Glad to see you have returned. I am terminating your service to me." Resham told him.

"Why sir? Have I done something wrong?" Oliver asked.

"Your work has been exemplary. But I feel you are needed elsewhere. If you will take him, Bill, I feel Oliver would serve you better than I at this time."

"Aye, I can give him a berth on the Fancy and put him to work. I'll tend to my crew tomorrow and set sail for Løvenskiold." Bill advised.