Frederick IV
The King’s Guard, they called themselves. They wore full suits of armor ornamented far beyond the traditional military garb. They lined the docks now while the normal city guard kept the assembled mass of onlookers a healthy distance from the dock’s entrance.
It had been a strange week.
Frederick stood next to harbor master and Naval military General Igor McCalister. Frederick needed to distance himself from the man. King Kyle’s familiar henchman, Kevin, now a General himself, had asked Frederick to talk some sense into McCalister, but the man’s mind was set. Frederick held nothing against the man, but he knew a losing battle when he saw it.
Princess’s Racer drifted through the harbor toward the main slip, as instructed. Frederick’s fastest ship carried students from the recently shuttered Triton’s School of Magic, and there was no way King Kyle would allow them safe entrance into the city. Frederick commissioned the trip as a favor to General McCalister, whose son would’ve been stranded without it. But since Princess’s Racer had set off, King Kyle was crowned and magic was outlawed.
Frederick knew McCalister had tried, and failed, to fill a boat with navymen to intercept the ship. He had asked Frederick for help out of desperation; McCalister’s men weren’t as loyal to him as he thought. Frederick failed to talk sense into the man then, calling the plan idiocy. He kept McCalister’s secret mutiny to himself; no harm, no foul.
Frederick did everything that was asked of him. Stressed to see the instructions through, even. When the newly crowned King sends the military with requests, a wise man quickly complies.
“You’re a coward, Fred.” McCalister told him.
“And you’re a damn fool,” Frederick said back. “The jail’s can’t hold them all. Tell your boy to do as he’s told and he’ll be out soon.”
McCalister’s neck strained as he tried to keep his voice down. “This tyrant will kill them all!”
Frederick scoffed. “He just wants control. And he’s got it, if you haven’t noticed. Tell your boy to lay low and be a good lad. They’ll have him scrubbing the streets for a few weeks, but they won’t kill him.”
“Coward,” McCalister growled.
Frederick paid him no mind. As the ship began its docking routine, the crowd beyond the dock began booing at them. They shouted obscenities and threw garbage at the ship. Frederick hardly noticed General Kevin marching down the dock toward them. He had a retinue of King’s Guard in tow. Frederick stepped to the side but Kevin looked right toward he and McCalister. They slowed as they approached and Kevin nodded at Frederick before looking at McCalister.
“General,” Kevin said.
“General,” McCalister responded. Good lad, Frederick thought. McCalister’s voice held no venom; he was greeting an equal.
“It’s come to our attention,” Kevin continued. “That you tried to fill a battleship with navymen to make an unlawful interception of Princess’s Racer.” McCalister grew tense but said nothing. “There will be an inquiry and you’ll have a chance to defend yourself at tribunal. But until that time, I’m sorry to say we must place you under arrest.” Frederick moved to the side as the King’s Guard stepped around Kevin. One held manacles.
McCalister’s face was tight. He was a proud man. He had spent nearly his whole life dedicated to the disciplined life of military leadership. Frederick knew McCalister could give these guards a hard time of it; maybe break a nose, toss one or two in the harbor, give Kevin something to remember him for. But he was too proud. His hands lifted to accept the manacles. He had tried to resist, had tried to save his son by filling a ship and sailing off, and he had failed. He took defeat with silence for his honor’s sake. The King’s Guard marched him off.
Kevin stayed behind and regareded Frederick. “Well?” He said.
“Nothing,” Frederick sighed. “Too damn stubborn. Worried his son’s life is in danger.” Frederick shook his head.
“Well thank you for trying.” The two watched as the crew of Princess’s Racer flung ropes at the dock. A line of King’s Guard waited to board the vessel. “The King has mentioned how grateful he is for your cooperation. By name.” Kevin watched him.
Frederick grunted, watching the King’s Guard walk students off the ship. Their hands were shackled.
“We’ve got a few more trips we’d like run. A few to Ironforge to start.” Frederick looked at Kevin.
“I haven’t the ships. Don’t have the crew. Obviously Racer can be ready in a few days, but-“ Kevin held up a hand.
“You’ve been awarded Bontair’s fleet. The crew’s already been screened. We need a few trips made, but Bontair’s lanes are yours as well. We’ll need a few ships available for government runs, but the rest are yours. Should you accept, that is.”
Bontair was a fat, greasy merchant; Frederick held no love for the man. Being gifted a competitor’s entire business was being handed enormous wealth. Greater than the bag of gold the ships were worth; Frederick could continue to make money off the ships for years to come. And the rights to the shipping lines were worth quite a bit themselves. Frederick understood the cost.
“That’s mighty generous of his highness.” Frederick told Kevin.
“He rewards his friends.”
“What’d Bontair do, might I ask?” Frederick dared.
“A sympathizer. Pity. Some men just don’t see the changing tide.” Kevin clapped Frederick on the shoulder. “I’ll send a runner tomorrow with some more information. Good day, Fred.” Frederick nodded. He watched as a wagon full of shackled Triton’s Bay students lumbered off toward the city.
Previous Chapter: https://therealzsmith.com/2023/04/07/resistance-chapter-13/
Next Chapter: https://therealzsmith.com/2023/04/28/resistance-chapter-15/
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