Duel of Duals

Lord Carmine of Nicversentel stood at the fore-gunwale of Captain Aduar’s Flagship. The wind blew as full as needed. Sky was clouded just enough to cut the glare of full sun. Crew were at their tasks and happily so... Everything about the voyage was ideal.   Lord Carmine frowned at the bow wake being made by the ‘Piquante’s’ passage. Everything was going well. Why did he feel ill at ease? It was as though he had learned that a long thought dead rival was returned to semblance of life. Carmine did not know of anyone reborn. Strange introspection, on such a pleasant day. His thoughts were interrupted by a long-streak of a woman approaching. She walked stiff-legged at the knees. She had been badly hurt in a fall from castle battlements, resulting in her legs being badly affected. A promising career as an airthane cut short. She had herself to blame. Climbing a sheer castle wall is one thing. Doing this while defenders attempt to knock you off is quite another. Brave or foolish? Lord Carmine had used her for two years and still he couldn’t decide... Yalan was a former spy of House Trabberge, a traitor and outlaw. Lord Carmine had no issue with a person’s past, as long as he could improve his future in employing her. Perhaps she sought redemption. Lord Carmine wasn’t sure that serving his interests would grant her that, but a haven for a time might be all she desired. Her future was her concern not his. It had been a mutually beneficial arrangement.   “Careful there Yalan, you might never get your sea legs.”   “Aye-aye, Carmine.”   Lord Carmine winced at the nautical response. Yalan’s hands had gone to the shop’s railing. She held on tighter than the easy sea might need her to. She was no sailor.   “I have news you must know. Word has come to me of Tighan.”   “Tighan? Have the merchants of Maulght invented a new method for tanning leather?” Lord Carmine knew little of the nations of Miranse’s ‘second land’, other than they liked to trade among themselves. He couldn’t help but be dismissive as Tighan had never mattered to most of those he’d met.   “No rubbishing this news, Carmine. This is what you’ve been after...”   “The Seed?”   “Yes.”   “Yes? Is that all you’ve got for me? I’ve been expecting this news for years and you tell me nothing!”   Yalan gripped the railing harder. Her employer was usually controlled but when he turned he became wild as a tarred lion. “There are only a few words and a name. That a man has arrived and claimed a land north of Loyland. He brings a city with him out of the Verges....”   Lord Carmine smiled for the first time in days. “The name is, ‘Excel’?”   Yalan took one hand from the railing. It went against her instincts to do it but her greater worry was the man’s smile. She had seen the same smile on condemned prisoners’ faces. Knowing they stood no reprieve, these prisoners would happily go to their deaths, if they were of a certain mind. Yalan has executed several and knew they were those who had nothing left to lose. She saw it in Lord Carmine’s smile.   Yalan knew she would leave his service when the ship landed. She didn’t know if she’d survive her leaving. She knew that staying with him would be less inviting.