Feathered Dragon - Douglas Niles [81]
Helmsport was in fact little more than a huge, rectangular earthwork. It stood upon a low hill, commanding the sheltered waters of Ulatos Lagoon, where first Cordell and now Don Vaez had anchored their fleets.
The wall itself enclosed a rectangular compound, although a low gate had been built, a notch in the earthen wall where horses, men, and even carts could pass through. The rest of the rampart loomed some thirty feet above the surrounding ground and supported a wide walkway at the top. Any defending force occupying the top of that wall would have a commanding advantage over an attacker forced to scramble up the steep outer slopes.
The base of the wall within the fort was lined with wood and grass huts, with roofs of thatch. Several wooden barns had been erected plus one framed structure, much like a house, that had been intended to serve as Cordell’s headquarters. Several smaller, but solid, wooden buildings served as storage sheds. It was to one of these that the captain ordered the garrison members, still chained, to be confined.
“What’s the meaning of this?” howled Sergeant Major
Tranph, the burly veteran Cordell had left in command, when Don Vaez confronted them in their rude dirt cells. “What manner of enemy are you?”
“Cautious,” explained the blond-haired captain, unruffled by his prisoner’s outburst. “You are suspected of treason, of betraying the charter of Amn. Rest assured that you will have ample opportunity to defend yourselves. It may be that you were duped by the real villain in the affair.”
“Cordell?” Tranph gaped at Don Vaez, understanding his meaning but disbelieving just the same. “Surely you jest! What has he done to arouse the ire of the merchant princes? Why, his profits after conquering Ulatos alone would pay for the expedition tenfold!”
“Those profits have not been delivered into the proper hands. Indeed, we have evidence that he is concealing them from the just owners. Where is the eminently loyal captain-general? Why does he not appear to defend himself?”
“Profits delivered? To Amn? By Helm, man, we haven’t had contact with the Sword Coast since our landing a year ago!” Tranph sputtered, indignation wrestling with outrage.
“And that, in itself, may be at the root of the treason,” Don Vaez suppressed a yawn. “But come now, my good sergeant. Where is your general? Surely he is the one who must provide the ultimate answers.”
“1 tell you, he has marched on the capital of this land-a city reported to hold more gold than you can possibly imagine! Our last message from him told us that he had entered the city and was engaged in negotiation with their ruler. We have heard nothing else from him for these last four, maybe five months.”
“Nor will he hear aught from you,” promised Don Vaez with a tight smile. “When he returns, we shall have a quiet reception-call it a trial, if you will-and he will have ample opportunity to answer the charges against him. Perhaps if his mission is a success, he will return with enough gold to convince us of his noble intentions.
“Then he will accompany us-in chains, of course-on a return to Amn.” And then my own triumph shall be complete! he added silently.
Don Vaez, in a flurry of blond curls, turned on his heel and marched from the cell. A burly guard slammed the door shut behind him, while a company of trusted watchmen stood as sentries about the small building.
Rodolfo, the veteran navigator, stepped over to Don Vaez as he left the shed. “Beggin’ your pardon, sir,” he began, “but I wonder if we’re bein’ a bit hard on these lads here.”
Don Vaez’s eyes flashed, and he fixed the man with all the glare his clear blue eyes could muster. “You’re not being paid to wonder but to follow orders! If I were you, I’d have a care to remember that!” he barked.
Rodolfo met the gaze in those blue eyes for several seconds, but Don Vaez couldn’t read the look he saw there. He held his own