Jamian was getting dressed when a knock came at his door. "Enter," he said.
A giff walked in and stood before him.
"Our scouts have reported that the Eternal Wandereri is en route to us. They must have raided the Starrape," he said.
Jamian thought for a moment. "Thank you," he finally said. "How long will it take them to get here?"
"They should be here by tomorrow afternoon, unless we try to stop them."
"No, let them come to us. We can fight them better from here, and we can spare unnecessary damage to the remaining ships. Once I have that dreadnought, we can expand our operation."
"Yes sir!" The giff saluted and headed out.
Jamian looked out at the night sky...
"Come and get me, you samurai fool. You and your sluggish ship are no match for me... Come and get me."
Later that day, Hall was "escorted" to Jamian's private dining room on the old citadel. He had been given a fresh dose of neogi venom, and was having trouble standing again. Jamian gave him a wicked smile.
"I trust you and your wench had time to catch up on the last five years?"
"If I live to be a thousand," Hall said, his voice heavy and scratchy, "I'll live to see you slaughtered!"
"You won't, half-breed. Your father was a short-lived, human scum, who had no right living where he did."
"The only scum in Irilion were people like you, who believe in the superiority of one race over another."
"You scro-brained jackass, elves are superior to all other beings! You know that, and that's why you killed my sister! You wanted to preserve your mixed lineage by using her, and when that failed, you killed her!"
Hall was so offended he was ready to throw up, but he wasn't going to give Jamian the satisfaction.
"You are sick, Jamian. That isn't true and you know it. You killed my father in cold blood, because he was human. You raped and murdered my mother because she was an elf who loved a human. I went to confront you and your sister got in the way. Her death was an accident. You killed my parents because they were not the kind of beings you perceive as perfect."
"AS IT SHOULD BE! Humans and their mixed half-breeds have no right to be anything other than slaves!"
"Is that why you attacked the Rainbowfish? To get slaves?"
Jamian looked at Hall and slowly sat down on the opposite end of the table.
"No, I attacked the Rainbowfish to get you."
"What...?"
"I wanted to capture you and kill you the way you killed my sister. It was that damn warfish that you and your burley friend used that stopped me. I thought you were on the Rainbowfish, so I crippled it and ran with it. I was horrified to see that you weren't on it, but I got the next best thing: your pretty little wife."
Hall couldn't believe what he was hearing. Five years before, a last minute change had put Belieth on the Rainbowfish, while Hall remained on the Child Of Solaris being treated for an injury he had received a few days before.
"I was ready to kill her right there. In fact I killed all but six of the people on that tradesman. I decided to rape her first, which I did, and I found it very disappointing."
Jamian paused. He was verbally torturing Hall, and he enjoyed it.
"Afterwards I decided to keep her around, as a bargaining chip. I figured I could lure you back some day. About ten months ago I released one of the Rainbowfish's crew on the Stellar Islands, after wiping his memory of course, and took the wreck there as well."
Hall leaned forward. "Are you saying," he asked, "that you deliberately set things up so that I would come here looking for the crew of the Rainbowfish?"
"I sure did, and it worked! I even had some of my neogi thugs attack one of your crewmen back on Spectre, just to keep you on track. You found the crew of the Rainbowfish! Now that you have redeemed yourself, you can die. You have vanquished the crew of the Rainbowfish: your last mission is complete."
Jamian lifted a crossbow from the mantle and pointed it at Hall's neck.
"Good bye, Hall-ee-mor Dargess!'
Hall just rolled his eyes in disgust. Despite the neogi venom, his wits were still intact. It was a good thing they were.
"Jamian you are pathetic. What kind of pirate are you, killing an unarmed opponent?"
It was a painfully simple tactic, but it would probably work.
"Nice try, half-breed," Jamian said, as he tightened the crossbow.
"Come on Jamian, look at me. I'm drugged, unarmed, weak, stars I can hardly stand. If you kill me now, you won't get any satisfaction. I'm a half-breed. I deserve something worse than a quick death."
Jamian lowered the crossbow, giving Hall an icy stare. Hall simply looked over at the mantle, concentrating on nothing in particular.
"Hell, you could beat me without any weapons or armor. I'm a half-elf. There is no way in Solaris that I could ever beat a full blooded elf."
Hall changed his voice, feigning despair.
"You owe it to yourself, Jamian. Kill me in one-on-one mortal combat. You went to all this trouble to bring me here, and since you plan to end my miserable life anyway, why not have some fun doing it?"
Jamian threw the crossbow to the floor and punched Hall in the face.
"I could beat you any time, any where!" he shrieked. "I am better than you, half-breed, and I won't let you trick me! Yes, damn you, I'll fight you in mortal combat, and throw your lifeless body into the void!"
At that the elf thundered for his servants to bring Hall back to his room. Hall would be prepared for mortal combat: the venom would be magically removed from his body, he would be permitted a good rest, and his armor and weapons would be returned.
Hall's bardic charm had worked perfectly. Normally, Bard's use their charm to improve people's disposition. This time, Hall had made the elf hate him more than any other being in the known spheres. Hall hoped that this would be Jamian's undoing.
Unknown to anyone on the citadel, a new star appeared in the night sky. It wasn't a star, but a dreadnought called the Eternal Wanderer. By noon the next day, it would be at the citadel.
Hall was escorted to the terrace. His strength had returned, and he was once again in his magical chain mail, with his flaming sword at the ready. He also carried a dagger and a short sword, should they prove necessary. Jamian was on the terrace, warming up with a pole arm. It looked like a spear with a battle axe head. Jamian looked at Hall in disgust.
"Are you ready, half-breed?"
"I've been ready for this for several years," Hall hissed.
The giff stood between them, holding a shiny rock.
"When this rock hits the ground, and I am free of the terrace, the contest will begin. If Mr. Dargess is victorious, the rest of us will board one of the ships and depart the citadel. No attempt will be made to stop Mr. Dargess from returning to his companions."
"That is acceptable," Jamian said, still swinging the pole axe.
Honor and chivalry, what nonsense, Hall thought. I couldn't understand Gordon's emphasis on it, nor can I understand Onestar's. Combat isn't a game, it's a tool. In the case of Jamian, however, it's an obsession.
The giff dropped the rock and stepped back. The two men began to walk around each other, trying to find an open attack. Hall had his sword drawn, flame flying from it's blade. Jamian's pole axe was glowing, as if thirsting for blood. After a few moments, Jamian swung the pole axe at Hall. The blade rang against Hall's armor as he dropped and rolled across the floor of the terrace. Hall swung his fire sword in return. He burned part of Jamian's blazon gown, but Jamian was unhurt.
For several minutes this continued. Each would attack and dodge, trying to strike, but neither could succeed. Jamian was a well trained warrior and knew how to judge an incoming attack and react accordingly. Hall was surprisingly swift, and always appeared to be one step ahead of the elf.
Jamian finally hit Hall, leaving a large gash in his upper arm.
"I told you I would defeat you, half-breed!" he shouted.
"As always, you make yourself the victor before anything is decided! Allow me to return the favor!"
Hall dropped a rolled toward Jamian, eventually slashing at his leg. Jamian bend over briefly to check the wound. Elven blood flowed slowly down his leg. Jamian looked at his leg and lunged at Hall as if possessed.
"What's the matter, Jamian," Hall taunted. "Can't stand the sight of blood?"
Bit by bit the two men wore each other down. Hall lost his sword at one point, but the short sword was in his hand in only a few seconds. Hall put his dagger in his other hand and went at Jamian with both weapons. Since Hall was now fighting close in, Jamian was forced to discard the pole axe, and elected to fight with a war hammer. Almost immediately Jamian landed the war hammer against Hall's head, and the half-elf was suddenly dizzy and disoriented. Blood was covering his right eye, and we felt like he was going to fall in a random direction. Jamian raised his hammer to make another blow to the head, but Hall noticed it with a few seconds to spare. Instead of laying a blow to Hall's head, Jamian's hand fell on to Hall's short sword, severing the hand at the wrist.
Jamian screamed in horror as blood flowed from his open wrist. Hall sheathed his sword and struck Jamian several times on the jaw. Jamian fell to the ground. Hall took his dagger and placed it at Jamian's neck.
"Well, finish me," Jamian whispered. "I don't deserve to live."
Hall held the dagger in check, as he withdrew the wand from Jamian's pocket. He pointed it at Jamian for a moment, then quickly turned to the statue near the gate, the one of the elven captain that Jamian had betrayed several years ago. A bolt of green light flew from the wand, and the statue fell to the floor. Paper thin sheets of stone fell to the floor, as an elf wearing the uniform of an elven officer stood up. The elf walked awkwardly to Hall and Jamian.
"Captain," Hall said, his voice horse with exhaustion, "I believe this elf is responsible for multiple acts of aggression against the Imperial Navy. I am prepared to release him to you." Hall paused and looked back at Jamian.
"This isn't Cartania, and it certainly isn't Irilion. That's right Jamian. I'm going to let you live. I can't think of anything worse for you at this time."
The elven captain nodded, and withdrew his sword, placing it over Jamian's head.
"I am Captain Birchbark," the elf said. "Your service to the Imperial Navy is noted, and duly appreciated." The elf then smiled. Hall stood up and walked toward the gate to the terrace.
Suddenly he could hear a great commotion on the dock below. He turned around to see the Eternal Wanderer blocking the escape of any ship from the citadel. Small arms fire was being exchanged between the crew of the Wanderer and the pirates that were trapped on the citadel's dock. The Wanderer was clearly gaining the upper hand. Jamian's crew would never escape. Their pirating days were over.
Hall staggered his way down the hall, freeing the stone statues as he went. He could hear a commotion below as the Eternal Wanderer's crew began to secure the citadel. Finally Hall reached the study. He looked at the two statues, and reluctantly he freed one, a scro. The scro fell to the floor, then looked up at Hall with yellow eyes.
"I had a good feeling about you, half-elf," the scro said. "My name is Kath, and I am in your service."
"Mercenary?" Hall asked.
"Yes, who once chose the wrong employer," the scro answered with a crooked smile.
Hall smiled and helped the scro to his feet.
"Go below and get some help for yourself," Hall said.
The scro bowed slightly and limped out, leaving Hall alone with the one remaining statue. He lifted the wand, and uttered the command word.
Onestar had instructed the Eternal Wanderer's crew to secure the pirates in the holding pens of the citadel. Captain Birchbark would take the lamprey ship and locate the elven fleet. The pirates would be dealt with at that time. Onestar was alone when he reached the study.
Hall was there, with blood covering half of his face. He was cradling a woman in his arms. There were tears in his eyes, but there was also a smile on his face. The woman was wearing tattered, rag-like cloths. She had her back to Onestar. All he could see was a crop of shoulder-length, dirty-blonde hair. Hall opened his eyes slightly and saw Onestar. His smile became much wider as he looked at his friend. Onestar returned the smile, then turned away.
Late the following day, the Eternal Wanderer left the old citadel and resumed its course to the Stellar Islands. The pirates were secure on the citadel, and all of the prisoners had been freed. In a few days a rescue ship would arrive to collect them. Onestar found Hall on the observation deck of the Eternal Wanderer. The citadel was falling away behind them, but Hall was looking at a group of stars in the distance. Onestar sat beside him. Hall had several bandages on his face and arms, but didn't look the worse for wear.
"Armas tells me that she'll recover," Hall said quietly. "The physical injuries were not extensive, but the emotional trauma will require some special treatment. He knows of some grommam psionicists on the Stellar Islands who can help in this regard."
"Excellent," Onestar said, also looking out at the stars. The samurai noticed that there was a peaceful calm on his friend's face. Something that had been weighing him down for so long was now lifted.
"We spoke for a while last night, before she fell asleep. Armas had given her a tranquilizer to let the healing magic work faster," Hall said. "Jamian tried repeatedly to break her spirit, but never could. He must of petrified and re-petrified her at least a dozen times. She just never gave up." Hall paused. "That's Belieth for you, plain as the stars."
Onestar nodded.
"Captain Birchbark tells me that Jamian will be sent to Ilandis for trial. He will probably end up in a labor camp," the samurai said. "The rest of his crew will stand trial on Krynn."
"What of the other neogi ship?"
"They slipped out while you and Jamian were hacking each other apart. Apparently they didn't like the rules of your little contest. By the time we arrived they were too far gone for us to pursue."
Hall nodded. "For once the neogi did something sensible. What of the two you captured?"
"I turned them over the Birchbark. What becomes of them is anyone's guess."
The two started for the stairway. The flying bridge was empty; Blaise and Ville were commanding from the main bridge two levels below. Onestar stopped Hall for a moment.
"I'm glad you found her," he said. "I can only guess what it feels like."
Hall knew what his friend was thinking at that moment. Perhaps somewhere in the universe there was a human woman with red hair, that Onestar could only see in a dream. Hall placed a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Remember what I told you about Cherry. She can help you find parts of your lost past. With her help, perhaps you can find a clue that will lead you to some answers."
"I haven't forgotten," Onestar whispered. Perhaps there was hope after all. Belieth had been lost, and now she was free again. If that was possible, then perhaps... well, anything was possible.
On his way back to his quarters, Hall looked into the ship's infirmary. Kath, the Scro mercenary, greeted him at the door. Onestar had agreed to give the scro passage to the Stellar Islands. Where he went after that remained to be decided.
"That's one tough lady you have, half-elf. Don't let her out of your sight again," the scro said with his crooked smile.
"I don't intend to," Hall said.
Belieth was asleep on the infirmary bed. She had numerous bandages on; her recovery would be slow, but she would recover. Some measure of peace had returned to her sleeping face, just as it had to Hall's soul. Hall went to his quarters and quickly went to sleep.
The nightmares were finally over. His search was over. Belieth the Benign had been found.
The End.
