“What do you mean to do?” demanded the oldest man there.
“I hate saying this to any master of craft, but I’m putting the torch to your shop. That cradle and your tools go as well.”
The man’s eyes narrowed and he said, “Over my cold body.”
Erik said, “Look, I do not want to fight you, but no one is going to build ships for the Emerald Queen. Do you understand?”
“Man, it’s all I have!” said the builder.
Erik pointed with his sword to the distant bridge of white and green moving slowly toward them and said, “They will take all you have. They will rape your women and kill you, or make you slaves and force you to build ships for them, and they will sail them to my home and kill me and mine.”
“What would you have us do?” the builder demanded, as much a plea as a challenge.
“Take a boat and sail away, friend,” said Erik. “Get your sons and daughters and get away while you still have time. Go to the City of the Serpent River and hold there as long as you can, but if you don’t leave now, I will kill you if I must.”
Biggo and two other men came running up behind Erik, and the sight of five armed men proved too much for the shipbuilder. He nodded and said, “We need an hour.”
Erik shook his head. “I can give you five minutes, then I start burning.” He saw a small sailing boat anchored in the estuary. “Is that yours?”
“No, it’s my neighbor’s.”
“Then steal it, and go.”
Erik motioned for the men to spread out, and as Biggo passed, one of the sons shouted, “No, Father! I’ll not let them burn our home!”
Before Biggo could turn, the young man struck him from behind with a pry bar, bringing it straight across the large man’s neck. Erik cried, “No!” but was too late. The loud crack told him Biggo’s neck had been broken.
Roo charged the young man, bashing him in the face with his shield, knocking him backwards into his brothers and uncles. The young man lost the pry bar, which clattered away across the stones, and Erik looked down at the motionless form of Biggo.
The shipwright and his family stood motionless as Roo stood over the boy, his sword poised to end his life. Erik stepped over and grabbed his friend, pulling him away. “Why?” he demanded, as he leaned over the now terrorized youth. Grabbing him by the tunic, he lifted him by main force with one arm, until he was nose to nose with him. “Tell me why!” he screamed into his face.
The boy’s face contorted with terror. Then Erik heard a woman’s voice say, “Don’t hurt him.”
Erik turned and saw a woman, who stood with tears streaming down her face. “He’s my only son.”
Erik shouted, “He killed my friend! Why shouldn’t I kill him now?”
“He’s all I have,” said the woman.
Erik felt the anger drain away. He pushed the boy toward his mother and said, “Go.” The boy took a half step, then Erik screamed, “Now!”
Turning to Roo, he said, “Burn it all!”
Roo carried a torch and hurried into the home of the family, who stood watching helplessly. Erik said, “Get to that boat and sail away. Otherwise you will all die.”
The father nodded and led his band away, and Erik knelt by Biggo. Rolling the big man over, he saw his eyes wide. Suddenly he heard laughter and turned to find Nakor standing behind. “He looks surprised.”
Erik suddenly heard himself laugh, for it was true. No anger, or pain, but amazement was etched on the face of the big man.
Erik stood. “I wonder if the Goddess of Death is everything Biggo expected her to be.” Then he turned and saw Roo emerging from the building, smoke coming through the door after him.
“Come on,” Erik said. “We’re almost out of time.”
Roo looked across the distant river and saw the bridge was now arching upward toward the midpoint of the river. Sounds of battle, screams and the clash of arms, rang from the north, and Erik knew the wall was likely breached or would be soon as the defenders ran in terror from the magic of the Emerald Queen and her army.
From the far end of the estuary, clouds of smoke rose, heralding the work done by Calis and his company. Sho Pi and two other men raced to the next building and set it ablaze, while Erik and Roo went down a series of stone steps to a low assembly point, a series of wooden sheds on a rocky point. These they quickly started burning. Nakor hurried ahead.
Reaching the quayside, they discovered the fire had spread to the other side of the street and was growing in strength. Erik ran along until he came to the next construction site and started setting fires.
As he moved back toward the main street, Erik noticed a flood of people running along, many carrying bundles, and he knew the enemy was somewhere inside the city. Roo tugged on Erik’s sleeve and he said, “What?”
Roo pointed and said, “It’s the Captain!”
Through the gathering press of men and women, Erik caught sight of Calis, Nakor, and de Loungville. Then they were swallowed up by the crowd.