Kane
The Eastern Carellian army headquarters loomed over the barley fields of Danabe. Built long before the Carellian invasions, Fort Goranhall used to be a Danabian fortress. Its stone walls had given protection to Danabians in times of war and had housed their army. At least, that’s what it was supposed to do. The Carellians had broken through those defenses during the invasions, and now the fortress, and the country, were controlled by Carellia’s army.
Fort Goranhall stood on the banks of the Goru, at the convergence of the Yet and Sti rivers, its size dwarfed by the immensity of the Goru. The Goru river was as wide as a lake in some places. Anyone who wished to cross it had to take a ferry, and all ports in or out of Danabe were closely guarded by the Carellians, making the land effectively a prison to its people.
Kane wished he could see the river instead of the gray, windowless stone walls of the fortress. The air was dank, with a muddy sort of humidity, and the passages were dimly lit. His neck prickled from dried sweat. What he would give to jump in the refreshing water and let his problems float away. Joining a mission was not what he’d expected or hoped it would be. His feet ached, and his hands stung. So far, this trip had been more exhausting than exciting. Now that the adrenaline of capture had worn off, he felt drained. Why use energy on worry? The worst was passed. He’d go to jail; he’d sit in a cell. It would be dark probably. Cool. He could sleep. Sleep, sleep would feel goo–
A jerk on his shackles sent him lurching forward. Jamal’s hand barely prevented him from crashing face-first onto the stone floor. Kane caught his balance and looked up. They had stopped in front of a wooden door. Captain Gustov pushed it open.
“The general doesn’t usually see people this late in the day, so we’re going to bypass the guards.” He waved them through the doorway but stopped Jamal. “You might want to wait here; the general doesn’t trust duaves, even those who are working for her.”
Jamal shook his head. “I’m coming, Sir.”
Captain Gustov probably thought Jamal wanted to prove his worth, but Kane knew Jamal was coming to stay with him, and he was grateful.
Behind the door was a spiral staircase, just as shadowy as the passages before. They stamped up the stairs in single file. At the top was another door, which the pirates shuffled through, Kane and Jamal last. When Kane stepped through the door, the sunlight dazzled him. He shook his curls out of his face and gaped over the vast swaths of barley stretching below to his right. The great Goru flowed steadily on his left, stretching so wide that he could barely see the opposite shore. And dwarfing it all were the Baikans, snowcapped and rocky, towering in the distance. He breathed in the clear air. It was beautiful.
Captain Gustov seemed unfazed by the spectacular view from the walkway. “Hurry,” he said. “I want to finish talking to General Rotia before nightfall.”
They continued to the far tower, Kane soaking in the outside world. He’d heard Danabe was an incredible place before the invasions, and seeing it, he believed it. Canals cut through the green and golden fields, reaching as far as the eye could see. From far away, it was hard to believe that poverty and famine plagued the country. Kane looked back at the peaceful landscape as he stepped through the tower doorway. Why did it have to change? He sighed and ducked into the tower.
They stood at the top of a staircase that ran along the edge of the tower wall. Panels in the roof were open, allowing sunlight to fill the tower. At the bottom of the staircase, the tower opened into a large open room. In the center of the room, a long wooden table sugged under the weight of stacked maps and documents. Overflowing but dusty bookshelves lined the round walls. It must have been a library before the invasions, Kane thought.
A tall woman stood bending over a map at the table. She straightened at the sound of the tower door and turned to squint up at them through the late afternoon sun.
“Who is it?” Her voice wore armor. It sent shivers down Kane’s spine.
“General Rotia,” Captain Gustov sounded weak compared to the General. “It’s good to see you.”
“Captain Gustov,” General Rotia sounded disdainful. “I certainly hope, for your sake, I agree with you. This had better be important.”
Captain Gustov beckoned to his crew and walked down the stairs.
The general waited for him to stand in front of her, “Did you retrieve what I sent you to find?” Kane could tell she thought it unlikely.
He frowned, surprisingly calm for someone whose life depended on a map he did not have. After weighing his options, he spoke.
“We found the map, Ma’am.”
General Rotia raised her eyebrows. “Really?” She drew out the word. “Well, where is it?”
“It was stolen off our ship in Agora harbor.”
“I see.” The general clearly thought he was lying. “That is very disappointing.”
“Indeed, Ma’am,” Captain Gustov said, pretending he thought she believed him. “However, we captured the thief’s accomplice. Erika?”
Erika took the chain from Jamal and led Kane forward. General Rotia’s eyes widened a fraction of an inch, then narrowed as she turned to Gustov. Her voice was icy.
“I don’t know what you’re playing at, Captain, but if you are lying, I assure you I will personally make the rest of your life a living hell.”
Gustov shifted his weight, not breaking eye contact with the general. “I understand. Shall I continue?”
She nodded.
“We had docked in Agora for the night, and I left two of my crew to guard the ship. They saw two figures on the ship. Jamal went for help, and Erika stayed. She says she shot her pistol in the air as a warning. One of the thieves jumped overboard, and Erika caught the other. By the time I got there, the curfew patrol had also arrived. In the confusion, we didn’t realize the map had been taken. By the time we did, the other thief had escaped.
“We sent out a search party but couldn’t find him. The patrol guards can confirm my story, at least, the part they were there for. I thought you should know as soon as possible, so we came directly from the harbor. You have more resources than I do. The thieves are Dauvish; they might be part of the rebellion.”
Kane’s insides shriveled as the general trained her hawklike stare on him. His blood pounded in his ears. There was no escaping it. Jamal needed to keep his cover as one of Gustov’s crew. He would have to do this alone.
General Rotia was speaking. “I admit, your story is plausible, Captain. If nothing else, you’ve brought a possible rebel, so you are not a complete disappointment. I am willing to let your failure to bring the map slide. Of course, you will have to make up for it, but it won’t be in prison.”
Gustov nodded gratefully, “Thank you; I am in your debt.”
“Undoubtedly.” General Rotia smiled. “Luckily for you, I may be in your debt as well.” She turned at Kane, and his blood froze. “You, on the other hand, are in a rather sticky situation.”
“You aren’t any use to me unless you have information, and I get rid of things that aren’t useful. However, if you do cooperate, I will limit your punishment to prison. You seem like a reasonable young man,” She sneered as she said it. “What will it be?”
“I’ll take prison, please,” Kane said, trying to keep his voice steady and failing spectacularly. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jamal move, but he kept his eyes firmly on the general. “I have information.”
“Good. I’m glad we are on the same page.” She motioned to the chair she had not offered Gustov. “Why don’t you sit down so we can get started?”
The Lighthouse 